Goals for 2017

Hello there all,

I've been gone for awhile. Forgive me. The humor of it all is that I stay away because I have been gone for so long, and then it just gets longer and longer. However, I love this thing. At first, I was a little bummed because I wanted to create this thing into something pretty epic that would reach the status of other bloggers. However, the truth of the matter is that I don't have the time to dedicate to this blog that other professional bloggers do AND I was doing it for all of the wrong reasons instead of what I'm passionate about: stories. Let's consider this Like the Season 2.0....but with the same blog design because ya'll, I am lazy.

ANYWAYS, let's get to the good stuff.

Since having this blog, I have shared my goals each year (Here is what I said about goals in 2015 and 2016), and let's be real: I'm not too good at keeping to so many goals. Like most people, I start off the year with the intention of doing great wonderful things. However, I crash and burn around Valentine's Day.

This year, I thought that I would start something a little easier. I made a list of things that I would like to accomplish next year. THEN, I brainstormed a list of single words that encompass all of those ideas. ONE WORD. Do you know how hard that is? However, by keeping one word, I am able to keep it simple, and it allows me something to focus on instead of lots of little details. With several goals, I was pulling myself in too many directions. With one word, I allow myself the opportunity to focus and chug along like a cute little train.

I first heard about the "One Little Word" concept from Elise Joy on her Podcast Elise Gets Crafty, and I loved the concept.

What is my word?

Connect.

Connect more thoughtfully and intentionally with those that I care about.

Connect through disconnect by taking steps away from media.

Connect with my body by solving ailing issues and listening to what it needs both mentally and physically.

Connect to my need to create and explore what that looks like for me.

Connect with the world by telling my story through the blog.

Connect with nature by exploring it more.

Connect with my needs and allowing myself to voice those needs and to investigate what those needs.

Connect.

I love it. It is so perfect for 2017. I invite you to take a second and think about what your word would be, and TELL ME in the comments below.

Happy 2017!

50 Facts About Me-Part Two

Hello there all,

Here is the epic conclusion to the spine tingling thriller "50 Facts About Me- Part One"...

26.) When I was younger, I tried out the whole contact thing, and it just didn't work. I tore them, lost them, etc. Eventually, I decided to try it again later, but I never will. I love my glasses now, and I feel like they are a part of me.

27.) Ya'll know how much I love thrift shopping. Well, I used to hate it, and I never wanted to go. Now, it is one of my favorite hobbies.

28.) I love plants, but I am so awful at keeping them alive. I try REALLY hard. For some reason, the plants that seem to work the best for me are avocado trees...like avocados grown from the pit.

29.) Playing is a very essential part of my life. Play is important, and I believe in integrating it into all areas of life.

30.) My favorite feature is my eyes.

31.) Today, I was told from a woman with dementia that I have a very beautiful chin, and she then stroked it a little bit. She then told me how lovely my complexion was.

32.) My first car's name was Calypso and my current car's name is Clementine. I didn't try to go with "C" names, but they are just the names that seemed right.

33.) I spend waaaaay too much time on Instagram.

34.) I have a ridiculous love for all things 1960s.

35.) I've burnt Top Ramen before-like created smoke because I burnt it so bad.

36.) For some reason, I always draw trees or swirls....or swirly trees...when I doodle. In high school, I always drew eyes.

37.) I will often do whatever I have to do to avoid confrontation. I keep it inside to not address the issue. Usually the only people this isn't true with is family and The Mister. Also, I know this is bad. I'm trying guys.

38.) Two of my favorite movies are Across the Universe and Little Women.

39.)  I always thought that I wanted to move from Oregon, and then I left Oregon to visit other places... I don't know what I was thinking! Portland is just a bit more my speed than my hometown :).

40.) I'm a beer, cider, margarita girl.

41.) If I were at a store grabbing a drink, I would grab the dented drink because nobody else would want it, and I feel bad for it. The dented can needs love to. I love the misfits.

42.) I started to say "JK" to make fun of the whole abbreviation for phrases thing, but now, I say it for reals. It a little makes my soul die, but I can't help it.

43.) The Mister and I spend way too much time looking at pictures of cute animals.

