you are awesome

These new stickers are making me so happy. The colors! The phrases! I'm putting them everywhere and handing these You Are Awesome stickers out to people who make my day.

And the Love Wins stickers...well, I pretty much want to stick one everywhere I go to remind us all that we can choose love. 

Yes. We. Can.

And these Five Deep Breaths reminders? Well, they are going all over my house + on the inside cover of my current journal + on a travel coffee mug and how the list goes on.

You can find all these in the shop + a new variety pack that includes the Hello Beautiful Soul sticker.

I hope you have as much with them as I'm having over here!

anything that's human is mentionable

Every day I'm so thankful for Fred Rogers and the way he taught me that talking about things is okay. And I'm so thankful for the ways I've learned to figure out who I can trust with those truths, even when the figuring out is bumpier than expected.

I posted the above words on my Facebook page last week. I'd stumbled across this quote and felt a surge of gratitude for Fred Rogers and all that he taught me. I used to watch him twice a day as a littlg girl. And one of the most important messages he gave me that I want to get out into the world is that we can talk about anything. That we need to talk about the things that overwhelm us and cause big feelings. That it is okay to talk about them. And that we can give ourselves the gift of seeking out the people who will help us learn how to share those feelings.

Over the last few days, I've been thinking about how important it is to create safe space so our loved ones can feel like they can share their feelings. When I write the words, "I really want you to know you aren't alone over there" in my newsletters and here at the top of my website, I deeply hope you feel that in your bones and you reach out to those who love you when you need them.

But I also want to admit that it can be hard to create this safe space sometimes, especially with those I love the most. My own feelings get messy and in the way and some days I'm just so tired. And it can be hard to ask for help, to risk the vulnerable feelings that come with saying, "Things don't feel okay right now."

This is why I turn to my practices in the midst of the messy that a day, a life, can bring.

I practice taking five deep breaths.

I practice feeling supported by the earth by standing outside barefoot, noticing my senses.

I practice connection by texting a trusted friend to say, "Today is really hard."

I practice releasing stories that no longer serve me to trees above me.

I practice feeling stronger than my mind tells me I am by standing in warrior pose with my feet firmly planted and my arms open wide to all that is to come.

I practice.

I practice.

I practice.

So that when someone I love needs that safe space, I have enough reserves to realize it and say, "Do you want to sit down for a minute?" or "What do you need today?" or "What can I catch for you?" or "Do you need a glass of water or maybe even a hug?"

I practice so that I can be supported by myself and realize when I need support too.

I practice so that I remember that it's okay to tell the true stories.

I practice.

And honey, if you find yourself not sure what to do as you read these words - maybe you feel alone or unsure of how to create that safe space or you feel overwhelmed at the thought of figuring out a practice - try bringing your hand to your heart and taking five deep breaths. 

Just start right there.

I'll be over here breathing too.

xoxo,
Liz 

watercolor picnic this saturday!

Earlier this spring, I started to have a dream of a meet-up here in Tacoma. We'd gather with quilts + watercolors + cheese + fruit + drinks and paint and laugh and eat and connect and share favorite quotes and maybe even read a poem or two. 

And it happened in June! And now we are doing it again this weekend!!!!

What: A Watercolor Picnic! Join me for an afternoon of creating + snacking + connection. (Because I'm longing for more in-person time with kindreds!) Check out the Facebook Event page right here.

When: August 16, 1-4 PM

Where: Point Defiance Park in Tacoma (the exact location is explained on the FB event page)

What to bring: Bring your own watercolors + paper (or some other creative project you're working on), a quilt or blanket, and some snacks (including some to share if you'd like) + something to drink.

What if you don't know anybody: Please come! Some people going do know each other but this is really about kindred spirits coming together. My hope is that we will start doing things like this more often because life really is better when we do it together.

Notes: Please RSVP on the Facebook events page so I have an idea of numbers. And if you aren't on FB, just send me a note.

Also, note that this isn't a workshop. There is no cost. But I will be leading us a bit and sharing some poetry and other good things. I'll also bring some water for our watercolors, but be sure to bring a small cup for your water.

If you have questions, feel free to email me.

they were dancing

On Saturday morning, the air was thick with the grumps. The "it took us 45 minutes to get out of the house just to go to the bakery" kind of grumps. The "nothing I said was the right thing" kind of grumps. You might know those kinds of grumps.

But we went to the bakery anyway.

And after a lot of questions like "why don't they have chocolate cupcakes today," they went to find us a table while I paid. As I waited for my chai tea latte, I looked up and saw this.

They were dancing.

Dancing.

And in that moment I thought to myself, "We're doing something right around here...even on the days it feels like things are upside down and we don't really know what we're doing."

Even on those days, there is dancing.

Yes.

working, watering, blooming

Rio Grande Gorge (outside Taos, NM)

I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories... water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estés

I'm in that re-entry phase when you've been away and you've returned and it is the same and different all at once. I'm writing. I'm letting life in and working with the stories. I'm watering them as I put words on the page. I'm creating space for that bursting and blooming. And I'm resting, breathing, and just being right here with a little four year old who needs time with me just as I need time with her.

You? How are you over there?

love this :: taos here i come

This weekend, I'm headed to Taos, New Mexico for a week to teach yoga at Jen Louden's incredible yearly writing retreat. This year she's teaching two sessions, and I'm so delighted to be part of the second one that begins on Sunday. And spending a week in Taos writing is a true dream come true for me. As in I've had this dream since I was 19 and reading Long Quiet Highway. And the dream intensified over the years as I heard about Jen's retreat...and now here I am. 

And honey, when you're about to embark on a dream come true kind of trip, you've got to think about what you're going to wear as you step into that dream. Here's a little glimpse at a few of the things I'm gathering. The intention is to be comfortable + survive the heat + be able to go from writing to teaching to maybe even running into town easily. 

