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You can either sit and mope about it, or you can do something about it. I'm pretty sure once in a while I heard those words from my parents while growing up. No matter how much they annoyed me as a teenager, they still swim around in my head as a reminder today as an adult.

Doing something about it has never been an easy thing for me. It usually involves doing something I don't like, reaching out to people that I don't know, or testing out something totally new and outside of my comfort zone. Recently, I've been trying to change my attitude about things and do more of the "do something about it" type things. I started with small risks, ones that I was beginning to be more comfortable with, and soon I became completely comfortable with them. They were no longer outside my comfort zone.

For me, taking risks always seemed just that-- risky. And risky directly translated into stupid. However, in the past month, I am realizing that not all risks are stupid. It may feel risky to me because it is outside of my comfort zone, but the reality of it all is that by taking the risk, I'm doing something to better myself.


Even though the risks are scary for me, I'm challenging myself by taking them. As I take more risks, I'm noticing that I'm able to make myself and my business better. I find that new doors are opening for new opportunities that I never would have expected. And most of all, I'm happier. I no longer feel like that mopy teenager, but rather I feel excited and filled with a positive outlook on what is to come in the next year or year after that or even five years from now. As I told Andrew last night, "I'm doing my own thing!" And truly doing my own thing has never felt more exciting!

Are you doing something exciting in your life these days? Taking any big risks?

And on that note, Happy Friday to you all! :)

Last week, I introduced a new line of notebooks to my shop. I also had been talking about a new line of cards that I had been working on. I've had a lot of ideas in this little head of mine long before the school year ended and it's pretty awesome to finally see these ideas turn into the physical thing.

Lately we've been seeing a lot of throwbacks to my childhood and neon is one of those things. At first, I was hesitant to go back to what I'd already lived through. Then, the mistake happened. I ordered a pink tee online that I thought was just pink. It even looked pink on the website. But when it arrived in was neon pink. At first, I freaked out. Then I just decided to roll with it and finally embrace my second grade self again. With embracing that second grade self, I was inspired by this new neon line.
Bold black printed on beautifully thick white card stock complimented by neon envelopes of purple, pink, and green. These cards are bold and sassy in both color and wording. They're just fun! And I think that fully embraces that second grade me.

What do you think of the new neon line? Are you embracing the throwback to neon like I am?

This weekend, friends of ours invited us to the Maryland winery DeJon Vineyards for wine tasting. After having gone to school in Central New York, we were familiar with the fact that there are vineyards abound there. However, we had no clue that so many vineyards and wineries existed in Maryland. DeJon Vineyard was a smaller vineyard that has been producing wine for about five years. While only a thirty minute drive from the city, it offered a rustic countryside reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the every day life. Places like these sometimes make Andrew and I think about moving to the country, but only for the moment while we get a chance to recharge our energy.



This was my first time going to a vineyard for wine tasting and being the wine lover than I am, I think it'll have to happen again the future. Have you ever gone wine tasting?

Happy Monday my friends! And I say "happy Monday!" in all seriousness, not just as a formality! This weekend was ridiculously relaxing, which is a great thing, but by Sunday evening I was itching to get back to work. I actually wanted Monday to arrive. I'm not even sure when the last time I felt that way about a job happens to be. In fact, I may have never felt this way about Monday in my entire life.

I'm just a few days over a month into this new adventure of self-employment and so far it doesn't feel like work. However, the amount of work that I have accomplished in this past month amazes me. I've added a ton of new cards to the shop. I launched a new line of notebooks last week. I've been working on a new line of cards that will hopefully be ready this week. I have had new blog posts for you almost every day (that in itself is almost a miracle considering how hard it was for me to keep up while teaching). And, while I've been doing all of that, I was also whittling away at a new blog design.

Take a look at what the blog used to be.

Today I'm starting the week fresh by launching the new blog. However, I cannot promise you that all of the elements will stay. I've spent about three weeks going back and forth about what I wanted each of the elements to look like and I'm not entirely set on the header still. I am happy with it for the most part though. To be honest, I feel as though this design is lot more simple in style and reflects who I am much more than the old design. The color, aqua, is my favorite color and I tend to be a fairly simple girl, so the aqua and black just works for me.

What do you think about the new blog design? Do you like the new header? I'm not sure if that should stay or go.

I took last Friday off from blogging with the holiday weekend in mind, but I've collected quite a few things that I've been wanting to share with you all. After a busy week, rounding up a few of my favorites seems like a good way to wind down.

This recycled mail notebook is pretty fantastic. Not only is it completely made with recycled mail, but it also gets shipped to you as if it is the package! I want someone to send me one of these! Seriously!

via badbooks

I really like everything about this iPhone case.

via afterimages

 Sticking with the triangle trend, I just may have to buy these fun little earrings.

via TheiaDesigns

It'd be nice if this screen printed shirt found its way into my closet.

via Depeapa

I've been on the lookout for new pillows recently and this one really popped out at me.

via Geometric Electric

And of course, I will also leave you with some good links. Some of them are from last week, but I had to save them to share!

This blog post about caring for the introvert in your life is pretty much spot on!

Sometimes the overly happy posts with pictures of wildflowers and beaches just start to get old. This is a good reminder to just do whatever you want to do.

As we all know, the average woman does not look like Barbie, but if we made a "Normal" Barbie using that average, she would actually be really beautiful.

And for the Sharpie addict in all of us, I am slightly obsessed with these pens. The colors are pretty much awesome and they write fabulously.


Anyone have any super plans for the weekend? I'm going to go drink wine. Well, not right now this very second, but there will be wine involved.