Bringing Fun Back

You might have noticed that I stopped doing Instagram wrap-up posts. I haven't really been uploading anything over there that I haven't posted here first. The truth is that I've been very uninspired to take photos with my phone. I'm still taking photos with my "real" cameras, but my phone pretty much stays in my bag whenever we're out now, and I think I know what's behind my lack of motivation.

Instagram has changed, or rather, the way people use Instagram has changed a lot since I signed up a few years ago. It used to be about real-time sharing. People would upload photos of whatever they were doing, eating, watching, etc., and it was super cas. Everyone was like, "I'm using ALL THE FILTERS and doodling on every photo!" and it was so much fun.

Now, the majority of photos in my feed are "serious" photos. Most of them appear to have been taken with a DSLR, edited with Photoshop or similar software, and then uploaded to Instagram. There's nothing wrong with that--I do that too sometimes--but it's not as fun as it used to be. I miss the spontaneity of snapping a pic and uploading it without worrying too much about the quality. And I miss the personality that came through in people's feeds before. Now so many feeds look just alike that I legitimately can't always tell who's feed I'm looking at. It's all very pretty, though, and I appreciate that people want to put their best work out there.

I still browse Instagram daily and upload my own pics (not-so-daily) and will probably keep using it forever. But I've been looking for another app that's not so heavily curated, that still has a sense of random fun and realness, and the best one I've found so far is Snapchat. I only signed up a couple of weeks ago, but I can already tell that people have a lot of fun with it. I know Snapchat has been around for years, but when it first came out, I thought it was primarily to send photos or videos to friends...something I would've absolutely loved in high school and college, but I don't have much use for now. But recently, I realized you can create "stories" to share with everyone, and I love seeing how people are using it.

The fact that stories disappear in 24 hours (unless someone saves a screenshot) also takes some of the pressure off feeling like a photo needs to be perfectly composed, well-lit, and all the other "requirements" of Instagram these days. I think I might use it to share projects I'm working on that aren't ready for my shop or blog, or maybe do a 30-day drawing challenge and post snaps everyday? Who knows? I might just share pics of my house since I'll probably never get around to doing a proper "house tour" on the blog.

My username on Snapchat is @my_hideaway (same as Instagram and Twitter), if anyone wants to follow along. Also, tell me your username so I can add you! I'm looking for more people to follow. And if you have suggestions of any other accounts you like, please share in the comments! xo, Mary

Things I liked lately

New cups from IKEA (which I plan on only drinking smoothies and milkshakes out of - come on warmer weather!) and rose-shaped/scented soaps.

My phone case from Rifle Paper Co.. I've actually had this for a little while but don't think I've blogged about it before. It has proven itself worthy already as I've dropped my phone several times on our wooden floors since I've had it, and there's nary a scratch on it. And of course, it's very pretty too.

I'm really enjoying this book. Thank you to whoever recommended it to me--I can't remember who it was, but maybe you're reading this right now?  Anyway, thanks! It's very good.

Other things:

Buzzfeed quizzes - like this one, this one, and this one. Such a good way to pass the time when you're say, waiting at the doctor's office. If anyone's curious, I got Up!, Gryffindor, and pizza. (Thanks to Marieken for linking the Pixar one.)

Movies - We watched The Avengers this week, and I thought it was a lot of fun. To be honest, I'm not really a superhero/action movie girl, and I had pretty much zero interest in watching this movie until I found out that Joss Whedon directed it and wrote the screenplay. There's so much of Whedon in this film, and that's probably why I thought it was much funnier and better written than most movies of this genre. I'd be lying if I said I didn't zone out during the sometimes really long CGI fight scenes, but overall, it was very entertaining. And Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk is so great.

Randomness - This made me laugh. Anyone who has ever found themselves wondering at where life has taken them will appreciate it.

