Thankful In May

I want to start making a post at the end of every month that lists what I'm thankful for that month. This is mostly for me, but maybe it will inspire you to think of what you're thankful for too. So here's what I'm thankful for in May....

• A job at a coffee shop that I love
• Rainy nights
• Art journal dates with myself
• Boredom
• My sister Adison's successful back surgery
• Nicknames
• Powerful and personal words from God
• Books that I WANT to read
• Fresh fruit
• A co-worker and friend that inspires me and my walk with Christ
• And espresso....lots of espresso

xoxo

Aves

Current Obsession: Arrows

I love all things arrows! There's just something about them. Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite arrow inspired things. 

This pair of golden arrows and these silver arrow post earrings.

These arrow chevron tribal necklaces. I love the two on the left!

This arrow screen printed cotton dish cloth.

These adorable colorful arrow thank you cards.

This tiny arrow tattoo. Love the placement too.

This antique brass arrow bracelet.

This necklace from Roots and Feathers that I have been drooling over for weeks.

And this Tolkein print. So pretty.

What's your current obsession?

xoxo

Aves

(Thought this was appropriate.)

Sunny Summer Sunday

Today was a really great day. Mostly because I spent the majority of it relaxing. Saturday, I went way past relaxing into vegging. But today was good. Here's some moments from my day....

Made an avocado and olive oil hair mask

Ate some delicious peaches

Had my poolside essentials...

Gave myself a pedicure

Spent some time with a few visitors

And spent some time in the sun for the first time this summer! (Don't mind the slicked back, avocado/olive oil hair.) All in all, it was a great day.

xoxo

Aves

Current Obsessions: Ernest Hemingway

Recently, I have developed a huge love for Hemingway and his literature. I love American literature from the 20s and 30s. There's something about the Lost Generation that is so intriguing. I plan on reading Hemingway's An Immovable Feast this summer, but what I'm really excited about is the HBO film Hemingway and Gellhorn. I found about it less than ten minutes ago and did a little happy dance. It stars Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen, so it's bound to be a success. And it premiers this coming Tuesday night! I'm so excited! And I wanted to share the trailer with you guys. It's going to be great. 

xoxo

Aves

Three and Three

May 29th is a big day for me. Three of my favorite artists will be releasing new albums. I'm so excited! Only three more days and I will be shutting myself in my room and listening to them all on repeat...just kidding! Sort of...So, are you wondering which artists I'm talking about?? Let me tell you then.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: Here

Sigur Ros: Valtari

Regina Spektor: What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Oh my goodness! I can't wait!!! Hope you're just as excited as I am!

Happy weekending!

xoxo

Aves

Summer To Do List

I love lists! It's so funny because I'm not the most organized person, but for some reason, I cannot function without lists. I use them for EVERYTHING. Homework, shopping, goals, things to do, dates, important things, unimportant things, you name it, I list it. So, this is my Summer 2012 To Do List. I try to make a list like this for every break. And I even make one each year on my birthday of things to accomplish before the next birthday. (Maybe I'll blog about that list someday...) So, now you know what my summer will consist of. I may not do everything, but I will try my hardest to! Do you have any summer goals??

xoxo

Aves

Art Journal Journey

Yesterday I bought Elsie's Art Journal E-Course. There are fifty two sessions so that you can either do one a week for a year or one a day for fifty two days. I'll probably do a combination of the two. I've been wanting to do this for at least six months and I'm so excited that I finally get to! I started and finished the first session tonight and I thought I'd share it with you all. I probably won't share every one of them because some of them will be personal, but I'll post some up every once and a while.

I am using a vintage 1960s sewing and styling book as my art journal. As shown above, there are beautiful pictures already in the book and I plan on incorporating them into some of my journal entries.

Session one was about day dreams and layering different patterns and textures. Here's what I came up with...

I'm really enjoying this. It's going to be an incredible journey. If you'd like to take Elsie's Art Journal E-course, or any of her other E-courses, visit her Red Velvet Website.

xoxo

Aves

Wild Inspiration: Grace Ann Leadbeater Photography

Boy, do I have some beautiful stuff for you today! Okay...backstory. I had a friend back in high school who was really into photography. He was also into other people's photography, so he made lots of friends online. He met Grace who lives in Florida (a very long way away from me...) and talked about her quite a bit. I was intrigued by her and decided I wanted to be friends with her too. We became friends through Facebook and now we're pen pals! Though my old high school friend and I aren't friends anymore, and even though we have never met in person, Grace and I have been friends ever since. I love this girl and today I wanted to share with you some of her enchanting photos. 

