Lifestyle: Admiration #2

lifestyle

admiration



Above is a picture of a man I like to call Papa, others call him Bob McGuire.
This is Caleb's Grandfather. 
The picture above is one of my favorite pictures I have of Papa because it's him standing next to the gate of the mill he used to work in when he was a young boy. 
A while back a wrote a post on here that came to be very popular about Papa's wife Gran. You can find that post linked HERE, but I realized the other day that there are a lot of things I admire about Papa as well. Things I wish to live out in my everyday life and look to him for inspiration, so today I'm here to present you with a post similar to Gran's all about why I admire Mr. Bob McGuire. 
Here we go!

#1. Papa's hard work ethic
Papa's life hasn't always been the easiest, and he's had to work hard to get to where he is. From working in the mill, to being in the Korean war, to taking care of Gran, papa is one of the hardest workers I know. I can only hope that I have the will to work as hard as he does for as long as he has. 

#2. Papa's Cleanliness
Saturday is cleaning day. That's the schedule and there is no straying from that. The house is always clean. His son Mike came in the other day with deer blood all over him and as soon as he walked out of the door papa went everywhere he was with a wet cloth and wiped it clear even if there was nothing to be seen.
Maybe an odd characteristic to admire, but I'd like to be that persistent with cleaning. 

#3. Papa's truthfulness
If there its one thing I admire the most about papa it's that he's going to give it to you straight. It doesn't matter who you are, if you go up to Papa on any given day and you ask him how he's doing he isn't gonna give you that fake "Good, how are you?" thing he'll let you know straight up if he's having a hard time or if he's having a really good day. 
It's really the best quality a person can have in my opinion. 

#4. Papa's ability to stay true to his faith 
With all of the things that papa has gone through in his life-some mentioned above-I can't grasp why he still has faith in God. Papa has it. He gets it. It's so simple for him and I admire that so much. He knows what he believes and will still stand in his faith even when everything else could be wrecking his world. He's such a strong man. 

I really hope that you all found a little love for the great qualities that papa has!
I'm so thankful that you stopped by to read. 
Paige 

Lifestyle: Latest Tattoos

lifestyle

latest tattoos 



Hi everybody!
I'm back at it with another tattoo post.
Last Tuesday I headed back to my trusty tattoo artist, Rex, and got 4 more lovely smalls added to my arm. Essentially they all play off of each others meanings, but we will get into that later. I'm going to answer the same questions for each of the four I recentlymgot just like in the last tattoo post linked HERE.
Let's get right on into it!

Horizontal line



-what does it mean: Represents time and the fact that you only have a small amount
-artist: Rex at Relentless Tattoo
-pain: 4

Circle



-what does it mean: Represents eternity
-artist: Rex at Relentless Tattoo
-pain: 7

Roses



-what does it mean: Represents life and the chances to grow
-artist: Rex at Relentless Tattoo
-pain: 10

Skull



-what does it mean: Represents death and the fact that there is an end
-artist: Rex at Relentless Tattoo
-pain: 5

Those are the newest ones, friends. I'm so happy with the way they turned out.
Just a little tip - 10 out of 10 would not recommend elbow tattoos. THAT'S THE WORST PAIN EVER AND THE DAY AFTER IS NO JOKE!
Once again, thanks for stopping by and checking out the art on my skin!
Come back soon,
Paige


social media information

Rex Barnes: Instagram- @rexbarnestattoo

Lifestyle: Simplified Planner

lifestyle

Simplified Planner

Welcome back, darlings.

Today we are going to talk about this little life saver I like to call my planner.

Before I started college, or uni, I never in my life thought I was the person who would use a planner. However, during my first semester of college I thought I was going to loose my brain half the time because I just had a journal I would write my to-do lists in. While that was effective for a while I found myself still really unorganized with everything I had to do. Luckily one day on a shopping trip to the goodwill I found this little gem somebody thought they wouldn't need for the upcoming year! 

I HAVE NEVER GRABBED SOMETHING IN GOODWILL SO FAST!

I was so shocked to see that the planner on the shelf was, first of all, high quality, second of all, in date and ready for use in 2016, and third of all, $1.99!

The simplified planner by Emily Ley was exactly what I needed in my life!

Since I've been finding myself carrying this baby with me everywhere I thought it was necessary for me to show you all the bells and whistles and why I love my planner so much!

