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seeking evidence in a well-lived home

liz lamoreux

succulents in the family room

Every now and then when I look around my home, I get overwhelmed by what I think other people's expectations are for a home. How neat, how "company ready," how "clean it should be so you can hire a cleaning lady" kind of expectations.

peek at the beginnings of our nature table

Last week, I almost got bogged down in that overwhelm again as I looked at the tall stack of random clean laundry on the dryer, the "never can get it white" grout in between the blue tiles of the kitchen counter, the paper that never finds the right spot to land.

where her shoes land before bath each night

To clear my head, I turned to my camera as a way to seek evidence of how we are really living in this home.

a new jewelry collection in progress

the two Mickeys she insisted Grandma sleep with while she was visiting

bathtime/bathroom time needs

left behind after the last breakfast tea party with grandma

And I kept finding these beautiful pieces of us. The bits of clutter and real that reveal who we are in our beautiful, often messy, lived-in, little home. 

Sometimes you need the close-up lens of the camera to push you back to seeing what you actually know.

a favorite happy bowl

An invitation

Use your camera lens to capture the evidence of a life well lived in your home. Notice the little details beyond the surface. This would be an awesome Project Life prompt (especially if you don't have a lot of photos one week). 

***

In Inner Excavation, there is an entire chapter about what we gather to us. The book invites you to dive deeply into noticing your world, noticing you through self-portraits in photography, poetry, and mixed media.

Order your own copy signed by me here.

story excavation retreat: registration is open!

liz lamoreux

 

I am delighted to announce that registration for the Fall Retreat, Story Excavation, begins today!

This is the retreat for those of you who have been asking me when Jen Lee and I were going to join forces for a retreat!! I am truly so excited that she's coming to join Kelly and me on the Oregon Coast this September 11-15. 

At Story Excavation, we will really get into our "story" dig sites and explore several ways to excavate our stories, including: the art and craft of storytelling, the creative power of community, and meditative art practices. 

We will also have some juicy conversations around navigating our public and private lives online, how we practice creative self-care, and how collaborating deeply inspires Jen, Kelly, and me.

And of course we will be recharging, walking along the Pacific Ocean, laughing into the night, and so many other good things. And my dear friend Sasha will be joining me again to nurture and nourish us in the kitchen.

Find out more about Story Excavation and register here.

a corner of my studio

liz lamoreux

Finally added some goodness to the wall space above my studio altar. When my mom was here last week, we put up a lot (I mean A LOT) of photos + art in our home and in my studio. This corner of the studio was the last piece, and it is so meaningful to me. The artwork, aluminum Instagram prints (printed by PostalPix), and mirror really do tell a story.

First, Danielle Daniel's girl "Emily" reminds me of the little girl me, eyes wide observing everything. The stories Danielle tells in her artwork are so tender and brave and vulnerable and beautiful. When I bought this painting, I was thinking about Ellie, but when it arrived and I looked at it, I knew it really was me. (Visit Danielle's shop here.)

 

Second, Lori Portka's painting "Everything I Need" represents this moment to me and is a daily reminder to trust what I know. I love Lori's story about this painting and am so honored to have this girl and message in my studio. (Visit Lori's shop here.)

Third, the four aluminum prints are some of my favorite Instagram photos. They represent what I want to bring into my life right now and in the future: more travel, more teaching, more moments out in nature, and more putting pen to paper and writing my next book. Love that I could just put them right onto my wall with the little foam sticker that comes with them from PostalPix and they will be easy to change out as my intentions change. Actually thinking about creating a 9x9 grid of them on a wall inside.

Fourth, we have the happy mirror (found at a local art + craft store). There will be many self-portraits taken in this mirror, and it is a place for me to practice the mirror meditation

This corner truly is like a self-portrait of where I've been, where I am, and where I want to go. And each time I light a candle on my altar as I get ready to work for the day, I'll be able to take a moment and center with this goodness around me and then get to it (especially to the manifesting those intentions part).

