approaching joy

Gourd-eous Day

Like I implied yesterday- things are happily busy here in Approaching Joy land.  
Take the time you would normally use to read the blog to do something sweet with someone in your life: 

• Play with the dog
• Send a playful text to your love  
• Apologize to your younger brother for pushing him off that pile of bricks
  (I seriously need to get on this one.)

Happy Thursday friends- hope it's gorgeous. 

#AJFW :: The Arrival of the Photobook!!!

Okay, okay!! I told you that Monday was the last day of AJFW madness but I've got to tell you about the photobooks of the trip provided by my friends at Moxy Ox!  If you don't know what I'm referring to go check out the post here.  (Seriously, go read it.  I'll be here when you get back.)

Read it? Cool.
And now it's here in living (high resolution, awesome paper, bound and everything) color!!

I am so very excited about the final product and even more excited that I get to share it with the folks that signed up.  

 

Per usual, the folks at Moxy were super easy to work with: I sent them 72 edited pictures (out of the approximately 4000 I took, and no that's no an over-exaggeration), gave them a couple suggestions, and let them work their magic.  I emailed with one of their designers (Hey Anna!!) a few times, but mostly it was her just reminding me about details we had discussed.

End result: Nothing short of fabulous and (if you signed up) heading to a mailbox near you!!  For a full description and more awesome pictures of the process, check out the Moxy Ox blog.  I'm so greatful for local business that support local creatives as well as each one of you who supported me by signing up for a book.

Now you've gotten a sneak peek of my photo book: What images are you going to put into yours??  The most recent family vacation?  Christmas photos from the last 20 years?  Your kids artwork?  Let the rest of us know what you would have printed!!

#AJFW :: Mae's Emporium Jewelry

Imagine finding your grandmother's vintage jewelry box that has been hidden away for years.  Upon opening it you find each and every piece carefully laid out as if she just placed it there last night.  Looking at the layers upon layers of twinkling beauty, you can practically hear the laughter of the last party she attended in the background and glimpse her reflection in the polished metal.
Now imagine that jewelry box is a small store tucked away into downtown Fayetteville Arkansas and you have Mae's Emporium. 

Mae's first caught my eye before I even moved to NWA through Instagram.  Their vintage jewelry just begs to be fawned over and I knew that I would have to make it there soon.  Because of the store's hours I would always miss them by either being there too late or showing up on a day when they weren't open. While at the time I was bummed it just made my anticipation for my first visit even stronger.
I finally made it last week right as she had switched out her summer inventory for pieces that would transition into fall as well as some "Back to School" pieces (it is a college town after all).  

All the anticipation and time I had spent eagerly awaiting a glimpse past the front window totally paid off.  Once inside, I really did feel as if I had stepped into a life sized jewelry box filled to the brim with thousands of gorgeous pieces.  All of this beautiful jewelry is put together in such a way that you automatically think, "I have ten outfits with which I could wear that exact combination," even if such an extravagant piece has never crossed your mind before.

This is most definitely just a taste of all the pretties this store has to offer.  This is one of those places that you really do have to experience to truly understand.

I am ecstatic that I will be wearing jewelry from Mae's Emporium during Fashion Week.  Knowing that something as timeless and classic as these will be there will help me hold my head up a little higher and remind me that I do belong.

p.s. Don't forget the two giveaways happening this week: the photobook of all my New York adventures  AND the gift certificate to the Country Outfitter boots!

Mae's is providing me with jewelry for the span of Fashion Week but all opinions expressed are my own.  It really is a magical place and if you're within driving distance to Northwest Arkansas you should really check it out!!

Beautiful Moments :: #awbu photo recap

In case you haven't been following the #awbu fun on my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook feeds over the weekend, the Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged conference was fabulous.

Actually, "fabulous" isn't quite the right word.
Fabulous doesn't explain how much I learned (lots), how much inspiration I gained (bunches), and how much I realized I still have a long way to go (seriously, my "to-do" list has tripled over the weekend).  

I have many more (exciting!) details coming soon. But just wanted to take a second and say "thank you!" to everyone who have helped me get this far.  My Joysters rock!!

Wedding Wonders :: It's shower time!!

I can not believe it's already time for the wedding showers!!  

I grew up in a small small small country church. I always knew something big was happening when the ladies would get their husbands to set up tables in the back hallway while they brought out the good punch bowl.  I remember sitting at the feet of whatever lovely bride happened to be getting "showered" with love and counting the number of ribbons broken (which everyone knows equals the number of children the couple will have).

I was delighted as my first shower happened over the weekend in East Texas with family and friends.   I am so incredibly blessed to have people that love me like they do.

A few notes:

• All the lace you see was crocheted my Aunt Nell.  It was lovely.  And according to her that daisy pattern only took 25 years to finish.
• The lady who is sitting with me standing behind her is my beautiful mom.
• On the same row to the very right is my mom's best friend and my Aunt/Cousin Lisa who was a big part in getting this whole thing put together; she is so stinking sweet.  She also taught my late bloomer self to ride a bike after I turned seven. I am so very grateful for her.
• On next row is a dear family friend: Peggy.  I'm so glad that she came and that I could catch that smile.
• The lady on the bottom left is my Nana.  The mister took this and several of the other pictures. (Thanks sir!)  I love this one most because she didn't know he was taking it.  Though she has a pretty solumn look on her face I can she the beginnings of a smile in her eyes. Can't you?
• Last thing: This was held in the reception area of Lisa's church (just like I remebered when I was young).  All around the room were murals that her brother helped paint before he passed away.  It was almost like a silent reminder of all the friends and family that were there in spirit. 

 Thanks for taking the time to stop by!!