(Altered) States

This weekend was awesome. Sometimes it feels good not to plan out your time and go with the flow! Sundays have been a day that I've cleared out to spend with my family - whether it be snuggles on the couch with all of our comforters and pillows, a movie date, or my dad cooking a delicious dinner (owning multiple restaurants will do that!). 

Yesterday we went to Kelly's Landing, a small restaurant in Manotick overlooking the water. We luckily escaped the rain and had drinks and fish tacos, taking in the sun and catching up! We still plan a "family" vacation every year, and everyone knows with a good trip, half the fun is in the planning! This year we're throwing around the idea of Boston, Chicago, or renting a houseboat and just taking off for a few days (think we were inspired by the boats going by us on the water or what? Ha).

All of the recent summer talk has gotten me so excited and inspired for the months ahead! I've put a lot of time into decorating my home, and I love changing up the decor with the seasons. If you've read my first post, you may have learned that I like things to be simple. If I see a recipe with more then 5 ingredients, I probably won't make it. If I see a DIY with a complicated list of instructions, I likely won't complete it. That's just the way I am! (I blame all of my Ikea furniture over the years for this one...) 

 

Altered States was a name I was throwing around for a small business for a long time. I even made a business plan for it in school! However, timing wasn't right, so here it is, the new title for my DIY posts. Taking something simple and making it unique gives the best kind of satisfaction!

This has been one of my favorite, not to mention easy, DIY projects. I probably started and finished it in about 2 hours - and this was including making a new playlist to listen to!

Before I moved in I went to Walmart and bought a bunch of frames for around the house. The one pictured above is just a clear glass frame, with a black edge. Originally I had placed records in it and put it up on the wall.

I've always loved collaging, and I wanted to display that somewhere in the house. I realized this would be the perfect collage frame! So I went and got another one (under 10$), and took out a pile of magazines.

 

I cut out "seasonal" pictures from magazines (Better Homes and Gardens & Martha Stewart Living are my favorite go-to's, summer editions) to use as my background. If you're really getting into scrapbooking or collaging, you can buy old magazines inexpensively in bulk online, or at a local thrift store (I've seen tons at Salvation Army and Goodwill in Ottawa!)

Then I picked out my favorite summer pictures I had of Jeff and I, and friends.

I laid them all out on the glass of the frame, moving them around until I was happy with their placement. I put the other piece of glass back on top (no need for glue or tape, the glass will hold it together!) and put the frame on the wall. 

You can save it to reuse every season, or take out the pictures and make a new one once fall rolls around! Easy DIY wall art.

A quick flashback to my fall frame :)

Happy Monday!

Sam

Weekly (un)Wind

I'm a day late on my Weekly (un)Wind. I have good reason though! Drum roll...I have the weekend off! So yesterday, I was actually able to celebrate Friday to the fullest. I think I said "TGIF" so many times that I started to annoy Jeff.
(Remember TGIF that used to be on ABC in the 90's? Boy Meets World..You Wish..Sabrina the Teenage Witch..Teen Angel..am I dating myself yet?)
 
See above picture for what I spent my evening doing. Relaxing on the patio, reading a book, having a drink, enjoying the heat. Happy girl!  

Last weekend was a long weekend for us in Canada, and Jeff and I took advantage and went to Preston street. We went for a coffee, took a long walk, had a delicious lunch and went to the (above) craft sale. I couldn't resist taking home the Giraffe print.

Cheesy quotes and cartoon cats make for the best bookmarks. Pictured right are my new "knuckle rings". Sounds tough, until you see the tiny heart and bow bands. Ha.

 

New notebooks are my favorite. Finding new designer notebooks for half price at Winners makes it even better!

Although I have two little kitties, I was a total dog lover growing up. Pictured left is my parents  rescue dog, Tucker. He is the sweetest (not so little) puppy you could ever meet. He just turned one, so naturally we had a full-on birthday party for him, gifts and cake included. 

On the right, Jeff's parents asked us to watch their two chihuahuas, Dora and Diego, while they went on vacation. How sweet is the little heart on her head? 

Lastly...I got my tattoo! Tuesday was a big day for me. I made an appointment last minute at Living Colour on Dalhousie in downtown Ottawa. In this post I mentioned my tattoo, and where I got the idea from. I brought my mom with me (which was a blessing) because no one warned me how badly coloured tattoos hurt. Tears were shed. Seriously. But, I absolutely love it, and now I have it for life!

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I heard it's supposed to storm here in Ottawa tomorrow, so it's the perfect day to snuggle in bed and get lost in your favorite book (or blog!). Here are some links to keep you company:

- My new desktop is available for download here. I love opening my computer to a little bit of inspiration.
- I thought I'd seen all there was in nail art before I stumbled upon...nail jewellery? I think I like it...
- My favorite advice article ever written.
- Couldn't help but have a giggle at Vanity Fair's "Amanda Bynes Coluring Book" (Like I said..I'm a 90's baby..I grew up watching "The Amanda Show"!)
- Creative ways to use a disposable camera - I want to try them all!
- This print on Etsy was made for me, I'm fairly certain.
- "Why powerful women make the greatest friends" - A must read.

