thank you thursday (day 44)

 
Today I am thankful for....


...almond milk... so yummy in my honey bunches of oats cereal!

...the fan that is blowing on me as I type... I'm over the 100+ degree weather.

you... for reading my blog and leaving me lovely comments that make me smile :)


...my new Keep It Local card! I am now eligible for savings at locally owned businesses throughout the metro area... I took advantage of Monday night BOGO pizzas at The Wedge... mmmmm.

...moments like this when all the animals in my house as peaceful and sleeping like little angels :)


...my dog Frankie waking me up really really early... I may not want to get out of my comfy memory foam bed, but once I open the backdoor to let him outside and I see the sun rising, it's so worth it!


...the news that my mom's horse, Star, is feeling better today. Yesterday the poor baby couldn't even stand. The vet told my mom that he twisted something internally and her options were surgery (which he might not live through because he's pretty old) or euthanizing him. Luckily, my smart mom said she didn't want to do either yet. They gave him some meds and today he was eating and hanging out with the mares :)


...some spare time to start three new small paintings. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do next, but I'm sure I'll figure something out!

Want to see even more thank yous? Click here!

Day 44 - A picture of someone you’re told you look like.

When my hair was longer (as it is in the picture below) I seriously had people telling me all the time that I looked like 'that lawyer who wears pink'. Now that my hair is shorter, I don't get it quite as much, but I did have someone tell me I looked like her last week. 

around December 2008

make living your art (day 43)

I finally squeezed in some painting time!

I have a few canvases laying around that I just wasn't happy with so I decided to repaint them. here's one that I am currently working on....

You can't see in the picture, but I added some detail to the words. I painted tiny pink dots that swirl and wave through the letters. I am going to add another color and then I'll take close ups so you can see :)



and I made a new discovery!!!

Ever heard of MacKenzie -Childs? I was in search of some bird inspiration and came across this...

 and just like that, I feel head over heels for MacKenzie -Childs. 


Their farm is located near Aurora, NY and it is now on my list of places to visit. Their ceramics and furniture are handmade and the front page of their catalog features tons of pictures that inspired them (mostly nature pics from around their farm).


I want absolutely everything in their Butterfly Collection!


Ok, my fun here is over... on to US History since the Civil War... I'm just passed WWI and I'm doing some major cramming for the test on Friday. 


Hope you're having a lovely day :)


Day 43 - A picture of something you can’t function without
 

Here are a few things I cannot function without.
1. My MacBook Pro... I'd be lost without it!
2. My Motorola Droid phone... I've had it since Dec of 2009 and it's survived a swim in the river!
3. My planner... it keeps me ahead of schedule on my homework
4. My lip balm... currently obsessed with Melinda's Inspiration Earth organic 
(in grapefruit splash & cooling peppermint)

speechless (day 42)

 

Day 42 - A picture of your dream house.

Twelve3

monday morning motivation (day 41)

a little motivation to start the week off right...

I came across this article on wholeliving.com's blog and just knew that I needed to share it. It was written by Sister Karol Jackowski. Her words have left me looking forward to this week and setting aside a 'Sara Day'. The images are from the fabulous From Up North.

Spontaneity is a matter of letting our intuition lead us, and I suspect for many, that doesn’t happen very often, if ever. Between consuming jobs, daily family responsibilities, and endless lists of things to do, we tend to live in a state of perpetual hurry and non-stop activity. Without realizing, we often leave little or no time for ourselves. No wonder we make ourselves feel sick, tired, and like hell. We can only find happiness and bliss once we have created those things within ourselves. If you’re feeling like you need an escape now, here are three ways to cultivate a sense of freedom from the inside out.

Give Yourself “Anything Can Happen” Days

Pick a day, or several days, and plan absolutely nothing. No plans allowed.  Don’t fill the day with to-do lists, jobs you’ve put off, or things you dread.  Set yourself free. Leave the whole day blank to be filled in spontaneously by you and your heart’s desire.  Give yourself the gift of time, during which anything can happen, and chances are you’ll end up in Paradise.

Do What You Want

On “Do What You Want” days you are called to act according to feelings, impulses, or tendencies without any constraint, effort, or premeditation. Float through the day, drifting toward what you want to do and away from what you don’t. Acting consistently according to what you want and being true to yourself are two big tickets to Paradise, always reserved in your name, waiting to be picked up.

Welcome the Unexpected

When you begin to let anything happen, the unexpected becomes divine intervention. Angels are known to appear in unexpected places. I begin writing, painting, reading, and bird watching much more often. I spend what my friends call “Karol Jackowski Days” in bed reading, writing, and watching favorite movies.  Only when we plan to do nothing at all, can the unexpected lead us to the Paradise of doing what we love. So, if you feel like hell right now, choose to live in pure joy. Make spontaneity your newest best friend.

Until next week, think about this:  Hell is your life drying up.- James Campbell

Need more motivation? click here for previous monday morning posts!

Day 41 - A picture of your pet

vampires, organizing, & equality, oh my! (day 40)

It's no secret that I am pretty liberal and open minded. 

I believe people are people, no matter their color or shape. It doesn't matter what they wear or what kind of car they drive. It doesn't matter how much money they make or if they rent or own. It doesn't matter if they're male or female or transgender. It doesn't matter what religion they choose to believe or if they choose no religion. It doesn't matter if they like boys or girls or both. 

We all eat, sleep, & breathe. We all walk this earth together.


Of course I have my opinions and we may not agree, but I have no right to tell you how to believe or live your life, just as I do not want to you tell me what to believe or how to live mine.

I believe we are all people and we all have the freedom to live our lives as we choose. 


So reading this article in the Huffington Post made my freaking day.


