Take a Leap then Power Through

Modcloth Style Gallery - Click to Shop!

body suit / American Apparel

sunglasses / Moorea Seal

sunglasses case / Moorea Seal

necklace / Moorea Seal

skirt / Windsor

shoes / Forever 21

L ife lately has been hellish I mean I'm fine, and I know I will survive. I have my family and my faith but let me tell you 2015 has been quite the adventure. Last week both Paul and I came down with a pretty nasty cold and Paul (a sound engineer) developed a horrendous ear infection. Just when I thought we were out of the woods I parked my car in a metro bus slot in Seattle by accident. The signs that were posted literally contradicted themselves saying 8:00am- 8:00pm M-F I could park there but from 3:00pm-7:00pm I could not. Anyways 5:00pm rolled around and I walked out to find an empty parking stall. Oh Seattle how I love you so. Life on the job front has gotten a little rocky/clouded which is all I will say about that. 

June is on the horizon and I know that things are going to get better but I have to put the effort in to actually create change and I will! One of the more exciting things that has happened to me recently is interning at the Moorea Seal Store in Seattle. I really love it there and can you blame me it is a gorgeous location full of creative and inspiring people. So that was one huge win for 2015. One thing I have learned this year is that most of the things I want out of life require a leap of faith. I know what I want out of life, and I have a foggy idea of how to get there so hopefully by staying motivated, determined, and keeping the faith I will beat these trying times and make progress towards my goals... One just so happens to be moving to a house rather than an apartment so stay tuned for more updates on that. 

For all of you out there who are having a rough year, your not alone! Stay strong and keep focused.

Our First Noble Fir

After a lot debate Paul and I decided that this year we will have a real Christmas Tree. We were concerned about the lack of space in our ever shrinking apartment, and that Kevin (meow) might take a bite of it but we decided to get one anyway. I was so excited because this is my first real tree! Paul found an amazing tree farm in Snoqualami, Washington at the base of Mt. Si called Mountain Creek Christmas Tree Farm I definitely would recommend. It was such a fun experience, when we drove in there was a really nice man checking cars in he gave us the rundown of how the whole U-Cut experience works and got us moving in the right direction towards the Turkish Pines and Noble Firs. I didn't realize how many different types of Christmas Trees there are! Paul and I wanted a short chubby tree that could fit in our car and our apartment but would be full enough for ornaments. We ended up taking a tree from one of the lots that was being cleared out. It's funny because the tree looked so small outside but as soon as we got it indoors it was clear it was a little big lol. We trimmed it down and now it fits perfectly. I am not sure how Eco-friendly cutting down your own christmas tree is, but I really liked supporting this local family farm, vs. buying a new plastic tree for a big corporation. Having this experience is something I will never forget, spending time with Paul, and picking out our little tree. Its these moments that last a lifetime. 

Big Thoughts on Little Moments

O
ne of my greatest strength yet biggest downfalls is that I am a deep thinking. I think a lot and tend to over analyze things. Something I have been hung up on recently is fleeting moments, you know the moments of pure happiness. Ok let me give you some examples of mine and you can compare since I don't have an actual definition. Waking up on Saturday morning to the sound of rain, the smell of coffee, and your love snuggled next to you. Spending the whole day with your Mom, reminiscing about the past, planning the future, and soaking up every subtle moment of the present. Sitting around a bonfire with your brothers making s'mores and cracking jokes. Driving through a sun speckled forest, singing as loud as you can on a road trip with your spouse. These are just a few but there is something about these moments I love. It is a sense of acceptance, love, and comfort. Sometimes when I am in the moment I almost feel sad because I am so happy, and I worry that nothing will be able to compare to it, but then it happens again. One of the greatest joys of my life has been discovering this, learning to preserve the feeling in my memories, and finding it in my everyday. Worry is the killer of this feeling, by worrying I am not present in the moment my mind is too wrapped up and involved to even notice those around me. I am so grateful that I have found the ability to identify these fleeting moments of happiness in my life, and I wish that same thing for every one of you. I hope you enjoy these photos my adventure with my husband to the Puyallup Fair it was a "little moments" packed day.

Anniversary Hike with Amber French Photography

Here are some of my favorite photos from our anniversary hike back in June celebrating 3 years together! We were very fortunate to work with Amber French, who was willing to hike to the top of Rattlesnake Ledge for this shoot. I think it really paid off with a spectacular view! You could say that this shoot was inspired by our love of the outdoors and although there was no "Paradise Falls" there are some "UP" references. So enjoy our photos and remember...

Adventure is out there!

Sneak Peek

Paul and I did a crazy thing a few weeks back... an anniversary hike/photo shoot with Amber French Photography >>> I am so excited about the photos! Here is a sneak peek at the top of Rattlesnake Ridge.

An Education in You

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

Scott Adams

What grad school has taught me these last two years is to know myself. I view school differently from most people. It is not necessarily the text you read that is what goes with you when you graduate, but rather what you learn about yourself. I have learned so much! I have learned my coping techniques, my conflict style, my management style, I have learned fields I am interested and definitely not interested in. I have learned the type of situations in work, family, and life that are good for me, bad for me, and positively-challenging. Anyone who views grad school as just a means to another degree on paper is not seeing the big picture. I know I am very introverted, I love to write (thank God for this blog), I'm a lot ADD and I NEED creative outlets whatever that may be (I have to CREATE!), as well as maintain an ever-changing life landscape, I can never feel trapped, contained, or stagnant. I learned that I have a wonderful marriage full of love and laughter and the world’s most supportive husband. I can only hope that all of this knowledge about myself will mean that I will be able to contribute at my fullest potential to this world and ultimately make it a more beautiful place for everyone. 

P.S. I also learned that although I am a dog person at heart... cats are good too, enjoy our little Miller family pics.