current beauty faves

Every single time I post an Instagram selfie wearing one of my favorite lipsticks, I get a question or two about them. So I thought I'd post my current favorite colors and share a few of my other current favorite beauty supplies.

1) Aveda lipstick. I love the way it glides on, the colors!, how long it stays on my lips, and how moisturizing it is. I have literally found my favorite lipstick ever (though I still dream about Maple Sugar and wonder if Estee Lauder still makes it - just went and looked, they do!!). My favorite Aveda colors are butternut, fossil (not shown), poppy, and sheer taro. Wild fuchsia is the bright one above and I'm looking forward to having a bit more of a summer glow before using it daily. It is a very happy bright color.

2) I probably say, "Dry shampoo is my new BFF" out loud about about three times a week over here. I find that if wash my hair just about 2-3 times a week, it is much healthier. Enter dry shampoo on Day 3. I've tried a few over the years, but this one from Batiste is my favorite.

3) I've been using Chanel mascara for about a year and I'm in love. In. Love. (And I recently started using purple. Yep. I'm that girl.)

4) When I was in San Francisco earlier this spring with my friend Dona, we came across Benedetta skin care. I've been using the Neroli Hydrating Elixir for about 6 weeks now and really like it. I actually loved the smells of everything they had, and I'm really picky when it comes to how things smell. I use it at night and pair it with the Palmarosa oil in the mornings.

5) On those days when I look as tired as I feel, I use Pixi Eye Bright Liner. It is pretty awesome. (I also have a set similar to the Eye Bright Kit and it's pretty awesome.) 

What are your go-to favorites? I'd love to know!

(Note that some of the links above are affiliates, which means I sometimes receive a small commission when you purchase through the links.)

30 ways to invite in more joy

 

Here's the thing about joy: Sometimes it arrives like unexpected laughter or a hummingbird peeking at you through the kitchen window or a note in the mail just because or an exquisite turn of phrase in the novel you're reading late at night.

And sometimes you have to work at finding it in your everyday life.

It's like a muscle you need to flex and move and notice and use. 

That's why I often talk about it as being a practice. You have to practice seeking joy, creating space for joy, opening up to joy.

You have to make joy in your everyday life. 

Here are 30 ways that I dive into joy that I hope will help you get started with this practice. And here's the part where I say I hope you'll pick one today and give it a try. And then try another one tomorrow. And then make your own list. 

Yes.

1. Lip sync to Johnny Cash.

2. Go outside and listen to the birds sing.

3. Put on your favorite shoes and take yourself out for coffee.

4. Text a friend.

5. Watch Kid President.

6. Donate to your favorite charity.

7. Turn up "Shake It Off" and jump around until your insides rattle a bit.

8. Call your mom and tell her you love her (or call your BFF and do the same).

9. Write down 10 things you're grateful for.

10. Make soup (or some other favorite comfort food).

11. Write a love letter.

12. Head to the water, to the woods, to the strip of green in front or behind your home, and notice five beautiful things.

13. Ask your Facebook friends to tell you one good thing about their day.

14. Write a thank you note.

15. Go to a yoga class (or push yourself to do something you love that isn't at work or home and involves just being around others).

16. Check out your favorite children's book from the library and read it aloud (to yourself or someone else).

17. Eat a cupcake (or an apple).

18. Give yourself a superhero name.

19. Look at yourself in the mirror and say "I am whole. I am worthy. I am loved."

20. Sing a favorite childhood song with zeal (maybe join in with Kermit.

21. Find a dandelion and make a wish.

22. Watch your favorite movie (or even just a favorite scene).

23. Make a list of all the ways your grade school teachers changed your life.

24. Go through a carwash and pretend you're on an adventure.

25. Draw a map of your childhood hometown complete with labels of the most important places to your 8-year-old self.

26. Write a list of your favorite things.

27. Ask someone you love to tell you that story that always makes you both laugh so hard.

28. Take off your shoes and stand up (or just put your feet on the floor) and feel your toes and your heels and thank the earth for supporting you and keeping your grounded.

29. Give someone flowers (and maybe keep one stem just for you).

30. Ask for a hug. (And maybe even open your arms wide right now. Yes, right now. Open them wide. Breathing and feeling that space. And then wrap them around yourself in a hug that says, "You aren't alone honey. I've got you.)

How do you invite in more joy? Please share in the comments so we can keep the list going.

20 songs to sing in the shower when you want to feel all the feelings

I often say that I turn to poetry when I need to feel all the feelings because the words of others help me find my own words when I'm neck deep in being human.

Music so often does the same thing for me.

