letterboxing adventure #1

{hopefully to be followed by adventure #2}

let me just begin this post by explaining what letterboxing is {if you don't already know}

it's awesome!

i like to describe it as scavengerhunts for grown-ups {or even not-so-grown-ups}

it's easy, and all you need is a notebook, a stamp and a good sense of adventure.

{it's a hobby i started and cultivated with my bestie}

so anyway, onto today's letterboxing hunt with my summertime kiddos!

 {we started at the lookout to see where we're going: down there by "tuddle puddle"}

the second clue led us down to the "bison" {you know, kansas art}

{ok, i actually think they're pretty cool}

the box is somewhere in this old wall...

 found it!

the best part- you put your stamp in their notebook, and their stamp in your notebook. make sense?

{my notebook and stamp, with the found letterbox and hand-carved bison stamp inside}

we had fun. and it's a great way to explore outdoor spaces you wouldn't necessarily go otherwise.
now go look and see if there are any letterboxes near you! {or just to read more about it} you'll be hooked.

scenes from a kansas summer

summertime pets

have i told you about my summer job yet? i think it's gonna be great. i'm babysitting {or nannying as i'm told people my age call it} for 2 kids from my school program. they're awesome and live out in the country, and they have a lot of animals.
 

so many animals!

{jack}

{princess}

{chewy}

{brand-new baby kitties!}

{frankie, one of 8 barn cats}

{speedy}

{professor}

{trouble with ed}

{ed, and the other horse whose name i can't remember right now}

{domino}

good thing i love animals :)

it's spring!

it's hard to stay down-in-the-dumps when there's all this spring-love surrounding you everywhere you look.

this nest? right outside our patio. i spent a wonderful day reading and eating in the shade, listening to the birds singing.

perfect.

beat 'em up! beat 'em up! ksu!

in a town that could never be accused of lack of pride- where an opportunity to plaster something {anything!} with the power cat is never passed by, there still somehow seems to be an explosion of purple here lately.

march madness has hit us, and it's hit us hard!

last night's game against xavier was amazing. the town literally went nuts {i'm using the word "literally" here literally} as soon as we won, people opened their doors and screamed, college students were running around campus in hoards, aggieville went nuts, and fireworks lit up the sky. it was a ruckus to be heard around the whole city of manhattan.

and then today npr pronounced the game "the best in the tournament"

yes my friends, it's good to be a wildcat <3

la boheme

we moved all the way out here {manhattan kansas} so that my husband could follow his dream- which led him to school. 

and will lead him to another school after this. 

but i'm not wasting my time here, either- i found a job i love, opened my etsy and am pursuing my suzuki certifications {teaching the violin is my passion}

we didn't exchange christmas gifts this year {we were just happy to be surrounded by friends and family} and we won't do birthday gifts, either.
life is more simple this way. we're taking less for granted and making the most of our time here. in a strange way,  we're living this crazy-poor-artistic lifestyle- doing what we must to get by, but pursuing our dreams non-stop and full-force.

it's kind of romantic.

and i kind of love it. a lot.

in fact, if we were only {only!} living in paris, i think we would be the quintessential starving artists. a scholar and an etsian.

 it's got a nice ring to it, no?

photos here, here, here

play in the snow!

today i went to the paul bunyoan park with a young friend of mine and played in the snow for hours.
or just one hour.

{paul bunyan lives in the paul bunyan park}

we made a snowman! and were then faced with an eternally difficult question. a sophie's choice of sorts...

do we save it for others to enjoy, or...

godzilla!

i think we made the right choice :)

t-la-re

here they are. my bags. in a shop! so. ex.citing.

houndstooth handbag:

a couple wristlets on the shelf

a personal favorite, brown corduroy slouchy bag:

you can see my stuff surrounded by crafts made by other local arisans (jewelry, knits, signs, collages ect.) not to mention all the other cool stuff around:

green sparkles, and stuffed painting of a doe. i wish i had more wall space!

and lots of vintage jewelry goodies:

so if you're in kansas {specifically manhattan} come by and see my stuff and other goodies at t-la-re. you'll also be able to find me at the palace {starting in march}

and if you can't get here, you can always check out my etsy

winter weather take 2

now this is more like it!

although we're still in kansas. the proof:

they predicted 14" but we've only got 2-3" so far,
all the schools are closed,

and they plow with tractors. awesome.

but still like home {michigan} cause the roads suck!

we put aria to work cleaning the porch:
{she really likes snow}

other reminders of home: hubby finally found the 24/7 npr station {yay!} and today i listened to talk of the nation for the first time since moving. hearing neil conan's voice was like reconnecting with an old friend

{i used to listen everyday while driving to work}

winter weather

kansas style

 

 yes friends, this is what kansas winter snows look like.

 hard to believe it snowed all evening and all night.