I'll be sure to share a link at the end of the post that leads you to were you can get one of these magnificent creations yourself!

Let's get a move on!!!

One of the first things that caught my eye was the fact that the planner had different tabs for each month. This makes it so easy to find the date you need and get straight to it! 

This specific planner even comes with a bonus! On the inside cover there is a pocket that holds a tiny unlined notebook for brainstorming, random thoughts, and anything else you might need it for. I use mine to help me keep track of my blog and write down any new ideas that come to me. 

On the right side of the front page is a short note from the creator of the planner that gives you a quick idea of her life and why she uses a planner!

Since this is "The Simplified Planner", on the next two pages you will find a little blurb about the process of simplifying and also some tips on how to simplify! 

Flipping over to the next two pages you will find a full year calendar so you can get a clear picture of the year ahead. The page right next to that is set up to write down you 2016 Bucket List. To the right of each line is a small bubble for you to place a check mark once you've completed that task!

At the moment mine is empty, but if your little heart desires fill it up to the maximum and check your list off as you go!

 I absolutely love the fact that when I flip open my planner to a month tab the first thing I see is a layout of the whole month. This is where I make sure to mark any important dates, like birthdays, due-dates, and appointments. To the left of the calendar there is also a little section for notes. That's a great place to write down things that apply to the whole month and not just one day. 

Another factor in my love equation for this planner is how each day is set up. As you can see in the above picture there is a page for everyday, and on each page there is a column labeled "Today" with each hour layed out, and a side labeled "To Do" where you can write down the tasks you need to accomplish for that day. At the bottom of each week day page there is a place to write out your plans for dinner, and also any notes that might not fit in the other spaces for that day. 

For the weekends things are set up a little differently. You will find Saturday and Sunday on the same page. Each day has the same columns labeled "Today" and also has a "To Do" column, but Sunday is where the set up changes. Instead of a "To Do" list on Sunday there is a section that is entitled "Weekly Prep". Placed here are a few things for you to do on Sunday that will make the week ahead a little simpler. There are also a few empty slots where you can write down whatever else you may need to tackle on that particular Sunday. I also adore that in between Saturday and Sunday there is a small space that is set aside for you to write down a happy memory from that week, and I think that is a wonderful way to end your weekend and start a new week. 

The last, and probably most simple, part I love about my planner is that on the top of every single page there is an inspirational quote. This, Mrs. Emily, was the most brilliant idea you've ever had! Whenever I feel overwhelmed or like I can't complete everything I have written in my planner all I have to do is take a glance at the top of that day the I will find a little phrase to help me work through it. 

***THE SIMPLIFIED PLANNER AND EMILY LEY'S FULL WEBSITE***

Well we got through it all!

Thanks for sticking around through the whole post! Hopefully this helped you with your busy schedules, and gave you a little inspiration to get your life organized!

Make sure you find some time to slip some fun things into your schedule every now and again!

Much love, 

Paige

Everyday: My Poetry

everyday

my poetry

Hi friends! 

It's something new again today and a little different than usual. 

I used to write all the time. It was my outlet for the longest, and I even entered some contests and a few of my poems ended up being published in some no-name books. Over the past year or two though I have put writing on the back burner, but that has now changed.

I was sent a poem to read last night and my love for poetry came alive once more. The way that a person can take average words and put them together to make something outstandingly beautiful captivated me again, so I've decided to start back up with my poetry.  Take my poems as you will and interpret them however your little heart desires.

Here's my first shot at getting back into it, enjoy. 

silent screams

it's amazing

time stops, tempers flow, nothing happens

silent kids; screaming parents

"I'm ready... I'm ready"

constantly in the living room

constantly in the bed room

"He is the truth, He is so real"

finding things

seeing things

dont expose me to those things

screaming kids; silent parents

lies

fights

mechanisms to help cope

gone

silent kids; silent parents

Thanks for the encouragement to write again. 

Paige

Lifestyle: Tattoos

lifestyle

tattoos

Hi everybody! 

I've been thinking about doing this post for a while now and since I've finally taken the pictures to correlate I can't wait any longer!

I get asked about my tattoos a lot...

"What do they mean?" "Where did you get them done?" "Did it hurt?"

Today, my friends, I will bring all your little minds to ease by answering these questions about each of my tattoos.

Come along for the journey why don't you!

Crescent Moon 

- what does it mean: Represents the different phases of my life.

