change is hard

I had all these big plans to write posts every day last week, and this week, and well as you may have noticed I really haven't had much to say. I used to get really down on bloggers who went on hiatus due to moves or life changes. I'd think things like, geesh don't they plan anything ahead of time? Don't they care if their readers get bored and stop checking in? It's not like they're the only people who ever...

Let me tell you, I'm a changed woman. This whole moving/uprooting your whole life thing is really hard work. Really hard work. I don't sleep any more, eat only when absolutely necessary, and my body feels like it's been hit by a truck (twice). I'm like this grumpy, undressed version of my worst self and I hate it. I get angry over silly things, laugh like a crazy person when yet something else breaks, and get manic when coffee levels run low. If you don't believe me, ask Ryan, he'll back me up. The poor man has had a lot to deal with these last few days.

We're almost through the worst of it though. We've gotten all but one Jeep load in our new place, our couch is gorgeous and assembled thanks to IKEA, and our apartment in Virginia will be completely cleaned and locked up today. God willing. There will be a full nights rest one day soon.

I've definitely learned a few lessons from this new adventure we're embarking on; change doesn't get easier as you get older, radio silence on a blog is sometimes very necessary, and husbands are incredibly resilient to temper tantrums in the back of Uhauls. Oh, and my husband is awesome; while me...not so much. What have you been up to lately? big kiss, bekuh

Scream

Just popping in to share our house is a complete and total disaster area right now! I'm in the final stages of  boxing, labeling, and cleaning up three years worth of living in one apartment. But, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I kind of love it. I'm thoroughly excited, scared, and ready to get outta this place. I keep having to remind myself, "One step at a time." The screaming is equal parts whoop-whoop, and oh-no. big kiss, bekuh

Don't forget to enter the Earl Grey Giveaway! 

Earl Grey and a Giveaway!

I'm so excited to introduce Jennifer to you as the feature sponsor of Secondhand Sundays this February. Jennifer owns the sweet Etsy boutique Earl Grey, and writes a blog by the same name. She's wonderfully talented, genuine, and sweet as can be. And to add to all her glowing personality traits she's also offering a $25 gift certificate to her shop to one lucky reader! Read through the whole post to find out how to enter...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, I'm Jennifer from Earl Grey! I live in Northern California, where I try to stay inspired by crafting, thrifting, and spending time in nature. I love my dog, the redwoods, sparkly things, and Motown. Earl Grey is a lifestyle blog, as well as a shop. My blog is full of photography, handmade and vintage inspiration, and noteworthy finds. The shop includes handmade items and (coming soon!) vintage clothing. (To learn more about Jennifer check out her facebook and pinterest page)

Since first learning about Jennifer's blog and store I've been obsessed with her sweet crocheted accessories, and darling felted pretties. I'm so excited (and jealous) that one of you will now get the opportunity to choose one or a few pieces from her shop to call your own. Enter to win a $25 gift certificate from Earl Grey today! Here's how you enter the giveaway:

The Giveaway will run from today (2/20/13) through next Wednesday (2/28/13). You have several different ways to enter through Rafflecopter below, and the winner will be chosen at random on March 1st.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! big kiss, bekuh

A Two Style Dilemna

This is it folks, the last week we officially live in Virginia. All week we'll be painting, cleaning, packing, and just generally preparing ourselves to move 6.5 hours north and lightyears away from what we've known all these years. As I prepare myself for leaving one place I can't help but think about all we have to look forward to in the new. Which in my mind naturally leads to thinking about home decor. Here's the problem, I have two very conflicting styles I love right now.

On one hand I see myself leaning towards a cozy, multi-layered, eclectic abode. Full of colorful blankets, deep colors, and worn furniture. Heavily influenced by my love of Folk Art (it runs deep friends). I can totally see Ryan and I living in a space like this....

image sources: tea cups//blue shelves//chartreuse curtains//hanging guitars//blankets//rustic dining//records//bathroom

Then on the other hand I can also see us in a more sparsely decorated space. Something more French provencal, or general store inspired. Less layering, more organized, and lots of negative space to keep our minds clear. I see lots of baskets, fluffy whites, and worn wooden crates in this vision. A little something like....

image source: bedroom//ladder//metal shelving//copper//crates- found via//fig tree//gingham- found via//grate

As I've been packing I've noticed that our stuff could kind of go both ways depending on the presentation. There will always be red, but other than that there's nothing keeping me from rearranging stuff based on these two choices. Only making this thought process harder. The most important thing is that it's comfortable, put together, and looks intentional. Which style do you see us in more? I need your help! big kiss, bekuh

Weekly Obsessions: Etsy Crushing

Image Sources: 1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8//9

I feel like I pretty consistently link to Etsy stores in Weekly Obsession posts, but rarely do I dedicate an entire post to them. That changes today. I love Etsy, I've sold through two stores on their site, and I like to support the brands they showcase, so why not share a little love? Here are some things I'm crushing on right now, and I encourage you to check out these stores too!

