Life According to My iPhone Pictures: Anniversary Trip Edition

It's amazing how getting away for a couple days changes how you feel about life. 

I don't know what it is, but the ocean is such a healing, restorative place for me.

I instantly de-stress when I hear the sound of the waves. 

I love how the sand feels between my toes.

And I love, love, love, ocean life. 

I also love Gus, and loved the wonderful getaway he arranged for us. Celebrating our first anniversary was quite wonderful. From the beer tour of the Oregon beaches, to the sunrise bike ride, to getting matching anchor tattoos on our anniversary; it was probably the best weekend we have ever had together.  I think the most meaningful thing we did together was get matching tattoos.
 It may seem a bit cliche to get an anchor tattoo, but it means so much to me. 

When i look at it, I can't help but think the only thing that got me through this crazy whirlwind of a year was being anchored in Christ's unconditional love, and the growing friendship with Gus that comes from rooting our relationship together, in Him. All in all, our mini annivesary vacation was amazing. It's insane how much growth can happen in a year, and how fast a year can go by. I wish we could have spent more time on vacation, but I loved the weekend we had. I loved thinking about our day and talking about it. It was kind of a whirl wind but all in all a beautiful day. Who knew celebrating a day would be so special and fun. I can't wait to go back to the oregon coast. I really hope we go at least once a year if not more. Can't wait to celebrate more anniversaries with Gus. This year went by
so fast! I can't imagine how wonderful the next years will be. 

Favorite-Book of the Month-Cupcakes and Cashmere

One of my favorite bloggers, Emily Schumann, came out with her book in August! I got my hands on it before a trip and am so excited about it. I honestly didn't know what to expect, seeing as it's a bloggers book of collected blog posts. I loved what I saw and read when I opened it! The book is divided into seasons. Each season has some of her favorite posts/articles on party planning, beauty, holidays, home decor, and organization. 

I love that each season of the book has a list of makeup to splurge on and to save money on. Emily Schumann is a makeup genius, and I love being able to know from an expert what is worth the money and what isn't. It is also nice to have visual lists of season appropriate makeup. 

Emily has an amazing wardrobe and style skills that I have always been envious of. 

When I saw that she has a list of seasonal clothing to have at the beginning of each season and a list of all the staple items to have in a well built closet, I may have done my happy dance. I am one of those girls who is a compulsive shopper and just buys whatever is cute and in style. To be able to have a list of pieces to build timeless and seasonal outfits with that never go out of style is pretty good for my budget. Wardrobe Building Blocks for me is what made this book one of my absolute favorite things. 

This chart is probably the biggest money saver to ever be in my life.

I love Emily's photography and her eye for decor. 

I love the parts of her book where she shoes how she organizes and decorates

her home. She discusses her collections and how to collect things well in a way

that adds beauty to your home, not clutter. I feel like I need help in that area,

especially since it saves space and money in the long run. 

Overall I love the book and I feel its definitely worth the purchase. Some cool looking books like this aren't all that they seem, and aren't always as helpful but are just pretty. I also love Emily's writing style and her taste. I feel that she is all about staying classic and true to self through the trends and seasons, and I love how much this book shows that. 

Wedding for a free spirit

I recently had a dear dear friend of mine ask me to plan her wedding. After I was done squealing and doing my happy dance, I said yes as calmly and professionally as I knew how. So as soon as I got home I put together a pinterest board for her spring or summer wedding. I am super excited to see everything she is going to make. I love everything about what these are inspiring us toward: a day in a field under a tree that is very happy and full of love. If you are a flower child like my friend (and I), or you are engaged, be sure to check out my weding pinterest boards! 

Blessings!

For photo credit, please visit my pinterest board for links that will take you directly to the pictures source. 

A few of my favorite things lately

I just got home this past Saturday from co-leading a girls middle school group at my churches youth camp! It was very very fun and I have been recuperating day by day.

While recuperating I have noticed a few of my favorite things around lately! 