Over the weekend, I found myself singing a medley of songs to just get myself out of a shame spiral that came up totally unexpectedly. When I was suddenly grooving to Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" while in the shower and feeling all that cheesy goodness of remembering that "my people" really do just want me to be me, I knew I wanted to make a list of the songs I turn to when I want to just be in the feelings, whatever they are. 

This is just part of that list, and is mostly full of songs that I pretty much know all the words to so I can sing them (or at least the chorus) in the shower or while pulling weeds (or just looking at the weeds) or cleaning the kitchen etc. Basically songs I don't need to also be listening to in order to sing. As I started pulling these songs together, I realized I could probably list about 50 or more but 20 is more the length of a mixed tape and oh how I miss mixed tapes.

Because of course music taste varies, if you have your own "feeling all the feelings" songs you like to sing or listen to, I hope you'll share them in the comments.

*****

When you want to feel empowered for setting a boundary or two: Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone"

When you need to remind yourself that you're going to get through: fun.'s "Carry On"

When you need to remember that it's okay to still be really really mad (at least until it starts to distract your from actually living): Dixie Chick's "I'm Not Ready to Make Nice"

When you need to remember that you aren't alone over there: Carol King's "You've Got a Friend"

When you want to remind yourself that you have all the wisdom inside you to take the next step: Stephanie Dosen's "Brave"

When you want to step deep into vulnerability while also feeling the empowerment of singing one of the greatest songs of all time: Dolly Parton's "Jolene" (you knew it was going to make the list)

When the spark of something wondrous feels within your grasp: Joshua Radin's "Brand New Day"

When you need to remember that it doesn't matter what "they" say: Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" (obviously)

When you're shaking off the shackles of who you're supposed to be: Queen's "I Want to Break Free"

When you're kind of hoping to get your sexy on: Jonatha Brooke's (featuring Keb' Mo') "All You Gotta Do Is Touch Me"

When you need the reminder that you aren't too much and you really can show up as you: Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" (I can't help myself. It's back in my life and I can't stop. Won't stop.)

When you just want to be in the sadness (or perhaps the miracle) of it all: Any version of "Hallelujah" from k.d. lang to Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris to (of course) Leonard

When you just want to give into the missing of that someone who isn't in your life anymore: Jim Croce's "Photographs and Memories" (I'll pass the tissues)

When you know it's time: Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror"

When you're fresh in the OMG how did this happen to me: Cee Lo Green's "Forget You"

When you want to bring on the joy: the Glee version of "Don't Stop Believing"

When nostalgia and what used to be or might have been is tugging on you: Judy Garland's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

When you're deep in the grief and know it's okay to be there: Kenny Roger's "You Were a Good Friend"

When you're trusting the decision you're about to make: Rosie Thomas' "Wedding Day"

When you're letting in light and know things are getting better: Paul Simon's "Gone at Last" (This one is on just about every music list I have - dance it out, sing it out, get connected to who you want to be, dance with ellie, put on in the studio and shake it out, and how the list goes on.) 

And because oh my gosh I miss the days of mixed tapes, I made this list into a YouTube playlist here. 

What are you listening to over there when you want to feel all the feelings? Share in the comments. I'd love to know!

*****

For more prompts and stories about creative-self care, sign up for my (almost) weekly newsletter right here.

the file drawer {8}

 

I keep coming across words from Rumi lately. And I keep nodding my head and feeling less alone. Because here's the thing, there are simply little and not-so-little wounds that we all have. Sometimes they fade. Sometimes they reappear. But somehow even in the grief, there can be light. So much light. I trust this again and again. I hope you can too.

Here are a few things from around the web that have been hanging out in all those tabs I keep open:

This post from Ali brought tears to my eyes. In a good way. In a yes, this kind of way.

Checking out this list of memoirs from Jen Louden. Awesome!

I'm going on a weekend trip in a couple of weeks and am trying to find the right carryon tote to fit over the handle of my Baggalini roller bag. So far I like this and this and this and this. I dream of getting the OG but wish it fit my 15" laptop. Do you have any recommendations?

I'm pretty much in love with this apartment.

I  have homemade poptarts and frittatas on the brain. Thinking I might actually try to make both this weekend. Hmmm...

Let yourself rest. Yes yes yes. Awesome free wallpaper from DesignLoveFest. Serious love for these quotes.

When I'm in my studio by myself, I'm usually listening to the Dolly Parton Pandora station. And you guys, when Luckenbach, Texas by Waylon Jennings comes on, it's like I'm home. I'm not kidding. Something about his rich voice plus the way I can sway to the beat...Home. It is becoming my favorite song ever. For real. It might be next on the "learn for kareoke" list. (Don't you have one? You're gonna need one if you come to the Fall Retreat.)

