five (really) good things

I used to make these lists all the time here on my blog because it is just so fun to share the things that bring a little joy or delight, the things that make life easier, and things that inspire me or even take my breath away.

Here are five current favorites:

1) One of my favorite things about being part of One Little Word as a guest instructor is getting to know the other women who are teaching throughout the year. And one of these magical people is @azzarijarrett. She takes incredible photos (with film!) and creates beautiful things. I ordered the stickers and postcards above, which are now in my “current favorite things to inspire journaling” basket on my studio table. Thank you for the light you shine, Azzari.

2) This poem and this poem and this poem.

3) The comments on this Instagram post are (very very) worth reading.

4) Megababe Thigh Rescue has changed my life this summer. Hello dresses and skirts, my thighs are happy to feel you against them again. (If you’re looking for a layer to wear under skirts though, I also recommend these and these.)

5) Right on Time by Brandi Carlile.

eight delightful things

Ellie and I stopped by Target during our girls' evening, and they were kind of hitting it out of the park with the on trend goodness. While driving home, it made me think about how I want to start a series here about some of the delightful finds I see when I'm out in the world or curating over on Pinterest.

Here are a few good things that have caught my eye lately.

 

I hadn't seen these Chapters Moleskines in person until today. I have a little project in mind for this one, and I'll keep you posted on how I like using it. (Oh and the meeting of Compulsive Journal Buying Club will meet at my house next week.)

Ellie could not resist this owl sweatshirt. And neither could I. The best part? The head opening is comfortable for her. Super soft and cute. (Also this unicorn shirt! And this kitty dress.)

This floral embroidery kit from Hand Made Modern came very very close to making it into my cart. But I must finish my latch hook project first. And my crochet project. Then I want to play with something like this. I'm loving handmade projects that keep me off of my phone or laptop in the evenings and this would be a great one.

And the ampersand trend continues. Am thinking I might want to wrap this one in yarn. Because why not? Ellie also really wants to get her name in these letters and "do a project Mama." I think I've created a crafter. Yep.

I'm obsessed with this hat from Old Navy. I bought the camel (aka burnt ochre) color but a couple more colors and styles are available. It is super comfortable on my not small head.

This Eileen Fisher poncho is very similar to the poncho I wear just about every day over it's cool enough over here. (It's an investment for sure. But you'll be wearing it for years.) I have a couple from Eileen Fisher, and then I have a couple my mom has made me. I'm obsessed with this asymmetrical design and how flattering it is. A whole post about ponchos is on the horizon as soon as my mom sends the new one she made me. 

Over the weekend when I was on Bainbridge Island and had a little bit of time to shop, I found the most delightful journals. Love this one.

And I found a unicorn 7 year pen! (Of course I did. It makes me so happy. There's even a rainbow!)

Check out more items to add to your fall wardrobe over here and here are some of my favorite journals. 

Note: Some of these links are affiliate, which means I receive a small commission if you choose to buy something via these links. Thank you for supporting this space and my little business. 

love this: scoutmob favorites (and a giveaway!)

 

For a few months now, I've been curating my favorites from Shoppe by Scoutmob over on Pinterest. As I shared previously, Shoppe by Scoutmob is an awesome site that supports makers by giving them a platform to sell a handful of their goods. It is full of gorgeous, fun handmade items.

Today, I'm partnering with Scoutmob to share a few Mother's Day gift ideas for under $100 AND to give away a $100 gift card to one reader so you can buy your own gift for Mom (or yourself!). Here are just a few of my current maker-made gift ideas on Scoutmob. (Giveaway details are at the end of the post.)

The DIY Scarf Indigo Dye Kit by Yellow Owl Workshop looks pretty darn awesome. I've been eying the indigo dye trend for a while, seeing DIY ideas on Pinterest, and I love that this kit comes with everything you need. If the mom in your life is the DIY type, this would be pretty perfect! 

There are quite a few rings on Scoutmob that I've been dreaming about lately. The Hammered Gold Eclipse Ring by Isla Loves Rick is gorgeous. And the circle can represent so many beautiful stories. I also love the Hammered Siren Ring, the Moon Dot sterling ring, and the Queen Crown Ring. Oh and the custom state quarter ring has become one of my most popular curated pins ever. It is pretty darn awesome!

