Aspen Summit

the weekly hike

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 05:30:00 +0000

@ashesandwine_ // @jennalauren // @littlecanoe

A few of my favorite instagrammers all posted a similar photo within a week of each other and I've had wildflowers and the great outdoors on the brain ever since. Living in the pacific northwest allows for some great adventures all year round and sometimes you just need to get away from it all. You know the regular stuff like traffic, deadlines, emails, weird strangers or whatever it is that drives you bonkers. I dream of days when I can get lost, explore new to me places and pick a handful of flowers.

Since there can be so many go/see/do options out there, I've been trying to narrow down my list and a few things that have helped out is our state travel website and an online searchable hiking guide*. I know that getting away can be hard, but with a little bit of planning or at least some good resources you can start making your own "places to pick wildflowers" list too. I tend to often hit up the same spots because they are popular, never a disappointment and pretty accessible to us city folk, but I feel the need to get out of my comfort zone... a need to get lost. I'm starting a little personal project tomorrow called the weekly hike, where I'm challenging myself to go on one hike per week for the rest of the year. It will get me out of the house, keep me active (besides just walks/jogs around my neighborhood and I get to see the great outdoors. Doesn't sound like much of a challenge, huh? I'll be sharing them on instagram (#theweeklyhikes) and will try to do some recaps here, but if you want to play along- use that hashtag and share your adventures too!

*this is NOT a sponsored post xo

focus on the good

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 01:20:00 +0000

I've been a bit m.i.a the last few weeks as I prep to launch my new shop. I'm excited for this, but totally terrified at the same time. If you have followed for a while you might remember a few of my past ventures with JustLove.ly, Fawn & Flora and LoveClub- all amazing and successful businesses that each ran their course. Having started these businesses when there weren't many of the same thing, brought on great success and quick growth- along with amazing opportunities (having my stuff in magazines & tv shows! what??), but that all makes this time around scary- because there are a dime a dozen shops popping up everyday and I somehow need to stand out... on second thought, do I? Of course I want the shop to do good, I'd be lying if I said otherwise, but at the end of the day I want to know that I stayed true to myself and put something out in the world that I was proud of. I'm trying to give my all in focusing on the good with practicing patience, staying passionate and being able to follow my dreams (for almost a decade now) through creative self-employment. Even if the path has changed from hairstylist to photographer, accessories designer, subscription box creator to paper supply shop owner- and now this. One thing must remain, passion. When it runs dry, I move on and this is where I have found myself.

I have nourished this new project with time and I haven't rushed into launching. At times I've maybe taken almost too long with it, but I've only been producing items I'm truly 100% confident about, while trying not to get too distracted by other peoples designs & success. Knowing I can only define my own. I'm excited to share what I've been up to, but can give you a little hint that its definitely aimed more at home life. Decor, fiber art, candles, prints, plant holders, etc... The official launch date hasn't come to mind, but it will be in August. I'll try to post more behind the scenes and sneak peeks here, in the mean time follow along on instagram if you aren't already!

summer do's

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 01:07:00 +0000

THIS SUMMER I WILL:

dip my toes in the river

eat as many sno-cones as i can

take time to enjoy the sunsets

unplug more often

light a sparkler even if it isn't 4th of july

go to a concert in the park

make a summer road trip playlist

lay out a blanket and read a book

make a salad from my own garden

drive with the windows down

keep working on my 33 wishes

watch the sunrise.. really watch it

and anything else i can fit in

WHATS ON YOUR LIST?

(or make one and share a link here)

weekend links / 32

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:58:00 +0000

via lisa congdon

MAKE:
an easy fiber art wall hanging
sea salt & honey ice cream (you're welcome!)
coconut lip balm
refreshing face mists

SEE:
all the projects available at for the makers
happiness when you know your zone
some upcoming creative bug classes
how easy it is to find a hike near you

DO:
check out this brow trick, it seriously works wonders!
print out this cute grocery list
learn 10 tips for photographing interiors
make sure to check your summer camping pack list

favorite websites/blogs/shops of the week:
something peach
feel and flourish
red lemon club
toris tales

view previous weekend links here & have a good one! xo

solo sunday

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 03:27:00 +0000

I've been slowly working on my 33 wishes and along the way I'm becoming more surprised how checking off one thing from my list actually accomplishes a few extras that I didn't expect. Today I decided to take a solo trip out to a Cistus Nursery, since its been on my list of local places to visit for awhile. I was stuck behind the slowest farm truck ever, but I was in no rush. I know it might seem like such a small thing to some- to practice patience or not cuss at idiot drivers, but sometimes I let those ugly traits get the best of me and forget to just chill out when I want to be somewhere. Going for the drive, with no set time time limit and then wandering around the nursery by myself was exactly what I needed.

