2009, a review and a goodbye

dear 2009,

i'm sitting here thinking about you. about all the things you gifted me this year, all the things learned, celebrated, cherished. i think this year was about me stumbling a little bit, trying to hold on to my creative fire while juggling the many directions. it was about learning to let go, asking for help, and getting the foundation of my business more secure. it was about riding the wave of my creative life. it was about adjusting to a new city, a new life outside of our old life in california, and trying to find my way in that new city and new life. it was about celebrating some pretty amazing successes and traveling adventures. it was about the consistent thread of love, friendship, and family that held me together along the way. and most recently it has been about taming the non-stop brain activity of creative energy, questions, options, and ideas. through it all, there was so much gratitude inside your days and weeks. you took good care of me and my family and i'm especially thankful to be entering 2010 with our health and full, joyous hearts. here, dear 2009, are your highlights:

*you started off a little rocky with an eight week battle against a nasty upper respiratory infection. remember that? i was down for the count, but it was during those weeks that i puttered around our new home and decorated and rested and rested some more. it was also a time when we were getting familiar with seattle, our new city. it's hard to believe we've lived here one whole year already.

*my first ever gift line debuted in january at the atlanta gift market. to be honest, i had no idea what to expect. in fact, i wasn't in atlanta at the time and i didn't even think it was that big of a deal. but i was wrong. it was a very big deal (you brought a lot of unexpected surprises, 2009) and one that has changed my life. next week, my new 2010 line debuts in atlanta and i'm happy to report that i'll be there this time!

(photo by jen lee)

* there was a very meaningful and spontaneous trip to nyc with a couple of girlfriends. i will forever remember that trip as one of the best of my life. i'll see you again, nyc, in may!

* there was one very honest podcast about my heart and creativity (just listened to this again for the first time since feb 09 and i'm so happy to hear myself reflect on my creative journey - everything i said is still so true esp the part about the relationship between inspiration and balance. and allison had so many good thoughts - loved that conversation!)

* created my first collaborative painting with one of my bffs - so fun! also, there were more collaborative paintings and creating with others as well as discovering the beauty of reworking older paintings.

* taught at an endearing creative retreat in utah and another one in oregon where i met some pretty remarkable students.

* had a few lost soul moments while adjusting to a new city and some tender pieces around overwhelm , recurring overwhelm, and meltdowns - all a part of the process.

* embraced the idea of pretending until we're not pretending anymore.

* stood my ground on what is and is not okay.

* really enjoyed having my parents out to seattle (twice). thank you, so much, for them. really loved painting with my mom.

* went to kansas where my eyes were opened W-I-D-E to possibility.

* bought a green couch which, you know, i've always wanted to do :)

* had to have a stranger rescue me when i couldn't get the orange crush up a steep seattle hill. also, accidentally pulled so hard on its emergency brake during a two week summer road trip that it came out completely. made art inside the crush during that same road trip. good times, good times.

* hired a creative assistant who not only saves my ass just about every week but who got me organized on so many fronts, that i could hug her every day. also hired a business accountant and financial planner - feeling a bit grown up about those last two.

* did a ton of exploring of restaurants in seattle with john. a ton. discovered fruity rum drinks.

* finally got on the twitter and facebook train. don't tell facebook, but i like twitter more.

* did my first keynote - i prepared so much for it and felt totally in my skin, loving the whole experience. since then, i've learned that pubic speaking without being fully prepared is not so fun (at all).

* felt the warmth and brightness of being alive.

* rode a horse in canada and went sailing (first time ever) in hawaii - all in the same month.

* bought my first pair of spanx (love them!) and got a pixie haircut.

* read all of the twilight books - fave obsession of 2009, for sure.

* wrote three articles about friendship for somerset life magazine - so delighted as it's one of my fave mags. got some pretty amazing press (thank you!)

* gasped in disbelief when i saw the house that love built.

* delighted in being back in the northwest for autumn.

* decided i really, really want children. i decided this just before journeying through a deeply hard personal story. however hard that personal story was, the timing of it was magical, fateful and important to my commitment to wanting children. this was huge for me in 2009.

* launched a brand new website and eshop that i love - so much work, but so worth it.

* my first ever calendars and datebooks debuted (seriously a dream come true) as well as necklaces and other gift items.

* got lovebombed and smothered in the most fun i had all year.

* had a big aha moment.

* had many many friends and family visit us in our seattle home including bff gina. also went to san fran a couple of times to see friends and get some sunshine.