Something Good from PostalPix

Delighted that PostalPix is sharing a coupon code so you can try them out today.

Use code lizpix20 to receive 20% off of your total order. The code is good through the end of day PST on Thursday 5/2.

I've used them to print out 4x4 photos for Project Life (shown to the left) and 8x8 photos that are now framed and on my wall. The quality is great, and it is such a fun, easy way to get those Instagram photos off of my phone.

This is also an easy way to send some photos to grandparents, and the aluminum prints would make great gifts as they come with a magnet on the back option too.

it's a lot like this...

liz lamoreux

Frog Creek Lodge front porch . Feast Retreat (photo by Sasha Clements)

When I return from hosting one of my Be Present Retreats, I always struggle with how to talk about it here in this space. Capturing the truly life-changing moments with words escapes me. I seldom take photos because I am too busy with other pieces of the experience.

Feast was one of those retreats where I repeatedly found myself whispering silently, "I am home" as I moved from one moment to the next. I felt firmly rooted in knowing I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, and deeply called to circle with women more often.

On that final Sunday, just as we finished unloading the car back at my house, an email from my friend Sasha arrived. She was one of the first to leave the lodge that morning and during her time alone traveling home, she wrote a poem that captured Feast. 

I stood in my studio reading these words with tears in my eyes so grateful to be on this path.

***

Tiny nature altar . Feast Retreat (photo by Sasha Clements)

I carry

In a basket woven of chartreuse moss,
Stitched together with needles of pine,
Bound with multicolored scarves and scraps of lace from women before,
Strengthened with reeds smoothed flat by rocks of vulnerability,
Infused with scents of rose petals and patchouli…

I carry

Doubt,
Love,
Strength,
Confidence,
Fear,
Stories,
Courage,
Friendship,
Connection.

I carry
The glittery bits that spill out of the cracks
Of souls and hearts and minds,
Wet with tears and echoing laughter.

I carry
A white cup cushioned by a mothers gentle hand,
A white bowl still perfectly warm from the feast of nurturing kindness.

I carry
Circles of fabric and dreams,
Circles of pencil and paint,
Circles from the sea,
Circles of flickering light,
Circles of memory.

I carry it all
In the basket by my side,
In the pockets of my soul,
On the bookshelf of my mind,
In the space around my heart.

I carry
A filled up basket
Forward with me to the next journey.
Fortified,
Ready,
Open.

I carry
All I have gathered,
All I need,
To save myself again.

- Sasha Clements

About Sasha: I am... a free-spirited wild child, tethered to the responsibilities of the real world, walking a tightrope of compromise, and searching for a sweet blend of dreams and reality.

I work a full time as a communications and project coordinator for an electric cooperative in Indiana. After 30+ years, I’m still in love with my high school sweetheart. I’m a mom to a grown son and a “G” (grandma) to a 4-year-old superhero in training. When my alter ego demands creative play, I dabble in writing, photography, food, clay, yarn, and paint.

I believe the recipe for “retreat magic” includes a lovely combination of wise and generous teachers, like-minded souls circled together, and the invitation to share the truth of your story in a safe space. I crave the nourishment this magic gives - it’s why I attend retreats.

Connect with Sasha at her blog.

***

And today, I'm so excited to announce that a sneak peek of the Fall Retreat, Story Excavation, is up over at the Be Present Retreats site.

Registration goes live on Wednesday, May 1 at 8 AM PST.

If you feel called to join Jen Lee, Kelly Barton, Sasha, and me on the Oregon Coast this September, please be aware that the summer retreat sold out in less than 24 hours. We don't want you to miss your spot!

Learn all the juicy details here.

secret messages

liz lamoreux

Yesterday was supposed to be my first full day in my studio in weeks. But instead, it unfolded a bit upside down.

While gathering the dirty dishes to one place on the counter last evening, I looked down and saw all these happy colors and this message on my mug and I couldn't help but pause and pay attention.

