You must understand that seeing is believing, but also know that believing is seeing.
(Denis Waitley)

Hello, friends! I hope your week is getting off to a great start. Did you have a nice Thanksgiving last week? Ours was quiet, lovely and full of home-cooked deliciousness.

Awhile back I mentioned my excitement for Warby Parker’s Home Try-On program. It’s a fun and low-risk way to test out new frames. You select any five pairs of glasses, they ship them to you for free, and you get five days to try out the frames. Brilliant!

With every pair purchased, Warby Parker also provides a pair of glasses to someone in need. Who doesn’t love stylish do-gooding?

For my home try-ons, I ordered:

Carlen in Striped Evergreen
Zagg in Striped Chestnut
Nedwin in Revolver Black Crystal
Colton in Whiskey Tortoise
Finn in Amber

Then I created a video just for you. It’s my first-ever and there’s a serious glare, but I thought it would be a fun way to share my specs. What are your favorites?!

They recently announced a collaboration with SUNO, who share WP’s passion for helping others and making a difference. Check out the sunglasses with their sweet prints here. Also, for the upcoming season they’ve created a Holiday Gift Box, so you can give the gift of snazzy eye wear!

Tell me, friends, have you purchased a pair of Warby Parkers recently? Let me know which pair you think I should get & if you have some WPs of your own.

Image Credit: Warby Parker

If we look at the world with a love of life,
the world will reveal its beauty to us.
(Daisaku Ikeda)

Hello friends, happy Wednesday to you!

I hosted a Sparkle Swap in September, with the hopes of bringing cheer to fellow bloggers. 25 participants signed up to send 4 unique gifts — a bit of sparkle, a treat that soothes, something sweet, and a surprise.

After delays, international shipping issues and general pre-holiday mayhem, I am finally getting around to sharing a recap post. A handful of lovely bloggers wrote about the swap. Take a peek below at the gorgeous and thoughtful packages these ladies sent! Click on the photos to read their posts.

Elisse → Sharni

Sharni → Katie

Erin → Carrie

Kristin → Kathy

Sarah → Jamie

Jamie → Danielle

Danielle → Monique

Monique  → Ashley

Cassie → Leesh

Heather →  Micaela

Micaela → Ginna

There were some people who never received their gifts, and others who ended up sending two because the first was lost in the mail. Some people really enjoyed the experience, and I have a sinking suspicion that a few were disappointed.

The truth about gift swaps is that you never know what will happen.

In America, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow. It’s become one of my favorite holidays because of the focus on gratitude and love. I hope the Sparkle Swap brought cheer, gratitude, love and sparkle to those who participated!

Image Credit: Youth via Chris JL

Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
(Lao Tzu)

Swaps are popular within the creative blogging community, especially this time of year. I’ve participated in several and hosted a handful, including the Holiday Love Gift Swap, the Good Karma Gift Swap, and most recently the Sparkle Swap. I am by no means an expert in successful swapping, but I have learned a few things along the way.

The Good
A lot of great things can come out of swaps. It’s a fun excuse to shop for little treats and trinkets. Wrapping everything up in pretty packaging is an expression of your artistic side. Sending love to a complete stranger is exciting—and really good juju.

The Bad
Swaps can be a logistical mess. Packages get lost or damaged in the mail. People flake out before sending their parcel, never confirm receipt of their gift, or drop off the map completely. After putting time, effort and money into sending the perfect gift, there’s a chance you could be left empty handed.

The Reality
The truth about gift swaps is that you never know what will happen. You could send the most thoughtful package ever, but receive something that’s better suited for your teenage niece. There’s also a chance you could meet one of your best friends through the experience, I certainly have.

Before signing up for your next swap, make sure:

You understand the details & expectations. Hosts typically provide info on the swap – expected cost, what to include, and potential timeframe. If you have any questions, ask!

You have the time and financial means. Some swaps are open world-wide, others are within specified countries. Keep in mind there will be costs for shipping in addition to what you spent putting together the package.

You are inspired and excited about the theme. If you are allergic to peanuts it might be best to avoid a PB&J swap. If ornaments make you giddy, sign up!

Have you experienced the joys and challenges with gift swaps?

I would love to hear your thoughts on the good, the bad, and the reality of hosting & participating in the comments below.

Want to know what happend with this year’s Sparkle Swap? I’ll be sharing a recap soon!

Image Credit: POST via Jaako

We cannot live for ourselves alone.
Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads,
and along these sympathetic fibers,
our actions run as causes and return to us as results.
(Herman Melville)

Hello my sweet friends. I hope the beginning of September is treating you well. My 2-year blogiversary is around the corner and to help celebrate, I am hosting a Sparkle Swap!

This swap is all about bringing cheer to a fellow blogger. Send a package with 4 unique gifts — a bit of sparkle, a treat that soothes, something sweet, and a surprise. In return, you will receive snail mail love from a new friend.

To participate, sign up by leaving a comment below with one thing you’re looking forward to this season.

Some key details:

• The swap is comprised of 4 gifts — a bit of sparkle, a treat that soothes, something sweet, and a surprise that your buddy will love.
• To participate, you must have a blog + need to be willing to ship internationally.
• Registration ends Saturday 9/10/11 at 5:00 pm EST. Leave a comment to join!
• Please mail parcels by Tuesday 9/20/11.
• Open, enjoy and blog about your package when you receive it!

Once registration is closed, I’ll email surveys out to collect addresses, likes, dislikes and anything else you want to share with your swap partner.

By leaving a comment below, you are agreeing to the details outlined above. Let me know if you have questions or special requests.

