It’s Friday AND my birthday weekend (it’s tomorrow!) so doesn’t that call for some extra celebrating boys and girls?! It will definitely be a relaxing, do-nothing kind of 31st birthday and I’m so excited to be spending it with just my two favorite boys (the hubs and our fur ball). Wait, rewind. Did I say 31? As in 10 years past my 21st birthday? Eeeeek! To go back and remember how different that birthday was. Haha! Junior year of college and partying it up with my besties. Man, those were the days. But honestly, I love where I am 10 years later and couldn’t be happier how I’ll be celebrating it this year.
But before I head off and dive into some cake, I leave you with a gorgeous sea goddess photo shoot from the ever-so-talented Michelle March. It’s so perfectly styled and the colors are amazing!
I’m so glad Michelle shared the deets behind the shoot! Whenever Jacqueline Pinto and I get together magic happens. We share a passion for art, history, fashion and {clearly} Greek mythology. In this incredible collaboration, we were inspired by Amphitrite, Goddess of the Sea {wife of Poseidon}. In the story of Theseus, she gives him a golden crown for finding the ring which was thrown in the sea by King Minos to prove that he was truly Poseidon’s son. The dress, jewelry and crown were designed by Jacqueline Pinto. With the wonderful and innovative help of Christina Vidal (hair/makeup), we transformed the gorgeous Brigitta into everything Amphitrite embodies at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.
p.s. I’m sooo in love with that necklace!!
p.p.s. This shoot has me wanting to be by the sea so if Florida’s weather Saturday treats as good as it has been the last few days, maybe we’ll take a spontaneous little road trip to St. Augustine for some good eats and seagull watching. =)
Join me back here on Monday when I’m sharing my 35 things to do before 35 list. One year down, 4 years to go!
I will never regret walking up almost 3 years ago on January 20, 2009 at 4am to wait in 26 degree weather for 15 hours to witness history. The sense of pride among the hundreds of thousands of people there was indescribable. You couldn’t help but feel the hope- that we would see positive change happen across the world. And I’m not talking politically (that is not what this post is about), but this hopey changey thing you felt out there, was bigger than Obama or bigger than a Democratic win.
A few days before the inauguration, we attended the kick-off celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. Standing exactly where hundreds of thousands of people had marched to in 1963, to encourage positive change in our world and hear the dreams spoken from one of the most inspiring men who ever lived, Martin Luther King, Jr., filled our souls with like you wouldn’t believe.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. – MLK Jr.
With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. – MLK, Jr.
In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. -MLK Jr.
Over the course of that weekend, you couldn’t help but have time to think since you stood in long lines for pretty much everything- for food, for the restroom, to get into museums, to get into the concerts, and the inaugural speech. So as I stood with my soon-to-become my fiance (he proposed in DC that weekend!) during these events, we had a chance to talk about our own dreams and talked about the change we hoped to make in the lives of our family and friends or strangers we had yet to meet.
But just like many, we often get caught up in life and either for one reason or another push our dreams aside or just forget what they were all together. As I enter a year that I expect lots of personal growth in different aspects of my life, I thought I’d take the time to reflect once more on the change MLK Jr. had dreamed of and also about how I can make my own imprint on this great earth while I’m here.
My sister bought me this journal last year for my 30th birthday. It was among many randomly fun(ny) gifts that she attached small tags to with reasons of why it was being included in my gift basket. Btw- for anyone looking for a great 30th birthday gift idea (and sentimental), this was perfect! The tag attached to the journal said “To remember what got you to 30 and what will get you through another 30!” I admit I have not started writing in it but with thoughts that I’m quickly approaching my 31st, just a few days ago pulled it out and put it on my night stand.
All photos unless otherwise noted, were taken by me
And what better day to start writing in my journal than today. My plan is to write down my dreams and general thoughts from time to time so that they can be small reminders of the things I believed in at one time. I hope that by jotting them down, that years down the road when life gets in the way, I can remind myself of the dreams I was chasing at some point. Hopefully in 30 years I can look back at what I wrote and smile, knowing that all my life’s dreams have all come true. But if in 5, 15, or 30 years from now I find a few go unfulfilled, I hope that it gives me motivation to pursue them once again.
And I hope you never lose sight of your own dreams. Some might take more work to achieve but all things are possible when you believe (okay seriously I didn’t mean to rhyme). And remember…
Phew! With holiday season in full force things are quite busy around here. It’s all good though because I’m having a blast and all the adorable photos I get to make goodies with keep my spirits brights and my heart smiling! And we’re wrapping up the 12 Days of Christmas sale this Wednesday. Yup- that actually makes it 13 Days of Christmas fun! I goofed and forgot to update my sale Saturday soooo that just means an extra day of discounts for you guys. =)
Since the items I make are personalized with photos I know some have struggled with the idea of gifting something like this when they may not have access to a friend or family’s favorite photos. Well problem solved today peeps! You can still give them a gift of handmade but let them pick their own photos and give them a gift certificate. Who doesn’t love gift certificates anyway? And even better? Who doesn’t love discounted gift certificates?? Get more bang for your buck today with the following gift certificate discounts:
$25 for only $18.50
$50 gift certificate for only $35
$100 gift certificate for only $70
Other discounts applied to the coaster set and trivet gift certificates also!
Give them as one gift certificate or split them in whatever dollar amounts you’d like. Or you can always purchase for yourself and use later. ;) So do stop by to see me over at Oceanside Designs if you get a chance today.
Ahhh…and with all the holiday and Monday {fun} madness around here, I couldn’t help but sing this song loudly this morning and thought I’d share. I know we all feel like this every now and again…
Happy Monday beautifuls! (I promise more Oceanside wedding loveliness is coming soon!)
Okay first, if you haven’t seen my vendor spotlight over on All Women Stalk go check it out and get the dish on my new Etsy shop! One of my favorite online gal pals was so gracious enough to feature my new store and I couldn’t feel more honored!
Also, today is day 7 of my 12 Days of Christmas specials and its a goodie (I think, I hope)…BOGO 50% off ornaments!! This applies to both the small and large ornaments.
And ladies (and gents), when I listed the personalized photo ornaments in my Etsy shop a few weeks ago, I had NO idea how fast they’d fly off the “virtual” shelf so quickly. I tell you it has been soooo much fun designing and crafting up these little precious tile memories for those who have requested them. There is something about the newlyweds or recently engaged getting so excited over their favorite couple’s photo and putting it on their first ornament together. And for those in their first home or having their first little one is just as exciting! I get a thrill out of making each and every one.
Mr. Oceanside was out of town yesterday so as a little surprise I decorated the house and put up our Christmas tree before he got home. He LOVED it and we were sooo excited to hang our first “married” Christmas ornament last night!
So let the holidays in the Steaple house officially begin!
For the first time home owners…
A little family keepsake…
And something for the precious little ones who keep our world going and growing..
Check out my shop today because this sale only lasts until midnight PST! Have a fantastic Thursday everyone!
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