Summer seems to have just swooped on in to this year and I'm trying to take every day just a little more slowly than previous years. I love autumn so usually I look forward to summer being over, but this time around I'm in no hurry. Just like when I was behind that truck. These days, months and years are flying by and I'm over here pushing the breaks in hopes that every night when I go to bed, I know that I had a good day- or at least made an effort to.

If that means slowing down to enjoy the now then thats exactly what I'll keep doing. I have five months until my list of wishes is up and I get to start new, but right now I'm enjoying this one.

I'm enjoying the now.

[all photos via iphone edited with vsco]

life lately

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 18:36:00 +0000

I'm trying as much as I can to get settled in our new place, but with so many ideas for projects rolling around in my brain, its been hard to focus, unpack or even rest. I'm okay with that though because it just keeps me busy and seeing the end result of all the crazy ideas I keep coming up, sounds more fun anyway! This last weekend my mom came up to visit and help me with a couple of the projects I wanted to tackle. It was the first time she has visited without my dad and for longer that two days ( I had her for almost 5!) and we tried to stuff as many things into each day as possible.

We hit up the Milwaukie Farmers Market, which is one of my top favorite markets up here (i vote it 2nd to psu), its so adorable and packed with goodies- plus its just 5 minutes from my house. I showed her a few shops I adore, took her to the pearl, we ate all the foods and each day tried to explore as much as possible for the first half of the day. The second half, well into late night, was spent working on the house. I mentioned on instagram that I wanted to have open cabinets and paint my kitchen white and I'm happy to say, with her help, its almost done. It's my first project as a home owner and I can't wait to share the progress!

With my husband being gone in Peru still and my mom visiting without my dad, we took full advantage of having a girls weekend. It was exactly what I needed to feel just a bit more settled. Having my mom see our new house for the first time, feeling comfy in our home and having the first official guest... I think I can get used to this!

Thats life lately, hows yours?

weekend links / 31

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Sun, 25 May 2014 21:59:00 +0000

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I'm keeping it rather mellow around these parts, I plan on taking advantage of the next few days by tackling a few home projects include some painting and planting. I might throw in a hike or a farmers market visit, but I don't want to get too wild over here (snort). Have fun and stay safe, whatever you end up doing!

pom-pom throw

MAKE:
a prettied up version of a world map
yummy guilt free brownies
this faux brick vase
your own sea salt spray

SEE:
5 ways to drastically increase productivity
a new take on the inspiration board
my current instagram crush
16 instagrammers to follow

DO:
regrow plants from food scraps
try out block scheduling for your day (great for self-employment)
listen to design sponge podcasts
take a hike.... literally.

favorite websites/blogs/shops of the week:
the everygirl (their home tours are legit)
odd daughter paper co.
emily mcdowell
ruthie lindsey

View previous Weekend Links here & have a great one! xo

life according to instagram

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I think my real life might argue that there is no photographic evidence on instagram of me wearing sweats until 3pm, having paint in my hair and not remembering the last time I made a home cooked meal. However, I have no complaints about finding time in the messy everyday to venture out to a thursday evening farmers market, write more letters, visit a rock museum, enjoy the portland weather and smelling just enough flowers to get me through the day.

I've heard random complaints here and there on other blogs or articles about how instagram isn't real enough, how it only shows the pretty and I'm okay with that. You have your own piles of laundry and dirty dishes so why would you want to see mine? Choosing the good parts of our day that we want to remember is what stands out and makes an ordinary day just a bit better. I love following others that think the same way, the ones that have the ability to share the good with the bad without compromising the quality of their feed. We are so visually driven that those photos are what connect us, what make us want to read the stories and build the relationships. Its one of the reasons I love the instagram community so much.