* totally geeked out over our apartment therapy write up.

* created artwork that made my heart expand.

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it was, hands down, a very rich and full year. i'm so thankful. before sending you off into memory, i wanted to answer a couple of more questions that andrea scher introduced me to:

1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2009? (What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)

in 2009 i am proud of my creative business successes and for continuing to make brave choices to go for my creative dreams. i'm proud of the work i created - artwork, articles, product ideas, new website, keynotes, and more. i'm proud of owning my joys, of making good decisions, of following my heart. i'm proud of giving myself permission to be 100% whole and human - both tender and strong, brave in sadness, brave in love - during the ups and downs of my journey this year. i'm proud of myself for expanding the horizon for what is possible in my life and for making strides toward those new possibilities even when it's not obvious to anyone else. i'm proud of creating a new home in seattle that feels nurturing and creative. i'm proud of handling all the stress and overwhelm that comes with running my own business while adjusting to a new city. i'm proud of creating downtime in my life through travel and time off with my friends and family. most of all, i'm proud of me and john, of how we've supported one another all of these years and how we've traveled together, heart to heart, through some pretty crazy years of chasing our dreams. i'm proud of keeping the perspective of love and gratitude in the forefront of my life this year.

my biggest challenge in 2009 was my biggest challenge in 2008: self care and balance. i struggled on an off with maintaining any kind of sustained self care, nurture, and balance - something that is always on my mind. at times (like recently), i got swallowed up by my work when i wasn't paying attention. i struggled with structuring my days so that i went to bed feeling rested and calm. i mistreated my physical body - not enough exercise and too many sweets (gained over 10 pounds this year).

2. What is there to grieve about 2009? (What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)

i forgive myself for not being able to stick to any sort of routine, for not being able to create the experience i most needed (balance). i forgive myself for the shame that arrived in moments when i felt like i wasn't being the best daughter, friend, or wife because i chose work over connection. i forgive myself for all those times when i made a decision out of fear rather than faith. i forgive myself for not making more of an effort to meet new friends in seattle, for not getting out and about more into the world on a daily basis.

3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete? Okay, the next step is to say out loud, "I declare 2009 complete!" How do you feel? If you don't feel quite right, there might be one more thing to say...

2009, you were a huge year for me. not only were some of my absolute wildest dreams born, but you taught me how delicate my heart can be, something i needed to feel and to see. you taught me what i'm capable of, what i can do when my intentions remain steady and soulful. you were crazy full of love, adventure, strength, creative growth, mistakes, doubt, fun, heartbreak, and tenderness of the best kind.

i declare you, 2009, over! done! complete!

2010 is my year of nurture and light!!!

best of 2009 challenge, a follow up

(backgrounds - love making these)

i totally dropped the ball on gwen's best of 2009 challenge, but thought i'd pick it back up! here we go:

best challenge: the one i've been talking about lately. the one about not getting swallowed up by one dimension of my life. the one about nurturing all parts of my life that speak to me, and not just one.

best album: hands down, blind pilot

best place: my tub, late at night. it's where i do all my best thinking. i've been keeping a pen and paper by the tub, but i just learned about shower/tub crayons. i'm all over that.

best new food: my bff came to town a few months ago and made me cooking light's version of verde enchiladas and i've been hooked on them ever since. seriously good stuff.

best change to our home: well, we moved into this place exactly one year ago. i love what we did to the place, but the best change was giving up our old red couch for a new green one - felt adventurous and so us.

best tea: tazo's wild sweet orange and my old standby, republic's british breakfast (with milk + sugar)

best word or phrase: 2009 was eye opening and joyous.

other favorite words/phrases: hawt (as in hot), totes (as in totally), omg (as in omg), big love, brave.

fave new person: elyse, my studio assistant. she's got me all organized. and she's funny, too.

favorite project: though it was a totally pain in the rear at times, my fave project was launching a new website and online shop. i just love it.

more best of 2009 coming up!

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ps - the shop has been empty for a bit, but i just received a new shipment of wall canvases (19 images) and bookmarks (8 different designs). they are up in the shop now!

sponsor spotlight: mondo beyondo

What happens when you give an unspoken wish a place to become a dream come true? How do you gather the courage required to help a new found dream soar? Join seasoned dreamers Andrea Scher and Jen Lemen to explore Mondo Beyondo--the powerful point of view that transforms our deepest dreams into practical realities. Next online class start January 11th - registration details here.

