Notes from The Universe

One of my favorite rituals is opening up my inbox in the morning to read my "Notes from the Universe" daily email. Many of you might already be fellow recipients, but in case you aren't, I wanted to share a recent note that provided me with some excellent food for thought for the day. I hope it will inspire you as well!
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"What if loneliness was simply a feeling of impatience, telepathically sent to you by friends you've yet to meet, urging you to go out more, do more, and get involved, so that life's serendipities could bring you together... Would you still feel alone?

What if illness was just the signal a healthy body sent to urge clarification of your thoughts, feelings, and dreams... Would you still, at times, think of yours as diseased?

What if feelings of uncertainty and confusion were only reminders that you have options, that there's no hurry, and that everything is as it should be... Would you still feel disadvantaged?

What if mistakes and failures only ever happened when your life was about to get better than it's ever been before... Would you still call them mistakes and failures?

And what if poverty and lack were simply demonstrations of your manifesting prowess, as "difficult" to acquire as wealth and abundance... Would they still cause you to feel powerless?"

Mr. & Mrs.

Two years as Mr. & Mrs. It feels like the actual wedding was ages ago, yet the past two years felt like they've gone by in the blink of an eye.

I look at these pictures, and I see faces filled with love and excitement. Excited for the wedding day ahead of us, for walking down the aisle together to become husband and wife, for being surrounded by the people who matter most to us.

And I love that those feelings have not subsided one bit. Our wedding was a fabulous day, but it doesn't even compare to being married, to the joy of having this man beside me, every day. There is the most beautiful comfort in his constant companionship, and I love that everything--from the most simple nights at home in front of a movie to a road trip across the US--is infinitely more enjoyable, just because we are together. And also because he makes me laugh like no one else, dreams of the same things I do, and always helps me to see the bright side. And he comes to my rescue (and consoles me) when I do stupid things like ruin dinner by dropping an entire tray of roasted vegetables all over the floor/hot oven. {That really happened last night.} He's a keeper.

So here's to two years. I'm so excited to see where the rest of our days will take us.

{Images: Olivia Leigh Photographie}

Is this a sign I should play the lotto?

I've been lucky enough to win a few blog/Twitter/Facebook giveaways lately. This is awesome because: 1) I love free stuff, and 2) I love getting packages in the mail! Before I run out and buy a lotto ticket to take advantage of this apparent lucky spell, I wanted to spotlight a few of the participants of the various giveaways in hopes that I might pay it forward a little bit. Please go check out these shops; these artists have beautiful work!

Pictured above are the goodies I received from KaileenElise during her 32 Days of Sparkle (thanks, Kaileen!). The goodies were from:

- Pamplemousse1983 with her "En Pointe" photography print
- Modage with a vintage/modern necklace
- Zac and Zoe with a French alphabet print
- The Republic of Tea (Pomegranate Vanilla Red Tea)--one of my favorite tea companies!
- and a travel set of colored pencils (not sure where these are from)

I also happened to nab two free tickets to go see "It's Kind of a Funny Story" this week... Date night, here we come! I won them from my favorite Chicago-area bakery, Bleeding Heart Bakery. If you're ever in the Chicago area, you must check out this local, sustainable, punk rock pastry shop. Their cupcakes are so, so good.

Ok, enough with the promo-talk now. I'm grateful to have won all these goodies and thank everyone who shared their products!

Shoe Lust : Chie Mihara

{Styles: Loti, Nalazo, Luar & Nilon}

I'm not a shoe gal. Not in the least. Comfort and practicality trump fashion every time, and I still have yet to fully master the skill of walking in high heels without teetering or getting my heel stuck in one of the grates that cover Chicago sidewalks. So, naturally, it takes a lot to make me stop and stare at a pair of shoes.

And Chie Mihara made me stare. And possibly drool a little bit. My friend Katie posted a picture of the Loti lace up oxfords (top left), and I was immediately smitten. And the rest of her Fall Collection is just as lovely. The beautiful details of ruffles, frills, bows and flowers take them from just shoes to a work of art. {And the practical side of me swoons at the moderate heels and comfortable soles... A perfect melding of form and function.}

The price tag will keep these shoes strictly in the fantasy category, but while they're there, I'll imagine myself donning them with a skirt and cardigan combo while sipping tea. While meandering around a vintage bookstore. In Paris. Where I live. And write my novel in my spare time. Sounds lovely, oui?

