karen bower at Rock Red Shoes posted this pearl today.
she rocks. red shoes or not.

"You are not your bra-size, nor are you the width of your waist, nor are you the slenderness of your calves. You are not your hair color, your skin color, nor are you a shade of lipstick. Your shoe-size is of no consequence. You are not defined by the amount of attention you get from males, females, or any combination thereof. You are not the number of sit-ups you can do, nor are you the number of calories in a day. You are not your mustache. You are not the hair on your legs. You are not a little red dress. You are no amalgam of these things.

You are the content of your character. You are the ambitions that drive you. You are the goals that you set. You are the things that you laugh at and the words that you say. You are the thoughts you think and the things you wonder. You are beautiful and desirable not for the clique you attend, but for the spark of life within you that compels you to make your life a full and meaningful one. You are beautiful not for the shape of the vessel, but for the volume of the soul it carries." 

— Unknown

no winter lasts forever

 no spring skips its turn. 

walking outside today, my spirits were lifted by bits of spring i saw everywhere - birds  chirping happily in the trees, flowers pushing through the sun-warmed soil, blooming in spite of frosty temperatures and me with my baby-friend, both of us happy to be outside, playing in the sunshine. 

today marks a year, our first year without justin. everyone is asking how we're doing. ashley and i both agree - we are no more sad today than yesterday. one year doesn't hurt any more than 364 days. losing someone you love just hurts. every day. but today, noticing spring all around in the company of a small child whose whole world is filled with wonder made me hurt a little less.

 quote  by Hal Borland

sharing the love

While sitting on my back patio tonight with the laptop (it just doesn't get any better), I came across a few new foodie sites and you know I can't keep something like this to myself!

Try The Review Lady
she's got some good looking recipes. she tries it first so you don't have to.

Or click over to RoadFood.com
if you've got a road trip coming up. They'll tell you the best places to grab a bite.

and Tastespotting is back up! I do still check food gawker but TS is the original and I feel somehow loyal. After all, they posted my no-bake cookies. Food gawker couldn't be bothered with me. But I'm not bitter.

I skipped Tuesday's with Dorie this week. None of us are really into blueberry pie. I found another cooking group that uses Barefoot Contessa recipes. If you don't know Ina Garten, shame on you. Surf on over and introduce yourself. I loved the Barefoot Contessa quote the Review Lady used on her blog, "Food is not about impressing people. In fact, it's just the opposite: it's about making them feel comfortable."

Now go cook up some comfort.

for roo

Ashley wants to add more color to her apartment. I found a really great frame at Target and knew just the photo I wanted to print for her. I took this last summer when the morning glories were in full bloom. I caught this beautiful bud just ready to unfurl in the sunlight. Add a photoshop action from Pioneer Woman and the colors just sing.

The quote reads, "Where there is great love there are always miracles."

Perfection.

more card craftiness

If you're one of the recipients of these cards, act surprised when you find them in your mailbox, 'k? :)

Copied from two peas again.

for today

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."

-Mary Jean Iron

Thanks Ali

Story of the Day: Possible Love

I get these daily mailings from StoryPeople. The artists there create these wonderfully imaginative art pieces and display them with poetry. Here's today's story.

Wonderfully apropos.

"She learned to love him before he thought it was even possible, so he didn't have a chance to hide & mess it up & while it was a little scary at times, mainly he could not even imagine the world without her there."

work is love made visible

One down. One to go.

These are a gift for my cousin's new grandbaby, due in September.

Mary Jane booties.

Could they BE any cuter? I think not.

I'd like to try them in black. They might be cuter in black. :)

Pattern can be found here. Go get you some cuteness.

(thanks Crystal!)

P.S. The heading is a quote I found today. Truer words were never spoken.

Work is love made visible.
-Kahlil Gibran

moonshine

Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth.

--Joseph Addison