Here's To January...

December through Instagram.

You can find me at @_allisonlynn.

Goodbye, December.  What a lovely, inspirational month you were.  You had your downs, but you also brought wonderful new friends into my life and ended my year with enthusiasm.  Goodbye, 2012.

Hello, January.  Hello, 2013.  Hello sparkly nights and bitterly cold days.  Hello days spent on campus, silent drives, and new beginnings.  Just the right amount of optimism and enough strength to realize my worth.  New bookshelves, new notebooks, new schoolbooks.  Nights spent with my crochet hook and a Netflix movie.  Getting to sleep until 8am, getting to stay up until midnight, and long sleeves every day.

Welcome, 2013.  I'm looking forward to you.

xo, A.

Here's To December.

Me, oh my this post is two weeks late.  I guess that's what Dead Week and Finals Week will do to you.  Please excuse me, dear friends.

Goodbye, November.  You were calm and lovely and still.  I grew another year older and another year brighter.  Someone entered my life within your days, and left it almost as quickly it seems.  I slowed down and hung on as you gave way to December.  Goodbye, November, until next year.

Hello, December.  Hello blissfully cold days, no homework, and of course, Christmas.  Hello New Year, happy people, a sea of yarn scattered around me, and the smell of mint chocolate.  If I'm lucky, hello to San Antonio.  Here's to you, December, and all that you bring.

Happy Holidays, dear friends.

xo, A.

P.S. I wrote a tutorial for the elf mitten ornament in the photo above, and you can find it here!

Here's To October...

October through Instagram.

Goodbye, October.  One of my three most beloved months.  You were full of brand new things, including finding out that I will have a nephew come Spring.  Fall is so fleeting, and I can't hardly believe one month of this glorious season is already over.

Hello, November.  Here's to my (23rd! Aack!) birthday, Thanksgiving, delicious, delicious food, and wrapping up my classes.  Here's to weather that may finally stay cold and the new knit socks I found for $3. Here's to blanketed skies and grey-toned days, more and more chai tea for me, and yarn always in my lap.

Happy November, dear friends.
xo, A.

Here's To October...

September through Instagram.

It's a few days late, but that's okay... Goodbye, September.  You were lovely and colorful and grand.

Hello, October.  Hello Autumn in full swing.  Hello orange, red, yellow, and brown.  Hello to even more chai tea, to Halloween (my favorite!), visits to the pumpkin patch and getting lost in corn mazes, The Walking Dead season 3 (!!!), shorter days and darker mornings, The Smiths and Regina Spektor, homework, yarn, yarn, yarn...  A chill in the air and the smell of cinnamon everywhere.

You're my favorite season.

xo, A.

Here's to September...

1.  Early mornings //  2.  Baby kitten //  3.  A crocheted blanket for a dear friend's birthday. //  4.  Augusten. //  5.  My little niece or nephew //  6.  Learning Tunisian crochet. //  7.  Perfect Fall yarn colors //  8.  New 'Today Is The Day' planner

Hello, September.  I'm welcoming you very dearly.  Autumn is just around the corner, and I couldn't be more elated.  Soon it will be cooler and grey-er, and the trees will be orange-er.  Pumpkin spice everything.  School, homework, classwork, aching feet from trips across campus.  Less light in the morning, less light at night.  Pajamas and bunny slippers, and sleep.  Welcome, September.

Goodbye, August.  You were great, and I will miss you.  You were all about new beginnings, which began successfully.  The most promising month I've had in a long time.

Happy September, dear friends.

xo, A.

Here's To August

Goodbye, July.  You passed by me so quickly, I almost lost you.  You were full of wonderful moments.  You were also hot.  Very, very hot.  I learned more about myself and what I love in the month of July.  I had new ideas and new realizations.  I'll miss you, July...but not your heat.

Hello, August.  This is the month in which my newest and most daring adventure yet starts.   You'll be beaming with new things and it's almost overwhelming. (But not quite.)  Here's to new books, papers, and fancy backpacks.  Here's to sleepy warm nights and the winding down of Summer.  Here's to tea, early mornings, yoga on Thursdays, and air conditioning.  Hello, August.  I hope you're everything I dream you'll be.

xo, A.

Here's To April + Giveaway Winner

March through Instagram.

Goodbye, March.  You were good, and I'm sad to see you go.  It's seems to me like you were just beginning yesterday.  I began two new things this past month, and I'm ever-so excited to see how they turn out.  I've considered new ideas and began my first garden.  I crocheted, a lot.  Goodbye, March...you were wonderful.

Here's to April...the first full month of Spring.  Warmer days here in the middle of nowhere.  Hours upon hours spent with a crochet hook in hand, and maybe even knitting needles at some point.  Flowy dresses and bare legs.  Flip-flops!  I Love Lucy and Walking Dead reruns.  Floppy hats and dirty garden gloves.  Sleep.  Boring work days, exciting weekends.  Bravery, and happiness.  Here's to you, April.

Are you on Instagram, too?  You can find me at @allisonlynn.

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I'm also quite excited to announce the Beloved Bird giveaway winner!  Using a random number generator, the winner is Taryn!  Congratulations!!!

Happy Sunday, friends!

xo, Allie

Here's To March

February through Instagram.

Goodbye, February.  Overall, you were a lovely month, and I'm sad to see you go.  I grew closer to new people, pushed myself further, and considered new possibilities for myself.  I was able to cross off a goal on my 22 Before 23 list when we visited Lawrence, which was to travel to a place I had never been.  I laughed more, cried less, and felt love all around me.  It was nice to know you this year, February.

