Bringing Out My Best

What will bring you joy and confidence today?
Which qualities can you throw out today?
Who brings out the best in you?
My working hands, big heart, connection to others. My compassion, laugh. My love for you, for Him, for her.
Judgement on others, negativity towards myself. My secondary emotions, regret, insecurities about the future.
A future bride, an unconditional father, a businesswoman, someone who will travel, a yogi, the one who makes me smile.

Opie

(Image Via WeHeartIt)

Gonna Be Friends

This is lovely. There is truly nothing I love more than to see humans overcoming obstacles and thriving. Children are such an inspiration for me. Enjoy this great little video, and count your blessings.



Question of the blog:
What are you thankful for?

Us On A Map

Via Selflesh

My thoughts exactly.

Encounter

(Image via WeHeartIt)

Today's cool wind blows through the windows and follows a trail down the hallway, into my sunlit room. As the blinds, white and waving, touch each other while they rustle in the wind, it makes the sound of footsteps coming my way. I close my eyes and imagine.. You tiptoe up the stairs to my apartment.. Open the door ever so quietly.. And as I write this, you're making your way down the hall, with cherry blossoms.. And you're standing behind me, pouring love down on me, and kiss me on my cheek. You are my brother, my love. And I'm home.

Question of the blog:

Who are you missing?

Clean Sheets and Christmas Lights

There's something so refreshing about spending the day, doing laundry and cleaning up your room. Currently, my deep purple sheets are hung up in the windows, and they look like the walls lining a bazaar. As I wander around my empty flat, it smells like fresh flowers, and I feel so much more peaceful than how I felt earlier in the day. My desk is lined with tea candles, lit and glowing with my desk lamps, and our Christmas lights that decorate the hall. They all bring a sense of warmth into this oftentimes empty heart of mine.

Life can be frustrating, overwhelming, heartbreaking, and disappointing, but at least we can go to bed with the knowledge that tomorrow brings new opportunities for us to grow, and be lovelier people than the day before.

Question of the blog:

What brings you comfort on lonely nights?

Penny Or A Smile

(unknown)

Lune Vintage Necklace!

Today I got a lovely package in the mail from my older sister, Moorea Seal. She has great connections with wonderful jewelry artists, and got this beautiful necklace for me! Jill from LuneVintage.Blogspot.com made this necklace, the Love Lune Talisman Tassel Necklace in Jasper. It looks just like the image I first saw on her Etsy shop, and matches my style so well! I'm so pleased. Nothing like a new piece of beautiful jewelry to brighten a stormy day!

Here are a few more images of her jewelry. She has a beautiful style that could match any lady's outfit. I will pair this necklace up against my infinite amount of little black dresses, or with a flowy little top and denim. Such a versatile piece, and I'll be wearing it all the time now!

Question of the blog:

Some people are just meant for jewelry, I feel like I'm that type of person. I will always be wearing some piece of jewelry. Currently, I am wearing two rings, a watch, friendship bracelet, septum ring, and my new Tassel necklace.

Are you the type of person who wears a lot of jewelry, or would rather wear no jewelry at all?

Take Comfort In That

(Image via WeHeartIt)

Ten things I love about the people I love.

1. when you remind me that i inspire you. but don't you know, you are the one that inspires me. 2. good night/good morning calls from you. 3. when i go to the post office and i have mail, handmade, from you. 4. our continuous thread of things we send each other, of images and music and things that make me laugh. 5. songs we have listened to so many times together, they remind me of you every time i hear them. 6. when you invite yourself in. 7. the way you are so adventurous. i want to be that with you. 8. having any shoulder to rest my head on. 9. Late nights when we cuddle up and spend much needed time together. 10. the unconditional love you show me, in words, in deeds, in thoughts, and prayers.

Question of the blog:

What do you love about the people you love?

Tattoos, Sisters, and Resolutions.

Kelly, getting her Sims tattoo on her birthday

It's been a great couple of days. I am feeling very motivated and happy about the way 2011 is coming along.. Okay so we're 8 days in but nevertheless, I have a positive outlook and that's good enough for me.

Some good news to pass on to you.

1. My blog has been redesigned by my older sister, Moorea. For those of you who don't know Moorea, she is one of my favorite people and biggest sources of inspiration in this world. Her mind is filled with the most wonderful imagination that she draws, designs, and produces for the world to see. Not only is she a blogger, but she redesigns blogs, and she can redesign yours, too! She also has an Etsy shop where she designs and sells wonderful jewelry that I love.. I have a few of her pieces that I wear all the time. So go on over and check out her great sites, and pick up some lovely new jewelry for yourself!

