an apple a day

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes the idea of living as a hermit appeals to all of us. No demands, no needs, no pain, no disappointments. But that is because we have been hurt, are worn out. In our heart of hearts, that place where we are most ourselves, we don't want to run away for very long. Our lives were meant to be lived with others."

- Captivating, by John & Stasi Eldredge

GIVEAWAY!!!

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

patrick, jered, me, aaron, andrea

Way back in good ol' 2008, my band Foreign Loren released a split EP with the band Kapiano (husband & wife team Pat & Andrea). We toured up the coast of California, had some fun, then the band broke up, I went off to college in Utah, and that was that.

But today I decided to dig into that old little box entitled "Merch" and found a pile of our CD's, just sitting there, waiting to be listened to again. And now here's where you come in! I have 4 of these CD's right here, sewed up sweetly in little cases made by Andrea, stamped by me, waiting for you to have one. All you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post (click on the post name and the comments page should come up) with your email, and I'll send one off to you. We'll randomly pick the winners in a couple days! And if there's only a few comments, there's a good chance that everyone will get one. I'm really bad at this giveaway thing. Note: if you already have one, no seconds!

"Sea Faced / Home Is Where Your Heart Breaks"has 8 songs total (4 for each band). I like it a lot, and I think you will, too.

-Allison

"Living the good life," body+soul, December 2007

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

I found this article ripped out of the magazine and hidden in a folder in the depths of a forgotten shelf. It's a good one, so I'm giving you a Cliff Notes summary here. (I didn't see the whole article on the "Whole Living" website, but an excerpt is here).

Ideas on living "the good life":

feed your spirit

give thanks

break out of a food rut

get creative

make fitness fun

expand your horizons

get more energy

heal a rift

boost your mood

get greener

find time

ask for help

follow your dream

minimize your impact

break the ice

give stress a rest

stay positive

save money

maximize mealtime

if you have not already,

2012-01-30T14:33:00.000-08:00

submit your "i am" statement for the we are women project.

more info here.

(photos due by february 1)

The Butterfly Circus

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

Do you have 20 minutes to spare? If so, watch this short movie. It will soothe your heart and make you feel whole again. So beautiful. Favorite part? Around minute 12.

Happy Monday, friends!

Skincare Favorites

2012-01-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

A couple years ago I decided to find out what products work best for my skin. Through trial and error, I found what works best for me, and I love it. Don't just settle for the cheapest product. If you haven't already, find out what makes you glow. It's a worthy investment!

Here's what works for me:

DHC Washing Powder is the best face cleanser I have ever used. You don't use a lot of the powder each time, so the bottle lasts for quite a while. Nothing makes my face feel fresher after the end of the day.

I have very dry skin, so after I wash my face, I almost always follow up with lotion. I prefer to use products with mostly or all natural ingredients. For the last few years, I've been using Burt's Bees Body Butter (they also have face-specific lotions, but I have very dry skin, so this works for me). I've also used Firefly Essentials' goat milk base lotion, and Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

Too tired.

2012-01-26T19:44:00.001-08:00

Thoughts at 1:30am:

I own 3 of the same black shirt. I've had a large diet coke from McD's nearly everyday for the past week (74 cents for a limited time, folks). I watch TV and knit for charity simultaneously, thus justifying vast amounts of media consumption. And I appreciate Liz Lemon (of 30 Rock) for making me feel like a normal woman.

I like to write letters to friends. I like music. I like to eat, but not cook. Mostly because I have a hard time deciding what to cook. Hopefully I'll marry someone who likes to cook, but if not, hopefully I'll develop a greater desire to give it a go by then.

In conclusion, two of my favorite things about the Southern United States are word shortenings (y'all!) and biscuits with gravy.

I'm doing what I love!

2012-01-24T22:15:00.000-08:00

When my brother came home from school tonight, I scrambled to him like a dog to his master, giving him a big hug then promptly telling him everything I did that day: gardening! raking! knitting! petting the cat! taco tuesday! And then, with a twinkle in my eye, I asked him if he could finish up the recording we had worked on last week so that I could post it tonight. And he did it! I sure do love my brother.

And now you can see what I've been working on (besides gardening, knitting, tacos, etc.)- new music! I used to be in a band, then wasn't, then started writing music again, then didn't, and now I am again! It's fun. I like it. Not very lucrative, but fun. (Speaking of, my thoughts on loving what you do).

Modest is hottest:

2012-01-24T17:09:00.000-08:00

Today I wore baggy jeans and a white men's v-neck tee, but I also wore pearls. Kosher? I think so.

And thank you CJane for your wonderful fashion insight!

Giving

2012-01-24T11:21:00.000-08:00

World:

The We Are Women Project is still selling books (for 25% off in January, use code LULUBOOK305), and will be re-releasing the book in a couple months, but expanded, and in a hardcover format. As always, all proceeds from both books go to the Campaign to End Fistula to help improve maternal healthcare in third world countries.

