February In Review & New Sponsor Info

February is at it's end! I know it's the shortest month and all but it still feel like it went by really fast. I'm glad it has though, because that means we are all the closer to spring! Unfortunately warm weather takes awhile to creep back into New England and settle down to stay, but I am getting more and more antsy for it nonetheless.

All in all this past month was much better than January. I have had my down days, but I have been happier and more productive in the past few weeks than I was before, so that is definitely something! So let's take a look at the goals I set for myself

Continue my online job hunt.  I hunted and hunted, and almost had something, but unfortunately the place never emailed me back. I am not giving up though. This search will continue!

Finish Looking for Alaska and A Fistful of Charms (books) Actually, I'll be honest, I only finished Looking for Alaska. I got a good way into A Fistful of Charms but I'm just not feeling urban fantasy right now. I will definitely be going back to it though. I'm still calling this one a success though because I did start another book and get more into Women Who Run With The Wolves.

Journal more. Fail. I didn't. I am working on it though.

Work on updating the shop. Success! I reopened the shop, renamed it, made a new banner, and added new stock!

Work on updating this blog (I want a new look!) Also a success! I (obviously) gave my blog a complete redesign that I am thrilled with and created a bunch of new buttons. Plus I gave my Tumblr Tuesday posts a new look and have been working on adding new, more interesting content.

Restart a daily yoga practice. There is still work to be done on this one, but I have been integrating a simple yoga practice back into my life. I hope to keep it up and also add in some strength training and cardio.

I would definitely consider February to be a success! Check back tomorrow for my March goals list.

***

And onto my new sponsor information! I mentioned in my style obsession post yesterday that I was using Passionfruit ads again for my blog. I offer two, completely affordable, option: Featured Ad and a smaller, Button Swap option. 

The Featured Ad gets you a large (200x200) button on my blog for an entire month, including a spot in a new sponsor post that I will do during the month. The sponsor post will feature a bit about your blog and all your links, plus you will get shout outs on my twitter, facebook, and pinterest. You also have the option of hosting a giveaway on my blog, or writing a guest post that will be featured here.

The Swap option is for a smaller button (200x100) and with the code SWAPME you can get this spot for free! The only catch is that I ask you put my button up on your site as well so that we both get exposure. These spots will also get a small shoutout in my monthly sponsors post.

Take a look and grab a spot on my Sponsor Page!

Lady Unlaced

Style Obsession // Maxi Dresses

Okay, so my last style obsession post was about dresses and I am still thoroughly smitten with that fashion bug. Only lately I find myself drawn in my lovely, flowing maxi dresses. I love them! Unfortunately, I only own one. Booo! Hopefully I can rectify that this spring.

These are the ones I am drooling over from Lulu's.

 

How lovely are those? I have been trying really hard to be more open to lighter colours. I am usually a black and jewel tones kind of girl, mostly because I'm typically so pale I think anything light-coloured makes me look ghastly. That's probably just in my head though. Like I said, I'm working on it.

Lady Unlaced

P.S. I am offering two types of ad spot for next month and on using passionfruit ads. You can either sign up for a large feature ad that comes with a bunch of perks (and is cheap!) or sign up for the ad swap which, with the code listed in the description, is free! Check out the details on my Sponsor page!

Explore

I want to run off into the unknown woods and feel the ground beneath my feet and the wind against my skin. I want to roam in fields of wildflowers and climb old trees that are filled with so many stories if only they could speak. I want to take my shoes off and walk through streams and collect smooth pebbles and put dandelions in my hair. I want to lay in tall grass and get lost looking at the clouds. I want to hear twigs crack under me as I run through the raw wild. I want to discover and explore.

Lady Unlaced

Tuesday Tea Time

Tea of the Week: English Breakfast. This is definitely a favourite of mine, regardless of the brand. Currently I just have a cheap box of the Red Rose stuff. I've discovered it's absolute heaven with a little honey and lemon juice added.

Tumblr Finds

Found on tumblr, but sourced from here.

source.

found here.

Window Shopping

Loving these shoes.

I could never afford this dress, but I love it so!

