Hello. Goodbye.

I believe people are put into our lives for moments, seasons, and lifetimes. They all have a purpose which some I have easily recognized more clearly than others.  However, lately it has been a struggle for me to let some go.  These past few months I have learned (slowly) to trust myself on decisions, choices and feelings. In a perfect world it would be easy to walk away and not have that burning want to look back.  I don’t think one “category” is more important than another. They all have a significance I feel.

I have had the privilege to meet some of the most fascinating people while traveling.  With a “hello and a “goodbye”; they are out of my life faster then they were introduced. However, their words of kindness, sincere interest and encouragement have touched my life in interesting ways. When I try to wrap my head around the idea on even how our paths have crossed it has given me a sense of wonder.

My “seasonal people” I view with admiration and only pray I have touched their lives as much as they have touched mine. Growing up, branching out I have sadly lost touch with some, along with lost loves and people who have passed that I wish I have gotten to have known better. These people I will carry with me- always. Some, I’ve heard their ideas, listened to their beliefs, saw their strengths, understood their weaknesses and have been wrapped in their love.  I have cherished not only these people but their families as well. These special individuals I believe have really made me who I am today. The times I had with these people weren’t always the best, and some were moments I never wanted to end.  I love people, and what’s been heartbreaking is I feel this group has gotten very big in my life, very quickly. It makes me sad, yet I know this is what God’s plan is for me. These people have been put in my life to help me learn how to relate, love, witness, and say goodbye to.

Being a young, single twenty-something my  “lifetime people” are only a few right now. My family and these few individuals are spread all over. Some are currently in my hometown, Seneca Falls NY, West Virginia, Ohio, and Charleston, SC (just to name a few).  Honestly, without this group in my life I would be a walking disaster. They have loved me at my worst, praised my successes and well…. have put up with my shit more then once or twice ;) With these special relationships this sense of love is unbreakable.  These people inspire me (every day) to push the envelope farther. We listen to each other and help guide one another. I love them with everything I have. I know this will be the smallest group in my life and I see this as a bigger reason than ever to love these people with my whole heart.

Fall Into Me

Where do I begin?  These last two months I have felt my world has been one big crazy blur! I’ve had no time to sit in front of my computer and blog about my last few weeks of summer. Having the anticipation knowing September was just around the corner, I have found it quite ironic being aware today, September 23 is the “official” first day of Fall.  Not knowing where September has gone, I couldn’t tell you what better way to start my favorite part of the year by enjoying my coffee with soy at my local Starbucks and having this time to write….
I have always believed to be a “seasonal person”. September for me has always been the month to “gain ground”. Organization skills start to kick in with deadlines and stresses after coming back from easy, summer livin’.  It’s a chaotic time (no wonder I have always thought of October to be a calming time of year for me). The magic of Fall starts to unravel in so many different ways. The pretty, summer pastels are put away by the darker “royal” colors like blues, purples and reds. Aromas of every kind of pumpkin blend take over busy sidewalks and coffee shops. Seasonal illustrations bombard local café signs and windows with autumn treats and thoughts.
I’m looking forward to my Fall beach walks; where I can walk with a light sweater and see no one up and down the entire beach, except for the few locals.  Simple pleasures that tend to be taken for granted are easily shared with ease and a ”lightness” such as cooking, outdoor walks and strong-hearted conversations. Hellos are welcomed with wider, open arms while goodbyes are accompanied with a little more sadness. Why is that? It may be because of the temperatures slowly lowering. Or may be due to all the cinnamon in the air. We may never know.
Charleston is a summer city. The city that wakes up with a beach mentality and has you leave with a sandy trunk evening. To where you may find yourself on one of our old Cobblestone streets buzzing from a red wine, stained kiss on East Bay.  What Charleston holds is enchanting. Fall is beautiful- Charleston in the Fall... is captivating. It’s the feeling of comfort whether it may be holding someone in your arms, or putting on a brand new wool sweater. I have come to appreciate this time of year, and believe I need to always remember to open my heart up at all times of the year…

