sweet

Ok...I have to be honest. I love the pretty trees and all that...but what I really like about fall is the food! Pies, stews and especially caramel apples. Oh my my my...I could eat them everyday. I really have no will power when it comes to these delicious treats. *Gah* I will be going to the grocery later this week and I know they will be taunting me in the produce section. But life is short...so i'll cave :)

On a more philosophical note...I found this incredible metta prayer over at Jan's blog and was completely blown away. I mean really blown away.  I said this 4 times to myself  (replacing the you with "I")and then said it to my husband (who kind of pissed me off earlier...so I thought it would be good to try).  I really didn't think it would make me feel different...but it did.  So give this a try today.

Then go buy some caramel apples...because life is sweet.

Cabin

Don't you love this little red cabin in the woods? I can only imagine how beautiful it looks covered in snow. I have always dreamed of having a little place like this tucked away in the forest...a place to go and be quiet, create, relax and dream. We all need a place to go and escape now and then...if even through a photograph.

So what about you? I am curious to know...what is your dream getaway?

Mosaic Monday - Autumn Beauty

After 3 days in the mountains, I am having a hard time adjusting to the fast pace of reality. Oh how it did a body good to chill out, hike, go fishing, and compete in the stein carrying contest at Oktoberfest (oh that's a post for another day...lol)! Here are a few photos of the autumn beauty that surrounded me. I have a ton of photos to go through and play with...if only I had more hours in the day. But this is a start...

Anyway...off to do some laundry...good times! Hope to catch up with you all...missed you :)

To see more wonderful mosaics, please visit Mary at The little Red house.

Psyched!

Don't you love a last minute get away? We just decided to hightail our butts to the mountains today for 3 days. Woo Hoo! Do you know what this means??? I might actually get some real live fall weather...OMG...I need to breathe.

Because what it really comes down to...is it that I am going to go freakin' crazy taking photos!

But seriously...I need this getaway. A 3 day total immersion of fall.

Beautiful.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend...

What are your plans?

Inspired

I am in creative inspiration overdrive...whoa, I think I need to slow down ;)

I am having such a ball with my new fonts and graphics! I came across these amazing acrostic poems over at Nina P's Thoughts and Musings and had to borrow her words to make this little cutey pie...



Then when I thought I could not find more cuteness in this world I stumbled upon this flickr site. And created this name badge...


I personally think all name tags should look like this, don't you?

And then of course...



OMG...I am such a dork! But an inspired dork...so it's cool.

I am curious...what's inspiring you?

Procrastination

Procrastination...a favorite word of mine...lol. Yesterday I had a lot to do, but somehow redecorating my blog seemed to take priority. It just needed a little autumn makeover. But hey, I learned how to make a blog background (not sure if you can see it on your screen...but, I made that cool autumnish background texture...woo hoo!). Now my life is complete.

But really, isn't it fun to get lost in something other than tasks? It's like a little vacation. I was so happy doing something fun. Sure, I am gonna pay. So today I will hit the ground running and catch up on everything that fell to the wayside yesterday. But I am happy...I now have a little autumn nook to hang out at when I am in cyberspace. I do hope that you enjoy yourself here...I do love when you stop by!

Hope your Thursday is glorious!

P.S. I created this just for you...how cute is this?? Boy am I easily distracted or what?

Transcendent

I love the light of fall...everything awashed in amber hues. I wish I could just wrap myself in this deliciousness and stay there for awhile. It's been such a joy seeing autumn splashed all over blogsphere too...so much beauty to behold.

Anyway...I am feeling so much better today... My decision proved to be good. Funny how something one day seems so heavy and big...then seems to lighten overnight.

Yes...life goes on.

I was so lucky to take this photo last week in Chicago...the gorgeous light through the leaves. The brilliant reds and oranges. I will hold on to this. Cherish this. This is all the fall I will get. Oh how I miss a "real" fall. It is my favorite season (I am sure you figured that out by now). The fall transforms something inside of me. I begin to feel more settled. And sometimes I just need that.

The light of fall is so special. Precious. Fleeting. Deep. Spectacular. Glorious. Transcendent.

Now go out and enjoy it!

Bittersweet

Why are some decisions so bittersweet? Even when I follow my heart? Sometimes it feels a little heavy when saying goodbye. But like they say, when one door closes another one opens. Most importantly we should always follow our heart, right?

So as I say goodbye, feeling a little tentative about my decision...I am holding out hope.

Ever feel this way?

