what i heart.

"i don't want to end up simply having visited this world"
-mary oliver, when death comes

ok, so i have been feeling for some time (and maybe knowing more recently) that i need to make some changes to this blog and get it focused. as i have admitted here, and my lovely karly reminded me this weekend - enough with the garden! it's true, but i have been so overwhelmed with what i need to do lately or with what i am avoiding to do (perhaps!) lately that it has been my safe-haven...a.k.a. - easy way out of: being creative, inspired, up late at night obsessive about discovering.

so, to break down a series of events, i was thinking about this today while i was driving (bad idea) and i need to work out some things with what i post about and when, i need to get creative and i need to be inspired...not by tomato plants (though, sometimes yes, that will happen still!) but by living. too many times lately i have simply written the short email saying "days keep passing by! summer is draining me! i promise to call soon!" i need to call people, write the obvious email, send the random card, walk around target and leave with something frivolous in my hand, go to a museum by myself and sketch...it's a must.

i think i had a tipping point tonight reading one of my favorite blogs and seeing her quote one of my favorite poets. so here is one of my favorite poems by mary oliver (who taught at bennington when i was there, and i have a very funny story about that, so remind me to tell it someday!). enjoy and please hang on as i take a few days to sort out what i heart, & what my heart needs here - i promise not to be gone too long, i'll brb;)

The Swan

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees - like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?

- Mary Oliver

what do you feel in your heart? how does it change everything? what is beauty for? have you changed your life? discuss.

photo by kristy for thingsihearttoday]

wow...Wow...WOW!

so some BIG news...emilia (my loveliest lovely!) has awarded me this award...how freaking cool is that?!?!?! i'm not sure if i deserve it, but i will take the honor and enjoy the nepotism (we're basically family). i have to say, if she hadn't awarded me, i would have awarded her because my life was blog-less before she started writing auburn & ivory ...i cross my fingers for posts from her everyday...OH! and did i mention she's the inspiration for this lil' ol blog even being here?? i lurv her and now (drum roll) for my other 7 favorites who i also stalk on my google reader:)



rules...
1. when received, you may post the premio to your blog

2. link to the blogger you received it from

3. give it to 7 blogs

4. link to those 7 blogs

5. and leave those 7 bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio!

ali loves curtis
ali's posts were my first true blog obsession when i started reading blogs. she always has sweet posts and inspiration

for me, for you
these gals keep it coming from both coasts - kate (from the east) & andrea (from the west). these friends have: style, inspiration & sweet treats for my brain!

the style files
danielle's posts are a new addition to my blogroll. i just love her interior design finds and of course i have been linking up to some of her posts about greece!

more ways to waste time
also new to me, but quickly becoming an obsession - do i need to say anything more than the title already suggests?!? leah has some great finds, and i can't live without any of them:)

milk eggs chocolate
alyson, from unruly.things featuring yummy delights & recipes on her cooking blog...YUM!

creature comforts
ez is just the coolest - with her posts i read, star & repeat - daily, like shampoo...'nuff said.

simplyolive
design, fashion & a cute shop on etsy - what's not to love?


so THANK YOU to all the inspiring folks above & emilia, i have the greatest admiration for you ladies, you rock...blog on!

“feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
~william arthur ward

half-way.

"i will never be the woman with the perfect hair, who can wear white and not spill on it."

~ carrie bradshaw

it is the middle of july (1/2 way through summer, eek!) and i have major summer-itus, otherwise known as i-don't-want-to-work-i-just-want-to-play-all-day syndrome...but i realized today that my summer clothes selection is sad, i have honestly been wearing the same thing since last year and other than a few new crispy white wife-beater staple tanks, i have not stepped inside a store to rummage for deals. i think this is an excellent time of year to look for the early summer clearance before stores in maine start stocking winter coats in august! here are a few items i hope to find in my adventures this coming weekend, just one rule - items must be under $20:

old navy

forever 21


old navy

forever 21

tuesday.