- artist: Jordynn Sierra 

- pain: 1

Dad's Initials

- what does it mean: Represents the love I have for padre. 

- artist: Jordynn Sierra

- pain: 7

"Worth"

- what does it mean: A reminder that myself along with every other human has worth. 

- artist: Rex Barnes @ Relentless Tattoo in Powdersville, South Carolina

- pain: 5

"Nana" & Mountain Range

Nana

- what does it mean: A reminder that my nana is with me. This is her actual writing.

- artist: Rex Barnes @ Relentless Tattoo

- pain: 9

Mountain Range

- what does it mean: Freedom from anxiety. A place that makes me happy and relaxed.

- artist: Jon Sanford @ Empire tattoo in Asheville, NC

- pain: 5

Bow and Arrow

- what does it mean: Native American Symbol for the beginning of peace.

- artist: Marcus Aday @ Godspeed Tattoo in Breckenridge, CO

- pain: 1

Hand and Dagger 

- what does it mean: A reminder that my negative thoughts are self-inflicted. 

- artist: Rex Barnes @ Relentless Tattoo

- pain: 6

That's all of them folks! 

I'll link all of the artists' instagrams below so you can check out their art work!

Thanks for reading and gaining knowledge about the ink on my skin. 

Check back for more!

Paige 

social media information

Jordynn Sierra: Instagram - @freckledhunny

Rex Barnes: Instagram - @rexbarnestattoo

Marcus Aday: Instagram - @tattoomagic

Jon Sanford: Instagram - @jonsanford

Lifestyle: Admiration

lifestyle

admiration

Meet Gran, Calebs Grandmother. 
I adore her, I love her more than life, and I want to grow to be the kind of mother, grandmother, wife, and friend that she is. 

Since I find myself hoping to be half the woman that Gran is I wanted to share with you the qualities she has that I wish to obtain. 
Let's get going!

#1. Gran's ability to laugh

Over the few short years I have spent with Gran she has lost the ability to do a lot of things, but she has never lost her laugh. Gran manages to find and bring the funniness to any situation and along with that comes the cutest laugh you may ever hear. I adore her for that and want to remember to always find time to laugh because I think it's grans secret to staying sane. (:

#2. Gran's willingness to listen and share

If there is anything I have learned from Gran it's that listening to and sharing with people is so important. No matter if Gran knows you or not she will stop and listen to anything you have to say. Gran showed me how much a person can benefit from listening and how the learning possibilities are endless if you just stop and listen. Gran has started to share a lot of stories from the past because Caleb and I have been dragging up old pictures it has taught me that memories and old stories, good or bad, are always worth sharing. 

#3. Gran's time spent relaxing

Of course Gran no longer works and has all the time in the world to relax, but hell, the woman deserves it. From the stories I've heard from her and the rest of the family Gran was the hardest worker of all the hard workers. Not only did Gran have a job, but she also was a full time mommy, wife, and was heavily involved in church. She's pretty much a superhero. Now you'll find her sitting in the same chair every day watching t.v. in her slippers and relaxing. Just like Gran, I want to live a full life while I can and when it comes time I want to be able to veg out every day without guilt because I know I have worked my butt off to be where I am. Gran still never hesitates to offer up her help though.

#4. Gran's love of people

Gran loves humans. She absolutely can't get enough of visitors and, like I said before, she is always willing to talk to just about anybody. Right now...I'm far from that. I can't stand people. The picture above is Gran getting excited because somebody was walking into her house to see her. This is exactly how I want to be. I want to be happy when people are around me I don't want to be sitting there wishing I was alone. I want to know how to love people the way Gran loves people.  She's the best at loving people. 

That's all for today, friends!

I hope you enjoyed your read and find a little time to be more like Gran! 

-Paige (: 

Girl Talk: Periods

periods

Hi gal pals, 

I have a post specifically for you. Today we are going to get real about our periods.

From the time I was in 6th grade and started my period I've had awful cramps which usually end up with me not being able to function. I've gone to the doctor multiple times and have even eded up in the emergency room a few times because the pain can be so severe. The last time I visited the doctor I was told I most likely have endometriosis. Simply put, it's the devil in my uterus. 