Mosaic Monday - Wedding

Such a special day...and usually a total blur for the happy couple. I so loved this wedding...a perfect day in Chicago. I enjoyed being with family and friends and celebrating my beautiful cousin beginning a new journey in life. And of course, I especially enjoyed taking those special uncensored photos.

Here's to wedded bliss (well hopefully most of the time...lol).

Happy Monday! To see other wonderful mosaics, go visit Mary at Little Red House

Six word Saturday

My man rocks a cool chapeau!

Choices

We all make them. Every single day. Some choices are easy..."yes, I will have coffee this morning." Some are more difficult..."do I want to live like this anymore?"

Today I woke up to many different things flying straight toward me. A bit overwhelming for sure. Mostly little choices. I was getting grumpy as I saw that my day ahead is full of things that I really don't want to do, but can't put off either. If I choose to procrastinate it will bit me in the butt big time. I walked out the door with my kids in hand to take them to school and realized...I still have a choice. Do I want to carry this nasty attitude around with me all day? Do I want my kids to go to school feeling my anger? I was faced with a simple choice: Let. It. Go.

And thankfully, I did.

As you go forth through your day notice the choices that lie ahead. Maybe you can make some daring choices today. Maybe you can choose not to worry today. Perhaps you will make a life changing (for the better) choice today.

I am curious...do you have any choices you want to share?

Limb

So I went out on a limb and sent some photos into shutter stock. All of which were rejected due to poor lighting and composition. Really!? Oh well...I guess it's not meant to be.

Oh I am not down about the rejection at all...I figured I would try and see. For "shits and giggles" as I like to say.

Sometimes in life you just have to go out on a limb and take a chance. Don't let rejection hold you back. I am not. I think I will start compiling photos for my photo book...

How might you "go out on a limb" today? I'd like to know!

Journey

Don't you love a journey? I just spent the last 4 days with family and good friends. I watched my dear cousin get married. I thought about how I felt walking down the isle and how my life has changed in the past 14 years of marriage. It was wonderful to see extended family joining together to celebrate. So many different people and journeys merging over the weekend.

I also journeyed home...which was so good for my soul. There is something about the Illinois prairies that just bring me peace. I took this photo last night. I drove out to a near by forest preserve and spent a good hour walking, thinking, listening to the birds and taking photos. I thought about my journey in life so far. How quickly the time has gone. Taking that quiet walk alone was slice of heaven. A journey into my soul...

So looking forward to catching up with you all...

Bliss

What does bliss mean to you? Right now these things are bringing me some needed bliss:

• 30 day Adobe Lightroom trial (oh...too much bliss!)
• holding on to summer just a little bit longer
  
• the kids back in school so I can have some time for myself
• James Taylor & Jack Johnson
• star gazing
• beautiful tea cups that I saw at Anthropology (and they stayed there...)
  
• having dinner with the kids and talking about their day
• going to bed flat out exhausted and sleeping like a baby
• visiting your very inspiring blogs!
• heading to the windy city for a wedding this weekend! Yippee!!
  

Hope you find much bliss today... See you all next week :)

Reaching

What are you reaching for? Is there something just out of grasp...and you just need that subtle push?

Consider this your subtle push today.

So, stick your arm out just a little bit more...more...come on, you got it...right....there.

Yeah. Reach for it!

P.S. Did you know that today is good energy day? Take a moment at 9:09 to send good thoughts out into the universe. And say something good to yourself while you are at it :)
Thank you Stark Raving Zen for the heads up! You can also check out the Good Energy Blog too!

Hello Beautiful...

What a glorious weekend... Seeing my friends, an outdoor movie with neighbors and kids...snuggling in blankets and eating candy, and boogie boarding at the beach. I am thankful for so much.

Life is beautiful and so are you!!! Thank you for stopping by today...it really means so much to me!

Have a wonderful and beautiful Tuesday!

Whoa...

Ever feel a little over booked, crazed, and overwhelmed?

That's where I am right now. Today the kiddies went back to school...and now it's time to buckle down. Summer vacation is officially over. Much needs to be done and I am in over my head. So if I can't get to all of you right now...I apologize! I need to get a good routine set.

Is it me, or did this summer just fly?

Whoa...that was way too fast!

Giving tree

A favorite book of mine...do you remember this book? That is what I thought when I saw this tree. This tree gives me peace, hope, happiness, strength, gratitude and grounding. I love the twisted branches...all the different directions it's growing in. Like many of us. Not straight, but twisty.

Like life.

Tranquility

Be sure to take a quick break and remind yourself to breathe in tranquility. Sometimes we get so busy and frazzled that we forget to calm our breath.

Hope you have a tranquil Tuesday!