« September 2008 | Main | November 2008 »
Five things I am grateful for this week:
1) Celebrating eleven years of blissful love with Jimmy
2) Celebrating seven years of wedded life with Jimmy
3) Celebrating seven months of our beautiful Isabella
4) Catching up with a sweet friend on a relaxing morning stroll
5) My new portrait lens
We planned a last minute anniversary trip and are leaving in the morning for a few days. I will announce November's Bella Wish giveaway early next week.
For Jeanette and all who believe in equality
One of the propositions on this year's ballot is one that is very important to me. Marriage is about love & commitment and the decision to do so is between two people, any two people, and is their decision alone. The fact that there are those who wish to make marriage a double standard is just plain wrong. Love is love.
When Jeanette reached out to me, I instantly knew I wished to support her and her badass grassroots cause. If you believe in equality, I urge you to check out her website and share your voice. All you need to do is take a photo with No on 102 somewhere in the photo.
In my photo, I also included No on 8, as that is our proposition here in California. Your photo need not be perfect, as demonstrated with mine, the message is what is important. Then send your photo to Jeanette, or upload to her Flickr group and know you have made a difference.
Jeanette is also holding a giveaway for everyone who submits their photo to the Flickr group. I am donating a BE THE CHANGE necklace and there are some really great items being donated to support this cause.
****
My amazing cousin Chris, is also doing his part by being part of a project called We Stand for Change. You can see it here and here. He is not in the actual video, but his voice is that of the homeowner with the family. He sent it along last night with this note:
I'm VERY proud to share with you this new video I am a part of. It was created by a small group of Bay Area musicians, producers, and filmmakers who gathered to watch the final presidential debate. This song and video is the culmination of what transpired over the next eleven days. Please watch it and share it with others. There is very little time left before the election, and we hope this video encourages all people to get out and vote for change through the candidates they believe in.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love my family? I so very much do.
Hope to see you at the polls on Tuesday.
Dear Isabella,
Today you are seven months old. Seven months old! The time seems to just be flying by and I find myself really just taking all of you in and trying to savor each moment as much as possible. This is also part of why I wanted to start publishing your monthly letters to you here again on my blog.
That, and the fun of you seeing pictures of yourself at this age ~ along with video once your mommy and daddy get their act together and get a video camera. I am sure once that starts happening your daddy will also set you up with your own podcast should you wish. He's kind of techno-geeky that way. Mommy loves it.
I had stopped writing your letters here for a few months thinking I would just write you handwritten letters. As beautiful as I think that idea is, there is something about keeping them here which seems to hold me a bit more accountable for some reason and is also a great way for your friends and family to see how much you are growing and changing.
I find myself struggling sometimes because one moment I am missing you as an infant and the next am thinking of what your first words might be and how one day in the not so far off future, you will have conversations with us. Ones that we will actually be able to understand beyond "Gagagaga. Dadadada. Dah Dah." But right now, in this moment, is my very favorite. You seem to discover and do something new each day. It's wildly fascinating to just watch you explore your environment and engage in the world around you.
You are fascinated by shadows and textures and birds flying overhead. When you see me or daddy or your favorite toy coming at you or a spoonful of food aimed at your mouth you do this funny thing where you just start shaking and kicking your legs back and forth, sometimes there is even shrieking involved. You seem to be really interested in movement and music because during the day if you become upset, I put on some music and start dancing with you and you instantly forget why you were unhappy to begin with.
You are also discovering your voice. Sometimes you will just start screaming as loud as you can and I panic a bit thinking something is wrong and instead find you all smiles and laughter thinking this is the greatest discovery ever ~ you are baby, hear you roar.
Your daddy is especially excited about this development. He always wants you to roar. In fact, I think his exact words were Bring It. As in both of us always want you to use your voice and be able to express whatever is on your mind and in your heart. We are here to listen. Always know this.
Then there is your laugh, it kills me. My favorite part of every day now involves your laugh. When something really gets to you, you throw your whole body into it ~ head back, full body laughter. I think when you are older, you will love seeing how you were at this age so know that we are getting a video camera soon to record these moments which we plan to share, it's just too good not to.
You are now sitting up on your own and we can put you in a high chair at restaurants. This all just reminds me how quickly you are growing, but there is something so fun about seeing you all excited that you are sitting! in a real chair! at the table! with mommy and daddy! oh, the joy!
You are also sitting in the shopping carts at stores now. Your cousin, Kristin, gave you this really fun toy thingy that keeps you both occupied, and distracted from trying to put the germ-infested handle of the cart in your mouth.
