Monday Motivators

i referred to myself as a "woman" this week.
after a shocking breath, i realized i wasn't afraid of it.
all of the sudden i was curled up and embraced by such a simple word.  

{something that i would have never picked out for myself, is now my new favorite top and has shifted me into realizing the "woman i want to be".  oh, clothes, you can be much more than fabric.}

I'd love to know what's surprising you this week?

Monday Motivators

Friday night I slept more than 4 hours in a row for the first time in about a year!

Lack of sleep can bring such a heaviness to my head.
It's amazing how much lighter I now feel.

Enjoy your own week.
Enjoy your own lightness.

Waving

Miller found a sand dollar in the car today,
some long ago memory of a warm sandy beach. 
He held it sweetly.
Curiously. 
This magical piece of the sea.

I forget how close we live to the shore. 
A quick trip down the freeway and I could easily be cooled by a single breeze.  
Sweetly.
Curiously.
This magical place of the sea.

"Next week," I plan. 
Gear up. 
Soak up.
Some new sandy memories.

{Ray-Ban Clubmaster Street 1980's Sunglasses from Igneous Rocks}

{Blue Wave Hand Knit Pillow from Cape Gift Shop}

{Beach Worn Seashell Earrings from Celtic Sea Treasures}

{Hand Dyed Cotton Scarf, SAND from Dear June}

{Original Starfish Painting on Paper from Lisa Congdon}

{Seashell Air Plant Tillandsia Terrarium from Robin Charlotte}

Monday Motivators (on a Tuesday)

Another week, and another long weekend to savor.

Happiest

I regret not taking more pictures.
I regret not buying chocolate fudge.
I regret not riding The Haunted Mansion.

But each memory made, was never a moment wasted.

 

Monday Motivators (on a Tuesday)

Wonderful wonder full eyes.

{Miller's first trip to Disneyland 5/10; Miller's second trip to Disneyland 2/12*}

What's got you mesmerized today?

*more pictures to come...

Monday Motivators (on a Tuesday)

Remember the way the wind pinched your cheeks?
A heartbeat racing down a hill?
Skin tight and flushed riding so close to the edge of all this newness?

He will remember it too.

Superbowl snackery at its finest!

I've had a few new chocolate bark ideas rolling around in my head since Christmas.
One hope with these ideas is to create familiar desserts and translate them into bark form.  My first two endeavors were quite the success.

{Red Velvet Bark, Blueberry Streusel Bark}

 

Red Velvet Chocolate Bark: 

Melt together 1/2 a bag each of good quality white chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips by microwaving and stirring in thirty second increments until smooth.

Stir in red food coloring a few drops at a time.  (About 6 in total.)  If the chocolate seizes up from adding the coloring, just stir and re-microwave the chocolate in ten second increments until it's at a smoother texture again.  (I'm sure there's a more professional chocolatier way to stop this or fix seizing chocolate, but I am lazy and this easy fix seems to work just fine for me.)

In another bowl melt one cup of white chocolate chips in 30 second increments until smooth.

Spread out the white/milk chocolate mix onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

Drizzle melted white chocolate onto main chocolate.  Swirling into chocolate with a fork or toothpick, if desired.

Cool for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.

Break apart into bite size pieces.

Share and enjoy!

Blueberry Streusel Bark:

Preheat oven to 375.

Mix together 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Cut 3 tablespoons of butter into mix until it's at a good sandy texture.

Spread mixture evenly onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake until golden brown.  Stirring about halfway through.  (About 10-12 minutes total.)

Set aside to cool.

Melt good quality white chocolate chips, microwaving and stirring in 30 second increments until melted and smooth.

Spread onto parchment lined baking sheet.

Drizzle blueberry preserves or reduction if you have the time (I used Bonne Mamam Wild Blueberry Preserves.)  Swirling into chocolate with a fork or toothpick.

Sprinkle streusel topping and press into chocolate before it cools.

Cool for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.

Break into bite size pieces.

Share and enjoy!

