i am catching up a bit on the life that happened while technology had me out of the loop.

a dear friend had bought a painting of mine last year to give to a friend. she asked if i could make another similar one for her. after agreeing, i panicked a bit. how in the world could i make them similar...what if, what if, what if...but as i got into working on it, it merely evolved. it was similar in design but turned out better than i had hoped, especially when i found a line from a book to include that so perfectly fit my dear friend.

it was another reminder/lesson in the magic and possibility that can unfold when we merely step out of our own way a bit. our own resistance to so much in this life tends to inhibit our possibilities and progress. it is a lesson i am reminded of, over and over again. 

while the espresso was reeking havoc on my laptop, we celebrated a milestone birthday around here, numero sei. 

buon compleanno, amore

the night before your birthday, you had me tell you the story of the day you were born. you hung on each detail of my day up until the moments when you were placed on my chest - teeny, pink and swaddled carefully. and as i told you the story, it was if i was recounting a dream. a delicate and beautiful dream that i had and held onto, memorizing each and every detail. mid story, i realized i was telling you this as the following day we were celebrating your sixth birthday. suddenly, i felt a bit awestruck. my arms still felt you warm and small nestled lovingly there. we both gazed up at the stars above us on your bed...and laughed at all that tomorrow held.

kai, you are my greatest teacher. your beautiful tender heart is just what the world needs more of. it is my hope that you will always find a way to keep your heart open, welcoming, generous and abundant no matter what life may place in your path. may you strive always to seek possibility in every challenge. may you pause daily to uncover beauty in the world around you. may you never take for granted the healing power of nature. may you gain wisdom from the difficult times and savor the joyful ones. may learn the value and power of responding rather than reacting. may you learn how to confidently stand your ground without the intent to assign another your beliefs. may you appreciate the beauty and significance of authentically connecting with others and the world around you. and may you never shy from honestly expressing what is in your heart. 

*this tune is just for you as it reminds me of your fantastic dance moves*

thankfully, the espresso didn't completely take out my laptop and after a couple weeks 'off the grid', we are reunited, repaired (thx j), and catching up. although i could use it before, i was unable to type with the keyboard which simply made life difficult.

it was nice to step back a bit from the uncomfortable feeling we can experience these days of "needing" to connect on-line. this break allowed me to really examine this more clearly and chart a path of how i wish to approach connection in the future. i love being able to connect, don't misunderstand me. living overseas, that connection is often a lifeline to those we love who are spread out all over the globe. but i take issue with that feeling of "needing" to be on. there is so much inspiration out there and i do love spending time reading and checking it out, but i don't wish to become lost in it. i want to be very present here too - seeking out the beauty around me, savoring the moment and reality that is right here and now. although our lives have been improved greatly with the aid of technology, i think too, that they have become easily more complicated in the process. so this break has helped me to aim to seek more of a balance between the two. 

and today i am doing just this...soaking up a gift of a surprise snow day. making snowmen with my little people, sipping hot cocoa, and feeling grateful for all the connections in my world - those in real life and those made here. 

**a beautiful tune for a day like today **

this weekend, cafe spilled into my laptop, so not good. hope to be back soon...

in the meantime, this has totally become my new theme song, love

it's true, i believe i have tried every planner on the market in my attempts to find a system that works for me. and while it's not perfect, it definitely is the best match for me and my wandering mind. i use the planner pad and then trick that sucker out until it looks/feels like something i want to have hanging around.

it all began last year, when inspired by kelly rae's use of fabric on a planner cover - bingo! love the texture and contrast this brings. so this year, i free-styled with some scraps i had laying around. i created the tabs to mark the months out of cut-outs from an old anthropologie catalog. they have such great textures captured in their photos. 

i do plan on putting a vision page in there too to help me stay focused on some of my big intentions for 2012. but nothing too formal. formal is what kills me and shuts me down. it's got to be organic, flowing, and easy - then i my attention stays glued. i have some images that i have been collecting and, of course, i have a great little drawing from 'pirate kai' that will find a home there too. 

                    
~here's a new set of tunes for you to plan your year to~

*also, a guest post from mindy on creative everyday for another way to customize your planner