Paint

Things have been quite around here for an amazing reason..... The reason that I haven't had time to blog is because I have been painting again. (!!!) I woke up one day recently and asked myself "Is this [painting] what you want to do with your life?" To which I rhetorically shouted "YES" (in all caps obviously) back to myself.  I couldn't stop thinking over the next couple day "If all I want is to be a painter then why am I not painting as much as humanly possible?" and since then I have been painting every possible chance I get. I sketch compositions before bed and have started see inspiration every where. Painting is amazing. I have been trying to discover what my painting style is as well as trying to discover what it is that I do with paint really well. I am going to be honest I don't know what makes a painter great I just know that the only time I truly feel like the person I was meant to be is when I am holding a pallet knife loaded with oil paint. 

7 on Sunday #22

[1. link] I think this Parks & Rec coloring book from Etsy is really funny and something I would totally love to be gifted.
[2. link] CAT bag! enough said. 

[3. link] I really adore this shirt and For some weird reason my brain thinks this tee would be perfect for long road trips. I really do love the PNW. 

[4. link] Perhaps my favorite thing to include in a Seven on Sunday post ever would be the Happier App. It is a breath of fresh air in today's toxic social networking society. Check out the web site for more info. 

[5. link] An NPR road map that lists what station you can find NPR on through out the entire United States. I love that is an actual paper map and not an app which is way more convenient on a road trip. I might be purchasing this item very soon. 

[6. link] Please check out Better World Books as soon as you can!!! It has cheap recycled books and free shipping. When I say cheap I mean like 3.99 for popular novels. This website will be getting a lot of my pay check.

[7. link] I have wanted a PBS t-shirt since my days of watching Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood and I just found out that I can purchase the shirt of my dreams directly from the PBS website. EKK!

    

Instant Replay #3 // Spring

Life according to my instagram feed has been beautiful, inspiring, fresh, colorful and full of joy. This Spring is a much different season of life than it was last year. I am slowly emerging from the heavy cloak of grief and starting to feel joy again. I mean there are still hard and horribly painful days but not as frequently. I am embracing each day and making an effort to tap into the things that have always brought pure joy into my life like nature, family, flying kites, baby animals, painting and walking in rain storms. I sincerely hope this Spring is treating you as kindly as it has been treating me.

Glittery bricks outside of Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland // Delicious homemade raspberry ice cream // Fresh eggs from our neighbors // My messy paint brushes // Delightfully colorful Easter egg shells // Two new baby pygmy goats // Costco tulips // Favorite instax pictures from Washington // rain drops

7 on Sunday #21

 

I have been pretty busy doing amazing things with my life but realized two things last night. The first thing I realized was that today was Sunday. The second thing I realized was that I hadn't put together a 7 on Sunday post in awhile. So... TADA! I wanted to pop in and share a few things that are currently on my radar. I would also like to note that I originally loved the idea of  keeping this series as my only image free post but I am currently toying with ideas to whip up a fresh new look for next week. So check back soon! Aware of anything floating around on the Internet I might enjoy? If so feel free to leave me a link or suggestion in the comment section.

1. The new Tamagotchi App. enough said.

2. Do I need a cute and affordable Iphone case? No, but I want this cat case.

3. Stuff Christians Like. No seriously.

4.  I watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel last night and I loved every moment of the film.

5.  My current default spring nail colors Rimmels Sage all the rage and I lilac you

6.  I was recently inspired to change the format for this series by this post on SRSLYLIZ

7. I really want a Gypsy inspired chain head dress and this one seems perfect for me.

DIY // Ticket Stub Art

Here is a confession: I hoard paper. It is honestly an issue. I mean it. There are all these little scraps of paper I have be hanging onto for some reason since before middle school. A lot of these little pieces of  paper tend to be tickets for every. single. concert. or. museum. or. play. I. have. EVER. been. to. The superfluous punctuation in the last sentence was meant to add drama. I hope you whipped out your internal Morgan Freeman voice to read it. I decided to gather up all my ticket stubs and make something visually appealing. This is a really easy, simple take on all of the neat concert ticket displays I've seen floating all over Pinterest. The project could also be used as a white board but I am not really into that trend but go banana's if that is your thang. Instructions after the jump.

