Wishful Thinking {a guest post by karey of mackin ink}

so i was thinking and thinking and thinking about this post - probably far too much, but that's always the way i work when i really adore the friend to whom i'm giving my words - and maybe it was one too many viogniers one night, but all of a sudden i found myself all "forget wishing! wishing is for wimps!"

i said it way naughtier in my head.

but it's true, you know. someday, i'll have to tell you all the time i feel i've wasted on wishes. the months that added up to a full year that i wished my dad wouldn't die; perhaps i messed it all up with the one who's in charge of such decisions with my begging that he not suffer anymore. i can see how that would be confusing. then there was the matter of my sister. i don't need to tell that story again, but i will tell you this: my stomach muscles still remember the clench of wishing so hard that she'd get to stay with me forever. i still ache.

there are always silly wishes in between serious, at least one every hour in my head, from "i wish uncle sugar would make me a coffee" to "maison martin margiela...be mine" to "please please please let the girlies three be ok." i must spend that half-hour before they hit the door at the end of their school day waiting with a million wishes and wonderings about their someday lives. their someday health. their someday love. i wish it would all be perfect. in spite of all i know and all i've endured, i still make that silly wish that they skate through it all. unscathed and unbruised and unbroken. especially their hearts and hopes.

wishes can be pretty empty. they're like a bottle full of bubbles in a way, filling the air up around us with iridescent invisible circles that fly away and disappear a second or two after we've made them. no offense, but i've never seen a wish really do anything - like win a race or cure a disease or even make me thinner than that mom at the pool i kind of despise - except look pretty and make us gasp with the possibilities and then leave us wondering...what now?

wishes are good for one thing and one thing only. they make us realize, with the falling of a lash or the tick of the clock at 11:11, exactly what we want. and that, my sweet friends, is that. what comes next is entirely up to you or up to someone else or maybe completely out of anyone's control.

listen. i've made wishes on stars that exist only in my eyes, solitaire games, whether the traffic light would turn green in an even number of seconds, and the last red jellybean in the bag. and i'm still not the woman i'm wishing i'd be. still not the mother i'm wishing i'd be. still not the writer, either.

2012 is going to be different. kickass, for sure. i feel it in my bones. i'll still probably be wishing for everything to be all right - especially my girlies three - in between wishes that include that jerk mom at the pool, the size of my bum, my someday book, and just one more red jellybean - every day at 11:11 or even 12:12 if i miss it. but maybe i need to take better care of those little bubbles of mine. keep watching over them long after they pop. they're still there, you know. even when i can't see them so well anymore.

p.s. plus a white bikini for my move near bali.

wishes found here.  bubbles found here.

oh that karey, i always fumble for words after reading her perfect ones.  i'll never forget the day i discovered her blog.  she was on 'posting' hiatus, but i read every. single. word she had ever written within that magical space.  then one amazing day, my reader sparkled and shined...she was back!  since then, i've been begging for her to write a book, adopt me as one of her girlies, and just be that really cool writer friend i've always dreamed of having in my circle of life.  

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by French Essence}

I have always had my head in the clouds… dreaming of something different… wishing upon a star… searching for ways to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary… I think that is why I love words as much as I do… the endless possibilities to stir the imagination and to craft fantasy from the everyday… This is the time of year when we are all wishful thinking. We wish that the holiday season would slow down, that we could gear up our pace a little to accomplish all that we desire. We wish that the year hadn’t passed in a puff and that they weren’t slipping by quite so quickly and we wish, with all our hearts, that our children’s hopes and dreams come true.

