It is important from time to time to slow down,
to go away by yourself, and simply be.
(Eileen Caddy)

Well hello there my lovely friends! I have missed you dearly. On Friday my mister and I scooted out of town without saying a proper goodbye to the interwebs.

My plan was to sneak away to a beach weekend and focus on blogging. Return to my creative passion. Journal a bit. Hide in the quiet peace of vacation and create some killer content. Discover new Twitter friends. Unearth connections and rekindle web-friendships that have wilted away.

Instead, we arrived on the doorstep of a spacious summer house with no internet and limited cell reception. I let my iPhone’s battery die and kept my laptop stashed in my bag. We played cards, drank plenty of wine and swam in the ocean.

Last night we came home with sunburns and bug bites—gentle reminders of our extended weekend away. The comfort and joy of time with family has settled deep into my heart. I’m grateful for my unintentional digital sabbatical, but I am also looking forward to catching up on my favorite blogs, podcats and tweets.

image credit: Thomas Hawk

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and
seemingly secure, to embrace the new.
But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting,
for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
(Alan Cohen)

Hello fabulous ones. How’s your week going? Mine has been super full! It seems that making a major change (like starting a new job) will do that to someone. Training is going great and I’m finally getting into the groove. Something really cool happened to me on Sunday that I’m dying to share with you…

Kimberly Wilson interviewed me for her podcast!

I’ve literally listened to every single podcast she’s ever put out. I began listening back in college and always wondered what it would be like to be an artsy, creative, blogger chick. I still can’t believe that I’m on the other side of things now. It really is a dream come true.

I will definitely let you know when the podcast goes live. I’m a bit nervous to hear how it turns out, but also very excited to soak it all in.

Kimberly made me feel comfortable and confident during the call. She asked so many great questions! I was honored that she highlighted my Modern Girl’s Manifesta and guest blogging over at Tranquility du Jour. My heart skipped a beat when she asked if I’ve thought about writing a book someday—seriously? I would love to.

edit: The podcast has gone live. Click here to listen to it!

photo credit: kennymatic

Love is love.
All, everything that I understand,
I understand only because I love.
Everything is, everything exists,
only because I love.
(Leo Tolstoy)

Hello gorgeous friends. I want to wish you a fabulous Valentine’s Day. Take time out to nurture yourself and those you care about. Enjoy a restful nap, relax by the fire, read a book, soak in a hot bath. Smell the roses, nibble some chocolate.

Find peace in your heart and joy in your soul. Know that love is all around you and it always wins. Check out these last minute Valentines and consult this kissing checklist if you’re in need of some holiday help.

Thanks for sharing your love, support and sparkle with me. Happy Valentine’s Day!

photo credit: papaya! blog

When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.
(Creighton Abrams)

You might be familiar with buzzwords like abundance, gratitude, intention and manifest. If you’ve read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne or watched the corresponding movie, you have a general understanding of the Law of Attraction.

At a base level, the theory is that our thoughts dictate our reality—we have the power to think our future into existence.

The concept is wonderful, but people often struggle with finding the time to dedicate to such a practice. Monitoring our thoughts, controlling our beliefs, manifesting our future—it’s quite an undertaking.

While I’m no expert, I have seen evidence of the law of attraction many times in my life. It’s exciting, but scary, to believe we can have such an impact our destinies.

Just like the quote above, you can take small bites towards manifesting your dream life. Here are six ways to fold the Law of Attraction into your daily routine:

Cook dinner while playing The Secret DVD in the background—let the messages soak in as you chop vegetables or boil water

Participate in Jamie Ridler’s Full Moon Dreamboards—gather images that inspire you and visualize the feeling of already having whatever it is that you desire

Add Jessica Gonacha Swift’s Peacanoot blog to your feed reader—with her Monday Bliss Lists and other wonderful posts about abundance, you are bound to feel inspired

Listen to Scott Smith’s The Daily Boost podcast—his upbeat words of wisdom are a great pick me up during your morning commute

Download the Gratitude Journal App for your iPhone—take a few minutes each day to record the things you’re most grateful for and reflect on previous gratitude lists next time you’re feeling down

Visit Mike Doley’s magical wonderland of a website to sign up for daily emails from the universe and watch this short video clip next time you are in need of a Law of Attraction refresher

As you read through this list and click on the links, what other ideas come to mind—what ways you are already folding the Law of Attraction into your day?

photo credit: TheLizardQueen on flickr

No kind action ever stops with itself.
One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed.
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions,
and the roots spring up and make new trees.
The greatest work that kindness does to others
is that it makes them kind themselves.
(Amelia Earhart)

I have connected with some amazing people through this blog and twitter community. One of those ladies is Micaela over at Dolce Vita. After a confusing series of events we quickly became email buddies—discovering a shared love for the great state of Texas and the idea of “paying it forward.”

