Sum Up Sunday #79

It is pretty late on a Sunday afternoon to be posting but one needs to go up soooo......here it is.  I'm back from Korea!  If you follow me on Instagram you may have only seen food pictures.  Seriously, thats all I really took pictures of.  I wish I'd gotten a zillion photos but the truth is I was just having fun seeing the city with Zach.  I do have some video that I will try to upload but I'm not so great at the vlog thing it seems.....I do want to try to get better, so there might be some weekly vlogs added to the YouTube channel.  maybe

When Zach is home, I become the second best person in the house.  She just loves him so much.  Also, how sweet is this picture?? The light is amazing!

We left Korea at 10:30 am on Friday, local Korean time. We flew 12 ish hours to arrive in Detroit at 10:20 am, eastern time.  Guys, my Friday was a whole 12 hours longer than your Friday....and I feel very special about it.  I have to say that was the best decision Zach made for the trip.  That meant we had a lot of time to catch back up to the local time here.  I do have to say I am not looking forward to going to work tomorrow.  I kinda just want to stay home and make stickers, blog, and do YouTube!

Speaking of stickers - I had a bit of time in Korea to work on the shop.  When we weren't exhausted from walking all around the city in the heat, I found a bit of time to bop around.  I also woke up extremely early every day because of the time change.  I have put quite a few new releases in the shop if you're interested (click here).  I've got a few seasonal kits - a fall Pumpkin Spice inspired kit, a Halloween inspired kit, and gearing up for Christmas (because why not?) I've got a Christmas inspired kit.

I've also listed some other themed decorating kits with a bit of functionality.  Annnnddd there is more to come, in fact after this little post I have a few more I want to get ready to print and cut.  Oh, I also ordered a Fluoro A5 and I can not wait for it to get here.  Like I need another planner!  Seriously.

On the blogging front you may have noticed that I'm just not really here.  I think around this time every year I take a little break.  In fact there are many breaks I take in the year and I don't really thing that's bad.  I do plan on having some crazy posts for you in the future.....so I do hope you'll stick around.

As for other life things I've been looking back through my memories on Facebook and I do think that is a clever feature.  I think it was 8 years ago this passed week that I'd moved into my dorm for the first time.  So crazy.  Honestly, it is so weird to think that time passes us like that.  With this feature on Facebook I can see every post that I made or others made on my wall or tagged me with on that day.  It's pretty cool to look back and see how the day has changed over the years and see if I've done the same thing all over again.

Pretty much I'm just busy living life...so you might want to follow me on Instagram because I post all the time there (sorta)

Happy Sunday! Hope you're week stars out wonderful!

Sum Up Sunday #78

Pretty late in the day for a Sum Up Sunday post isn't it????  Well I'm still throwing it up here!

This past week, three years ago, I moved up to Michigan.  I can not believe it's been three years already...it totally seems longer but also seems like it hasn't been that long at all.  It's crazy the all the things we've been through in 3 years.  I would find posts to link but I don't even know where to start!  But seriously time flies or really doesn't...its all perspective!

This week's mail also contained the Maybeline Super Stay Better Skin Foundation for me to try out for three weeks.  I wore it all last week...and have to say I don't really want to continue wearing it.  The only way I've gotten it to look halfway decent on my skin is to mix it with other foundations and in like a 60% the other foundation kind of ratio.  It goes on too patchy for me, wears off patchy, and has like ify coverage.  I can't even apply it on my cheeks...it doesn't show up.  It wears away in no time in my Tzone and it accentuates my oil.  I'm pretty sad about that.  For my August makeup basket though I have like 97349871834 foundations to try it with.  

My Etsy shop has been getting a fair amount of views and sales...I am so happy.  I am going to Korea near the middle of the month so if you'd like to save 20% use the code HEYKOREA20 for 20% off  a $3+ order.  Click here to shop!  Also two orders are going out on Monday, hooray!

I've been watching Netflix all freaking week - I finished Ghost Adventures and started in on R L Stine's The Haunting Hour.  Ghost Adventures made me look behind me every two seconds and The Haunting Hour is getting me all nostalgic for Are You Afraid of the Dark.  It's no Midnight Society but it's giving me the preteen-summer-camp-heeby-jeebies and I love it - but some episodes are super creepy and i don't really think that children should watch it!  I'm getting creeped out!!  I used to get so excited over watching Are You Afraid of the Dark during the summer.  I even remember when the movie came out. Pretty sure my giga pet died once while I was watching AYAOTD.

