A man ought to carry himself in the world as an orange tree would if it could walk up and down in the garden, swinging perfume from every little censer it holds up to the air. ~Henry Ward Beecher

This past weekend we pupsitted this adorable sweet cuddly pooch. I've been trying to convince Nick that we really need a dog around the house, so it was nice to see what it would actually be like. The verdict? If we did cave in, it would have to be to one that doesn't make me sneeze. I've grown up with a few different breeds of dogs and never had a problem, but thinking back.. the big dogs that were more prone to shedding were always outside dogs.

In hopes of alleviating my sneezes and runny nose now that the pup's gone, I've washed and vacuumed just about everything. During my cleaning frenzy I remembered this great DIY for natural air fresheners from Terrain's blog. 

image from shopterrain.com

They're just like the yummy holiday concoction we warm on our stoves to make our homes smell like Christmas, only this time around, grab fresh clean smelling ingredients to create your favorite scent!

I grabbed these colorful citruses while I was at the store,

Sliced them up and threw in a handful of fresh mint..

And let them simmer in a pot of water all afternoon.

I thought it would be nice to freshen up the house in a natural way [I was sneezing enough already!] and this did just that. Next time I'll have to splurge and buy vanilla beans to throw in..

My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am nor what I do. ~William Shakespeare

There's something about the sleek look of a minimal ceramic design that makes me want to just completely re-envision my dream space. They would sit on a stained cement countertop surrounded by overgrown yet perfectly poised succulents. The kitchen island would be made of repurposed wood and steel pipes and sit under a galvanized chandelier. It would be spotless and flooded with bright sunshine. Fruits and vegetables would glisten and shine just like they do in all of those glossy pages I enviously flip through. 

Ah, those glossy pages.

Here are some of my favorites from Etsy. They'd be perfect in that uber chic abode.

1: vitrifiedstudio   2: juliapaulpottery   3: viruset   4: thesuninmarrakesh

Let's get personal...

I usually stick to pretty pictures when it comes to Roam & Wander. I always want to introduce you to all of the amazing people I've met and share their stories with you so you too will be inspired. I want you to hear their stories.

Now, I feel like most of the people who read this blog are my family and friends so I assume you already know about me and who I am. You don't need to hear my story because you most likely already know. And this made me realize that I never really get too personal, so let's do it.

This place? This is home.

I was born in Austin, Texas and before college I had only moved once in my life. It was from the house next door, into this one. True story.

1405 was my grandparent's house and 1407 was ours. I never really realized how lucky I was having my grandparents so close, because it was all I knew. I could walk outside, take 5 steps, walk up stairs and be in their home. I grew up in 1405. During high school, 1405 was home to a lot of my friends. It was always welcoming and each weekend that house was full of people and tons of laughter.

I moved away to Athens, Georgia for college and had no idea what I was really doing. I didn't apply to any schools in Texas, which looking isn't what you would expect from an only child who has only moved once. This was the place I was so homesick for. Throughout those next 4 years, this place was still my home.

After college I moved to New York. Again, not a move you'd think this girl would make, but she did. All the while, this home was there to make sure I always came back to Austin. It housed the long catch up conversations and the holiday meals, it was home and there's nothing really that compares to that feeling.

At what point is your childhood home not your home anymore?

I remember my dad talking to me about this the year after I graduated college. We agreed that it's a weird feeling, not really having any place of your own after you've grown up and been "on your own" for four years. [On your own is a term I have to use very loosely.. without my parents financial support it would have been a whole other story]. You're supposed to go out into this big world and start your own life and have your own home. But, that little NYC apartment as much as I loved it and made it our own, wasn't home. It was mine and turned into ours, and it was our space and I did miss it when I was away, but it wasn't the big, warm, cozy, comfortable place where you can have early coffee with your parents and cook dinner with your mom. It wasn't 1405.

So, what am I getting at?

1405 is going to be someone else's home very soon.

Oh, the tears are coming, but let's keep going. 1405 will soon be on the market.. soon, other families will be walking through taking note of the crown molding that's been repainted and the new gorgeous tile floors in every bathroom. They will probably love the basement where my Grandad used to make furniture, because it's a lot of extra space which is a rare find.. and they will love the backyard where my Grandmom used to swing me for hours until I'd doze off, because now it's home to a gorgeous chicken coop and mom's lush garden. They will have no idea that the little house next door used to be an extension of the place, that the house next door used to actually look like a house and not an overgrown jungle. They may know that 1405 is where my mom grew up, but only because it's a great selling point.

To those of you who have moved all around the country or world for that matter, this may all sound totally crazy to you. But my little piece of Austin is about to be someone else's after never knowing anything different.

So, to the new owner's of 1405..

