Busy bee!

So, I've been rather busy lately. Unfortunately, it hasn't been a particulary creative busy. I got done at my old job, had a wonderful week off- which I spent in Vermont, and have worked a week at my new job- which is really great so far! I worked on a few wedding projects at home, which can be seen below. The tree looking thing is an idea for entryway decorations for the white reception tent. This test is very sparse- I will be using more branches- and the lanterns will have tea lights to be lit when it starts to get dark. The hanging items are shells with pearl beads.

This flower arrangement is a centerpiece test- which will pretty much be what the actual centerpieces will be. I love them! It's white spray roses, white snapdragons, and baby's breath (the flowers were used for the engagement party my Mom had for us and then we used them to create this after). The vase is a 4" square vase covered in turquoise napkins to make it the color it will be on the big day- it's actually an orange vase. I found some 4" square vases that are actually aqua/turquoise and I will be ordering those.

Today I went to an invitation workshop at Paper Source. It was a treat from Mom and it was excellent! Some of it was simple for me, but it was still a really excellent experience. I learned some new stuff and got to bring home some great invite examples. Below are some of the invite examples we created.

This first one is just an example of the use of rubber stamps.

This is just a square folded card with layers. I like it because it has a diagonal pocket inside (seen below), for RSVP cards, etc.

Inside- diagonal pocket.This is a pocket style envelope. The invite is tucked inside and has a bookmark style ribbon for pulling the invite out. This also utilizes a pretty paper wrapped around the center of the envelope.

So, although I haven't been doing very well in the creative department, I think once I get into a swing with my new job and new job hours, I'll find more time to work on some projects- trust me, there is a list for the wedding that I am excited about working on! I've got plenty of ideas, I just need to get into the stage of executing those ideas as projects and finally, finished products.

Mushy, homesick day.

I don't know why, but I'm feeling very mushy and homesick and am majorly missing my friends and family today. I think a big part of it has to do with seeing all the fun my best friend is having in France, where she is studying for a semester. She posts pictures and she looks like she's having such a great time. She is sharing this awesome experience with all these new people, and it makes me sad that I can't be a part of it... or maybe I just wish that I could have such an experience. I would love to be able to travel and study new things, but I am stuck with working, in a state I don't really like living in, with bills and responsibilities. This morning I saw kids walking to school and I was like, I want to be in school again. I have this strange love of learning, I guess- I just love books, and taking notes, and expanding my knowledge. Maybe it's time to check out some online courses again... although I really don't think I can afford to take more classes right now. Why does education have to be so stinkin' expensive?!? Aw well, I will figure something out- even if it is just picking a topic and going to the library to get books about it. I've always had a desire to "self-educate" and I just never seem to get into it. Maybe this would be a good time- it's free that way, and I can learn about whatever I want. I wont be in a beautiful European country, but I can find new and beautiful places where I am. In the meantime, I can still miss home and I can plan up awesome vacations to take in the future when I've settled more and can spend that time and money making those experiences. Good, I'm glad I've had this talk with myself. :)

It's been two weeks since I last posted. I think that I have been lacking an inspirational drive lately, but I'm slowly getting it back. After the weekend at home and the engagement, I kind of lost track of what I was working towards, but I've done well to pull back together these past few days. Many personal goals remain and another goal has been added: to plan a beautiful and memorable wedding and reception- without making myself nuts with stress. That is a big goal because I easily get stressed with such important things, but I am trying really hard to be more lighthearted and easygoing about life- after all, I shouldn't be grumpy about such a beautiful event as a wedding!

So, an important subgoal of the wedding goal has been to find a dress. Last weekend, I'm pretty sure I found it- THE dress! Mom saw it online and thought that it would be the one, and I had seen it online before and liked it a lot, so I made an appointment to try it on. I was alone for the appointment, but as soon as I left the salon I called Mom to tell her I thought I had found my dress! I loved it! It had everything I was looking for and even though I have a few more to try this weekend, I'm pretty sure this one will be the one I return to. I'm not going to share pictures because I'm trying to keep the number of people who see it limited- after all, it is that moment when I walk down the aisle and everyone sees it for the first time that is so special!

Finally, for now, I was reading "The Best Year of Your Life" last night. I read the section on "living your life as an example." It hit home for me, especially because I've been grumpy the past few days, and made me think about living my life in a different way. It said you should find someone to live as an example for, and although there are people I would like to set a good example for, I think I would rather live by someone else's example at this point and hope that it turns into an example for others. That person is my aunt, Dolly. She passed away in May, but she set a great life example for me and for many others. She lived her life with kindness towards EVERYONE, with a purpose of serving and helping others, and she inspired many people- including me. I just hope that from this point on I can remember that Dolly didn't waste life being grumpy and taking for granted the blessings of the world, she changed the world with her kindness and ability to live life to the fullest.

Some artsy, pretty pictures I've taken while at the beach... a most inspiring- and photogenic- place to be. :)

Love by sunlight...

Footprints in the sand...

Sunny petals...

Sandy abode...

"Most beautiful umbrella I've ever seen"

Boardwalk shadows...

At the beach again.

Casey and I are in Myrtle Beach this week and it is lovely! The ocean is a completely different creature here than it is in Virginia Beach, but it's an exciting adventure trying to conquer the powerful waves, which come one right after the other! In addition to enjoying being engaged, we have also celebrated that I got my new job- the one I discussed awhile back- at the police department. I am excited to work in a job so close to the job I truly want to do, which is investigation, but I'm also nervous about having to write my first letter of resignation. I think those where I currently work will be disappointed, but I can't think too much about that- I need to do this for myself, and there is nothing wrong with that. Anyways, here are a few pics from our trip so far and I'm off to the sun and sand! :)