January in Review

I'm definitely having one of those "I can't believe the month is over!" moments. A full month into 2013 already? Time is going by quickly. January has kind of been a slump month. Things have been kind of stressful. Eli was living with my mom but she is moving somewhere she can't have cats so we've had to take him to our apartment. Him and the roommates cat are alright together -still adjusting though. Mostly they are afraid of each other. And I still haven't managed to find a writing job, which is definitely more stress. Some income would be nice.

Yesterday's 365 Portrait

I know things haven't been too exciting here on the blog lately. Stress makes me unmotivated and unproductive. I am working hard to pull myself out of this slump and get a smile back on my face.

So, these were my January goals. I've crossed off what I actually accomplished.

Look for an online writing job -I have looked. A lot. And applied for a bunch of things. So far I haven't heard back from anyone I have emailed. I am sticking to it though!

Write. A lot.  -I didn't write nearly as much as I wanted to. My urban fantasy novel is stagnant in my head. I have some new books for research though, so I'm hoping to reawaken the muse.

Start a 365 portrait challenge -I did this! I already missed a few days but I am planning to stick with it. Month one has been the process of getting in the habit of doing it. I'm hoping it will get easier to remember in the months to come.

Read more. -I have been reading more! I shared my 2013 Reading List not too long ago and I am making some headway on it for sure!

Reopen the shop & update it. -I still haven't done this :( But I am hoping to do so soon. Shop work helps keep me busy and feel creative and productive.

I did alright, but I need to be more on my game for sure. 

Check back tomorrow for my Febraury goals list.

Lady Unlaced

Wishlist Wednesday

Just some things I've been wishing for lately from Plasticland.

This slightly morbid but still delightful salt and pepper shaker set:

These amazing wedge booties:

And this adorable cross-body bag:

Lady Unlaced

Tumblr Tuesday

Some awesome finds of recent.

Yes, the obligatory tiger photo, haha. I can't help it, they are such incredible creatures!

Lady Unlaced

Caturday

Weekly dose of cats, because cats :D

Eli & my mom's cat Smokey, new best friends :)

Eli's pretty eyes, complete with instagram effect, haha.

Smokey's close-up.

Having a serious catversation with Eli.

Giving Smokey lots of love.

I can't wait to live somewhere I can have my baby with me again, but for the meantime he seems pretty happy at my mom's house. Him and Smokey get along well and I visit him several times a week. He is always happy to see me and I love getting to cuddle with him for a few hours.

Happy Caturday everyone!

Lady Unlaced

Love Lives Here

Love.

It is the most important thing in this world. It has taken me a long to see that and to really understand what it means, but my eyes are finally opening.

Buy.

Loving friends. Loving family. Falling in deep romantic love with another soul. Loving pets. Loving fresh air and the smell of dirt. Loving warm tea and homemade food. Loving art. Loving books. Loving long journeys, adventures, and exploring new places. Loving all the small things.

And all the big things that are deep and vibrate our bones. Learning to love the rawness of our emotions, no matter what they are. Love is what keeps us together and what connects us to the people and world around us. There is so much more that opens up to us when we allow ourselves to unfold and let love in. Let it take root in our hearts and thrive in our spirits.

Love has moved in with me and it is here to stay.

Lady Unlaced

Wishlist Wednesday

Today I thought I would just share some Etsy treasures I've found recently that I would looove to have.

This lovely wall hanging by Laura

shop

These awesome panties, great for any writer

shop

These adorable fern earrings

shop

And this wonderful quote print

shop

Lady Unlaced

Tumblr Tuesday

You know how it works :)

by Claire Courtney

Lady Unlaced

Sunshine

Today is one of those days. Yesterday I enjoyed a nice day out in the sun -it was chilly but worth it. But today has been dreary and overcast and I have created my own sunshine with candles, hot tea, and beautiful music. Only little things are need to light up the soul.

Lady Unlaced

You've Got The Love

You've Got The Love - Florence + the Machine

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air

I know I can count on you

Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"

But you've got the love I need To see me through

Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough

And things go wrong no matter what I do

Now and then it seems that life is just too much

But you've got the love I need to see me through

When food is gone you are my daily meal

When friends are gone I know my saviour's love is real

Your love is real

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

Time after time I think "Oh Lord what's the use?"

Time after time I think it's just no good

Sooner or later in life, the things you love you loose

But you got the love I need to see me through

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air

I know I can count on you

Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"

But you've got the love I need to see me through

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

Lady Unlaced

Currently

I got the idea for this post from Shell over at Kitty and Buck. And if you don't follow her you definitely should! She's an awesome Australian blogger with a lot of design talent and a beautiful heart!

