here: a list

here

chai tea latte, chatter surrounds, adele singing in my ears
cafe date with jonny, each working, choosing to be together

here

new favorite cinnamon wrap made with love
talismans on wrist, ears, neck, reminders of friendship
white even though it's winter and raining with labor day many pages behind

here

gratitude
connection
the choice to be open the only way

***

Thank you for you. For your kindness. For your understanding. It would be silly to pretend that we bloggers never show up simply seeking validation. That was me yesterday. And I deeply appreciate you seeing that without judgement.  

five {really} good things

1) I snapped this photo just after I finished recording the "poem of possibility" that is the list of 2013 "one little words" over on Ali's blog. This is the third year I've done it and each time I enjoy it all the way to the tips of my toes. I really try to think about each word as it's own little one word poem. Makes me so happy. You can listen here.

2) The Seafoam Project Life Kit is here! Love Elise's aesthetic so much (she designed this kit). I dove in right away when the box from Amazon arrived, and I can't wait to use it this year. I'll be pairing it with some favorites from the Clementine edition I bought last fall (it isn't important to me that every layout be from one kit). And I'll be sharing some layouts and ideas and how it's going here on the blog. I loved working with Project Life last year and am almost finished. Just need to do the last two weeks of December. [This is the first time I've ever (almost) completed any kind of big creative project like this for my family. Not kidding. It gives me hope for the unfinished quilts and other good things hiding in my studio AND is proof that this kind of memory keeping really is that easy!]

I share my approach to Project Life in this post and will be sharing more next week. And if you are new to it, head over to Becky Higgins' site to watch an adorable really short video and learn more.

3) Next month, Vivienne is running a new course called "Be Your Own Beloved." I love the premise behind this course: It is a 28 day photo adventure designed to cultivate self-reflection and self-compassion through the practice of taking self-portraits. I am really looking forward to this one. Viv's having a giveaway on her blog right now for one spot, but even if you don't win, I hope you will come along.

 

4) The newest issue of Sprout Magazine (an adorable online e-zine) is all about inspiration. So many inspiring contributors. And I'm delighted that Amanda featured my Soul Mantra jewelry in this issue (there is a free shipping coupon code inside).

5) I've been wearing a lot of headbands lately (as evidenced by my self-portraits on Instagram). I never was really a headband person. My head is not small, which means headbands often squeeze my head until I have a headache. But when my late summer hair cut went a bit awry, I started to look for ways to get through it. Enter the headbands from Specifically Random, a shop I came across last spring. They come in sizes. Yes. Sizes! I've been adding some crochet flower pins to them that my mom sent me. I don't have a link for the pins, but these, these, and these on Etsy look similar. They would also be easy to crochet.

And you? What are five really good things over in your corner of the world? I would love to know.

Happy weekending,
Liz 

a few good reads

A few good reads that have been filling me up lately:

1) Loving the Fall 2012 issue of The Studio Voice, which is a beautiful new publication from Amelia Maness-Gilliland. So delighted to be featured right next to my friend Jen Lee. Subscribe and find submission guidelines here.

2) The "Becoming" issue of Sprout Magazine is full of so much goodness. Amanda's online magazine looks gorgeous on my iPad. Looking forward to the December issue next week.

3) I've just begun listening to Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I'm becoming a bit obsessed after seeing Lincoln. I loved the movie so much that I want to go and see it again. (Not. Kidding.) 

4) This week, I began a new ritual of reading one poem as I stand in the kitchen and drink the first few sips of my morning cup of tea. This week I've been exploring A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver and Red Suitcase by Naomi Shihab Nye.

5) And a few blog posts that have resonated lately: "When Being Seen Is An Inside Job" by Jen Lee, "Thoughts on Working from Home" by Jenna McGuiggan, and "As Loud As I Wanted" by Molly Wizenburg.

6) While freshening up my studio altar space and the books I keep beside it to turn to during the day, I spent some time reading through the essays in Lanterns. I love this little book and the essay I have in it remains one of my favorite things I've written. It's about how we can hold space for one another. The book is full of beautiful stories, poems, and photographs that celebrate connection with your kindreds. When I grabbed the link to Jenna's blog post that I linked to above, I noticed she's having a sale on Lanterns for those needing a last-minute gift for their kindreds. Learn all about it here. 

