SHORT AND SWEET

Hi there!  Greetings from Pittsburgh {back again, today - Friday}.  I just realized I forgot my laptop charger {Insert SAD FACE}.  Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on one tomorrow, without having to actually spend the mucho dinero for a new one.  Fingers crossed. So... considering my laptop has 9% of the battery left, it'll be short and sweet this Monday.

I thought I would share these words, found via Pinterest. 

I love this.

HAPPINESS IS...

Hey there!  So sorry it's been so quiet at L+R.  You can hear the birds chirping over here!  Last week I spent three days in Pittsburgh for work, and I just want to soak up as much time as possible with my hubby before I go back Monday for five days.  I know I haven't talked about work a lot on here; sometimes it feels a bit too personal.  Plus, since I left my job {managing a designer clothing boutique} of five and a half years at the start of June, I've just been trying to get things figured out.  

So... I'm freelancing as a wardrobe/fashion stylist.  It was a scary decision for us, but one we hope works out, as I am loving it.  I've talked about doing this for a long time - something on my own.  I like to think I'm somewhat of a free spirit, and not having to sit at a desk all day makes my heart happy.  Plus it would have been really hard to go back to an office-type job after not having that for six years.  Hopefully all of this will give me more time for the Etsy shop, and free time for the blog.  Hopefully the freelancing works out.  Hopefully. Hopefully. Hopefully.

I've never taken for granted that I'll find a job that makes me really happy.  I think it's a luxury to love what you do for a living.  I mean, a job is a job, right?  Of course, you don't want to be miserable, but don't you think it's rare to hear someone say they genuinely enjoy their job?  Of course, it happens.  I have close friends that really enjoy their jobs, and that makes me very happy for them {and it makes me strive for that as well}.  And don't get me wrong, there have certainly been times that I would have said I liked my job, but more recently it was the area of my life where I wasn't happy or fulfilled.

In the spring, I was flipping through channels and came across a television show I don't watch, just in time to see the main character going into this big speech about happiness to her therapist.  She was talking about how she kept waiting for everything to be calm and happy... and nothing bad to be happening in her life... and that she finally realized if she keeps waiting, she will never be happy. Basically - life is just messy and beautiful, and if you wait for it to be perfect you'll miss it. 

Since then, I've had the same conversation about "happiness" with a few different people, and it's come up in so many places... A few weeks ago I was flipping channels again, and heard a comedian make a joke about a women.  He was saying women complain to their spouses about not being happy, and what women don't understand is that happiness is not a residence, it's a vacation spot.  And it made me laugh.  And I think there is some truth to take from that.

I have a sign on my mantel that says, "Happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life"... and I am constantly trying to remind myself of that.  Things do not have to be perfect all of the time, and I might not ever be happy with every aspect of my life at the same time.  And that is ok.

Right now, this weekend, I'm enjoying being happy in my relationship with my hubby... and soaking up as much time as I can with him before I'm off again.  Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

{That's me, just having a moment with the Grand Tetons in 2010... while the Mr. took sneaky photos.  Jackson Hole is one of our happy places. What are yours?}

STELLA & DOT

A few of my favorite pieces of jewelry are Stella & Dot.  I was introduced to the line a few years ago, and even hosted a party once upon a time.  My friend, Elizabeth, is to thank for rekindling my romance with Stella & Dot.  Below are just a few of my favorite pieces {including three of Elizabeth's}.  I think my first purchase has to be the arrow necklace {and the snake bracelet}.  Do you have any Stella & Dot jewelry?  What are your favorites?

 

 

On The Mark Necklace $59 //  Tribute Bracelet $36 // Sidewinder Bracelet $29 

Panther Pendant Necklace $49 // Rebel Pendant Necklace $79

MUSIC MONDAY NO.2 {ROAD TRIP ADDITION}

Hey all. I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I'm in Pittsburgh this week for work, so I decided it was only fitting to do a road trip mix. This list includes some of my favorite songs to sing yell loudly in the car. Trust me when I tell you... no one would want to be in the car with me when this happens.

{photo credit // Pittsburgh, PA}

1. Canned Heat // On the Road Again

2. Dierks Bentley // Free and Easy

3. Bonnie Tyler // Total Eclipse Of the Heart

4. Rick Springfield // Jessie's Girl

5. Kelly Clarkson // Since U Been Gone

6. Cyndi Lauper // Time After Time

7. Bruce Springsteen // Glory Days

8. Tom Petty // Into the Great Wide Open

9. The Proclaimers // I'm Gonna Be {500 Miles}

10. Bon Jovi // Wanted Dead Or Alive

11. Journey // Don't Stop Believin'

12. Cake // The Distance

13. Janis Joplin // Piece Of My Heart

14. Tom Petty // You Don't Know How It Feels

15. Pop Star // Died In Your Arms

16. Bret Michaels // Every Rose Has Its Thorn

17. Great White // Eye Of the Tiger

Click here to listen!

