Today is a gift

Dear beautiful you,
I hope as you read this you're surrounded by goodness. Maybe a candle and something delicious to sip on. Maybe some music or your favorite show playing in the background. Maybe an open window with a view of something pretty, where you can hear the birds sing. (It all comes down to the little things, doesn't it?) Whatever it is, I hope you're being good to yourself. (You deserve it!)

I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling tired. To feel like I'm running this race - not sure yet where the finish line lies. Weary and needing desperately to slow it down to at least a walking pace; but more than that, just some time to let it all fall apart. It gets exhausting trying to hold it all together.

If this is how you're feeling lately, I can relate, dear one. Big time.

Since our move just one short month ago, we've hit the ground running. Long work days and working weekends and commutes and house hunting. Until we're beating our heads against the wall in frustration and sheer exhaustion.

You can imagine what an unexpected and beautiful surprise it was to find myself with an entire day of complete freedom a few days ago. It happened overnight- all of the meetings and the day full of things, things, things whittled down to nothing. Nothing on the calendar. Oh, how my heart sang with gratitude for so much possibility in the hours ahead of me.

Sure, I spent the morning cleaning the bathroom and folding laundry. But you know what? The entire time I spent rejoicing and saying to myself 'today is a gift. today is such a beautiful gift'.

And then I realized how easily I forget this is still true, every single day of my life.
Each day is a gift. Even with the long work hours and commutes and house hunting and house offers that fall through...each day is a beautiful gift. <3

I will continue to hold this reminder dear in the days to come. 

And of course my reward for cleaning the bathroom and folding laundry was a lovely trip through the flowers at my favorite farm.
Dreaming of a place to call our own, with room to plant lovelies just like this. <3

xo

let your wild rise

Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed.
Maybe they just need to run free
until they find someone just as wild to run with them.

-Candace Bushnell

(it's okay to) ask for what you need

Dear girl,

Please remember this: 
You are not a burden.
You are in the driver's seat of your own life, and your life needs you to take charge.
It's okay to ask for what you need.

<3
xo

along 101

we're living out of suitcases; driving the road that curves and winds along the ocean. 
this time of year there's traffic, but that's just fine with me- I love drinking in the view of the water and the lighthouse and the birds.
my soul knows this road well and I can feel the gratitude deep in my bones
that we're back here again.
different than coming home for summertime during college, or for a long weekend.
we're home.

last weekend was so gorgeous on the coast - it was almost hot, really. I had my windows rolled down, singing at the top of my lungs (probably to this song), when all of this emotion rose up that nearly stopped me in my tracks.

it was my heart.
feeling the full depth of joy, freedom, happiness.
I hadn't realized these things had been missing until this moment. 
and I'm sure if I had wings, I would have taken flight.

maybe there's more to life than always having a set plan laid out before you.
maybe it's alright when nothing seems to work out.

maybe this is what I've been missing all along.
so much possibility in the unknown. 
when before there was only fear. 

things are moving slowly, or not at all. our 'dream house' turned out to not really be our dream house at all. we have different priorities on what we want in a home.
but we're loving through the hard parts
and focusing on the good. 

xo

wild winds

on this particular day the ocean was moody

i walked along her edge
exhilarated
wild winds and sea spray
dark clouds and birds overhead

pockets full of seashells and wildflowers
heart full of joy

<3

mail something bright + happy

As I sat down yesterday to write out a few love-notes, I first set out to create some.
Most of the time there aren't enough hours in the day to make my own, but yesterday I was feeling ambitious;).

Once I started making them, I didn't want to stop!
You know what that means...

I'm so thrilled to share that a few greeting cards are now available in my etsy shop!

The artwork has been printed on a gorgeous luster fine art paper, and securely mounted to card-stock. I've got bright envelopes to go along with them so they are ready to send! happy mailing, friends! xo

love notes

There's a kitty sleeping on my lap, and outside this window
sunlight filters through trees and wildflowers dance with the wind.

When I start to feel impatient/frustrated/ready to give up, I like to come here and make a list of all I'm thankful for.

Yesterday was one of those difficult days.
I sat here awhile and wrote:

lunch outside on the deck
birdies chirping
cool breeze
the smell of lavender
bright flowers
quiet
ice cold lemonade
three free days
....
by this time my heart was feeling lighter, but I kept going.
There really is so much to be thankful for.



It just so happens, it gets even better!
Waiting in the mailbox was a bright + beautiful love note from a dear friend.
(Which quickly made it to the top of my thankful list for the day - thank you, Erica!).

I was reminded the power of a note in the mail, and how it can cheer, encourage, uplift, and inspire those we care about.

So today, I sit here in this space, writing love notes. 

I challenge you to send out a note to someone you've been thinking about this week!
Only good will come from it <3.
xo