A Guest Post from Jessie @ Life.

Hello there!  I'm Jessie from Life., here to guest post while my Mickey is on the road and Texas-bound with her dear husband.   If you don't know me, I'll fill you in with the short version:  I met our wonderful Micaela (and her Twinkie!) in our college Spanish class, and we all three majored in Mass Communications together.   I have so many fond memories of the Lechuga girls over the span of our college years spent together, and could tell you some pretty funny stories... but that is an entirely different post in itself. ;)

I am extremely lucky to call Micaela a very close 'real-life' friend- and I can personally assure you all that she is every bit as sweet, beautiful and fabulous as you can possibly imagine.  I'm blessed to have her friendship, and am SO excited that her and Chip are moving back to her beloved Texas.  I was also completely honored when Micaela asked me to guest post for her today. 
 Micaela's instructions:

"With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in: a picture, a poem, a song (or piece of music), a quote, an item of clothing, and a place."

Without further adieu, I give you my heart:

A Picture:





My Love snapped this picture of us one evening, not even a year into our relationship.  We had been out, I was a little tipsy and was making him laugh.  Reaching for the camera (and then SMILING) is extremely out of character for my boyfriend- and something about this random moment he captured while I wasn't even paying attention always gives me butterflies.  HE is my heart.

A Poem:

"She staked her Feathers- Gained an Arc-

Debated- Rose again-

This time- beyond the estimate

Of Envy, or of Men-

And now, among Circumference-

Her steady Boat be seen-

At home- among the Billows- As

The Bough where she was born-"

~Emily Dickinson

A Song:

A Quote:

"There is no remedy for death- or birth- except to hug the spaces in between.  Live loud, live wide, live tall."
~Jim Crace

An Item of Clothing:

My vintage Cole Haan cowboy boots... because they're a little bit "country" and a little bit "rock-n-roll", like me. ;)


A Place:

There are a couple of different things going on in this picture.  Let me explain:
This was taken at The Iron Horse Pub, one of my favorite pubs/live music venues on the face of this Earth.  And I attended this particular concert (Dan Dyer) with the Lechuga girls- Marianne and Micaela. 
My heart can be found in several places.  Live music venues?  My heart is there.  The Iron Horse Pub?  It may sound silly, but my heart is there.   It's where I spent a majority of my college years.  It's where I met Love.  When I needed a job, it's where I found work.  It's my 'place.' 
And any place that I get to be with great friends- like these girls- well, my heart is there, too.
Side Note:  This picture was taken the night I met Chip.  And a year-and-a-half later, I was able to see Micaela become his wife. <3

  I'm truly, truly blessed with some great people in my life.  And THAT makes my heart happy.
Thanks so much for having me, Micaela!  I love you so very much and cannot wait to see what adventures El Paso brings the Maxham's!
xoxo

Guest Post from April @ April, Maybe: My Heart

 Hi! Another guest post while Micaela and her hubby are journeying to El Paso! I'm April from over at April, Maybe and I'm really excited to be guest posting, and on a Thursday! It's my favorite day of the week. :) Now, on to showing you my heart - or at least a little bit of it, following Micaela's instructions.

"With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in: a picture, a poem, a song (or piece of music), a quote, an item of clothing, and a place."




A Picture :

 

This is a picture from November 2009, about a month into my sophomore year of college. These goofy kids are my best friends in the entire world and I haven't seen them in such a long time. I was honestly planning to do my post on my love of Paris and how much I want to go back, but then I remembered this picture... and in honor of Micaela moving back to Texas, I'm focusing on my roots instead of my wings. These people are my little self-made family and I can't wait to see them again.

A Poem: 

The time will come when, with elation

you will greet yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror

and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

Derek Walcott

Every time I read that poem, my heart swells just a little bit, and the first time I read it I immediately thought how much Micaela would like it, so it seems appropriate to include it in this post - although I will say that Tonight I Can Write by Pablo Neruda is my favorite poem in the entire world.

A Song:

Conveniently for me, Alabama and Arkansas (my two homes) are mentioned in this song. Every time I hear it, no matter where I am or what I'm doing, I have to stop and just enjoy it.

Quote: 

In the spirit of a new year:

“Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.”

Brooks Atkinson

Item of Clothing:

This hat. Best $10 I ever spent.

Place:

Picking a place is hard, but the way I feel about it is kind of like that riddle from Inception:  You are waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you can't be sure. But it doesn't matter because you'll be together. So for a place, I'm just posting a picture of me and my little sister. It doesn't really matter much where I go, just as long as I know that I can be with someone I love.

Well, that's all from me! Please keep Mr. and Mrs. Maxham in your thoughts while they're trekking it across the US of A! 

