three things i am loving

1. beach basics from alternative apparel (30% off today if you "like" them on facebook plus free shipping.) i want this...

2. perfect beach bag from asos (my new favorite site).

3. totally rad grouping of staghorn ferns spotted in sunset.

dreamin'

dreaming this morning about waking up here...

i've started the last two mornings with prayers and coffee on the back porch and this book recommended to me by the adorable liz. i'm really enjoying it.

my mind has been dreaming of a get away.

going anywhere fun for memorial day? spill it.

rest

when it comes to taking it easy... i suck at it. honestly, resting at all is just not my forte. my brain is constantly going a million miles an hour. however, lately i've been more and more aware of how fleeting our time is on this earth and how fast matilda is growing up. look how big she looks lying down with sam! be still my heart. my attention keeps perking up at the idea of rest. in fact, the sermon on sunday focused on the topic of sabbatical. we are called to take a mini sabbatical every day with sunday being the sabbath (1. a day of religious observance and abstinence from work).

recently i watched a TED talk with one of my favorite yogis eoin finn on hammock enlightment. you should have a listen too. eoin discusses the importance of having nature and quiet be a part of each day. quiet contemplation to hear what your heart is saying.

it is so easy to get caught up in busyness. sometimes i feel so overwhelmed by everything that i need to do, but God has been restoring me in my quiet times. i've almost finished a whole book. i know.

encouragement

photo.

while i sew i often try to find something to watch or listen to, you know to keep me company. the other day i was listening to this sermon on encouragement. part of the message was about a study that was done that found that for every word of encouragement we receive, there are 6 criticisms. ouch, right? i'm guilty of thinking nice things about people and not always expressing them. that's gonna change. the speaker went on to talk about how "refreshing others" will in turn leave you refreshed. those who continually build others up will in turn be built up.
so, all this to say don't hold back.

summer reading

row 1: uprising, the four agreements, bittersweet, crazy love

row 2: cold tangerines, the power of a praying parent, the book of awakening, fearless

row 3: the traveler's gift, force of nature, taste and see, the power of now

i took a little facebook poll yesterday to get some advice on inspirational reading. i've been feeling a bit challenged lately in my faith, i've also been feeling pretty numb and tired from all sorts of different life circumstances. i asked my friends for their picks for best uplifting books and/or devotionals. the response was really great and i got a wonderful variety of books to choose from. the friends i heard from are all interesting and diverse (even some guys chimed in). i wanted to pass along this little collection in hopes that you too may benefit from some inspiration. i'm really excited to check out some of these authors i am unfamiliar with. happy reading!

back from the woods

we returned home sunday from a weekend spent in one of my favorite places in the world: heflin. we left straight after work on friday and left our stressful lives behind. the weight of life is instantly lifted when you open up the gate to my grandparent's property and head down the gravel driveway to their beautiful home.

there is nothing like it.

we were greeted to a warm, yummy home cooked meal (even though grammy wasn't feeling all that well) and after we filled our bellies and chatted about our days we headed to bed. no noise but the sounds of the wind and the animals. amazing.

some highlights of our weekend included:

matilda's obsession with her new binoculars. see here.

catching the amtrack train within seconds of its arrival much to the delight of everyone.

dinner at garfrerick's cafe. absolutely delicious organic fare and incredible dessert (strawberry white chocolate bread pudding anyone?). a must if you're in oxford.

watching one of lynndaddy's favorite movies: the view from pompey's head.

getting to take in all of the beauty of the weekend and much needed family time.

ok, i need a few things... suggestions on how to introduce prayer to your child (warning: "now i lay me down to sleep" freaked me out as a kid) and book recommendations. i would love something inspirational. thank you in advance!

also, need to make some revisions. set myself up for failure. clearly walking guinness everyday is not going to happen (read: it's rainy and cold and you can't make me).

ok, so far...

from left, clockwise: anthropologie, bodyzen, source unknown

i have completed 150 jumping jacks on day 1, 200 on day 2 (with a brief pause in between 100 & 101), and today i'll try again for 200 straight. i hate jumping jacks. reminds me of this.

