Winter Walks

One thing I love about Frederick is how many great walking spaces this little city has. Every weekend, Mark and I love taking Solo for walks in nearby Baker Park, a 40 acre park about two blocks from our house. This past Sunday, the weather was sheer perfection. While still chilly, the sun was shining in full force. Overhead, the sky was not just blue but cerulean. And cloudless in every direction, as far as you could see. 

Every building and tree stood out in sharp relief, as if some cosmic photographer had turned up the sharpness while editing his image "Perfect Winter Day." Even though it was the beginning of January, Mark and I both remarked that it felt like an early spring day. Maybe a very early spring day, but a spring day nonetheless. 

Solo's main objective on these walks is to chase every squirrel and duck he sees. Poor thing is largely unsuccessful in this endeavor. But that doesn't prevent him from whining piteously or barking at the duck quacks. You just get the sense that he's thinking "One day, Mr. Squirrel, one day." 

What's your favorite place in your city?

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Help Us Pick a Living Room Color!

As most of you know, I am a huge fan of using bold color in your home. My own home is an eclectic mix of jewel tones and dramatic dark hues. For the most part, I feel like I never go wrong with going bold. It suits my eclectic style. However, I've gotten a wee bit tired of our living room color.
Currently, our living room is painted a snuggly warm shade of chocolate brown. I still really like this color. It's very warm and sophisticated and works well with the natural light the room receives during the mornings. We still get a lot of compliments on the room, usually from people surprised that such a dark paint works in a small space.
Our living room has been this chocolate shade for over two years, but lately I've noticed my style changing somewhat. I'm leaning more toward blues and greys and have begun to feel somewhat trapped by the chocolate brown wall color. As if I must forever and always use warm spice hues and only warm spice hues. Meanwhile, the rest of the house is grey and blue. So, while I still love the chocolate brown... it's the only room in the house that's brown. It's time for a change. After all, it is a new year. 
Here's a look at the room currently: 

I'm leaning toward using grey on the walls, similar to the color we used in our master bedroom or the kitchen. I think it would preserve the cozy-study feeling while blending with the rest of our home. However there's still that one rogue part of me that wants to go crazy and paint the room blue... although I'm not sure if that would be the best call. 
Here are some spaces that have been inspiring me lately. 

What do you think? Go grey? Go navy? Or go bold, like the bright turquoise? 
What color is your living room? Do you have an over-riding color theme for your house? Or do you just kind of go with it? 
All images curated from my Pinterest boards.
Original image sources:  1. via Style Me Pretty / 2. via Orange Drive Design / 3. via House of Turquoise / 4. via Centsational Girl / 5. via Decoholic / 6. via Residence Style

New Year, New Goals, New You

One of my favorite things about a new year is that blank-slate feeling. Everything ahead is new, untold, unexpected. Anything is possible. 
I've never really been one for making New Year resolutions. At least not simply for the sake of having a resolution just because everyone else does. We all know that adage "If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans." I guess I've always had the attitude of whatever comes, comes, but lately I've been thinking more about goals. Obviously, we can't see the future, and we don't know what lies ahead. We can only plan so much and so far. Yet, I do think it's important to have a goal or two: short-term and long-term. It gives us direction, let's us know what we're aiming for. It adds to our sense of purpose and direction.
 Last year, I started working on a goal that has lived within me for years: the goal of writing a novel. Before I could even write, I would scribble squiggle-lines onto stacks of paper, staple the sheets together, and then proudly march the finished product around the house as my "book." At the end of last year, Mark and I decided that I should take a few months to actually work toward making this goal a reality. Now, I'm 12 chapters in and, although the process has been filled with ups and downs, I don't know that I've ever felt more fulfilled as an individual. Or more grateful to my husband who has been nothing but supportive as I work and write. 
As the new year began, I debated whether to actually post any resolutions for 2016. But the reality exists that we need to have goals toward which we steer ourselves. After all, we will never accomplish something if we never aim for it, if we never even try. As Erin of the blog Reading My Tea Leaves stated, "You'll never accomplish what you don't attempt. Literally. And thinking of something to attempt, well, that's the first step." 
Rather than present a long, meandering list of goals (which frankly would bore both you and me), I plan to share a short series of posts regarding the main goals I have forged for the new year. Each goal somehow relates to the main topics of this little space: living creatively and being more intentional with my life and time. The upcoming goals will fall under three categories: personal goals, financial goals, and creative goals. 
Along the way, I'll share my progress, whether its forward or backward. I hope that my little efforts will somehow inspire you to lay out and aim for your own personal goals as well, come what may!
Thanks for following along thus far. And Happy New Year! 

