Kara Haupt for Lovely Us

This is the first of many guest posters all week, wondering where I am? Read this post for the details :)
Big thanks to Kara for helping me out and giving you guys some eye candy while I'm away from the interwebs.

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Hi! My name is Kara Haupt and I'm so excited that Samantha asked me to guest this week. I just barely moved to Brooklyn, NY from Boise, Idaho to study photography at art school. I like to art journal, scrapbook, drink coffee, and go fast.
I'm blogging today about a fun collaboration I did with my friend Kip. I love to doodle and have spent a few years perfecting my handwriting and was over the moon excited when Kip asked me to design a new shirt for his website, thelovelyus.

You can buy the tees and sweatshirts here or take a look around the website for other pretties.
Thanks for asking me, Samantha!

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isn't she the best? so creative, I love her blog and following her on twitter. she is a riot! wishing you the very best Kara with art school, I know you are gonna kick ass!

Timeline...

So I'm doing this mostly for myself, but I also thought it would be cool to share and I added some photos for your viewing pleasure :)

In 2 days... I'll be driving to Seattle, flying to Alabama

found on flickr

spending 5 days with my family and friends

flying back to Seattle

driving from Washington to Wisconsin in 4 days with 2 of my favorite people

celebrating my 22nd birthday! with a crazy fun party :)

and no this is not beer pong in my room... no no no ;)

Sept. 8th - become best friends with this place again for my last year of college. :)

Life is SO good!

I've gotten a few e-mails with questions about where I'm going/traveling so I thought I'd clear some things up ... got any more questions? Leave them in the comment section.

xoxo

She...

"she turned her cant's into cans, and her dreams into plans."

dreams and plans are a plenty in my mind these days. As the last summer as a college student begins to come to an end, my mind has been full of dreams, plan and wants. I'm trying to be realistic, yet not sell myself short.


my dream would be to graduate, move to a city like Seattle or San Diego and open up a little boutique called Indie and Chic. It would have handmade items by me and others, as well as art. I'd also like it to be a place for handmade clothing and vintage goods...
but realistically I don't have $$ to invest in a shop space, so I'll have to have a job that deals with my major or minor (Biology and Business). However, I'm not going to let a day job get in the way of my dreams. I just have to set up a plan. Like save up $$ and in 5yrs be ready to open up a shop. I need to just do it. I'd have all that time to find the perfect location, the artists I want to include, and of course be financially able to float myself for a year or two as most small business owners have to.


You see owning a business is something that I've been a part of for years and I never even realized it was something I wanted to do. My mom opened up her own sewing/embroidery business when I was 5. She worked so hard those first few years. I even had a bed up at the shop to sleep in on nights she had to work late. I loved it! I loved helping my mom and being around her so much. As I got older I was able to help more and it felt so good. Dealing with customers, seeing the whole process of buying, marketing, making and selling. I was hooked.


I knew I didn't want my mom's business, which she can tell you I made perfectly clear in my teenage years... sorry mom it was the hormones :) But as soon as I went off to school something was missing. I wasn't around a business on a daily basis and I missed it. Without even realizing it I started my own business Indie &a Chic... I just kinda turned my hobby into something that on a good day gives me some extra spending money ;)


Where am I going with this? Good point, I guess I'm trying to convince myself that after next year when I'm working 40hrs a week, that it won't or doesn't have to be the end of Indie and Chic. I'm kinda scared that growing up might put a hold on my dreams.


Do you ever think about your artistic future?

I'm Doing This...

via Elise at Enjoy It. I love love love her mini's and style so I am SOOOOOOO excited to take this class.

you can find a catalog of all her mini's here... they are so amazing!

xoxo,

Sunday Afternoon Self-Portraits

So I can't remember the last time I took a photo of myself... without photobooth. So I played around today, I need to do this more often :)

you can see them all on Flickr! 

your turn... photoshoot time!! link back here if ya do :) 

Things that make me Smile...

it's the little things that make me the happiest. like when friends call you indie or legit!

oh and this one made me laugh..

update on the Lady Gaga concert... umm, uncomfortable at times, over all a great experience!

how was your weekend?

Free Concert...

So I'm not a HUGE fan, but my landlord had an extra ticket and gave it to me for being such an awesome tenant... so I'm leaving work early today and driving to Portland Oregon for a ....