So fall into something with me this season. xo

Pretty Little Things-Charleston, SC

prettylittlethingsSC/facebook

The joy of having a blog is you can write whatever you want to write about.  Lately, a lot of my blogs have been about experiences of my summer and work. So, this particular blog is about love. Now don’t get me wrong I love my freedom of being single and not having to worry about someone else. I have a big bed where I can sprawl out onto every night and the worry about stealing the covers never comes to mind. The feeling of needing someone’s company has never gotten in the way of letting me try new things for myself. I have gone to countless movie theaters, bookstores, and endless coffee shops being perfectly content alone (I mean, how can you enjoy people watching when you have company with you all the time ;) )Yet, recently I find myself wishing I had someone who I can laugh with.  To be there for each other. Someone who wants to hold my hand and not let go.

I miss waking up next to someone and sharing thoughts over a cup of coffee (or two). I miss getting pretty for someone. I miss that rush of excitement knowing someone is looking forward to seeing me. Of course I have my great group of friends which I wouldn’t trade our beach walks, dinner parties and dance-athons for anything. My friends know me so well I sometimes feel like they know me better than I know myself. Launching my own business has taken up so much of my time that I am lucky if I even have the energy to go DT or to have a drink with someone. Right now I have been so happy with my work and I know that is what I want to focus on for a while. Both of these factors make this blog a little hard for me to write. I feel ridiculous saying that I miss love because I have so much love in my life.

Timing is key I think when “love” is the topic of discussion. I admit I’ve tried (along with a lot of my other girlfriends) online dating before. Very amusing -let me just say. But hey! The way I see it you’re not meeting someone over a wet bar stool rather, you can be in your pajamas with a glass of wine having the option to “respond” back (who wouldn’t want to try that?) Unfortunately, I have found this method really isn’t for me. I want to meet someone when I least expect it. To see how it goes with someone and to feel that need and want of getting to know a person on a stronger level rather than in front of a computer screen.  I have had friends who have met their “someone” on dating sites, in airports, and ski resorts even the gym (which I find bewildering because I can’t help but giggle picturing myself at the gym- a sweaty mess- praying no one notices me).By all means I do not plan my days hoping to find “him”. I don’t want that “force” finding.  Yet I (secretly) hope the saying  “we're all meant to have someone” rings true. So, you can categorize me as whomever you want. A hopeless romantic? A silly girl? Whatever it may be… because after all this is my blog, remember and having a blog you can write whatever you want to write about. And today it’s about love. 

Corpus Christi

This evening I am flying back from Corpus Christi, TX. Listening to newly added music while trying not to think how high up I am in the clouds, I felt this would be the perfect time to work on my blog having neglected it for a while. I was in Texas visiting a friend and his roommates/newlyweds for the week. Never visiting before I loved the area! During my trip I experienced the beach, paddle boarding, a baseball game, the boat, good food, and wonderful conversation.

            Landing in Corpus Christi I was not surprised that some of the first things I noticed were open fields, big trucks, and country music being played somewhere-everywhere. I enjoyed the whole Texan experience because really, there are no rules in Texas.  I particularly saw this on the beach I visited. Stretching from flying all morning my friend and I decided to catch up walking around on one of the beaches close to the house. There, he explained to me while driving right up to the water how people camp, have bonfires and drink openly on the sand. Something I found funny since Charleston beaches are very strict with countless rules. 

            Staying for a few days right on the water we took full advantage of the kayaks we rented that could be used as stand up paddleboards!  Enjoying the different perspective of the houses fitted tightly together and seeing the types of fish-so close up I enjoyed paddling around with the sun for the afternoon. Sitting here next to my window, with new freckles and having enjoyed the great company from these last few days I had a great first visit. I hope to see Texas again sometime. The culture and relaxed feel of where I was, was just what I was hoping for.