Reading List

1. I really enjoyed Sophie's post about the evolution of personal style. My style is always changing and incorporates so many things and I love finding other people who are the same way.

2. 10 Rules For Happiness is a short but sweet piece on how to live a happier life. Most of it is no-brainer stuff, but it's nice to be reminded.

3. Damn, you're hot. I love this piece and it's a great pick me up for anyone feeling kind of down about their looks. Remember, you're beautiful.

Quote

The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. 

-Chief Seattle

Lady Unlaced

Ways I Combat Anxiety

Sometimes I have anxiety. It sucks -a lot. I get paranoid about every little thing and I become withdrawn, sensitive, and anxious about everything. I am afraid to upset the people I love and afraid that everything I do is the wrong thing. Even things that make me happy and things that I know logically aren't bad in any way. Like spending time to create this blog and read the blogs of others. That is a perfectly alright thing to do, but sometimes I get awful anxiety about it because I am worried that the people in my life are going to start to resent me for being on computer for an hour or two at a time. I know it sounds silly, but that's the truth of it.

When I get really bad anxiety there is very little I can do to make it go away until I go to bed and sleep it off. But I do have ways that I lessen the stress a little bit and that's what I wanted to share with you all today, just in case anyone else suffers from this kind of mental behaviour and could use some help handling it.

1. Hot tea. Overdone? Maybe. But a hot mug of green tea with a tiny bit of honey does wonders for my nerves. And if I need help falling asleep (anxiety wages a war in my head that makes it hard to drift off into unconsciousness for the night) I usually brew a mug of chamomile. It usually knocks me out within the hour.

2. Comfy clothes. When I get really bad I like to be in clothes that don't restrict me in any way. Pajamas are a good option, or leggings and a baggy t-shirt. I usually opt for a sweater of some sort as well and a head-scarf. I hate feeling exposed when I have anxiety.

3. Deep breaths. I take a lot of deep breaths when I am over stressed and I can feel my paranoia and anxiety taking over my mind. I close my eyes and focus on inhaling and exhaling until I can force some kind of logic to appear.

4. Distraction. Distracting myself is one of the best ways I deal with anxiety. I pick up a really good book and get lost in it, or I open my computer and poke around etsy or tumblr. Doing something that brings my mind to another place really helps. Sometimes not thinking about what is stressing me out so much is the best course of action.

I hope that is helpful to someone out there in the blogosphere. I wanted to share because I have been experiencing this anxiety on and off for the past few weeks and I didn't want to pretend like everything was fine and dandy here on the blog. I wanted to be able to open up a bit in this space, but I didn't want to sound whiney, so I figured a "tips" post would be a good medium level. 

How do you combat stress and anxiety?

Lady Unlaced

365 Photos

More of my recent favourite photos from my 365 challenge.

My awesome Blackmilk leggings.

I just like this picture of my hair, I don't know why.

My huge sunglasses that I love so much.

Also, you may have noticed a slight change in my banner at the top. That is to match a nifty new set of graphics that I created for my monthly goals lists as well as my Tuesday Tea Time posts. :)

Lady Unlaced

P.S. You can still get 20% off in my shop with code WELCOMEBACK at checkout! 

Currently

A peek into what I have been up to lately.

Lots of work on the computer with Eli usually sleeping somewhere nearby. He likes being stretched out on the bed, especially if he can find a ray of sunlight to bathe in.

Watching: Top Gear (the UK version obviously) -I'm not a big car person (fun fact: I don't even have a license, haha) but Top Gear is hysterical and great to watch over dinner. 

Reading: I am still reading Women Who Run With The Wolves (it is a very dense book) but I am making a lot of progress on it. I will probably reread it when I'm done as well. There is a lot to take from it. I also just finished Looking for Alaska by John Green (loved it!) and have moved on to Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett which I am enjoying so far.

Wearing: T-shirts and jeans when I go out paired with my knee high doc martens and comfy lounge pants or shorts when home. The shorts are usually paired with knee-high socks, a tank, and oversized hoodie.

Drinking & Eating: Chocolate chip cookies! And lots of coffee and tea, per usual. Dinners have consisted of a lot of potatoes (roasted in various ways), pasta, veggies, and tofu. We made a spinach casserole last week that was delicious as well!

