I've started a craft that I love doing, but LOVING something does not equal being GOOD at something.  I'm just not sure how to figure out where I fall on the spectrum.  I'm asked people like my parents, friends, husband, other family members; I feel like all of them may feel required to say that I'm a lot better at something than I actually am.  But, maybe they're telling the truth -- may I am good at what I love to do.

Who knows.  The more I do it, the better I am anyway, so at least I'll get in some good practice, haha.

These aren't the best photos of some of the cards I've made, but use your imagination.  Creating these bring me so much joy, and isn't that what your life should be about: finding what brings you joy and doing it?!  Obviously there are other things I like to do more like travel and work events, but my health doesn't always cooperate.  (Hopefully I WILL get to travel in a few weeks, so yay for that.  Astana is gorgeous, and the people and arts are beautiful there.  I can't wait to hear those magical words "Yes, you're healthy enough to leave the country!")  Please, please, please.  Making these are something that's calming and pretty unaffected by my health.

 

I'm a great collector of quotes, which means I don't give many worth much myself.  Anyway, I always feel like signing off with a quote, so I'm going to seize the day.

"The strange power of art is sometimes it can show that what people have in common is more urgent than what differentiates them." 
-John Berger  

I love what this power of art says about not art, but people.  We WANT, we NEED to be brought together and what we choose to help us do just that is art a lot of times.  A beautiful thing.

xoxo,
A

Rules For Living, In No Particular Order

I've been sick all week.  Really sick.  Hospital 2x, sleeping for 20 hrs. a day sick.  Do I feel like writing a blog entry?  Honestly, no.  But, if I didn't do something every time I didn't 'feel like it,' I'd never get anything done.  So, today's post is a simple quote from 'Mad Men.'  Yes, the TV show.  I read a great quote recently that was such a great advice that I thought it couldn't possibly have come out of the mouth of Don Draper.  Yet, I was wrong.

Over the past ten years or so, I've compiled these 'Rules for Living,' often taking them from interviews, books, poems, films, old quotes, etc.  When I came across this quote by Don Draper's character in 'Mad Men,' I thought that maybe I should actually write these down so I'll have some kind of record of all these jumbled ideas about how to live my life.  Most of them I don't have to explain, or just plain won't explain, but that's mainly because if you don't understand it, the rule may not apply to you or your life.  Well, here goes.  The most recent addition to my 'Rules for Living:'

MAKE IT SIMPLE, BUT SIGNIFICANT.

- Don Draper

My life should be simple, but significant.  What a perfect summation of something that Don wasn't remotely referring to: how we want to be remembered.  Simple, but significant.  

xoxo 

Pulling Weeds

 "You have made a place in my heart where I thought there was no room for anything else. You have made flowers grow where I cultivated dust and stone."

 - Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time

If this blog is a garden, it is definitely be full of weeds by now.  I haven't been kind to it, and to be completely honest...I've forgotten about it on numerous occasions and for long periods of time.  I know there aren't hundreds of people reading this; I mean seriously - five people checking out this site would be a good day.  But, being read by others is not really my intended outcome or achievement here, and I know that sounds ironic seeing as this is a public space and not an ongoing private word doc.

I do 'journal' on actual paper at home, and I fill it with mostly found objects, photos, quotes, etc. that inspire me in some way.  In fact, it looks a lot like this site in that it's mostly a record of what I'm feeling, loving, missing, wanting, and needing, shown through the images that I choose to post plus a written thought or paragraph from me.  Having a public space vs. my tangible notebook, however, keeps me accountable to the invisible few readers who happen to stumble across this site.

So, I'm going to try to spend more time in this garden, nurturing the inspirational blooms, the beautiful, the items and ideas which provoke thought and essentially, growth.  To that same end, I need to constantly be pulling the weeds, the empty spaces, the negative energy that can slowly take over if not tended to swiftly, and let it go.

Nurturing the growth and pulling the weeds -- maybe that's the purpose of this blog.  Constant care.  Consistent inspiration and ambition.  I can wander with purpose.  I can adventure while carrying 'home' with me, refuting the idea that 'peace' means I have to stay still.    

  


 Goodnight from this blogger/soon-to-be constant gardener.

xoxo

A

Adventure (after tea, of course)

Adventure after tea by asebourn on Polyvore

Always Plan Your Life In Pencil - Never Pen

Plans change.  And though the plans that change sometimes involve the smallest of details, I've found it best to just accept that I should always use a pencil while planning.  The last several weeks have brought on a significant amount of decision-making and changing of plans, most having to do with our wedding in December, but it's all worked out better than I imagined.

My original Wedding Inspiration Board...Things have definitely changed!

For instance, I've been looking for a wedding dress over the past few months.  I knew what 'look' I wanted, I was up for doing something daring with the cut and especially the color and I had my photos of my favorite dresses cut out and pasted into my personal 'lookbook.'  However, most of the dresses were nowhere to be found and those that were ended up looking not quite as nice as I'd hoped.  By the time I got to my third dress boutique, I was exhausted and not expecting to find anything I hadn't already seen.  I was almost ready to give up and just order the Jenny Packham gown in my size straight from the designer, using about 1/3 of our wedding budget to do so, just to be able to end the process.

Five star rating in Rogers for this shoppe!

All I can say is THANK GOD for our wedding planner Heather at Inspired Grace Weddings who knows us as a couple (David and me) inside and out, has memorized our thoughts and expectations for the tone of the wedding, which would include the tone of the dress, and was able to bring excitement to the experience that day so I could really enjoy being with my mom and my aunt.  My consultant at She Said Yes
Bridal was also amazing; she was a sweet and very intuitive girl who really loved her work and made sure to pull dresses with Heather that incorporated elements in the dresses that I highlighted heavily in my book. Admittedly, I didn't end up buying any of the dresses I had pasted into my 'lookbook.'  However, I WAS able to buy all of the beautiful attire that I'll be saying my vows in and also have a first dance my new husband and celebrate all night long with my best friends. 

To check out more updates on our wedding (sorry, no sneak peeks at white wear), fun photos of the wedding party, beautiful images and info about the unique venue and historic accommodations, and little humor from the groom, go to www.InventingTheEngles.com

This is one of my favorite quotes, and I've been having to learn it over and over recently.  It's going to continue be a challenge for me to not just accept where I am but try to grow and flourish while I'm here.

-A 

Kerouac quote

Kerouac quote by asebourn on Polyvore

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