Isabel's Ballet >>>

Last night we went to my bestie's daughters ballet recital.  She was a little bluebonnet in a Texas themed performance.  Its her second year in ballet and it was so awesome to see how much she has grown from last years dance.  She is the adorable little girl in the middle (third one from the left).  She was sooo happy, and kept looking out into the crowd at everyone just smiling.  The whole production was really good this year.  Besides seeing Isabel's part, my favorite part is when all the little bitty ones come out and all look like deer in the headlights.  Its so cute!
Just like last year, after the recital when she saw everyone in the hall waiting for her, she was so overwhelmed with happiness that tears were rolling down her cheeks.  She is just the sweetest little girl I know.  And she has two of the best parents in the world.  This beautiful blonde above is my best friend in this big old world.  One Im pretty sure will still be till the day we die.

PEACE,
Laura

Oh Yesterday >>>

Oh yesterday.  Yesterday was an awful day emotionally.  We had to go out to my dad's house to get rid of some lumber, and I walked around while I was out there and just had a major meltdown about letting the place go.  We have already decided that we just cant live there and keep the place and it tears me apart inside.  I cant put into words how special this home is.  I know a house is a just a house, but I could not go to the ends of the earth to find one with this kind of meaning and soul to me.  And once its gone, its gone.  Forever.  It just makes me sick.  I thought I was mentally in a good place about letting it go, but the closer we get to having it cleaned out and ready to put on the market, the more Im realizing Im not okay with it.  But I fear the only thing I can do is suck it up and move on.  Bleck.  

Needless to say, for the better half of the day I was an emotional wreck.  We had plans for sunday evening to go spend with our friends in the hills and I almost said I didnt want to go.  Its really odd, almost everytime we are making plans to go out there, Im having a hard time emotionally with something... And everytime we do end up going anyway, I show up on the verge of tears and I leave feeling full of smiles and love.  They just have that affect on me.  We ate yummy homeade pizza and hula hooped.  First time Ive hooped in 3 weeks and it felt so good.  I even got down shoulder hooping which has been tripping me up for so long now.  I love it when something finally just clicks when you let your body go and dont think.  I drank amaretto sours for the first time with my second momma, and she let me pour my heart out to her about everything.  Ive said it a million times, but their family just wraps me up in love.  They have been a godsend in my life for sure.  

I put on my new bright lipstick, threw on some uber comfy clothes, sucked up my tears and had a great night with friends.  Im so glad I did.  I feel a bit more rejuvenated for this monday morning.  

Oh, something funny, when we got home there was a big tree laying in our driveway!  We had such crazy winds last night that it completely uprooted a tree.  Good thing it didnt fall on the house!  There was also one big on in our back yard and had completely split in two and was about to fall.  This one would have landed right on our porch.  So James tied it together with an extension cord, ha ha!  It was all we had.  It was scary but also hilarious at the same time.  Im just so glad it didnt fall.  When the rain clears and it dries up we are going to have to cut it down.  Bye bye tree!

PEACE,
Laura

Mind and Body - Day One >>>

Day one of 30 Days Mind and Body is beautiful.  It is amazing how a little encouragement from others can do so much.  Knowing that this awesome group of girls who is now up to 24 of us... are all in this together.  Such a great feeling!  Today was day one, so its not too late to link up with us.  Read my post here for more info.  (And really you can link up anytime and extend it to any 30 days).  

Im feeling much better!  The sickies never fully made their way in!!!  Last night we went out to our friends house in Tarpley and had another genuinely amazing evening with them.  Their family has been so completely grounding and loving for us.  We feel like we are going home when we go out there.  The moment we drive into their driveway I feel all of my senses relax and rejuvenate at the same time.  All of my cares go away and I feel so very safe and uninhibited.  And then are welcomed with more love then Ive ever experienced from one family.  I feel so very lucky to have people like this in my life.  So... I had an awesome night of hooping my heart away with the girls while the boys played guitar on the porch, there was a love toast made with all of us in a circle, tree swing with twinkle lights and great hilarious and almost inappropriate conversations, lots of hugs and laughter.  My kind of night. 

And for my day one of the yoga challenge, I did my hour yoga session along with my dvd of my local yoga teacher.  Then I made another yummy green drink.  After I get all my work done today, I plan to turn on some tunes and hoop.  It feels soooo good to excitedly take care of my body.  I welcome you to join up with us!  The facebook group has been an amazing source of encouragement and welcoming.  Loving it!

PEACE,
Laura

Blue Velvet + Chevron Stripes >>>

The day before yesterday was an elaborately set up plan to get our friend Jonny into a music store to pick out a guitar.  We have been planning this for a long long time.  James really feels like he owes it to him for getting him back into his passions of playing guitar more, so this was his way of thanking him.  So we, and Jonny's sister and friend all went in together to make this dream come true.  We told him we were taking him out for pizza and had a few errands to run, including picking up some strings at the guitar store.  The traffic was so crazy b/c of christmas, it ended up being an alllll day affair, but so worth it!  He went home with a lovely acoustic bass guitar!  We LOVE you Jonny!  I cant wait for the boys to jam in James new band room!!!

And you know me, all crazy about my threads, I got to wear my blue velvet pants from Threadsence!  So in love.  I used to have a pair of blue velvet bell bottoms in high school but they got trashed, so these are like part nostalgic for me, but in a more modern cut.  And... I totally forgot that you can fold your Blowfish boots down!!!  So I wore them as tennies.  My favorite Skyline Fever tank paired with a chevron striped tunic from Ross.  And as always topped off with my Moorea Seal and Flourish bracelets.


Today I baked about 6 dozen cookies, and prepped for more tomorrow.  I also built my first fire by myself and kept it going almost all day long.  Tomorrow will be equally filled with baking and visiting with James family.  Is tomorrow really christmas eve?  My vacation is officially half over and I have a feeling its going to go by fast with so much going on...

PEACE,
Laura