All day Saturday I spent making myself a day on one page style planner.  I've planned in it for the first time this week and I think I should have at least put in a weekly spread too.  It's making me rethink my Flouro set up (video here) because I don't use part of it really any more.  I'm loving the day on one page because I don't get overwhelmed.  I think I'm just going to re-set up my filofax...because she really is my baby.  I don't need my blog/etsy/youtube section any more, I really need to get a grip on my finances section, and I guess I just need to rethink the whole thing!  I've got a blog post coming up this month on my planner journey and the like so keep an eye out for that.  Oh, and my sister got a planner.  I made here some custom stickers this weekend and they will be mailed off tomorrow.  She doesn't want wait to star setting it up.  I hope she comes over to the dark side.  I'll be adding some that I made for her to the shop soon too.

Currently (as in right now Sunday night) I'm about waist deep in the laundry I've been putting off, I have a sleeping puppy with a full belly on one of those piles, and the only part of my house that is super tidy right now is my vanity....so there's that.  But I mean really, Sweetie has gained so much weight (in a good way) and it makes me so happy.  Hopefully she's happy too!

Happy Sunday!

Sum Up Sunday #77

This week has been a productive one on certain fronts - blog/etsy/youtube - but a non productive one on other fronts - the house.  I'm at a stand still with getting the house together....there's just so much more I could be creating and thats why I've gotten a lot of crafty stuff done but why there are still dishes in the sink!  I've really enjoyed working from Starbucks in the afternoons but only worked there once this week.  I just didn't have it in me to go one more time.  But I'm thinking my new Starbucks schedule will be Monday evening and Thursday evening.  It is really motivating on Sunday nights & Monday morning to look forward to working for myself after work.  Honestly, if I didn't have the dog I'd probably be working there 4 nights a week!

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here. thank you for your support!

A lot of blog post ideas have been generated this week as well as new sticker ideas for the shop. My sister just told me she bought a planner - welcome to the dark side - so she's inspired me to make some stickers as well.  She was looking for some pineapple related things so I pushed her in the direction of Inspired Blush (who should be opening back up soon!) but decided to play with pineapples on my own.  I made some pineapple boxes sized to fit the Erin Condren planner & the MAMBI Happy Planner.  I also want to design some more inserts but just haven't felt too inspired to do it.  I need to photograph and list the inserts I currently have in my Fluro Pink (watch my set up here) but, again...I just haven't!

Since I've added stickers to my shop it's taken a lot of trial and error to get them right, especially since I have a Cricut Explore and not a Silhouette.  Playing around with it though I've gotten some good results.  (Obviously if I've put stickers in the shop!) The not so perfect sheets have been sliced up and packaged into little sample packs that go out with every physical order - even if you don't order stickers!  Also, did you know you can use Ebates on Etsy??  Right now the cash back is at 2% - the other day it was only at 1%!  If you haven't signed up for Ebates...please click here!

I've also jumped back into my make up.  And recently Influenster sent me a box with the new Maybelline Superstay Better Skin foundation, so I'll be wearing that for the next few weeks - which will be hard!! The challenge is to wear it for 3 weeks and see how it affects your skin for the better.  I'm trying not to come at it from the reviews I've already seen...but that's hard to do when you're tainted!  So far I do love that it has a pump and they chose a great color to send to me - porcelain - so hopefully it's a match.   I already like the original Superstay foundation from Maybelline even though it doesn't have a pump & doesn't come in that light of a shade.  I'm hoping they will do something like they did with their Fit Me foundation - create two similar lines for different skin types.  It would be great to have new shades & a pump on the original!

Finally, I dyed my hair this week.  I'd been putting it off so I decided to bleach my roots on Friday night so that I'd actually follow through with the dye.  Keep a look out for a how to & review of my purple hair on the blog.  It is permanent, affordable dye from the drugstore!

Here's to another productive week!

xoxo, Moe

Sum Up Sunday #76

Welcome back, Sum Up Sunday!! In the middle of the week I gave a little life update of sorts...just to say 'hey, I'm human, so sue me' and I wanted to thank you all for reading and for commenting.  This week was pretty eventful I'd say.

