who says?

Have you seen that commercial for the birth control pill called Seasonique, which "allows" you to only have four periods a year? Their ad campaign going a little something like this, "Who says you have to have 12 periods a year... who says?" Really?! Really?!! I am constantly amazed at how out of touch we are, as a society, with our bodies, but this is more than I can handle.

These days, women seem to be so removed from what it is that makes us women. I am all for breaking through the glass ceiling, but there are certain things that we need to embrace as women, including our menstrual cycles. And who says? Well, mother nature for one, or how about the innate intelligence of our bodies, developed over millions of years of evolution? Our bodies' intelligence truly goes beyond what we can comprehend... and yet we continue to suppress its actions on a daily basis. We have drugs to take away the pain, and much of the experience, of childbirth, formulas so we don't have to breast feed our children, and now pills so we don't have to menstruate? Something isn't right here.

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who had a baby a few months ago and while on vacation in San Francisco, of all places, was scalded for breastfeeding her child in public. She was completely covered, and knowing her, being very tasteful about the whole process, but a woman decided it was rude of my friend to do something like that in front of her boyfriend and clearly stated her opinion. Is our culture so preoccupied with the sexual nature of breasts that we've completely forgotten their purpose; to give sustenance to our children?

I realize as women, we have long been fighting for equality, and I certainly do not take that for granted. But why must this entail losing everything that makes us women? We have spent decades suppressing our femininity, which in my opinion holds a great deal of power and wisdom. We cycle in sync with the moon, we bring human life into this world, our bodies producing the milk that sustains and nurtures that life... I am woman, hear me roar :)

art by Leah Piken Kolidas

thinking ahead...

so, I know its early, but I've started thinking of ideas for christmas gifts this year. I have NO money this year due to cut backs on my student loans, so I'm thinking of making as many gifts as possible... here are a couple ideas that look like fun

wool wrapped bangles by mysticfibers

connect the dot pillows
needle felted goodies for my neices

gems

so I recently perused through the gorgeous jewelry at Twist and decided I'm going to attempt to make a few necklaces myself... I seem to be on a necklace kick these days. Anyways, I bought some single gemstone briolettes on etsy and am using these as inspiration...

margaret solow

fatima maria

I'll keep ya updated on how they turn out...

a little something I had fun with today

so I came home from a long day at school and felt the need to make something. I needed some right brain stimulation... and this is what I came up with; a crocheted necklace of sorts. It seriously took less than a half hour to make and it turned out pretty darn cute considering I wasn't exactly sure where I was going with it. I think I'll have to get some thinner yarn and make a few more...

tomorrow is the autumnal equinox...

hydraheart

almostsunday

waysideviolet

black bird fly

how awesome is this camera? and with a name like black bird fly?

image from Brian Hopkins

one more reason to go to france...

...the lorraine mondial air balloon festival

pictures from here

"the balloon seems to stand still in the air while the earth flies past underneath." -Alberto Santos Dumont

which brings me to a photographer on etsy: ravencolours

and lastly a video, which similar to hot air balloons, makes me smile. (music by jose gonzalez)

diamonds are a girl's best friend?

...hmm maybe. but, why not add a little color... or better yet raw diamonds? check out these stunning rings from one of my favorite stores twist. gorgeous.

the last two are from my favorite designer, todd reed, who works primarily with raw diamonds and recycled gold. ahhhh someday :)

welcoming the harvest moon

earrings by alibli

picture by gogokorogiannou

ring by littlellama

If you cry because you miss the sun, your tears will not let you see the moon.
-african proverb

awesome local artist

absolutely in love with this artist and photographer; Kelty

the little things

do you ever have those moments where someone is talking to you, and all of a sudden you feel like you're looking at them as if it were the first time you had met? Its as if the many little things you take for granted day in and day out just, all at once, take your breath away. Well, that happened to me last night while laying in bed talking with Mark. Maybe its because he's been working a lot and we haven't hung out as much or because his hair was down, which he rarely does (and I love). Either way, as he was telling a story, I couldn't help but smile to myself thinking, "wow, how lucky am I?" And at that moment I interrupted him and told him to wait right where he was... I ran to grab the camera and capture what I was seeing/feeling. He thought I was a total goof, but I absolutely love the pictures I got...

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz, or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off. I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers; thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance, risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way than this

Where “I” does not exist, nor “You”, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
-Pablo Neruda

date night

a checklist for this evening:

1) my new shirt and a little make up
2) an oversized purse filled with travel containers carrying a cheap bottle of wine and plenty of snacks
3) mark, of course
4) discount movie tickets to 500 days of summer at the Moreland theatre
5) an evening walk... while still a little tipsy... to our favorite frozen yogurt shop across the street, Tart

looking forward to it!