spinning potential

Dress (tucked into skirt): Target, Skirt & Shoes: Thrifted

I got off early from work last night, and the sun was still up. So I walked to the park on the corner and took advantage of the awesome light. One of my coworkers drove past and honked at me, which kinda made me smile. BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS SKIRT. I thrifted it on Tuesday from Good Will and it's perfect: colour, length, pleats, spinning. Every skirt I buy from now on will have to live up to this one in spin potential.

Taking pictures last night felt like last summer, when I would get off of work at 7, rush home to change and grab my camera and go take my 365 before the sun went down. In a way I miss my 365 because I miss stretching my creative muscles every day... But at the same time, doing a 52 weeks and only taking photos when I have time for photos ensures I don't get burnt out. My first 365 made me love photography. Working at a portrait studio made me hate it, just a little bit, but also gave me valuable experience I needed to be able to expand my business. Now only shooting for myself when I want (but also committing to absolutely picking up my camera once a week) feels like I've reached a happy medium.

Summer is on the horizon. I have to get a plan in gear for senior pictures this year... something tells me a photoshop coma is in my near future.

my new favourite corner

I had awesome thrifting luck yesterday and finally have a somewhat better solution for my ever expanding found mugs collection.

MUGS rack, teal mug, pig mug, flower mug, brown mug, cat mug, tea pot: Thrifted at Good Will in Waupaca, Versace tin: Thrifted at Salvation Army in Burlington, Candle: Gift from mom, Glass bottle: A cream soda bottle from The Spot at Turner House at SCAD (I miss Savannah), Jones Soda Bottle: The lone survivor from my collection from middle school.

I love this little spot in our kitchen now.

self portrait therapy

White Tank: Old Navy, Purple Tank: Kmart, Skirt: earthmama via Storenvy, Necklace: Thrifted

Sundays seem to call for spt (self portrait therapy) lately. I went in search of the pink flowered tree I took pictures with last year only to find that the only blooms left were at the very top of the tree, so I ventured into the woods as a backup. I fell in love with the light, and put my camera on Manual mode for the first time in forever. I'm getting back into the process of making images I love, and I love that.

I also love putting together summer outfits, my almost daily neighborhood walks, cream cheese + raspberries & blackberries OR avocado on toast, that Whiskers keeps me company when I drink my coffee & eat breakfast every morning, driving with windows down & listening to pants off dance off, and that the sun stays out until around 8:30 these days.

Life is so good, you guys.

life lately

1. Coffee shots forever // 2. It might actually finally be spring in Wisconsin.

3. So much love. // 4. #patternaday

5. I want to plant but don't have any room. // 6. April showers bring May flowers.

7. Long walks through the park & along the beach are my fave. // 8. I love you, I love you, I love you like never before.

9. Drinking coffee like my grandpa: black with three sugars // 10. #brbchasinglight

11. Balcony views. // 12. I see skies of blue & clouds of white & I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

13. It still feels like autumn in the forest // 14. Long walks downtown kinda make my bad case of the Mondays go away.

15. Babe vibes are killin' it today. // 16. Nothing better than morning coffee & a book that inspires me to no end.

17. Coffee & a breakfast quesadilla. Not a bad start, Saturday. // 18. Love note from one of my coworkers

Some Instagram shots from the past month. I hope you all had a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

sun, surf, sand

Tank top: Old Navy, Maxi Dress & Necklace: Thrifted, Bandana: Mom

Wednesday was a day for beach adventures. I broke out the maxi dress I thrifted back in February, when it was cold and dreadful and I could only dream of spring. I'm debating on cutting the strings off though; they're really not doing much for me. Annnnd, yep, bandanas are back. Some people wear floppy hats in the summer, some wear baseball caps or headbands... I rock the bandanas. I love them more than words. 

Week 21/52. Have a good weekend!

self portrait therapy

Shirt, Skirt, Moccasins: Thrifted, Belt: Ruche

When I was culling and editing these photos, I thought more like a photographer instead of thinking "which ones will look good on my blog?" I only edited the images I 100% fell in love with, and these were the only two that made the final cut. This exercise reminded me of when I was really into flickr, during my first 365 and before all the site redesigns made me hate logging in in the first place. It feels so overwhelmingly awesome to be in this creative headspace again. I hope it lasts for a while.

I found this place by accident. I was waiting for my turn on the swings and decided to explore around the playground a little bit. I went up the hill to explore by the fence line of the park and found this awesome path hidden between the tree lines. I fell in love with the light and the warmth and this might become my new "spot" for picture taking, just one on the list of many where I know how to manipulate my surroundings through my lens so I can achieve the photos I want.

Spring is here in full force, and life feels so awesome because of it.

on my walk: text

I walked 2 miles yesterday, and decided the theme of my walk today was text (but obviously I can't resist shoe pictures). I took 130 pictures and these are what I've decided are the best of the best. I love this series for two reasons: a) it gets me out of the house and MOVING! And b) having a theme in mind makes me stretch my creative muscles a little bit.

