4 Ways to Make a Pit Stop a Home // Life's Little Layover

So Zach & I have been in this little pit stop we call Michigan for about a month, actually I am pretty sure it was a month ago today we pulled up into his parent's driveway.  Wow, time flies!  Any way...I wanted to share with you 4 things that have really helped me out in this little layover.

With all of Zach's things still in a POD & all of my things carefully stacked in the garage, there hasn't been much of making a home.  Since I am a homebody type person & love nesting it's been really weird using someone else's dishes & sitting on someone else's couch.  But we've made the best of it in all ways possible.  The lovely view & wonderful hospitality of his parents have more than made up for it.  Here are the 4 things that have made the one bedroom apartment with an old futon seem more like home:

Starbucks Via // Of course I'd put coffee first.  I love coffee & I love good coffee.  While sometimes I do opt for a Starbucks run in order to get a shot of caffeine & high speed internet, having good coffee at home was proving difficult as Zach's coffee pot is packed in a storage unit & only God knows where my has gone.  In swoops Starbucks Via, Italian Roast specifically.  It's the best instant coffee out there.  A small packet in a hot cup of water with cream & sugar has saved my mornings.  Really, I can't get through the day with out coffee.  It's the truth.  Starting the day off coffee in hand reminds me of home 

Schedule // I am a scheduler & with out one, my daily battle with my love of sleep over takes me.  I will stay in bed until noon if I don't have things to do.  Having a schedule & things that need to get done during the day has helped me a lot.  Just like getting up & going to a real job would interrupt my never ending battle with my love of sleep, so too does having a personal schedule.  Not to mention it's kept me on track & even put me ahead of the things I want to accomplish.  Oh yeah, I may not be making bank...but self employment has put me in front of my goals & not just working towards them!

Dinner Together // Zach & I ate together before, of course but part of it was waiting for the other to drive to the other's house and then decide what sort of groceries we had that we could throw something together.  Actively planning our meals, sharing cooking duties, & sitting down to eat together have really made it seem like home.  Even though I am not a good cook, this one means a lot.

dinner together

Creating Space to Create // I can't sit still.  I can't. I have to always be making, doing, creating something.  Having a space to create is very hard in a tiny apartment.  And accepting that yarn is going to be everywhere & there's nothing I can do about it is hard.  Creating a space in this tiny apartment gets frustrating.  I absolutely dispise having to move things to do other things & that's what I am doing nearly every time I need to make something, take a picture of something, etc.  It gets discouraging.  I know this is something I faced a long, long time ago when I first moved to Williamsburg.  Since I was sort of stuck between places I didn't have a space that was my own.  I've realized that if I want to create, I have to take charge & do it.  If it's a mess....it's a mess, but I can't sit around & wait.

Have you ever had an extended stay? How did you make it more like home?

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Sum Up Sunday #61

Well this is a late one here guys....I sat down to write this post at about 1pm & it's now nearly 7pm.  What was I doing? Customizing my Storenvy storefront! I've succeeded in making it look like a real shop, y'all.  Like a real one!  I am so excited & may end up moving things over to storenvy before I've planned.  I've already paid so many etsy fees because I've been listing & listing & listing....but this new front just look so personal.  It has taken me nearly all week to do but I feel so proud!  You'll get a sneak peak shortly, promise.  Here's what the week looked like:

I was lucky enough to have Zach home all week so we cooked together each night.  We have been trying to catch the sales at the local grocery store every Sunday & last week we caught some good ones.  Lemons weren't on sale but they were like .79 cents so I grabbed up 4.  One was reserved for Lemon Chicken and the others I snacked on.  I love cutting up lemons & eating them.  So sour & so yummmy!

Today, we caught a crazy awesome 10 for $10 sale where you could mix & match any 10 items for the deal.  I only fancy-cook (or cook as regular people call it) when Zach is here because it's such a hassle to do by yourself.  With two people clean up, cutting, & cooking is much easier.  So there will be limited fancy-ness this week.

Friday night was date night & we went to such a delicious chinese food place.  It. Was. SO. GOOD. Best I've ever had!  I enjoy when Zach is home over the weekends & I've never really had weekends where I just do nothing.  Usually weekends are full of working on shop things...by Friday I am done & just want quality time!  Trying to work on the shop(s), blog, etc over the week has really created a work week for me.  I love that I am able to do what I love but I am still not seeing the return I'd like.  Struggling to figure out more things I can do is something I am going to work towards here before the end of August.  I'd really like to make this work! Like...so much! (obviously!)

Driving to Starbucks the other day, out of our little bit of nowhere, I was taken by surprise to see how lovely the skies in Michigan are.  I mean, look at those clouds.  Then when we were driving back from the house inspection I made the remark to Zach that Michigan is pretty much all sky.  I feel like where I was in VA there were lots of trees or buildings or something...but here you can see everything from everywhere.  It's nice.  I guess it's just where we are -city vs. country- but it is beautiful.