Local:

Knitting scarves for the Love Scarf Project. I'm just about done with #2, and I'm hoping to get 2 more done this week. The scarves will be donated to City of Hope in Los Angeles, CA to be given to cancer patients for Valentines Day. (They are collecting both knitted/crocheted caps and scarves).

Self:

I have no idea what I'm giving to myself, but in an attempt to get people thinking about it, we're asking for "I Am" statements over at the We Are Women Project. Like this:

"I am a lover, and am loved in return."

We've gotten a few, but we really want a lot more! We're collecting submissions through January, and will begin posting them in February. (I used picnik.com to edit the photo, which is way fun and easy to use). Send them to me at allison a barnes @ gmail . com (without the spaces, of course).

places to rest

2012-01-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

Monday morning. I am tired, and I don't think I can do a thing with myself. There were grand ambitions of "wake up! work out! start the day right!" and yet, here I am. Tired. Like, zombie tired. No good.

But over the last few days, I would wake up refreshed! Rejuvenated! Not a care in the world! And you know why? I was in my family's new vacation home in the mountains. Best rest I've had in ages. See that picture up there? View from the front porch. Bliss.

Where is your "happy place"? Where do you find peace and rest?

iPhone, I love you.

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

When new technology comes about, I'm usually a skeptic (DVD's? Yeah, like that will catch on). But let me tell you, when I do finally catch on, it almost always works out. For example, my new iPhone? Basically my favorite piece of technology ever. Here is just one of the wonderful things about it:

The "Relax Melodies" app. It's like making your own ambient sound CD, and it's awesome. You scroll through a bunch of individual sounds, pick which ones you want, adjust their volumes, and create your own ambient sound loop. What did I listen to last night right before bed? Rain + Rain on Roof + Flute + Humming. It was just what I personally needed to help my mind and body wind down before bed.

Relax Melodies is a free download. Find it here.

Florence + the Machine: Shake It Out

2012-01-22T17:39:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, I wrote this post on the We Are Women blog.

Consider this video part two.

Regrets collect like old friends

Here to relive your darkest moments

I can see no way, I can see no way

And all of the ghouls come out to play

And every demon wants his pound of flesh

But I like to keep some things to myself

I like to keep my issues drawn

It's always darkest before the dawn

And I've been fool and I've been blind

I can never leave the past behind

I can see no way, I can see no way

I'm always dragging that horse around

Sun Salutations

2012-01-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

"As we sweep our arms up and bow forward, we honor the earth, the heavens, and all of life in between that is nourished by the breath cycle. As we lower our bodies, we connect with the earth. As we rise up from the earth, we stretch through the atmosphere once more, reaching for the sky. As we bring our hands together in Namaste, we gather the space of the heavens back into our heart and breath, acknowledging that our body forms the center point between heaven and earth."

-Christopher Key Chapple, from here.

I have not been consistent with Sun Salutations lately, but I hope to get back into that habit. It has the potential to bring a beautiful energy into the day, with increasing depth as time goes on, as the sequence flows with more ease. The article quoted about is very good for an explanation of Sun Salutations, including a basic sequence outlined in pictures on page two. The same basic sequence is shown here. When I do Sun Salutations, I usually do that one with very few alterations.

Creating a beneficial morning routine

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

[photo by gary barnes]

Sleeping is, more than not, a very unrestful activity for me. My brain morphs up the weirdest dreams, and it's just very unpleasant. And there's nothing better than starting the day with a cramped up body and confused mind (read: anything is better than this).

Then I stumbled onto this blog post by Sarah Wilson, and it all made sense. Of course having a consistent, fulfilling, and satisfying morning routine would affect how the rest of the day goes. And, bonus, hopefully balance out the funky sleep life I occasionally fall into.

Over the next few weeks, I hope to develop a morning routine that works for me. I'll keep you updated! And in the meantime, I want to know how you start off your day. What has helped you find and keep a lovely balance throughout the day?

Vitamin D:

2012-01-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

Why it is important:

Strengthens and maintains bone health. Helps body absorb calcium. Supports breast, colon and prostate health (Nature Made).

Supports heart wellness: "Vitamin D is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is also used for diabetes, obesity, muscle weakness,multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchitis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and tooth and gum disease" (WebMD).

Depression, maternal health... "In the past few years, studies have shown that a lack of the vitamin may be the primary culprit in depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis" (Women's Health Magazine).

How to increase levels of Vitamin D:

Very few foods provide adequate amounts of vitamin D (click here for a list of foods and their vitamin D content). Some foods are supplemented with vitamin D, though, such as milk.

Most vitamin D is obtained through sunlight. Another efficient source is through supplements. (Can't decide which brand of supplements to buy? My grandma said that she tried a couple, but only when she switched to Costco's Kirkland Signature brand did the doctors see a difference in her vitamin D levels).

