TWENTY-FIVE THINGS: MID YEAR CHECKUP

It's the middle of the year and it's time to re-visit my 25 things in 2012 list! I'm excited about some of the things I've done so far and I'm looking forward to accomplishing more things from this list!

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>>> 1. Take the DIY Dress-Up E-Course. -- I've purchased the e-course, but I've yet to start it. I feel like this one has been put on hold due to moving and another move coming up this month! But this is definitely still on my list of things to accomplish! 

>>> 2. Read 3 business//development-related books or e-courses. -- I'm halfway through the Dream Job e-course, but I still have a pile of business books, yet to be read! I've always had a difficult time adding reading time into my routine, but I need to figure out something soon!

>>> 3. Learn to bake French Macarons. -- I bought a Macaron cook book, and I've poured over all of the different recipes. I need to pick up some baking supplies to make them, but once we move and settle in, I'll be SO excited to start. :) 

>>> 4. Start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier on weekdays. -- Check! Jon and I have gotten a lot better about heading to bed around the same time every night and waking up earlier. I'd like to continue working on that routine and eventually wake up even earlier. 

>>> 5. Do project HIS & HERS. -- I've played around with a few ideas for this, but I haven't put it all together yet. This will be a photography project, but I still need to work on defining it. 

>>> 6. Move into our first house//townhome! -- Almost! We are only about three weeks away from the big move and we couldn't be more excited! Follow our condo re-design progress here. :) 

>>> 7. Take 2-year anniversary photos. -- Check! My sweet sister took some shots of Jon and me to celebrate two years of marriage last month. See the post here. 

>>> 8. Pay off 2 of my final 4 student loans. -- Jon and I have been working SO HARD on paying off my student loans. In may, we realized that we have hit our half-way mark! We started off with 10 loans total are are down to 4. We will definitely pay off another this year, and we're hoping to squeeze in one more before the year ends. 

>>> 9. Have at least five Pinterest parties this year. -- So far this year, we've had two Pinterest Parties! Check out the posts here and here. We have plans for another this month, and several more before the end of the year. 

>>> 10. Organize all of our family documents, memories, and MISC paperwork. -- This is a when-we-move-into-our-condo, to do item! 

>>> 11. Attend a marriage retreat with Jon. -- Check! Jon and I attended a getaway at the beginning of the year and loved it. We are hoping to make it a yearly tradition to get away and focus on our marriage. 

>>> 12. Complete first year of 5-year journal. -- Work in progress. 

>>> 13. Become an official member of our church. -- Check! Did this with Jon quite a few months ago. 

>>> 14. Have at least six 7-11's. -- We've had several 7-11's this year. 7-11's are our sometimes monthly get together with close friends. It's been such a special tradition we started when we first got married and we've loved spending time with such a special community here in Atlanta. 

>>> 15. Print and frame wedding photos for our home//make blurb books for our home and for our family. -- Goodness! I NEED to get this done. 

>>> 16. Explore 5 new places in the Atlanta area. -- Check! It's safe to say that I've been to several new places in Atlanta this year. From antique stores to new restaurants, it's been so special discovering how unique the place I live in is. It's definitely helped my "the grass is greener" attitude about Atlanta. 

>>> 17. Take a summer workshop at SCAD. -- This did not happen. Hoping to squeeze in some time of class or workshop this year to make up for it! Maybe I'll take a couple classes from ALT? 

>>> 18. Launch the new re-design of www.MaieDae.com. -- Check! This was such an exciting thing to accomplish this year. It's great to have a professional website and a new logo that we LOVE. See posts about it here and here. 

>>> 19. Go thrifting or antiquing one time each month. -- This has been one of my favorite challenges this year. I've loved finding new shops, scoring amazing treasures and recording it on the blog! See each month so far: JAN, FEB, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, and JUNE. 

>>> 20. Put together special date night calendar with Jon. -- Check! See my date night calendar DIY and post about date nights here. 

>>> 21. Start and develop new Balance series on blog. -- Check! I've been trying to make it a goal to post about balance each month. This is something I'm really passionate about. I love this series and I plan to continue it! See balance series posts here. 

>>> 22. Participate in another craft show. -- Jenny and I have plans to participate in another craft show at the end of the year. It's been so nice to close down the online shop and focus on blogging and our graphic design jobs, but it will be such a treat to be in another show! 

