I have so much catching up to do.  In my life & on this blog.  But.... tonight Brandon and I found ourselves driving to the resturaunt where we had our very first date.  

If you heard the story, you know the date was a disaster, and then, all of a sudden, the next day we were in love.  and EVERYONE knew it.

That's kind of what life feels like.  You are going to college and all of a sudden, you are signing up for your last semester of classes.  Or you get accepted into the art program and the next minute you are planning your final show.  you are saying "I do" and wham bam, it's your third christmas together.  What's funny is it's always the big things that make life seem to fly by.  Big moments.  Blog worthy moments.  But if feels good to slow things down and focus on those significantly normal moments.

like going on a date on a tuesday cause we had to get a new car battery and that bites.  and being beaconed from the other room to listen to a new ridiculous relaxation app instead of finishing this post or starting your homework.

hello little moments.  you can stay awhile.


*images from our 4th date

it's beginning to look a lot like....

I know people have rules against this, but I started decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving.  In fact, my work had Christmas up before halloween came along!  So I'm thinking I held out pretty good :) Even though I work at a design store that is packed to brim with Christmas decor, I keep things pretty simple in my own home.  I do this for a few reasons.  one: we are poor college students and decor can get pricy, two: I'm not a fan of the "commercial" christmas look (this means zero glitter, I track enough of that home from work thankyouverymuch...). and three: my holiday decorations are confined to one of my vintage suitcases (I had to prove to Brandon that my suitcases serve a purpose, my collection is getting a bit out of control) so we don't have a ton of room for "stuff".  That means just about everything is:

homemade (bow garland)

up-cycled (letter flashcards)

found (pinecones)

gifted (christmas lights from my old work, handmade blankie from my mom)

It's funny how these tiny changes in our home and getting me giddy about the holidays!  And I'm not the only one, I came home from work the other day to find Brandon hanging Christmas lights on our porch.  And I'm pretty sure I heard him humming Christmas tunes yesterday.   He claims he's a scrooge, but really, who couldn't love this season?! 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a lovely thanksgiving filled with family, mashed potatoes, and PIE!
mmmmm!

xo,
claire

Support The Handmade!!!

Brandon and I had a whirlwind amazing time in NY, but more on that later....




I need to share this before I forget and it flies by (as everything is wont to do lately it seems).  Tomorrow (friday) and Saturday I am participating in the Bijou Markets handmade goodness!  I'll be selling my beloved betsy bows, as well as never before seen bigger bows and metallic GOLD bows (woot woot!), my embroidered journals, and all that geode/crystal jewelry I keep chatting about but so rudely keeping to myself (It's that good).  All the vendors are AMAZING!  And I'm kinda pinching myself that I'll be amongst their handmade glory.  So come!  Support the local handmade!

Check out more info here and here!

Despite the chaos in NY, we are taking a red-eye flight there tonight!  We are joining a group of fellow artist and professors for a few days of art loving.  We'll mostly just be hopping from museum to museum looking at art till our eyeballs hurt, and eating amazing food till our tummies ache, but since it will be Brandon's first time in the big city, we'll hit up some good old fashioned tourist hot spots too ;)  This will be my second time in NY (though the first time hardly counts it was so long ago) so I'm of course all ears for any traveling tips (vegan restaurant recommendations are greatly appreciated!!) and have any of you ever braved the fabric district?!  worth it?

-claire

*film photograph from last year's NY trip!  I have the rest of the roll scheduled for the remainder of the week :)

one week ago

One week ago today, we welcomed another sister into the family.  Brandon's little brother, David, married Melanie on the coldest day in October at the LDS Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  In the hustle and bustle of preparing for the wedding, I failed to write Dave and Mel a letter full of my professional advice (insert laughs & snorts here) on marriage.  JK, I'd rather just share something my mom recently shared with me from C Jane Kendrick's "5 Loves" writings.  She pretty much nails it:

I came to realize this:  we think we go from partner to partner because there will be someone "better" for us. In reality, no one is better for us, we just get better for ourselves.

And this: relationships work when we sacrifice negative beliefs about ourselves, and in that process we become the best thing that's ever happened to anyone.

And this: a successful marriage is about two people engaged and dedicated to overcoming selfishness--for the rest of their lives.

ditto.  
ditto in all seriousness. 

love you david & mel!