Utah

Today is Pioneer Day in Utah, basically Utah's birthday. It celebrates the entrance of the first settlers who came here. So I thought today, I should share some love for this place I call home.

I grew up here, just south of Salt Lake City. As I grew older, I always planned to move somewhere else, at least for a while. San Francisco, maybe, or Seattle. When I got married, moving away was always a part of our plan. Since then, we have built our life here. And although we may still leave someday, I'm so happy to call this place home.

The longer I'm here, the more I've discovered that Utah is a hidden gem. Growing up here, I was just used to it, but the beauty you find here can be found nowhere else. From snow covered mountains, to massive white aspen forests, deserts, red rock, lakes and nearly everything in between. The landscape here is stunning, as anyone who has seen a Utah sunset will confirm.

In addition to all this beauty, there is such a strong creative community here. Artists, designers, thinkers, makers. Maybe it's spurred by all the inspiration that surrounds us, but so many people here are making a big impact. I feel so blessed to have ended up here, even though it's where I've always been. Especially for the incredible people I've met and will meet in the future. There is nowhere else I would have rather started my business and began this creative journey.

So today, I'm celebrating this place I love. Happy birthday, Utah!

This photo was taken by Thrill Photo at one of our favorite spots near our home, Tibble Fork Reservoir.

Grace

Well, it's Monday. And that either means a fresh start, or a groan and a new headache. We'll see which. Lately, life has been kicking my butt. I feel pulled in too many different directions and I don't like the person I am when I'm spread too thin.

Last week, I heard a ring at the door and one of my dearest friends "anonymously" doorbell ditched me and left these beautiful roses. She knew I had been having a rough time, and the sentiment made tears spring to my eyes.

Seth and I were talking recently about how it's easy to feel invisible. I have so many wonderful, supportive friends and family members, but I often feel like I'm taking on the world alone. Seth remarked that I put off an air that I have everything together. It's why he was intimidated by me when we first met. (I was just shy.) This perceived strength is often compensation for the opposite, but I am unfortunately horrible at asking for help. I just build my walls higher, hoping I can continue to do it all myself. But really, I need love and support. Just like everyone else.

I wanted some photos to hold on to the way I felt from receiving such a simple gesture. So I took the roses out of their paper and tied my favorite silk scarf around them. They were fully open, nearing the end of their life, and this only made them more beautiful.

While I tied them together, some began dropping their petals. As roses do when they're at this stage, big clusters of petals effortlessly floated to the ground. I was struck by the grace of these roses. They knew they had lived their life, provided the beauty and joy they were created to provide, and could now just let go with contented ease. It made me fall in love with them even more.

Is it weird to be so emotionally affected by flowers? Probably.

Regardless, I think that was a lesson I need to learn. When I've done all I can do, I want to learn to let go and show the maturity and grace I felt the roses possessed. I want to feel joy in what I am able to do, and see that as enough. To know that I'm enough.

I also hope I can have the grace to pay this kind act forward. I want to give simple, but meaningful gestures to loved ones in need. I want to learn to question people about how they're doing, and keep asking. Because it's better to annoy them with questions than to let them feel alone behind their walls. I hope to become more aware of others' struggles and be a more charitable person.

My new motto, until I can pull myself out of this overwhelming rut, and hopefully long after, is "grace."

*amber*

Inky Blues: Sneak Peak

Wow, I had every intention of posting this yesterday, and the day completely got away from me. It was one of those days where every single thing seemed to go wrong. I woke up late and my brain was all foggy. Greyson got a cold and started leaking from every hole in his face (gross, I know, but true) and was anything but his normal, happy self. I spent way too much time on the road, got pulled over for the first time and saw a terrifying accident where a motorcyclist (not wearing a helmet) was hit by a suburban. Our family received some sad news. By the time I made it home, my head was throbbing and I still had a massive to-do list looming over my head. And it just happened to be one of the four nights of the year where Seth has to stay at work all night. I was barely holding it together.

It's days like yesterday, and I know we all have them, that make me so grateful for the opportunities we have. My most recent collaboration was like a breath of fresh air to my life that had started to feel so bogged down within the last year. I felt rejuvenated, letting my creativity take hold again, after so long.

So today, I want to focus on these beautiful moments and thank the lovely ladies, and my fantastic husband, for all their help pulling this shoot together. I couldn't have done it without them and these times make life feel so blessed.

Now, enjoy some sneak peaks with a mix of photos by the photographer and our iPhones.

Oh, and in case you missed it, here is some of the inspiration I pulled from.

*amber*