The Staves: 3 Beautiful Sisters

Just what I needed on a peaceful summer Sunday.

Source: REFUSES to LABEL

The ABC of Architects

A neat little video that pairs famous architects and the buildings they're most known for. 

Source: Yatzer

...but trust me on the sunscreen

Although probably well overdone, "Advice, like youth, probably wasted on the young." by Mary Schmich is an article every young adult should read. Many of these "how to live your life while you're still young" articles, go on and on and repeat themselves so much as if the writer didn't even think to edit, just rambled. Schmich, is precise, to the point and throws in a bit of humor. Bravo.

Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young

 Mary Schmich

June 1, 1997 

Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC

let me live among the trees

 As a child, I never built a proper tree house. I will one day...

Craft: That Special Gift

When it comes to gift giving, I like to believe that it's one of my specialties. There is no greater feeling than seeing someones face light up after receiving something they would never expect (but 100% love). This past Christmas I took on the task of making presents for my loved ones, and now I'm addicted. What a better way to make gift giving more special then saying, "I hand made this for you."?
With the passing of Mother's Day and Father's Day, I thought it would be a great time to share some of the heartfelt items I made for my parents.

Mother's Day: Mason Jar Soap Dispensers
After recently moving into a new house, my mother had been looking for the perfect matching soap dispenser to set beside her sink. Home decor stores were falling short, so I grabbed some pale green paint and solved the problem. All of my materials were found around the house, with only one exception, Triple Thick Gloss. Being that the soap dispenser will be near water, I thought it was necessary to provide a protective finish. It matches perfectly!

Father's Day: "Farmers First Garden" Framed Pictures

Every birthday and holiday that I can remember, my father says the same thing: "I don't need anything, I've got you!". Which is why I always surprise him with something custom. This year, he has taken on the task of starting his first garden; tomatoes being the star of the play. He was too busy digging in the dirt to track the growth process, so I did it for him. With the help of my camera, Kinkos, and Target picture frames, I gave my dad close up shots of his first two tomatoes. 

Prayer of the Woods

Have you ever stopped to think about how much the woods has given to you?

Playlist: Lord Heron, Lonesome Dreams

A perfect musical discovery on a hot summer morning. Enjoy.