Song that I am loving right now:
“King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles

Quote of the day:
“Even though we’ve changed and we’re all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we’ll come to each other, because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we’re not all still friends.”

I am so glad that I finally made a framed chalkboard. I think it adds so much glamour to a room and makes any sparse space and instant hit. I looked for my perfect frame for a while. I would look anywhere I thought might have wonderful, vintage-looking frames, since that was the look I was going for. I looked of course at the major craft stores and it took me way longer than normal to leave Michaels. I also looked at thrift stores to see if they had any great deals. Hobby lobby was my next stop and nothing seemed to be pleasing me that day. I decided to hold off on my journey until the next day when I had a new perspective. The next day I ventured to one of my favorite antique stores in Woodstock. There it was, hanging on the front wall, directly when I walked in…the frame I had been imagining. It was not to vibrant and not to dull, it was perfect. Placed inside the frame was a funny looking giraffe that for the purpose of the ride home, I named Ralph. When I got home, I turned over the frame surprised to see that there was no way to get the picture out of the frame. However, I did not let this discourage me. I immediately started covering the edges of the frame with trash bags. Once I was certain that the frame was completely covered, I said goodbye to Ralph and started painting the glass with chalkboard paint. I used the spray paint kind, which I found has been easier to use. Every hour or so I would go back outside to add another coat. By the end of the day, I had added about five coats. I let it dry for 24 hours before writing on it and then, va va voom! A masterpiece was created. My mom hung it up in our kitchen and decided she wanted to be the first to write a sweet note on the board. I can’t wait to have it hanging in my own house one day! Have a beautiful day.

The Craft Journal

Song that I am loving right now:

“Somewhere over the Rainbow” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo

Quote of the day:

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, and love to complete your life.”

Many people keep a list of things they want to do before their lives come to an end. I think that one of these lists is very important to have and allows you to notice that you have made certain accomplishments. I do something similar to this that keeps track of the things like I like and would love to see in my future home. In addition to this, I add crafts and do it yourself things that I would like to make. When something catches my eye, I want to remember it without adding it as a bookmark, because I already have way too many things bookmarked. What I do is print the picture out and paste it into a journal. I add a little detailed note to the side of the picture to make sure I remember what the decoration and craft requires. Not only do I print things that I enjoy off of the Internet, I also look through some of my favorite decorating magazines to get ideas. I add things from “Southern Living” and “Better Homes and Gardens.” They always have beautiful rooms and ideas for crafts. Eventually, I may even begin to put recipes I find attractive in the journal. It is a safe way to know that I have all of my favorite things pieced together. Hopefully, one day I can create or find all the things that reside in this journal. I genuinely enjoy adding things to the pages and enjoy it more when I get around to making the pictures into reality. I have already created a few things that I have in the journal including a framed chalkboard piece and a note card calendar. I will post about these creative little crafts later on! Have a beautiful day.

Fabulous Finds

Song that I am loving right now:
“Baby its cold outside” (glee version, of course)

Quote of the day:
“Promise that you’ll never forget me because if I thought you would, I’d never leave.” WTP



One thing my mom and I are constantly doing together is going to craft shows and antique stores in hopes of discovering some fabulous finds. We excitedly walk through the isles admiring every ones work and discussing which items could go where in our houses. The funny thing is that we rarely ever purchase the items. It is almost as if we are creating the outline of a picture on a pallet in our heads but never adding the paint. However, there are a few times when we see an item that is too gorgeous to let slip away. This is what happened with the wonderful wreath. Over the summer we went to the Yellow Daisy Festival. One of the biggest and best craft shows in Atlanta. The show has hundreds of vendors and thousands of buried treasures. The treasure that captured our eye was a paper wreath topped with a grandiloquent red ribbon. This, was definitely a fabulous find and we both agreed that we had to have it. Since she spotted it first, the claim was all hers. She found the perfect spot for the wreath right above a red cabinet that is in our living room. Jealous, I began my search for my own special wreath. While mine is slightly different, it adds unbelievable charm to my apartment. Mine is made out of coffee filters, how perfect for me, and so I am forever getting a scent of brewed coffee every time I pass my little wreath. I found mine on one of the most brilliant websites ever created, etsy.com. I am always amazed at the trinkets people can create and it is so fascinating to see artist at work. The wreath is something I can display year-round and I am so happy that we didn’t let this fabulous find get away! Have a beautiful day.

