i know you're jealous

i have date with my future mister every wednesday. this past weekend we decided we spent entirely too little time at the paradise that's 15 minutes away. so instead of going out for date night we've decided to save a little and relax a little. here's how it works: i get off work, i go home, pack a dinner in a cooler, and pick up the future mister at his office and we go to the beach and enjoy sunsets like the one above.

great idea.

secondly, i've launched my website!!

here it is!

(no peeking, allison smith. unless you just can't resist. but i couldn't very well send out stationery without a website to reference! yours is on it's way!)

for the first time in my "career" as some form of an artist i have seen the fruits of my labor. and it feels good. when i finally get the margins and the color right and that piece of cardstock comes out of my printer--it's the most exited i've been since finishing one of my story boards in design school (and the much needed sleep that followed). for the first time i feel like i'm on the right path, like i actually know how to bring something creative into the world. i've had a lot of success on paper, but this is the first time i've seen success on...well...paper--but not that kind of "paper", real paper.

yyyyaaaayyyyyy!!! new adventure, here i come!

things lately

my blogging juices have run dry. although my life is not boring or still or uncreative, i just can't think of anything blog worthy. so here's just some minor things that i'll share with you.

1. i've been on the road a lot lately for work (moving into outside sales). i spend a lot of time in alabama, our close neighbor to the west and north, and my home sweet home. this point right here is the favorite part of my drive. for a while i (somewhat illegally) still had my alabama license plate. in february i finally gave in to the law. it's a weird feeling. i feel like a stranger in my own state and sometimes i don't recognize my car for the florida tag.

2. another thing i like about alabama: fairhope. but that's no secret about me. one of the many many reasons is it's antique and consignment stores. i found 2 of these puppies last week and they are priced to steal. i think i need them in my life. but i think my bank account says otherwise...

3. this is where i live. i am truly blessed and half the time i forget that and get on with my complaining. i don't love pensacola, but i can't imagine living anywhere that doesn't have an ocean nearby. it is SUCH a privelege that i take for granted. my flesh wants to get out of this town eventually, but a tiny part of me sees me raising my children at the beach and calling life "wonderful." so anyway, this was the view on our walk to the beach saturday morning. spf45, an hour and a half at the beach, 75% of that time under an umbrella and i still managed to turn pink. ay yay yay, the life of a pale girl. oh well.

4. we have a fine little family owned market in town called apple market that has all kinds of neat things. and if they don't have your neat thing, they'll order it in for you. i don't think the one pictured above was ordered, but it sure is original. i didn't have any because it was 10am and i was there for coffee (didn't need an overdose). but i am bound to try it.

so that's what's new with my life. that and starting my own business on the side. what? huh?

that's right, you heard me. more on that later.

wedding registry item??

i stumbled upon the love sac store when i was in atlanta a few weeks ago. i was on possibility overload. these things are awesome. my favorite part is that you can start out with a simple love seat and buy more when you can afford it. and for all my pet owners, can i get a "woop woop" for removeable washable covers??

for right now i suppose i'll keep my blue tuxedo sofa (maybe it will go in my office), but one of these days i will be a love sac owner.

(they even told my sister to take the cushion off and jump on the frame--didn't budge. hello durability!)

summer rain

i have no symapthy for the northerners having heat strokes right now. it is HOT down here. of course they probably have no symapthy for us when we have a kiniption over 3" of snow, either. so it goes both ways.

we were without rain for a few weeks. not as bad as the drought in some areas (thank goodness), but we were feeling the effects.

and then, one evening, the rain came. when it rains like that you know summer has arrived. one of my favorite things about the gulf coast, next to the pristine beaches, are the summer rains.

every day is a good day for rain in the summer. you can have storms and clear skies all in one day. and i love it. i love the smell of the first big drops hitting the hot pavement, i love the sound of it on a metal roof (my warehouse at work makes a beautiful sound), i love the steam off of the hot ground. i love how traffic slows, people quiet, and nature takes center stage. every time it rains in the summer it's my own personal delight in the Lord and the balance of his creation.

these were the storm clouds that i drove into yesterday morning. and would you believe they were gone as fast as they came? par for the course.

(look waaaayyyy in the distance, you can see the bay!)

it's even raining right now. was rain in my morning weather prediction? nope. but it's always a welcomed surprise.