Here in my small New England apartment I am currently enjoying some down time after a long semester of too much homework and emotional stress. However, because I live in New England, the clouds have recently dumped more snow on us.

I am not a fan of snow.

I have been spending a decent amount of time inside. A few days back it was nice enough out to venture outside -the Quabbin Reservoir is not far from us- but now it is much too cold and wet for outdoor adventures. We have been making the most of our time indoors though.

So, this is what is going on inside my head and my apartment currently...

Watching: Lots of Once Upon A Time, Oddities, and Legend of the Seeker. I am in love with Once Upon A Time; talk about a great tv show. I love just about anything fairytale related, especially with a really good modern twist. 

Reading: Women Who Run With The Wolves (it's a very dense book and I like taking my time to really absorb it all) and Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison. If you're into urban fantasy then I definitely suggest her series, The Hollows. I have stacks of other books that I am hoping to dive into soon as well. I did give myself a rather hefty reading list for 2013 that I definitely need to get going on.

Wearing: Lots of leggings and t-shirts, and sometimes I just wear pajama pants all day. I don't really like doing that, but when I'm not going anywhere it seems silly to dirty clothes that are better worn when I actually leave the house. And when I do leave the house I am always wearing my knee-high doc martens so that I can tromp through the snow without getting my feet and legs soaked and frozen. Did I mention I am not a huge fan of the winter? I am dying for some warm air and green trees.

Drinking & Eating: Loooots of warm beverages -coffee in the mornings (and then later with delicious Godiva liquor added), various types of tea (we have a pretty impressive collection), and hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon. We're out of whipped cream now though, boo. As for food, lots of fresh veggies and roasted potatoes. We created out own spinach enchilada recipe that is aaa-mazing! Maybe I will get around to sharing it at some point. We've also been baking a lot. We made a cake the other day with homemade banana frosting, which is so delicious! I want to make more and put it on strawberry cupcakes!

Thinking About: My brain has been stuck on lovely bohemian home decor ideas. My Pinterest board has been getting pretty out of hand and I can't wait until me and my boyfriend have a place of our own to decorate as we want. I am thinking lots of plush pillows, handmade curtains, colourful rugs, prayer flags, candles, and lots of plants.

Inspired By: This "Make Something" post on A Beautiful Mess -it really makes me want to sit down and craft some more jewelry fromt eh shop (I know I said I would reopen it soon, I am working on it!), as well as start stitching together a curtain project I have been meaning to do. I have also been Alexandra Franzen's blog -her posts always make me really think about my life and what I want. It's like a daily dose of "Oh yeah, this is who I am, what the hell was I doing that other stuff for? That's not me! This is me!"

Doing: Me and my boyfriend have been playing a looot of Scrabble recently, as well as Mario Kart on the Wii, and Kingdom Hearts. Puzzles have also taken up quite a bit of our time as well. We built a fort in out bedroom the other day, strung up lights, and have taken to reading in it with coffee or hot cocoa. Before the snow hit we were visiting Eli a lot at my mom's house and playing with him and her cat. My mom works a lot so most of the time we go over and are the only one's there. It's nice to see Eli though, I miss him a bunch.

That has been my life the past week or so. I'm hoping that soon I will be able to say I am doing lots of writing and shop work as well. We shall see! :)

Lady Unlaced

365 Photos

Thought I would share some of my favourite photos from my 365 challenge so far. I've already missed a day (I was so upset that I forgot about it for a day already) but otherwise been doing good. 

I swear that last one is a self portrait. It's the cardigan and leggings I wore the other day.

You can follow along with my challenge via my instagram.

Anyone else doing a 365 challenge? How is it going so far?

Lady Unlaced

Tumblr Tuesday

Things on tumblr I've been digging this week.

Lady Unlaced

How Tumblr & Blogging Have Made My Life Better

No, I'm not kidding. Joining Tumblr and creating a blog have definitely improved my life and how I see the world. Sound strange? What can I say, the internet may be addictive (and detrimental if used wrong) but it has opened my eyes, inspired me, and infused me with more positive energy than I could find on my own.

The internet can be used for good. That is not an argument we hear a lot of these days with all the problems of internet addiction and the blow-up of social media. But I believe that if used correctly, the world wide web has some serious upsides. Inspiration and connections are two things that I have taken away from my screen time that I count as beyond valuable and definitely rewarding.

I created a Tumblr account in 2010 and have been loyal to it ever since. I don't go a day (usually) without posting something or reblogging beautiful pictures of art, fashion, or cats. (I just really love cats, okay.) Finding people to follow opened my eyes to new fashion styles, artists, music, and ideas. I have learned so much from being a part of that site and I don't regret a single moment I have spent on it. And I didn't just learn and discover things, I got to know people. I've helped people with their spiritual questions, laughed with those who like the same movies as me, and talked to people about feminism and self-love. I found people who are more like me and share more of my interests than most of the people I have met through other means such as school.

