And We're Off!!

We've packed Eddy the Van up with what feels like half of our house (Bikes!  Fishing rods!  Clothes!  A raft!!) and are headed out on our Big SW Roadtrip.  We've been dreaming about this since we first bought Eddy last fall, and I'm so excited to finally get out there.  I'm excited to see new places every day, spend the majority of my time outside, create lots of photos, and step away from screens for a bit.  And hopefully meet some new people!  

I may be posting here occasionally as we travel, but for the most part if you want to come along then follow me on Instagram!  @ashleymersereau_art, or if you don't have an Instagram account (which you should, it's so fun and inspiring!) you can check out my feed HERE.  Otherwise, you can count on me sharing a million photos in this space when we get back in a month and a half or so (Eeek!)

Have a great spring everyone, and happy trails.

XO,
Ashley

In Our Own Backyard

Last weekend Justin and I took Eddy the Van out for a little test run overnighter.  We ventured to a lake neither of us had been to before and launched our big red canoe for a little fly casting session in the chilly dusk.  Eagles chittered overhead, newt swam by, trout rose, and the voices of young families fishing on the banks echoed across the lake.  We camped in a beautiful (new to me) spot next to a river I've spent many a summer day on.  A campfire, soup, a beer and a cozy warm evening in our newly insulated van.  We were only out for an evening but it was so nice to disconnect, to sit by the fire and really talk to each other, and to fall asleep when the sun goes down without having looked at any screens.  

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New Jewelry/Wanderlust Sale!

I've recently added a bunch of new jewelry to my Etsy Shop!  Lots of coral, turquoise, and bright spring-y colors.  Plus, in honor of my upcoming road trip and consequential temporary shop closure, I'm having a sale!  Enter coupon code WANDERLUST for 20% off of your order.   Valid through 3/8/15. Cheers!

Van Work/Roadtrip Prep

As many of you know, Justin and I purchased a super sweet Sprinter van this past fall.  The previous owner had already built a beautiful counter and shelving system into it with a little stove top, sink and fridge, as well as a variety of other additions that made it too good of a deal to pass up.  We've taken a number of trips in it and have enjoyed it so much, but we also had some modifications and additions we wanted to make on it. 

After much planning and research we finally got our hands dirty in the last couple of months adding insulation, a new bed system, and most recently, beautiful wooden shelves, as well as a new stereo and roof rack system.  We have a few more little things we want to finish up, but overall I am SO excited with the way it's turning out and can't wait to hit the road in our new little "home!"

On that note, a lot of this work has been in preparation for our Big Spring Roadtrip!!  When we first bought the van we decided we wanted to spend part of the spring in the American Southwest, and now that plan will become a reality in just a few short weeks.  The Eastern Sierras, Death Valley, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona are on the itinerary, and I am so looking forward to spending some unstructured time outside, seeing new places, taking photos, biking, hiking and enjoying the desert sun.

Here are a few photos of the work we've been doing, and hopefully soon I'll post some finished "after" images of the little living space we've created.  P.S. I swear I helped with some of this work, I just happen to be the one behind the camera in these images:)


You're OK

I was talking on the phone the other night with a dear friend of mine who was wrestling with some difficult stuff: career and relationship and the-direction-of-your-life type stuff.  Big stuff.  And at some point she voiced this insecurity, this fear, that she wasn't making the right choices or being a good person in her life.  At a fundamental level, that there was something wrong with her.  

Now I hate to admit this, but that feeling is one I know all too well.  There are so many ways in our lives, in our culture and relationships and jobs, that we are made to feel we aren't good enough.  So many comparisons and insecurities and the overarching fear that maybe we're totally f*%&cking it all up.  It always seems that someone else, over there, has it all figured out and is living the perfect life (and don't even get me started on how social media contributes to that myth). 

The last few years of my 20's have been tumultuous and challenging, full of self discovery and growing pains.  But there has also been so much goodness, a lot of which has come from learning to be vulnerable, real and honest in my relationships and in the way I carry myself in the world.  I recently re-watched Brene Browne's  TED talks (if you haven't watched them, drop everything and do it now!) and was bowled over by how accurately she spoke about the things I've been grappling with.  There are so many little slights, rejections and hurts in our daily lives that cause us to put up those walls and defenses we all have and which ultimately keep us from living full, open, whole-hearted lives.  Learning to break down those walls seems, to me,  like one of the most important challenges there is in this life.

Being an adult is hard,and often, life is just plain hard.  I was reminded while talking to my friend the other night that sometimes we just need someone to tell us we're ok.  Someone to say "you're doing a great job, there is nothing wrong with you, and you are not, as you may sometimes believe, f*&%cking it all up." 

It's such a small thing, but for me at least, it means the world.  Life is messy and complicated and gorgeous and we're all just out here doing our best to muddle through and make the most of each day.  The fact that you are here now, in this moment, is amazing and life is too short to waste it away second-guessing ourselves and hiding behind our fears and insecurities.

So, from me to you, you're doing a great job!  Keep it up, don't worry so much, and everything will work out just fine.  At least that's what I try to tell myself:)