the best gift of all

I am certainly not the first person to realize how fleeting time is and how quickly it flies when we're scrambling about, trying to check off our to-do lists and to do our absolute best everyday at everything. But once in a while I reflect on how important it really is to make time count.

I have definitely obsessed over checking off that last item on my to-do list, no matter what the cost.

While it's important to track progress and strive for goals, the things that really matter in life can't simply be checked off. They aren't easily quantified and sometimes come about through unexpected experiences. The experiences that matter most leave lasting impressions and hold a much greater value than completing a task.

In the spirit of the holiday season, it's gratifying to give gifts to loved ones but it's just as important, if not more so, to give the gift of time. Since it is the one thing you can never get more of, it is truly the best gift of all. Over the years friends have moved away, taken on more responsibilities and even become parents, making time with them more limited. In lieu of giving physical gifts to each other, we have decided to take the money that we would spend on traditional gifts and instead spend time together. This might mean enjoying a fun dinner out, catching up over hot cocoa or wrapping presents together. Either way the value of quality time is immeasurable and so important to maintaining relationships with friends and family.

So even if you love traditional gift giving, try your best to make time for memories this holiday season, despite the hustle and bustle. Before you know it, it will be 2014!

Happiest Holidays to all and to all a good night!

2013 holiday card

Sending out a uniquely designed holiday card is something I have wanted to do for years. This year has been filled with lots of change, so I wanted to chronicle it all with a year in review card. Since this approach to holiday cards is becoming more popular each year, there are lots of inspiring examples on the web. If you're interested in sending out your very own version, you can!

1. Design your own. Be sure to check out one of my favorite examples by Amanda Jane Jones for inspiration.
2. Select a customizable card like this one on etsy.
3. Choose from one of the many designs available at minted.

I started the card design in early November, working on it in my free time, and was able to send most of the cards in time for Christmas. That's actually a record for me. Creating content for the card was a lot of fun because I had a reason to reflect on 2013 - the highlights, the lowlights, and the unexpected. Even if you aren't creating a year in review card for yourself or your family, I encourage you to take a few minutes and reflect on 2013 before we leap feet first into a brand new year.

Do you guys save your holiday cards each year?

read between the lines

I'll admit. I am a bit of a romantic. As such, I've adorned a few select walls in our home with love-inspired artwork. It's true.

A few years ago, I received a really sweet pin at a local arts event. The pin read, "this is beautiful." While I wasn't sure exactly what the pin or phrase was advertising, I was inspired. The simple phrase, this is beautiful, reminds me to appreciate the beauty around me and really enjoy the present moment. Ben even surprised me by wearing the pin beside of his boutonniere on our wedding day. I liked the statement so much that I painted a 16x20 canvas with these words in black paint, well except for the "S" and "B" - which I painted gray and represent the first initials of both our names.

Lately I've been interested in art that allows me to see the world differently and elicits happiness. Below is one of my recent favorites, created by Read Between the Lines. Aside from the fun sayings these ladies dream up, I really love the simplicity of the black and white type. We were fortunate enough to add one of their prints to our art collection. We love it! These ladies are great. Our package arrived safely with a handwritten note and gold washi tape.

boutonniere photo | life exposed photos by lindsey

NYC | the High Line

I'm almost certain that seeing photos of the High Line heavily influenced my decision to revisit New York City a whopping nine years after my last visit. For those of you who aren't familiar with the High Line, it was originally built in the 1930s in an effort to lift freight traffic above the streets in Manhattan's largest industrial district and minimize accidents at the street level. Trains stopped running on the High Line around 1980. In 1999 Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, decided to form a partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. The High Line now serves as an exceptional park where visitors can go to read, lounge, picnic, socialize, dine, or even exercise.

It was tough to wait until the last day of our trip to make the trek to Manhattan's west side to see the High Line but, I love the thrill of saving the best for last. In this case, it was definitely worth it.

We even lucked out and found a spot at a Biergarten on the Hudson River to catch up with old friends and enjoy the sunset. Do you see what I mean? Pretty awesome.

Feel free to check out these links for more information on the park and its history.

NYC | MoMA

I love art.

If I could choose how to spend the day without any agenda, I would probably choose to visit an art museum. True story. Studying architecture in college has inspired me to admire the art museums themselves, as much as I do the art housed inside its walls. I relish the clean architectural lines, ubiquitous white, and thoughtful details throughout. I take particular pleasure in visiting the museum's cafe and enjoy any chance I get to try out its piquant offerings. Let's not discuss how many hours I could spend perusing the gift shop. No joke. Each time I find something awesome, I brainstorm for which loved one it would make the the perfect gift.

Needless to say, I was adamant about visiting MoMA during our trip to NYC and I even managed to snap a few photos while there.

A couple of my favorite exhibition pieces...