Currently...

              

Giddy over having a pretty good weekend! It was filled with relaxing with movies, furniture shopping, dinner at a restaurant, and drawing! I actually felt kind of productive!

Smiling at the memory of our dinner at Applebee's on Saturday. As CJ and I sat down at our table, he actually asked the host if we could have crayons and color the leprechaun drawings they had for the  kids! I was so surprised he did this, but absolutely loved it! So we got a little coloring practice with our dinner :)

Working on creating an imaginary city drawing for my class. The project is designed to have us work with perspective, which I am finding I actually really like! Let's hope this will turn out well enough for me to actually share!

Looking forward to receiving our new dining table tomorrow! After searching 3 stores this weekend, we finally found one that was the appropriate size, comfortable, and most important within our budget!

Searching for new recipes to try! Though delicious, I've been making pretty much the same few meals every week. I'd love to have some new recipes in my repertoire. Any recommendations?

Creative Shoe Organization

Happy Friday Dinosaurs! Today I'd like to share with you a little organization project I came up with this past weekend. If you know anything about me, you'd know that I absolutely love organization! My husband often likes to tease me about how intense I can get about my organizing (guilty!). I am so much more efficient and feel so much better when I can clear my space and life of clutter.

So when my shoes were wreaking havoc in my closet, I knew I had to take order! While I had thought they were sitting neatly, lined up against the closet walls, I was still kicking them and making a mess during my daily rummaging through our tiny closet. So I made a plan for something much more practical, with a little creative twist!

I spotted these storage boxes at A.C. Moore, commonly used for photo storage, but are also the perfect size for shoes! I loved the assortment of patterns and snagged up as many as I could when they were on sale (4 for $10)! But since these weren't clear boxes, I didn't want to have to open each box just to find a particular pair shoes. Thus enter the Fuji Instax Camera.

I used my instant camera to snap a photo of each of the pairs of shoes.

I used Scotch double sided removable tape (in the scrapbooking department) to place 2 strips on the back of each photograph. I then simply attached it to the front of the shoe box, covering the little metal plate. The great thing about this tape is that it's removable, so if you decide to change the pair in the box, you can remove the picture without damaging the box!

Place the appropriate pair in your box, and voilà! You now have a lovely set of shoe boxes and know exactly which pair is in each box! You can stack the boxes wherever you need to in your closet and keep everything tidy! My closet already feels so much more organized!

I hope some of you will find this little project easy to recreate and useful  for the needs in your home!

How do you keep your closet under control?

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for reading!

<3

Stripes and Polka Dots

Dress (as top): Charlotte Russe | Skirt: Target | Tights: Target | 

Socks: France | Shoes: Blowfish | Hat: France | Scarf: France | Watch: Japan

Hey Dinosaurs! I apologize for my absence this Monday! I had a full on snow day so I was catching up on work and taking advantage of spending time with the husband while he was home too :) It was a wonderfully relaxed day off, which I was grateful for!

So, even though the weather has decided to be a jerk and confuse us all, I've decided I will just adapt accordingly! Even though it's great to just lounge in sweatpants when you're snowed in, when I actually leave the apartment I don't want to let the weather keep me from wearing what I want! Adding layers works perfect for days like this! I grabbed my usual tights, layered with knee socks for extra warmth! Toss on a warm hat, scarf, and boots, and you're all bundled up! I decided to have a little more fun with it by mixing stripes and dots, which this scarf worked perfectly!!

How did you spend your snow day and stay warm? And if you're lucky enough to be in a location not burdened by snow, what were you able to do?

Thanks for reading!

<3

Creating Gallery Walls

Hey Dinosaurs! This Friday, I'm bringing you a little feature on gallery walls! This interest of mine came about after my wedding, when I realized I had so many pictures and pieces I wanted to share and display. So, I decided to group them together and create a gallery wall. I actually ended up creating 2 galleries, since I had so many pieces! Check out the galleries below, then I'll tell you how I set them up!

The first gallery wall was dedicated to the print aspect of my wedding. I loved all of the invitations and cards we incorporated, so I had to make sure they were framed! 

This gallery includes: shadowbox of special details, thank you card, wedding invitation, rehearsal dinner invitation, save the date card, and wedding ceremony program. The shadowbox includes some of the special details that were part of our attire and some of the table decor. I chose to set up the print gallery above our corner table, designated for keys and mail; it was just the perfect size!