I've been working on an assortment of things - the house, the blog, my youtube, and my etsy shop.  Most recently I've been focusing on Etsy.  And I've added 10 sticker designs + some washi stickers.  My next thing to work on are bookmarks - I think I'm only going to focus on personal sized and ARC punched since I'm using the MAMBI Happy Planner.  I will probably punch some for the A5 size as well.  If you want to visit the shop - which I'd love for you to - please click here. 

Speaking of the shop, I worked from Starbucks for a few hours one night this past week and loved it.  (I really miss traveling with Zach and working from various Starbucks for 8 hours a day.)  I feel like I got a lot done, though not all of my to do list was checked off that one night in Starbucks.  I'm thinking of working 2 afternoons of Starbucks into my schedule.  I love that I can't be distracted!  Of course I can get up and leave but by forcing myself to stay there for 3-4 hours I have to get things done.  At home I'm constantly getting distracted.  And while sometimes I think that is great because it keeps me creative, it's bad when there are certain things that need to get done.  Like I really need to keep up on my editorial calendar.  Right now I've just been blogging as things come to me and I don't really like that because it makes for less consistent blog posts as you go back through the archives.  I don't like have only 3 Make it Monday posts one right after another with out anything in between.  I need to dedicate some time to actually typing out content. 

Sweetie and I got some wonderful cuddle time in this week + weekend.  She loves being in the bed which is bad because if I never had to get up, I wouldn't!! She's been really cuddly lately.  She's also really into sitting on the back of the couch.  Her legs are long enough that she has no problem getting up on the back of the couch.  I've also found a few bones/toys on the windowsill.  She's also really into chasing bunnies in the yard.  

I've been thinking about working on my Project Life albums again because I am so ridiculously behind.  I used to print out all my photos at home but now I'm thinking I'm going to send them off to be printed so I can just work on them when I can.  I do 6x8 photo albums and usually only use the 3x4 photos but sometimes I do 2x2 squares.  I also do the layouts monthly, not weekly so I find it easier to look through the pocket pages I have for that month and then print them out as I go in groups.  Like all the dog pictures, or all the make up pictures......so it might be harder to do the sending them to be printed.  But I might try. 

I'm also trying to work on more Boost Your Blog type posts because I really do like sharing tips and tricks that I use on my blog and for the shops, etc because I find that stuff helpful.  I've got some app posts in mind, some planner posts, and some blogging posts.

Oh, and I also need to dye my hair.

Hope your week went alright...I'm not looking forward to starting another one!

xoxo, Moe

Sum Up Sunday #75

Happy New Year everyone!  Can you believe we are in January 2014 right now?  I seriously can't.  This has really caused me to reflect on the past year & I hope you'll look out for some reflective posts and some goal setting posts this month.  I'm going to try to be better with my goal achieving not just goal setting this year.

This week I returned to work after a week away in Virginia visiting my family & some of my friends.  At the beginning of last week my flight was delayed about three times but I finally got to Virginia the Saturday before Christmas.  It was a great week spent with family & friends.  Christmas is my favorite season - everyone just seems to be in a great mood, the stores & city streets look beautiful, and it's an excuse to eat delicious food.  One of my favorite gifts this year was a photo album ornament from my parents to put on our tree.  The whole week my dad took pictures & then gave them to me before I left to fill the album.  Unfortunately I don't have the album to share because it's in the mail to me as we speak.  Second favorite gift was from my sister.  A Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball Ornament.  I flipped out when I opened the box.  Seriously the best gift!  Zach was actually very happy we got this ornament too.  He was hoping for one - I didn't even know!

Here are some other images from my week at home with my family & friends.  So glad I got to spend time with them, that was the greatest gift!

I also got an iPhone 5s & a morphie case to keep it charged because I'm notorious for ignoring my phone & letting it die.  I also got a second pocket charger for it in my stocking!  My mom gave me my new favorite perfume from Victoria's Secret, I got quite a few gift cards & some have already gone to good use.  I got a few ornaments, another collection of Wizard of Oz figurines, and just a bunch of little goodies.  Zach gave me some pottery books, a banding wheel, and a wonderful gift card to Spa Blu - the amazing spa inside the casino near us.  Can't wait to get pampered!  