1. the First Date Blouse. Every girl should have a go to piece like this in their wardrobe.
2. We are definitely lovers of good food so the Gourmand poster seems made for us.
3. I've been a fan of the slouchy beanie for years, and I'm happy to see it coming into such popularity. Earl Grey's green version is a personal fav.
4. I almost bought these coasters for a friend's Christmas gift, and now I'm thinking we may need a set for our home.
5. I love throws, to the point where our collection has surpassed 10 blankets at some points. I'm thinking it's time to let go of a few plain jane ones in favor of this perfect vintage one.
6. I gotta be honest, I'm not always a candle person, but I'm loving the little mason jar candles by Pollen Arts. So sweet.
7. My sister had a set of Russian nesting dolls growing up and this set looks almost identical to hers. I coveted them when I was a kid, and some things just never change.
8. Acorns are already adorable, but as an acorn brooch they're almost too cute to bear. I think an acorn works with anything.
9. Chunky knit infinity scarves make me so happy...and warm. I just can't get enough.

Have you been eying anything special on Etsy? Leave me a link so I can check it out! big kiss, bekuh

How Fast the World Moves

This weekend is my last full weekend in Virginia. A realization that only occurred to me on Wednesday. My bags are nearly packed, and one foot is already out the door. Though we don't have any set plans for what this weekend will hold I know it will involve friends, family, and memories. I've been trying for the last couple of weeks to keep things status quo; cooking every night, blogging every day, watching pointless TV. Treating each day like all the others, like nothing is changing, but of course that too must end. 

Next week I'm going to take a little time to focus on the saying goodbye part of this journey. I have some people I need to see, some hugs that need to be given, and some letting go that needs to be done before I leave these mountains. How fast the world moves. big kiss, bekuh

Note: The image above was taken from here. The words and effects are my own.

My Love, My Ballast

One of my favorite love stories of all time is the story of John and Abigail Adams. Not because their story is overly romantic, or wonderful; but because through years of separation, near financial ruin, and personal devastation their love stood strong until the end. They never wandered or doubted their devotion to one another. John once called Abigail his ballast, a term I had to look up at the time, but now know by heart:

Bal·last  /ˈbaləst/ verb
Gives stability to a ship by putting a heavy substance in its bilge, helping guide the ship safely.

Ryan is my ballast. He is the the person who stabilizes me, and makes me stronger in times of doubt. Without his love I would not have dared to dream as big as I do today. Ryan my love, through all our trials and tribulations I will strive to love you with an unending devotion and care. I promise. love, bekuh

Nellie and the Move

I haven't done a Nellie update in awhile, and as we're preparing to completely uproot everything she's ever known it feels fitting to spend a little time on our girl right now. We thought long and hard about our sweet girl when talking about relocating, and her comfort is of upmost importance to us. We're really lucky that I was offered a position in Philadelphia for so many reasons, but one of the biggest is that it's a super dog friendly place! We had no issue finding apartments that allow pets, and there are parks a plenty to let her run around in. The building we finally settled on is run by a super pet friendly firm, and that set me at ease immediately knowing they were animal people too.

It's a funny thing just how much our pup has changed the way we live. It really is like having a child. I think things like, "Will she like this area?" "Will the other dogs in building like her?" "Is there a park near by, for her to play in?" So many things to think about. Of course there will be an adjustment period, and we're preparing ourselves for a little bit of rebellion. 

We've been working hard on some of her bad habits; like jumping, and pulling while out on walks. She now has a nifty harness that pulls up her front legs if she pulls too hard on her leash, and we bought a shorter leash (2ft) for walking on busy city streets. The shorter leash also makes it easier to pull her back down if she jumps (she'll of course have the long leash when we go on more leisurely walks). We even caved and bought one of those little doggy bag dispensers, shaped like a bone, for potty time. Silly perhaps, but we're making an effort to get her as prepared as possible for city living.

I know she'll be fine, and adjust just like we do, but the mommy in me is on high alert. I hope Nellie knows just how much she is loved. big kiss, bekuh

Over the Weekend

Our moving sale was a huge success! Thanks for all the well wishes last week. We sold all of the furniture in the sale, and only have a few odds and ends left for donation. We were surprised by how many friendly faces stopped by in support, and were so touched when almost everyone bought something. I snapped a couple of pictures over the course of that day, and felt so energized by the success of the sale I immediately rearranged the dining room as soon as everyone was gone.I still have a few vintage housewares I need to snap pictures of for Sunday's Child, including a half dozen aprons. Anyone interested in pretty vintage aprons out there? I hate to donate such lovely things! It's starting to feel real this whole moving thing. big kiss, bekuh

