Restless

I have been feeling very restless lately. I don't know what it is but something about moving out here and seeing and living in a new city has made me want to do it again; this time in NYC, Connecticut, Chicago, Paris, Australia, or London. I have this craving, the need to explore the unknown, and dip into something so unfamiliar it scares me.

The great thing about where I am in my life is that I have little holding me back. I am young, I don't have kids, a house; really there is nothing tying me down right now. I do have a job I like in a field I love; I am definitely thankful for that blessing. Another great thing is that my career allows, and even encourages my restless spirit. The more I know and see of other cultures, architecture, lifestyle, and style the better my designs can be.

I am also truly blessed to have an amazing fiance with the same kindred heart, restless spirit, and youthful soul that I have. 

These feelings haven't just recently come up, like it may seem from reading this. I have always had this deep desire inside of me to explore, ask questions, and experience new things. In middle school I went on my first trip out of the country, I went with extended family (aunt, cousins, etc.) to Mexico and loved it. The next trip I went on was freshman year in high school to Jamaica. I fell in love with the culture, the food, the atmosphere, everything. I loved cliff jumping, snorkeling, and getting a home cooked meal on a private island by locals who couldn't speak my language. In college I had the undying urge to visit Europe. I wanted to experience the history, the art, the architecture, the food, and the people. Taking the conservative route though I stayed with my program and finished in the usual 4 years. Although I know it wasn't in the cards at the time, I always wished I had just bit the bullet and gone. I wish I would have let myself be a little less logical. I wish I would have taken out the loan and not thought of how it would turn out, how much I would owe, or how much longer it would take me to finish my degree. (Don't get me wrong though, I am glad I finished in 4 years and now have a good job).

I would like to say that something will definitely come out of these feelings but I can't guarantee it.

Now on to the wedding related business:

Invitations!

I have been searching and searching lately for inspiration for invitation. Unfortunately my research has been coming up short. D &I have pretty much figure out the style we want; simple, classic, fun but from what I have seen we will most likely be designing our own. 

Another thing I have been looking at is the different styles of printing available. My number one choice right now is letterpress but obviously that comes with a price. It isn't the most expensive way to go but it definitely isn't the cheapest either. I have been trying to figure out the cost/benefit ratio between the different styles and also between doing them ourselves or paying to have someone else do them. In S.F. there is a place called,"the center for the book" it is actually pretty close to us and it is a letterpress and printing studio. They offer classes and printing time so you can learn the art of letter pressing and then in our case make all of our own paper products. In order to be able to use the machines on your own you have to take 3 classes. The classes are only 4-6 students/session and are usually 3 hours or so long. They go over the terminology, the process, everything. I would love to learn how to letterpress but I want to make sure it is going to be cost effective for us to go this route. We have an appointment tomorrow at an invitation store in downtown s.f. tomorrow to get some ideas on styles we like and pricing so hopefully I will then have a better idea of whether it will be worth it or not. If I did take the classes i could always use it in the future to make Christmas cards, Birthday cards, other peoples invites, etc. which would definitely be nice.

Another option I have been curious about is the Gocco. I know many of you ladies have been going on and on about how amazing and simple these little guys are but I am so hesitant. I have never seen an invite or other paper product made using a Gocco and I have a fear it will come out looking like a rubber stamp. Does anyone have a Gocco in the San Francisco area that would be willing to send me a small sample of the work that can be done using one of these little guys?? I would love to be able to see an example before I went ahead and started bidding on e-bay for one! Thanks!

Now for some invitation inspiration:

Simple, close to our colors, love the rounded corners.

Polka dots, obviously this one was my choice haha

I love the 2007 graphic.

I like the simplicity and the corners but it needs something more, color, graphic... I'm not sure.

In other good news: We finally found a ceremony location!!!! We will be getting married at a family friends house on Lake Michigan. They have a beautiful lawn over looking the lake with a huge beach down below. It makes a nice middle ground between my need for barefoot and sandy and the practicality of elderly loved ones who wouldn't be able to get down the 50 or so steep, sand covered stairs to the beach.

And here is what I got to do last weekend :)

San Francisco Zoo :)