Look at these two opposite-sized pooches!  It must be chaos in that house.

Ladies and Gentlemens
 (well, the 3 men that entered, anyway),

I have just performed a wonderful and silly act...that of placing several names written on goofy marketing stationary in a corporate compostable cup and choosing a winner for my bloggy birthday giveaway.

You know the prizes.
(Here is where I feel like Tyra Banks standing in front of 12 twiggy, bug-eyed beauties)
(not that you are either twiggy or bug-eyed, but most assuredly you must be a beauty!)
(but I digress)


The first paper-person clinging to my fingers as I draw them will get their choice of either some smashing earrings from Plume
 (writer, photographer, silversmith, and bestie extrodinare)
OR
a perfectly painted stone (i hear rumors from her that it might be an owl!!!!)
 from the stunning UmberDovely
 (writer, photographer, painter, textile queen, and bestie extrodinare)

(plus, they are both annoyingly beautiful)
and colorful.
i could go on and on.

AND THE FIRST WINNER IS...

Our lovely Bisquit!!!

(love this saucy mountain lady, plus she's a remarkable source of encouragement and delicious jewelery!)

Kristen, email me and you get to pick from the two prizes.

THE SECOND WINNER IS...

Our soulful sister in Portland, Miss Resolute Twig!

(she's such a sweet soul, courageous as hell, and a lover of nature!)
(she has a great etsy shop too, if you're looking for handmade journals or gentle jewels)
Susie, I'll let you know what you've won via email and get it shipped out!

To the rest of you cast about on my desk:

Tyra says in a melodramatic voice, "I'm sorry, but you are no longer in the running to becoming America's Next Top Model."

Heidi says, "As you know, in fashion, one day yaw in, the next day yaw ouddtt.
I'm sorry, yaw ouddtt.
Avidazen."

Then you as the contestant cries and gushes about how much you appreciated the opportunity and you've had the time of your life.

____
No but seriously,
I was really impressed with the quality of your feedback.  It not only made me feel as though what I do here (though totally started selfishly as an outlet for me) is meaningful to some of you, but it was also really fun to hear about the books and drinks you find most interesting.

 I absolute write in order to connect my human existence with others, so if you find a resonating thread, I hope you act on it and send me an email or comment.
Because we all need to know that we are not alone.
It's kind of my tangent, my tirade, my mantra...
self-care,
self-love,
and authentic, kind relationships.

And this here blog is my way of continually reminding my lovely (though stubborn) independent self:

You need people.
You need friends.
You need love.

That's all, my commerades.

Thanks ever so much for playing!

Come In!

Come In!

Welcome to my birthday party.

Bon Anniversaire to me...

________

GIVEAWAY GOODIES

_______

In celebration, I decided to host a little giveaway in order to get some feedback and have a bit of fun!  There are two prizes, so I'll pick two winners using a random number generator.  The first winner will get his/her choice of prizes...

One bonny lass/lad will be the happy recipient of one of UmberDove's new series of painted rocks.  The one shown here has already flown to its home, but she is sending another one in its stead.  I can't wait for you to see it.  These things are flying like her husband's famous (they are!) flapjacks out of her ETSY shop.  

Some great loot from some great gals!

I know for a fact that either of these two would do cartwheels to win the other's prize.

Heck, can I enter?!!!

________

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

_______

I've got a new idea in the brain, one I've been journaling about for a few weeks now, but only just started while on my artist retreat.  I was a bit frustrated with the beginning process, but after a long dinner with BC and Umber, I was able to sort of talk my way over the roadblocks.

(Sidenote: Those two are ridiculously helpful sounding boards)

INTENTIONAL.

(I can see Kelly smirking).

"As for discipline — it's important, but sort of overrated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you. [...] Continuing to write after that heartache of disappointment doesn't take only discipline, but also self-forgiveness." ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

I don't want to chain my gifts down and require them to produce on demand.
 I refuse.

But I do want to give them all the open space they need to breath their way into life.

So I'll just write.

And write and write and write.

I hope you'll read, but I suppose that's not really the point now...

is it?

This time, these 30 minutes...they are all for me.

And me alone.

Of course, I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Instantly!

Like NOW.

Off to write, 

Today, everything around me tasted, looked, and felt bland (por ejemplo: the sangria at the Mexican food restaurant was (I KID YOU NOT) made from grape kool-aid and the replacement margarita was little better).   The small mountain of laundry awaiting my Monday felt less like a tangible climb as much as Mt. Blanc ominously looming over my dwarfed, non-hiking frame.

Goodness me!  Is it really already Friday afternoon?  What a  blur of a week.  As you may have noticed, I've been concentrating most of my bloggular energies over at mine and Kelly's baby, Pretty, Please...trying to get that off the ground and into the already inundated world of design/professional blogs.  There's nothing like hoping, right?! ;)  (Feel free to add us to your following list anytime!)

I've also had the immense pleasure of helping Umber with her show this week in promotion as well as the ever-important task of holding little paintings while she hammers in nails. From my perspective, it looked something like this:

If you know her, you'll know that this gal has quite the surplus of zany ideas and the energy with which to carry them out. We call her a hummingbird, for truly she has the metabolism and curiosity of one. This is particularly good for me to have in a lady friend, for I am not one to buzz about energetically - though I tell you, it was contagious. She had all of us grinning, skipping, laughing, and smirking so much.

and it felt quite good to be that jolly.

it felt equally as good to share moments of inspiration
(even in sometimes just observing them),
silence, and rest.

These two women, for all their wonderful outward beauty, kindness, talent and enviable can-do attitudes, hold for me also (and i daresay more importantly) a place of mystical depth and spiritual understanding, an eloquence at speaking of their arduous journeys, and the most open-handed offer of a very sweet friendship.