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Every day is an adventure

11.27.13

Thankful.

Just wanted to take a moment and jump on the thankfulness bandwagon (it’s a great one to be on, in my opinion). Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays; I just love what it stands for, what it reminds us, and that it promotes leftover pumpkin pie for breakfast.

I’m thankful for long drives through the mountains with my favorite traveling companion.

Thankful that tough times eventually lead to better ones.

Thankful for how beautiful this world is – especially when it turns golden in the fall.

Thankful for big dreams and impossible plans and all the things that don’t make sense until you’re looking at them much later on.

Thankful for pumpkin pie – because, obviously.

Thankful that we live in Colorado. It’s stunning here and even though this state and I started off a little rocky, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Thankful that I get to spend my days doing something I’m passionate about.

Thankful for this little corner of the internet.

Most of all, thankful for a God who is loving and good and faithful to no end.

What are you thankful for this season? I’d love to hear!

(Also – today is the last day to enter the Minted giveaway! Have you entered yet??)

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JessNovember 27, 2013 - 1:17 pm

This is a beautiful post! I am thankful for the sun, and how it opens up the next day bright and early without fail.

I am thankful for this post, the deep thought and emotions it captures in all its simplicity.

And I am thankful for the internet and the funny connections that now exist that allow me to chance upon posts like these and think about our days growing into our individual selves together

Happy thanksgiving, dear! 🙂ReplyCancel
- Annabelle MintzNovember 27, 2013 - 1:37 pm
  
  Aww Jess that is so sweet, thank you! We had some pretty good times, didn’t we? Happy Thanksgiving to you too!ReplyCancel

11.25.13

Remix Packing // 10 Items + 7 Days

{ flannel / chambray / tee / sweatshirt / cardigan / dress / jeans / velvet skinnies / leopard flats / Toms }

One of the reasons I love closet remix challenges like the one I decided to do for November (30 items from my closet into 30 different outfits) is that it makes me a much more efficient packer. Knowing how to mix and match your closet to get multiple wears and uses out of everything really makes it easier to pack light. I try to avoid checking bags as much as I can, so packing light is definitely important. Husband and I ended up not traveling for Thanksgiving this year, but I decided to still do some pretend packing; I used the items from my 30×30 remix challenge to narrow it down to 10 items that I could throw in a bag and have a week’s worth of outfits ready to go! Whether I’m driving or flying, it’s still great to be able to fit everything in a weekend bag and head out the door.

So, what would I be packing if we were traveling this Thanksgiving? A key I’ve found to successful remixing is to have a good neutral palette as your foundation. I gravitate naturally to colors and patterns, but basics are a key to having a successfully remix-able suitcase (or wardrobe). Adding color + print through accessories is the way to go when you’re traveling light! So you’ll see above that I picked mostly neutrals (grey, black, jean) and then added some red and a patterned shoe! Super easy, and if I had wanted to, I probably could have stretched these 10 items into a few more outfits.

Thanks to having a few closet remixes under my belt, I really enjoy challenging myself to get the most out of what I wear + pack.

Let me know – would you like to see more traveling light/remix goodness on the blog?

P.S. You have tip Wednesday night to enter the giveaway!

11.21.13

My Favorite Things // 03

{ Minted calendar / Images by Annabelle Mintz: 1, 2, 3, 4 }

We’re back again with Minted for our final installment of my favorite things in preparation for the holiday season! (If you missed them, check out the previous posts here and here.)

To remind you of the favorite things we happen to be discussing, a few of my favorite things include: buying gifts for people (one of the best parts of Christmas by far), wrapping presents (related), and calendars (don’t even care if that makes me a nerd)! Minted calendars are great because not only do they have great design options, they’re so customizable. This week, I put together a calendar for the beach bum / coastal lover using photos from some of my past adventures – I really love how this calendar uses round photos! So, since our calendar is talking warm + sand, our DIY wrapping this week is all about the polar opposite…snowflakes! Appropriate, since here in Denver we had our first big snow today!

