* * * H E A R T W I N G S I S T E R S * * *

....say whaaaaaaaaaaat wednesday and hat love

2012-02-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

happy hump day all!!

i have a weakness, fetish, obsession ...

(call it what you will)...

with hats and bracelets ... and paper and journal and pens ....

but for this post ...

we are going to stick with hats and bracelets.

here are a few things i put together

with my boyfriend "polyvore" ....

showing off some of my favorite staple items.

boho love by kolleen-harrison featuring kitten heel boots

simple go to day or night by kolleen-harrison featuring a leather shoulder bag

daytime summer by kolleen-harrison featuring rayon skirts

i used to think the only reason i liked hats

was because it prevented me from having to "do" my hair,

which is part of it ... but also

it is because i LOVE them and

think they can add so much to an outfit.

so, tell me...

what are some of your favorite "go to" items??

can't wait to hear!

peaceandlove,

kolleen

....sunday stirring(s) ... especially close to this mama's heart.

2012-02-05T22:52:00.000-08:00

...i had many stirrings this week

but the below short video clip stirred me deeply.

I can relate first hand ...

I can relate to people looking our way

when my son may act out, etc....

There was a time I thought we should carry

a sign that says

"my son has autism"

and hold it up when anyone started

to glare our direction or look at us as if thinking

"why the hell can't you control you child".

I hope this small clip will help those who

don't know about autism understand it a bit better

and maybe, just maybe,

think twice before they judge.

i hope you all had a beautiful, peaceful,

loving, joy filled weekend.

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...i'm having an affair and now i am cheating on that affair!!

2012-02-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

as if i didn't already have a completely unhealthy relationship

with my computer due to facebook, email, blogging, etc...

Pinterest had to come along and

we have started a mad love affair ...

Pinterest causes me to swoon and drool and

get my creative mojo set on high speed.

I go to bed with thoughts of Pinterest and

when our next rendevous may be.

Seriously, I feel like I can't get enough ...

and I do warn all those who ask what it is

how highly addictive it is ...

I'm thinking I may need an intervention!!

and

just when I thought it couldn't get worse ...

i have began to cheat on Pinterest with Polyvore.

Polyvore is a site where you can search

for all kinds of items and create your own outfit

from head to toe and share with your friends

either via Facebook, your website or

add to your boards on Pinterest!

It taps into one of my big loves ...

clothing, fashion, accessorizing ....

so many hats to choose from and bangle bracelets!!

Here is a peak at some outfits I have created...

simply styled by kolleen-harrison featuring bangles jewelry

winter time casual

channeling summer here in sunny cali

my style by kolleen-harrison featuring bohemian shirts

great for spring and summer ...

friends...

please, please, please tell me i am not alone here

in these love affairs I am having!!

peaceandlove,

kolleen

ps...i have FINALLY listed a few things in my

etsy shop ... taking baby steps ... feel free

to take a poke around ... my "shop"

is on my sidebar!

...say whaaaaaaaat wednesday??

2012-02-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

"BEAUTY IS NOT IN THE FACE;

BEAUTY IS A LIGHT IN THE HEART."

-Kahlil Gibran

who do you see beauty in??

please share.

peaceandlove,

kolleen

....sunday stirrings

2012-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

hoping you all had a peaceful, blissful,

"whatever you may have needed"

type of weekend.

here is what stirred my soul this past week....

these encouraging words ... courtesy of pinterest

this book FULL of so much yumminess from some

truly amazing women whom i admire.

this awesome article by my

"parenthood, will ferrell, bob marley loving, amazeballs artist" friend Kelly Barton...

who continues to inspire me EVERY DAY with her SHINE!

(check her out in the latest Somerset Studio Mag)

carving out time to finger paint!

"going under the flap" for the winter session

of SOUL LODGE. so good for my soul.

thank you to the wise and beautiful Pixie Campbell

for guiding us through.

and

this song ... their voices together are so beautiful.

hoping you will share what stirred your soul this week.

peaceandlove,

kolleen

2012-01-18T17:06:00.000-08:00

on wednesdays and thursdays each week i

head to the hospital to do volunteer work

for the program Art for Healing.

i feel so blessed to be able to do this each week ...

to hopefully make a patient smile, create something with them, laugh, let them know they are seen and heard,

bring a sense of calm and release from whatever

has landed them in that hospital bed.

i have had countless patients say things to me

that will stay with me forever,

lessons they may have learned,

realizations they have had.

and i myself have had many realizations

in my time spent there...

i have realized as i go from room to room

in the hospital how easy it is to take

our health for granted.

i have realized that truly our health is one

THEE single most important things.

i have realized that all the material things of this world

have very little, if no meaning,

when you are lying in a hospital bed.

i have realized vanity goes out the door when all

we want to do is feel better.

i have realized that if we do not have our health

we truly cannot enjoy those we love and

love the way we would like in return.

i have realized life is short ...

we never know from one day to the next

what this life may bring our way.

i truly have new perspective and a much

deeper level of gratitude for each day that i wake up

feeling healthy, no aches, no pains, no sickness.

please share with me ... what have you realized lately?

peaceandlove,

kolleen

say whaaaaaaat wednesday??

