Want.

Very excited to start my gardening adventure and am looking forward to some beautiful spring and summer blossoms. I also feel that learning something new, like gardening, is a way to stay curious and excited about life. Days like this, when we are facing such tragedy and confusion, it’s nice to lose yourself in something real and cathartic and gratifying. I know that the minute I see a sprout of green, a sign of life and beauty, I will feel a sense of accomplishment, a sense of pride, and an appreciation for the cyclical nature of life.

Words can’t express how I feel about what happened in Boston on Marathon Monday. To have such tragedy, such loss, such pain and suffering thrust upon our beautiful city, and the inspiring people who reside here, breaks my heart. I have complete faith that we will rise above the terror and be stronger and more courageous than ever before. Yes, our innocence may be lost but our hope, faith and bravery remains.

Pretty Flowers from Style Me Pretty

In honor of Mad Men returning next week (Via)

Words of advice.

I stumbled along the path, following the clearly marked pavers, confident that I was moving in the right direction. It had to go somewhere, right? It had to end somewhere? This was a familiar feeling. My life was mimicking this path with endless twists and turns and no definitive direction or purpose. Even though I was in a tropical paradise, after awhile palm trees all started to look the same. Flowering plants and crawling vines morphed into one continuous form of vegetation. I wasn’t seeing beauty anymore, I was just feeling panic. Panic that I would remain lost until dark. Panic that I wouldn’t be able to find my way back. Panic that I was being led so far away from where I wanted to go even though I was following a path, a clearly marked path.

The constant green was broken by a bright spot of orange in the distance. At first I thought it was an overgrown bush of blooming flowers. But the orange was so bright, so solid, it had to be something artificial. Nothing natural could hold that kind of vibrancy. As I rounded the last bend, the orange object came into focus. It was a hammock. It was an elaborate hammock, not a simple piece of fabric strung between two trees. This one was made up of intricate patterns and knots. Tassels dangled from the edges and the fabric looked clean and freshly laundered, not like something that had been hanging for a long time or forgotten long ago by travelers.

Who did this remarkable hammock belong to and why would they leave it here for anyone to use? Why would they share something so beautiful with strangers? I was too timid to sit on the hammock, too scared to trust it with my weight, but I touched it gently. I ran the tassels through my fingers as I searched the landscape for a house. There was nothing to be seen but the brilliant hammock and the stones beneath my feet leading me somewhere I did not yet know. I released the hammock and continued on my way. I was still lost. I was still scared. But I had seen beauty. I had recognized something unique and it had made me pause and reflect. I knew, someday, I would be back. I would find my way out and I would return. And maybe this time I would relinquish my fears and worries and I would simply swing.

Image Via Katie Daisy

I love everything about this painting! The quote, the colors, the contrast, the vibrancy. Just beautiful!

Well, I’m off to do some Christmas shopping. This is my absolute, hands-down, favorite time of the year. I love the festivity, the kindness, the general excitement that surrounds me wherever I go. It’s just a beautiful and breath-taking time of year. Yes, there are long lines, rude people, the expense of it all. But there is also a timeless quality to the holidays. It’s a time to remember where you were last year, the year before, ten years before. It’s a time of love and reflection. It’s also a time for hope. The possibility of a new year and all the joy and adventure yet to come. I am looking back fondly on 2012. Yes, there were some large bumps in my road and many tears shed, but I was with the people I love and I appreciated every moment of it. I have tremendous hope for 2013 and feel blessed that I am able to sit here, write these words, put my heart into everything I do and move forward.

Happy Holidays!

I just adore this print. It’s made by Tiffany Pelczar. And what’s even more beautiful about this print? All proceeds go to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.

via

There are so many businesses online. So many creative ideas, projects, initiatives, missions. They are popping up all over the place and they are inspiring and motivating. But they can also be overwhelming. They can make you feel inferior or like a failure because you haven’t built your own successful business, because you don’t have that “million dollar idea.” But the truth is, just trying to reach your dreams is the definition of success. Taking that step, putting yourself out there, making a leap into the unknown is the sign of courage. Try everything. Be curious. Discover your passion.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” – Ursula LeGuin

I am a sucker for a New England fall. The dramatic drop in temperature. The vibrant colors that light up the trees. The crackle of fallen leaves. The cold fingers and toes at night as you snuggle deeper under your covers. It makes me feel brilliantly alive. It’s days like this that make me thankful to live where I do. Yes, when the long, hard winter months start hanging heavily over my head, I do wish for the summer skies of California. I long to feel the warm sun radiating on my body and I sense a definite change in the moods of those around me. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real thing and I can tell you it makes an appearance every February/March without fail. But for now, the chill is delightful. It hints at holidays and time with our family. The winter chill means hot apple cider on the stove, a fire in the fireplace and cozy clothing (with elastic waists!). I am going to really try and hold onto this winter cheer for as long as humanly possible. I will try to see the beauty in everything it brings and really try not to complain too much around January, February and March. (But I can’t make any promises).

The holidays are fast approaching so that means the temperature is dropping…rapidly. I have become a bit of a fire fiend. I love the smell, the crackle of the logs, and the warmth a fire provides. It is soothing and comforting, it’s like coming home. Nothing makes me think of home more than the holidays. I’m really excited to spend Thanksgiving with the people I love, who mean the world to me. So my week has been spent decorating for Thanksgiving and prepping my baking skills. I’ve also been taking long walks, enjoying this brilliant fall in New England, watching the last of the leaves fall from the trees. Super Storm Sandy forced the leaves off the trees a little earlier than expected but it’s beautiful nonetheless. I’ve also been doing lots of fall cleaning and have found a great little trick. Leave a big, canvas bag in a central spot and throughout the day, as I find things that need to be put away or brought back to their home, I drop it in the bag. Instead of having clutter everywhere, I have a bag-o-stuff that I can carry around while I return things to where they belong. It works great! Plus, the bag looks cute in my hallway.

I love Project Life!

Yes, I know Halloween was last week and Thanksgiving has yet to come, but I’m already planning my sister’s Holiday Party. Yes, it happens to be a party she has yet to say she’s having and she may discover she is having this party by reading this blog. But still, better to be prepared, right?

So I’m already falling in love with all of the sparkly, brilliant ideas I’m finding on Pinterest.

I can’t wait for this party {obviously} and I think it will be fun to spend the next two months planning. Although, maybe I should work on my Thanksgiving table first? Oh well. So much to do, so little time.

Happy Holidays!

via Amy Atlas

via Amy Atlas

via pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

I promise next time I will talk about Thanksgiving and I feel badly for not giving any love to Halloween. So in closing, I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween filled with sweet treats and spooky times!

Warning! These little princesses will steal your heart!!!

I am literally using my blog to remind myself to BUY this agenda in August…yes, you will be mine!

“Live your Life. Live your Life. Live your Life.” ~ Maurice Sendak (1928-2012)

Exercise

Mondays. They’re pretty tough. Typically you feel overtired and overwhelmed with the work load that has built up over the weekend. But there is nothing that solves the problems of a Monday better than exercise. It clears your head and gives you a feeling of power and control, something that we often feel is lacking in our lives. It erases guilt for any overindulging you may have done (or plan to do). And most importantly, it makes you feel ALIVE!

I am grateful for the way a simple run makes me feel more alive. I am grateful that I am able to go for a simple run every day of my life. I am grateful for the simple power of putting one foot in front of the other.