My days have been so great lately. Today was simple and lovely and I couldnt have been happier. 

 It was so sunny today that little O and I hung out on the steps outside waiting for Samsons school to get out. And just to fully clear things up, these little lovebugs are the kids I nanny. I am not a mother yet, though I would be proud to call these kids my own. They really are 2 of the greatest kids ever and I love them so so much.

This on the other hand is my baby! He has recently discovered that sticking his nose through my sunroof is one of lifes simple pleasures. Just look at that face...I love him so much it hurts.

sunshine + a school bus

Today really has been beautiful. I started the day off with a jog. Day one of the couch 2 5k. Again. hehe. I tried this a year ago and never got into it, but now I really want to work at it and see how far I can get! I must get back in shape! This is getting ridiculous. Anyways. Back to beautiful today. After my jog Opal and I went to play with Dex a bit then to pick up Samson from school. On our way home I drove past the Grilled Cheese Grill, and immediately turned around! The sun shining on the food cart and parked schoolbus next to it was too much to pass up. The kids had never been there before and were pretty excited. THEN, as we pulled up we saw some good friends already in line! The kids' family friends Max and Will and their mommy. We had a wonderful lunch eating in the school bus and then "driving" the school bus. The kids are now napping and I am writing next to a sunlight drenched window. Days like today are what its all about. 

 1. Little Will. Finger lickin good.

2. Samson sitting at the big kid section!

3. Max makin sure all the passengers are READY!?!?!

4. Will being too cute for words!

 Opal.

Before. During. After.

Happy girl. She ate hers and half of her brothers!

Drivers and the mirror! So so cute!

I have had a wonderful day so far and it even looks like I will be off a little early.

I have plans to crank out the rest of my website this weekend and RELAX!

What are you up to this weekend?

Help / Donate / Sponsor

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. 

www.boston.com/bigpicture

Ukulele

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.

...

Today I only had to work for the morning.

This afternoon we are going to the park with the pup to delight in the sunshine. 

I am in major need of this today.

Happy...

Today was a great day.

No particular reason why.

I spent the day with my puppy.

Planned for my pretty new loft.

Had dinner with the boyfriend and his friend Josh,

that is staying with us.

And now we are all sitting, 

listening to Josh play beautiful tunes on my guitar 

while the coffee brews and the puppy sleeps at my feet.

I am blissfully happy tonight.

Today...

...I am restless. Uneasy. I cant put one foot in front of the other with any sort of confidence. What a difference two weeks can make. My focus has shifted. And even though, it has shifted to two major, important, and now unavoidable things, I cant help but feel that I am neglecting the things I was so driven on just two short weeks ago. I just hope that I can find my way back to that path with the same intense passion and drive I was overflowing with before.

...I am planning. My mind is racing with plans for the new loft. I cannot wait! I am really hoping this move will be a good opportunity for me to practice organization and moderation. In the next two weeks I will be throwing out a lot and bringing in a little. We are trying to find the few key pieces we will be willing to spend a little more on, hoping we will get more out of them. Good plan? I think so.

...I am in love. So in love with my little puppy. Dexter is the best little dog I could have hoped for. He has been so great. He has been sleeping through the night, though he likes to wake up a little earlier than I do. He loves to chew and run and sleep and growl. And he follows me where ever I go. And I love it. I love him.

Today...

Today I fell very ill in the blink of an eye while at work. Luckily, the boyfriend was there to help me out. Yes, my bosses not only allow, but encourage my boyfriend to come over while Im working. I honestly couldnt have gotten by with out him there. He continued to take care of me the rest of the day, hydrating me, laying with me, and attempting to fulfill incoherent requests spilling from my lips. I was utterly miserable and couldnt have made it through the day with out him. I am one lucky girl. And now that I am feeling a little better, I am finally going to eat and then we are going to snuggle up and watch a movie.
Happy :)

What have I been up to?

I havent been posting much about whats going on in my real life lately. So here goes...

Ive been really busy with dance. Finally. We have been performing! Not just rehearsing. Its going really well. I love all the girls so much. Its been fun to get back to this whole team thing. It reminds me so much of high school. We are simply killin it on stage.

I havent touched a book in a couple of weeks and its making me very sad. My bedside pile is growing and growing. Ive got to dive back it. And soon!

The boyfriend and I are wonderful. Simply wonderful. He makes me laugh and I annoy him.

Ive been taking photos like crazy, of the same old stuff though. However, I have a list of new subjects I cant wait to delve into!

Im inspired. Very very inspired, but still experiencing a bit of cement syndrome. Big plans and dreams flood my mind everyday, yet I am slow moving. Time to change that though!!!

What have you been up to?

10 things I love...

In honor of Valentines Day!


First of all and most importantly...


I love my family. My mom, dad and brother. They really are my world.


I love love love my boyfriend. He is the greatest and sweetest person i know.

Now, here are some other things I simply adore...

My Dreams...

 

Feathers, always have always will...

  

Beautiful Spaces...

  

Hope...

  

This beautiful photoshoot

by one of the most amazing photographers ever,

Annie Leibovitz...

  

  

Beautiful lights...

  

Birds, and their homes...

  

Books...

  

My art, and the tools that help me create it...

  

 The Kisses I am so lucky to receive...

 

What do you love?

Happy New Year...

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” — Neil Gaima

Lazy Saturday.

This was literally me all day.

Off and on a bit.

But mostly, yes.

This was me.

All day.

Lookin on the bright side...

Yes. Today was not the greatest of days.

Until, I decided to turn it into one by looking at the bright side.

Here are some "bright side" moments from my day today.

I finished one of my handmade gifts and its lovely.

Little O (the baby I work with) entertained me all day.

I sent my fathers birthday card out this morning.

I was blessed with a lot of down time at work today.

I recieved a postcard from a good friend in Germany.

I have three new netflix ready and waiting to be watched.

I decided how I am wrapping my holiday gifts.

My apartment was warm when I got home.

I am cooking a yummy dinner.

The boyfriend is on his way over.

I truly believe that you can control the way you react to things.

The second i decided to look on the bright side,

things actually strarted feeling brighter.

What was waiting for you on your brightside?