Please contact me at kellyraeroberts [at] gmail [dot] com if you are interested in becoming a sponsor.

on creating life

so, i've done a couple of things these last couple of days in the pursuit of a life outside of work. first, and most importantly, i had the sweetest conversation with john - one where we recommitted ourselves to ourselves and to each other. we had a little ritual/ceremony and by the end, i felt like a new woman ready to take better care of my whole self while walking toe-to-toe with him. we reminded one another of the last year of our lives - how we've had such big changes and how we've navigated those shifts together. we gave ourselves permission to learn, to evolve, and to grow. and we came up with a specific plan to shake up our lives a bit with more fun and energy. we're very good at balancing one another's soul pieces, and keeping track of how the other is doing. when one of us is off kilter, we mend together. it's just how we've always been. and i'm incredibly grateful for this level of understanding and emotional support.

the other thing i did was cook the most delicious pasta e fagioli. and it was good and healthy and fast. and oddly, i felt so proud. you have no idea - i mean it when i say i don't know how to cook. this could be the start of something... who knows?

i'm learning that it's not so much about working too much (it's more of a day structuring issue.), or taking time off, or breaks. it's about combining/restructuring work with nurture. i can do that. i really can. and can i just say thank you for hanging in there with me on this? my gremlins came up after i posted that post (and after i received a few worried emails). i don't want to appear sad or depressed. i'm just a talker. i talk and hash and analyze and discern just about everything - it's how i gauge my intention in my life, what i'm celebrating, and what i'm working on. that, and i've always wanted to be honest here. i want to read back on this blog years from now and know that i represented all the pieces of my life. and life, for me, is ebb and flow. especially these last couple of years as life has truly lifted for me in so many ways. it's why, i suppose, this blog is called taking flight into art, love, and life.

also, today. we went to portland for an all day secret mission. by the afternoon, it was snowing. i'm talking huge sticky snowflakes out of nowhere. pure heaven, that was. and quite an adventure. the secret mission is still a secret :)

one more thing:

happy birthday, mom! i count my lucky stars everyday that i got you. can't wait to see you soon (i'm a little homesick, i think). xxxoooo!!!!!

the truth about stopping.

so, it turns out that i have a hard time stopping. without work and ideas and passion taking up my brainwaves, i'm not sure what to do with myself. i know, i know. so sad! it sort of snuck up on me, this seemingly one dimensional life. i'm learning the hard lesson of what i'm left with when that one dimension (work) takes a break for awhile. and what i'm left with is a mixture of confusion, a little bit of sadness, and not much of a life! i can see now how workaholics become workaholics and how on the other side of that story are other neglected stories (self, family, balance, etc) that eventually succumb. i don't want that for myself. i don't want the sadness, or the succumbing of my other stories, or the confusion.

i suppose we all get stuck in one dimensions every now and again (our kids, work, food, and on and on) while the other pieces of ourselves wait for us to come around again. and i can see now, how over the last many months, i got myself here in this rut. it's so easy to neglect various aspects of our lives when the loudest pieces get first dibbs. for me, my loudest piece is my work. it's what excites me, what reaches out for me, what i most love to do. but, on the other hand, it's pretty bossy and insistent and swallows me whole. it also doesn't respect boundaries, and i'm pretty sure it struggles with co-dependency issues :)

so yep, christmas break....i can't say it was the most joyous of breaks. nor can i say that there was a ton of celebrating. but it was pretty remarkable and an ass kicker in ways that i needed it to be. more than ever (and yes, like a recovering addict, i must sound like a broken record about this), i'm committed. yes! committed to getting more of a life. doing new things (salsa lessons!). meeting new people. learning new skills (bought three cookbooks!). making new art. keeping track of my time online. writing more gratitude lists. writing more love notes. reading more books. reading more magazines (the current issue of oprah was the best magazine i've ever read. cover to cover, it helped me so much). making more gifts. getting outside more, even in the rain. going to concerts. doing less, while doing more.

you know, life. i want more of it. because in the end, having a life is what makes me better at what i do. it also inspires what i do. and how i do it. so, that's the challenge, peeps. more life in 2010. it's a journey i want to take. a journey i'm ready to take.

thank you + signing off....