When I snapped this photograph in Paris it made me pause for reflection… The beauty of the cobblestones, the architectural details of the buildings, the faded shutters and the hanging lanterns caught my eye… I had to capture that moment. But more than that… It was the family, for I imagined that they were a family, walking in step, in simpatico… with their perfect strides. This image made me wish that time could and would stand still, that this beautiful family could forever walk together through the streets of life harmoniously, as they were on this particular day… My thoughts turned to my own family and myself and I realized there and then that my one true wish was for nothing to change. This moment in our time together is good… great even… may it last…

Melissa, thank you for inviting me to participate in your ‘Wishful Thinking’ series… it is such a great pleasure to be a part of your exquisite blog amongst such wonderful company. I wish you and your readers a holiday season filled with lots of love, light and laughter… xv

 

Vicki Archer

December 2011

I'm assuming most who read this blog already know the beautiful and lovely Vicki of French Essence.  Before I even entered the world of blogging, I knew of Vicki Archer and her exquisite way of life and love for France via her first book, My French Life.   Then I found her blog and my heart swelled with glee because I am able to live vicariously through her dreamy world every. single. day. In short, Vicki is definitely one of my heroes, for she lives the life she has always dreamed of and she lives it with grace, beauty, and enthusiasm. I'm still pinching myself that she took the time to share her wishful thoughts on Reverie...merci beaucoup Vicki! 

[Image via Vicki Archer] 

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by Besotted Brand}

I have a very haunting memory that includes an unfulfilled wish (don't worry, this story may have a happy ending). My beautiful beau at the time, (if you can call him a beau I was quite young), casually brushed my cheek with his finger and held out the tip with great anticipation. I narrowed my eyes to see the object of his excitement only to be greeted by a rogue eyelash. “Make a wish,” he commanded. I stared at him with confusion at first and then the recognition settled in, I rolled my eyes. I informed him in a tone I suspected was very mature, “I don’t believe in wishes.”  I assumed that my proclamation would parlay some sort of worldliness, a girl that knew that a wish was a silly frivolity. Instead, I saw the hurt in his sweet blue eyes, the hurt was not for himself but for a little girl that didn’t believe in magic. He closed his eyes and was silent for a second, shrugged his shoulders and then blew my eyelash off his fingertip. I don’t know what he wished for that afternoon, but I assume it was for me and it came true. From that day forward after my 8^th year of being, I made wishes with fervor. Besides ‘eyelash-gate’, there was no other impetus to start, but what I took from that moment in time was that a wish is your hearts request, frivolous as it may be. A wish gives you something to hope for, an anticipation. It is almost as good as the real deal. A wish is free and plenty, why deny yourself such a luxury? My wish is for everyone to have at least one wish granted in his or her lifetime, there is quite a delight in a wish come true.

Where do I begin to share the many delightful things about the ever so talented Miss B of Besotted Brand.  I've been a long-time fan of this lovely lady, and just recently, I had the grand honor of meeting this beauty in real life. {It just happened to be right after she became a MRS.!}  She has an eye for exquisite details and creates extraordinary stationery and accoutrements that should be on everyone's wish list. 

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by Goodnite Irene}

this wishful thinking series has been absolutely stunning. haven't we all been moved by our fellow bloggers' eloquent candor of wishes for more meals to be shared with loved ones, and hopes for a life full of courage and more dreams fulfilled? tears streamed into my coffee the morning i read a sweet mother's wish for a more peaceful heart for her dear daughter, and the illinois country girl's longing for her land had me googling farms.... all beautiful, all deeply profound.

when mel asked me to contribute to this series i was afraid that blonde-haired beauty had imbibed too much napa wine. how could she possibly expect ME to produce a post worthy of past depth and grace?

but after some hermetic, extensive, almost dali lama-like meditation {in fact mr. lama might want to snag some tips from me}, and going way downward-dog deep into the bowels {yes, i said bowels} of my inner buddha, i found the essence of what truly inspires and drives my soul.

i don't mean to sound smug, or overly meta and siddhartha like, but i know if i could just have this one wish, world peace and goodwill toward men would be as easy as vomit and the word “kardashian”.

are you ready?

i wish...........i could eat anything & everything, as much as i want, and not get fat.

there. i said it.

