Yaks and Hummingbirds

As you may have noticed I've been a little quiter than usual on this here little blog.

I chatted with two fellow friends/bloggers about my deal, bitching up a storm and sharing my heart.

Then I thought, why not share my feelings with you? This should be my open palms/ open heart space, shouldn't it? If it isn't, then what the hell am I doing here.

Last week, the Mrs. and I took a vacation to her family's cabin in Wisconsin. My phone died the second day, and at first I was bummed and then ultimately it was a relief to be unplugged.

I spent five days completely focused on the people and the awe-inspiring nature around me.

I saw hummingbirds, butterflies, fish, a family of loons while kayaking, a bald eagle (!), a baby yak (what is a yak? I had no idea either. But we stopped at a garage sale and on their porch was a baby yak! They let me pet it and it nuzzled me and it was the cutest thing I've ever seen!), frogs and toads, red-winged blackbirds, fireworks...It was beautiful.

AND, I read three books.

AND, Scarlett swam for the first time and it was the cutest shit ever.

I came back and I went to check my Twitter and I just WAS NOT feeling it. BUY THIS! WEAR THIS! SALE! GIVE-AWAY!

No thanks.

So, I sat quiet. I didn't know what I wanted to say or where to start. After reading Amy's recent post, I realized I am not the only one. We never are, are we?

Her post gave me to the courage to share my heart, too.

Right now, I am feeling very overwhelmed with the business end of my life. The vintage has completely take over my house, but sales have been slow in the shop, so I haven't been motivated to list more. Then we are having a pop-up sale this weekend, and I have procrastinated preparing and will be working like a mad woman Friday night to get it all done. I am hoping the sale will be really successful, so I will have a manageable amount left to list in the shop. I have to go re-stock the Vintage shop where I am now, too, selling my treasures. Sometimes I get so overwhelemed with it all, that I just do nothing, because I don't even know where to start. Not good.

All in all, I am feeling a bit spread thin. I want to be with friends and at the beach, so the shop has definitely been put on the backburner.All I really want is to open my own shop and spend 100% of my time focused on this passion. But for now, it's a full-time job squeezed into the small free spaces in my life. My full-time job (writing about math!) is also not the MOST inspiring place I've ever been.

Right now, I am feeling a bit disenchanted with the blogs out there. I do really love getting glimpses into people's lives, I love the inspiration I get from outfit posts, and I love the thrift store finds and the tips on bargain hunting. I love decorating tips and finding new recipes and DIYs. I, however, do not like feeling like I am being bombarded with ads most times. (Buy! Buy! Buy!) That is just not where I am at.  I have been clearing out and slimming down the blogs I visit to those that make me feel GOOD. Period. I want to support small businesses like mine, so I am going to continue to do give-aways and enter them because I think it's important. I want to try to do MORE outfit posts because they push me to be creative with my closet. And that's a good thing.

I am still holding strong to the second-hand pledge, (with the exception of my bathing suit--it had to be done). I am 100 percent devoted to finding second-hand pieces and making them my own.

So that is where I am at. Life is good. But I am feeling like I'm shedding my old skin. I am striving for simplicity and a little soul stirring. I want to take the time to find the Yaks and the hummingbirds. I want to continue meeting amazing women out there, and that is really why I do this. You all are my reason. I hope you know that.

Wishing you a day full of magic and wonder wherever you are,

S.S.