music and art

i love pandora so much and how it helps me find new bands that are amazing....
i love, love, love new music...i'm always looking for new bands and new songs that i've never heard of before.  don't get me wrong, i love the oldies that i'll always love, but i don't want to get stuck on a set variety of music.

here's one of the coolest songs i've heard in awhile...
miike snow - song for no one



and here are some sweet ad campaign pictures for french connection.
they are so beautiful and humorous.
the site also has some neat videos...i love it when companies use simple, artistic videos to promote their products.

i hope you enjoy and have a great evening!
xo

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thoughts

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i don't know why, but lately a lot of the conversation i've been involved in has dealt with attitudes and complaining and negativity.  it's made me realize even more that i have absolutely nothing to complain about.  i know i have beat on this drum before, but it's really been impressed on my heart lately, and i want to change the part of myself that quickly reacts with complaints or negative attitudes. 
negative people just drag others down and self-wallowing attitudes are so exhausting....i don't want to do that to anyone!  i want my life to be an encouragement in a society that can be so cold sometimes.

in order for me to not complain, i must first be content.
to be content, i must realize that i am not living my life to impress other people.
living my life not impressing others gets the focus off of myself...(what do they think of me??)
getting the focus off of myself turns my focus to others, how can i encourage others?

so, being serious for this post, i hope that this new year will help me to learn to stop complaining and being negative...there is no reason to do this.  when i step back and start counting all the blessings in my life, i can't help but be thankful and amazed.

love you all...have a great start of the week!

leah

couples

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i just love photos of couples.
i love how different and unique every couple is...

i am excited for this weekend.  we are going to my parents' house for an extended family dinner.  i get to see my cousins and my awesome aunt and uncle, plus my sister and brother-in-law.  my dad has a great menu planned and we are definitely taking our settlers to play.
it should prove to be a great weekend.

xo

zombies

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This print from YeeHaw's shop is so neat.  I'm sure I know of a few fellows who would like it on their wall.

This made me pretty curious about the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book.  I wonder if I'd like it?
Since I just finished the book I was reading, I'm on the hunt for a new one....I was thinking maybe The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but maybe zombies could be just as entertaining.

xo

thankful

today I am thankful for...

*the amazing funny black glasses i borrowed from Benjamin for the Christmas talent show.  (i really need to give those back to him...)

*the ability to laugh.  what would the world look like if no one knew how to laugh?

*MGMT pandora station.  if i had a party in my house right now, i'd be playing Mike Snow, Vampire Weekend, Modest Mouse, and tons of other amazing tunes.

*photoshop...oh how i love you even though you keep me up into the wee hours of the night experimenting.

*being silly with Landon....i may have been roaring like a lion/T rex last night while he was trying to tickle me.

*my wonderful family!  i get to go out for lunch with my brothers and my parents today!

*Three words: Settlers of Catan

*realizing my mad face actually looks like my serious face!!  now I can change my serious face to look more pleasant, or, just be glad people won't know when I'm mad.

*greek yogurt

*sweet beats

*a clean apartment

*finishing the book I'm borrowing, which may also have kept me up into the wee hours of the night.

*knowing I am loved more than I could ever love, and I am forgiven more than I could ever forgive.

*having the best husband in the world!

Have a great day my dear friends!

Love,
Leah

leah vs. the organizationator

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One of my goals this new year is to get super organized and have in our home only the things that we really need.  A problem with this is that I tend to buy things on a whim and don't stop to think if it will really come in useful in our small space.  My dream is to have a simple, functional, small home, with thoughtfully placed decor and belongings.

My in-laws got me the book Organized Simplicity for Christmas, and it is already proving a worthy read with tons of wonderful examples of how to get organized.  I think it's going to be more of a lifestyle change rather than a bunch of items on a list I need to check through.

I also found this great article on Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest section which gives some good advice on how to buy only what you need.  (It's pretty much like a motivational speech to a soldier before heading off into the battle of the materialistic war-zone....ok maybe not that drastic, but it's a real pump up!)

What are your favorite tricks to staying organized, or how do you determine what to get rid of?
That's the hardest part for me....getting rid of stuff.  I am such a clinger.

Here's to hoping I can get organized and breathe a little easier.

xo

Back to it...

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We recently watched Cyrus, with John C. Reilly and Marisa Tomei.  All I can say is that it was one of the most beautiful and heartfelt and humorous films I have seen in a very long time.  You should take some time and watch.  I loved Marisa Tomei's hair so much!  She had such gorgeous brown curls...I love natural, out of control hair.

I'm feeling some post-holiday blues today...Monday, back to work, realizing I have just eaten my own weight in the most unhealthy but so delicious foods.
Landon and I are getting back into our gym routine and healthy eating tomorrow and I'm craving the warm feeling of a good workout and some fresh veggies.  We are so excited for this new year though...so many wonderful opportunities coming up.

I hope getting back into your own routine won't be too hard, and you can relax and enjoy this gorgeous start of January!

xo