Giveaway #5

Renea of Renea Hanna Designs is giving away two of her handmade items.  These gorgeous white feather earrings and a pair of paper flower hairclips of your choice from her shop.

Ways to enter:

(please only ONE entry per person, just list each way you are entering)

follow Renea's facebook

post this giveaway on twitter & facebook

blog about this giveaway

go to Renea's shop and tell me your favorite item

PEACE,

Laura

Giveaway #4

 Laurali of Paisley Maze is giving away this adorable vintage trim necklace.

Ways to enter:

(please only ONE entry per person, just list each way you are entering)

follow Laurali's blog

post this giveaway on twitter & facebook

blog about this giveaway

go to Laurali's shop and tell me your favorite item

PEACE,

Laura

Giveaway #3

Amber from Hoot n Annie is giving this adorable hand crocheted apron that she made just for this giveaway.

Ways to enter:

(please only ONE entry per person, just list each way you are entering)

follow Amber's blog

post this giveaway on twitter & facebook

blog about this giveaway

go to Amber's shop and tell me your favorite item

PEACE,

Laura

Giveaway #2

Chelsea from Horse Feathers is giving away this amazing 3-stranded beaded bracelet.

Ways to enter:

(please only ONE entry per person, just list each way you are entering)

follow Chelsea's facebook

post this giveaway on twitter & facebook
blog about this giveaway
go to Chelsea's shop and tell me your favorite item

PEACE,

Laura

Giveaway #1

Tia from A Cup of T is giving away this precious handmade vintage fabric and lace embroidery hoop.

Ways to enter:

(please only ONE entry per person, just list each way you are entering)

follow Tia's blog

post this giveaway on twitter & facebook

blog about this giveaway

go to Tia's shop and tell me your favorite item

PEACE,

Laura

Because grocery shopping is a journey for us...

Today we had to break down and go to town to get some groceries.  Our poor fridge was getting very lonely.  It had been two weeks since we last went.  Since we were going to town and James had the day off, we went by to see my Nanna too.  I had the best moment, sitting in a rocker chair with her, with my head on her chest and she held me a rocked me.  It brought me right back to being a little girl and that comfort that only a grandmother can give you.  Gosh it was nice.  Just what I needed.  

We also stopped by Target to get some plastic boxes for our garage.  We have to start really organizing what was never unpacked and left in our garage so I can start thinking about bringing home things that are special to me from my parents home.  It will be a bittersweet process.  But we have a lot of work that needs to be done for preparation of this.  We are also trying to turn part of the garage into James jam/screenprinting room, and would like to actually include a sitting area for him and his friends.  So this is going to be tricky.  But we can do it!  And since we were at Target, we couldn't resist Starbuck's since its right inside.  I got a yummy raspberry vanilla iced latte (thanks to Elsie for introducing me), and James got a mocha frapp with coconut.  Is he not the most handsome man ever??? 

We came home, I made pesto chicken pasta and we watched Weird Science.  A pleasant day of things to keep up busy and distracted.  I think Im going to finish it off with a nice hot bath along with some yummy bath salt my bestie gave me.  I got three books (one suggested by one of my readers!) about dealing with losing both of your parents.  The one I was reading last night was talking about how important it is I take care of myself during these first weeks, as selfish as it may seem.  That there will be plenty of grieving throughout this process.  I had a really good cry on James shoulder before we fell asleep last night.  It hurt to cry, but it felt better once I did.  I actually haven't cried alot this last week.  I think Ive been more in a numb, almost denial state.  Im not sure.  I think about my dad every second of every day, no matter what Im doing.  But its like my body only allows me moments of overwhelming grief where I dont know what to do with myself.  The rest of the day, Im kind of just blank or lost, and just keep myself busy with things I have to do.  I have been reading and thinking alot in the mornings and evenings, so maybe that is helping me get through the rest of the day as far as processing it all.  Honestly, I really just dont know.  I cant believe its already been two weeks.  Life just keeps trucking along. 

On a completely different note, tomorrow I will be having 5 giveaways!  That's right, 5!!!  Keep checking back to enter them all!  I have some pretty generous sponsors this month!!! 

PEACE,

Laura

Pieces of home that make me smile...