I hope you love it. I hope you make this place a home that your children will long for when they're away. May your door always be open to your friends and family who are going through hard times, this house knows nothing else. I hope you create your own history here and that you don't paint over the green on the front oak tree. I hope you actually use the porch off of the master bedroom because it's never gotten the love it deserves. I hope you go into the basement and are inspired to create, because that's what it's there for. I hope you sit in the backyard and enjoy the sunshine for hours. I hope you really love those beautiful wooden cabinets in the study because those have been there for my entire life.

I hope you understand when I want to come sit on your front porch while I'm visiting Austin, because I've never known anything different.

A time to unplug..

{image from my caribbean trip last year}

Leaving for Austin today means a little break from roam & wander. Since I've moved to California my days are mostly spent on the computer... job searching, pinning, blogging, emailing, gchatting.. so it's time to really enjoy this vacation and unplug for a bit. 

I wish you all the happiest of holidays.. Merry Christmas!!

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for. ~Georgia O'Keeffe

Wouldn't it be fun to be able to decorate a room in your home based on one beloved piece of art?

One day perhaps I'll have the chance, when we're building a home and starting from scratch.. but until then I can dream & rearrange a room until I'm content, thanks to the magic of photoshop!

iron mirror :: anthropologie

painting :: art by kiah

couch :: pottery barn

curtains :: anthropologie

cattails & grass :: pier one

chair :: anthropologie

puppy :: bearded collie

rug :: west elm

coffee table :: west elm

vase :: anthropologie

candle holder :: arteriors

yellow pillow :: room & board

red dots pillow :: west elm

& pillow :: zinc door

coffee table book :: 100 years of fashion

side table :: anthropologie

lamp :: cb2

Our Little Apartment Feature!!

I'm so excited to share with you a little feature of our new apartment over on Somethings today! 

It still has a way to go but it's coming along and what better way to make things happen than agree to a home feature :) 

Here's a little preview..

Now head on over and check out the rest!

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think that decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen

Back in dream world, crisp snapshots of welcoming entry ways are flashing through my mind.

Ours is pretty empty right now and I'm not sure exactly how I want to set it up. It's the first thing visitors see when they enter the door, the first impression if you will. Over thinking it? I'm sure. But it's something that needs to be warm and inviting and I just can't figure it out yet.

:: image source ::

The mirror is a popular choice, but the positioning in my space just doesn't seem right. The light switch is perfectly situated in just the wrong spot. Oh, and I already have a small standing cabinet on one of the walls. Too heavy?

:: image source ::

The art/hook combo seems like the most probable option for the space but it need something more..

:: image source ::

Something a little more modern? This would be great with an amazing wall paper behind it. Wall paper? Around that light switch? Sounds like a lot of work.

:: image source ::

Low bench? It'd have to be an odd length.. a mini bench? I can just imagine that search. But I love this look. But really, it probably only looked like this for this shoot. 

:: image source ::

This is an idea that keeps coming back to me. It could be the solution to my light switch challenge.. maybe add a few hooks on the side wall for coats? Is this even practical for an entry way??

The search continues!

“Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with me. Perhaps I've spent too long in the company of my literary romantic heroes, and consequently my ideals and expectations are far too high.” ― E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey

I wanted to start a new "Shades of.." series with products & inspiration that share the same hue. It's only natural to begin the series with..

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1. rachel comey   2. butter   3. cb2   4. lodis   5. choies   6. moma

7. jars ceramics   8. zinc door   9. converse   10. modcloth   11. williams & sonoma   12. c. wonder

May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends. ~Author Unknown

Even though our apartment isn't completely decorated [ready for it's big blog debut], I can't stop thinking about the possibilities for our porch. Even though we had our roof in New York, it wasn't our own; we were always worried about the super finding us or meeting neighbors we didn't want to meet. We've dreamt of having our own little outdoor oasis and while it's not that fabulous back yard with vegetable gardens and a fence for a big ole' puppy.. it is one step closer!! There is room for real patio furniture complete with a spot to stash our bikes. So far I have 4 plants with not much sun so I have to be careful.. [although honestly, the problem is probably not the sun] and a nice string of lights. That's it. 

So, I'm thinking about something like this...

1. DIY herb jars   2. bird feeder $98   3. outdoor lights $25

4. patio furniture $650   5. pillows (set of 2) $55   6. succulent wreath $70

7. rug $150   8. lanterns $15-$34   9. pot $16

Any favorite websites for outdoor decor??

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. ~Rumi

Although there haven't been too many ditty's on here recently, I'm back!

After two months in Austin, a month in Scottsdale and a week long road trip...

We're finally getting settled in our new home! 

Before we left Arizona we spent a night in Sedona.

If you've never been, add it to your list of places to visit. The red rock look pretty in pictures, but they're truly breathtaking in person. It's quiet and thought-provoking, it's inspiring and humbling.

First stop out of Arizona was Mission Beach in San Diego where we spent 3 days. 