I'm not sure how many of you deal with pain like this when it comes to your period, but if so I wanted to put together a little self-help guide on ways to make it through the day with satan in your abdomen. 
Good Luck, 
Paige 

TIP #1 

- Go for a hot bath 

I don't care what time it is, how much you feel like you don't want to move, or how sleepy you feel. If the cramps are so excruciating to the point of laying in a ball all day head to the bathroom and run a steamy hot bath. The heat of the water automatically relieves the tightness of the muscles in your abdomen.

TIP #2

-Yoga

One of the worst thing you can do while on your period is to get no exercise. I'll be the first to say that when I'm on my period getting up to do exercise is the last thing I want, but I've discovered that it actually relieves a lot of the pain. Specifically YOGA! The relaxing energy allows your body to relax along with getting your mind off of the pain you're feeling. 

TIP #3

-Water is your best friend

The more water you drink the easier it is to get rid of water from your body resulting in feeling a lot less bloated. It sound backwards, I know. Give it a try though! A little extra water never hurt anybody. 

TIP #4 

-Stay close to a hot herbal tea

Herbal remedies are always my favorite because of the huge benefits they provide for all sorts of things. Skullcap is the herb I choose to make my hot tea out of when I use this method to ease the pain. Add a little sugar and honey to your cup and soon the pain will be reduced. 

TIP #5

-Contact your doctor

It's important to know your bodies limit and sometimes there comes a time where the cramps are just too much. If you experience puking, extreme headaches, or pains to the point of not being able to function it's definitely time to see a professional. There are many things that can be done to try and alleviate the pain caused by menstrual cycles, but you have to remember to be patient with finding what works for you. 

Everyday: Depression

everyday

My Life: Brought To You By Depression

Hi friends, 

I've been struggling a lot lately with my emotions so I decided to make this post for you and me. I just recently got done with an art project I was assigned by my lovely art professor and I thought I would share it will you all because I'm rather proud.

A movie poster. Simple. A movie poster representing our life. 

That's what we had to create, and as soon as I heard the words uttered from his lips I knew exactly what my little hands would be working on.

So let me just get into it. 

Confused? I thought you might be. 

Some of you might remember the painting I did that was a complete outpour of my emotions from depression and what I thought it had done to my head. -If you want a full explanation of the painting itself you can check out my post on instagram,which I'll link below, where I told it all.- Well when I heard Mr. Morgan introduce this assignment my painting popped into my head immediately. I knew I wanted my poster to focus on my depression because it had made a huge impact on my life. Both for better and for the worse. This project mostly represents the bad parts. I started thinking about what I thought the worst part of my depression is and came to the conclusion that it was definitely the negative thoughts. I have hardly any positives floating through my head anymore. It's quite dark in there; some might even say black, but in all reality I'm giving those thoughts to myself I'm feeding them to become huge monsters that take over my life. That's what my black handprints represent, the blackness of my negative thoughts that have taken over my whole body. The words that can faintly be seen behind my original painting are all words of positivity or things of happiness I feel I can't reach anymore. That's precisely the reason those words are faded and covered in some spots. I can see them there but they refuse to come to the surface. Since the assignment called for this to be a movie poster it needed a name and some credits. 

I named this piece of art 

MY LIFE: BROUGHT TO YOU BY DEPRESSION

And that is exactly what this poster represents; how I feel my life has been changed by this monster. In the credits I added all of the things that I think contribute to my depression. I thought it might be necessary to give them credit for their work. lol 

All of the words are typed in the same faded green of the background of the work and the font is in a style that isn't so clear. I decided on this feature because of the symbolism.

It's hard to get down to the core of my depression and figure out everything about it. 

I have to search and learn about my self, so I wanted the views of my poster to have to search and learn as well.

Keep on trucking, 

Paige <3

social media information

Paige: Instagram- locatinglifestyle

Fashion: Look of the day

fashion

Look of the day 

"Run of the mill"

What I'm Wearing

Top: Old Navy

Jeans: Goodwill Clearance Center

Hat: Goodwill

Shoes: Nike Outlet

Hey guys, 

Caleb shot a few pictures of my outfit while we were out exploring the Cateechee Cotton Mill the other day. I love this outfit because I feel so comfortable, but I also feel put together. These Nike trainers have been a key in making my casual outfits look a little more smart.  

I'm hoping you gained some inspiration from my simple outfit.

