It is Love Thursday over at Shutter Sisters again. They have given me the impetus to go public on a little something that I have been quietly documenting for awhile now.

Love is Everywhere.

It started with the collecting of heart shaped rocks at the beach (thank you for this Beth). I decided to document some of them. Then it seemed hearts started to appear everywhere. The only rule I have set for myself is that they have to be naturally occurring and/or accidental to count. Once I began to reveal my little "project" out loud, my closest friends started showing up with them or pointing them out to me as well (potato chips, spilled coffee on the counter top, leftover bacon on a plate...).

This is actually a quite odd project if you know me. I have long felt that manmade heart-shaped objects were too sweet/predictable/cloying even. But once I gave this a name it slowly became more and more of a gentle reminder to me. A kind of nudge from the universe reminding me to breathe, that everything will be ok, to remember to pay attention to the little things. Even the bin of tomatoes at the supermarket :)

So, I say happy all-the-little-things-love-thursday (and friday, and saturday and...every day) to you.

one antidote in the form of an irresistible little ditty coming right up...

now, isn't that much better?


song: A-Punk
band: Vampire Weekend

Have you seen Shutter Sisters yet? It is "the (new) collaborative photo blog that welcomes all women with a passion for photography from experts to amateurs alike". What an excellent and timely idea. I plan on participating regularly. I have joined their Flickr group and submit this photo to you in honor of the Love Thursday theme (albeit one day late :)

Happy weekend to you all. And, remember, love really is everywhere.

Sometimes you just have to pay really close attention.

The unveiling of the new blog design done by me :)
...and let me tell ya', it's gunna be this way for awhile.
Two and a half days to build this thing but,
truth be told,
I am pleased as punch!

(hey, anyone know how I get more blank space between the bottom edge of the banner and the top of the posts...?)

...that I would try harder :)!
(UPDATED TO ADD: leaving this post up because of the nice comments. Since then I've done what you can see now)
"This new blog design took me ALL DAY today but I coded it myself. I know it doesn't look like much yet but I am proud. Lots of trial and error so far and it still needs a custom designed banner but I'll teach myself how to do that tomorrow :)"

Last Friday I had a terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-life-altering-oh-whatever-does-my-future-hold-NOW
kind of day.
I cried myself to sleep and when I awoke I decided to serve up a salve for my spirit with a whole NEW kind of day. It went just like this:

1. Head straight to the San Francisco Sephora for much needed new concealer and new berry stain colored lipstick.

2. Then to H&M for two new dresses and a pair of earrings (on sale no less).

3. On to the salon for a scalp treatment and whole new do by the illustrious Gillian (see above).

4. Stop on your way back to the car for an espresso and decide on the perfect cupcake for later.

5. Go order some take-out from Eric's and while waiting...

6. Stop in the shop next door and buy a new tiara to replace your lost one (cleaning my house hasn't been the same without it).

7. And on your way out of town why not get a quick mani and pedi.

8. Once home, make a gin martini and serve up that lovely Chinese food.

9. Then have one of your best girls come cozy up on the couch with you to share that cupcake and some healing supportive words about how absolutely every little thing is going to be just fine.

___________

* Inspired by my favorite hula girl and her week of lists.

___________

And I do think the day described above counts as a sort of a celebration, no?

...is UP!

And officially open for business.

(hooRAY!)

(front cover)

This year's mix.
The process was the same yet different from last year in small but substantial-to-me ways...
1. Sorting through the itunes and creating the ebbs and flows of the music - same.
2. Photo by me - taken with my new-in-2007 beauty - same and different :)
3. Created on my new system with new software that I have not (as of yet) mastered - different!
4. Step three created the need for Mr. Art Director extraordinaire who so kindly lent his expertise on cover creation - different.
5. Hand assembling while wine drinking with good people - same.

(back cover/track listing)

End result - I am so pleased. I think that it is even better than last year's mix. And now I am ready to mix it ALL up.

Happy Exciting New Different Mix-It-Up and Bring It On New Year to you!