When I saw Leonie's notes from Growth Summit 2015 on Instagram, I was totally intrigued. And then she put them all in a free download that is totally awesomesauce and I'm curling up with it this weekend.

From me:

There's a new sale section in the shop! You'll find several Where the Forest Meets the Sea necklaces + the intention necklaces on sale over there.

I'm sharing six ways to infuse your selfies with joy over here. I had so much fun writing about self-portraits + am loving sharing photography prompts in Water Your Mama Soul that I'm planning several more posts about this self-care practice that has changed my life over the last ten years. 

Hope your weekend is full of ease and joy. Yes.

Blessings,
Liz 

the file drawer {7}

 

Sometimes I can see these moments Thich Naht Hahn is talking about with clarity and there is so much light and I know I'm right where I'm supposed to be. Other times, the chatter inside pushes me away from what I know. This is why I practice...why I take self-portraits, why I read poetry, why I pause and take five deep breaths. This is why I know I have to fill up my own well first - so I can recognize which choice I want to make.

Here are a few things that caught my eye this week + things I've been thinking about:

This interview with Oprah has been online for months, but I just watched it for the first time last week and I wanted to cheer several times during it. She talked about how your real work is to figure out where your power base is and to work on the alignment of your personality and your gifts with the real reason you are here. Yes.

This Carl Sandburg poem kind of says it all.

A question: Can you relate to staying up late into the night scrolling through fonts to see which one might be the perfect fit for your new website? Me too. We should start a club. (My eyes are blurred by looking at Liz Lamoreux in script, in all caps, in all lowercase...)

I keep meaning to try Alicia's lasagna rozale recipe.

Everything about this pin (and Elise's awesome article it links to) is pretty much perfection to me.

I'm a wee bit obsessed with this Wonders of Washington patch set, and I'm tempted to get them and have our family "earn" them this summer and maybe sewing them to a fun bag we fill with tools for our adventures.

I'm dipping my toes into the world of Zentangle and taking some classes from Ellie's art teacher. I'm getting out of the house during the week! During an evening! It feels huge. Just two classes so far, but hoping to take more soon. (Oh and if you're local and want to join me, let me know!) I'm going to get this book and start playing with a few new tangles. Watch for them to appear over on Instagram. It feels like a new kind of mindfulness practice that this mama of a four year old really needs.

Do you use a feed reader? I use Feedly. But lately, I've been receiving several emails from people wanting to subscribe to my blog so posts come in their inbox, and I'm wondering if people just aren't using feed readers anymore. (Google Reader, we are still fighting. Although it's a silly kind of fight since you aren't even around anymore to know how annoyed I am.) Anyway, if you would like to receive my blog posts in your inbox, I've started a new MailChimp list just for posts (not my newsletter). If you prefer, you can subscribe through Feedburner as well here. I'm also on BlogLovin' over here where I dip my toes in sometimes to see if I like it better than Feedly. Jury is still out.

And this is the part where I'm saying I feel moved to share that doing these link posts on a Friday is nothing new. I've done them on and off for the (almost) 10 years I've been blogging, but have never really chosen one day to always do them. I love (love!) reading these kinds of link posts from other bloggers (like elise, susannah, and a cup of jo). And because I curate so many things over on Pinterst these days, it makes me super happy to have one series of blog posts to "file" some of my favorite favorites. I hope you're enjoying them.

Happy weekend beautiful souls!

xoxo,
Liz 

PS A couple of the links above are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission when you buy from their site.

the file drawer {6}

 

These words have burrowed into my cells. This is how I want to live...deeply embodying the width and the depth. Always. Even when it feels very very hard and I just want to watch bad tv instead.

I'm about half of the way through Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. I read it on the plane while Ellie slept on my lap. And I ugly cried. A lot. It was very cathartic in that way where you feel like you're not alone in seeing the beauty and the grit of life. Yes. And if I'm really honest, it makes me want to start an advice column of sorts one day a week on the blog. Where you ask questions and I answer them. For reals. (If you have a question, send it over and we'll see where, if anywhere, this sentence takes us.)

Vivienne's Be Your Own Beloved ecourse starts tomorrow. It is one of the best courses out there. And I've taken quite a few my friends. If you haven't taken it yet, I really encourage you to. And her post "Your Selfie is Enough" is one of my favorites I've read this month.

The article "Lottery Tickets: Grieving for a Husband" by Elizabeth Alexander is one of the most moving, beautiful pieces of writing I've ever read.

I went into the rabbit hole of youtube this week and came across episodes of Dinner for Five, which was a great show on IFC. I watched this one and found out that JJ Abrahms wrote Regarding Henry, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. If you haven't seen it, it's your homework. I mean, I love it so much, I want to make a movie club and make that our first one. 