Little random things around my house that have made me smile this week.  I have been reminding myself of these little things, as tiny as they may be, they are the little pieces that make me feel at home.  Most of my special feathers were ones that my mother had collected throughout her life, and many of them are very old.  They hold such a special place for me.  I dont remember where the little yellow one came from, but I think it is just precious.

This little birdie teacup is from Anthropologie.  We have two of them and the little saucers that go with them.  James and I bought these together towards the beginning of our relationship.  They are super special to both of us.  James is really cute about things like this.  They are equally special to him.  About once a year we go to Anthropologie to pick out something special together.  Usually its a pair of something that matches. 

This amazing print was on my birthday wishlist, and my aunt lisa (my mom's sister) surprised me with it!  I cant wait to find the perfect frame for it.  The artist is amazing.  Im. so. in. love.

And this adorable print was gifted to me from the lovlies at Ruche.  You can find it in their shop here.  It was so sweet of them to send this to me during my time of sadness.  They are such a special company, not just pretty close, but people full of heart.

And Im so excited to have this book in my hands.  The long awaited FPOE (female photographers of etsy) book, Still, was published and released recently.  This is their second edition, and I am soooo honored to have two photographs published in it.  It is a large collection of very talented photographers throughout etsy.  The theme of this book is so lovely and calming.  At first I was bummed I was never going to see it in person b/c its quite expensive, but my other aunt (not a blood aunt but might as well be b/c she is so amazing to me), Karen, surprised me with it!  It is so so pretty.  If you want a beautiful book to grace your coffee table, look no further.  You can find different editions here, soft and hardcover.

Bella has decided lately that she loves this spot.  She gets up here and just stares out the window, its quite precious.  She has been quite the lap kitty lately, which makes me happy. 

And I must say, the rainbows I spoke of in my earlier post, they used to only come every so often, now they are here every day filling up my whole house.  It is amazing.

PEACE,

Laura

Midnight in paris...

Last night I went on my date with my bestie, Shelley, to the Bijou, and we watched Midnight In Paris.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I didnt know anything about the movie going into it except who the main two characters were, who I both adore.  Anyone who fancies art and literary history as well as the roaring twenties, you must go see it!  And Owen Wilson is just adorable and funny as always.  Along with the movie, I had a greek pizza and a shiner.  Perfect night, and I couldnt thank my sweet friend enough for taking me out!

What I wore:

my favorite earrings from Lost Boys and Lovers

my favorite 4 bracelets from Flourish

a feather bottle necklace from Roots and Feathers that I kept

two tank tops from Forever 21

skinny jeans from Target

thrifted mocs

James helped me download a few more camera apps for my phone, so I had fun playing around with the effects.  Im pretty much in love.

And when James got home from work yesterday, he laid on the floor with Violet for some snuggles and it was just so precious.  She usually gets too excited when you lay down with her and gets up, but she just laid with him and rubbed her head on him, it was darling.  She does it all the time with me, but she is a momma's girl :)  So it made James really happy!

Todays agenda:  fill etsy orders.  clean house.  take care of some business at the bank.  order a few shirts for skyline fever.  organize my jewelry station.  put together blog giveaways.  have a friend over this evening.

This should keep me pretty busy.  Right now, all I want to do is fill my day up with things I must do, and keep my mind off of my emotional life as much as possible.  Its almost an impossible task, but it helps.

PEACE,

Laura

Lots of new pretties...

Throughout the week I have been listing lots of adorable little goodies in the shop.  I had one day that I just got really busy and made a bunch of new jewelry, and it was very healing to do so.  Most of them are very simple designs, but they are darling.  I still have a few more to post also.  Nanna, now you can see all of the stuff I made!

Tonite my bestie is taking me to the movies.  Im so happy she invited me out, it will be so nice to just get away for a while and spend some time with her, just us.  We havent had a chance to do that yet.  And we just dont often enough period and Im determined to make that change.  We are going to a theater where we can drink a beer, eat a meal and watch a movie at the same time.  I love it.  It was my parents favorite theater to go to as well. 

PEACE,

Laura

Meet the sponsors...

Take a moment to visit each of these lovely ladies through their buttons on the sidebar.  They are in order of appearance.  I will be having a day of giveaways soon from many of these girls!  Some really cute stuff you wont want to miss out on.

 PEACE,

Laura

Better late than never...

Serentiy, Courage, Wisdom...

