big news...

Some of you may know this already, but Will and I are right on the cusp of the next big phase of our lives. Where on earth has the month of March gone? Where have I been? Let me show you:

Will and I have been working pretty dang hard over the past year (mostly under wraps) planning an adventure. We will be spending the next four months living in our MINI Cooper on a road trip of the great US of A, then working in wilderness education again after that, and then heading to Australia for a bit. We are so overjoyed that all of our musings and daydreams are finally becoming a reality. 

Sorry to keep you hanging, but this is all starting in four days.

And over a year ago, we had the idea to start a blog together - we would split the tasks, but I would mostly write and Will would mostly take photos. We came up with a name, had big ideas, but for some reason it never materialized. Whether we were too tied up in our monotonous routine or we felt there was a reason to wait, the timing now feels better than ever. It makes perfect sense for the launch of our joint creative adventure to go hand-in-hand with our joint life adventure.

I'd like you to meet good morning, mountain. 

This blog will maintain a fair bit of the "lifestyle feel" - the goings-on in our days, the little gifts, things we like. But it will also feature outdoor adventures, travel stories, reviews, deeper conversations, and my husband.   :)

The past four years in this space have been fun, but largely wandering and aimless. What I'm most excited about with good morning, mountain is vision. The idea of a clean slate is exciting and also daunting. I'm so grateful for those of you who have followed faithfully or casually here on Life in Technicolor. It's been cool to see that folks still read things here even when I'm less present, but I think there may be very few posts in this space (if any) moving forward. I'm thrilled to fully embrace our new blog home!

With that, I invite you to hop on over to good morning, mountain to learn more about what's coming up for us. Then, we'd love it if you followed along for the journey.

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here's what's up.

contemplating: What to do with my hair. It's in this place where I'm really trying to be good and grow it out, but I also haven't gotten a trim in an embarrassing amount of time. I'm torn between just getting a healthy trim, or cutting the necessary inch or two off that would be needed to ditch the obnoxious leftover layers from my pixie cut. go.a.way. layers!

looking forward to: The rest of How I Met Your Mother! Can't wait to see how they wrap it all up.

thrilled with: All three of the dresses I ordered from Ruche. Haha, woops. I was supposed to narrow it down and return some, but I just can't. And won't.

bummed about: Downton Abbey being over. AGAIN. Ten months is too long to wait for another season of a fantastic show. It feels like we just got started up again!

reading: In Praise of Slowness and really loving every word. Amen to slowing the heck down!

anticipating: Some big life changes coming up mighty fast. Stay tuned for that.

coveting: These sandals for meandering on summer days, and one more dress for my collection.

eating: Mostly vegetarian these days! Check out these recipe ideas.

anxious about: Super long to-do lists, and money. I hate that :/

learning: A lot about website hosting, Wordpress, and what goes into website building. Stayed tuned about that too :)

And that's what's up. Have a good week!

what january brings

It's been a while, (for posting in general, and especially for a gifts post) but I'm back around these parts hoping to be inspired. I haven't really even been reading blogs much these days - which is weird because it used to be an almost daily activity. This might sound weird (because I really do love all of the blogs I read), but the time away is almost... freeing.

I think there's something about blogging that can breed discontentment. Hmm, maybe it's all of the beautiful and fashionable women, the pristine homes, and productivity that's enviable? Yeah, that's it.

I am content. I like my sense of style (or lack there of), I LOVE my new home and the shape it's starting to take, and I actually have been quite productive these days. I suppose the missing link is my inability to sit down and write about it. I want to blog when I want to blog, and not because I feel like I "should".

That's why I'm just going to take a few minutes today to put some stuff out here. Here are some things that the new year brings:

1. I have resolved to read more fiction. I set up an account on GoodReads (friend me if you're on it!) to help me maintain a list of books to read, and I have a chart where I make sure that I read for at least 15 minutes a day. Not earth-shattering, but discipline starts small, people. Two weeks in - so far so good. About halfway done with 1984 - which is another book that I was shockingly never assigned to read in school.

2. I have also resolved to do some sort of exercising at least 2-3 days a week. Again, starting small to get out of my winter slump. So far, I've been doing heaps of yoga and am tip-toeing ever so cautiously into the world of CrossFit. My body was so sore after just two days (not even two consecutive days) so we'll see if that continues. I sure would like to be jacked though...

