freshening up...

goal clipboard from decoylab

yoga inspiration

snack stations from real simple

fridge snack station from real simple

pillows from shop dirtsa

Long time no see!  I've made a few changes to freshen up the blog & the shop.  I'm also working towards some new health & fitness goals through some pretty basic lifestyle changes.  Living and feeling better is just a few simple changes away - why does it seem so difficult?  I'm also working on some new ways to deal with stress, anxiety & depression by making time for art, journals, sewing & other craft projects.  I plan to have a regular blogging schedule to help keep me on track & accountable.  I have definitely had some struggles this year & I keep having to remind myself that this is all just temporary.  In the most perfect & cosmic timing, I saw this quote over on Elise's blog earlier this week:

Last year was shitty & this year, I live in Paris.  So if you're having a hard time, cross your fingers for luck & put your head down & work.  
 -Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day.

oh, bugger...

Under the weather today & confined to spend most of the day lying down...so in honor of the Royal Wedding, I am watching Four Weddings & a Funeral on Netflix.  The main reason I chose this movie is because I read that Mr. Bean was a guest at Will & Kate's wedding earlier today.  I just love the part in the movie where he flubs up the wedding ceremony so terribly.  And I must say, what I watched of the Royal Wedding on the internet was beautiful.  I loved the trees inside the first part of Westminster Abbey.  I loved her dress.  I loved the hats.  Why don't we wear hats on this side of the pond?

hello there...

We had a lovely Easter celebration with my family.  Above is my niece Addie while hunting eggs in my parent's yard.  We had a huge lunch, took lots of photos & the kiddos hunted for eggs in the yard.  We were expecting rain that never came so even though the sun wasn't really shining, we still felt lucky to be outside.

happy happy happy...

Happy Birthday to my bearded beau!!!  I made Boston Cream Pie cupcakes for the occasion and they were a hit!  We were feeling pretty low-key and it was gray and stormed most of the day.  We found ourselves making Coco's favorite (breakfast for dinner) and watching movies curled up on the couch.  It was lovely :) And henceforth, Cory may often be referred to as Coco, which is what Addie calls him. 

update

OK, this is not my dad's x-ray, it's Homer Simpson in case you happen to be from another planet.  But since the topic of this post is a brain, I thought the image (somewhat) appropriate.  And at least it is lighthearted (poor little pea-brained Homer).  We have had quite the eventful past few weeks, and unfortunately not in a good way.  The story is long & scary.  Maybe I will share the details later.  But to make that long story very short, my father has brain cancer.  It was a total shock.  He is pretty young & in very good health (other than the brain cancer obviously), so we are trying to keep the most positive outlook we can.  He is home recuperating after 2 brain surgeries and we will know more when we get lab results back.  The last few weeks have felt almost out of body, like I was watching a movie or something.  This is a game changer for sure.  Please keep him in your thoughts right now.  Life has settled down (somewhat), so I hope to be back sharing craft projects, new shop products and recipes very soon!  And please take a moment today to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. 

Dear God, it's me Sarah...

Please keep us calm, strong and together.  Please give us all the peace to get some much needed rest.  Help us to remember we must take care of ourselves so we can be the absolute best support for Dad.  Please watch over him and speed his recovery.  Please give us all the strength You know we need and calm our minds when we need it.  Please hear all the prayers from everyone who is sending their thoughts to Dad and our family. Give us patience with each other as we embark on this new chapter.  Help us learn the lessons You intend for us.  Help us hear Your voice when you are speaking to us.  Help us feel Your embrace when you hold us.  Please allow us to let go of negative energy so we can focus our minds & our hearts where they should be focused.  Let us lean on each other when we need to, give hugs often and keep our hearts always praying.  Thank You for the gift of our family and give us all courage, conviction and fighting spirits.  Amen.

record-shattering longest post ever...

My lovely little niece, Miss Avry Plum Miller came for a visit this past week.  She was the bright spot in an otherwise gloomy & secluded week.  I have been under the weather in more ways than one and have pretty much been a shut-in.  I didn't even mind that she spent half her visit asleep!  And she is looking more & more like her sister Addie every day.  Look at all her hair!!!
My friend Bethany posted this happiness flow chart earlier this week.

original source unknown

I absolutely love it.  I am actively working towards getting myself healthy & happy again...and I'll take any bit of sunshine (whether from the sky or in the form of my beautiful niece) whenever I can.  I was hoping to make these Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes to celebrate St Patrick's Day...maybe I'll make them a weekend project instead.  My sister has made them before & they come highly recommended.
I also want to share a warm welcome to the world Mister Isaac Ross and congratulations to my dear friend Shelbi & her family on their new addition.  I can't wait to see her this fall for our wedding as it has been far, far too long.

And one last but not least important thing, please send prayers to Japan.  It is the only other place in the world that has been my home and my heart has been breaking this past week watching the devastation there.  I was terrified the first 2 days waiting to hear if my host family & all my friends still living there were all right.  Everyone that I know of is fine and was not near any of the most hard hit areas.  But my mind is constantly focused on what is happening there; the unimaginable devastation, the suffering of the people, the triumphs and small miracles, and the grace with which Japanese society as a whole is handling these disasters.  Please be sure to send your prayers and whatever other assistance you can to the Japanese during this time.

DC Rocks...

source

We had a fantastic visit with my sister Molly and her boy Alex in Washington D.C. this past weekend...but it was way too short (I have already been looking into tickets to go back).  I also got sick while we were there which sort of threw a wrench into our plans.  When we got in on Friday night we had margaritas & great Mexican food at Alero.  I was able to keep it together enough to have a huge day on Saturday - walking the mall, seeing the White House, visiting the American History and American Art museums, China Town, and a fantastic dinner at Heritage India.  But on Sunday, I was pretty much down for the count.  Cory and I had late brunch at Scion just 2 blocks from my sister's apartment and then it absolutely poured rain the rest of the day.  It kind of ended up working out OK that I felt like crap and didn't want to go anywhere.  We made my sister's famous "brick oven" pizza for dinner that night - our favorite pizza was the bacon & sliced apple (with a touch of barbecue sauce).  We baked chocolate chip & sliced almond cookies and I learned why my sister has trouble baking (she tries to wing it).  The girl also does not have a set of measuring cups.  We had an amazing meal at Ted's Bulletin (see the above homemade pop-tart they are famous for).  I also learned that my yahoo email address really makes me seem old but it suddenly became cool/vintage when I revealed that it was my 1st ever email address (I do have a gmail address I just rarely use it).  I always laugh a LOT when I am with my sister....miss her already!

headin outta town...

I am going to Washington DC tomorrow for the first time!!!  I can't wait to play with my sister....Anthro, Lush, Ted's Bulletin, the National Mall & Memorial Parks, the National American History Museum (to see Julia Child's kitchen, among other things)...martinis at some Russian bar....possibly some kind of NPR cocktail party, a house party.  I'm not sure we're going to fit all these things in as we are only there until Tuesday but my sister is pretty energetic & ambitious + she's been waiting for this visit for a while :) 

for BP...

Saw this over on Sometimes Sweet & I thought it was really cool & touching. It made me think of my uber amazing soon to be single mama friend Bethany.  Watched it before work & then came home to blog about it on lunch. Ha! I'm super excited cuz I got a bunch of new beads & the flower girl & bridesmaids dresses are scheduled to be delivered today!!!