Funny, Costly, and Real Life Updates

The expansion is 99% done by the time you read this (but the rest of our house that we’ve been living in is still in disarray as I’ve decided to paint our kitchen, hallway and living room white). I tell you it’s a “If you give a Mouse a Cookie” syndrome! Soon I will have a post to spill my guts on what we’ve learned during an expansion process if you or you have friends who are thinking about it, just so you can prepare mentally and financially for it. Is it possible to feel like your character is being refined through a home expansion? I think so, haha!

I wanted to share a few things that are happening around here, and in my life. I have a list of things I need to do, window tabs open but I just need to stop, reflect and connect with you and also slow down.

I’d also like your feedback on some of these things, because I think I’ve gone a little mad. We’ll start with the biggest news.

I “stole” Benjamin’s AmEx (again) to buy John Mayer pre-sale tickets

I did this last year…I saved his CC# because I knew I’d need it for life emergencies, such as this. I know that you know by now my insane obsession love I have for JM, and to beat last year’s 5th row seats (here) after already seeing him in Vegas on the same tour (here). I have come along way after seeing him 5 times already (this is when I blogged about seeing him for the second time). This year, I am sitting –

I received an email from my dream brand

I will say it later if it all works out (because sometimes you never know). After I got this email, I sat back in my office chair and took it in. They know who I am. I felt so many emotions. I leaned back, sat in silence and allowed myself to be overcome with all the feels. So many mixed emotions of happiness, gratefulness, hope, and encouragement.  I would love to tell you it’s always blissful when you get good news, but do you ever hear those little voices in the back of mean discouraging things that have been said to you that make you want to be like, “Well look at this news!” I have to admit that it happens to me more often than not. It’s like these flashbacks, whether recent or a lifetime ago just come in and it also reminds me the power of words. You cannot take words back so we should be careful with them. They can tear down people or lift them up and so we should all be careful. Anyway, enough of that because I went back to focus on the positivity and how happy I am to be surrounded by the friends and family who are in my life today supporting what I do, including you.

I believe if you just do what you love, things will happen, doors will open that you didn’t know were even possible. I’m thankful to you for reading, my family and friends for their encouragement, and a husband who really lets me do whatever I want. Including buying John Mayer, fourth row seats.

I am seeing Tiffany Jenkins LIVE of Juggling The Jenkins.

Tiffany is one of my favorite people on Facebook and brightens my days with her videos. She is so real, funny and I like her story about overcoming addiction, a crazy past and now she’s making great choices and has a very compassionate, empathetic and also real fun creative personality in her videos. I just want to be her friend so I’m excited to support her. See her latest video here (there’s an underlying theme of what Facebook comments look like in real life).

We are going to wallpaper another closet

This project however, is lead by Benjamin. I mean, we know I would have come to wallpapering the closet eventually but he took the lead on this one (which is a bonus because the he recommends it somehow cost isn’t as important, hmmm). We have a nice sized closet in the expansion that has double doors and will be a guest closet as well house overflow of entertaining supplies. He said, “We need to wallpaper the back of this closet,” and I think I just did a heel click in the air! We are using this lemon shelf-liner I found at the 99 Cents Only Store and going with a green and white stripe by my favorite temporary wallpaper brand, Livettes. You have seen her work on the back of my closet which has been featured on Apartment Therapy and HGTV magazine (here) and also my office closet (here).

You don’t realize how much clutter and photos you have until you are forced to take it down.

We had to remove the knick knacks and the wall artwork and as I piled them it occurred to me how much of it I have. I find those touches cozy, usually souvenirs from trips, maps, antique stores, those sort of things. Since we are painting the hallway, kitchen and living room Alabaster white via Sherwin-Williams, this might change a bit of our home decor. I’m excited to see the new space and redecorate.

My story for my alma mater is published on the official alumni site!

Last but definitely not least, I have to mention how thrilled I am that I was able to work with my alma mater to cover homecoming. I love my school so much, the years spent there were some of the best of my entire life and I’m thankful for the opportunities my college gave me during those years to grow into the person I am today.

So here I am, bottom right of the arizonaalumni.com site. Direct link to a story that’s featuring my photos and coverage here.

This was the highlight of last year’s collaborations. Thankful for the UAAA and the staff who were welcoming, supportive and gave me the unique opportunity to experience college life all over again.

Again, another thing that just happened. I don’t have a five year plan. I have a short term mentality, do what makes you happy, every day. Build up your dreams now and your future self will thank you and be glad you had the resilience, dedication and passion to just keep going. Who knows what your interests can bring you one day if you put in the time now? I was interviewed for the Bear Down Network with my alumni association about my career and what I’ve learned so when that’s up I’ll share that with you.

I just think there’s no time wasted having a hobby or side hustle that might be your full-time (if you want, I do not think entrepreneurship is for everyone).

I hope you had a great weekend and have a wonderful start to your week. This week (hopefully) we have plans to move in the furniture that’s been waiting in my photo studio and start to invite friends over and enjoy making some memories together. ♡