Weekend Fun.

First off, I want to thank KaileenElise for featuring me in a new series she has on her blog called Sparklista Sundays! If you'd like to read a little interview with me where I blather on about blogging and my inspirations, click here. It was quite fun to do my first blog interview!

This weekend was a perfect fall weekend. On Friday night, my husband and I had a bookstore date, where we holed up in the Barnes and Noble cafe for a few hours. I sat with a stack of books and magazines while he did some studying for a big test that's coming up for him. Saturday was rare day spent with my family as we celebrated my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary over take-out Chinese food. It was hilarious and loud (and sometimes overwhelming), as is usual for my family.

Then on Sunday, when our previous plans fell through, we spontaneously decided to pick a hike from this book and spend the day on the trails. We headed off to Starved Rock State Park, which is a beautiful spot in Utica, Illinois. Silly me forgot my camera battery, so I am sadly lacking photos from our trek, but Google Images supports my claim that the park is beautiful. I'm so glad we made an effort to get out of the city and enjoy the cool fall weather for a day while being surrounded by nature. And it's great exercise, too; my legs can definitely attest to that today!

Is anyone else a fan of hiking? We'd love to hear about your favorite hiking spots so we can add them to our list!

{Image: Illinois Department of Natural Resources}

E-Course : 21 Secrets

This year has pretty much been "The Year of the E-Course" for me. There have been so many amazing classes in which I've had the chance to participate, and many more that I haven't taken yet. I told myself I was cut off (at least for the year)... but then 21 Secrets was announced.

21 Secrets: An Art Journal Playground is being offered by Connie at Dirty Footprints Studio. It is such a cool concept--participants get 21 lessons from 21 different teachers over the course of the class (and loads of videos, PDFs, and mp3s), with a virtual "playground" to play in. And we're not just talking about anybody; the teacher list is truly amazing and includes well-known journalers like Dawn Sokol, Samantha Kira Harding, and Hanna Andersson. Amazing, right?

Registration opens tomorrow and the workshop begins October 1st, so if you are at all interested in art journaling, I highly recommend you joining in! Head here for more information and to read descriptions of each teacher and their lesson, and then join in the fun!

(Not at) Squam Art Workshops

One year ago today, I rose at 3 AM to drag myself to the airport. I was a bundle of nerves, and had a suitcase full of art supplies; my clothes were all crammed into a tiny carry-on case. I was heading off to New Hampshire for Squam Art Workshops. I knew not a soul, and I had brief visions of it being like those awkward stories of summer camp where everyone had their established cliques and I'd end up sitting alone at a table in the dining hall, or worse, skipping dinner to mope in my cabin room by myself.


But that's not at all close to my experience. Squam was a turning point for me--or perhaps "starting point" would be more accurate. This blog, my focus on living creatively, YOU ALL--my online creative companions, are all a direct result of my time at Squam. It was inspiring, life-changing, and everything else people said it was going to be. Over nightly bottles of wine and fires in Summit Cabin, I bonded with the most amazing group of women that to this day continue to be a source of support, encouragement, and love. It was truly amazing how much four short days did for my spirit.

My Summit Sisters
I had every intention of attending this year. I poured over the class offerings for weeks, wanting to take every course but finally setting on the perfect schedule--a painting class with Flora Bowley, a photography class with Susannah Conway, and a journaling class with Sarah Ahearns. I even woke up early on the first day of registration to send my application by certified mail, ensuring it got there as quickly as possible. But in April, it because clear that it wasn't the right time to attend Squam again, primarily due to my layoff and concerns over spending that much money for an experience I've already had, so I canceled my registration.