Yesterday we had the home inspection & as if the process isn't hard enough....we were disappointed again.  We've got some things that need to be worked out, and not on our end.

Then we stopped a a fireworks store & picked up some crazy fireworks.  I've never shot off fireworks before so shooting them over the pond in the backyard seemed like a fun idea...little did I know it would be terrifying!  Those. Things. Go. BOOOM!!  I think I shouted every time because each time it startled me! We had a campfire, s'mores, & lit off about 12 or so fireworks.  Pretty nifty.

Well, I have to say that this week was super productive & I'm proud.  I'll be hold up at my new fave Starbucks tomorrow enjoying a coffee & a muffin.  I like doing that because it starts off my work week & I have to get up for something.  Last week I was at Starbucks 2 (maybe 3) times.  I don't want to overstay my welcome though...do people really go there everyday??

Hope your week was wonderful...I am going to do some planning for this week & enjoy some time at home.  I also did so many chores today: dishes, grocery shopping, vacuum, laundry, fold the laundry.  Productive.

Happy Sunday evening!

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Pictures from Around our Pit Stop

Today I thought I'd share with you some pictures of our little Pit Stop before we end up in Indiana.  It's been a full two weeks & I have to say it's been pretty fun.  I've been using this time to really focus on the blog, the shop (read about our new adventure here!), the newsletter, & just to focus on some me time.  It's been really great to be able to develop more as a blogger.  I've got some lovely guest posts lined up for the months of August & September all related to newsletters.  I am in love with my blog newsletter & want to share with you a lot about what I've done to make mine super fantastic.  Each post has some dedicated original content so you're not going to get the same thing from each post...but you'll learn a whole lot from all of them!  The first one is actually live today on Her New Leaf...go check it out!  And if you want super secret access to this super secret Blogging eBook Chapter 0, sign up for the newsletter & you'll get instant access September 1st when the newsletter & ebook launches!

Michigan has been lovely so far - minus the insane long drives to get places, the sometimes annoying extreme norther accents, and the fact that I can't turn left - and I am enjoying my stay.  Take a peak at what I've done the past two weeks:

First mission: Finda Target with a Starbucks in it.  Done! Now I could move on to finding my regular Starbucks!

My little place at the kitchen table by the biggest light source in the house.  I have the curtains open until about 3 when the sun gets the apartment too hot.  It's perfect for product photos!

Starbucks is a ways up the road but it's perfect to just sit, do work, & people watch.  I actually get more done there than at home!  I really like it..its like going to work everyday :)  I try to go on Mondays just to get myself in the groove for the rest of the week.

The view out the large window from my little place at the kitchen table.  The clouds and trees are lovely.  We also go down to the pond every now & then to swim or have campfires.  It's a lovely little place & I really love being here.

The apartment itself.  It's cozy & cute and filled with Zach's books, my kiln, spare electronics & computer desks, any VHS tape you want from the 90's, & a window AC unit you have to turn off in order to microwave things.  But most importantly, it's filled with us.

Our visit to Grand Haven for the Coast Guard Festival. Here we tourd a big boat, took a walk down a long pier, laid on the grass, & just enjoyed ourselves.  It's really great to be back together enjoying the things we both enjoy!

Our first dinner in the apartment. Oddly enough, the first meal Zach ever made me was a pasta dish with chicken & either green beans or asparagus.  Hmmmmmm....that is weird huh?

My wheel was delivered on a Friday after ordering it on a Wednesday! Talk about speedy delivery! So excited to play around with it!

My go to shoes for our little outings & around the house.  I've fallen in love with lacing these up.  I just love to slip them on, tie them, & go.  They keep my feet warm in the chilly Starbucks too!

Hope you're doing well!

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Michigan Lefts & Other Michigan Things

A week or two ago I mentioned something about Michigan Lefts.  I got a few responses as to what the heck a Michigan Left is.  So I am here to explain this & other Michigan-isms to you.

The Michigan Left - This is what Wikipedia says "design which replaces each left turn with a permutation of a U-turn and a right turn."  Meaning that at a stoplight, you are not permitted to turn left or to make a u-turn.  You must drive past the Starbucks until a little middle-y part in the median opens up.  Then you proceed to make a u-turn, when it is safe, to come back towards the Starbucks from the other way.  Then you can turn right on the road Starbucks is on & go to Starbucks.  It's not as confusing to others as it was to me.  It's really not that hard...but it's weird.

The Starbucks I Hold Up in Everyday..NO FOOD & BEVERAGE TAX!

