Little Big Horn Earrings Giveaway from Larkin & Larkin >>>

 Im very excited to bring you a giveaway today from one of my favorite designers, Larkin & Larkin... with one of my favorite pieces of hers, The Little Big Horn earrings.  Described by Larkin herself these earrings are "Vintage (synthetic!) bone components, suspended from delicate brass chain. They have a sweet, rugged timeless bohemian feel".  

*see details below, and find out if you were the winner of the Raptor Feathers earrings giveaway*

<<< TO ENTER >>>

like Larkin & Larkin on facebook

&

visit her shop and tell me your favorite item

<<< BONUS ENTRIES >>>

tweet this giveaway

share on your facebook

blog this giveaway

buy something from Larkin & Larkin

Please leave one comment for your mandatory entry, and an extra comment for you bonus entries, thank you!  Winner will be chosen at random one week from, be sure to check back.

Winner of the Raptor Feather Earrings Giveaway is:  ERICA

PEACE,

Laura

Threads - Tom Boy >>>

Yesterday's outfit was one of my favorite kind of outfits.  To me, this is like peanut butter and jelly.  Comfort.  These shorts are some of my favorites... and they are a pair of my hubby's old jeans that I cut off.  I recently got this Mandolin Orange shirt, which is also a guys tee, and cant seem to take it off when Im at home.  I really wanted this color and they only had it in mens, so I just got the mens small, and its perfect. 

... a little mandolin orange for you...

 

<<< outfit details >>>

fedora // forever21

shirt // mandolin orange

short // hubby's jeans cut off

belt // gifted from a friend

moon bracelet // spiral drift

braided bracelets // flourish leather

sandals // blowfish shoes

*Blowfish Shoes is currently have a $10 off all sandals sale!!!  Just enter the code SANDAL at check out.  Click here to see what they have in stock*

It's pouring rain outside right now.  We are on our second big thunderstorm of the week.  Its definitely messed up all my plans for the photoshoot I was going to do for my big project... which will push its launch date back... BUT we need it so bad, so all I can do is rejoice for our land, plants and animals.  With the hot hot summer ahead of us, we could use a really good soaking before hand.  Thunderstorms do something magical for my soul.  Everything gets kind of dark, the house gets dark inside... and I tend to not turn on as much music, and just listen to the sounds going on outside.  Its soothing.  Sort of recharging in a sense that it forces you into a bit of downtime.  A little less active, and more in tune with your immediate surroundings.  Since I cant focus on my project, I think Im going to create by the windows in my studio today.  Maybe work on some brand new things... who knows!  And make some hot tea.  Ill definitely be staying in my pjs as long as possible... at least until we have to go to town this afternoon.  

PEACE,

Laura

Instagram Love - Life At Random >>>

First, and foremost, Id like to say thank you so much to everyone who sent me such heartfelt comments on my last post about motherhood.  They all really struck a cord within me.  I left a comment, but I thought Id write it out here too just in case... b/c there were quite a few comments about whether or not I should even have kids, or stating its okay to not have them.  I definitely agree that its not something that everyone needs to do.  I know several adult couples who never had kids and are perfectly happy with that choice... but I should of written in that post that we definitely DO want kids... just are scared.  I really just needed to vent my fears outloud I think.  And honestly, it felt good and took a little weight off.  I know most of the fears are natural... and are only amplified by the emotional loss of my mother.  Id love to get over these hurdles and get to a place of peace with it, which is why I wanted to put it out there.  Im about to be embarking on my 30's, and it seems like a pretty nice time to start the process.  I have watched this idea mold and form through our marriage and I can sense that it is near us, which may just be why the fear has really been kicking in this past year.  Again, thank all of you for your supportive words no matter which way we go with our lives!!!  ...Here are a few more random instagram pics from our week.  My username on instagram is lauramazurek.

I did some rearranging to the house again this week.  My studio was becoming so cluttered I didnt want to step foot in there.  I moved a cabinet out and it made all the difference.  But I had to take my huge painting in my office down to do so... so I must find a spot for it now.  I think Im going to put it over my bed... which is where this dream catcher above was.  Sometimes swapping things out can make so much difference. 

A week or two ago we spent some time out on our friend's ranch.  James played guitar like usual.  One of the only times he randomly jams is with these friends, I love it.

I need to get an outfit post next time I wear this dress, its just soooo amazing!

Ive been really enjoying EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey.  Alot of it is good old common sense, and actually how I already run my own business, but its really nice to have affirmation on alot of things.  Plus he has such a simple way of breaking things down and making good sense of things.  I actually find myself craving to read it before bed.  Yep, I read about business before bed, geeezzz im a nerd!

So, I know many of you are big fans of my lovely mustard yellow owl that I found at a garage sale for only $2!!!  (no im not selling him...)  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, b/c I found another one at a garage sale this past weekend for $5!!!  Its even bigger and its brown!!!  I was so excited when I found it buried under a bunch of other stuff.  He was waiting for me!  Its actually so heavy that I cant hang it inside... so he might be my outside watch owl :)

My ever so sweet hubby surprised me with a thistle the other day.  I felt so bad b/c I was on the back porch writing so I didnt hear the door.  But he sat there ringing the doorbell for like 5 minutes so he could surprise me with it!  Obviously it was a joke, and he was so cute when he did give it to me.  He told his friend... "she didnt even put it in water next to the bed!"... ha ha!

