the new new. the here and the not yet.

I don't know about you beautiful women, but I am more than ready for Spring to come. 

 If you're in a cold climate right now you know that that reality seems far off.  Looking out my dorm window, I'm seeing snow drift across the faces of cold students walking from class to class, and not a spot of sunshine through the clouds.

So it doesn't look like Spring yet. We're going to have to accept that. 

And yet...in some ways, it feels like it it's coming in a big way.  

I know I sound like a crazy person, but bear with me.

These past few weeks, days, even, I have started to believe in a newness that is sweeping into my life. I don't know if any of you feel like this, but it's like God is opening up a new book for me, and showing me new pages, day by day.  Sometimes I have hard days, and moments where I feel like the sun will never show her face, but then I live a moment or say a prayer and think, it's coming. It's coming, and I know it.  I don't know fully what is ahead, but I feel excited.

It's like a single daffodil coming from the white white snow. 

If you feel this newness, this sense of something coming, this HOPE that you can't shut out, let's talk about it.  I know it's still cold outside. I know the wind howls and sometimes you feel like it gets so dark you have no light to walk by, but the light is there. Look closely, you'll see it. 

I want us to talk about brand-spanking-newness. About new life. About delight and beauty and the beauty of ourselves. It's what I'm calling "The New New." The not quite, but coming soon. The in-between place and what we can do to accept the good things that are coming our way while not having them yet. 

This might all sound like a lot of mumbo-jumbo, but I hope you get it. Please let your voice be heard- leave a comment and discuss this with me. I want to join in the conversation too. 

SO, Beautiful women, what's new?

 (Now you know that's a loaded question, but you must answer it for me. I have missed you and I want to rejoice with you...in what is and what is yet to come).

To the New New,

Claire 

(cue the epic music...!!!) THE NEW POST COMES TOMORROW

I know

you're looking

 forward to it. 

Come back

 to check it out.

 : )

- Claire

oddly wonderful.

I thought it might be fun to write some things down about myself that I found a little odd and a little wonderful at the same time.

If you would be so kind to join me and leave a comment listing 5 oddly wonderful things about yourself, I would be ever so delighted. Like this: 

Five Oddly Wonderful Things about (YOUR NAME HERE)

 I will start.  

Five Oddly Wonderful Things about Claire

1. I am delighted by earrings that don't match. 

Example- a sterling silver bird post on one, and a heart on the other. Fabulous.  

2. I will go to absurd lengths (but will never lie!) to avoid upper level math or science courses.

3. I want to buy a baby moss terrarium, and not only because it sounds cute, but because there may be few things better than a mini forest in a jar/salt shaker/vase etc.

4. The short phrase "nostalgic whimsy" tickles me to no end.

5. I have never watched an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition without crying freely during almost every scene. 

So now that I've been ever so open, won't you let me know your wonderful oddities, beautiful girl? 

Fill me in. 

let's call it a new year and start it at that.

I know it's about time ladies, it's been...about a year since the last blog post.

(((HA! TERRIBLE NEW YEARS JOKE.)))

I know. I had to. That's probably why you love me. At least one of the reasons.

And to be even more cliche...you know I have to ask...

What are your New Years resolutions?

Call them what you want- dreams, hopes, plans, goals...we all have them.
Sometimes speaking or writing them out help them become more of a reality.
It's a small step, but it's a step.

Think about what you want to accomplish in 2009.

Write a few of them down here to inspire one another.
Happy 2009, No Plain-Faced Girl. You are beautiful.

love,

claire version 200.9

the SPECTACULAR LOVE IT FUN TIMES gift guide!!!

i have some really lovely gift ideas for you.

I know today you had your freak out moment- it's actually THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, the same month as Christmas, and you have some work to do, missy. You've got friends to get gifts for (on a reasonable budget, since economy right now = : ( ) ), and if you're planning on getting them online, you should have them shipped soon and get them all wrapped up beautifully!

So here's the deal. If you haven't heard about the online marketplace Etsy, which carries all things beautiful and handmade, you're missing out. I have gotten some of my very best gifts for people I love from this place. 

Want to know more about Etsy? Okay! On their website they say that Etsy is "an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade!"

Need I say more? Get an Etsy move-on! It's so easy to sign up.  And no, they aren't paying me for this, I just love what they do. And just to let you know, this isn't Craft Fair Stuff. It's GOOD stuff. Trust me. 

CLICK HERE FOR ETSY!!!!! BUT NOT YET, BECAUSE I HAVE MORE.....

To give you some ideas about gift giving this year, I've posted some items here from Etsy that I absolutely adore, and that just might be that perfect gift for someone special (friend, boyfriend, mom, sister, dad, etc) this season.  

Click on the link to follow. 

"Forever Print (Orange)" by ameliamae

10 Things I Love...Stationery Set by elsiecake

"Flying Into the Clouds Bracelet" by LillyQueen

Rugged Brown Leather Wraparound Journal by EarthworksJournals

Parachuting Squirrels Canvas Tote Bag by MisNopales

....and there's so much more at Etsy.com. They even have their own gift guides!

NOW GET SHOPPING HANDMADE!!!!!

and for heavens sakes, let me know if you have any success!

Love,

Claire "I like to give things" Taulbee 

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