Needles + Lace

a little snowflake once whispered this in my ear

as it kissed my nose, melted, and disappeared…

a little snowflake once whispered
this in my ear
as it kissed my nose
melted and disappeared
.
“do you know…,” it began
the science of snow
how we make imprints on life
wherever we go?
.
yes, the shape of me
is a record of past
the defining moments that
stick together and last
.
taking slightly different paths
from sky we fly
meeting varied atmospheres
both low and high
.
our little beings form
prisms, needles, and lace
as we sparkle, spin, and float
with curious grace
.
the same is true
for many shades of life
shaped by winds of love
and lessons in strife
.
so be a sweet breeze of
inner levity and light
wear the weather of storms
with softness, clarity, and might
.
a little snowflake once
whispered this in my ear
as it kissed my nose
melted and disappeared

a reminder to weave beauty
from needles spin lace
let go, lift off, take flight

Beware of Giants

Century wise trees are my favorite of furry friends – a majestic mix of massive, they steal you away to a land before time… if you’re just willing to get lost.

Thoughts come and go while I walk the dog. It’s a peaceful practice and mindful state. This morning, amidst such, I snapped this pic and let the wayward “thunks of trunks” wash over.

Besides my pup, bearded husband and father… the century wise trees of Old Irving Park in Chicago are quite simply, my favorite of furry friends. A majestic mix of massive, they steal you away to a land before time… if you’re just willing to get lost.

The American Sycamore with its wide ivory trunk and white peely bark… rises up like dinosaur bones erupting from middle earth. A gentle forest-dwelling giant.

A few more steps and you duck to miss a low hanging branch of the American Basswood. You freeze mid-jujitsu stance and breathe. Its sweet little bells of white flowers ring as you pass, leaving honeydew breezes. You close your eyes. Inhale, “ahhhhh,” … exhale. Walk on, memory collected.

Your footsteps soften, padding past the concrete to where the sidewalk ends. A pinecone greets you with a sappy smile. You stop. Wind up and give it a good ole soccer kick. This ones for the pup. You loosen the leash, and as the cone skips and tumbles… your eyes trail up.

Standing in a ground-halo of mustard gold you crane your gaze. From base to trunk, beam to branch… *silence* … you’re in the company of Gandalf, (shhh) the massive evergreen… with its tippy-top, pointy but slightly slouchy, spruce hat. You pause.

Between long slow blinks you think, “We are… just so small.” … and that’s a beautiful thing.

– Sunday Hobbit Thoughts

From base to trunk, beam to branch… *silence* … you’re in the company of Gandalf, (shhh) the massive evergreen… with its tippy-top, pointy but slightly slouchy, spruce hat.

The Bar

Fact: Taking a photo of a mirror… without being in said mirror or photo, no easy task.

But I have a hardcore-decor crush on this bar, so it’s all good. Definitely worth the awkwardness of sprawling on our dining room table like a Thanksgiving roast beast to get the shot. I mean, look at those lines and curves… it even has little gold slippers.

The Hunt: Our furniture is a *complete* mishmash of new and old, restored retro and thrift. So, when trying to find a bar to match the wood / stain of our dining room table… amidst quarantine and online shopping, heartburn was setting in.

Tip: By selecting a textured piece (in this case, rattan) versus the same smooth finish of existing furniture, you don’t have to be spot-on with color, stain or grain. Get in the same ballpark with regards to hue and warmth… and swipe right. So happy with this match made in tiki heaven.

Shout-out to the team at Crate & Barrel. The delivery process was dreamy quick, arrived in 1-week… and the crew unpackaged and placed it in-home right where you see it in this pic. All mask-tastic and clean like. Saluti!

Sunroom Refresh

Carving out thoughtful spaces is as much about design as it is understanding the creature that is you. When form meets function, that’s when the magic truly happens.

Two Questions …

When friends ask for help rethinking spaces in their home, I always start by asking two things — (1) what is your favorite room to spend time in and (2) what is your favorite time of day?

