Lately

I signed up for three different online classes for the month of August and have been wondering how I will have enough time to devote to them plus stay active here. Along comes Susannah with the answer...

The August Break

Challenge accepted.

:: She Reads ::

Callings by Gregg Levoy and The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (audiobook)

:: She Listens ::

Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth featuring Emeli Sande

:: She Watches ::

Identity Theft 

:: She Creates ::

I worked in the backyard all weekend cleaning it up so I didn't have much time to create. I was able to make a few pages for my creative dream journal.

Have a great week!

Hugs,

Lately

:: She Reads ::

WomanCode by Alisa Vitti and The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

:: She Listens ::

Shake it Out by Florence + The Machine

:: She Creates ::

Working on Journal your Life prompts

Adding layers

:: She Loves ::

I'm heading to a wedding of dear friends today but before I go I wanted to let you know that I'll be hosting a very special giveaway here tomorrow. Make sure you stop by to enter!

Hugs,

Lately

I've been so busy working on projects in my backyard that I failed to post a Lately last weekend. We've had so much rain this holiday weekend that I was unable to work in the yard which gave me time to catch-up on some posts and some artsy endeavors. Here are a few pics during the torrential storms:

Have a great week!

:: She Reads ::

The Declaration of You by Michelle Ward and Jessica Swift, Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Melton (on audiobook), and Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein

:: She Listens ::

Cups by Anna Kendrick - I've been loving this song every since I watched Pitch Perfect

:: She Watches ::

Cloud Atlas, Oz the Great and Powerful, and The Walking Dead marathon on AMC

:: She Explores ::

Gratitude lists

The Declaration of You

Journal your Life

:: She Creates ::

Beachy-themed dreamcatchers

Big canvases

Little canvases

Sacred painting tools

and happy hands

:: She Loves ::

Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, this sweet statue from Karma Kreations, is a welcome addition to my home

Messages from he Universe

Trying new veggies. These are rainbow carrots

Testing yummy recipes. This is gluten-free pizza with spinach + tomatoes + baby bellas. I also made one with sweet potatoes

Hugs,

Lately

:: She Reads ::

Two Whole Cakes by Lesley Kinzel

An excerpt:

"Women in particular are prone to directing their anger at themselves rather than at the pair of jeans that fails to fit both their hips and waist at the same time, as though the jeans' expectations must necessarily prevail over the actual dimensions of the body you've had for your entire life. If the jeans don't fit, it must be your fault. You should change to fit them, because the jeans are in charge here. If you refuse - silly, stubborn person that you are - then you are relegating yourself to fashion struggles in perpetuity."

So true as we always turn the blame on ourselves for a garment failing to fit properly. "I'm so fat." "My hips are too wide." "I look like I'm pregnant with triplets." yadda, yadda, yadda.

:: She Listens ::

An oldie, Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

:: She Watches ::

Safe Haven - Loved the book and the movie!
Pitch Perfect - How come I haven't seen this movie until now? Loved it!

:: She Explores ::

June Full Moon & Solstice Celebration with Sage Goddess tonight

:: She Creates ::

Lovely journal pages for Journal your Life

:: She Loves ::

A photo walk on a (mostly) secluded beach (more pictures coming soon)

Hugs,

Lately

:: She Reads ::

Still reading Women Who Run with the Wolves + Feng Shui Your Life by Tisha Morris

:: She Listens ::

Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

:: She Watches ::

Warm Bodies - super cute! + this season of True Blood premieres tonight! 

:: She Explores ::

Summer Solstice 7 Journeys with Pixie Campbell

:: She Creates ::

This cutie at the local art center

Uniquity post for The Declaration of You Blog Lovin' Tour

Finished the turquoise + magenta dreamcatcher

:: She Loves ::

Savoring Mediterranean food + art journaling brain dump

New Moleskine's for Journal your Life

Prettied up my inspiration board area

Have a wonderful week!

Hugs,

The Declaration of You :: Week 2 :: Uniquity

The Declaration of You will be published by North Light Craft Books this summer, with readers getting all the permission they’ve craved to step passionately into their lives, discover how they and their gifts are unique and uncover what they are meant to do! This post is part of The Declaration of You’s Blog Lovin’ Tour, which I’m thrilled to participate in alongside over 100 other creative bloggers. Learn more – and join us! – by clicking here.

Ever since I was a small child and into adulthood I've felt like I was different from others. You could say I was a black sheep, lone ranger, or even an ugly duckling. It's only been the last couple years that I've stepped into my uniqueness and acknowledged my true self.

You see, all this time I thought there was something wrong with being unique. Doesn't everyone want to fit in? Not anymore. I would much rather claim my uniqueness than to fit into some mold. I don't have to be a copy of someone else when my own true self can shine brighter than a carbon copy.

In the story of the ugly duckling, the poor sweet duckling was an outcast and did not fit in with his family or community. It was when he later discovered that he was actually a swan that it all made sense. Of course he couldn't waddle like a duck or swim like a duck or look like a duck because he was not a duck! As a swan, he could be his amazingly awesome self, his true self, and everything made sense.

The moral of this story is: Why try to fit in as a duck when you were meant to stand out as a swan?

Be the swan.

Be your beautiful, marvelous, and unique self.

I can’t wait to be a part of The Declaration of You’s Facebook party this Friday at 9-9:30a PST/11-11:30a CST/12-12:30p EST. We’ll be chatting in real time about Uniquity over at facebook.com/TheDeclarationOfYou. Hope you can join us!

Hugs,