 My husband got me this destination necklace from Urban Outfitters as a gift for our one month of dating! He wrote me my first love letter ever and said the necklace was a promise to take me to Paris one day. I know, I know! It was a pretty fast move for someone who just started dating, but now that we are married it is a daily reminder of how much he loves me. 

Finally got my favorite painting ever by The Black Apple! It is hanging above my work space in our office area. I am kind of obsessed with it.

I FINALLY got the Design*Sponge at Home book as a gift and I am so so excited about it! It has amazing ideas, most of which I have already seen on Pinterest. However the massive range of DIY's in the back of the book are amazing and the ideas on how to make a house a home are endless. Even my husband thinks this book is cool! It's definitely a winner for us! 

Peaches are my absolute favorite fruit! So happy I finally get to enjoy them! 

I finally got my initial mug from Anthropologie and have been using it all around the house for a variety of things. Also love having my new last initial on my planner by Much Ado About You! 

I have been listening to Sucre on Repeat. Loving the song Troubled Waters!

They were also featured in this months issue of Relevant Magazine, which was awesome to see! I am pretty sure  it is my album of the summer.

What is your album of the summer? 

I made some of Elsie Larson's Mini Notebooks a while back and I have been filling them up ever since! It is probably one of my favorite things to make, since I can't go out and buy a gazillion notebooks to fill with lists and ideas all the time.

Don't we all just love notebooks? 

I have recently and FINALLY experienced a rush of creative inspiration. I think all I needed was a week not focused on myself, but on others. Isn't it amazing how much serving people does for our hearts and minds? 

I think I am going to start doing one thing a week to really help someone or brighten their day, just as a reminder that this life is wasted if all I do is for myself. 

What causes you to be inspired? 

The little things I have been loving lately

Lately I have been loving extremely random things. 

1) This Live performance from Sucre kills me. The harmonies are amazing.

She reminds me of Feist. I have been on a Sucre/Feist/Lana Del Rey kick lately. 

They are my go-to artists for this summer for sure. 

2) Elsie Larson recently interviewed Kinsey Mihre from Sincerely, Kinsey diy and photography blog.

I read it, and felt an immediate push to get up, create and plan.  It was a huge help to me, because Kinsey's blog is not only my favorite, but I am in the midst of making my blog more attractive and readable. I am in the midst of the creative process, and was having a hard time picking out topics, themes, etc. This article helped me narrow down my thoughts and get the mess onto paper. All in all, it  helped me so much to learn from the two of them, and I hope this article helps you in your endeavors as well! 

3) The Plaid Barn is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It is a website where each day they have a deal on specific craft supplies. They are all unique, very popular, and very expensive everywhere but this website. So naturally, I am addicted. 

I recently ordered adorable packaging, 

adorable lace tape, 

and an adorable vintage camera rubber stamp.

 You have to check first thing in the morning each day, because if what they are selling is awesome, it goes really fast! I am very excited to receive all of what I have ordered soon and share my creations with it, with you.

4. My first attempt at embroidery. I know so many people embroider this lyric, but it's special to me because it was our recession song in our wedding. It is a bit rough, but I like that it is. It adds character.
I am actually practicing a lot, in hopes to add a few awesome items to my shop.
Can't wait to share them with you!

5. The VS Co. Camera App for iPhone has been blowing up the instagram world. Why? The filters on the app give a look that many professional photographers give, for just 99 cents. I am obsessed with this application and feel like I have even more of an opportunity to take awesome photos with my phone now. I use filters 2 and 5. They are the best in  my opinion.

Filter 2

filter 5

6. I am in the process of creating an office/craft space for myself. I am very excited. I have a wall color scheme and everything picked out. It will take a while to build, but the creative process is what makes it beautiful. These letters from Twisted Twig Etsy Shop are my favorite for sure. I am hoping to add them to my inspiration wall.