2012-01-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

happy wednesday friends...

i don't know about you guys but i am struggling a bit

getting back into the groove ... back into "routine"...

so today i would love to know...

what made you happy today??

for me ... many things did,

but this song in particular worked for me.

i hope you take a listen.

"when the night feels my song,

i'll be home, i'll be home."

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...sunday stirrings

2012-01-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

HAPPY SUNDAY!!

each sunday i am going to try to post about a

few things that stirred my soul this week...
things that moved me.

making it a time to reflect on what

brought me smiles, tears, laughter, inspiration,

deep thought, movement ... love.

the older i get ... every day, i realize this more and more.

vision board i created at a workshop...

really focusing in on my 2012 word

LIBERATE ... such a great exercise ...

was lost in it.

dinner date with friends ... good conversation,
laughter, love.

(gotta love the silly nose picker!)

this song ... the entire CD ...

LOVE.

walking here ... mama ocean always

soothes ... always seems to stir things within.

holding this sweet little girl ... she

made my heart burst.

(nope...she's not mine...i already have two big boys...

she's a friends ... her name is Envy)

just a taste of what stirred me this week ...

what caused that for you??

peaceandlove,
kolleen

THEE WORD FOR 2012

2012-01-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

....this year it didn't come quite as easily to me as last year's did.
THEE WORD .... the word to carry me through 2012...
the word i would lean on, hold gently, place in my pocket.

i thought and thought ... pondered ...

did alot of reading ... to see if anything jumped out at me,

truly resonated with what i want this year to represent ...

what i want to carry with me throughout the next 12 months ...

and then some.

after a long walk on the beach yesterday,

listening to the pounding of the waves .... it came to me.

it nestled into my heart and jumped into my pocket.

LIBERATE

liberate - grant freedom to; free from confinement

set free

liberate
free, release, rescue, save, deliver, discharge,
redeem, let out, set free, let loose, untie, emancipate,
unchain, unbind, manumit

so i am ready ....
ready to liberate from:

any chains that are bound around me

carrying the burden of other people's choices and actions

things i cannot control

worry about what others think of me

unnecessary expectations of myself and others
worry that if i do it ... it could be all wrong
prejudices, negative thoughts, the gremlins
worry of "not being good enough"
jealousies
all the "shoulds" that i lug around day to day...

....i could go on and on

but i am doing it ...

i am liberating baby!!!!!

wanna join me?!?!

peaceandlove,
kolleen

...friday thoughts

2011-12-30T16:39:00.000-08:00

... i can hardly believe another year has come and gone.

it seems the older i get,

the quicker the time goes and the more i am trying to

hold on to each little, tender moment.

this is a time of reflection for me (as i know it is for most of us)... looking back, remembering,

writing down intentions for the upcoming year,

things i want to release and let go of,

focusing on that which i want to bring into my life.

my dear friend Londa posted a question today ...

asking for ONE word to define this past year ...

so tell me, what's yours??

What is your ONE word to sum up 2011??

peaceandlove always ...

blessings upon the new year ahead ...

let us keep seeking the good and striving for the better.

kolleen

...winter solstice RELEASE!!!

2011-12-21T22:54:00.000-08:00

it isn't too late ...

to create bundles of all that you may want

TO RELEASE...TO LET GO OF...

TO NO LONGER CARRY...

during the winter solstice.

(and if you don't want to create a bundle...

write it on a slip of paper ... and release it...burn it...let it go)

the amazing, intuitive, keeper of ceremony, earth mama,

wise beyond her years, Pixie Campbell

(who is a gift to me in so many ways)

is heading up

"The Mother of All Releasings Ceremony" ...

the video below is pure magic ...

women circling together is so powerful, so necessary...

and even more so, releasing all that we carry

that is just far too heavy and unnecessary

to let it weigh us down any longer.

It is time to

RELEASE IT...DROP IT...LET IT GO.

thank you Pixie, thank you ... for the gift that is YOU.

(i adore you.)

Mother of All Releasings Ceremony: Winter Solstice, 2012 from Pixie Campbell on Vimeo.

