Holiday Wishlist 2012

Confession: I have not started any of my Christmas shopping. I'm particularly distracted this year which I blame partially on this growing belly and hormones that accompany. I have ideas and lists of items to purchase for my family and friends, but I have not purchased one item. In an effort to get my holiday gift inspiration going, I created my own little holiday wishlist of sorts. It's hard to focus on myself and not ask for things for the little dude that will be making an appearance in the new year - but alas! I did it.

Holiday Wishlist 2012 by pilarjoy

Holiday Wishlist: Magazine Subscription to Real Simple or Lucky | Tunnel Scarf |

Prenatal Massage | Infinity Ring | Slippers | Belly Butter | Woodsy Candle

In desperate need of a change

So last weekend in an attempt to change my hair back to blonde, I had what will forever be referred to as "haircastrophy of 2012". My hair did not agree with the attempts to remove the copper tones. Instead, it decided to break off on the ends, catapulting into a "I'm going bald" panic. Well, I'm not bald - but I am sporting some very stringy strands {which I treat with a Fekkai Rx deep conditioner every evening slapping on my trusty shower cap while I sleep}.

So now I'm left with the question: Where do I go from here? I've been attempting to "grow" out my hair for the past few years. I've enjoyed having longer locks. I'm now wondering if I should start from scratch with a shorter do and start all over again. I've always enjoyed changing hairstyles, and throughout my high school and college years experimented with different lengths, tones, and textures.

This is what I'm considering {perhaps with a little more length in back} ...

{Pinterest}

Usually, I get quite impulsive about my hair. This time, I want to make sure it's what I want - because it will inevitably take me years to grow it out again. Decisions, decisions ...

xoxo,

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Ceremonials

Have you heard Florence + The Machine's newest album "Ceremonials"? I'm in love her voice and the complexity of her music. See my favorite performance here.

Here's a video of one of my favorite tunes from the new album. I could not find a video for my most favorite "Never Let Me Go", but if you're a Spotify member give it a listen. It's, well, brilliant.
http://youtu.be/am6rArVPip8

Inspired Tuesday: Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

Do you know Marcel? I fell in love with little Marcel the Shell last year, and have been waiting for a sequel.

Here's the original:

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/14190306 w=400&h=225]

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

And the sequel:
http://youtu.be/Ta9K22D0o5Q

Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

xoxo,

Sheldon Conch

Inspired Tuesday: Tunes

One of my favorite things about Pandora is the discovery of new artists that possess similarities to each other.  Music has always evoked such emotion: be it through a complex harmonies and rhythm, or lyrics. Hubby and I had a recent conversation about my connection to certain artists and genres {most of which he labels "sad" music}, and I realized it's just always been my way to connect with myself and with my emotions. I could go on, and on, and on about my favorite movements but I won't bore you.

Most mornings, I start my day with Pandora on my commute and am constantly pausing the songs to scribble down the name of new artists. Sometimes I share my favorite tune of the morning {as tweeted above}. Here are a few little videos of two of my current loves {not new loves, just favorite loves!}.

http://youtu.be/0KrmxavLIRM
http://youtu.be/36U4ez7AzKA

 

xoxo,

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: I carry your heart

One of my favorite poems {printed on our wedding program 5 years ago} is by E.E. Cummings. I found this necklace on Etsy the other day and I've added it to my list of things that I want to purchase. So simple, pretty, and very meaningful to me {and Hubby too, of course}.

i carry your heart with me {i carry it in my heart}

i am never without it {anywhere i go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling}

i fear no fate {for you are my fate, my sweet}

i want no world {for beautiful you are my world, my true}

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

{here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide}

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart {i carry it in my heart}

-e.e. cummings

here's to an inspired memory: an adorable little necklace reminding me of my sweet love.

xoxo,

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Make No Little Plans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8pmNwvbV3Q&feature=player_embedded

Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think big. -Daniel Burnham, Chicago architect. (1846-1912)

I love this little video, and it features so many of my favorite places around the city. The quote by Daniel Burnham is featured throughout the video, and is an inspiration to me. I love the idea of thinking big, planning big, and dreaming big for all of the things that I want to accomplish in life.