(photo by denise andrade. collage by me)

i'm feeling grateful over here. i've had such great success selling in my etsy shop these last three years that i was worried how my sales would go this holiday season without etsy to buoy me with its daily traffic/momentum/promotion. it was a risk to pull my items (especially my prints) off etsy and open up my own independent online shop - i was curious (and a teeny afraid) if it would work. with a bit of rearranging of efforts, it's totally worked. turns out, it's YOU who buoy me, not etsy. thanks for that :)

seriously, thank you so much for all the support this year. you are supporting the dreams of one hard working girl who is beyond thankful and aware. and i just want to say that i deeply love this space of writing and reflection and how the ebb and flow of what's shared here is truly indicative of the ebb and flow of inspiration, of life's seasons. i adore this online community to pieces. thank you, thank you.....

i'm going to take a bit of a blog break for a week or so. as things simmer down on the holiday sales front, i'm longing to recharge, celebrate, relax, and spend some time with my man snuggling up on the couch with movies and popcorn. it's the season!

wishing you all eons of holiday love...

xoxo,

kelly rae

ps- don't worry, shop will stay open + we're still shipping everyday :)

things i'm digging lately

*that my husband is flexible and doesn't mind dirty water and paintbrushes in the kitchen, in the dining room, and everywhere else

*totally digging this ny times article about the ups + downs of making a living at art + crafts. i related to just about every single sentence in this article esp the parts about the post office, the spreading of the business into every room of the house, the long hours, and the loving every minute of it.

*speaking of business, we're dreaming up new ideas of 2011 (i know, so far away), but i'm totally digging the R + D process :)

*really loving this photo of me and mati taken last week by the talented susannah conway. love, love, love it!

*digging the So You Think You Can Dance shows - so glad Russell won!

*loving courtney's post about finding the creative spark - and the first comment/commenter made me chuckle because it's so true!

*loving all the last minute orders coming in from men - lovely + perfect.

*digging that jenny doh is starting what will be an ART SAVES movement. i'm so inspired by her right now (watch the whole video...you won't be sorry) and our shared love of social work (she was/is a social worker, too!) and the power of art.

*that one of my biggest inspirations, rachel ashwell, now has a blog! (thank you, sfgirlbybay, for that information!)

*digging that my sister is totally on fire - she's found her passion and making the dream come true. it's seriously amazing to watch and reminds me of those early days when i thought i was going to explode with possibility.

*twitter - i think i'm getting the hang of it over there. the trick is not to spend hours reading all the tweets and just tweet, tweet, your heart out. it's sort of fun.

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ps-for you last minute shoppers: we're shipping out everyday and we're shipping everything PRIORITY MAIL (2-3 days). i've got just a couple wall canvases and bookmarks (perfect for book clubbers) left, but plenty of necklaces and matted/signed prints! woohoooo - yay for holiday gift giving :)

bella and ben

bella is an underthetable kind of dog. she loves it under there. if she's not there, then she's either on the green couch:

or sprawled out on our bed:

she's been spoiled in this way for over 10 years. she's a part of our family and we love every inch of her and her ginormous airplane ears. she's also good with kids. so much so, that when ben was here this past weekend, he was totally smitten with her. ben, we hear, isn't a fan of all dogs, but bella charmed him so much so that within 24 hours he was pretending he was bella by imitating her every single move, down to paw positioning:

seriously, this is the funniest photo i've seen in years, maybe ever. it keeps making me chuckle out loud. over and over. i had to share.....thank you andrea, for your dear sweet ben and for capturing this photo!

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ps-for you last minute shoppers: we're shipping out everyday and we're shipping everything PRIORITY MAIL (2-3 days). i've got just a couple wall canvases and bookmarks (perfect for book clubbers) left, but plenty of necklaces and matted/signed prints! woohoooo - yay for holiday gift giving :)

glimpses + holiday decor

we were gifted a new tree this year (thank you so much, youknowwho) - and we LOVE it. because it's new to us, we still have to perfect how to dress it up with garland and such but i'm kind of loving its whimsical imperfectness for its first year. it desperately needs some gifts underneath it, but we're getting there.

although i tend to be a bit more emotional and tender this time of year (who isn't, right?), it's still one of my favorite seasons. i love finding just the right gifts, wrapping them, making cards, and sending cheer out into the world. and i like getting out into the thick of the hustle and bustle and witnessing the spirit of kindness. and john, well, he's all about making christmas cookies, christmas music, and the whole nine yards. it's so sweet.

totally loving our vintage ornaments on candlesticks - an idea i got from my mom. also loving our vintage ornaments mixed in with new birdie clips and new, though vintage inspired, tabletop trees. i just discovered birdie ornament clips this year and let me tell you, this might be the start of an obsession. like, really.

