A couple of years ago my book club read "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. The first time I read it, I deeply appreciated her commitment to writing down the small daily moments she was grateful for. When I finished reading, I put the book in my library- a place reserved for books that carry life nuggets I want to savor. A few months ago, I read the book again, and took away another nugget- When Ann wanted to rush through a moment, worry, overthink, or simply complete a to-do list; she learned to slow down, hit pause, and let God speak to her heart instead. With God's help, she learned to simply soak up the beauty of God's masterpiece, to appreciate the life she was blessed with, and to let God lead in the more difficult situations. She became a woman rooted in purpose and living in lightness.

Ann did not scroll through social media to find a trendy solution. She did not allow her worries and anxious thoughts to take over. She did not scramble through her to-do list day after day in hopes of a slower day tomorrow. No, she CHOSE gratitude and laid each day before God, sought the beauty of His masterpiece for the day, and asked Him to guide her steps.

This is a book I will definitely read again and again, because I will never get tired of hearing the message to live fully and be led by God daily.

Here are a few simple things I do (or I'm in the process of incorporating) in order to be more intentional with my days:

1. Dive into Scripture + Prayer Daily
Have a conversation with God- Sharing the intricate pieces of my life and also the simple joys of the day.

2. Keep a Gratitude (Simple Joys) Journal

3. Hit Pause + Hear God's Truth in All Things (Do My Best + God Will Always Do Even Better)
Especially when I have a busy day, unexpected events arise, overthinking happens, etc. Knowing I am doing the best I can and God will always do even better than any of my attempts, helps me put moments into perspective.

4. Start the Day Slowly + End the Same 
Carving out the time to savor the gifts God gives to me every single day. (My marriage, my family and friends, Dillbean, changes in season, simple luxuries, leisure activities, etc.)

How will you slow down and savor the opportunity to live fully? I would love for you to share your thoughts with me! Also, I am going to be reading "One Thousand Gifts" again SOON, so if you would like to join in, please leave me a comment or send me a message!

Brittany Pruess

Our family had an absolutely wonderful time this past Mother's Day Weekend! Every year, my mom heads to the local greenhouses, spends hours strolling through the luscious green aisles, and hand-selects her floral arrangements for her flower baskets and beds for the summer. This year was a real treat, because my father, hubby, and I had the pleasure of going with her. It was absolutely wonderful!

We decided to make our plans for Saturday and the day actually turned out to be a bit brisk, but truly, this only made the experience more enjoyable. It felt so good to leisurely wind through the green plants and vibrant hues of the flowers; the warmth of the humidity trapped inside the canopies welcoming us into the next greenhouse we entered.

For the ladies living in the Black Hills' area- We visited Gage's Gardens and Beck's Nursery in Spearfish, SD. We also love Jolly Lane Greenhouse and Nachtigall's Greenhouse- both located in Rapid City, SD.

We spent hours looking at all of the different options and combinations of plants, and finally found the few we loved. Even our hubbies enjoyed the experience- A big THANK YOU to them for wheeling around the wagon with our selections inside!

Mom found her pairings for summer planting, and Tanner and I learned a lot about a few plants safe for our little kitty, Dill. (If you need a detailed and reliable list of toxic/non-toxic plants for cats, checkout out the ASPCA website.) It was a fabulous adventure for this plant lady!

What made the day, of course, was the time taken to cherish a mom, my mom, who brought me onto this Earth and has shown me nothing but love and care every single day. Although, I truly do believe, every day is a mother's day, don't you agree?

Happy every-day-is-a-mother's-day wonderful ladies!

​Brittany Pruess

I have heard the question before- "Are you a morning person?"

I always want to answer with a resounding, "Yes, I am!"

​There is something so beautifully elegant about being a person who wakes up to watch the sunrise; the kind of person who has reflected, completed half their to-do list, and had a nice chat on the phone before the rest of the world has opened their eyes. I want to be the person who gets to savor each and every morsel of the day I have been given. I want to soak up the sunrise and watch the sunset on my days. I want to be one of those "morning people." Perhaps you agree with me.

The reality is I have worked as a barista on-and-off for a good third of my life. I love the idea of being the first one at the cafe; listening to the sounds, inhaling the aroma, and savoring the first sips of that first morning cup of Joe; and connecting with the individual's who, like me, want to savor every moment of their day. Obviously, being the morning barista, I know what it means to wake up at 5 A.M. I also know what it feels like to wake up at 5 A.M. You would think it would be as I described above- beautiful, elegant, reflective...