Christmas is just a great time to make people happy & see them happy.  Oh, my brother also dressed up as the Grinch & we all wore fun hats, shirts, blinking necklaces, etc it was just great!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday season & that you're days continue to be merry and bright!

xoxo, Moe

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest

Sum Up Sundays // October Favorites

Well Sunday is here & it's time for me to seriously get to work on the laundry pile up stairs.  Also, time to vacuum the downstairs to pick up all the pine needles from the Christmas wreath making I undertook last night.  Oh & throw away the pumpkins - they are gross!  Seems like I've got a lot to do today. Sometimes I feel like I need a weekend from my weekend.  Hopefully I can snap some photos for this week's Homevember Wednesday Decor post of the living room.

Today I wanted to share my October beauty favorites.  I'm working on the quality of these videos & think I might have figured it out - for the next one!  So this one is still a bit poorer quality...but we'll see.

xoxo, Moe

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest // Peep me at Hello Cotton

Sum Up Sunday #73

This weekend went by super fast but we got a lot of things done.  I'm actually excited to sort of just sit & enjoy Sunday.  I've got a crochet project to work on, a good cup of coffee, & a cuddly dog.  I also have another plant I need to put in a pot - pretty much I can only keep alive those really vine-y plants (I don't remember what they are called!) - but now I'll have two plants in the tray/catch all/planter box by the window.  Speaking of cuddly puppy, let's take a look at him through this week:

Yesterday I got my craft on & make a really pretty fall wreath for our door.  I went into Hobby Lobby to look at their selection of spray paint & came out with supplies to make a wreath.  All of their fall stuff was 40% off & when I looked at their wreaths, which were also 40% off, I still didn't want to pay $75 for one!  So I grabbed up all the fall things I liked then sat on the floor at home & made one - for around $30.  I think it came out really nicely.  Instead of using all individual springs of leaves I bought a giant garland like thing, maybe you call them like swags? Do you know what I'm talking about?  So anyway, I finished that.

Then we sanded & painted some mirrors for the living room.  But we left them over night to dry outside & it started raining.  I didn't even check the weather report....so I need to take a look at them & see if they are ruined!  Oh well, if we have to start over we will.

Finally, to sum up the projects for Saturday I melted down an old candle to make a new one out of a vessel I threw in one of my first pottery classes.  It's sort of conical shaped but not really good for anything - too deep to be a catch all bowl, too wide to hold pens - it's just sort of there.  So I didn't want to waste the wax of this candle (there was so much left over!) so I melted it down, grabbed a wick from a tapered candle from the thrift store & now I have another candle.  I like this vessel so much I think I'll just keep making my own candles in it.  It came out kind of poorly because I didn't do it properly & I didn't wait for all the wax to melt and the pretty purple & yellow wax melted together to create this sort of murky brown color - but anyway, it's a candle!!

So a lot of things got done this weekend - along with cleaning the bathroom, our room, the living room, & the office area.  Laundry is still left but it will get done!

xoxo, Moe

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest

Sum Up Sunday // September is my Favorite

September is here & with it is crisper weather.  It's raining here today but every other day this week has had that hint of fall weather.  Zach says it's not chilly out but I'm definitely feeling that sharpness in my lungs when I breath in the crisp air.  I've been getting in the Fall mood lately & it's showing in every bit of my life!  I'm cozying up with hot coffee in my favorite sweater, my house smells like a fall hayride, my favorite lotion is apple scented, & I'm thinking of dying my hair darker.  I am loving the slightly cooler mornings but I know in no time there will be 2 feet of snow on the ground!

I'd hoped we'd get one more trip to the beach in but I really don't think we will.  So this week I packed up a lot of our beachy stuff - towels & swimsuits.  I also think my insulated tumblers for iced coffee are going to sit in the cabinet for quite a while as I break out my to go coffee cups!  I'm also pumping hazelnut syrup in my hot coffee in the morning because it just makes me feel all cozy inside!

I also finished up a blanket I completely forgot about that somehow got left in Zach's car.  So it has a home now on the back of the chair.  I'm going to photograph the little vignettes in our home & do a Wednesday Decor post on it all.  I think our house is coming together - it's almost been a year that we've been in this house!  The only thing missing is some art on the walls.  We need to sit down & pick things out.  I'm also thinking about mirrored doors for our closet.  I think it would make the room look bigger since it's so tiny!

Today I got my craft on working on three Make it Monday projects so I'd have some scheduled for the next few weeks or so.  Just felt the inspiration that I hadn't felt in a long, long, long while.  In fact as I'm sitting here I'm thinking of another thing to make!