44.) Stories that have dystopian societies are some of my favorites: 1984, Hunger Games, V for Vendetta, etc. I love them all.

45.) When I get fountain drinks, I usually mix together some of the drinks. It usually ends up in some variety of sprite (or some equivalent) and lemonade/other sweet drinks.

46.) It always makes me sad to pull weeds because they are pretty, too :).

47.) I'm such a hugger!

48.) I've always wanted to dye my head red as in Little Mermaid red. I have dyed it ginger-red. One day, I'll work at a place that will be okay with The Little Mermaid look.

49.) I do this thing where I go through phases where I am extra smitten with a certain color. In the most recent past, it has been mustard, plum and chartreuse Currently, I am in a mad love affair with teal/turquoise. I just want everything to be these colors!

50.) I listen to "old lady" music, and I am currently listening to the greatest hits of Ray Charles. However, I do have an appreciation for current music, too. I promise!

There it is. Feel like you know me better now?

-Autumn

50 Facts About Me- Part One

Hello there all,

I don't know if you have ever seen these over the interwebs, but this is kind of a thing: the "50 facts about me" on the blogosphere. I promise.

ANYWAYS....

Let's learn way too much about me.

1.) I am not a very well organized person, but there are some aspects of my life where I am overly organized. For example, my tank tops are all organized by color, my books organized by genre/author, etc.

2.) My favorite type of cake is "funfetti."

3.) I prefer to brush my teeth before taking a shower. I just don't feel clean unless I brush my teeth first.

4.) Growing up, I didn't like my name. For awhile, I remember thinking that I was going to change it, and I had many different ideas of what it would be. Now, I love it!

5.) Most people seem to think that my parents are big ole hippies because my name is Autumn, but they are not big ole hippies. I'm the bleeding heart of the family.

6.) I blew my first bubble from bubble gum in high school because I just couldn't figure it out before then.

7.) Constantly, I am aware of how awkward I am which is what makes me awkward. I over think it all, so I become more awkward.

8.) I love animals sooooo much, but I think my neediness to have them love me is off putting to them.

9.) If I could just create all day, I would be one happy camper.

10.) I could eat Mexican food for every meal for the rest of my life.

11.) During my dreams, I am often lucid. Also, I have been able to wake from dreams and go back to sleep to continue the same dream. It is awesome! It doesn't always work though.

12.) I am not a vegetarian, but I don't often eat meat. Our freezer is full of fake meat products (and some real meat), and I often prefer the flavor of veggie burgers.

13.)  I have never been to Disneyland/Disneyworld.

14.) After a certain amount of time of wearing shoes/socks, I feel claustrophobic. When I get home, the first thing I do is take my shoes off. If I had to be barefoot forever, I would not miss shoes. I WOULD miss cute socks.

15.) As a kid, I would often walk around with an orange pop mustache.

16.) I have been to 8 countries including the USA.

17.) I have been to 12 states including Oregon (not including layover silliness).

18.) My first CD was the Backstreet Boys, and I loved it. However, I was definitely a *NSYNC girl.

19.) My least favorite foods are pineapples and pickles. My favorite food is anything with potatoes!

20.)  When I watch a movie that is older than 5 years AND has a dog in it, I often think about how the dog is now dead in real life. Isn't that awful?  I LOVE dogs, and I HATE this.

21.)  One of my most prized possessions is a quilt that my late great grandma made, and I sleep with it every night.

22.) I like to name inanimate objects.

23.) I used to sleep with the tv on while I slept growing up, but the only tv we currently own hasn't been plugged in for over two years. Yes, we still have the internet, so we haven't cut off watching shows completely. However, watching things is now a much more intentional choice.

24.) With that said, I can definitely binge watch some shows.

25.) Orange became my favorite color in 6th grade when I saw a boy that I liked wearing that color, so I decided that it was my favorite color. Oh 6th grade me...However, I do legitimately love it now along with burgundy. I love me some autumn colors.

Part two coming soon to a blog near you...

