Back and on the Upswing

Oh. Migoodness.

I've been gone for a long time, right?!

Well, really, I've been here. As in here, in my house. Mostly on the couch or in my bed, and mostly not wearing any makeup and living in pajamas (I'll explain in a moment...) But I've been gone away from here. As in, here on my blog.

BUT......

Well, truth be told, I've had a lot going on in the ol' personal life. Long story short? I'm pregnant. Yeah, I was surprised, too. And, though I'm thrilled and beyond blessed and so grateful---pregnancy makes me very, violently, horrifically, unbelievably ill. At least for the first several months. On top of that, there was a death in my family. We lost my grandpa to leukemia recently, which has been hard and sad for my family.

So, I took a few months off from blogging, gift basket and gift bouquet creating, personal shopping, makeup, styling photo shoots, styling in general, and, to put it frankly, any sort of moving or becoming vertical (except to throw up...TMI? Sorry...) and focused on my family and my fetus.

Now that things seem to be on the upswing, I'm anxious and excited to get back into my work, but first I want to quickly say thank you to all of the friends and family who have been really supportive of me and my husband and kids while we dealt with my illness and the loss of my awesome Grandpa Tug.

But things are getting much more functional, for lack of a better word, around these parts and I've been having a fun time doing some personal shopping and filling some gift basket and bouquet orders. I even wore mascara today. I told you...things are looking up!

I'm excited to incorporate some maternity concepts into my Wardrobe Wednesdays and Thursday Threads (and everything else, really) but FEAR NOT, this has not become a pregnancy blog! Just as my life bends and twists with the changes in the air, so will my blog. But one thing stays the same--we are always searching. Though the last few months I've been mostly searching for anti-nausea ideas and ways to keep down fluids without incorporating the dreaded IV Therapy and all that nonsense, the fact remains the same. This has always been a place where I go to search and discover. Be it clothes, trends, fashion, music, ideas, anecdotes, love and laughter or, if we're being real, a lot of my general annoyances with society and life, there is always more to find and ALWAYS more to learn.

So happy to be back into the swing of it, back building gift baskets, back in the shops and boutiques and back at my computer desk. I've missed it, that's for sure.

I'd love to hear any suggestions for posts or reviews so don't be afraid to hit up the comments!
Adios for now!!

Letting the Colors Change

Hey all!!
I'm currently blogging in the car (so forgive me my grammatical shortcomings) cherry coke and fashion magazines in tow. We spent the weekend in Vegas, and the getaway was much needed. We got dressed up and hit the town last night but mostly we just let the kids swim and hung out with the family. We left Friday afternoon and will be back by bedtime tonight (Sunday) but the quick trip was worth it.

Life has been crazy the last few weeks (thus, my lack of blogging) and the Hall family just needed to get out of town. There is something about physically removing yourself from your surroundings that provides clarity. Often, I've realized that most of my problems can be solved if I just momentarily remove myself from the situation. It's as if I'm allowed to briefly see my own problems from an priceless outside perspective.

This quick little getaway was not only an opportunity for self reflection but it also sort of marks the summer ending. Things will change. Within the next few weeks, the temperatures will start to drop a little bit at a time. Soon, the leaves will change and my beautiful Utah mountains will glaze over with auburn and honey colored trees. Nature will look dead, but it's not. It's beginning the process of starting over. It's allowing the natural cycle of things to take course. And I think there is a lesson in that. Often, we (*cough*....er.....I...) try so hard to be in control and chart the course of how things go.

But sometimes the healing comes from just letting go and allowing the colors to just change.

It's time for me to stop fighting so hard and just let my colors change.

Stella

I walked into my room today, and I saw the same thing I see every time I walk in there.

But it was kind of different today.

Everyone, meet Stella.

When I first asked for a guitar, I was about 15 years old. I think that my parents probably thought it was a phase or that I wouldn't stick with it, but they bought it for me anyway. She's no Gibson, but I love her, and I wouldn't trade my guitar for the world. She's pulled me through a lot over the years.

That being said, Stella and I have drifted apart a bit the last few months. I've looked up at the wall and seen my guitar, and I've thought about playing, but I've been in a funk, and it hasn't felt right. It hasn't felt the same.

But tonight, feeling inspired for the first time in a while, specifically by a particular song, I dusted her off (literally...she had a layer of dust...) and we hung out for a few hours. Like I said, she's been on the wall for a few months now, so the after a tuning session (or four) that one particular song turned into several.

So now, with fresh callouses and a clearer head, I can't help but think that I'm pretty grateful for that song, and the subsequent followers. I'm glad she's quick to forgive and pick back up where we left off. Maybe Stella and I sent a little light tonight.

1. Beam Me Up- Pink
2. Falls on Me- Fuel
3. Learning to Breathe- Switchfoot
4. From Where You Are- Lifehouse
5. Please Remember Me- Tim McGraw
6. In a Little While- U2
7. Words I Couldn't Say- Leighton Meester
8. World Spins Madly On- The Weepies
...

-L

A Rainy Day Playlist

Today is one of those days.
You know, those ones.
And my mood matches the weather.

Which is odd because I actually love the rain. And typically, rainy weather makes me happy.
But today is gloomy. And just, blah.
And I'm just glad that today is almost over.
And I'm bound and determined to make tomorrow better than today.
Even if the weather stays gloomy.

Here's today's playlist:

1. Peace of Mind-Boston

2. I Almost Do-Taylor Swift

3. Roderigo-Seven Mary Three

4. The Chain-Three Days Grace

5. Watching Airplanes-Gary Allan

6. Again-Needtobreathe

7. Times Like These-Foo Fighters

8. Remember Everything-Five Finger Death Punch

9. Pass Slowly-Seether

10. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room-John Mayer

11. Second Chances-Shinedown

12. Boston-Augustana 

Here's to a sunny tomorrow, even if it rains!

-L