JAMES BIRTHDAY

January 5, 2014 Laura Mazurek

Today is James 35th birthday! I love that he still looks like he is 25, oh so handsome! Last night we went to our favorite pizza joint, Fralo's. It is his birthday tradition now. We didn't think many people were going to make it but it unexpectedly ended up being a full table of good friends, new and old. It was a great night with great people and great food. Can't ask for more than that! I got him this cute tshirt for his bday of one of his favorite bands, By Surprise. His first yellow shirt. I think he pulls it off well!

outfit details: dress - handmade by my mama // sweater - romwe // tights + socks - target // boots - minnetonka // dreamcatcher earring - gypsies caravan // necklace - roots and feathers (coming soon)

What I wore to his birthday dinner... I love wearing this dress so much. My mom hand sewed it for herself when she was much younger than me, I'm thinking around her early 20's when she was pregnant with my brother. I thought it looked so cute with this sweater, although I ended up ditching it for a lighter sweater b/c it ended up not being nearly as cold as I thought it was going to be last night. We stopped by target after dinner and by the time we got in the car to go home I was stripping off my sweater, boots and socks as fast as I could! Although James was next to me shivering, but we are always opposites in body temp.

I have a feeling today is going to be a nice lazy sunday for James birthday. We have a fire going in the fireplace, so the house is all warm and snuggly...

MARIA CHANNELING GUEST POST

January 4, 2014 Laura Mazurek

Zurac's outlook for January:

“I understand this is a time of year that is considered good for rejuvenating; for re-assessing; perhaps for re-configuring. I’d encourage you to do all of these things, from the perspective of, what exactly do you want, for you? This is ideally separate from any concerns you might have about what the people in your life want for themselves. This is a practice in autonomy; in assessing what you would like for you, regardless of ideas like obligation, responsibility to others, etc.

This may not, for you, be the appropriate time to move forward with these desires; however, beginning to, as I said, practice thinking of your life in this manner, in terms of what you want for yourself… This is a very useful skill to build at this time.

This is not actually very commonly done, considering only what one wants for themselves. There are many other concerns that come into that equation, I understand. However, learning to be able to put those concerns aside, to decide what you desire for you; this is a wonderful step, and a tool you will use as the future unfolds.

There continues to be more and more changes occurring, this will continue, and growing your comfort with releasing expectation in general, as well as expectations on others, is key. To learn to know your own self, and what you may desire, which can shift, and change, is a piece in releasing expectations of others. If you are considering what you want for you, you are also energetically informing those around you that they are free to decide what they want for themselves, according to you. This will assist in setting up a bit of an an energetic domino affect in terms of releasing expectations.

How different will your life be when you do not have expectations of others? This is worthy of your consideration…”

Find more of Maria Moraca here. She channels an entity named Zurac who excels at offering insight. He’s here to assist you in clarifying YOUR path and empowering you on your journey.

30 FAVORITE MOMENTS OF 2013

January 2, 2014 Laura Mazurek

1. Hearing James play guitar and write some of the most beautiful songs he has ever written this year.

2. Every moment spend with this girl by my side, as well as Violet and Nico. My babies bring out some of the best moments in my life.

3. Getting my birth charts from KV at Aquarius Nation. Life changers. Such a blessing.

4. Growing my beautiful business and creating so many beauties from my heart. Couldn't get any better than this.

5. James learning to cook!!! This one was huge. Something that makes my heart swell so big.

6. This birth of Navarro, my best friend's third child. My first experience being in the room during labor. Something I'll never forget.

7. Finding this San Antonio poster at a local antique store. The photo in it is of Josephine St. restaurant when my mom used to work their and she is in it in the background. I have the original photo of it.

8. Having a small feature in this Disfunkshion magazine issue.

9. Having this boy's 6th birthday party at my house. I just loved it, and I think he did too. Plus, every moment I have been able to spend with this little tot this year.

10. Creating a new studio space, one that makes me feel at home. Even though I feel like I am busting at the seems in this room, I am so grateful for it.

11. Finding this longhorn skull at a garage sale!! A very exciting moment.

12. Getting to stay at Katelyn's new house! And spending time with her and her family in general. I think we saw each other 4 times this past year!

13. Getting to meet Takoda of Spirit Tribe. She came to my house to deliver this dreamcatcher and we quickly talked our heads off for a few hours without realizing what time it was. A fleeting but wonderful moment.

14. The birth of this sweet baby girl. And getting to be her babysitter for a few months. I'm just so in love with her. And she gave me big time baby fever!

15. I got my first pair of Novella Royale bell bottoms. It took me about two years to give in to spending the $ on them and now the flood gates have opened.

16. Getting a good reiki session from a very dear friend, and choosing to release so much this past year. So much healing.