We're also keeping one of Zach's parent's dog for a bit so I foresee a lot of fetch in the future.

I really think that September is my favorite month!

Hope you're weekend is wonderful!

xoxo, Moe

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest

Sum Up Sunday #71

This week has been filled with ups & downs.  I don't know why all of a sudden I feel lost in my own shoes, but I do.  I feel lost in blogging, in my handmade dream, in our vintage shop, in a lot of things.  So I'm just trying to push through - to discover myself again - and hope it works.  I guess maybe it's just one of those times of change in my life...but I wish I could just figure it out!

I've also decided a bit about this blog: I'm just going to let it be what it is for right now.  I'm going to post what I want, whether there are pictures or not, whether it's awesome or not, whether I want to or not.  The idea of blogging has always been a visual diary for me & a way to share with others that they are not alone.  Sometimes life isn't perfect, sometimes your photos come off your iphone, & sometimes you don't post.  I love that I can use the blog as a source of influence & income...but I need to get back to the no pressure side of blogging.  I said it before but the pressure came from myself - from trying to live up to some sort of near perfect, monetized idea of my blog & that just was too much and I began to feel dishonest to what I'd started this blog for.  So anyway, this week's Sum Up Sunday is just going to be little tidbits from the week:

- I flew home from Maryland & one of my best friend's wedding last Sunday.  After our plane was delayed on the runway for nearly 2 hours I arrived back in the central time zone.  I flew in from Chicago on Friday night & the most beautiful thing I've ever seen was when we were coming in for a landing - the earth at night.  For as far as I could see were ribbons & rivers of light.  Cars moving a long, boats moving, buildings lit.  It was gorgeous!  I felt like the biggest thing in the universe but at the same time I felt like the smallest.  Changing perspectives is a great way to get a hold of yourself & a hold on life.  It was so beautiful.

- Our little house has a few little creatures living around it.  Just today I had to stop as I was pulling in the driveway because there was a turtle crossing infront of me!  I got out to take a peak at him but he was not happy about having a person around.  He started walking really fast & his shell was clanking on the asphalt!  He got to the grass & under the fence & I parked my car.  We also have a few very teeny tiny frogs, some bunnies, & our neighbors say we'll see deer too.

- The house is finally clean! After a completely lazy first few weeks of July, the house is clean.  I swear if I get off my schedule for one day, I don't do it for the rest of the week .... or ever.  Like right now I just remembered I need to do the laundry I usually do on Saturday.

- I got complimented on my resume at a little interview on Thursday.  That's the second time someone has said they chose to interview me based on the organization & layout  of my resume.  I always second guess it even though I worked so hard to create something that will visually stand out from the crowd. 

- I've been wanting a bunch of high end make up from The Balm & Benefit but then I just watch dupe videos or find pins on Pinterest & calm myself.  Speaking of high end make up, last night I had a dream that the sample eyeshadow trio from BH cosmetics had a secret back side but that mine was covered in a white dust.  It was weird but not surprising as I have crazy dreams all the time.

- I've been craving Orange Julius & I just found out there is one 26 minutes from my house.  A bit too far to drive but I think it's near where the Target is (that's right, the closest Target is half an hour away.) I tried to make my own Orange Julius drink but it didn't work out too well....

- I think I'm going to try to make more YouTube videos because they are fun & easier than putting together a blog post for me.  Do you think I should?  It's kind of weird talking into a camera but I've filmed a few that I haven't uploaded & have gotten a bit used to it.  I just want to do something different.

- Tomorrow's Make it Monday will feature some DIY body scrubs that are nothing new but I was so intimidated by the thought of making them that I never did.  Finally I just threw some stuff together & it came out alright.  There's one that's just thrown together - easy peasy - and there's one I actually thought about!

Well that's what happened this week, what happened with you? Have a great Sunday!

xoxo, Moe

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest

Sum Up Sunday #70

Life according to instagram and other bits and bobs from the past week:

Zach found cherries grown near where he parks his car.  Right by our little shed.

I've been enjoying our porch & the brew over ice Keurig K-cups.  The southern sweet tea makes a pretty good cup & the donut shop iced coffee makes a yummy caffeinated summer beverage!

I've been experimenting with different make up looks lately & am thinking about posting on YouTube some make up reviews, tutorials, favorites, etc.  I like vlogging even though I feel awkward.  I've filmed like 3 videos but haven't posted any of them.