For me, it's painfully difficult, unnatural, and sadly, not me. I have learned over the years I am a 8-9 hours of sleep per night little lady. I am also someone who likes to go to bed around 10pm-ish. Any earlier and I feel "rushed" to bed rather than "settling into" bed. This means 6-7 A.M. is my ideal time to open my eyes and begin my day. This also means I will miss most of the sunrise, and start my reflection, to-do list, and conversations along with the majority of the world.

So where does this leave me when I answer the question- "Are your a morning person?"

I now embrace my routine and the endless simple joys I am finding in my mornings. I have made a few small changes in order for my morning to feel like that of a "morning person", and I can honestly say I treat my 6:30 A.M. wake up time like that of a 5 A.M. one.

Here are a few things I am embracing in my mornings (Maybe you will enjoy some of them too.):

+ Opening the blinds before bed, so I can feel the warmth of sun on my face as it rises.

+ Having an 8oz glass of water on my nightstand to enjoy before I even get out of bed.

+ Having my coffeepot automatically set (a faux pas in the barista world), or having the espresso machine ready- making my morning cup of Joe effortless.

+ Taking the extra time to pamper my face and enjoy the simple acts of a self-care routine. (Love the scent of lemon or grapefruit first thing in the morning.)

+ Connecting with my husband while making breakfast or simply enjoying our morning cup of coffee together before we dive into work.

+ Spending time in prayer and reading scripture.

My answer: Yes, I am a morning person.

​I am a morning person who wakes up rested and excited for the day. I move slowly when I wake up and savor the precious moments found somewhere between sunrise and 9-5. I love my mornings for what they are, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Are you a morning person?

Brittany Pruess

Walking- an everyday simple pleasure that I always look forward to. Do you?

The hubby and I love a good stroll. Whether it is in the morning before church, or at the end of a long day; we cherish the simple activity of walking, talking, and cherishing the present moment before us.

This season (spring/summer), we have decided to make it even more of a point to embrace this gift we love so much! So far we have incorporated walking into our Sunday mornings before church (green juice in hand), this past Saturday by taking a stroll through Canyon Lake Park (a personal favorite of ours), and an all day adventure visiting the local shops of downtown Rapid City. It felt so good to reconnect with our downtown neighbors while soaking up a little sunshine!

Where are a few of your favorite places to walk?

And do you have a simple pleasure you would like to incorporate into your lifestyle on a regular basis? I would love to hear what it is!

Here is to celebrating life and embracing a few more simple pleasures my friends!

Brittany Pruess

Cold temperatures and windy days- If you ask me how I feel about them, my gut-reaction would be… Not great.

I have to be really intentional about incorporating moments of gratitude, self-care, and activities that bring joy to my life during the winter months. If I don’t, you will definitely see me dragging my feet as lethargy begins to take over my body and mind. I will be walking in the chilly fog of winter, setting my sights on being unproductive, and a season of “hermitude”. You may think I am being a bit dramatic, but truthfully, I am not.

The cold season really does impact me if I let it.

As I thought about my perception of winter, it occurred to me that I must also share with you how this same perspective relates to your lifestyle.

We have two options in this life we have been blessed to live.

Option #1- We walk around in the fog of relationships, work stress, poor eating habits, and the bitterness of not enough time and too much to do.

OR

Option #2- We choose to actively and intentionally participate in striving toward a lifestyle focused on God, our unique set of talents, and the simple moments God gives to us to enjoy on a daily basis.
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These are our options. I think sometimes we get stagnant in the lives we live and allow the “weather” to dictate our feelings and our decisions for longer than it should.

So today, I want to encourage you to select Option #2 and lean on God today and all He has equipped you with in order to live your life fully.

Choose not to let the physical weather or the weather of life dictate how you will live today. Get out of the fog and live the lifestyle you were meant to live.

Yah, cold weather can definitely make me lethargic if I let it; but today I am choosing to see the beautiful white colors of the season, embrace the scent of crispness, and appreciate the preparation of the Spring that will come from this. Yes, I am choosing to not be worn out by the weather, and rather thankful for God giving me another day to live.

​Brittany Pruess

How present are you?

Be honest. Are you able to immerse yourself in the present moment and experience the sensations, conversations, and the people around you fully?

Let's say for a minute you are able to put the phone down. You are able turn off the electronics, and commit to the event in front of you. You do your part in creating conversation starters, and you even help set the table. When the host asks you to help distribute gifts, you do that too. Oh, and you spend hours picking out the perfect dress, the perfect gifts, and the perfect wine for the occasion. This sounds pretty perfectly present doesn't it?

