"Out beyond the ideas of the final way and the only way there is a dreamy field. I'll meet you there." Rumi

What on earth happened to us last week?! I'm very sorry/embarrassed about that. This week I'll be back with posting - so long as my intergalactic net stays in tact.

When I stumbled upon this lovely Blog, I instantly thought of all of the wonderful places that I've been in my lifetime and wished so badly that I had thought to take a photograph of my feet while on vacation. I could send you pictures of my happy feet standing on the ruins of Tulum in Mexico or prancing through Times Square in some kick ass platform shoes. 

The one trip that really stood out to me was when I went to Hawaii a few years ago on my honeymoon. While on Maui we journeyed on the Road to Hana, which is the name given to the 68-mile long stretch of Hawaii State Highways 36 and 360. It's an amazing 3 hour journey that takes you past waterfalls, lagoons, and so many other beautiful landscapes that Maui has to offer. The adventure should not be rushed because once you get to the little town of Hana, you will only find a sign and a gas station. You see, the magic of the Road to Hana is in the journey and not the destination. If you rush to get to Hana, you will miss all the beautiful views scattered along the way. 

After we completed our quest I decided to take that experience as a metaphor for my life.

My current jaunt has led me to Athens, Ga. Where I am a stay at home Mom to two boys. The only road trips I take these days are in the daydreams I fit in between diaper changes. I am on my own "Road to Hana" but mine involves things like cooking dinner and bedtime. These are important strolls that must also be taken slowly. The joy of being a Mom can be missed if I rush through these tasks. I find it important to stop and look at the beauty of the vegetables as I slice them for my casserole. If I were to rush through bed time, I would miss my baby's loving gaze. If you have ever been on a walk with a four year old, you know that children live by this philosophy inherently. We stop often to poke sticks into holes or to throw rocks into the woods. Very often, we have no destination. 

So, here is a picture of my dirty feet in a 3 month old pedicure. I decided to prop them up in the automobile that gets the most use around my house. It's small and it's made of plastic but it has served us well on our pilgrimages. I wouldn't want my feet to take me anywhere else right now.

Except maybe Las Vegas.

Thanks,
Leigh

Six.

I've heard before that through your life you will meet hundreds of people, several of them will be friends, but a lot of those friends you won't keep in contact with for the duration of your life. On average there are only 6 people that you will keep as close friends for long life-time spanning periods of time.

This is my 'Jemima Puddle Duck' with me 'Tallula Pee-pee.'

We've known each other for 8 years, and she is utterly fantastic.

No matter which city we live in, or how many months we go without communicating, we are still perfect friends whenever we are together and do get to see each other.

In our 8 years as friends we've never lived in the same city, at all.



She is my greatest idol... that is why we have matching shoes.

"Life is only as good as the memories you make..."

I'm back!
Here's what happened:

We picnicked

We took our time

We sang in the car... a lot

We visited the Oregon Coast

We roasted hot dogs for dinner
We splashed in the Pacific Ocean
We became even more best friends

We had our 1st leisurely roadtrip together
We stopped in Astoria and became Goonies
We had our first camping trip/glamping trip

We stopped a billion times just because we could

We ate some free cheese at the Tillamook Cheese Factory

And that was all in ONE day!

AND Lover got accepted to school in California! The next adventure begins!

Last Tuesday is the day I'll think about whenever I think of summer '09.
Thank you Mr A.

New York, I Love You...

"These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it."

My new favorite shoes & I miss New York City... a lot.

Raquel

Sands of Time.... [ Vikki ]

My feet have wandered in this picture, but wherever they are they will be returning to the same coastal region.

I bought these flip flops in Switzerland.

This picture is Pacific Beach.

I have a sandy adventure in my future and it's exciting.

Rainy Day

Dear Rainy Day,

I hope that as I continue to grow older in years, you will always remind me to stay young at heart. I hope you will always remind to embrace my inner child by splashing in your wonderful puddles.I hope you will always inspire me to use my imagination and help me to remember that I never have to grow up completely. I want to thank you Rainy Day for all the fun days you have provided me with. I am looking forward to our fun days in the future.

Yours truly,

Sarah Nicole

the death of my red shoes

I caught my would-be husband's eye, with a little help from my flashy heals.

I've worn them out doing silly-girl photo-shoots.

And now I feel as if it is time to go shopping.

Happy Monday, bloggy buddies!

xoxo, Megan Marie

Summer, I'm not cheating on you but...

Summer,
It's not you, it's me.
Let's break up and be done... for now.
You tried your best but we just weren't meant to be.
I should have tried harder but I can't go back in time to fix that.
You just want what's best for me, I know that.
Next year we'll try again.
I have a good feeling about next year.
I just need time to straighten some things out.
Until then, don't give up on me.
I love the idea of you and me, Summer.
We've worked so well together in the past.
Thanks for keeping me company and trying to cheer me up by bronzing my skin.

Until we meet again.
Your admirer,

Laura xx

The Girl with A Cheery Disposition:

"I had such a wonderful time

spending a few days with my family...

I did some shopping with my mom and Nana,

Then my dad and me had movie night like we use to back in the day

(he is a sucker for chick flicks..shh don't tell him I told you)

Then we celebrated

my Great Aunt and Uncles 50Th Anniversary

I must say their gift for each over was the coolest gift ever!

They bought an old jukebox and had all their songs put in it.

Now I will be heading back home to Nashville tomorrow.