take a moment to fully embrace the enormity and weight of my sage-like invocation.

if you read my blog, you know i have major food issues. i love food. i think about food all the time, and when i'm not thinking about food, i'm trying to eat food.

basketball is not a sport to me, the buffet is my sport. and if i see you at the waffle bar, watch yo'self. i'm gunning for that whipped butter, and i don't care if it IS easter sunday. i’ll cut you.

as for as the types of foods, i don't discriminate. i fancy them all, with abandon and wantonness. give me a cheese plate, and i'm like a cheap slut during fleet week. my one exception is beets. beets were invented by the devil. they taste like dirt, and i'm convinced they are part of some underground terrorist plot..... haven’t you noticed the prevalence of beets in everything these days?? salads, cocktails, ice cream? get the hell out of my food you damned beets!

also, creams, i love creams: sour, whipped, sweet, devonshire, iced, shaving? doesn't matter as long as the letters: c.r.e.a.m. are involved.

all the food i want to eat, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and still fit into a pair of jeans i bought during “the breakup of 2005” which fit for a total of 9 hours, during which i was probably the most miserable and unattractive i ever been in my entire life. but still those jeans fit, even if i didn’t feel like eating at the time.

if i get a second wish, it might be for an extra hour a week with my psychiatrist.

thank you for letting me share my wednesday with you.

love, katie

I've professed my adoration for Katie on multiple occasions whether via a post or twitter or just singing her praises to any passerby who might listen to me.   And then for her to talk about FOOD ... well, I'm over the moon with this wishful thinking! Obviously, this girl rocks!

 [images 1,2,3,4]

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by not your average ordinary}

There are so many, they could be like the starlight at night. Some of my wishes have already been spoken here: that everyone has access to fresh healthy food, that we find and hold on to hope… More th[ian anything else, though, I wish for a world where we all follow our dreams and achieve great things.

During my somewhat extensive time in universities, I have seen too many students following the path their parents have set out for them rather than the one that they really want, the one that makes their heart sing in a way nothing else does. Sometimes they rebel and embrace their love, but often they accept what they’ve been told to do without question.

Our dreams begin when we question the world around us, when we challenge the status quo. Somewhere in there, we discover a purpose: to bring beauty into the world, to help those who need it in some way, to gather people and teach them to experience the wonders around them. 

My wish is that we all take the time to sit, listen, and discover our dream, and once we have that dream, that we hold it close and passionately pursue it.

This is exactly what I adore about Brandi, she makes a plan, she follows it and she sees it to fruition.  She is one of those beautiful souls that I've had the grand fortune of getting to know in real life, and I look forward to watching her dreams become a reality because I truly believe her imprint on this world is going to be grand in a wonderful way. 

 [image by Lissy Elle]

 

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by Pretty Mommy}

Thank you to the lovely Melissa for inviting me to hang out here for a bit in her lovely space...It was so inspiring to go back and read so many eloquent and heartfelt Wishful Thinking posts but also a little daunting - well written and deep are never my strong suits...so while, as the mother to two young girls, I wish for many things emotional & complicated and many things simple...like a good nights sleep, a strong cup of coffee and a clean house, I thought I'd tackle something a little lighthearted and frivolous....

As a young girl I was pretty convinced that I was destined (as many a young girl does) to be a big, name in lights singer...helped along, no doubt, by my uncles dubbing me "the world famous Michelle Lee LeBlanc" and so I spent many an hour roaming the backyard singing heartfelt versions of "You Light Up My Life", the entire Urban Cowboy soundtrack, and "Close to You"...but somewhere along the way, after many years of practicing Madonna's Lucky Star choreography and Gloria Estefan's sultry stylings, did I finally realize that perhaps my tunage was just one note shy of a bad Star Search audition, so I put that dream on a shelf and never looked back...after all, I had Oscar winning actress to fall back on, no?

