feel + flourish: follow friday: @floralmountains

name // sarah thomas

age // nineteen

location // springfield, missouri

occupation // barista at mama jean’s natural market

unfortunately i have not had the pleasure of meeting this beauty in real life, but i feel like i know her already. i've followed sarah for as long as i can remember now, and i am continually inspired by her eye for the beauty around her and seemingly optimistic outlook on life. it was so wonderful learning a bit more about this spirited young lady and her blossoming love story through this q+a! i hope someday for a real life friendship full of thrifting and frolicking with this lovely girl!

1 // what inspires your daily life?

I am inspired by so much and so many! I’m blessed to be surrounded with incredibly talented and creative friends in my community and through social media. I also follow many blogs and am an active “pinner”; these things always keep me motivated and influence me. I am inspired by photographers, designers, artists, farmers, florists, cooks, bakers, furniture makers; really anyone creating beautiful things.

2 // what are your 3 favorite clothing items you can't live without?

My gray high-waisted Levi’s, my favorite pair of taupe booties, and my wide-brimmed hats.

3 // you & your fiancé Nathan are beyond adorable! what’s your story?

I can’t help but smile and giggle a bit when someone asks us ‘our story’. We actually met at a gas station! It was freezing and I pulled up to the gas pump and began going through the motions. I was having a great bit of difficulty getting my gas cap off; it seemed to have been frozen on. I looked over and saw (the very handsome) Nathan pumping gas and nervously asked for his assistance. He smiled and agreed to help and rescued the damsel in distress and then joked, “Do you need me to stay and help you get it back on?” as I blushed, embarrassed, and replied, “No, thank you, I think I will be able to manage.” He then drove away in his little black car and, as cliché as it sounds… I thought I had been shot by cupid. We ended up having mutual friends and over time it developed into a Facebook chat, a follow on twitter and instagram, and finally a coffee date. We spent that following summer getting to know each other and easily became best friends.

4 // what do you love most about him?

Nathan’s my favorite person. He’s got such a passionate and fun-loving spirit. I love his excitement for life and admire his ability to dream and his determination to create. He’s my biggest inspiration and my best friend, oh and he’s the weirdest person I know.

5 // we're obsessed with your magical Oregon coast proposal [good job Nathan!] can you tell us anything about the wedding so far?

We’re so excited!! Our wedding is basically going to be a big ol’ get together and summer barbeque! We’re having our ceremony and reception on Nate’s parents’ farmland and smoking up a big ol’ pig. We just want people to come celebrate with us, eat, and be merry. There will be lots of flowers (of course), pie (of course), and bonfires.

6 // have you always lived in Missouri?

Yes, I was born and raised just outside of Springfield’s city limits. I’ve been brought up with cows and my granny’s vegetable garden that’s just a couple gates away from my house. Growing up, there was a on of playing in the woods and fields with my siblings, and borrowing my brothers’ overalls.

& where else do you see yourself spending your life?

Nathan and I are completely in love with the West Coast. We most definitely desire to spend some of our lives much nearer to mountains and the ocean. We do absolutely love our hometown, but are excited to go experience more!

7 // if you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

Hmm, I think I would be some sort of songbird, liberated, unconfined, and elegant. Or a puppy… because, I mean c’mon!!! (insert heart-eyes emoji here)

8 // is there a specific person, dead or alive, who you look up to or admire?

I feel like I have a lot of role models in my life and admire so many creatives out there! But, in particularly & most greatly, I admire my parents. They’re the most selfless and loving individuals, I know. They’re so giving, pure, and hard working. They’re so dedicated to caring and serving our family and friends, specifically my mother; her love amazes me, I don’t tell her that enough.

9 // what songs or bands are you listening to lately?

Recently, I’ve been listening to the band Alt-J and Wild Ones (always), at home I put on a favorite record (Peter, Paul, & Mary or Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros), and in the car I listen to 99.9 KBFL “The Music of Your Life”, which consists of a wide mix of instrumentals, jazzy solos, and fifties through seventies classics.

10 // where could we find you on the weekend or your day off?

If it’s a nice day, I’d wake up early to find some sort of tasty route into town for pastries and coffee, taking Margaux (my pup) on a walk in midtown Springfield, most likely, carrying out a checklist of some sort, and finding time in between goals to stop at a thrift store or meet a friend…ending my day with Thai food,a redbox, and snuggles with Nathan. :)