West Coast Living

I live on the West Coast and honestly couldn't imagine living anywhere else. (Except perhaps the more southern area of the West Coast instead of the northern area, but that's neither here nor there.) I love the ocean and the feeling of day to day living. I'm not sure if it's the city I live in or my own mindset coloring my view, but we are generally laid back and hippies. 

One of my friends always calls me a hippie because I'm a vegetarian and like to be barefoot (socks are yucky). I don't think those are the two deciding factors in hippie-dom (is that even a word?!) but I do make my own granola and sprout seeds, so...

The ocean is about fifteen minutes away from me by car (forty by bus which is my usual mode of transportation) and it's nice to get out there and just breathe it in. Anyone who has access to the sound of waves (I mean the real sound of waves, not a wave machine app) knows what I'm talking about when I say there is something both calming and awe-inspiring about the ocean. 

Not really sure where this post is going or coming from, but just a few ramblings on my place of living. Sometimes it's good to just let the words come (therapeutic maybe) and ponder about why you love where you are right now. 

Where are you right now? What makes it amazing?

Create TRUST

My one little word is TRUST and in April I'm trying to Create TRUST. I halfheartedly Google searched those two words, trying to find some inspiration or a quote or something and then came across this quote by Golda Meir that I adore so very much.

"Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will

be happy to live with all your life. Make the most

of yourself my fanning the inner sparks of

possibility into flames of achievement."

I want to live this quote this month. Fan those sparks and create my happy self. Who's with me?

Little Letters

dear spring - you've sprung!

dear rain - sad that you're back, but expected I guess. please don't stay too long.

dear squash on my counter - I will eat you tonight, roasted in my oven with a little spice and oil.

dear seeds - sprout anytime, I'm waiting!

dear rainboots - i guess I can't put you away just yet.

Day in the Life March Edition

This month I chose to do the Day in the Life challenge on Friday March 29th. So glad I did. It was Good Friday and my sister was coming home for Easter so that meant time as a family. (The past two months I've been off work and documented the day by myself, so it's nice to change it up a bit.)

I took many many many photos, knowing I'd only use a few in the actual Day in the Life page. (The rest I used in my regular Project Life spread.) I printed them out Sunday and used a Design G page protector to house them all in.

I decided to use just my black and white washi with a bit of color. I wanted simple simple simple. (This is pretty much my mantra every time I scrapbook.) I like how it forms a cohesive bond between the pictures. I like how I didn't worry about times or even if one thing happened before another.

The point for me this time was to simply document the day and have the photos. Maybe next month will be different but for now, this works.

New Reads

Bought two new books at a second hand bookstore this past weekend and super excited about reading them. 

• Animal Vegetable Miracle - Been wanting to read this for awhile after hearing some great reviews on it.  Read part of the first chapter in line and am loving it already!

• Green and Easy - (couldn't find a link - sorry!) Flipped through this and liked the bright pictures and talking-to-you text. Think this will be good too.

I am kind of addicted to buying gardening (or gardening-esque) books right now. I can see why my mom had an almost entire bookcase devoted to the subject. So great. (Also, I'm turning into my mom?!)

What books are you buying?

Project Life Mondays

One of the techniques I love most of all is to take photos with lots of 'white' space and then use that space to write in. You can definitely see this in the above photos.

The foot shot was done unintentionally - it wasn't until I printed it out I realized that space would be perfect for journaling. And some jewels of course.

The second one was definitely planned ahead. As I was taking this shot, I thought that it'd be great to have lots of this gorgeous blue sky and write about my onelittleword. Worked out great.

What's one of your favorite techniques?

April Goals

One of my goals this month is no chocolate. 

(Note how this isn't no sweets or no sugar. It's simply no chocolate. This isn't a weight loss thing or whatever, it's more that I want to rid my body of the craving of chocolate I've noticed it having.)

I was texting with my BFF about this and she agreed to do it with me as well. It's nice to have a support system. I am imagining a few days with crazy cravings and then being okay. I don't eat a ton of chocolate but there are definitely times when I'm craving it a lot. I'm excited to get over that.

I told my mom that I didn't want any chocolate for Easter and other than some chocolate chips and some chocolate mint tea I don't have much in my house. I think this will be okay. It might even be fun.

Come join me for a month without chocolate.