This is my life right now- according to instagram. The prettier moments of each day that I get to hold on to.

the weekly four // 03

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 15 May 2014 05:52:00 +0000

I have just a few days left of cleaning at our old condo before turning in the keys. I can't wait to be done and have time to work on some of my own projects for our home. In the mean time here is a new edition of The Weekly Four, I hope you find the time to try one or try them all. I know that I have full intentions of recreating that hanging table for one of our rooms, its just so good!

one: hanging table

two: leather storage bin

three: wood & copper necklaces

four: natural healing balm

Check out previous Weekly Four projects here!

life lately

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Sun, 11 May 2014 00:39:00 +0000

Well I took a good week off from everything (work/blog) to get us moved over and semi-sorta settled into our new place. Moving from an airstream to a condo was one thing, moving from a condo to a much larger house was another. We definitely have the bare minimum, yet somehow I have never felt so full. Last night we got all cozied up with the pups and put on a movie, as I was laying there surrounded by boxes in our mostly empty space, it hit me that we bought a freaking house. Still a little weird and amazing all at once.

For the most part- the move has been taking up a good chunk of our time around here. Its fun to have something new to focus on that means so much to us. I took most of the year off that we lived in the condo from purchasing too much decor to save money and because I knew we would't be there long, but I can't wait to start consciously bringing in items that will have meaning to us (like the terrarium I made above). Brandon leaves again this next week to work in Peru for a month and I plan on using that time to get a few home projects done (which includes lots of paint), setting up my studio and launching my new shop!

Thats life lately, hows yours?

fields of flowers

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Last week we ventured out to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm for their annual Tulip Festival. Usually this isn't something I would ask my husband to go to with me, but I casually mentioned I wanted to possibly go and he surprisingly said he would take me. Mind Blown. Brandon is a die hard dude and in all reality I imagined him 'taking me there' meant he would drive me and sit in the car while I walked around looking at flowers, but I was shocked when he got out and enjoyed it with me. Obviously I'm using the word enjoyed very loosely =) Still, I'm glad I was able to get out there before the end of the festival and even better- it was on a weekday during a break between some wind & rain showers so we practically had the place to ourselves.

If you are local or just plan on being in the area, the festival is almost over and finishes up this weekend on the 4th. It was totally worth the little 1/2 hour drive from the city to see fields of flowers and it will be fun to come back in October when the same fields are full of pumpkins!

weekend links / 30

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 19:48:00 +0000

One week from today we will be moving into our new (to us) home! I actually love moving around and knowing that we will be staying put for a while has been a bit scarier than the whole buying process itself. I guess its time to just plant some roots down somewhere though and I'm more than ready to make a home. One thing I'm excited for, is to look back on these weekend link posts and find some of the projects I shared that I can actually make for our own house now. In the mean time I hope you find something to make, see & do!

to love print

MAKE:
this pretty painted wall art
a sunburst mirror
a healthier? snickers pie
these sweet guest favors

SEE:
20 hipster home trends to love
this truthful post about affiliate links
inspirational art that gives to those in need
these giant paper pinatas!

DO:
read this if you've hit a creative block
take a free class with alt summit
check out the difference between motivation & inspiration (found via)
grab a copy of 45 pep talks

favorite blogs this week:
henry happened
etsy blog
the weaver house
wayside violet
free people blog

View previous Weekend Links here & have a great one! xo

the weekly four // 02

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 01:06:00 +0000

Last week I jump started a new feature over here called The Weekly Four, where I share 4 diy projects I've been loving and post them here in hopes you will get some creative motivation and make a few of them yourself. This weeks theme is a perfectly colorful balance of things you can make for you, your home or even a friend... you get the idea!

one: mini tassle garland

two: laundry bags

three: foaming cleanser

four: wire heart ring

Check out last weeks project ideas here! xo

neatly organized things

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 12:00:00 +0000

After reaching the one year mark of living here in Portland, I started getting the itch to get out of the house a little more than just adventures, shopping & coffee dates. Although I do stay busy with my own projects (like this blog & launching my new shop) I thought finding a small side job would be great because I could meet people, do something I'm good at and make a little cash too (who doesn't like that?). I came across an ad for a 3 day a week gig working for a super cute stationary shop in the pearl district and jumped all over it. Thankfully the owner liked me enough to offer a position I actually just passed the one month mark!

I have been self-employed for so long that I actually haven't worked for someone else in almost 10yrs. Having a boss is almost foreign to me and I never thought I would have a "day job" again, but the reasons are different and I was able to go about this on my own terms- so it works! Since I had previously co-owned an online paper & pretty things boutique, I've been able to help out in some areas where the current owner just hadn't had time to focus on because besides running the shop, she is also very busy designing invitations for clients. One of my favorite tasks is heading up the instagram account for Ecru. I decided to go with a 'neatly organized things' theme over there and I love how its turning out. Its a great way to show off the products we offer, connect with our vendors and get a little creative in inventory photography. Its a fun challenge to set up these little vignettes and the feedback we have received is great. I'm glad I get to leave my house to do things like this! Hashtag do what you love.

