Wednesday Getaway

During the school year I delve right into my academic workload and school friends living away in a college town, and now that I'm back home in the city with a busy work schedule, I was finding that all-to-familiar school stress feeling building. And despite my love for planning and organization -- I booked a Wednesday off and asked a few old friends to do the same. Destination: unknown & unchartered 

We found ourselves back near my old family lake house (my family had two when I was growing up), I hadn't been back since we sold the property about 5 years ago, and going with my cousin we told so many stories of growing up and what great springs, summer, and fall vacations we had at our dear "big cottage". Sitting by the lake we had a picnic with freshly picked strawberries and talked about anything BUT what stresses us out. 

Is there anything like a good book and a barefoot walk by the lake to clear your head? 

We went from a walk down the road by our cottage, and our neighbor was selling this fabulous golf cart! It reminded me of something out of The Great Gatsby -- as the owners lived across from the golf course and beside the lake. It had velvet interior and was FOR SALE! Is it my birthday yet? (6 months away, but who's counting?) 

From the Desk Of

A few of my closest friends have taken to travel this summer -- San Francisco, Austria, and even Australia! Skype can be grainy, and phone calls are pricey. I've taken to the days of letter writing and it's quickly becoming a new hobby of mine. I found it so fun to find little things to fit into an envelope without paying the price of a package! Some great for small "just because" envelope:

• Perfume samples
• Magnets
• Stickers (I used book labels with C.S. Lewis quotes)
• Stationary 
• Tea, coffee, treats!
• Small containers of lotion
• Touches of home (I put in a penny)
• Flattened flowers
• Customized crosswords 
• Concert or sporting event tickets 
• I always put in a card, as well as a "gift guide" 

It's also fun to get crafty! I sent some tea packages, wrapped in twine with a little clock from Anthropologie and a note I cut out. 

What are some things you've put in care packages and letters? 

So It Begins!

For years now I've read along on some blogs quite religiously, and yet never took the plunge in writing my own. And despite having some fabulous followers on Tumblr, I never got too into it! In joining Blogger, I'm excited to find and follow more terrific blogs, and share some of the things I love!

I'm 21 and just finished third year of undergrad (time has flown by!) and I'm spending my summer working as a sales intern, and at a clothing store for fun. Growing up I spent every summer by the lake with my family, at camp, or on a vacation to somewhere equally beachy -- think Cape Cod, Nantucket, or the entire state of Florida. Probably the early inspiration for my love of all things nautical, sailing-related, and preppy. I'd describe my style as classic, country, and coastal -- and have a soft spot for bows, pearls, and turquoise. Event planning and home decor are also loves of mine and will probably be reason for a few posts. 

Things I expect to be blogging about:

• Fashion and style -- of the preppy, classic, Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers variety
• Event planning -- because life is worth celebrating, and tablescapes are art
• Home decor -- I have the mind of a housewife
• DIY and Craft projects -- Pinterest is such an addiction and inspiration
• Recipes & Baking -- blame Pinterest, yet again
• School and work life as a student finishing undergrad and entering the real world!
• What inspires me as a Christian, daughter, friend, (sometimes) girlfriend, student
• Life & everything in it!

When I was 14 I was class valedictorian of my 8th grade class, and my speech concluded with Mark Twain's quote "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do, than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." I can honestly say this quote is one I've had memorized for the last seven years, and remains my favorite -- and inspiration for my blog name!