Pinterest refresh!

Our Pinterest has been given a lovely refresh for the new year--everything is sorted and organized to make it the very essence of simplicity (hooray!).

If you are looking for inspiration--for an event, for your home, even for dinner--stop by, check out our boards, and follow Long Ago Love to see our most recent pins.  We're all about food, fashion, and fun fetes!

Some Pinterest thoughts, while I'm at it:

The great thing about Pinterest is that it allows you to collect your favorite ideas, recipes, and the things that inspire you! However, these elements that make Pinterest so great can also become a HUGE challenge--eventually, you have so many fabulous ideas that they start to get buried.  It can be frustrating when you can't find that amazing roast recipe you pinned a while back, or when you've pinned so many cute wedding DIY ideas that when you scroll through them all, you just feel overwhelmed.

The good news?  Pinterest recently made it SO easy to do your own new year's refresh (I'd say "spring cleaning," but I guess we're not there yet....). Instead of deleting or moving pins one-by-one, you can now select whole groups of pins to purge or relocate. This is a big deal, people!


Get everything organized + decluttered + easy to find by breaking down your board categories. Have a million decor ideas for your home? Create separate boards for the different parts of your house--that way you don't have to sift through all of your kitchen inspiration pictures when you're just trying to find that paint color for your bathroom renovation.  Is your food board out of control?  Organize by meal, food type, main dishes vs. side dishes, etc.  Whatever works best for you--the sky is limit!

Organizing your pins is also a great way remind yourself of all the great ideas and inspiration that you have pinned in the past--too often we pinned things only to forget about them.  You can always be on the hunt for new material, but you may find that your favorite pins and/or the projects you really want to take on are already somewhere on your own boards. Give them a chance!

Going through old pins is also a perfect opportunity to clear out pins that maybe you don't feel as strongly about. Over time, tastes change and trends shift.  If you delete the "meh..." material, you'll make it easy to find the good stuff!

If you are collecting ideas for a big project (or event!), it can help to make a "catch-all" board while you are in search mode.  Once you have a strong collection of ideas, sit with them a bit. This “sitting with” time is such a valuable part of the process!

You can ditch a few possibilities that don't feel quite right, you can refine your vision a bit. That’s okay. It will get you closer to the options you love most.  Its's funny, but process of simplifying actually isn't so simple. It takes a bit of work + lots of thought + some foresight.

“Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end.” -Steve Jobs

What are your Pinterest thoughts? Do you follow through on pinned ideas often? Have you ever given your Pinterest a refresh or organizational overhaul?

Let me know and have a beautiful Thursday!

xo

Jordan

let's do this 2015 (plus a freebie for you!)

Hello all!  Do you feel recovered from the holidays yet?  Are you glad to be back to normal or sad the season's over?  I feel a little bit of both.  Though you may feel like the fun is over and there is nothing but dreary winter ahead, at Long Ago Love, we say be excited--because the clean slate of January is a beautiful thing!  

Have goal or a dream you've been mulling over?  This time of year is a great time to reflect and where you want to go from here--to de-clutter, organize, start a new routine, live healthier, or reconnect with people and priorities that matter to you. It’s all about saying no to the non-essentials in life/work so we can say yes to the things that are truly essential. It’s super challenging + refreshing + motivating + totally appropriate for New Year's.

Our mantra for 2015 is "let's do this!" because why wait? I came across this Amy Poehler quote: "I am a firm believer that every few years one needs to shake one's life through a sieve, like a miner in the Yukon. The gold nuggets remain. The rest falls through like the soft earth it is." Isn't that lovely?So if you have something you want to accomplish, go for it! I'm so excited for you! 

Need some tips to get started? Writing down your goal and telling someone about it is a great way to make it real and have some accountability so you stick with it.  Does your dream seem a little overwhelming?  Break it down into steps or a to-do list, so you can tackle it one piece at a time (doesn't it feel good to check each step off the list?).  Keep reminders about your goal where you can see them because that will keep you inspired and on track.

Long Ago Love wants to support you in whatever goals, dreams, or resolutions you might be focused on, so for a fun reminder for your computer desktop, click below to download the "let's do this!" wallpaper (pictured above).  I hope it keeps you inspired!

Download "let's do this!" wallpaper: {small} {large}

As for us?  You may remember that Long Ago Love's goal to kickstart the new year was to launch our new website, which will showcase our portfolio, provide information on our services, and include pictures, details, and rates for our event rental items.  I am so excited to announce that we will be officially launching the website next week, so keep an eye out!

