Sunset

I love a good sunset... Deep oranges and reds. A beautiful send off as our day ends. No sunset is ever the same and each one is deeply spiritual and special. I saw this rose and the lighting was so soft on the yellow and pink petals. I just sat and looked at this for a few minutes, I loved how it changed moment by moment as the light changed. The sheer innocent beauty was a gift to me as I looked upon this lovely flower.

So, I just wanted to share this with you.

Happy Monday!

Love yourself...

I am on a campaign to love myself... If you wish, you can read my post at my other blog HERE.

Jan at Awake is Good joined me on this campaign...read her post HERE.

This is good stuff ladies!!!

Here's to LOVING YOURSELF!!!

Four things

I was tagged by the ever lovely Ribbon of Fragments Treasures Memory to do a meme. I haven't done one in so long...thought it would be fun. So I figured I would do one with 4 questions (in order not to ramble on for too long).

1. What do you love about summer?

• I love the way the sunlight comes into my room...it's a warm light kisses my face to wake me (but sometimes it slaps me and tells me to get my butt out of bed...lol). I am loving ice cold watermelon and lemonade. I love that my kids body clocks are changing and they are sleeping in (a harsh reality will hit us all next week when school starts...but I will enjoy it while I can). I love the feeling of being free and easy during the summer. Wearing skirts and flip-flops. I adore tank tops and yoga pants...it's officially my uniform! I love Queen Anne's lace and all the wild flowers that grow with abandon.
  

2. What is on your bedside table?

• "The curious incident of the dog in the night time" (almost finished...it's the only book I have read all summer). Shakti Gawain, Deepak Chopra, Denise Linn...author's I love. A bunch of Martha Stewart mags (not for recipes or house keeping tips...but inspiration for photography...so many ideas in there). A box of tissues. A big amethyst crystal, citrine, angelite, and smoky quartz. My Tibetan singing bowl. And a barbie dress that somehow joined the party...

3. What are your favorite foods?

• Ummmm...so many things! I will say I am a Mid West meat and taters kind of girl. I like simple foods...don't care for fancy foods. I once went to Charlie Trotters (a very upscale restaurant in Chicago) and I could barley eat. Everyone at the table was ohhing and ahhing and I wanted to spit everything out in my napkin. Veal cheek? Really...no thanks. I actually went and got a hot dog after that! Oh! I LOVE pizza and could eat it every night. It's what I miss most about the windy city. I also love super strong coffee with evaporated milk...it's heaven! And lately, I have been grilling starburst squash and asparagus...I can't get enough of that. I also love a good Indian buffet...so maybe that throws my simple foods idea out the window...lol.

4. Describe your dream home.

• Did you see Twilight? That glass house in the woods where the vampires lived? That's it! Modern, clean, and simple. I am a tree girl. I need to be surrounded by lot's of trees. BIG trees. I grew up in the woods and would play in the forest for hours. There is something so magical about listening to the trees...how they creek in wind and the rustle of leaves...oh and the smell. But then again, I would love to have a little cottage in the woods, a retreat of sorts. A nice cozy fireplace, big comfy couches, an inviting kitchen, and a big porch to sit out on and drink my coffee and hear the birds. So I guess that means I have 2 dream homes! One is just not enough!
  

So that's it...hope you enjoyed. Feel free to play along if you like. Let me know, because I would love to read your 4 things.

Special

Do you remember your first "big girl" shoes? Well, I just bought a pair for my daughter...she is going to be a flower girl in a wedding this fall. When we got to the shoe store, her eyes light up (oh no, another shoe lover in the family). Then she saw them... "Please Mommy? I don't want to wear flats." How could I resist?

When we got home she tried on the shoes with the dress and danced around in such sweet happiness. She is entering a new phase in life...still a little girl, but getting a bit older.

Very bittersweet.

Float

While sometimes it's fun to jump in...sometimes it's just nice to float. Let the ocean of life carry you today. Just float...softly and effortlessly. Enjoy the feeling of letting go and just "being."

Mosaic Monday - I want candy

Don't you love a candy shop? All the pretty colors. All the yummy treats. This was a feast for my eyes and my tummy too :)

Want to see other amazing mosaics? Then head over to Mary's blog...The Little Red House.

Jump!

What are you waiting for? Is there something you want to do, accomplish, finish, start or create? What the heck...life is short...jump in while you can.




Be sure to visit Dream Weaving today and support Jill's dream.

Click to enter site

Six word Saturday

Pretty purple flower makes me happy.

Happiness

Yay! It's Friday! My kids are going to a pool party today. We are meeting friends later for a BBQ. It really is the simple things in life that mean so much. Like yellow roses against a old white fence or a bee languishing in nectar.

What do you have planned for today?

Stop the presses!

I could just faint! Seriously!!!

I just found out that my photo was featured on Shutter Sisters, One Word Project. Holy cow! You can see it here. I don't even know what to say...what an honor!

swoon

The story of a girl and her shoes...



