Love & Misadventure

I wanted to share with y'all a book that I've stumbled across and absolutely love. Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav. This book is full of poems and stories about love, life, and hardships that can take place. Only having this book for a short amount of time, I've already fallen deeply in love with it. When the words rein completely true to my heart, it's hard for me to ignore.

This particular passage has touched me the most, and has completely opened my eyes. It relates so much with what I've been going through in my personal love life. And even though I still want to hold on, I still want to fight for it, sometimes you just have to let it be. As much as it hurts us.

"One day you meet someone and for some inexplicable reason, you feel more connected to this stranger than anyone else—closer to them than your closest family. Perhaps this person carries within them an angel—one sent to you for some higher purpose; to teach you an important lesson or to keep you safe during a perilous time. What you must do is trust in them—even if they come hand in hand with pain or suffering—the reason for their presence will become clear in due time.

Though here is a word of warning—you may grow to love this person but remember they are not yours to keep. Their purpose isn’t to save you but to show you how to save yourself. And once this is fulfilled; the halo lifts and the angel leaves their body as the person exits your life. They will be a stranger to you once more."

DIY Off The Shoulder Shirt.

Hey Lovelies! 

Do you have any older shirts or t-shirts that you really don't wear too often? Why not turn them into a fashion statement or even an easy beach coverup top! You can easily turn a boring shirt into something better for this summer. Let me show you one way: Off The Shoulder

1. Get the supplies:

- Tee shirt 

- scissors

- marker 

2. Start on the right side of the collar and draw a dotted line along it. As you reach the right hand side, slightly move it to the left of the collar. (This makes the left side fall off your left shoulder) See picture above. 

3. Start cutting alone the dotted line you just made. 

4. Keep cutting!! 

5. Remove the collar you just cut off. 

And there you have it!! A quick fix for any old tee shirt. Perfect for a summer day out or something quick to just throw over  your bathing suit! You could even tie it up at the bottom and make it cute with a pair of cut off denim shorts! The possibilities are endless really. Happy cutting!!

A Beautiful Mess App

Hola dolls!!

So one app that I'm completely obsessing over right now is A Beautiful Mess app!! If you've never heard of their blog I highly suggest you go check them out {here}. Their little slice of Blog heaven is based around life. Emma and Elise's blog features DIY projects, Recipes, Lifestyle, Photography and Fashion. It's seriously one of my go-to blogs I look at every morning.

Their app is one of a kind! It's a photo editor app that allows you to edit your photos with style. This app allows you to add filters, text, borders, doodles and pre-written words to your pictures. Its only available in the itunes store right now, but will be available for android users in about a year. You cant go wrong with this 99 cent app! This pretty much creates the cutest pictures for Instagram and your blog! 

Let me show you some of the features :) 

As you can see, this app is sure to add some flare to your Instagram photos, and even maybe your blog photos! I definitely recommend giving this glorious app a try! 

Summer Nights! (insert Rascal Flatts music here)

Morning Dolls! 

It's only the beginning of Summer 2013 and I'm already completely in love. It's been hot, muggy, and stormy, but that only makes it double the fun for this country girl at heart!! Besides working on new cards for my shop, I've been doing small little family things all day! And who doesn't love that ;) The only sad part is my Canon battery died so I was left taking pictures with my iPhone. But at least I was still able to capture the excitement.

Here's just a little glimpse of how our days have been like so far this summer :).

Outdoors most of the day, and movie nights and forts! I definitely feel like I'm reliving my childhood, and it's so much fun. I haven't made it to the beach yet, but I'm saving that for when I visit my family in Florida. Which I can't wait to share with you guys!

So what have you been up to so far this summer? 

Buhbye Google-reader, Hello Bloglovin'

As I'm sure all of you know Google-reader closes in just a couple days. It's the sad truth. And it completely sucks (in my opinion) that all my favorite blogs won't be at the same place that I write my blog posts. But either way! Don't lose touch with my posts or all your other favorite blogs!!

Bloglovin'

If you haven't already head over to Bloglovin' and make an account. It's a easy and efficient feed of all the blogs that you follow and love. If you want you can click here and have all your blogs from Google-reader onto your bloglovin'. That way you don't have to refollow all the blogs you already have. It even has it's own cute little app! That way you never lose touch. 

Stay in touch

If you'd like to stay in touch completely feel free to follow me everywhere else!

Bloglovin' {here}, Facebook {here}, Tumblr {here}, Twitter {here}, Pinterest {here}

See you on the flip side! 

Whimsical

What's a better way to start the Summer off then being hired to do a Vintage/Retro Maternity Shoot. This couple was beyond lovely and their personalities shone right through the camera lens! This is what photography is all about. Capturing the nature of the person and putting it into a product that they will cherish forever. They even brought the most whimsical props! The car, the parasol, the baby booties and shoes, and the cute overalls. Everything about this shoot was perfect.