Then many years later I happened to catch Tina Turner in concert...Tina was amazing, the real deal...60 something at the time, shimmying and shaking like nobody's business...and when she broke into River Deep, Mountain High...whoa lordy...with every fiber of my being did I want to be up there with Ms T whipping my hair around and belting the lyrics from the bottom of my toes...there was just something so liberating, so effortless, so unbelievably powerful in those notes...it must be a magical feeling to open your mouth and have that voice emerge from it...so that's my wishful thinking...for one day to magically channel Tina Turner's pipes, hear the roar of the crowd and whip a fringy, spangly dress into a frenzy like there's no tomorrow...xoxo, M

Right on sista!  I'm all for the simple and frivolous wishes in life...it's what we need to keep us feeling a bit lighter on days that seem so filled with 'heavy real life stuff'.  Michelle is the amazing curator behind the stunning selections of clothes and accessories that can be found in her shop Pretty Mommy.  Her blog of the same name is also a place filled with current buzz on beauty, fashion and simple every day muses of her pretty life.

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by la la lovely}

I’m a huge fan of Melissa’s.  She is sweet and soulful, and I’m pretty certain that if we lived close by we’d be great friends.  I’m so excited to be a part of the Wishful Thinking series as it gives me a chance to put paper and pen to my flittering wishes. . . .

I’m a fan of wishful thinking.  Any kind of wishing works for me. To wish with words, to wish in thought, to whisper wishes in your heart.

As a kid, I was the wishing type.  I even had a wish book, from time to time, where I penned my whims, wonders and wants.  It was easier to wish then, at least, more freely.  But deep down I’m still a wishing kind of girl.  I wish for all sorts of things:

A rainy day in an old house with an even older book.

A walk along the moors in England. 

A cup of tea, a pen, and a notebook.

A walk along the beach with my near and dear.

A family that stays close, always.

Getting lost in the shops of Paris.

But if I were to share with you the one wish that I can’t shake these days it would be this:

To take my, not so little,family across the sea on a bit of a journey.  To look, to learn and to experience life in a different way.  Not only would I love to travel Europe with my husband and children and let them soak in the history, the art, the different way of being and doing, I would love most to live in a different culture for a years time.  I have always loved England (and always will) but in recent years I’ve somewhat cheated on England and have fallen for France.  I find myself ever fascinated with learning and living in the French culture, as well as learning and speaking a new language.  As difficult as it may be, not knowing what people are saying sounds enticing at times.   I’d love to escape the everyday and live in the un-ordinary.  My heart pretty much skips a beat at the possibility of it all.  I cannot even begin to fully imagine the memories that we would make and the stories we would tell forever after.  The way we would rely on each other, grow together and know each other would be, perhaps, the greatest gift.  I’m not always entirely courageous and, in fact, if someone gave me a big check and said, “go,” I’d probably have to push myself to really actually do it.  But this is the one thing I would want to try if there were no limitations and no fears.  And I’m trying, more than ever, to live that way these days.  I heard someone say, “It is better to feel fear than it is to feel regret.”  And I’m trying, truly, to embrace fear these days and kick the regret.

There are so many people I see that are out there living what they dream.  They just do it. I, of course, think of Gabby / Design Mom, and her sister, Jordan / Oh HappyDay who are living abroad with their families.  They’ve given me a visual of the possibilities of living in another country, and with a large family to boot (Gabby has 6 kids).  When I think something like this is an impossibility or only a silly wish of mine, I always think of them and think, “why not?”  When someone says, “you can’t do that!” my new response is, “Who says?” 

I say it’s time to wish big again.  When your little, you wish big and sadly when you’re big, you wish little.  Well, I’m for wishing big when you’re big.

