Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

5 stages of putting together IKEA furniture

I have spent the better part of the summer putting together IKEA furniture and the process is the same no matter what. It’s long and painful and never really gets any easier the more you do it.  It’s almost like the Five Stages of Grief, but with more crying and throwing things.

Putting together IKEA furniture sucks! Five stages everyone goes through when they're putting together IKEA furniture | Gardening In High Heels

Excitement

Yeah, alright, I have new furniture! I’ll refresh my look and it’ll be so affordable. I may even do one of those Apartment Therapy IKEA hacks. And I got this fun organizer, and these plates, and a funky Euro print, too, and it was all in one place. One-stop home furnishings shopping. I love this place and I’m never leaving. I’m so urban and hip, I can’t stand myself.

Disbelief

Wait a minute, that cost how much?? But I just got some dog-butt hooks and a night stand! Also how do these Swedish people transport this stuff? Are they ridiculously strong and carry it home on their backs? Because this defintely isn’t fitting in my car and aren’t European cars even smaller?

Frustration

Why do I have 50 little screws and only 10 holes? Do I have to make my own? Am I being punked? This can’t be right, can it??

And what’s this diagram showing me? Not to climb on the bookshelf? No kidding! How about I also don’t take my new desk lamp into the bath with me.

I give up. I’m going to lay here like Sadness until Joy drags my away by my foot because I am done and this is stupid and I’m stupid because I can’t figure out why this little line drawing looks so happy and I just want to jump into a bath with my desk lamp plugged in.

Acceptance

Fine. I’ll keep building because it’s better than figuring out how to get it back to the store half-built. Also, I don’t want to go to the 7th circle of hell ever again. So I’ll just stay right here. Pouting.

Begrudging Relief

It is done. Someone get me a coffee the size of my head and follow it up with a stiff drink. I need to forget that experience ever happened. I am never doing that again. Oooh mail’s here, look at the new catalog! I want this..and this..

—

I swear, if you want to get married to someone, put together IKEA furniture first. If you successfully build it will all the parts and don’t want to rip each others’ head off, congrats. You should get married. You could also probably raise kids together as well or at least care for a very large dog.

I think I’m going to lay off the IKEA furniture for a while.

What’s your IKEA experience been like recently? Any fun stories?

Creative Closet: Jewels and Jewel Tones

Summer is my season.  The light fabrics, brighter colors, and all-around more carefree feel is fantastic.  That said, there’s something about the golden light of fall that’s so beautiful.  I love the jewel tones that come out in the fall.  It isn’t the dark black and endless gray of winter, but it isn’t the in-your-face punch of color of summer.

It also is the perfect time to bust out cranberry-matte lips and leather.  I feel like my most bad-ass self in the fall.

So I figured today’s Creative Closet prompt is a perfect time to come out of outfit-sharing hibernation.

Leather jacket, vampy lipstick, and jewel tones for fall.

Leather jacket: No.14 Boutique (during the #StylishPittsburgh event!)
Lips: Dazed by ColourPop
Top: Mossimo @ Target
Jeans: American Eagle
Sneakers: Converse

Love matte cranberry lips for fall! | Gardening In High Heels

Jewel tones and red lips for fall | Gardening In High Heels

Nothing compliments jewel tones quite like some jewels.  You know my favorite way to dress up an outfit is to add a little sparkle.  And damn is this ring sparkly.

Anjolee anniversary eternity band | Gardening In High Heels

I’ve been looking for a great eternity band to wear and I love this ring from Anjolee.  Their anniversary rings are stunning and super comfortable, even though the U setting has some height to it.  And this is just further proof that you don’t need to wait around for someone to buy you something shiny – go out and get it yourself.

Anjolee anniversary eternity band | Gardening In High Heels

Although if you need to give someone a little push…go ahead and bookmark the shiz out of that page.

I love the amethyst pop to contrast with the emerald shirt.  It isn’t an obvious pop, but it’s enough of a statement that I don’t really wear other jewels when I have this ring on.