LADY GAGA concert.... secretly hoping Beyonce makes a surprise appearance for telephone...hehe

so yea, here's to hoping I enjoy myself and don't judge everyone else there... I'm a concert judger haha.

So if you are in the Portland OR area Friday morning and want to thrift, get coffee etc, let me know :)

xoxo

Nervous...

I am so nervous... nervous that in 7 days I'll be done with my summer internship. Knowing that the end of this internship means only 2 weeks till I start classes for my Senior year of college. How is this even possible?

circa 2009

I still remember my 16th birthday like it was yesterday...

...and it feels like just last week I was driving 1100 miles to my Freshmen Orientation in Wisconsin... how have 3 years of college just flown by?

All I keep thinking about is "after this year I'm done. Out in the real world. No downtime, no exams, and no cafeteria's. Am I ready? How can I balance my last year of school while wanting to participate in everything. Everything feels like a last time." ... these questions/thoughts are all floating around in my head. And I know things will work out, but sometimes life and changes can seem so overwhelming.

I've changed so much in the past three years at school, and I know this one will probably be the most shaping of the four. I'm looking forward to getting to know myself as I prepare emotionally for the big change that is coming in 10 short months. GRADUATION & FINDING A JOB... those words are terrifying.

But for now I'm focusing on the now, and preparing myself for a Senior year packed with hard-work, fun times, new friends and probably some tears. And keeping my past memories close to my heart and at the front of my mind.

19th B'day - Sept. 6th 2007- Freshman year

Keeping an "illegal" kitten in my dorm room for 3 months - Sophomore Year

Superhero Party - Sept. 2009 - Junior year

Not Play Beer Pong... - Junior Year

good times, great people.

and if you made it all the way to the end of this post... kudos, it was a lot of rambling ;)

Sponsorship for a Cause

I was really inspired by Lindsay's act of kindness and generosity, and thought I should do something like that as well. So I thought long a hard about an organization I wanted to support, and then BAM it hit me... juvenile diabetes.

So ya see, Type 1 diabetes is near and not so dear to my heart. In high school I began dating this guy named Spence, he was 15. About a week after we started dating he called me from the hospital to tell me he had been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes... my response was, "so how long till you come home?" ... yea that was niave little Samantha.

I still remember googling the term "type 1 diabetes" and feeling very overwhelmed. A lot of the effects didn't hit till I visited him in the hospital, I remember feeling helpless and confused.

We dated for almost 3 years, and he is still my best friend to this day. I wanted to do something and September is the perfect month b/c it will be the 5 yr anniversary of his diagnosis.

He has overcome so much in the past 5 years, and I am so proud of him. So, Spence if you are reading this, I hope you know that ;)

So yea, if you'd like to be a sponsor please purchase a spot, they are only $5. I will be making a tribute donation in his name.

Sponsor Spence

five $5.00 ten $10.00 fifteen $15.00

Love you all,
Samantha

Here are some juvenile diabetes statistics...

- autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas

- As many as three million Americans may have type 1 diabetes.

- Each year, more than 15,000 children - 40 per day - are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S.

Some Warning Signs... (Spence had all of these, but we still didn't put it all together)

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Drowsiness or lethargy
• Increased appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Sugar in the urine
• Fruity odor on the breath

 Type 1 diabetes is a scary disease, it is NOT curable, only manageable. All sponsorship $$ goes towards finding a cure. 

Meet the Sponsors :August Edition

 This month has some super inspiring and creative sponsors. Honestly, their ad buttons are more like bookmarks for daily inspo. So here they are, show them some love!

MCH Photography:

My name is Christy Henderson I consider myself a Wife, Mom, Photographer, Vintage Treasure hunter. I love anything to do with Photography. I am have always been the one in my family dragging my camera with me everywhere. I love capturing life,love and everything else. I am building my portfolio. I love shooting families, weddings and babies. My blog is a mix of shots from my latest sessions, my family, my etsy store, and other adventures. 


I also love anything vintage. I am always hunting for treasures at yard sales, antique stores, flea markets. Check out some of my finds on my blog and in my Etsy store.
 

For inspiration I am all over the place, I pick up ideas everyday from Nature, buildings, people (especially my daughter) colors. I love searching for new locations to shoot.