 

xoxo
PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Closet Confessions

{via Pinterest}

Confession: I loathe cleaning. It's just not very fun. I hate cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, floors, etc. I do it {mostly because I know I should}, and I negotiate the cleaning duties with Hubby {because we really do share the responsibility}.

Confession: I LOVE organizing! According to my co-workers, I've been voted the most organized person in the office. I realize this is lame, but I embrace my inner organizing nerdiness.

Confession: When it comes to organizing my closet, I'm at a loss. Hubby and I share one closet for hanging clothes, one closet for folded clothes, and one dresser for all other clothes.

Confession: I've never actually followed through with the closet clean outs that I so thoroughly enjoy reading about. A few of my favorite blog posts here, here, and here. A few of my favorite book sources here, here, and here.

Sunday night after devouring a few September issues of my favorite magazines, I was inspired to start the closet organization/makeover process. Step One: Inspiration/Style Board. My board is still basic, but it's filled with with prints, patterns, colors, and silhouettes that I like. Note: this part is really fun! As in my-hands-were-hurting-from-holding-the-scissors-for-too-long, fun.

Now I'm in the middle of Step Two: trying on every piece of clothing that I own... For each piece of clothing in my closet I'm going through the following steps:

1. Try on item (add pants/tank top if necessary)


2. Ask myself the following questions: Does this fit me? Do I like this color? Can I sit down/walk/breathe while wearing this? When was the last time I wore this/have I ever worn this? Are there any stains/holes/tears that cannot be repaired?


3. Take a photograph of myself wearing said item. I do this for two reasons: 1) I want to be able to truly see how I look in the item and 2) I want evidence if I ever ask myself why I got rid of the item.


4. Look at my inspiration board. Does this fit the overall style that I like? Does this make me feel good? Do I already have a few things in my closet I can pair with this?


5. Decision time: Purge or Keep

Repeat.

It's not nearly as glamorous as I imagined, but I'm finding that it is completely necessary. I've already unearthed many things that I purchased before I developed my true sense of style {read: college years}. So much of my precious space has been filled with ill-fitting items in strange colors that don't fit my style. Like, at all. To the purge pile they go!

On to tackle the rest of my closet ...to be continued.

xoxo,

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Pinterest

{source}

When I’m on the internet {not reading blogs} I’ve been spending time on this new site: Pinterest. Similar to tumblr, Pinterest allows users to "pin" the image, and then allows each user to organize different boards/categories and share with others.  It’s a fun way to keep track of sources of inspiration for the home, outfits, beauty, tutorials, etc. It's kind of addicting.

Not on Pinterest? Sign up here.

 

xoxo,

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Mint.com

{Via Budget Planner Software - Mint.com}

I've talked a bit about our goals of living with family to pay off debt and save money ... one of the greatest tools that we've used to plan our finances is Mint.com. This website is an excellent tool for all things financial. Through Mint.com all checking, savings, and credit card accounts are linked to one central place.

The website walks each user through the steps to budget, establish savings, and set debt payoff goals.  Mint.com also establishes categories for all spending {which one can easily edit} so that it's actually helpful in figuring out where and what we're spending our money on. My favorite feature has been the ability to visualize the spending and saving  habits with their handy-dandy charts. I love charts! It's kind of fun to click on the different categories and see how it divides the spending.

The Mint.com blog is addicting {which is why I chose to blog about it for an Inspired Tuesday post} - there are so many ideas for saving money and tracking spending that one can't help but feel inspired to get a handle on the finances. Once. And. For. All.

xoxo,

PJ

Inspired Tuesday: Coeur de Pirate

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/1852925 w=400&h=270]

Coeur de pirate || Comme des enfants [vidéoclip officiel] from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

For this week's installment of Inspired Tuesday I bring you Coeur de Pirate. Confession: I don't speak French. There's just something about the language {this song especially} that makes me feel inspired.  Basically, this song makes me want to dance around the room and sway.  Do you feel it too? {I credit to my obsession with French and French music to the film "Amelie" and the Amelie Soundtrack.}

Be Inspired. Enjoy.

xoxo

PJ

PS: Isn't the video adorable?!

Inspired Tuesday: Bell X1

Bell X1 - Velcro from Folks & Folks on Vimeo.

For this installation of Inspired Tuesday I bring to you one of my current music crushes: Bell X1. I know they're not a "new" band on the music circuit, but this song simply rocks my socks. I love the lyrics and their overall vibe. 

