december 1

while she napped, i put up the little christmas tree that had been waiting in the garage since jon put it in there sometime in late january. it was waiting wrapped in a plastic bag with lights and ornaments still on. and i stared at that little tree that we put up last year around december 20 when i was deep in survival mode and unable to really find any holiday spirit. it is a great little tree. jon has had it for years.

but i stood there and said aloud, "i deserve more christmas than this."

and that is how we found ourselves walking through the trees as the sun began to dip low. ellie giggling as she touched each type of tree and then splashing in puddles as she wandered.

i always think i will be quick to choose one, but it always takes me so much longer.

i love all of them. they smell so good. and they are just waiting for someone to take them home.

with the chill in the air and the christmas music playing ("zat you santa clause?"), i felt so at ease and like me. just like i felt the night before thanksgiving while i was cooking (like from scratch cooking) for the first time in months while ellie and jon read and music played. feeling like i have maybe been waiting my whole life for this.

and i think perhaps the only way to stay close to that feeling of ease (of love) is to take care of myself in the midst of it all. like deciding to get a little tree and buying some lights instead of spending six hours in the garage trying to find the lights we used four years ago.

and deciding to get in the picture by just propping the camera right on the hood of the car and using the timer.

self-care gently pushes me to stay more open to love and light.  

*****

thank you for the orders during yesterday's shop sale. my heart is gently holding so many beautiful stories shared as customers placed orders and let me know why their chosen soul mantra was important to them or who they were giving the necklaces to as gifts. so many beautiful stories.

the truth is that life is so hard and so so beautiful. this fall has held some unexpected challenges over here. there has been beauty and there has been stress. this is living. and sometimes it feels like its harder than it should be. but we find our way all the same. and each day i have a choice. so i choose beauty and love and joy whenever i can.

a shop sale

Sometimes we need a traveling companion to remind us to be present to the beauty and truth that surround us. We need to be encouraged to shine a light on what is real, to heal, to dance inside joy. We need an invitation to stand tall and give ourselves permission to rest. We need to be gently pushed to find our way to laughter and fill the cracks that life creates. 

My hope is that the talismans found at Soul Mantras and Other Stories will be companions on your journey as you open your heart to all that is to come...

Today only, I am having a 25% off all items in the shop sale! Just use coupon code HOLIDAY11 when you check out through my Etsy shop.

I am also delighted to announce that you can now customize your Soul Mantra necklace with your own phrase and choose your locket and even choose from a few bead options. All the customizable options can be found in the new CUSTOMIZABLE section in the shop! 

Holiday schedule: All U.S. orders placed by December 12 will be sent in time to arrive by Christmas. If you need something by a specific date, check in with me by email or Etsy convo. International orders will be sent out as well, but I cannot guarentee they will arrive in time.

And just remember that the HOLIDAY11 coupon code for 25% off is only good today!

edited to add: In case you are new to Etsy or new to coupon codes on Etsy, here is how you apply the coupon to your order. When you are on the shopping cart page, look for "Apply shop coupon code." It appears just above the Order Total area in your shopping cart. Click on "Apply shop coupon code" and then enter HOLIDAY11 in the box that appears. Click "Apply" and you will see your discount. 

right here.

do you see a car? yes! do you see little critter?

Books are a big part of our days over here this month. Goodnight Moon and a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse look and find book have been the main favorites, but a couple of weeks ago, I introduced Beana to Little Critter.

I showed her my favorite Little Critter book (that has moved with me from house to house over the years), Just For You, and talked about how I used to read it over and over again to myself and then to my little brother.

There is something about this story about a little one who wants to make his mama happy but somehow keeps getting distracted by living. My favorite scene is when he is taking a bath and water is everywhere because"there was a storm." Love it. And in the end, all is well as he successfully hugs his mama and heads to bed.

The day after we first read this book, Ellie brought it to me and we looked through it again. Reading mostly consists of her pointing to different things wanting Jon and me to tell her what they are. Then we ask her to find things on the pages. When I asked, "Where is Little Critter?" and she pointed right to him...well...I cried. Just like that. Because sometimes the love of those who came before you (who love you even still) rises up around you until little tears form. 

I told a certain grandmother about Ellie's new love of Little Critter and a box of books arrived from Amazon days later. Just like that.

(I will always buy you books, she would say for as long as I can remember.)

Ellie is reading from Just Me and My Mom in the photo above. I am someone's mom. So so crazy. She doesn't really call me mama yet. When she gleefully calls for Da Da! when she hears the front door open, I try not to let it bother me. Because the truth is, if she had a name for me right now, it would probably be "here."

Where is mama? I ask. And she points to herself in the center of her chest and then touches my chest.

Right here.

I love that. 

reaching for the camera

on this day...

as you open your heart to all that is to come,

may you always remember that beauty is waiting inside this moment

may your mind rest in the space you create with each breath

may you trust compassion when facing uncertainty

may your spirit feel the lightness of truth and love 

yes

yes

yes

the nine interview (with kristen perman)

Today's Nine interview is with Kristen Perman. From her self-portraits to her NYC fire escapes to the Los Angeles street art she captures on her photo walks, oh how this woman can use a camera! The simple truth is that the way Kristen captures the world through her lens deeply moves me. She was one of my first friends here in blog world and then we became friends "in the real world," and I am so grateful for the way she shows up. I am also so honored that she is one of the contibutors in my book Inner Excavation.

Come along today and peek into Kristen's story as she answers the Nine questions.

*****

Question 1: Who are you?

Question 2: In this moment, where are you?

Question 3: What are the textures of your corner of the world?

Question 4: If you had an hour alone to just play, what would you do?

Question 5: How do you seek joy?

Question 6: What nourishes you?

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and ground yourself, what do you do?

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

(all photos copyright kristen perman)

*****

Kristen Perman is a Los Angeles based photographer who is continually inspired by the urban suburban sprawl of her surroundings.

A tea-loving bookworm, a girl who chases light and shadows; always exploring, always a camera in hand.

You can visit Kristen on the web at Exquisite Corpse Collective and her Flickr stream, and find her Etsy shop here. 

*****

Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to the interview questions in photographs (or video). You can scroll through all the interviews here.

put the camera right on the ground (and discover joy)

new in the shop

A quick peek into a few of the new necklaces listed in the shop this week. Several new pieces in the "for layering" section, along with new beaded locket necklaces in a wide variety of colors.

I am also begining to add items to the new customizable section! So excited to try out this new way for customers to easily order lockets with their personal soul mantras inside.

today...

Today I let go of how I thought things would unfold and tried to just stay present amidst the grumps of a one year old.

Today I woke up almost choking on grief and missing after a dream about a house in South Carolina.

Today I called a friend just to hear her voice and I was gently held across the miles.

Today I wished for sparkly purple eyeshadow but settled for the dark blue with a few sparkles I found in the drawer even though it made me look more tired. 

Today I ate two meals while standing in the kitchen.

Today I watched my daughter point to the birds in the trees when I said, "Do you see the chickadees?"

Today I watched the eighth Harry Potter movie twice (during nap time and after everyone else was in bed).

Today I dusted off the altar in the family room and rearranged it and gave it a new focus as I burned the Earth candle all afternoon.

Today I received some truly beautiful emails from my Create Space students that reminded me that this work is what I feel called to do.

Today I stood outside under the blue sky and remembered to breathe.

Today I took photos of necklaces layered on Betty and began to upload a few to the shop.

Today I stained my fingers with frozen blueberries as Ellie and I shared a bowl to help the grumps.

Today I gave myself the gift of several mugs of tea.

Today I lived in big and small ways and somehow found my way to keep my heart open to all of it.