Our Christmas Cards with Minted

Every year, Mark and I order holiday cards to send to our friends and family. Last year, I used Tiny Prints, but this year I decided to go with Minted, one of my favorite online stationary resources. I've always enjoyed scrolling through Minted's stationary and art selections, but it wasn't until my close friend Whitney over at Hey Whitney shared her holiday cards that I decided to go ahead and order our own. 
(P.S. Her cards were even cuter in person. Kudos to her for getting her hubs to pose for holiday photos. Mine would have probably run away screaming.)
I couldn't stop drooling over Minted's gold foil card options. There are so many adorable, holly-jolly designs-- it was really hard to pick just one. I found myself thinking "Hmmm... well we could do Christmas cards and New Years cards." But no one wants to be that couple... I mean, come on, everyone would hate us if we did that. No offense if you do both; good for you for being that organized. I, however, am not.

I was beyond thrilled with our cards when they arrived in the mail.  I chose one of my favorite photos of Mark and me. My photographer friend Sarah snapped a few impromptu photos of us when we visited the Schifferstadt Museum here in Frederick last October. The three of us were standing in the house's large side lawn when the sun decided to beam through the trees in that oh-my-gosh-this-is-perfect way.  I feel like this photo is such a rarity for us. Bless our hearts, but my husband and I do not always photograph well. I mean, we're not ogres, but neither of us enjoys posing in front of the camera. It's a miracle if we both manage to smile and look in the same direction at the same time. So when I saw this picture, I was beyond happy with it. I don't know how, but somehow Sarah managed to capture a lot of emotion in one little image. 

Mailing holiday cards is without a doubt one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.  As cheesy as it sounds, I always fix myself a cinnamon-y hot chocolate, turn on some Christmas carols, and get to work stamping, writing, and sealing. As a society, we've really moved away from snail mail, but there's still something so special about receiving letters in the mail. It shows that you took a moment to stop and think of someone else. Plus, it's just so festive and fun. 
Oh and are you wondering how many ways I can style my holiday cards? Well, here's yet another flatlay to prove that I can, in fact, style them four ways: 

I highly recommend ordering your holiday cards through Minted. Their designs are truly unique and good quality. Don't worry-- there's still time to get your card order in before Christmas. Right now, Minted is offering free expedited shipping using code SHIP at checkout. Shop their Express Service Holiday Cards for an adorable design that will still arrive on time. Don't miss out!
Patina & Purl is a member of Minted's affiliate program so affiliate links have been used throughout this blog post. If you do purchase your holiday cards via one of these links, I will receive a small commission. However, the opinions expressed here are truly my own-- I really love my cards! 

Cape Henlopen State Park

In Delaware, after stuffing our faces with turkey, pie, and, yes, stuffing, we all headed to nearby Cape Henlopen State Park to take a post-turkey trot on the beach. I'm pretty sure I was waddling instead of walking. 

The weather was unbelievable-- sixty degrees and sunny. Our jackets were mainly just there to block the wind billowing in off the water. It was a perfect, pleasant day. After all, it's not often that the entire family can be together, just strolling and talking and having a good time. Here's a few of my favorite images from our walk on the beach

Cape Henlopen State Park

15099 Cape Henlopen Dr

Lewes, DE 19958

Our Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone-- even the leftovers of which we had plenty. Thankfully, we still have the rest of the holiday season to look forward to. I've already started decorating and shamelessly listening to Christmas carols; so our house smells like holly and cinnamon while Bing Crosby croons in the background. 
This year for Thanksgiving, Mark and I traveled to Lewes, Delaware to celebrate the holiday with his family there. His aunt and uncle-- who hosted and fed 27 people as if it were nothing-- live there near the beach. His aunt put on quite the spread for everyone, including the best-tasting turkey you've ever tasted. The bird sat in a herb filled brine for 24 hours and then went into the oven at four am. Now that is some Thanksgiving dedication. But it resulted in an amazing, moist turkey breast that I'm pretty sure was the best I've ever tasted. 

Mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, apple sauce, cooked carrots, slaw, cranberries-- everything you could imagine was piled high on our plates. I ate way more calories than any one person needs in one day, much less one meal. And I don't regret a single bite. Although, I have to admit, the gym has been exacting some post-Thanksgiving torture. 
How was your Thanksgiving holiday this year? 

