tattoo inspiration (day 59)

So I've decided for my birthday, my gift to myself is going to be my 5th tattoo... which I've been wanting for a while. I always have ideas floating around in my head of what I want. I thought I wanted a peace symbol with some pretty swirly vines and flowers on my wrist, but I think I've found something else. I still want the peace symbol.... I just want this more...


There's this poem by e.e. cummings that I absolutely have loved forever.

found on etsy

"may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old
may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it’s sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young
and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there’s never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile"


Beautiful, right? So I think I want the first 2 lines of the poem written on my inner forearm with a few little flying birds. I just can't decide if I want it written in my handwriting or if I want it to like as though it was typed.

I'm getting a little more daring with placement of my tattoos because every day it becomes more and more clear that I am not looking for a conventional career that will frown upon visible tattoos.


Now I just need to make an appointment... only 27 more days until my 29th birthday.... yikes!

Day 59 - A picture of a random item that you own.

 Doesn't get more random than a Home Grown Lemon Goat....

thank you thursday (day 58)

 




My favorite time of the week again!

This week I am thankful for...

...giving myself a day off. Yesterday I didn't go to work. I didn't watch TV. I didn't play on the computer. It was just one of those days, like Amber put it, where I needed my brain to be non-stimulated. I finished all of  my homework for the week early in the day and spent the rest of my time focusing on my breathing, stretching, and just sitting quietly. Which is not easy for me to do. I'm always doing 2 or 3 things at once. But my brain just said STOP! so I did. and I'm grateful for my quiet reflective day.

...reaching a decision about my fall semester classes. I had considered changing my emphasis from multimedia to print media, but yesterday I realized that wasn't what I truly wanted to do. So I switched around my schedule and I'm excited about the classes I chose! It's amazing how much happiness listening to that little feeling inside of you can bring :)


I am taking:
Modern Humanities
Photoshop II
Dreamweaver/Web Page Design I
Creative Writing: Poetry
Illustrator/Computer Drawing


I dropped:
American Government
Intro to Graphic Design
Advertising Layout


...books. I think I might have a slight obsession and lately it's been a little out of control but I can't help myself! Here's the books I've bought and checked out from the library this week...

from top to bottom

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

The Sunday List of Dreams by Kris Radish

A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White

Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

Tales from the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell

The Urban Homestead by Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen

The Next Eco Warriors by Emily Hunter

The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty

Tomorrow's Garden by Stephen Orr

Sustainable by Aaris Sherin

...learning how to french braid my own hair! I have been french braiding other people's hair since I was little, but only recently with a little practice have I learned how to do my own... and my secret is that I have to close my eyes while I'm doing it! If my eyes are open, it just doesn't work.

...eco-tips. One of my favorite blogs, Inspiration Earth, Melinda shares some pretty wonderful eco-tips. Her last eco tips post, which can be read by clicking here, inspired me to take a trip to my local health food store last Sunday. Using baking soda, sea salt, peppermint essential oil and water, I made my own toothpaste! After reading her post about toothpaste, I can assure you I will never buy mine from the grocery store ever again! I also made my own deodorant (which passed the test of doing yoga in a hot room with no air conditioning for an hour last night) and detergent to use in the dishwasher. I even washed my hair with baking soda instead of shampoo and used apple cider vinegar instead of conditioner... the result? Extremely soft clean hair! It was cheap and gives me satisfaction knowing that I'm doing a little something for the environment and my own well being. 

...the return policy at Verizon Wireless. I've been complaining about my old outdated almost 2 year old Motorola Droid phone for a while. After careful consideration, I ordered the brand new 4G Samsung Charge. It came in the mail last Thursday and I shipped it back out to Verizon today. The notification light didn't work, the ring volume didn't work, it wouldn't let me play 95% of  my 1,025 songs, and the battery would die before noon. I've long been a fan of android phones, but I think the time has some for me to try out the iPhone. 


What are you thankful for this week?

To see past thank you posts, click here.


Day 58 - A picture of your favorite animal.

