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  

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