17. Getting to work with Minnetonka. A dream come true. Being featured in a fashion spread on their blog, and then being a part of their holiday lookbook with this diy nature wreath. (And a big cheers to all of the other amazing companies I have worked with this past year, it has been so fun and rewarding)

18. Going to Lost Maples with James and Violet and having to carry her (our 40 pound dog) for 3 miles back to the car. An experience I will never forget and a huge lesson learned.

19. Going on a family women's trip to Louisianna. So many moments of bonding, insight, laughter and healing.

20. The amazing skulls and bones that came into my life this past year. It's amazing what happens when you state a desire to the universe. Last year a longhorn skull, a horse head skull, a goat skull, a pig skull, a few deer skulls, a turtle skull, an unidentified rodent skull, and several other random bones came into my life, all by way of coming across them in the woods or having them gifted to me by other who had come across them. Oh, and a ton of antlers!

21. Realizing I had this copy of Train a Comin by Steve Earle and falling in love all over again with him, and getting to see him with my bestie at Floore's for the 3rd time. I still cant stop listening to this album.

22. Having a releasing ceremony with James with my dad's ashes. So much has shifted since then. It was definitely a turning point for me.

23. Going on vacation with James for our anniversary. First time since since our honeymoon.

24. Doing some personal creative photography work. As well as several fun creative fashion shoots for The Bohemian Collective.

25. Getting to see my sweet love bug Robin at least once last year! This year, it better be more!!!

26. Going on tons of nature walks. And just being in nature as much as possible.

27. Having our home featured on A Beautiful Mess! Such an honor.

28. Creating a collection inspired by my home state, Texas. This one is so close to my heart and I'm so in love with each piece. This image is of a flatlay of one of the outfits I put together for the lookbook.

29. Coffee. Lots of yummy coffee. Definitely on the favorite moments list!

30. Ringing in the new year by celebrating my Nanna's 80th birthday! It was a wonderful celebration with almost the whole family. This woman is so dearly loved.

2013 was full of countless memorable moments. From amazing features to so many simple pleasures of life like coffee and friends. I can't wait to look back and see what this new year brings! I am standing here open to receive!

TWENTY FOURTEEN

January 1, 2014 Laura Mazurek

Hello brand new year. Something about this new year feels different than the others before. Lighter, more hopeful. A feeling of being supported, from my guides and angels, from the universe, from my higher power. A knowing that I am safe, cradled, loved, as well as given permission to go out there and explore, make mistakes, and scrape my knees. Knowing I have the gift to make up my mind what my earthy experiences are going to be, and how I am going to react or handle them. And that if I feel myself feeling taken over by fear, guilt, shame, longing, resentment... all I need to do is go within and take a closer look at why, and then choose to find another path. There is always another path. If you can't see it, keep rubbing those eyes sleepy head.

We found this little birdie egg on our doorstep the other day. I haven't found a bird egg since I was a little girl. The fact that it was right there, welcoming us home, the same week we have fully welcomed the idea of bringing a new little one into our lives felt very connected. The birdie that goes off by itself sometimes in our house has gone off twice this week too. I can feel my mother's presence so intensely. Literally the past two weeks I have been told how much I look like my mother about 30 times. From friends online to family members I haven't seen in a while. And when they look at me, its almost as if they really are looking at my mom. Like they are a bit stunned at what they are looking at. I'll share an image below that I put together yesterday of me and my mom side by side...

I snapped a bunch of old pictures when I was at my Nanna's house last weekend, I'll share more soon. They are wonderful. Even found one with my black lipstick in high school! But lately I am seeing more and more of my mom in myself. I don't know if its b/c I have decided I want to be a mother soon, or if it's the part of me that feels herself coming into her womanhood in a new way... Maybe a bit of both.

I have felt a shift occur within me lately. I think the first day I recognized it was Thanksgiving day. And it's become more and more apparent since then, really hitting me this week. There have been some heart burdens I have been carrying with me for a few years now, so old I can't even really name them anymore, or understand why they would still be there... and after years trying to release them with no real change, it is like all of a sudden they are gone. Last full moon I did another releasing fire ceremony and really gave it my heart, and since then it is like a veil has been lifted and I realize I can simply walk forward with my life with no worries of the past, no longing to change how things went, no guilt around the death... like a brand new start. It honestly just came with a change of thought patterns. As I was putting up my christmas tree I remember talking out loud to myself and I found my self cursing and talking increasingly faster and louder about the things I just wanted the f out of my body. I think that was the beginning of my true voice coming through and standing up for itself. It felt good, like I could almost feel the layers peeling off of me in that moment. I'm sure there will be more layers... but then again, I have conditioned myself to believe there are always more layers. Maybe this time, this was it. Maybe this one is over.