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in other news, andrea (+ family) was up for a visit last weekend. here's a hilarious photo of the two of us all bundled up on a very cold nite. my cheeks are so red because i'm laughing at how HUGE andrea looks in john's jacket. we were on our way here:

green lake, seattle - the nite of luminaria. andrea taught me how to take long exposure shots. and the result was the photo above. pretty cool!

here's another shot taken while experimenting with long exposures - that's the delightful tara weaver in the middle. i've got a great story about tara and how we met, but i'll save it (total magic, meant to be kind of story) for another post.

it's full-on winter over here. cold, rainy, dark by 4pm. i'm sinking into all the comforts of cozy days, television, movies, food, and all the indulgences that come with winter. my motivation for work is slipping a bit, but i'm just going with it. it's such a wild ride...

xoxo, more soon!

creative soul

(it reads "creative soul" on her hat - original sold, but matted/signed prints available here)

earlier this week, a dear sweet soul name Mariette sent me an email explaining why this post i wrote nearly 4 years ago was her favorite of my entire blog:

I can't say specifically what it is that I love about this post, but that it’s right at the beginning if your art journey. It seems like there is a lot of anticipation and excitement in this post. It’s almost like the beginning of a Christmas movie, where the entire city shuts down because of snow and you go in your car with Bella to pick up your husband.....There is also something about the photo at the end. It’s so simple and everyday, yet it’s magical. Looking outside from within. It inspires me!

Receiving this sweet email prompted me to head over to that old post and consider where I was in that time of my life. John and I were living in Portland - he was applying to graduate schools (hence the reference to rhode island). i had just started blogging a few months prior and had recently discovered the world of scrapbook stores, and mixed media art. i was busy experimenting with my newfound love and expression. i was working full time at a hospital as a medical ICU/cardiac social worker. i was obsessed with johnny cash. and my heart was nearly exploding with possibilities, like an entire new world was opening up with art. about 8 months after that post, we moved to CA for john's graduate school, i opened up an etsy shop, and committed to making a living with my art while still working part time as a medical social worker.

(script by ali edwards, photo by alex de souza)

so much has changed since i wrote that post so many years ago, but it touched me deeply to see that photo of our little tree in the reflection of the window - just an everyday snapshot, before i paid attention to taking better photos and editing them in photoshop. and it also occurred to me how much my writing has changed, how much i shared back then about the details of my everydays, how free i was. i see myself and my life in that post through tender lens - that version of myself was so open, and ready to receive. and energetic. and happy. and uncomplicated.

fast forward four years and here i am, living my wildest dreams, working crazy hours, sometimes overwhelmed (at times wishing i had a regular full time job with weekends off), but still blissed out that i'm actually able to do what i love, and still, more than ever, believing in the expansiveness of possibility.

(photos by alex de souza)

i almost can't believe what i wrote in that post 4 years ago:

sometimes it feels like i'm on the very edge of my own possibilities. it's feeling like my every thought, every heartbeat is screaming at me to take the leap of faith but i somehow hold back, just enough to keep my feet on the ground. it's a liberating and freeing feeling, but on the other hand, it's a bit frustrating. there's only so much i can do in a 24 hour period. and my dreams are so much bigger than 24 hours. i'm glad i've got a lifetime. but i still feel in a rush.

i'm so grateful Mariette sent me that email reminding me to take a peek at who i was 4 years ago. turns out, i would have written those very same exact words today. i still feel on the edge of my own possibilities. i still feel my heart insisting that i take leaps of faith. i still navigate when/how to hold back, and when to let loose. i'm still frustrated with the constraints of time. and i'm still thankful that i have my whole life to live my dreams and possibilities into real, true blue offerings.

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ps - if you are planning on ordering any gifts from the shop, please get your orders in asap so we can get your orders delivered in time for christmas. we're on the countdown! all originals are sold, but lots and lots of matted/signed prints are heading out the door....

hello, courage

(hello, courage --> original available here!)

do you ever feel completely tiny and lost inside the big huge world, both online and off? that's how i've been feeling lately. there are so many resources, people, exciting offerings, and inspiration out there that i've started to feel a bit swallowed up by the interchanging orbits of people and places.

when i was writing Taking Flight, i remember having several moments of panic: does what i have to say really matter? is any of this content good? who am i to stand tall and offer inspiration? i'd make the mistake of perusing the websites of accomplished artists and writers which only left me feeling defeated and small. it seemed everywhere i turned someone else was offering beautiful art, stories, instruction, books, and inspiration. how was i going to measure up? how could i make an impact without getting lost inside everything else that everybody else was offering? i learned early on in the creating and writing process to stay clear of the websites and blogs and books that triggered me - and it helped. tremendously. without having an endless measuring stick in my consciousness, i was happier, healthier, more productive, and way more authentic in my own voice. and i was able to write a book close to my heart and without feeling tiny. i learned to use my own voice, my own experiences, my own stories, and my own art. and that, turns out, was enough.