7) Oh and you really should read Sam's monthly Bookishness column over on Chickadee Road. I smile through the whole thing every time and then add a whole bunch of goodness to my book wishlist.

five (really) good things

I've been living in my "love makes us brave" shirt over here. It is so soft and it makes me take a deep breath every single time I read it. My friend Jen designs shirts to be worn when you are the thick of it... in the deep living and creating and loving parts of life. And lucky for us, the shirts are 20% off today and tomorrow when you use code 2DAYSTOSAVE.

Curvy girl note: This shirt really does run true to size. I have an XXL and I love the fit. It is actually a bit more scoop neck than this photo shows.

In fact, everything over at Jen Lee Productions is 20% off, which means you can also get my home retreat kit, The Gift of This Moment, and my poetry collection, Five Days in April, on sale today and tomorrow by using the same code 2DAYSTOSAVE. I'm so proud of this work and deeply thankful for the space to share it.

For a few months now I've been using Anna's oils and sugar scrub. Sometimes my c-section scar really aches, and I was looking for something to use when that happens. It brings up a lot of emotion for me, and I want to tenderly take care of myself. Anna was wonderful to work with and I love how everything I have smells and feels. I use the "I Create" second chakra oil along with the Root "I Connect" oil and the Wise Woman scrub. I'm adding a few more good things to my "If I was buying myself a Christmas gift" pinboard to help Santa out when he goes to fill my stocking this year...

Tea. Tea. And more tea. Ellie now says, "Time for Mama's tea" when she sees me reach for a mug. Yes, sweet girl, it is time. Right now, tea really does feel like a deep breath in a cup. Currently loving: Trader Joe's winter tea called Vanilla Cinnamon Black tea (if you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, Harney & Sons Holiday Tea is wondrous) and Republic of Tea's Twenty Herbs Tea.

And twinkle lights. I've been saying I want to put them up forever. But each year they only go on the tree. We now have them in the bathroom and across the mirror that is on the fireplace. I love it. There is just something about that soft light that makes me smile. Planning to add a few more sets throughout the house. I'm sharing this because if you are like me and have been saying you want more twinkle lights in your house but haven't done it yet...well...TODAY is the day. Make it happen dear one. Yes.

gift goodness

There is something really delightful about being able to shop for holiday gifts while still in my pajamas as everyone else is asleep. I've been doing that this weekend and here are some of the ideas I have on my list:

We love using our "Cuppow" lids on canning jars to turn them into travel mugs. And they now have lids that fit a straw, which is perfect for Ellie! A few people are getting these in their stockings. Just received a Cyber Monday email from them and all their lids are 25% off.

This year all retreat participants received mugs from The Universe Knows. I LOVE these mugs. My mugs often appear on my Instagram feed and someone always asks me about them. Be Like Water is my favorite. They are having a big Cyber Monday sale too with everything 25% off. I have one of their hooded sweatshirts and love it. Please note I am an affiliate for The Universe Knows because I really recommend their products and customer service! I'm going to be giving a few mugs this holiday season.

On Etsy I am in LOVE with:

• Lori Portka's calendar
• Catherine Odell's squirrel holiday cards (don't miss the story!) + skating Big Foot cards
• Kelly's misfit baubles
• Pam Garrison's You Are Loved print + her awesome stamps
• The constellation necklace from My Sunset Road (Jon got it for me for Mother's Day. It is lovely.) 

And oh my gosh have you seen these day-by-day calendars made from Instagram photos. Favorite idea ever.

More gift ideas are over on my Luvocracy page. (They have free shipping right now.) I've been creating a board all about gift ideas for my sci-fi loving husband and another board for other gift ideas catching my eye. I love the visual of these boards! 

I plan to share a few more gift ideas as we get closer to the holidays. I think it is such fun to see gift idea lists like these from bloggers. And of course there are lots of fun gift boards popping up over on Pinterest!

here

hi.
took this after an awesome conversation with hannah about feast.
this headband is my new everyday look. need about five more.

Thinking about :: Jumping in this year and creating a December Daily album. Right now I'm leaning toward this Simple Stories 6x8 binder (with these page protectors) because I can use so many of my Project Life pieces and that is where I'm comfortable when it comes to memory keeping right now. (Learn more about December Daily on Ali's blog.)

Planning :: After your comments and emails about my last Project Life post, I'm planning to share more about my experience with it in some shorter posts about what's working for me, keeping me going, and the simple stuff I'm using. 

Loving :: Fran's dark chocolate sauce. Seriously. It might change your life.