Which I am super excited about

because I just got news that guitar hero

will be flying home Thursday

for a few hours to see me!!!!!!

Yay, because 13 days is just way to long to go without him."

-Whitney

Luminated Wednesday [Vikki]

I bought this pair of chucks in LA in 2006.

This photo was taken at a bowling alley in Salt Lake in 2009.

I like that even although they are dirty, they are old, they have been to loads of places, met a lot of people, have memories litterly on them (there's hot chocolate stains from an 'accident' in a cafe) they are still luminated. They can still shine brightly. Maybe not as bright as a brand new pair, but they are trying... and I like that my shoes still try and that they are still beautiful and wonderful even although they might be a little old.

Be luminous.

Standing still and moving forward:

Dear Katherine,
Thanks for sharing this picture with us. I posted it out of pure selfishness. I needed your words today.

-Laura

what friends do.

I've been going through all my old boxes of collectables, getting ready to move.

This is a collage from the teen girl squad. My best friends. I had to hold it down with my feet to get a picture because it was so wrinkled.

This was just the kind of stuff we did for each other back then. Finding this has inspired me to do more nice things for my friends. It was sort-of a high school thing... but why?

I'm going to keep friendship alive in my life.

xoxo, Megan Marie

*The sound Scooby-Doo's feet make when he runs*

I love art. I love technology AND I love housewives and mothers. Put all those things together and this is who you get: Lindsay AKA Penguin Stands Alone. I LOVE her! (Is this getting awkward?)...

"I don't remember ever making the conscious decision to become an artist. i just WAS what i was... and it happened to be an artist. I love to draw and i love to watch people so it just made sense that i'd go to school for animation. I graduated in 2005 and have been a visual development artist, 3D artist and 2D video game artist professionally. Now i'm just enjoying doing freelance art and being a new mom while my husband goes to dental school in San Francisco."

Isn't she rad/inspiring? Thanks for sharing a bit about your journey to awesomeness with us, Lindsay. Someday Mr and I will have a family portrait by Lindsay. Someday...

"Her eyes are as big as her bubbly toes..."

i'm a firm believer that bubble baths cure everything.

whether my day involves running three miles...

fighting or loving with the boy...

shopping in sky high heels...

or dancing my heart out in my room.

instead of an office manager...

i'm a fairy princess.

instead of the dishes waiting for me in the sink downstairs...

i have pumpkin-turned carriage waiting for me outside.

the world is a better place inside my bubble bath.

-Nicole

Nicole, I too am a firm believer in the magical power of the bubble bath. I haven't had one since April and miss it a lot... I'm jealous of you. - Laura

Wedding Wednesday [Vikki]

AND...

I'm being cheeky and posting twice.

I just bought these shoes on ebay today.









They, will be, my wedding shoes. Oh yes they will.

A
MAZE
ING!

I'm gutted because I could have 'bought them now' and had them a week ago for £55, but I bidded to try and get them cheaper and ended up paying more for them. Devistated. It was lame. Ne'er mind though, I'm excited by them, and I love their cute heel, and their swans.

I can't wait to be showing you pictures of my feet in them on 'the day'. I wish it was tomorrow.

Starting Her Young [ Vikki ]

I have no excuse, but I have reasons.

My feet have been very busy over the past week. Last Wednesday I was in Edinburgh visiting old flatmates. On Thursday I was at my best friend's wedding (Yes, another) where I got poo'ed on by a pidgeon. Friday I was visiting my newly born first cousin once removed (my cousin's child which who was born late on the Tuesday night), I also picked up my laptop then spent three days reinstalling all the essentials and getting all my files back to an accessable point. Today I was babysitting my niece all day, and now I am breathing... and showing you the cutest pair of feet i've seen in a very long time.


This is Amelia Julianna Verrall and she is one week and one day old, and on the first day I met her she was wearing Chuck Taylor Converse socks. Absolutley amazing.

The Gypsy Cowgirl

"Despite growing up near the beach in Southern California, I met and fell for a handsome cowboy gentleman who was horrendously out of his element. Raised by loving salt-of-the-earth parents, he was a charming Southern boy at heart, lost in a sea of surfers and skaters and traffic. Seeing as how he is ridiculously gifted at music (and I am - of course - not at all biased), it became clear to me that I would someday need to hang up my Rainbows and follow this boy to Nashville, to chase together our wildest dreams.

Passionately traveling down our own windy and dramatic road of love, one Christmas a few years ago, before we were married, I received a single gift. Upon opening the box that held my gorgeous cowboy boots, my sweet cowboy said to me,

"I wish I could be giving you a ring right now, but since I can't - I'm giving you these as my promise that soon I'm gonna marry you and take you with me to Nashville. And if you're gonna live in Nashville, you're gonna need some cowboy boots."

True to his word, that handsome cowboy and I have been married since January 14, 2006 - and living in Nashville, TN, chasing down our dreams, since December 7, 2006.

My heart is his, my life is a beautiful adventure, and these cowboy boots of mine will always follow his - anywhere they go."

-Christiana

The weirdest dreams

Last night I had a dream that I met one of the bloggers that I really, really admire.

In my dream she didn't want to be my friend. She didn't like me.

Sometimes I think blogging starts to feel like this HUGE search for approval.

Maybe I need a break from it.

Because I really need to be able to sleep without fearing rejection from imaginary people.

xoxo, Megan Marie