If you are on instagram and you like organized things- follow along! @ecrumodernstationer

carefully curated vol.3

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 01:44:00 +0000

I've been hit with a color crush of cream, mustard and pink lately. Its odd because the colors haven't appeared anywhere in purchases for my home or closet as of late, but every time I see them I get a case of the 'ohhhs' and 'ahhhs'. As you can see in this edition of Carefully Curated, I've been hit hard. The color combination strikes me as being clean, happy and just a tiny bit girly without the frills and fluff. All of which is just up my alley.

Carefully Curated is a feature that encourages you to Pin consciously. How do you pin?

In the Studio: Jenny Highsmith

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 15:36:00 +0000

Today in the studio, Jenny Highsmith is answering a little q&a along with offering up a print giveaway to 3 lucky winners. If you aren't already following her blog and print shop, you are missing out! Today she is sharing a few things that help her in balancing a multiple business ventures, how she avoids creative ruts and so much more. Don't forget to check out the end of the post for your chance to win one of her beautiful prints!

Great question! So, to my surprise, the art print side of things was not planned at all. As you may know, I love painting and designing and decorating everything :) Of course, with Maiedae, I'm able to use my graphic design skills and I have SO much fun doing that. At home, I'm constantly working on a project. Haha. If you could talk to my husband and family they would probably roll their eyes at my inability to sit still. But for me, creating is just a natural part of life and it brings me so much energy and joy. :) So, I had started creating some lettering and artwork for our home last year and several friends started commenting about how much they wanted something similar. So, I started making custom orders for friends and family using ink on canvas. I put this photo on Instagram and then things kind of went crazy. Moorea contacted me and asked me to be a designer for her shop. (!!!! eeeek!!! I was so excited) Then, I started getting so many requests that I began creating the less expensive option of my prints that you see now in my lettering shop. I never imagined so many people would be interested in my doodling. I am so thankful for this unexpected journey because it is something I absolutely love doing and would do anyways!

Tthis is a great question. I think anyone who owns their own business can relate to the constant struggle for balance. I'm also, like most entrepreneurs, the over-achiever type. I don't mind being busy all the time and I have to force myself to take breaks. And I don't like taking breaks. But, I think ever since quitting my full time job last year and going full time with Maiedae, I've felt so much more balanced in general. Trying to work a 9-5 job and then come home and make your dream business a reality feels overwhelming. I never had time to create artwork or play around with lettering. So this past year has been such a blessing to be able to do what I love during the day and then explore other hobbies in my free time.

But, to answer your question, a typical work week looks something like this: Mondays and Fridays I spend most of the day answering emails, scheduling out design clients, receiving new print orders, shipping out orders, taking photos, editing photos, scheduling out blog posts, and writing blog posts. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays is when I get most of my design work done for Maiedae clients. I do most of my work from a coffee shop on those days simply because 1) I'm an extrovert and I get really sad if I spend all day every day alone and 2) I get too distracted with projects and chores staring me in the face at home. I'm not a morning person, so I start work most mornings around 9:30 or 10am. Before that, I love taking my time to get up, get dressed, listen to Pandora, get a cup of coffee, eat breakfast, and think through ideas for artwork. This is my "alone time." Typically I eat lunch while working to save some time because I like to end my day by 6pm so I can eat dinner with my husband. After dinner is usually when I paint or draw out my ideas for my art prints or work on custom orders. I don't do this every night, though. Probably an average of 2-3 nights a week. To make sure I don't overwork, my husband and I have a scheduled date night, a scheduled chore night, and try to keep Friday and Saturday nights open to spend time traveling to see family or friends. I know that might sound ridiculous to some of you, but if I don't have a schedule that forces me to stop, then I will just keep working.

Speaking of scheduling, that's the only way I get through all of my to-dos and tasks. Scheduling is a HUGE part of my day to day balance and life. I use Google calendar to schedule out all of my blog posts for the month as well as any Maiedae tasks or design client deadlines. Then, I have a list app on my phone that lets me know things outside of Maiedae and my blog that need to get done that day. Anything from what we need at the grocery store to who is waiting for their art prints to be shipped out. I love keeping these lists, tasks, and calendar because once I write it down, it frees up my brain to think about other things. If you asked me what I had going on next week, I wouldn't be able to tell you without looking at my calendar! This is wonderful to me because it means I don't have a million things running through my brain! It also helps me plan ahead - especially with my blog posts and collaborations.