-Autumn

We got a house! Part three (and final)

Hello there,

Over the last week, I have been sharing glimpses of the house because I think it is so darn. Alsom I pretty much want to continually talk about it. We are knee deep in packing, cleaning, etc., so I need to focus on the fact that this wonderful place will soon be home to get me motivated.

Here's round three:

The upstairs area before the bedrooms:

First upstairs bedroom:

Second Upstairs Bedroom:

Garage:

 

That is it guys! I'm excited to share our journey from turning this house into a home :).

-Autumn

The Little Things on Valentine's Day

Hello there all,


It is almost Valentine's Day, and during this time of year, we start seeing innumerable social media posts about who loves who more. Valentine's Day has become a grand display of affection which is wonderful because love is something to be celebrated. However, the truth of the matter is that so many people stress about this holiday because of the financial burden. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about celebrating love, and you shouldn't be putting a price tag on something like that. I'm not saying that buying something is bad, and if you do want to spend some money, you can use apps like Personal Capital's financial tools to determine a smart budget for special occasions. When done correctly, you should be buying something that is meaningful-not just buying something to buy something. It isn't about how much you spend but about how much YOU that you put into it. In our household, we celebrate each other and our love through the little things. If you ask me, the best things in life are the little things. You know the in between things that really add up and make something special.

The little things are what become the BIG things.

Here are some little things that the Mister and I do that any Valentine would appreciate:

1.) Gifting each other little bits and pieces of things that are beautiful- Constantly, I am surprised with gifts of beautiful rocks that the Mister found or a beautiful flower that he found on a walk earlier that day. We see something beautiful, and we want to share it with each other.

2.) Saying how you feel- Throughout the day, we are telling each other the things that we love about each other or how we care for the other person. An example of this is the "Today, I Love You Because..." board that I posted about here last year. Alternatively, we also plainly say the things that we feel when we are frustrated with the other person. It is a wonderful gift to not make someone guess on emotions and feel like they are being played with. Say what you mean (nicely) and say how you feel (nicely).

3.) Surprises!- Nothing is better than a sweet, unexpected surprise on at an unanticipated day/time. Hate getting up in the morning? This means that your loved one isn't going to expect you to get up and make them breakfast. They will also see it as such a sweet gift that you endured on to make them happy. For Valentine's Day, a great way to do this would be to give them something the day before or to show up to their work with their afternoon coffee. Another way, I love to do this is to leave little notes around the house like "You're smoking!" on the smoke detector.

4.) Acts of Service- An act of service is the concept of doing something for another person to ease their day. Examples of this are making dinner, doing the laundry, grocery shopping, etc. Everybody likes a little bit of help to make their life easier. It means even more when you know the person HATES doing it. For example, when The Mister does the dishes, it makes me swoonsy because it means that I don't have to do it, AND I know that he hates it even more than I do. However, he was willing to do that thing for me to make me happy, and it sure works :).

5.) Doing things that make them smile- Identifying the things that make them happy and committing to gifting that person those moments: watching their favorite movie together, dressing in their favorite shirt of yours, making their favorite food, etc. It shows that you pay attention to who they are, AND you want to celebrate it with them.

What are you planning to do for your Valentine this year?
-Autumn 

____________________________________________________________________________________
 This post is done as a collaboration with Personal Capital and other bloggers around the blogosphere.
 

We got a house! Part two

Hello there all,

Alright, I am back with more photos of what the house looks like. You know, the house that I'm going to live in! Oh, I am so excited and can't stop talking about it.

During this post, we are going to do the main level of the house.


Living room

Dining room

Walkway to bathroom/main level bedrooms

Bathroom

Bedrooms

Kitchen/breakfast nook

 

So excited, too excited!
-Autumn

We got a house! Part One

Hello there all,

So, something that I have been DYING to talk about on here is that we got a house! We just got the keys on Friday, and we are in love. There is a lot of work to be done, but it already feels so us. I am over the moon with excitement and decorating/planning in my head every waking moment.

ANYWAYS, let's get onto the fun part: photos!


Outside 

Backyard views

It even came with a cute little greenhouse in the corner

Basement/Lower Level

I'll be back soon with more pictures of the main level and second floor. This is just one VERY picture heavy post already.