>>> 23. Read the "No Brainer Wardrobe", purge my closet, define my style, and begin to shop more intentionally. -- Check! I really enjoyed reading through this e-course and slimming down my closet. I definitly suggest reading the "No Brainer Wardrobe"!  

>>> 24. Create an organized dinner menu with easy//healthier recipe options. -- While we've been eating healthier and trying new things we haven't developed a dinner menu yet! I'd like to do this when we move. 

>>> 25. Make artwork with our wedding vows. -- Haven't done this yet! But I'm looking forward to making something special from our vows. 

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I'm feeling good about my progress! It's been a fantastic year so far. :) 

ADVENTURES IN THRIFT-TIQUING - PART 3

This is the third month of my "thrift-tiquing" challenge. I made a goal to go thrifting or antiquing once a month and purchase some special pieces for my home. In the past, I've been super bad about taking the time to do this and would go to a thrift store or antique store maybe 3-4 times per year. I live in Atlanta and there are SO MANY amazing places to go. I definitely needed to start taking advantage of the surplus of shops in my area.

On top of this monthly challenge, I've set a type of "rule" to visit a new antique or thrift shop each month instead of visiting the same place over and over again. This has been such a neat experience so far, because I've been able to discover some real treasures and explore some unique places close to where I live. :)

This morning, Jon and I ran some errands and we decided to try out some new antique shops in downtown Tucker before picking up a couple groceries for dinner. We found this way cute downtown area with unique shops, restaurants, and two antique shops right next to each other. The first one we went into was very small and had a small selection, the second was a little bigger and that's where I scored one of my favorite finds to date!

Meet the my new Crosley record//radio//tape//cd player. This thing is a beauty! And I got it for a great deal! It works perfectly and sounds great, plus the little lights that come on behind the glass...so awesome. I'm in love...and so is Kyo! What a great little model he is. ;) Fun Facts: Crosley was founded in 1920 by Powel Crosley. Crosley was known for pioneering radio broadcasting around the world. The above is a replica reminiscent of the old Crosley turntables. 

I think this is quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do every month. :) Score any good thrift//antique finds recently?? 

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!! -- Oh! And if you are still looking for somewhere to advertise your business or blog for April, I'm still accepting sponsors!! AND I have my large solo feature still available, it usually runs for $50 per month, but it's on sale now for $40. Email leah@maiedae.com if you're interested!

ADVENTURES IN THRIFT-TIQUING - PART 2

On Saturday, after Jenny and I finished working on gathering tax information for MaieDae, I called up my mom and asked her if she would like to meet and go shopping. :) Jon, Jon's dad, my dad, and my brother were all out together watching a movie, so my mom and I spent the afternoon alone and decided we'd rather get in some quality mother-daughter time instead. :)

Since I made it a goal to go antiquing once a month, my mom and I decided to meet at Ally's Attic in Lawrenceville, GA. Overall, I thought they had a good selection of vendors and antique goods in their shop and, out of the small handful of antique stores I've visited in Georgia, I thought their prices were really good! I was able to get all of the items below for $40.00...which isn't necessarily a good thrift store total...but for an antique store, I thought it was a great price!

I didn't go into Ally's Attic with the intention of purchasing only kitchenware items but, for some reason, those have become my most favorite things to antique! I'm planning to try and step outside the box in March and purchase something different. ;)

I loved these two little cappuccino mugs! They had three on display, but I only purchased the two, because I have this thing for even numbers when it comes to kitchen goodies. I loved their vibrant colors and sweet little half-heart handles. I probably need to purge some of my current mugs...I think these will make the perfect replacement.

These tupperware salt and pepper shakers took me a few looks before I gave in and carried them to the front. Being a designer, I was immediately drawn to the charm of the reflective gold "S" and "P"...perfect. :) Fun Facts: These hourglass salt and pepper shakers were made in the 1950's and my mom remembers using them as a little girl!

How cute is this pattern?! I love the colors and vibrant white of this casserole dish. Through some research, I found that they produced this pattern as mugs, bowls, and other types of casserole dishes. Oh, I'd love to find this pattern as a bowl! Fun Facts: This dish is a french casserole dish by Glasbake. It was made in the 1960's and has a beautiful blueberry pattern on both sides.

Loved this cute retro sugar and creamer set! They were in great condition and I'm dying over the adorable font. Fun Facts: This sugar and creamer set was made by Gemco for Corning Glass: the same company that made Pyrex during the 1960's-1970's. 

