The most wonderful time of year!

It's the first day of fall and I'm super excited! Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, and since I have my own house now, I was able to decorate! I recently visited Hobby Lobby and all of the fall decor was on sale (uh oh!) Good for me, bad for my wallet ;) Here is my entertainment center and dining room table. Enjoy!

Leaf Garland + Christmas Lights= Autumn Garland

Found these on Pinterest and are super easy to make!

Piled up books create different levels of depth

Owl Scentsy filled with pumpkin marshmallow wax, YUM!

Owls are perfect for Fall & Year round

Cute little nieces and babushka dolls <3

Pumpkin Everything!

Fact: candy corn is my favorite candy! All year round!

Classic stories bound in vintage fabric. Yes please!

Can you tell that I like owls yet? Don't forget coffee! Mhmmm...

This lovely candle is from Bath & Body Works

Don't forget to decorate with a pug here and there. Oh and more owls! 

Love Always,

S. Smith    

Crunchy Leaves

                  I've written a little story for you! When I close my eyes and imagine November, this is what I see. Enjoy :)
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         I sigh in relief, and take a deep breath in. The bitter smell of my coffee laced with sugar rises up into up into my senses and it makes me smile. I'm siting in the largest bay window of the house reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. He crosses my mind, the boy at school with the rich chocolate colored hair, and deep green eyes. I blush. My thoughts escape me and I look out the window. I can hear rain hitting the roof, and the grey layer of clouds seem impermeable. My eyes focus on a single rain drop slipping against the window's glass. Slowly inching towards the sill. Outside the leaves have turned auburn and scarlet but the grass remains lush green. The oak trees stand like giants, and their leaves litter the ground. My reverie is interrupted by a small chime from my cell phone. It's my best friend, "So, I miss you and I'm so exited to watch movies with you in our sharing scarf!" This makes me smile. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around myself. My knit sweater is warm against my skin and the crisp air envelops me. Halloween has passed, and Thanksgiving is almost upon us. My entire family is here and I can't help but be happy just having them around me. I can hear my nieces laughing in the other room and my sisters in the kitchen with my mother. The men are all watching the game, and it makes me feel like we're all in one of those perfect family movies. 
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        I'd love to hear what November means to you. Please share in the comments below, on Facebook or find me on twitter @enviedesire.

Love Always,
S.Smith 

Mumbo Jumbo

          Do you ever just get the urge to write everything down? Or just have an inkling to just sit down and write something? anything? I honestly have no point in writing this post. I just feel like I have a million and one thoughts running through my mind and need to write them out.

          Lately (the last few days) I have been feeling really grateful for the things I have. I'm not sure if it's because I got to go shopping and buy lots of goodies, or if it's the comfort of having friends around and going on adventures with them. 

          I was sitting at our friends house just last night, and I was studying for a class. I had the thought that even though I'm sitting here, doing something I could be doing on my own couch, I was happy that I had people around me. Somehow having their two daughters and Bean running around, the music from their radio, and the sound of someone cooking in the kitchen was comforting. Almost nostalgic. (I'm a big baby. I'm choking up over here writing this.) It reminds me of home, and how simple everything used to be.

         Word of advice: don't be the person who just "can't wait to grow up". Sure, it's got a lot of perks to it, but I miss how easy it was to just be. It was easy to be me, and I made it harder than it needed to be. So don't over-complicate your life, and love today. Tomorrow will always be there, and it can wait.

Love Always,

S. Smith 

Feeling Blue

                        The issue of depression has been present in my life since I was 13, and I have learned to cope with it. But every once in a while I have my down moments. Sometimes it'll last a few minutes, like most people, but other times I can't seem to shake the shadow of sadness. I have never really been able to physically speak about it, but I have no problem writing about it. Which is a great form of therapy for me. I hope that being able to put these feelings and getting them out there for others to see will some how help me feel better. 
          I don't know if most of you know this but I do come from a fairly large family. Both parents always present, four sisters, one brother and fourteen nieces and nephews. I have always grown-up and spent my time around at least one of those people. When I got married, I literally packed up my things in a matter of days and left Washington to live in New Mexico. I left behind my hometown, all my family, and my friends. 
          I hate being the person who just picked up and walked out of so many people's lives. I hate it because I know what it feels like to have someone just decide they don't want to be around you anymore. Granted, I had a duty to fulfill, and that was to go where my husband went but I feel like a big chunk of me was left behind in Washington, and I don't know if I will ever get it back. I've lost relationships with people I never thought I'd lose and it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart knowing that I was partially responsible for the dissolution.
          A lot of people are telling me that I need to find a job, and meet new people here, but it's not as easy as it sounds. When so much of me is longing for those old pieces of me that I have left behind, it's hard to want to move forward. I miss my family, my friends (especially the ones I've lost contact with), my job at PBS, good food, rain, Starbucks and grass! 
         I am trying to be happy with what I have. Truly, I am grateful for everything that has been given and provided to me but I'm not sure if those things are what I need right now. I really don't know what it is I want to get from posting this. Possibly just the piece of mind that now someone knows how I am feeling. And maybe, just maybe, that'll change something.