My favorite shot is one I did recently from a wedding. I took the wedding rings and placed them on a statue of Jesus hands I found in the courtyard. Behind the statue was painted a beautiful shade of blue. And it went along with her wedding colors.
 
 
JAM Jewelry:

Blue Bermuda Necklace

We are a newlywed husband and wife team (Justin and Michele a.k.a JAM) and JAM Jewelry Shop on Etsy is our newest creation! When we aren’t working on the shop we enjoy going out to eat, watching movies (particularly at the drive-in) and traveling. Justin enjoys photography and he loves to spend time outdoors biking and hiking. Michele loves to create – you can usually find her knitting a scarf, sewing a handbag or making jewelry.

Justin is inspired by different angles and unusual points of view. He loves piecing together images and puzzles and this gives him new perspectives. He gets a lot of the inspiration for his photographs from the outdoors and nature. Michele is inspired by trends in fashion and she loves glitz and glamour. Modern looks and creative color combinations give her mind new things to think about when she creates her own vision. She uses fashion magazines and supply stores for inspiration.

One of our favorite creations in our shop right now is the square chessboard ring. Justin loves the angles and symmetry of the design and Michele loves how versatile it is.

The Daisy Parade:

Hi, I'm Ashley from The Daisy Parade! I'm 24, but a real big kid at heart. I'm a hands-on kind of girl, and like to "dabble" in a lot of things, constantly trying something new.

I love being part of the creative community, using my writing, photography, and craftiness as a way to keep my sanity! I sometimes feel alone in my real-life part of the world (since many of my friends aren't very crafty), so I love meeting new people to talk to and create with!

- Where do you go for inspitation?
Anywhere. My personal motto is, "Inspiration is everywhere!" You just have to keep your eyes (as well as the other senses) open. For instance, it wouldn't be unusual for me to be inspired by a certain melody in a song or just the way the light shines through my curtain at a certain time in the morning. It's all up to you what you see and how you perceive it!

Not only that, but from the people I follow (and who follow me) in the blogging community! I never have been so inspired than from the amazing people I meet online every day! :)

I'm currently working on an Etsy shop opening for late 2010 (if time and money permits), so I'm trying to play around with a lot of ideas for the shop. Here is an Indie and Chic readers only peek of one of the items I plan on selling:

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Thanks so much to my amazing sponsors, you guys are great!

Leave a comment and I will enter you into a secret drawing to be revealed every three months. I want to encourage your participation with some goodies and surprises :)

4 Simple Goals (via ElsieCake)

Here are my 4 simple goals to accomplish till the end of the year, inspired by the wonderful Elsie F.

prepare for my first craft show in December.

create a space that I love to work in. My dorm room last year never had the creative vibe in it.

participate more, mostly in real life activities. I get really overwhelmed in some social situations and only feel comfortable being in small groups. I need to work on this.

share the crafty side of my life more... I am sooo shy and self-conscious about this. Must break that habit.

My Fun Packaging Tutorial

Check out the guest post I did for Pixies and Bears... it's a super fun tutorial on making your own packaging.

xoxo

Shop Update

Happening right now... 4:00Pm pacific time.   (visit the shop)

xoxo

Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes

So lately it seems I have been craving / wanting / dreaming shoes. It's been bad... however, I felt admitting it and sharing some of my favorites will make me feel less guilty about the file folder on my desktop I've been hoarding :)

First up these Cynthia Vincent wedges... I discovered Jinah's blog and found them there. I am in love... currently in a bidding war on ebay, fingers crossed these are my 22nd b'day present to myself. The first photo is of Jinah wearing them :)

 Second up, any Koolaburra boot or flat... I found this brand earlier in the month and I am in love... not with the prices though. I seriously can't justify $200 for boots when I know they will get ruined in one snow season.  I want them to wear with cute dresses in the fall though... hmmm.

third, flats... these in particular :)

yep yep, that's what's been tempting my savings account these days!

in other news, 2 more weeks left of my internship here in Washington, it's been amazing. I'm flying home to Alabama for a few days to see my family (my b'day present from my mom) and then I'm back to Washington to make the drive back to school in Wisconsin... lots of travel and lots of fun. I'm making the road trip this time with friends from school... in case you're new here, this is the link to my road trip out here :)

so what's going on with everyone? not many comments lately, I miss hearing from you all!
xoxo