Wednesday Is Gear Day...

The best part about ordering things online is undoubtedly the day that you get them. It's even better when what you ordered is exactly what you wanted, the shippers got the order right, and even when you've guesstimated {<really? No autocorrect? Guesstimated is a word?..Huh...} the sizing of something, it turns out to be just right.

Today was a day of receiving many of the things I've recently ordered; things I've needed for a while now, but have pushed off until there was really a need to get them. That need of course: Panama.

timex :) 

So my WATCH is here! I was iffy about getting a white one, since I've traditionally always gone with black, or gray... or.... black or gray.. for those types of things.

I rendezvoused at REI [& didn't buy everything I saw!] with Becky after work for a quick browse through some of the smaller stuff I was going to need: a bowl, plastic ware and miscellaneous small things.

$15 say what? have we gone mad? 

^ Oh, and just a sidenote, NO.. I did not buy that bowl. I'm going into a mountain for like, 4 days. I don't need a $15 bowl. I found and purchased 2 non-flexy plastic bowls and two plastic sporks for under $7. There is no reason to buy one of these for what I need now. Just.. sayin'. Just because it's at REI does not mean you should pay REI prices, folks. REI, I still love you, but c'mon.... :)

We tested out  a two-person tent..

^ We vote sleeping pads if you're planning to sleep on the floor of a store.. haha :)

We finished there and headed out to the cars, where Becky surprised me with THIS!

sawyer!!

^YIIIEEE! Those little guys are lifesavers in filtration. Small & compact, easy to use and super effective when done correctly. It of course was on the list of things to get for not just Panama, but for other ventures into the woods that are starting to dot my Summer calendar already. THANK YOU, BECKY!!

After REI, we met up with Rob for dinner at El Rancho, and then parted ways before the winter storm that's been looming over us started to settle.

haha, love her.

At home, the socks I'd ordered were waiting. They're among the pricier things I've done so far, and honestly I probably didn't need to binge on them, but again, I was trying to think big picture and not have to do this later. Kinda solid logic, right? :/

I'm checking things off this Panama list like mad here lately. It's all coming together, and although my bank account is raising its eyebrow at me, I'm preparing for long-term things, too. I still need a new hammock and tent, but those are things that aren't necessary for Panama, so I suppose they'll wait. :)

I'm overwhelmed by the amount of support I [and we, my team!] have received over the last several months for this trip; Please, please, please continue to be in prayer for us! We're within a couple weeks of departure, and would greatly appreciate it!

xo | cmd

It is OCTOBER. Holy Moly!

My sister posted this on her IG this morning and I had to share...

hello, october ♥

^ This is outside my sister's house back in our hometown; I'm in love with that countryside. There's so much peace in this picture; I had to share it! Welcome, October!! (:

Some other things that I realized today:
Halloween is this month! I need to start scouting a costume.

More importantly, my birthday is 2 months away; this year it falls on Black Friday, the most notorious retail day of the year. I'll tell you where I won't be on my birthday, but other than that, who knows. For now, I'm starting to compile my birthday wish list, and I think this would be a good first addition:

peeeeeeeeeerfect.

Hmmmm.. Looks like I have some October work cut out for me, building a birthday wish list and all.... & I'm kidding... I'm not a picky person on presents, but thought that was funny nonetheless.

It's OCTOBER, ya'll. I dunno how that happened.. but it's here. Holy cow.

Time to enjoy it!

xo | cmd

Christine's Creative, Too!



christine's DIY watch



I hope I'm not the only halfway creative person out there who occasionally goes through a lull in craft productivity. I'll find myself lapsing through spurts of weeks on end where I'm essentially pining to get my hands on some beads or yarn and needles, to forge some sort of necklace, earring set, scarf, something. Adversely, I'm known to lay all creative urge to rest for another few weeks in order to pursue some other endeavor.

Todayyyy, Christine waltzed on by with a little diddy on her wrist that prompted my asking of where she'd found it. As it turns out, she made it. High FIVE! Another kindred DIY spirit. I shouldn't really be so surprised, what with Pinterest taking over the world one household at a time, but it was a watch that she'd made, and I realized quickly I've yet to make a watch. I was actually a little shocked at that revelation, but hey, that just gives me another halfway-justifiable reason to make a trip to Goodwill, maybe eeeeven Michael's or Hobby Lobby... << You know it's serious when I volunteer to pay full MSRP on anything, even craft material. Just sayin'.

Anyway, so I'm going to bid adieu for now to the computer and get my brain warmed up for some designing. I'll letcha know how this one pans out.

xo | cmd