Song I am loving right now:
“Hey Soul Sister” (glee version)

Quote of the day:
“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” WTP

The calming feeling of turning the pages in a new book is one of my favorite feelings. Reading has now become one of my favorite pastimes now that my life consists of doing noting all day, thanks to the job market and my lack of motivation. A book over time can become one of your best friends. Sometimes I get so involved in a book that I start to think about what my character would be like in a book. What kind of personality would people portray me to have? What kinds of things would I do? What would be my purpose in a novel? One of my recently found loves is “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. This page-turner allows the reader to immerse themselves in the lives of women that lived in the 1960’s. The emotional stories take the spectator by the hand and lead them through passionate, colorful tails of the trials of that era. It is undeniably a remarkable page-turner that I will remember reading for a long time. You know an author is brilliant when they can plant the book pages in your memory and allow them to be velcroed there for years. I am always interested in reading the authors bio because I try to place myself in their position. What an amazing feeling it must be to complete a lofty book and then actually have it published and enjoyed by others. I would have to guess that that is one of the absolute best feelings in the world. After reading her bio, I was instantly a forever fan. I found out that not only was she a graduate from the University of Alabama but also that this was her first novel. Incredible and RTR. After 451 pages, Kathryn has now proved herself to the writing critics and ended up on “The #1 New York Times Bestsellers’ list.” I applaud this fledgling writer and look forward to reading more from her in the future. Have a beautiful day.

Song I am loving right now:
“Free” by Zac Brown Band
Quote of the day:
“How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone.”
- Coco Chanel


Every girl knows that there are those two staple items that are an absolute necessity for her closet. Number one: the perfect black dress for any occasion. Dressed up with a set of pearls or down with a simple headband, this piece in a wardrobe is essential. Number two: those form fitting black pumps. The perfect black pump is the one you can slip onto your frigid foot to spice up the night. I have completely fallen for my new black pumps. I have been searching for a new pair since mine tragically lost their life due to Keegan’s ferocious appetite. I finally found a pair that I absolutely adore and convinced myself that they were worth the purchase. This new obsession is made by my favorite fashionista, Michael Kors. The Presley pump is not florid but simple and elegant. The small little gold button in the heel of the shoe gives it just the right flare needed to impress any shoe enthusiast. I wore them today for the first time and the fit was comfortable and unique. I don’t think anything makes a girl feel sexier then sliding on the perfect black pump. The shoe brings a sense of sophistication and beauty that is unmatched by any other accessory in a girls’ closet. Whether paired with a simple choice of skinny jeans and a sweater for chilly nights or the previously mentioned black dress, Presley pumps are a pleaser. I am glad that I now have a new pair and will hopefully remember to keep them out of Keegans’ reach; she apparently loves fashion just as much as I do. Have a beautiful day.

Song that I am loving right now: “Just My Imagination.” – The Temptations

Quote of the day: "the things we are afraid of are usually the most worthwhile"

Hi, end of college career. While I fully welcome you and have been expecting you, I didn’t expect you to arrive with such a huge wave uncertainty. Suddenly, when life requires me to make important decisions, my mind is trapped in a dust bowl, where I am being suffocated and begging for a fresh drip of change. My commonly know care-free, jump in the front seat and take life by the handle bars mentality is stuck between the tracks of time. The genres that run through my mind now consist of a more somber theme song. There are too many choices that need to be made and quick. Grad school/no grad school…school applications/job applications….personal statements/a collection of shell silverstein poems. Who knew that the real world would be so hard? The best advice I have received? Do what makes you happy. If only it was that simple. What if you are not exactly sure what will make you the happiest you can be? What then? Does your life just rest on an all too familiar turntable where the only thing you look forward to is chick-fil-a reopening on Monday morning? I refuse to settle for a life where the same task is repeated daily and the only difference is the beginning half of the day’s name. I have always dreamed of a life filled with excitement, challenge, and reward. Never have I once thought that my life would file into the ordinary box. But, now, as I look at my options, I see more cardigans and pencil skirts in my future. Which both mean that life is bland and cold. Except, of course, if the cardigan is from Jcrew or Anthropologie, that could really be the only exception. Then, my life may have a little bit of flare and flavor. This semester I have received a “glimpse,” as Nicholas Cage would like to call it, of what my future may entail. And while I love the girls of Wisteria Lane, and enjoy their flavorful gossip and drama each night, I know that my life can rise to so much more. As I watched Brooke Poley Ruff get married the other weekend, I tried to imagine where my life would be when I hit this point in my timeline. The truth is, I could see nothing. I had no idea of what I would be doing. I could not picture myself anywhere doing anything. This frightens me. 4 years ago I could have told you that I would be in front of a classroom teaching five year olds their ABC’s and dancing to the wiggle song with a huge smile on my face. I was so confident in my dream to become a kindergarten teacher. Now, this dream has been tarnished and punctured by bad experiences and work overload. It has left me stronger in personality but left my mind wounded. In a few months I am going to be walking across a stage in a black, shiny, polyester, cap and gown with a diploma in hand. What does this mean to me? It means that I have spent 4 (and a half, oops) years of my life searching for who I am and what it means to be Kelley Oliver. The pages I have read and the papers I have written show no evidence of what I have learned in college. These are memorizations and snazzy word combinations that were scrambled together to make an “A” and allowed me to apathetically trudge on to the next “adventure.” What really shows evidence of my college career are the memories I have carried with me are the life lessons I have been so blessed to learn. What will I be walking towards? A life of uncertainty. A life where the windshield is foggy and cracked. I know I will make it, I AM certain that life will bring me joy. I just hope my choices and decisions will lead me to the best life I can have. I am a dreamer and I am not going to quit dreaming.