Anyway, happy Friday! What are you guys doing this weekend? It's supposed to finally be warmer here so I'm breaking out! I don't even care what we do, I just want to be outside with my camera. And if waffles or pancakes or french toast could be worked in there somewhere, I'll be a happy girl. :)

20 Random Questions

These internet lists are really entertaining for me because they remind me of the kind of stuff you'd do in 9th grade when you were bored in study hall. I don't know who makes up these questions...probably a teenager in some other country who's bored in study hall. ;)

Post a picture from last summer.

What have you done today?
Writing this on Sunday...so far not much. Have managed to get dressed and turn on the computer, so things are looking good. Actually, Peter was sick all night long, so that means I basically didn't get any sleep either. We were supposed to do something fun in DC today, but what can you do? I'll probably just work on stuff for the shop or read.

What is the last thing you googled?
Probably TMI, but symptoms of food poisoning. This is very helpful (and funny) should you need a reference some day.

What did you buy last?
Art supplies and coffee.

What was your best subject in school?
English and Art

What's your favorite fruit?
I think I've mentioned before that I prefer fruit in either smoothies or juices, or better yet, desserts. Mmmm, pie. So it's hard for me to pick just one, but adding strawberries to just about anything makes it taste better, so I'll say strawberries.

What's your favorite vegetable?
I like pretty much all vegetables. I guess spinach? It's easy to add to a lot of dishes, and it's super good for you.

What's your favorite cheese?
So many food questions. Again, I like pretty much all types of cheese (except the super moldy and smelly ones). So I'll pick cheddar. It's a good all-around cheese.

What's the best porridge?
Did I wake up in a Dickens' novel? No porridge.

What's the most serious crime you've ever committed?
Not being as kind or understanding as I could've been to a couple of people in the past, which is much worse than any misdemeanors I may or may not have committed. All of my mischief and unlawful activity happened well before I was 18, anyway, so I don't have to say-haha. And more importantly, I never got caught. ;)

What was your last message on Facebook?
I'm not on Facebook.

What song are you listening to?
Funny question because I found mix tapes from high school when I was at my parent's, and I'm listening to one right now; Waiting Room by Fugazi just came on. Warm fuzzies all over the place listening to this tape-lol. And yes, I still have a stereo that plays tapes.

If you could be anywhere right now where would you be?
I would go back in time and be in my grandparent's house, lying on the sofa in the family room, watching prisms dance on the wall from the crystal hanging in the window, listening to my grandmother play the piano while my grandfather tinkers in the garage.

Best conversation in a cab?
Can't say that I've had too many great conversations in cabs...usually just about the weather or news or whatever. But once a cab driver did help me out in a huge way. I was moving out of my flat in London and had called a cab to pick me up to take me to a hotel where I was supposed to stay for two days. I had three huge, heavy bags and couldn't carry them all at once. The cab never showed up. I waited for half an hour and no other cabs came by to flag down either. I didn't have a cell phone and the nearest pay phone was two blocks away. I had my stuff inside the vestibule with the door propped open, but I was afraid to leave it there and walk to the pay phone because if another tenant came out or went in, they would shut the door (and lock my stuff inside). But I didn't want to just leave it on the street either. So I asked the super nice old men who worked at the tiny produce mart right next door if they would watch my stuff (they knew me a little because I went in there every week). I dragged it over next to their fruit stand and started walking to the pay phone.

A cab pulled up right as I was about to cross the street and this super nice old guy helped me get all my stuff in and took me to the hotel. He helped me get all my stuff inside. Then, I found out that the hotel was overbooked, and I no longer had a room. Once again, I was dragging my stuff out to the street. The same cab driver pulled around again and picked me up and said "Don't worry, love. I know a little place 'round the corner." He took me to this little inn (and didn't charge me), and helped me get all of my stuff inside again. It was one of those old inns where you have to share a bathroom, and I had to drag my stuff up three flights of stairs, but it was clean and cheap and most importantly, they had a room. What followed in the days after was eventful too, but that's another story. Suffice to say, it's nice that there are good people out there when you really need them.

