change...

i want to remember that change is part of being alive.

i am not very good at  good byes, but then again,  who is?  

this has been a month of saying good bye, farewell,  see you soon, or... in the next life.  we all know life moves so quickly and these events, once again, highlight that.

to my dear sweet friend on moving day;   may every happiness find you in your new space.  there's a new home waiting,  with new friends,  new beginnings, we are only turning the page not closing the book.  change is always coupled with fear and  uncertainty but also so very much to look forward to.

there will be a new story line with new characters, different ideas, different places and we never know what might happen next, that's what makes life so exciting.  just think how boring the journey would be if we always knew what would happen in the next chapter.

love you and miss you already.  xo

on monday night there were more good byes.  our neighbors who have lived across the street from us for 20+ years are moving on.  there have been many mixed emotions for them.  we decided to host a small get together to wish them all the best.  there were tears and laughter and lots of memories shared.  this was a big decision and i think it's the right one for them.  they know that even the most perfect days and nights can be been rimmed with sadness, punctuated by sleepless hours, a host of worries,  and questions without answers.  it's hard to feel happy and sad and filled up and emptied out all at the same time.  but yet again, a new beginning.  last night when i drove in from work the moving van was there, it had been there all day.  i watched them pack the last of their belongings, we wished them well one more time, and sent them off with hugs and a promise to keep in touch.

moving on, is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.

change is inevitable, we can't stop it, so why not make the best of it. after all we are the ones who decide if we will be happy or not. no one else can decide that for us. we can make the best of every situation. bad things might happen, or things that we may not have expected, but we can still be happy. we can continue on this journey and be successful and enjoy life, even through our trials! happiness is a decision not a destination. so if you CHOOSE to be happy, you WILL be!!

so in short keep writing your story, don't let things get in the way or get you down, and if you choose to be happy you will be, and your story will have a happy ending!

this space is always where i share so many happy things,  but unfortunately then there are also the sad things.
there was a final goodbye this month to someone who held a special place in so many hearts. i will always remember all those years of morning coffees together, all those special memories we shared.
all those smiles and disney magic.  all those carefree days.
and although you were taken from this world way to soon i know that you are already holding
nursery class in heaven.  every parent that ever walked away from their crying child left in your
care could set their  troubles aside, you had a magic way of making everything better. 

we are in this life to learn and to grow and be tested.  i know the one message that you would
want everyone to live by is to choose instead to see their life as a blessing.   to remember that surrender is always possible, and that you can be sad and grateful at the same time. filled up and emptied out, both.  even a heavy heart can overflow with contentment.  you would remind us to keep ours eyes open, to pay attention.  life is short.  and to remember:    this is it. 

katie, the most important thing your mom would want you to know and to live by is ..

there is only one dance.    don't miss a moment of it.


love sent, xo

Limitless

Sun says, "Be your own
illumination." Wren says,
"Sing your heart out,
all day long." Stream says,
"Do not stop for any
obstacle." Oak says,
"When the wind blows,
bend easily, and trust
your roots to hold."
Stars say, "What you see
is one small slice of a
single galaxy.
Remember that vastness
cannot be grasped by mind."
Ant says, "Small does not
mean powerless." Silence
says nothing. In the quiet,
everything comes clear.
I say, "Limitless." I say,
Yes."

~ Danna Faulds

 

love sent, xo

let's make it a good one...

xo

on happiness....

the older we get, the more we want to hang on to what we've already got -- the things we've worked so hard to achieve. the relationships we have nurtured through the years.  we also have more experience with pain and loss, having been knocked around a bit by life, and having learned a few lessons the hard way. 

i learned about the most tremendous paradox of my life, that the most pure and incredible feelings that you will ever feel will not come from what is given to you, but from what you give to others.  LOVE others. do not expect anything in return, do not put conditions or rules on the love that you give…love because it is how you feel.  the very best thing you can ever, ever do for your heart and your soul is to leave people, places, and situations better than you found them,

if you're like me, and you find that your life has become more about pursuing peace and relaxation than crazy excitement every day, rest assured that you aren't missing out on happiness. your happiness has evolved, just as you have. even though our version might seem less fun by the standards of our younger selves, that doesn't mean it's less good. stop,  take some time,  look around and realize how very lucky you are...  you will be amazed.

