KEEP YOU

do you ever have a weekend so good...

YOU NEVER WANT IT TO END!?

the feeling of freedom,

unplanned but awesome surprises-

which of course result in the best kind of authentic fun

splendor and wonder

all wrapped into one?

okay that rhymed a bit :)

i wish i could bottle that feeling, hold on to it as tight as i can

and when lifes' everyday frustrations and annoyances hit

i could use it as anti-venom and an instant smile

& extreme amount of calm and delight would flow through me

like sweet nectar

this song (and title) explains it perfectly

KEEP YOU

by class actress

Footage is from "Anna" (1967) starring Anna Karina

what do you strive to keep from the weekend?

XO

AV

green with love

what does

GREEN

mean to you?

for some fashionistas, an occasional choice in color

for that extra pop to your ensemble

*

or

GREEN

as in

gods' green earth

doesn't this forest look so lush?

i just know frodo is in there

*

or

being

GREEN

re-cycling, re-using,

less impact on the earth and our environment

*

for me

being

GREEN

means using certified organic products

better for my body and overall health

using natural and organic ingredients

with no harmful toxins or chemicals

better for the earth

less waste and recycling as much as possible

better for the environment

here are my latest favs in

GREEN

beauty products

*

i am loving the clean fresh scent

of this face wash!!

*

this hair serum

smells edible!

don't worry i have not ingested any...yet

*

and again another beautifully smelling product

i literally get excited to wash my hair because of the divine smell

taylor and i aspire to be more green everyday.

i'm no bono...yet:)

but i'm trying

i think the more we learn

the more we can help lessen our impact

on the earth, recycle and re-use where we can

any GREEN tips

to share of your own?

i've recently added a few

GREEN

websites to my daily reads

check em' out!

ECORAZZI

who knew there were green gossip sites?

GREEN IS SEXY

the actress rachel mcadams

and her gal pals site

for tips on being green

SUPERFOREST

our friend jackson

and

one of my bestest girlfriends

melissa snyder

write &run this amazing project and positivity blog

melissa also happens to be

a gifted photographer

check out her portfolio here

that wraps up this

GREEN

friday

i hope to be writing more about

GREEN LIVING

in my everyday posts

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND GUYS AND GALS!

and remember go green or go home!

:)

MIA

i'm sorry i've been mia these days

it's been one of those weeks where i'm pretty busy

trying to get all my design work out to my clients

and finish up all the projects i can before i leave next week

for my girlfriend erins' wedding in colorado

lately i just feel like i have nothing interesting to say

or maybe i'm just too tired to try

either way- i promise to come back from the mountains refreshed

and full of great ideas to share

thanks for being patient

xo-av

this and THAT!

good day sunshine!

last night taylor and i went to an amazing

cd event(release) at fellowship church downtown

IT WAS AWESOME!

this week begins week 2

of the crossfit fitness/nutrition challenge

(check out the deets here)

last week i did crossfit 5 times!?!

normally to be able to walk in the morning, like out of bed

i usually do 3 classes a week

{and i'm not kidding about the walking thing-it's painful}

i'm trying to look at the bright side,

because honestly 8 weeks feels pretty long right now

hence this quote

had some fun this weekend trying this

'alternating hues' style of painting

my ring finger on both hands is an essie purple

(i'll spare you the visual- my cuticles aren't ready for their close up)

it's a great accent for displaying some bling

speaking of BLING

CONGRATS TO GABBY&CRAYTON!!!

they got engaged on friday

and i'm so thrilled for the happy couple

pssst: when's the big day?

kidding! (kind of)

i love you GABBY!

how was your weekend?

what's going on with you today?

for me- i have the hubby home from work

(he has the day off:)

i have some design work

and a meeting this morning

might squeeze in some fun adventures this afternoon

xo-av

loving....