For more in depth information about vitamin D, check out this dietary supplement fact sheet.

Recently on the We Are Women Blog

2012-01-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

[photo by gary barnes]

when sleeping women wake

the 'i am' statement + photo request

old year new year

the 'do what you love' dilemma

25% off the we are women book

alicia is a writer

how i am learning to love myself

calling cards on etsy

2012-01-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

collettepaperie

luckyduckletterpress

michellebrusegaard

storybymia

pinklilypress

Yesterday I began pondering how incredibly efficient it would be to have calling cards. There would be no more "That's 'Allison' with 2 L's," and other little things like that. Just whip out a card and you're done!

There are a lot more on etsy.com, where I found all of these. For example, they also have calling cards for mommies (for organizing play dates and such), which is quite clever! The ones I put up here are more conservative in style, and more neutral in purpose, but if you're looking for something different, I assure you, someone on etsy is offering it.

2012-01-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

etsy : please be still

love

2012-01-16T07:00:00.002-08:00

etsy : sarah jane studios

To Do: 2012!

2012-01-15T21:48:00.000-08:00

Hike the Zion Narrows (the "bottom-up" route, aka easiest: "Depending on water flow, this hike is easy to moderate in summer and ok for most kids 4 feet or taller." Sounds like my kind of hike.)

See the Grand Canyon.

Go on a hot air balloon ride (preferably over the ocean).

Try acupuncture.

Lose the weight I gained in 2011.

(and, you know, read more, learn to like vegetables, etc.)

Knitting + Tired

2012-01-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

I tried to take this a couple times and still look tired, so I apologize. But the point is:

I've been knitting! And for a reason!

Check out the Love Scarf Project for more info.

Why I Actually Am Ok With "New Moon"

2012-01-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

When I saw this fantastic comparison, and shouted a hearty "amen!" to Hermoine:

I'd love to be Hermoine, strong and fearless, always pressing on. But reality check: sometimes we can't be. Because we are human, sometimes the only thing to do is to "curl up in the fetal position, went numb for months then jump off a cliff." To me, "New Moon" is a decent book/film not because of the acting (Kristin Stewart) or the thrilling plot line (ehh...), but because the character of Bella Swan personifies depression perfectly.

(Side note: I never went through the "darn careless teenager with no grasp on mortality" phase. I think that came as I entered adulthood, and as I've experienced recurring phases of depression.)

Sometimes the greatest desire is to just hide away in a cave (or, you know, Mexico):

Or, you know, snuggle with the nearest male (bonus if he is a smoking babe):

And... just one more to emphasize the "babe" aspect of Jacob:

New Moon isn't supposed to be about raw moral strength, it's about the process of coping, and of finding that strength.

New Moon isn't supposed to be about good acting... ok, just kidding. That could have helped.

And one more:

Ha! Ok. And that's my opinion as to why New Moon isn't a terrible movie. There is quite a bit of truth about the human condition in it. And shirtless Jacob is just a plus.

Sadly true.

2012-01-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

found here, via pinterest

Real Wedding / Imaginary Wedding

2012-01-12T12:40:00.003-08:00

Real Wedding: Jessica

(my dear friend and co-writer on the we are women blog)

Who else can pull of such a rockin' dress and ensemble? I love it.

Fake wedding: Me!

This shouldn't surprise you. You've seen my hypothetical wedding posts before,

and even my hypothetical pregnant picture (ha! thank you former co-worker Kylie

for being a part of such a beautiful photograph).

I give you, my hypothetical ring/dress.

(Look, I hypothetically just planned my wedding in 10 minutes!)

etsy : peacesofindigo

shabby apple : bianca

Anyway, back to the Real Wedding! :

Congratulations Jess!

Day 2:

2012-01-12T11:42:00.000-08:00

Got up at a decent hour, got ready for the day, then recorded a new song with friend David. Take that, post-mission slump.

Then spent approximately 8 hours watching all last season of Parks and Recreation. And I felt like crap doing it. No more media binges for me.

(Update: Just found 3 Cake albums on my computer, so no promises with the above resolution).

Doing:

2012-01-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Since I've been home, I've:

Loaded up on diet coke to first, calm my "HOW AM I EVER GOING TO UNPACK ALL OF THIS STUFF" jitters, and second, to stay awake long enough to gorge myself on my old music collection. Not good for my health, but pretty good for my soul.

Picked up a guitar again. Began putting music to the words. It feels like home.

Procrastinated thinking about the We Are Women Project revamp, but I'm finally starting to work on it. It involves re-formatting the book as well, which I'm anticipating to be a headache.

Started peaking through my yarn stash, exploring my options to contribute to the Love Scarf Project.

If you haven't already, the We Are Women Project is collecting "I Am" statements + photos, like this:

More info can be found here. We are accepting submissions at least through January, and will begin posting them in February. We've had some pretty excellent submissions so far, and I just love it!

