The 7's: In Decorating

I never really gave a Seven & Seven view of our old apartment in Cincinnati (which I really did love). The building was a National Historic Landmark, and while it needed an upgrade in some places, I always loved its charm. So now that we are in our first house (still renting, but it feels like an upgrade!), I wanted to take a post to talk about my love for decorating and show you some pictures of how things are coming.

For this move, I am very happy to say that the only money we spent on the house was new paint in a few rooms.  Other than that, we did not buy a single thing!  It is amazing to see what a little paint and rearranging of your furniture can do. My mom gave me advice a few apartments back when she said "Never buy for this apartment now, buy for the house you want one day".  And this is so true.  Instead of spending money on pieces or items that may only work for your current home, either save your money and wait, or buy items that can easily transfer from home to home, style to style.  I know that Justin and I have moved more than the average people our age, but its still a great moto to shop by when decorating at a young age.

Along with some pictures, I wanted to give you my 7 Rules of Decorating.  I know that not everyone has my style, but hopefully you can translate some of these tips into your own and recreate for your current living space.

1. Your home should be a reflection of yourself.  If you look around, and you don't see YOU, change it. What is missing that is unique to you as an individual? Showcase it.
2. Everything has its place.  If you can't find a "home" for something, it probably means you don't really use it that much. Cleaning out and donating old items to charity is a great way to start fresh.
3. Decorate with staple items.  For me, this means books, picture frames, vases, and even coasters. Stack books together to give height to an arrangement, and use items that sit out every day (like coasters) to say something creative about your style. 
4. Always have fresh flowers.  I have discovered that the cheaper the flowers at your grocery store (mums, daisies, etc.), the longer they last.  Cut the stems at an angle and fill the vase will luke warm water.  Add a little sugar or flower food to keep them alive days longer.
5. Master the 10 minute clean.  Know what you can clean in 10 minutes and what you need to "pick up" to keep your space looking tidy and organized. 
6. Do not be afraid to mix patterns and prints. If you can't take a risk in your own home, where can you take it? Everything doesn't have to match to look great together. 
7. Highlight what you love.  A framed photo from your wedding, a hand me down piece from your grandmother, whatever it is that is special to you, keep it out and let it tell its story.

A huge thanks to my mom for all of her decorating help this past weekend! She can really work wonders on a room, thank you!! :)

Dining Room with Mix Matched Chairs & Benches

Guest Bedroom--Full of Stripes! 

Living Room

Old Window Frames Backed with Fabric & Wallpaper--easy DIY

Orange & Grey Mix with Fun Zebra pillows

Nautical Inspired Shower Curtain

Office Desk with New Grey Paint 

The 7's: In Color

Today, a few of our Cincinnati friends joined together to form The Color Fools and run the Color Run downtown. I don't usually get too deep in the 7's, but today really taught me something special. This morning was so cold, and so early for a Saturday, and to be completely honest, I did not want to get out of bed. I was excited for the event, but totally lagging once this morning rolled around. Once we got downtown and met up with our group, we roamed through a sea of all white outfits to the start line. As I looked around, half way frozen and barely awake, all I could see was white.  From head to toe. And honestly, it didn't wake me up at all. All the white, all the boring...I was asleep, unmotivated, and just plain tired.

Once the race started, and we hit the first Color Station (orange), I looked around at our group, and we all looked SO different.  Yes, it was one color that we were covered in, but how it hit us, mixed with our skin tones and hair colors, and fell on our faces, we were each unique. The next colors kept coming every half mile or so (blue, pink, yellow, and green), and each time we waited for each other to get our color badge, and laughed at how completely covered, vibrant, and well, alive, we were.

By the end of the 3 mile race all 6 of us were completely covered in color.  Some more green, some more pink, some a complete mix of the rainbow.  But in addition to the Color Fools, they were 10,000 more runners that were also completely covered. And not two people in that crowd looked the same. We each looked different, our colors a stand out version in a sea of every aspect of the color spectrum.

The point of all of this is, is to embrace YOUR colors.  What makes you different, honestly, it makes you beautiful. Conforming, caring what other people think, criticizing yourself, it puts you right back in that sea of...white. Who ever got anywhere in life without that extra color? They didn't. We, I, we are all so hard on ourselves every single day.  Do you ever give yourself a break and just give yourself a compliment? I don't. But maybe, after today, after seeing how all of that individuality created an incredible canvas, I will.

Don't let your colors hold you back, embrace it. Because there is no one in that crowd of 10,000, and no one in the world, that is just like you. And you can do anything--even with your face covered in green paint.

(From top to bottom: Kelsey coming out of the blue Color Station; V and J in action; Pink Power; Nihkil and Alaina post green paint dump; A just married bride and groom in their wedding attire (adore this!!!); the final color toss; post color run and loving every minute of it)

If you want to check out a Color Run in your city here is the official link, www.thecolorrun.com.

And scroll back up to the top of this post and take a look at the all white picture again.  Now that you've seen the post-race look, you have to admit, it's better with color.

Check out a video that J took of the final Color Throw!

This Week's 7's.

Here's to this week's 7's (and why is tomorrow Monday?)...so much love in these pictures over this past week that it's hard to capture all of it.  But hopefully you can see how us Midwestern-er's have some fun :)

(1. J made coffee and put an A on my mug, adorable 2. I went to Bruce Springsteen in Chicago, no words 3. I know I love my dogs, but can't you see why? 4. These girls make Cincinnati amazing, never forget why you are blessed 5. I love anything country and anything with the word "mason" 6. Farmer's Market flowers 7. Oh and I cut my hair, nothing drastic, but let's document)

The first of the 7's...An ode to summer.

The 7's are a collection of photos to remember the thoughts, happenings, and encounters of the previous week...here's to the first of the 7's, and the memories to come! 

(1. the most delicious appetizer book, Skinny Dips from Crate & Barrel; 2. sleeping bears in front of the Just Married sign; 3. pretty bathroom tray, on sale from West Elm, $2.99; 4. J at the brewery; 5. walking the bears in the turquoise shorts; 6. flowers getting ready for fall; 7. Hyde Park Farmer's Market... farewell summer)

Oh, and what we (I) wore...

 

Sweet thoughts & dreams. xo.