love always,
S. Smith

Hey Duvet!

      So they may be many reason that you may want to change your comforter into a duvet. Wait! You've never thought to do that? Well, if you have or haven't I'm here to show you how in just 10 steps! I personally decided to convert my beautiful Cynthia Rowley comforter into a duvet cover because it was viciously shoved into a washing machine to small for it's magnificence and it's insides got all mumbo jumbo-ed! (if that makes sense)

      Now, before you dive in, please keep in mind that I am in no way, shape or form, the world champion at hand sewing. In fact I am far from it. If you have a sewing machine, I would recommend using it. I do not have one so I had to sew by hand.

      Remember: We'll be working at the bottom of the comforter from start to finish!

      Step One:Using a seam ripper, open up the bottom seem of the comforter. Be careful not to cut your comforter! And remove all that extra string.

Step Two: Pull out all that yucky stuffing!

Step Three: Iron the bottom of the duvet so it's nice and straight.

Step Four: Find the seam that runs down the side of your duvet and make a mark two inches down. Seam rip that puppy open!

Step Five: Fold over your two-inch section towards the inside of the duvet and iron it down nicely.

Step Six: Sew that seam back up! I did a cross-stitch just because I think it's super cute! (even though you won't see this seam once you're all done)

Step Seven: Lay your duvet flat on the floor (the same way it would be on your bed) and measure 10 inches in from each side and make a mark. Sew the front and back of the duvet together from the OUTSIDE seam to the mark. This will prevent the two sides of the duvet of becoming uneven.

Step Eight: Place your buttons evenly across one of the flaps that now face the inside of your duvet. (The two inch section you folded over earlier) Mark each button hole and sew the buttons on.

Step Nine: Measure your button's width (mine were 1 1/4in.) On the opposite lap, make a line the same length as your button and seam rip it open.

Step Ten:  Last but not least, sew around the button loops edges.

      And there you have it! Your comforter is now a duvet cover. Which is much easier to wash. Just slip it over a down comforter, or another comforter and throw it on your bed. Here are a few pictures of the finished product! 

*If you put the buttons through their loops just right they should hide inside the duvet. (seen in the second picture)

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments section and I will gladly answer them. I hope this tutorial inspires you! Bon chance!

Love always,

S. Smith xoxo

Something Starting...

That's right! I have joined the YouTube family! If you haven't already checked out my channel, here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCveWahhgd8Z0h5REukWspNw

Right now there is currently two videos up and new ones out every wednesday. 

I really hope that my channel and blog will be able to grow within the next year and that I will be able to reach people from all over! So subscribe so you don't miss out!

In other news, I am literally one semester away from my Associates in General Studies! Yes, that's means by Christmas I will hold an associated degree. (Exciting right?!) 

That is, if I can pass Sociology, English, Biology, Math, and Communications...

Once all of that is done, I will be starting on my degree in Liberal Arts with focus in education. Plus, all the credits I have already earned will go toward that degree! So I'm already half way there.
I am extremely grateful to be able to continue my education and eventually have the job I want.

Thank you for sharing in my journey!
À bientôt!

-S. Smith

Stand Up

I just finished watching the documentary "Bully" directed by Lee Hirsch. The movie touches on five different families that have been affected and suffered by bullying. I definitely recommend giving it watch. 

The movie has left me with a million thoughts that I can't help but want to share it with everyone. I hope that I can clearly explain, and inspire anyone who reads this. After reading this, If you are so inspired to share it with others, please do!

