New Obsession

Pinterest is my new obsession.  I'm a little late in the game, I know I know...my fave bloggers have been raving about it for ages but I just never really took a moment to pop over and see what the hype was about.  This weekend however I did and OH WOW!  My life will never be the same.  I plan on blaming my future lack of productivity to this site alone.

Here are some examples of the awesomeness I found on Pinterest this weekend:

Cute button magnets...such an easy fun craft...I like easy fun crafts.

Um hello...are there even any words to accurately express the cuteness here?

 And a really pretty wedding dress.

I could go on and on about all the magical finds...but I have work to do ;)

Toodles!

A Real Pain in the Bum...

Literally.

I've had a literal, real life pain in my bum (and back) for the past two months-ish and well, it completely knocked me off my feet for a bit there.  No pun intended, although it totally did literally knock me off my feet.  

I've pretty much been on my couch all day every day.*

I am still not quite 100%...

I'd say maybe 72ish%...

some days I'm dancing around the 35% mark which is rather undesirable....

But other days I'm almost 83% which is awesome.  I can go to the grocery store on those days ;)  

Geez.  

This has been quite the test of patience, peace, and faith.

 

For me, little miss jets-to-the-gym-daily-loves-to-run-do-yoga-kill-it-in-spin-class-hop-from-this-activity-to-the-next, sitting all day on my bumsky, for weeks on end has been difficult to say the least. 

Due to what seems to be some sort of sciatic nerve issue, I've definitely done a 180 degree lifestyle change...which in the grand scheme of things, hasn't been bad really.  I almost wonder if the universe was just trying to slow me down so I could take a look at my life,  recenter myself, remember what makes me happy and what doesn't, and reprioritize.  

While I most certainly had (still have) hard, completely non-positive days when I thought I would be debilitated forever and that my fate in life was to lie on a couch watching movies all day every day (I'm super overly dramatic at times...my family loves it), I would say overall, during this time, I have definitely become a more peaceful, centered person.  I might have been a bit of stress case prior to this, running at 120 mph, not eating well, or sleeping well, totally unfocused creatively cuz I had too much zipping through my head at any given time...but now, after slowing my life to a mere 5 mph pace, reading many healing through meditation books, soaking daily in warm baths, having much time to sit in peace and creative contemplation, work on my crafts, visit with family and friends...I'm feeling pretty good.

I am a big fan of Angel Cards and Positivity Cards.  I do them everyday and find them to be so uplifting and positive.  They have certainly helped me through this time.  Every card I pull seems to be EXACTLY what I need to hear.  And they are pretty too. 

These are the ones I like if you wanna give them a try.  They truly are beautiful and the words they speak are so encouraging even if you don't believe in this kind of thing at all :)

Mermaid and Dolphin Oracle Cards
(I believe your purchase supports ocean/marine life causes...awesome)

Power Thought Cards

This is my very favorite Mermaid and Dolphin card...

awww...*warm fuzzy*

I have so missed blogging!  Well now that I really think I am in the healing phase...I still have some doctors to see and whatnot, but I really think I am on the up and up...I will be here much more regularly!  I may even have some artsy downloads for you since I 've been doing a lot of creative crafting lately.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend those of you in the grand ol'
US of A!

*on my couch all day every day = catching up on lots and lots of movies! reviews to come in a later post perhaps...

Animated Sketches...

This is just so beautiful. 

E-zine Eye Candy

Holly over at Decor8 posted this list of GORGEOUS design-related e-zines...I'm in heaven...SUCH eye candy!

I have only just recently started perusing e-zines...they are all the rage in the blogosphere these days.  I find them to be totally inspirational and beautiful and just a completely new way to explore content on the web.  However, I discovered that I totally read them differently from how I read a normal glossy mag.  I tend to just skim through them super fast...I think I get super over-stimulated by all the ideas and gorgeousness that I zip through them to the end just to see what is in the e-zine, what I want to read and pay attention to, and what I can let float away out of my consciousness, just to so I feel less overwhelmed.  Then I go back and read the parts I want to read.  Sometimes the amount of amazingness on the web is overwhelming don't you think??

Anyways, back to the list...I LOVE Utterly Engaged and Sweet Paul...some readers mentioned another wedding e-zine I had never heard of that is also so very charming...Nonpareil Mag...ahhhh *love at first sight*

I read a few crafty online mags as well...Carina Garder's e-zine and of course Ginger Scraps Street Magazine, since I am a writer for it after all ;)  And speaking of, the latest edition is online and it's adorable!  My article is on page 23 and I have two layouts in the mag this month as well...page 26, page 30...

Here is one of them...

 

Have a very happy weekend!  Perhaps grab a cool drink and read a few online glossies...xo.

image credits: Nonpareil

Joy Ever After

How About Orange is one of my very favorite blogs.
I read few blogs every single day, and that is one of those few...it's just that fab.
Well the other day I learned via How About Orange about another fabulous blog that became one of my top faves the moment I saw it.  Seriously.  It was love at first sight.

Here are some reasons why...
1. this paper ornament is just chic, artsy, classy...
2. going to a cookie exchange?  Here are some freebie tags for your goodies!
3. or why not try out this winter sangria at your holiday gathering this month?

seriously.
I am loving this blog.

...and did I mention the quotes at the footer of each page.  Totally inspiring.

image credits: Joy Ever After

LIFE.

I've seen this floating around on the blogosphere lately and I just really like it. 
I wish that I could do every single item on this list, but some of those things kinda mean taking risks...
I don't do so well with risk...
I am very much risk averse if you will. 
And in order to accomplish other things on the list, it means I can't let daily chores, tasks, obligations, and worries get in the way of what makes me happy.  That's hard for me too.  I over-analyze, get bogged down by "to-do's", and simply run out of time or energy to do the things I love to do most...
I don't really want to live like that so much...
I want to create, live my dream and do what I love.  Everyday.  All the time.  Because this is my life, right now, and I only get one chance to make it totally amazing. 
I hope you are having an amazing day today!  Cuz you are amazing and deserve it.

image credits: unknown...if you happen to know please let me know so I can credit it appropriately

The Proud Big Sis

Just gonna boast a bit about my little brother... 
He is the writer/producer of various documentaries for an incredible non-profit called Change for Balance.
He just finished the trailer for their latest project about homeless youth.  It is powerful and heartbreaking and brings awareness to an often misunderstood societal issue.  Chills ran up my arm and tears welled in my eyes as I watched my brother's work.  I was proud of my brother and in awe of his talent, while also deeply moved by the images that flashed across the screen...

Please take a look here, and if interested, you too can help the cause.

A Kick in the Bum

Ahhhh...now THAT is an excellent point.

Shoot.

Sometimes I just fiddle the day away looking at pretty things on-line. I love this poster by Frank Chimero, one the grooviest designers in the whooooooooole world, because it gives me that much needed motivational kick in the bum.
Hop off the web it says, and make some cute things of your own gosh darn it!


image credit: Frank Chimero