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Oh Hi! Yep. Im still here!

3.31.2011

 Rachelle // Palm Desert

So yes, I am back from my road trip. It was absolutely wonderful. But, since being back I have had a few of the roughest days Ive ever had to deal with. First, I came home to find that I was locked out and could not get into my house until the next day. I broke down. After being gone for a week and a half all I wanted was my own bed and to get settled for the week. Luckily, Dex and I were taken in for the night and not left on the streets with all of my stuff. The next morning I went straight to work and Puppy stayed with Phil. A few hours later I get a call that Dex is very sick. I sent him to the vet and they started working on him and trying to find out what was wrong. No luck there. Long story short, after hundreds of dollars they couldnt figure out what was wrong. He was still bad but sent home with me for the night as they do not keep dogs overnight and I really couldnt afford to take him to the overnight animal hospital. I took him back the next day and it wasnt until we walked into the vet that he began to perk up. She took his temp and since it was down said he could go with me instead of being hooked up to fluids again. I had to do a food trial with him last night and keep a very close eye on him. But as of this morning I think he is gonna be fine. Still not 100% but on his way. I am just so glad he will be ok, I dont know what Id do without him. 

And now I am getting back into the swing of things. If you are expecting an email, you should get it soon. I am also ready to put up my new sponsors tomorrow!!! YAY! I am still accepting last minute donations and sponsorships if you are interested! PLEASE consider it as Japan is still very much in need and every penny counts! No donation is too small! Just email me fivethirteen.blog@gmail.com Thanks!

And dont worry. I will be posting about the epic road trip as soon as I can!

She decided...

It is a risk to love.

Its a funny thing...

The Beatles say it best...

The wild and the tame...

I wish...

3.19.2011

A dream space.
As long as there is a computer in that corner, this is all I could ever need. 
I wish, I wish, I wish.

...dreamer.

The Road Trip // it's coming

3.16.2011



Hello dears. With everything happening in Japan, I have found little motivation to write about my life lately. But I am back on track, ready to share the life that I am so lucky to be so easily living right now. And I am happy to announce that tomorrow night marks the beginning of my next adventure! A road trip with my bestest friend! We are beyond thrilled to be doing a road trip that has been one of our goals since our friendships conception almost 14 years ago. Two weekends ago rachelle came up tp Portland to stay with me and plan our epic adventure. We had a radtastic plan that seemed just perfect. We wanted to hit up the bay area and camp at Big Sur. We had every day down, buuuuut, as luck would have it, the weather had a different idea. Each day since our planning sesh we would look at the weather reports and see one more day of our trip filled with rain. See, we live in rain. Both in Portland and Eugene, it rains 9 months out of the year. I don't want to spend my precious time and money to just dogde drops in a different city. So, last night, we decided! We are going to LA! Yes gas is 87 dollars a gallon! Yes, it's further than we wanted to drive. But, we don't care. We will be out of the rain, and even better than that, we will be in the sun and by the beach! My main goal of the trip...ROLLERCOASTERS! And so far that is all we have planed. The first whole day there will be spent at Magic Mountain, AKA...my happy place. After that who knows? We had wanted a somewhat open trip, just to see where the wind blows us (we have a tendency toward adventure the two of us, your typical grocery trip usually turns into something spectacular together, really) and with our first trip we planned we had to be very specific if we didn't want to waste full days driving. But now, we are driving down, with no rush, and then doing as we please. I am so excited to see where we end up, what we do and who we meet. (any of you in LA? Hehe) We still hope to camp, we still hope to do awesome things, but we also hope to float a little, not know what we will be doing the next day, a concept that is both foreign and craved by the both of us. I probably won't be blogging from the road much, but will be checking in and keeping up with all of your sponsorship/donation emails! I will be taking about a million photos to share with you all when I get back, but until then I have a few scheduled inspiration posts ready and waiting for you.

Please Help...

3.15.2011

My favorite Help poster made by James White.

As you may have read before, I am taking on sponsors for the first time and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Japan Quake and Tsunami Relief. I thought I would post my sizing options on here since I am now giving an option that any of you can get! If you make any donation (anything under 20$) you will receive a small sponsorship spot. I know we can all give something. And this is a great way to get something for your blog or shop from it as well! Please let me know if you are interested! Thank you for all of the interest I have had so far in helping out with this terrible tragedy. Email me at fivethirteen.blog@gmail.com

 & Thank you Lauren for your sweet post and for being one of the first in line to donate!