 

So what I see is a pretty little home not far outside of Paris.  Quaint and cozy and severely chic.  I see four little la la’s running about in fields of flowers.  Coming in for a chocolat chaud by the fire.  I see us all wandering the streets of Paris on the weekends and practicing the language we are all learning on our weekdays.  We visit the art museums, old buildings, fanciful shops and we eat divine food everyday (because it is plentiful), we ride bikes from here to there and hop on a train at our hearts beckoning and ride off into the sunset to discover yet another country and culture. We live an adventure, together.  And together, we learn to adventure more. 

Trina, Trina, Trina!  We share the same wish, and I believe if we both support one another and voice this grand wish, it will definitely come true.  There is power in numbers, non?  With a blog named la la Lovely, one can rest assured to only find the loveliest of delights lingering beautifully within Trina's posts.  I'm giddy just with thoughts of meeting her next year at ALT, for she is one of those really good ones that you want to befriend.

[images clockwise 1,2,3,4,5]

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by Poetic & Chic}

When Melissa asked me to do a Wishful Thinking post, I tried to think of something clever and transporting and unique to write about. And then I kept thinking…and nothing rightfully clever or transporting or unique came to me. That’s what you get for trying too hard, I suppose. So, in the end, I went with the simple and decided to ponder on the one thing I do a lot a wishful thinking over: a table. 

I live in a one-bedroom apartment. It’s not one of those “one bedroom apartments” that has an entry, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a hallway…and just one bedroom. No. I have a door that jack-in-the-boxes you right into the apartment – no greeting, no hello, no pause for breath – and you’re in it. All of it. My kitchen is an open-plan with a bar-style counter that opens into the main living room where I literally do all of my living. This living room seamlessly transitions between gathering space, reading nook, TV room, office, and sitting-with-your-feet-up zone. I say “seamlessly transitions” because it’s literally the same space where I do all of those things. I do have a bedroom though, which is where I get to sleep, and…

But back to the subject at hand.

Since I literally live on top of myself, having friends over for dinner or a movie requires some extra planning and engineering. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve packed about 40 people in this joint for cocktails, but sit-down dinners for more than two people usually mean sitting down on the floor and holding a plate of food in your lap. After I turned 30 this nonsense should have ended, but 5 years later I’m only just realizing that I, and my friends, deserve better.

I moon over tables. I come across images of tables in catalogs or on blogs, in a movie or on a website, and something gets me right in the gut. I want that.

To me a table is so much more than just a table - it’s an invitation. The very nature of a table is all about gathering: people, things, ideas, discussion. All of these things happen around a table. Inherent in its meaning and purpose is the idea of exchange and enjoyment. People eat food, play games, assemble puzzles, collaborate on designs, draw pictures, do crosswords, laugh, shout, sing, drink, create, and even fall in love, all around a table. 

Tables may seem hard, but they’re very flexible; there’s no size-ist attitude when it comes to a table. When you buy a table they give you the dimensions and tell you how many people it should comfortably fit around it. But, as we all know, it’s when more and more people start to squeeze in that the magic happens. 

Tables build friendships, ideas, businesses, and families. They also inspire. There’s nothing like a broad, flat surface to get the creative juices flowing. It’s just a simple plane, but it begs for color, texture, adornment, or to be just left alone in perfect peace. It can be carved and ornate, or as essential as an old door on a set of legs. It doesn’t judge. 

Living the way I do, I frequently think about a table of my own – how I’d use it, arrange it, put it through its paces, who I’d invite for dinner and what I’d make. If there’s anything worth wishing for, this is it.

Leave it to the clever Annie of Poetic & Chic to turn something as simple as a table into a magical, heartfelt wish.  I've never thought of a table to be of such importance, but now I get it.  Truly, a table is the anchor for so many wonderful moments, memories, and milestones in life.  Still shaking my head over Annie's delightful wish, but then again, she always seems to leave me in a trail of thoughts...the girl is good.  Visit her, I guarantee you will enjoy all she has to share.

[images via pinterest and anthropologie]

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by Live & Enliven}

When Melissa invited me to share on this exciting and inspiring part of her gorgeous blog I was moved and honored. I love bloggers and people in general who keep things real, who are optimistic and who challenge us with topics like this every day. I am blown away by being here and grateful to post my few words in this space. Thank you.

