Maiyet

We are back from our eight day trip to Nova Scotia and my brain still hasn't fully reset itself back to work mode. It's to be expected after a long and mellow (and extraordinarily picturesque) holiday. I will post photos of the trip soon, but in the meantime I found these rather beautiful lookbooks from Maiyet and I thought I'd share. 

They look like they've been shot on film with all that grainy goodness, don't they? I admit I am a sucker for film, especially when the setting is someplace exotic like India for the Spring 2013 lookbook and Kenya for the Fall 2012. Match those elements with an adventurous tomboy spirit and it doesn't get much better.

+maiyet.com

 

Zodiac No.3

I am waaaay late in posting the current star sign, Aries, oh my goodness. I figured I should probably sneak it in here before we move on to Taurus! Ha. So here's the weird thing, I know so many Aries it's kinda crazy. From family to friends, I am surrounded by these folks. One of my favorite Aries of all time was my Mom, so it's a sign that's very special to me. But before I get all misty-eyed, let's dig right in...

Things of Note about Aries:

Aries are the very first sign of the Zodiac and a Fire sign, which means they tend to be born leaders. Yes! They own their fearless certainty. This determination is what fuels their pioneering attitude, so it's no surprise that Aries love their independence and creative expression. People take note of Aries' natural confidence and are often drawn to them like moths to a flame. The flipside to this fierce ambition and fighter spirit can be a tendency to come across as self-centered or egotistical, so Aries must remember to make an effort to foster an awareness of their peers and tune in to how their energy impacts others.

Aries are passionate creatures (Fire sign, people) and can be impulsive too, but this is also what makes them so irresistable. Their stars shine brightly indeed.

The Aries Mantra: I am a strong leader yet I remain humble and patient.

Pairs

Some recent photos I've taken seemed like they would rest well together as pairs. They are matched by themes—Feasting/Adorning/Observing. Which now that I think about it, is not that far off from the fundamentals of many of my days. :)

The image of the Madonna and Child was taken at the Milwaukee Art Museum last weekend. Jim and I took a little fieldtrip up there for a change of scenery. I fell in love with the colors and scale of the piece. It was petite and just radiant, like a little beacon of hope.

Aren't the colors of those ranunculus ridiculous? I mean, really. It doesn't get much better than that. My sweet husband brought those home for me after a really lousy day to cheer me up. Yay for flowers and boys that know how to woo a lady even after three+ years of marriage.

+Instagram @notstatic

Stargazing

Imagine taking a holiday underneath a sky filled with more celestial goodies than you've ever seen in your life. A smorgasbord of the cosmos. Fellow urban dwellers, are you struggling with this concept too? Yatzer just featured this place, but it jogged my memory from a few months ago when Jim found this tiny little hotel in faraway Chile called Elqui Domos. It is nestled in a valley north of Santiago and its main purpose, being situated out in the middle of nowhere, is to stargaze. Yes, a hotel built around the purpose of peering out into the brilliant open sky to take in all of its wonders. It's a spectacular idea.

They also offer night-time horseback riding (how cool is that?!) meditation and tarot readings. In summary, it sounds pretty much like a dreamy escape right up my alley. Take a look at this time-lapse video of the property. It starts getting good right around the 2:00 minute mark.

They offer lovely modern cabins or geodesic tents for sleeping arrangements, both outfitted with skylights to better take in the stars while falling asleep at night. There seems no better word to describe it than heavenly, don't you think?

+elquidomos.cl

+jamesflorio.com

Cultivate Joy

A few days ago, we got a break from the perpetually cloudy late winter Chicago weather. The skies cleared and smiled down on us with bright, brilliant sunshine. It was cold, but by golly it was beautiful. I went for a long walk around my neighborhood and this thought came into my head:

We must cultivate joy the same way we would a garden: with dedication, with intention, and above all, with a willingness to let it grow with abandon.

I sometimes forget to put this into practice, but that sunny day sure did remind me to breathe in deeply and choose to create my own joy. Every. Single. Day.

+annstreetstudio.com