monday loves

in honor of valentines day

a little love i found on etsy today...

check it out at vol25

fab finds

so i have been working on cutting out the coffee in my life,  today is the first morning with just a cup of organic jasmine green tea!!  if you haven't had jasmine tea you should try it!!!  i love the smell (makes me think of hawaii).

here is an etsy site i found while sipping away---and dreaming of being somewhere warm

glam spoon

 super cute refashioned clothing that i am super impressed with.  i have noticed all sorts of sites re-doing old clothes and i think it is absolutely fabulous.  i wish i could sew!! here are a couple of cute outfits i found at their site.

enjoy and check em out!!

the above little dress is my fav!!!  i wish it was in my size=(

so fun!!!

a little bit of alaska...static cycle

i wanted to share a little bit of alaska that has made it big. static cycle is an alaska based rock band that i am super excited about!! i love all sorts of music, but in the car i choose our local rock station to tune in to each day. i loved there music and didnt even realize that the band was from anchorage!!!!
this music video features bristol palin! i know, who the heck cares, right???? i dont know, its just a little strange how popular the palin family is and they are from small town alaska. too weird!!!!!!
enjoy

my veggie life

let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.

-hippocrates, the father of western medicine, 460-377 bc

nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution of a vegetarian diet.

-albert einstein

being a vegetarian has been extremely rewarding for me.  i honestly love it and i am very proud of my decision to go meatless for over five years now.  in the beginning it was a little strange and i still have times where it is a little bit of an issue.  i don't have an issue, but other people seem to take offense to my choice (even though it has nothing to do with anyone but me).  i am not dwelling on the negative, because my veggie life has been very satisfying and has opened my mind to so many amazing foods and most importantly, i feel great. 

i am always a vegetarian, but i do go through stages where i am a very strict vegan.  i would love to stick with that way of life, but sometimes life and will power don't allow me to follow my lifestyle.  so, along with  my running and getting ready for summer i am going to get myself back on track.  i have read lots of books, but my two favorites are skinny bitch and the kind diet.  if you are at all interested in learning more about becoming a vegan or you just want some amazing meatless recipes, these two books are a must and don't be afraid of the skinny bitch title.  the book is hilarious and very informative all at the same time.

i choose to be vegetarian, but i don't expect my husband and children to just because i am.  i want them to make their own choices and learn about being healthy and the importance of choosing healthier organic options.  if they choose to go meatless that is entirely up to them=)  i don't cook a whole lot of meat in my home and i am very lucky to have a husband who will eat whatever i make and love it. 

here i go on my path of health and feeling good (and fitting back into my clothes). 
cheers to health and happiness.
xo

monday loves....lets get running

this winter is getting a little long for me, so i am thinking of spring and summer and a way to keep myself motivated through these cold dark days.  to keep myself in shape i am going to sign up for a couple of runs, starting in may with the torch run.  i love this run because all the proceeds benefit the special olympics of alaska and its only 3 miles=)  its a win win for everyone.

here i go....lets get running!!!!

ak starfish co.

a few years ago a friend of mine took me to the annual fourth of july celebration in seward, alaska.  this is a pretty famous event up here and lots of people travel from all over to this beautiful little sea side town to witness the mount marathon race.  

anyway, besides the race there are lots of little vendors selling all sorts of goodies from food to clothing.  i had seen these adorable little starfish shirts before at one of my favorite shoe stores in anchorage, but to my surprise the owner and founder was right in front of me with a booth of her own.  it was really fun to meet her and learn a little more about her business. 

i don't share much about alaska, but this year i am going to share a little more of what this state has to offer and the beauty i am surrounded with.

owner of ak starfish company

she started with just the starfish and now has salmon, wildflowers, ravens, skirts, yoga pants, hats and purses.

check it out

http://www.akstarfish.com/

my dream destination

i am not quite sure where this is, but it looks absolutely amazing!!!  some time away with nothing to worry about, but sitting, swimming, relaxing, reading, and feeling the warm sunshine.  this is my dream destination.

xo

listen

it always leads you in the right direction--

i know i have a path to make in life.  a path to live my dreams follow my heart and take care of those i love.

this life is sacred and full of so many wonderful moments that fill my heart with joy. we are here to make a difference and i choose to make a positive impact on this world and follow my heart to the path i know is mine.

-nothing great has been and nothing great can be accomplished without passion.