{and we heard the plows come by}

i'm certainly not in michigan anymore!

oz museum!

stopped by the oz museum yesterday and it was awesome! i think the photos speak for themselves (i took way too many so i tried to narrow it down a little)
$4 for students and you get to see all this:

hand beaded ruby slippers (hundreds and hundreds of swarovski crystals)

so much oz memorabilia! who doesn't want this tea set!?

the characters were surprising well done, and very realistic

i'm in love with these old stuffies. how cute! maybe some day i'll try to make my own

the most amazing handmade quilt. so much detail! it's incredible.

it is displayed in the museum's theater that shows the move 24/7

i do believe in spooks. i do believe in spooks. i do i do i do i do believe in spooks

it's good to be the wizard

in short, i would recommend it! everything is really well done, and very organized. and of course, lots and lots of kitch. and i love me some kitch!

side trip to wamego

i went to visit the doctor today in topeka and i actually enjoyed the drive a lot (a nice sunny day) driving through farm fields, and seeing old farm houses. then, on my way home i made a little side trip to wamego kansas. a tiny little town (of approx 5000 people) and it was adorable! i'm kinda in love with small town kansas.

the oz winery- next door to the oz museum!
(don't worry, i went in and took a ton of photos, but i'll post those later)

the old mill. already decorated for christmas. how quaint.

the wamego museum (next to the old mill) i didn't have time to check this one out, but it looks sweet.

and then, walking around downtown and checking out various antique stores and local shops, i came across the cutest store! it's full (to the brim) of purses and jewelry and i'm in love with the way it's decorated. hopefully this will give you the general idea:
new york fashion exchange

the second room- twall wallpaper? vintage black and white prints? i could live in there

don't forget to look up! i love these ceilings and matching chandeliers, understated but very chic

(sister.in.law, i bought your christmas present here :)

stay tuned for photos of the wizard of oz museum! (you won't be disappointed. probably)

you're now looking at a local artist

i've got such good news!
a local vintage shop here in manhattan is going to be selling my bags! wa hoo! excited noises!

i'm ridiculously excited and i've been sewing like a mad woman!
it has seriously become my new full-time job. i'm sewing 9-5 (or more like 10-6) at least for this week and i'm loving it even though hunching over the sewing machine is making my back hurt. (not that i'm complaining!)

anyway, i've got four bags done (since yesterday) but i'm not ready to post any photos yet.
so until then, you can check out my etsy shop
and i've been included in the kansas etsy team treasury- so cool (you can leave comments on this page)
and you can check out t-la-re, the store i'm soon to be featured in :) i wish you could all come visit and celebrate with me and see just how darn awesome this shop is (with or without my stuff in it)

i'm leaving you with my photo booth shoot of me and my favorite hat.
or as it's become, my "thinking" cap

i don't know why i love it so much. i may or may not have slept in it last night, too.

simple pleasures

i've been making mental lists again and i thought i'd share some of my life's simple pleasures

1) a good nights sleep

>
possibly one of life's best simple pleasures, no?

2)hot showers

>

i love taking nice (and i'm sorry to admit) long showers.

it's like a mini bubble bath. and who doesn't love a good hot bath?

3) smiles from strangers
>
one of my favorite things about kansas so far is how friendly everyone is!
one smile can really perk you up, and it reminds me to smile too :)


4)sense and sensibility

it's no secret that i love jane austen, and while this isn't my favorite book of hers, it is my favorite movie. emma thompson and kate winslet? amazing!
and i'm also in love with the new bbc version which is longer, giving you more to love.
is it weird that in my top 10 list of favorite movies i have two versions of the same book?

care to share some of the simple pleasures on your list too?