{Quote of the Week.}

week {neunundvierzig};

{via: flickr.}

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dream.”

— Paulo Coelho

week 18.

1. how cute are
these illustrations?
oh what i would
give to have such
talent!

2. this bookshelf
& arrangement
is absolutely
splendid!
i love simple
yet creative spaces!

3. i love this
cute pam & jim
montage capturing
some of my favorite
moments of them!

4. i adore this print!

i would need one
that said dr.pepper
in place of coffee! ; )
{& remember this print
from week 12?? it's from
the same wonderful designer!}

5. what a cute photo!
such a whimsical moment to treasure.
i love it!





xo-

thankful for you.

{via: flickr.}

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson.

with lots of love,
Happy Thanksgiving.
xo-

a little update.

{via: here.}

hello loves!

i just wanted to let you know that i am featured on the wonderful blog yes and yes today! i am so very excited that the brilliant sarah von invited me to post for her! & next week she is going to post here! hooray!

also, i started an internship with amazing company buttoned up! they are absolutely the nicest people in the world to work with & i'm so very thankful for the opportunity!

oh, & i just got an email from my bank letting me know that the raffle i entered in August for a free laptop...yeah, i WON!

oh my goodness! so exciting!
xo-

how wonderful!

{via: tumblr.}

i have officially started my thanksgiving break.

no work.
no school.
until next monday!

i am so very happy about this.

as for the moment, i am off to enjoy some 30Rock without worrying about any assignments, meetings, or major tasks!
xo-

{Quote of the Week.}

week {achtundvierzig};

{via: flickr.}

week 17.

1. this room lined
with bookcases
had me at "hello"
...l-o-v-e!

2. What a darling print-
I would love to have it
in my workspace!

3. i found this

awesome creation
after having
stumbled upon
"bento" which
the lovely yelena
featured last week!

4. i'm loving
this project
of redesigning
classic literature
book covers!
what a beautiful
collection!!

5. Oh, my...
i am absolutely
smitten with
everything about
this precious
polaroid picture collage.












xo-

Oh, happy [fri]day !

{via: flickr.}

fewf, t.g.i.f.!

have a splendid day!
xo-

p.s. guaranteed to make you smile.

the hostess with the mostess.

my sister katie threw an awesome party for her two girls' birthdays last weekend.
it was a book theme & we dressed up as characters from our favorite books.
it was pretty much amazing.

see more here & here.

xo-

the occasional seaside hotel afternoon dance.

{via: NYTimes.}

le sigh...heaven.

xo-

{Quote of the Week.}

week {sechsundvierzig};

{via: tumblr.}

“Whatever life takes away from you, let it go. When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment. Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now.”-don Miguel Riuz.

p.s. i'm in love with those shoes!

A weekend in... Lawrence, KS.

i am so excited to share with you all one of my very first published articles!
a huge thanks to my brother-in-law brandon for photographing some of Lawrence for my piece-- His work is absolutely amazing!

& a ginormous thank you to the sweet Jessie for letting me contribute to their amazing magazine-- she is the editor-in-chief, how awesome is that?!

xo-

week 16.

1. i love these clever
ring holders! wouldn't they be perfect for a shower gift?

2. i love this outfit.
what a fun, comfy,
sophisticated look!

3. this is amazing!
oh, albert. you are
so very smart. ; )

4. aren't these an awesome way to keep
your keys organized?!
i wish i had more time to knit!

5. i adore these
wedding invitations!
i love how personal
& fun they are!









xo-

a little to do list of wonderful.

{via: flickr.}

xo-

for they are the true heros.

To our Veterans:
Thank You for all that you do.
you are heros.

we love you!
[my brother-in-law chris & baby natalie. 2006]

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." -Joseph Campbell.

{October Giveaway}: Winner!

{via: weheartit.}

hooray for haylee!! the winner of the october giveaway:
the beautiful pair of earrings from RWestDesigns!

thanks to all who participated, there's always another chance in the november giveaway. ; )

& thanks to the oh so very talented Becky, for sponsoring this giveaway. it means so much to me, it really does.

xo-

in our hearts you'll always be.

{playing hoosker-do circa 1994(?) at gma & gpa allen's.}

dearest gma allen,
a year has passed since we lost you, but you have remained firmly in our hearts.
we feel you with us, gently encouraging us when we are discouraged, filling us with happiness when we feel sad, and forever loving us, as we love you.

we miss you grandma, but you are always in our hearts. always.
& one day, grandma, we'll be with you, again.
...playing games, eating gardettos & drinking fresca, together in heaven.
& how sweet it will be.

i love you so much,
always, & forever.
your Annie.

{Quote of the Week.}

week {fünfundvierzig};

{via: flickr.}

translated:

“Many small people
who in many small places
do many small things
that can alter the face of the world.”

[oops! it should have been "können" not "könen". minor detail...]

Freiheit.

9. November 1989.

"The wall was an edifice of fear. On Nov. 9, 20 years ago, it became a place of joy. For 28 years, East Germans could not even approach it. On Nov. 9, 1989, people danced on it — and the world looked different afterward."— German President Horst Koehler.

a short storyline about the berlin wall.

mit liebe-
Anna.

week 15.

1. i love this beautiful map by the amazing artist Alice Tait. imagine how lovely would that look on your wall!

2. i cannot stop
swooning over
this gorgeous
paper chandelier!
so creative & stunning!

3. i wish i dressed

half as lovely as
this fashionable girl!
doesn't she look so classy?
le sigh.

4. what a sweet way to
decorate a nursery!
& such a great
little reminder of love.

5. one of my favorite

blogs now has an etsy
shoppe of their postcards!
hooray!
how stinkin' cute
are these?!






xo-

{to}: Miss Carolyn... {love}: Your Aunt Anna.

{via: tumblr.}

Oh, my! How can you already be five!! It feels like i was just holding you in my arms, swooning over a niece! I was so very excited-- my first niece! A new baby, to rock, buy pretty's for, and giggle with. & you were even more perfect than we could have ever imagined, & you still are.

when we first met i knew you were our family's new little princess. you were expressive since the beginning, showing off your wonderful facial expressions, hamming it up for the group, dazzling us with your gorgeous smile & personality.








you have been such a beautiful girl since you were itty bitty. you've always made hearts smile with your big blue eyes & sweet, so-very-caring demeanor.












you've kept us smiling over the years with your outgoingness, happy imagination, and brilliant performances. you have been amazing since day day one.









you've helped in teaching me what it means to be an aunt, how much love my heart has, & how to appreciate every moment we have...while time simply passes so very quickly.









you even modeled the easter dress i sewed for you in my high school's fashion show, & of course, you stole the show with your preciousness.









you've taught me to appreciate the
little things in life, like never passing up a chance to twirl, dance, or dress up fancy...even for just a simple trip to the store.














never lose that spunk in your eye, the emotion you put into every little thing you do, or the passion you have for the things you love. always follow your heart, your dreams.









you are a gift, a blessing,
& i love you more than i will ever find words to be able to say. you mean the world to me, miss carolyn.

Love always & forever,

your aunt Anna.