....friday thought

2011-12-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

(Sydnie on her 9th birthday)

"WHERE THERE IS MUCH LIGHT,

THE SHADOW IS DEEP."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

wishing you all a beautifully

magical weekend.

peaceandlove

kolleen

say whaaaaaat wednesday??

2011-12-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

(my work in progress ... more to come)

Gathering: an assembly or meeting,

to cause to come together; convene;

to bring together into one group, collection or place

today i have been sitting here thinking

about the beauty of "gathering"...
the necessity of it

gathering around a table to break bread

and share laughter, tears, conversation, friendship;

gathering around a campfire to tell stories and sing;

gathering around a friend that may

need to be lifted up, supported, heard, held;

gathering with my littles to show them

love and comfort and safety;

gathering in a circle to look at one another,

pray, send out positive vibes, embrace;

gathering with others to share dreams and aspirations;

gathering with family and loved ones to

create traditions and make memories.

what is a way in which you love to gather??

would love to hear...
peaceandlove,
kolleen

....fly

2011-12-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

"LEAP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR."

- Zen Saying

so...who's going to jump???!!

peaceandlove,
kolleen

...the heART exchange

2011-11-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

(handmade wrapping paper!!)

i have had so much fun participating in

The heART Exchange

sponsored by the oh so lovely Louise Gale.

i am such a lover of all things handmade

and making something from my heart to someone else's ...

well,

its the best!

And what was even better was that my

sweet scarf sister Kate is my partner in this exchange!!

I had so much fun packing up her goodies....

and shipping them off to her!!

I hope they arrive safely from my heart to hers!!

Happy Monday friends and here's a song for

Monday Music....such talent...gives me the goosebumps.

"and i'll fall on my knees."

ooxx
peaceandlove
kolleen

i believe....say whaaaaaaat???

2011-11-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

i believe in truth.

i believe in being kind and treating others

as you would want to be treated.

i believe there is extraordinary in the ordinary.

i believe there is beauty EVERYWHERE...

STOP. RIGHT NOW. LOOK.
(you found it, didn't you?!?!)

i believe art, creating, music are healing and

the best therapy there is.

i believe in community and connection.

i believe in honesty and compassion and non judgment.

i believe in surrendering to all that is beyond our control.

(and i believe this is easier said than done)

i believe in God ... He is IN everyone and everything.

i believe we ALL matter.

i believe in light breaking through any darkness there is.

i believe in dreams.

i believe in showing ourselves kindness and

giving ourselves a break.

i believe guilt and shame are powerful if you LET them be.

i believe in service to others.

i believe each and every one of us has a calling on our lives.

i believe in soul whispers.

i believe in heart whispers.

i believe children are AMAZING teachers.

i believe in miracles.

i believe YOU are enough.

i believe LOVE IS THE ANSWER.

and i believe this list is no where near being finished!!

so tell me...

what do you believe in??

peaceandlove
kolleen

....say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???

2011-11-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

i grabbed a book yesterday from the Spiritual Center

and have barely been able to put it down.

i have SO many pages ear marked to make notes about

and it has me thinking about so many things.

one of which is something i would love to

get feedback about...

here is an excerpt from the book that

i am trying to process and digest:

"Because I don't live in either my past or my future.

I'm interested only in the present.

If you can concentrate always on the present,

you'll be a happy man.

You'll see that there is life in the desert,

that there are stars in the heavens,

and that tribesmen fight because they

are part of the human race.

Life will be a party for you, a grand festival,

because life is the moment we're living right now."

i can say that i agree completely with this passage

but am not sure how to even begin to

really live my life that way ...

I am genuinely seeking it out and was wondering ...

how do you think it is possible to truly live in the

present moment ...

to not let past or future thoughts enter

into your mind or your decision making??

what is the secret??

thoughts...anyone??

peaceandlove,

kolleen

ps...this book is AMAZING!

totally worth the read

...today's sentiment

2011-11-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

what steps have you been taking???

peaceandlove,

kolleen

ooh...almost forgot...

Flora Bowley's class was AAA-MAZING...

working on a post dedicated to

all things from that workshop!

hi

2011-10-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

just poppin in to say "hi friends!"

i am off to a MUCH MUCH MUCH NEEDED

art retreat with the oh so fabulous Flora Bowley.

I have been in such a creative funk ...

i need her magic!!

i love her vision and her art is so vibrant ....

pure eye candy ...

feeling blessed to be able to learn from her!

wishing you all a wonderful love filled weekend!!

and remember...

“When we engage in what we are naturally suited to do,

our work takes on the quality of play and

it is play that stimulates creativity.”

