I always wear mascara. I always try to remember people’s names. I always have had Jewel’s song “You were meant for me” as my ringback tone. I always kiss my husband goodnight. I always send thank you cards.
I sometimes drink coffee and sometimes drink tea. I sometimes paint my nails to feel fancy. I sometimes remember to move the seat back for Chris in the car. I sometimes stay up late and sometimes wake up really early. I sometimes wish I was better in the kitchen.
I never eat spicy food. I never get everything accomplished in the day that I want to. I never leave the house without my phone. I never drink without a straw if I have the option. I’ll never take the love I’ve found for granted.
And I just can’t get enough of my little scruffy puppy!
Man, is it really June 14th already?? After a month of blogging (almost) everyday in May, which I totally enjoyed, I needed a few days off. But what better way to jump back in than a Hair Diaries post. These are so much fun!
I have had my short hair for a few months now, and I totally love it. It does require a bit more upkeep than longer styles, and this week I went in for a fresh cut and color. Since my cousin Hannah had her baby she’s taking a little time off from doing hair, I was able to reconnect with my friend Brittany who did my hair a couple times years ago. I walked in to make my appointment and she remembered me and Chris from back then, which was a cool feeling. She cut my hair last month and then this week I went back to her for a blonde touch-up and a trim. The blonde is finally the tone I have been working towards and the cut feels perfect. I can’t wait to play more with it.
Thanks Brittany for rocking out my hair, and thanks Becki from Whippy Cake for the inspiration. I always take your pictures in with me to get your look. It’s the perfect pixie.
I just love my hair right now. Little things like a fresh cut and color can completely brighten my day.
Songs have always been a huge part of my life which made today’s prompt totally up my alley. But there was no way I could narrow it down to 5 songs for my whole life, or even for my whole marriage. So I picked 5 songs from my childhood to share with you today. Each one has a special story… Take a listen with the playlist I’ve included.
O Siem by Susan Aglukark I first heard this song when I was about 7 in a car with a dear old friend named Marg. She had Susan’s album on tape and was sharing it with us as we were driving back from a morning in service. I remember instantly being drawn to the sound of her voice and the drums. Those drums are something special. I asked Marg if I could borrow the tape, made a copy of it for myself and listened to it till it died. I recently bought the album on CD from Amazon and have loved falling in love with the songs again. The video for this song is amazing!
Navajo Rug by Ian Tyson My dad introduced me to Ian Tyson when I was young and I have these vivid memories of us singing his songs together on road trips. Navajo Rug was my favorite one. I love the imagery of it and the classic country music story telling. I got to see Ian Tyson live a few years ago when he came to the Summerland Music Festival. He sang this song on request for us. One of my favorite memories.
Blame It On the Weatherman by B Witched B*Witched is a group of 4 girls from Ireland and their CD was the very first one I ever bought myself. So totally 90’s! The album was full of fun bubbly fun songs that still make me smile to hear. This one is a little sad and melancholy, but I was 12 years old and beginning my moody stage (oh to be a pre-teen), so this one has stuck with me.
The Animal Song by Savage Garden Savage Garden was on constant repeat in my disk-man when I was growing up. I remember road trips listening to them, and sitting with my cousins eating sunflower seeds in the summertime listening to them. Their music always made me feel something. This one is a favorite for sure…the lyrics still resonate in my wanna-be gypsy soul. So full of that real life stuff that I just love.
Dr. Jones by Aqua You cannot talk about music from the 90’s without including Aqua! Seriously. lol. I had all their CD’s and remember listening to them on the bus ride to and from school. The reason I chose this particular song from them is because this is one of the first songs I made my siblings do a choreographed dance to! I was a pretty bossy older sister, and this is one of the things I used to make them do: dance. I can’t help but smile when I think of the little shows we used to perform and dancing together at parties. We had a lot of fun together… well I had fun. I don’t know about them. ;)
Music is so universal. I’m glad that its been such a huge part of my life, helping me process my emotions growing up and feeling like I wasn’t so alone as a teenager. I love sharing memories around music with my family. And I love that its such a huge part of who Chris is too, and that we can share that as our own family now. I can’t wait to go exploring everyone else’s posts today and hopefully discover some new favorite songs!