I need to remember to jot down specifics so when I write these letters to you, I can give you more examples. My brain is a bit foggy and I haven't been taking notes, yet another reason to keep up these letters to you. I was trying to think of specific moments while writing this to you and the ones that stand out in the forefront of my mind are the quiet moments we share.
The ones where I lay down with you for a nap, and before you drift off to sleep you touch my face and play with my hair and whisper to me all about your day in your perfect baby language. The moments when you see me and your recognition of mama sets the biggest, gummiest smile into motion. The times when I just hold you and you wrap your entire body around me. The evenings when I come to bed after working late into the night when you have been sound asleep for hours already and when I silently climb into bed next you, you somehow know I am there and like a magnet snuggle your way into my body where we sleep like that for hours at a time. Something I am lucky enough to get to do again in just a few moments.
See you soon snuggle bunny boo boo bear. It's time for some quiet time.
Love,
Mama
window display in my tree-hugging part of the world
I had a conversation last week with a couple of my family members that really threw me for a loop and has been heavy on my mind since. It started when one of them asked me who I was voting for next month, which I thought was pretty obvious, but I was the one in shock when they told me they were supporting McCain.
I am not one who thrives on conflict, and I adore my family, so I told them I didn't think we should have this conversation as it certainly couldn't go anywhere good. But questions kept getting asked and opinions were being thrown and I found myself just wanting to end it and go about our merry way.
This is where I am beating myself up. Because I backed down. Rather than using my voice to state my "whys" I ended the conversation by saying, "well, you know us California types, we are all just tree-hugging hippies around here." I am now kicking myself for saying this as an easy way out. I don't want to raise my daughter to be passive with anyone just to make nice, no matter who it is... even her father and I.
I could have just called them back to continue the conversation but I realized this isn't even about them, it's about me, and all of us and using our voice and I think blogging gives us the power to do exactly that.
So, here is my voice: {no disclaimers}
I am proudly voting for Barack Obama in this upcoming election. I have never felt more confident about who I want to be our next president. I have felt this way for two years.
Here is why:
Let's take all the issues surrounding the economy and healthcare and abortion rights, etc., off the table for just a moment because not only is that an entirely different and much too lengthy discussion on a non-political blog, but I believe that no matter what both candidates want, they will be spending the majority of the next four years cleaning up the mess that is our current administration and all of these promises that all politicians make still need to pass through congress anyway, so I don't put a ton of weight on that, but here is the thesis of what is important to me and what I want in a president:
A strong and stable leader to represent our country who I, as an American, can be proud of and look up to.
When I watch the debates I see McCain and Palin do little more than bad mouth Obama, and I also see a very angry man who gets his feathers all ruffled every now and again. This frightens me. The last thing we need in office is an angry person. I know when I am upset or angry is when I start making really stupid, regrettable decisions. So it scares the bejeezers out of me when I see him become visibly upset during television appearances thinking that he may be making fear-based decisions while possibly serving as commander in chief.
When I see Obama, I see an eloquence that I haven't seen since Kennedy. I see a role model. I see people once again having hope and believing in change and loving him. I see a person who is strong, smart articulate and presidential. I see him staying calm under pressure and not becoming angry when someone disagrees with him. I see his calmness, clarity and compassion in the eye of the storm. I see him bringing much-needed change.
When I think about Obama representing Americans in world issues with world leaders, my confidence is at ease. He is the man to do this, and with Joe Biden by his side, I think there will be plenty of schooling and cleaning of house. This is a good thing.
When I think of McCain and Palin working alongside these same world leaders, I cringe. I want to call my friends in other countries and say, "You know all Americans aren't like this, right?" I say this as an American, I am patriotic and there are many things I adore about this country. Though I will say that I feel we, indeed, are a country divided.
So, I truly don't understand when people say in this election they are voting for "the lesser of two evils" or that they are still undecided. I really don't. The issues are out on the table, it's all out there plain as day. What's the hold-up?.
I realize that I sometimes tend to live in a bubble and would like to think that everyone just shares my same opinion, but I know that is not the case and am reminded of this when these types of discussions come up and unbelievable videos are passed around these here internets.
I truly want to understand why people support McCain and Palin in this election, which is why I had to get this out. Of course we are all entitled to our beliefs free of judgement but I am curious: Is it religion, race, party, relating to a hockey-mom with shiny hair, because you are buying into the crap about Obama being associated with a terrorist?
If you are supporting McCain & Palin in this election, and happen to come across my little blog, please, enlighten me with your reasons why, I sincerely want to know and understand this.