Shop Update + Photo Shoot

Guess what? Winter scarves are available again in the Etsy shop! 

Last week, one of my best friends from college (who coincidentally ended up moving to Washington, D.C. not long before Mark and I moved to Frederick, MD) came up for the weekend. Unfortunately for her but fortunately for me, I shamelessly asked her to model a few of the scarves I knitted for my Etsy shop. 

I couldn't be more thrilled with the way the images turned out. 

This infinity scarf is probably my favorite of the three. Knitted with a chunky tweed yarn, it is perfect for the deep winter months. It's thick enough to serve as a cowl, if you find yourself stuck in a snowstorm without a hood. The earthy tone works for men or women. In my mind, I call it the "Twig and Earth" scarf even though I don't really name my knitted items. But it just has that neutral, earthy look, doesn't it?

This pale dun colored scarf is probably the softest infinity scarf I have ever made. Part of me wishes I had bought a whole cart of that yarn and knitted a blanket rather than a scarf.  Unbelievably snuggly, it puts you in the mood for a good book and a cup of hot tea. Like the one above, this scarf too would work for men or women. I try to keep my colors neutral so that they'll work for anyone. 

Finally, we have this butternut orange scarf. I chose a ribbing pattern for this colorful piece and went for a tighter look. Something that would keep close to your neck and ward off the winter wind. Pair it up with a grey scarf or cream-colored coat and add a bold pop of color. 

Want to see more? Click on the badge below. I have more photos available at my Etsy.... and more winter accessories in the works! Stay tuned for handwarmers, headbands, and a few more scarves. They make great holiday gifts. Support small business this summer by shopping small and buying unique, handmade gifts.  

Oh and psst... My readers get a special discount. Use code BLOG5 at discount for 5% off. No minimum purchase! 

Four Weeks of Gratitude // Week Three

Thanksgiving is only a week away! Can you believe it? I personally can't wait for some time off to visit with family and, of course, stuff my face without remorse or shame. 
This November, I made it a mission to share one thing for which I'm grateful every week. I figured: surely I can manage that right? Well, life got in the way as it always does, and I missed last week's installment. I had written a lovely post about family and sisters... only to accidentally delete the thing. Ugh. So, if you'll bear with me, I'm going to combine week two and three into one post. Rules shmules, right?
This week, I'm thankful for two rather different things: my sister and my pup.

When I was a little girl, I used to love watching my sister apply her makeup. She would occasionally walk into my room with her makeup bag and sit on the floor, and I felt so special that she wanted to "hang out" in my room. I had a little girl room-- all plastic horses and fluffy pillows-- and she was a teenager, way too cool. She would rove through the bag, plastic compact cases clicking against each other as she searched for a specific tool or item. Foundation, concealer, blush. But my favorite was always the eye makeup. One eye closed, lips slightly parted, she would expertly apply layers of silver and blue. Watching her from my perch on the bed, I would think "Is there any way I'll ever be that pretty?" 
While I don't sit and stare at her in wonderment like I used to, there are times when I stop and think "Wow, I'm glad she's my sister." (Don't worry, there are times I want to thump her on the head too. And I'm sure the feeling is mutual. It's a sister thing.) She's simultaneously the toughest and the tenderest person I know. I've seen her pull over to help a wounded animal on the roadside, and I've seen her hackles raise in defense of those she loves. She's brave enough to stand up for what she knows is right and brave enough to admit when she's wrong. One thing I've always been sure about? That my sister loves me and is there for me. And that's something to be very thankful for. 

This week, I've also been thankful for our little pitbull pup Solo. He's stinky and mildly destructive but I'm so thankful that he's part of our little family. No matter how rough the work day has been, when you open the front door to find fifty pounds of wiggly-happy-to-see-you-ness, you can't help but feel better. I've learned so much about the pitbull breeds since welcoming Solo into our home. This little pup has taught me a lot about love and patience, but also another very important lesson: to not judge until you get to know someone. 
The little things I'm thankful for this week: - husbands who encourage you to meet your personal goals  - an empty squat rack at the gym - library cards because free books! - blueberry muffins in the morning #oopsdiet - the ginkgo tree across the road, whose bright leaves turn our room to gold - coffee because it's coffee
If you missed the first installment, you can find it here. What have you been thankful for this month? 

