Reveal Beauty

"If we look at the world with a love of life, the world will reveal its beauty to us." -Daisaku Ikeda

To Err is Human

I seek out to listen to Brene Brown and went to her website and found this link to where she spoke on a radio show called Tapestry from Canada. The first person they spoke to though I really enjoyed too gave me a lot of food for thought - Bruce Mau. He has a great voice and face too because I had to google him after hearing him.

Here is the interview of Brene Brown and Bruce Mau on Tapestry

Brene Brown has been doing classes online this past spring/summer and I am hoping that maybe this fall she has another and with birthday money I treat myself to take it.

makes me want to sew

I have a sewing machine but haven't used it in about 10 years. But when I am on Pinterest - I always think about that I should break it out and make some of the wonderful things I see there.

Such as a few of these things...

Source: little-inspirations.blogspot.com via Darby on Pinterest

Source: skiptomylou.org via Darby on Pinterest

Source: thismamamakesstuff.com via Darby on Pinterest

The First Time

I love that feeling when you feel that spark like you are meeting for the first time even though you have been together for a long time. It is like you even though you know each other so well you can look at each other with excitement and anticipation of what's next.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. my inhaler - having lots of asthma problems
2. M&M's
3. my sisters
4. homemade cleaners that smell good and don't give my lungs problems
5. smiles

Zesty Corn on the Cob

Corn on the Cob - freshly cooked
Butter
Seasonings
Ziplock Bag

Place several pats of butter and seasonings in a ziplock bag. I put almost a pat of butter per ear of corn. And it is just to your taste on the seasonings but I probably start with a tablespoon of my main seasoning.

After husks are removed and corn is cooked, place hot corn into ziplock with butter and seasonings. Let the hot corn sit there for a moment to get the butter melting and then start move it around in the ziplock to incorporate the seasoning over the corn.

I used Northwood Seasonings by Penzeys which has coarse flake salt, paprika, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, garlic and chipotle. But I have also used Italian seasonings and just garlic cloves too. You really can just add so many different seasonings to spice up your corn on the cob.

Dog Days Are Over

I listened to this song a many times and knew it sounded familiar from a movie but it took me a while to place it...Eat Pray Love - DUH!

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. that the final Harry Potter movie is coming out and we will be seeing it soon!
2. safe drive over to Denver
3. time spent with a good friend
4. getting through a hard day
5. spending time with family

Paper Coterie Review

I decided to create a book from Paper Coterie for my sister and brother-in-law for their 1st wedding anniversary. First wedding anniversary is paper so I thought it would make a good gift along with the newspapers from their wedding date that Michael picked up. I also made a graphic print of hearts with their initials and wedding date.

Paper Coterie has a wide variety of books for different occasions. I found them very easy to use. Uploading photos, changing the layout, dropping and dragging them to the layout of the book and changing the words as well as adding words. You can change out backgrounds, swap them with other pages and play around with the clipart. I knew if I played around with it too much I would just keep playing and playing and never get it done. But I did have fun playing with it and it was so easy to create.

The book I received was so pretty. Good quality paper and colors. I definitely would like to create more books from them. They make great gifts and keepsakes for memories.

This is the little graphic print I made for them too.

The Work

I don't believe there is one end all be all to fixing things. I think actually each person has a responsibility to their ownself and that of course we might come across tools that will help us but won't help someone else. It has taken me a lot of years to become aware of myself and what works and how I tick. And change some of the things I didn't like about myself. But it does feel at times like a continuous journey of learning. Brene Brown's books have really impacted me this year but a friend also suggested Byron Katie so I started reading her book recently. I really am taking some good things from it too. The website really gives the key pieces though.

The 4 Questions are really interesting and they have been insightful and beneficial in many situations. I wish I would have learned them a long time ago.

Trouble is a Friend

Really like the style of the video....the shadow puppets.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. time with friends
2. my therapist
3. Harry Potter books - I hadn't read them before and I am really enjoying them
4. the best corn on the cob - done with Penzeys Northwood Spices. Yums!
5. my sister and brother-in-law - it is their anniversary today! I am very grateful that we were able to spend their special day with them last year!

Letterpress

Letterpress from Naomie Ross on Vimeo.

I found this via Pia Jane Bijkerk.

I love the look of letterpress and would like to try it sometime. Thought this video was a cool view of it.

My Country tis of Thee

I first heard this version of this song on West Wing and it just just moved me to tears. And so on this day....July 4th....I think of this song.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. movie night with a friend
2. all the laundry being done, folded and put away
3. a holiday weekend
4. purple notepad
5. my friend Jessica giving me a star - she has stars tattooed on her like freckles for important people in her life and she is getting one for me. It touched me deeply. And I feel the same about her.