-Autumn

Just Some Reads 3

Hello there all,

Here are some fun things that I have enjoyed on my side of the internet lately.

Always trying to learn how to be a morning person

How to enable and encourage play in your household

This video is so beautiful: the music and visuals make me swoon.

Everyone wants to be happier. Here are some ways to get there.

Having trouble leaving work at work? Try this solution.

Because the Teenage girl in me still loves internet tests, and the adult in me cares about style and decor. Here is a great style profile test that got me pretty well.

I am a sucker for cute dog photos.

The internet has been full of Star Wars theories. This one is my favorite so far.

Interesting thoughts on sharing things on social media.

For some reason, I can't stop listening to this.

So true, too true. This video all about dealing with periods.

-Autumn



 

Collector's Collections: Old Photographs

Hello there all,

Something you may or may not know about me is that I am a collector of many different things. Awhile back, I watched this video which talks about collecting and how creatives often are collectors because they see the beauty in so many places (I highly recommend the video because it also goes onto very interesting topics). This is why I collect so many things- I see beauty in so many different places. Also, I want to fill my environment with elements of beauty and happiness.

I'm starting a little something on here where I will share bits and pieces of some collections that I have. Some of them are much smaller (like the one that I will share today) and some are much more extensive.

The collection that I am sharing today is my collection of old photographs, and I know several people may think this is weird (and you are probably right). The photographs that I collect are ones that I feel have a story behind it. The photograph has to speak to me, and I have to feel like there is something extraordinary/unusual going on in the photo. I don't want to just have portraits of random individuals. I want to surround myself with wonderful, beautiful stories of others.

This is how I am currently displaying some of them, but I am working on a better method. It is just too cluttery/chaotic.


Here are some of the stars of the collection:

Left: I just love these two sitting together. It is such an intimate sign of affection which I don't associate with the times.
Right: I love how shy these two seem together. When I saw this, I assumed that the two cared for each other and a friend made them pose together. It embarrassed them, so the photo shows their endearing shyness.

Top left: Look at how totally independent and badass this group of women seem. They look like they are about to mess someone up.
Bottom left: The lady that is getting ready to throw an apple at the photographer just slays me. I love it.
Right: These three ladies all seem so elegant and dressed up. I imagine that they are three friends that wanted a reason to wear their wedding dresses again, so they are having a little party for the three of them.

When I found these photos, they were scattered throughout a pile of photos in an antique mall. Originally, I grouped them together because I was worried that they were going to be separated (I do this all the time at stores. Put things together that should go together or would be cute together). After marinating on it for awhile, I decided to grab them for myself. I was worried that this love story would be lost, so now, I get to carry it on for them.

-Autumn

December Favorites

Hello there all,

December has came and gone all too quickly. Really though. Am I the only one that felt like December legitimately flew? The holiday season came and went so fast this year.

I am going to start a little something around here where I talk about monthly favorites. It will be a random mix of things that I have been crushing on in the last month, and there won't be any rhyme nor reason other than I like them.

Photo from this Cupcake calendar from Paper Craft.

Let's get on with the December Favorites shall we!

Pore Strips- Ya'll, I don't know what it is about them, but I am in love. I remember these coming out forever ago and thinking it was weird, but let me tell you; I am hooked. There is something about them that I just love. It is this wonderfully gross entertainment to investigate the strips after you tear them off. Santa even brought me some this year because he knows how much I have been digging them. This is what I have been using.

 Honey Lavender Tea- As every December proves to be, this December was ridic stressful, and I have been looking for anyway to destress. Awhile back, I saw Ingrid Nilsen talk about this tea over on her Youtube channel. This month, I tried it, and it is so delicious. It isn't overly fragrant or old lady-ish (as lavender can be), but it is just the right amount with a splash of the honey. It is just lovely.

Redfin- The Mister and I have been using this site/app pretty non-stop throughout the month. We were using Zillow for awhile, but Redfin has more up to date information and uses MLS listings to develop their list. Their website can be a little frustrating sometimes, but it really has been helping us in this process.