Thinking About: Health -I want to work out more. Also about  this blog and my shop and what I want to do with both. I have a lot of ideas. Now if only I could get them into action...

Inspired By: Pictures of forests and flowers. I am seriously itching for some nicer weather. I am over winter and ready for sandals and laying in the grass. Sunlight inspires me and keeps me moving and I would love for some warm weather so I can bask in it outside.

Doing: Lots of work on the blog (obviously, haha) and the shop. Between designing graphics and jewelry I have been pretty busy. I have also been applying for writing jobs online, playing with Eli (I do this a lot), reading, and playing Lego Harry Potter with my boyfriend.

What have you been up to recently?

Lady Unlaced

Setting Up An Altar/Devotional Space

You don't have to identify as a witch to have your own altar and/or devotional space. And if you do identify as "witch" then you may be surprised to know that your altar does not have to follow any kind of format. I spent a long time thinking that it did. That I had to place candles at the right sides to line up with their corresponding directions and have certain colours for certain things, etc.

But then I learned something new. There are no rules when it comes to personal spirituality. What an incredibly freeing realization!

Spirituality is a free-form thing; an energy creature that moves through us and embodies all that we love and the passions that stir our blood. There is no format, no rules, no initiation. It is not the same as religion. It is the expression of our innermost soul. And an altar/devotional space should reflect that.

This is my altar. It is a collection of stones, candles, shells, statuettes, and other odds and ends. It hold my handmade wand, a curiousity jar by ForestFernCreations, my soul journal, and a small fox pelvis from DesertRoseTaxidermy. I also keep art pieces and metal pentacles with bells hanging on the wall above it.

I keep things that mean a lot to me or symbolize something that is special to me on my altar. Rose quartz for love and friendship, a cat statuette as a nod to Bastet, a piece of birch bark and twigs for my love of the forest, salt to keep away negative energy, and lots of candles that all have different purposes. My altar is personal and doesn't follow any guidelines. It is constructed in the way that I feel is right and vibrates with my energy harmoniously. To me that is what an altar should be.

So if you are thinking of creating your own sacred space I am here to reassure you that it doesn't have to be as intimidating as some books or websites would have you believe. Just collect things you resonate with -statuettes of patron gods, stones, candles, sticks, shells, symbols, art, etc. Remember, no rules.

Does anyone else have a scared devotional space like this? I would love if you shared!

Lady Unlaced

The Distant Stars // A Poem

I wrote this yesterday and though I would share. I think it still needs some editing though. Thoughts? 

Buy print here.

The Distant Stars

There are stars so far away

That you need to unfold your soul

And shoot it off into the sky

Just to get a look at them

But those stars are the most beautiful of them all

And they are waiting patiently

For you to unfurl yourself

And come seek them in the infinite ether

They are the stars with the most stories to tell

And wisdom that will shake your bones

They burn with truths

Holding together the universe simply by existing

Lady Unlaced

Tuesday Tea Time?

Tumblr Tuesday is getting a makeover! I love sharing the images I find on tumblr that inspire and stir me, but I wanted to make my weekly Tuesday posts a bit more than that. So rather than just pretty images I thought it would be nice to make it into a complete collection of internet findings from the past week that are the perfect things to look at and read over a cup of tea (or coffee, or water, or lemonade, or wine... you get the point)! Hence, Tuesday Tea Time.

So this is what the new weekly posts will look!

Tea of the Week: Bigelow's Blueberry Acai. We picked a box of this deliciousness up sometime last week and I can honestly say it is some of the best fruit tea I have ever had.

Tumblr Finds

such a lovely tiger photo


this drawing is fabulous, haha


there is something very striking about this image, don't you think?

Window Shopping 

the colours on this dress are amazing


I am a huge fan of the mini prayer flags Laura is offering in her shop.

Reading List
1. You should definitely check out this story about a dog and a mother cat. It'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
2. I found this piece on pole dancing and slut shaming to be quite interesting.
3. Running into the Olsen twins at an Alanis Morissette Concert? I am 12 shades of jealous!