love sent, xo

mosquito repelent

the other night after it finally stopped raining we were so happy to be outside enjoying the beautiful weather.  but...  it was only a matter of time before we were driven in by pesky mosquito's. 

not sure if this remedy works as i haven't yet tried it myself,  but it sure sounded worth a try.

time to fight back on the  mosquito invasions. ;-) 
here's an easy pleasant repellent recipe you can make at home: 

combine in a 16 oz bottle:

15 drops lavender oil
3-4 Tbsp of vanilla extract
1/4 Cup lemon juice.fill bottle with water. shake.  ready to use.  make some extra to gift to your family and friends.

share this on your wall so you'll have it handy when it's needed. 

bucket list...

i’m having a hard time with my buckets these days.
not the metal tubs you use to schlep water down a hill; metaphorical buckets.  your job, your family relationships, your romantic partner, your kids, your friends. it’d be delusion to think you could keep each one full all the time, but i try to keep the levels relatively even. i felt like i had a good rhythm going there for a while…time with m, actually seeing my friends fairly regularly, and blogging,  as a creative outlet, which is this giant open space to both improve as a writer and to connect with other people.  i’m not complaining. i feel lucky to be where i am,  and i’d rather be stretched and put to use than spinning around in my swivel chair.  i’m just trying to strategize. this space is hugely important to me, and i want it to not only stay alive, but to grow. i want to pour energy into this bucket, even while everything else is approaching capacity. 

how do you stay  creative while earning your daily bread?

 is the secret to work from here?   m would surely say so.

love sent, xo

friends...

saying good bye is never easy.

"we met it seems, such a short time ago. you looked at me, needing me so. yet from your sadness, our happiness grew. then i found out, i needed you, too. i remember how we used to play. i recall those rainy days, the fires glowed, that kept us warm. and now i find, we're both alone. goodbye may seem forever, farewell is like the end. but in my heart's a memory, and there you'll always be."

and no matter what we will keep on being friends forever -  right?    yes, forever.   xo

such a fun night with such  specials friends. celebrating the next chapter in your journey.... who doesn't love the promise of a new beginning?


love sent, xo

today...

on this....

love sent, xo

what love looked like today...

                                                              today was father's day.

 in typical fashion i daydreamed about all of us getting together for breakfast or dinner or some form of unity for all five of us.  everyone is going in so many different directions that this is harder than it sounds. one kid ran in from an overnight in boston, (a bit grouchy i must say from not enough sleep).
another kid showed up with piles of laundry (i think he has been saving it all month).  the third one rushed in and realized he was late for work for the first time ever ( these things happen i tell ya)
we debated for a few seconds and decided  we might try to regroup later in the day.   we coasted through the rest of the day listening to the hum of the washing machine, cleaning up the house, watering the garden , feeding the plants.  we didn't even talk that much,  but i like this guy,  he is pretty easy going.  he opened a few gifts, made a few jokes and we shared a few laughs.

as evening approached we headed out for dinner.  there was a little back and forth about the
restaurant ( it's not that easy to get everyone to agree on food choices) but we agreed on a place and
off we went.  we decided on some fun drinks and a couple of great appetizers. it was a really nice evening.  it felt good.  the kind of good that makes your heart happy and full.  i didn't dare pull out my camera as one said family member hates photos... and all of you who know me,  know i am a photo addict, so this is always hard.   i really like to document food, and people, and places, and holidays.
after a fun dinner we headed out to the parking lot. it was all over too soon,  but  eventually, everything ends.  time isn’t ours to own, and because sometimes the universe looks out for me, some random woman walking by offered to take a photo of all of us together.

                                                               it was my lucky day.
                          