Currently // November

Staring the day with coffee and a good book. I love having just thirty minutes to slowly wake up. I don't want to talk to anyone, I don't want to watch the news or check my phone. I just want to read a book, sip my coffee, and slowly return to life. 
Reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This. Book. Is. Amazing. Originally intended to be a short story, it grew more into a novella and tells the story of a little boy who finds himself entangled with some powerful, otherworldly forces. I finished it in one day-- seriously, I couldn't put it down. 
Listening to classical music. I'm not entirely sure why but Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 came on my Spotify radio the other day and triggered this classical kick. I think it's my way of seguing into Christmas music. 
Watching House of Cards on Netflix. Is it bad to cheer on Frank Underwood? Because he is quite horrible yet I can't help it. 
Anticipating the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. I absolutely cannot wait for turkey and stuffing and gravy and rolls. Oh, and family too. But mainly the turkey and stuffing. 
Enjoying the fall weather. We've been so lucky this year. Last year, it had already snowed by this time. This year, however, we've had a series of mild days which has made for some excellent puppy walks and nice electric and gas bills. More of that, please. 
Understanding that sometimes it's easier to just do what makes for peace rather than argue. It just makes the whole day go much better. After all,  blessed are the peace-makers right? Or so they say. 
Ending the day reading a verse or two with the hubs. I love reading something wholesome and good just before bed. It helps ease my mind for sleep. Plus, any excuse to spend time with the husband is okay in my book. 

What have you been up to lately? 

Dill House Diary // Workspace Tour

Today, I wanted to share our home office space. It's where I write everyday and also our "home base" as we set up Mark's personal training business. (Wait, what? Mark has a personal training business? More on that later. Stay tuned!) 

Our home office is located at the top of the stairs in a large, open "loft-like" space. The room stays flooded with natural light, which I love. I would love to show you a "before" picture, but sadly... this space did not even exist before we bought the house. Originally, this large open space was bisected by a wall, carving the area into a skinny-minny hallway and the tiniest bedroom you've ever seen. It simply made no sense. Unless your name was Ichabod Crane, you weren't going to be comfortable sleeping in that teensy bedroom. So, we decided to ditch the pint-sized bedroom and create one big open area. 

Originally, we contemplating making the area an upstairs lounge spot. But did we really need two living areas in a 1000 sqft house? A home office just made more sense. 

Can you guess who did the decorating? No, the pink orchid was not Mark's first choice. 

After knocking down the bisecting wall, we laid new flooring, repainted, and added new closet doors. I love the large plank-style flooring. Talk about fast and easy-- we laid the floor in a few hours. The sleek, sliding closet doors are ideal for our small space because they take up such little room. And their dark walnut stain perfectly coordinates with the dark flooring. 

I love this little spot. I spend hours a day, sitting here writing and working on Etsy orders.  So, trust me, the desk is not always quite this neat! Usually its covered in sticky notes, scrawled outlines, receipts, and a jumble of color-coded pens.

Most older homes don't have a designated office space; you end up having to sacrifice a bedroom. So it has been so nice to have our own separate "work" area. If you work from home, I think it's important to have a designated spot that is your working space, something distinct from your relaxing/living space. At least for me, having a distinct office helps me get in the correct mindset. I know that when I'm here, I'm at work. 

For people who do work from home, another option would be to utilize coworking office spaces through a company such as WeWork. With flexible memberships suited to your specific work needs, companies like WeWork allow you to cut down on your commute and have the flexibility you need while simultaneously still having an actual office. Because let's face it, sometimes you need a fax machine or a meeting room-- and not all houses come equipped with those amenities.
Plus, coworking spaces provide interaction with other professionals. The main drag about working from home? No more office banter, no bouncing ideas off your coworkers-- just you and the work. While sometimes this focused environment is beneficial, not everyone prospers in that type of environment. So if you crave interaction and hate the solitude of working at home, something like WeWork could be the solution. 
WeWork has several locations in the Washington, D.C. area. Currently, there doesn't seem to be a location in Frederick, but CoWork Frederick on E. Patrick Street offers a similar opportunity. 
Do you work from home? Do you love the solitude or crave interaction? If you do work in a shared office space, let me know how you like it!