Mirror Image

I have.
You know, there's a lot we don't see about ourselves.
I have always hoped that I could have a friend who was honest enough and blatant enough with me to tell me what my shortcomings are. I have wished for someone to point out when I do something stupid, or selfish, or hurtful. To tell me if there is something about my personality that may offend others. Or, sometimes, just to tell me to shut the hell up.
But friends like that are nearly non-existent.
I think to meet myself and be able to see myself from someone else's point of view could be some of the best insight that I could ever ask for. To see, for myself, what others really see.

However....
Being able to see our own flaws would not be the only benefit.
We would also be able to see the good that people see in us that maybe we overlook. Maybe when someone tells us that we are beautiful/smart/funny/etc., we don't quite believe them. Are you guilty of that, too? But if we could see ourselves through that other persons eyes, maybe we wouldn't be so judgmental of ourselves. Maybe we could believe that they were telling the truth.

Just something to think about. ;)



*Thanks, Jen, for always posting the greatest quotes and words of wisdom over on Bits of Truth. You rock.

The Ending

I am sitting here eating what will more than likely be my last strawberry salad for this year. Trying to savor the flavor of the berries, I'm afraid I'll forget what they taste like by the time December rolls around. I already can't make it past 6 p.m. without putting a jacket on. The air is sharp and clean. The heaviness of heat no longer hangs in the evenings. There is no haze. No humidity. Just crystal clear skies and the brightest, fluffy clouds floating in the blue.

Pool Party Fridays just don't seem to fit the bill anymore. It would have to be a heated pool for me to take that jump. But I still attempt to grasp at the last precious moments of summer. Like a good dream that you hope you can re-start if you go back to sleep quick enough.

I hope to see more of you this week. I have lots of things in my head to talk about, but not enough time to work through them and put them into a post. But I am trying. Here's to a new week. A round of Hugs and Sunshine for everyone!

*from pinterest.

Weather Report

The fact that I am sitting at my kitchen table with the door open and my legs are cold does not make me happy. It reminds me that cold weather is just waiting its turn. And I greatly prefer warm weather over cold. But, hey. What you gonna do about it?
I'll tell you what you're gonna do! You're gonna buy a cozy new sweater, finish the cape that you are making, and look up what leather you want to order. Oh, wait! That's what I'm gonna do.

But before all that, you are going to lust over these kick ass looks from Andrew Marc.



Let's not dwell on the fact that I couldn't afford one of the buttons off of one of these jackets. One can dream, right?

Check out all the hotness on the Andrew Marc website.

Just to Say Hello

Hello Friends.
I thought I should probably stop by and let you guys know what the heck I have been up to for the last little bit. Obviously, not blogging. So here's what I have been doing.

Painting. A whole lot of painting. And as you can see from the pic above, there has been some ceiling painting involved. My brother has been doing a remodel job and I am, of course, the painter. I don't think that needs any further explanation.

Yard work. I had been needing to dead-head my dahlias for a few weeks now. They are still going strong and throwing out the prettiest pink blooms. But there was something stopping me.

This girl, to be exact.....
who had built a huge web from one end of my dahlias to the other. She is quite an odd little creature. I had never seen one like her before. But today I had had enough. I wanted her out of my flowers. So now she is sealed up in a glass jar just awaiting her fate.

That's about it.
Doesn't sound like enough to keep me from blogging, does it?
But it has been. Working. Doing chores around the house. Keeping doctor appointments. I've been slightly distracted. And it may continue to be this way for a few more weeks. Maybe not. You just never know with me.

Until later..........
xoxo ~Jo~ xoxo

True Story

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what
everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror,
the person who shows you everything that is holding you back,
the person who brings you to your own attention
so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably
the most important person you'll ever meet,
because they tear down your walls and smack you awake.
A soul mate's purpose is to shake you up,
tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles
and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in,
make you so out of control that you have to transform your life...."

Elizabeth Gilbert

Friday.....um....Swim Party

You don't have a soul.
You are a soul.
You have a body.
C.S.Lewis

I've been a little absent this week. Sorry about that. It's just been busy. You know how it is. I don't know about you, but that picture up there looks pretty much like perfection to me. (can you tell I have a thing for water?) I have been saving that C.S. Lewis quote for a while now. It really struck a chord in me. One of those quotes that you keep rolling around in your head because it is so profound and yet so simple at the same time. Mr. Lewis. Very smart man.

I hope you all have had a great week and are headed for an even better weekend. My niece is having her 6th birthday party this Saturday. My mind is officially blown. She is 6 already? Insane. And her big sister just started high school. Holy crap. Where does time go? Better savor as many sweet moments as we can before they all slip away.

Have a beautiful Friday, friends. :) Hope to see you back here next week.


*photo from here via here.

Modern Wasteland

Imagine billowing waves that look like the shiny scales of a mermaids tail.
This is Wastelandscape, an art installation by Elise Morin that explores the relationship between people and the things they throw away.

It is made of 65,000 old CDs that have been hand sewn together and then draped over inflatable mounds. I automatically think of water when I look at it. Water or one really massive sequined dress. How about you?

People are just so flipping creative! It amazes me.



*photos from MyModernMet.

Friday Pool Party

Need I say more?

Happy weekend, folks.
In case you are interested, I will be listing a few more bags this weekend.
And wishing we were all at this awesome place, hanging out and talking like real people. You know......in person. That could be fun, right?


*photo from here via here.

What a Day

I'm trying to make myself feel better.

One tends to lose a lot of sleep trying to hear every little sound that goes on around the house at night. I am paranoid. The peeper came back the second night. No messes. Just peeping the second time. He was a no-show last night when we were waiting for him. I am tired and my brain is exhausted. I want to be at the beach with my parents and my brother and his family.

So let's pretend that all is totally well and that I can still walk around my house naked if I want. And let's talk for just a second about this little crush I have on Charlie Day.

My husband and I went to see Horrible Bosses while we were on vacation. Pretty funny movie. But what makes it even better is the presence of Charlie Day in it. Now I rarely harbor a crush on anyone famous. It's just not my style. But this guy is just too damn adorable. And funny. Gorgeous eyes and the cutest smile you have ever seen. Am I the only one who sees it? The magazines seem to favor the other two guys in the movie (Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis).

Not me. I favor Charlie.