Deep breath… and here I go:

I’ve always been a dreamer. Ever since I can remember I’ve either been wishing for a seemly impossible occurrence or living the manifestation of my wishes. I’ve been diagnosed with the deranged characteristic of being an endless idealist. Isn’t that what we all do - prepare for the worst and hope for or expect the best? At twenty-something I wish I could say my idealistic ways have changed but they have not. At least twice a day I close my eyes and make a wish – they usually come true. I credit that to the fact that I’m not an object seeker, my dreams and expectations always involve some kind of feeling or the precious gift of health.

These days I’ve been wishing for peace, with myself and those around me and for those around me. I think only good things can happen when we have peace. I find myself being more controlled, happy and hopeful. I’ve realized with the change of seasons in my life that the most powerful wishes are those made when we feel the most powerless. When there’s nothing we can do but wish. Seeing one of those come true is the highest most indulgent feeling on Earth, or so I think.

I cannot imagine being deprived of having hope for the future: I read articles online, flip through magazines and watch the news - and it breaks my heart to see what the world goes through every day, to see there are people in such situations in which they can only live a day at a time and not dare to wonder what tomorrow will be like, because the future will most likely be the same. I take it as a mission to wish for them too, to dream that things for them will also change.

For that reason and for the fact that even though there’s a past in everybody’s life there’s a future too. I relentlessly refuse to stop dreaming and so should you.

Ana is one of those lovely souls who looks at the world through a beautiful lens, her heart, and it shows in everything she writes and offers on her inspiring blog Live & Enliven.  Her beautiful wishful words above will remain with me for some time to come, and I am honored she shared her honest thoughts here.  Merci Ana.

[Image via here]

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by My Castle In Spain}

I always say that I became a grownup at the age of 8. It was when my family left the sunny Provence for the grey skies of Paris. I cried bitterly the day of our removal because I sensed I was waving good bye to my childhood and that there was no return. It meant no more Sunday walks on the hills where I played with my sisters and no more strolls around the colorful markets in Aix-en-Provence, my birth town. Even though Paris was a bright new thing, flowers, scents and people were not the same. Years after, it seems to me that I have always been chasing the vivid memories of my childhood, this special touch of frail innocence mixed with slow pace and tranquil happiness. After many years of a Parisian life, I had the incredible luck to move to southern Spain, in Andalucía which I am now proud to call home. On the very first night, when the subtle scent of jasmine entered my room, I knew I was home because it was the scent of my childhood. Andalucía brings it all back to me: the way Mediterranean people joke or do things slowly, the intensity of the light, the long summers, a sense of humble happiness, the smell of pine and wild thyme in the countryside, the olive trees.....

I cannot explain rationally the deep love I feel for this part of Spain. Or rather, I would say, little by little like birds do, I made myself a nest with time and patience. It has not always been easy but my intuition did not fail me. And it also proved to me that we have to love our dreams always.  

Well, there is no doubt as soon as my Sean reads this post, he will ask me to pack our bags and procure a one-way ticket to Spain! Lala of the beautiful life subject behind My Castle in Spain truly knows how to live every moment to the fullest.  She is a creative soul in more ways than one, and recently, she added designer-worthy aprons to her shop.  I'm hoping one day to visit her in the beloved city she calls home and soak up as much of the jasmine air as one possibly can before becoming intoxicated by its sweet goodness {or perhaps that's a good thing!} ~ 

[image by Lala Ema]

Wishful Thinking {guest post by Daydream Living}

They say a dream is a wish from the heart...

My heart wished for different things at different times in my life.

When I was younger, the wishes where about getting the newest jeans or my drivers license. Later they where filled with images of a healthy and happy family. In between there where many other wishes and daydreams.