I got brave & cut my own bangs.  I think I did a good job

I also signed up for Birch Box & Ipsy Bag this week.  I thought it'd be nice to get a little surprise in my mail box each month.  I also opened up a new bank account since Wells Fargo is screwing me over.  Charging me to use my money is not helping me financially....so I can't wait to withdrawal all my cash & put it in my new account at the credit union.

Happy Sunday!

xoxo, Moe

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest

Sum Up Sunday // Some Yucky Homeowner Stuff

It's not been very glamourous around here these past few days.  I've been covered in dirt & sweat each morning trying to reach my goal of having a nice yard.  But I don't know how to do that & stay on top of my inside chores.  For example our living room is a hot mess right now because I am too tired to pick anything up.  Also, nothing else has gotten put away that's left over from the move either.  I'm half tempted to just donate it all but then again I've also got boxes intended to donate that haven't gotten there either.  Slowly but surely I'm marking off my spring cleaning list (if you're a newsletter subscriber, you know what I'm talking about!)

Our little herbs!

On another, slightly gross note our shower wasn't draining properly so it's been holding water & just getting really dirty really fast.  I've tried to used Drain-o to get it clear multiple times but Zach mentioned we should just plunge it.  So I took a crack at it & got the grossest hair ball out but that wasn't the only beast below.  Zach tried his hand at it & I don't even want to know what he found but he successfully cleared the clog.  Our tub is so sparkly clean - we also had a problem with our water softener so the tub was also red.  Phew!  Simple things like a clean bathtub can really make someone happy.  Amirite?

Lastly, Zach & I picked up some of the leaves we couldn't stay on top of this past fall.  Like I said, I don't know how people keep a nice home - clean inside & pretty outside. No clue! (this is a hint for tips please! lol)  If it weren't for Zach I think I'd go mad some times.  I got so pissed picking up the leaves. I hate leaves.  It seems like for everyone you pick up there are 6 more.  I don't know how to stay on top of them at all!!

Anyway, it's been a nice productive weekend.  See, I'm staying on top of my flower goal!  Have a great week!

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest

Sum Up Sunday // Chilling with my Gnomies

This past week I was lucky enough to have a visit from two of my aunts & my gramma.  I was so excited to head out for dinner & have them over to show them the house.  We headed to Olive Garden & ate a lot of salad, then we all ordered our usual meal - mine is always Stuffed Chicken Marsala.

While they were waiting for me to get off work they headed over to the house to get a preliminary look at our pretty yellow house.  They also went & saw the light house here in Michigan City and did a few other touristy things which we haven't even done yet!  I can't wait for it to get warmer!

I gave them a little home tour, we visited in our awesome living room for a while, we Skyped with my mom and dad, & Zach showed off some of his cool finds from the bookcase.

Unfortunately we didn't take photos until lunch at Wendy's the next day...whoops!  But the Easter Bunny visited (unexpectedly) after I'd told my gramma that I couldn't find the chocolate covered marshmallows that my granddad ate around easter.  A bag full of candy, family is amazing!

Oh, and the Easter Bunny threw in a very gangster gnome to add to my collection.  He's now keeping watch over the window plants.

It was a great little visit with family that I'd only seen through Skype over the past 7 months!  It's so great to connect with family at any time :)

xoxo, Moe

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest // Peep me at Hello Cotton

Sum Up Sunday // Winter Wonderland

This week Zach & I were in Wisconsin where I saw snowflakes the size of my face.  It was a wintery wonderland of wonderfulness!  I love when we travel, I've seen so many amazing things just by riding a long a few hours.  Then I get to work my way around Starbucks in the mid west!

If you don't follow me on Instagram (you totally should! @fivesixteenths!) here's what you missed:

We ordered room service for the first time ever & it was delicious! I had salmon & Zach had a steak.  Expensive, but hey a nice treat now & then is ok, right?

We braved the snow & the ice to find some fun antique shops.  This one had to be my favorite! So many different booths with quality antiques & vintage items.  None of that flea market-y type stuff, just awesomely curated, amazing things.  Like look at all those suitcases! I'd give my right arm for all of them! Sadly (or not so sadly) these were priced out of our range for resale & over my range of what I'd pay anyway.  They were all in tip top condition & really made me happy.

