Sacred Space >>>

This post is all about sacred space.  You might have noticed that the blog has a new look on the sidebars.  I wanted to simplify things a bit, and make it a little easier to find all of my links.  I really go back and forth with the simplicity thing.  I see alot of blog spaces that I truly love that are very clean, simple, white.  But anytime I think I want to do something like that with my own blog, my heart does not feel light about it.  Ive come to realize, its just not who I am, and I want this space to always reflect who I am.  There is so much talk going around the blog sphere about how your blog 'should' be.  I feel like that takes away from all of our individual ideas of beauty, and reflections of ourselves.  Id much rather my blog feel like a reflection of me, than a reflection of someone else's idea of pretty.  So anyway... yet again, I revamped my blog.  I tend to do this every so often.  There are still a few adjustments I would love to make, that Im still not certain how to do.  I learn as I go, and I dont know alot about design... So baby steps.  I dont like how the side bars dont go all the way down the blog... Things like that.  But Ill figure it out one day... (my favorite part is the 'visit the shops' link... click on it, youll see why).

Now, about sacred space... (my blog is just one of my little sacred spaces I believe).  Our latest activity in Intuitive Heart Sanctuary was to create a Sacred Space in our home.  Even though I feel like I have done this alot as I have decorated our home, those spaces always get run over with daily stuff.  But, in essence, my entire house is my little sanctuary and sacred space.  I really wanted to join in on this activity though, and have focused attention in one space, and Im so glad I did.


I chose my favorite window in the house.  I was a bit resistant, b/c this is the spot I use for alot of my outfit posts and creative photography... But then I quickly realized how in vein that idea was, and decided to use this space for my new spot of attention.  I first put on Joni Mitchell's Blue album to listen to as I created this space to give myself a sense of peace and focus on what I was doing.  That album instantly makes me feel connected to my mother's spirit, and to happy times.  I then cleared and cleansed the space.

The flag I made for our home had yet to feel like it found its space.  As soon as I started gathering things for this space, I knew right away it had found its home.  I hung my feathered arm band from my sweet friend Alana as a reminder of her brave spirit.  Then I spent some time finding just the right elements I wanted to keep in this space.  The little wooden statue was a gift from my friend Katelyn, and it is a fertility goddess.  I wanted it in my space to remind me of my journey I am working on emotionally with this issue. 

I added many little things that hold love for me.  Special stones that were sent to me from friends, sticks, seashells, rocks and mountain laurel seeds from my parents land.  Crystals that hold alot of meaning for me, including the one my mom held onto while she was leaving us, and the one my aunt gave me after that, one that she carried in her pocket for the better part of her life.  My moms little jadite buddha. Etc.

Then I added a few more elements, like this little blue vase my dad made, holding a huge beautiful feather, my incense holders, one gifted to me by my dear friend Rain, along with the best incense in the world.  The tapestry was also gifted to me, by my friend Staci, who always knows just what I love.  The wooden box that I used as a base, my dad made.  It used to be what we kept firewood in when I was growing up.  For the chair I kept near the space, to sit in and write, or look out the window at the birds, I used my two pillows that have birds on them.  I was very intentional about everything I brought into this space. 
To some, spaces like this may seem odd.  But for me, it does so much for my soul.  Taking the time to nurture a space in your home, carved out just for you, is taking care of yourself.  I instantly felt at peace once the space was created.  I laid on the blanket, put my feet up on the window seal, closed my eyes and let the sun wash over me.  It felt cleansing.  I felt wrapped up in the love of others, from choosing so many things that were given to me with love.


It does not take alot of room to make a space like this.  This space is only about 4'x4'.  Do you have any places you have created just for you in your home?  If so, what type of elements did you use?  How did it make you feel? 
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Things for the Soul >>>

This past week I started the Intuitive Heart Sanctuary with Lauren Luquin.  So far, I'm loving it.  Her vibe is very comforting, grounded, in tune and intentional.  Im looking forward to spending some time on this.  The journal below is what I created to keep all of my thoughts in.  Ill take some better pics of it, b/c this just doesn't show of how pretty it is.  It has been a while since Ive done a project like this, and it was so fun.  I use to create collages and art all of the time... and its something that has just fallen to the side of life.  As I watched the first video for the course, I sat outside with my morning coffee and birds. 

Ive been working on fixing up the backyard more and more.  Im constantly re-arranging things.  I moved my little buddha arrangement from the ground onto a table with lots of rocks and petrified seashells surrounding it.  Im going to slowly add some pretty plants to it as well.  And I re-organized my porch shelf below as well.  Sometimes just some simple rearranging can really make a little space feel so new and fresh.  The backyard felt so nice at my party.  I wish I had taken some photos of it.  We are beginning to daydream about how we really want to fix the yard with little rock pathways, and a hammock, and more and more plants.  Im on a total plant buzz this year.  All I want to do is get new plants and learn them.

Even though its been murderously hot outside, Ive still been really enjoying this summer.  Bathing suit time and any chance I get to lay in the yard, or do something outside, Im a happy camper.  Im pretty much in love with the bathing suit I found on etsy, from Kioki.

Ive been meaning to post these for 2 weeks now.  When I stayed with my Nanna, my brother and his son Aiden came over and I played soooo much with Aiden.  We took pics of him next to all of Nanna's flowers.  It was so cute.  Nanna, Ill email you the rest b/c there are tons of them!!!  And I took pics of all of her flowers.  My favorite one is her passion vine.  I brought home a clipping and Im trying to keep it alive in the ground.  So far so good, but this heat is really making it struggle.  I pick the best times to try to transplant things!!!  I finally had to remove the caterpillar that came along for the ride with it.  For the first week I didnt have the heart to move it, b/c I knew it was loving the plant, but once half the leaves were gone and he was 4 times bigger, I realized I had to or I wouldn't have a plant!  So I gently moved him to the other side of the yard.  I took some awesome pics of him too, Ill share soon.  Ive kind of been photographing alot of insects lately.  I wish I could of got a photograph of the centipede we found during my bday party.  It was insane.  Life freakin crazy big.  I had heard hearsay about big ones, but always thought they were exaggerations... Nope!  They are for reals!!!  It was right out our front door too.  Creeps.
follow me on instagram @lauramazurek for up to date pics...

PEACE,
Laura

Squirrel Love >>>

Yesterday I caught this little guy throughout the whole day sneaking bird seed from this dish on my porch.  I put this dish up on the railing in hopes the birds would get brave enough to use it this close to the window, so I could get some good pics of them.  So far its worked... (I have a few Ill share later).  But my little squirrel thief has also discovered it!  But he is so darn cute, I really dont mind.  He sat their and ate while I looked at him!
Every now and then he would decide to get skiddish and hop off the top of the railing onto the arm railing that goes down the steps.

 Do you spy him below???
It was so hilarious!  He did it like 4 or 5 times!  He thought I couldnt see him there!  So darn cute.

This is him right before he made his final leap down and across the yard he went.  Mmmm... I love living in the country!  Oh, the other day I also photographed two huge walking sticks getting it on!  I might share those too, ha ha.  

PEACE,
Laura

Bits + Pieces >>>

 Just a few random shots Ive taken at home over the past few weeks. 

1. my desk one rainy night where i sat to write letters.
2. my pretty ppp dress
3. bella looking out the window at a bird
4. the evening sunlight through the trees
5. a sweet letter from my nanna
6. the prettiest bag from clementine and nellie
7. the moon
8. vinyls
9. james playing guitar
10. off switch mag i won in a giveaway

 p.s.  I posted a more serious blog post this morning over on The Bohemian Collective.

PEACE,
Laura