3. A new job. This is the time when retail hours take a big plunge, so I'm now barely working at Madewell - maybe 5 hours a week, if I'm lucky (which I'm mostly not). I've been there part-time since October, all the while looking for something to fill in the gap. But now I've found something that I hope will be fulfilling for me, as it's much more in my horizon of concern (shout out to those who know that lingo). I am now a manager at the Philadelphia Rock Gym and start training this week. I hope I enjoy it as much as I anticipate!

4. Either a new or off-shoot blog is in process. I know, I can barely keep up with this one so what's the point? Well because it's a joint venture, a brain child we've been mulling over for almost a year, and it will be different. It will be different because it's not about growth, it's not about followers, it's not about building an internet dynasty (like most bloggers hope to do). It won't have sponsorship, it won't have a multitude of links and pages, and there won't be any pressure to post. Our hopes are that it will be more personal, deeper, more creative, clean and simple. I'm unsure if I'll keep this blog running as my own individual musings, but be on the lookout for something coming soon.

So here are some gifts that I remind myself of during this long state of transition:

a magnificent holiday season, even if it went entirely undocumented. 

the ability for a clean slate whenever we want - not just every 12 months. 

inspiration - even when you have to go looking for it. 

sponsor spotlight: amira, from shades of gray.

Meet another one of my sponsor friends, Amira! 

I think that Amira's blog may be one of my top three faves that I've found out there, guys. No joke. She is seriously awesome. Not to be a brat, but I don't like to sponsor just anyone. I only really want to promote blogs that I honestly look forward to reading - and the first time I stumbled upon Amira's, I developed a large slight friend crush on her. She writes the thoughts that I ponder in this little brain of mine but might not have the guts to post on the blog. Example from today: 

"Dear Asparagus- I could eat you for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But why do you make my pee smell just like you? 

It's fascinating and gross at the same time."

See?? Come on. We've all thought that, but she puts it right out there. Hilarious. And I love her for it.

She's also studying to become a librarian, which I also think is the coolest.

Now that I've done some bragging on her wits and her brains, I'll let her introduce herself!

Hello beautiful readers of Life in Technicolor! I'm Amira and I blog over at Shades of Gray. I'm a southern California girl and have lived here my whole life. My husband and I live in a little beach town called Encinitas.

I'm currently in grad school for Library Science and hope to one day soon become a Children's Librarian. What started as a travel blog, turned into a wedding planning blog (when Brandon proposed during a trip to Belgium) and has now become a place for me to keep family and friends updated on the ins and outs of our lives.

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There you have it! I can't recommend her blog highly enough, so I implore you to check it out!

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You heard me. Now go, go, go!

Happy weekend :)

why I can never be a "what I wore today" blogger.

This is something I've given great thought to, and I figured I'd let you in on my ponderings.

I really do enjoy fashion. Honest. 

I freakin' adore Kendi Everday and get ideas from her all the time.

{via}

{via}

She's very "pinnable" and I love the way she pairs so many unique pieces. And I really admire that she's made a living out of posting what she wears! That's so impressive. She rocks.

I also commonly drool over all things J.Crew. Their bright colors and unexpected combinations always keep me coming back for more. It's not uncommon for me to visit their website for inspiration before I get dressed in the morning. I'm currently styling my thrifted-but-nearly-identical pieces in this sort of manner...

{via}

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See? I'm not inept! I can get the job done.

However, the truth of the matter is - if my job didn't dictate my fashion choices, 

here's what I would naturally gravitate toward...

{find sources on my pinterest board}

Frump. Central.

Not gonna lie, I think that second photo is of a guy but I don't even care. I would wear that every day.

Maybe "frumpy" is the wrong word. The connotation is all wrong. Some of my favorite words are "over-sized", "cozy", "comfy" and "loose". I think you get the gist.

This is why I need a work-from-home job - so I can sit on my couch in my wool socks, leggings and blankets. Or do work from Starbucks in loose jeans, baggy sweaters and a baseball cap.

At the heart of it, could I post photos of the J.Crew inspired outfits that I put together for work?
Yes.
But could I do it in good conscience, knowing that it actually only takes about five minutes before I start feeling constricted, cold, and daydream of my more generously cut articles of clothing?
Never.

I just needed to be transparent about that fact.
I admire all of you dressy ladies, because I'm simply not cut out for it.

sponsor spotlight: tiffany, from coffee talks & cat walks.

I decided that it was high time to start introducing some of my friends over here on the left. 

And I'm excited to start off with Tiffany! 

She blogs over at Coffee Talks & Cat Walks and she is a sweetheart. In my opinion, what makes her blog so awesome and unique is that she has tons of regular series that I can look forward to. Motivational Monday and Fun Font Friday are self-explanatory and equally awesome. And then there's Copy Cat where she shows a stylin' celeb and shows you how to style a similar look on the cheap. 