I also can’t get enough of this lipstick.  It’s my first ColourPop Lippie Stix shade and I looooove it.  Like, “I want to wear this even when I’m just hanging out around the house” love it.

Statement eternity band by Anjolee, jewel tones, and red lips..fall perfection! | Gardening In High Heels

Truly embracing my inner rebel with this outfit.

How do you add some fall into your outfits?  Any other lovers of jewel tones?

This post was sponsored by Anjolee. Their jewelry is gorgeous and I couldn’t resist spreading the word about them! Thank you for supporting the brands that support GIHH.

Sunday Lately 37

When did it get to be the 37th week of the year?  This is insanity.  I feel like it’s the time of the year when I’m giving up on the goals that I set for myself and saying, “Well, it’s almost the end of the year.  What’s the point?  I’ll just try harder next year.”  But any day can be next year.  You can start next year whenever you feel like it.

“You might feel sleepy. It might be tough. It could seem preferable to just sit this one out. But…Today is not over yet.” Alex Franzen is a wise woman.  And today isn’t over yet.  The year isn’t over yet.  It isn’t over yet.  Just remember that.

That’s neither here nor there.  On Wednesday, I attended a #StylishPittsburgh event at No. 14 Boutique in Lawrenceville and it was fantastic.  Everything was so chic and Pinterest-perfect.  There were cupcakes and prosecco and I got to spend the evening catching up with Marissa and I purchased the most beautiful leather jacket just in time for a spell of cool weather here.

 

Doing

I feel like I’ve been doing everything and nothing at the same time.  I’m definitely spinning my wheels with certain projects and time is slipping away from me.  Exactly why I feel like it may be semi-pointless to try to make this year’s goals happen this year.

Appreciating

There’s an opening in another department at work and I appreciate the chance to be considered for it.  And no, I’m not just saying this because my url is on my resume.  I really am thrilled to try to make the company I work for bigger and better.  And myself, too.  I realized that if I’m not learning and growing and challenging myself, then I am supremely unhappy.  I need that challenge and this is exactly what I’m looking to tackle next.

Designing

Pretty sure that 87% of the past “designing” prompts have been something about this blog.  But I really am working on a plan to beef it up and redesign it.  I want to split it into “blog” and “services” that are more clearly defined.  Right now, it’s a blog (which is fine) but I need to highlight what I offer in other areas too.

Humming

I’m writing this and listening to Fleetwood Mac.  Because why not.

Expecting

I saw a Clarity on Fire clarity gem recently that said, “Expectation is far more powerful than hope.”  Don’t hope that things will work out, expect that the results you want will happen.  Don’t hope for a good life, expect it.  I love the action in the word expect.  Sometimes it feels a little…like you just think it’ll magically fall in your lap without trying.  But it’s more powerful than hoping.  There’s action to it.  Something will happen.

What have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup with Katy, Nicole and Meghan. Use their themes or use your own. Just remember to link up with them so we can see what is happening with you lately!

Sunday Lately, 36?

I’m skipping a few weeks between Sunday Lately posts and I don’t know if I should number based on the weeks or based on what week I’m on.  So that’s why you get the ? in there.  I have no idea what day it is or what week it is half the time anymore.  I used to use that brain training app and honestly didn’t see much of a difference, but I am noticing a difference when I don’t do something cerebral.  Or maybe I’m just a little scattered with other things lately?

"Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect."

Anyway…onward!

Planning

I am planning a huuuuge weekend of cleaning.  Friday, September 4th was the official closing day on my father’s house, so Thursday, September 3rd was the panicked, “Oh shit we have to haul everything out of here; I don’t care where it goes, but it can’t stay here” day.  So I’ve been playing a fun game called How Much Stuff Can You Pack Into a Ford Focus.  Angelica: 10, Car: 0.

How much can you fit into a Ford Focus?

Well it ended up in my garage.  And my basement, my office, my bedroom.  Basically my house is full of things that I couldn’t bear to part with from my childhood and Christmas decorations.  My dad loves his Christmas decorations, which is ironic because I hate decorating for holidays.  I definitely didn’t get that gene.