Quote:
"You must love in a way that the person you love feels free." 
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Lady Unlaced

Remember, you get 20% off in my shop with code "WELCOMEBACK" at checkout. And I've added some new items just yesterday!

The Importance of Experiencing Pain

“People are taught that pain is evil and dangerous. How can they deal with love if they’re afraid to feel? Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they’re wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It’s all in how you carry it. That’s what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you’re letting society destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel your pain.” -Jim Morrison

I came across this quote on tumblr the other day and it really struck home for me. The past few months have been a real struggle for me emotionally. I have felt stressed out and caged. I have felt like I was unable to express and feel my emotions -my pain. I didn't feel like I had a right to them or that I had the time to experience them in full. 

There are things in my life that have caused me a lot of pain. They are not things I think about on a regular basis and I rarely talk about them to anyone. But they happened and I know that in order to stay strong in the face of them I need to allow myself to feel them completely.

But I was in a situation where I felt like those around me would not be supportive in the way I know I needed them to be. I felt like I would be pressured to deal with things in a certain way and to get over them and go back to being happy. I knew I couldn't do that so I bottled it up to deal with later. I have been waiting to find the time and emotional security to open my heart up and inspect the damage.

I have the right to feel my pain. To poke at my wounds and see what makes them flare. I have the right to lay on the bedroom floor and stare at the ceiling while I let my mind run amok. I have the right to cry into my pillow and listen to sad music. I have the right to write depressing and brutally honest journal entries. I have the right to feel like my heart is going to burst from how much it hurts.

And after all of that I have the right to begin my own healing process. I have the right to talk to people or not talk to people as I want. I have the right to take long walks under the sun and reconnect with what makes my soul leap with joy. I have the right to discover my own truths and write my own story.

And I have the right to not apologize for who I am and how I experience my own pain and my own joy.

We all have the right to experience the full range of our emotions and not apologize for them or run from them. Even if it hurts. Pain is a reality of life and we must learn to deal with it so that we may know the true warmth that comes from happiness. We must learn in order to move on and grow.

Stir your soul:
Do you bottle your pain or let it flow out and run its course? How you you grown and changed by letting yourself experience pain? (Feel free to share with me via the comments -this is a safe space)

Lady Unlaced

New Blog Design

After a lot of brainstorming, photoshopping, and staring at my computer screen going "why the hell did that happen?" I have finally finished my new blog design! Hurrah!

This is something I have been really wanting to do for the past two months but I kept putting it off. I procrastinate very well, haha. But in the past week or so I have been scheming ideas and making little things in photoshop. Today I finally buckled down and got it done. And I really like how it turned out.

I am enjoying how much brighter everything is. And I really think these colours and designs are a much better fit for this phase of my life. Everything feels much more "me."

You can still find the archive, tag cloud, and friends links in the sidebar. I have also added social media buttons to the sidebar instead of having them under the banner. The tab for the shop information is in the same place, and the "about" section has been updated with a new picture and information. I also designed all new buttons for you to grab which you can find in the advertise tab.

What does everyone think? I'd love some opinions and feedback!

Lady Unlaced

Caturday

Some pictures of Eli for your viewing pleasure.

Sleeping is the only time I can get a decent picture of him because he's running around like a lunatic otherwise.

Lady Unlaced

Style Obsession // Dreaming in Dresses

For some reason I have been infatuated with internet window shopping for dresses these past few days. Ever since eShakti sent me that lovely dress I have been wishing my closet held more beautiful feminine garments. I have dresses of course, but not nearly as many as I would like! I would love to make dress-wearing a normal part of my life.

Unfortunately, due to complete lack of money, all my dress dreaming is remaining just that -dreaming. But while I only own these dresses in my fantasies, I still wanted to share them with you. These are all from Modcloth and things that I think would make perfect additions to my wardrobe.

How lovely are those? The middle one is sold out though which is kind of a bummer. Not that I have the money for it anyways, but still.

Lady Unlaced

Happy V-Day Lovers!

It's Valentines day! -throws imaginary heart shaped confetti in the air- Isn't that exciting? Holidays in general are exciting because they give us an excuse to wear holiday colours, eat candy, exchange gifts and cards, and make lots of homemade yummies.