And she has a beehive. If that isn't cool, I don't know what is.

                  

Tell us about yourself! I'm a thirty something woman madly in love with Jesus and My Husband.  I don't have kids, but I do have a cat that I love to pieces, and a beehive.  Yes - I suppose the bees count as pets.  I'm a freelance graphic designer and wouldn't trade that job for anything.  It gives me lots of flexibility - and I'm my own boss ... and that is a wonderful thing.  I am originally from central Illinois, but now currently reside in the burbs of Indianapolis. 

How did your blog come to be, and what are some of your favorite things to write about? I started my blog back in 2007 but wasn't committed to it at all back then.  I picked blogging back up about a year ago when I became obsessed with sewing.  I was using my blog as a place to showcase the stuff I was making.  Eventually started selling the goodies I was making, so I started using my blog to promote my new products.  I also love to write about fashion, coffee, and random stuff from my personal life.

What are some of your hobbies/in an ideal world, how would you spend a day off? Hobbies....Sewing, spending time with my husband/bestfriend, cuddling, watching a movie with a fire in the fireplace and my kitty on my lap.

What is the most important lesson you have learned in the last 6 months to a year? Not to stress.  I'm a natural born stress case - and it's a sucky way to live.  I'm trying to squash my stress - it's not health - or necessary.  :)

What's your most notable quirk? I don't know if I recognize my own quirks.  I think I'm normal, but I know for sure my friends and family would dispute that.  ;)  I'm not a fan of ants. They gross me out.  I guess that is a quirk.

Where do you hope to be in five years? I just want to continue to grow both my crafty business (The Paisley Tab) and my freelance graphic design company & just want to please God in everything I say and do.

Do you have a shop you'd like to promote? I do! The Paisley Tab.

Tiffany, thanks so much for sharing about who you are and what you do.

To become a follower of Tiffany, find her here!

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fun facts & blogger games

Work has been so work-ish lately. Usually things are very sit-and-veg-in-front-of-the-computer-ish, but not the past week and a half. It's been so swamped. How dare work keep me from my blogging and emailing? The nerve.

But it's starting to slow down a little so I've finally had to participate in the fun! This has been floating around the blogosphere for a bit, so now it's my turn - here's my "11 things" blogger friend questionnaire game!

Well that was fun :) Sorry it's taken me ages!
My questions for Tiffany and Stevie if they're up for the task are:

1. If you could have any skill or trait that you don't already have, what would it be?
2. What color most closely resembles your personality and why?
3. What was the best part of your week so far?
4. What's the most important lesson you've learned in the last six months?
5. If you could have the musical style and career of any musician, who would it be?
6. What's your most hated chore?
7. Describe your dream home.
8. What are you most afraid of?
9. Do you snore, sleep walk, or talk in your sleep?
10. What's your most notable quirk?
11. Where do you hope to be in five years?

featured!

Today I was featured over on my friend Em's blog, Tales for Karina Marie! While Em has been blogging for a while, she recently redesigned her mission after her best friend Karina tragically passed away in a car accident in September. Now she retitled her blog and writes her entries in honor of Karina, to keep her filled in on the goings on down here. I think it's really sweet :)

She asked me to write about life as a newlywed, so check it out over here!

Hope you're having a lovely week and enjoying this Indian summer weather if you're in the northeast!

attention!

Click here if you're into that sort of thing & follow!

A tribute left unpaid.

Oh my gosh. A crucial date has come and gone and I didn't even think to acknowledge it!

I have now been keeping this blog for one year, one month, and one week!

Wahoo! How exciting?! It has definitely been a fun ride, and it was certainly a useful and enjoyable way to keep record of my days in Australia. Although that was the original design of this endeavor (look back on those early entries for a good laugh or outrageous story), I'm really glad that I've kept it up since then. I know that I've lost some readership because I'm not some adventurous exotic traveler anymore, but that's okay. My mom still likes reading my material so that's all that truly matters, right? 

I guess that just means that I'll have to start having a more exciting life so that people want to read about again, huh? Well, I'll do what I can on that one. Engagement should be exciting enough to rope people in, I hope! Maybe I'll take another trip when I have the money. Don't tell my future potential employers...

Thanks to those who read and comment, making this whole thing more fun for me. And to the awesome blogs I read that continue to inspire me! Much love blogworld. It's been real. December 23, 2011 will mark two years, so here's to another 326 days!