My lovely lamp from Atmosphere Lamp Shades.

(get 20% off this month using the code VIOLETBELLA20)

Just a silly pic of me when I was sewing the other day.  I was so involved in what I was doing I didnt want to stop and get the pin cushion, and then I just got kind of silly b/c of it, and had to stop and take a pic!

Okay, so anyone who knows us well, knows that James does not like alot of food.  Basically in short, he likes chicken, pasta and bread.  Yep.  So with alot of sweet talking, and hesitation on his part, I fixed us grilled salmon over pasta for dinner, and HE LOVED IT!!!  I couldnt believe it.  He actually asked for it the next day.  Score!

I layed on my deck for just a minute the other day and looked up at the sky.  I saw this one vulture fly by and took a pic... and then about 50 of them literally danced in a beautiful circle above me across the sky.  It was so magnificent to watch.  Living in the country, I see them everywhere, but Ive never seen them dance the way they did that day.  I was in awe.  Amazing creatures.

PEACE,

Laura

My Fears On Motherhood >>>

After reading my friend Melissa's post from Bubby and Bean this morning, it reminded me of this post I never posted... Although I feel like Im very open and honest on my blog already... there are still many fears of my own that I have not really touched on. Ive written alot about the death of my parents and all of the emotions that has brought me over the past few years, and I have even mentioned how it has affected me in my decisions about child bearing, but Ive yet to go in depth with it. I think I finally will today. 

All of these images below excite me when I think of motherhood...  You can find them all, along with more on my Adorable Littles & Motherhood board on pinterest.

Since I can remember, Ive always loved children.  Especially when they get old enough to play and be silly.  Ive have always been a bit scared of babies.  I think they are magnificent and could stare at them and hold them all day, but they still have always scared me.  Ive always been told its just b/c its not 'my' baby.  And that fear will go away when I have my own.  All of my friends kids are just my favorite little people on this planet.  My heart melts everytime Im around them... to the point I could almost forget everyone else around me and just be with them.  They just have a way of making my heart burst with sweetness.  When James and I were getting married, the having children talks began.  We both knew we wanted to have kids, and even had them named before we got married.  Then just 4 months after we got married, my mom passed away from cancer.  It took our happy beginnings and pretty much threw them into an emotional whirlwind that lasted almost 2 years.  Before I knew it, the idea of kids scared the crap out of me, thinking about having them without having my mother around.  I always imagined my kids going to grammy's house, taking nature walks and hunting for deer rocks, gardening, talking to the birds, singing... so much my mom would of done with them.  And I kind of couldnt even bare the thought of my kids never even knowing their grammy, the biggest influence of my life.  As I write this, Im writing in past tense, and realizing it needs to be in present tense b/c Im tearing up as I type, which means its still ever so present in my heart.  So, this is where my big emotional block started from.  But there is so much more that goes along with it...

Im scared to death of actually giving birth.  I know I have a pretty low tolerance for certain pain... I get bad periods sometimes where I think Im going to throw up and pass out.  And I never hesitate to take pain meds when I get them.  I would ultimately want to have an at home water birth, but I fear Im too much of a wuss to do it.  All I know is that I dont want to be in a hospital.  But then, I have all of my family telling me I must be in the hospital, which makes my confidence of a home birth go way down.  I also fear the pregnancy part.  The being tired all the time, not being able to work.  I guess the not knowing how it will be.  I know plenty of girls who do just fine, but I always think the worst, like Im going to be the girl in the bathroom all day throwing up, ha ha.  Which is my least favorite thing to do in the world!

I also think wayyyyy ahead and fear having teenagers, ha ha.  Which Im sure every mom does.  And I also think way ahead, thinking something tragic is going to happen leaving either James or I alone as a single parent.  That's crazy thinking isnt it???  After losing both my parents, its given me a deep seed of knowing people die, and you never know when.  It scares me.  Alot.  I also worry about the fact that I run a busy business and I dont want to be the mom that works all the time, even though I am home.  Which is kind of ironic, b/c one of the biggest reasons I started this at home business is that so one day I could be a stay at home mom, running my own business, with my kids at home.  

I think I just have alot of fear within me.  And Ive talked to several friends and have had lots of advice on letting these things go.  I know they are all kind of silly.  And the few times I have touched on this subject here, Ive had so many sweet comments from you guys with such reassuring words... and the fear still remains.  Sometimes I get the feeling to just be brave and go for it.  My hubby and I have kind of released the idea of holding on to the time reigns.  When it happens it happens.  I wish I could just make this feeling go away, and go at it with excitement.  I have friends who are just dying to have a baby, and I always wonder why I dont have that feeling.  Is it natural to not have that feeling?  Is it because of what Ive faced, or is it just me?  I have lots of questions about it.  I think Ive been running from it for a very long time.  So, maybe this is me beginning to really face it.  My biggest wish is to have my mom by my side.  But that is never going to happen.  So... its up to me to find some peace within myself about this.  I envy women who embrace it so naturally, so beautifully.  I really do.

PEACE,

Laura