2. I am piling my New Years Resolutions together.. And there is one I am particularly excited about. To give you the general gist of it, I am going through the year weekly. Each new week, a new adventure. But I need YOUR help in putting this list of 50 things to do for 7 days! More on this resolution in my next blog.

Question of the blog:

1. Do you have siblings?

2. What are your new years resolutions?

Transfiguration

Open.

Everything is white, and forest green, and a silver blue-gray.

I'm driving, it's warm inside and my heart is full and I can see that today is the day after a storm, with everything fresh and serene. We are muted, like I pressed a button on the remote, but I'm smiling and laughing, watching myself from the back seat. Mountain air and the feeling of a new day.

As we make ourselves up a hill, I see a semi coming down towards us, its body buckling. The front and rear are horizontal to the road, coming towards us and I know there is nothing we can do but look upwards. And I turn to you, and I look at your eyes which match the trees behind you, and you are afraid.

The sun is shining through the trees and the view pans out, to a beautiful landscape, separated by a thin line of humanity.

I say to you,

"Things are going to be okay."
I show you I love you, and reassure you. "Be calm, and rest." I am smiling, and I see pure joy flowing out of me and surrounding you. The air is still, and I look around all around us, to see things changing. The snow on the ground and in the trees, taking shape into the feathers of the most beautiful bird. Radiant wings of all that surrounded us, down to our own bodies.

This was the transfiguration of our lives.

MKlove

(Image via WeHeartIt)

In Two's.

Second ever engagement photo session with a couple. Wish me luck today.

As Seen In A Dream

Greg Martin.

I want to take photos like this one day.

More art by Greg Martin

Question of the blog:

Music, drawing, dancing, photography, etc.. Which form of artwork draws your attention the most?

On The Tree

Put the lights on the tree.

The tree went up, the lights came on, and tomorrow we will decorate.

It's been a good winter break so far.

New clothes, gluten free mac n' cheese, photos with sister.

I'm reminding myself to stay busy.

Make plans, keep them, follow through, and have a good time.

(All images from WeHeartIt)

Question of the blog:

What SMELL reminds you of Christmas?

Keep It

Keep life meaningful

Ocean tomorrow.

Splashing in the waves, clouds overhead, but that's okay, because I like it and that's what makes me feel like I'm at home.

Question of the blog:

I like the feeling of really cold ocean water. When it hits my skin, I get this rush of emotion that bursts out of my body in laughter. I laugh uncontrollably as I shiver in the water.

What is something that makes you genuinely laugh?

The Day The Sun Was Shining

Good morning.

Eight wakes me. Existence greets me with community, and others. They clap their hands, we greet each other. I hear songs from my past, widening my heart to accept your gift. Young people, babies, love, doing their best. Thoughts jumble my mind and my stomach. Grape juice in cups that remind me of my past. My heart yearns and I open myself up. Broken cisterns. Come fill me. It's 10:30.

Jon Foreman guides me up North. I park in my favorite spot. Walk in shaking, too much coffee, or something else. It is All Saint's Day, and the occasion sends us to the Book of Common Prayer. I am home, as we say the prayers I have spoken since the day I could read. I am overwhelmed. We sing my favorite hymns.

Disregard everything, just listen.

Darkness Before The Dawn

jd, i see what you see.

A Storm Is Coming, Frank Says.

How can I say it any better? Looking down, the water curls into itself. Record highs. It swallows me whole as I focus on my heart beat. On wooden planks over the ocean, ready to be taken away. Old souls, mixed up mind, and again the pier shakes like an earthquake. The water rises, then falls. I am still looking down. As the host stares into me, I try to turn away, but I am drawn to you. Power and pain. Close to tragedy. Putting my walls up in preparation for the storm. I don't want it. I separate. I look to my cornerstone, who embraces it all. To be ready and willing for all things, oh how I long to be more like you. I can see a lot of life in you. Remain facing the waves, like a bird, plunging into the water. Do you look back at me? Let me rest. I am not afraid to die, to see you.

At last.

don't say i love you without saying it out loud

it's hard, so i won't say it at all
and i won't stay very long
but you are the life i needed all along
i think of you as my brother although that sounds dumb
and words are futile devices

i do.