Change of Plans (plus a Pick-Me-Up Post and a Music Wedding Video)

I woke up today feeling terrible. Tried to get ready and go Tourmaline Mining, made it as far as the gas station, and had to come home.
Guess I'm fighting the flu Shawn had last week. Everything happens for a reason!
I'm trying to just enjoy the down time.
I don't know what's going to happen with the rest of our vacation, but for now I'm taking it easy and hoping it will pass very quickly.

Reading this post made me smile {thanks Aura!}, as did this video, so I wanted to share them with you.




{video via Cup of Jo. thanks Joanna!}

All Dogs Go To Heaven: Church Sign Wars

This makes me chuckle out loud. These two churches face each other across a busy street.

Teehee! Well I guess that settles that..

{These aren't real, of course. My funny great uncle emailed this to me. Not sure who made these images, but they probably used this site.}

Thankful Thursday: Productivity, Love and the Future

thankful:


that I'm healthy and strong {gettin pretty good at this 'don't break the chain' thing!}
that I have a fantastic relationship with my boss
that my coworkers are my favorite thing about going to work
that I got so much done yesterday {dry cleaning, grocery shopping, piano music picked up, dishes done, house straightened.. I even went to the gym after work last night!}
that I'm getting laundry outta the way today {all of you with washers and dryers, be thankful for the 3.5 hours you don't have to spend at the laundromat every week!}
that I get to go to beautiful Idaho and see my precious family in 4 weeks and 5 days!
that our fabulous mining and wining vacation is creepin up on us. two days away!
that I am surrounded by amazing friends
that I am financially provided for {especially that I can provide for myself!}
that I haven't had a chance to wear the two new pairs of boots I just got yet because of the stunningly beautiful weather lately {it feels more like late spring than winter}
that my uncle and his close friend, who I've listened to play the guitar {and fiddle and mandolin} my entire life, are going to play my wedding ceremony,
and I get to walk down the aisle to a song that breaks my heart, in a good way
{and also my sister Rachelle {she's in the middle in the above pic} walked down the aisle to it!} {p.s. that's not my uncle in the video}
that today is a beautiful, awesome day!

you?

{photo is one of our Mothers' Day Sister Pics}

Necklaces at Ruche

Forget-me-not

Owl be your nighttime friend

Tree blossoms

I guess I should go get some chains for all the fun broken necklaces I have lying around. 

I couldn't resist doing a little shopping around for new ones though. Just a peak!

I Get So Excited (and I just can't..)

I was just thinking about this year, and holy moly is it gonna be a fun one!
I had to list the major happenings of each month. Want to see?
I went crazy with the exclamation points, I couldn't help myself!

Jan: Tourmaline Mining, Wine Vacay!!
Feb:  Brian Regan, and our 8th anniversary!
March: Idaho!!! Roller Skating, and Levi's Birthday!
April: Enjoying the Spring!
May: San Francisco with PLP for our first time!!
June: Enjoying the Spring some More!
July: Palm Springs for my first time for PLP's bachelorette!!
August: Idaho!! Hopefully River Rafting!
Sept: Teresa (plp) and Chris' Wedding!
Oct: Getaway to a New (undecided) Place!
Nov: Enjoying the Season with family!
December: Idaho for Christmas!

In between all of that will be acquiring more tattoos (both), a new camera (me),
a ton of flight lessons (him), and if I can get past my excuses, piano lessons
and new school. Oh and the wedding planning. Tons of that.
Bring it on, I say! What are you guys looking forward to this year?



Why yes, yes I do have both fall pumpkins and Christmas lights on my porch. In January.
(Aren't my pumpkins cute though?? They can stay.)

Wedding Herbs

What an utterly fantastic theme and execution! Go, look, and read. I'll wait.

Love the herbs. Love the meanings or blessings for each kind.
Love the idea of tossing herbs and flower petals in lieu of rice.
Love that they got them from a local farm. Love, love, love.



{by Duet Weddings via stylemepretty }

Thought for Today: Enjoy It

{photo}

Thankful Thursday: The Path Ahead

Today I'm Thankful. Wanna hear why?

My bestest friend is getting married this September. At this gorgeous house on a gorgeous property. 

{These photos are but a smidgen of the beauty of the backyard} 

And I get to help plan and participate and attend!
And my brother is flying down!

I just got my teeth cleaned and am going to get caught up with my fillings and such.
{And thanks to insurance, it won't break the bank too bad!}

My car is driving. The new steering rack doesn't leak. 

And I'm getting it aligned and new tires tomorrow.

We're going tourmaline mining as part of our mini vacation. 

Wouldn't it be sweet if we found some stones for our wedding rings??