And have a lovely Thursday! It holds so much promise, the day just before freedom!

April

Guest Post from Marz @ Royal Mail: My Heart

Hello Loves!!! :) I'm Marz from Royal Mail aka Micaela's twinkie. I am SO excited to be guest posting for the reason for these guest posts...Twinkie is in route to her beloved Texas (where she belongs!) and closer to me! :) This past Christmas was our very first apart and let me tell you, it was hard on me. Can you imagine having been around someone since the womb?! ha So I cannot wait until she's closer to home and at least in the same state and time zone. Our instructions were to share with you our hearts. 

"With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in: a picture, a poem, a song (or piece of music), a quote, an item of clothing, and a place."

here's my heart


A Picture :

My boys

A Poem: 

A Song:

Quote: 


I honestly wanted to "steal" a quote from Marisa that she blogged about here; it moved me so much that right after reading that particular post I wrote it on a post-it note and it continues to hang on my computer at work so I can constantly see it. It describes me perfectly!

But since M is also guest posting, I decided to share another:

The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny - Napolean Bonaparte

Item of Clothing:

Place:

I left my heart in London...

I'm curious...what would your heart look like?

I can tell you one thing, this heart of mine gets very attached. Once I love someone or something, I will love forever. I am a firm believer in always, always being loyal to your heart.

I can't wait to see all the gorgeous hearts of the girls guest posting with me :) 

Please say a prayer of safe traveling for Micaela, Max and their doggie babies! I can't wait until they are back in Texas! Every minutes brings them closer to me and that makes my heart swell with pure joy!!!

xo,
Marz 

showing our hearts.

since i'll be without internet as we roadtrip to our new home, i graciously asked my favorite ladies to blog-sit. 

not only will you get to meet some of my dearest friends, but see why i adore them so. 

i left each one with instructions from this little post: "With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in: a picture, a poem, a song (or piece of music), a quote, an item of clothing, and a place."

here's my heart

A Picture :

A Poem: 

"Understand, I'll slip quietly

Away from the noisy crowd

When I see the pale

Stars rising, blooming over the oaks

I'll pursue solitary pathways Through the pale twilit meadows,

With only this one dream:

You come too."

-Rainer Maria Rilke

A Song:


(our wedding song Til Kingdom Come by Coldplay)



Quote: 

Item of Clothing: 

Place:

italy, my heaven on earth.  {photo by my brother}

*stay tuned each day to see beautiful hearts and say hello to each fabulous girl visiting? grazie! i'll see you hopefully in a week! xo

(image 1 & 3)

overwhelmed.

fragile tape by misterrob

pulling an all nighter with husband packing up the rest of our house...

i can't believe the movers come tomorrow.

i think it finally hit me that we're moving when i had to say good-bye to my co-worker this morning. and then later when i turned in my work key and said good-bye to the puppies. 

i cried as i drove away from work because it hit me all at once. 

thank-you for all your congratulations and sweet comments on our moving announcement! i promise to keep you posted (and i know you'll be dying to hear about how my meet up with this beautiful girl goes!!!) but for now, i gotta get back to tape and boxes. i miss you all already!!! xo 

another thank-you... I can't believe even in the moving/holiday madness, i somehow managed to get 500 followers! husband pointed that out to me happily and reminded me of his great idea to host a giveaway. I've already started rounding up my favorite things! very exciting. i'm in good company with each of you lovies, this i know. xoxoxoxo!

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, 


everything is softer and more beautiful." 

-Norman Vincent Peale

happy birthday jesus!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a

but... a tired micaela from work.

the thing about working with puppies is, puppies don't take Christmas off. Yup, even though we're closed, i and my best friend co-worker have to be there at 7:30 in the a.m. to feed and clean up (easily 2 hours).

we've already decided to give them extra portions for christmas, along with extra kisses and cuddles! if i had to be stuck doing any job at 7:30 a.m. on christmas morning, than i'm glad it's with adorable pups (who are so happy to see you!) and edward.

speaking of cuddles, off to give my dog babies their candy cane bones.

Merry Christmas Eve lovies!!! i can't believe Christmas is just a few hours away! xoxo

claire surprised me with this, and now i wanna surprise my twinkie.

Claire saw this on a blog and thought of me. Oh how i love me some Coldplay.

They are the soundtrack of my life. With packing and working, it hasn't truly felt like the holidays, but this song right here helped. I can't help but smile and be moved by Chris Martin.

Marianne, i started screaming at the end....  you'll have to watch to see why. that's for you.