From the hotel window I could see snow falling with flakes the size of my head.  I didn't get a good picture, but when we were driving home trees were covered with snow & ice....I felt like I was in Narnia.  I'd never seen anything like it!

And I also got to wear my fave sunglasses! They are from Claire's & I got them on super clearance, but they seem a bit fragile & I'm afraid they may break before summer! But man, they look great.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest // Peep me at Hello Cotton

Sum Up Sunday #66

A lot happened this week but happening number one was getting the flooring installed!  Hooray!  Phew, now that that's done we can actually move into our house.  I know you all are probably very, very sick of hearing about the in progress & frustrations of our house, but it's almost over!  Last night we moved down the couch, chair, & coffee table.  Today we're going to get some things organized more...I'm dreading it....but I'm also excited.

I also installed another bar for mugs in our coffee area.  Monday I'm gonna go over how I did it (it's really easy, if you haven't figured it out) but it's also a really simple decor idea that I'd love for people to stumble upon in the future.  I also just want to talk about the coffees I love so far from using my Keurig & what my coffee bar consists of.

I also photographed & opened the Five One Six Shop on Storenvy.  Look out for a simple Storenvy run down because I love it so far!

I've also enrolled in a fun little ecourse called How to be a Fat Bitch over on The Nearsighted Owl.  That title may be a bit scary but it's all about accepting who you are, no matter your size & not feeding into the thin=happy notion.  Rachele, the girl behind the course, is awesome, she is such a positive person who is advocating owning who you are, the way you are.  This course involves no shaming, of any kind, at all.  No matter your size I think Fat Acceptance is great.  It is saying that you like you, the way you are.  You are happy with you.  That your weight doesn't discount your accomplishments, your ability for success, or your want to do things.  That your weight doesn't need to hold you back from feeling happy.  

I love that there are people out there advocating being happy at any size......because it's worth it!  I also love that part of being happy at any size means doing whatever you want to do.  It's the idea that Happy = Happy.....and I'm happy about that.

I'm excited to be a part of this little course as I've always seen myself as confident but I really want to add to my confidence.  I don't believe I've ever let my weight hold me back from things, but this year I really want to do more.  I want to get out more, see more, be more!  I am hoping this course gives me more awareness & that I am more easily able to accept others, as well.  This ecourse is 52 weeks long & I plan on sharing being a part of this ecourse as often as I can.  But I also believe this ecourse may get a little bit personal so I may not share everything all the time.

Personally, a goal for me for this course is to start seeing myself better all the time.  I would say I do love myself the way I am ..... but sometimes I see other women whose curves fall in different ways than mine & start comparing.  I find myself saying "if only my fat were in my hips," or "if only I had a pretty hour glass shape," & this is not what I want to do any more!

This week's challenge is to come up with 5 things you want to do to make you happy.  5 things for yourself & for your well being.  Here are my five:

- Actually get up & get ready a few times this week! Working from home means you don't really have to get all dolled up but doing your hair & make up just makes you feel happy!  

- Cook a meal with Zach.  It's a great way to unwind with him, spend time together, & end up with something yummy!

-Take an outfit photo (or more) out in the (freezing gosh darned) snow. Mainly because I think it will be pretty & fun.  But it might also be freezing!  I really like sharing outfits on the blog, I'm just too dang lazy to do it everyday.

-Practice drawing more.  Rachele introduced me to the Sketcbook Pro app for iPad & I really wanna keep trying it out.  I did like two drawings but want to do more!
-Try on new lipstick.  I've seen a few lists of MAC dupes that you can find at the drugstore & I love my red lipstick....I'm ready to branch out!

What are 5 things you want to do just for you?  C'mon & join if you wish.  You can register here or just follow along!

Happy Sunday!

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest // Peep me at Hello Cotton

Sum up Sunday #65

Apparently it's been quite a while since I did a Sum up Sunday post.  I like doing these little posts because it's more of a journal entry for me.  It's the little things that aren't really exciting but add up to a lot at the end of the week.  I like to keep the blog a bit personal too, so I can look back on my journey as a whole.  Sum up Sundays also keep me on track with what I should have done this week & what I actually did!  I also just kinda brainstorm what I'll be up to over the next week (or month even!)