The Flower Market Scarf Camera Strap by Bluebird Chic is great for the mom who carries her big camera around but wants to be stylish and have her camera hang comfortably from her neck or shoulder. Also really perfect for a photographer who takes photos at weddings and other events. Also really love this canvas and leather strap.

The Double Dot Enamel necklace by K.O'Brien Jewelry is adorable and on trend yet doesn't feel super trendy, and I love the color combinations it comes in! Such a sweet pairing that can represent a mama and child without being too obvious about it. A mom could also give the little dot to her daughter. Love this one!

The Herbal Bath and Beauty Kit from Herbal Organics looks lovely. Giving thoughtfully, handmade self-care products like these can be paired with a beautiful message from your heart about how it is time for the mom in your life to take some time for herself. Love that idea! The Sabbatical Bath Salts also look delightful and have maybe the best name ever.

The Leather Foldover Clutch by Rare Bird is gorgeous. I love how it could go from holding important stuff in your big everyday bag to date night easily. And the price is really great for this kind of leather craftsmanship. (This is pretty much on my wish list big time.) The Full Bloom Flower pouch is also so cute!

Giveaway details: The giveaway is open through 11:59 PM PST, Sunday, April 19. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment sharing your favorites from the gift ideas above. One winner will be chosen at random and will be announced at the end of this post on Monday. Be sure to include your email (not in the comment, just in the email space provided), so we can be in touch with you if you win. Good luck!!! And give maker made this Mother's Day. It's a way to give the moms in your life extra love.

Giveaway Winner: The winner is Lara who commented: #5 the herbal bath and beauty kit. Sometimes mum needs reminded that she CAN take time for herself. Congratulations Lara!! Check your email.

Note: Though I am partnering with Scoutmob for this giveaway, this isn't a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. The links above are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission when you explore the Shoppe through these links. 

love this :: everyday outfits (november)

It's been awhile since I've shared an everyday outfits post. Now that we're really in the midst of autumn in the Pacific Northwest, here's a glimpse at what I'm wearing and loving and stacking stacking stacking.

1) This denim shirt from J.Crew Factory (hat tip to Elise) is finally (FINALLY!) the denim shirt I've been looking for. It's fitted but still roomy and it's really chambray so it isn't heavy. Great for under sweaters or as an outer layer. And I'm doing the denim on denim thing and loving it.

2) I'm stacking these bracelets in multiple colors daily over here. They caught my eye when I was checking out at Paper Source and I was delighted when they fit me. I have trouble sliding bangle-style bracelets over my hand but my wrist isn't large, so that makes for an interesting relationship with bracelets. These stretch just a bit and somewhat vary in size. I pretty much want about 20 more to wear on both wrists. They are fair trade bracelets made from recycled flip flop materials. Awesomesauce.

3) And I love to stack them with my Five Deep Breaths bracelet that I wear every single day lately as I keep holding my ground with love with my strong-willed awesome intense four year old.

4) This Wild Shirt from Umber Dove Studios is basically on rotation two to three times a week over here. It fits like a dream and makes me so happy. I have it in purple and love it in the gray too. 

5) With an outfit like this one, if I were leaving the house, I'd probably wear my favorite "non-traditional" Ugg Grandle boots that I've shared before (this year's similar version here), but today, I want to tell you about my fox slippers. I've mentioned my plantar fasciitis that has been hurting me on and off for the last year. For the last two months, I've been wearing supportive shoes almost every single time I'm walking. As in as soon as I get out of bed, I slip on shoes and keep them on all day long. For a person who prefers being barefoot, it has been a bit excruciating at times. As I go from the studio to the house, often in the rain, I want something that I can stand in for short periods of time hammering at the project table but that also just feels cozy as the studio warms up in the morning and most importantly makes me happy. These foxes have hit the sweet spot for me.

6) My favorite JJill jeans bit the dust recently. I still have a pair that I've cut the too long length off of that I wear sometimes, but gosh I wish it wasn't all skinny/slim fit jeans all the time everywhere as I look for a similar pair. I'm back to the Dreamer bootcut jeans from Old Navy, and I'm remembering why I do really love them. Super comfortable and really flattering. Thinking I'd like to get them in the slightly lighter wash too. And when I'm doing the skinny-ish jeans thing, I still wear these NYDJ boyfriend jeans and unroll them and tuck them into my favorite tall boots.