Enjoying :: Cooking. And thinking about cooking. For the former, I'm turning to The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook and making comfort foods like roasted chicken. With the latter, I'm soaking up Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef's Thanksgiving recipe (with videos!) goodness + diving in Tara's archives. And I'm pinning recipes again.

Reading :: The Way It Is by William Stafford and Mary Oliver's new one A Thousand Mornings are on my nightstand. Last month I devoured The Night Circus and A Discovery of Witches (and its sequel). Those books are creative, magical, smart fun! (And it's possible that I'm reading the Richard Castle books. Maybe. You know when I can't sleep in the middle of the night.)

Singing along :: Walk Off the Earth and their oh my goodness some kind of incredible videos (via Jen).

Playing with :: We're having lots of tea parties over here and baking "heart cakes" (she puts a bowl filled with these hearts inside her play oven) that are, of course, "mac and cheese flavor." And decorating her watercolor/coloring journal with Hello Kitty stickers (her friend at school loves Hello Kitty so it could easily become all "ello kit-teee" all the time over here). And reading Don't Cry Big Bird on repeat (a favorite of my brother's that is now ours. Out of print but available at Powells. Totally about how Big Bird is sad because he is too big to play with his friends and then they realize this and figure out ways to inlude him. Lots of good conversations happening about feelings.)

How are things over there in your corner? What are you reading, playing, loving these days?

encountering . one

from the poem "Retrieval" by Arthur Sze 

This line of poetry stopped me in my tracks last week. Memory as encounter...as a hive...yes.

As I continue to settle in after the Unearth Retreat, I want to share a list of goodness that I've encountered in the last couple of weeks. Words and projects from kindreds that have caught my eye and inspired me...

Over on Chickadee Road, Stef is sharing a new monthly column we're calling "In the Creative Mama Trenches." Her honesty deeply inspires.

Jennifer Louden's wisdom deeply resonates again and again. Love the heart and soul in this post about putting a new offering (putting yourself, your truth) out in the world. Oh my gosh I needed these words!

Vivienne's post at Kind Over Matter about how it is time to stop being your own bully had me cheering out loud.

This post from Darrah about how sometimes words aren't necessary is simply gorgeous. 

Andrea's Creative Superheroes interview with Rachel Cole = pure inspiration!

Loving Kristin's short video about trust and seizing the day...it involves a glimpse of her chickens, which was oh my gosh awesome!

Of course I have to mention Positive Panties - the new project between Jenn Gibson of Roots of She and Amanda Oaks at Kind Over Matter. These girls make me smile big time. 

And then this post from my beautiful friend Jen Lee about why she's been keeping silent on her blog at times. This was one of those reads where I wish we had been sitting together on her couch whispering after everyone had gone to bed because I wanted to keep this conversation going.

here

new print from Kelly Barton up on my wall
available as a free download at chickadee road

over here it's tea + toast + quilts + more episodes of doc martin than i will ever admit as my body gives me a message of "rest is the only way baby girl" in the form of a cold.

and as i've been resting in the quiet, i keep coming up with more things i want to tell you...

i might be a bit behind the crowd, but i have been totally bewitched by downton abbey. not since colin firth brooded through pride and prejudice have i been this in love with a story. oh my goodness. and the trailer for season 3? yes. please. 

viv's "behind the photo" series is so so good. this post about choosing to see beauty is a must read. yes.

we've started going to the library and although EJ hasn't quite gotten the hang of the picking out the books to take them home part, we are having fun. a current favorite is Yes by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. i look forward to having a surprise "Yes Day" with Ellie.

the posts over at roots of she are filling me up. this one by darrah and this one by jen had me wanting to just hug each of them tight. (darrah's post even caused me to create a pinboard of posts and articles that will help me remember i'm not alone on those tough mama days)

between stacy's conscious queen's manifesta (and the way the words came to her) and hannah's post about "My Superpower is You," I am deeply inspired to put pen to paper and write pieces of my story that I've been holding close. Yes.

i've been a fan of rachel awes for a while now, and these simple words about love are beautiful. 

and hanging out in bed has meant a bit of window shopping and finding fun things like this cowl, these bowls, oh and these bowls, this house, this ring, and this mobile.

***

 

Now that I am settling into my new studio and some organization, I am taking custom orders again over at my Etsy shop. You can see the lockets, bracelets, and other customizable options here.