Something that I'm working on currently to be more balanced is that I just turned off notifications on my phone for email and social media a few weeks ago. I was finding myself checking email and social media throughout all hours of the night and weekend and I'm trying to get better at not constantly being on my phone. I still have specific times where I check in on things, but not having them pop up every 3 seconds has already made a huge difference in separating work time from free time.

Inspiration is such a tricky thing because some weeks it seems to come so naturally and other times it is like looking for water in a desert. It's just not there. I've found that if I take the time to take care of myself, take the breaks I know I need, spend time with friends, and actually do stuff other than work, that I usually have the natural energy for being inspired and creative. Obviously, being inspired by other designers and artists is wonderful, but most of the time my ideas come from me thinking to myself, "Man, I'd really like to decorate our bathroom with some artwork and I'd love something that said or looked like ____." I started my art prints just because they were something I wanted in my own home, so usually if I really want something for our house, I know other people probably do too. With my art prints I also like to think, "If I were getting married again, what would I want?" or "If I were a single woman in Atlanta what kind of artwork would I decorate my apartment with?" The same goes for my blog. If I enjoyed making something, I share it. If I would enjoy reading it, I write about it. And if I learned something that really impacted me, I think others might want to know too. Usually that's where my best ideas come from.

If I'm truly in a creative rut, sometimes I'll schedule a day to take off from work, from blogging, and from making anything artistic and I'll just go do something I enjoy. I might go sit and read a book or I might go visit a friend or I might just lay around the house. Usually a creative rut means that my mind just needs a break.

Now that I've jumped into the art print business, I have so many ideas and dreams for where it could go! Obviously, I want to continue to do Maiedae full time. But, I would love to have a super-legit art print shop like Lindsay Letters or Oh My Deer. They both have such successful art print businesses and I'm so inspired by their beautiful products. I would love to open a Shopify store in the near future and start working with a printer who has more capabilities to print on canvas, etc. I would also love to increase my wholesale clientele and start showing up in more stores around the country. :) That would be really cool.

::GIVEAWAY::

This giveaway is now closed and the entries have been disabled.

Winners were chosen at random, have been listed below and notified via email

#1 Mallorie Owens

#2 Oak and Oats

#3 Mint for Hue

Thanks for entering! xo

weekend links / 29

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 01:31:00 +0000

Even though we are in the beginning stages of buying our first home, I have a feeling its going to go by so fast. I want to enjoy it all, but also be prepared. So in between packing up the condo, I've been dreaming of all the things we can finally do to our own place. I think the fact that spring is in full effect over here is the reason I'm craving all things gardening, indoor plants & green- with a few copper projects sprinkled in. Hope your week was great and your weekend is even better!

ikea table hack // braided halo // mini geo planters

MAKE:
your easter eggs a little bit fancy
almond-cherry gfree breakfast cookies
modern egg shaped garland (for any occasion not just easter)
a hanging garden for in/outside

SEE:
these adorable spring planters
this smart veggie garden plan
how easy & pretty this hairstyle is
this quick thought on blogging

DO:
download some desktop wallpapers
keep up on the 52 weeks of lists
grab one of these adorable free printables
start your spring reading list

favorite blogs this week:
the fresh exchange
blood and champagne (currently obsessed with decor ideas)
april everyday
jelly toast

View previous Weekend Links here & have a great one! xo
(if you need more weekend links to check out see some here, here & here)

the weekly four // 01

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 22:48:00 +0000

Although it most likely won't last, these last few sunny days we've been having in Portland has me planning out project days to add unique pieces to our home and to stash a few gifts away in my closet when I need one in a hurry! I already share my weekend links here to give you ideas of things to make, see & do, but since part of my job is to be saturated in all things online, its hard to narrow it down to just one post on the weekends. I'd love to introduce you to the weekly four, a small curated group of four different projects you can do! Try to tackle them on your day off, plan a fun girls night to make one or more of them with your friends or even save them in your bookmarks and use when in need of a gift for someone special. Enjoy! xo

one: ombre leather coasters

two: sea salt scrub and tropical balm

three: gold glitter heart tote bag

four: herringbone bulletin board

we kinda bought a house

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 01:58:00 +0000

We have been dreaming of owning a home for a while now, although there have been times when we went back and forth on our ideas and time frames, it was always still in our minds. We were scared of it for so long though,- the money, waiting, searching and committing. When we moved to Portland last winter we signed a one year lease and tried to set a goal that at the end of the lease we would have a little more clarity on what it was we wanted to do. A little over half way through the lease we were already hating our place- it wasn't in our favorite area (more of a last resort type of place because we wanted to move here so badly), there definitely wasn't enough room for Arthur to play plus we added another pup to the mix in August and the condo wasn't ours nor did we ever want it to be. We really started getting serious right before my 33rd birthday, which was 8 months into our lease and decided to meet with a Realtor. He was great, he gave us a little more insight into the process so we knew what to expect and suggested we at least try to see what we qualified for before taking any more steps.