these days, as i'm heavy into writing and preparing my ecourses, i'm right back where i was in the early phases of writing my book. the gremlins have arrived. the over thinking, the over analyzing have arrived. and the being triggered by all the great people, material, and ecourses that are already out there has arrived. it all makes my head scream with jumble and doubt. so, i'm thick into the idea of repeating what worked when i was writing Taking Flight: stepping away from all the amazing blogs, websites, and books so that i can feel like what i'm offering , when i'm offering, and how i'm offering will be enough. otherwise, i'm paralyzed and can't seem to get anything done that feels like me, my voice, my vision.

so, that's where i'm at. this ecourse content is so meaty, it feels like i'm writing a book, not just in length but in importance to me. i want it to be good, valuable, and inspiring to my students, but i also want it designed so that it's a good fit for me, my work flow, and my life. it's going to be good. and it's been a pretty remarkable exercise in courage. hello, courage. thank you, for shaking up my life. you are good like that :)

on intention

(new print. for sale -->here. i also added this new one from the last post per your request!)

sometimes i can feel myself getting pulled in the wrong direction. it's that time of year for me when everything is rush, rush, rush, promote, create, ship, produce, sell, sell, and do it all fast. it can be hard to stay connected and true when all that is aflutter in business mode. on top of the usual craziness, my brain is on fire with so many new ideas that it wants to stay up all night and delight in thinking, strategizing, daydreaming.

one minute i'm a scattered mess. the next i'm self correcting and trying to stay grounded + true to my intentions. it's a whirlwind. today, as i drove myself to a much needed one hour massage, i called jen lemen and told her about my self correcting madness. "i need to slow down. step off the rat race. check my intentions," i said. she agreed - she knows how i can get into super productive/inspired modes only to see it lead to unhealthy imbalance. but the magic came no less than 10 minutes after that phone call when my massage therapist invited me to close my eyes and pick a random card from her hands. when i opened my eyes, i was holding a beautifully designed card that read intention in big scripted letters. on the other side of the card was a message inviting the idea of intention into our session together and into my life. wow.

seriously, this sort of thing happens to me all the time. call it coincidence. i call it spirit. magic. messages from the universe.

so yes, i'm trying very very hard over here to check in with myself, my body, my true. it's so important, especially at this time of year, to really reach our own hearts. for so many of us the holidays are a tender spot for our memories, our grief, our broken pieces. and i suppose it's an easy distraction to try and mend with too much movement, crazy schedules, and unrealistic goals. i have found myself on and off that train of distraction. it's a tricky balance. but i'm trying, really trying, to stay grounded in my heart. business is business. sales are sales. holiday craze is holiday craze. but life is all around me. and i don't want to miss out.

best of 2009: book, conference, article, and more

gwen bells's best of 2009 blog challenge continues!

best book: my bff gina sent all of the twilight books to me for my birthday and i'm sad/happy/shameless/embarrassed to say that i was truly smitten. i haven't been so involved in a book let alone a series of four in a long, long time.

best article/magazine: oprah. for sure. hands down. i'm always learning something, thinking deeper, evaluating, and laughing. i love that magazine. which reminds me, i've been meaning to declare my love for martha stewart. i have no idea where i've been all of these years, but her show has grabbed my attention and now i'm dvr-ing it and loving it!

best night out: february. nyc. me, andrea, jen lee, jen lemen. korean food. four hours of scandalous girl talk followed by a couple of puffs on a clove cigarrette on a dirty nyc street corner. that's as naughty as i get. and it was such fun.

best workshop/conference: DEMDACO national sales meeting. i'm still reeling from that experience. it shook up my life in ways that still feel vital and important to my path. i'm so grateful...even with the slightly terrifying aspects of what it means to chase a dream. it was an awakening for me. and i needed it.

best blog find of the year: decor8 is my favorite over and over again. and i recently discovered the flickr blog with i looovvveee.

moment of peace: they always arrive when i recognize true love's impact on my life.

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shop/gift spotlight: necklaces! i do love these. lately, i've been replacing the ball chain with pretty velvet ribbon. it changes the whole look. available here :)

more soon!