A heartfelt thank you to all of you who came out of lurking to participate in my little giveaway this month. I am always looking for new blogs to read, and connect with, so I feel lucky when someone links me back to their blog in the comments section. I was also touched by a few of your stories as well. Thank you for your bravery in sharing them.
I was feeling a bit anxious about choosing the lucky recipients today as I wanted everyone to get a necklace. So, before randomly choosing two names, I lit a candle, threw a little prayer out to the universe that these necklaces would find their way to two people who truly needed them in this moment, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Linni and Jummy, congratulations! Send me your mailing addresses by email so I may get these out to you ASAP. You have your choice of either the HOPE pendant, or YES WE CAN.
I really enjoyed this and want everyone to know that I will be giving away one different necklace each month. Next month's giveaway will be announced November 1st. Good luck!
loving that i was able to wear these this morning, if only for a little while
i have been finding it difficult to keep up with blogging lately, but there are many posts that have been started and set aside.
one of my goals for my new format is sharing my journey to a creative life, for myself and my family. though i feel as if i have always lived a creative life, this journey is more about pushing my boundaries in this area and taking responsibilty for what this life looks like. pulling the dreams, visions and fantasies out of my head and bringing them to life in front of my eyes. it's about honoring the gentle whispers and riding the wave the universe is sending my way.
i want to be able to call myself an artist and not cringe when i say it. i have been hesitant to start the journey as i know it will be messy, but i am feeling strong enough to push the fear aside and stretch my wings.
posts that have been started that hope to be published here eventually:
* taking the leap into new artistic endeavors in addition to my jewelry line ~ this is especially scary but i know will be so rewarding
* demystifying any notion that i am mastering both motherhood and running a business. i am constantly struggling, searching for balance and counting my blessings along the way.
* a follow up to this post
* my thoughts on the gallery show with swirly
* grateful fridays ~ a new category where i list 5 things i am grateful for that week. i encourage you to participate
******
5 things I am grateful for this week:
1) Isabella and I being invited to partake in cupcakes and girly time with these two beauts.
2) Customers at Bella Wish sharing with me intimate stories of what their pendants mean to them. So humbling and such a gift. This makes me feel so connected to the piece I am creating just for them.
3) This video and this online photo gallery ~ and the artists who created them
4) Dim Sum with the Doods
5) A break from the heat to enjoy my favorite red slippers this morning.
please share five things you are grateful for this week...
I love October.
The coming of October brings with it my favorite season ~ Fall. It also brings scarves, sweaters, wrist warmers, hats, socks, blankets, warm colors, crisp weather, large pots of soup on the stove and candle light in the evening ~ all things I miss in the summer months. Okay, so scarves, hats and socks may still be wishful thinking in Los Angeles' version of Fall, but a girl can still dream.
October is especially exciting for me this year as it is my second month since launching Bella Wish and I am almost afraid to jinx it by saying my first month in business by far surpassed my wildest expectations of what I hoped it would be. I am feeling very blessed.
I am discovering that one of the best things about being my own boss is having the power to give back. Whenever I would dream about having my own business I would always ask the question of how I could give back once I made the leap. I am finding with Bella Wish it is important to me to be able to donate necklaces and proceeds to different organizations close to my heart. I was able to do both in my first month and I will continue to grow this area as my business grows, it makes me happy to do this.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer is something that so many of us have been affected by. I originally designed my pendants in honor of my Dad's wife who is a breast cancer survivor for five years now. I offer both a SURVIVOR pendant and an AWARENESS pendant with $10.00 from each necklace being donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation.
Both of these pendants are specially priced this month to support the cause. The freshwater pearl may be switched out for a hot pink Swarovski crystal (photo coming soon) or other colors as well.
*****
The other fun thing this month is the launch of giveaways. I am so excited to do this and for this first month I am giving away two necklaces:
I chose HOPE (pictured above) as one of the necklaces for October. It is the necklace that launched the idea of Bella Wish for me and is also a powerful word that we all need in a global aspect in this moment.
Whatever personal meaning the word hope holds for you, my wish is for you to wear this knowing that hope exists and is there for you.
The second pendant is a YES WE CAN pendant (pictured above). You don't need me to tell you what an important election year this is, but I am hoping this pendant will be worn as a reminder that we all have a voice and a choice and can change the world with our power.
Both pendants come with an embraced heart charm and moonstone gemstone. I chose Moonstone for both necklaces as it signifies new beginnings.
So how do you win one of these two pendants? Simply leave a comment here on this post. You have until October 15th. I will randomly choose two names and announce the winners on the 15th so I can get your pendants to you right away. Recipients will have their choice of pendant.
Good luck!