Mornings in our sunroom are exactly that for me. Marinating in a bit of coffee, fresh oxygen, vitamin D and plant hugs is the bees knees. A grounding zen slate to tune-out to, before tuning into the hubbub of the day.

So! If you’re looking to nest, reframe a space, and get crafty (all of which I highly recommend for mind, body and soul), start by pondering those two questions. Are you an evening entertainer or family room flopper? Do you relish time in the kitchen during kiddo-naps, or pouring over crisp pages of a new book in an office nook?

Carving out thoughtful spaces is as much about design as it is understanding the creature that is you. When form meets function, that’s when the magic truly happens.

Walking on the Moon

A landscape of puddles and sea creatures. What I wouldn’t give…

What I wouldn’t give to be back exploring vast dimples of tidal pools… plucking hermit crabs during low tide is a special kind of childhood magic.

Reality Check: Quarantine feels a bit like being caught in the SURF, no? Living in shells oh-so-familiar… tumbling about with each new wave… ears attune to the dull roar of news, breaking daily at your door? Lately, it seems the space between my ears can go from clear to FUZZ in a matter of seconds. The static weight of reality is omnipresent. Like little grains of sand in my head, bones and dialogue

Have you too, felt this FUNK? If so, let’s reframe and reset. Pull on your rain boots. Grab an extra pair of dry socks. Flip over some rocks. And let’s resolve to focus on the journey, rather than the destination. When the wind feels deafening and your face a bit raw… smile. Lick your lips. Taste the salt. You are present.

Even the most overcast and gloomy of days shine wonder if you just look. Find the thread, pull the silver lining, and land on the moon… who knows, maybe it really IS made of cheese?!

Find the thread, pull the silver lining, and land on the moon… who knows, maybe it really IS made of cheese.

She + You

A Poem for the Moms

She came into this world like you and me
The smallest seed of what could be
No story known just blinking with wonder
As fresh and real as lighting and thunder

That little person she grew… up, out and in
Steadily learning, becoming, like raindrops on tin
All the unknown faded into color and choice
Life melted with love, hurt, living and rejoice

And then one day, all rippled calm
The wind paused amidst a waking dawn
A teeny tiny seed of what could be
Had started to sprout inside she

Blinking eyes of wonder, story unknown
She realized these feelings, you never outgrow
Life within life shines a very different hue
That curious cozy chaos of little mini you

The realness of present never misses a beat
So you entered this world and cried an echo sweet
She showed you it all, everything she knows
Smiling down, counting fingers and toes

Her arms that held you tight loosened little each day
Until just a single finger helped guide your way
Those first shaky steps, training wheels off,
Getting on that bus, emotions never stopped

The hardest part of life is letting freeness flow
Knowing that to live is to let another grow
She is overwhelming beauty, crusader of love
A child and mother and every feeling above

Her arms that held you tight, loosened little each day… until just a single finger helped guide your way.

The hardest part of life is letting freeness flow. Knowing that to live, is to let another grow.

Smell the Sea

Celebrate your intuition. Speak up. Leap forward. Hold steady, and rise with the tide. One life. One earth. Together, we are.

Smell the sea, feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly. – Van Morrison

There is a beautiful, granular feeling to being oceanside. Blinking out at that vast blue. Closing your eyes to listen to the rhythmic roar. Letting gusts of salty air and mindfulness wash over you. It brings a powerful yet gentle reminder that we are itty-bitty-bitty, pebble-like beings — interconnected, in a constant state of flow. As Dylan riffed, “Like a rolling stone. How does it feel…”

This year was filled has been filled with lots of self work, reflection, and deep dives. Finding peace in the unpredictable, embracing the intimacy and awkwardness of growth, blurred life chapters, loving folks, accepting differences — and coming to terms with a blender of full ah “feels”… but life is just one big smoothie, after all.

Being out west, amidst seasons changing, scenery anew, and loved ones, familiar… Brought with it an amazing soul refresh. Happy day — to my peeps and heart talk friends! Keep sharing your sweet au natural energy. Embrace the world around us. Celebrate your intuition. Speak up. Leap forward. Hold steady, and rise with the tide. One life. One earth. Together, we are.