thanks. no really, thank you. no seriously, i mean it.

i know, a thanksgiving post, really? way to be creative, claire.

i don't care, i tell you! we must have a thanksgiving post! 

so for this wonderful occasion, all no plain -faced girls shall give thanks together.

and yes, i want to know what you're thankful for. so spill. post a comment and list at least 10 things you are so glad to have in your life. 

you're beautiful. i already know that you're thankful for that.

ten OTHER things :) 

love,

claire

show up.

I Just Showed Up For My Own Life/ Sarah Groves

I'm going to live my life inspired

Look for the holy in the common place

Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed

I'm going to feel all my emotions 

I'm going to look you in the eyes

I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives

There are so many ways to hide

There are so many ways not to feel

There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life

And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

(add your own lyrics, words, or thoughts, please. have you shown up for your own life? what would it look like if you did?)

click here to listen, player is in the upper right hand corner of the site  

beautiful

exquisite

fair

fine

glorious

gorgeous

lovely

picturesque

pleasant

pretty

ravishing

splendid

stunning

well-favored. 

grow on, now. grow on.

Ask yourself:

 How am I growing more into the person I want to be, and moving away from the person I don't want to be?

Respond with words, another image, or a quote.

(photo by labokoff.etsy.com)

let's just fall all over the place.

I love fall.

I love fall so much it's hard to put into words, but if I tried to write a book titled "Why Claire Loves Fall," it would most certainly contain these words-

crisp

leaves

yellow

orange

caramel

apple cider

chai tea

spice

sweaters

waffles

birthday

headbands

squash

pumpkins

cool

hands

leather 

journal

poetry

candles

fleece

brown

Some of these things might not make sense to you. Do not fear. We all have our own reasons why we love fall. I am, of course, assuming that you do, because you do....right? I sure hope so. 

There's something about fall that makes me feel new.  Does that makes sense? 

It's that first breath you take when you step outside in the middle of a thousand on-fire trees, the sunshine spraying across your face with the cold wind.  It's the red or blue or orange scarf that keeps thoughts of winter at bay, the steam rising into your eyes from a freshly poured cup of coffee.  It's finding that it is in fact possible to lick the caramel sauce off of the whipped cream without consuming both at the same time, and arriving at the cider underneath. 

Fall makes me feel new. Discoveries abound, small joys and delights around every corner. You just have to keep your eyes open and your heart alert--don't let any fall gift go unnoticed!

It makes me want to send letters with leaf stamps and cinnamon sticks inside.  I just might do it. Let me know if you'd like one. 

Share fall newness with someone.  Add newness to their day by speaking something true into their lives- a compliment or a quote, an encouragement.  It's just one more way we can help each other see beauty in us, on us, and around us. 

 Amazing how honoring the beauty in other people makes the honorer more beautiful as well. 

So do as fall does--reveal beauty to those around you.  

with love always,

 Claire

surround me.

I like to surround myself with beautiful things. 

 Art prints, photographs, quotes that inspire me, 

business cards from places I love, delicate perfume bottles,

colorful lamps, fluffy down comforters, lockets,

short notes that friends, poetry that has changed

the way I see the world, a simple pillow,

shirts with soft lace and delicate patterns,

the list goes on and on.

Now that I've shared my list with you, please do share with me 

and all of your fellow No Plain-Faced Girls.  

What do you like to surround yourself with? Write it out here. 

rocking my world.

I think sharing the music we listen to, the sounds that shape our days, is a really fabulous way to connect as women.  Beautiful sounds for beautiful ears, right? So I thought I'd quickly let you in on some of what I've been listening to lately, by artist and album title. Check them out!

*Greg Laswell- "Three Flights From Alto Nido"

*Owl City- "Maybe I'm Dreaming"

*Nancy Wilson-"Elizabethtown (Original Soundtrack)"

*Elijah Wyman- "Beautiful Like Words"

*Brooke Waggoner- "Fresh Pair of Eyes" 

What about you? What's playing in your ears?