And guess what? Almost every single wish has come true. Only the one where I can sing like a bird never made it....{my singing will clear out a room before you can say...... well, you can fill in the blank}.

I have worn my jeans over and over, and I did a little happy dance when I passed my drivers test. Everyday, I am grateful to be the mama of my two girls and the partner of my sweetheart, living a good life. And although we are in a different country again, away from our family and friends back home, I love our lifestyle. Through our many moves, we have met so many people from different backgrounds, and it has made our little foursome stronger.

Life is for living, to enjoy the here and now.

To me that includes my daydreams...

About a life near the sea....

Walking my girls to school in the morning sun...

Spending time in my own business, doing what I love...

Sipping a drink with my sweetheart on our front porch while talking about our day....

Some people will say dreams should stay just that. Dreams.

But if you don't have a dream, how can you have a dream come true?

So to all my fellow dreamers out in the world,

Dream...

Wish...

Love...

Maureen

xx

Daydream Living is a lifestyle blog authored by the very lovely Maureen.  She and I discovered we have quite a bit in common including our affinity for daydreaming.  It's nice to know that others are passionate about this incredibly important pastime too.  

[image via Laura George]

Wishful Thinking {guest post by elleinad spir}

When Melissa asked me to contribute to this series I was incredibly touched and honored…and scared. What could I write that would be at home on her beautiful blog? How could I narrow it down? So forgive me, this post is a bit of a wander through a collection of wishes, thoughts, dreams…

For my son to know love as I do. The feelings of being loved and of giving love.

For my husband to one day be able to follow his dreams rather than spend each day working…or at the least, in addition to it.

For my relationships to become easier and less stressed by distance and time and the stresses of life.

For the determination and stubbornness that I passed onto my son be mitigated by the ability to listen and bend….qualities I was not able to pass along in as much abundance.

 [

For my mom to see all of her grandkids grow, and for them to know her and her love as my siblings and I do.

For my son to understand and love my dad the way that I do, despite his tough outer shell.

And mostly, I wish for patience and understanding of myself, for myself, by myself. I need to learn to slow down. To not snap at people. To not hurry through each day. To enjoy more and worry less. I have been searching for something to put on my wrist as a reminder. I want a something on my wrist that I can look at ten million times a day to remind myself of these things. I have not yet found that perfect reminder...but when I do, it will become a permanent reminder to me.

Thank you to Melissa for having me here today. This blog is always a place for me to come and be calm, enveloped by beauty and peace.

Danielle keeps it real, and I adore her for this wonderful quality and more. She is one of those friends who you know would be right there by your side if you needed her...no questions asked.  And her way with connecting a post to any lyric you have dancing through your head, well, that's just complete genius.  

[image by Hollósi Gábor]

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by contented me}

Wearing red lipstick. Doing a handstand in yoga. Diving off the high-dive. 

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m not brave enough to do any of these things. 

Even as a kid, I wasn’t ever what you would consider a risk-taker. You wouldn’t catch me peddling down the street on my bike waving my hands in the air or signing up for the school ski-trip. (Embarrassing confession #2 – I’ve never been downhill skiing.) I was always just happier playing it safe. Keeping both hands on the wheel. 

And until now, I’ve been perfectly OK with my safe-seeking tendencies.  Frankly, I think I’ve gotten along just fine. And with all of my bones still intact, thank you very much. 

But (isn’t there always a but?), I’m starting to feel like a little bit of a hypocrite. 

You see, I’ve got two year old twins at home who, like all other toddlers, are busy exploring their world. And while my son, who doesn’t seem to have a scaredy-cat bone in his body, will take on any challenge that comes his way; it’s his sister who digs in her heels when something seems scary or difficult to do. I want her to know that it’s OK to feel scared sometimes, but that it’s also important to be brave and try new things. I nudge her to go ahead and take that step or slide down that slide because I don’t want her to miss out on things. And seeing the joy in her eyes after she’s accomplished one of those challenges (that wasn’t so scary after all) leaves me beaming with pride.  