10 Things You May Not Know about Me

1. I used to train horses and had two paint mares, a dam and filly duo named Precious and Jazz. 
2. I used to have a dreadful self-image and be painfully self-conscious. Only in the past year, as I've started weight-lifting and exercising almost daily , have I begun to see my body as something to be proud of rather than embarrassed of. Trust me, it took a lot of effort to get to this point! Plus, I absolutely love working out with my husband in the evenings. It's a great way to blow off steam and reconnect after work.  
3. Most of my teenage years, my goal was to join the Air Force. It wasn't until I got a little older that I fell in love with writing and literature and moved in a more creative direction instead. 
4. I met my husband when I was 14 years old, but we didn't start talking until I was 18 years old. 
5. I used to be as country as a country girl could get-- I'm talking feeding baby calves, wearing Ford and Chevy Tshirts, and sporting Justin boots everywhere I went. Now, I am considering moving to D.C., one of the busiest cities in our nation. 
6. I'm a huge advocate for pitbull-type dogs. The surest way to get me in an argument is to insult my dog or his breed. I mean, look at Solo... how cute is that pup? 
7. I'm currently working on a novel which I hope to complete this year. At least, that's my resolution... no pressure right? 
8. My favorite music genre is rock, yes the hard stuff. I may be cute, but I can sing every word to Slipknot songs-- a trait that my husband may either find endearing or alarming, I haven't determined which yet. 
9. Someday, I would love to own a fine art studio and gift boutique. Or maybe a florist shop. Or maybe an interior design studio. Who knows. Anything that allows me to work with my hands. I'm still figuring out my career goals. 
10. I graduated valedictorian from my alma mater Piedmont College, a liberal arts college in Northeast Georgia. So I must have some brains rattling around in there somewhere. Although honestly, I just worked my butt off. 

Happy New Year from Patina & Purl!

Happy New Year from Mark and Abi!
Hope your celebrations are safe and happy!

Our Year in Review

For so many in our family-- us included-- the year 2015 was a whirlwind of good and bad. Mark and I faced some of our toughest situations yet as a married couple, but so far we've managed to pull through each one. I learned a ton about myself, about marriage, and about life. I won't go into all the "lessons learned" since I waxed eloquent on that topic yesterday. But I did want to share a quick look back at our year. So much happened-- I can't even wrap my mind around it all. 
My blogging friend Whitney of Hey Whitney Blog shared her End of the Year Digest this week. I loved the idea and decided to do the same for Patina & Purl today. Writing for this blog has been a great way to immortalize our lives together. It was so fun to look back and see what we were thinking, feeling, and experiencing as the year went by. If you're new to the blog, this post will help you get a feel of who we are, where we've come from, and where we're going. 
January

This month marked not only the beginning of a new year but also the decision to make a major life change. I decided to leave my M.A.T. program at Mount St. Mary's University and went to work as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at McDaniel College. I think our early twenties are definitely a time to flounder around, figuring out who we are and who we want to be. It took a lot of courage to jump off the proverbial cliff and try something new. 
My favorite posts: Deciding to Change First Snow of 2015
February

