I had a wonderful 4th of July weekend with my family. My dad and brother both took their boats out and we spent time on the water – we like to park the boats just a little offshore from an awesome spot at First Landing State Park. You can swim and walk up to the shoreline where there’s a great little shaded, tree-lined spot. My mom’s brother came to visit from Georgia with his new girlfriend and her two adorable kids. We all had a fine time relaxing, swimming, grilling out and enjoying mom’s absolute paradise of a backyard. She has just done such an amazing job fixing it up.
Ever since reading Amanda’s recommendation of Eagle’s Nest Outfitters hammocks, I knew that I wanted to get one for Jimmy and I to take on our camping trips. We finally splurged on the double nest hammock and a set of slap straps that let you rig it up pretty much anywhere. What a wonderful product. It’s extremely well-made, SO comfortable, dries quickly, is super easy to pack up, it’s light, and best of all the small company that makes them is based out of Asheville, North Carolina, and run by two brothers – I felt great buying from them. I wanted a more obnoxiously-colored one but we bought this from a local camping store and this was the brightest color they had in stock (Jimmy was quietly relieved haha).
I love that we both can fit comfortably into it. There’s just something about being in a hammock that forces you to just let go and relax. Which comes to the point of this post. I have decided to take a break from this blog.
I’m going through an interesting time in my life where I’m feeling the need in a big big way to just simplify. I am a busy, hyperkinetic person, sometimes to my detriment. I take on things and things and more things and more jobs until I look around and I’m paralyzed with anxiety over the amount of commitments I’ve made. I’ll have no time to focus on the things that really matter – friends, family, health, relationships. It’s reached a breaking point where my priorities have gotten off balance and I feel a big need to correct that.
So I am sloughing jobs left and right to take some time to work on some personal stuff. I’ve stepped down from the 7 Cities Crafters for a while, I’m going to be taking a break from booking shows, doing freelance web and design work, and I won’t be taking on any new projects for a while. I want to take time to reconnect with a few people, focus on my little family and immerse myself in things that used to bring me pleasure but that I haven’t had time for in so long. I’m learning to say, “no” to people (as painful as it is!) and trying to be gentle with myself.
I will still be posting photos to my flickr account, and twittering when I feel like it, so you can keep up with me there if you want. I feel good about this break. Just the few things I’ve let go of have relieved so much pressure from me. I feel like I can breathe and more importantly relax the white-knuckled grip I tend to have on life. I hope you’re having an awesome summer. See you around!
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Good for you, Amber! Learning to say no is so hard, as I am well aware of. I too need to step back and focus on me and my relationship and finding my old happiness in things that now feel like work. Good luck on your journey. See you on flickr and twitter =)
Summer is the perfect time for a break! Enjoy yourself, your man and your new pup. I’ll miss your updates, but this will give me a chance to work on some of your old projects that inspired me but that I never got around to doing because Procrastination is my middle name. OK, I’m off to bookmark your Flickr and to follow you on Twitter. By the way, that hammock looks heavenly – *almost* makes me want to go camping!
Aww! I’m gonna miss you, and I haven’t been sucked into twitter yet….
But you have to do what’s best for you! Have fun!
Top marks for learning to say no. I’m still trying to find that word in my vocabulary – and trying to keep the guilt from appearing when I do remember how to use that word…
I’m sad to see you go, but I’m much more happy that you are taking a break and looking after what’s important to you!!!
…and this is a break, right? not a permanent departure…..:-0
Glad you are doing what is right for you — you have to do that for yourself, because no one else will lookout for you like that. That being said, I sort of feel like throwing a little tantrum because I always enjoy your posts! ha ha Flickr and Twitter it is….
Enjoy your time off
Proud of you boo. Youre doing whats most important…taking care of you!!!!
I love you and miss you lotslotslots!!
<3
Was it something I said?
I will miss reading this and hearing of all your awesomeness, but after some time and a recharge — you’ll be better than ever!
well done Amber, everyone needs to make time for themself bu few people do. Learning to say no to other people helps you to start saying yes to yourself. I’ve been doing the same this year and found my energy picked up and I was able to do things from a place of love and enjoyment rather than fear and obligation. I liken it to lending money to a friend – you can’t if you have nothing in your bank account and no-one expects you too, so why should how we use our time and energy be any different. Fit your own oxygen mask first and you’ll be able to do anything you want
) take care and have fun
You look so pretty and so happy! I will miss your blog a lot, it is so great!
Rest…relax… and enjoy life.
Good for you, Amber! I found your blog via Pretty Tasty and will miss your posts .. but not so much the feelings of self-conscious inadequacy they created in moi. Your energy level and creative talents are impressive and inspiring, tho’ I was sometimes left thinking, “Damn! Amber gets more accomplished in one day than I do in one decade.” ;o) Your decision to make more time for the truly important things in your life is, once again .. in typical fashion, awesome and impressive. Best to you and your family!
Hi
I haven’t been here for so long. Last time I was here, you were still single, were furnishing your home, planning how to landscape the yard. Advising me on a reduction mammoplasty I never had.
I remember what a wonderful sense of style you have. So I wanted to know: what do you think? I have one of these. I can’t find out whether it’s a Wegner, or rip-off. It’s from the ’50s or ’60s, teak, three seater but in a gold wooly fabric, yes the strip slats under the cushions. It was given me by an 80 year old woman when she moved into a nursing home, and she was rather wealthy once, so I think it might be.
Do you have any idea of it’s value where you live? I don’t think I’ll sell it, but wonder what I have?
http://www.designaddict.com/design_radar/index.cfm/fuseaction/design_radar_one/radar/1492/HANS_WEGNER_TEAK_SOFA_GE340/
Sis
Canada
Does this mean we’re going to hang?
Amber – so proud of you for taking a deep breath and bowing out of the busy-ness and jumping into LIFE for a little while. I hope your time is rejuvenating, relaxing and fulfilling! Thanks for being inspiring!
When you hear your heart saying these things, it is so important to listen to it! Take you break and feel good about it. Life’s too short to not enjoy hammocks on a regular basis, me thinks.