Introducing...my new blog!

Hello there! I'm so glad you're stopping by today :) This blog will no longer be updated, so please come visit my new blog...

 Jar Full of Stars

Have a beautiful day!

Express Your Self-Love

Hi all! Things have been pretty go-go-go with work this last week so I haven't been in blogland much...and I miss it! I'm trying to get back in the swing of it and finishing up my new site by tweaking it to loveliness. Thanks for your patience :)

So I've been wanting to write about body image and self love for awhile... and then came along this Love Your Body Link-up with Alicia and Rachel. I'm just catching the tail-end of it, but am glad I can share this.

I am so proud and excited to be apart of the Vagina Monologues this year. This is a production, based on interviews with thousands of women. It's fruition came to life by a sociologist, Eve Ensler. The stories of these women are hilarious, sorrowful, angering, and inspiring, but above all, they are making a statement that vaginas are powerful. I feel this is so important because it's time for people to speak up and love themselves. 

It took me quite a few years through middle school, high school and college of hiding my body, uncomfortable about my weight and what clothes would show tummy pudge. I was discouraged from wearing a bikini. In 4th grade a girl commented on a posed dance costume photo that I looked pregnant. That totally hurt and I didn't understand. Then I used to crave lots of attention from males. I always was with a different guy. I realize I was trying to be whatever they wanted me to be. And that will never work... thank goodness. What a blessing to discover our true selves and celebrate it! ...Needless to say, I got through those developing years and became more comfortable with myself.

I now know that beauty is in our true expression - in every person's perfect imperfections. It's our own story that we each tell. And it's in actively speaking that true, not passively swallowing whatever comes. But on one hand, I don't feel like society encourages us to express what we love about ourselves. I see this even amongst the 5 year olds I work with, who tell the teacher "so-and-so was braggiiiing" when the girl was proud of something she did. I say ~ Share what you love and be proud of it! 

Now I'd like to share a few things I love about myself :) 

I LOVE:  ........the giant freckle on my big toe............my speckled brown-green changing colored eyes.......my teeth (parents are happy about their investment in this one)..........hips, hips, hips...... and, fun fact - my single chin hair (it's my 'beard of wisdom')!

What do you love about yourself?? What does beauty mean to you?

Linking up with Alicia and Rachel

Friday Favorites { numero dos }

Hi loves. Friday already!? Before I head off into the busy and exciting weekend, I want to share some really awesome gems from this week. I hope yours is great!

~ DIY Bow Bun. A majorly exciting discovery this week is Mr. Kate. How did I not know about here before?! This lady shares her fabulous DIYs through really fun and silly videos. I recommend checking her out (especially if you love word puns and crafts).

~ Kid Snippets: Driver's Ed. We all know that kids say the BEST things...this video is no exception. I was dying with laughter and I hope you find it just as hilarious! Thanks Jan for sharing this :)

~ Skin tag removal with Daily Wanderlust and Such. Ok, maybe a bit weird...but if this works I would love to share more. I'm on Day 2 of trying this remedy and will keep posted how it goes...best part = 1 simple ingredient...Apple Cider Vinegar! (This stuff is like magic, I'm learning more and more)

~ DIY confetti stix with Best Friends for Frosting. How perfect are these for surprise parties!

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~ This free flyer from Apartment Wife is a fun way to spread the love around town. I'll definitely be doing this when the rain has finished.

~ Love Your Body link-up with a lovely blogger Alicia, which I just discovered. Love yourself, from head to toe and inside and out. Share in a post about an experience or something you LOVE about your very you-self.

Hello Spring!

In the spirit of spring, here's a few things I've been up to! 

DIY! Use acrylic or spray paint to decorate up some plain shades. Then paint a sealant over it. I used Modge Podge and it should be a-ok with no rain.

Start planting when the frost is gone (sorry East Coasters!). I love rainbow chard for its beautiful, vibrant colors. I'm beginning them as sprouts, until they grow an inch or so, then will transplant to a bigger space. 

I'm also looking forward to wearing some dresses :) What do you love about spring?

Linking up with Nicole:

Breakfast Favorite

I love food. And between all meals, I don't think I can choose a favorite. But today is about breakfast. Only a few years ago I discovered the amazing-ness that is cottage cheese. When I can get it (not in Peru) I eat it alll the time. Especially for breakfast. Here's what I like.

cottage cheese! add some raisins, almonds or nuts, and a touch of cinnamon for a little sweetness. Perfect.

What's your go-to breakfast? 

Lemon Rosemary Wanna-be Margarita

Hey friends! I wasn't planning on posting today, but it's hard not to when there's such a fun challenge with Melyssa's Creative Collective. I love this link-up of crafty projects and experimentation. Today's prompt is concocting a cocktail, which I should really start doing more often.

I wanted to try out the lemon-rosemary combo...Original thought was a margarita, but there wasn't any. A friend put it perfectly, saying "when you don't have tequila for a margarita...use rum". Catchy, huh? Well, that's pretty much what happened. This recipe was heavily experimental and it turned out really nice! 

Ingredients

- Margarita mix

- dark rum (or...tequila!)

- 1 tsp honey

- a few sprigs of rosemary

- 1/2 lemon

I like that I tried using honey in a cocktail - but it may not have been necessary since Margarita mix is darn sweet on it's own. Maybe a bit more water instead of mix.

First I infused the honey, lemon juice, and rosemary by heating in the microwave for less than 10 seconds. Since the honey has so much sugar, it will heat super fast. 

Then, I poured in some rum and probably triple the margarita mix. I poured it all into the blender, added ice and blended it up into an ice-y froth. Garnish if you like. This is great for summer and I'll definitely be making it again - who knows, maybe with tequila ?!

Did you join the link-up? What's your favorite cocktail? Cheers, all!

Fresh Squeezed Wishes

Hi lovelies! Did you have a wonderful weekend? I sure hope so. 

Just a little heads up, it may be kind of quiet around here for a few days while I'm getting my new blog up and running...I've been making some good progress :)

Here's some fresh squeezed goodness to start your week...One morning, I hand-squeezing all these oranges. All fresh from the farm in Costa Rica. I love starting the day with juice!

How do you start your day? And your week?