Best Christmas Present

car, plane, taxi, confidant footsteps, peaceful chaos, pizza, familiar thrifts, catching up with clowns, COFFEE, Potter. Staying up late, getting up early, soothing subway rides, walking, walking, walking, window shopping, satisfied cravings, stunning cozy apartments, glowing lights, friendly strangers, worthy lines, freezing time, cupcakes, missed stops, beautiful friends, meaningful memories, shopping shopping, margaritas, wacky games, fits of laughter, central park, goat cheese, fuzzy pillows, icy encounters, steak and eggs, steamed almond milk, video games, pizza, taxi, plane, home to husband, bliss bliss bliss

Speaking of Spontaneity

Sometimes you just need to quit talking about it and actually buy a plane ticket already! Chris and I figured out the PERFECT Christmas gifts for each other. We have everything we really need and want together in Ohio, so we are getting each other trips to see our friends! I've mentioned before how bummed we've been to be away from the people who know us best and we figure it is just ridiculous for us not to do anything about it.

We dated long distance for five years. We looked forward to being under the same roof for so long, now that we’ve got our wish we do our best not to take it for granted. There is nothing I love more than spending time with my husband. Though we love our time together, we both appreciate our time apart. It may seem funny, but spending time apart now is exciting because it reminds us of the fun we had while dating. We know that the time we spend apart only brings us closer together. Phone calls, texts, and of course a reunion at the end! Nothing is better than coming home to the person you love. I am super excited about taking advantage of my Christmas gift this week and super excited about coming home too!

Treasure Find Tuesday

I came across a stack of what I thought was plain writing paper while thrifting with one of my dear friends in San Diego, CA. I was sold with the twenty five cent price tag when I thought the pages were blank. Once I unbound the pages I discovered that quite a few in the pile had decorative borders and images. I LOVE letter writing. Wouldn't you love to have one of these designs pop up in your mailbox?

Treasure Find Tuesday

I never even THINK about intimates such as underpants and most night time garments when I am thrifting. Those are usually items you keep to yourself ya know! I used to think of swimsuits as an "intimate" item, but the week before our trip to California I was wading through the dresses at Goodwill and turned around and saw this top. I am always attracted to red, white, and blue. I don't know if it is because I am an air force wife or the fact that the combo is simply classic ... could be both. This bathing suit top was $3.00 and most importantly I didn't have to go through trying on all the bathing suits from our honeymoon to see if they still fit. Can't beat that! Fortunately, I already had navy bathing suit bottoms (Target) so that (and the fact that I machine washed it before wearing) eliminates any ick factor. The suit was perfect for soaking up the California sun!

San Diego, California

Seaside

This past Friday Chris and I drove up highway 1 in California. We had stayed the night before at Vandenberg Air Force Base and were on our way north to visit friends and family. We stopped by the Commissary before heading out to prepare a picnic. Ham, Cheese, Sourdough, watermelon, hummus, and pita chips, oh and the pacific ocean made a perfect guest appearance. So Beautiful.

We were in our travel clothes so our wedding rings snuggled up for a photo

Yes!

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, California

I LOVE skeeball. If I had a gameroom and lots of money I would have a skeeball machine over pinball. For sure.

Treasure Find Tuesday

This weeks find comes from here:

Los Angeles, CA

I mapped a route of local thrift shops and somehow ended up in little Ethiopia to find these:

only one is pictured because the rest are nicely wrapped ready to go home, but I found five and scored the lot for $5. The shop where I found them was interesting. It advertised that EVERYTHING was 50% off, but nothing had a price tag! Their policy is to make up prices on the spot when you ask. Needless to say I tried my best to hide my enthusiasm when I asked the price of these beauties.

Love the crackle and color ... these actually remind me of this treasure find. On the bus ride back to the hotel I actually had a lovely conversation with a woman carrying a Goodwill bag. She had been thrifting all day too, but unfortunately did not find the kitchen table she was looking for.

Booking It

I just booked my flights for California! Sunshine here I come! Chris is going to be taking a week long course at UCLA later in March and I'm tagging along. He is even taking a few days off afterwards so we can travel a bit ... and I'm staying a few days extra since I can use as much vitamin D and friend time as I can get! AH I can see it now:

Los Angeles (betcha didn't know that's where my title pic is from)

San Jose

San Fransico

San Diego

*photos are from my previous CA adventures

Treasure Find Tuesday

This dress was another amazing NYC find. I picked it up over a year ago for $20 at the Goodwill in on 25th street in Chelsea. Though I normally consider twenty dollars a hefty price for a second hand item this baby was spotless, just my size, AND still had the Anthropologie tag on it. JACKPOT.

on our honeymoon in Antigua

This particular Goodwill has never disappointed me. When I was in NYC this past September I met up with this striped DKNY jacket. (I love it so much. When got to Texas and I realized that I had lost it at the airport I had a fit. I was leaving for Ohio from a different airport the next morning. After I left, my parents called lost and found then they drove back an hour each way to pick it up from the first airport and mailed it to me in Ohio. They are amazing.)

Hot pink J.Crew top

and X-Large J.Crew argyle sweater

I pretty much live in this oversized beauty when I am around the house.

Risky Business

I am currently working on a new project. One that is going to take me many places ... and I am not exactly sure where I am going to end up once it is over. Anyway I am making a bold move and therefore wont be able to post on this blog very often for a month or so. If you are interested in what I am up to please read and comment freely on my blog at

what-inspires-action.blogspot.com

The Stars at Night Are Big and Bright ...

Deep in the heart of Texas! Over Chris' spring break we decided to head to the country for a few days of rest, relaxation, and Bluebonnets! I was so excited the whole drive up about getting our picture taken in a blanket of bluebonnets. I've been doing it ever since I was a kid. However, when we pulled into Hondera (dads acres of land between Hondo and Bandera Texas) it was difficult to find any. Where have all my bluebonnets gone? As with most things I guess I am impatient and more bluebonnets will bloom as time goes by. While sitting on the swing we finally saw ONE. Yes, one lonely lovely bluebonnet. Hopefully it will soon be joined by many friends.



Bluebonnets bloom March through May and are the Texas state flower.

Can you spot the Bluebonnet?

Don't Forget to Look Up

When visiting Cape Cod with my beautiful friends Ashleigh and Marissa last semester, we wandered into a thrift/antique/vintage shop. Of course (as most antique shops) it was full of fascinating treasures, but I didn't find what I was looking for until I looked up.

Hanging from the ceiling were beautiful little jackets, petticoats, hats etc. It didn't take me long to realize I had to pay more attention to what was above and get a sales lady to snatch an early 1900s number for me. It JUST fit and I managed to work in a discount =)

I plan to use it in the wedding in some way, so I can't post a full picture yet. Ah anticipation!

While on the cape we also found skiball! Amazing, Amazing. Amazing.



It was a lovely trip with lovely ladies. I am so glad that I will be able to relive the fun we had at the cape on my wedding day via a vintage treasure.



We need to make another trip! Yes?