10 things I learned this weekend...

3.14.2011


1. Shit happens.
2. Sometimes solitude is necessary.
3. Junk food can make you happier.
4. A country's entire existence can change in an instant.
5. Sometimes I just cant shake a sad mood. Thats when I invite it in, only for the night, then ask it to leave.
6. Family > anything else.
7. Gymnasts are absolutely bananas. I have so much respect them.
8. Gut. Always go with your gut.
9. Puppy's existence was essential this weekend.
10. Im ready for the rain to leave.

Give life... its easy.


I found this over on Becoming Minimalist. I thought it was just amazing enough to share.
Of all the gifts that we could ever give to another person, none holds more potential than giving life itself. And I love the idea that every interaction I have with another human being offers me that grand opportunity.
It doesn’t matter if my next encounter is a short conversation, an email, a meal, or a 4-hour business meeting, it always offers me the same opportunity… to brighten another’s existence by breathing life into theirs.
Once correctly understood and applied, this simple, profound thought calls us to be more intentional, more thoughtful, and more persistent. It calls us to…
  1. Smile more.
  2. Hug more.
  3. Give more compliments.
  4. Write more love notes.
  5. Offer more forgiveness.
  6. Ask more follow-up questions.
  7. Show more interest.
  8. Have more compassion.
  9. Talk to more children.
  10. Remember more names.
  11. Leave bigger tips.
  12. Use kinder words.
  13. Laugh at more jokes.
  14. Make more eye contact.
  15. Treat others to more coffee.
  16. Listen more intently.
  17. Give more time.
  18. Stop to catch-up longer.
  19. Promote others more often.
  20. Be more optimistic.
  21. Be more sympathetic.
  22. Be more patient.
  23. Celebrate more successes.
  24. Ask to pray more often.
  25. Dream bigger dreams for others.
  26. Cook more meals.
  27. Ask elders for more advice.
  28. Spend more time reminiscing with old friends.
  29. Donate more to charity.
  30. Remember more details.
  31. Sing more songs.
  32. Display more affection.
  33. Give more apologies.
  34. Focus less on differences.
  35. Invite more to come along.
  36. Read more books to your child.
  37. Offer to help more often.
  38. Trust more.
  39. Give more responsibility.
  40. Say more thank-you’s.
Give more life. Because there, you’ll find more for yourself as well.

Help / Donate / Sponsor

3.11.2011


This video was taken early this morning, so much has happened since and its still happening now.

Today I was up at 2:30 am. I had to be somewhere at 4 so I was going to wake up early anyways but for some reason Puppy woke me up at 2:30, something he never does. I got up and acted as I would if it were actually morning. I ate breakfast, got dressed and grabbed my things in the dark. When I got to 4 o'clocks destination, the news was on and I was finally able to put pictures to the words I had heard about. The disasters that have hit Japan are absolutely devastating. I was brought to tears watching the images of the water carrying peoples homes away. The lives and feelings of security people lost is just too much to imagine. I feel so much for these people. I had a pretty hard day today, going through the motions of my everyday life. The thing that struck me the most was that I didnt hear one person talk about it today. Aside from the news, a little facebook and lots on twitter, it was like nothing had happened. I didnt understand how that could be. Maybe it was just how people were coping, I dont know. But it was hard for me to act like nothing was wrong. I have been an emotional wreck all day. I want so badly to help, but there is such a feeling of helplessness that is unavoidable when catastrophes of this magnitude hit. So now I will do my part to help out with that feeling of helplessness. 

As you know, I have been looking into taking on sponsors. I was thinking of starting in a couple of months and wanted to give 50% of the earnings to charities. I was thinking of choosing a different charity ever three months to donate to. But, today changes everything. Today I am starting to accept sponsors for the month of April! 100% of the proceeds will go to the Japan Quake and Tsunami Relief efforts through World Vision

If you would like to help out and support these amazing and much needed efforts while gaining some advertising for your shops, blog or site please email me at fivethirteen.blog(at)gmail(dot)com. I will have two sizes available and each sponsor will get their own post with options of a giveaway. I will also be tweeting and letting my facebook followers in on the people that have chosen to help. I had planned on working up all of my viewing stats and followers from different sites, but that will just have to wait for next month. I feel that the need is too pressing and that this is a very good way to help out since you will get so much in return. Email for pricing and more info.