– Linda Naiman

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...pondering

2011-10-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

are you living free??

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...a little messy

2011-09-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

so... things have been a little messy over here lately.

many unanswered questions, frustrations and concerns.

as i sit with the "not knowing", i am trying to

remind myself of all i have to be grateful for.

i just took this picture right before i posted as a reminder ...

and realized there are pictures i could take around every single corner of things to be grateful for.

i also have been busy at the hospital volunteering in the

ART FOR HEALING program.

I feel beyond blessed to be a part of this ...

as i truly believe in all that it stands for.

it is putting SO many things into perspective for me.

It has me taking a closer look

at how I spend my time, just how much service work means,

and how we all just want to be

seen, heard, paid attention to.

I am learning this through the patients I visit

and the children I see in the surgery waiting rooms,

awaiting mom or dad to get out of surgery ...

seeing the smiles when I hand them

crayons and pages to color...

THEY ARE SEEN.

yes...

life gets messy sometimes ...

but i am learning that is when we have

to really pay attention to all the goodness that is around us ... change our focus a bit ... readjust the lenses.

it seems to me that sometimes

we need to embrace the messy

to appreciate the clean.

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...a quote and a song

2011-09-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

beautifully haunting ....

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...a little place called harmony

2011-09-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

earlier this week i was blessed enough to spend two nights in Cambria, CA with two of my girlfriends ... it was much needed girl time for all three of us.

we had more fun that i can put into words ...

i wanted to share in this first post about a

sweet little town called Harmony.

I believe the photos will speak for themselves ...

i hope you all enjoy!

(and one more thing that makes this place

that much sweeter, is that my friend Lisa was married here.)

happy weekend friends

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...a little project

2011-09-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

So I have been having fun lately creating "PenART" ...

here are a few of the t-shirts i have done....

this is the latest that i made for my littlest little .... it is something i feel we all should believe in ... and a message i try

to instill in my children.

it simply says "YOU

CAN" on the front side

(bleach prior to rinsing out and washing)

(syd modeling)

and "the end." on the back side.

i am working on ordering some t-shirts

to create more and list them in my etsy shop.

hope you all like them ... they sure were fun to make!!

peaceandlove,

kolleen

...say whaaaaaaat wednesday , to bare or not to bare..???

2011-09-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

here i am ... baring it all (so to speak).

naked face.

hair pulled back in a pony.

(which is how i wear it more than anything ... or in a hat)

i truly debated putting this picture out there ...

but these two gorjuss friends of mine ... Liv...

read her post HERE and Kelly...

read her post HERE...

beautiful beyond words ... INSPIRED me ...

as they do in COUNTLESS ways.

so i thought ... what the hell...

i have realized as i edge closer and closer to 40

how bittersweet it is ...

this whole getting older thing.

(after all i still feel like i am 20!)

how i notice more and more

the wrinkles on my face,

gray hairs,

gray eyebrows (yes, younger girls ... THAT happens) ...

the fact that i cut bangs last summer

to cover all the wrinkles on my forehead ... after all,

it is MUCH cheaper (let alone less painful) than botox!!!

the fact that if i am not careful my butt will start

to become part of my legs ...

so daily walks are now becoming more of a necessity!!

but also the beauty in aging ...

of how i become more and more

comfortable in my own skin ...

as i continually work on myself,

expand my horizons and my mind.

how much more i realize "stripped down",

in the sense of taking off all masks, being REAL ...

is becoming more and more appealing to me.

i am more and more drawn to authentic relationships ...

they are actually becoming the ONLY kind i want in my life ...

the kind i can put my heart into ...

the kind i can invest in.

the more and more i don't worry so much

about what "everyone else thinks".

the more i realize it IS the little things in life ...

the heart moments i share with my children, my husband,

my friends, my family...

that are the beauty i want to see everyday...

take note of ... (not the wrinkles on my face)

so...how do you all feel...

to bare or not to bare...

can you embrace the perfectly imperfect you?

(as said By the LOVELY LIV)

peaceandlove

kolleen

...friday thought

2011-09-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

"LOVE IS NOT BLIND;

IT SIMPLY ENABLES ONE TO

SEE THINGS

OTHERS FAIL TO SEE."

-anonymous

wishing you all happy and safe weekend!

peaceandlove,

kolleen

Let us Always Remember This...

2011-08-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

("the strength of a touch" ... my radiant
wise friend Rachel Awes)

"We all can influence the life force.

The tools and strategies of healing are so innate,
so much a part of

a common human birthright, that we believers
in technology pay

very little attention to them.

But they have lost NONE of their power.