Here's my favorite part.... It's a quote from Republican New York State Senator Roy McDonald:

"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing," McDonald, 64, told reporters.
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.

"I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this."

My eyes welled up with tears when I read this... and it's the happiest a news article has probably ever made me. Thank you Senator McDonald for helping bring equality to another state.


As for yesterday, I didn't end up going to Pride Fest because I misread the calendar. The parade is actually today, so I'm going this afternoon with Diana. I promise to take lots and lots of pics!

But I did get my office/creative space organized yesterday.... well kind of! It's not anywhere near being finished, but it's a start :) My 'desk' is actually a recycled dresser. It was my bf's idea. We got the dresser from a friend for free a few years ago, but I hang (or drape my clothes on top of the dresser!) everything so it wasn't being used. He took the drawers out and pulled off the front of the dresser to make it into a desk. So not, not only do I have a desk, I also don't have to try to find some place to put the dresser! Win-Win situation :) I still want to put a few coats of paint on it to make it pretty, but there's time for that later. For now, I have a work space!


I also cleaned out my magazine collection, organized my note & sketch books, and craft supplies. and found my most favorite Pink Floyd poster that I completely forgot I had! Perfect combination of music and art :)

ta da!

the cardboard will be replaced with a big bulletin board!

of course the kitty house is under the desk :)

look, only 1 shelf of magazines, not 4!

blue! and a poster I made for InDesign class & matted

I also had my first piece of sweet juicy watermelon.... mmmm. For me, watermelon = summer!

aaaaaannnnndddd.... Tonight is the season premiere of True Blood!!! I can't wait to feast my eyes on Eric! I ordered HBO last night to make sure I wouldn't miss it :)

Day 40 - A picture of your favorite Disney character

saturday randomness (day 39)

Is it already Saturday? again?! 

I guess time flies when you're having fun... if you considering doing homework, going to work and sleeping fun!  I feel like that's all I've been doing so I'm hoping to finish my homework this morning (which is a quiz on MLK Jr's Letter from a Birmingham Jail) and then hopefully get around to some real fun! But tomorrow will be the start of my 4th week of summer semester.... so close to being halfway done!


This weekend is OKC's Pride Festival and there's a parade and live music... I'm all about equality so I figured I'd go show support for the LGBT community. I've never been before but I'm pretty excited about it!


I'm also going to some thrift stores in search for a desk. For a while, I've wanted a desk. Now, I need a desk. My bf bought an xbox 360 with kinect. Typically, all the video games stayed in the kids room. But this time, its in the living room hooked up to the big screen tv and surround sound. Needless to say, it's damn near impossible to get any homework accomplished while sitting in the dining room (which doubles as my office/study space), which is connected to the living room. I wasn't planning on redoing the messy spare room until after summer semester, but it looks like I have a new project that can't wait. I have a vision... probably overly extravagant and more craft room than office, but a girl can dream right?!

source

source

I also stumbled upon this photo of my dream library... someday when I grow up I'd like to live in this library :)

Day 39 - A picture of your favorite movie

hello friday! (day 38)

It's finally Friday! 


What a long week... let's celebrate with a little fun friday music :) I adore Walk the Sun!







Day 38 - A picture of the best part of your day.

The best part of my day is crawling into bed at night. I pick a book and read until my eyes won't stay open anymore.

Here's what I'm reading....

thank you thursday (day 37)

It's time for my favorite post of the week :)

I feel that dedicating one day to acknowledging all the beautiful things in life that I am thankful for has really increased my awareness and overall happiness. I haven't been dwelling on the negative (well, only Tuesday mornings, which are like my Monday, when I don't want to go to work) and I've been letting my thoughts wander deeper and deeper to get a better understanding of myself. I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track.  So here's what I'm thankful for this week...


I'm thankful for my kindle... which allows me to get books with the click of a button. I broke down and bought Passion by Lauren Kate Tuesday night and I finished it last night... it was sooo good!


I'm also thankful for my library card, which I use to reserve all the expensive kindle books that I can't afford. I just picked up 3 books yesterday that I had requested....  Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer, The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen and My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares).


I'm thankful for the cutest little old woman that I met in may favorite library, located in Waupun, WI, who stopped me as I was checking out my books and handed me Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen and said that I simply must read it. (I did... and it is delightful! a perfect spin on real life and fantasy and so so fun to read!)


I'm incredibly thankful for whole living magazine. I look forward to trying to find it at Half Price Books each month so much, that I broke down and subscribed to it yesterday. I love it too much to risk not being able to find it!


I'm also thankful for Sustainable OKC. They recently announced a Permaculture Design Course that begins in August and is one weekend a month for 4 months. It covers techniques and application of ideas of permaculture design and sustainable living. I died when I read about it and I knew I just had to be a part of it. However, it's $750. Slightly out of my budget. BUT Sustainable OKC is offering a limited amount of scholarships where you only have to pay 1/2. The deadline is June 30th, but I already sent my application in and my fingers are crossed. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to apply.


I'm thankful for my sunglasses... the sun is super bright. (and hot... it's going to be a looong summer in OKC)


I'm thankful for those first few moments of every day when its quiet. I like to focus on my breathing and smell the coffee brewing. 


I'm thankful for the toads who live in my flower garden. I love to watch them hop and eat bugs in the evening.


I'm thankful for an A on my very first US History test! I'll be even more thankful if I get A's on the other 4 tests this semester!



Day 37 - A picture of the people you spend most of your time with

um.... this may be slightly pathetic, but I don't spend the majority of my time with people. I spend it with animals :) The whole time I read last night, all 4 of these little fur babies laid in bed with me...

Zoe and Franklin lounging on the couch

Elizabeth Taylor lounging on the counter

Monty lounging in the sun