This week was filled with painting & photographing.  We've got quite a few vintage items that are heading into the shop today...I just need to measure them, & then into the shop they will go!  Yesterday I discovered that Zach is the master of spread sheets as we created a spreadsheet for the vintage shop with prices, fees, profits, etc.  It was nice to finally have it all in one place!  I also need to photograph things for the Five One Six shop (which still isn't officially open!) but I'm having a hard time doing so.  I'm not sure what the best way to photograph the blankets is.....all the images just look dumb!  I think I'm going to bring a chair downstairs to photograph with.  I'd really like to get some things in that shop today too.

Working on adding some great little things to the Stationery Shop too!  I was delighted to see someone picked up a sheet of the Lovely Mail Stickers.  They come in circles & rectangles.  I'm working on adding more designs, too!  You'll soon be able to purchase them as stamps & little postcards to include in packages as thank you notes.  Snail mail never looked so good!

I also finished up an upgraded blog design, I don't believe the client has installed it yet, but I'll share when she does!  I'm going to go through a bit of a design process post on the STUDIO blog so you can get a better idea of how working with me...well....works.  I'm also going to be working on adding some fun personalizing elements to the design shop like social network icons & sidebar titles, some fonts, and maybe some clip art.  I love the little rotation I get on when working on the shops.  I'll probably have some more blog designs in the shop by March.

It's been freezing here & every morning there is a fresh little bit of snow on the ground.  It was nice the first time....now I'm just grumpy when it's cold.  One of my good friends from college is getting married in July (hello warm weather!) & this week I need to locate a shop that has the dress so I can go try it on.  It's really pretty & mine is in orange.

I'll also be working on the February Newsletter this week.  It will go out either this week or next, so you should sign up here if you haven't yet!  In this one you'll receive a lovely Valentine's Day inspired printable....but it will be perfect for all year round.

And finally, Rachele of the Nearsighted Owl shared with me the drawing app she uses on her iPad.  Turns out I had the express version but went ahead & purchased the pro version.  The app is Sketchbook Pro.  I tested out my drawing capabilities & created a little illustrated Moe for the blog.  I don't think it's perfect but I'm going to keep practicing.  I alos love the little vintage drawing I did (available as a post card) & am currently working on a drawing of our house!

Happy Sunday!

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest // Peep me at Hello Cotton

Sum Up Sunday // Holiday Happenings

Happy Holidays! I hope your Thanksgiving was awesome & you are full of pies & other homemade treats!  We spent Thanksgiving at Zach's parents house where we ate some delicious food, buffet style & played a round of Settlers of Catan with various cousins.  I ended up making Pistachio Bread & two pies.  The Pistachio bread turned out amazing, you can find that recipe here.

Other than that we've just been hanging out.  The house is still making it's way though we've hit a little road block.  We were hoping of having the drywall up before Thanksgiving but that didn't happen.  Today we'll be running some wires & hopefully moving a long some more.

Nothing too exciting has been going around these parts, we did get our room put together for the most part which is exciting.  All I want to do is have the house done so I can do a proper home tour!  I may end up stenciling labels on the canisters I got from Big Lots & Michaels.  I picked up some cheapo square canisters at Big Lots & needed to find two more.  When I headed to Big Lots they didn't have them any more & then, out of luck, I found them at Michaels.  So that corner of our kitchen is the most complete.

It's been weird having to work in stages on the house but thats how it is right now.  I am just happy when I can get the laundry all done & put away.  Seems to be the only normal thing we can do in this house, that and the dishes!  I did dye the lampshades a lovely shade of lavender.  They were supposed to come out a darker plum so I'm going to do a little bit of experimenting to get it right.  

It's also gotten super chilly here! It snowed the day after Thanksgiving while we were still in Michigan & I got excited.  Apparently it's no big thang for a little bit of snow all around but I still got excited.  It ended up really coming down - and by really coming down I mean 'really coming down' for what I'm used to.  It didn't stick but it sure looked pretty.  Then Saturday it snowed a bit in Indiana.  Just a little bit though, a teeny tiny bit.  

We hit up the antique mall down the street from us just to see what it looked like.  It was pretty neat & we ended up finding a pretty blue canister to go with a yellow one we have.  They'll hold things like pasta, etc.  

I guess it's just been a little while of settling in.  I've been working hard on a few blankets for the Five One Six shop that will hopefully open in January.

I hope your Thanksgiving was awesome!!!

Connect on Twitter // Follow on Pinterest // Peep me at Hello Cotton