kindling

sometimes i am overwhelmed by the power of words & the feelings they have the ability to evoke, no matter how simple. and that's exactly what the following did for me. i felt compelled to share, if anyone is reading. 

the radiant meteor storm of October 9, 1933-Larousse Encyclopedia of Astronomy

"be gentle with yourself. 
you are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars; 


you have a right to be here.
and whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 



therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. 



with all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
be cheerful.
strive to be happy." 

-Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

healthy & encouraging reminders.

fulfilling my wanderlust- issue one: lagos

A year and a half ago, I set off to Europe for two months to backpack across the continent. I visited nine countries. I met a countless number of people. I fulfilled my wanderlust (though now it is back again.) I realized just recently that the reality of what I actually experienced is just now beginning to sink in. In the moment, there is so much going on-so many emotions & new sights, smells, sounds, feelings- that it isn't always easy to see it all for what it's really worth. Now that I have had time to separate myself from the intensity of it all, I really see how truly freaking mind blowing that adventure was. I have not shared much about my trip on this blog- really only a snippet here. I decided today to begin a series in which I would share simple stories & photographs from my adventures.

people I met

places I visited

lessons I learned

fulfilling my wanderlust- issue 1

We were laying on a secluded Portuguese beach, one that lined the cliffside, & feeling absolutely at one with the world. Well, I can only speak for myself, but I certainly was. I decided to take a solitary walk down the beach to soak up the rays, dip my feet in the saltwater, & fully submerge myself in the amazing moment I was experiencing. I never even knew that I would ever go to portugal...but there I was just days before, taking a road trip across southern Spain and over the border, through miles of sunflower and olive tree fields, to stunning Lagos.

So there I was.

I continued to walk until I could no longer even see my sister & friends behind me. Only cliffs and ocean. And ahead of me...only cliffs & ocean. It was liberating & frightening at the same time. But honestly, I was so enamored by the enlightenment I was feeling, that fear never even struck a chord in me. I found no reason to feel fear. Sometimes beauty blinds you. 

Complete solitude next to soaring cliffs & humbling oceans. 

I just came to the realization that I had my camera with me that day, tucked away in my backpack that I had left behind, yet i didn't take a single photograph of that walk. At first, upon realizing that, I was a little bummed. It didn't take long though for me to become aware of the fact that i wouldn't really want it any way. I was fully focused on where I was in the moment that the image of what was before me is incredibly vibrant in mind. I really wouldn't trade that for a photograph. 

I think that sometimes we can become wrapped up in documenting an experience that we forget to actually experience it fully. I absolutely love to document moments in my life...I have since I was gifted my first film camera at thirteen. But, I am reminding myself here lately to find the balance between immersing myself in the present & documenting it for the future.

Balance.

weekend wonders

now that I have an eight to four, monday through friday job for the first time since i first got a job at sixteen years old, i truly savor every minute from four p.m. friday to eight on monday morning. i absolutely love my weekends...especially now that nick & i share a home. this past weekend was ripe with the nostalgic smell of autumn(my very favorite season) & full of really amazing moments with some of my closest friends. 

friday night, we watched our friend's band play at Arts Fest in downtown conway & took advantage of the free photo booth to have this made:

 on a side note, thirty of my students had art in the Arts Fest exhibit...so proud! they were all so excited to find out they would have work hanging for the weekend.

(photo cred to the Baum Gallery of Fine Art, as i only got photos of the inside)

 saturday, nick & i met up with dana & reece to visit the Mirazozo Luminarium. i had been waiting for this day since early this year when i found out it would be coming...and i had no idea it would be as amazing as it was! the Mirazozo is a brilliant piece of art made by a group of artists from Australia who call themselves the "Architects of Air." The entire thing was hand- sewn and uses only natural light to illuminate it's interior. It is a maze of tunnels & alcoves & vibrant domes. this is stuff of dreams, you guys. the intense change of environment i experienced when i walked into the first "room" (the green one) was quite the psychedelic experience.

(laying on the ground, looking up. they didn't know their hands were centered perfectly around this point)

Ever since we moved into our house in mid-august, nick & i had talked about having our first get-together when the weather changed to fall. so, we decided that afternoon that we'd have it this night- the night of the full harvest moon. we cooked way too much amazing food, ate razzleberry pie, drank beers with our friends around the fire pit, & actually felt a little chilly outside in the crisp air (totally a good thing.)

 i am so in love with our little home & it's location. when our fire wood ran out, all we had to do was head to our woods to clear the trail of branches in the moonlight. seriously, so in love.

(mark & hunter are home from their summer in brooklyn!) 

sunday was a lazy day, as sunday's around here usually are. a lazy day to spend with either his family or mine & i love it that way. 

here's to many more free weekends & nights in our backyard with good company & warmth.