Happy Sunday!

Stuff My (boyfriend) Listens To

I woke up this morning wanting so badly to see some sunshine. I wanted to walk outside, get an iced chai from Starbucks, and sit out on my patio. Unfortunately, mother nature doesn't work for me, and I guess she doesn't take well to being bossed around. I woke up to a grey, but warm, day.

So instead, I decided I was going to sit on my patio anyways and listen to my new spring playlist. When I close my eyes I can almost feel the sun on my face. Almost. Wishful thinking...

This brings me to my next new feature - Stuff My (boyfriend) Listens To - which I'm more then a little excited about. Jeff and I spend a lot of time (together, and alone) listening to music. Whenever we find something we love, we run to each other exclaiming "You HAVE to download this new album!!"

When I do find a song I really love, I tend to play it on repeat and on full volume (Jeff doesn't always respond well to this when it's Carly Rae Jepsen, but I can't deny my love for a catchy pop song). So this morning I made an 8tracks account to share what we've been listening to! 

I hope you enjoy my spring playlist full of happy classics (old and new!)

Spring Mixtape from samanthajprice on 8tracks Radio.

Weekly (un)Wind

Working in retail, I don't have a "typical" work week where I look forward to hump day and count down the hours until the weekend. Saturdays are usually the day I'm the busiest, bustling around and making sure everything runs smoothly. As OPI collectors and beauty junkies bombard me with questions about product and the hottest spring colors, I do more laps around my store in a Saturday then I generally do in my entire week. (I honestly have a fantastic job. Testing nail polish and talking about hair products all day? Yes please).

Basically, I don't have your typical 9-5 job with your typical Monday-Friday work week. In fact, my days off are normally Tuesdays and Sundays (which I actually enjoy because I find it breaks up my week nicely and makes it fly right by).

But, there's something about Friday's that still feels like a party. Whether it leads back to the fact that on Fridays when I was little my mom would "rent" us an N64 gaming system and move our mattresses into the living room for the entire weekend, or during highschool when Friday's meant house parties and no homework until late Sunday night (I always have been a procrastinator..), Fridays for me are great days to unwind. 

This Friday currently consists of an evening shift, leaving me looking out my bedroom window on a grey rainy day. Grateful to still be in bed and in my housecoat, writing to you with my two cute and snuggly kitties. 

 

Snuggles with Oatmeal 

So, on Fridays, you can all look forward to my Weekly (un)Wind. A few links that I've gathered throughout the week that I've deemed funny, cute, lovely or inspiring enough to help you set the tone for your weekend.

The Weekly (un)Wind

- This new Banksy "Coke" ad

- This incredible audition for Britain's Got Talent

- "The Icing on the Cake" - a great article about the real world vs. the online world 

- "Book Spine Poetry" - A new way of organizing books from the Sorted Books Project

- Accessory Ladders - my new obsession to organize everything from towels to shoes

- "Is Getting Rich Worth It?"

- How to Start a Book Club - as the summer days become longer and you have a bit more free time, this checklist is an awesome start to a book club - whether you do it solo or with friends!

Adventures in Tulum

Well, it's safe to say: I had a love affair with Mexico. I loved the people, the culture and the experiences we had there! Having an entire week to eat, drink, adventure, and spend time with my friends (and myself, of course!) is more then I could have ever asked for.

 

We managed to squeeze a lot into our little seven day retreat: a crazy first day (that I'll never forget), cliff jumping into a big blue lagoon (little mermaid fantasies coming true),  a (scary) underwater cave tour, a failed canoeing trip, zip-lining, a birthday party, the Mayan ruins and amazing and authentic Mexican food at a little restaurant on the beach. 

Swimming with sea turtles and through a coral reef was definitely a highlight, as were the outrageous games of Cards against Humanity. I came home with a sunburn (still paying for that one) and 600 photos (I spontaneously bought an underwater Nikon camera before we left, and it was the BEST purchase ever!) along with some souvenirs. Endless laughs and reading three books later... that doesn't even cover half of it!

We've been back for about a week, and I'm happy to say I don't have the vacation blues. We returned to beautiful spring weather, and unpacking inspired me to de-clutter and organize nearly my entire house! It feels good when everything has a proper home.

I finally began to scrapbook after printing pictures from my trip. I've been gathering up art supplies in tupperware for years now, waiting for the day when I would feel like starting again. It's hard to get that push when your days feel so busy and you come home from work so tired!

Feeling energized, I promised myself that this summer instead of mindlessly watching TV or losing myself in the internet, I would do something for ME. And that is going to be scrapbooking! I love finishing a page and looking back on past memories. I feel like it's something I'll have fun looking back on when I'm older as well.

Jeff surprised me yesterday by cleaning our patio from top to bottom (we live in a construction area, so over the winter it got VERY muddy), and planting us some colourful new flowerbeds! I'm excited to read and have breakfast in the mornings outside again.

