This post is going to be a blend of cute pics of current life, as well as meaningful words to a special someone... no names, but if you are reading this, and it speaks to you, then it just may be you that I am speaking to :)

"Even when our life is most difficult, it is important to remember that something within us is keeping us alive, the life force, that lifts us, energizes us, pulls us back sometimes from the abyss of despair. True spirituality does not exist without love of life."

~Nathaniel Branden

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...a poor man's roses or a rich man's gold...

(check out the band in jame's shirt, its amazing)

I am baby sitting my little chihuahua brother Noogs while my dad is gone. He hasnt stayed with me in years. He is such a grumpy but cute little dog. He is definitely a one man dog, and that man is my dad. I miss him though, I dont see him everyday like I use to when I worked with my parents.

He is now on daily heart medicine b/c he was having problems. He pees all the time, he is a mess. But he is my brother and I love him so. He smells like a peanut to me. And he hates his feet being touched. Oh, and his favorite thing is to hump a stuffed football :)

This is my most adorable shirt I bought at Renegade. Its two little girls combing hedgehogs! Doesnt get much cuter than that!

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I have spent the last two days re-vamping my house and it feels so good. I cleared the living room a bit so I can hula hoop inside. I am on day 3 of hooping, although I didnt get to practice today... It may be hard to see, I think you can click on the photo to enlarge, but the dress form on the left is wearing PPP, Violet Bella, and Pennythreads! It all looks so cute together! And I lined up all of my wood blocks on the dresser, love them.

Here is Bella sitting in my sewing corner. (I have corners for everything, my house is small) And yes, this little space is wear all of the sewing magic happens... The blankets are my special blankets, from bottom up is one my nanna crochet, one my aunt lisa (my mom's sister) crocheted, and one my mom made when she was probably younger than me, a crazy quilt patchwork with very cool and old hippie fabrics, many she hand embroidered peace signs and mushrooms on :) one of my most treasured things I have.

As you can see from these photos, Bella follows me everywhere! I mean it. My new bed cover I found at a garage sale for $10!

I rearranged my furniture in my bedroom. I love my bookshelf in the corner. My dad made it. And now you can actually see and sit in my green velvet chair, it was tucked in a corner. The sun quilt is also one my mom hand made when she was very young. I have so many meaningful things she saved. Mothers, save your stuff! You never know what will be meaningful to your daughter one day, especially if you made it by hand! But dont be a hoarder :)

Oh, and the patchwork pillows on the chair I found at a local thrift store for like 10 cents!!! And we got a Liberty Leaf bag at target and use it for our laundry, I love it!

I even rearranged the porch! And I am happy that Violet still gets in her chair since I moved it.

Tomorrow is the kitchen! Im in major overhaul mood!

Now, for more words...

"If we could see that everything, even tragedy, is a gift in disguise, we would then find the best way to nourish the soul"

"over the years, i have learned that every life circumstance, even a crisis, can nourish your soul. at moments like this, we stand at a fork in the road. if we take the fork most commonly traveled, we collapse, we give up, feeling hopeless and defeated. we focus on the negatives, losing ourselves in the 'problem'. we point to our unhappy circumstances to rationalize our negative feelings. this is the easy way out. it takes, after all, very little effort to feel victimized.

ultimately, when you listen to your inner callings, when you 'follow your bliss', you are practicing the art of self-love. many of us have been taught that self-love is negative, narcissistic, and selfish. in fact, self-love is just the opposite. people with genuine self-love feel nurtured and complete: they have something left over for other people. when you look for the best, when you love yourself fully, and when you know that 'youre not fully OK, but that's OK', you are nurturing your SOUL on a daily basis. the soul accepts you as you are.

whether you know it or not, one of the most important relationships in your life is with your soul. will you be kind and loving to your soul, or will you be harsh and difficult? many of us unknowingly damage our souls with our negative attitudes and actions or by simple neglect. by making the relationship with your soul an important part of your life, however, by honoring it in your daily routine, you give your life greater meaning and substance. use your experiences, all of them, as opportunities to nourish your soul!"

~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D.

...food for thought...

PEACE,

Laura