Check out other everyday outfit posts here.

Quick note: Some links are affiliates, which means I receive a small commission when you purchase from that online store.

love this :: taos here i come

This weekend, I'm headed to Taos, New Mexico for a week to teach yoga at Jen Louden's incredible yearly writing retreat. This year she's teaching two sessions, and I'm so delighted to be part of the second one that begins on Sunday. And spending a week in Taos writing is a true dream come true for me. As in I've had this dream since I was 19 and reading Long Quiet Highway. And the dream intensified over the years as I heard about Jen's retreat...and now here I am. 

And honey, when you're about to embark on a dream come true kind of trip, you've got to think about what you're going to wear as you step into that dream. Here's a little glimpse at a few of the things I'm gathering. The intention is to be comfortable + survive the heat + be able to go from writing to teaching to maybe even running into town easily. 

This linen tank from Eileen Fisher (on sale right now at Nordstrom) is super flattering with the seams down the front and will be equally awesome for plane wearing with a cardigan + jeans and for yoga class with my favorite yoga pants + Texture mini skirt. And I'm wearing it with this Wacoal racerback bra.

These linen pants from Old Navy have been my summer staple this year. I have them in white and this khaki linen color (that looks more like natural linen than this photo indicates). They are like yoga pants meets kind of dressy pants. And throwing in the dryer for about 4 minutes gets the wrinkles out (and they're a blend so they haven't shrunk at all and stretch a bit as you wear them all day). {hat tip to my friend Darrah for putting them on Instagram}

The Lucy Tranquility Tunic is my new favorite top. Love how it fits and that you can wear it either front or back as I prefer the scoop neck in the front that they show in the back online. Again, can easily go from day wear to yoga to dinner. 

The Shiva top from Athleta is super soft and comfortable. Plus it is flattering and has thumb holes, which just makes me happy. There are several styles on sale right now including this stripey linen which looks awesome on.

These Chaco sandals immediately made my heel pain/plantar faciitis feel better. So comfortable. I've also been wearing these Chaco flip flops for several years and they've become a go-to all the time in the house shoe to help with the heel pain.

People often ask me where to buy a yoga mat. The truth is, I've always loved the Gaiam mats at Target. The few I have are a couple of years old, but I love this one from their current collection.

I'm also taking: This hat (but you probably already guessed that), a favorite long black dress from j.jill that is really comfy, three pairs of yoga pants, three tanks, a sweater or two, and a few other things I've somehow convinced myself I can't live without. 

Check out other everyday outfit posts here.

Quick note: Some links are affiliates, which means I receive a small commission when you purchase from that online store.

love this :: everyday outfits (may)

A few items that are part of my uniform around here:

The Living Memory wristwrap from StoryPeople. It says: "I carry you with me into the world, into the smell of rain & the words that dance between people & for me, it will always be this way, walking in the light, remembering being alive together." I've been wearing it almost daily since it arrived last week. It helps me trust I'm walking with my grandmother and my uncle and my grandpa and Traveler my golden and the others who've gone before me. Made well. Love it. So grateful to Brian Andreas for writing these stories. Yes.

Posh Pants from Texture. I'm a big fan and have had a couple pairs for years. Very comfortable and can be worn year round here in the Pacific Northwest. I love "swamp" and "cobalt."

I'm back to my El Naturalista clogs. I bought them about four and a half years ago, and they've held up really well. I'm having an on-again-off again adventure with plantar fasciitis and these are really supportive on the days when my heel is throbbing. Really good for standing in the studio. (And every now and then El Naturalista is on Zulily. I have to usually go up a size to a 40 even though I'm an 8.5, which is usually a 39. I bought these Mary Janes and they just arrived. Here's the color I bought. The inserts I'm trying do fit in them and I'll report back after I wear them for a while. I feel like an old lady writing all this but I also refuse to let this heel pain stop me from 1. living and 2. feeling good in my clothes. {And 3. I bet someone reading this might need these inserts too.})

This hat by Pistal. I know I know, who would have thought a trucker hat would become one of my favorite things. But it is! It has a seahorse + hearts on the front. For real. I love it.