Reading out loud- Now, this might seem a little strange to ya'll, but last month, I thought that it might be nice to read a book out loud to Andrew. We have done random stories in the past, but it really became a bit of a thing this month. I think it was because we have been trying to spend less money and be at home more. It has been a perfect way to spend time together, and it is so fun to be able to talk about the story as we get into the book. We started/finished our first book last month which is another of my December favorites.

Divergent (novel)- I'm a little behind as far as this book goes because I am pretty sure that everybody has already read it. It is just a really interesting, fast paced novel with an adventurous/mysterious plot line. Also, I have a bit of a thing for dystopian books/movies: Hunger Games series, 1984, Maze Runner series, V for Vendetta, etc. So, it isn't a huge surprise that I would like something in this category. I would definitely recommend this series to someone looking for an interesting read.

New laptop- It has been such a blessing to have a laptop again and feel like I can continue doing this. Plus, there is something so wonderful about the tactile nature and clickiness of a laptop that a phone lacks. Please tell me that other people understand what I mean.

What were you loving in December? What thing are you digging that I need to dig, too?

-Autumn 

Goals for 2016

Hello there all,

Happy 2016!!!

Sparkly shoes mean NYE business

It is that time of year again where we all have the opportunity to start with a new chapter. Up until last year, I pretty hated the concept of New Years Resolutions, and I felt like the overall concept was kind of humdrum. However, I now relish in the opportunity to sit down and think about the person that I am currently: to develop an execution plan for the person that I want to be. Never have I had such positive feelings about the year before the year even starts. There is something about 2016. It just seems like it is going to be my year. There are already such wonderful things coming our way this year which I am excited to start talking about on here.

Onto the goals already....

 In case you can't read my writing:

• Being more present and put away distractions more often
• Learn to cook/bake something new
• Drink more water
• More consistent blog posts
• Develop a healthy living routine
• Write more snail mail
• Eat out less often
• Take 3 hikes
• Host a family dinner/event
• Start an Etsy shop
• Make the new place a home
• Nourish my relationships
• Complete the sewing E-Course

Now, I have read several articles that suggest keeping to a few simple resolutions, but I feel like this list is more of a collection of to-dos than a list of lifestyle changes. There are a couple of lifestyle change ones, so I feel like it still aligns to the suggestion. If not, I do what I want.

More about these goals:

• Being more present and put away distractions more often- I have become too dependent on multitasking in so many areas of my life. At the time, it seems like it will help me be more productive, but I feel like this hurts relationships and general experiences. The main proponent of this is playing on my phone and not being as active and present as I would like to be.
• Learn to cook/bake something new- It is always fun to learn something new, and I love noms. I want to be more intentional and purposeful in what I cook, so it would be fun to learn something new.
• Drink more water- Always can improve this because I am just awful!
• More consistent blog posts- I've been lame, and I love this blog. It is such a fun creative outlet for me.
• Develop a healthy living routine- I am overweight and aching constantly, and the only way to improve this is to improve my lifestyle choices in this realm.
• Write more snail mail- Who wants mail? You want it. You got it-just let me know!
• Eat out less often- This is so draining on funds and is also so unhealthy. The Mister and I have relied on this a lot because it is easier, and we also enjoy the fanfare of it. However, the rate we do it is just not practical.

• Take 3 hikes- I did not go on a single hike last Spring/Summer, and this makes my soul cry. I need this boost to get out in nature because I love it so much!
• Host a family dinner/event- My home has never been the scene of a family event, and I plan to change it this year. My home has never been ideal for entertaining large groups, but this is going to change soon (More on this on a later blog post).
• Start an Etsy shop- I love to create, and I love having money. This just seems like a natural step :). Hoping to have this up and going in the next couple of months.
• Make the new place a home- A new place is coming our way in 2016 (like I said more on this soon), and I want to make the house feel like a real home. Something that we have both really lacked since we moved out of our parent's homes.

• Nourish my relationships- Relationships are important, so I want to make the people that I love know that I love them!
• Complete the sewing E-Course- I signed up for a sewing E-Course awhile back, and I never really did anything with it. This year though, I will be a sewing machine!

Here's to fulfilling goals and being amazing!

What are your goals for 2016?

-Autumn

PS Here is what I said about goals last year.