If you do not want to be a sponsor but would still like to donate you can do so here and your money will be donated along with all of the funds that I have raised. Please, I urge you to give whatever you can. Email me and I will give you the info on how to donate.  No amount is too little or not worth it. There are people that have lost everything, lives, homes, security. I know we can all give something. If not here with me, please find some way to give, even if that means spreading the word about things like this. Every effort is needed. 

Let us all be grateful tonight and everyday for what we have. And let us be aware of the vulnerability our lives have so that we can appreciate every little thing while we can. Thank you so much for reading this and being a loyal follower. Please try and put yourselves in their shoes. What if this were your country, your town, your family. What if that was your home being swept away. Please help. I would greatly appreciate even the smallest of shout outs or spreading of this word to see what we can all band together and do for the lives that were forever changed today. 

Every breath...


Ukulele

3.09.2011

Today I bought a ukulele. I have always adored the way they sound, so light, so happy. I went into the music store to get new strings for my very old guitar (I decided to finally take lessons and learn how to play it) But when I saw the ukuleles there on the wall, the next thing I knew I heard myself say, "I'll take that one." I am so in love already. I found an amazing website Ukulele Underground, and have already learned some cool stuff. Although, my baby hands are still too small to form chords in any sort of graceful way, but im trying.  I dont know if it is anything special but I love it so much. I think we are bonded already. I am hoping to learn and actual song:) Wish me luck.

Ivan & World Vision. Please Read!

I have always wanted to sponsor a child. Always. And a handful of months ago, i finally decided it was time. A few years ago I learned about World Vision. They are an amazing organization. Back then I loved all of the one time donation options they had. I was able to choose a gift to give with out any further financial commitment that wasnt plausible at the time for me.
-For example you can pay 25$ and provide a family with two chickens that ends up providing them with a lasting source of nutrition and income.
-For 75$ you can provide a goat that will nourish hungry children and families with milk, cheese, yogurt and also income.
-For 30$ You can give 5 ducks that will provide hundred of large protein-rich eggs all year long.
-For only 16$ you can give two soccer balls that will bring so much joy and healthy exercise to children.
-For 35$ you can give sexually exploited girls assistance in the form of medical care and food.
This organization is truly amazing and there are so so so many ways to help. Please check out the website and see if you there is any way you can help some one in need.

But my favorite part of World Vision is their sponsorship program. Im sure that there are many great programs out there but this one just spoke to me. For only 35$ a month you can absolutely change a childs life. It can provide children all over the world with clean water, nutritious food, health care, education and much more. You can choose which child you would like to sponsor. You can search by gender, age, location and more. There is also an option to choose to sponsor a HopeChild which is a child living in a community severely affected by AIDS. After selecting a child to sponsor you can write to them, send gifts and receive letters from them.

My experience...
So I made the decision to finally do this. I have always worried about whether or not i could afford to do this so i looked at my money situation. I know that I end up spending 35 dollars a month on absolutely nothing. Like dinner when I treat a friend, a random grocery store stop to get "just something for dinner", or any time I walk into Target. So I made up my mind and realized i couldnt afford NOT to do this. There is such a pull in me to help and i decided to give into that pull.

After the decision was made I was eager and excited. But as I started my search I was suddenly overwhelmed and halted. How in the world would I choose which child to help. This is my problem a lot of times with my urge to volunteer and donate...I dont have a lot (time, money, etc) but I want to help so much! I was having such a hard time with the fact that while yes, i will be helping this child, the child on the next page will not be getting my help. I struggled with this for a couple hours and then realized that my hesitation isnt helping ANYONE. So the search continued.

Like I said there were many options for searching through the children and I was at a loss. But, i decided to go with my gut. For some reason, since my early teens, my heart has leaned towards Africa. There is just something that speaks right to my core about the issues in this particular place. And instead of questioning why here, why not the many other areas of the world that need so much help, I am now acting on that feeling, because again, hesitation, for whatever reason, isnt helping anyone. Something in me just knows I am supposed to focus a portion of my time there. So I narrowed my search to Africa and then further with the decision to help a HopeChild. I had no real preference of gender or age so I was simply sifting through photos and tiny stories. I was again overwhelmed, had no idea how I would choose and thought i might as well do a quick round of eeny meeny miny mo. Then I saw a little girl and thought she might be the one. There was something about the look in her eye that made me stop a little longer at her page. I thought, yes, she was who i would sponsor but for some reason hit the next button three more times and then it happened. I saw Ivan. A four year old boy from Uganda.  A little boy with sad eyes, a beautiful face and a small scar on his forehead. My heart dropped and my whole body got goosebumps. Really. And I thought to myself, "ok, so THIS is how you know." I had it. I had him. This was who I was supposed to sponsor. This is why I hadnt sponsored in the past, my contribution was meant for this little boy.