We're also going back to South Coast Resort for a couple days. 

We wavered back and forth, and decided we love it there so why not~ 

if it ain't broke don't fix it right? 

{Plus we can talk to the wedding coordinator and see the ceremony site.}

I'm going to get new shoes for work tonight or tomorrow. 

My feet are going to be so happy! Plus those things are just uuuu-glyyy. 

{eyes the dirty old thrashed pair on the floor}

I can finally count down to our next Idaho visit~ less than six weeks now!

My PLP and I are going on our second trip ever since we met the first day of Freshman P.E.! 

{Our first one was a road trip at age 17~ Vegas for Supercross,
San Louis Obispo to visit my cousin, and then down the scenic Highway 101 home} 

 We're going to San Francisco in April! Neither of us have been,
and it will be an awesome last hurrah before we both get hitched!

I've been doing great at the 'Don't Break the Chain' thing. 

Check me out! Seven days in a row. booyah. 

My body and spirit are likin this.

I've started playing my piano again. It's bringing me joy. Especially learning this song. 

And a friend might have a teacher to hook me up with!

I've decided to get into school for graphic design and web development/design. 

What I'll start with and when, I don't know. 

But I have my school picked out. It's only a matter of time.

I'm going to get myself a 'real' camera at some point before summer. 

One with those things you change out~ oh yeah! Lenses! 

I'm learning to focus on all the wonderful things I want to INCLUDE in my life, 

instead of all the nasties I'd like to EXCLUDE.

My Side Tattoo Progress

Well guys, I finally worked up the courage to put my artwork out there,
on the internet, for all to see!
Here's a peak at the side piece I've had two sessions on.
Micah would probably kill me for posting unfinished work,
but I find beauty in the artistic process as much as in the finished piece.
I love her so far. Her wistful yet wise expression, her graceful hand and posture,
the beautiful patterns he incorporated. I adore my elephant too!
He has a dog-like quality to me.
These were taken the day after my second sesh,
so of course it's healed and smooth and perfect now.
{I kind of like that the healing skin makes the elephant look rough like he's supposed to!}

(My tattoo, though tons of people like to say it's a 'Geisha Girl', 
is actually Fugen (he's a Bosatsu, or Buddha-to-be) 
as he appeared to the Monk Shoku- in the form of Yujo-no-Choja, a singing girl and courtesan-  
showing that wisdom can be anywhere. 
"The Buddhas and the Bodhisattvas may appear in this world in countless different forms; 
choosing, for the purpose of their divine compassion, even the most humble or contemptible shapes 
when such shapes can serve them to lead men into the true path, and to save them from the perils of illusion." 
Quote source here)

Look for the Joy {Refocus}

This morning, thinking of a book that changed my life, I went to their website, and remembered and discovered all kinds of inspiration.

Like this quote:

Making Peace with My Today Will Improve My Future... It may sound odd, but the fastest way to get to a new-and-improved situation is to make peace with your current situation. By making lists of the most positive aspects you can find about your current situation, you then release your resistance to the improvements that are waiting for you. But if you rail against the injustices of your current situation, you hold yourself in Vibrational alignment with what you do not want, and you cannot then move in the direction of improvement. It defies Law. In every particle of the Universe, there is that which is wanted - and the lack of it.
--- Abraham

Excerpted from the book, "The Vortex, Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships "

I've been missing a step, friends. Yes, I've been practicing gratitude regularly, setting intentions, looking for clarity.
But I've neglected to focus, and refocus, my lens when it comes to the current moment.  I have been complaining so much I'm irritating myself.
I've been immediately latching on to the nearest negative thought, the negative part of whatever situation I'm describing or encountering.
When I see my honey, instead of reaching out with love, I've been reaching out with 'why isn't this done yet' or 'I hate that [fill in the blank]
is happening or not happening.'

I've fallen back into the habit of focusing my attention on everything that I don't have. I'm giving off the 'I need,' and  'I hate'  vibes,
which means I can't get to what I want, can't get to good feelings, because I'm not in alignment with those things and feelings vibrationally.
Duh! I've been focusing on validating and venting about what's wrong, and taking it too far.

I know how this stuff works, and yet I still need to practice. I still need to refresh my memory. Refocus on everything I like and love.
On just feeling good.



I need to remember to let it go. Get out of the way. Stop being so attached to the lack of things, qualities and experiences
and refocus my lens on the things, qualities and experiences I do have, now, that make me feel good. I'm going to do exactly that!