Here's to March.  To Springtime and newly-blooming trees.  To more sunshine and less cold.  More early mornings, early nights, and feeling better.  Walking Dead marathons with my mom.  Starting my first few bits of a summer garden.  Submitting applications that make my heart beat fast and my tummy have butterflies full of nervousness.  March, I can't wait for you.

xo, A.

P.S.  You can find me on Instagram at _allisonlynn.

Here's To February //

January through Instagram.

Goodbye, January.  I'm quite sad to see you go, because you were a magnificent month, truly.  I started new adventures, made new friends,  and realized something very important about myself - that my power is in words.  I laughed more than I cried, and went to bed with joy in my heart.  It snowed, but only a tiny bit.  Then it was warm, like Spring had decided to say hello early.  I made important blog decisions, which I will share very soon.  I spent my time surrounded by people who make me feel loved and happy.  This year is off to a wonderful start because of you, January.

Here's to February, and all of the love that you're going to bring - because you are the month of love, after all.  Here's to early nights in bed and being up before the sun rises.  And seeing the sun rise.  Here's to Valentine's Day (I love it!), spending time at my new job with new friends, and creating Secret Pal gifts.  Dr. Pepper and chocolate-iced donuts.  My 2 year anniversary with Sean, my precious baby kitten, and my family.  And I mustn't forget my shoppe, as it's been a wonderful venture.

February, I hope you'll live up to January.

xo, A.

Here's To January

December through Instagram.

Goodbye, December.  You were, without a doubt, the best month I've had in a long time.  You brought with you a certain joy that I hadn't felt in a long time.  I shared many wonderful, memorable moments with my family, started new traditions, and made one of my dreams come true by opening my shoppe.  It feels like heaven to end my year on such a wondrous note.

Here's to January.  A fresh start, a new beginning.  The start of resolutions and permanent, remarkable changes.  Winter weather and glitter.  (Hopefully) New jobs.  Late night movie watching and hours of crocheting, like usual.  Working hard on my shoppe.  Making new friends.  Reading new books.  Kitten snuggles, love, and warmth.

Goodbye, 2011.  When I think back on you, I have mixed feelings.  You had many incredible, awe-inspiring moments, but you also had your fair share of bad.  I can rightfully say that I emerged from you a stronger, braver girl, and for that I owe you everything.

Hello, 2012.  You're going to be magical, I can just feel it.  I'm going to make you mine - make you everything I want and need you to be.  Here's to marching forward and vowing to find my inner happiness.  Here's to living fearlessly, with a full heart.

xo, A.

Here's To December

November through Instagram.

Goodbye, November.  You were magical, sweet, and full of love.  You brought about more changes - some good, and some bad - but necessary, nevertheless.  Within you I celebrated Thanksgiving with my wonderful family, and my 22nd birthday a few days later.  I finally made the decision to push forward with a small dream of mine because of you, Novmeber.  You made the weather grow colder, and my heart warmer.  I reconnected with special people I hadn't spoken to in far too long.  You had your downs, November...but overall, you were as enchanting as I had hoped you'd be.

Hello, December.  You're one of the most bewitching months, in my opinion.  Here's to finding more love throughout the holiday season, much colder days and even colder nights, the blankets of snow that may not find their way to us just yet,  and redecorating to match our moods.  Christmastime and holiday songs.  Warm food and mint-chocolate hot cocoa.  Dressing to feel pretty, crocheting gifts for loved ones, and keeping in touch.  I hope I'm able to send out Christmas cards.  Twinkle lights in white and pale blue, gifts wrapped with love, and ornaments dated to the year hung high on the tree.  I love the holidays ever-so much.  Here's to you, December.
xo, A.

P.S.  You can find me on Instagram at _allisonlynn.

Here's To November

October through Instagram

Goodbye, October. I can't believe how quickly you flew by me. I opened my eyes to new possibilities, and made new decisions for myself in this past month. October may have made me a stronger person.

Hello, November. At the end of this month, I will have been on this Earth for 22 years. I don't know if I'm ready for 22. November is for moving forward, moving on, and starting from scratch. Being happy and being thankful. Finding new things to fill my heart with joy. The knowledge that the holiday season is right around the corner, chilly weather, and over-sized sweaters. Old friends and new friends alike. Ville Valo's soothing voice singing me to sleep. Kitten snuggles. Craftiness and an old sewing machine. Pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce.

Happy November, dear friends. I hope this month is a wonderful one for you all.
xo, A.

Here's to October.

Goodbye to September.  You weren't as wonderful a month as I thought you were going to be.  In fact, you were the worst month I've had in a long while.  But that's okay, because I believe it was for the best.

Here's to October:  leaves changing, temperatures dropping, shorter days.  Visits to the pumpkin patch, decorating beautifully, starting over in a way I didn't think I would have to.  Dim morning light welcoming the new, colder days.  Halloween and scary movies that keep me awake long into the night.  Listening to HIM to calm my nerves.  Frozen hot chocolates and many hours spent crocheting new things.  I'm looking forward to you, October.

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You may notice that things look a bit different around here (again).  My focus here has changed, and I wanted something simpler.  I hope you like it as much as I do.

Happy October, dear friends.

I hope you're all doing well,

xo, A.

Here's To September

Source: etsy.com via Jackie on Pinterest

Here's to September: The beginning of my favorite season, Autumn. The cooling of the much too hot temperatures. The changing of the leaves. Cinnamon and pumpkin spice. Cardigans, tights, and boots. The grand opening of my Etsy. My mother's birthday. Early mornings spent with my handsome mister. Crocheting in bed. Sewing all day. Kitten snuggles. Photograph taking. Trips home. Unwavering optimism. When things begin to look up for us. Here's to a good month.

I'll be back tomorrow with the end of the 30-Day Photo Project. (I promise I've been taking the pictures! :])
Sleep well, lovelies. xo, A.