finding magic in the mess

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"The holidays are a perfectionism minefield. My expectations always need radical reality-checking this time of year and that normally comes in the form of a total meltdown. The good news is that I often have a lot more fun on the backside of my breakdown when I start letting go and leaning into the crazy.

As I think about my own life and reflect upon what many of the people around me are going through this Christmas, it's clear that struggle doesn't take off for the holidays. The gremlins don't go on vacation. Checks bounce, chemotherapy appointments are scheduled, relationships keep unravelling, being alone feels even lonelier, and the "never enoughs" are in full swing.

As I prepare to spend the next two weeks with my big, wonderful, crazy circle of friends and family, I've decided to find my holiday magic in the mess; to practice love and gratitude with the special group of folks who keep showing up and loving me, not despite my vulnerabilities, but because of them."

And as I think of my Builders, Silvio and Angelo ~

May you find inspiration in the big picture,

but may you find love in the details.

Last...with help from Brene Brown
who always has my words and helps keep me grounded!!!

~ Love, Sylvia

xo

...and...

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...at the end of the day,

all we have is who we are.

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Looking outward and Counting

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6 Days. All the time we have before Christmas.

12 days. The days left in this trying year.

365 days. The amount of days we have next year to go out there and get whatever we want.

via less.is.more/tumblr

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Brother and Sister

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Want to see siblings - who for many years were best friends - return to their old selves - get fool-hearted and (ok, after a couple drinks) get silly in a photo booth?? - cuz that's what happened at a family wedding last night with Kerry and I - and unlike an iPhone or an iPad with an app - this was an authentic "step behind the curtain into a dark black booth" and under the instruction of - "look right here at the camera and when I say go there are 4 seconds between shots", the girl closes the curtain and the 1) giggling esclates to 2) belly laughs followed by 3) howling and 4) "let me outa here, I'm peeing my pants"!!!!!

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what's important?

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The Best

Happy Birthday, Mark Twain!

I still lose myself in your words.

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This is not a painting

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This amazing photo is taken by National Geographic‘s Frans Lanting, that captures the camel thorn trees of Namib-Naukluft Park. What you see in the background is a dune reflecting the hot sun. It’s something that looks out of this world. But it is real…

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Up North

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I so regret not being able to get Up North this year.

I want to smell the lakes - and clean air.

I want to stroll pathways.

I want to watch waves - lake waves.

I want to see Claudia.

I want to see birch trees.

I want to eat white fish...and drink good wine.

I miss it all.

I think I may have to plant a cluster of birch trees on the new property.

Too bad I can't plant a Claudia!

I'm just gonna have to go next year!

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I will dance

* * * * *

 

I will not stand to the side

and allow the music to fade away and die.

I will dance to my own life song.


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Singing

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Actually, I am a little hoarse after a shower and

my rendition of Rolling in the Deep...

 

 

No, actually, I have a clear understanding

of why I haven't made an album yet after

my rendition of Rolling in the Deep...

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still eye candy

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it's been so damp...drizzling...foggy the past few days

that we now need some sun and fresh air.

Funny tho,

the fall colours are still magnificent...

a cornucopia, if you will.

I just would like to hear some more crunch before it snows.

Whaaaaa!

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Happy with her Life

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I find constant delight in really old, really happy couples.
Recently I was taking a walk along the Blouberg promenade in my lovely Cape Town, when I witnessed a fleeting moment of a stranger’s life that truly touched the corners of my soul. A couple of about 70 years old were walking sllooowwlyyy along; each with a walking stick, greying hair, matching walking shoes, deep and lovely wrinkles and both wearing glasses. They were unhurriedly strolling, admiring the view, leisurely bending to stoke a wandering dog and marveling at “youngsters” on rollerblades.
The old man suddenly leaned over and grabbed the tiny old lady’s bum with a cheeky grin that allowed me to picture him as a mischievous 17 year old. She squealed in utter enchantment, she pretended to be embarrassed and jokingly reprimanded him; but really she just looked so innocent almost and just so very happy with her life, with that day, with him. They then both swapped their walking sticks onto the opposite side so that they could continue walking but able to hold hands.
I looked at them, realised that I had stopped walking and was openly smiling.
I thought to myself in that second and decided, “God yes, I want that”.

via: poemsandpeanutbutter

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The wisdom of Steve Jobs

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Your time is limited,
so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

Don’t be trapped by dogma
– which is living with the results

of other people’s thinking.

Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions

drown out your own inner voice.

And most important,

have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
They somehow already know
what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary. 
. 

~RIP, Steve Jobs

God I love the Fall...

via Marci Scudder

 Lord Of The Game

Quaking Aspen Trees by Roy Toft

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decorating

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framing for laundry room

(as if I need a sign!)

and I'll have to fake the 'w'.

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my favorite places in the world

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I'm not that good at being a tourist

because I'm always looking

at the way the light shines

in your hair

or the way your shirt opens to the wind

 & my favorite places in the world

 are places filled with you.

we love Story People

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what COLOUR stirs you?

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I once read of an artist that

he could live in a crayon box...and

I stole the saying that day,

as it is always how I have felt.

and now that I'm faced with truly

a blank canvas in the new home,

I'm stumped...frozen...what's my favorite color?

It's not like I have a purple couch

for which I need to complimentwith paint...

I don't have a couch...yet.

I guess when it's time to go shopping

for certain furniture items,

that will help the process.

But I swear I stood in Home Depot in front of a zillion

paint chips and ... nothing! 

I had to turn and walk away.

maybe a painting will inspire me...

or a cool artsy-fartsy rug....

yeah...

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happy ending fisher-man

And if I had THOSE loafters...*see post below*

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I seriously could only date a guy that dressed like this!

 

Atta Boy, Jack!!!

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Dear Santa

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OK - If you don't want to bring me the

Turquoise Vespa,

I'd be reaaaaalllly happy with these!

http://www.openingceremony.us/products.asp?menuid=2&productid=21664

***sigh***

* * * * *

23 sept 2011

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Fall begins tomorrow...

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...distant star...

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...no time...

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Onyx

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Sometimes we have to share an awesome horse

and her photographer, Lisa Heine of Michigan

Here's Onyx ~

Be still, my heart.

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Still learning

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There are three things that a child can teach an adult:

to be happy for no reason, 

to be always busy doing something, 

and to know how to demand

—with all one’s might—

what one wants. 

~ Paolo Coelho

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So Happy!

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So excited that it's Friday ~

that we got the much needed rain - for the last 3 days
that the weekend should be a truly fall occasion of

fresh air, blue skies, FALLing leaves...

so so happy for Fall

photo via theshuttersisters

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Bye Bye Summer

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September

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Honestly, I won't miss 95 degree days with 90% humidity.

I will welcome rain - the earth needs it desparately.

I will enjoy fall to the fullest.

That's a promise!

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risk

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My sentiments exactly!!!

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"All morning I struggled with the sensation of stray wisps

of one world seeping through the cracks of another.

Do you know the feeling when you start reading

a new book

before the membrane of the last one

has had time to close behind you?

You leave the previous book with ideas and themes

— characters even — caught in the fibers of your clothes,

and when you open the new book,

they are still with you."

~ Diane Setterfield

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Q: Hey, what are your plans today?

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Answer:

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