If you're not a Valentine's day fan then I suggest you check out the post I wrote last V-day and then get back to me.

Buy print here.

You may have noticed by now (and I really hope you have) that I am a huge advocate for self-love and loving the things and people you choose to surround yourself with -in doing all things with love. I really hope that today especially you all remember how incredible you are and how much the universe loves you. Treat yourself to a nice bubble bath, a glass of wine, new perfume (or cologne for you men!), or whatever makes you feel good. Spend time with the people you care about, tell them how much they mean to you. Don't let a moment of your life be wasted and try to infuse every day with a big dose of heartfelt love and kindness.

That's what Valentines day is about.

Lady Unlaced

Tumblr Tuesday

Lady Unlaced

Julep!

I found Julep through Kaelah's blog and was immediately interested when she mentioned the word "free" paired with "nailpolish." Free nailpolish? I am totally into that. I couldn't resist.

Julep is one of those sites that has a subscription box (you become a "Maven" by signing up for it) and to determine which box you get you take a quiz to determine your style. You get to preview your box before it ships and if you don't like the contents you can skip the month. I like that there is not chance to end up with a box of colours you don't like that you paid for. Sometimes surprises are nice, but not always!

Anyways, my style profile is "It Girl" which is surprisingly accurate. I feel like style quizzes never get my look right and I am stuck with a profile that only suits my style 1/3 of the time at best. This one gets me right though. And I love the introductory box of colours they sent me (for free!)

Here's a better picture of the colours because I know mine is not the best. (I am stuck with a not-the-best phone camera unfortunately and photoshop can only work so much magic.)

Unfortunately these are no longer the It Girl introductory colours. The new ones are pretty rad though and you can take a peek at them here.

The polish is really great, some of the best I own. It didn't chip at all in the first three days and even after almost of week there are only a few small chips around the edges. It covers well (I only needed one coat) and I am in love with the green colour. It reminds me of spring! I can't wait to give the other two a try.

All in all I am extremely happy with this box of goodies and I can't wait to have some extra cash to buy more colours. They have a few purpley-reds that are calling out to me.

Lady Unlaced

P.S. In case you missed it, the SHOP is back open and you can get 20% off your order with code "WELCOMEBACK" at checkout!

About This Blog

A lot has changed since I started this blog in October, 2010, including a name change! I have been working to find my blogging voice and find what kind of posts and features resonate with me. Blogging is a lot of work, but it shouldn't feel like work. Some of my regular features felt too much like work and slowly disappeared from this space. Others just pop up every now and again when I get really motivated. But all in all this blog has definitely taken a new turn for me.

Unlaced Heart has become a much more personal space than I ever thought it would be. I do not have a lot of followers and I don't get hundreds of hits. I'm happy if I get 10 hits per post to be honest. But that doesn't bother me because the people who support me in this space are truly wonderful and I am so grateful for them. With my small readership and friendly feedback I have become comfortable enough to open up my soul a little. This blog has become about being fearless and loving, and for digging deep within myself and finding my truths.

There is other stuff in between, of course. I like my Tumblr Tuesday posts as well as sharing with you what is on my mental wishlist. I like to tell you about the books I love and what I wish my home looked like. These things are all a part of who I am. They are in my mind, wiggling their way into my consciousness. 

This blog is about love, and magick, and soul searching. It is about things that stir me and change me. I realize that this space is always fluctuating, but that is because I am in a constant state of inner motion. I am discovering and moving forward in my life, and my blog is doing the same. 

So thank you to those of you who have stuck with me through these changes. And thank you for allowing me to feel secure and comfortable here.

There are more changes on the way. I am scheming a new (brighter) layout and hoping to add a bit more organization to the blog. My "about" section will be rewritten. I will be trying to keeping regular features and adding more style posts. And I will be sharing more and more of my soul journey with you all. I hope you all keep returning to join me throughout all of it.

Lady Unlaced

P.S. The shop is back open and with a new banner and everything! Hoping to add new pieces to it soon!