We ate tacos and biked the boardwalk. Nick surfed while I took pictures and dug my feet deep in the sand. 

The salty air was perfect.

We got up early and sipped coffee by the beach.

Mission Beach was the perfect start to our week long road trip! 

Next stop: Laguna Beach.

We enjoyed delicious meals and sunset cocktails and decided that staying a night there couldn't hurt! 

We ate ice cream and watched volleyball games. Soaked up more sun and laid in more sand.

After a quick lunch in L.A. catching up with friends on the west coast, we were off to our Casita in Montecito.

We're big fans of Airbnb, have you ever used the site? We found this little Casita and decided it looked much better than any hotel we could afford. If you're ever in the area, I totally recommend that you crash here!

We fell in love with Santa Barbara. It's charm and old world details are perfect.

I had the most amazing honey latte from Coffee Cat. Dare I say better than Gregory's honey latte in New York.. 

After 2 nights there, we finished up our trip and blew up our air mattress in our new home.  Monday my parents met us with a trailer full of furniture, Tuesday our things from New York arrived and after a few days of unpacking, errand running and more unpacking with my favorite people..

We were able to have a little fun and explore our new town.

And that was all before my 26th birthday! 

We still have a little catching up to do..

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect! ~Owens Lee Pomeroy

As Nick sweetly told me during our move.. I have a stuff problem. I hold onto old magazines for "inspiration", my craft box is constantly overflowing, and I never leave empty handed from a flea market trip. It was hard at first, but now I can admit that I actually do have a stuff problem.

The past few weeks we've been trying to clear out the basement. We have antique furniture that's been passed through family, boxes of high school things that I haven't seen in 10 years, collectible coins that must have meant something to someone once, boxes of crystal wine glasses, old frames, 100 year old solid wood doors, chandeliers.. you name it, we probably have it.

 An old pump organ that was originally found in pieces and carefully put back together by my grand dad? We have it.

Royal Doulton's Wild West collection.. signed by Michael Doulton himself? We have it.

Refinished vanity dresser used by every generation of the family? We have that too.

So, I've realized that my entire family has this same stuff problem. We have all come to terms with it and we've decided to clean out the items we just really don't need.

Thank you ebay and craigslist for helping us with our problems - you're proving that one person's trash really is another person's treasure. But why is it so hard to part with these things??

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

but really, who doesn't love great puppy pictures?!

 

 

 

 

Shoving feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. ~Brad Pitt

I'm not afraid of birds really, I just don't like them. They make me nervous, really nervous.. with their sharp little beaks and beady little eyes. You have no idea what they are thinking or what their next move will be. Their feet are unlike any animal you know of and their moves are similar to prehistoric creatures. They're just kind of creepy.

So, now that you know this about me.. let's move on with this...

Not too long ago, this amazing chicken coop was just a pile of wood in the back of a truck. After weeks of long hours in the heat, Mom and her good friend David had this piece of work to show off! 

 

For those of you in New York, Atlanta or maybe just not living on a farm, you may think this is totally crazy. Who has a chicken coop with hens in their back yard?? Everyone in my neighborhood! Just blocks away from South Congress Avenue where all the cool kids hang. This isn't anything crazy. In fact, here in Austin we even have something called The Funky Chicken Coop Tour, taking you from home to home to check out the different coops around town. So the fact that ours is découpaged with brown grocery store bags, really isn't so over the top. Some people have chandeliers hung in theirs!

Anthropologie door knobs? Really, not over the top. Aren't they adorable??

Meet the ladies.. Gurdy, Lucy, Flo, and Lola.

This is Lola. You're probably wondering how we can tell who is who. But really, you can. Mostly because Lola is your best friend. She's the trouble maker who decides to roost in a tree when the others are asleep in their coop. She's the one following you around the yard making her sweet little chicken noises.

She's the one running up the drive way to eat fresh cherry tomatoes off the vine..

 

While the others just watch and wait to see which human is going to yell at her first.

 

She's the one who will jump in your lap to check you out and say hello.

In fact, as I was taking all of these pictures.. she decided to jump into my lap. Remember what you learned earlier? I don't like birds... at all.

Guys, I was freaking out. I love Lola, I really do. However these beady little eyes kept getting closer and closer to my face and all I could do was put the camera in between us and hope that it would save me. I would pet her and sweetly whisper "please don't peck me, Lola. please please please don't peck me. keep that sharp little beak pointed away from my face Lola!" I was calming down a bit and thinking this Lola & Jessie time would be great for a photo opp... passing the camera to Mom, I thought things were going great - until Lola saw my bright red finger nail polish.. that may or may not have reminded her of her favorite red cherry tomatoes.

I think you can guess what happened next and luckily Mom got this shot to prove it. She went in for it and pecked my thumb. I FREAKED, Lola FREAKED and that was the end of our photo opp. 

Lola, I still love you.. but no more lap time.