{update: Gary Barlow is the singer who came out at the end. He's my twinkie's "robbie williams." Both guys (my robbie, her gary) started out in the same boyband and she instantly loved Gary. SO MUCH FUN when i saw him come out at the end!}

love. love. love. love.

thank-you claire!

here's to upcoming adventures!

my exciting news wasn't that a stork was visiting (though elaine, i'm so excited one visited your family again! congrats!!!) but that this Texas girl is moving back to my beloved home state! Husband got a job in El Paso and i'm so proud of him.

i'm sad to move away from his family and our charming city that's been home for almost a year now (and to not have thrifting dates with my girl fiancee whenever i want-- how i'll miss her and our antique shop!).

but we'll be closer to my family and that makes me happy! and since my in-laws live in Virginia, i know i'll be seeing Danielle when i come visit-- that also makes me incredibly happy!

husband starts jan. 3rd so you can imagine our casa is upside down in a sea of boxes.

we leave dec. 29th with a stop in Georgia (where his grandparent's still own property outside atlanta) around the same time my kindred soul will be at her mama's for christmas break!

get your own custom heart map at Refashioned

yup--- i can't wait to hug claire! i'd say "meet" but i feel like i've known her forever. I knew her family lived near atlanta but it wasn't until i was mailing her christmas gift to her Mama's house that husband saw i had spelt the name of the city wrong. While he fixed it for me, he said, "baby you know that's only 15 minutes away from the farm right?" 

why didn't i think about that!?!

Claire flies back to San Fran Dec. 30th so it's perfect we will catch each other "in passing." I will be a hot mess from driving but i don't care! she's already invited me to a home cooked southern meal at her Mama's beautiful house and i can not wait!!!

SO VERY EXCITING!!! to meet Claire and for mine and husband's new adventure back in TEXAS.

2011, you're looking beautiful already. 

follow the yellow brick road.

i promised to share some exciting news with you guys today and i promise to do that later this evening...

it's been a busy day at work! so first, i'll direct your attention to little baby me:

find out why i'm showing you a photo of me as a tot by dancing over to iris' blog:

she has a festive series going on that i was happy to be a part of. 

talk to you tonight lovies! xo

Postal Service.

Package from my beautiful bestie M!!! i love her wrapping.

This year's ornies from my best friend: glittery eiffel tower and ruby red high heel. perfect

I want to hang this over our bedroom door. 

This sweet little book is from M's daughter Kenzie who is just precious!!! I just adore her.

i love you more than words Marisa!!! 

^a GORGEOUS wedding gift L. Nicole made for us. Max loved it so much he suggested i use it as my blog header (isn't he the most supportive husband?) Lauren painted this beauty with such love and detail-- the post stamps have places i've lived and loved -- she had some that were open to add for where we should live in our years together. love love love <333

she also sent these lovely postcards! <333

^all the above spoils came from Phoenix. Isn't she amazing to send so many handmade cookies? (i love those tins!) let me tell you, they didn't last long in the Maxham household-- they were delish! {i'm currently listening to the holiday music she sent me} if that wasn't enough, she also included a pretty glass candlestick holder for my collection and a beautiful art print. My heart is full, thank-you Phoenix! x

^pretty postcard from Celenia in Italy who got married Dec. 11th! congrats amica x

^the beautiful ornaments Katy sent me in our ornament swap with chocolate and a doggie christmas card i lurrrve! esp. since the two butterflies signify "marital bliss." 

^another beautiful wedding gift from my girlfriend Steph. Perfect for one of our wedding photos!

^don't you love the wedding card and gift Kary sent?  her letters/packages are always put together with so much love! the stocking turns over to say "nice," a crystal wish garden, ELVIS ornament (love!!!), nutcracker soap, she shared the secrets of a "newly weds survival guide" (adorable!) and these "Yes Dear!" pills that Max may have already used. ha! i think Karina knows what she's talking about-- her and her handsome husband just celebrated 7 years of marriage bliss! i love you Karina y Miguelito xo

^a really top letter from Becca in Australia (we met when she sent me a postcrossing). Such a beautiful letter full of Audrey Hepburn postcards and a fun article with a heart paperclip. Every bit of it-- beautiful.

^postcard going to Becca.

^the little thank-you i sent sandra for the gold heart ornament she sent me : handmade keychain from fallon's shop {it was on sandra's wishlist!} and a candy cane bone for Candy, her adorable dog.

^the so very her ornament i sent erin this year

^book of pin-ups for Kat and candy cane bone for baby bono

^what i sent lauren for her birthday at the end of last month including a Dear Victoria Ring and Vintage Postage Stamps from her etsy faves.

i also sent out Christmas packages (some going out tomorrow-- i'm so swamped lately with work and other things i can't wait to tell you about tomorrow... exciting news!) and to share what Claire sent me for Christmas! i hope your mailboxes are just as happy and loved as ours always is thanks to my darlings. xo