2012: a year of learning & healing

2012-01-10T09:52:00.000-08:00

"I'm struggling. I don't particularly want to face tomorrow, or the next day, or the next. I just keep digging myself into a really deep, dark hole, and I can't decide if I don't know how to get out, or if I'm just too scared to try." - 14 July 2011

As a teenager, I decided to never journal the bad stuff. If I was having a hard day, if I screwed up, or if I just felt terrible for whatever reason, my journal was the last to find out about it. That decision, paired with a spotty and limited memory span, meant that none of my posterity would ever find out how much I occasionally sucked at life. "Good ol' grandma," they'd say. "I want to be just like her someday!" And everybody wins!

But sometimes several months would pass before I started journaling again. Months were just gone.

Mid-2011, I decided to throw caution to the wind and tear down the walls I had built around journaling. Write (almost) anything and (probably not) everything. And worst came to worst, I could break every historian's heart and request my journals to be burned postmortem.

As I finally wrote with sincere honesty, I realized the severity of everything. It wasn't just a "bad day." I couldn't just take a quick nap for more energy. I wouldn't just "get over it." In my darkest moments, I would write of my despair, and for the first time be able to see what I tried so hard to forget.

Also around this time, I began recognizing another common theme in my interactions and encounters with others: the earth can heal us.

There were philosophies about milk! corn! pork! The woman who learned to manage her lupus by changing to a raw diet! The man who planked his bed so that his feet were elevated 7 inches above his head to increase blood flow to his brain while he slept!

I also heard that at the time of his death, John Wayne had 80lbs of feces in his colon (which isn't actually true, but made for an interesting conversation).

There is more to health, wellness, and healing. In 2012, I will learn, and I will heal.

And I would love for you to join me.

photo by gary barnes

2012 Themes + be back soon!

2012-01-05T13:41:00.009-08:00

source

2010-12-31T22:50:00.004-08:00

Repost: 4 September 2010

2010-10-17T06:59:00.003-07:00

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. - Alma 37:37

"healing" by brian kershisnik

Repost: 31 July 2010

2010-10-07T06:00:00.001-07:00

"I wanna have friends that I can trust,
that love me for the man I’ve become not the man I was.
I wanna have friends that will let me be
all alone when being alone is all that I need.
I wanna fit in to the perfect space,
feel natural and safe in a volatile place.
And I wanna grow old without the pain,
give my body back to the earth and not complain.
Will you understand when I am too old of a man?
And will you forget when we have paid our debt?
Who did we borrow from?"

-The Perfect Space by The Avett Brothers

Loney, Dear: The City, The Airport

2010-10-06T06:00:00.004-07:00

I have great taste in music.

2010-10-05T06:00:00.001-07:00

A calendar and postcards?

Such a good idea, via seesaw letterpress.

Not applicable, but still swoon-worthy.

2010-10-04T06:00:00.001-07:00

from here, found here.

And then, of course, there's still the other ring I swoon over.

But, if you know me, or any of my near-future plans, you know that a ring is completely non-applicable right now. Oh well. A girl can swoon!

2010-10-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me,

fluttering from the autumn tree."

-Emily Brontë

and the boys

2010-10-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

2010-10-01T22:50:00.001-07:00

Hi Friends,

Sorry for the lack of posting. I've been busy. Or rather, I've been playing catch up from being busy before, which makes me, again, busy. But I want you to know that all is well!

If you have a blog/website/facebook page/anything, please put the We Are Women button up! Here is the code to copy and paste when applicable:

And here it is:

A huge thanks to my dear friend Melanie for making the button. You can check out her work here. And if you have no idea what the We Are Women Project is, click here. We have already raised enough money to provide at least one woman with the surgery to fix an obstetric fistula! I apologize if all of this seems repetitive, but I really am so grateful to have worked on this project, and for the support that so many people have offered with it.

2010-09-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Specifically the friends I said I would order a We Are Women book for in a future bulk order,

I have decided that that wouldn't be a very wise idea on my part. Specifically, I think I would get super stressed trying to get all of the books to you.

I apologize for not having enough books available at the book release, but thank you so much for your support, and I would love it if you did purchase the book and support this endeavor.

You can buy the book here: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/we-are-women/12308499

All proceeds go to the Campaign to End Fistula. An obstetric fistula occurs when proper maternal health care is not available, usually in poorer countries. Women can sometimes be in labor for days. When the labor is prolonged, the mother usually loses the child, and a hole is worn in the birth canal, causing incontinence. Because of the stench from incontinence, women are then usually shunned by their family and community. It is terrible, preventable, and curable.

With a simple $300 USD surgery, a fistula can be repaired and a woman can get her life back.

The money raised by the We Are Women Project has already been enough to pay for one woman's surgery.

The book is available as a paperback($11) or ebook ($7). Shipping is only a couple dollars for the paperback.