Loving

This weather!  Yesterday morning while I was cleaning, it was warm and sunny and dry (important because I was chucking empty boxes into the driveway in victory every time I emptied one).

Yesterday afternoon, I finally caught a summer thunderstorm.  I have a covered back porch and my favorite thing to do is sit on the porch and listen to the rain.  I was moving a few things around and I got rained on, so I figured, “Hey I’m already wet, why not go play in the rain.”  So I did.

Reading

The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  Of course.  I got sucked in.  Probably because I need a cubic shitton of some magical tidying up help.

There are some things in this book that are so useful.  Her advise for storing clothes or how she advises you to keep an item if it brings you joy and let go of those that don’t (sound life advise overall, don’tcha think?)

But there are certain things like, “Your house will tell you where to store it,” that I’m like……”Really?  Really, Marie?  It will?  Yeah okay…”

Wishing

For long weekends all the time.  I would get so much done and feel so much better.  Or I’d just be happy if I could wake up at 7am every day.  I think that’s my sweet spot.  Any earlier and I feel like a zombie.  Any later and I feel like I’ve wasted the morning (my most go get ’em time of the day).

Feeling

All the feels.  I don’t like change.  I’m not a person who can roll with the punches.  I sit there and freak out and cry and then I can think clearly and reassess.  But to reassess it on the fly?  Nope.

For example: Jonathan and I were installing a new floor in my father’s house back in January.  I was getting so worked up and frustrated that I couldn’t see or think clearly.  It wasn’t until I banged some things around, got angry, and cried a little did I get back to work with a solid plan of attack.

So I just need to throw some things around a little first, but I’ll be alright.

What have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup with Katy, Nicole and Meghan. Use their themes or use your own. Just remember to link up with them so we can see what is happening with you lately!

Budgeting Days

I went shopping again.  On a Saturday again.  And it wasn’t that bad!  I seriously never went weeks without grocery shopping like I do now.  I guess mix 2 parts being too scattered to think with 1 part being cognizant of what I’m spending, stir it up, and realize that there are ways to feed yourself without having to shop every week.

Sticking to a food budget is hard, but I love the accountability with Project:Food BudgetBut I really do appreciate the P:FB is keeping me honest and makes me really think about where I’m spending money when it comes to what I’m buying.  I’m sad to see this end.

I’ve been doing a lot of simple cooking with tomatoes, herbs, and pasta.  I’ve become addicted to a tomato pasta recipe from Jamie Oliver.  Tom Totin gifted me a cookbook when I was on his show (all episodes here!) and it stole my heart.

Jamie Oliver's summer tomato and herb pasta

My total bill at Giant Eagle this week was $36.69.  On Wednesday, even though I packed lunch, I went to Panera with my coworkers and spent $10.57 (total rip off!) which makes this week’s total $47.26/$50.

I am most excited to use up more of my zucchini, the only thing my garden is producing, and make a batch of these zucchini brownies.  There’s no oil or eggs (just bananas and apple sauce) and just a small bit of sugar (I cut down to about 1 1/4 cup), but you get deliciously tender, slightly fudgy, just a little spongy brownies.  I’m talking Stand-In-The-Kitchen-Eating-Straight-From-The-Pan good.

I also picked up some ingredients for a beef ramen.  I have the recipe from a Blue Apron box delivery and I thought I’d recreate it a little myself.  I didn’t go crazy buying weird mushrooms and miso paste, but I figure I can use what I have.  I’m also substituting broccoli rabe for bok choy because I couldn’t find a reasonably sized bok choy and I don’t like it that much to use 60 pounds of it.

How are you doing with your food budget?  Check out these budget badasses for more inspiration! Emily Levenson / McGinnis and Bean / Red Pen Mama / Seeking White Space / Gardening in High Heels / Melissa Firman / Copy & Post / Shea Lennon / Warm as Pie / Two Eggs Over Easy

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