Once upon a time there was a silly girl who loved shoes. But she had a little secret that she didn't like to admit...she had a big bunion on her left foot. This nasty bunion meant the end of pretty heals and cute strappy sandals (boo hoo). It made her sad sometimes. She felt like she missed out on wearing all those sexy heels. Poor girl.

Now this girl was smart. If she actually found shoes that were fashionable, cute and felt good, she would buy them (she did the same with jeans). So yesterday this girl went to Marshall's looking for backpacks and goodies for back to school. As she wandered around the store dazzled by all the delights, she found herself in the shoe isle. Now you never know, backpacks could be there too!

This lovely girl instantly spied these beautiful peacock blue Born flats. They sat on the shelf and beckoned her over. Oh how her heart began that excited pitter-patter. Will they fit, she wondered? Will they feel comfortable? Slowly she slipped off her flip-flops and carefully put on the beautiful blue shoes. Oh! She felt like Cinderella...they fit! They actually fit! And felt good!!! Then she flipped the shoe over and saw they were only $29.00...indeed it was happy happy day! And this excited girl did a little happy dance in the isle.

The End.

I love a happy ending, don't you?

Thank you

I asked for a sign today. Lately I have felt like the universe has not been listening. So, I spoke to my angels and asked to see something so I knew they have heard my prayers for guidance and help (sometimes I doubt and need to see proof...I am silly that way). So I took my dogs for a long walk and asked to see a sign...a feather or something obvious. I walked slowly and kept my eyes peeled to make sure that my angels could drop something in front of me. But nothing happened. I saw no feathers, words, or symbols. I walked into my home with a heavy heart. The night went on and I forgot about my request for a sign. When it was time to put my little ones to bed, I went downstairs to tell them to get ready. I looked on the floor to see a pile of white feathers! My little one had pulled out a bunch of feathers from a down pillow and they were scattered all over the floor. At that moment my heart skipped a beat and I knew without a doubt that my angels have heard me...



What do you want your angels to know? They are listening!

Stillness

As the world rushes around you and your day begins in a flurry...don't forget to find a bit of stillness...even if for a moment...



Peace to you today.

Mosaic Monday - Things I love right now

Well...I am going to carry this summer mood with me as long as I can! I have discovered starburst squash which is so delicious grilled with a touch of olive oil and sea salt. It goes very well with a nice dry rose. Oh yes, summer means putting my feet up and relaxing with a good magazine...and pretty pink flowers.



What are you enjoying right now?

To see more wonderful mosaics, go visit Mary at The Little Red House.

Happy Monday!

Perception

Isn't it funny how you can look at something and not realize that there is a entirely different story behind it. I have had a few interesting experiences this week that have really opened my eyes. Sometimes I have an idea about something and create a story in my mind to fill in the blanks. Only then I find out that what I conjured up was way off from the truth.

For instance, when you see this lotus flower...what do you imagine the background is like? Pond? Tropical setting? Zen garden? Botanical garden? I bet that local car wash didn't come to mind. Yep, I took this at the car wash...they have a small water feature there! Isn't that funny?


P.S. Do you have a dream? Check out my new site and submit your dream today!

Chances

Life is full of risk and reward...you never know what will be the outcome if you don't take a chance. Similar to yesterday's theme of experimenting...today I decided to do something. Not big. Just a little step to see where it leads.

I am posting some of my favorite inspirations and photos for sale here. You can also access this page through the link under my header. I like this site...it's easy and free (for 5 or less items). Would love to have you take a look...no pressure to buy!

Who knows where this will lead...but I feel the need to put myself out there :)

Experiment

I love to experiment...not so much in a high school chemistry class way...lol...but with my creative and spiritual side. Sometimes an experiment really turns out amazing and sparks great creative insight. Sometimes it fizzles. Regardless, each time we experiment we learn from it. In my journey in life, experimenting has been critical to my personal growth. I can't imagine what I may have missed out on. I have experimented with jewelry making, spirituality, blogging, and now photography.

Experimenting means taking risks too. You open new doors. You forage new paths. You put yourself out there. But think about it for a moment...wouldn't it be so boring if you didn't even attempt to take a chance?

Hmmmmmm...what are you experimenting with today?

Golden

What constitutes a golden moment? For me, it's about simplicity. A simple sublime moment.

After riding in the car for 8 long hours, we pulled up to our hotel...just as the sun was setting. I slowly stretched my legs as I got out of the car and felt the cool breeze surround me. I took this photo in a field of golden grasses. I loved how the sun outlined the grass, making the field blaze with golden light. It truly was a simple and sublime moment. I stood there for a few minutes to let the moment linger. The soft wind and the setting sun, a wonderful ending to a long day.

Don't you love moments like that?

Wishing you many golden moments today...

Moody

Being moody gets such a bad rap sometimes. But I like "moody" in that deep, delicious way that