Dreaming of Spring

via Flickr

I am yearning for spring. I want bright sunshine beating down on green grass, flowers blooming in people's gardens, and temperatures warm enough to go out without a heavy jacket. As it snows here in New England I am locked inside and daydreaming about the earth waking up the plants and calling back the birds from the south. My mind is lost in a sea of open fields, bright sunshine, and adventures in the woods.

Lady Unlaced

What I Wore w/ eShakti

Recently I was contacted by this wonderful online clothing shop called eShakti about doing a product review for them. After taking a look at what they had to offer I enthusiastically accepted. They have beautiful clothing! Tons of vintage and retro inspired dresses that are to die for.

And the cool thing about eShakti is that you can have the clothes custom tailored to you! You can either pick a standard size or provide your measurements to assure that you get the perfect fit! And they will even adjust the length for you. How awesome is that? I love the idea of a company catering to the needs of each individual woman and treating them as they are -unique and completely different than any other woman.

This is the dress I chose. I picked the standard US size 8 and had the length adjusted so that it hit just above my knee. Being short means that midi skirts and dresses are not the most flattering look for me. But having it hemmed up resulted in the perfect length and a lovely look. I am so happy with it!

 

I mean seriously, how great is this dress? It fits like a dream, is relatively easy to get on and off, and is  pretty high quality. It's definitely one of the nicest pieces in my wardrobe. It even has pockets!

 

I really adore the detailing. Black and gold is one of my favourite colour combinations, and I love how retro yet bohemian looking the stitching design is. Just my taste. I was also pleasantly surprised at how much I love the pleated skirt. I like pleated skirts but I usually feel like they don't suit me. I'm glad I took the chance on this one though, a definite hit.

 

 I know the lightning changes a lot in these photos, sorry! Not the best camera + different angles in the sun + not a whole lot of time to get perfect shots of everything.

 

Outfit Details

Dress // c/o eShakti

Mesh Cardigan // Thrifted

Tights // Target (old)

Boots // Dr. Marten's via Ebay

Sunglasses // Amazon

Earrings // Kintage (credit won via Kaelah's blog)

Bangles // InPink (credit won via Roxy's blog)

I searched my entire jewelry collection trying to find a necklace that matched this outfit but couldn't find a single one! My gold jewelry is seriously lacking. I really want a dainty gold necklace to go with this dress, preferably one with a rabbit or a cat. I also really like the way the dress looks sans cardigan, but I was cold enough taking these pictures as it was. February New England weather is not really fit for sleeveless dresses.

Also, I know my hair looks a mess, I am dreading it after all. The most I can do with it right now is pull it back into a ponytail so it doesn't look quite so insane.

 

Lady Unlaced

 

 

Reasons Why I Love My Cat

I adore my cat, Eli. Cat lady? Ooooh yesss, most definitely. I can't help it -he's a big bundle of furry love. I have had him since June and together we have moved around a lot already, but he is a good sport about it. He adjusts to new houses quickly and goes from hiding under the couch to exploring in about a half an hour.

So I thought I would take today to comprise a small list of all the reasons I love Eli.

He is very friendly and loves attention.

He lays funny (with his legs sticking out at a weird angle -he looks like a chicken)

He goes mental for catnip and it's funny to watch.

He makes funny noises in his sleep.

He likes to sleep at the foot of the bed and keep my toes warm.

He will jump pretty high for a toy he wants.

He doesn't eat any food except for his own.

He rolls around a lot, especially when trying to open something.

He purrs all the time.

He meows at me a lot -I think he's trying to tell me stories.

He follows me around the house.

He is fascinated by running water.

He makes funny faces when he is confused,.

There are a ton more I'm sure, haha. He is such a crazy cat and I couldn't be happier with him. He gets a ton of attention and affection, that's for sure.

I hope everyone is having a lovely Thursday! 

Lady Unlaced

P.S. I have a lot of fun posts coming up, including a dress review from a really awesome clothing site, some info on how you can get free nailpolish, and a recipe to make your own BBQ chips! Excited? I am. :)

Tumblr Tuesday

Here we go :) Enjoy!

Necessary Cat Freak-Out Gif:

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Lady Unlaced