                                             happy father's day T!  hope you had a great day.

love sent, xo

ugh...

this has been a rough week.  i am in such a funk.  just not feeling good about anything.  i am trying tho.
i mentioned this to hubby this morning and he said "hey,  today you woke up."  yes i did.  and i need to
be grateful.  which i am.  but it is not helping the funk. 

love sent, xo

letting go...

let go of the ways you thought life
would unfold; the holding of plans
or dreams or expectations – let it
all go. save your strength to swim
with the tide.

the choice to fight what is here before
you now will only result in struggle,
fear, and desperate attempts to flee
from the very energy you long for.

let go. let it all go and flow with the
grace that washes through your days
whether you receive it gently or
with all your quills raised to defend
against invaders.

take this on faith: the mind may never
find the explanations that it seeks, but
you will move forward nonetheless.

let go, and the wave’s crest will carry
you to unknown shores, beyond your
wildest dreams or destinations.

let it all go and find the place of rest and
peace, and certain transformation.

~ Danna Faulds

love sent, xo

linguine with roasted brocolli...

when i’m having an especially busy day, pasta is the one dinner i always reach for. it’s easy, quick and always on hand, and it’s something i can throw together in a moment’s notice.

 

 

ingredients

• 8 oz dry linguine pasta or fresh pasta which i prefer
• 12 oz broccoli florets (about 4 cups)
• 5 oz soft goat cheese
• ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 ½ tbsp olive oil, divided
• salt and pepper to taste

directions

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees. line a baking sheet with tin foil and place the broccoli florets on top. drizzle with a half tablespoon of olive oil and toss to coat. roast broccoli for about 25 minutes, tossing occasionally.
2. bring a large pot of water to a boil. add a big pinch of salt and the linguine. cook until pasta is al dente. drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
3. in a large skillet, heat up the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant and toasty. add the goat cheese and stir to melt, drizzling in some pasta water to create a smooth sauce. add the hot linguine and roasted broccoli. toss well, adding more pasta water if dish seems dry. season with salt and pepper and scatter pine nuts on top.

yield: 4 servings

          enjoy!

 

 

love sent, xo

love, love, love this...

little moments...

photography is the art of observation.
it has little to do with the things you see. and everything to do with how you see them.
it's kind of like life.  it's all in how you look at things. half full or half empty? 
i'm going with half full  -  always!

my weekend plans changed at the last minute,  but as long as my friend
is on the mend nothing else matters. 
move on to plan b.  the weather had been predicted to be mostly miserable,  and in the end,  it was mostly amazing.....

i try to pin point what it is about photography that grabs me. it’s gotten a hold of me so strong, i doubt it’ll ever let go.
i guess, for me, it’s the ability to see the world. really see it. slow down, soak it up, breathe it in.  see the details and find the beauty.

mostly, i want photography to always be the thing that causes me to shake my head a little. to be amazed.  to close my eyes and see images and angles and perspectives.  to see things. really, really,  see them. and appreciate them.  that’s how i always hope to see it.

i love rockport...  i can still taste this...

sunset on saturday night in hudson nh - spectacular.

strawberry season is underway...

preparing the pina colada jello shots... which were very well received...

the tart preparation..  

happy 30th stacey - love you.

the pig roast.... not sure i am embracing this... but these guys are great.

love

a friends car - i guess this is a big deal.. i am so not into cars,  but it's photo worthy - apparently ...

love this...

end to the weekend...   dinner on the deck...

hope you had a wonderful weekend as well.

love sent. xo

my love of picnic's

i totally love being outside and i find it really fun and romantic to plan a picnic.  go to the lake, the beach, a pond, a park,  heck,  even your own back yard will work.  it's not so much where you go it's really about what you pack in your picnic basket.

i fell in love with the images below and they have provided me with some great inspiration.

i am totally making this this weekend.

and     how fun would these be.


love sent, xo

thought for today...

summer hair

i am trying to embrace summer hair.    i want  to keep blow drying and styling products to a minimum..... for beach waves add several spritz's of fekkai frederic beach waves and let hair air dry.
you can buy it here

xo

scent...

you know the beautiful smell when you walk into william sonoma?  here's how to get it..

fill a medium pot about 2/3 of the way with water.  add 2 sliced lemons 3-4 rosemary sprigs
and 1-2 tsp of vanilla.  simmer on the stove to make your house smell amazing..

enjoy.

love sent, xo

today...

make every day more productive...