People have been healing each other since the beginning.

Long before there were surgeons, psychologists,
oncologists, and internists,

WE WERE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.

The healing of our present woundedness
may lie in recognizing and reclaiming

the capacity we ALL have to heal each other,
the enormous power

in the simplest of human relationships:

the STRENGTH of a TOUCH,

the BLESSING of FORGIVENESS,

the GRACE of someone else taking you
JUST AS YOU ARE and

finding IN YOU an unsuspected goodness.

EVERYONE ALIVE HAS SUFFERED.

It is the wisdom GAINED from our wounds and
from our own experiences of suffering

that make us able to heal.

Becoming expert has turned out to be LESS important than

REMEMBERING AND TRUSTING
the wholeness of myself and everyone else.

Expertise cures, but wounded people can
BEST be healed by other wounded people.

Only other wounded people can understand what is needed,

for the healing of suffering is
COMPASSION, not expertise."

-Kitchen Table Wisdom - Stories that Heal by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD

(this piece was in my training materials for
ART FOR HEALING
that I am in the baby stages of taking part in ...
thought it was so beautiful, I had to share.)

peaceandlove,
kolleen

...friday thought

2011-08-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

When I was looking at this picture of my little one...

These are the words that came to my mind.

It's time ... you have your whole life in front of you.

DREAM....

DREAM BIG...

DREAM AND GO FOR IT!

"dreams are today's answers

to tomorrow's questions."

- edgar cayce

wishing everyone a happy

and safe weekend.

peaceandlove

kolleen

...say whaaaaat wednesday???

2011-08-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE 3 WORD PHRASE??

peaceandlove

kolleen

...friday thought

2011-08-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

(Sydnie 8/16/11)

"But tomorrow, dawn will come the way I picture her,

barefoot and disheveled, standing outside my window

in one of the fragile cotton dresses of the poor.

She will look in at me with her thin arms extended,

offering a handful of birdsong and a small cup of light."

- William Collins

“

...share the love

2011-08-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

there is not a day that goes by that i don't thank God

for the gift of this man in my life.

He is my best friend, my partner, my support,

my love, my husband ... a treasure.

I am certain I don't tell him enough all that he means to me ...

and that I fall in love with him more each passing day.

We have a wonderful love story and are

both extremely aware of the blessing that we

share in our relationship.

We try very hard to not take it for granted...

as we both realize life can throw us curves.

The older I get the more I realize how

important it is to share with those we love

how we feel ... don't let another day, minute, second

go by without sharing what is on your heart.

And don't assume those in your life know how

you feel about them ... they need to hear it, it needs

to be shared.

After all, who doesn't love

to hear that they are

loved!!

peaceandlove,

kolleen

....things i am diggin

2011-08-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

there is so much happening out there in the creative realm that i WISH i had the time and resources for ...

like this that my sweet wild woman friend Pixie is heading up...she is a force to be reckoned with and someone i am grateful to have in my life .... i am hopeful she does this again so i can join in on all the goodness that is happening amongst the tribe of women involved ...

and this .... that my peace loving friend Kelly is a part of...she is shine through and through and her creations are DEEEEEELICIOUS ... again, hopeful they do this again so i can take part in all the beauty and dreaming that will evolve....

and this ... oh man...what i wouldn't give to be able to be two places at once ... Liz puts on amazing retreats ....well, how can she not ... SHE is AMAZING... and two of my scarf sisters are taking part in all that is creative magic at this retreat ... Mindy and Vivienne ...can i just say ... they knock my socks off!

and last but certainly not least...
my brave girl sister Lara...
she just added some AMAZING skirts and purses and pillows
to her etsy shop ... i have mad love for
these sweet creations.

(i want them all!!)

as i sit here and look at the names of these women that i count in my blessings ... i feel grateful...inspired...in awe.

yep.
i. dig. them.
and all that they are!

peaceandlove,
kolleen

...friday thought

2011-08-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

"When my daughter was about 7 years old,

she asked me on day what I did at work.

I told her I worked at the college -

that my job was to teach people how to draw.

She stared at me, incredulous, and said,

"You mean they forget?"

- Howard Ikemoto

...dear august

2011-08-01T20:51:00.001-07:00

Dear August,

Let's be friends and

groove together to this...

maybe create a bit (or alot) to this...

sing real loud to this...

get unpacked and settled in to this...

(moving really sucks btw...even though i know it will be worth it!)

Let's make it a GOOD last month of summer...

with fun and laughter and memories made.

...deal??

loveandpeace

kolleen

So...what's the plans for your last month of summer??

...friday thought

2011-07-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Whatever is done for love

always occurs

beyond good and evil.