{Miller liking it now.}

{Ivy liking it "later".}

I'm thinking about a tiramisu bark and/or a carrot cake bark next...
Any other ideas I should play with? Or any other ideas that you've made, had or seen?

Monday Motivators

A morning memory and a wish that they'll always be more friend than foe.

I love naps. And love.

I've been coordinating the kids' afternoon naps to happen at the same time.  Those 2ish hours are a heaven sent treat to finally finish a cup of coffee, shower, nap on the couch,  watch "Pan Am", and sometimes even all of the above. 

Lately, I've been trying to catch up on some ideas I've had bouncing around in my often foggy head.  This Valentine mobile has been one of them.  Thankfully, I had quiet hour to finally execute my idea.

{Sticks found on a walk.}

{Sticks wrapped in yarn with felt scraps and thread.}

{The hardest part was deciding where to hang it.  The front door was the winning choice.}

***BONUS!  BONUS!  BONUS!  I loved making this so much that I'd love to make you one too!  From now until Monday February 6th at midnight pacific time I will send you a mini version with each purchase you make in my etsy shop.  Just enter "VALENTINE" at check out and I'll be sure to add a sweet treat to your package.***

Also, if you are inspired to make a mobile of your own, I'd love for you to comment here with a link or email me a photo of your creation.

Monday Motivators

I started roller derby classes a few weeks ago.  Completely random, completely wild, and completely awesome.  Evan thinks I am nuts.  My poor swollen ass thinks I am nuts too.  I have never had more fun. 

It's been a challenge to find my balance on wheels.  My feet turn and twist and I'm lost in a battle to grab a solid step.  I fall.  A lot.  But I'm getting better. 

I feel like my life is this same battle sometimes.  That feeling of your feet slipping out from under you.  Steps taking you away from your glances ahead.  A blink and you have no idea how you got to where you are. 

Twenty three days into the new year and I'm still in denial that it's no longer summertime.  Where did the last six months go?  Don't even get me started on how the holidays flew by and I feel like I barely had time to enjoy a good cup of hot chocolate. 

I could get lost every time I fall.  Every time I feel like my days have slipped away from me.  Lose myself in self pity, shame, and jealousy while watching others gracefully speed on by.  It's a lot easier to stay down.

Or I can take a deep breath, find my stance, look ahead, push off and smile.  I seem to have some catching up to do.

Melting

There's a crisp sickness
like snow
slowly melting out of our home.

It's been days since feet
like stars
tickle twinkling on the sidewalk.

Hold warmth, crisp snow.
It's time. 

There are teeth popping up. Dishes yearning to be cleaned. And memories ready to be made.

I admire and soak in success. 
Bouncing light and bright and smiling.
Feet turned and ready to burn. 
It's a shame there are only 1440 minutes today.

Yarn Wrapped Bracelets

I've been so inspired by all the colorful yarn wrapped wreaths popping up around etsy and the DIY blog world (see some cute ones here, here and here), that I decided to shrink that inspiration and make some yarn wrapped bracelets for a few of my gals for Christmas.

Each one took me about 5 minutes to make and made for a nice excuse to sit down in front of the tv while the new "Bachelor" was on.

Supplies needed:
bracelets (I used a $4.99 set of 6 bangles from target.)
yarn (each bracelet needed about 3 1/2 feet)
glue (I like this "3-in-1 Advanced craft glue" the best.  It dries clear, smooth when manipulated and actually adheres to felt, yarn and other fabrics rather quickly.)

Just tie the yarn to the bracelet,
wrap over the beginning knot and around tightly until the bracelet is covered,
add a strip of glue the that last half inch of yarn,
and hold tightly for about 30 seconds so the glue has a solid chance to grip.

These would be so much fun in a ton of different colors and variegated threads or fabrics or ribbons too.  I'm now hooked and adding "find various bracelets" to my thrifting hunt list.

What have you been inspired to make lately?

Cheers to newness!

I sip some tea.
I listen to some Eddie. 
I am settling into 2012.

{new styles}

{new tastes}

{new fears}

There's another great year ahead.  I hope you'll enjoy sharing it with me.