Shelter Co

Shelter Co is a pop up lodging service based in Northern California that caters to groups looking for an overnight outdoor experience. Their groups range from wedding parties to corporate team building exercises to family reunions, and provide a complete camping experience, including the utensils used for cooking (they even provide the food!). Founders Kelsey and Mike Sheofsky don't just offer their clients the basic necessities, they do a beautiful job of capturing the beauty of nature and their appreciation for design.

Do you enjoy camping? Would you do it if you could sleep in an awesome teepee? 
(All photos via Shelter Co)

Staying in Prague

Over the weekend, I took some time to plan our big trip and I'm happy to report back that I gained some great insight into what to see in Prague! One of my goals over the weekend was to nail down a place for us to crash for the few days we will be there. In order to save on some cost and experience cities as locals, we have decided to use Airbnb and recommended Hostels as resources for our trip (I only looked at Airbnb listings on Saturday). Luckily, I have narrowed the choices down to three! I've sent the information on to my travel mates, but I wanted to get your opinions as well (note, there will be five of us traveling together).

Which one would you choose...

Enjoy the Long Weekend!

How are you planning to enjoy the long weekend? I've carved out a large chunk of Saturday to plan for our big trip. Yikes! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Then on Monday, we'll be hosting a BBQ at a park around the corner from our place. I'm really looking forward to spending time with friends, playing fun BBQ games, and enjoying a crazy potluck. It should be very casual and relaxed, and that is just what I need right now.

An top of all of that awesome, here are a few things that have me super excited:

• Our friends who just had twins are supposed to come out for a bit on Monday (double the cuteness!) 
• We had another set of friends just move back from Chicago and it would be SO fun if they stopped by (wink, wink)
• I have a super secret date with a someone special (she's in for a quick, quiet visit and doesn't want too many people to know she's here)
• I get to sleep in for THREE days in a row

What are you up to this weekend? Are you traveling anywhere with the extra day off? 

Gloomy Paris

Isn't this picture of Paris so gloomy? Something about it draws me in and gives me a sense of waiting. Waiting for someone or something to happen, I'm not sure. Whatever it is, I don't mind the waiting.

Collection : Bags

I'm not the type of girl who is into buying lots of designer purses (Coach, Louis Vutton, Gucci, etc.). In fact, I've never actually owned a legitimate designer purse, instead I own the knock-off versions found from street vendors or at purse parties. Rather than expensive purses I would worry about putting on the ground, I love utilitarian backpacks, satchels, carryalls, etc.

As I'm beginning to prepare for our trip, I've been doing some research for a functional backpack that I can use as a day pack. Naturally, I've allowed myself to become distracted during my search and headed over to Lyla & Blu's tumblr page. It looks like I've struck a goldmine for bag inspiration. Backpacks, satchels, carryalls (you name it!), all made of canvas, leather, and cloth. They've collected and posted some of the dreamiest looking bags. I would love any of the three backpacks included above.

Do you have an affinity for bags? Or are they strictly utilitarian?

Short Story Long's Facelift!

If you stopped by yesterday afternoon/ evening you may have noticed a new design here at Short Story Long! I am so excited to share my new design elements and layout with you. I had the pleasure of working with the team at Blog Milk Shop and could not have been more pleased. From the start, they have been professional, prompt, and have had an amazing eye for design. One of the reasons I was sold on using them right away was because they asked me to describe what I was looking for before they even agreed to take on my project. They wanted to make sure they would be able to provide a design I would like so that it wouldn't waste their time or mine. I love that they are intentional in the projects they take on and I highly recommend using them if you need design services.

One of my favorite features of the new design are the new links to my Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest sites over on the right. You can click any of them to either follow me, like my page, or see my pins! I've also included an About page, provided my email address under Contact Me, and listed some of my favorite bloggers under my Blogroll. Take a look around and let me know what you think!

Packaging

I'm definitely a sucker for good packaging. Not the "I can appreciate that design" kind of audience, more of the "I don't know why, but I like it!" kind. It kind of makes me a marketer's dream consumer! Here is a round-up of packaging/branding that has recently caught my eye...

(soda / honey / chocolate / clothing // all found here)

Have a Wild Weekend!

I can't believe Friday is already here again! I know that I just mentioned it, but time really is flying by. This weekend we're headed to the hills! We'll be going camping with some of our Farm Drive friends and kiddos. It is one of the funniest trips of the year, and everyone always has a really good time. We'll sing camp songs, roast marshmallows, go creek walking, and play at least one game of cops and robbers. I'll be exhausted by Sunday afternoon, but it'll be well worth it.

What will you be up to this weekend? Any big plans in the works?
(Photo taken from the camping trip on 2010)

Is It True That Life Slows Down?

