Week Notes / 8

wildflowers on our morning walk

Big news over here for the Swopes. I've officially left my job running the backroom at a big box retailer for a wonderful opportunity in an office. My old job was such a valuable experience for me. Personally I grew in so many ways and I am very thankful for the lessons I learned in the last two years. Of course I will absolutely miss some of the people on my team and that makes this transition bittersweet. However I will not miss the long crazy hours (think 3am shifts, overnights, and 15 hour days) or intense stress levels. Joey and I are looking forward to my new schedule and getting back to our old date night and morning routines. He is such a trooper for supporting me and putting up with my crazy job!

Inspired By- Podcasts, My last two weeks at work just happened to be overnights. Which happen to be my least favorite thing. I like being up early. But staying up late is a real struggle. Overnights are my own personal hell. Usually I put head phones in and jam out to my favorite girl anthems all night. But  a coworker recommended podcasts as a better way to pass the time. And i'm hooked! I don't have any favorites yet and I would love some recommendations! Whose podcast is your favorite?

The Best- Morning cuddles with my husband and dogs. I love waking up to my sweet little family and sleepy eyes. Plus breakfast food. I had forgotten how much I love breakfast!

The Worst- Overnights. Just no. The only thing getting me through is the reminder that I will never under any circumstances be doing this again.

Listening To- Drag / Day Wave, I actually heard this song on a friends snapchat. We've been having lots of stormy days and this vibe is perfect with open windows and rain.

Verse- Philippians 4:6 / Don't worry about anything. Instead pray about everything.

Links-
Overcoming a shopping addiction
Too bad I saw this pin AFTER I got back from vacation
Indoor outdoor kitchen.
What is a minimal wardrobe?
For my fellow Star Wars junkies.
26 things to do for you.
Clean house without trying? GOALS

xo Sam

Week Notes / 7

This week I made Christmas cookies. And Joey and I really are trying to build traditions and enjoy the season this year. So far we've had a lot of fun watching Christmas specials and opening the next card in our advent calendar. We put our Christmas tree up this week too. And it didn't necessarily go as planned. It was bitterly cold and I felt like complete garbage. Joey ended up picking a tree up on his way home from snowboarding and putting it up while I made us soup. He's a keeper guys. For real. I love Christmas and I just cannot get enough of it. Now i'm just praying for snow because I really want a white Christmas this year. 

Somehow in our crazy busy week, (finals and retail during the holidays, we're both beyond busy) Joey found the time to take me out on a date to a cute Thai place downtown. Thai tea is my favorite even though it was literally 15 degrees outside. After we went and got a bag full of saltwater taffy from the candy store. I really love our little town sometimes. 

Links
Dark red nail polish is my favorite for the holidays.
I do love a good whiskey drink.
Also avocado toast is making it's way into my breakfast routine.
This Christmas cookie recipe is absolutely perfect. I'm making them for my team at work today.

xo Sam

Week Notes / 6

So how was your week? Crazy? Ours too. As one of the busiest weeks in retail, work was insane. But we made the best of it and had a pretty awesome week. Sunday we had our first day snowboarding this season. I was a bit rusty but we had so much fun I can't wait to go again this weekend. I love the views from the top. And Tuesday I whipped up a Thanksgiving feast for the two of us. Today we are both off and excited to spend the day with loved ones. I sincerely hope that you are able to do the same! Have a wonderful weekend!

Links 
I'll be using some of these ideas to go through our Thanksgiving leftovers.
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, I'm getting very excited to pick out a tree this weekend. Hopefully Joey and I can take a picture like this!
And Christmas cookies are coming!
Italian Coffee is perfect for this time of year.
I made these mini pies for Thanksgiving and I have a new obsession.
I need to make a Pinecone wreath for Christmas.
I whipped up this little activity advent calendar for Joey and I for Christmas and I cannot wait to get it started.

xo  Sam

Week Notes / 5

beanie, scarf, jeans, thermal, vans

Last week we came home from vacation to some pretty tough news. My dear Grandfather has been battling a terminal brain cancer and he took an extreme turn for the worst. The grieving process is in full swing around here and my heart just hurts. The whole week was mostly spent in quiet reflection. Life is just so short and fragile. I feel so grateful for all that I am blessed with. But I have been taking so much for granted, and i'm trying to focus on pushing my boundaries and enjoying the little things. Thursday morning we drove up the mountain to pick up our snowboard passes. There was so much snow! I cannot wait to start snow boarding and just get out on the mountain. It is so beyond beautiful and peaceful. Anyway have an awesome weekend!

