just be you!

SNAP! has come and gone.

i'm not quite back to real life since we've continued our trip out west.

we've had some time with b's family, i've gotten to squeeze our adorable nephew, 

we visited alcatraz (picture heavy post coming soon)

and now we're headed north for a dear friend's wedding. 

through all of this excitement i've been processing what i learned at SNAP. 

i'll do a few detailed posts later this week or next week when i get home but

i just want to share a few of the things swirling in my head. 

the theme of the conference was 

Just Be You

necklace generously given to all the attendees by the wonderful amy cornwell

i have had to just stop there and think.

just be you is wonderful. 

we are all unique.

gifted & talented in different ways. 

no matter how many craft bloggers and shop owners are out there

we are each

different.

beautiful.

unique.

there is no need to compare ourselves to other, bigger shops or bloggers.

there's no need to try to be something we're not.

just be you.

here's the thing.

i've had a hard time lately figuring out how to be me.

there was a time, 

before the depression 

that i knew exactly who i was and it was easy.

easy to live as i was created to live.

i spent a time living in a thick darkness

where i hardly knew who i was or what i was doing.  

the depression has lifted {most days} but a fog lingers.

a fog that keeps me from seeing exactly just who i am

and getting back to who i was. 

so the thing swirling around in my head right now is

just be you! 

but how? 

wow, so that got heavier than expected. 

let's end on a happy note!

SNAP! was a wonderful time,

a refreshing weekend away from a life that is draining,

full of people who understand me.

i ate delicious food.

i collected all the bacon from the people who didn't like it. more for me!

i was inspired to grow. 

i stayed up late and laughed til i cried with these beautiful ladies. 

how's that for a quick little post? 

more later about all i learned and the beautiful ladies i spent time with!

also...i took about 4 pictures with my real camera so 

if you were at SNAP! pleaaaase go upload your pictures

to the flickr group! sharing is caring! 

and we're off!

vacation! it couldn't have come at a better time. with hubby set to student teach in the fall {full time hours. zero dollars.} we are both planning on working a 2nd job this summer. the impending financial situation and long hours apart have us a little stressed out so we are so excited to get away. our trip actually starts with a few days apart. i'm on a plane right now headed for SNAP! Creativity At Your Fingertips, a handmade blogging & biz conference in salt lake city.  {sitting next to the world's worst airplane sleeper. i've been knocked into 6+ times and he's floppin all over the place!} i'm so excited to hug these girls and meet new friends! i was going to link to my post about meeting wonderful people at creative estates last year but i was a super deadbeat and didn't write one. that will NOT happen this year. 

while i head to utah, hubby is flying home to the bay area where i will join him on sunday. he'll be going to giants games, riding his bike all over the bay area and catching up with some friends. after the conference i fly to california and we spend a few days there in which i will be hanging out with this guy as much as possible. 

dear ezekiel, please stop growing when aunt jacqui & uncle b aren't around to see it. thanks!

also eating a lot of frozen yogurt. 

also we're going to alcatraz! hooray!! that's the one touristy thing i've always wanted to do when we visit b's family but it hasn't worked out until now. we're doing the night tour which is supposed to be extra fabulous and probably kinda scary. and awesome. 

{source}

then b & i are driving up to sisters oregon for the wedding of this dear friend.

yeah we're weirdos. and that's why we love each other.

b & i are so excited to have some time by ourselves and to take a day or two to drive up to oregon. hooray random road trip adventures & hotels paid for by the inlaws. i'm also so grateful for the opportunity to be involved in this wedding, and cannot wait to stand up and read the Word of God at this blessed ceremony. plus the bachelorette party, pedicures, rehearsal dinner & getting to hug these two are all reasons to be very excited! 

i'll be tweeting and facebooking up a storm while i'm gone. and probably filling your instagram feed with pictures of the fun. follow along here, here and here!