Trusting the process is a true practice. It isn't easy. Some days I look at this mug in the cupboard and practically roll my eyes and choose another one. But this message appears again and again and not just in my kitchen cupboard. 

And when I'm quiet enough and give myself space to really listen to what I know, these are often the words I hear.

Invitation: This weekend, pay attention to the secret messages appearing on your path, and then come back here and tell me about them. 

***

The "Trust the Process" mug is from The Universe Knows. They're having a 15% off sale through May 6. Love their mugs and hoodies.

like major...

liz lamoreux

There are so many things I want to tell you but I went from re-entry after the Feast Retreat (more on that luscious retreat this week) to a visit from my mom (we are putting up art + photos everywhere and brainstorming some business things and tomorrow she's making my favorite marinara sauce to go in the freezer) and my writing brain is not quite ready for this space, so today, I really just want to tell you that I love my new haircut. Like major.

And the number one piece of advice I have is to create a haircut board on Pinterest and then show it to your stylist every single time. (This is the cut we aimed for this time and I'm hoping to add the longer front pieces from this one this summer.)

Tell me something about your corner of the world. How are things over there?

PS Jen, Kelly, and I are totally working on the final details of the Fall Retreat. Registration will be next week. Stay tuned!

circling with women :: a giveaway

liz lamoreux

Circle of Women . print available here

As I continue to reintegrate into daily life after the Feast Retreat and sift through the stories I want to share, I'm delighted to share this gorgeous print filled with the words of wisdom from Jeanette LeBlanc.

These words capture reasons why I created the Be Present Retreats, why I feel called to circle with women, and why I feel called to circle even more this year, and why I hope you will create your own circles in your corner of the world.

wisdom lit up by twinkle lights and candles at Feast . photo by Jessica DeFeo

During our closing ceremony, one of the ladies at Feast shared that she hoped we would open our hearts to the women in our communities who aren't able to circle like we did.

As she was talking, I kept thinking, "Yes, this."

A Giveaway

The "Circle of Women" print shown above was hanging near our circle during Feast, and I am so excited to share that Jeanette is giving one away today.

To enter the giveaway :: Please leave a comment sharing a piece of your story today. This giveaway has ended. The winner (Leah) has been notified. Thank you!

Feel free to share anything from how the weather is to a secret dream. You might even want to share how you already circle with women or how you long to. And yes, this giveaway is open to men! I imagine the men out there have women in their lives who they would love to see supported by other women in the beautiful ways this print invites. The giveaway will remain open through Sunday evening at 8PM PST.

One More Good Thing

AND I am also happy to share that Jeanette is having a sale in her shop. Both the Circle of Women print + Go Now and Live (shown below) are both on sale for the next few days.

Go Now and Live print . available here

Go Now and Live was also hanging in our cabin in the woods. The story behind this print is so beautiful. An excerpt from Jeanette's story about this print, "I thought about what I would tell my 21 year old self if I had a chance to go back in time and whisper in her ear as she slept.  What knowledge would I want to impart to that idealistic young woman with the whole world at her feet?  As I thought, these words flowed from me and something inside me was healed."

Yes, this.

Read the rest of the story and buy the print (on sale!) here.

***

Jeanette LeBlanc is a writer, photographer poet and dreamer. She regularly consumes ridiculous amounts of dark chocolate, craves the sound of crashing waves and wishes people would stop putting olives on pizza. She has a love affair with words (all of them, especially the bad ones) and is inspired by the intersection of shadows and light. Hopelessly idealistic and impossibly pragmatic, Jeanette fully believes that she will one day earn a very good living with her camera and her writing. In the event that Plan A doesn’t work out, she is willing to settle for a huge lottery win, or the generosity of a very rich benefactor. Either way, she has no intention of being a starving artist. Jeanette lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her delightfully unruly children. Jeanette writes about life, love and beauty and creates inspired design at Peace.Love.Free. Her fine art prints are available for purchase here.