also, today i checked #13 off my new list of fitness challenges (day before friday the 13th muhaha). it was HOT and i did it in skinny jeans (wth) and at the end matilda said, "hooray, we did it!" my little cheerleader.

i've also taken guinness for a walk every day (he's passed out right now) and i'll do yoga tonight! woohoo.

i'm busy today getting ready to ship out some orders and preparing for our weekend of celebrating (happy birthday to my grammy!).

hope you all have a marvelous weekend (a day early)!

ps and my abs... they don't feel nothin' like steel.

workin' on my fitness

found here

i have so many inspiring people in my life and right now i'm feeling inspired by my friend jodi who just started a personal fitness challenge (7 days straight of bikram anyone?), while i may not be quite as adventurous with my goals (if i'm not sitting around at night SCORE) i'm looking forward to kicking my own wellyouknow.

for starters i've been using my fitness pal thanks to claire and lindsey's glowing reviews. i love that the food database has everything in it. earth balance soy free butter. check. ezekial sprouted grain english muffin. check. it also keeps track of how much water i'm drinking, which makes me want to drink more!

so, i feel like i have a good handle on food, but it's time to step up my game in the exercise department. brisk walk with guinness? done. yoga more than once a week? done.

so here are 15 fitness goals (baby steps):

1. go to the wanderlust festival at piedmont park
2. go to yoga after dark with some friends
3. walk guinness every day for one month
4. run around at the park with matilda twice a week for two months
5. lift weights three times a week
6. hike kennesaw mountain once a week for a month
7. yoga 2-3 times a week
8. wake up early and take a be efficient class
9. touch my toes (don't laugh at me)
10. perfect my downward dog
11. hold a backbend for one minute
12. run a 5k
13. walk to the farmers market and back
14. 200 jumping jacks a day for 5 days straight
15. overcome fear of running

if and only if i complete all 15 i will buy myself something new.

my mother's day

i think we were looking at squirrels?

i had such an amazing mother's day. i woke up to lots of hugs and kisses and a "valentine" made by sam and matilda. it was such a hilarious card. matilda drew all over it and then sam drew corresponding thought bubbles like, "i love our snuggle time," "you're the best story teller," and "%*&^$#." HA. we've been dealing with expletives around here.

rachel and i took mama out for brunch to one of our favorite places: sun in my belly. the weather was perfect and so was the company. my omelette was divine!

we celebrated grammy's birthday and all of the mothers over a big spread, including my favorite cake: lemon cheese.

then matilda and i took a walk while sam tidied up the garden.

perfect day.

would love to hear how you spent yours...

may 3rd

you can read more details about the dress here.

i realize that today is the fourth, but this was the third in a nutshell. matilda is obsessed with climbing in baskets. she loves the towel basket in our bathroom (as seen here) she love the laundry basket, the toy basket in her room. basically if it resembles a basket... she's in it.

my heart was heavy on may 3rd. i spent moments throughout the day offering up prayers for some really wonderful people going through something that no one should have to. their baby was airlifted to a hospital shortly after he was born with complications. i have not heard if there has been an update because i'm too worried to check. breaks my heart. it also makes me stop and take in how incredibly blessed we are to have a healthy child. it's not a given, but a true deep blessing. thank you God.

i've also felt so strangely about all of the news about the death of one of the biggest enemies that i think we've ever faced as a country. the verminous hatred and dancing in the streets just reminds me of how bad that looks when we see other countries celebrating deaths of americans. hate does not overcome hate.

deep thoughts tonight.

in other news i've been working hard at getting tiny fete up and running. i feel really excited about a fresh start. it feels good. i still have so much to do and told everyone a bit on the early side (hello no business cards), but that's how i roll...

introducing

introducing tiny fete! the name, tiny fete (a little party), really encapsulates the spirit that i try and pour in to these little creations. i am so excited to have a spot where i can share everything i'm making. i hope that you all like it and that you'll stop by from time to time...

oh and tiny fete is on facebook too!

as always thank you for your love and support. xo.

-lesley