Weekly Obsessions: I Heart It

Image sources: xo cookies// vintage valentines// lollipops (unkown)// an antique love letter

I can't believe Valentine's day is this week! Last year I was so motivated; making crafts, decorating, and just generally loving the holiday, but I've just not been that into it this year. I'm going to blame it on the move. I definitely can't blame it on Ryan, because he's the most awesomest husband out there. He's been so sweet and romantic as of late. Well...romantic in my opinion, i.e. doing the dishes, cooking on the weekends, taking care of odds and ends I hate dealing with. He's been a saint really. I love my man. In an attempt to harness my inner Valentine I've made a little heart collage to share. For those of you who are in full on pink mode today's WO is for you! big kiss, bekuh

Winter Meals

In winter nothing soothes me like hot drinks, and food. I love walking into a kitchen where the oven's been on all day, and there's always a fresh pot of coffee waiting for me. It's not only comforting, but soul warming. You could say that I'm pretty passionate about good food, and it's never more true than in the colder months. Here's a peek into what our winter menu has looked like this year:

1. Turkey empanadas with cranberry sauce
2. Fried rice with vegetables and fried egg on top
3. Homemade butternut squash soup with biscuits
4. Sliced apples to go with grilled cheeses

What are some winter dishes you've been preparing lately? I love trying new things. big kiss, bekuh

PS- The middle two pictures were taken on Instagram, follow me @bekuhdoo

A Moving Sale in February?

This weekend Ryan and I are hosting an estate/moving sale in hopes of selling off a bit more of our furniture. Selling piece-by-piece on Craigslist is a little exhausting, and too slow for my taste. It's kind of a crazy venture, and I'm curious to see how this pans out for us. February isn't exactly prime yard sale-ing season, and we have a lot to sell! I am taking some proactive measures to get the word out about our sale though.

Here's what we're doing:
+ We're hosting the sale inside. We've moved all the furniture we want to keep out of the living room, and dining room and moved everything we want to sell in.
+ We've listed the sale on Craigslist, Reddit and announced it on Facebook in hopes of getting people's attention.
+ On Craiglist I've listed the ad in several categories that fit the contents of the sale.
+ I've given price points for some of the larger ticket items for convenience sake in the listings.
+ We are posting signs and flyers in our neighborhood.
+ We are limiting the sale to just Saturday. That way people won't be tempted to hold off their purchase for a discounted price.

Of course if you live in the Roanoke area we'd love to have you stop by! The sale will run from 8:30am-2:00pm, the doors will not open early.

Have any of you hosted an indoor yard sale before? Any tips and tricks to share? big kiss, bekuh

PS- Today is my sister's BIRTHDAY! Sarah, you're the bestest sister in the whole wide world, and I love you. Here's to hoping your day is magic.

One Small Thing: Natural Air Freshener

As a dog owner, I'm a big fan of air fresheners. Puppies have a special smell all their own, and I kind of hate it most of the time. As such I've been a big supporter of spray air fresheners for some time. With my goal of being more sustainable, and natural I felt like it was time to find some alternatives to the chemical ridden stuff. Enter Pinterest, the endless sea of knowledge. I found this post on creating a simple, natural air freshener, and decided why not try it? So today I have more own version to share, and my review of this tutorial.

+ The ingredients are simple enough, you need: a small glass jar, essential oils (I used lavender & eucalyptus/lemon), baking soda, cheese cloth, and ribbon.
+ First, measure out about 1/4 cup baking soda and pour into glass jar.
+ Next, pour 8-12 drops of essential oils on the baking soda.
+ Using a fork combine the mixture. It will clump, so try to break those pieces up as much as possible.
+ Cut a piece of cheese cloth big enough to cover glass jar, and tie ribbon around it.
+ Every couple of days remove the lid and break up the baking soda, so it can capture more smells.

I've been using mine for two weeks now, and the essential oils are still smelling great! I would like to note that this hasn't really "scented" the room, but more deodorized it. I'll take deodorized over stinky though. It's just one small thing I can do to reduce my harsh chemical use. big kiss, bekuh

24 hours in Philadelphia

This past weekend Ryan and I went up to Philadelphia to look at apartments. It was super important to me that we find somewhere ASAP in order to get applications completed, and plans in motion before the middle of this month. With my start date being March 4th, there's no time to lose. I spent hours pouring over apartments and trying to contact people, but in the end we only had a couple of meetings to show for my efforts. The trip was a whirlwind filled with intense emotions, and quick discussion making. It was also filled with good food, and delicious drinks as these photos showcase.In the end we decided on a tee-tiny studio loft in Northern Chinatown to call home. It's got all the amenities we were looking for like hardwood floors, big windows, a dishwasher, and laundry on site. That order isn't actually the order of importance, the dishwasher was the most important feature to us; as not having one currently has put Ryan and I at odds many a times. I'm looking forward to a year of blissful peace, and love thanks to that machine. On top of all the wonderful amenities we'll have it's only a short walk to Reading Terminal Market, and the train I need to take for work. We filled out our applications last night, and I'm sending them on their way today in hopes of getting approved soon. Wish us luck! big kiss, bekuh

PS- These photos were from the Nodding Head Brewery in Philadelphia. The beer I tried was delicious!