Next, I created a larger gallery wall to incorporate my favorite pictures and some significant art.

This gallery included: portraits of us, with our families, and our wedding party, a shot from our ceremony, and a print from Pokémon and one of clever 'wedding computer code' (from Redbubble). I had so much fun putting this one together! I loved so many different shots from our wedding day, I found this was the perfect way to remember and enjoy all of it. I hung this gallery over our couch, spanning the full length of the couch, for all to enjoy! Though some may find it tedious, I thoroughly enjoy choosing mats and frames to complement each of these pieces! And seeing how doing that kind of thing is part of my job certainly helped ;)

Setting up your gallery wall

First, I had all my pictures/art pieces printed and framed. Once I knew what all of my pieces were, I could choose how to organize the together. I realize this may not always be the best method - the sizes of everything you chose may not go together cohesively - but I don't like to restrict myself to just choosing a couple of sizes and fitting my pictures within that.

Next, I laid all my frames out on the floor to see what setup I wanted. Once I had them organized, I cut paper out to the size of each of the frames, and taped each of them up to the wall in the fashion I had already chosen. This really helped to make sure you liked it on the wall, and as a reference as to the exact location I needed to place my hanging materials.

Tips: 

-For my portrait gallery, I had one portrait that I wanted to be the focal point, then organized everything around that. If you have one significant or larger piece, you may want to center that on your gallery. This wasn't the case for my print gallery, so I just set the frames so that they all looked good together.

-If you have a lot of pictures and don't think you can fit them all in individual frames, think about printing them in smaller sizes and grouping them together into collage frames. You can see how I had two of these in my portrait gallery, one on each side. This helped me add multiple shots I loved with our family and wedding party.

All frames were purchased from A.C. Moore, some of which were custom jobs (large couple portrait, wedding invitation, and rehearsal dinner invitation), with the exception of the save the date frame (purchased from Art to Frames).

I hope you all enjoyed taking this little picture tour with me and I hope you might be inspired for your own gallery walls! I'd love to see any that you create!

Happy Friday Dinos!
<3

Vest-acular

Top: Hot Topic | Vest: Hot Topic | Jeans: Kohl's | Shoes: Converse | Watch: S.T.A.M.P.S | Bow: Hot Topic

Hey Dinosaurs! How has your week been shaping up so far? We've just made it to the halfway point now and I'm already wishing it was the weekend! This week has been going non-stop since Monday for me, with completing projects and planning for upcoming projects. I have got to say, I completely underestimated the amount of time I would need to not only complete art projects, but to just prepare and practice for them. This quarter has been quite the learning experience, despite it not being my first. But I say bring it on! ;)

So, with all of these busy days, I wanted something comfortable to wear, but without sacrificing a little bit of style! Thus, I turned to one of my favorite pieces, this fantastic vest with a fringe. It's edgy and cute all in one! I paired it simply, choosing a light colored tee for contrast, but with some design still showing to add some interest. Add some colored converse, and then top it all off with a bright bow! This is something I could wear any day!

Now I want to hear from you! What do you wear when you want to be comfortable? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

<3

Currently...

@mariellyzoe: There's nothing like starting a new day with a good outdoor run! #running

                  

Enjoying being able to go for runs outside again, instead of using a treadmill at the gym. With frozen snow everywhere, I'm always nervous about running outside, but now that it's mostly gone (finally) I was able to get some fresh air and enjoy this surprisingly warm weather!

Indulging in Girl Scout Cookies! I was super excited when I saw they were selling them, I just had to get as many boxes as I could! Our faves? Samoas and Thin Mints! 

Gaming with Epic Mickey. CJ had gotten me this Wii game quite some time ago, and we recently started playing together. It's a simple game, but quite fun actually! We think might be about half way through the game, but honestly have no idea, ha! The hard part? Finding the time to actually get through the game!

Loving working in Photoshop! I am astounded by the amount of things that can be done, and I am constantly discovering more! My class is really challenging me to use Photoshop creatively in my assignments. But oh, I still have much to learn!

Thinking about getting a small cactus. Because I am apparently incapable of keeping even the simplest of plants alive in my apartment... there's three down, and one slowly sliding downhill. Plus, I have always wanted a cactus, so maybe I can actually keep that alive. If not, then I will know for sure that I was not meant to care for plants...ha!

