Sara's Week

Hi, guys! So wow. I haven't posted in about a month. I'm ashamed.

I wish I had a reason to give you that would make this somewhat more acceptable, but I don't. There's life of course - work, my so-called social life, being extremely exhausted from staying up late playing Plants vs. Zombies.... You know, the usual.

I haven't had a lot of time to work on fun projects or go on fun trips. Instead, I've been trying to snap pictures and really take advantage of "iPhone-ography." I don't have a really fancy-smancy camera and I tend to leave my point and shoot at home, and since I have my iPhone with me at all times, it's pretty convenient.

I usually take pictures of the obvious - things I think are cute or funny, events and people I want to remember - but lately I've been trying to take pictures of things that are pretty normal, and make them unique and fun.

So, I apologize for going MIA and I hope to start posting more regularly again. And I'd like to start updating you guys on random things through pictures - whatever is going on at the moment, or whatever I think is worthy of sharing.

We also have an Instagram that we put more pictures on, so you guys can check that out too! And please share them with us! I definitely love looking at pictures!

Until next time (hopefully sooner than later!),

♥Sara

*All photos are my own, taken with the iPhone 4S, and were edited with the Pixlromatic+ and Beautiful Mess apps.*

Happy, Happy, Happy

Here are a few things that made me smile this week:

This probably wouldn't make most people happy! But when I know upcoming expenses are being budgeted for, I can breathe a little easier. 

Hooray for vintage sewing patterns! This simple wrap skirt design is going to help create a whole wardrobe of skirts!

When I can grab a coffee with the bestie, bad days become better and good days get even brighter. 

FINALLY! A chocolate Greek yogurt! And it's organic. And I am in love. 

 Letters in the mail bring instant happy feelings!

What made you happy this week?

❤ Courtney

All photos taken by Courtney and edited with Instagram and the Beautiful Mess app. 

I am not affiliated with the products above — they just made me smile this week! :)

DIY: Souvenir Boxes

Souvenir boxes are a wonderful way to make someone feel as if they were a part of your trip. They're also really fun to curate! Here are some ideas from the box I put together for Sara:

Sara is an intense baseball fan! So throughout the trip I picked up team schedules and postcards of stadiums (1). She says she's not into football, but I know the Packers are her favorite. ;)

Peanuts from the plane, hotel notepads, and a continental breakfast cappuccino mix (2) help document the travel aspect of my trip.

Chocolates from the cheese shop are a local treat, and so are the sugar packets! (Hey, it's pure Michigan sugar!) Pine trees abound in Wisconsin, hence the tiny pinecone (3). If you're headed to the beach, seashells would be a fun add-in.

Stop by travel centers for oodles of local info for your box! That's where I found the postcards (4) — which I wrote messages on, a cheese guide (we are in Wisconsin, after all!), and maps of the local downtown with all of my favorite shops (5).

Take out menus from favorite cafes are a fun addition, too. I wrote all over this coffee shop menu, marking the things I knew Sara and I would try if we were on a coffee run.

Packaging multiple items from one place jazzes up your box, too. This coffee shop sold earrings by a local artist. I wrapped them up with the sleeve from my latte and a frequent customer card.

Once you've accumulated your fabulous treasures, pack everything in a flat-rate box and drop it off at the post office.

You'll be amazed how many fun things you'll find to document your trip that you might have overlooked before! Happy hunting!

❤ Courtney