Personal

05.30.13

ADVICE FOR NEWLYWEDS

We were recently asked to share any advice we had for newlyweds. So Nate & I sat down, and we talked, and I did what I do best–I started a list. ;)

And while what we came up with is pretty simple, I thought it might be worth sharing here. So here goes…

AMANDA & NATE’S ADVICE FOR THE NEWLY MARRIED

#1: BE PRESENT

Take time to be present together. As a couple that works from home together, this is especially important for us to remember. We can’t just say we’re going to have a date night and then proceed to sit on the couch working from our laptops as a movie plays…we need to completely set things aside (work! cell phones!) and be totally present with one another.

#2: ASK QUESTIONS

I think it’s good to frequently ask each other how you are doing. It’s a simple question, but sometimes when you ask you find out that you had no clue your partner was even feeling a certain way. Openly communicating our thoughts and feelings puts us in positions to be helpful and encouraging to one another…but sometimes you have to ask first to get to communicating.

#3: SNUGGLE

As cheesy as it sounds, make time to snuggle. 5 minutes of daily snuggling should be mandatory! ;)

#4: DON’T LET THE SILLY STOP

Don’t stop being silly with one another…ever. Laughter is so important. We joke that 95% of our marriage is us inventing song lyrics and dancing badly…and that’s probably fairly accurate.

#5: YOU’RE LUCKY

And lastly, always remember how lucky you are that you got to marry your best friend. Write it down. Put it on your fridge. You are blessed.

Happy Thursday!

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POSTED BY Amanda

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05.28.13

BIG MEADOW

At the end of April, Nate, his dad, brother and I headed out for a camping trip in a little remote area of the Sierra Nevada foothills known as “Big Meadow.” Now I grew up camping in the Pacific Northwest and am totally good when it comes to “roughing it” in a sleeping bag and a tent, but I have always camped with access to running water, and oh, these little things we take for granted every day called toilets. But not Nate. He and his brother are bonafide Eagle Scouts and ventured on tons of backpacking trips with their dad & troop as kids, and Big Meadow is one of those places they often camped.

So Big Meadow for me was a new experience. The location was so remote (when I thought we had arrived, we still had a 1.5 hour trip up the mountain) that we only saw one person the entire 3 days we were there–and that was the park ranger we saw on our way up. Thankfully, Nate’s dad opted to camp us near the only outhouse.

The days were warm and the nights were literally freezing cold. We hiked. We roasted marshmallows. I shot a gun for the first time in my life. Nick, Nate’s brother, saw a black bear our first night at camp. So this is Big Meadow. I’m thankful to know this place where my husband has fond memories, even if it was slightly out of my girly comfort zone. ;)

This was the outhouse. And yes, I documented my outhouse experience with a photo…

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POSTED BY Amanda

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Amy, Stella Bloom Designs - June 2, 2013 - 3:30 pm

How fun!!!! That is the CUTEST picture of the two of you!!!!!!!! xoxo

05.23.13

SUMMER STYLE // STRIPES & DOTS

When we first started our business, Nate and I updated our blog quite a bit with personal posts…much more than we do these days! But lately personal blog posts have been on my heart–I really miss connecting with our clients, friends & followers on a personal level through this here blog. So the long and short of it is, we’re hoping to direct some more personal posts your way, sweet friends, and we hope you’ll enjoy them. :)

To start, I thought I’d do a little “summer style” post because a) Nate had a camera in hand before church the other morning and b) even though it’s not really summer just yet, I’m pretending that it is.

Lately I’ve been having fun layering dresses with t-shirts and tanks, and I thought this stripes & dots combo was kind of fun.

The above pose is apparently my go-to when Nate Driver tells me to be “cute” for the camera. Who knew? Oh, and bright lipstick is my fav:

Hope you all enjoyed my little personal post today! Happy Friday! :)

Outfit Details

Dress // Kohl’s (also on sale now!)

Shirt // H&M

Shoes // Lucky Brand

Bracelet // vintage

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POSTED BY Amanda

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04.22.13

WHEN THINGS GET FUNKY

When you work in a creative field, you sometimes find yourself coming up against mental walls or roadblocks of sorts. This happens to me every now and again, and while I don’t like it, I have come to accept it as a part of the creative process. Things just get funky. One thing I have found is that just sitting and waiting for the funk to pass isn’t enough. If I want to see change, I have to get up off my bum and push through the funkiness. I need to take action. For me, this usually involves coming up with an idea of something I want to shoot/do to help me start kicking out the funk and regaining some creative clarity. Because I don’t want to just move through the motions in our work/business…I want to feel the excitement and life in every click of the shutter.

Last week I was feeling it–the inevitable funk. It took me a day or two before I realized what I needed to do, but once realized, I got to work. I enlisted the help of my good friend, Sophia. Sometimes asking a friend for help is the best medicine for the funk. Being the dear that she is, she graciously got on board and we arranged a photoshoot at the only time we could coordinate our schedules with some great light–at sunrise, just after 6AM one morning.

Sophia–thank you for helping me climb out of a funk. I hope these images allow you to see yourself how I see you–which is to say so, so beautiful, inside and out. Love you. –A

(This photo is the result of Sophia’s heel sinking into a hole. Dear Sophia, I love you!) ;)

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POSTED BY Amanda

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Sophia Girjalva - April 22, 2013 - 9:23 am

I had just a great time with you. It’s crazy to be captured in photo and then look back at it. I totally see my kids in my face and especially in my smile. Love that I get that gift from your photos. Thanks, Beautiful!

04.09.13

LIFE LATELY // A CARPENTER AND A PLANT LADY

Over the past few weeks I might have turned into a crazy plant lady, which is sort of like a crazy cat lady…but with plants. It’s true. Although Nate and I have discussed doing something with our poorly kept flowerbeds for ages, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I decided it was finally time. I got to digging and potting and planting, and every morning since I wake up eager to do my watering rounds and check on my babies. (Yes, I just referred to our gladiolus and tomato plants as babies…what can I say, I’M A CRAZY PLANT LADY NOW!) ;) I couldn’t have been more proud the other day when the marigolds and sweet williams I had planted from seed emerged through the dirt. I know, it’s humble plant lady beginnings over here.

Nate on the other hand has decided to become a carpenter in his spare time. I’m not sure that’s quite technically the term one might use, but basically over the past few weeks he has completely refurbished a 1950′s Victor Victrola stereo we found on craigslist. He has spent many an afternoon sanding, veneering, sealing, staining, varnishing, and painting it. It looks so pretty! Oh, and he retrofitted it so that we can plug in our iPad or iPhone and play music through it, which of course is the main idea of the whole thing. It sounds pretty dang amazing.

And just like that, a crazy plant lady and a carpenter were made. Boom.

(A few iPhone photos of what life has looked like lately. For more of our wild and crazy adventures, feel free to follow along on Instagram.) ;)

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POSTED BY Amanda

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