I'm so thankful to everyone who has supported this dream--every like, share, comment, and referral is helping us to grow and reach more people. Our next milestone will be hosting a Long Ago Love booth at the Rocky Mountain Bridal Show on April 12, 2015.  We'd love to see you or anyone you know needing event planning services there!

Now you know our goals for the next few months--I'd love to hear yours! Let me know in the comments section!

xo

Jordan

lovely links

Happy Friday, my friends!  Do you feel ready for the whirlwind of the holidays?!  Less than three weeks to go.  Cue the excitement and maybe a smidge of anxiety--do you have any shopping left to do, gifts to wrap, or guests to prepare for?  I feel like I'm going to blink and it will be January already.

If you're the same way, don't forget to take a deep breath and savor little moments along the way. That's something I work on every day and it's hard!  Pinpointing your most important priorities can help.  It's possible to make your house a winter wonderland, go to three ugly sweater parties, send out 200 Christmas cards, host one side of the family for Christmas Eve, travel to celebrate with the other side of the family for Christmas Day, and throw a New Year's party--but you may drop from exhaustion and not wake up until the 4th of July.

Focus on what's truly important to you and make some amazing memories this year instead of running yourself ragged.  And remember that the more priorities you have, the more organized you need to be!

If you're feeling like you need a little stress relief or a five minute escape from whatever you're doing, here are some fun and interesting links from around the interwebs:

How baby giraffes sleep.
For any ballet lovers out there--my current favorite documentary on Netflix.
German breakfast is my favorite!
The truth about ladies' night out.
Models and their mamas.
A hockey moment that made me smile.

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo

Jordan

Image Source

happy thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I hope you have much to be thankful for this year and many loved ones to share the day with. It doesn't hurt if there's some amazing food or fiercely competitive family games either, as long as no one gets hurt.  :-)

What are you up to on this lovely day? Traveling? Hosting family?  We had Casinelli family Thanksgiving last Sunday (where ravioli is enjoyed right alongside the turkey!) and now we've made our way down to Durango for Thanksgiving Hardy-style.  This means we will be enjoying the Nebraskan delicacy of strawberry jello with marshmallows with a side of fierce family bowling competition.  What are your unique Thanksgiving traditions?

I have so much to be grateful for this year! Since last Thanksgiving, Kyle and I moved into our first home, we were able to enjoy the company of  many of our loved ones at our wedding, and I have taken the first big steps towards launching my dream business, Long Ago Love.

It's so easy to get caught up in how busy things have been!  Do you ever have that issue?  Today, I'm going to slow down and take the time to really enjoy spending time with family and making memories.  What are you thankful for this year? How are you celebrating today? I'd love to hear!

Have a safe holiday and thanks for taking the time to stop by and chat!  :-)

    xo                          

   Jordan
 

Image via Rifle Paper Co

lovely links

TGIF, my friends! Have you thawed out from last week yet? Forty degrees feels positively balmy these days--isn't that amazing? Sigh. I suppose it's better than being buried in five feet of snow in Buffalo, New York though.  I'm experiencing sympathy shivers....

If February weather in mid-November gave you some winter blues, here are s few fun links to spread some cheer!

Because the rich and famous are humans too.
An alternative to Dumb and Dumber 2--if you're looking to mix it up a little.
Middle class problems.
The perils of ordering a croissant.
How well do you and your significant other know each other, really?

    xo                          

   Jordan

Image via thelonggoodbye.wordpress.com; cartoon by Roz Chast for The New Yorker.

a huge thank you!

I just wanted to thank everyone for being so supportive of my big announcement yesterday.  This is a dream I've been holding on to for a long while now and I'm so excited to finally be taking the leap!

Any feedback, thoughts, or questions are welcome--I'd love to hear from you! This would be impossible to do without the love and support of the people in my life.  You are truly the best.  :-)

      xo                          

   Jordan  

P.S. - something to make you smile, courtesy of the ever-fun Ben and Bonnie--nominated as cutest couple of the year, proven kitty lovers, and henceforth known as "Bonjamin." Meeting adjourned. :-)

Image via: Rifle Paper Co.

lovely links

Happy Friday, everyone!  We've officially survived a downright teeth-chattering week. Nice work team. Here's to temperatures above freezing. Hopefully.