Shear Floral & Spring Rain

My mom and I have an issue with clothing in that we prefer a roomy fit. for example if I am shopping for clothing and a large fits well but up is available up to a size XXXL I will either leave with a XL or XXL. I do this for a variety of reasons but mainly for those times when I feel bloated my closet full of apparel still fits comfortably. I also noticed when I size up my clothes tend to last longer because the item can't shrink smaller than my size. My mom is the same way and practically prefers that her clothes hardly even touch her body. I am not picking on her by any means partly because I am the same way. Saying that I like my clothes to fit loosely is an understatement, I don't pay attention to jean size I just usually buy the pair that I can pull on over my thighs with out unzipping. Although I am a big believer in sizing up I should admit it is not always a wonderful idea. My mom bought this shirt and of course opted to buy a size bigger than she felt she needed but didn't notice that the next bigger size had considerably longer length. I've been told that the first time she wore the shirt a few of her friends commented that it's length may not  have been a good pairing with her dress slacks. those comments naturally led to her giving me the shirt which happens all the time and I love it. I mean my mom is one stylish lady and happened to pass on her good taste to me. If you can't tell we are BFFL. I ain't ashamed. Moral of the story is to never let your mother donate any clothes before you have had a chance to wear it.

Outfit Details 

Top worn as tunic // Ross

Leggings // Walmart 

Boots // Ross 

Belt // Modcloth

Necklace // Charlotte Russe

P.s. These photos were taken on the first day of spring during a rain storm! It has already RAINED during Spring in this desert! How glorious.

Birthday

I like my birthday as much as almost as much I like Christmas except I start my yearly Christmas countdown in August yet I tend to put off my birthday countdown until the last day of February. I have a tradition that is a tad silly and self centered but done in the spirit of good fun... I celebrate my birthday week! As in for  seven whole days I make every effort to inform nearly everyone I meet that it is in fact my birthday week and to excuse any abnormal self indulgence. I had a wonderful birthday and birthday week. Here a few photos of my Birthday adventure. 

Twenty Four

Twenty Four. I am Twenty Four. Two Four. I adore being Twenty Four. I feel more confident than ever in my whole life. I am Twenty Six years away from being Fifty. I couldn't care more or less about where I am in my life. I just am. I am who I am. I am who I should be. I am saved by the grace of God and loved by incredible people. I am Twenty Four. I am Jubilant. Hear my yelps echoing from the mountain tops. I am in love with my own self for the first time in Twenty Four years.

7 on Sunday #20

1. I spent my birthday weekend in Moab and was so excited we stopped here.

2.This little boy's bravery to stand up for a feline being bullied by school mates made me cry.

3. I would love to get this downloaded on our GPS it might come in handy while on Vay Cay.

4. Eek! These wellies are so cute, I love the pheasant pattern.

5. Two of the best dads ever! These two stories are the type of thing I can see Sergio doing one day.

6. I am intrigued by this suit  because I've never seen a long sleeve swimming suit.

7. I know I linked to Indie Darling during the last Seven but really feel this cat purse and scarf need to find there way into my closet.  

My Adventure Book

As with most people I went through a scrap booking phase. I still have a Tupperware containers full of scrap booking supplies that I haven't touched since...drum roll please... 9th grade. My vacation memories have been banished in this digital age to live on only through memory cards or external hard drives. I was gifted a Smashbook from my Aunt for Christmas and I started getting the itch to 'scrap'. My itch was intensified when my parents gave me an Instax camera for my birthday to document our epic Moab adventure. I decided to combine the two gifts and create my very own Adventure Book. It was so easy to follow through with the book because I only used the items I had on hand such as brochures, stickers, small mementos, scissors and my instax pictures. My only rule set was that I had to finish the book before we arrived back home. Also the book itself came with a glue stick/ink pen which is like the coolest thing ever. Do you have an adventure book or even a smashbook? If you have posted about either on your blog leave me a link in the comment section because I would like to see them.