Clean.

A mission.

I really love sitting here and putting down words and pictures for you. Maybe it is more for me. Regardless, it brings me joy (and from your emails and comments it brings you joy too). I have been thinking about this teeny blog lately and wondering what it is for. Why do it?

This question frequently pops up in my life in different versions. You could call it intention or over-thinking, depending on your angle. Why eat the food we do? Why choose the toys we have for our children? Why live without television?

There is intention in how we have chosen to work, partner, and live, and in how we parent, school, and engage our children. Heck, we have intention in the crayons we buy, how we diaper (or not) our babies, and the holidays we celebrate. But those are conversations for another day.

The big question this morning is: why blog?

So here is my blog Manifesto, my Mission, Intention, or Over-Thought-Moment-of-Misplaced-Seriousness:

1. Inspire

Our world is brimming with hidden beauty and inspiration. I strive to inspire you through the moments and thoughts that I share through words and pictures.

2. Be Inspired

I will seek inspiration and beauty each day. There is so much around me that is magical. I will touch it, photograph it, and share it.

3. Uplift

Our words shape our world and I choose to work for good. May my message lift your heart and make your soul sing.

4. Challenge

I challenge myself to try new things, to post with regularity, to be present each day. I challenge you with ideas that may be new, unusual, non-conformist.

I welcome your participation here in the form of comments and emails. Thank you for joining me on this adventure and sharing in these moments of our lives.

Sweet on...

Ah, Valentine's Day! Once a day about sweethearts and lovers, for me Valentine's Day is now very much about spinning a little magic with my kids.

For us it is a burst of warm love in the midst of our coldest (and seeming longest, despite its 28 days) month. To celebrate we had a sweet morning of heart-shaped mochi (cut with a cookie cutter), pink steamers (colored with this awesome natural food coloring that I special ordered from my coop), and some serious Valentine crafting. 

So what am I sweet on this February 14th?

These crafty hands and their little man (who, at 6, is referring to himself as "a young teenager"),

and these magical bluebird eyes and the magical Bluebird girl they belong to.

There is also my amazing man (the big, grown up one) who I actually got a date with on Saturday!

Life is sweet.

What is making your heart sing?