- Friedrich Nietzsche

say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat wednesday??

2011-07-27T18:40:00.000-07:00

happy happy wednesday friends!!!

i hope this week is making you smile

and being good to you!

so... confession time.

i HATE doing my hair.

i hate blowing drying it.

i hate curling it.

i hate straightening it.

all of it ...

so 9 out of 10 times i am either throwing it up

in a pony or throwing on

one of my 50+ hats that i own!!

(yes...i have a hat fetish ... yet another confession).

so today i would love to know from you ...

do you have a "go to " accessory in your wardrobe...

something you can't seem to buy

enough of??

peaceandlove

kolleen

(oh and if you know any wonderful etsy

sites for hats ... pass on my way please!)

...friday thought

2011-07-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

(me. big sur california)

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

- Mother Teresa

....friday thought

2011-07-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

(Sydnie July 14, 2011)

"If you can't fly then run,

if you can't run then walk,

if you can't walk, then crawl.

but whatever you do you have to

keep moving forward."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

monday music & some things i'm diggin

2011-07-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MONDAY ALL!

LOVEANDPEACE

kolleen

say whaaaaaaaaaat wednesday???

2011-07-06T23:39:00.000-07:00

happy wednesday my friends!!!

I don't know about anyone else...but i know that

sometimes I get lost....

vear off course, lose my way.

sometimes I really have to quiet

my heart and my mind and

listen for the whispers.

sometimes I need to TRUST ...

truly trust in the whispers and remember to

trust my path.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING

YOUR TRUST IN LATELY??

kolleen

...a dare...for YOU!

2011-07-01T18:45:00.001-07:00

...monday nugget and music

2011-06-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

The only way to make sense out of change

is to plunge with it, move with it,

and join the dance.

-Alan Watts

i am completely and totally diggin this song...

love the harmonies.

happy monday all

peace

kolleen

...on your heart

2011-06-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

my littlest little is sick...

she is miserable and sad and

feels like she is missing out on all the fun

her sister and friends are having.

i have tried to entertain her...

be with her, cuddle with her,

talk with her, console her.

i asked her to climb up on the bed

next to me today and draw in my sketch book

(if she wanted)...

she pulled it out, sat for a moment,

looked over at me and said...

"mom, i don't know what to draw, and i usually know." i simply told her,

"draw what is on your heart love..."

this was the result...

(sydnie 6/21/11)

when your child hurts,

you hurt just as much if not more...

and if you could carry that pain

and take it all on yourself....

you would.

that is simply what a mother would do

and it is what i would have drawn today....

it was exactly what was on my heart.

hope you are all in good health

and enjoying your summer.

kolleen

...some peace and monday music

2011-06-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

("PEACE OUT" painting i finished last week)

"WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE

OVERCOMES THE LOVE OF POWER,

THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE."

-Jimi Hendrix

happy monday my friends. ox kolleen

.....say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??

2011-06-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

happy "wednesday" my friends!!

i hope you are having a wonderful week... and

unlike me... actually know that today is NOT

wednesday but is really thursday!!!

(little painting i did yesterday...think i may do this on a big canvas...)

I am working on this more and more...

seeking the real...

seeking the real in me

seeking the real in my day to day life

seeking the real in my marriage

seeking the real in my relationships

seeking the real in others

seeking the real in my creativity

seeking the real in conversations i have

seeking the real with my children and being a mama

so...what about you...

WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING THESE DAYS??

kolleen

ps...i cannot thank all of you enough

who read my last blog post regarding

my son and all of the beautiful comments...

it made my heart smile GIANT!!!

thank YOU!

...proud, grateful, full up

2011-06-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

Autism: "Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears

during the first three years of life and is the result of

neurological disorder that affects the normal functionings

of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction

and communication skills.

Both children and adults with autism show difficulties in

verbal and non-verbal communication,

social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

This is the definition given by the Autism Society of America.

I can relate to much of that definition...

however, I have been the witness to a child

who has not let his diagnosis hold him back.

And who has learned to rise above

some of these "disabilities."
(and...I am FOREVER grateful to the teachers
and aides who have helped along the way)

On Friday, June 3, 2011 by sweet son Chandler

graduated 8th grade in a class of well over 300 students.

Watching him happily accept his diploma...
smiling, interacting with fellow classmates

was beyond amazing for me.

The fact that he made honor roll...
was beyond amazing to me.

He was amongst many children who have gone to school

with him since he was 5 years old.

This chapter closed for him that night as he

will be going on to a high school where many of

these students won't be attending.

He was able to express his sadness and gratitude...

which made my heart swell that he could

so accurately depict these emotions he was experiencing.