THESE THINGS // THIS WEEK {No. 7}

I haven't done one of these posts in awhile, so I have a lot of stored up things to share with you.

These are just a few of the things I decided to share this week!

I love {no pun intended} this slouchy pullover sweatshirt...

and the fact that it's printed on American Apparel tri-blend makes me love it even more.

I've been eyeing this butter dish from Anthropologie for awhile, and this week it made its way home with me.

I think I need this t-shirt, and I know many people who would agree that I need this t-shirt.

These Asos pants are sold out, but I'm on a mission for something similar.

This hat is calling my name, and getting me excited for fall.

The Warby Parker Winston in Walnut Tortuoise...

When I got my WP sunglasses I really wanted tortoise, but the Winston {the frame I liked} wasn't available in tortoise.

Well... now they are! And I think I need them.

Is it ok to have the exact same glasses in two different colors? 

I loved this post by Kendi about being yourself on your blog...

and this one about learning how grey life is - not black or white, good or bad

{something I would say hit me a few years ago}.

{photo by Heather Gildroy // via Design Love Fest}

And this post by Bri Emery of Design Love Fest about finding your own style.

These gold animal drink stirrers are the coolest, and might inspire me to DIY...

I might have to make this avocado egg salad recipe soon.

This omelettes-for-dummies omelette pan from Williams Sonoma.

What are you guys up to this weekend?

We're hometown bound to celebrate this little girl {our niece, Zoey} turning ONE.

We can't wait to see you April, Matt & Miss Zoey!

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

ON THE HUNT: LEOPARD LUST

Last night we went to see Mumford & Sons.

They are my favorite {along with the Black Keys}.

I spent the night jumping up & down, and singing at the top of my lungs.

They just make me happy.

And now let's talk about sandals...

Nice transition, eh?

I REALLY want a pair of flat leopard sandals.

I've seen this sold out Zara pair sell on Ebay for $125.  

I sort of hate all you ladies who were lucky enough to nab these when they first came out {ok, I don't really "hate" you}.

And I think this pair by Steve Madden {the Bethesda} are an enigma.  

I stumbled across them on Pinterest, but can't find a trace of them anywhere.  

It's a mystery.

After hours of searching online, yes - hours, the only leopard sandals I can actually find are the two pictured above.  

The pair on the left are from Topshop, and the pair on the right are by Matt Bernson {on sale right now at Bluefly}.  

They're both great, but more than I want to spend, and I just don't love them as much as I do the top two pairs.  

Beggars can't be choosers, right?  Which pair is your favorite?

THE ETSY STORE

The ultimate dream is a brick and mortar store.  I would sell vintage wares, mixed with select new merchandise reminiscent of vintage Americana - Levis jeans and such.  There would always be really good music playing, and I would support local artists by hanging their work on the walls.  Maybe next door there'd be a coffee shop turned little bar at night {this would be the Mr.'s} and we would have open mic nights all the time.  And so... that would be the dream.

The reality is going to be an Etsy store.  I've wanted to have an Etsy store since before there was Etsy {all the way back when Ebay was the only thing}.  Not only has has my mom, Laurie, been the nagging voice pushing me along, but she is also going to be the other half of the store!  My parents frequent antique stores & flea markets, and I really did grow up with a love of vintage & history I'm not sure most kids had. So, I feel like this really is a natural next step.  

Lovely + Rust Vintage... a little mother/daughter project of sorts.  We're both very excited.  Our Etsy shop will have vintage clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories, as well as other little vintage trinkets we can't leave behind.  We know it's going to take a lot of work to keep the merchandise fresh, but we're going to give it our best shot. 

The next month is full of travel.  I will be spending time in Pittsburgh for work, and then the Mr. and I are headed to Portland for fun {much more on this later}.  So, look for the Etsy shop to launch sometime late September.   

Meet our mannequin.  She is a vintage green Rite dress form.  Possible names thrown out there: Marilyn, Greta, Betty, Estelle, Rusty, Manny, and Quinn.  My mom really likes Betty, so I think that's the winner unless you have any suggestions?