Stick to basics,

Paige

Fashion: Iris Apfel

fashion

"The Rare Bird of Fashion"

I want to start out by saying that this post is going to be a tad different than usual. I wanted to bring your attention to a marvelous woman I recently discovered. Her name is Iris. Iris Apfel. The rare bird of fashion. I watched her documentary on Netflix and fell in love straight away. 

I don't even know where to start, but let's jump in. 

 The film IRIS

Iris is a documentary that follows the life of the fashion icon Iris Apfel. The film doesn’t do much of looking at her past, but more of what her life is now and the legacy she is leaving behind. Through the movie you are able to get a look into what her collection of fashion items and her style means to her. The whole movie was powerful, uplifting, and inspiring. I really enjoyed how raw and real the material they put in the movie was, and I would definitely recommend watching it. It was quite easy to find an appreciation for Iris and her life.

What I have learned from the Rare Bird

1. EXPRESS YOURSELF: Don't be afraid to wear what makes you feel marvelous. Wearing clothes that suit your taste might not always be everybody else's cup of tea. Style is something that nobody can take away from you so create your own and make a statement. 

2. BE BRUTALLY HONEST: Iris displays this wonderful quality of being completely honest in whatever she is saying. Throughout the whole movie you could really tell how Mrs. Apfel felt and it made you feel more welcomed into her life. So be brutally honest. Speak whatever is on your mind and mean what you are speaking. 

3. FIND LOVE: It wasn't hard to see that Iris and her husband had a relationship that everybody wishes for. They were so in love and supportive of each other. When Iris was asked why they never had kids she simply stated that she had to choose between being semi committed to being a mother, wife, and career woman, or be a fully devoted working wife. Iris chose to be a working wife, and she loved every minute of it. It was so important to her that they had time together. You didn't get that vibe through what iris said, but rather how they acted when they were together. They were so in-sync with one another. The Apfel's are now a true inspiration of mine when looking at my own relationship. 

The Challenge

So I wanted to leave you all with a little fashion challenge. 
GO CRAZY WITH COLOR!!!
I know it's fall and our instinct says to go for neutrals and earth tones, but throw everything you know about "style rules" out the window. Iris always manages to have her look full of color and while still looking presentable for every occasion. So go ahead and keep your earth tones for the base of your outfit if you're a little unsure of the idea of color, but incorporate color in your outfit through accessories. 
I'll link a few fall items below that can help you start to find comfort in color just like Iris. 

Comfort in Color

STATEMENT NECKLACE
This necklace is Iris inspired based on the turquoise elements, but is still simple enough to incorporate into any personal style. 
 PATTERNED FLATS
I chose these flats because of the bright color, pattern, and style; all of which seemed to be similar to a piece Iris might wear. It would be easy to pair these with a neutral outfit for that simple pop of color.
TEXTURED PURSE
I found this purse on ModCloth and knew it was perfect for this situation. The Brown color makes it fall appropriate, while the pattern and texture give the bag a little bit of life. 

And that's that. 
Hopefully you're inspired to throw some color and texture into your own personal style. 
Later today there will be a photo on my instagram of my Iris inspired outfit. 
Remember to mix it up a little every now and then.
So long, 
Paige 

social media information

Paige: Instagram- locatinglifestyle

Everyday: Exploring

everyday

Exploring

Hi friends, I wanted to share with you guys one of the little adventures that Caleb and I went on this summer. The day we went was probably one of the hottest days of the summer so i don't suggest that, but it was all very interesting. We traveled along with Caleb's friend Kyle to go look an an old abandoned mill and surrounding area near the anderson area. Like I said earlier summer isn't the time I suggest to go on these outside adventures because of the heat, but guess what! FALL IS HERE! So go ahead, go find your exploring clothes and head out of the house for a little adventure. 

Explore it all,

Paige

This was the first building you saw when walking up to the mill.

If I'm thinking right this structure held several sets of stairs to go to the top of the mill.

It was clear to see after walking around a while that the community had clearly taken over the abandoned ground as a dump site. 
It's sad to see how I kind find something so beautiful and others can see it as only a place for trash.

There were a few places on the crumbling walls where kids found space for graffiti. Most of it were things that mad you really think about your reality, and I loved the challenge of all the quotes that were wrote. 

To the back of these buildings was a large empty lot where I believe the main building for the mill used to be. It had been town down recently and there was only a small smoke stack left. 

I managed to snap this picture of Caleb while we were leaving, and I think it might be my favorite one of the day.