To learn more about obstetric fistula, go to http://endfistula.org/

and to buy the book, go to http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/we-are-women/12308499

Thank you so much for all of your love and support. I feel like I'm in a dream! I am so happy that the book is done, that it is so beautiful, that people are being educated about obstetric fistula, and that we are doing what we can! What a great feeling!

Love, Allison

2010-09-28T06:46:00.001-07:00

The book release open house was so much fun, and we had a great turnout. But shame on me for not having more books on hand to sell that night.

As of early this morning, the book is now available online to purchase as either a paperback book or ebook.

All proceeds go to the Campaign to End Fistula (endfistula.org).

2010-09-24T22:47:00.003-07:00

Fact: I love scruffy men.

In 4 Days:

2010-09-23T06:00:00.002-07:00

2010-09-20T22:07:00.002-07:00

2010-09-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Click here to enter to win a We Are Women eBook (valued at $7) from the lovely ladies at "On How To Be Lovely." All you have to do is leave a comment on their blog about why you love being a woman. Easy, yes? Enjoy! And if you don't know what the We Are Women Project is, click here!

Marry me, John. I'll be so good to you, you won't realize I've gone.

2010-09-16T20:41:00.001-07:00

Florence + The Machine : Dog Days Are Over

2010-09-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

LFO: Summer Girls

2010-09-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

I still get the chorus of "Summer Girls" in my head sometimes. And I wasn't even into LFO. It must have been on the radio a lot in the '90's. Anyway, I mention this because the singer of LFO died last week. Huge bummer. Like I said, I wasn't into the band, but he wrote a song that gets stuck in my head a lot, and that's saying something.

And did I mention that I know all the words to the chorus, too?
That man had talent.

We Are Women Book Release Open House

2010-09-09T07:00:00.030-07:00

Pre-order for the We Are Women book is now closed.

The book release open house will be in a few weeks, so please mark your calendars and attend if you can! It will be held at The Chocolate in Orem, Utah (and let me tell you: best cakes/cupcakes around), and you'll have a chance to learn about the book, meet some of the writers/photographers, and learn more about obstetric fistula and why we need to educate ourselves about it.

Thinking about: artistic portrayal of heartbreak.

2010-09-06T11:24:00.001-07:00

"You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you can't be sure. But it doesn't matter - because we'll be together."

"All these years, all these memories, there was you. You pull me through time."

sabbath thought

2010-09-04T21:15:00.002-07:00

"healing" by brian kershisnik

Pre-order the We Are Women Book (Utah Only)

2010-09-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

Pre-order is available until this coming Wednesday, 8 September 2010. If you pre-order the We Are Women book to pick up at the book release open house, you save $1 and you don't have to pay shipping. Click here for more information.

Land of Talk : Quarry Hymns

2010-09-01T07:00:00.010-07:00

I cannot stop listening to this song

by this band:

[photo]

Ouma Clothing / Lindsay Ann Photography

2010-08-31T07:21:00.001-07:00

From Lindsay Ann Photography,
Found on Grey Likes Weddings.

(I think the male model looks like a cross between Christian Bale

and this guy from my English class last year, who I thought was

really good looking, but wasn't at all attracted to him in any other way.

If only.)

Good Things: Do Fun Stuff

2010-08-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ryan Marshall of Pacing the Panic Room has created this sweet project to help raise funds and awareness for Smith Magenis Syndrome (SMS), a disease that his son was diagnosed with last year. Not much is known about it, but with the help of this project, hopefully progress will be made.

More info below:

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Sorry, your browser does not support iframes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

2010-08-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

First: I love Angus and Julia Stone. They are siblings, so they sound beautiful together. Above is one of their songs.

Second: Last night Andrew and I went to an open mic night to listen in, and ended up covering Beatles songs on his ukulele. Then I borrowed a man's guitar and played a song I wrote last summer. It was fantastic, it was bliss. I haven't performed like that in so long. I miss it terribly.

Finally: Have a happy weekend!

Settling.

2010-08-26T21:04:00.002-07:00

I apologize for the lack of posting.
I am back in Utah and settling into my new apartment,
and next week I'll be settling into the new semester.

Don't forget that the We Are Women book release open house is on September 27th from 6-8pm at The Chocolate in Orem, Utah. You can pre-order the book now (see a couple posts below this) to pick up that night. Mark your calendars! Come if you can!

Farm to Fork

2010-08-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

My Dad and I went to lunch last Sunday in Encinitas at a little place called Farm to Fork. It's the project of two young women with a passion for organic, locally grown ingredients, and they take those organic, locally grown ingredients and make delicious meals out of them.

They opened last weekend, and judging by the crowded dining area and the fact that they sold out completely by noon, I'd say they'll be open at least a few more Sundays!

Here is their menu and the information:

(Click to expand)

I highly recommend the California Toast:

Stop by next week if you can. These girls are doing this just because they want to, just because they're passionate about it, and I think that's wonderful.