As I read the tiny biography about this little boy I found out that he liked drawing, yay, he is creative like me. His favorite games are ball games, and i loved this cause as a kid i was a total tomboy and loved all sports. And then i read it, his birthdate, August 18th. Same as me. I got the goosebumps again and moved on to the sponsor page right then and there. There is an option to search by birthdate but i hadnt really thought about that much when i was searching, but when i saw that we shared the same birthday, (what are the chances) i knew it was meant to be. My heart still jumps a little and my arms cover with a blanket of goosebumps when I look at his picture. (yes, I know, not everyone will have quite the dramatic encounter that I did, but i really feel it was special and think it should be shared with hopes of inspiring others to take the time to help)

I am so glad that I have sponsored Ivan. I honestly dont even notice the money being gone every month, but have the satisfaction of knowing that I am helping out at least one little boy in need. But in reality, by helping one, you are helping so many more. Not just their family, but their community. You are spreading hope and who knows what that little person you are helping will grow to do. It is truly spreading love and it really is so easy! Please I urge you to take a moment and check out the website. If you are in a place where you can sponsor, please do! And if not, check out the one time donation options that you can do one month when you may have a little extra cash floating around. It is so easy for most of us and really can make a world of difference to some one else.

Sponsors!?! Wuuut!?!

3.08.2011


Hey dudes! So, I need a bit of a favor from all of you lovely bloggers. I am wondering about sponsoring. Right now I am just researching and considering. I was wondering if any of you would be so kind as to share with me any experiences, tips, or advice. I'd love to hear it, all whether it be that your experience was negative, or what you price and size at, or any intro info you think would be helpful. Please feel free to comment here or email me at fivethirteen.blog@gmail.com with any thoughts or comments. Thanks so so much in advance.

Dexter's Birthday!

3.07.2011





Yesterday was Puppy's first birthday. I cant believe he is already a year old! Time flies! These photos were taken the day I brought him home when he was 8 weeks old. I cant tell you how much this little guy means to me. He can truly brighten my day and bring me up when I am down. He is my cuddle buddy and the one thats always there for me. I am so happy to have him.

Dexter...
loves people. all people.
sleeps with atleast one part of him on atleast one part of me at all times.
adores anything outside.
will not come to save his life.
is one of the happiest pups I know.
will eat just about anything.
wont fetch.
can sit really really well.
is very good at leaping.
loves other dogs more than anything.
likes chewing on plastic hangers.
prefers christmas toys over regular toys.
digs in mud.
can curl up so tiny for such a big guy.
can hear a wrapper from a mile away.
gets filthy the first two minutes we enter a dog park.
is happy all the time.
tries to get to the people in a drive through, every time.
highly enjoys playing tug.
cant run on a leash with out having the leash in his mouth.
is my best bud:)

We spent the day yesterday snuggling on the couch for the morning. I felt i deserved some good down time and cuddles purely for the fact that i have kept him alive this long. Then we went out to one of the bigger dog parks and spent a good amount of time playing with TONS of other pups. Dexter repaid me by playing in a massive mud puddle. Like digging and jumping and trying to eat the splashes. Then he just laid in it. Awesome. At least he had a good time. All in all it was a great day. I just love him so much. And Im so glad that he is my pup.
Here he is in his puddle. Yes, as usual, he was the only one in it. The only dog that was covered head to tail in mud. He had a wonderful time.
(This pic doesnt even begin to show how dirty he got)

par·a·chute

[par-uh-shoot] noun, verb, -chut·ed, -chut·ing.
noun
1.
a folding, umbrellalike, fabric device for allowing a person, to float down safely through the air from a great height.

“But it’s hard to stay mad when there’s so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeing it all at once and it’s too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that’s about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life.” — American Beauty