Season of Change

 So for those of you who are like me and love the fall to the point where you cling to it like a warm blanket on a brisk morning then you also know that fall always seems like a season of change. Things in my life have definitely changed in the last few months, for better or worse haha. Let me expound on the changes so far:

1. Moving:
After 2 years in my current apartment I've finally decided it was time to move. This was not easy for me because I seriously love the place I've been living. It has an amazing view, is right next to the state capital, lots of storage and has a wood burning fire place(a rarity in the city), plus my bedroom is huge! And I only have one roommate.While all of this has been great and I will miss it like crazy after lots of prayer and thought It's funny there where actual bets going around about if I would really move or not. Like actual money was exchanged based on my decision haha Not totally sure how I feel about that. Anyways as to the reason why
     1. This was the place that my Ex and I lived and I need to finally remove him from my life completely
     2. It's time to have a fresh start
     3. I am moving in with the 3 greatest girls ever!
     4. The house is awesome!
     5. I need to be more social
     6. All the girls are great examples to me and I only hope I can be one for them as well
     7. It's a house so no one lives on top or below you! Yay oh and it has a yard...so I'm getting a dog finally! The house is so cute and has so many amazing details to it. It was build in 1903 so that fact the it's over a hundred years old is really cool for someone like me who loves history and has always dreamed of owning an old house and fixing it up(partial dream come true here people!). The land lady is the nicest person ever and letting me do whatever I want with the house...so lots of painting and fixing things up. I've probably spent a little over 30 hours painting and installing and working on stuff in the house and it looks so beautiful! I love how it's turning out!!!!Here are some pictures of some of the projects I've finished so far.

 

 I love how the mud room turned out! I will post some before pictures later but it looks like a completely different room now! I love the yellow doors :)

There was this really cool hutch in the kitchen but the color was just to dingy for the kitchen....A few coats of white paint really does wonders on it though! I've since added glass knobs and another glass shelf. It's very fun looking now and only adds the the light airy feel of the kitchen which is not easy considering the floors is a marbled black and white slate haha.

 The Entry Closet was just so boring! I couldn't stand to leave it so blah! So naturally stripes where the answer haha. I painted all the base boards throughout the down stairs a slate blue color so I wanted a tan color and white stripes but the tan color pulled green which I have come to love! I thinks it looks amazing! I love how sleek and at the same time homey it turned out.

2. Bangs!:
So I've had bangs before a few years ago and they where think and blunt...albeit cute they didn't fit my face. Anyways I was getting bored with my hair and so I decided it's time for bangs round 2 :). In early October I bit the bullet and got a hair cut. It turns out I still have a love hate relationship with bangs. When they want to behave they look so cute and I love them, but when they are all over the place I hate them so much and out comes the headbands and the clips haha. Anyways what do you think about them?

3. Dating:
So dating....it's a lot of work. I've recently changed my views on dating recently. I've realized life is way to short do be dating the "wrong guy" and that I need make what I want in a relationship the priority, so taking breaks and taking my time is essential to my happiness and mental well being haha. And while I'm learning I'm one of the few people who love going on first dates I just get burned out so quickly and in turn burn through men just as quickly. What I mean by that is when I've been going out if I don't feel instantaneous connection with someone I will just stop seeing them. This has it's plus and minuses because you figure out quick if your really interested and you also can get hurt. When you have a great connection with someone and they seem to feel the same it can kind of hurt when it doesn't work out. I recently had the experience of being dumped for the first time. I know, I know that comical and sad at the same time but hear me out. I've always been the type who either ends things before they really start or when I am in a relationship with someone our breakups are generally mutual. Hense my never-been-dumped status haha. Turns out it was an awful and wonderful learning experience and it was so hard to go through but now I can relate to other people in a way I couldn't before. I now know what rejection of the heart feels like and I now also know that I can make it through it better and stronger and although maybe a bit more cautious. 
When you are dating you really learn so much about yourself and other people, you meet some very interesting people, some total creepers and you also meet some amazing people, you make friends and you gain stories, also you get some pretty great experiences and free food! I mean lets get real the free food is pretty awesome! haha
Things I've learned from dating:
     1. That you have to be yourself. If you pretend to be something your not your lying...not cool
     2. It's okay to be uninterested
     3. Enjoy the ride....no matter what the date is or who the dates with make the most of it and have fun
     4. Sometimes you really do end up being "just friends" and that totally fine
     5. That I really like men who challenge me and who make me laugh
     6. I'm a dork and that a really good thing
     7. That I'm attractive to some men and not so much to others...this is also okay because it's the same way for me too
     8. If you don't want to kiss them don't date them. No matter how sweet they are or how nice the date are
     9. Don't date someone who does not respect you or who you do not respect as well (duh)
    10. Never take it too seriously. Dating is and always will be a game and just like games you have to know when to show your cards, when to have a great poker face, never be a sore loser or winner and to have fun with it. Just because you might lose a few hands doesn't mean you should be discouraged. And you also need to know whens a good time to stop and take a break.
There is lots of ups and downs but if done right you hopefully find someone who only increases your happiness and enriches your life. 

4. Priorities:
My Priorities have definitely changed. I no longer want to be the "lets just have fun" girl and although I do love to have fun and enjoy myself I now want to be more settled and get me "crap" together. I think at this time in my life what I thought was important and meaningful has changed for the better to reflect the stage I'm at. I'm viewing things more in the long term and trying to do things that will help me become who I wish to be.

      So to all of you, as the earth changes we also need to embrace the changes in ourselves and find as much in them as we do in the changing leaves, the crisp mornings, the warm cocoa and the soft blankets.

Love, A