What are songs you remember from your childhood?
“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 29: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories.
You can take a goof to a glamor shoot, but the goof is always there! These images are just so me. Photography by my friend Marta of VonGrey Photography.
P.S. I’ll be sharing the other more glamorous ones soon! Thanks Marta!
Hello friends. Today I wanted to take some time to say thank you for the support you give me and my little corner of the world wide web. Its hard to believe that I’ve been blogging since 2005! This blog has morphed from a literal online diary, to a place to update and keep a record of my life, from post after post about scrapbooking to what it is today: a place to find inspiration and real life ways to celebrate the everyday.
I have made so many friends through this space…met so many amazing people that I never would have connected with. People who make my life better and inspire me. Friends who feel close even though we’re miles apart. That is the beauty in blogging, I think. To make connections through shared experiences. It has been a gift and a pleasant constant in my life all these years.
Your comments mean so much to me. Each visit is cherished; each email savored. You make me smile. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to me. For being part of the little community of friends this blog has created. Your interaction has made it what it is today. And I just love it!
If you’re just new here, please say hello and make yourself at home. I’m glad to have you here. I can’t wait to get to know you all even better! Blogging is just awesome!
I came across a blog post recently (by one of my favorite bloggers Elise) where she shared a quote from a book she was reading. It resonated with her because of her previous One Little Word “choose” and how it effected her last year and continues to.
This is the quote:
"Through a phenomenon known as nueroplasticity, when you use awareness to interrupt unhelpful mental patterns you are actually creating new neural pathways in your brain. As the saying goes, "Neurons that fire together wire together." If your neurons are frequently firing together in unhelpful repetitive patterns, such as being angry or frustrated, you get really good at anger and frustration. However, you can actually create new and more positive neural pathways by choosing to pay attention to something else. As you practice you come to feel different - steadier, more resilient, and less reactive to life's inevitable ups and downs - because you are different. You have used your mind to change your brain."
And I read it and thought: “YES!” This is exactly what I try to do in my life and in my attitude, and here science is showing me why that is so helpful and positive and motivating. By choosing how we react to things we are morphing our neural pathways and in effect, our life. We are molding our brains to think differently about things in the moment and things to come. I just love it!
When you get stuck in one of those unhelpful negative repetitive patters it can be hard to break free. It can be hard to choose to see things in a different light. I know this, and I know that I still have a long way to go. But I can see a difference in myself and how I approach things even in the last year. When I made the change here on the blog to focus on “celebrating the everyday” it altered how I looked at life and how I lived. I found more gratitude and contentment and eagerness.
And now I know why… I “used my mind to change my brain.”
So awesome! And empowering.
What reaction are you going to choose today? How will it change your life?
“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 26: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss.
Ever had one of those days when everything feels a little off…when the tears come for no reason and with no end, and you’re having a hard time smiling? I’m having one of those days…
But its times like this when a memory of some kind thing someone once said cuts through the darkness and lifts my spirits.
“You’re the exception to the rule” she said…
And it was a compliment. I was 18 and it was one of the nicest compliments I’d ever received.
My step-mom turned friend, Connie and I were talking about teenagers and the norm of most of them, but how I was different. She took the time to notice how hard I was trying, and made a point of telling me her thoughts and impressions. And what she said to me is something I’ll never forget.
Many times in life we come across situations and we make observations, but too often we don’t voice them. We see many things, like a mother with well behaved kids at the store or a co-worker who does the little things. But if we did take the time to give a compliment or commendation, we have no idea how that might impact them. Here I am, almost 10 years removed from what Connie said to me, but it still touches my heart. Still helps me through the rough days.
Can we all try to do this for someone else today? To make someone smile, feel noticed, or worthwhile… it might make their day today and over and over again in the future.
Thank you, Connie for your words. They meant a lot to me then, and even more to me today.
“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 25: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad).
