on giving our(SELVES) what we need

These past few weeks have seen me in  a strange place...overwhelmed + tired + emotional. I know that so much of that has seeped into my blog posts ...and into my family/mothering/partnering/friendships/e-mails/art etc. So...I just had to slow down, step outside of my life and into mySELF. Sometimes...it's just so difficult to do that, isn't it. Something so simple as listening to what we need...and then giving it to ourSELVES or reaching out and asking for help(I'm so terrible at this!!). For me...it was simply some down time...putting my camera and books away and unplugging from the computer for a few days. It was asking having an entire day for myself to...go into my studio in the morning rather than at 10 at night when I'm exhausted. It's having time to do my nails(!!!), sit and do absolutely nothing at all...and then... sit some more. It was about writing an article that I poured my heart and soul into and that left me feeling so vulnerable...but in such a good way (more on that soon!!!). It was about having the time to appreciate my life with a heart full of gratitude. It was about sitting in the morning sun and writing a few old fashioned letters. It's about soul-time + heart time + down time.

It was about nesting and turning our house into a home. The most important thing...is that our home is a safe, nourishing, creative environment. A place that reflects our love...that has a heart and soul.
This is an art wall that I just completed putting together...Tara's gorgeous art and colorings are everywhere in our home and we just adore looking at them! I picked up these Sanjay Patel prints a few weeks ago and simply love the very Indian prints but ...with a modern, graphic twist. They are sprinkled all over our home and Tara just can't get enough of them! I love mixing Indian/exotic with vintage/western ...everything!!!

It's about spending quality time with Tim + Tara . We have been baking gingerbread cookies, doing crafts and creating stories. This book right here is amazing! There are so many wonderful activities to foster creativity and storytelling in children (+ adults!!)...that fill up our souls with the most wonderful kinds of gifts.
Really...it's simply about giving ourSELVES permission to ask for (and receive) what we need. It's about asking our loved ones, our work and art...the world...can you give me what I need? Can you hear me? Can you see me? And knowing that giving and receiving are all part of the same circle...

nesting + inspiration = bliss

                                                         (yesterday at the park)
Since our household goods have not arrived yet, we have tons and tons of free time!! That means plenty of afternoon naps, trips to the park, hanging out at Barnes & Noble, going to bed early, reading and relaxing. The weather here these past few days have been surprisingly warm for this time of year...most of the snow has melted and there are just patches here and there. I am actually quite disappointed because I wanted to make a snowgirl with Tara!!

                                                     (big girl Tara climbing)
I simply can't believe how big my little girl has grown!! I mean...everyone tells you how fast the time all flies by but until you actually experience it...it's kind of hard (impossible) to grasp. She turns 3 at the end of this month and...I am just enjoying her as much as possible. While part of me is just so proud and excited to see her grow up...there's another part of me that wants to keep her my little baby girl forever. Do you know what I mean??

                                                   (a few days ago with daddy)
Okay!! Tara is a total daddy's girl...these two are inseparable. This pic was taken at our (newly discovered) fave. pizza parlor just minutes away from our house. They have a New York style pizza here that is to die for. Could be dangerous us living so close:)

(spinach and artichoke quiche...so yummy)

Lots and lots of eating out these days...back to basics when we get settled in but for now...I am just enjoying it:)

Reading through this book at Barnes and Noble today and totally loving it!! Very inspired by her philosophy of using what you have and creating a home that is warm + functional + clutter free. She talks about creating beauty with old, meaningful objects and re purposing existing items in new ways. Love!!

                            (Tara curled up with a book at Barnes and Noble today)
Tara is already a bookworm which makes me ever so happy and proud. She loves playing with the train set at the bookstore but inevitably...she will grab a book and curl up with it.

And this made my heart sing right here...to see the Winter Somerset Gallery all stacked up in the art/crafts section of the bookstore... with my name on the cover!!! Please forgive me for going on and on about it but...I still can't get over it!