Which gets me to thinking about all the things I’ve missed out on because I didn’t dare to try, all the unanswered challenges that would have bolstered my self-pride.  Kinda makes me wish I had done differently. And makes me wonder what my courage-stores might look like now if I had only been building them up.  

And so that’s my wish. To be brave. To try new things – even the scary ones. To be an example to my children of the value of courage.  

The next time my yoga teacher asks us to get into handstand, I’m going give it a try. And if I fall down (which is very likely), I will try again. And I will keep trying until I get it because I know that I’ll never forget how great it feels to accomplish something that was once out of reach. 

Contented Me is authored by the adorable and beyond sweet Chicago interior designer, Kristin.  She always leaves comments or sends lovely emails that put an extra happy kick in my step.  And oh how I wish I could be there for the moment she stands tall with her hands ~ it's one of the best feelings in the world!  Go Kristin Go!

Wishful Thinking {a guest post by Coeur de La}

Growing up I was blessed to have parents who loved to cook. My love for food started with meals with my family. I love the stories that a good meal can evoke. Our meals were simple, fresh, and always filled with laughter. Early mornings always included a hot breakfast made by my dad ... french toast, waffles with strawberries, chocolate chip pancakes, omelets, and fresh orange juice ... my dad had a love for making meals for his kids. My mom would always make dinners, because instead of going out we never missed the opportunity to eat in. One of my favorite meals was my mom's homemade pasta with her famous spaghetti sauce.

Summers included trips to the farm to pick ripe tomatoes, and as a treat we would fill bags with nectarines and peaches that would barely make it home. I can still remember the day I tasted a fried green tomato ... I was eight. The one thing I could count on growing up was our family meals. My siblings and I counted on the time we spent around the table to banter, laugh, poke fun, rejoice, and celebrate family while we ate together.

So, my wish for everyone is to take the time to have a meal with someone you love. Food tastes so much better when you eat it slowly, thoughtfully, and share it with others.

Caroline is one of those lovely souls gifted with a bubbly personality that you just want to bottle up!  She is a foodie and appreciates the simple things in life, so obviously, we understand each other well.  Her blog, Coeur de La, is filled with her great photography, delicious recipes, foodie adventures, and happy little daily tidbits that just bring a huge smile to your face. 

[image by Coeur de La]

Wishful Thinking {guest post by melissa loves}

Hello lovely Reverie readers,

 

Melissa is the most lovely & warm person.....isn't she? So, I am honored to be over here, at her beautiful place, sharing my wishful thinking for today. My house.....let's just start there. I love my house....it is a 1898 Victorian that we bought 2 years ago. To say that I pour a lot of love & my personality into my home is an understatement ( ask any of my good friends) :) Though I love it and it's current incarnation, I can't help but, wish I had the resources to pour even more love into it. We didn't paint before we moved in and that is one of my favorite things to do. If I had my druthers...I would paint every room, all of our trim white and maybe even the floors if nobody stopped me! :) I also wish we could renovate our kitchen; a breakfast nook and french doors into the garden (if there was one). So, here are some inspiring photos....that I have cultivated. Things I would do, if I could. 

 

1. Wouldn't this be a beautiful color for a Victorian? With a bright yellow door  perhaps? 

2. A room in the gray on these shutters, I think...

3. and one in this beautiful lavender

4. a floor or two in this blue 

5. and our bedroom in this blue?

 

I am hoping someday to make these dreams come true. I will keep you posted! :) What would you do if you could do anything to your home? I would love to know. Thank you so much for having me and have a wonderful week! 

xo

Melis

 

Sweet as honey, a cheerleader for all, and an excellent cheap & chic personal shopper, Melis is one of those gals you want by your side because she always offers up honest encouragement and happy words to brighten your day.  Her blog, Melissa Loves, is an oasis of pretty that you don't want to miss! 

[Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]