Breathtaking, right? I know! I adore her work! If you would like to see more of her work, you can go to her website here or her Flickr here. Grace also designed me classy header for this blog and she has a hauntingly beautiful video called Linger on her Flickr. It gives me chills. Check her out!

(psst...that's Grace!)

Thank you so much for letting me post about you, Miss Grace. You really are wildly inspiring. 

Be inspired!

xoxo

Aves

Music Mondays: The Show Ponies

I have a fantastic music find for you today, courtesy of my wonderful boyfriend, Ethan. They are The Show Ponies and after you listen to their album, you'll just want more! But, unfortunately they are new, so they just have one album titled Here We Are! Here's a video for the song "The Blackest Crow". You will fall in love. 

Hope this tops off your Monday!

xoxo

Aves

   

Not Your Average Jesus Music

For most of my Christian life, I have not been a huge fan of Christian music. I'm very picky about the music I do listen to, and that didn't exclude music that talked about God. To me, it seemed like all of the Christian music on the radio sounded the same. But a few years ago, I went on a search for good Jesus music. And boy, did I find it. So, today I want to share with you some of my favorite Jesus music that is different from most Christian music, because I bet I'm not the only one who gets tired of some of the worship music on the radio. Enjoy!

1. Carolina Story 2. Enter The Worship Circle 3. Brook Fraser 4. The   Gospel Whiskey Runners 5. Jenny & Tyler 6. John Mark McMillan 7. The Vespers 8. Josh Garrels 9. The Welcome Wagon

1. Carolina Story is a beautiful duet made up of married couple, Ben and Emily Roberts from Nashville. If you like Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams, or The Civil Wars, then you will love Carolina Story.

2. Enter The Worship Circle is nothing like any worship music I have ever heard. I first added them to my worship list in early high school. They have a very earthy, almost vagabond/gypsy sound to them that I just love! I wish I could give you an equivalent to their sound, but I just can't! Check them out!

3. Brook Fraser is one of the only female solo Christian artists that I like. She has a beautiful voice and moving lyrics. I can't listen to Hosea's Wife without tears coming to my eyes.

4. The Gospel Whiskey Runners have become one of my new favorites. To me, they sound a lot like Mumford and Sons with Christian lyrics, which is just lovely!

5. Jenny & Tyler are another married couple whose lyrics are straightforward and their voices blend beautifully.

6. John Mark McMillan is my all-time favorite worship artist. His lyrics are like no other and they speak straight to my heart. If I could write music to God, they would sound a lot like John Mark McMillan's songs.

7. The Vespers are a new add to my Jesus music library. Their voices are soothing and I can never say no to a banjo. 

8. Josh Garrels also has a very unique sound. Some of his songs have a little bit of a hip hop sound to them and others are mellow, but all of them have very powerful words. He also has an amazing voice.

9. The Welcome Wagon is seriously the Christian equivalent to Sufjan Stevens. Swoon! I can't get enough of them. 

I hope you check all of these groups out. They really are wonderful. I've put together a playlist below that has one song from each artist. Take some time and take a listen! You may be surprised.

Happy Sunday!

xoxo

Aves

A Fresh Start

It's summer time! And that means I've moved back home with lots of stuff and no where to put it. So, today I took the day and got rid of everything I could live without and thoroughly cleaned my room. I will only be home for about three months, so I'm not going too crazy. But I wanted to make my room livable for that amount of time. I'm sure I'll add and take away as the summer goes on, but I think this is a pretty good start.

 

So...there's my room! I'm pretty happy with the results and can't wait to do the same thing to my room when I move into my new house in August!

I also enjoyed the new Best Coast album while I was cleaning. You should check it out!

xoxo

Aves

Love Birds: A Year and a Half

Today, Ethan and I have been dating for a year and a half. I have been truly blessed by him. He's my best friend and I'm still as giddy as I was the day we started dating. I don't know what will become of us but I am thankful for the time that I have. Thank you, Ethan, for everything. I love you.

xoxo

Aves