glimpses of summer

Phew! It's been a while since I've opened Blogger and sat down to write a post. Quite a bit of time seems to pass in between posts, and a little bit seems to change every time. A few of those being 1) my hair has changed from a dark brown to a blonde to a nice maroon red 2) I'm currently figuring out what the future holds and trying to grab it by the reins. 

These past few days I've been enjoying the last few flashes of summer, and yesterday I spent a good portion of the day by the beach, admiring the aquamarine waves and happily eating a delicious sour cream-chocolate-strawberry flavored ice cream cone. I also spent it thinking a lot about this corner of the web and wondering if there was anything left for me at all. For a long time there was definitely this mentality that everything had to be pre-prepared and everything planned on spreadsheets and calendars. It was this mentality that definitely hindered any blogging to be done and I've decided to take the plunge back into blogging; even if that so called "plunge" just happens to be getting my feet wet for a little bit before deciding to wade in all the way. 

I've missed you all so much and I hope to be around much more than I have been these past few years xo

Currently.

Hey there! I haven't done this post series in a while, so I thought it would be fun to start it up again.

watching:
The Office. The Office. The Office. Yes, I just typed that three times. That show is officially my life and I love it to pieces. I'm going to buy this phone case asap (it's the cutest thing ever)

reading:
nothing at the moment! (which makes me very sad) Any book recommendations?

baking:
It's been too hot lately to really bake anything so… do s'mores count?

thinking about:
what aren't I thinking about? I really want to buy a fisheye lens for my camera, continue with my granny square quilt (I'm about 10 squares in!), and I'm trying to use my camera more often.

excited about:
my etsy shop which I just re-opened a little while ago. I offer graphic design services for your blog, shop or business, so if you need anything let me know - I'd love to work with you!

xoxo
Nat

turning the page

Has it really been more than six months since I've last been here? It seems like forever ago since I've last clicked that "publish" button - too long if you ask me. A blogging break has been in order months and months and months ago, and honestly its exactly what I needed. Some new perspective, fresh ideas, more insight. I think I've learned more about myself these past few months away from the keyboard than I have in a long time and I'm glad I was able to take the break because I've realize what I'd been missing. Sometimes you need to be away from something to see how much you need it in your life and see how much of in impact it has (or doesn't have). And in this case, that "something" is my blog. Being away from it for so long makes me realize how big of a part it is in my life and how much I truly did miss it. I don't think it's something I'll ever truly be able to give up or let go.

And it's funny; in such a short period of time, the blogosphere seems so much different than it was a year ago. I've seen a few of my favorite bloggers bow out of the blogging game, and others openly admit what a struggle it's been for them - all the changes that have occurred and how it's affected them. It makes me sad when people say "blogging is a dying art" or that it's "jumped the shark". Do I think that's true? Well, yes and no. Every industry has it's ups and downs and I think its all just part of a learning process. The internet is ever-evolving and I think we all just need to learn how to adapt to it, with it's ebbs and flows and changing fads. 

I've decided to give blogging another shot, and with it the attention and effort it deserves. No more half hearted attempts, but something with much more potential. The Modern Buttercup I've had in mind since day one and I look forward to getting it where it needs to be. I'm not going to set any definite goals for myself yet, I'm just going to try and post once or twice a week and offer content that's worth reading. 

Anyone ready to join me on this new adventure? I'm ready.

xoxo Nat

Merry Christmas.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

xo, Nat

snapshots: pumpkin patch

I finally remembered to bring my camera with me somewhere -- and the result was these lovely snapshots I took at the pumpkin patch! The lighting was so perfect and everything had such an "autumn-y" vibe to it that made me realize that summer is pretty much officially over (yes, its taken me this long to finally accept that).

Lingering sunshine,
harvest's arrival,
baskets and baskets of orange-hued pumpkins.

xoxo, Nat