This week was a good one. There was productivity, there will be a day off, and there continues to be the Olympics, so everything feels right in the world. Sending you into the weekend with some things around the internets that have been of interest to me this week…and if this is something that you enjoy, then you’re in luck. You can come back every Friday when I’ll be posting a new list of exciting things for you.
I remember sitting on my bed in my parent’s home in early 2009, frantically searching the internet for a support system. My boyfriend had recently enlisted in the Army and we began talking about marriage. I didn’t know the first thing about the military or what being married to someone in the military would be like. So, as any 20 year old might do, I turned to the internet.
What I eventually stumbled on was this not-so-hidden community of supportive military spouses and their respective blogs. “Blogs? Really? People actually write publicly for others to read and absorb their personal thoughts? They publish it on the internet for all to see?” I didn’t know that people actually blogged. I had heard of it before, and honestly thought it was a bit silly…even the name, BLOG. Sounded more like the word blob to me. But the more I learned about this community, the more I wanted to join them. I would spend hours jumping around to different blogs, reading about how wives dealt with their lives as military spouses, what it was like to be married to a deployed soldier, and how to move cross-country… I was hooked.
Nothing makes me happier than finding gently loved items for my home at a great price, i.e. shopping second-hand. The hunt to find said items can however be equal parts disappointing and rewarding. I say this because there have been many-a-weekend-hunt rummaging garage sales, thrift stores, antique shops and a few good minutes scrolling through Craigslist where I have left empty-handed. This is precisely what makes the hunt fun for me though! When I do happen upon those gems, the diamonds in the rough if you will, it makes the empty-handed weekends feel less disappointing knowing that eventually my efforts will pay off.
Last weekend I scored some great second-hand finds pictured in this post: 2 matured jades, 1 cactus 1 matured aloe plant, 2 decorative straw pieces, 1 weaved fruit basket, and 2 ceramic pots for a grand total of $22! So, to piggy-back off last week’s post I wanted to chat a little bit about how I shop second-hand and give you a few tips on how you too can score second-hand gems!
In the world of Instagram and blogging, where it seems everyone’s home has gone from Pinterest DIYer circa 2011 to 2016 Bohemian Queen overnight, it can be really tough to keep your head down and remember decorating your home is a process, and not an overnight thing! Choosing the right decorations for your home can be kind of a daunting task if you don’t know what your personal style is and how to translate that personal style into timeless pieces for your home! It has taken me a few years to really define this, but through trial and error I finally have a firm grasp on what I love and what I don’t. Here are a few things that I keep in mind when shopping for home decor.
Reading: The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. I’m not usually a historical fiction fan, but this read by Jodi Picoult might be changing my tune. It’s a modern day story mixed with flashbacks to the Holocaust and it’s just about the most interesting book I’ve read all year. I’ve found myself researching Auschwitz and watching documentaries on Holocaust survivors since starting this book. I haven’t yet finished it, but I sure can see my evening productivity going downhill fast until I do. :)
Loving: Exploring Sacramento. This sounds strange, I know. But, I’ve lived in Sacramento my whole life and had never really taken time to explore my own city. However, in the last 3 months I’ve found myself in Midtown and East Sac more than I’ve ever been the entire time living here. And you know what? We have some great things in our little city. There’s a growing community of creative entrepreneurs and really interesting independent shops and restaurants that I never knew existed.
Watching: Game of Thrones..how am I just now starting this show? I felt a little bit overwhelmed by the task of starting a new show, because….all of the binge watching and losing even more said productivity from paragraph one. But I love this show. Great decision!
Planning: A trip to Cabo!! Myself, Jeff and the in-law family will be escaping the rush of life, wifi and all things related to being an adult for 7 days later this month and I can hardly wait. Swim up bars, floppy hats, a stack of good books to read, and copious amounts of guacamole are in my future and I can hardly wait.
Welcome
Welcome to the blog! You’ll find everything here from portfolio work and tips for new photographers, to personal posts related to motherhood and bits of my home! Stick around to see what’s new each week.
Email: nicolediannephoto@gmail.com
Located in Sacramento, California