this shot of Hotel du Cap Eden Roc gives me a case of wanderlust

a cute birdie i know posted about it yesterday

i love yoga humor-it never gets old

found

this room and the art on the wall makes my heart sing

you know how when you meet someone new and right off the bat you like them

that's how i feel about this room

type humor

it never gets old either

architectural pottery is genius

see more of these beauties here

theSHALLOWend

how simple and lovely is this piece???

by anthony zinonos

the hair, the deer, the sunshine and the woman

so tender

random...the colors remind me of the 1986 film crocodile dundee

my brothers and i would watch it when we had a babysitter

a vhs favorite

what are you loving today?

i'm loving my hubby for his constant positivity

it keeps this constant worrier in check

oh and at this very moment

COFFEE

TUESDAY TUNES

CHECK THESE TRACKS OUT

APPLY BY GLASSER

RING

COMFORTABLE, COMPARABLE

BY HOORAY FOR EARTH

MOMO

THE WHOLE EP BY ACTIVE CHILD

CURTIS LANE-EP

THE EVERLASTING BY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

the everlasting

speaks to my heart- these are worship songs we sing every sunday

at fellowship downtown

taylor- the hubby-is a part of the worship team

these amazing musicians volunteer their time every sunday

not to mention the rehearsal time

during the week and in the wee hours sunday morning,

all to make the magic happen and to lift people up

in worship during sunday services

track favs- magnify, the everlasting

but honestly the whole album moves me

it's available on itunes

TODAY!

trust

well said

found

what is ART???

JUST FOR FUN

CLICK HERE!

have a great weekend filled with many laughs:)

mantra(s) for summer

hello lovelies!

how are you?

in my ongoing quest for less

tv and i have decided to

KILL OUR TV

it will cut down our bills

and with hulu

we won't be missing out

on our favorite shows

the plug is officially pulled at the end of july

luckily last night i caught up on some

kardashian- not exactly in the 'soul nourishing' cateory

but we also watched the hbo film

temple grandin

that leveled out the trashiness of the previous choice:)

claire danes is awesome as temple

and it is a very moving film and i highly recommend it

(you can kill your tv and watch it online)

i love everything about this manifesto

all perfect mantras for fun summer activities

i love how one word can apply to so many areas of life

grow spiritually

grow in truth

grow in love

grow healthfully

grow green!

found this list of things to enjoy about summer

l o v e e v e r y o n e

what is your summer mantra?

XO!

fashion no more

found

i have a confession

i heart fashion magazines

they are my guilty pleasure

lucky and nylon

are my number one pics

but to be completely honest

i buy many others on a regular basis

it's a problem

every year i make a resolution to stop

so on my current quest for less

i like the sound of that

i have decided to give up

BUYING

fashion magazines

THIS IS HUGE FOR ME

taylor an i have been talking more

about starting a family

and the environment

we would want to raise our children in

i know i wouldn't want my daughter

reading fashion magazines

and they don't exactly fall into

the soul nuturing category

i am trying to challenge myself to find more worth and truth

in life and focus on the things that really matter

PRADAS' new fall line doesn't really matter

PLUS really no one needs

to know about the latest and greatest

in designer wear

(it might be an added plus but not a need)

as a designer who loves all things print

i can admit that the pictures are really beautiful

but if i really need my fix

i can grab some tea at a book store

camp there and read more 100dollars worth without buying

all those glossies to end up

stacked up in our house taking up more space

so cheers to less!

anything YOU are doing less of

in order to have more??

i need inspiration to stay on track

:)

xo-av

less is more

lately taylor and i have been focusing on

living within our means

for us this means

LESS IS MORE,

being more green

and re-using when we can

(as well as recycling-of course)

i've even made the switch to all green household products

most are filled with yucky toxins that make us sick

no good

i stumbled upon this quote

and was so inspired

i wanted to share it will all of

YOU!

"To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respectable,

and wealthy, not, rich;

to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages,

with open heart;

to study hard;

to think quietly,

act frankly,

talk gently,

await occasions,

hurry never;

in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,

grow up through the common - this is my symphony. "

William Ellery Channing