For instance, even though my car is not drivable right now and I don't know when it will be, I can be happy that
~ I have a man who can reliably diagnose and repair my vehicle at a fraction of the cost of a shop
~ I have a mother and father-in-law who take me to work and let us borrow their cars without a second thought
~ I have wonderful friends who will gladly pick me up or come to me to hang out
~ I have a planting and tarot-reading date with a new friend tomorrow morning
~ Even if I couldn't get rides, I already have the bus and trolley routes memorized from when I wasn't driving, so I could get around if I needed to.
~ There are many things I love to do and can get done without going anywhere.  

{quote source}
{photos: First is Brother #5, Jacob. Second is Brother #4, Peter. Three years ago. So young!}

Teehee {nsfw}

A little comic for our Monday morning, courtesy of my Great Uncle Marvin.

Scenes From a Friday Walk Part IV

{Scenes From a Friday Walk Parts I, II, III}

Thankful Thursday: Gratitude Wave

Today I'm Thankful:

~ for looking in the fridge and finding delicious leftovers I had forgotten about

~ for the LoveBomb family {help us with this week's mission ~it's easy!}

~ that The Gratitude Wave is sweeping the blogosphere

~ that having my front door open right now is making my house smell fresh

~ that I can count down to our next Idaho visit. {Six weeks and six days!}

~ that Shawn decided to look at my Mustang again and it's a good thing he did, 

the motor mounts were about to break free after the impact from the boulder. 

Hopefully I'll be driving again tomorrow. He's spent the last four or five days 

working on my car, ordering parts and finding me rides to work. What a gem.

~ that we're going on a mini-vacation in two weeks. Now to decide where..

~ that I live somewhere where going to the beach in winter is perfectly acceptable 

behavior, and scarves and bundling are not always a necessity.  

{The above pic was taken on a gorgeous sunny day in February at Sunset Cliffs}

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

I'm so excited! We're taking a few days off at the end of the month to go on some sort of adventure, and I've been asking everyone (and their mother)
for ideas. We want to keep it within a few hours' drive from here, and between two and three days.

Some of my favorite suggestions:

Disneyland
Sequoia National Forest
"Just dance....put on your red shoes and dance..." {my brother Jeff, via Facebook}
Santa Ynez
Catalina

"

Which would you pick? Where would you go? This is going to be a tough call! {I need all the help I can get}

{images found via google image. sites usually saved in image titles.}

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hey guys! It's my birthday. Yup, 1/11/11 marks the beginning of my 29th lap around the sun!

I've been thinking a lot about what I want for my 29th year. For some reason I've always looked forward to this age and expected it to be enjoyable.

So my intentions for this year are pretty joy-centric. I thought I'd blab about some of them to you, if that's all right. {Not that you have much of a choice, ha!}

First off, I intend to do something every single day this year to celebrate my body. I could say I want to work out every day, but that's not as fun, plus it's not the point. In my last year I've had a ton of reminders not to take the functionality of my body {or my youth!} for granted, and I'm listening. Exercise definitely counts, but it's not the end-all be-all. Even if I just do some stretching or meditating at the end of the day, it's still taking time to just be in my body and use it. Makin' love counts too, by the way. I can't think of a better celebration of our bodies than that, can you? ;) Walking around is also a big one. Someday I might not be able to just walk out my front door, confident my legs will carry me as far as I want to go. I intend to just get out of the house more, to spend more time wandering on foot. I got that little 'Don't Break the Chain' Calendar you see on the right to help remind me of this intention. {It's kind of a neat idea, I'm stoked on it! You may want to check it out too}

I have a ton more, but the beautiful sunshine outside is calling me. I think it's a great day to do some wandering with my camera!
So I'll leave this list at one for now. See ya!

Craving..

..Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Maybe for breakfast, eh?

Botanical Art With Mom's Leaves

Remember when my mom sent me some fall leaves? Well rather than pressing them in a book to find later,
I decided to make some fun art, so I can see them all the time and think of Mom and Idaho.
Following these easy instructions, I went to a thrift store and an old book store {both conveniently right down the street}
and found three old frames {$25 for the lot, with some rad old pictures in them I can reuse later} and an old gardening book {just over a dollar}.
I had the house to myself so I settled in for a night of crafting {with glitter glue and a spoon!} and wine.
It was good times, and now I have something happy to look at instead of an empty space above our bed!

Thanks, Mom!

Thankful Thursday on Friday: Comfort & Change

Thankful:

Heaters
Comfy Pajamas
Evening Skies
Loyalty
Fun Tattoo Plans



Reading my own Tarot
Sunshine in January
Girls Night
Sleeping all day when I really need to
Forgiveness



When the solution finally surfaces
Direct Deposit
Date Nights
Questioning a relationship only making it stronger
Haircuts