I love that in-between my card business, I can make people happy with an affordable and quality photography package. It's the little things that make me happy as a person and a business owner. I never understood why photographers charged 300+ for 20 pictures and an hour of their time. I spent almost two hours with this couple, gave them more than 20 pictures for 60 bucks. With todays economy people don't have 300 dollars to be blowing on pictures that come out mediocre anyway. I'm glad I can provide my services while I'm still growing as a photographer at a great rate. 

What little things do you pride yourself in?

First Day of Summer 2013

Well, Summer is finally here!! Although it's already felt like summer considering it's be scorching hot here in Maryland. (And my room has no A.C....imagine that one!) So it's time once again to busy out those bikinis, those fruity drink recipes you've pinned on Pinterest and hit the water!

However I did none of that on my first day of summer, I did have boat loads of fun! First Madalyn and I went to the Avenue and walked around. I love window shopping this time of year, saves you money too! Then we went into (my favorite store) Barnes and Noble. We grabbed a grande Strawberries and creme frappachino and a pizza stuffed pretzel from Starbucks. If you haven't tried their pretzels...DO SO!! They're so yummy and only 2-3 dollars. 

The main reason we spend our random (free) days at Barnes and Noble is because Madalyn loves playing with their train table and their Lego table. So why not sit and enjoy and little downtime while she plays. Nothing like relaxing on the first day of summer! 

Then I decided to treat my little dewdrop to a first day of summer movie. We went to go see Monsters U! And it was seriously the cutest movie ever. But everyone knew Disney was going to pull through for us there. And the monsters inc movie finally came out after all these years! My inner child was extremely happy. 

Sorry for the pictures of the pictures on my camera but my memory card decided it didn't want to dock to my MacBook right now...silly technology. 

And last but not least, I share with you a little preview of the Vintage Maternity shoot that I did for a client. It was the cutest, most retro adorable photo shoot I've ever done! Ill definitely make a post when I'm done editing the pictures. 

What did you guys do on your first day of summer? 

Last day to purchase for Father's day!

Bonjour dolls!!

Today is the last day you can purchase one of my Father's Day cards and have it get to you before Father's day. Of course you can order them after tomorrow, they just won't get to you before Sunday.

My etsy shop has a variety of Father's Day Cards that are sure to make you and your special dad laugh! Take a little peek of what we have to offer for you this year.

Be sure to put your orders in before tonight!! If not, you'll most likely get your Father's Day card by Monday or Tuesday of next week. Either way, these hilarious and cute Father's Day cards are too good to pass up! 

Oh and to all you Fathers, Dilfs and Studmuffins out there…HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!

Working from Home.

Yawwwwwn.

Starting your own business can be a very rewarding, yet very tiring!! I'm talking about, early mornings, late nights, running back and forth to the post office, to home, to the studio, to the store, to online shops. {i'm telling you…it never ends}

But that doesn't mean that a home business doesn't have it's perks. ;)

A nice cup of joe helps me get motivated in the morning to sit down and actually start working on my business. I also go to Pandora and listen to my favorite country station. Plus! I get the luxury of staying in comfy t-shirts and shorts all morning. Digging my Code Name Kids Next Door shirt I found at Goodwill? 

So since I've been working all morning, I decided I'll give you a little peek of what I do on a daily basis for my business. 

My little iPhone 5 sitting on one of my sketch books that I like to draw my designs in. There's a little preview on a "Congrats on Twins" card I'm making (you're welcome). And my GWTW phone wallpaper…I'm a tad obsessed with the classics. 

I got a few boxes at Michael's since they were on sale ($2!) to put my cards, packaging supplies, stamps and other necessities for my business. I'm still getting everything organized and it's certain place. Since I'm not fully moved out of my current living situation, it's hard having everything everywhere. Hopefully in the next month I'll have my own little station set up (where no little hands will be allowed to wander!)

I'm the type of girl that LOVES lists. I make lists for literally everything. So I bought a separate notebook (Michaels for 50 cents!) to keep track of every card that a customer buys, when they bought it, and when I've shipped them out. Just to make sure that I keep everything organized. Again, once my little business station is set up, I'll probably have a better filing system. But this for right now gets the job done and well! 

Since the desk I'm sitting at is currently full {with a desktop computer, sketchbooks, printer, coffee, mac and cheese, sharpies, ect.} I was forced to set up my laptop and little box of supplies on the bed next to me. But hey! Space is space! Aren't Derek's cowboy sheets cute? haha.

Last but certainly not least, what's working from home without the little one constantly getting in your face? She kept asking me to take a picture of her truck. What can I say? My little girl has a thing for boy toys. And I couldn't help but include this in my blogpost. Look at those delicate little hands!

There you have it!

This is a morning in the life of derae art! And how unorganized, messy, and coffee ridden it is! Haha, kidding {not really though}.