Eric, Kristin, and... Austin. :)

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"If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you."
-- Winnie the Pooh

Sneak Peek: Eric & Kristin

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"Soul-mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you."
-- Author Unknown

My Obsession

If you know me - I mean, really know me- then you know that I'm obsessed with candles. Tall candles, short candles, fat candles, thin candles. Votives, three-wick, round, square, plain or scented...

Like I said, I'm obsessed.

I adore their soft glow. The quiet calm that they emit from their very wax cores. Light a candle and I'm instantly at peace. And a whole room full of candles? Why, that's simply Heaven on Earth.

So, when my hair stylist first told me about Scentsy - a "wickless candle" - I was skeptical. Sure, the warmers were aesthetically pleasing. And the wax bar that she gave me did smell good. (Really good, in fact.) But still, I was a candle girl - through and through. And no wick? No hypnotizing flame to flicker and dance seductively across the walls? No soothing sizzle and pop as the flame burned down into the wax? No... No... Wait! No potential fire hazard? No falling asleep and waking up to the sound of dripping wax as it spilled down the wall and onto the (cream-colored) carpet? And no messy aftermath to deal with after the hot wax had overflowed the cute - but obviously way too small - candle holder and spread across our fireplace mantle?

Suddenly, I was intrigued.

Throwing caution to the wind and opening my mind (as I like to do on occasion), I ordered a warmer and several scented bars. Then I lit a candle... And waited.

Well, last night my order arrived. After minimal set up, I had my very own piece of the Scentsy empire. And in all honesty, I was giddy. Giddy like a kid in a candy store. Or, um, like a scent-obsessed woman in a candle store.

Within seconds of popping in two of the Clove and Cinnamon cubes, a soft smell began to spread throughout the living room. So quick, in fact, that Chris abandoned his favorite television show, Man v. Wild, and came over to investigate. "Wow," he said, taking a deep whiff, "that stuff does work." Then, after studying the box for a moment, "Let's get some more."

Thus, my obsession began.

If you know me - I mean, really know me - then you know that I'm obsessed with Scentsy. Tall warmers, short warmers. Full-sized, mid-sized, plug-ins...

You get the idea.

** If you're looking for a new obsession, let me know and I'll give you the contact info to my Scentsy rep!

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"Don 't hurry. Don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So don't forget to stop and smell the roses."
-- Walter Hagen

Going With The Flow...

If I could describe the flow of 2010 in one word, the word I would choose would be relaxing. Chris and I have eased ourselves into this new year the way others might ease themselves into a warm bubble bath. Effortlessly.

I don't mean to imply that January has been a lazy month. Or that we've been shucking our responsibilities and slacking in any way, shape, or form. In fact, this year has actually been pretty busy. But what we have been doing is setting more time aside for ourselves. Time to... Relax.

We've completely released our neurotic impulses to make things happen. We gave up the frantic need to strive, strive, strive. We no longer feel anxious or frazzled or rushed or hurried or overwhelmed. Worries and stresses leave our minds almost as quickly as they entered them. And when we look around us, we notice what we do have, and not what we don't.

To put it bluntly, we just don't care anymore.

Now, that may sound cold. And I won't blame you if you think that we're completely and unabashedly selfish. Because you'd be right. We are selfish. Completely and unabashedly. But we're also fortunate enough to realize that if we don't tend to ourselves first - raise our own vibrations, center our own energies - we'd have nothing to give to anyone.

By relaxing and easing into the year, we're finding that we get more accomplished, run into more opportunities, and have more time than we've ever had before. It's truly an amazing way to live.

Last year we each made a conscious effort to appreciate more, smile more, laugh more, and live more. This year, we're happy to report that all of that has become second nature to us. Now, without even trying to, we appreciate more, smile more, laugh more, and live more. Every day.

We're excited to see what the rest of 2010 has to offer. Because, of course, the better it gets, the better it gets.

** And because pictures make everything more interesting, here are a few extra pics from last week's shoot with Cassandra. Next on the agenda, a shoot in Queen Anne. Stop by next week to see photos of Kristin, Eric, and one cuddly pup! :)

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"This art of resting the mind and the power of dismissing from it all care and worry is probably one of the secrets of energy in our great men."
-- Captain J. A. Hadfield

3 Dresses + Firemen + A Camera = Oooh-la-laaa... ;)

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"Hug a firefighter and feel warm all over."
-- Author Unknown

Sneak Peek: Cassandra

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"Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere."
-- Mae West

Oh Happy Day :)

New Lens + Coffee + Extremely-Patient-Husband + Energetic-Dog = A FANTASTIC Saturday!

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"The greatest dreams are always unrealistic."
-- Will Smith

Image of the Day ;)

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"'I CAN' is 100 times more important than IQ.”
-- Unknown

I AM (Round Two)

I AM … appreciating a relaxing weekend at home.

I WANT… to focus on what I want - in every situation.

I HAVE … the best husband in the world. For me, that is.

I KEEP … expanding. Beautifully.

I WISH I COULD … surprise Chris with a trip to Nantucket.

I HATE … the feeling of hate.

I FEAR … small snakes. I can't help it.

I HEAR … Josh Groban singing "You Raise Me Up" and it makes me think of Molly.

I DON’T THINK … I'd mind if Chris and I had to move to New Zealand for a year.

I REGRET … eating salty popcorn before bed. Now I'm thirsty. Really thirsty.

I LOVE … Anthropologie, our dog, my husband, chocolate chip cookie dough, rainy days, and being in my vortex.

I AM NOT … going to worry about things I can't control.

I DANCE … with our dog. Seriously. She loves it.

I SING … only occasionally. Honestly, I dance more. See above.

I NEVER … remember where I put my keys. But thank goodness Chris does.

I RARELY … feel sick. Health - mental or physical - is really just about the thoughts you think.

I CRY WHEN I WATCH … any animal movie. And yes, I still cry when I watch "Cool Runnings."

I AM NOT ALWAYS … as funny as I think I am. But I don't care. I think I'm hilarious, and that's all that matters.

I HATE THAT … our Molly has transitioned. And I hate that I hate that.

I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … what makes other people tick. But as of lately, I don't give it much thought.

I NEED … dogs in my life.

I SHOULD … never forget that I am - no matter what - absolutely and completely FREE.


And, in keeping with the vibe of this wonderful new decade:

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"Inner happiness actually is the fuel of success."
-— Dr John Hagelin

Three Times the Fun

#1 - Before

# 2 - After

and, just to spice things up...


#3 - Black & White :)

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"I cannot discover that anyone knows enough to say definitely what is and what is not possible."
-- Henry Ford