The Ruffled Margins Tank from Anthro is awesome. I went with a Large. The seams down the front are flattering and it is really soft and so lovely on. I put one of my Shimera tanks under for a smooth look.

The new Five Deep Breaths Intuition bracelet in my shop. Love it. Fluorite is my new obsession. This one sold out quickly but is available for pre-order and should ship around May 22nd. I'm wearing about four different bracelets/wraps stacked these days. Makes me so happy.

Check out other everyday outfit posts here.

Quick note: Some links are affiliates, which means I receive a small commission when you purchase from that online store.

love this :: shop adorn

A few "love this" posts ago, I shared that Shop Adorn stocks quite a few Prairie Underground styles and sizes. They noticed my post and asked me if I'd like to try a pair of their "tummy tuck" leggings.

Yes, please.

My plan was to try them, and if I loved them, I would add them to one of my "everday outfit favorites" posts that I'm sharing every six weeks or so. And I do love them (more on that in a second). But when I was in Portland for about 24 hours this past weekend, I stopped into Shop Adorn to check them out in person. And they've just become my new favorite must stop by whenever I'm in town shop.

Today, I'm sharing a few favorite things from Shop Adorn; some are pictured above. And the awesome thing is that you don't have to go in person (but you should if you can), you can get all of these gorgeous things online.

1) This maxi dress was very soft and so beautiful in person. My size wasn't on the floor that day, but I want to share it in case it might be the perfect dress you need for summer. It comes in a shorter style too.

2) I'm glad I didn't actually see this tote while I was visiting the store because I would have tried to convince myself it needed to come home with me. Love it!

3) The Cami Slip did come home with me. I've already worn it every single day. For real. It is such a great layer underneath the dresses I wear with jeans. I smile every time I see it peeking out from my dress.  

4) These Nakamol earrings are gorgeous! And the colors make me happy. (Loved this necklace too.)

5. This Prairie Underground jacket is now on my wish list. I tried it on and the fit was awesome and felt very true to size. And it looks so much better on than this photo can convey. Would be a great addition and could be dressed up or down. This dress that is kind of like a coat was a fun look too and fit really well.

And the Tummy Tuck Capri Leggings by M. Rena! I have the cropped in gray. And I love them more than I expected to. And that "one size" thing? Well, I kind of didn't believe it. But I'm a believer. They are soft and they stretch big time. I wear them in my studio with my longer hoodie and love pairing them with my Texture skirts. They give me a smoother look, which I want some days. Other days I don't. So I wouldn't wear these in the cuddle up on the couch moments. I'm a fan! 

Please note: Shop Adorn did send me the leggings to try, but all opinions about them are my own. Shop Adorn is not sponsoring this post; however, links throughout are affiliate links. This means I receive a small commission if you decide to purchase anything through these links. Their customer service is awesome, which is the main reason I am sending you their way. Thinking we might need to do a meet-up there during WDS this summer. (Not kidding.)

love this :: current tools

A few favorite daily "tools" that I'm using over here:

This Decomposition Book is a new favorite notebook. I'm using it to write letters to myself, which is a recent practice I've started since working with Fabeku. It was a really beautiful support piece during last week's retreat, helping me envision how I hoped things would unfold, keeping me grounded before everyone arrived, etc. And I really love the feel of the paper in this notebook. (You can find more notebook designs here. I bought mine at the awesome Beach Books in Seaside, OR.)

These pens. Always these pens.

Blue Q pouches. We use these for so many things - from pens + a small Moleskine that I carry in my purse to Ellie's stickers + tiny Hello Kitty journal that we take to a restaurant to make-up and jewelry when I travel. I also use the larger tote bags too.

I've just begun using the Behance Action Cards (and am going to start using the Action Book this week). After I've used them for awhile, I'll report back. So far I'm loving this system! (Found via Elise.)

The Oodles of Doodles mousepad from Alisa Burke makes me smile every single day. 

Please note: A few of the above links are affiliates, which means I receive a small commission when you purchase from that online store.