tiki! & thoughts about *stuff*

sources: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

This is what's been on my mind for the past few months. A personal project I'm working on. There's just something about Vintage Polynesia. : )

Off to finish an Easter vignette on our fireplace. Better late than never, right?

Oh, and I really related to this blog post by Evie S. today. For a girl that seriously loves her some stuff, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed by things on the internet lately, and a bit taxed by the effect things have on me.

Some people are so genuinely joyful with so little. Things that aren't even very pretty. Because it's our relationships and experiences that mean the most. Ethan and I have been talking about this a lot lately, how we don't want to just end up with a bunch of stuff.. we want to save our pennies so that we can take our boys to see the World. We want to travel. And more and more we're seeing how expensive that is (although we are very much budget travelers) when you're flying 4 people internationally (or even domestically!)

Lately we've been so focused on stuff. Who wants to be on their deathbed and say "Hey, look at all my stuff. Look at that vintage-this, vintage-that I found. What a score! Ah, life was good."

Ha.. I want to look back on my life and say "Wow, those were some incredible experiences we had."

Before we had kids we saved our money for years so that we could quit our jobs and travel Europe for 3 months. We did it. And it was the best time of our life. We want to do that for our kids.

I can't wait to see the World with them.

Comments

[Craftyminx]

I thrifted the perfect vintage hawaiian maxi dress (that actually fit me!) a few weeks ago and thought of you.

[Cynthia]

Ah love the polynesian yumminess. I remember as a kid when we visited Disney World that I wanted so badly to stay at the polynesian resort. Instead of the comtempary:) And that one rocked looking back:) When I lived in tallahassee, my fave bar was a tiki one:) So So fun Danielle!!!

Amen to stuff overload! Right on memories and moments are what matter:)

[beka*b]

I think when I'm about to move on, I want to sit back and say, "Hey, been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt, of life!" Experiences of all kinds and emotions are what make life 'lively', the good, the bad and even the ugly. To not experience is to not have lived. (is what I say, anyways) Live with no regrets, whatever mishaps and errors in judgement you make. The ability to embrace experience is the best gift you can ever give your children, it will build them to be solid, brave and adventurous adults. Good for you and your insight :)

[Kristen (citizenk)]

well said! I'll always be grateful to my mom for scrimping and saving so we could travel around the states. She even sent me to Italy and Greece when I was twelve. Once bitten by the travel bug I've always wanted to go, go, go.
The last few years we've just been scraping by so I've put my travel dreams on a shelf. Thanks for the reminder to "collect adventures and memories" and not just stuff.

[Kara H]

I read that post by Evie S. last night and it totally resonated with me. I'm totally over what I like to call the "inspiration crisis" in the blogging world, which I think cascades into obsession with stuff and the supposed happiness it will bring. This has been on my mind a lot especially as I am making lists of things I want to do this summer with my time.

Great post, miss! :)

[kat - teamkitten]

oh man, it's great to know i am not the only one feeling this way. i get so overwhelmed by all the 'stuff' i see online, i do find it's really inhibiting my creativity. We are exposed to so much these days, more than ever before and it's hard to not want it all! I think limiting time online, trolling blogs and shops might be a good place to start for me (except i'll keep coming back to yours! hee) x

[Elizabeth Horn]

I have been feeling the same way. I recently became quickly obsessed with decorating blogs and now I am feeling a let down. So much pressure to not miss anything and keep up with "everybody" else. I have really had to slow down and prioritize to get myself back to reality. I think I want all these things and then I end up not feeling good. When I am thankful for what I have and concentrate on loving my family and friends I have so much more joy and peace in my life.

[Amanda F.]

Great post! I just started a new blog about "Adventuring". Instead of focusing on the stuff, its about the *stuff we do* together. A log of all our trips, travels, and adventures for my girls to look back on in the years to come.

P.S. We lived in Hawaii for 3 years, its so amazing. My middle daughter was born there and I've promised to take her back for graduation (YEARS AWAY thank goodness!) if not sooner.