Then one day, the most wonderful present found it’s way to my doorstep.

Her blog is an inspiring collection of love, words and images. It was no surprise that the package she sent suited my taste—down to every detail.

Micaela, thank you for sending me a little of your sparkle and for paying it forward. I will repay the favor when you least expect it.

image credit: ScarlethWhite via Flickr

Take that first step.
Bravely overcoming one small fear
gives you the courage to take on the next.
(Daisaku Ikeda)

It is hard to believe that we’re well into the middle of Martha Beck’s book, The Joy Diet. It seems to me that every week I fall behind—and then I remember this is not a race.

I am beginning to accept that I won’t be implementing this diet “by the book” but rather slowly folding it into my preexisting routines. Thinking about The Joy Diet as a practice instead of a requirement has softened me in a way that is hard to describe.

Thank you for showing me that we are all on this journey together. Reading so many blogs on the same topic has helped me realize there is no right or wrong way to practice Joy.

I am living between the sentences in Beck’s narrative and discovering simple moments that were always there, even though I never noticed them before.

Yesterday was rough, but by the end of the day, I was content and happy. With your help, I found my smile. I took myself to Starbucks after work, where I enjoyed the comfort of a purple armchair and the sweet warmth of a pink Raspberry Chai Soy Latte.

The past two weeks of Creativity and Risk have blended together, and all I can say is that I am learning…

to try something different when the patterns of my actions hold me back.
to embrace mental yoga poses that make me feel uncomfortable.
to examine why some goals scare me.
to be ok with being afraid.
to know I am ok.

I am excited to enjoy treats while I continue my practice of nothing, truth, desire, creativity and risk. Thank you again for sharing your journeys, you are all the best teachers in the world.

photo credit: me

Today is the Autumnal Equinox – a time for Mother Nature to shed her summer heat and leaves, a time for us to reflect on the warm months behind us and prepare for a wonderful winter.

There are many people who have inspired me to open up to this new world of self discovery, artistic expression and writing.

By showing me their way, I have begun to find my own. Of the many, there are 7 individuals I am featuring today. Thank you for your brightly shining lights!

CreativeMonster TweetNica

This creative monster is a friend of mine who started her blog a few months ago. Her insights on life, love and being an artist are as inspirational as they are challenging. In college, we spent many afternoons in deep discussion in our favorite coffee shops – I am happy we can do the same now through our blogs!

Tranqulista Kimberly Wilson

As a yogini, entrepreneur, do-gooder, blogger, author & podcaster, Kimberly Wilson has inspired and encouraged me in so many ways. I was excited and grateful this summer when my petals were featured on her blog (mine has the coffee mug next to it).

Design Chicklet Kornelia

The first stranger I connected with through social media, Korneila has become a true friend. Her emails, tweets and kind words have helped me believe in myself. She’s a twitter rockstar who has introduced me to numerous resources. She is also an amazing designer whose passion for fonts, shoes, and starbucks make me smile.

Carolyn of Hang on Tomoato

I can always count on Carolyn to crack me up – on her blog or twitter. She’s an attorney, blogger, francophile, pink fanatic, and fashionista who in her “spare time” mailed me a personalized artist date package earlier this summer. It was love at first sparkle.

Morgan Day Cecil

Her passion is unbelievably contagious. Among many creative endeavors, Morgan created a video you can watch here that has inspired me through countless afternoons. Her message struck a chord with me even though I am not quite her target audience (modern single mommas).

City Girl Lifestyle

An amazing blogger and twitterer, City Girl recently asked her readers to send in Pearls of Wisdom. Writing a note to a younger version of myself was challenging but I came away with some wisdom and encouragement. I was surprised by the results and had a moment of bravery when I shared mine.

Christian from Printed Proof

Perhaps the most shocking bit of encouragement I received was this twitter comment: “…how are you going to take over the world without a blog for us to check out?” This push may have been exactly what I needed to send me over the edge. Just a few weeks later I went live and was featured on Christian’s blog, Printed Proof.

photo credit: jeff martone