No One is on the Highway //  I am not even sure if they are highways or if they are interstates.  The speed limit is 70mph & there's hardly anyone on the roads.  Usually when I merge onto the interstate its a mad battle for who is going to win & get on the actual road.  A lot of times at home (in Virginia) I've run off the merge lane because some doodle head won't let me in.  Her in Michigan I would venture to say that you could merge with out looking.  (Don't quote me on that!)

There's no Food & Beverage Tax // If you order a coffee & it's $4.29....it's $4.29!  In VA there is some sorta odd tax on it.  But in Michigan...nope!  My coffee is $4.29 & that's it.

So these are just a few things I've noticed from around Michigan so far.

What are some funny things you've noticed about states that aren't your home state?  Anything interesting?

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Five Things I Miss About Virginia

So it's been a little over a week and Zach & I are holding up strong here in Michigan.  Well, He's holding up & I feel like sometimes I am just holding on.

It's been weird leaving everything you've ever known to go to a place where you only know one person & he works all the do dah day.  I've struggled with internet woes, unpacking & organizing a bit in our little pit stop, & plain 'ol getting used to the fact that I'm not in Virginia any more.  Don't get me wrong, I totally fell in love with Michigan when we visited early this Spring...but actually making the move has been hard.  While Michigan is pretty, here are a few things I'll miss about good ol Virginie:

Room Mate Time //  I've always lived with a room mate so I don't think living with Zach is going to be too terribly different except that we sleep in the same bed & like each other a bit more...but it's weird living with a boy & only a boy.  I've lived with boys before (both Jason -Katie's hubby- & Tyler -an old room mate in college-) But this boy, I have to spend a lot of time with.  It's been weird (and sorta wonderful) getting to know this boy as a room mate but I miss the girl time that Katie & I could have just hanging out.  We didn't do a lot of it before Zach left cuz I just liked him so much...and I really realized that when he left.  So I tried to hang out with Katie & be a good friend and roomie.  And now I miss it!

Puppy Cuddle Time // That stinky little baby poopie doop Cody is a cuddler.  I know I've shared pictures here before where he just doesn't care that you are working or sleeping or doing something...when he wants to cuddle he wants to cuddle.  And he will stand on your shins, on your laptop, on your arm until there is a place to cuddle on you.  I miss his stinky face & hes little tiny paws. He is a cutie.

Williamsburg // Being in Williamsburg, Va was awesome.  I'd see Ben Franklin at Wendy's, Martha Washington at Target, & some other colonial guy every day catching the bus on my way to work.  It was a great place to live.  Filled with history, good food, attractions, shops, etc.  It was just a lovely place to be.  Though it seemed like it was filled with old people, there were tons of interesting twenty somethings held up at the Green Leaf on any given Sunday....mainly it was all my friends.  It was just a great place to spend my first year out of college & to learn who I am & which beer I like :)

New Friends & Old Friends // A lot has changed in the like 3 or 4 years Katie has lived in Williamsburg.  I actually visited Williamsburg a few times before moving down & just always felt like it was home to me.  Right before I left I made some really awesomely rad friends & I am sad I won't get to do more things with them.  It's hard leaving friends you've known for a while but leaving friends you wish you could know....the hardest.

Family // Of course I'll miss my family.  It was nice having them only an hour away from me & across a bridge.  Far enough away to be on my own but close enough if I needed them.  Now, instead of skyping with Zach at my Grandma's, I'll be skyping with my Grandma at our house.  It's going to take some getting used to.  I do have an aunt around in Michigan that I know I could call upon...but it's just weird to be so far away!

But I am here & I am excited.  I can't wait to make new friends & create a life with someone.  I am so thankful for his parents' hospitality even though I am a little too shy to go over & just hang out with them.  I have a hard time adjusting to new situations and its even harder when the person you're used to is gone all day.

I've had fun exploring my new little temporary home & even got lost trying to find Target & Hobby Lobby.  Holding up in Starbucks for some quality wifi hasn't been too bad either.  I can't wait to experience more in my new little life here but I will always call Virginia home.

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Scenes from Michigan // Coast Guard Festival

Now that Zach & I are together again we can get back in our swing of going & doing some cool things.  We like to spend very little money to go do things on the regular.  Usually we'll go to festivals (like coast guard fest) or go perusing some antique shops or estate sales.  We do like to take official trips though, sometimes.

But this past weekend we headed to Grand Haven on the coast of Lake Michigan for the Coast Guard Festival.  We took a tour of a big boat, walked along the pier, & laid on the grass.  

It was nice being near the water again but I still don't believe that Lake Michigan is a lake....do you see how big it is? And yes, that is a light house!!  That seagull let me get so close to him.  There are a series of pictures where I am just walking up close to him.  I totally thought he would fly away, but he didn't. Pretty weird.