What's the last secret someone told you?
Ummm, well I can't really say if it's a secret, can I? But the last time Peter and I were facetiming with my niece (who's 7), she took us to her favorite hiding place in her house that no one knows. I know her parents aren't reading this blog (and her younger brothers can't read yet anyway), but still, I'm sworn to secrecy so I can't tell you. ;)

Where will you go on your next vacation?
Don't know, but I definitely want to take some road trips this year, maybe a train trip too.

What were you doing one year ago today?
Probably the same thing I'm doing now.

When did you last get jealous of someone?
I honestly can't remember; it doesn't happen often. I'm not a competitive person at all; it's just not my nature.

What's your latest obsession?
I'm not really one to burn hot and cold with the things I like. But I will say I'm happy that Downton Abbey is back on the air.

Post a picture of a place that makes you happy.

Hope everyone in the US is enjoying a three-day weekend, and everyone else, hope Monday treats you well. xo, Mary

2013

I'm not one for extensive recounting of the past year; I'm usually ready to get started with the new year already. But I did a wrap-up post last year with a few random highlights from the blog, so I thought I should continue the tradition this year as well. Here are a few snapshots from 2013:

We went to see this magically beautiful church that was like something out of a dream.

There were several days where I felt like I was living in a snow globe.

I spent many hours wandering around art museums, like this one.

I'm always making stuff for the shop, of course, but I was happy to find some free time in 2013 to make things for the people I love also, like these valentines for my nephews.

We made progress on the house: painting, making repairs, buying new furniture, and hanging art work by some of my favorite Etsy sellers like this piece.

We took many walks in gardens...next to art museums, probably my favorite places to be. I went to this rose garden for the first time this year (and have been back many times since).

I started doing "photo every hour" posts, which were a lot of fun. I should do more of those in 2014.

We woke up early on Saturday mornings to scour estate sales, vintage shops, and flea markets looking for things for the house. We weren't very successful in finding the items we needed, but I did come home with a few treasures anyway.

We did a lot of exploring around town and found some new favorite places. I can't wait to do more exploring in 2014 and maybe take a few road/train trips (with my camera in tow, of course).

I marveled at the beautiful color in our own backyard this autumn.

And last, but not least, we did a little decorating for Christmas.

Peter and I just got back from driving 12 hours south to see my parents for a few days. We are pretty wiped out, so we'll most likely be spending a quiet New Year's Eve at home and maybe making a few simple goals for 2014. I'm excited if a bit bleary-eyed though. I think this year is going to hold amazing opportunities for all of us. xo, Mary

Monday

This one is for my fellow non-morning, non-Monday people. ;)

(This is actually a gif by the way, click the link below to see Scully in all her eye-rolling glory.)

Source: I heart THE X-FILES

Outtakes

I frequently have outtakes that make me laugh when I upload photos from my camera, especially when I'm trying to take photos of myself. Here are several from when I took the photos for my dachshund brooch giveaway. Enjoy. ;)

  A lovely photo of my neck; no dachshund in sight, however.

Oh wait, I almost got his head in the frame.

Nope, not quite.

No idea what's going on here.

Yay, I'm finally in position...but totally out of focus and too dark.

Victory! And by "victory" I mean the dachshund is actually in the frame and in focus...the rest of me is a mess. Haha.

It's the little successes that make everything else ok though. :)

There's still time to enter the giveaway if you'd like. xo, Mary

Happy Friday + Random Questions

The random questions game is always fun, especially when you have photos to post but your eyes are so tired you can't possibly edit one more photo.

What's the furthest you've ever been on holiday?
The person who wrote these questions must be British. Well, I'm no geography whiz, but I guess maybe Italy? That's probably the furthest east I've been in Europe.

Have you ever been canoeing/kayaking?
Canoeing, yes, many times growing up. It's not my scene.

Can you tap dance?
I wish. I took tap dancing when I was little and loved it, but for some reason as I got older I just stuck with ballet. I can still do shuffle ball change and other really basic steps.

Are you a good writer?
I used to be a really good writer, but I don't know anymore. I'm out of practice.