I had a feeling that I would cry while watching this documentary. Having dealt first hand with bullying all throughout my secondary schooling, I could relate with some of the stories being told. Although I was bullied, it wasn't as severe as what others suffer through. The documentary has sparked something within me and quite frankly, made me angry. I'm angry that things still haven't changed in the world. I'm angry that schools are no longer a safe place for students. I'm angry that so many people place bullying on a back burner, let it simmer until the pot turns black. Why is bullying ignored every day? Even though so many people witness it constantly?

So many people believe that if they don't stick up for themselves or for others, someone else will. And that is where so many people are wrong. A lot of the time people simply ignore bullying. Students see it on the bus, in the halls of their schools, and even in their classrooms. It shocks me that so many people will walk this Earth, and choose to allow another fellow being to be beat up, degraded, and mistreated. Parents often do this too. Along with teachers, principles  guidance counselors, and other authority figures. 

I propose that we start to strive for change. And I mean BIG change. Parents need to in instill in their kids the idea that if anyone, anyone at all picks on them to not be afraid to stand up for themselves or to tell an adult they trust. Children also need to understand the importance of standing up for others. The fact is, if you don't stand up for someone when they can't, you're allowing that bully to continue, and to think what they are doing is okay. Deep down we all know bullying is wrong, and cruel. It's not as simple as  "kids will be kids". Bullying is not something to be taken lightly. Please understand that.

Another thing that angers me is that the only time the world takes notice to bullying is by the victim taking their own life. In the documentary, they show a family whose eleven year old son has committed suicide. ELEVEN YEARS OLD. I  do not have my own children, but I know many children around that age. And I'm sure most of you reading do as well. Can you imagine losing someone so young to their own hand? Can you imagine losing your 16 year old, or 13 year old? What about your nieces or nephews? These groups are not the only people to be tormented by bullying. Anyone who interacts with other people are susceptible to abuse.

I believe that as people, it is our duty to stand up for these people. To give those who are gone and those who cannot speak up for themselves a voice. A voice so loud and clear that the whole world understands and hears our message. It doesn't matter if you look different, where certain clothes, come from diverse backgrounds, are LGBT, or just different. NO ONE deserves to be treated badly. No one on this Earth deserves to be abused by their peers. 

Take a stand. Stop Bullying.
Spread Kindness.

know that I love ya!

love always,
S. Smith

Life Updates

So I just realized how long it has been since I've posted, and I must say A LOT has happened since then. I'm sorry I haven't kept you all updated! So here is a list of 18 things that have happened since Aug. 2011! (woah.) I'll try and put them in chronological order.

#1. I rescued a cat, who was left behind at my sister's apartments. I named her Cupcake

#2. I had the most amazing weekend at OSU with my best friend Mandy, her boyfriend Nick, and my man Sean

#3. At Halloween Sean carved his first pumpkin, EVER

#4. My sister Michele and her fiancé Michael were married in Las Vegas!

#5. Sean and I joined my best friend Cayla and her fiancé in Leavenworth, WA for the tree lighting

#6. Spent Christmas break in Sandy, UT with my sister Michele & her husband

#7. In March, Sean went off to basic training for The Air Force

#8. I was lucky enough to spend spring break in Maui with Michele & her husband

#9. I took one of the funnest and most rewarding classes in my college experience, black & white film photography

#10. I started working at the most AMAZING job I could have ever asked for. I could write and entire blog post about how much I truly enjoyed working at KBTC (PBS of Tacoma). If you want to know what sort of things I did there, check out: http://kbtcreadytolearn.blogspot.com/

#11. During the summer I worked, played at The Children's Museum of Tacoma, went to the zoo, hung out at the beach, and visited Sean in Texas.
#12. My best friend Cayla had her beautiful baby boy, Jayden Andrew <3

#13. In September my sister Jaimee, her three daughters and I took a trip to Forks, WA for Stephanie Meyer's Day. We had an amazing time and even won the scavenger hunt!

#14. November 16th, 2012 I married my best friend Sean Smith!

#15. November 24th, 2012 I picked up everything I owned, left behind all my friends and family and moved to Clovis, NM with Sean. He is currently stationed here at Cannon AFB.

#16. January we finally got base housing!
#17. On spring break I went back home to WA for some much needed family time.

#18. Sean and I adopted a baby pug, and named him Bean!

These are just some of my favorite highlights of the year. Of course a ton of other things happened, but if I had to add them all it would be a very lengthy post!
Know that I love ya!

love always,

S. Smith