Pre-order the We Are Women Book (Utah Only)

2010-08-24T07:00:00.001-07:00

How to pre-order the We Are Women book:

~~Send $10 to me through PayPal.~~

Be sure that your contact information is available when you order the book in the case that I need to contact you for any reason.
Attend the book release party at The Chocolate (212 South State Street, Orem, 84058) on Monday, 27 September 2010 from 6pm - 8pm and pick up your book there.
(Please be sure to bring your ID so I can make sure the book gets to the right person!)

Why pre-order the We Are Women book:

You don't have to pay shipping through lulu.com (about $3.99).
You save $1 off the price of the book from lulu.com ($11, but you'll get it for $10).
If you just show up at The Chocolate on the night-of, we may not have any more books available, so this will guarantee that you will get your book.
Proceeds will still go to the Campaign to End Fistula, and probably even more directly because it's going through me, and not lulu.com.

You may pre-order the book until
Wednesday, 8 September 2010.
Please only pre-order if you will be at the
release party in Orem, Utah on 27 September.

The book will be available from lulu.com on Tuesday, 28 September as a soft cover book ($11) and pdf/ebook ($7).

Lake Poway End Fistula 5k- Done!

2010-08-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

[photo by g.t. barnes]

Thank you to all who came and participated in the

run/hike on Saturday morning! I am so grateful for your support.

Click here for more pictures from the 5k.

2010-08-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

The Lake Poway End Fistula 5k is tomorrow!

See you there?

She's Got The Magic: Pacing The Panic Room

2010-08-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

This woman has got an awesome sense of humor. Her husband documented her pregnancy weekly on his really great blog, then made this stop action movie of it a year later. So fun! I love it! Enjoy!

Magic- A Belly Grows from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

A glimpse into the life of the ticket office ladies.

2010-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

The ticket office girls have a private blog that a lot of us post on when something worthy of sharing occurs. Here are some of our golden moments on the job.

Have I stayed at this job for two years just for the co-workers? Yes. Yes, I have.

Magazine Love

2010-08-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

ReadyMade Magazine
Currently available for $6.99/year for 6 issues.

Whole Living
(formerly Body + Soul)
Currently available for $10/year for 10 issues.

And to read online...

Yoga Journal

Update on the We Are Women Project

2010-08-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

"When a woman arrives at a repair facility, it is as though she has reached Mecca. Her whole life's savings, all of her hopes have been in getting cured and going home.The sorrow of women who are not cured is incredible." —Dr. Ann Ward, Family Life Centre, Nigeria

The Poway End Fistula 5k will be held next Saturday, 21 September, at 7:30am at Lake Poway. The actual race will begin at 7:30am, so be sure to get there early. Runners, walkers, and families are encouraged to participate! The trail goes around Lake Poway, so it will be beautiful. Please come if you can! Information here and you can register on active.com.

"If it is going to be true that I will be cured, I want to have another baby. Even when I am very much afraid that the same problem would happen again. A boy or a girl: I would love either one so much. Just let it be true." —A woman awaiting fistula surgery in a UNFPA-supported project in Eritrea

The We Are Women book is done, and will be released in September. There will also be a book release open house in Utah County toward the end of September. More information will be available very soon!

Thank you for your support in this project. I am constantly amazed at how much love and encouragement I have been receiving, and I am grateful that more people are now familiar with obstetric fistula. I hope that at least someone finds a real interest in the cause and can continue on the work further.

For more information on the We Are Women Project, click here,

and to learn about the Campaign to End Fistula, click here,

and for some quick information about what exactly obstetric fistula is, click here.

2010-08-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

[September 1941. Found here]

Lesson (Being) Learned

2010-08-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

Check out my essay, "Holly in the Tree House Doing Yoga," over on the On How to be Lovely blog.

Sprawl II

2010-08-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small

That we can never get away from the sprawl-

Living in the sprawl,

Dead shopping malls rise like

mountains beyond mountains

And there's no end in sight.

I need the darkness,

someone please cut the lights.

A Letter from John Keats. (Feel free to swoon).

2010-08-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

March 1820

Sweetest Fanny-

You fear, sometimes, I do not love you so much as you wish? My dear Girl I love you ever and ever and without reserve. The more I have known you the more have I lov'd. In every way - even my jealousies have been agonies of Love, in the hottest fit I ever had I would have died for you. I have vex'd you too much. But for Love! Can I help it? You are always new. The last of your kisses was ever the sweetest; the last smile the brightest; the last movement the gracefullest. When you pass'd my window home yesterday, I was fill'd with as much admiration as if I had then seen you for the first time. You uttered half complaint once that I only lov'd your Beauty. Have I nothing else then to love in you but that? Do not I see a heart naturally furnish'd with wings imprison itself with me? No ill prospect has been able to turn your thoughts a moment from me. This perhaps should be as much a subject of sorrow as of joy - but I will not talk of that. Even if you did not love me I could not help an entire devotion to you: how much more deeply then must I feel for you knowing you love me. My Mind has been the most discontented and restless one that ever was put into a body too small for it. I never felt my Mind repose upon anything with complete and undistracted enjoyment - upon no person but you. When you are in the room my thoughts never fly out of window: you always concentrate my whole senses. The anxiety shown about our Loves in your last note is an immense pleasure to me: however you must not suffer such speculations to molest you any more: nor will I any more believe you can have the least pique against me. Brown is gone out - but here is Mrs Wylie - when she is gone I shall be awake for you. - Remembrances to your Mother.

