Thursday, August 30, 2012
I set one main goal for the summer: Instagram more. And I did. Over the past three months, I shared 80 photos, which is a lot better than the 58 I had posted previously since joining Instagram around Christmas. You can see all of my summer photos here, but these are a few of my favorites.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Standing at the end of the driveway waiting for the school bus is a clear sign that summer has come and gone. The kids were ridiculously eager to go back to school today, and not even the rain could dampen their spirits. As I stood waiting for the bus to bring them home this afternoon, I entertained myself by texting Tim and scrolling through my recent Instagram photos. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you already know that the last week of summer looked something like this.
I bought a new striped tank top at LOFT, which is only notable because I haven’t worn stripes in probably a decade. Maybe not even since college. I was way overdue for such a classic addition to my wardrobe.
I mixed up a batch of puppy chow one evening in a valiant attempt at planning ahead. I stashed it in the freezer for the next couple weeks, but not before some of it disappeared…
We had a family photo taken for our church directory, and of course I picked out a shirt for Magen that needed to be mended. Relocating sequins to replace missing sequins was perhaps my least favorite mending job ever, but it’s hard to be unhappy for long when you’re working with sequins.
It was party central at our house this weekend with three birthdays in three days. I made these mini cupcakes with rainbow nonpareils to celebrate my favorite 40-year-old.
Stripes + chocolate + sequins + sprinkles = a pretty happy way to wrap up the summer.
Friday, August 17, 2012
crafting, happy things, photography wedding Leave a comment
Our family enjoyed the most lovely outdoor wedding last weekend at a farm in the hills of New Jersey.
When we arrived, we were greeted by a clothesline full of handmade tote bags with treats for each family — trail mix, homemade fruit leather (strawberry rhubarb and apricot lavender!), kazoos for the ceremony recessional, and sparklers for the part of the festivities we missed because we have children who needed to get home to bed.
Each tote bag was stamped with a chicken and was strung up with a tag that featured the same motif and the names of the guests. I was especially eager to see the tote bags, because I made the tags… but when I gave them to the bride, they didn’t have any farm animals on them yet!
For the wedding ceremony, we sat on hay bales that were covered with white cloths. It was a warm summer afternoon, so there were baskets of woven fans available for all the guests.
The aisle was lined with simple wildflower bouquets in blue mason jars tied to sticks with twine.
Between the ceremony and the reception, we made sure to visit the do-it-yourself photobooth. The white curtains and the woods made a lovely backdrop.
We used the camera provided, but also took some shots with my camera. Not pictured: our kids + my expanding baby bump.
Most people don’t take pictures of the bathroom facilities at a wedding, but the setup was just too unusual not to share! As you may have noticed, the bride and groom planned a very green wedding… right down to the toilets. This sign greeted you at the edge of the meadow near the entrance to the woods.
At the end of a short dirt path, guests could use one of two toilets. They were carefully angled away from guests and each other, because the third side of the toilet stall was completely open. It looks pretty primitive, but there was actually a regular toilet seat built in to the structure on top of some kind of container with wood shavings. It was much better than a port-a-potty (no smell! no icky door handle to touch! no claustrophobia!), but it was especially important to remember to flip that sign from vacant to occupied before entering.
In spite of the rain that fell during the reception (good thing we were under a tent!), it was a lovely day celebrating a lovely couple. Congrats, Ben and Ashley!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
crafting, photography 3 Comments
Call me old fashioned, but I still believe in the value of a handwritten thank you note, whether it’s for a gift or a kind deed. Friends who celebrate your 9th birthday in the backyard and grandparents who send gifts from a distance all deserve to be thanked for their generosity.
During Magen’s birthday party, we snapped a photo of her with each of her friends just before she opened their gift. Then I printed out the photos, trimmed them, and stitched each one to a piece of cardstock printed with a simple “thank you.” Inside Magen wrote a sweet little note of appreciation.
Family members who live at a distance received cards with our family photo, but the cards with colorful pictures from her party are my favorites. By the way, I made that great big number 9 Magen is holding in the same way I made the giant number 8 last year. It’s just foam core and acrylic paint. So fun!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
I’m not sure what I’m most excited about: my new graphics tablet, the fact that I bought it for 75% off the list price, or the glorious reality that I have a day off work today to play with it. Happy Fourth, friends!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The room where I captured these Saturday snapshots has a variety of functions. We usually call it the office, but I prefer to think of it as my studio, since it houses not only a desk, but also the piano, my sewing machine, and most of my creative supplies. Whatever you call it, here are a few snapshots from the time I spent there today.
// a notebook I picked up yesterday for pocket change after a 40% discount plus Staples Rewards — my first Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery purchase // lovely gray pen from LePen
// apparently my chalkboard is where I give myself pep talks
// I agreed to sew twenty prayer pockets for next week’s Summer Bible School at our church.
// my washi tape stash
// I don’t really even know what prayer pockets are, but my twenty are complete.
// a creamy cantaloupe smoothie was my afternoon treat
Friday, June 22, 2012
I’m thoroughly enjoying my summer goal of posting more photos on Instagram. Here are a few summer memories I’ve captured and shared recently.
top row: when I was a kid, my grandma often served ice cream and strawberries for dessert in this dish // Splash & Bash at the local pool // UNO!
bottom row: heart-shaped cornbread isn’t just for Valentine’s Day // what I’m reading now // it was 90 degrees at the ballpark
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
For the summer of twenty-twelve, I’m setting just one goal. And it’s a fun one.
I got off to a slow start when I joined Instagram (a photo sharing app for the iPhone and now Android too) a few days before Christmas last year. During the first five months, I posted just 58 photos. Then I decided to kick it up a notch, and over the past week and a half, I’ve shared 19 photos. Maybe it’s just a phase, or maybe I’ve finally hit my Instagram stride. Either way, I’m having fun.
Are you on Instagram? I’m @rachelswartley. Come say hello!
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top row: a tiny succulent I potted on Friday evening // new washi tape // a free sweet treat
bottom row: school birthday treat for the girl with a summer birthday // our lilies bloomed on Saturday
Friday, March 30, 2012
My favorite season is bursting forth all around us, so I grabbed my camera and headed out into the late afternoon light to see what I could capture. These are a few of the lovely things I found in our yard.
Hey – who planted this in my flowerbed?!
Happy spring!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Homemade pizza isn’t the only thing going on around here. I recently enjoyed two galas, and both were lovely in their own way.
Saturday’s gala:
Monday’s gala:
The food at the evening internationále was great (lobster mac and cheese, anyone?), but I couldn’t get over that Eiffel Tower. Was it classy or cheesy? Both? I couldn’t quite decide. But the best part? One of the two galas was free (for me), and the other one cost mere pocket change.
Both of these photos were taken with my iPhone. Are you on Instagram? If so, you’re welcome to follow along as I share pictures on the go (username: rachelswartley).
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