And, of course, I picked up another piece of Pyrex for my collection. :) I found this beautiful divided dish hiding away on a book case and loved the little yellow wheat pattern. It's in perfect condition and I can't wait to start using it in the kitchen! Fun Facts: This pattern is called the "Royal Wheat" pattern and was first sold in the 1960's. It was part of the Cinderella promotional divided dish series. 

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I'm loving this monthly goal so far! Now that Jon and I are looking for a townhome//house to rent this year, I might need to start looking for some bigger furniture pieces. I think next month I will visit "vintage village" in Lawrenceville, GA. I think it would be interesting to try new antique stores every month, rather than visiting the same one. :)

Purchase any good antique, vintage, or thrifted finds this month? Do tell! Oh! And by the way, Happy Leap Year! Even though this whole year is a "leap year"...I want to wish you a happy Feb. 29th, since it only comes around every four years. ;)

MARRIAGE RETREAT GETAWAY

On Thursday, Jon and I took a half-day at work and left after lunch to attend a marriage retreat in Rome, Georgia. We loved being able to reflect on our marriage, spend intentional time together, and get away from the busyness of life and our routine at home. We came back this afternoon, and even though I'm coming down with some icky bug, I'm feeling refreshed in my personal life and in my marriage. :)

I try not to be too mush-mush on here, but I'm seriously crazy about my husband. ;) We have nothing close to a perfect marriage, but I am so thankful and honored to walk hand-in-hand through the trials, best of times, and everything in-between with him. Love that man!!

The Winshape Retreat area is seriously one of the most beautiful places in Georgia. I didn't capture nearly enough pictures of the retreat area, but here are a few quick snap-shots:

In a classic Jon and Savannah fashion, as soon as we got home, we snuggled up to our latest show obsession. Sadly, we finished the last few episodes of Firefly and topped it off with watching the follow-up movie, Serenity. So good. I really love watching shows with Jon, but it makes me so sad when they come to an end! We are trying to decide what our next show will be...any suggestions??

Well, my mission for the next two days before my (almost) 2 week business trip, is to rest up and kick this sick bug in the arss so I can be well and do good work! 

Be back tomorrow with a weekly wrap-up. :) Hope you have a wonderful evening. 

ADVENTURES IN THRIFT-TIQUING - PART 1

One of my goals for 2012 was to go thrifting//antiquing at least once each month. I'm surrounded by so many amazing antique and thrift stores in my area, I'd like to take more time to do some treasure hunting AND be more intentional about my vintage purchases. Last year, I started a few new collections, so when I'm "pillaging" the shops I try to keep in mind the items I love to collect so I don't spend unnecessary money on items I'm not in love with.

In order to keep me accountable to my thrift-tiquing adventures, I thought it would be fun to share my favorite finds with you each month. :)

This weekend, Jon took me to the Atlanta Expo Center to attend Scott's Antique Market (a new-to-me place//event in Atlanta). The Antique Market is an annual event that has hundreds of vendors and so many unique and mostly expensive pieces. My favorite part was looking around and appreciating the beautiful finds. I only made a few purchases at Scott's:

I was able to add this beautiful Imperial Debonair Camera and its original box to my collection. The above picture also has a few more of my favorite cameras from my collection in the background. Fun Facts: The Imperial Debonair was made in Chicago during the 1960s and was used as the official cub scout camera. 

These sweet little glass owls are called Boyd Owls. Jon picked out the black and I picked out the white one. Fun Facts: Boyd Glass is a family glass business passed down through four generations. Each piece is manufactured the old-fashioned way, with a mold and not a machine. 

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The very next day, I stopped by my favorite antique mall in Lawrenceville, GA, on our way home from my parents' house. We only had 15 minutes to shop before closing, but seriously, it's amazing what you can find in 15 minutes. ;)

On our way up to the register, Jon called me over to a little section of the store and showed me this light blue typewriter beauty. It was such a great price and is still in great working condition. It came with an adorable matching blue case attachment. So pretty!! Fun Facts: The "Smith Premier Typewriter Company" was establish in 1886. This particular model was made in the 1960s.

My final find was this set of beautiful vintage Pyrex mixing bowls. I love the steel blue color and sweet little flower details. Fun Facts: The name of this pattern is called Colonial Mist and was first introduced in 1983. 

I love learning interesting facts and history about the items I purchase. I feel like it gives each item more character and life. :) Do you have a recent favorite find? What do you look for when you're "thrift-tiquing"?