Because I was busy learning my new job at McDaniel College, February and March were the lean months for the blog. It seemed like this month was determined to freeze us to death-- we got so much snow and bizarre sub-arctic temperatures. I became convinced that we had moved to Alaska rather than Maryland. 
My favorite post: Self-Portrait in Third Person
March

March was a hard month for me. Naively, I thought March meant the arrival of spring. Instead, it meant more snow and ice storms. In the spirit of authenticity, I'll admit that I became really discouraged and depressed this month. I wasn't happy with my job, my health, or the weather. My life seemed to revolve around work and icky snowy mess. Looking back, I'm so grateful for a husband who unconditionally supported me through a hard month. In happier memories: we found a Civil War battlefield behind our local Target.  My favorite posts: Our Dining Room Tour Bully: Owning a Pitbull Our Weekend in Photos: Monocacy Battlefield
April

With the arrival of spring, I made another big change and leap of faith. Keeping our budget in mind, Mark and I decided that I needed to work in a creative capacity in order to truly be happy. I went to work for a local vintage furniture company. Simultaneously, I began writing a novel, working on my Etsy shop, and blogging again in earnest. Like the winter fog melting away, I felt my depressed mood finally begin to lessen. 
My favorite posts: Morgan & Newman // A Springtime Wedding Photography: Baby Girl Harper Creating a Capsule Wardrobe
May 

May marked the beginning of my love of chalk painting, as well as my journey to physical fitness. Mark and I began working out together every day, which tremendously boosted my mood. Our house underwent some of its main renovations-- and we were nominated for the Apartment Therapy Small Cool Contest. 
My favorite posts: Paris Grey Dresser Makeover Industrial Pallet Coffee Table Our Patio Makeover
June

June seemed like a month of travel, planning, and family events. Our best friends had a baby shower for their first baby, while at home we began planning our kitchen renovation. I meanwhile sat down and gave the blog a serious once-over, determining its new direction and giving it a new look. Overall, Mark and I just enjoyed summertime in beautiful Frederick. 
My favorite posts: Around Town: Frederick City Guide Revitalizing Old Art Prints Baby Boy Shower & Bump Shots
July

In July, that peak month of summer, Mark and I enjoyed a family vacation to the North Carolina coast. While there, we received the scary news that our best friends were at the hospital, having their first baby over a month early. Luckily, everything turned out all right for the little baby boy. 
My favorite post: Photo Reel: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
August

August was a hot whirlwind. Mark and I took Solo on his first camping trip to Gambrill State Park, and I undertook two of my biggest furniture makeovers of the year.
My favorite posts: Old World Style Dresser Makeover Warm Industrial-Inspired Vintage Desk
September

This September, Mark and I seemed to go hiking almost every weekend. We just couldn't get enough of the perfect mild weather. I think September may have been cooler than our December! Everything glowed with a bright green vibrancy, seemingly in defiance of the coming autumn. We discovered new favorite hiking spots and explored an orchard.  My crafty side went into over-drive with fall craft ideas. All in all, September was a really fun month. 
My favorite posts: Around Town // Worthington Farm Hike Chalkpaint Pumpkin Pillow Hack Wheat & Berries Table Arrangement Stovetop Apple Simmer 
October

This month, Mark and I celebrated our third anniversary with an impromptu trip to Washington D.C and the exact spot where he proposed: the Jefferson Memorial. We explored Georgetown and found the oldest building in D.C.  On the renovation front, we tackled our kitchen renovation and other small projects around the house with the help of Mark's parents who came up for a visit. Meanwhile, I unlocked the secret to achieving a stained look with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Finally, I had the honor of guest posting at Hey Whitney Blog. 
My favorite posts: Chalk Paint Makeover: the Stair Rail Bathroom Makeover Chicken Vino Bianco Recipe The Oldest House in Washington How Thomas Jefferson Changed My Life
November