I want to figure out how to make this with white lights in my living room. I love it!

This week I wrote about five mindfulness practices you can start doing today and I think you might find something on the list to try this weekend.

So this print makes the Star Wars geek in me giddy.

I want to make this glitter paint with EJ soon.

And the Trust Love chocolate over at Storypeople makes me very very happy.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend dear one. Remember to get outside and breathe in the beauty around you. 

the file drawer {5}

As I continue to brainstorm and dream about future retreats and online offerings, I'm holding this quote close. Yes. I love Madeleine L'Engle.

When I was doing a little research about this self-care article, I found this Mayo Clinic piece about how laughing is good for your health. So bring on some more lip synch offs and clips from Graham Norton.

Hindsight. Are you watching it? Just watched the two episodes this week and I can't wait to see the others. I kept saying to Jon that this was such a well-played nostalgia move by VH1. (And that moment when she says, "oh my green razor!"....so I still have mine. Since high school. I love that thing.) 

So this is the part where I admit I finally watched Gone Girl. I've been meaning to read the book forever. But didn't. And then I somehow missed every possible spoiler that crossed my path. Thank goodness because OMG I really did not see that coming. I mean I saw somethin' but not like that. Oh and this is where I also tell you that one way to know the age difference between Bonnie and me is that when we were working in the studio and I told her I finally saw it, she said something about almost not watching it because Ben Affleck was in it. Sigh. She doesn't know Ben like we do. Next up on the studio must-watch list: Good Will Hunting.

This recipe was repinned more than 2000 times on my YES board in just a few hours, so I'm thinking you might want to pin it too. (Crazy. I mean it looks good, but I did not expect that response. So fun! Totally want to make it, which is why I pinned it of course, but now I know chocolate covered bananas + peanut butter are loved by all!)

This article completely captures why I'm a Swiftie too. Big. Time. (And I might have started following TS on Instagram. Yes, I am that mom.)

I read Ellie the The Velveteen Rabbit for the first time recently. Oh my gosh I love that story. And I love that we're able to read it from my copy from when I was a kid.

We also watched Swiss Family Robinson while Ellie was home sick this week and I remembered as a kid realizing, "Oh I'm supposed to have a crush on the older brother even though the younger one is cuter." Like a Disney version of the "ahhh Han Solo is the hot one...I get it now" moment. But now that I'm almost 40, I'll take the dad please. He adores the mom in the cutest most earnest yet wee bit sexy way.

And now for something really good: Ellie and I head to Disney World tomorrow. We're meeting up with my dad and stepmom. We're staying at the Wilderness Lodge. And Ellie is about to overflow with excitement. She's been wanting to go for so long and now that day is almost here. (And if you've been reading for a while, you might know that I'm kind of a really big fan too [yes i did just link to that incredibly cheesy early blog post]. I haven't been in seven years and I'm really excited too!)

I've scheduled some blog posts for next week while we're gone. For months, I've felt like I want to get more posts up on the site and it feels good to just get the ideas out of my "blog post idea" notebook and onto the blank white space here. Hope you enjoy them! And when I get back, I think there will be several posts about Disney World and traveling that far on a plane with a little one and so many other good things. Including how the heck my feet make it with my plantar fasciitis. And be sure to follow along on Instagram for some peeks of our trip!

found

while cleaning out purses in my closet. march, 2013.

lists from Ikea (3)
pen (blue, purple, pink)
lip balm (5)
petrified peanut m&ms (3)
a bill for the anesthesia from my c-section
grocery lists, things to not forget lists, things i want to tell you lists
gum wrappers
my favorite sunglasses lost for 2.5 years (update: lost again)
a pair of clean underwear
(when your five-week old is sent to the pediatric ICU and you don't go home for five days, you start carrying a pair everywhere, even years later)
one tiny baby sock (pink and green stripes)  
about $4.80 in change
three handkerchiefs
superhero trading card
burp cloth
headband
ponytail holders (10 or more)
tiny hair clippies (8)
three $1 bills
five teeny legs from a dead spider
business cards from artists I wish I knew
receipts from retreats in 2010, 2011, and 2012
tissues and more tissues
a fortune
a forgotten wallet with
Social Security card 
half-filled punchcards
Starbucks gift card
a ring made out of vintage buttons
small cup of almonds + cranberries
two pairs of wrist warmers  

*****

I found this post in my drafts. I didn't post it at the time because I thought it needed a photo. Because somewhere along the way all posts had to have photos. But it paints its own photo I think. No photo needed.