Do you prefer shopping on high street or online?
Online, I guess. I actually like browsing in little shops and boutiques, but I loathe shopping malls. Actually, sometimes I hate going in boutiques too because the staff always latch onto me and try to be too helpful, i.e., won't leave me alone. I prefer to go into stores with Peter because he is a self-described people-repeller, and I'm much more likely to be able to shop in peace.

Have you ever milked a cow?
Haha. No.

What's your favorite type of fish?
I'm fish-neutral. Wait, no, I pick Nemo.

Are you a good aim with a rubber band?
Yes, actually, deadly accurate, and it has come in handy on more than one occasion. Haha.

Is there anything you wish would come back in fashion?
Yes, I wish people still wore fancy hats all the time, or at least when dressed up.


(Click on image to go to source.)

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
You probably already know the answer to this one: introvert.

Have you ever been horse riding?
Yes, when I was younger I had friends with horses. I tried riding a few times when I was 9 or 10. I didn't really like it. I do think horses are really pretty though; I just have no desire to ever ride them again.

Have you ever been in a fight?
Only with siblings. I'm a pacifist at heart but growing up in my house was often every man for himself.

What was the last thing that made you smile/happy?
Hmm, probably when I talked to my niece last. She's in first grade. She told me all about the boy she has a crush on. I asked her why she liked him, and she said, "Um, because he's really cute and weird." She went on for a while and then said, "Ok, also, I love you," and then handed the phone back to my brother.

Which foreign language did you learn at school?
French, but it's been a very long time...not sure how much I remember.

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?
No. I've ridden a vespa, but I guess scooters aren't motorcycles.

Could you go out with someone who had a child from a previous relationship?
Hard for me to imagine myself in that situation, but I guess?

Who is the most intelligent person you know?
Too hard to choose. I've known some super smart people in my time.

Have you ever flown first class?
No. But once my brother and I got bumped up to business class on a flight from New York, and that was nice. The flight attendant brought us hot towels and my brother was like whispering to me, "WTF am I supposed to do with this?" It was heavenly to have extra leg room though.

Have you ever bought a present for someone that they hated/disliked?
I don't think so. I guess most people probably wouldn't tell you if they didn't like the gift you gave them, but I have a pretty good track record of finding special or fitting gifts for family/friends. I tend to remember things that people say they like or want and then try to find that thing when the occasion warrants.

Have you ever played golf?
No, not unless you count putt-putt. I can't imagine a scenario where I would ever play. It's so expensive to play, and I couldn't be less interested.

Hope you guys have a great weekend! xo, Mary

Happy Friday

Let's play the random question game, shall we? It's Friday!

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Blue Green

What is the last photo you took?
This one, on my phone.


Summer or winter?
Neither really. Both are pretty miserable in DC.

Favorite smell?
Rosemary mint shampoo by Aveda (because it reminds me of a time in my life when I used it all the time), honeysuckle (again, sense memory-related...reminds me of childhood), chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven, clean sheets.

Do you have a special talent?
I'm really good at making wastepaper baskets, procrastinating, daydreaming, and coloring.

Would you bungee jump?
Possibly, in some future scenario where I'd lost my will to live and/or had a lobotomy.

What's the last movie you watched?
Safety Not Guaranteed. I liked it a lot.

Computer, television, or book?
This is a hard one. A few years ago, I would've said book without hesitating, but now I rely on the computer so much for my shops, and well, everything. So I guess I'd say computer.

What was the last thing you ate?
Blueberry yogurt for breakfast. And coffee.

Who do you miss the most?
Too many people. I guess my niece and nephews.

Are you named after anyone?
Yes, my great aunt.

If you were another person, would you be friends with yourself?
Sigh. Who writes these questions anyway. I guess that would depend on what type of person I was.

Would you adopt if you couldn't have kids naturally?
Assuming I wanted kids, of course.

If you had a free plane ticket, where would you go?
Probably back to London. Or maybe Copenhagen.

Who was the last person who called you?
Peter. Missed call. Wonder what he wanted.

What is the funniest thing you've seen recently?
Parks and Rec last night. It was hilarious.

Do you know all the words to The Fresh Prince theme song?
Hahaha. And yes, obviously.