But if I am being honest with you, this is what I may arguably term "faking present."

Wait, what?

Many women have certain expectations for themselves when they attend an event. They run through the experience in their minds, setup the perfect situation, environment, and conversations, and then spend the entirety of the event following through with the performance of said "perfect event". After the event, they contemplate whether or not they fulfilled the expectations of the experience.

When we do this to ourselves, we are putting limits on our ability to be fully present. Yes, it is nice to experience the moment without all of the technology, and yes the ambiance can definitely set the mood for an evening, but there is one more thing you can do to perfect the art of being present....

Be present.

If you are the host- Once you have finalized all of the plans, let the rest go. Allow your guests (and yourself) to be drawn to where they want to go naturally. Let the conversation lead where it may. Let small imperfect moments be sweet gems rather than mental dramatizations to be dealt with later. See the evening as an opportunity to experience those closest to you exactly as they are.

If you are the guest- Follow any directions given in the invitation (such as Black Tie), but then after that simply show up fully yourself. It's okay if it takes you awhile to settle into the crowd and start a conversation. It is okay if you enjoy the food so much you treat yourself to an extra hor d'oeuvre. And it is okay if you spill something on that beautiful dress. If you can truly embrace these moments for what they are, they become gifts of your ability to be fully present.

As we enter into the Holiday season, it can be tempting to "plan our experiences" (as if that were possible). I encourage you to take a different approach. Have fun enjoying the process of creating an event, picking out the details, and then relax and embrace. Don't plan how you will show up....

Simply show up.

This is how you perfect the art of being present my friends.

​Brittany Pruess
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I absolutely love this time of year, don't you?! I didn't always, but the older I get, the more I really look forward to the Autumn season. I suppose if we are getting technical Spring and Autumn are equally "my favorites", but who really is keeping track right?

With cooler days, nature preparing for hibernation, and people falling back into the routine of work and school; Autumn is the perfect reminder to slow down, hunker in, and soften our hearts. In the spirit of fall, I intend to build upon this post slowly, bringing you sweet morsels of Autumn reminders throughout the month. My hope is you will appreciate the intentional shorter posts versus some of the novels I tend to write in the form of blog posts.

So, today, here are just a few reminders Autumn is sharing with me today:

Embrace the Warmth- The warmth of loved ones, friends, cozy nights with blankets and warm tea, candlelit dinners, and Autumn walks all bundled up.

Embrace the Slow- The slow pace of enjoying the moment, being present, of home cooked meals, walking simply to inhale the city, and of creating intentional space for meditation on Scripture and contemplation.

Embrace the Inside- The inside conversation between you and our Savior, of home as you commune among friends and family, and of heart as you soak up the love given to you.

Embrace the Beauty- The beauty of nature, of God's love, and of grace.

What will you embrace this Autumn? Do any of these resonate with you?

Happy fall my friends!

Brittany Pruess

The Art & Wine Festival is becoming quite the family tradition and we couldn't be more excited to be sharing it with you again this year! The festival itself is the perfect blend of two of my favorite things- art and wine, so right out of the gate it is a win-win in my book!

A few months prior to the event, my mom, my hubby, and myself begin to play with the spatial setup. Once we have laid out the foundational work, my dad helps out A LOT with the construction process of any display structures we may need. It truly is a family affair, and one of the reasons I love this event so much!

The feeling I get when I see everything come together on the morning of the event is one of my favorite parts of the day! To see my minimalist jewelry pieces sprinkled among my mom's fine jewelry, and then to experience my hubby's abstract paintings within the BP Fine Art Collection... this is the beauty of working with your family... the feeling of togetherness; we created this collective body of work! And the experience only continues to build, because in addition to the beauty of the morning getting everything displayed, the festival is also time for us to spend a day with one another displaying the pieces we have worked on over the past few months. The time with my family preparing our work for the festival is PRICELESS.

What can you expect from the BP Fine Art Collection-

For this festival, I really focused on embracing Spring and all of its beauty, so there will be several macrame plant hangers both in wall hangings and in suspended options. I also created a couple abstract paintings with a blue-green and gray scale color palette that embodies the clarity and freshness of the season (Not to mention these are my favorite colors).

**Bonus** I will also be taking custom orders at the event, so if you have been wanting a piece created just for you, come see me!

I hope you will join us and swing by our space this Saturday! It truly is a day I so much look forward to sharing with my family and friends. Thank you for supporting my family and our creative hearts!

​Brittany Pruess