Happy Monday Dinos!

<3

Washi Tape Love

Happy Friday Dinosaurs!

This week I'd like to share a simple and fun washi tape project I completed this week, which you can easily recreate with anything in your home that needs a little sprucing up! If you haven't used washi tape before, it's such an easy to use decorative tape that has millions of uses! It's thin and removable, so it's perfect for almost any surface!

I recently purchased these two baskets for a little organization in our apartment. They're great in themselves, but I thought they could use a little more life in them!

For this black letter basket (from Target), I went with some fun patterns, cherry blossoms and chevron, to decorate the inside and outside rim. I decided to go with a bright solid to add a pop of color to the base. It's a cute, simple piece to add to my office!

I had so much fun with this next basket! We needed something to store our mail, but wanted to separate it from each other's. I found this great mint basket from the Martha Stewart collection at Staples, and decided that washi tape was the perfect solution to make His and Hers sections! Add some fun colors as a border and you're done!

Do you think you'll want to use washi tape in your home? How have you used washi tape before? I'd love to hear about any of your projects! Feel free to link in the comments!

Thanks for reading Dinos! Have a great weekend!

<3

My Valen-style

         

                     

                 

                 

 

Dress: ModCloth | Tights: We Love Colors | Cover-up: France | Shoes: Target | Bow: Hot Topic

 



Hey Dinosaurs!

Today I wanted to share my little outfit for this past Valentine's day. This is the other dress I acquired from my most recent purchase at ModCloth and it is possibly my most favorite dress! It is such a special piece, with a sheer neckline laced with stars and a flattering figure. I wanted to pair it with a bold pair of tights, perfect for the occasion, and some statement heels to create a simple yet dazzling ensemble! This was a perfect outfit for a night out!

What are some fashion pieces you've recently acquired that you're loving? Tell me about them in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

<3

Currently...

              

 

Announcing my new schedule for the blog! Join me on Mondays for my Currently Series, to catch up on what's going on in our lives. On Wednesdays you're invited to stop by and check out my weekly Style Series, where I'll be posting my latest outfit that I'd like to share with you all! And lastly, come by on Fridays where I'll be sharing any new projects or inspiration that I've been working on, and maybe even another outfit post ;) I hope everyone will enjoy the new schedule!

Reminiscing about a great Valentine's day this year. CJ took me out to eat, spoiled me with a giant box of chocolates, and then we created a blanket fort in our living room and watched a movie under it! I know the fort doesn't look very impressive, but it was so cozy to cuddle up with pillows under it in front of the TV. One of the most fun nights I've had in a long time :)

 

Working on organizing our loft area. I've been slowly tackling parts of it here and there, but with so much stuff I still have in boxes, I don't know where to start! I love organizing, but it's tricky when there's such a limited space!

 

Playing Pokémon X. I know, I know, I still haven't finished it. I'm hoping to play it as much as I can in my spare time (and on lunch breaks!) this coming week(s) in order to get through it. But a part of me has been enjoying it so much, I don't want it to end!

 

Loving washi tape! It's crazy how tape that just happens to be super cute and easy to use can make me so happy! I love collecting new rolls with fun patterns and using them anywhere to give something a little extra life :) Check out the blog this Friday, where I'll be sharing some of the ways I've been using washi tape around the house :)

 

Tell me about what's currently happening in your life! I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Monday Dinosaurs! Thanks for reading!

 

<3

Brightening Winter

Dress: ModCloth | Long sleeve tee: Target | Tights: Target | Boots: France | Bows: Hot Topic

 

 

Hey Dinosaurs!

 

This has been another week full of late nights and lots of art! So in the end it's not all bad. I can't believe my quarter is already half over and I'm already starting to plan out classes for next quarter. Things are so crazy but I'm also super excited to get more into my program and develop my skills - which need a lot of work, ha.

 

Now about this outfit, this dress was part of my first clothing purchase from ModCloth! I've been eyeing the site for so long and I was so excited to finally be able to make a purchase! I spent a long time trying to find the perfect dresses (this wasn't the only one I bought!). This little number caught my eye with it's bright color, bold buttons, fold-over neck, flattering shape, and pockets! I loved it the moment I put it on! It's also an easy dress to layer a long-sleeve underneath, for cold days such as we've been having. This was the perfect dress to give me the confidence to effectively deliver a speech in my class (which went well!). Isn't it just charming?