But today, as I read the tweets and the blog posts of those headed to those magical cabins in the woods, I initially felt a bit of a sad, sinking feeling. It's hard to not wish I was there too. But as I'm constantly returning to the quote I posted last night about how we control our own happiness, I'm choosing to remember last year with incredible fondness instead of sadness that I'm not on my way to New Hampshire right now. I don't need those cabins and that peaceful lake and those particular teachers to make art and be creative. And while the Squam community is easily the best part of the experience, I have wonderful friends from last year's time. So, I think I will pull out my paints and journal for the next few days, write some love notes to my Summit Sisters, and thank the universe a million times over that I was able to have the experience that I did.

An Update.

Hi, friends, I have returned. Thank you for your sweet notes while I was gone! There was definitely too nothing serious going on; I just needed a little break and to unplug and separate myself from the online world for a little while. We all need a bit of a "digital breather" sometimes, right? (Although I think the correct word *might* be "digital sabbatical"-- is that the buzzword of the year, or WHAT??).

So what have I been up to while I've been offline?

- Shedding. Inspired by Bindu and her "Shed Project," I've been taking a look at how I can lighten my load--materially, physically, emotionally and mentally. I've done this before, but I'm inspired to give it another go with a more focused effort. I already own less "stuff" than a lot of people, but I'd like to challenge myself to let go of some of the things I've been keeping for sentimental reasons (such as dumping some old childhood papers and photos, after scanning the important ones). I love what Kate says in the video for Shed Project--that clearing our spaces make room for new energies and new experiences to enter into our lives.

- Starting 30 Day Shred. "Ouch" is all I have to say about that.

- Finally seeing "Eat Pray Love." I wasn't expecting too much, but I was pleasantly entertained, if not as satisfied as I had hoped to be. Of course I love the book loads better than the movie, as is the case with about 99% of books-to-movies. [And in case you're wondering: For me, the only movie that fits into that 1% is Shawshank Redemption--I thought Stephen King's novella had nothing on the movie version.] But back to EPL. The best part of the book was Elizabeth Gilbert's inner journey and exploring her self-love, but that's obviously not easy to translate into a mainstream Hollywood movie. So it's not too surprising that I felt this element was definitely missing. I did enjoy the beautiful scenery (I'm pretty convinced I could happily live out my days in a hut in Bali), and Javier Bardem is not too shabby to look at either!

- Smiling because I received the most heartfelt, wonderful card from a dear faraway friend. It was filled to the brim with just the right kind of encouraging words, perfect for my current state of being. I'm so incredibly thankful that my Squam Sisters came into my life just one year ago (more on that tomorrow).

- Being inspired by this quote from the Live Bold and Bloom blog:

"Your happiness is completely in your control by the way
you choose to live this very moment."

This is so, so true! Even when situations are beyond your control, your own happiness depends on absolutely nothing more than yourself and your thoughts. Not other people, not the "If ___ happens, then I'll be happy" statements. Every moment contains the choice to be happy, regardless of external circumstances. Such an empowering idea, isn't it? Love.

I hope everyone is having a pleasant week so far!

A Quiet Week

Squam Lake, New Hampshire, September 2009
Due to some personal circumstances in my life, I decided I need a wee-little break from blogging until I get my thoughts straightened out. Perhaps I'll pop in with a quote or pretty pictures, but my words will be on short supply.

I'll be back as soon as I'm feeling better and ready to share again. I'll still be checking my email if you'd like to chat :)

Foodie Friday : Soft Gingersnap Cookies

Now that the hot weather has broken and it's beginning to feel more and more like fall each day, I am *so* happy to start to use my oven again without turning the house into some kind of sauna or torture chamber. I've been bookmarking tarts and quiches and pies left and right. But when I came across this recipe for soft gingersnap cookies on Marta's blog, I knew that would be my first official foray into baking for the fall season.

They turned out chewy and sweet, the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea. The cinnamon, ginger and molasses make these cookies wonderfully warm and homey without being too much like Christmas gingerbread. And the recipe makes an abundance of dough. I ended up freezing three logs, so I'll be able to enjoy these cookies all season long.

Soft Gingersnaps (from Marta Writes)

1 1/2 cup Shortening
2 cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Dark Molasses
1/2 tsp. Salt
4 tsp. Baking soda
2 tsp. Baking powder
2 tsp. Cloves
2 tsp. Cinnamon
2 tsp. Ginger
4 cups Flour

Cream together all the ingredients except the flour. When dough is creamy, gradually add the flour. Form dough into small balls and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheets and flatten each cookie with your thumbprint.

Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes. (The key is to under-bake them a little for truly soft cookies. If you want soft and small cookies, you'll want to only bake them for 7 minutes, so they are set but still soft when you take them out of the oven. I let them sit for a minute on the sheet and then carefully transfer them to the cooling rack for ten to fifteen minutes. Then i'll slip them into a ziplock storage bag or tight tupperware container to ensure soft cookies.)

10 Tips for Savoring Fall

Image via WeHeartIt.
While the autumnal equinox doesn't occur until later this month, the beginning of September still signals to me the start of the most wonderful season of all (in my humble opinion). Beyond my love for school that I professed last week, the fall season brings unforgettable smells and sights that bring me back to all the favorite parts of my childhood. Since autumn is much too short and fleeting in the Midwest, I believe that it is meant to be savored in every possible way--from each hot mug of tea to each breath of crisp air. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy each moment of the season.

1. Greet the beginning of fall with everyone's favorite seasonal beverage, the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. (I've already had two this season!)

2. Autumn-ize your closet. Move your sweaters and boots to front and center, and bid adieu to those breezy summer dresses until next year. "Shop" your closet for new outfits, trying new combinations of cardigans, tees, and scarves.

3. Enjoy apples in all their various autumn incarnations-- apple pie, apple cider, apple butter, caramel apples, apple sauce, apple cider donuts, apple fritters. If possible, visit an orchard on a sunny day and pick a bushel yourself, sipping fresh cider along the way. Then try baking a homemade pie, filling your home with the warm smell of cinnamon and buttery pastry crust.

4. Plan a craft-filled weekend to get a head-start on your holiday gifts or Christmas cards. Invite some friends over, nosh on some caramel corn and get busy with your knitting needles or paper and a glue gun.

5. Pack a picnic and visit a park or forest preserve. In my family, a fall picnic followed by a hike through the woods was an annual tradition, and my mom would take a yearly picture of my brother and I sitting on the same rock. It was something I looked forward to each year.

6. Add some cozy meals to your dinner repertoire. Some favorites from my childhood were chicken and dumplings, cheesy stuffed shells, and stroganoff--all of which I hope to veg/vegan-ize this year. I also strongly recommend making use of a slow-cooker. There's nothing better than coming home to a house full of the smell of chili or a hearty vegetable stew.

7. As the leaves start to change colors and fall from the trees, take lots of walks, making sure to go out of your way to step on each crunchy-looking leaf and enjoy that lovely sound.

8. Turn off some lights in your home in favor of candles. With a blanket over your lap, sit quietly and enjoy a cup of tea or mulled cider. This is a perfect way to unwind after a long day at work.

9. Hit the open road, particularly if you live in an urban area. Crack the windows of your car, and breathe in the crisp fall air. Put on some autumn appropriate tunes, which for me means Nick Drake, The Frames/Swell Season, or Elliott Smith. Drive until you see more trees than buildings, where the forest has been kissed with orange and red.

10. Remember to pick up your camera to capture the many beautiful parts of autumn that are so fleeting. But at the same time, be sure to let the beauty of the season sink into your skin, enjoying each moment, whether it is in your camera's viewfinder or not.

Now it's your turn! Do you have any special fall traditions?

September : Less.More.

Less.More Intentions for September

Less hesitation. More trust.

Less ebb. More flow.

Less secrets. More sharing.

Less talking. More laughing.

Less restaurants. More home-cooked.

Less magazines. More books.

Less head. More heart.

Less TV. More NPR.

Less salty. More sweet.

Less wanting. More giving.

Less new. More vintage.

Less city. More country.

Less thinking. More action.

Less summer. More fall.

Is there anything you need less or more of this month? Feel free to share it in the comments and I'd be glad to support your hopes and intentions.

{This "Less.More" post was inspired by another blogger, but despite my generally good memory, I can't seem to remember where it originated (I can only recall Kyla's "Greater Than" posts). If you have any idea, please holler at me below in the comments, and I'll update the credits to the post accordingly! xoxo}