A New Beginning

Pictures from parties at our apartment

Quote of the Day: "The things we are afraid of are usually the most worthwile."

Song that I am loving right now: The house that built me by Miranda Lambert

When people look back on their lives, they often remember the memories that shaped them into the person they have become. Many times, these memories include events, hardships, and people. When I look back at my life, at the things that shaped me, many of those factors played a part in developing me into the person I am today. However, the most recent place that contributed to this molding, was apartment 614 at 909 broad street apartments. This is the place that finally developed me into the person that I completely want to be. For me, this place marked many changes in my life and new beginnings. It marked the ends of relationships, the beginning of new ones, the end of insecurities, and the beginning of discovery. In my book of life, this place is dogeared, bookmarked, and highlighted. This chapter is filled with laughter, friendship, love, heartbreak, late nights, fights, make ups, and all the things that lay between. For two years, this was my place of retreat, relaxation, and self-renovation. Some of my memories include, hosting parties where Rex (the security man) is the most frequent visitor due to noise violations, the mystery peed in fish tank, watching the bachelorette in strong anticipation, early morning blending (sefanie loves those smothies), loud, painful singing to whatever pop sensation grasped our attention at the time, beer pong on our homemade board, neighbor dinners, and many more. Through these experiences, I gained the best friendships that will remain through an entire life time. Sean McConnell has a song called, "If these walls could speak," this song makes me think of the things those walls, in 909, would say if they could speak. I like to think that they would laugh a lot thanks to me and Amy's crude humor. I am not sure what they would say, but the stories they would tell would be incredible. Now that we have moved out and moved on, I look back and really see how important this place was to me. Sure, it was a nice apartment, but the plaster and paint didnt make it memorable, the people who passed through it did. I like to think that I will tuck these memories away somewhere and keep them in a memory diary. I will pull them out when I encounter situations that make me question who I am. Stefanie and Amy became my family thanks to this place and that is something I will never forget. College will definately not be the same without this place. Thank you to everyone who made this place what it was and what it will always be in my heart. Have a beautiful day.

Quote of the Day: “When you smiled you had my undivided attention. When you laughed you had my urge to laugh with you. When you cried you had my urge to hold you. When you said you loved me, you had my heart forever.”

Song I am loving right now: Marry Me by Ed Cash

There is something that is so incredible about an engagement. Well…there are a lot of things that are incredible about an engagement, but there is one moment, one single moment, that completely describes the love between two people. That is the moment when the woman sees the man bow to get on his knee. Right then, if you look in the woman’s eyes, you can capture all the love that is hidden between the two. This moment is so incredible, blissful, and pure. The acceptance of a proposal tells the other that you trust them with everything you have, you are giving them the last of your single heart, and that you are completely, madly in love. My brother and his now fiancé (so exciting to say!) just got engaged recently. This was probably the sweetest, most endearing thing I have ever seen. These two have been compatible right from the start. I can only hope to find someone so perfect for me in my future. They have stuck by each others sides through trials and tribulations. They truly are an inspiration to all couples in the world. Their love for each other is undeniable and strong. It is not the kind of love that will wither in a storm or even develop a small crack under intense heat. Their love is the kind of love you look at it and say, wow, those two really got it right. Sure, relationships are fun, exciting, and passionate. However, the true telling of a relationship is seen when that fine crisp top layer is unraveled, and the realness is uncovered. Underneath, is the layer of love. This is the true telling of if two people are meant to spend a lifetime together. This is the layer that says, I have mistakes, I have faults, and I need you to accept them. In this layer, butterflies are replaced by a thumping heart. In this layer, giggles turn into uncontrollable laughter and joy. The layer of love is where couples should linger for their entire lives. Tyler and Joyce are definitely in their layer of love. Growing up with Tyler, I have never seen him more passionate about anything, not even his baseball card binder or Goosebumps collection. Joyce is Tylers’ passion. It is so beautiful. Their love is inspiring and brightens up a room. In their love there are no secrets, no hidden agendas, just genuine love. I am honored to bring Joyce into our family and know that we will have many silly moments together in our future. Congratulations you crazy kids!