See last week's on my walk right here

swing life away

When I took photos at the park on Saturday, I really wanted to swing after I was done. The park didn't have a swing set, and neither did the other park in town that I usually shoot at. Colour me disappointed. So yesterday after work I made it a mission to find a swing set.

Swings always feel like freedom to me. I jumped off the swing set to look at the photos I took, and I pinched myself because I forgot how slightly terrifying it is to jump off, but so incredibly satisfying it is when you stick the landing and don't fall on your face. Life seems kind of like that, that moment you're about to jump but you're not 100% you're going to make it. After last week, Unafraid made me excited to take chances. So I wanted to swing.

At one of my parent's friend's houses, I had a swing made just for me. They lived on a farm, and they hung my swing from one of the high tree branches right where I could watch all the "moo-cows" grazing in their pasture. My dad used to push me for hours on that swing when I was little.

Swinging will always remind me of my friends from middle school. We each lived within close vicinity of a park, so we would always just meet at the swings. We pumped our legs higher and higher and sang this song at the top of our lungs. To this day, I still remember all the lyrics.

As I grew up, swinging got me through some tough life stuff. My friends would always pick me up, we'd drive to one of the elementary schools or the parks and just swing and talk through everything that hurt. (And then we'd go spinning on the merry go round until we were more dizzy than vulnerable)

It felt really good to be free for a while today. I need to remember how therapeutic swinging is.

week 20

Shirt: Target (was originally a dress), Leggings: Walmart, Mocs & Necklace: Thrifted

This week has been hard. Work kicked my butt this week. So did mother's day & my car not working & THE SEASON FINALE OF GREY'SANATOMY (aka Sandra Oh's last episode). So many tears. But, as always, there were some very good parts to this week too. Mostly that I started doing yoga again. I'm always sore the next day, but I never regret doing it afterward.

Sartorially, I cut this dress to make this shirt and I'm loving the outcome. Now I need to figure out something to do with the skirt portion... (Note to self: LEARN TO SEW)

Week 20/52!

on my walk: from where i stand

I think the recent nice weather and appearance of spring has inspired me to get healthier. I've made it my mission to take more walks, do more yoga, and drink more water. To motivate me to take walks more often, and to make them longer when I have the time, I've noticed bringing my big girl camera with me (instead of just my iPhone) makes me want to make this a habit.

Let's talk about these shoes for a second. I used to be obsessed with collecting Converse All-Star sneakers. At its peak, my collection spanned 12 pairs of brightly coloured shoes. I wore them all the time: to school, to work, during PE, on weekends. They were my go-to shoe. These are the sole remaining survivors. I've had them since high school and always seem to forget about them in the back of my closet so they're not even properly broken in. I forgot how much I love them.

And I forgot how much I love photo walks. I'm excited to make this into a little series. :)

water marbling

What's the best way to spend a rainy afternoon? Making stuff. Water marbling is putting a few inches of water in a plastic container, pouring nail polish on top, and swirling with a toothpick. Elise initially gave me the idea, and then Elsie & Emma put up a post about it so I knew I had to do it. I love how these turned out, and my inner art school student appreciated the opportunity to stretch her legs.

I learned a few things along the way.

• WEAR GLOVES, as evidenced by the photo of all the polish all over my fingers
• A little goes a long way
• If the polish gets clumpy or dries too quickly, adjust the water temperature
• Change your water after every use

I'm excited to send these out to friends and maybe frame a few and put them up on the gallery wall... and then make some more!

what a wonderful world

Shirt: Elizabeth Street via Storenvy (similar), Jeans: Old Navy, Shoes & Necklace: Thrifted

Today was the first really nice day of the year. I worked 7-3 and was really glad I got to come home and enjoy the sunshine after being stuck inside all morning. This week has been so good. I made things this week (post coming Monday!). I had a 4 hour phone conversation with my best friend. I did laundry. Tonight I'm making breakfast for dinner and watching Moulin Rouge (because Justin is working, obviously). Happy weekend!

Week 19/52

currently, may edition

living in my gold glitter loafers... best thrift find ever

obsessing over signs of spring that are popping up everywhere

reading eat pray love by elizabeth gilbert (i'm like 1000 years late, i know)

wanting a bold initial mug like this one

watching what not to wear on netflix & i want to be stacey london when i grow up

lamenting sandra oh leaving grey's anatomy after next weeks season finale

loving before work phone calls with my best friend

creating a lot of real tangible things that i can hold in my hands and i'm so proud

missing art school... just a little bit

craving breakfast foods: pancakes, breakfast burritos, french toast & cereal are in our regular dinner rotation

documenting my mornings on instagram, i live for coffee shots

thinking about getting another tattoo, eventually

having a fantastic friday so far