So, I like a lot of things...

Apparently, I like a lot of things. I should just start a series of posts chronicling them all. Maybe this will become a once-a-week thing (except I need to come up with new stuff to say in between...). We'll see. For now:

Evernote. I love Evernote. I use it for absolutely everything. Seriously.

• Class notes
• Blog posts that I like (via ifttt--another handy online tool)
• Recipes
• Blog post ideas (everything you see here begins there)
• Random ideas that come to mind
• DIY stuff
• Clips of interior design inspiration
• Graphic design inspiration
• Important information to remember
• Random stupid stuff I have nowhere else to store
• PDFs--that way, they take up zero space on my computer

It's awesome. I have a couple of folders that I share with people (very useful when you've already taken a class and a friend is missing some notes), and of course, being me, I have everything organized as much as humanly possibly, making it all super easy to find. Best part: it syncs everything between your computer, phone, and online. If you make a change on one, it changes it on all of them. Basically, you can access all of your information from literally anywhere. Love. It.*

Fireflies. One of my new favorite things to do: sit on my back patio in the evening and watch HUNDREDS of fireflies light up the yard. So, so amazing. One of the many reasons to love summertime.

Ridiculous real-life quotes. Guys. My life is so ridiculous sometimes. Oh, the things I hear and see… I finally started keeping a list (in Evernote, of course). I can't share all of them**, but here's a few anonymous mentionables (I promise all of these are real and said in all seriousness. The people weren't trying to be funny):

"If you come in my house and shoot me, I'm gonna be real mad. If you shoot me and kill me, though, I'm gonna be real, REAL mad."

* * *

In my Environmental Science class...  
Professor: "So what about the California ecosystem, around LA? What do think of?"
Student: "The Hollywood sign?"

* * * 

While watching a video in class of a guy free diving:
Student: "How do we see him if he's underwater? Does he have a camera?"

* * *

Overhearing a waitress at IHOP...
"I was out in New Mexico, working with that Mayan calendar. It was jumping around and I was trying to get it under control and before, I knew it, I'd eaten a whole bag of Doritos."

* * * 

Hence why I both love and hate people simultaneously. 

Iced coffee. Cannot get enough. I like hot coffee, too, but if ever given the choice (midwinter or not), I will almost always go for iced. So wonderful. I found some iced latte mix packets from International Delight that are pretty good--just mix it into your milk, add ice (if you want) and go. They're fairly cheap, too. I'm a fan.

Apartment Therapy. Best design blog ever. (Okay, I'd probably say that about a lot of blogs…but for real, this one is awesome.) Lots of advice and lots and lots of inspiration. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

Yes? Yes.

So, what things have you been liking lately? Please share--I need entertainment this summer!

*I am aware that I sound like an Evernote commercial. Unintentional. I really do just love it that much.
**This includes some of the best, unfortunately. If you're really interested, talk to me--I might be willing to share outside the public blogosphere ;)

(More) Things I Like

I am long overdue for a "Things I Like" post. Here's some things that I've been liking a lot lately!

• "In Christ, urgent means slow…" Some good things to remember here. I've made a bad habit of getting caught up in the busyness of life that I forget what's most important. It's cliche to say, I know, but to really live it is difficult--and more necessary than we know.  

• Pure Home.  OH MY GOSH, this site is amazing! One of the coolest home decor sites ever. You pick your style, your mood, and your room, and it helps you choose your colors and accessories. Seriously, go check it out. 

• Kohl's frames. Kohl's has been having some crazy good sales on their home decor and such. I got a $40 set of 6 (really nice) frames for $13, a $50 6-frame photo ledge set for $10 (and used Kohl's cash so essentially got it for free), and this wonderful (and oh-so-me!) bird-and-branches frame for $7:

I might have a slight obsession with frames.
And pictures. The more, the merrier (until you
can't see your walls--then it might be a problem)!

• This print. So cute.

via Handz Etsy shop

• This fun workspace. 

(via Lovely Undergrad)

• Cubicle shelving. Currently wanting one of these in black.

