looks like we finally have a democratic nominee....

...and i couldn't be more thrilled.

congratulations, barack obama. we love you, yes we do.

happy valentine's day!

so, here we are, on this day of love. i will always be a valentine's day kind of girl. i love it. (not the mass-produced, commercialized part of it, but the real idea of it).

i found this on creature comforts this morning, and it got me thinking. i have plenty of love to give to the loved ones in my life (especially sweet ol' ryan, who's about to wake up and get his surprise ring! heee!), but how do i give love in the world? to strangers? just to be nice?

i love the ideas in this list, all about ways to make a difference in others' lives, with not much effort at all. all it takes is a little creativity. what a difference it would make in my life if i focused on creative ways to be nice to other people!

anyway, happy valentine's day! may it be filled with love and hugs and happiness for you. :)

[images from here, here, here, and here, all on flickr]

benefit sale, februrary 1st!

have you heard about this?

renee of wolfie and the sneak is having a benefit sale, this friday february 1st! i've donated a piece to the cause (you can see it on the bottom right of the image...) 100% of the proceeds will go to the sierra club, and each item will be shipped directly from the artist/crafter to you!

sending a little non-commercial love out into the world just in time for valentine's day....
check out more details about the sale right here, and here to preview the goods.

terra pass for everything!

did you know that you not only can get a terra pass for your car and the specific amount of driving you do, but also one for your home, flight frequency, and even your wedding?

so cool. according to the terra pass website, i need to get an "around town" terra pass. for only $29.95 i can offset my carbon emmissions for a whole year! pretty darn awesome if you ask me. check out the terra pass website right here, and see what you can do to offset your carbon emmissions.

writing about life

(tree carving on flickr)

sometimes i forget that life is more than work, and "getting somewhere," and being productive and financially successful. i think every self-respecting and ambitious 20-something may feel that way at times. sometimes i feel like i may be a little more neurotic than most, but that's a story for another day!

i was reading the sweet juniper blog this morning, and i had a little awakening. my life is RIGHT NOW. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, not 10 years from now (my favorite thing to fixate my thoughts on), but right now. So simple. So why is it so easy to forget? reading this blog also mad eme feel like i want to have a kid, but that is also a story for another day! i won't tell ryan about this little dream this morning. :) he's busy studying for the mcat . med school awaits.

it's a rainy morning here, and it feels like a real spring day. it's nice to feel an actual change of seasons-- it seems the last few years we have jumped straight from winter to summer in boulder, and i am loving the delicate spring days as of late. tulips, rain, longer days, sitting in the backyard in a tanktop for the first time, peeking at the garden everyday for signs of sprouting...

life is truly amazing, and i have no idea why we're here, but that doesn't mean i shouldn't make the most of it. life is not about making money. it is not about getting the most things done in a day that you can. it is about having love and giving love, and creating a memorable experience for yourself. maybe not even memorable, but an experience nonetheless. feeling the full range of feelings. profound joy and then deep sadness, letting it all go. this is what i would like to aspire to. and realizing that it all passes. nothing is permanent.

what i would like to aspire to, in order to deepen my experience of being alive and being a human being:

1. writing in my journal instead of watching tv. tv feels like a brain drain to me lately.
2. spending more time with family and friends
3. doing one thing at a time
4. let go of expectations of other people and myself
5. start writing my morning pages again (see julia cameron's the artist's way)
6. be gentle with myself
7. write more on my blog ; create a balance between product posts. these just get me into the more more more mentality. i want my life!

cheers to you all on my rainy little morning.

(alaskan tree carving on flickr)

sevya... fair trade from india

ryan and i discovered a great store yesterday while walking around pearl street here in boulder. it's called sevya, and it's all hand-made, fair trade, incredible stuff from india. jewelry, pillows, quilts, scarves, you name it, they have it, right down to hand-woven grass window shades!

we're trying to convince ourselves that we have floor space for one of the amazing hand-
block-printed rugs we founds...

read more about sevya right here, and prepare to be inspired by design from afar!

national slow down week

did you know that it's national slow down week according to adbusters? sounds good to me! i get completely caught up in the go go go, so it's nice to remember to take things one at a time and enjoy my life along the way. watch the animated short right here!

{found via art esprit}

elephant

i love this magazine. it is published and printed right here in boulder by a man named waylon lewis, who seems to somehow have enough time to publish a magazine, ride his cool vintage bike around town in vintage plaid pants, shop at the farmer's market, sip fancy lattes at vic's coffeeshop (local gem) while simultaneously typing up brilliant observations on his laptop and holding an enthralling conversation, attending all the cool art and music events, and hosting them as well. whew! inspiring, no doubt about it.

anyway, i love reading this magazine because it's all about green and mindful living, and the cover of this latest issue couldn't put it any more bluntly. but in an artistic and hand-drawn way. :) i love it.

check out the magazine here