Thrifting: Blessing & Curse

My love of thrifting is no big secret. I talk a lot about it on SHS, and my family will tell you I've been a big supporter of all things thrift since childhood. Nothing beats scoring a great find, or a good deal. That's my kind of shopping high. Lately however, I've been thinking about whether thrifting has truly been beneficial for my budget.

It isn't that any one thing I buy is expensive, but the quantity of items I (used to) buy constitutes a much bigger budgetary issue. Sure I can buy four skirts for the price of one at the mall, but if I wouldn't buy that one skirt at the mall because of it's price tag, what makes the four any different? No matter how I slice it I end up spending as much, if not more, on thrifty stuff. Nine times out of ten I should have just gone out and bought the item I was trying to emulate in the first place.

This downsizing adventure has really brought to light just how much money I've spent on things I don't really need, or love. I would estimate that about 85% of what we're getting rid of is stuff that I picked up at a yard sale or thrift store. I've been sacrificing not only my money on this, but also our apartment. The amount of space required to house these things is unreal. We have cleared out almost two whole rooms of stuff. Scary.

So, am I saying that thrfting is bad? No. Am I saying I should rethink how I thrift? Yes. Looking through the items in our house, and my wardrobe that I love most, it's obvious that I have a soft spot for vintage pieces. My intention is not to label thrift shops as a hoarder's paradise, but merely to illustrate the dangers of a "good deal." Moving forward I have every intention to continue diving for treasure, but I'll be more cautious before I buy. I've started to ask myself a series of questions before I buy anything, but in particularly vintage:

1. Will this fit in with the decor I already own? How will it work with the other pieces in the room?

2. Can I wear this with at least three items already in my wardrobe, or will I need new items to make it work?

3. Do we already own something similar? If so, do we use it often enough to warrant another one?

4. How often will we/I use this item?

5. Am I trying to use this as a substitute for a "wishlist" item? If so, is this a worthwhile substitute, or should I save up for the really thing?

6. Will this add to our overall happiness at home?

So far, this technique has been working really well for me, and my wallet is already feeling fatter. Rethinking a negative habit in your life is liberating; I recommend it. Do you have any tips to curb a shopping/thrifting habit? Please share! big kiss, bekuh

Weekly Obsessions: Folk Dreams

Image Sources: 1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8

I love neutral, clean, minimal styling a lot. I've shared many an image here showcasing my love of such things, but I also love the extreme opposite too! I love houses that show their years of layers, and handmade crafts passed down from generation to generation. I've shared my love of folk art on SHS in the past, so it should come as no surprise that I'm revisiting that genre again. Folk tradition conjures up images of thick embroidery, wild flora, reds, shadows, handy craft, gardening, painting, and cooking. For me folk art is a living history, and it shifts as we do. It's exciting for me to think that in a hundred years the definition of folk art could include some of the objects I use and love everyday. What does folk art/tradition mean to you? big kiss, bekuh

Want to see more of my visual inspiration? Follow me on Pinterest!

The Secret's Out

Well now that I've officially accepted the position, I guess it's time to share the big news with you guys. In a little over a month Ryan and I will be living, and working in Philadelphia! Last week I had my final interview for a Community Coordinator position (read social media) at BHLDN, and on Monday they made an offer. It still feels really surreal typing all of this right now. I've wanted to work for URBN pretty much my entire life, and on March 4th my dreams are coming true. A special thanks to Maddie for her sweet recommendation of me for this position.

We're still working out all the details; like where we'll live, whether we'll be selling my car, if Ryan and Nellie will move up immediately or shortly after I do, how we're going to move everything, et al. It's a lot to take in, but in the end it will be so worth it. We've been thinking about making the move to a major city for sometime, and now we're actually doing it. Our lives are going to look so different this time next year, in the best possible way.

We're pulling an all-nighter to drive up and look at apartments tomorrow, so keep us in your thoughts. This will also be Ryan's first visit to Philadelphia so I'm hoping he likes it. I know he will, but it's still a big deal. My biggest concerns right now are finding an apartment, and selling off most of our furniture before the move. 4 weeks will fly by!

You might be seeing a little less of me in these parts for a couple of weeks, unless I get super motivated to schedule a ton of posts. Don't hate me. Downsizing by Half just got for real, for real. Ha! big kiss, bekuh