Quote of the day:
“Sometimes I wish that I was the weather, you'd bring me up in conversation forever. And when it rained, I'd be the talk of the day.” John Mayer

Song I am loving right now:
God Damn You’re Beautiful by Chester See

Final writing piece for class:

The steps above are hallow and creak,
I try not to wake my parents from their unsteady sleep.
Flipping through the family albums I start to cry,
This family is no longer a unit and our love has run dry.
A commitment that was once made has been torn apart,
How will this new life begin to start?
The yelling has increased day by day
The stains on my cheeks from crying no longer fade away.
Smiles and forced laughs mask our grief and pain,
Our lives are falling to pieces like a rickety train.
Holding my brothers hand, hot and sweaty,
Waiting to pick which parent “whenever were ready.”
Thinking back to Christmas’ of joy and cheer,
Now I am consumed with uncertainty and fear.
Me and my brother’s hands slip as we choose,
A sibling is not something I bargained to lose.
Walking away from each other, glancing back,
Why did this decision have to be on our track?
My age has increased and now I see,
The decision was right and as it should be.
Unhappy homes are not a place to dwell,
My ears are no longer pierced by a sobbing yell.
Time has been the healer in this long fight,
A joyful family future is in clear sight.

Quote of the day:

“Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.”
-Duke Ellington

Song that I am loving right now:

The good stuff by Kenny Chesney

Why do people not write letters anymore? Technology is taking over the world, and I do not like it one bit. I say that but I probably couldn’t live without it for a day. Still, I miss the days when people would send you letters. I remember being so exciting to receive a letter in the mail. It’s like Christmas morning in a mailbox. I wish that it was still the way people communicated. Think about it, there is so much mystery and suspense about letter writing. There is absolutely no instant gratification. Instead, you get to sit and wait a week or so until the other person responds to know what they are thinking. I bet people knew a lot more about people when letter writing was popular because they knew they wouldn’t get another chance to contact another person for at least a week. I remember when I went to camp, this was the only way that we were allowed to communicate with our family and friends. I made sure to jot down my close friends addresses so that I could send them letters while I was away. It was so exciting to come back from an activity and see a letter sitting on your bed. It was nice to see that someone thought of you and cared enough to take time to write you. I was a huge dork and continued to go to camp through high school. I loved it so much that I never wanted to stop going. Truthfully, I would still go now if I could. One summer I was dating a guy and it came the time where I had to leave for camp. It was emotional when we had to leave each other (oh high school romance) and even harder when we were away from each other. But there was something so romantic about writing to each other. It even made me miss him more than I thought I would. Even though we had already been dating a year, I learned so much about him through his letter writing. It was fun to share our letters with each other when I returned home. There is something about seeing someone’s handwriting that is so special too. To know that they held the same paper that you are reading. Unlike an email, letters are so personal and thoughtful. In emails you can’t even doodle, but in a letter, hearts find their way into margins. I still do receive cards in the mail for birthdays and holidays, but it is not the same as a letter. After camp, you would get your friends addresses and write to each other. Even though most of us had internet at that time, one of my friends and I wrote back and forth for years. We each have boxes of letters that we sent to each other, and I think that is so special. No, there is not an inbox that filters out your old mail, there is just a regular, cardboard box that saves all your memories. A letter marks a place in time; a moment of feeling and a conversation that has been frozen in time. I think I may start writing letters again. Maybe I will cut myself off from all technology and live by communicating through letters. That would be the life. Ironic, since I am using a computer to publish this blog. Ha. Have a beautiful day

Quote of the day:

“In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.”