This linen tank from Eileen Fisher (on sale right now at Nordstrom) is super flattering with the seams down the front and will be equally awesome for plane wearing with a cardigan + jeans and for yoga class with my favorite yoga pants + Texture mini skirt. And I'm wearing it with this Wacoal racerback bra.

These linen pants from Old Navy have been my summer staple this year. I have them in white and this khaki linen color (that looks more like natural linen than this photo indicates). They are like yoga pants meets kind of dressy pants. And throwing in the dryer for about 4 minutes gets the wrinkles out (and they're a blend so they haven't shrunk at all and stretch a bit as you wear them all day). {hat tip to my friend Darrah for putting them on Instagram}

The Lucy Tranquility Tunic is my new favorite top. Love how it fits and that you can wear it either front or back as I prefer the scoop neck in the front that they show in the back online. Again, can easily go from day wear to yoga to dinner. 

The Shiva top from Athleta is super soft and comfortable. Plus it is flattering and has thumb holes, which just makes me happy. There are several styles on sale right now including this stripey linen which looks awesome on.

These Chaco sandals immediately made my heel pain/plantar faciitis feel better. So comfortable. I've also been wearing these Chaco flip flops for several years and they've become a go-to all the time in the house shoe to help with the heel pain.

People often ask me where to buy a yoga mat. The truth is, I've always loved the Gaiam mats at Target. The few I have are a couple of years old, but I love this one from their current collection.

I'm also taking: This hat (but you probably already guessed that), a favorite long black dress from j.jill that is really comfy, three pairs of yoga pants, three tanks, a sweater or two, and a few other things I've somehow convinced myself I can't live without. 

Check out other everyday outfit posts here.

Quick note: Some links are affiliates, which means I receive a small commission when you purchase from that online store.

glimpses {2}

oh mango popsicles, i adore you

i couldn't stop myself
(these colors are making there way into the 1993 Collection)

i made an alchemy deck with mindy this month
(it was awesome. more about it soon.)

i took this photo to remind me that:
somewhere between the push and pull, between the gentle sweetness
and the fierce growth, there are pieces of summer.

viv always spots the love (in PDX)

there was so much crazy joy in this moment at WDS

jedi or jawa?

date night. remembering why we moved here 10 years ago.

*****

Over on Instagram, you can find me sharing "the true stories" with glimpses of my world. I still think it is the best social media community out there. And it somehow feels like this really safe space where I can process the real and the beauty and the hard stuff with a circle of kindreds.

If you're on Instagram, come over and say hi. I'd love to connect with you there.

pinned it. did it. {with doña}

Note from Liz: Doña is back with another post inspired by Pinterest. Love this honest insight she's given into her experience and the suggestions for what to do when tackling a sewing tutorial found on Pinterest.

*****

Have you ever used Pinterest as a search engine? Like Google, but with pictures for every hit?

It is one of my favorite ways to use it. When I decided recently that I wanted to make my own maxi skirt, I skipped Google and went straight to Pinterest. With their new search tools, it is even easier to hone in on what you are looking for. You can even search in your own pin boards if you use the “just my pins” filter. 

Searching with the words “maxi skirt” mostly returned fashion boards with styling suggestions and skirts for sale, but “maxi skirt pattern” hit the jackpot. There are many many free patterns, but most of the ones I looked at were poorly written and confusing. Here’s one good one. Eventually I found this pin and followed links to this post and this pattern for sale on Etsy.

I downloaded and printed out the pattern, bought some stripey bamboo jersey fabric, and got to work. 

But all did not go as planned. 

This was supposed to be an easy project! There are only four seams, what could go wrong? Well, a lot, it turns out. 

It all turned out well in the end, but I learned some lessons. So that you may have an easier sewing experience with this project (or any other), I’ll share them with you here:

1. Check your measurements carefully. Like two or three times. Because most of this pattern is based on your waist measurement, be very sure that you measured it correctly! Ahem.
2. Read through the directions to make sure you understand them before you begin. I’m a pretty experienced sewist, so I may have skipped this step. As a result, I missed an important detail which made all of my pattern pieces twice as wide as they needed to be. Whoops.
3. It is generally not a good idea to cut out fabric late at night after having a beer with dinner. Luckily, I figured out all of my errors before actually cutting anything out so no fabric was wasted. This could easily have been a disaster.
4. Also not recommended is cutting out a large piece of fabric on the floor with three frisky cats in the house. 
5. Unpicking mis-sewn seams is not the end of the world. But if you need to do it, and you are sewing black fabric with black thread, make sure you have good lighting.
6. Sometimes it is easier to cut off a seam than unpick it. Only use this shortcut if you have a little extra fabric to spare (my waistband is 1/2” shorter than originally intended).
7. Taking the time to line up the stripes for the skirt’s side seams is worth the few extra minutes. It really makes your work look professional.
8. Using a sewing machine needle intended for stretch fabric really does make a difference. I forgot to change out my needle until just before the last seam. That last seam is beautiful. The rest are a little messy. 

If you follow all the directions correctly, this is a really straightforward and rewarding project. It is also pretty fast. Even with all of my mistakes, it only took me a couple of hours. It would not be unreasonable to finish this in an hour. 

I love my new skirt and I will be making another one soon. Maybe not after a beer, though. 

Doña Bumgarner is a writer, artist, mama and a craft project-collector from way back. She loves Pinterest and uses it to help solve a household dilemma at least once a week (see her “pinned and done” board here). She lives in Santa Cruz with her partner, their little one and his almost grown one, and a collection of cats and chickens. If you are needing extra support to ease into summer with the kids at home, find her Welcome To Summer resources and printables pack here.