(THAT is a big deal for someone who is

diagnosed with autism)

I am not certain what part of that evening was

my favorite....
from putting his very first tie on him,

to watching him receive his diploma,
to seeing his great grandma

snuggle up on him full of love and pride.

I have never been one to like labels or putting
a box around things...

i think we all are simply who we are...

individuals...
unique, beautiful,
wondrous souls...
each having our very own quirks,
our very own strengths,
our very own weaknesses...

each of us defying odds, changing definitions...
setting examples.

my heart is full up with my beautiful boy's
accomplishments...i look forward to the next
chapter in his life...
the new challenges, the new victories...

the story continues.

thank you for listening.

ox
kolleen

say whaaaaaaaat wednesday???

2011-06-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

i am sensing that something is in the air....

something many of us are struggling with.

i have had a few conversations with friends

regarding these same topics and it certainly helps me

to know that i am not alone in the

feelings i have been experiencing on and off

in my couple of years of blogging and creating

and facebooking...

the feelings of inadequacy.

the feelings of "i'm not good enough".

the feelings of "who do i think i am?"

the feelings of "look at what she is doing...

why didn't i think of that?"

the feelings of "how do i find balance to create and

be a good mom and a good wife, etc...??

the feelings of "why does the grass always seem to be

greener on the other side?"

the feelings of "what is really real in the blogosphere/online?"

and just "how real" should we get when we blog?

my friend Lara did a post today that really hit home for me.

She touches on many of these subjects and

I truly admire her view point on it.

loved this in particular...Lara said

"The “not knowing we’re alone” part seems to come only when you seek it out, at least for me. I guess those people who crack open have always been a porch light and I flap like a moth around it to feel some sort of comfort that..you know..these things take time."

So today i am asking all of you...

how do we focus on the fact that the grass

isn't necessarily greener elsewhere...

but instead is greener where we water it?

how do we stop comparing and start owning

our authentic "good enough" selves???

how do we have the guts to show the ugly in our

lives too on our blogs...without sounding

like we want a pity party thrown in our honor??

i would love you to weigh in on this...

as it is something i believe we all can relate to.

thank you.

kolleen

....thank you

2011-05-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

much love, peace and gratitude on this

very special day.

"A hero is someone who has given

his or her life to something bigger than oneself."

- Joseph Campbell

we could never thank those enough that

have given of themselves for us...

....last weeks blessings

2011-05-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

photos from my visit back home last week...

morning pages

hanging with my nieces and nephew

(they think i am "SO WEIRD!")

yummy cheeseburgers and beers

reminiscing at my high school

trampoline jumping at dusk

a little thrift shopping

a little love note dropping at chicago o'hare airport

(during an 8 hour delay....UGH!)

(thank you Jen Lemen)

waiting patiently at the car rental facility

breathing in all of God's goodness.

my visit home was one of lots of love,

laughter, great conversation,

rocking my sweet baby niece back to sleep,

learning patience and

finding the blessings

in all that is around me.

what blessings have you found today?

kolleen

say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat wednesday??

2011-05-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

do you know that??

i mean REALLY. REALLY. know that?

(this is my question for you today).

i am certain we all struggle with this from time to time...

with some times being much more overwhelming than others.

it is so important to remember this ...

this nugget of truth...

YOU.

ARE.

ENOUGH.

you are enough

just as you are... right here, right now

in this moment.

don't compare yourself to others...EVER.

God NEVER compares you.

There is only one unique you in this world.

Only one.
There is only one precious you in this world.
Only one.

and YOU ARE ENOUGH.

Do you know that??

ox
kolleen

BLESSED...MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION

2011-05-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

(blessed with sister love)

i am feeling blessed beyond.

my heart is full up...my cup runneth over.

I AM GRATEFUL.

i hope you are feeling blessed.

kolleen

"These are days that you’ll remember

When May is rushing over you

With desire to be part of the miracles

You see in every hour

You’ll know it’s true

That you are blessed and lucky

It’s true that you are touched

By something that will grow and bloom in you."

say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat wednesday??

2011-05-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY!!!

