shetoldstories

Haven:

At my office, we've created a little haven where the birds can gather....

It's a sweet comfort to hear the little guys pecking on the seeds all day.

Because "all business", 6 hours a day, bores me to tears.

Felicity:

Funny thing about my daughter finishing up at elementary school this year: there is a ton of running around & prepping for yearbook and graduation. Projects are due, art portfolio deadlines, etc. It's only 5th grade yet it feels like she's finishing up at high school. Girl is keepin' me busy with 'mommy i need to get this' and 'ma, i need 9x12, not 8x10 paper !!!' requests. She is all business right now about her projects, which I love but, wow she's got me on alert - having me type all these deadlines into my phone for safe measure. 

Today, the three of us are driving into the city to renew my girl's passport. I know.. book a vacation online before checking if our travel documents are in order <-- so like me! I hope it's a quick, in & out appointment so we can have lunch and do a little shopping before driving home. Should be a fun day. My big camera is coming with us ;)

In the meantime, check out my interview over at Vivienne's You Are Your Own Muse site here & this fabulous interview I did with one of my favorite flickr friends Liberatad Leal, here.

Today's texture is by Kim Klassen ~Felicity (I love this one!)~ set to soft light, 100% opacity.

Wishing you a wonderful day.

Nourish:

I've been on a 'diet' for the last 4 weeks, and honestly, diet is the absolute wrong word for the lifestyle changes I've been making. 

I love the word nourish.

If my body was a sponge, I can tell you in all honesty, it was feeling all dried out. There were stresses in my life that I couldn't avoid dealing with - and you know how when you pour your energy into something so completely, you lose balance? Well that's what was happening. I allowed myself to slip, comfort feed, rest, nest, and hermit myself into a very physically (and mentally) unhealthy place. It wasn't like I was aware of this happening, but at the same time, I was - kinda.

4 weeks ago, I paid for a food delivery service just to see where I was going wrong with my eating habits. The amount of food that arrived on my doorstep was overwhelming - breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks... all healthy, blanced, and perfectly portioned meals.

4 weeks later, I have a clearer view of how deprived I was of natural, whole, nutritional food. I really believe that because I was stuck, I couldn't see it. My focus wasn't on me for a long time, and I needed a drastic push into healing & nurturing my body and mind back to a better place.

Nourish. This is how I nourish my body now:

Greens & Herbs

Pulled from the ground, baked foods.

Balance on my plate. More color, more layers.

Nature, for my mind.

Walking in the fresh air.

For my heart. For my soul.

I'm done with the food service & transitioning back to my own cooking. I picked up some great tips about what to eat, how much to eat, how often to eat (often!!), how not to feel starved or deprived, and how to have a healthier relationship with food.

My body and mind are healing themselves back because of the changes I'm making, because of the healthy love I am putting into myself. No longer do I see myself as dry, or chalky, a shell of an existence. I feel whole, I feel like my pieces are clicking back together. 

It's not easy in the beginning and I will admit to having pre-school temper tantrums because I was resisting the changes. But I'm far away from that place. This is a lifestyle. This is my lifestyle. This is now my story. I am back and loving how good it feels to laugh, to be present, to breathe.

a heart in my coffee:

Happy Valentine's Day!!

It's Texture Tuesday over at Kim Klassen's blog and this week the theme revolves around Happiness. These days, I'm a happy little camper, letting go of the everyday stresses and embracing calmness & peace.

My family most certainly brings me so much joy, but it's those stolen moments in the afternoon with my cup of coffee when I get to recharge that are pretty much holding my day together.  Another bonus dose of happy: we're going on vacation to the Bahamas in 2 weeks.  EEeek !! I can't wait to be sippin' a cocktail on the soft sand next to the aqua blue water.  <-- That makes me super happy.

And it was a big surprise to see the little heart floating right there at the rim of the cup.

I edited the photo using Rad Lab, then applied Kim's "Wet Tile" texture @ Soft Light, 100% opacity. 

Wishing you all a happy day.

a ribbon at a time:

snow and other happenings:

OOOh, it snowed. Just a lil bit but I'll take a dusting over nothing :)

I had a chance to get in front of the camera today:

What I'm looking forward to:

-New, cute items coming to my print shop. I love the photos & inspiration cards I'm putting together! It's all coming soon. (March)

-I'm still debating on the flower show in Philly. I want to go / don't want to go. I'm so up in the air on that one.

-I had three people put in for lottery tickets to the Kinfolk dinner in Brooklyn. I'm crossing my fingers that one of us 3 win. Or maybe all of us?!!

-And finally a fun girls weekend in NYC with Thea. I'm so excited that our paths have crossed & totally looking forward to hanging out with her and our cameras in the city. 

not there yet:

If you were here I'd make you a steamy hot milk with your very own belgian chocolate on a stick to swirl yourself a cup of comfort.

We would move to the couch where the light fades just so through the curtains. You with your cocoa, me with my coffee, and I'd ask you 'for reals... how are you doing?'

You'd probably laugh and we'd chat for a while about this or about that and eventually the tables would turn and you would ask the same of me.

And I'd wonder if it was safe to remove my shield of armor and allow the stories that sit behind that wall to spill out into the open. I'd worry about giving them a voice, giving them space, about listening to them become more real as I speak them. 

I don't know what that would feel like yet. I know it would feel good to have my chest less tightened up with these tales. 

So we would sit, and maybe ... maybe I would crack open the well, and it would all be out in the open. Maybe.

I haven't teetered over that fine line yet.

I'm trying though.

Texture: February Free & Easy:

For Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.

Available as a desktop wallpaper! Choose your size, click the link, then right-click & save the pic.

1600 x 900 wide

1280 x 1024

1024 x 768

weekending:

The little girl.. ain't so little anymore..

After a quick photo session on Saturday morning, I decided to spend the weekend in my home. The week was a busy one and my house & family were left to fend for themselves when it came to cooking & cleaning. They did alright, but damn did I ever have to pick up the pieces come Saturday. 

I got into my grove with the music playing, and soon enough the laundry pile got smaller, the dust bunnies vanished, a hearty & nourishing meal was cooking on the stove top. I even had enough free time to get out and enjoy the crisp, fresh air of winter (ooh has it been a lovely winter here in NJ).

 

Before I share pictures from the weekend I have to tell you that I have a spread in the newest edition of Artful Blogging magazine. Yay!!

It was awesome to hold the mag in my hands and to flip through the pages of each beautiful feature before landing on mine. Mine!! 

It's been a goal of mine to have my work published (see a couple of posts down) and what a great feeling to be able to tick this one off the list. Drop me a line if you've seen it!!

 

Ok.. some photos from the weekend:

Yeah, yeah.. It's not crunchy or sugar-less, but it was the best damn tasting smoothy I've ever made with 5% fruit juice!

My sister, doing her thing! I was so happy to be there and document it for her. She is an amazing, crazy talented - makeup artist. The before & after shots are sick!!

My friend Liz Kalloch took this shot of me working with Jen Lee a few weeks back in Central Park. That was such a great day. I'll be sharing more photos from that day soon.

Finally, this is how I settle in and regroup. I got home from the park with Z & Angie and immediately lit up my dolce gusto machine. Every good day should end like this.

I'm weekending with Amanda.

time is the fire:

The Valentine's Showcase is in full swing over @ 52 Photos Project. Check out the artists featured so far this week:

Liz Lamoreux - Stefanie Renee

Tracey Lee Duncan - Kelly Barton