At first it was all so scary and new to us, but we decided to at least try to get pre-approved for a home loan and see where we stood. We gathered all the info requested and sent it in only to realize what they could offer us wouldn't even get us a shack around these parts. So we waited. In the mean time I researched everything I could to get tips and tricks and be prepared, I asked friends who owned & tried to be as frugal as possible so our down payment wouldn't be an issue. Although at the time it seemed like forever, its only been 4 months since we started this all and two weeks ago we were pre-approved for an amount we felt comfortable with. Last Wednesday we put an offer in on a home we loved and on Friday morning the offer was accepted! In case any of your are in the beginning stages of home buying or just thinking about it and wondering if you are ready I thought I'd share a few things we figured out along the way. We knew what number we could be approved for if we upped the credit scores just a bit more and that helped us when looking for homes, but here are some other pointers that I hope help you too!

Budget
Moving from Southern Oregon to Portland made for a huge adjustment in our home owning dreams. For our budget we could purchase a pretty large home and land in our old town, but up here good luck. That was a hard pill to swallow at first, but we knew we couldn't go back to that area and had to re-adjust our expectations. The first task in our budget plan was figuring out what we could afford, we knew we were fine paying what we currently were for rent so that price with a leeway of a few hundred dollars was ideal and comfortable (our payment is going to end up being less than our current rent, which is great!) Our mortgage also includes insurance and property taxes, but we still wanted to have extra each month for home projects, decorating and our savings that would be a little lower with that down payment being taken out. Our main goal was to not live beyond our means in order to be homeowners.

Neighborhoods
Since we had an estimated loan amount we were working towards before actually getting pre-approved, we were able to look for homes in that price range. Although we obviously couldn't fall in love with anything or make offers, we decided to download redfin and zillow on our phones so whenever we had the chance to browse we could. It helped to have the apps handy when we were out running errands or having a meal in certain areas around our city so we could see what the prices for homes were like if we really liked a neighborhood. We also just drove around a lot to figure out what spots we totally dug and which ones to avoid. There were a few things that were important to us- avoiding homes on main heavy traffic roads, finding a neighborhood with sidewalks or a mellow street for our walks with the pups (& eventually kids!), not sharing a driveway (private street was okay) with neighbors, having a yard, not being close to a railroad, a large garage or shop for Brandon to work on his projects in, a studio space for me, etc. I know these are small almost picky details, but they really mattered to us and we were able to narrow down our search to just a few areas we totally could see ourselves living.

Down Payment
Some couples have down payment help from family or receive monetary wedding gifts, however, we are doing this ourselves and didn't feel comfortable asking for any help since we have been married for 5yrs and are in our 30s and we have great careers and wanted the satisfaction of doing it ourselves. With that said, down payments can be insanely high depending on what type of loan you go for. We actually opted for a non-traditional loan with a lower down payment and locked interest rate. I know that the more you put down the better, so do what is comfortable for your lifestyle and your wallets. I did mention earlier that I tried to be as frugal as possible, which when I think about helped in small ways. I didn't go as far as to cut coupons or never open my wallet, but I did change my spending habits. Not shopping for decor for this condo was an easy choice because I knew we wouldn't be here long. Cutting out frivolous mall purchases, making coffee and meals at home more often and even switching my grocery store away from Whole Foods made a huge difference and was all worth it! Spending less adds up and I'm so thankful that a down payment was never a deciding factor in this entire process.