7. I usually don't end lists on odd numbers, but this time it is happening. I am very excited to share with you the success of my wedding photographer. Our wedding was posted yet again on a mainstream wedding blog! High-Fi weddings, a wedding blog focused on music themed weddings and engagement  sessions, featured us! You can view the post here! The best part about this post is all of our music played at the wedding was posted! It took months to develop it, and since our whole wedding was based off of music, I was very blessed it was posted on the blog. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 

Favorite Etsy Shop Of The Week: The Black Apple

I am a sucker for anything that reminds me of the joy's of my childhood that was filled with 

Disney movies, reading wonderful books, and "grand adventures" with my little brother.

Alice and Wonderland wasn't my favorite book, but when I went to Disneyland, I got swept up 

in a parade, and Alice and the Made Hatter grabbed a hand and I ran all over the park with them.

It was a dream come true for 10 year old me. Every since then, I have had a special place in my 

heart for that beautiful story of Alice. When I first started getting into Etsy, I stumbled upon

an artist out of Portland named Emily Winfield Martin, whose paintings and drawings

took me to a whole other planet. These are my favorites in her shop. Not only 

can you buy them on Etsy, but also at Tender Loving Empire in downtown Portland. 

Alice in Wonderland Art from The Black Apple

8X10 Print of Still Life with Flowers

Blooms and Branches Greeting Card Collection

by The Black Apple 

The Mad Tea Party Print, 10x8

Hope you have a great weekend!
If you live in the Moscow Idaho area, you should check out the worship night
at the NuArt! My husband and I will be in the closing band :)
Much Love, At

6 Favorite Things For March

1. Hoo's Hungry Bib from Wedding Chicks Shop

2. Rifle Paper Co. Coaster Set

3. Happiness Is A Virtue Dress from Ruche

4. Larabee Road Platinum Dish Set by Kate Spade

5. Sleepy Hollow Pencil Cup from Anthropologie

6. ASOS Magpie Lace Up Flat Shoe 

Etsy Shop Of The Week: Art Jaden

My talented friend Abigail Tjaden, recently started to sell her drawings that I have been admiring for quite 

some time, on an Etsy Shop! My favorite thing about this is that she is not just selling prints, but 

screen print tee-shirts! 

You can check out her art blog here, and enjoy all of the wonderful product on her Etsy here. 

Here are my favorites from her shop! 

Red Shirt with Skull Silkscreen

Love Me Bird Prints - Pack of 3

Red Tank Top with Silk screened Imagery

4 things I love right now

1) Top Left: Jeni's Splendid Gourmet Ice Cream

Get ready for a party in your mouth! 

My parents bought this and an ice cream machine,

and we had a sampling party on New Years Day. 

Jeni teaches how to make amazing home made ice cream with crazy flavors, from

a simple lemon sorbet, to ice creams that have the strong flavors from wine and cheese in them!

The Earl Grey with Sugar Plum ice cream is the best in my opinion. But I also loved the Darkest Chocolate in the World, Salted Caramel, and  Pear Soaked in Riesling Wine ice creams. 

I am going to ask for an ice cream maker and the book for my birthday,

and I will be sure to document my future ice cream party. 

Dying to try her Boozy Eggnog Ice Cream.

You can buy the book at Barnes and Noble, Anthropologie, and Jeni's website. 

2) Top Right: JCrew Edie Purse

My style has dramatically changed in the past year and a half.

I have learned to love classic, staple items, and mix them with trends.

I am absolutely obsessed with leather shoulder bags right now, and this one

with the gold closure kills me. I also love it in red. 

3) Bottom Left: Society 6 aztec print iPhone case.

Thats right, I got an iPhone for Christmas. 

This means that not only am I absolutely obesssed with apps 

like Instagram, Flipboard, and Words with Friends, 

but I am on the hunt for the perfect iPhone case.

This one is screaming at me. 

Society 6 has a million amazing ones, however, so I don't know how I could choose.

4) Bottom Right: Heart Tights from ASOS

You will soon see that I live 85% of my life in tights. 

I regularly wear dresses and skirts, and these tights drew me the moment

I spotted them on pinterest.