-g.w. hegel

photo found at we heart it

fitting

so simple, but so fitting for the week we have had.  don't give up!!!!  don't give up!!!!! don't give up!!!!!  be strong and fight for the ones you love.

wouldn't this be nice!!!!!?????  ahhhhhhh, i could use a beach right now!!!!

i love love love this!!!!!  peace-please

all images found at we heart it

monday loves...its cold outside

this weekend the thermometer hit a low of 25 degrees below zero.  i don't know about you, but i don't like it when it gets that cold!!!  i really just like to stay home when its this cold and cuddle up in the house.  last week i made homemade jam and so this weekend i decided to wipe the dust off the bread maker and make some homemade whole wheat bread!!!  it smells so good and looks so beautiful with the jam on top--mmmmmm!!!!

friday night my husband and i attended his work holiday party.  its really nice that the city waits until after the holiday busyness to do their party. 
i had a little wardrobe malfunction the day before the party!!!!  the outfit i planned to wear didn't quite work out.  like i said its cold here and i didn't want to wear strappy heels so i ordered a pair of boots from nordstrom to go with my cute little polka dot dress from anthro.  needless to say the boots didn't work and i have to send them back=(  the next day was the party and i had 10 minutes to shop before i picked the kids up from school.  here is what i found!!!

this little bcbg dress at the consignment store with the tags still on!!!!  yay!!!! i was so excited when i saw this!!!!!

the rest of my outfit i already had in my closet: 

necklace-jcrew outlet

black sweater-brass plum

pearl bracelets-forever 21

grey flower-anthro

you cant see them but i wore the dress over a dark pair of seven for all mankind jeans (my favorite jeans-they fit so well) and black closed toed heels.  i know jeans under the dress!!???  it was just too cold not to wear them!!!!!

lacylike.com

i ordered a couple lip balms and some yummy soap from lacylike.com last week and i just had to share them with you.  lacy has created organic handmade goodies that i am super excited about.

check out her fun blog and beautiful goodies on big cartel. 

monday loves

wow--i was able to get so much done this weekend.  i  decided to get out of the holiday bad eating habits so i pulled out my kind diet book and soaked up all the inspiration i could.  i wrote down new ingredients to buy at the store, found fabulous tid bits i had missed the first time around and placed my little read out in the open so i see it everyday when i walk into the kitchen. 

the next project in my house is to work on our master bedroom.  i really havnt done much to our room since we moved in 7 years ago.  sooooo for starters i wanted a place to display some of my favorite necklaces in my closet.  yay!!!! project!!!!  promise to share a better photo of this a little later.

today i watched sex in the city 2!!!  not quite sure how i missed that one in the theaters, but i loved sitting and relaxing on my monday and watching a good ol movie all by myself!!!  not quite as good as the first, but i was entertained!!!

lastly, for the last year i have been wanting to make my own homemade jam.  i used to do this quite often, but time just got away from me this summer and i never got around to it.  sooo it became a winter project!!  i got one batch done today and i feel so good.  i am excited to put fresh homemade jam on my kiddos toast in the morning before school.
hope your weekend was a good one and your week is extra special!!

a new year

a new year...to create the life you love

my 2011

relaxation
 taking pictures
traveling to new places
 fun new projects
giving back
time with family and friends
buy second hand
become a superhero (more on that later)
live green
learn more
love more
live more











love life

what is life for?  it is for you.

-abraham maslow

i received this beautiful little quote book from my friend kimberly just before we left for florida.  i really hadn't had a chance to take in its beauty until today.  as i read through the wonderful quotes written on vibrant colored paper, i began to think about new years resolutions.  this year all i really want is to take one day at a time.  enjoy each and everyday and simply "love life"

love the ordinary

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 the

quest of some rare and

perfect tomorrow.

-mary jean irion

cheers to 2011

monday loves...orlando

a little family pic at epcot!!  our trip started out a little chili!!  so glad i packed my hat and scarf for our first few mornings in twenties!!

even though it was cold the sun was out and felt nice and warm.  .

i decided that on this trip i was going to take time to journal each day--little did i know that i wouldn't have time except for when we were on the airplane!!  our 6 days included 3 days exploring the disney world parks (epcot, hollywood studios, and animal kingdom)

2 days at sea world

and

1 day at universal studios islands of adventure.

whew-so many people, so much walking and exploring, and most importantly SO MUCH FUN!!!

the kids were amazingly patient and had a blast with their california cousins.

when our trip came to an end we left orlando's 77 degrees with sad faces and memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. 

orlando...WOW

hi there
well, we are back from our family vacation to orlando!!  we had the BEST time and i cried when we had to leave.  this was my first visit to the sunshine state and i fell in love with it.  i completely disconnected from my computer and simply enjoyed every single moment of my time with my family and disney world!!   pictures and more to come.  happy 2011...