Credit Score
To be eligible for some loan programs the minimum score is 580, but a preferred score is 640. We wanted to be as close to 700+ as possible and with my husband having NO credit versus bad credit* it was just as tough to get that score to go up as it is for some people to pay things off. Our lender was up front and honest about the ways credit affect things and we knew we had a few options, but that waiting for the points to rise would be the toughest part of the entire process and so we played the waiting game. First up our lender advised us to actually build more relationships with creditors so my husband opened 2 new credit cards and chose secured ones so it was our own money we were borrowing against. One of the cards was from our bank so it was easy to spend and transfer funds between the accounts. Our lender also advised us to use these cards often, but a day or two before the last day of the month to pay the balance down to $10- that piece of advice was great and was a huge factor in a 70 pt score increase. We wanted this part to go faster though so we traded in our car, put down a small amount of money and opted for the balance to be made into a loan. Now I wouldn't advice everyone to do this if you can't afford a new bill (we had been car payment free for a while), but for us it worked. We wanted a newer car, the payment was low enough and it looked great for the credit- which resulted in another 59 pt increase. Within 4 months we raised the scores high enough and during that time saved even more for the down payment so it was a win-win! Also you should know that creditors report to the credit bureaus usually from the 28th-10th. So paying things down a few days before the end of the month (like credit card balances) or even making payments (like car loan) early can be a huge plus for you, if you can afford to do it! We made sure to grab free credit reports and for the 4 months of waiting we used credit score monitors. When the lender pulls your score they will take whatever one is in the middle and use that for your pre-approval.

*As a tip- if you do have debts you want to get rid of to up your score, pay off the newest one first. If you touch the oldest that could possibly be off your report soon, you risk the chance of the account refreshing and reflecting a negative. I know that sounds weird, because it makes sense to go after the smallest or largest first, but we heard this from so many people (including our lender) with knowledge in this area that it made sense.

I hope these few tips help you out if you are starting this journey, if you have any questions at all about things we did, or tips of your own- please chime in. I will try to share more about things as we go through them and I can't wait to show you our new digs!

friends & fonts

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:00:00 +0000

A few months back Rebecca from Manzanita mentioned she was going to be visiting up this way and I was so excited knowing we would be able to finally meet. We have been chatting for a few years now and it started through a mutual friend when we both had accessory businesses. We have always tried to collaborate somehow, we follow each other on instagram & keep in touch when possible, but meeting in real life with her in Colorado and me here in Oregon just didn't seem possible.

As the weeks grew closer to her visit she threw out the idea of hosting a calligraphy workshop locally and wondered if I could help arrange a few of the details. It all worked out perfectly and we found an affordable location (during the start of the very busy wedding season), all the supplies arrived here on time and people signed up without a hitch. The workshop took place a few nights ago, here are just a few iphone photos from it- I would have taken some on my camera, but I was making a mess with the ink while shoving my face with cupcakes & meeting a new friends!

I got to freshen up my calligraphy skills (I studied it in school like 13yrs ago), but meeting and instantly connecting to someone was by far the best part! I am always amazed and so thankful of the relationships we are able to build and nourish through blogging, instagram & other social media platforms. When sometimes there can be dark negativity and craziness on the internet, this is one of those times when there is light.

this & that // 03

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 06:39:00 +0000

Here's to another round of this & that, where I match up similar and sometimes identical photos that I've stumbled upon from instagram. I started this back in August (view posts here) and haven't been as consistent with sharing, even though I actually come across these types of photos quite often. My friend Liz even started a series since she noticed the similarities too, so I knew I wasn't the only one! I mentioned before that these types of photos are usually unintentional and I still feel that its a true testament, that we can see things the same way as others and it not have to mean that we copied it from someone else. It actually happened to me last week when I posted a photo of a snack I had (below) and one of my followers mentioned it looked like a photo someone else had posted a week earlier. It was by total chance it worked out that way and in no way on purpose. To be honest, if I had seen her photo I would have intentionally tried to make mine look different. Just goes to show how connected we can be through a phone app huh?

aspensummit // sometimessweaty

littleredbowtique // leticiarblanc

northernheart // virrums

I think I want to make this post appear on here a bit more often than not, so I will try to be better about gathering these photos, in fact I saved a few already for the next post. In the mean time, I'll be over on instagram =)

weekend links / 28

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 05:20:00 +0000

My last weekend links was invaded by snow storms and winter craziness, but this year has already gone by far too fast and I'm strangely looking forward to spring. I like to think of myself as an autumn girl- give me all of the rain, gloom and clouds, throw in comfort food, cuddles and cozy clothes and I'm a happy camper. However, spring has slowly started to show its face around these parts with little teases of nice sunny days and to my own surprise I'm not complaining. It has me craving fresh flowers, farmers markets and outside adventures! With the season approaching it brings in plans and change- I will be opening my new shop Aspen Summit next month and I'm also taking on a 3 day a week job at a local stationary shop to get me out of the house and surround myself with things I love. The season also shuffles in opportunities to plan and attend events here in Portland with other creative women. The textile stamping class I hosted at West Elm in January was just the beginning of workshops I hope to bring to the pacific northwest... so far spring is looking to be really great!

