
Went on vacation. Came home from vacation waiting for that a’ha! moment of creativity that I always get when I return to my shop. I waited….and waited….and waited. Honestly I’ve been home for a week now and nothing is stirring my friends. Yes, I’ve created some new burlap bucket/boater hats (BTW adorable – check ’em out). I’ve been trying to chip away at some new hats for the Fall and Winter season…and to be completely honest peeps….I’m not getting very far. Call it still summer, college kids moving out, post-pandemic slump or simply the ticker ain’t tickin’. There’s no justification for it and it occurred to me that I’m just keeping it simple and not even knowing it. God has a way of doing that doesn’t he?…yes.
Simple.
Planning ahead is always been a bit of struggle because I live by the seat of my too-tight pants. Quite fittingly my motto this entire summer has been: SIMPLE (ask my family). All you seasoned moms and g-mas out there know that a person reaches a certain age and life needs to be simplified #amiright? And if you’re a new mom or g-ma and know this S%$# already – then good for you, truly. At the beginning of the year some will choose their ‘word’ for the year (I’ve done this trendy thing – blah blah blah), but for me it’s so much pressure because the year just began! My word didn’t float to the surface of my alphabet soup bowl but rather I did a little bit of living and it choose me based on what I was already feeling. And like I said – the planning thing isn’t my BFF.

Sunrise Sunset
Curious?…cliffhanger (or you’ll have to read the bottom of the cereal box to find out) #sorrynotsorry. Regardless if it’s the rising of morning sun or the closing of the nighttime sky – it’s simple. Enjoying it for what it is and keeping it simple is where it needs to be and stay. Sorta like my pajama yoga pose that my daughter snapped….yikes, to all you yoga posers out there – I’m so sorry.

Wear the Opportunity
When the moment is in front of us – keep it simple. We try hard to make it just right and be on our game at all times….okay maybe just me, but ya know what I mean. I fretted for some moments and beat myself up over not bringing products for a photo shoot – like duh?! right? You’re at the lake Shelly! I mean…really – we wear handmade bucket hats at the lake, we use our handmade big bags and small bags at the lake…seriously, Shelly – okay, I’m over it now, sorta. I kept it simple and my daughter was in her I’m-already-in-my-cute-clothes-not-sick-anymore outfit and was eager to get the job done…just for you!

How are you keeping it simple this summer? Here are some tips:
- breathe in and out and feel your breathing
- keep a thankful list
- journal it out – I recently revisited this and wow, so good
- read your old journals about the younger you – it’s funny actually
- make a realistic list of things to be done
- be in the moment and only the moment
- clean out that junk drawer in 10 minutes
- give chores to your kiddos so you can enjoy your coffee
- delete an app on your phone – I nixed a big one and it never felt so freeing
XO,
Shelly