(via Lovely Undergrad)

• Log planter! How cool would it be to DIY one of these with a real log?

(via Pure Home)

• A photo book of Instagrams. Love this idea.

(via That's Happy)

• "Vergangenheit (Loss)" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I love this poem. I can relate to it so very well, and can attest that this is true:

"That which is past will return to you again
as your life's most living strain,
through thanks and repentance.
Lay hold on God's forgiveness in the past,
pray that He will care for you this day and to the last."

Sorry--I can't help myself!

The header was bugging me a lot (I couldn't help it), so I decided to play around with it some more. I like this much better. :)

(Before/After)

I've been looking at a ton of design blogs tonight. I love that stuff so much. It makes me wish I had more time to do artsy stuff (and also that I had a huge house to decorate...and the money to buy all the stuff...). Sigh. Oh well. I found some awesome stuff though, and I feel like I have to share it!

Harmonie intérieure

I. Love. This. Site. Oh my gosh. I'm not sure if I would actually use a lot of it in my own home (though I might), but I love how it looks. Seriously.

Check out the pictures of the designers' house, too. Love it.

Fancy Frills

I really, really like this blog. She finds a bunch of different cool, design-related things (graphic, interior, fashion, etc.) and posts them. Some of my favorites... (The pictures are linked to her posts.)

Good stuff. I like it.

(This is the kind of stuff I like when I'm not doing outdoorsy stuff like hiking, or playing Ultimate Frisbee, or studying psychology, or writing, or finding new music...haha. I like having lots of different interests. Too bad I don't have time for all of them all the time!)

I like this, this, and this. Oh, and this.

I've been discovering lots of things that I like lately, so excuse me if this post is a little bit sporadic.

For starters, Jenny & Tyler did a show on Friday night in the Dixon Center. I had never seen them before, but I'm officially hooked. They are really talented, completely adorable together (seriously--and I don't say that sort of thing often), and really sweet, personable, and friendly overall. Their songs are so well-written (some of my favorites are "One-Eyed Cat," "Deepest Parts of Me," "Muse," and "Love Through Me") and their voices go together perfectly. Also, I love the design of their This Isn't a Dream album cover, especially the back!:

What can I say? I just really like artsy, well-designed things! That being said, I've been looking at lots of design blogs lately. It has come in handy, too, because it has inspired my roommate and I to come up with ideas for our apartment next semester (only 5 months away! I am so excited). One blog I've been reading a lot is design me daily. I was going through some of the archives yesterday and stumbled across a post on there that lead me to Single Stone Studio's Etsy shop that features lots of really cool wall decals. Hello, living room decor! A few favorites:

 

I love the way everything in this picture is designed. I wish we could use paint in our apartment, because I would so do this! I like the two-tone thing for the flowers.

 

Simple, but very cool and classy. You can also get it in your choice of one out of 40 different colors. Love it.

I apparently have a new thing for this whole birds and cherry blossom design thing, because I've found a lot of things like it that I really, really like. Too bad this decal is $75. :( Not quite in my budget.

Anyway, yeah, I'm getting really excited about this whole apartment thing. I love simple, modern things, and these with a nature-y theme are just a plus. Definitely my thing. It makes me wish I was getting my own house so I could go all out with paint and everything. Having an unlimited supply of money would be awesome, too... Sigh.

Something else I love: Photography. All kinds. For real. Favorite thing ever.

  © Mandy Lynne Photography 

This picture makes me really happy for some reason. I don't know if it's the colors, the lighting, the little girl, the fact that it's outside, or all of the above, but I like it a lot.

 © Max Wanger

I have a thing for engagement photos in general. :)

One last favorite thing: Sunny days in the park with friends!

 

Sunday afternoon, a group of about 12 of my favorite people went to Fletcher Park to have a picnic to celebrate Tuna's 20th birthday. It was gorgeous, and I loved getting to spend time with all of them so much! (My nose is still suffering from a run-in with a Frisbee, but other than that, it was a great time.)

Okay, sorry for the overload. Trust me, there could have been way more!