Your affectionate
J. Keats

(letter found here

photo found here)

Ruche

2010-08-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ruche is a vintage inspired boutique with very reasonable prices and very cute clothes.
Check them out here.

[Find it here]

Want to make your own romper?
Check out the tutorial that my dear friend Andrea created for FabricWorm!

Also check out this vintage 80's jumper from SeeSaw Vintage.
It's currently on sale for $20, and I can't see that deal lasting long!

The New Mormon.org

2010-08-05T07:00:00.001-07:00

The Church has a new website, and whoever designed it deserves a pat on the back. It feels like something out of an IKEA store (if IKEA specialized in web design). The layout is perfect and easy to navigate, so if you've ever been wondering what members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe, now's the time to check it out.

I know that this is the complete and true church of Jesus Christ. We believe in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The two books compliment each other perfectly, with the Book of Mormon backing up and/or clarifying everything taught in the Bible. I know that this is the true church not because someone told me it was, but because I prayed about it and received my own confirmation.

Joanna Goddard's Beautiful Home

2010-08-04T07:00:00.001-07:00

I really love Joanna Goddard's house tour she posted on her blog earlier this week. They have filled their home with items that mean something-- that pulled them in-- and had been collected over the years. And the use of paint as accent colors? I love it.

Fun fact: My childhood bedroom is filled, filled with pieces of art prints, posters, three big vintage lamps (from when my great grandma moved out of her home), a beautiful framed mirror (again, great grandma), and so many treasures that are waiting for a proper home. It will be nice when that day comes (not necessarily marriage, mind you, but being able to afford my own home to furnish).

bow ties are cool.

2010-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love Something's Hiding in Here's

new project, entitled FORAGE.

Because bow ties are cool, as is the Doctor:

Update: You can buy these bow ties here until they sell out!

southern utah

2010-08-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

[from this trip]

2010-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

-The Perfect Space by The Avett Brothers

steel train cover: bullet

2010-07-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

"But all that I've known is to

Run, run, run, from a devil in disguise

Like a bullet, a bullet, a bullet into the night..."

I am obsessed with this cover by Scarlett Johansson.
I have listened to it over and over again all week!
I loooovvvveeee it! I am swooooning over it!

la jolla cove: surf shack & ocean

2010-07-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

[la jolla cove, taken with my golden half camera]

Rebecca

2010-07-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love this photograph by Julian Broad, found in Vanity Fair.
I love it's portrayal of one of my favorite classic movies, Rebecca.

I also happen to love Laurence Olivier and 1940's fashion.
Such a good movie!

2010-07-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

[the getty villa gardens,

taken by me with my golden half camera]

Poway End Fistula 5k Run/Walk

2010-07-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

If you didn't see the post over at the We Are Women Blog...

The date has been set!

When: Saturday, August 21, 7:30am
Where: Lake Poway (about 30 minutes north of downtown San Diego)
Why: To benefit the Campaign to End Fistula & the We Are Women Project.

Registration is only $10 for adults, $5 for youth under 13 years of age.
90% of the proceeds will go to the Campaign to End Fistula,
and 10% of proceeds will go to the We Are Women Project.

Please spread the word about this event, and come if you can!
Runners, walkers, and families are welcome!

Register on active.com
and search for the event page on facebook
(entitled "Poway End Fistula 5K- Benefitting the Campaign to End Fistula").

the coast in black & white

2010-07-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

For Kim, From the Getty Villa

2010-07-24T07:00:00.001-07:00

[Venus Genetrix, Roman, AD 100-200]

[Hercules/Heracles]

[Statuette of a Boy Riding Piggyback, Greek, 500-475 BC]

More posted on the We Are Women blog here.

I also took some pictures of statues of muses, but they remind me of the Doctor Who episodes concerning the weeping angel statues, which freaks me out. Sorry. I guess that means you'll just have to go to the Getty Villa yourself to see them!

2010-07-23T07:00:00.001-07:00

SO EXCITED

2010-07-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

54 pages of lovely right there in my hand.
Making some changes, then it'll be done.
I am ecstatic! And I hope you are, too!

For more info on the We Are Women Project, click here.

Summary of California Coast Vacation

2010-07-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Getty Villa, Malibu

[Look for more about the Getty Villa in future posts]

Santa Barbara Mission

[Gary, my brother, took a lot of cool images of the mission and it's chapel.