This week has been absolutely insane. I swear, the hours in a day are zooming by faster than they normally would (or at least that is what I'm telling myself). I'm working on really fun projects in all areas of life, I think that I'm just having trouble balancing everything. I've definitely been here before, so I know this will pass, but I just don't know where I'm going to find the time to do everything. I can't even imagine having children in a situation like this!

Do you have any time management techniques to share?
(Photo: QuietLikeHorses)

Wedding Sneak Peak

As expected, our friend's wedding on Saturday was absolutely beautiful. Every detail was accounted for and the couple could not have looked more in love. I'm excited to share more photos with you soon!

(Photos: Daniel Garcia Photography)

Have a Joyful Weekend

This weekend Robbie and I are headed to San Francisco for a friends wedding. I'm expecting it to be an absolutely gorgeous wedding, with great people, lots of dancing, and tons of delicious food. Plus, I think I may have talked Robbie into staying overnight, so it'll be like a mini getaway! After we recover from dancing the night away, we will spend Sunday with our mums (for Mother's Day, don't forget!).

What do you have planned for this weekend? Will you be surprising your mom with something special?
(Photo via A Cup of Jo)

Name That Place!

Doesn't this place look wonderful? I can already imagine splashing around in the warm water, soakin' up the sun.

Can you be the first to guess where this fantastic place is?

Update: The correct answer is... Krka Falls, Croatia! Julie A. was the closet with "Croatia or Slovenia" posted on the Short Story Long Facebook page. Congratulations Julie, here is your virtual high five!

Oh my...

Good heavens to Betsy, this place looks amazing! I love the calm of a lake in the early morning hours; it feels so peaceful. I would love to spend a weekend in a cottage like this, enjoying my surroundings, turned off from technology. I can already smell the fresh air and wooden stove...

(Floda, Sweden via All Things Europe) 

Unique Grilled Cheese

Over the weekend, we had friends over for a bring your own beef (B.Y.O.B) BBQ. Although my usual go-to in a situation like this would be to throw some veggies on a skewer and brush them with an olive-oil/balsamic vinaigrette, I wanted to to try something different. That's when I remembered this grilled cheese recipe...

Summer is Coming

Since I'm out of school, I no longer rely on the usual time markers (i.e. mid-terms, Spring Break, finals, etc.) to remind me where I am throughout the year. One could probably argue since that I don't have an actual summer or winter break, then I don't need those time markers. Saying that, it's still fun to notice when the seasons are changing. This past weekend was that for me. The weather was beautiful, we had friends over for a BBQ, and the windows in my house were open throughout the evenings. It was a sure sign that summer is ahead!

What was the weather like where you are?
(Photo taken in Maui in 2010)

Have a Fun Weekend!

What are you up to this weekend? Are you super busy, or will you be making up plans as you go? My weekend is not packed to the brim, but I do have some fun stuff planned. Even though I already have a few commitments, I'm hoping to carve out some time to plan parts of our trip. It's so exciting just thinking about it!

What to Where - Prague

It's been a while since I've had a What to Where post, but  with our trip coming up in just two months I've started looking for inspiration. We are still in the planning phase of our trip preparation, but we have a few places in mind that we'd like to visit. Prague is at the top of my list. It is a country that is rich in history and beauty, and has been rapidly developing since the end of the Cold War. With lots to see, I don't want to worry about pants that are riding or a shirt that doesn't breathe. I want to make sure I'm comfortable, and that's why I love this outfit. Simple jeans + cozy sweater + flat shoes = good time.

Have you been to Prague? Any recommendations I NEED to know about?
(Photo: All Thing Europe & Madewell)

Visual Noise

Have you ever thought about visual noise? I hadn't before I read a post by Jennifer over at A Merry Mishap. She is a jewelry designer and blogger who is in a constant state of visual stimulation. Since this can sometimes leave her feeling overwhelmed, she stripped her house bare. She packed up anything on her walls, shelves, and even her rug! Everything.

She reported back that she very much enjoyed the break and it allowed her mind to rest. She appreciated the peace it created and the way it cleared her mind. My first inclination is that I wouldn't be able to do it. We are already pretty tight on space, so I'm not sure I would be able to find places for everything that resides on dresser tops, night stands, or shelves. Looking around my room can sometimes be overwhelming, so it might be a fun challenge to try.

Have you ever completely eliminated visual noise? If not, do you think it is something you could do?
(Photo: Jakob Nylund via A Merry Mishap)

Pop of Color

I've mentioned before that I'm a horrible gift giver; Robbie blows me out of the water every time (well, except for maybe his birthday last year :). That's why I love Jordan Ferney's streamer and yarn installation DIY. It's a simple, inexpensive way to make someone feel special, which is a perfect combination for those of us who can be DIY challenged. I would love to stumble upon these pops of color at the park, especially once I found the treasure waiting for me at the finish!

Would you set this up for someone special? The rule-follower in me would have such a hard time!
P.S. Aren't those trees at the top of the staircase gorgeous?