My tumblr has also served as a great launch pad for my other creative endeavours. It has proved incredibly useful in getting the word out about this blog, as well as my etsy shop.

I started this blog last year and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I started following other bloggers, consistently reading all their new posts and leaving comments and input for them. I started to feel more connected and inspired. In January 2012 I opened my etsy shop, something I had always wanted to do but never had the courage to go through with. Seeing other successful people following their dreams, running blogs about their lives and shops to sell their creative endeavours made me realize that if I didn't start doing the same my life was going to pass me by completely. I haven't looked back since.

I am not a well-known blogger. My shop is not over-the-top successful. but I have people that stop by here and read what I have to say and a few sales here and there. That's enough for me. The fact that anyone is interested at all still shocks me. Interested? In me? Yep, in me. How amazing is that? And I am interested in them. I love meeting people and connecting.

Blogging has improved my life. It has opened me up to meeting new people, sharing my insight with others, and improved my writing and helped me develop my own personal voice. I dislike when people insinuate that my blogging is a waste of time. It is some of the most well used time I have had.

Lady Unlaced

Soul Calls

source.

"The way to maintain one's connection to the wild is to ask yourself what it is that you want... One of the most important discriminations we can make in this matter is the difference between things that beckon us and things that call from our souls."

-Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women Who Run With The Wolves

Something to think about for the day.

Lady Unlaced

Life Lately

Snapshots of my life recently via Instagram.

1. Eli high on catnip // 2. Yogi tea wisdom // 3. My mug // 4. Smoothie in my new mini blender

Lady Unlaced

New Moon // Awakening

Tonight is the first new moon of 2013. This lunar phase is one of new beginnings, and it typically a time to do magick that relates to the birth of new projects and endeavours, or starting fresh.

Buy here.

For me this new moon is about reorganization and new beginnings; new adventures, new projects, and a journey deep into my soul. It marks a time to heal my wounds and embrace the love I have. I am changing, and I know that my blog has started to reflect that. The change will only continue as I grow and I couldn't be more excited. 

Expect the shop to open again soon with some changes and special offers, as well as more insightful posts here. This is a new chapter, not because it is a new year, but because I am waking up.

Lady Unlaced

My Book Recommendations Part 2

Getting Gothy

I love dark and "gothic" literature. A lot. I was a goth chick in high school and although I have grown out of my morbid, angsty teen years, there's not much I love more than a good vampire book. For today's book recommendations post I thought I would stick with a delightfully dark theme and share three of my favourite gothic must-reads.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The most well-known vampire novel in history without a doubt, Dracula by Bram Stoker, is one of my favourite books of all time. I read it when I was about 14 and have loved it ever since.

Summary: Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing. (via Wikipedia)

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I read this book for a summer reading project in high school and couldn't put it down. Wilde's writing is magnificent and the story is incredibly compelling. 

Summary: [The] story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it first appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting influence, he responded that there is, in fact, “a terrible moral in Dorian Gray.” (via Goodreads)

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

I absolutely love Anne Rice. She is a master of her craft and has written some of the most interesting and well-developed vampires in literary history. According to me at least, and seeing as these are my recommendations, my opinion is what we're going with here, haha. This is the first in The Vampire Chronicles and I highly suggest it for any vampire fan out there. 

Summary: In a darkened room a young man sits telling the macabre and eerie story of his life - the story of a vampire, gifted with eternal life, cursed with an exquisite craving for human blood. (via Goodreads)

***

There you go! Three necessary reads to satiate your inner goth!

Lady Unlaced

More book recommendations? Check out Part 1 of this ongoing blog series.

Wordy Wednesday // Inspiration

No lovely words this week, just some writing inspiration/motivation I thought I would share with you all.

 Every story, every incident, every bit of conversation is raw material for me. I would like to be everyone; a cripple, a dying man, a whore, and then come back to write about my thoughts, my emotions, as that person. But I am not omniscient. I have to live my life, and it is the only one I’ll ever have.

— Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath, August 1950

When you spend time with your friends, what do you talk about? Those things which made an impression on you that day, that week … I write stories the same way. Events at home, in school, at work, in the street, these are the bases for a story. Some experiences leave such a deep impression that instead of talking about them at the club I work them into a novel.

— Naguib Mahfouz 

***

If you have a tumblr account and want a writing bog to follow for stuff like this all the time then you should check out mine, altarofwords.tumblr.com.

Lady Unlaced

Tumblr Tuesday

This is my first Tumblr Tuesday of the new year!
Lots of images, sorry if it causes a bit of a lag for you.














Lady Unlaced