I love spring. Bring on the sunshine!

Sam

(PS - I should dedicate this post to my love for my new photo editing app by A Beautiful Mess. You can find it in the iTunes store!)

Folded (Unfolded) Unfolding

"If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late? Nobody." - JD Salinger (Real Simple Magazine/2001)

Life this past week has been...interesting, to say the least! Lots of big changes for me on so many levels. At a time when I feel like I've come so far professionally and personally, life always manages to throw a  curve ball, making you re-visit and re-learn everything you thought you knew about yourself. I've had the song Colorblind by the Counting Crows on repeat for the past week - the lyric "I am folded/and unfolded/and unfolding" seems to describe my state very accurately! (Fun fact - I saw Counting Crows open for Maroon5 when I was 17 years old and had no idea who they were. After dating Jeff, a big fan, I now know their music by heart and regret not paying more attention when I saw them from five feet away!)

Anyways, I'm becoming a bit obsessed with Instagram, (and my iPhone in general) for allowing me to capture more candid moments in my life. I love having a timeline of memories on a day to day basis that I may not remember otherwise. I find it sweet and peaceful to look back on my week in pictures and remember the happy, funny and cute moments that happened.

1 - I made some frivolous makeup purchases this week! Kate Moss (my favorite model, I would die for her natural cat eye among other things) came out with a new line of lipstick from Rimmel this year and I finally found it at a Shoppers downtown. Naturally I bought three shades.

I also purchased the Benefit "Boing" concealer, my favorite brand specifically for their packaging.

2 - Last Saturday I threw a princess themed Birthday party for one of my girlfriends! Strawberry shortcake cupcakes, pixie sticks, and "pin the diamonds on the Barbie" all included!

3 - Nothing makes me happier then colours that pop. The first picture is a pot my mom painted in her crafty days. I get a lot of my inspiration from her. I've been debating getting these flowers tattooed for awhile now, but I can't decide how I feel about tattoos with colour in them...

Second is my new haul of books! I'm lucky to have a godmother (and her best friend) who read atleast a book a week and then ship them off my way to pick through! I can't lie...sometimes I pick books specifically based on their pretty covers. I love them on my beside table (The one pictured above is The Blind Contessa's New Machine - Carey Wallace).

4 - I got to spend some quality time with my two best friends this weekend which was more needed then I can put into words. One just got back from Thailand and brought me back the sweetest (and shiniest...) travel mirror. She knows me well. She had lots of stories to tell and pictures to show. She travelled to Thailand to teach English for 6 months, then proceeded to go to Cambodia, Vietnam, and finish her trip visiting a friend in China!

My other best friend and I celebrated the beginning of her summer! Exams done, fancy dinner, followed by an old fashioned sleepover (blow up mattress in the living room, playing scratch cards and reading books..lots of giggling. The whole shebang!) We woke up the next morning and headed to the Ottawa Convention Centre for the Vintage Clothing Show. We go every year together and it's become a tradition I really look forward to. It was a great day.

5 - A little pick me up! I was feeling down so I picked up an adorable canvas (a bit damaged - or as I like to call it "pre-loved") from Winners on sale for only $14. I put it up in my makeup room so I can see it every morning. I love the idea of celebrating everything, big and small.

And my new desktop! I'm on my computer a lot and it's a nice reminder to choose to have a good day. Thanks to DesignLoveFest.

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And with that...I'm off to Mexico for the week with my boyfriend and some friends! Our plane takes off tomorrow morning at 7AM. I am anxious but beyond excited for a week of relaxing, reading and taking in some sun. It's the perfect timing!

Sam

Getting To Know Me - La Vie En Rose

 

My favorite and most telling interview question is: "Describe yourself to someone who has never met you before."

(Talk about putting them on the spot!)

I quickly realized that while I've now heard hundreds of answers to the question, I never really answered it myself.

La Vie en Rose is literally translated into: My Life in Pink (or, life through rose coloured glasses).

Besides the fact that pink is by far my favorite colour, it also happens to be the name of my favorite movie. I was watching it for the umpteenth time with Jeff on our anniversary earlier this month, when I decided "La Vie en Rose" is how I would hope to describe myself.

Choosing to see life through rose coloured glasses. Anyone that has worked retail (or, let's be honest, worked in general) knows that dealing with the general public can be trying at times. Life overall can be trying at times! 

But then there's that glimmer of something hopeful: Finding that special vintage piece that you just know you were meant to have. Organizing your desktop folders and files (nerd alert!). That perfect shade of lipstick. Or looking at your girlfriends and falling into the most contagious laughing fit about nothing and everything at the same time.

Or, in my case, when my tenth interview of the day nervously (yet, still sassy) looks at me and responds: "Well, I'm a really happy person! I love to smile. And I absolutely love my cats. Are those qualities you're looking for?"

That is La Vie en Rose. 

Sam

Photo via Etsy