TGIF

It's been a hard couple of weeks with 12 hour work days and DIY extravaganzas but at last the insanity has subsided and I can enjoy the weekend! I'm so looking forward to our Yard Sale tomorrow and working on that simplifying. Tonight we're off to that evil box store Sam's, I hate to admit that I occasionally sacrifice my convictions to save a little green.

Don't hate me.

Big house changes are on the way my friends and I have plans to show all of them here...after I have a couple of late night lattes and lots of photo editing. big kiss, bekuh

Sneak Peek: Our Invitations

Tomorrow night three amazing women are coming over to help me put together our wedding invitations and I'm thrilled! I feel like it's all starting to happen so fast and I have a couple of sneak peeks for you today. It's just a couple of "supply" shots to get your interest peaked; I'll save the real deal for after the invites are sent. I'm a little giddy thinking about the tasks at hand.

I know that Baker's twine is starting to get a little overdone in the craft world nowadays but with our farm fresh theme I just couldn't resist. Plus, I had already purchased a huge spool that I needed to use for something. This pic is from an etsy seller, ThingSeller. I bought my twine from a secret source.

To keep with the rustic farm vibe we have going on I thought the kraft paper envelopes worked with the overall aesthetic and they're recycled so we're attempting to save the earth a little. This note card is from another seller, eCOpapersupplies. Again we ordered our envelopes elsewhere but a girl's gotta have her secrets.

Our paper was also environmentally milled and is made of compostable/recyclable paper. Adding details that were earth friendly but still luxe and beautiful was super important to Ryan and I. I'm happy to say we're succeeding in this goal. More on that soon.

The last detail I'll share today before the real reveal in a week or two is this fantastic time-saver Ryan suggested. I had a wonderful seller, Note Trunk, on etsy make us a custom return address stamp so we can just ink and go. We're going to use the stamp on the back of every envelope and on all the thank you notes. I think this is a brilliant idea for any Bride. This is going to save my hand!

I hope you enjoyed the little sneak peak into our wedding invitations. Come back and check out my custom design in a week or two. big kiss, bekuh



Simplify Simplify

I was just reading a blog called Two Ellie and Paula, the blogger, was sharing her adventures in simplifying her life. It was just a to-the-point representation of where she was at and where she wanted to be; in about 20 posts or so. But, it got me thinking about my apartment and my life. Maybe I need to simplify?

I had already talked to Ryan about not shopping for any new new clothes this year, meaning only buying vintage, and that seems like a simple enough solution to my recent splurges on clothes. I hate the consumerism I see around me and I don't want to get sucked into the "more more" void. We have also talked a lot about not buying a new car until one or both of our cars die, who needs to purchase a new car every three years? We've talked about more efficient ways to recycle and save money on produce and groceries. (I'll have pictures of our garden to share soon!)

What I'm saying is we've talked A LOT about simplifying, but have we actually done anything to get the ball rolling?

Yes and No. We did plant a garden and we are getting fresh ripe tomatoes daily, yum, and our peppers are starting to come in too. We do recycle but that needs to be on my list to improve upon. We have both cars completely paid off, but my commute is horrendous. I just bought a new dress so I haven't saved there yet either. I daydream all the time about buying more for the house, not getting rid of more. Yikes, I'm not doing too hot at all.

Any advice on simplifying and keeping to that goal? I could use a little help. big kiss, bekuh 

Let it Go

I bought a flaking children's book years ago that had some incredible hand pressed illustrations inside. This is one of them. I thought the quote was appropriate for my mood and like Piper Tom I'll be happy when I'm rid of this adulthood madness.

Some of you may have noticed I've been a little moody in my blogging lately. I haven't been as upbeat and haven't posted with regularity like I did way back in March. I can give a million and one excuses for this but that's silly and you don't need them. So I'll leave it at that.

I do want to mention that lately I've let a lot of the fun slip out of my life and I think my blogging and my friendships are suffering because of it. I'm feeling particularly sluggish and I'm embarrassed to say I've been staying indoors a lot. It's summer time, I should be outside enjoying the warmth and basking in the couple of months that the sun shines way into the evening. I've forgotten what laughing really hard feels like and I can't even talk about the last time I created an original piece of art.

My defensive response is always, "Well I'm too busy. I work too much." But those are just covers for a deeper issue, I'm too busy trying to be something I'm not and my real passions are the only things I'm sacrificing. I hear older adults tell me all the time that it's because I've entered the "real world" but that's a horrible reality if the real world starts when you let go of passion and embrace monotonous routine and perceived responsibility. I refuse to let my life become automated. So I let go of routine and instead choose to remain a passionate idealist.

I'd rather be tired and fully alive thank you. big kiss, bekuh

Stacks To-Do

Stacks To-Do, originally uploaded by secondhandsunday.

I am a little obsessed with the idea of redecorating right now. I think about it ALL the time. I think about it when I wake up in the morning. I think about it in the car as I drive home. I think about it staring at my walls thinking about it.

There are just a couple of problems with this obsession:

1. We just started painting the bedroom an awesome blue grey color, it is not complete and probably won't be for some time. This is just how I paint people. I paint a little- let it settle, paint a little more, let it settle some more. It's always the ceiling line that takes the longest.

2. I am currently planning a wedding. i.e. I have one million and one projects on my plate that HAVE to take precedence. This is awesome and irksome all at the same time.

3. My house is in transition. My roommate is moving out (sad face) and Ryan is starting the uber slow process of moving in (happy face). So, currently there are three people fighting for the same wall/closet/floor space. YIKES!

4. I am getting married (Have I mentioned this? he he) and that means no money in my pockets for my decorating crazes. I get these a lot, so thank you Lauren for dealing with this as my roommate and Lord help you Ryan because you're marrying me.

5. I have a full time job and a half. No other explanation needed for that one.

So alas I lament online and dream of the day I will get to actually decorate the house I live in on occasion. big kiss, bekuh