typographic print // orange chocolate tart // be crafty

MAKE:
a room a little more interesting with this wall project
mini clay pot magnets (perfect for air plants)
your boring pencils just a bit more fun
your own lipbalm in repurposed containers

SEE:
this amazing custom made wallpaper
kinseys coffee diaries
an honest shirt that gets my vote
the way we can change looking at women by stock photography

DO:
give $5, its for a good cause!
print these beautiful kraft tags
get to printing this freebie out too!
check out the new ikea ps2014 collection

Favorite blogs this week:
penny weight
kyla roma
the first lime
kara rosenlund

View previous Weekend Links here & have a great one! xo

keeping with tradition

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 19:10:00 +0000

Lately I've been drawn to a more traditional approach to modern living, while incorporating a taste for a handed down style of skill that works with where I'm at in my life. I briefly discussed it yesterday on an instagram post and thought I would talk about it a little bit more here. I crave making things that last, surrounding myself with an intentional atmosphere and living an all around meaningful daily life. I think I owe those small desires to the women in my family who made a home and passed down those memories and skills to me.

Not until I actually opened up a shop and started selling my own line of items did I scrutinize so much what I was doing. I was influenced by what my customers wanted, what my peers were doing and who I thought I needed to be that I wasn't happy with what I was creating. After some time to self-reflect, I've been able to find what I lost along the way. I took a year off to find what was missing (more on that later) and I found that I grew away from appreciating what I was so lucky to learn. Handed down traditions and skills that make for a pretty damn good life, so I brought them back and I found me again.

For as long as I can remember our family had huge gardens, we preserved summers' haul to keep us through the winters and we gifted others with canned goods that we knew they would appreciate and share with their own families. When it came to clothing, we thrifted, we had hand me downs and for special occasions we accompanied my grandmother to the fabric shop to pick out our very own patterns for what would be sewn into some unique duds. Slippers and hats were crocheted with yarn, a large floor loom crafted so many blankets and rugs, even little dresses for our barbies were made with lace and pearls. We weren't just making do with what we had- we were enjoying the process of making, spending time together, creating memories and living a simple life. The things we did then, I'm doing now, minus the barbie dresses.

I've seen a surge in this style that has become a little trendy and that's okay because those of us that grew up on it just get to enjoy it again. I want what I do to have meaning, to be respected and most of all be something I can pass down someday too. I want to keep with tradition.

compensation in disappointment

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 05:13:00 +0000

In a month full of resolutions and new found motivation, I have found two contradicting feelings that I'm trying to work out. Happiness & Failure. Since my husband works out of the country for weeks at a time, I try to fill up that empty with mini-goals, projects, me-time and anything else that distracts the days of missing him. This time around I knew he would be gone for a month and I really wanted to focus on my own health and weight, which is one of the main factors in my fertility issues. Somehow all these days passed me by and instead of losing anything, I actually gained 5lbs and a lot more in other ways.

In the midst of this failure, I found small successes.

I explored new-to-me places in my city
Hosted my first event for West Elm
Didn't flake out once on any plans with friends
Met a few new friends too
Built a table for my studio (I've been dreaming about it for 10 months)
Started focusing on my new shop that I can't wait to open
Read 2 books
And tried a few new foods

These are all just a handful of things that stood out to me from this great month I had. Even though I'm extremely disappointed that I slacked on something as little as working out a bit more or actually focusing on a healthy goal for myself, I made up for it in other ways. Maybe those other things wouldn't have happened had I been busy counting calories and sweating it up in hot yoga. The upside is that there is always next month and my 33 wishes can be worked on all year long!

treasure finds: aurora mills

noreply@blogger.com (aspen summit) — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 06:10:00 +0000

I love me some adventure, especially if the chance of me walking through aisles of overpriced old stuff is where it leads me. On Saturday we ventured out to Aurora Mills, its about 35 minutes south of me and worth the little drive through the country. Even though I want my life and everything in it to remain calm and simple, I love the feeling of browsing old cluttered shops with floor to ceiling nostaglia. There was a time when I would leave with a car load of goodies from a place like this, but now its fun to walk away empty handed, but full hearted and imagine the stories that go along with all the old things.

For me, walking around and just looking at everything- seeing how it all lasted the test of time is so much more fulfilling than spending a day trying on clothes in a mall fitting room. Something like this or something outdoors, those are the things that are good for my soul. How about yours?