project life 2013 | week 21

hello project life 2013 week 21 (may 20-26)

still behind in posting. woe is me! maybe i'll get up to date one day soon.

i really love how week 21 turned out. i used a lot more of the seafoam kit than i usually do, which made it a lot more colorful, and kept all but one of my photos all in 2x2. this week my challenge was to use only iphone photos, and that i did! it's just so easy that way!

5 types of friends every person should have

I recently read an article in Real Simple magazine about the five friends that every person should have in their lives, the premise being that one person cannot fulfill every friendship function. Well, it got me thinking about the people in my life, and where they fit in.

1. The comic relief - this is the friend who uses his sense of humor to relieve stress or sadness.
2. The challenger - the friend who is brutally honest, the one who likely leads a life quite different from your own and with whom you might butt heads with on occasion.
3. The loyalist - the friend who is always there for you, the one who you can be a hot mess in front of. the friend who hangs in when we are not at our best.
4. The risk taker - this is the adventurous friend who nudges you out of the status quo and who introduces you to new ideas and activities.
5. The life coach - the friend who reinvigorates you each time you see her. this friend motivates you and recharges your batteries.

I see myself as having 3/4 of these types of friends in my life. My friend James from College most definitely falls into the comic relief category and I am so grateful to still have someone like him in my life. The friend who challenges me is Marta; always the one to tell you like it is. She keeps me on my toes. The loyalist is my friend Esra, who I can honestly say is one of the sweetest, kindest, most amazing people I know. What I love about Esra is that we are so open with each other about our lives - the good and the bad. 

I am proud to have two life coaches in my life: my best friend Jennie and my sister-in-law Valerie. Both are such intelligent, driven women who constantly motivate me to do something great with my life. These two women are two of the most inspiring people I know, and also happen to be some of the most important people in my life.

What I lack is a friend who falls into the risk taker category (or perhaps I'm just not digging deep enough). Time to start searching for some new friends I guess!

But what about the other types of friends? There are those who are meant only to be in your life for a short time, but though their stay is short, it is meaningful. And let's not forget the (I'm sorry to say it, but it's true) friends that maybe don't have their lives figured out? These friends make you step back and appreciate what you have and where you have gone in life.

The fact of the matter is that all of your friends leave a lasting impression on your life, and have had a hand at shaping the person that you are today. So the question is: who are these people in your lives, and what kind of friend are you?

those moments that make your heart explode // happy father's day

In the early morning after I have fed and changed DJ, if we're lucky, he just might doze off for a little longer. And if we're extra lucky, he will allow us a moment of cuddling in bed, usually with daddy. This moment is forever engrained in my memory.

Happy first Father's Day Dom. We love you.

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this letter on fatherhood is right on the money, and oh so sweet.

happy friday

Despite all of the help i got this week from wonderful family, it has been a tough one. i resigned to accepting that i am going to have emotional days - weeks even - and this just happens to be one of them. So, i'm simply trying my best to move past it and enjoy the weekend. in the meantime, here are some links for your entertainment:

this teen girls session is absolutely adorable and so well done. i'm in awe.

to the fathers out there, don't forget to be a husband.

people i want to punch in the throat. yes that's a blog.

this couple want a dolphin-assisted birth. yep, you can't make this sh*t up.

happy weekend everyone!

emerging thoughts // inspiration

i'm loving these whimsical photos for the Emerging Thoughts shop. i think that i just might need to plan a little shoot of my own similar to this one, with white flowly dresses, bare feet and nearly bare flowers.

just beautiful.