I'll post the link when he posts them]

Hearst Castle

Other visited locations include: Morro Bay, Cambria, and Solvang.
Future posts on this vacation will include:
mythological statues at the Getty Villa for Kim,
more photos once I get my film developed,
and links to my brother's album of the vacation,
which will probably be great because he's an actual photographer.

2010-07-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

On vacation!

I'll be back in a few days!

Lemonade!

2010-07-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

[Kate Powers]

Dear Future Husband

2010-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

While recently browsing for rings online (not for this purpose, might I add), I found this lovely ring here from Bittersweets New York: The Twig Eternity Band.

Now, futurehusband, you should know that the price for this ring is far beyond what I'd hope for you to pay for my ring ($1300, woahhh)-- a simple band would suffice. But it is lovely. That is all I'm saying. Kudos to Bittersweets for actually making me swoon over an engagement ring. 'Tis a rare event, really.

harhar

2010-07-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

Because I Love California!

2010-07-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

[from q.a. design]

We're going on a trip up the coast for a few days next week, and I am very excited! I love California!

Anna Friel is Holly Golightly

2010-07-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Photograph by Kai Z Feng for Vanity Fair

a fountain of youth in our minds:

2010-07-13T07:00:00.001-07:00

[download the above free pdf at sarah jane studios]

Oh My Deer

2010-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

[Find this print by MooShee on Etsy]

Sandra Juto: Sale!

2010-07-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

I love this print by Sandra Juto-- and I am so, so tempted to finally purchase it now that it's on sale. That's right, folks. Buy one print and get one free. Luckily the sale goes until July 16, because it's going to take me a few days to narrow down my options. Check out Sandra's wonderful blog here!

2010-07-08T06:00:00.005-07:00

"I think of life as a good book.

The further you get into it,

the more it begins to make sense."

-Harold Kushner

Happiness

2010-07-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Check out this article:

"9 things to do to be happy in the next 30 minutes."

[Photo by me with my golden half]

2010-07-04T07:00:00.001-07:00

"I myself have no power. It's the people behind me who have the power. Real power comes only from the Creator. It's in His hands. But if you're asking about strength, not power, then I can say that the greatest strength is gentleness."

-Leon Shenandoah, Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy

(source: Wisdomkeepers).

Summer Colors

2010-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Loving Boden.

Southern Utah Trip: Theatre

2010-07-01T20:00:00.004-07:00

On Monday night I saw Much Ado About Nothing at the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City. BYU's Kymberly Mellen played Beatrice. Prior to this evening, I had only seen the movie version of this film, and let me tell you, live is so much better. (Live is almost always better, I have found). It was hilarious!

On Tuesday night I went back to see The Merchant of Venice. I had never read or seen this play, so I was excited to finally do so that night, and it did not disappoint. There were funny moments, but overall I left with the firm belief that William Shakespeare could write a fantastic plot. (The Shakespearean Festival runs through the summer. Go if you can!)

On Wednesday night, we drove down to St. George where my mom and I saw Tuacahn's production of Tarzan. It was magic! The costumes, the musical talent, the set, the special effects... it was all perfect. I had a geeky smile pasted across my face during the entire performance. Here is a preview for it:

Tarzan is being performed through October 15. For more information, click here.

Two Opportunities to Give Back to Provo!

2010-06-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

1) The New Play Project is holding a Community Auction & Fundraiser on 5 July 2010 at the Provo Theatre (105 E 100 N). (Details here).

If you are a business looking to advertise while simultaneously supporting the theatre scene in Provo, this would be a great opportunity. If you have some extra time that day, they could probably also use volunteers. And finally, if you are around the Freedom Festival festivities that day, stop by the Provo Theatre and support them! For more information, contact Bianca Morrison Dillard at bianca.dillard@gmail.com -- Find out more about the New Play Project at www.newplayproject.org

2) Last Saturday I participated in a 5k benefiting the Central Utah Center for Independent Living (CUCIL). There was such a good vibe at the event. If you're around next year, I highly recommend that you look into running in the event. But until then, CUCIL needs a bit of help. From the website: "As you might know already, we have been struggling for funding and would like to ask for your support. If you or someone you know has any Assistive Technology Equipment such as: an electric wheelchair, manual wheelchair, walker or any other assistive device that does not need repairs, please contact: Rafael Aguirre at (801) 373-5044".

And there you have it! Two relatively simple ways to support the Provo community. Spread the word!

P.S. This week is also the Freedom Festival. There are events all week long. See the schedule here. I went to the Balloon Festival two mornings last year, and it was magical! It is worth getting up that early to go. I wish so much that I could be in town for it this year, but alas, I have left to go home to California for the summer. Be sure to take pictures of the balloon launch and email them to me! (Extra points if you write a sign that says "HI ALLISON" and hold it in front of balloonnssss!)

Hey Brother.

2010-06-27T23:01:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Brother.