J is for Joy

Joyful moments.

Joy of friends and family.

Joyous squeals of delight when opening presents.

Joys of the season.

Wishing you all much JOY and happiness.

xoxo

Calm...ommmmmm...

 ~Calm~

Remembering to breathe.

Reminding us of the infinite.

Sensing the spaciouness.

Stopping everyting.

Just for a moment.

Be.

Holiday

Sorry...I am a little late getting here this week.  It's been a bit nutty in my life :).  But what can you expect this time of year, right?

Anyway I love this holiday...not from a religious stand point...but I enjoy the festive feeling in the air.  And to me, this photo sums up my idea of holiday.

Togetherness

Two brothers + Two guitars = Beautiful music

Togetherness is good...very very good ;)

If you wish, you can watch one of their videos here:  La Posada

Good morning!

I don't love mornings...only because it means getting out of my comfy, warm, soft bed.  Thankfully there is this thing called coffee...without it, I would see no reason to start the day...lol.  I wish I could say that I am a morning person, but I would be lying to you.  But I do love the essence of morning if that makes any sense...

Looking up

Funny...I don't really think to look up much when I photograph.  So today I set out to capture something... I was almost ready to give up when I turned a corner to find these birds resting.  I was tempted to stand directly underneath...but then I thought the odds of getting creamed were pretty high...lol.

Neglected

I have a "thing" for windows... I love to imagine what life inside might be like.  This particular window leaves me feeling a little sad.  A home neglected.  Was it a happy home for someone?  Just like us...it needs a little TLC. Someone to come along and give it some love.  Just as our eyes are windows to the soul...are windows the soul of a home? 

Hmmmmm...I wonder...

Childhood passion

Stuffed animals!  Oh these stuffed friends kept me company throughout my childhood.  They were my best friends, confidants, play mates and soul mates. I really believed they were real (even when I was 12).  As an adult, I still love them...and my kids seem to have this passion too.  My oldest has so many in her bed, I am surprised she can sleep in there!  But these stuffed friends provide such comfort and love.  And sometimes it seems only they can understand our deepest fears and sorrows.  

Simple is hard!

I have to admit...this was a bit of a challege photographically for me.  I have a hard time with simple.  I had to add a layer to this, because it looked too plain.  But simple and plain and not the same thing...far from it!  It takes great skill to capture the essence of simple.  But man oh man...once you do...it's a beautiful thing!  I am so inspired by all the photos posted here.  This was a great topic this week and it made me work on a subject that is hard to behold.

In season

Tis the season for chili!  Today has been cold and cloudy...perfect weather for warm and filling chili.  Mine has been simmering and is making the house smell rich and delicious.  And lucky for me, I was given my friends 1st place chili seasoning...oh it's so so amazing. 

Chili recipe:
Mix ground turkey, Italian sausage, and Jimmy Dean's pork sausage (and/or kidney beans if you are vegetarian or if your system can handle them...unfortunately for me, I can't eat beans...ever, and no beano does not work)
Then add a big can (28 oz) of crushed tomatoes and one 14oz can of fire roasted diced tomatoes. 
1 pkg of Mcormick's chili seasoning (mild for the kiddos). Or what ever seasoning you enjoy (today I am using my friends).
Mix it all together.  Let it simmer for a few hours.  Then enjoy!

Coffee and Tea

When I saw this weeks theme I almost fell out of my chair!  I love coffee and tea!  But I really really really love coffee.  Yesterday I just happened to be experimenting with coffee and cups...so this is just perfect (love good timing like this)!  I came across this fantastic site where you can turn your photos into Polaroids...Rollip (go check it out if you have not before...and prepare to have a blast).  Oh gosh, I spent a bit too much time on that yesterday... Well, I'm off for another cup of heaven...

Orange

Orange is the color of our 2nd chakra...our chakra of creativity! Good stuff!

Orange is a powerful healing color. It stimulates enthusiasm and creativity. Orange means vitality with endurance. People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. Lady luck's color is orange.

Put some orange in your life when you want:

• to spice things up when you feel time is dragging
• to become more involved in something
• to increase creativity
• relief from things becoming too serious

No wonder I love this color and this time of year!

Out of Focus

I love things "out of focus." There is a beautiful mystery to it...your mind can create a story or image that is different from what we see in focus or in reality. I like to escape and get lost in what "could be."

Don't you?

Who I See

When you look at this photo...nothing really "pops" out. I took this in Chicago during lunch hour. I see people reading, relaxing, and chatting with friends. I see people enjoying a really beautiful day under the John Hancock. What I think is significant about this photo is that I took this on September 11th.

When you look at the people in the photo, you don't see worry or fear or terror. It's been 8 years now. As I walked around the city everything felt normal...not that I was expecting anything different. But I kept thinking about that day...I was living in Chicago then. The day was so similar...sunny, happy and warm. As I walked around that day, I wondered if some people even forgot what happened...

Abandoned

A dropped little toy...perhaps a friend lost?



I am not sure why this pulls my heart strings... Did the child that dropped this look for it later...sad it went missing? Or does this child have so many little toys that they never realized it's gone?

A quirky little smile
Big hopeful eyes
Covered in dirt
Will it be picked up
Before it's thrown in the garbage?

Where I live...

I am finally beginning to fall in love with my new home... I am a Midwest transplant (from Chicago). Born and raised in Illinois...moving out west was quite a BIG change for me. After 2 years, I am feeling more and more at home (although my heart will always be in Illinois).

But what is not to love about surfers and sunsets? Warm weather year round and no scraping ice off the windshield in -4 degree weather? So yes, this midwest girl has swapped her winter boots for flip-flops...and I am lovin' it!