Currently Loving in July + #currentlylist

Today, I have a handful of random items I have been loving this month. This is something I'd like to do once a month. I really enjoy seeing other people's monthly favorites, so I thought I'd share my own.

 

1. My purple Personal Saffiano Filofax: She's not really a currently favorite, per se, because she's an all-the-time favorite. To put it in more appropriate terms, I'm obsessed with using my Filofax.
2. Philosophy's Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser: Love. I don't know what else to say about it. It leaves my skin feeling clean and soft, as well as looking clean and clear. It will always be worth the money for me.
3. 29 by Lydia Mondavi Secret of the Vine Serum Extract: It's never too early to start incorporating some anti-aging (I prefer to call it slower aging process) skin care products. This serum is used to improve the skin's elasticity, making it firmer and tighter, all while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. It smells lovely, a light dose of flowers. I use it as a serum, under my moisturizer most of the time. I've also used it as just a lightweight moisturizer. It does not make my face oily. So far, I like it. I haven't used it enough to notice any differences in my skin yet.
4. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Marker Pens: I love using different-colored pens, even though I don't really color code anything when I'm planning or organizing. These are really nice and extremely fine point at 0.3mm. I use them all the time in my Filofax and Bullet Journal.
5. Bath and Body Works' Sleep Aromatherapy Body Cream in Lavender Chamomile: OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS SCENT! It really is calming and relaxing. It sits on my nightstand. I HAVE to put it on every night before I settle down to sleep. Highly recommend.

And here's my #currentlylist, inspired by Kristin over at rukristin papercrafts and her currently project.

What products are you loving this month? And, if you play along with the #currentlylist project, link up your list in the comments section!

xoxo,

Heather

Currently...& HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

First and foremost, Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there! I am incredibly blessed and grateful for my own dad. I'm very lucky to have such an amazing dad that's been in my life for, well, forever. He helped shaped who I am today, always encouraging me and supporting me. Happy Father's Day Dad!

Now, on to my currently list:

Play along and follow #currentlylist on Instagram or Twitter!

What's your life like currently?

xoxo,
Heather

Bit By the Reading Bug

Lately, I have really been craving a good book.  I'm talking about a can't-stop-reading, completely-immersed-in-the-story kind of book.  I go through book phases, if you will.  Sometimes I crave fiction, sometimes I have a desire for a cry-your-eyes out love story, etc., etc.

This week, I ventured over to our local library.  I love this place so much!  I mean, it's completely free!  What an incredible resource!  I know my taxes help pay for the public library, so you better believe I will be using it.

This photo was not taken on my most recent trip to the library, but still on a lovely trip to said library.  Sometimes, I like to park a few blocks away (if it's a nice day) to walk through part of the downtown area.  But, enough about my leisurely strolls...

Presenting, my lovely stack of books!  Boy, oh boy, am I excited about these!  I was inspired by this post to acquire that particular stack of books.  Unfortunately, none of the John Green books were available (surprise, surprise considering The Fault in Our Stars in being made into a movie...) and I just couldn't find a couple of the other ones.  But, I will go back!

So, really this post was just to share my new stack of reading material!  I've already finished The Gates.  It's a super cute book, that really uses that tucked away childhood imagination we all still have.  I recommend it.  I've recently started Dark Places.  This one is good, in that what's-going-to-happen-next, can't-put-it-down-yet way.  

What's on your summer reading list?

xoxo,

Heather

P.S.-Follow my Pinterest board all about books!

Why Are Sounds of Crickets Coming From Your Blog Heather?

Yes, yes, the sound of crickets have taken over my blog as of late.  I know, I'm a terrible blogger.  But, I do have reasons!  Really good reasons!  I also have some not too good reasons, mostly involving laziness and that overwhelming, deer-in-the-headlights look when I need to sit down, reevaluate, plan, and write.

I am here to let you all know not to worry.  I am still alive.  There have been no family emergencies or health issues or anything of that sort.  My life is amazing, a little stressful right now, but still amazing.

So, you all may be wondering, "What's going on?" (queue Marvin Gaye)  At the end of April, you all may remember this post, I went to the Chicago area and then up to Milwaukee (I promise, stories and photos will be coming on that part of my trip!).  Well, during my lovely adventure up North, some big things we happening with the Sweet family.  Mr. Sweet and I live in this lovely bungalow home in what some people would call the middle of Springfield.  It's been a great home.  Mr. Sweet has been living there for 12 years.  As you all know, as relationships evolve and talk of kids starts to happen, you realize, "Hey, we're going to need a bigger place so we have somewhere to put these kids.  Also, while we're thinking of kids, we should think about the schools we want them to attend."  