First step, as usual, is supply gathering. You’ll need that kraft paper again, and the white paint pen, along with a sheet of white computer paper, some scissors, and some new festive ribbon!

For the first step, we’re going to channel our inner elementary student and get to paper-snowflake-making! Cut the computer paper into a square, fold in half on the diagonal until it’s in eighths. Then cut away until you have a snowflake design that you love – remember, no two snowflakes are alike! Unfold your snowflake and then set it set aside.

Turn your attention to the kraft paper and it’s time to make a snowstorm. You could be super methodical about your dots, but I chose to be pretty random about it. Whatever floats your boat! I gave the dots two coats, let it dry and then wrapped the present.

To finish it off, use your festive ribbon to attach your snowflake to the top of the present, and voila! So pretty, right?

Also! We have a giveaway today to end the series! Minted is generously giving away one custom 2014 calendar, you pick the design! You have 4 opportunities to enter, so check out the giveaway box below – you can enter until midnight MST on November 27 (that’s next Wednesday). I’ll announce the winner after Thanksgiving. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and was sponsored by Minted; however the opinions expressed here are my own and not affected by my affiliate relationship with Minted, because that’s how I roll – my desire is to bring a high level of creative and unique content to this blog, so thank you for supporting the brands that help me make that possible.

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Rochelle VanSickelNovember 21, 2013 - 4:34 pm

I love Vintage Script Grand design!!! I think it would look amazing with some of my portfolio images for my office/ viewing room!ReplyCancel
JulieNovember 24, 2013 - 6:33 am

Bouquet Grand
thanksReplyCancel
JoannaNovember 27, 2013 - 8:21 pm

The one thing I love about Christmas is giving, and being with family!ReplyCancel
- Annabelle MintzDecember 12, 2013 - 12:13 pm
  
  Joanna, being with family this time of year just seems so special, doesn’t it? I do love that about Christmas!ReplyCancel

11.19.13

Everyday Adventure // City Park Love

I mentioned yesterday my love for Denver and it’s affinity for having parks + trails everywhere – which of course made me think back to my favorite city of all. I thought that today I would pay homage to some city parks in Chicago and share a few photos that we took back when we visited in August. I love seeing tall buildings, natural elements + green spaces at the same time. These photos are from a few different spots around the city: the Chicago Stock Exchange gate behind the Art Institute, crossing the Chicago river by Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the gardens next to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Cities have so many cool spaces to explore, which is why I love them.

Short + sweet post today! Where is your favorite city park?

11.18.13

Moments of Pretty

Fall has just been a glorious season this year, possibly even more so than usual. It’s always been my favorite, what with everything being apple- and pumpkin- flavored, the leaves being the perfect color, and the air being all crisp and perfect. We’ve been attempting to spend as much time outside as possible while this incredible weather lasts, which has warranted outings to the Denver Art Museum, bike rides to Washington Park, long runs on Cherry Creek Trail. Basically a lot of holding hands and crunching as many fallen leaves as possible.

Being in a new city has prompted some new rituals – like eating a real breakfast, reading a book with my morning tea (I’m currently into 7 Habits…and it’s crazy good), and taking a mid-afternoon break for a run or bike ride. Some soul stuff that I was missing in my life – and really isn’t at all location-dependent, but it’s funny how a change of scenery can motivate other changes too.

This season is perhaps tricking me into preemptive adoration, but I am loving Denver. It’s so nice to see tall buildings (playing so nicely, I might add, with abundant parks and trails) and to have too many dinner options to choose from. Last weekend, we rode our bikes to dinner out with friends, and the next morning, I rode my bike to brunch. That, my friends, is amazing. I biked to a tapas bar – if you know me, you know how much I have missed my Spanish food since living in Colorado, and now there’s a Spanish restaurant less than TWO MILES from my home. This is glory, folks, and I am so happy about it.

So maybe fall is pulling the wool over my eyes, it has been moment after pretty moment lately, and there is so much to be thankful for. So far so good, November!

P.S. NOVEMBER! Still getting over how it’s already the middle of November…

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