WHOOOT! WHOOOT!

i love music...i mean

i REALLY REALLY REALLY

LOVE MUSIC....

i don't know where i

would be without it,

as it is...without a doubt

theee best therapy i have ever had!!!

so...

if you could master one instrument,

what would it be??

i have visions of learning to play

the acoustic guitar really well...not sure

if my 39 year old brain and fingers

have the capacity!!!!

we shall see....

i am off on a little adventure...

time to create and connect!!

happy rest of the week/weekend my friends!

oxox

kolleen

snail mail, a lovely shop and monday music

2011-05-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

i cannot begin to tell you

how happy it makes me

when i open my mailbox and

find "snail mail" in there.

a smile immediately comes to my face

and my heart is warmed.

today i was blessed to open a box of

sweet little treasures from

the ever so talented and lovely Becky Shander.

becky's creations are like no other...

she amazes me with her endless creative prowess

and her beautiful way of looking at life.

in the latest somerset living magazine

you will find becky's article on these sweet littles she made

(and how big of a smile did i get when i saw my name on one of them!!!)

THANK YOU BECKY!! i will cherish these always!!

today my brave girl sister Jeanne launched her new line at her shop....do yourself a favor and take a look.

(make sure you have your credit card in hand)

Jeanne's creations are so beautiful...

you are going to want one of each!!!

(i'm loving this tote)

(and Jeanne is just as beautiful as her creations, inside and out!)

Lastly, my soul sister Serena posted this

and I couldn't stop watching.

(just like she mentioned)

It is priceless...

"Lend me your eyes I can change what you see

But your soul you must keep, totally free"

happy monday my friends

kolleen

MAMA'S DAY

2011-05-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

she is mom to 4

she is nonie to 10

she is sister to 3

she is kindness

she is laughter

she is hard working

she is survivor of cancer

she is constant

she is yoga instructor

she is hairdresser

she is italian

she is polish

she is compassion

she is loyal

she is giving

she is friend

she is love

she is SHINE

she is my mom.

i am beyond blessed for my mom,

my friend.

and i thank God for her

every. single. day.

wishing all of my mama friends

a bless-ed and magical

mama's day.

kolleen

say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat wednesday??

2011-05-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

happy wednesday friends!!

last night i was reminded of something as my oldest

daughter shared with me about a choice one of her

friends made....

i was reminded of the choices we all have

day in and day out...constantly.

the choice we have to tell someone we love them

or to let that moment pass by.

the choice to let go of something that hurt us

or to harbor it.

the choice to focus on the one negative thing

that was said to us

or the countless positives.

the choice to reach out and help those in need

or to turn a blind eye.

choices...

we make endless choices in any given day.

choices of what we choose to focus on,

choices of what to wear,

choices of how we spend our free time,

choices of whom we spend our time with,

choices of the words that come out of our mouth,

etc... etc... etc...

choices that come easily and

choices that require much prayer

and reflection and thought...

so...

what is a tough choice you have made lately?

i dont know about you...but i am working

really hard on only making good ones!!

(easier said than done sometimes)

kolleen

say whaaaaaaaaaat....FRIDAY??!!

2011-04-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

how did you show someone love today??

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” - morrie schwartz
ox kolleen

...monday music and things that make life a little sweeter

2011-04-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

SOME THINGS I THINK THAT

MAKE LIFE A LITTLE SWEETER...

PAINTED BUILDINGS

TIME WITH FRIENDS (OLD AND NEW)

SPENDING TIME WITH A

DEAR FRIEND TO CELEBRATE HER

BIRTHDAY ON THE STREETS IN NASHVILLE

COFFEE AND MIMOSAS

LIVE MUSIC

BOOTS, BOOTS AND MORE BOOTS

BOOKS

PINK BUSES

(all photos from my recent trip to nasvhille)

and this song

say whaaaaaaaaaaaat wednesday?

2011-04-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

another wednesday already here!

so today's question is fun...

a bit reminiscent

spring is in the air and that means

prom is right around the corner.

do you remember what your

prom theme or song were when you were

a senior in high school??

if memory serves me right...

mine was "the flame" by cheap trick and

i am not really sure of the theme...???

anyway...

fun to stroll down memory lane sometimes...

hope you think so too!!

(now i am off to pack for nashville...

celebrating a dear friends birthday!!)

happy rest of the week friends!

kolleen

monday music inspiration and a lesson

2011-04-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

i've learned that unconditional love

does exist outside of a parent and child.

- me

i am heading to the santa barbara bowl

tonight to see these guys and can. not. wait.

outside venue, music, wine and my best friend = good stuff

happy monday my friends.

kolleen

say whaaaaaaaaaaaat wednesday?

2011-04-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

okay...i have a confession to make

"my name is kolleen and i am

a reality TV Junkie".

from The Bachelor to the Housewives

to The Real World (on MTV...where it all began)...

i can't seem to get enough!!

i have watched nearly all of the "Housewive" episodes

and am completely addicted to Bethenny Ever After...

she makes me laugh and

i just love the way her husband adores her!

so...tell me...

what is your favorite reality tv show??