 

I hope everyone stays warm and out of the snow! Thanks for reading!

 

<3

 

Currently...

 

Hey Dinos! Today I am staring my new weekly series, Currently. This is an opportunity to catch up and see what's new in my life! So stop by every Monday to see what I've been up to, and you can tell me about what you've been up to too!

 

 

Declaring 2014 to be the year of the cat! I have been yearning for a pet recently. With my crazy schedule I figured a cat would be the perfect solution, so now I'm in full blown cat fever! I've never had a cat before so I'm so excited! So take note: by December 31st, we will welcome a new member to our home! (P.S. Any advice on cats or what kind to get is totally welcome!)

 

Training to be able to run a 5k again. I went through a training program a year ago and ran my first 5k last April. Sadly, after the wedding I got out of the habit of running, and now have to start over again. But I'm really excited to be getting back into a fitness routine and hope to sign up for a 5k by this April!

 

Obsessed with Instagram. About 2 weeks ago I finally got my first smartphone (!!) and jumped on the Instagram bandwagon. I just love seeing all the small special moments in everyone's life via pictures :) Follow me @mariellyzoe

 

Learning how to shade. I've gotten the hang of making semi-accurate drawings, but shading them is another story...

 

Looking forward to Valentine's Day! It's not like I think that's the only day my husband and I can do something special, but I certainly think it's a good excuse to have an extra night out ;) It'll be a nice reward after a long week!

 

Eating lots of noodles! I've found some different noodle recipes that I can't get enough of!

 

 

Thanks for reading Dinos! Have a happy Monday and a great rest of the week!

 

<3

 

Crazy Starts

Top: H&M | Cardigan: Target | Jeans: Kohl's | Belt: Charlotte Russe | Shoes: Sears |

Bow: France | Pin: Japan | Watch: S.T.A.M.P.S

Hello Dinosaurs!

I hope everyone has had a great start to the new year! I don't know about you, but this past month has been non-stop busy! As soon as the new quarter began, it's been a constant rush going from school to work, and trying to keep up with household chores. It's quite a whirlwind, but I'm so grateful to be able to study my new passion. And CJ has been such a sweetheart putting up with my running around everywhere, lack of some dinner preparations, and helping me out around the house (well, when I ask him to, ha!). In the end, I know all the craziness will be worth it!

This outfit was inspired by my drawing classroom at my school, ha. To sit in the little drafting tables you have to awkwardly straddle over a bench, so skirts and dresses have been eliminated on the days I have my drawing class. I wanted to change it up from a boring tshirt, so I added a few pops of colors to my neutrals. Comfy and cute!

Thanks for reading! Happy Tuesday!

<3

Happy Holidays, New Year, and an Apology

Happy Holidays and Welcome to 2014 my Dinosaurs

 

Well... I suppose it has been quite a while that anyone has heard from me. I cannot even begin to tell you how SORRY I am! There is not really an excuse as to why I've been absent for so long, but to offer an explanation, CJ had gotten a little sick (he's all good now), and it took me a bit of time to catch up on school work and balance work - which at the time I was working a few too many hours. After a few weeks of having an abnormal schedule, I didn't get the chance to get blogging back on my schedule. So sorry!

 

So to catch up a little, here's a quick rundown of what's been going on:

• I aced 2 classes for my graphic design degree and loved every minute of it!
• I FINALLY COMPLETED my Master's degree!!!
• Spent my first Christmas as a married woman with my husband's huge, crazy, and wonderful family and had a blast!
• We celebrated the New Year with my parents and brother who's in town, enjoying a relaxing night playing Wii games and board games :)
• I am slowly decorating and getting our apartment in an organized fashion. Expect to see updates within the next month or so!

I am looking forward to enjoying a new year and all the experiences it will bring! I normally don't make any concrete new year resolutions, but if I were to do that, this year I would definitely have blogging at the top of the list. I have struggled keeping a regular update schedule for the blog since it was created. It may take a little time to get to a concrete schedule, but I am definitely planning on updating regularly, and not being absent for so long again!

 

Thank you for reading Dinos! I hope everyone is having a good start to the new year!

 

<3