-Charlie Brown

Song I am loving right now:

Crazy thing called love by Michael Buble (originally by Queen)

Wine. This is something that I wish I knew more about. I think that wine is so peaceful. It always reminds me of calm nights and good conversation. One of my favorite things to do is sit on our porch when it’s raining really heavy with a glass of wine. Amy and I sit there and talk for hours and it is absolutely perfect. There are no funnels, no drinking games, just a gentle sip every now and then. Another thing that I have recently started to enjoy is having a glass at night, not that I need any help getting to sleep, but I just find it calming. When I go out to dinner, it is the perfect addition to any meal, other than Mexican where of course you have to get a margarita. Sadly, I enjoy any cheap white wine and definitely would not know the difference between a $2.00 bottle and a $200 bottle. Which, I guess if I think about it is an excellent quality to posses, considering my college budget. I choose my wine based on the label. Therefore, it’s good for marketing majors to know, it really does pay off. I find myself going down the aisle at the grocery store searching for the bottle that will look the best above my cabinet. Not the one that is the most expensive or that might taste the best, but the one that is the most aesthetically pleasing. However, I always seem to enjoy it, so my rationale of choosing a great wine has never been wrong. The good thing about wine is that you can enjoy it at home, on your back porch, on a date, or even when you want a crazy night out with your friends. Wine is so easy going and versatile. If wine was a person, it would be the most relaxed, carefree person ever. Another great thing about wine is that it is a great gift to give. If you are ever searching for a present for a girl, wine is always an option. There is no girl I know that doesn’t enjoy a bottle of wine. Therefore, 2 buck chuck for girls and a case of natty for the guys. Funny combination. I love seeing a case of beer next to a bottle of wine. It’s like saying, “we keep it classy when we party.” That’s a great thing about college. If you open a fridge after a night out you can find a variety of things. A few keystones left over, a bottle of wine, a mysterious brown liquid sitting in a Kroger water bottle, and the one random pbr. One thing that I want to purchase for my apartment next year is a wine rack. It will probably only have one bottle in it, but I I think they are so great. They are definitely a space saver and you don’t have to go digging through the fridge to find the exact one you want. It’s like a bookshelf for wine. I wish that I could have a library of wine; with lots of different aesthetically pleasing bottles of wine. It could have a slide ladder too, because those are needed in every library. Another great thing about wine is that they usually have corks. Those are fun because you can use them for lots of different crafts. We have a wine cork board in our kitchen and I absolutely love it. Therefore, wine is a wonderful addition to life. Props to the person who created it, I will think of you next time I unscrew a cork. Have a beautiful day.

Quote of the Day:

“I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.”

Marilyn Monroe

Song I am loving right now:

The other side of the door by Taylor Swift

I began to notice that I love everything girly. It’s upsetting. It’s upsetting because I never pictured myself as the glittery girly type, but I am. I love the color pink, I love shoes, I love shopping, I love late night talking, and I love love. As much as I try to fight it, a warm bubble bath with candles can cure any illness and an episode of desperate housewives can make you forget everything else that is going on around you. Hair bands complete any outfit and it is freeing to know that spring brings bright colored nail polish and pastels. The problem with girls today is that they forget their self-worth. There are so many girls that fall in the trap and believe that they cannot survive without attention or the direction of a guy. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not one of those strong woman rights advocates. I just believe that every person, male or female, needs to find the person they are deep down and carry that person proudly with them at all times. It takes a lot to be confident sometimes, but it feels so good once you have come to the realization that you are who you are and that person can overcome anything. Sure, there are definitely hard times in life, but you have to find what works for you to help you push you through them. Yes, sometimes for me it is that bright colored nail polish, but most of the time its way more than that. Family, I have learned is undeniably where you first turn. No matter how hard the situation, someone has been through it and can be a spark of hope and drag you to happiness and recovery. For me, my family has fought through a lot of pain and suffering together. While these moments have been heart wrenching, it has woven us together and made us a unit. God, is another of those pretty important people in life. He will never give you anything you can handle. Trust me, I know, he loves to test this theory on me. But, he gives you things to help you become stronger for things that come later in life. I am also confident that he won’t ever take anything away without replacing it with something better. This is a really hard thing to believe in sometimes, but it’s true. Everything happens for a reason and usually it is the perfect reason that you do not come to realize until later in life. Unfortunately, that’s the game that life is, waiting for the unpredictable. But, that’s also the exciting part. Chances in life are so important and must be taken. Without chances, there are no true rewards. If you are scared, don’t fret, everything will turn out alright. Never give up on an opportunity to be happy. Never tell yourself that you are not good enough. And never underestimate your abilities. Be patient with life, that is the sweetness of it. Dare to be unsure, make decisions that don’t make sense, let go and enjoy your life. Have a beautiful day.