THREADS // GOT A SPELL ON ME

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outfit details:  tshirt - midnight rider // skirt - spell & the gypsy // flannel - thrifted // booties - buyamba // hat - f21 // necklace - enth degree designs // crystal rings - ananda soul creations // gold bangles - gypsylane

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First of all, I just want to say thank you to those who left me sweet comments on yesterday's post about my mom, here on the blog and on my instagram + facebook.  I felt filled with love.  And I always feel not so alone b/c so many other people have experienced similar losses.  Not that I wish it on anyone...

So... about this outfit.  I'm pretty much in love.  My friend Katelyn was selling this skirt & I'm so happy I nabbed it.  Ive been wanting it for quite some now, and I am in love.  Spell items are a bit tricky in sizing, for me at least.  I'm not sure if it's b/c I'm a shorty or what.  But I have a few pieces now... some are too small, some are too big, at least to how I would prefer them to fit.  Luckily this one fits just right, but there is ZERO give room.  It has no stretch, so literally a few pounds more and it wouldn't fit me.  And I know all those beautiful Aussie girls flaunt the high slit in this style skirt wickedly, but I had to wear biker shorts underneath.  We went grocery shopping this day, and it was windy out, and I must of flashed countless people.  And, I got some funny looks in the grocery store, so I'm sure as I was walking I was flashing people the whole time.  Oops.  Next time I think Ill just pin it.  As far as James tells me, girls come into the grocery store all time in teeny tiny biker shorts, but I guess I'm just a bit more modest than that...

But, with all that said, I love this outfit!  I love mixing prints & styles.  And we had a nice day.  The weather was gorgeous that day.  We went to one of my favorite thrift stores, and although I found nothing, just walking around a thrift store makes me happy.  I'm always intrigued by the things people throw out.  One man's trash is definitely another man's treasure!

It's another beautiful day outside today!  I need to go take advantage of it.  It's been so back and forth lately between beautiful sunny days with not so hot temps to rainy cold dreary days... And Ive been thoroughly enjoying both!

OH, and the day after I took these photos by our garage, it got broken into.  Someone stole our weedeater!  Damn it, I hope Karma comes to bite them in ass! ;)  First problem weve ever had living out here in the country, so hopefully it was a fluke!

SEVER YEARS

Seven Years.  Today my mother has been gone from this earth for 7 years.  It's crazy to think about all that has transpired within seven years, that she has not been here to witness.  She has walked with me in spirit all along the way, I know.  But oh the things I wish I could sit down and talk with her about.  The difference in who I have become from age 25 to 32.  I guess actually I am a completely different person, since I have heard it takes 7 years for every cell in our bodies to die and renew themselves.  But in so many ways, I am such a different person.  I wish I could sit down with her, through all the things Ive experienced and learned, and have real heart to hearts with her.  I'd love to still get to know her more deeply as a person too.  I'd love to inquire about so much.  I'd love for her to still be my best friend, here on earth.

One thing seven years has also brought though is peace.  Peace with her being gone.  I'll never stop wishing she was here, of course, but I am so much more at peace with the reality of it these days.  This summer will be 4 years since my daddy has been gone too.  I think part of the peace comes from the time gone by since I lost him too.  Just as I was gaining peace a few years ago with my mom's death, my dad was suddenly gone too, and the pain started all over again.  Some days life is simply just odd without them here.  Some days it just hits me.  Cuts to the bone when I know I will never be able to touch their skin again.   Some days it feels like I never had parents to begin with.  I know that sounds strange.  But there are times, when day after day of them not being here, it begins to feel like they were never here.  I can't describe it.  I feel so thankful when they visit me in my dreams, or show themselves through an animal in passing.  Those little moments that bring them back to life in a flash. 

Seven years ago I lost the most amazing woman I have ever known.  I am so blessed I was HER daughter.  From what so many people tell me, she lives on through me in so many ways.  I hope people never stop seeing her when they look at me. 

I have a photo of her that I keep next to me on my desk.  It was from a day her and I had a date at a local (gone) coffee shop called Fool Moon.  We sat outside in the sunshine, drank coffees, talked, and got silly with the camera.  It's a picture of her sipping her coffee, and her eyes just radiate.  Everyone in my family has a copy of it, and they all say its their favorite picture of her.  I remember the fun and joy we had with each other that day, and it radiates from her eyes.  I would kill to sit on that bench with her one more time and tell each other all of our secrets.  But since I know I can't, instead I have heart to hearts with her in my mind.  I talk to her through the trees and with the birds.  I seek the love she held day after day through my own living.  In my heart, she will always be alive.

THREADS // LOVE ME TWO TIMES

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outfit details: faux fur shag jacket - oasap // shirt - pylo // hat - lulus // eagle ring - victory jewelry // midi ring - star native // white buffalo ring - soliloquy jewelry

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A few days ago I looked outside and saw the warmth of the sun peeking over the railing on my back porch, and was just called to do a random little photoshoot.  Sometimes it just spontaneously happens like this...  Nothing more than a girl and her camera and a fun faux fur shag coat.

LOVE FOR A RAD ART COMMUNITY

“I’m constantly blown away by people’s Talent. Art. Love. Kindness. Support. Strength. Bravery. Beauty. and so much more. This community that has formed around me online is full of so much radness.”

— myself

I just posted this as my facebook status.  Then felt called to write about it here.  I really am.  So constantly inspired by others, and blown away with their creations, love, and so much more.  I have been working with other artists for years now, through collaborations of all sorts.  This community is one of the kindest, loving and sincere groups of people Ive ever met.  I guess partly b/c when we communicate with each other, we get each other.  We understand the artist within the other.  We are kind of our own breed in a way.  Along the way I have met many who are just competitive, jealous, judgemental, petty, or only show up to use you... but luckily I can say they are fewer and further between these days.  It feels like the Art community has softened the last few years (at least within the people I have come in contact with) and even myself.  Or maybe its b/c when I recognize those qualities in people I tend to just leave them alone.  There is more community, and rising up for each other, and sharing each other out of love. 

Ive been working on building the spring issue for the Bohemian Collective Magazine, and the heartfelt exchanges that go on through this creation are so overwhelmingly beautiful.  I feel so honored to be working with so many people with such big hearts.  I also feel so welcomed and loved through this community, which only further feeds my passion for what I do.  I have made some of the best of friends through this.  And while I can't personally connect so deeply with each person, the small connections made through simple emails are just so sweet.

Sometimes it just fills me to the brim with joy.  I love what I do.