an.old.favorite.image

i have been busy trying to put together some images to create artwork for the house with and i came across this old one from about 2 years ago.i just love it

 

it looks, to me, like something you would find in an old Time Life Magazine.

anyway, i just thought i would share it with you and let you read this….it is the lyrics from a favorite song of mine by Ray Lamontagne called “Be Here Now”. It’s a very organic song….very simple.

And that is something i am trying to focus on right now.SIMPLICITYhaving a new house, wanting to fill it with new things, getting caught up in creating the *perfect* home is something that is too easily all-consuming.

I am not one to *slowly* do things….i want to have the house DONE…every room painted, art on the walls, new dishes, basement finished….and it is the kind of thing that will easily stress me out.

i get stressed a lot

so…..this image and these words are my attempt for today to find peace and to not let things get *too heavy* 

Don’t let your mind get weary and confusedYour will be still, don’t tryDon’t let your heart get heavy childInside you there’s a strength that liesDon’t let your soul get lonely childIt’s only time, it will go byDon’t look for love in faces, placesIt’s in you, that’s where you’ll find kindnessBe here now, here nowBe here now, here nowDon’t lose your faith in meAnd I will try not to lose faith in youDon’t put your trust in walls’Cause walls will only crush you when they fallBe here now, here now 

meet.the.other.half.of.this.soundtrack

so, i am back from (yet another) trip to Kansas. My best friend, Whitney, had her baby shower and it was nice to see her growing belly and to see some sorority sisters and catch up. It sometimes can make me miss home, but then when i got back, we were all moved into the new house and it looked so amazing.my 3 favorite things so far are1. the wrap-around porch where i can watch the sun set2. the brand new front-loading, 9-cycle, with built-in steamer washer & dryer3. and by far….the new bathtub. I am a serious bath person and this baby is Deeeeeeep and the first thing i bought when i got back last night was lavendar bubble bath….HeAVeNum, let’s see….so Erin has been busy working on the website day and night and it should be up and running by midnight….we have a few things left to tweek, but it looks amazing and i am so happy with it.Have you guys met Erin? i guess not….now is as good as a time as any. this is erin.i met erin about 3 years ago when we both worked together at a photography studio that would change our lives….in so many ways that it has changed who we both are.we learned what we want to be and what we NEVER want to be.when i first met erin, needless to say, i wasn’t that excited about her. She was a college student still and was holiday/break/summer help that had worked there for years and years and i was pretty comfortable with how things were and the idea of her coming in and running things kind of threw me off. But she didn’t and i now consider her one of my best friends.I am not sure how much erin will actually post on this blog, but i will do my best to include her and stories about her on here so you can get to know her.for now….here are 10 randome facts about erin.1. CLUMSY….like, going to break a bone one day. (just informed me she has already broken 2 bones)2. she has a degree in architecture from Kansas State University….my rival3. she literally moved here with about 4 boxes4. she has lived in Ireland and Australia5. she has 2 sisters & 1 brother6. she eats a lot of yogurt7. she is messy…..but learning how to be neater b/c she is staying with clint and I and he is a neat freak8. can’t dance….actually, i have never seen her try, but it is that alone that tells me she can’t…plus, she is so clumsy i just assume9. caught her pants on fire standing next to a kerosene heater when home for christmas break10. lost the hood of her car while driving down the highway…has since purchase a new vehicle.

moving

is not fun we have been painting and painting and painting for what seems like weeks now, but it has only been about 5 days. The whole main floor is painted and next we take on 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.We finally have a washer & dryer, the REALLy nice front-loading ones….and a refrigerator that makes ice. Our last 2 houses haven’t had that ever-so-taken-for-granted luxury.  This weekend is the *actual* big move….and *somehow* i managed to plan a trip out of town that very same weekend. What a shame, right?I will be back in KC for my best friend Whitney’s baby shower. She has only a month left before baby boy Greysen Xavier Rawls is here…i can’t wait to meet him So, just wanted to post a little update that things should be fully up-and-running again within the next two weeks….website included. We’ve had a few delays…nothing serious….just some ski days, some shopping days, some museum days…you know, mental health stuff. But it should be up and running by this weekend. Anyway, stay tuned for pics of the house as it is finished….oh, and what fun is a post without a picture.  two years ago at this time, my dad and i were in europe….i have trying to put together art for the new house and found this picture and i just love it. We had so much fun!   

i.need.a.baby

NOT ONE OF MY OWN….

but one of yours

preferably 8-12 months….

i prefer that they can stand….walking would be better.

a girl if i could choose

cute is a must

if you, or someone you know, has a baby that meets these few, but VERY important, requirements, have them give me a call or shoot me an e-mail.

I have a crazy idea i want to try….

and in return…they get 1 FREE 8×10 of their choice….

HURRY…..this is a VALENTINES day idea….

no.smiles.here

so, sometimes, when you are writing about your own family, it’s a little hard.

You can find the words, but do they do the emotions and feelings justice?

Do the pictures do the words justice?

probably not….

so, for these pictures of my 13-year-old nephew, Patrick, i tried to remember what it felt like to be 13 and what i would want to know. I think i was a pretty good kid, as is he, but i just wish i knew then that i didn’t have to think about *being* anything other than me…and a good human being.

he is sooooo 13….no smiles here.

He is all about *attitude* in these pics.

live life fully while you’re here.
experience everything.
take care of yourself and your friends.
have fun, be crazy, be weird.
go out and screw up!
you’re going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process.
take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes:
find the cause of your problem and eliminate it.
don’t try to be perfect;
just be an excellent example of being human.
- anthony robbins

new.year.new.people

so, for my first picture post of the New Year i wanted to post some images of a new baby in my life….Baby Derek…

Isn’t he the most precious little guy?

he looks like a little Glow Worm, remember those?

He is only 6 weeks old and he can already hold his head up for about half a minute.

Oh, i guess i should tell you a little bit about Derek. His mommy is my best friend from growing up. Rachel and i have known each other since we were about 6. We have so many memories together….i really don’t have many memories from high school that don’t include her.

We were suspended together, obsessed over boys together, play all sports together.

Her friendship is so special to me and i am so lucky that while i was back in town for a brief time i was able to meet Derek. She, Paul and the baby were so kind to drive to the hotel my mom and i stayed at while we went shopping on the Plaza. It was kind of snowy, but that didn’t stop them. My mom was IN LOVE with the baby. She just kept saying, “Rachel, i can’t believe you have a baby.”

I just love this image of his body. I think it is so touching and the curve of his body is something beautiful all moms should remember about this new, fresh time.

these were all taken at a hotel on a bed….you wouldn’t even know.

and lastly, i just love this image b/c of the glow in the background from the lamp.

Oh, true to Rachel’s sense of humor, i asked her what they were getting Derek for his 1st Christmas and she said, “I gave him life….isn’t that enough of a present?”

a lot to write about….

just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you ….

Stay tuned for postings about

*Christmas
*New Year
*3 of our good friends moving to Denver
*Baby Derek
*my nephew, Patrick
*the new house
*a model call
*a baby shower

Oh, and i am ABSOLUTELY obsessed with a new musician whose name is ADELE…

google her, myspace her, whatever her….her voice is amazing….