Enjoy! 

xoxo

Inspired Tuesday: Bell X1

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/20559821 w=400&h=225]

Bell X1 - Velcro from Folks & Folks on Vimeo.

For this installation of Inspired Tuesday I bring to you one of my current music crushes: Bell X1. I know they're not a "new" band on the music circuit, but this song simply rocks my socks. I love the lyrics and their overall vibe.

Enjoy!

xoxo

Inspired Tuesday: Jess LC

For this week's installment of Inspired Tuesday I'd like to talk about a little jewelry line that I've been admiring for the past year: Jess LC. I love that she's a local Chicagoan and I adore her blog Makeunder My Life. She is clearly inspired to design her business with intention, and inspires others to live with intention. My favorite series on her blog can be found here.

I chose this necklace as my intention for daily living because sometimes I've just got to remember to breathe. It sounds simple enough, yes? No. Living in a city, constantly surrounded by people and things and noises and distractions, I often find myself forgetting to just "be".

I've been wearing this necklace for the past few days and have often found myself taking deeper breaths and remembering to just take it one minute at a time. I guess you could say it's helping me live out my intention? Yes, yes, it is.

xoxo

Inspired Tuesday: Jess LC

>

For this week's installment of Inspired Tuesday I'd like to talk about a little jewelry line that I've been admiring for the past year: Jess LC. I love that she's a local Chicagoan and I adore her blog Makeunder My Life. She is clearly inspired to design her business with intention, and inspires others to live with intention. My favorite series on her blog can be found here.

I chose this necklace as my intention for daily living because sometimes I've just got to remember to breathe. It sounds simple enough, yes? No. Living in a city, constantly surrounded by people and things and noises and distractions, I often find myself forgetting to just "be".

I've been wearing this necklace for the past few days and have often found myself taking deeper breaths and remembering to just take it one minute at a time. I guess you could say it's helping me live out my intention? Yes, yes, it is.

xoxo

Inspired Tuesday: Almost Famous

This is a scene from one of my most favorite films. I have loved this song for as long as I can remember, though I wasn't able to admit it in public until recently. There's just something about this scene that inspires me to enjoy life. Does that make any sense? Maybe you feel the same.


Almost Famous - Tiny Dancer from Zeca on Vimeo.


And just for a laugh ...

Hold Me Closer Tony Danza - watch more funny videos

xoxo

Inspired Tuesday

>This is a scene from one of my most favorite films. I have loved this song for as long as I can remember, though I wasn't able to admit it in public until recently. There's just something about this scene that inspires me to enjoy life. Does that make any sense? Maybe you feel the same.

[vimeo 10883077 w=400 h=225]

Almost Famous - Tiny Dancer from Zeca on Vimeo.

And just for a laugh ...

[funnyordie id=b60e20a654 width=512 height=328]
xoxo

inspired tuesday

{SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo}

Here is my second installment of my new series "Inspired Tuesday":.A Short Love Story in Stop Motion"by Carlos Lascana. This is one of my favorite stop motion animation videos. I think it's both inspiring and really imaginative.  I often feel like this little girl: dreaming about what my life will be like in the future. It inspires me to keep my imagination alive. (Even if I am twenty years older than this little girl.)

Happy Tuesday!


xoxo

Inspired Tuesday

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/877053 w=400&h=225]



{SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo}

 

Here is my second installment of my new series "Inspired Tuesday":.A Short Love Story in Stop Motion"by Carlos Lascana. This is one of my favorite stop motion animation videos. I think it's both inspiring and really imaginative.  I often feel like this little girl: dreaming about what my life will be like in the future. It inspires me to keep my imagination alive. (Even if I am twenty years older than this little girl.)

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

new series: inspired tuesday

{Julian Bialowas on Flickr}

i found this after random clicks on my tumblr today. it was too powerful not to share. i've always been a sucker for words, or "quotes" as some might say. so much wisdom has been passed down from those who have experienced life before me, and i'm always looking for new ways to keep on truckin' through life. the quotes, mixed with the gorgeous landscapes are perfection. see more here and here.

i'm starting a new series on the ol' blog: INSPIRED TUESDAY. every tuesday i'll post my sources of inspiration for the week: design, beauty, quotes, food, etc...stay tuned!



xoxo