What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?
I have been stuck in an elevator. And I alternated between being completely panicked and completely bored. And then panicked again.

Would you rather take the photo or be in the photo?
You already know the answer to that one.

If you could hire someone to do something for you, what would it be?
I don't know, maybe run to the post office for me or other time-consuming errands. A driver would be nice too because I'd never again have to circle the block five times looking for a parking space.

And now puppies, just because.

(Click photo to go directly to source.)

Sharing and things

The lovely Jane tagged me with the versatile blogger award. I'm terrible at following all the rules that come with accepting these sorts of internet badges, like nominating 15 other blogs or whatever. But it has been a while since I did a random facts post, and those are always fun...so here you go:

1. I'm an excellent secret keeper and confidant. I sort of learned the hard way growing up that most other people are not similarly inclined.

2. The older I get, the more I realize I will probably never be like most other people, and that's ok.

3. My dad just sent me an article (a real article cut out of a real newspaper-they still make those!) about a couple who got married after being together for 30 years, not sure if that was a not-so-subtle hint to me and Peter or not, but that leads me to this point: I am a professional at putting things off, like for a really really long time. Some people may think they know how to procrastinate, but they are amateurs. (FYI, this is partly (mostly) in jest.)

4. One of my biggest fears is that I'll put off doing the things I know I'm meant to do in this life until it's too late to do them. (not jesting at all here)

5. I was once stuck on an elevator and had to be pulled out between floors by firefighters. After that experience, I never get on an elevator without a cellphone.

6. I hate coconut in most forms. Once when I was little, I won a cake walk and got to pick a cake. I picked one shaped like a bunny because it was so cute. I couldn't wait to get home to eat it, only to find out it was coconut inside and out, which turned out to be the worst thing to my tiny taste buds ever. It was tragic. I've grown to tolerate coconut as an adult, but I still don't really like it.

7. I love to stare out windows and could do it for hours; I think I must be part cat.

Why photos of my bird mobile? I haven't taken any photos of myself that haven't already been posted here a bunch of times (unless you count phone pics), and I'd much rather look at my pretty mobile anyway.

Scenes from Life

This week's "Scenes from Life" is totally random...just funny or odd things I've come across lately.

A pair of sneakers on the sidewalk.

They had been nicely decorated with markers and sequins; it was a bit like coming across a time capsule of middle school.

Happened upon an old building that apparently was a meeting house for Boy Scout Troop 150 once upon a time.

We used to walk to this little bar to hear bands play when we lived down the street; it's tiny. I took this photo last weekend. The neighborhood's changed a lot since we moved (and becoming increasingly posh) so I'm wondering how much longer little places like this will last.

Saw this on the sidewalk in my neighborhood the last time we walked to get coffee. It's funny to me that he or she put the year, as if dating one's artwork. I wonder if this person knows it's still here all these years later.

This weird prism appeared on the wall one day; clearly, light was being reflected through something, but we couldn't figure out what. Maybe it was a ghost. ;)

Passed by this a few weeks ago, and it made me laugh. I'd never heard of them, but apparently, they are an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band from New York.

These little mosaic mushrooms and surrounding plants looked like a tiny fairy tale forest. I half-expected a pixie or gnome to wander out from behind one of them.

That's a Wrap

Bet you thought this was going to be a post about wrapping paper and packaging, didn't you? I am going to do a post on that soon, but today's post is a different sort of wrap-up.

It's the last day of NaBloPoMo! I can't believe I made it all the way through the month without missing a single day. I now have a new respect for bloggers who blog every day, especially if it isn't one's main source of income (or in my case, any source of income). It can really take over your life if you let it. But, I'm happy to say I also had a lot of fun blogging this month! I got to know some new bloggers and new readers. It also sparked a lot of creative ideas, far too many to actually make an appearance here yet.

I thought about taking a few days to get caught up on other things, but I already have a few draft posts in the works, so who knows? Maybe I'll keep it up a little longer. We'll see.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!
xo,
Mary

(Click on image to go directly to source.)

