chiced / 6

We went to the swap meet today. It was a gorgeous day, we enjoyed lunch, and found a lot of things that were on our list. That is the key to shopping at swap meets or thrift stores: a well thought out list. Without a list, you are likely to get things that you don't need or have the money for. No matter where you're shopping, you'll probably find something awesome. But be honest, do you need it? Have you been wanting it for more than a few weeks? All of these items that we picked up today are things that we have been wanting for the house or that I need for a wedding that I'm helping out with in August. What did you do this weekend? Do you ever go to the swap meet?

taking it in

Patrick taking in the smell of the mountains. He got to run through meadows, roll around in the tall grass, trample through streams, see lots of fish, and explore everything. I've never seen him so happy.

We're back from our camping trip. Intentional or not, you have a lot of time to relax and unwind when you're out in the wilderness with not much to do. As far as reflecting goes, I wasn't very intentional when prepping for this trip. I normally bring a journal or a thought provoking book and anticipate the time I'll have for silence and meditation. This time, I packed a half read book (one that was not thought provoking whatsoever) and totally forgot to pack my journal. I didn't realize until I got home that I actually did a lot of reflecting anyway. When I'm in my normal setting/ routine, my mind is always racing with to do lists and unfinished projects. The night that we got home, I had a clear mind, was extremely motivated, and felt well rested. I had our suitcases unpacked within 10 minutes of walking in the door, started the laundry, and still enjoyed a good night's sleep. I'm grateful for the time we got to spend up in the mountains and am looking forward to this pattern of getting things done in a less chaotic sort of way. Sometimes we just need to spend more time outdoors and away from the everyday mayhem that is life.

pinterest picks // natural beauty

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camping.

source

This evening, we are driving up to the Sierras to do a little camping. Philip has gone just about every year with his dad for a fishing trip. As soon as we were married, I was invited to join and it was lots of fun! We don't get to go for as long as we would have hoped, but it's better than nothing. I'm excited to get away. I don't do a lot of fishing, but I still enjoy tagging a long to read, relax, and take photos. I also really enjoy the challenge of making good food while we are out in the woods. (I guess when I'm not there, they eat a lot of canned foods and hot dogs.) Enjoy your weekend!

at home / too many projects

There's usually about 20 projects happening at once in our home. Recently those projects have involved planting succulents, building shelving units, painting handles for pendant lamps, packaging orders, and tons of other stuff. It's all fun, but the loft has been a mess. But hey, sometimes life is messy.

luce loft.

Last night we got to do something special for Luce Loft. We were really happy with how it turned out and we can't wait for next Thursday. The Tree Ring will be playing that night and let me tell you, it's going to be a great show. We were fortunate enough to be working at the loft the same that time they were rehearsing. It was amazing. You can see a clip of their rehearsal here and get info about Thursday here.

stunning

How gorgeous is this table?

Found here.

wedding hair

source

My brother-in-law is getting married to this lovely lady. We're in the wedding, so I've been thinking about pretty hairstyles that I may want to rock the day of. I seem to be drawn to any hairstyle with a pretty braid or braided crown. You can see more ideas on this pinboard.

replay / vol. 4

1. We celebrated our anniversary last night at Prohibition. It was our first time there and we loved it.
2. I found some really pretty peonies for my grandma at Fresh 'n' Easy.
3. We thrifted this basket while we were in Palm Springs. Francine likes to hang out in it ever once in a while.
4. Patrick is happiest when he is on someone's lap and under a blanket.
5. I did a little work while enjoying a beer at Bottle Craft. That's one of my new favorite work spots.
6. I loved all the design details at The Ace. We're going to try and incorporate a wood design like this one in our loft.

I know it's been a little quiet around here lately. I'm having a really hard time getting back into my normal routine since coming back from our little Palm Springs getaway. Vacations are awesome, but coming home is a bit of a drag. Honestly, I think our vacation ruined me. I quickly adjusted to the 100 degree weather, relaxing by the pool all day, and practically living in my bathing suit. I was "freezing" when we got back to San Diego. I really enjoyed not having to cook, food showing up at our lounge chairs next to the pool, and not having to clean up after every meal. I loved coming back to our room to find a bucket of beer that magically appeared and that our bed had been made. I know I'm ridiculous. I'm just having a hard time getting motivated. How do you get yourself back into your routine?