Stopping to smell the...

Side note before I start this post. I am sitting on my porch witnessing a very cool lightning storm roll in. Humid, swollen clouds are everywhere. A giant rainbow just appeared. Taking this as a good sign. Love...



Mack wanted to walk to the park today. I usually am not a huge fan of walking to the park. It is just really a stretch of road populated by some trees, but mostly just road to get to the park. Normally, anyone I see walking down this road I assume is homeless or lost their license due to one too many DUI's. But, in following with my spirit of stopping more, I decided a walk was just the ticket.



The road was dusty, and we did get a few strange looks, but we had a wonderful talk about upcoming testing this week, the difference between thunder and lightning, possible birthday gifts for Shane, found out more about the Trax project, and happened upon this little spot of purple.



Take a walk this week and see what inspirations you come away with...

Be...

Stopped today to craft. I love making things. It just makes me feel so creative and happy. I made these blocks for a darling young woman in our ward who's birthday is today. I have been in Young Women's for the last three weeks and am completely enjoying the experience. I think it is exactly what I needed to get spiritually back on track. I know that is one component of my life that has really been missing for awhile. The thoughts on these blocks made my think about each of their purposes. Not only to youth, but to me as well. They are...

1. Be grateful.

2. Be smart.

3. Be clean.

4. Be true.

5. Be humble.

6. Be prayerful.

7. Be still.

8. Be positive.

9. Be involved.

Sooo simple, but when followed, absorbed and lived, so profound. I really believe that anyone that follows these guidelines can have the world opened up to them and find happiness in any situation. Regardless of your faith, I hope these can resonate.

Find the full message here

Enjoy your Saturday!!!

{To make these blocks, create 3 x 3 squares in Photoshop and create each thought. Make your own patterned paper by typing out each thought and changing the font for visual interest. Modge Podge onto wooden blocks (I bought a ton of these at Wood Connection), ink and sandpaper the edges and gift}

The Three Musketeers

Spent a super fun night with Mack, Joey and Kaela at the Hale Theatre seeing the Three Musketeers. Joey got us tickets, so going for free made it even more fun. The play was amazing, the costumes were gorgeous, and Mack totally got into the sword fighting scenes. Loved it all!

Bakery Nouveau

Misssssing Parisian bakeries. Can't wait to try this one in July

#junewish

I don't make wishes very often. I kind of believe in putting the work into a dream instead of just crossing my fingers good karma will come my way. But, something sparked me last weekend that I needed some magic in my life. Soon. The last three weeks have been uber stressful, and I haven't been able to feel quite like myself. Generally, I thrive on stress and deadlines and people not happy with me. I love the challenge of making everything all better. But instead of challenging me, it has mowed me down.

So, I am working on changing my attitude and outlook. And hopefully with a little positive thinking I can get back on track. Twitter had a trending topic last weekend of a #junewish. Something you can throw out there in the universe all my 72 followers can read about me. My June wish was to stop, breathe, be grateful & relax. So, that is exactly what my focus is going to be this month.

My first goal this week is it to stop. To appreciate. To actually notice things. To eat slower. To talk to my husband more. To start saying no more. To completely be in the moment with Mack. To take better care of myself. To get outside more. To think about things more and assess the situation before reacting. Very tough for me. Working on it....

Make a June Wish with me...I will send good karma your way:}

Happy Mother's Day!

To make this simple card:

Hand cut four circles making each circle a bit smaller than the last. Crinkle each circle in your hand and then flatten out. Put three brads in the center of the smallest circle. Hand cut two leaves. Type, stamp, or hand write your sentiment on a small card.

Five Things I Love Sunday

[crushes] this week...


Television
Started DVR'ing Selling New York on HGTV. A sweet little 22 minutes in my life every time I watch it. Want instant creative/inspirational gratification? This is it. Sparkling, hip, trendy apartments decked out in obscenely expensive Sub Zero fridges and more exposed brick than you could wrap you head around. Maybe apartment living in NYC wouldn't be so bad...

Sweaters
Loving this springy cardigan. It just kind of goes with everything (haven't tried it yet with mustard shorts though!). Weird weather this week has had me going to it daily. Find at JCrew.

Garage Doors
Want a wood one. I think it would completely transform our house. Just have to talk Shane into how GREAT it would be. Hmmm....


Claw Games
An all time favorite in our family. Won a fab little doll this week from this one.


Paris Share
This is an old prison called The Conciergerie. Just down from Notre Dame, kind of out of the way. This is where they would hold prisoners before they went to the guillotine. Marie Antoinette lost her head here. Kind of beautiful--I guess not a bad place to think out the last few days of your life. The guard here thought we were Germans. Not sure what Germans look like, so wasn't sure if we should take it as a compliment or not:}