In case you're in the mood to stay cozy this weekend, here's some interesting links to keep you entertained:

a good Thanksgiving laugh.
how babies used to fly on airplanes.
seriously cool, minimalist coasters.
beard study my handsome hubby would approve of.  :-)
logos with hidden messages.

Have a great weekend!

xo

Jordan

Image via: http://mariabonitany.com/mb/?p=326

brrrr!

Are you staying warm today?  All I want is some hot cocoa and a good book.  What's your favorite way to hunker down on a wintery day?

Check out the 4 hour time lapse over campus today--yikes!  :-)

Stay cozy!

xo

Jordan

polished & cozy

Neutrals can be such a powerful tool when building a wardrobe because their versatility is endless!  Sometimes though, especially in the depths of winter, wearing a lot of neutral colors can leave me feeling washed up and faded out (ugh.).  My solution? Infusing my outfits with some warm, vibrant colors along with my neutrals to create balance.

I love this outfit because of its versatility—I can head to work confident that I look put together (and the layers insure that I won’t freeze or roast, depending on our temperamental heating/cooling system) and if I go out to dinner with my hubby, I feel like a million bucks (is it just me or is a hint of red subtly sexy?).  And honestly, with this cozy cardigan, I wouldn’t be opposed to curling up in an overstuffed chair with a mug of cocoa and a good book.  So basically, this outfit fits all parts of my life with ease.  Win!

Top: LOFT

Cardigan: Target

Bottoms: American Eagle

Booties: Nordstrom

Bag: Anthropologie (similar)

Necklace: Forever21 (similar)

Ring Stack: Madewell (similar)

Hair Clip: Pluie

A couple extra thoughts just for kicks:

This bag is SO great—I love being hands-free at the store and it gives me a classy way to take my lunch to work (grocery bags and cartoon lunchboxes just ain’t my thing).  Even better?  I snagged it during a “Sale’s on Sale!” promotion at Anthro. That feels super good.  :-)

Can I say it?  LOFT is my jam.  Their pieces are, in general, perfectly suited to a minimalist wardrobe—clean lines, amazing sales, beautiful neutrals with fun pops of color (e.g. the cranberry shift featured in this outfit!)….  If you haven’t checked it out recently, get going!  LOFT is magical….

Final thought?  These booties are my favorite item in my ENTIRE wardrobe.  The heel is solid wood, they are a comfortable height, and they are made in a richly-colored real leather for under $100.00.  DOUBLE WIN!

xo

Jordan

high country colors

Kyle and I took a mini vacation this weekend and escaped up to the mountains.  I love Breckenridge in the fall.  How lucky Coloradans are to have such beauty so close!

Oh, and here's a sweet thought to leave you with--cheers!

seeing red....

What are you doing for Valentine's Day?  A fancy dinner with your someone special or a slasher movie with your besties?  However you are spending the day, know that I love you guys!

Banner made by my incredibly crafty mother-in-law Kay.  :-)

i love....

Over the past year, I decided to take a risk and follow a dream I have been harboring for a long time.  Taking a long look at myself, I  finally figured out what makes me truly happy (besides the love of my life, Kyle, of course!)--I love celebrations.  Weddings, birthdays, showers, holiday parties....you get the idea.  When people gather together to share love and support and excitement--these are the best moments to me.  I love making these gatherings a reality. 

For reasons I can't explain, I derive joy from the spreadsheets, the budgeting, the research, the discussions with vendors, and those last frantic moments of pulling all of the details together.  I love finding ways to incorporate unique elements into each event using the vintage, the rustic, and the handmade.  More than anything, I love working with clients--translating their ideas and excitement into something beautiful, just for them.  I love watching their faces light up when I have succeeded in capturing their vision.

So for a little while now, I've been piecing together my dream--setting goals, choosing a name, building a website, gaining experience, filling out my portfolio, and scouring forgotten places for the treasures that will form the foundation of my business.  The name of my dream is Long Ago Love Vintage Rentals & Event Planning. 

This blog is meant to serve as a creative space where you and I can share ideas and dreams.  I want to to capture both the start of this fledgling business and the challenges and victories of life in general, because you can't have one without the other.  I look forward to your comments and insight as we go.

For Long Ago Love, there is still so much work to be done, because I want to provide my clients with a fantastic inventory of vintage pieces (it's a never-ending treasure hunt!) and I want them to be able to see evidence of my experience, dedication, and love for putting it all together.  My dream is becoming a reality--I think that's cause for celebration, don't you?  :-)