I'm waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to catch my flight to...



HAWAII!

I. Cannot. Wait.

We'll be there until Monday.

I plan to return relaxed and sun-kissed with lots of pictures to share.

Now I really need to pack...

Aloha!


[photo by Casey Liu]


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Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Stephanie! You are *lucky #13* and the winner of the Bella Card Co. giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and thank you Alicia for sponsoring the giveaway.


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Here are a few inspirational images for your Thursday.

Don't you love the thought of swinging through the sky?


[photos by Luis Beltrán via please sir]


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I am kind of in love with this coffee table idea.

Thoughts??

[via insideinside]


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Bella Card Company + A Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday!

Today I'd like to introduce you to the lovely shop Bella Card Company. Designer Alicia Clinton offers bright and modern paper designs for everyday greetings, party invitations, personalized stationery, printable gift tags, and more.



I asked Alicia to tell me a little bit about her company:

I was always told in high school and college that you should find out whatever it is you like to do, and then find a way to make money doing it. So in February of this year, I decided to have a go with that advice and started Bella Card Company after quitting my fun-but-not-so-financially-fulfilling job at Starbucks. I can't believe how much happier I feel now that I have taken the advice I was given. The mission of BCC is to bring beauty back into the world of snail mail. I love the thought that a simple handwritten note on one of my cards can brighten the face of the recipient.

I think her designs do just that!

I would love to get one of these cheerful cards in my mailbox any day.



Alicia has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway here on Simply Designed!

To enter, visit the Bella Card shop and leave a comment on this post. Please make sure to include a way to contact you if you win!

I will pick a winner at random next Wednesday, August 25th.

The giveaway prize is any one item of the winner's choice from Alicia's shop.

Good luck!



All images courtesy of Alicia Clinton at Bella Card Company

Bella Card Company Shop | Bella Card Company Blog


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...One more quick thing I've been meaning to share here..

I signed up for this Home Ec sewing class for beginners.

I am SO EXCITED.

But also SCARED.

I have wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine forever. I got a sewing machine for Christmas years ago, and never got past threading the thing, because I got frustrated and no one around me knew enough to help.

I've somehow lost the power cord and foot pedal for that machine, so I ordered the one pictured above immediately after signing up for the class.

It's sitting on my desk, but I'm still too scared to turn it on.

The class officially started Tuesday, and my machine is in the office/guest room where my brother is currently staying, so that's my excuse for not jumping right in yet.

I love that the online class is through a private blog, and I can take the projects at my own pace.

I have a bunch of thrifted sheets for fabric that I can't wait to use.

I hope I actually manage to get over my sewing machine fears and make something resembling...something.

Are you guys pros with a sewing machine, or do you find them intimidating like I do? If you're a pro, I'd love to hear how you learned. Did you pick it up quickly or did it take lots of time and practice?


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I'm still here! I hope you didn't think I abandoned you, dear readers.

August is turning out to be so completely crazy, but I didn't want my poor blog to sit here without even one update.

Last weekend I made a super quick trip home to Houston to visit my family. I've seen them a couple times this year, but haven't actually been home since Christmas. Even at 24, I do occasionally feel homesick. So it was nice to spend a few days just being with my family, even if it did feel a bit like a zoo with all five of us [plus three dogs, and a cat who thinks she's a dog] under one roof.

I brought my [20-year-old-six-foot-three-not-so-] little brother back to Tulsa with me for the week. We get along really well. It's been fun having him here and playing tour guide even though we've mostly just been eating a lot.

Yesterday we spent the morning at the Tulsa Zoo. Despite the "extreme heat advisory" the animals were surprisingly active. I felt like a little kid. I think I said "awwww it's so cute, I want one!" about every other animal we saw. But I was serious about the sweet donkey that walked right up to us. And the baby chimp too. And the meerkats. And maybe the adorable bear napping in his jacuzzi. I took a zillion pictures. I'll keep adding them to Flickr as I go through them.

My dad is driving up on Friday and we'll spend this weekend visiting his family in Oklahoma City.

Then it will be just two short weeks until Randy and I go on our first legit vacation together. Ever.

I. Can't. Wait!

I really want time, and especially summer, to slow down just a bit.

But those two weeks can hurry up, I guess.


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