                                                                                                                      (adapted from living well)


i have a confession to make.

the list of things i want and need to do is always much longer than the list of things i actually accomplish.  i can’t do it all.  i wish i could.  i am constantly striving.  but at the end of the day, i’m usually just a girl who drops more balls than i catch. i’m okay with that.

 my new year’s resolution this year was to do less and enjoy more.  there are so many things i want to do that i have a hard time slowing down, cutting things out, and not burning myself out.

this year i’ve made a few conscious adjustments to the way i do things, and it seems to be helping.

i am by no means perfect.  much to my own dismay, my house is not always clean, my laundry tends to pile up, not every closet or cupboard is  organized,  i’ve given up hope of ever parking our car in the garage.

the eternal optimist in me keeps hoping that someday it will all come together.

until it does, here are my strategies for squeezing the most quality time out of every day:

1.  Set your priorities.

 take 10 minutes to write down your priorities and to examine who or what is important to you. keep this list in a place where you can look at it frequently.  the amount of time you spend on things should be somewhat relative to how important it is in your life. don’t waste time on things that don’t matter.

2.  Set the timer.

i have found that setting the timer is the best way to motivate myself to do things that i don’t want to do and the best way to limit my time wasters.

i like to have a clean house but  limiting myself to 20 min of cleaning time a day has made me realize that i can still function even if there are spots on the mirrors.  and more often than not, because i am racing against the clock, i get more speed cleaning done in that 20 min  than i would otherwise.

3.  Take time to regroup

i try to give myself 10-15 minutes each morning to drink a cup of coffee, sit down with my notebook and write down my to-do list.  likewise, i try to take a few minutes at the end of the day to figure out what my plan is for the next day.  knowing what is coming up, what i have to get done, and what i’d like to get done helps keep me focused.

4.  Set small weekly goals.

rather than make monthly goals, which I had always done in the past, set small weekly goals in 4 categories.  each week set one goal in the following areas:  work projects,  home improvement, organization, and family fun. 

5.  Use a notebook

there is something so satisfying about crossing completed items off your list.  or maybe that’s just me.  i use a checklist each day because it helps me stay focused in spite of the billion distractions– phone calls, emails, kids (even tho they aren't really kids)  errands, appointments.
.

6.  Have the hubby help or even the kids.
i am super lucky in this category.  my hubby loves to cook and he makes a mean dinner. he is also
willing to do most requested tasks and he has a more flexible schedule than i do.  so that really helps me out. also, my kids are grown which is the biggest time saver.

7.  Divide and conquer.

if you have small children at home, you know how hard it can be to accomplish anything while they are awake.  try to split your to-do list into things you can do with the kids  while they are awake and things you need to accomplish while they are sleeping.

8.  Wake up early or stay up late.

i am a morning person, so getting up at 5:30 am doesn’t bother me.  and to be perfectly honest, i love the peace and quiet and alone time i get at that time of day.  however,  i also stay up late usually until 11:30pm  so i do have to be careful on this end not to get over tired and cranky.

9.  Avoid television.

i don't really watch television.  and honestly, i don’t feel like i’m missing anything.  there are so many things that far outrank television on my priority list that it doesn’t seem like a sacrifice.

10.  Give yourself a break

luckily i have a great husband who not only helps out around the house, but helps remind me of our priorities no one can do it all.  it is just not possible.  so try to relax, do what you can, take a break when you need it, and don’t get so caught up in your to-do list that you forget to take each moment as it comes.

Life is short.

Moments are precious.

Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter.

love sent, xo

my heart is stolen...

this baby brings all of us so much joy.

love sent, xo

on repeat.... love pink