Afterwards we hit up an estate sale & got a set of hard case luggage for free!  Someone was picking up a couch & needed help moving it into their car.  So Zach said 'I'll move the couch if you throw in the luggage.'  I guess being there the last day of the sale does pay off!  Zach is much better at haggling & throwing on the pressure than I am...so I let him do that, & usually we get a good deal!  In fact, we have so much fun searching, hunting, & picking up cool stuff that we are working on a sweet surprise that we'll be developing over the next few months.  (I want to share so much with you but I really can't!!)

In fact, I made my first sale of August the other day.  Getting everything in gear has been really exciting.  I have been keeping track of everything, laying out a plan...etc, etc.  It's been pretty fun.  I'm just trying to chug along & get everything in order. I have to say having a good support system has been really helpful.  Still trying to get everything in line so I don't flounder.....but a sale so far in August is a little celebration, don't you think?

How do you have fun in your home state? Are there any annual gatherings/festivals you head to?

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Make it Monday // Pixelated Print DIY

Hooray!! It's my first Monday in Michigan!!  If you missed it you can check my Sum Up Sunday post from yesterday.  I've rounded up all the sweet tea there is in Michigan & am finally comfortable to say that I've made it.  Zach & I have moved into the little apartment above the garage.  Its been a long while  of packing & unpacking....but we did it.

Last Monday I shared with you a Vacation Poster DIY & today I want to share with you another photo print DIY using one of the photos from last week:

This is the photo I used as the example in using Pixlr-o-matic.  This photo is my favorite!  I took it right before I knew exactly how big Lake Michigan is!  I wanted to use it in other way so I started playing around in Picasa & came up with this:

This pixelated look is super cool! To do this, run your photo through Pixlr-o-matic if you want different colors (that's what I did) or use the image as it is.  For this example I'll use the image as it is.
Open up your image in Picasa & apply the pixel feature, sliding the bar named Pixel Size all the way to the right.

Then, if you wish, add text.  The fonts I used were Anchor Yard Regular & Bebas Neue.  Anchor Yard Regular has cute little anchors for the number characters so I chose to throw one in there.

Another pretty cool piece of art that we can hang in our house from our vacation!

We are going to be in this Michigan Pit Stop for a little while until our house is available.  So far its been nice.  Perhaps this evening I'll go for a dip in the pond & a walk down the dirt road.  Honestly, Michigan is a lot like Virginia.  They both are very, very pretty.

Enjoy your Monday!

If you'd like to check out some other Travel DIYs peep here.

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Sum Up Sunday #59

Well, it's official....I am in Michigan.  In fact, just a little while ago, we finished unloading the truck & everything is either in the garage, in the apartment, or still in my car (whoops!).  Here are some scenes from the drive:

Waiting to pack the Uhaul

Adios Virginia

Through Pennsylvania

The start of rain on the Turnpike

Moments later it began to pour.  Zach was filling up the tank!

A tiny baby rainbow

Sunset through Ohio

We got to Michigan around 2:30am...then we promptly crawled in bed.  There is just something about being around Zach that makes me want to snuggle all day! Today we did get up & he showed me around.  I now know about Michigan lefts, that Hobby Lobby is closed on Sunday, & where Office Max is.  Hopefully I'll learn my way around better.

This month is going to be filled with getting Five Sixteenths in gear.  I think I am going to take new product photos because everything looks like it's from different shops...even though I love the photos I want to make it more streamlined to match the blog designs.  I don't really want to open up a second shop for that.  I have thought about moving to Storenvy but I am just not sold on it yet!  But more professional looking PDFs for clients, cohesive stuff all around, etc.  Pretty vague 'eh?

I am glad I know where Office Max is because I am going to get to work on my business binder (I'll touch on that later!) & I need to print some things.  I am FINALLY going to set up my printer after having it for a year!!

Well, I hope that you've had a great weekend! I am glad I am finally in Michigan.

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Sum up Sunday // Zach's Walk on the Beach

On Thursday evening there was a large storm over where Zach is staying in Michigan.  He got up the next morning to go look for cool things the waves washed up & uncovered.  He mentioned he likes that 'the storms wash away all the foot prints, it's like you're the first one to walk on the beach.'  Seeing all these pictures was pretty eerie & pretty fascinating.  I've put them through a few filters including Instagram, Camera+, & Pixlr.  Here are the images from his trek on the beach through Grand Mere State Park:

Below is the path Zach took to get to Cook Nuclear Power Plant above.  It took him a good part of the morning to get there, between collecting things and walking.  He found some sea glass for me (about half a measuring cup full), two spoons (one he thinks is real silver), a few bits of broken plates, & cool rocks.

This is something that I hope we can do together in the future.  I've never been to the beach after a storm & I can't believe I haven't.  Seems like you find some pretty cool stuff whether it's bits & pieces or things people have arranged.  It seems like it would be peaceful & a bit eerie.

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