“deep summer is when laziness finds respectability”
- sam keen

so i was totally waxing philosophical in my mind tonight while picking blueberries and i thought i would share and rant or whatever, but i just don't have the energy (lucky for you!). so i will share some photos from today (new & from the garden) and plead summer-itus as reason for my light blogging style as of late, hearts to all.

[photos by kristy for thingsihearttoday]

tiny bubbles.

well, it's a wonderful day in the neighborhood friends! thanks to my lovely emilia, i have discovered hiball energy drink which (insert drum roll please!) has NO citric acid...citric acid gives me heartburn, so i avoid it at all costs and believe me when i say that literally everything has citric acid in it, especially beverages, so it's a BIG day. i haven't tried it yet (because i need to find them first at a grocery near me) but i will keep everyone posted - carbonation! - can't wait!

[image via thespiritworld]

'tis the season

well, i am just about as happy as a girl could get...both the blueberries AND the raspberries are turning ripe this week in our garden, my bland gluten-free cereal will sing with delight in the morning!

+++PLUS+++
the rest of the garden (including weeds...!) is coming along quite nicely as well, check out the bounty from today, YUM.

[photos by kristy for thingsihearttoday]

mamma mia.

well lately it's all about greece everywhere i turn...and i love it! the style files have totally tapped into my new obsession for the islands with two recent posts (here & here) and now i am just hoping for a lottery win so that i can indulge with a stay at a fabulous resort overlooking the cerulean ocean, mediterranean feast and all!

[photos by chuha via flickr]

someday.

this is not even on the radar folks (so chill out mom!), BUT when i saw this i knew...someday (in a far away land) i will be married on a chilly fall day and wear this as i jet off for a fabulous world tour. i lurv the rainy season shall from las lopez las along with several other things from their shop which i cannot purchase at this time, but you should...go! shop! wear beauty around your neck!

[photo from laslopezlas shop on etsy]

century city.

"motivation is what gets you started.
habit is what keeps you going." -- jim ryun

so yesterday, i realized that i had my 100th post! i know, not a huge deal, but i'll take a mini-milestone where i can get one;) i wish i had something to give away! especially because when i started this journey, i had no idea what i was doing or what i would write or find or love, but the fact that i did it and stuck with it for more than a few silly posts makes my day. i am so excited to be here - to be reading other blogs and to be inspired daily by so many great artists and creative spirits. i can only hope this is the first of many 100's of posts here. and thank you for coming along on my journey (here, there & everywhere sometimes i know!) because it makes me come back as much as i can to take time out, to appreciate the moments & the details.

when i look at my sitemeter (like a cuckoo bird everyday!), i see so many visitors from all over the world, some repeat some new (thanks to creature comforts for bringing some new friends my way & welcome everyone!). i am here because you guys show up to read, so please feel free to leave comments on this post...i can be a bit all over the place sometimes, so let me know - what do you like? what do you miss? what could you do with a little less of? do you like the pictures, quotes, random happenings?



i feel like i am no longer in WAY over my head, but just up to my ankles in something good, thank you!

[photo by kristy for thingsihearttoday]

PLUS...

the BOB (brooklyn overnight barbeque!!) is happening again this year...as i get details, so will you! more to come.

rock the casbah.

ok, so it may have taken a week, but here are my favorite images from visiting emilia in sutton/worcester...a place where it's ok to call into a radio station and request the rock classic "rock the cash bah"...seriously, i almost peed my pants!

a trespassers garden tour at the neighbor's house.

i want a back porch, with chairs for flowers & antique candlesticks.

secret garden anyone? and a watch bird.

vincent's and a downtown skyline.

vincent's backyard, complete with random cabin, rocking chair & gnome.

[photos by kristy for thingsiheartoday]

the fourth.

“freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.”
~ albert camus

i find myself very contemplative this 4th of july, hoping like camus for freedom to give me the chance to be better...i leave you with berries, hand-picked today by me and john cougar mellencamp...how american.

[photo by kristy for thingsihearttoday]

lurv.

this is a great dance from last night on SYTYCD...(so you think you can dance)!! it is BEAUTY, i lurv'd it. +plus i really heart the song hometown glory by adele, my new favorite.

p.s. lurv is my new favorite word...picked it up in worcester!