November was the month of renovations. We finally completed the kitchen, and I transformed our dining room with a birch tree statement wall. To celebrate Thanksgiving, Mark and I traveled to Delaware where we ate too many carbs and explored Cape Henlopen State Park. Surprisingly, our kitchen makeover was subsequently featured on Apartment Therapy and Unfolded. 
My favorite posts: Kitchen Reveal Workspace Tour Birch Tree Statement Wall
December

This topsy-turvy year rounded out with a much-overdue trip to Georgia to celebrate the holidays with family. Opening presents with my two nephews added a whole new definition to the early morning Christmas excitement. 
My favorite posts: Cape Henlopen State Park Master Bedroom Makeover
Thanks for following along this year! I hope you enjoyed reading about our antics, furniture makeovers, and renovation adventures. It sounds like 2016 has a ton of new adventures in store for us already. I can't wait to see where it takes us and to share our discoveries along the way.
Have a safe and happy New Year!

This post format was originally created by Whitney Torres of Hey Whitney Blog in her post End of the Year Digest. I emulated the format for my own "Year in Review" post. 

Reader Favorites of 2015

Can you believe that 2015 is nearly over? I can hardly believe it. I'm still trying to figure out how Halloween wasn't just yesterday, and when and how Thanksgiving and Christmas already passed. To be honest, 2015 was simultaneously one of the hardest and happiest years of my life. Mark and I got hit with a lot this year. If it was anything, life was certainly not easy for us in 2015. Yet, I learned so much this year about myself, about others, about marriage, and about life.  
I learned that your own real opinion of yourself is more important than others' opinions of who they think you are. I learned, no matter what comes tumbling through life, my marriage can be the foundation I cling to; but that this means that sometimes I have to do my part by being a steady rock and not always just the one clinging to it.  I learned that often the world is dishonest and wrong, but that those things don't have to cross the threshold into your home. I learned that peace and kindness is more valuable than asserting yourself and proving that you're right. I learned that burdens will be lifted if I just pray for them to be so. 
Most importantly, I learned that, even though life cam seem impossibly difficult, it's still blessed, happy, and full of things for which I should be thankful. Sometimes, it's still easy to forget this one. To be honest, I'm still working on this lesson and probably will be for my entire life. But I'm thankful to have at least  small understanding of thankfulness. 
In the spirit of thanksgiving and nostalgia at the close of another year, I thought it might be fun to look back over this year's posts. To create a "Greatest Hits of 2015," if you will. This little space experienced some growth this year -- something I thought might have happened but that I didn't really realize until I sat down and looked at a year's worth of posts. Thanks to all who have followed along on our renovation journey this year; I hope you'll continue reading as we tackle all that 2016 holds!
Without further ado, here are your greatest hits and reader favorites of 2015. If you missed one of these posts when it was originally shared, you can click on the title and catch up. 
Patina & Purl Reader Favorites of 2015

10. Warm Industrial-Inspired Vintage Desk

9. Birch Tree Statement Wall

8. Bathroom Makeover

7. Chalkpaint Pumpkin Pillow DIY

6. Creating a Capsule Wardrobe 

5. Our Home Work-space Tour

4. Dining Room Tour

3. Patio Makeover

2. Deciding to Change This blog post was hugely personal to me. Deciding to leave my M.A.T. program was a huge step that made me insanely nervous, but to this day I haven't regretted it. Which lets me know that it was the right life choice for me. I was overwhelmed by the kind response everyone had to this post. Thanks for being so supportive! And a HUGE thanks to all the teachers out there-- I am amazed at your strength and intelligence and ability to do what you do. 

1. Our Kitchen Reveal This post by far was my favorite of 2015-- and yours too, apparently! Our kitchen renovation was a long time coming and took the whole family to complete. But I'm so thrilled with the result. We were lucky enough to  have this project featured on Apartment Therapy as well as Unfolded. 

Thanks to all who followed along this year. We hope you'll stick around and visit us on the flip side. It looks like 2016 has a lot in store, and we can't wait to share it with you.