Are you lovelies ready to start swapping? Let the sparkle, delight & snail mail love begin…

Image Credit: Meet me in outer space by Misserion

I am an explorer, a collector. I pay attention to the ideas, people, places and things I’m attracted to. I find inspiration in nooks and crannies. Revelations come in surprise packages and obvious encounters.

My habits include collecting dreams the way some gather seashells, coveting too many books, subscribing to countless blogs, and buying more magazines than I care to read. All in the name of inspiration.

I believe in surrounding myself with creative genius. I am awestruck by the way others string words together so eloquently, capture moments so beautifully, and develop products that solve problems so effortlessly.

It is in admiring the gifts of others that I begin to acknowledge my unique brilliance.

Image Credit: Jazz via Daniel Zedda

Don’t ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
(Howard Thurman)

I came across an email I sent my father a few years ago, back when I was a recent grad embarking on my first real job. I lived alone in San Francisco and had no friends. I worked 70 hour weeks and drove to Napa on the weekends to relax at my grandparent’s home. It was a crazy, beautiful time.

I learned about silence, stillness and intuition. In some ways I was braver then than I am today. I knew less, feared less, and was on a mission to make it big in the City by the Bay.

6 months after moving to San Francisco I sold everything, packed a suitcase and ventured east to North Carolina. Career-wise it was the only choice available. At the time my career was all I had.

Through those early post-graduation years I journaled, meditated and poured my heart into work that was less than nourishing. I got emotional bumps and bruises along the way – the fast paced, cutthroat sales environment of an ‘after startup’ software company forced me to grow up and learn how to play the game.

Back then I believed in the secret, positive self-talk, and the magic of the universe. I was living proof that my thoughts became things. My trust in these forces brought me across the country, landed me an important-sounding title and helped me find a delightfully luxurious apartment.

Like a tarnished piece of silver, I still remember how good it feels to shine bright. My dreams have evolved and my responsibilities have deepened.

It’s easy to get down on yourself when the hits keep coming, but the only choice we have is to jump back in. To take the plunge. To believe in the mystery and brilliance of the world around us. Of what exists within us. Ready, set, dive.

Image Credit: Dive – Laguna de Tiscapa, Managua, Nicaragua via visualpanic

By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it.
The non-existent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.
(Nikos Kazantzakis)

I love to search the internet for creative resources. It’s one of the activities that drew me to blogging in the first place. On its best days, the internet is like an enchanted forest filled with magic, fairy dust and tons of inspiration.

Recently, I started following a fresh set of blogs. What began as an afternoon of clicking through blog rolls and subscribing in Google Reader has turned into a fascination with some incredibly talented women. The list below is comprised of business mavens, creative foodies and artfully inspirational types — many of whom fit into all three categories.

If these bloggers are new to you, peruse their sites to see if their brands of sparkle inspire you. If you’ve known about them all along, shame on you for not telling me of their brillance… just kidding! Either way, give them a lil’ love on Twitter by clicking their @names.

Creative
Oh So Beautiful Paper ~ @beautifulpaper
Journal Girl ~ @samanthakira
Oh Joy! ~ @ohjoystudio
This & That ~ @sara_

Inspired
Your Wishcake ~ @yourwishcake
enJOY it ~ @eliseblaha
Kyla Roma ~ @kylaroma
Penelope Trunk ~ @penelopetrunk

Delish
With Style & Grace ~ @WithStyleGrace
A Cozy Kitchen ~ @acozykitchen
Eat, Live, Run ~ @EatLiveRun
Simply Breakfast ~ @simplybreakfast

Image Credit: via we♥it

Your living is determined
not so much by what life brings to you
as by the attitude you bring to life;
not so much by what happens to you
as by the way your mind looks at what happens.
(Kahlil Gibran)

Taking a blogcation last week provided time to reflect on what has me inspired lately…

Delicious images, motivating mantras & super stylish looks all on Pinterest

Taking ownership of my nutriton via MyFitnessPal

Amazing food blogs full of veggie goodness

New makeup, Truth to Go Wipes + Hope in a Jar

Watching old seasons of Grey’s Anatomy like it’s my job

Healthy living, home decorating & business rocking books lining my shelves

While away, I also realized how much I truly enjoy posting on a regular basis…

I kicked off my 2nd year of blogging with 32 days of sparkle last fall. After posting for 32 days straight, I felt connected, energized and creatively inspired. It was a challenge.

If it were easy to blog daily, work a full time job and manage daily grownup responsibilities, everyone would do it. I managed somehow and the practice of creating each day fueled me.

I’m so grateful to feel this energy & excitement once again — and I’m looking forward to sharing more inspiration in tomorrow’s new, fresh & sparkly creative weekend to-do list!

Have an extraordinary day, my lovelies.

Image: Amizade Expressiva – Fotolog via we♥it

You may have a fresh start any time you choose,
for this thing we call “failure”
is not in the falling down, but in the staying down.
(Mary Pickford)

Take a moment to breathe deep. Smile through a challenging situation. Know that you can overcome your fears. Recognize the remarkable brillance that only you possess. Consider the ideal outcome for today.

What would it take for you to go to bed tonight satisfied, proud and at peace?

image credit: via sheiro

The big question is whether you are going to
be able to say a hearty YES to your adventure.
(Joseph Campbell)

Hello friends! I have missed you dearly these last few days. Work has picked up to warp speed, which is a challenge I’m grateful to face these days. The only downside of having so much effort and creative juice go towards professional pursuits is that I’ve had very little time to spend in other areas.

Here’s a little inspiration from me to you. Know that I’m quietly sending you vibes of love, happiness and joy.

image credit: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4