I've been fascinated with Orcas for as long as I can remember. My mom even 'adopted' a whale for me after they were in Free Willy and became really popular. She still reminds me at least once a year about her dream of me becoming a marine biologist. I went to Sea World (I know, I know... it's wrong to keep all those animals in a park, but I really really wanted to see them up close!) last year and the first stop was the Orca show... and I cried. Seriously sobbed uncontrollably. I had never been so happy to see something so beautiful in my whole life.

4th of July 4-day weekend recap (day 49)

oh 4 day weekend, why did you leave me so quickly?


my weekend started on Friday when I babysat for Jackson because his day care was closed and his mommy and daddy had to work..... Isn't he adorable?!

Saturday went by pretty quick... had some homework to finish up, ran a few errands and then made some food to take over to Amber's house for a little get-together. I made my mom's amazing potato salad and brought over a new beer my liquor store friend recommended... Shiner Ruby Redbird... it tastes like grapefruit and ginger, not beer! It's pretty refreshing and the perfect for summer.


Sunday morning started off great... the bf and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Then we went to Verizon so I could pick out a new phone (mine is a year and a 1/2 old and starting to have problems in her old age). I ordered it and it should be here Wednesday!! Then the fun really began... we ripped out over 800 square feet of carpet, carpet padding, and those damn slats nailed to the floor in our dining room and living room. Which means we also had to move all of our furniture (and 4 bookshelves full of books!). Needless to say, I have a bruised toe, a cut toe, sore arms and feet, a stiff back, and I'm tired. But on the bright side, the old ugly green carpet is gone and he installed the laminate wood floors in the kitchen and most of the living and dining room yesterday!


Monday was homework day. I read 5 stories, took 4 quizzes, and a history exam (and got a freaking B). One of the stories I read for English Comp was Time & the Machine. Definitely made me rethink how I'm always in a hurry. We made it downtown and caught the grand finale of the fireworks while driving down Sheridan. I made a mini-bag of lime + salt popcorn (Orville Redenbacher is a genious!) which I highly recommend, and enjoyed a bloody mary.

Now it's back to reality... it seems no matter how long the weekend is, Tuesday always comes too fast. On a brighter note, tonight is my first yoga class!! I'll report back tomorrow :)


I hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July weekend :)


Day 49 - A picture of where you live.

home sweet (okla)homa (city)

source

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

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

today is finally later (day 36)

I'm a procrastinator.

I can admit it. I procrastinate. I'll do it tomorrow. I'll do it later. 


When it comes to yoga, later turned out to be years. I bought the pants and the mat, and that's about as far as I got. I kept meaning to sign up for classes. I bought a DVD and gave up after about 4 minutes (it's difficult when the person on the screen tells you what to do, but doesn't tell you if you're doing it right!). I went to a local studio to see about trying a class for free to see if I liked it, but they were closed. I never went back. I kept telling myself I would get around to it later.  

Well, today is finally later. I signed up for a month of weekly classes at my college. My first hatha yoga class is July 5th.

I would like to thank my bff since 2nd period Art class on the first day of freshman year at Mayville High School, Katie, for inspiring me. Katie lives in ATL and just started her own blog www.katies-karma.blogspot.com. She practices yoga often and loves it. She even signed up for a yoga teach training class this fall and recently wrote her first article for a local yoga website. I'm super proud of her for realizing, then following her dreams! Thanks for the inspiration!


Day 36 - A picture of your ‘other half'

This is Courtney... my other half, as we refer to each other :) We met in Oklahoma in 2007. We have so much in common and we had so much fun (before she left me and moved back to PA!). We definitely bonded instantly and for Courtney and I it was love and friendship at first sight!

monday morning motivation (day 34)

The inspiration for this morning is my obsession with So You Think You Can Dance. It all began a few years ago with this.....

Elisa on So You Think You Can Dance 

I guess it was a combination of the music and the movement, as I watched this for the first time, and every time since then I get chills. It's beautiful and so poetic... it's amazing the emotions that movement can evoke. Here are a few photos to motivate and hopefully start your week off on the right foot :)

All of these image came from favim.com except for the first, which I found on fromupnorth.com



Day 34 - A picture of your currently most played CD