Black Friday

There are so many great sales going on right now on Etsy! I had a hard time picking just a few shops for this post.

(Clockwise from top left: Amber Alexander - 15% off; Street Bauble - 25% off; SparrowNestScript - save 15% when you spend $25 or more; and EyePoetryPhotography - save 25% off prints, 20% off iphone cases and calendars.)

I'll definitely be shopping online today to try to get as many Christmas gifts as I can. I'm still hoping to make a few things for family members, but seeing how this month has flown by, I'm not too confident that I can finish them in time. Anyway, I will be supporting my fellow Etsy sellers regardless of what I make (or don't make) myself.

Happy shopping! :)

P.S. Enter code BRILLIANT to save 15% in my shop too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope all my American friends have an awesome day of laughter, loved ones, and full bellies. Should we all go around and say what we're thankful for? ;)

I'm thankful that my parents are visiting right now, that they are healthy enough to make the trip. And even though these first few months of home ownership have been a bit more than we bargained for, I'm incredibly grateful to have a place to call home when so many others don't. I'm thankful for really great friends who offered up the keys to their house so that my parents could stay there (even though my friends are out of town). Seriously, who does that? (If you're wondering why my parents aren't staying with us, there's the problem of us still not having any furniture.) And I'm thankful that even though we might be eating random food in someone else's kitchen, it will still be Thanksgiving...it will still be spending time with loved ones and watching parades and being full of gratitude, or pie. One or the other.

xo, Mary

(Click on image to go directly to source.)

And now...

Thought some of you might need this today. I know I did. :)

(Click on image to go directly to source.)

A Place for Every Thing

Here's a peek out the back door at the new shed we had put in last week.

It's a pretty standard garden shed. I looked at some modern sheds online that I really liked actually, but they were way out of our budget. And even if they weren't, I'd have a hard time justifying spending that much money on something that essentially just holds the lawnmower and the holiday decorations. We did have a work table put inside for future diy projects, so you might be seeing more of this shed later on.

I think I'll like it better after we plant some flowers around it and do some other landscaping in the backyard. That probably won't happen until next year, though.

I've got a head start with these little wildflowers peeking through the fence. :)

In other news, the plumber came on Saturday and determined there was too much work to do that day, so he left and said he'd be back Wednesday. So we're still dealing with some issues. Also, this morning I put a big dent in the back of the new car. It's our first new car ever, and it only took me a month to mess it up. The good news is, of course, that no one was hurt and the car still runs fine. I'm just bummed because even small auto body repairs can be expensive. I'm definitely gonna have to ramp up my Etsy shop because I seem to be getting poorer by the day.

Also, this week I'll be back to posting about art and pretty things. I need a welcome distraction. ;)

Moving right along...

(Click on image to go directly to source)

Hey guys! It will be a little quiet over here while we're moving and until we get internet set up at the new place. Hopefully, it won't take as long this time as it did last year!

Also, I realized I somehow missed my two-year blog birthday earlier this month. I'm not really one for big celebrations, but I just wanted to say thank you to all of you awesome people who stop by here every day. This little corner of art and inspiration makes me happy.

See you soon! xo, Mary

Scenes from Life

These are the berry tarts I made for the 4th of July. The heart cupcake liners aren't exactly patriotic I guess, but much more me. :)

Pancakes and eggs at Luna Grill...right before they were in my belly.

I guess I've been into all things berry lately. I love these mini ice creams; they're the perfect size.

I'm trying to eat more salads lately...good for when it's too hot to stand over the stove/oven. In this one, I added avocado, hard-boiled egg, feta, spinach and other greens with a pomegranate vinaigrette.

We've had lots of rain and thunderstorms lately, as we always do in the summer. From our window, we can see planes taking off from the airport, and it always freaks me out a little to see planes ascending amid lightening bolts.  I know the pilots wouldn't take off if there were any real danger, but it looks terrifying from our vantage point.

Actually, the last two flights I took had terrible turbulence, and since then I've developed kind of a flying phobia, which I never had before. Any tips on how to calm nerves before a flight (I mean aside from taking some sort of meds)?