I think back over the last few months and how much traveling I have done. This has turned out to be a very enjoyable summer (as how all summers should be). Spending most of today getting back home to Charleston I am starting to feel anxious to see my friends. It was hard trying to leave work alone while being away-but I take that as being a good thing. I am looking forward to seeing where my company Pretty Little Things will head in the next few months. Due to work, I know I won’t be traveling as much for a while and I am okay with having this strong sense Charleston is where I need to be right now. I am anticipating the start of crossing off goals and to see where this will all go. I only hope that Charleston is ready... 

A & B

                                                               Villa Roma Ski Resort 1991

Saturday night here I am home, waiting for the ventilation specialist to come and fix something in my attic. I don’t mind waiting around considering my week has gone by as one big blur.  Working, having a big meeting with a possible account for “Pretty Little Things” and filling out countless job applications (which if I have to copy and paste one more resume into a job database I‘ll be sick). I don’t really mind that all I have planned for my night is to watch Pearl Harbor, accompanied with my favorite glass of wine and my new tomato -red nail polish J

            I don’t know what to really blog about tonight.  I haven’t been writing as much as I’d like to be. I guess lately my family has been number one on my mind. I miss my parents and my sister. Last week I found out my grandmother who is 102 just got put into a nursing home.  That has been hard since it is not easy for me to make it home as often as I would like. Growing up with my parents and one sister our house never felt like we had to make “extra noise”. We came to enjoy quieter Holidays than our neighbors down the road.  My parents made sure my sister and I strived to do what we loved all through grade school. For my sister it was piano and theater. I was the Tomboy of our family. Always being outside running and traveling for meets and invitational’s (believe it or not).

A lot older now, my sister works through Campus Crusades and does a lot of traveling. Being in Charleston these last few months I’ve wished we had more time to talk and catch up. Hoping the next few months we will be able to talk more often I have been missing her. It is funny when I think back to how we were while growing up in Seneca Falls. Coralie and I have always been two completely different people. When we were younger we had the title of being “The Schulman Twins”. Truthfully, even to this day we don’t have a lot in common (besides our curly hair, laugh and addiction to anything sweet) we understand each other on such a stronger level than ever. Through our stubbornness Coralie has been the one person who has never and will never let me down. Trying to find who you are as a person, being by yourself, financial issues and social pulls it can be lonely and stressful at times. But having my sister there, always with her words of support and a prayer she has seen me in my most vulnerable state as a puddle on the floor to better times, standing tall with my head held high. I’m so happy to have you as my sister.

 Love you A.  B xo

                                                                                       Shrine Mont CFO 2011

"People who Eat White Bread don't have any Dreams"-Diana Vreeland

In this last month with endless research, sketching, planning, organizing, late night doubt and early morning enthusiasm the saying “ to go out on a limb” has been profoundly marked. Finally being at the place where I know I am ready to show my product and to take whatever comes each day my way has been a surprisingly relieving feeling. Along with being the scariest and most thrilling choice I have made yet. I am happy to say “Pretty Little Things”(http://www.facebook.com/StyleMePretty.Charleston) has been booming throughout the Charleston area.  Thinking back to just a month or two ago with a collection of ideas and having only sketches of ruffles, lace and big-toed figures to show I can proudly say my passion has finally becoming recognized. I want to thank all of you, my amazing support system of family and friends for every single word of encouragement.

Believing in something. That burning feeling of knowing we need to be able to trust ourselves. Personally, for myself it has been the feeling of having a purpose. To show what I have worked so hard to become and let people enjoy my skills and talents; whether it’s designing, teaching, illustrating… or all three! Knowing that everything has been coming together, then being able to step to the sideline and see the people around me excited with all the work and energy being put into “Pretty Little Things” it has been an unbelievable feeling. You guys have given me the courage and sense of knowing I am going in the right direction. I love you all, thank you.