This beautiful flower is growing in my boyfriend's mom's garden. Although the flowers that surround it (candy pink, sunburst orange) are really quite extraordinary, they don't compare with this one. I've never seen a pattern quite like it. It's as if a little sun bloomed inside and pressed the petals open.

Memorial Day weekend proved to be quiet and relaxing. Saturday was spent in the country near the river. My boyfriend and his family floated down the Guadalupe, maybe one of the last times of the season before it gets too dry and the rocks peek their heads up from underneath. I stayed behind; the last time I floated the river I found myself crashing in to people and rocks and trees and didn't get much enjoyment out of it. So I relaxed by the pool, sunbathed on and off (with sunblock of course), and read Rumi poetry and The Sound of Paper by Julie Cameron. It was a beautiful day with the sky a pale blue, and although a teeny bit hot, there was a nice breeze. And the cicadas! They were out in full force practically drowning out any bird song. 

Sunday was recoup from the sun day (ha!). Even the dog was pooped and crashed out for most of the afternoon.

Memorial Day was spent at a friend's house grilling burgers and playing games. I had a homemade Mediterranean turkey burger. Ingredients: ground turkey meat, dried cranberries, low fat feta cheese, and garlic. You can find the recipe here. I left out the spinach and skipped the egg whites.

Speaking of food, wanna know what I've been eating on the Tone It Up nutrition plan?

From my journal: May 18, 2012

I have loved myself today, my body, my bravery, proud of how far I've come.

I can drive around the city without using the GPS. I can speak my opinion and share ideas. I can love my muscular legs even though they're hard to squeeze into tiny shorts. 

I have grown so much, been courageous, loved, used my voice, stood on my own two feet, healed, and risen above insecurities because I am wonderfully made and worth it.

And I'm still learning, still growing, still walking the desert, but I'm not lost or confused like I thought I was. I'm here to walk the desert with others, be a leader. Yes, I'm quiet and shy, but I'm also a Leo and I'm here for something big. God has placed me here to bring beauty to the desert. If we must walk through it we might as well enjoy the journey.

The last time a big shift happened in my life was three years ago. I felt it coming. There were many nights in bed when I thought, enjoy this steadiness because it's about to quake. And it did in the spring of 2009 when my boyfriend of almost five years said adios out of the blue. That little earthquake hurt like hell, but as we all know, life has a way of shifting in the right direction. 

So I moved back to my home state of Texas from Tennessee and started a new life on my own. Three months later I met the man I'm still deeply in love with three years later. Now we have a little home and a little dog and things are just peachy. Except...

I feel the shift coming again, but I'm not afraid. This little quake will be different; there's a bubbling of excitement behind it. And every time I start feeling down about my j-o-b and my life purpose and all that, I hear, keep holding on. The door's about to swing open. 

I won't even try to guess what it's all about, but it's good. I know it's good, even if just a little frightening. Life quakes always make us stumble a little bit, but that's how we learn to dance, no?

So I'm holding on, shaking my tail feathers, and waiting for the next big adventure. 

Suzi Blu says I can paint too!!

Ever since I saw Suzi's work in Art Saves, I've been obsessed. Those little doll faces, those colors! So of course I bought her brand spankin' new book Mixed Media Girls that shows you step-by-step how to create mixed media paintings like hers. I'm all about step-by-step because I can't draw to save my life. But thanks to Suzi, I'm learning!

I've always loved mixed media, but never incorporated my own drawing or painting, especially people because they always end up looking a bit wonky. So I'm pretty proud of this first attempt. The book even shows you how to shade and draw a nose. Total gold for a beginner like me. I can't wait to paint more pretty girls. Thank you, Suzi!

What does being in love with your life look like?

Write yourself a love letter today. A big, fat, juicy, succulent love letter. Then write one to the universe.

How does it feel to be so in love?

The star dreamer in you
wants to climb the sky.
She says, "Make me wings
from Saturn's rings
and I shall fly to the moon
and plant a seed."
It's a dream seed.
The one in your heart.