Real Life

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For the past few months, I've been rather quiet online. My desire and inspiration to blog ebbs and flows...and lately I've been feeling quite introspective. My heart is aching to spend more time with Jesus and spend less time thinking about me. I seem to have have lots of words and thoughts flowing...but my words want to stay inside for some reason. I need time to really sit with myself and figure out what is going on in this brain of mine before I open it up and share with others.

Sometimes the internet is an amazing open road for me to wander upon. My heart skips a beat when I come across something that speaks to my soul. But it can also be completely overwhelming. So many people to catch up with and connect to...I open my Facebook page and immediately close it. It's like walking into a huge party that has been going all night long and I just don't have the energy to mingle :) If you have emailed or sent me a message on Facebook lately and I haven't answered, please don't take it personally. Feel free to send another message to jog my memory. It's been hard to keep up with it all and "real life" has been much more attractive. And we've been busy busy busy.

I would love to start sharing more of my "real life" with you. Often times, I feel like I have to to write a "grand" topical blog post and the sheer intensity of that endeavor makes me want to run away and hide. So instead, I think I will try to share snippets. Photos, links, quotes...things that are inspiring me. I'm thinking about doing a "photo a day" project again (but with my iPhone) or perhaps some video blogs.

So I'll start today. Here are a few things that have my affections this week, online and off:

  • I've been making TONS of ice tea. Every morning, I make a big batch of unsweetened mango raspberry mint herbal tea and then add just a touch of Sweet Leaf Mint and Honey tea. Heaven.

  • We're living at a beautiful state park in Colorado right now and the view from our window is amazing! Trails, pelicans, lakes, and mountains, right out our front door.
  • I experienced hot yoga here for the first time. I got up at 5:30am 8 times before we moved to a campground farther away and then I quit going regularly. It rocked my world. I brought my mom and she loved it too. Getting up that early is probably what threw a wrench in my online activities because I started going to bed earlier...and my prime time for browsing the web was 10pm-2am. My body is thanking me for getting out of that routine!
  • I'm obsessed this this CD. Best kids music ever!

  • I'm looking forward to the Boulder Farmer's Market tomorrow morning and a little trip up the mountain to Nederland. I'm going to hoop in the mountain air.

  • My mom has been staying with us for the past 2 weeks and my dad came for the last week...and they left yesterday. My heart is light with joy as I recount the amazing memories we made...but it's also heavy with the weight of goodbyes.  Above is a photo from the balcony of our hotel room in Golden. We spent one amazing "getaway" night there during their stay...eating, drinking, laughing, and being refreshed. I love them so.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Texture "Comfy Skirt" Winner!

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Drumroll please....

With over 637 eligable entires...the winner of the comfy skirt is:

SONJA!

Sonja's comment:" I really LOVE the comfy skirt. It looks great for wearing around town, but also for working in my garden! As a second choice, I like the easy elegance of the simple cowl cap sleeve tee. A comfy tee with a twist of pretty!"

Congratulations!! You're going to ADORE your new skirt!

For those of you who didn't win...jump on over to the Texture store and take advantage of the 20% discount! Use the code "happy20" through Monday, July 12 to receive this awesome discount on anything in the store. Yay!

Have a great rest of the week!

Texture "Comfy Skirt" Giveaway

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As I wandered around beautiful downtown Eugene, OR on a sunny day in 2008, I came across a cute little shop called Sweet Potato Pie. A quick peek inside confirmed that it was my favorite kind of store...hemp clothing, purses, stickers, incense :) So I went in and something immediately caught my eye. This adorable green skirt. After trying it on, I knew instantly that it must be MINE. I proceeded to wear it every day for the next week...and because of this, I just had to email the designer and tell her how much I was in love with it. And so begins my relationship with Teresa at texture clothing.

Who is Teresa? Teresa Remple is the naturally caffeinated instigator and inspiration for texture clothing. She was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and has lived in Bellingham, WA for nearly eight years. She is the proprietress of texture clothing and in that capacity she does everything from drafting patterns to sweeping the floors. She started sewing at twelve and founded the company in October, 2002. As a seventeen year veteran of the summer festival scene, Teresa embodies a compassionate, earth first vision for the under appreciated, and misunderstood HEMP fabric. A Fashion Arts graduate with a passion for textiles that makes her special, she's all about working hard and living lean.

What is texture clothing? Think gypsy vibe and travel savvy with the ease of real world living built in. texture is a boutique without the pretense ~ hard wearing, high fashion ~ figure flattering cuts ~ street legal HEMP product ~ not the coffee sack fashion typical of HEMP clothing ~ lovingly made, deftly stitched, beautifully patterned in the Pacific NW ~ clothing with a conscience.

Why do YOU need a Comfy Skirt? If I had to pick ONE skirt to wear for the rest of my life, this would be it. Ok, I'm being a bit dramatic...but that is how much I love it!! I've had the green skirt for 2 years and I just got another one in "robin". It has the perfect stretch and just the right flare at the bottom. It's super flattering and everywhere I go, people ask me where I got it! I wore it through my entire pregnancy...it was the most wonderful maternity skirt. I even used it for Lucy's newborn photos! It also has a cute little hidden zippered pocket in the front...I like to put my iPhone in it or my debit card/cash. No need for a purse.

And now, I'm so excited to announce that Teresa and I are teaming up to give a comfy skirt to a one of my blog readers! Yay!

There are THREE ways to enter yourself in the drawing:

1. Comment below and tell me one of your favorite pieces in the texture line. Or if you are already enjoying one of their pieces, tell me that too! 2. Post the giveaway to Facebook and "Like" their FB page. 3. Post the giveaway to Twitter.

Each one will earn you a separate entry, so make sure to leave individual comments for each.

The winner will be chosen at random on Wed. July 7 (entries accepted through 12:00pm MST). She is also offering a generous 20% discount to my blog readers. Just enter the discount code "happy20". The discount code will be valid through July 12...so don't delay! I've got my eye on those posh pants and the jar dress!

On a side note, I'm hoping to meet Teresa in person someday soon and give her a hug for making such fabulous clothing! Possibly this fall as we head to the Seattle area. Reading Denise's post about Bellingham makes me want to go there and explore!