VACATION INSPIRATION

For this trip I realized what a nerd packer I am.  I tried to plan my outfits in advance, which is hard for me to do b/c I usually just put on whatever I feel like for that day.  But I didn't want to pack a bunch of stuff that wouldn't get worn, so I planned as best I could for what we would be doing.  You can't go wrong with bringing your favorite pieces either!  As I was laying out my outfits I thought it would be fun to share some flatlays of them.  I'm not sure how well I will stick to actually pairing these things together on the trip, so well so if this strategy works out or not.  One thing I learned is that I really do love packing!  Its fun!  It's the unpacking that I don't like! 

If you want to know where everything here came from, check out these images on my instagram.  I don't have time to list it all here, sorry. 

Luckily I can report that our car got fixed last night!  We are going to test it over the next few days before we leave to see if we feel safe enough to take it.  And Bella is doing much much better and is liking her new diabetic kitty food!  Not to worry about the babies while we are gone, our friend is staying at our house and will be looking after them!  So things are looking up! 

Most of the blog posts you will see this week are pre-posted, so I won't be able to respond until I return... But it will be super fun to come home to the comments!   

So tell me... are you a compulsive packer or a nerdy planner packer?   

LIFE THROWING US LEMONS

This week has had James and I stressed to say the least.  We are preparing to take a little trip, and a little over a week ago our car broke down.  Our one car.  So we have been borrowing James parents car, and now his friends car, that doesn't even have a working speedometer.  That right there has had James frazzled since he has to drive to work everyday.  And then on saturday, Bella got into a cat fight and was not feeling well all weekend.  Her face swelled up and she was just not herself at all.  We were already worried about her and had blood work lined up for her this week at the vet b/c she has lost some weight very quickly recently and we needed to find out why.  So first thing yesterday morning (my sweet friend came and picked us up) to get Bella checked out.  She got a shot of antibiotics for the fight, and almost immediately started feeling better.  She is not back to 100% yet, but I can tell it helped alot.  And through her blood work we found out that she is diabetic.  Luckily she wont have to take insulin, just a simple diet change.  So I am so grateful for that.  I was so scared she might have feline lymphoma or something.  Still sucks, but luckily its reversable!   

I know this probably sounds like a really complain-y post... and it could be ALOT worse, I know!  It's just had us frazzled, and it sucks b/c it our personal stress has been bleeding over into our relationship, and we are just in a funk, right before our anniversary.  I feel like I am being tested big time about my reactions towards others.  And learning that my own happiness should not be affected by the moods of people around me.  I don't know why its so hard for me.  I find myself absorbing others emotions and stresses and I just become a ball of frustration, anger and sadness.  I really need to find ways of not allowing this to happen.  I need to allow others to express themselves fully without it affecting me.  How does one do this? 

There is so much more we are stressed about right now besides just these two things... I just don't feel like going into it all here.  I know there will always be these ups and downs in life.  Always.  I'm learning to ride the wave and know that the darkness must be felt to appreciate the light.  The death must occur to bring in new life.  The Skeleton Woman is out, and she is needing untangled, once again.   

THREADS // CROCHET MINI DRESS

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outfit details: dress/tunic c/o chicwish // skirt + belt - thrifted // hat - lulu's.com // sandals - blowfish shoes

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When I first got this dress, I had every intention to play with shibori dying it, but I ended up loving it so much just like it is, I'm going to pass and do that with something else.  I may eventually, but for now I'm going to enjoy it as is.  I guess really, its not a dress.  It's really a tunic.  I think its going to be super cute over leggings and skinny jeans this fall too.  If you want to see another cute way to style it, check out my friend Katelyn wearing the same top here.   It's currently on sale and they only have 9 left in stock! 

In other news... Bella got into a cat fight yesterday and has not been feeling well since.  I'll be taking her to the vet tomorrow to get checked out.  You can just tell by looking at her she doesn't feel well.  She was going to be going to the vet anyway to get her blood drawn b/c when she went in for her groom last week I asked them to check her weight b/c she has felt lighter to me, and just different, and sure enough she had lost almost 3 pounds since just a few months ago.  We are going to get her blood tested to see if she might have diabetes or anything else.  Fingers crossed its not lymphoma or anything like that.   

I too have been feeling like my body wants to get sick this week.  Allergies have my face all achy and I can feel it creeping in.  Of course the week before we are suppose to take a little vaca, our car breaks down, my cat gets sick, and I might get sick.  Uhhh... no!  Trying to take everything one thing at a time.  This week might be a little nuts, so Ive made myself a huge list of all the things that need to get done.  James and his friend are at pick 'n' pull right now trying to locate some parts for our car.  Hopefully they find them b/c they are expensive new.   

I'm going to try to remain grateful, positive and hopeful throughout the week.  No room for stressing out.  Sometimes life just hands you obstacles and it's up to you to figure out how to make it work. *exhale* 

Spontaneous River Walk

The other night, I opened the door as the sun was going down, there was a beautiful slight chill in the air and it just felt like a moment I wanted to embrace in nature.  So I told James I wanted to go walk down by the river.  So we went.  The sun was down within 30 minutes, so it was a quick one, but it was a magic time.  As the sun goes over the horizon you can hear the bugs chorus get louder and louder, things start to feel slightly exhilarating because you can't quite see everything in all of the tall bushes.  It was a refreshing 30 minutes spent taking in the beauty and feel of the oncoming night.  Mmmmmmmmmmm....