The rollercoaster of emotions this week has been intense.  But in the midst of it all, Ive tried to keep capturing some good moments.  James aunt is a part of a quilting group who made me this beautiful prayer quilt.  It was so very sweet and Ive been cuddling with it while I sleep every night. 

I got to see Isabel do her horse therapy.  She loves her horse Daisy, its so precious.  And Xavier got to ride for a bit too.  I cant tell you how much I love these kids (my besties kids)... and the image of the coca cola chair was a complete accident, and I love how it came out!

Shelley also had a bbq this weekend.  Her twin was down from Cali and they had their 10 year high school reunion.  So it was our first real outing this week.  I even wore a dress.  It felt nice to pamper myself a bit. And I got to hold a baby for about 20 minutes which was healing.

And my dad has been throwing rainbows all over my house.  One of the gifts he gave me several years ago was a big beaded crystal that I hang in my window and when the sun hits it, it throws rainbows all over my whole house.  I see how fitting it is now b/c my dad loved bright colors like this.  He was an old hippy who was very much into tie dye colors and psychadelic images, so rainbows are very fitting I think.

And I was passing through my hallway today and looked at a painting I did a long time ago and I understood it all over again.  It says 'the day her world stopped still, she had no words left to dream'.  It is one of my favorite collages Ive made. 

Im praying to feel normal again.  Although I have a feeling its going to be a while before that happens.  I have waves of sadness, anger, peacefulness, blankness, awkwardness and normalness in constant rotation.  I wish I could press a fast forward button, but I suppose that wouldnt be healthy.  I have to face it all, as it comes my way.  There is no running away.  And I will get through this.  One day at a time.

'God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.  The courage to change the things I can.  And the wisdom to now the difference.'

PEACE,

Laura

Two Feathers...

I found these two feathers several days ago.  I thought it was one when I picked it up, they were stuck together so perfectly.  Then I realized it was two, and now it seems so perfectly fitting.  

Today has been a really rough day.  I think the sheer reality of things may be setting in.  I go back and forth, one minute feeling peaceful and the next wanting to scream.  Today I put my headphones on and posted lots of new jewelry to etsy.  The noise and thinking it took kept my mind off of it for a while.  I know I have to deal with it and feel my feelings, but I just cant all day long.  

I have a feeling my blog may become a bit bi-polar for a while.  Luckily I have lots of sponsor posting to do for this last week, so I have plenty of good stuff to fill in the holes.  Just bare with me during this time.  I am blessed to have such a supportive following of readers.  I have had so many emails filled with love and tears. 
 

This coming week I have a few amazing giveaways Ill be posting, and I still have plenty of photos to share that were taken before all of this happened.  I have a feeling it may be a while before I feel like doing any sort of outfit post or things like that.  But I will also try to use this space to find some peace and normalcy outside of my inner pain.  Maybe I can utilize this as my happy space, something to look forward to each day.  I will try my best.

Thank you again for the love you have shown.

PEACE,

Laura

After the rain...

I want to say thank you to each and every one of you have left me sweet comments, sent me emails, etc... about my daddy.  I truly appreciate all of your words, thoughts, prayers and sorrows.  And thank you for those of you who shared your similar experiences, it helps to know I am not alone.  The experience I had yesterday that I shared in my last post has been carrying me through.  Yesterday we also went to get away and see some friends who live far in the country where we get no cell phone reception.  It was nice just to get away from it all for a while.  Even though I still couldnt stop thinking about it, it allowed me to not have to do anything or talk to anyone.  It can be quite exhausting talking to so many people over and over about what happened.  I think I could take a month away from it all.  But, that is not life, life goes on...  

I wore my daddy's shirt yesterday.  He has had this shirt since he was my age.  And the guy from this band happened to be one of the last musicians we saw together when we went to the folk festival last month.  My dad loved music so much.  Truly one of his biggest passions.  Im so glad I went to that show with him b/c I almost didnt. 

The sky on the way there was magnificent.  Big huge puffy white clouds.  The earth is so happy right now with the rain we got yesterday.  The birds are just out singing this morning.  

Today I am planning on getting some things done.  After all of the traffic in our house this past week, its pretty dirty.  Im going 'put my head down and my butt up' (as my nanna would say) and deep clean.  And also try to get a few work things done.  Things that are still lingering from last week.  I think it will be good for me to just get busy and do things.  And it always makes me feel good to have a clean house.  Here's to a fighting chance of normalcy today!

Peace,

Laura