Mr. Sweet and I have tossed around the moving idea for a little while now.  There was a situation last summer which really sparked the long journey to selling our home and buying a new one.  Step One:  Get your finances in order.  Check.  We've been working on that and budgeting for almost 12 months now.  Pretty proud of ourselves, if I may say.  We then started to be realistic about when we should start looking for houses, get pre-approved, etc.  Fall 2014 sounded pretty good.  As most of you know, life happens and you can't really plan for anything.  There was this amazing house in this amazing neighborhood in the school district we want to be in.  Done.  The process started.  We got pre-approved.  We started decluttering, depersonalizing, and fixing up our house to put on the market.  We made an offer on this amazing house.  It was accepted contingent on the sale of our house!  Amazing, right?!  But, those of you that have bought a house contingent on the sale of your current house knows it's really not that amazing.  You still got to sell your house.  The house you want is still being shown.  It may say "pending," but someone can swoop in at any moment to outbid (if you will) and steal your dream house right from under you.

Yes, this is exactly what happened to us.  Last week in fact.  We (and by we, I mean mostly Mr. Sweet) worked our asses off to get our house on the market in a few short weeks.  Those of you that have been through this know that it's not an easy, or quick task.  Basically, we lost our dream house last Friday.  We didn't want to take out a bridge loan to pay for a mortgage on two houses.  That's just crazy.  Especially since we don't know how long our house will be on the market.  

Even though the reason we started the process is no longer in our hands, it still helped light the fire under our behinds to make the next steps in our marriage, moving toward a family.  Our house has officially been on the market for 8 days.  We are continuing to work on our house and pack stuff up.  We are looking at other houses.  

So, that's where I have been lately.  It's been stressful and exhausting and anxiety-ridden.  I am so proud of my husband.  He has worked so hard, spent so much money, gave up all his free time, took care of all the phone calls, negotiating, etc. to get where we are today.  I am truly grateful for him.  

My scrap room has been packed up. I left some of my stuff out, mostly projects I started and need to finish soon.  I knew I wouldn't be able to survive without pretty paper to help calm me down when I'm too stressed.  

Something I need to remember...always

For the time being, my blog may become more of a personal adventure; a glimpse into the Sweet life; a collection of posts about me.  I'll still try to post scrapbook stuff.  And, of course, Just Two Midwest Girls challenges will still be happening.  But Coffee and Pretty Paper may evolve into something a little different.  And to be honest with you, I'm kind of excited about that thought.  But, more on that another day.

Enough about my big summer plans, what are your summer plans?

xoxo,
Heather

On Current Obessions

Today, I thought I'd bring you guys something of a different blog post.  I'm going to let you all in on my current obsessions.  And they aren't even scrapbook related!

The Bullet Journal

If you guys don't already know, I am OBSESSED with planners and lists and journaling (well, I'm more obsessed with the idea of journaling, but you get the idea).  I am always trying to find new and productive ways for me to organize my life.  Well, I'm pretty sure I have found it.  The concept behind and the details about the Bullet Journal can be found on this website.  Here's how I use it: as a brain dump.  I have everything in one notebook.  Or, I'm trying to condense all thoughts, to dos, lists, etc. in one notebook.  I use a page-a-day to write out events, birthdays, to dos, thoughts, ideas, blog posts, what happened through out the day.  AND I LOVE IT!  Now, I still use my trusty and lovely Filofax, but that kind of planner isn't set up in a daily format, with enough room to write down the day-to-day happenings.  I still use my Filofax.  I like seeing the monthly calendar and the weekly 2-page set up.  My bullet journal just lets me note the million to dos as the day goes on and my thoughts throughout said day.

I use a key to note which bullets are to dos, thoughts, events, priority, etc.  It's basically similar to the above link.  I also don't use all the cute stuff that I use in my Filofax.  I'll use some post-its to transfer from day-to-day if I want to make sure to remember to do something on a certain day.  I use paper clips to mark my monthly task page.  That's about it though.  I think that's what makes it usable on a daily basis, for me at least.

I will do a future post exclusively on my bullet journal.  I'll go into more depth in that post.  But this leads me in to my next obsession, which is where I heard about the bullet journal...

The Girl Next Door Podcast is amazing!  These girls are awesome!  I've never really listened to a podcast until I heard about them.  They have a weekly show on which they sip on a lovely cocktail (the recipe is always included in the show notes) and talk about life.  Each week, they have a certain situation they discuss, they go into things they are really digging at the moment, and then they end with some neighborly news.  Erica and Kelsey are funny, down to earth, and just real people.  Obviously, they have lives, but man, I wish they had a daily podcast!  I HIGHLY recommend The Girl Next Door Podcast!

And to bring you to my last current obsession, Coffitivity.  This site is great!  For those of you that like working in coffee shops, whether it be to plan for the week, work on blog posts, or homework, you will love this site.  Apparently, there is research that states higher productivity in semi-quiet, low hustle and bustle coffee shops than a complete quiet space or heavy racket space.  I head to this site as soon as I get to work to get my productivity going.  It really is amazing.  I love working in a coffee shop or cafe, this website just brings the coffee shop to you!

What kinds of things are you guys obsessing over right now?

xoxo,

Heather