Links
The Bougs Company has me smitten over their marshmallow flower bouquet.
This Onzie sports bra is number one on my wishlist.
Winter means more tea and this little infuser is so smart!
The Finding Dory trailer made me seriously excited to see the movie, is it June yet?
This song by Copeland fit my mood this week. New favorite for sure.
Bluebird has always been a favorite of mine, her one rule is so inspiring.

xo Sam

Week Notes / 4

Flagstaff is especially beautiful right now. The fall colors are everywhere and the peaks are already covered in snow every morning. I had a pretty rad week. Halloween weekend was well spent with a great group of friends and then Joey and I had a very busy week preparing for our vacation to San Clemente and Disneyland this weekend! We haven't been able to get away together in a very long time. And both Disney and SC hold very special places in our hearts. I cannot wait to spend the next few days in the happiest place on earth with a few of my favorite people. Be prepared for a complete overload of pictures!

Links
A Beautiful Mess recently took a trip to Iceland, their pictures made me add Iceland to my bucket list.
Guys adult coloring books are a thing, I added this one to my Christmas list!
45 Life lessons written by a 90 year old.
I'm still swooning over this Festival fanny.
A mash up of Disney songs to get me in the Disneyland spirit!
Also a full break down of all the Disney princess's. Because I Cant Wait For Disneyland
I'm obsessed with this haircut.
Christmas is coming!!

Have a great weekend!

xo Sam

Week Notes / 3

This week was rough. Like a daily struggle. I got hit hard with a killer horrible migraine on Monday. Spent my entire Tuesday hiding from light and sound. And then Wednesday it got better to a manageable level. Migraines are the worst guys. I would not wish them on my worst enemy.  But a week in bed did mean I got some serious pinning in and some much needed mini and me cuddle time. Dogs are the best when you don't feel well. I don't know what I would do without my littles.

Links
I love this quote by Hafiz, definitely need to make it a part of my mentality.
Saguaro cacti are such a striking part of Arizona and this picture captured their beauty perfectly. 
I'm getting excited and inspired to gift and these wrapping ideas are perfection 1/2
I need to pack this outfit when I go to CA in November
This one too

xo Sam

Week Notes / 2

What a week guys. Seriously one for the books. I spent the first part of my week in CA. One of my best friends is having a baby and I helped throw a seriously rad shower for her, then I drove down to San Clemente to have some beach time with my other best friend. She took us to this amazing little cove in Laguna and I never wanted to leave. But after some much needed bestie time I went back to reality and got hit hard by a super gross flu. I'm very grateful that it didn't start until after I got home. My husband is the best and took very good care of me. I'm pretty blessed to have that guy around. In sickness and in health is no joke. Particularly when you get home from being gone for 5 days and immediately get sick. He was such a trooper. Also Mini and Fletch are the best when we're sick, my house turned into a big cuddle party.

Links 

French Press Mornings killed it with this beautifully done verse.

Every year I print out a calendar to put on my fridge, I can't decide between these for 2015. 1/2  

This makes me want to go get a black bandana. Like right now.

Black on black is my favorite.

This watercolor map is beautifying my macbook.

I may have to dye my hair like this soon. 

Making soup and baking are my favorite this time of year, and I think these cookies are up next. 

Stumbled upon a beautiful pic of San Clemente on pinterest and got seriously homesick.

Have an awesome weekend!

xo Sam 

Week Notes / 1

  Let's be real for a second.  The struggle to have others approve of you is intense.  I always imagined that insecurity was one of those teenaged girl things that we grow out of. But unfortunately it's not.  Insecurity is a normal human thing that i'm sure we all face in different degrees. And let me tell you the idea of starting a blog brought mine out big time. 

  Blogs have been a part of my everyday life for years, I used to check my favorite blogs before getting ready for high school every morning. I found them to be completely inspiring and loved reading real people's take on everyday life. I loved cupcakes and cashmere's outfit posts and I was obsessed with A Beautiful Mess' constant dose of creativity.  I still read those blogs every single day.  The honesty and creativity that bloggers show is so amazing to me. Starting a blog has been a goal of mine since I was 17 but I was so afraid to put myself out there just to be misunderstood. My goal is to have an outlet for my ideas and hopefully to interact and connect with other creatives. I don't necessarily mind the idea of strangers not responding well to my posts. My biggest fear was actually having people I know in real life criticize my page. 

  Recently one of my besties asked me why I didn't blog. We were walking around a farmers market talking about something I had pinned and the projects I had been working on for my new apartment. And out of the blue Why don't you have a blog Sam? Sharing with her all of my blog related insecurities made me see them in a new way.  After that I decided to try.  To just put myself and my life out there and not necessarily care about the outcome. As long as I love it, that's all that really matters.  

xo Sam