My friend Courtney (remember our book club?) recently started a new blog called The Lit Girl. It's a place all bibliophiles should all hang out. She recently started a featured reader series that I am so excited about! In her words:
When I was first dreaming up this blog, one of my main goals was to bring readers together. I am always incredibly curious about what people are reading, where they read, and how they read. I'm that weirdo on the train craning my neck to catch a glimpse of the cover someone is reading across from me. It's my way to break the ice with strangers. I wanted to use this blog partially as a fun place to share the reading habits of others, since I am sure there are people out there just as curious as I am.
You know when you hear something at the perfect moment you needed to hear it? Go here to read the words that touched my heart, especially in my role as new mama.
Congratulations Lottie & Welcome to the world beautiful Ava!
♥ pretty excited about this! showed off my then 30 week bump + bits of this pregnancy on Spearmint Baby. Please take a look? also pretty sure my husband hates that i shared that story, but it's a true one and makes me laugh.
♥ this is blurry, but you an make out the curve of my belly (hi felix!) what a difference two weeks makes-- i'm 32 weeks here and today i'm double the curve {so it feels} at 34 weeks.
♥ my brother sent me this photo : a Felix Rd in AZ!
♥ speaking of her daddy, i can't get enough of my sollie girl! my beautiful niece
♥ my pappa had a sweet lady from the church embroider this bib for baby girl. It warmed my heart even more when he asked her to find a cat to put on it.
♥ reading paired with choc yellow pound cake : how sundays should be spent. i read the follow-up to her 1st memoir in a day. i couldn't put it down.
♥ husband taking me to finally see this movie. i'm probably the 10th person to tell you that i loved it!
Happy Friday Lovies! what happy things are you ending the week with? +please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo
while i'm home in Wichita Falls, TX enjoying family time (including celebrating my birthday with my twin), some of my favorite friends are blog-sitting my dolce vita in a guest series called, "showing our hearts."A new one will be posted every week day until i get back in town on March 10th. I'm really excited! they're all pretty hearts and it's such a fun, simple way to get to know another blogger better.
dear readers, i hope you enjoy each post starting with the very first one today from the ever lovely lauren nicole. love, micaela xo
A Picture :
My best friend, Stephen, recently moved to Portland. And it's been tough not having his crazy, silly, lovely energy and personality around. He's been busy trying to find a job and getting settled in, so we haven't had the chance to chat; AKA, I miss him. But anyway, these photos is from his going away party last week and I put them together because I like how they look next to one another, don't you? He's one of my favorite people and our hearts are so similar. Not including him in this post would be just plain odd.
A Poem :
Can you lie next to her
and give her your heart, your heart?
As well as your body
And can you lie next to her
and confess your love, your love?
As well as your folly
And can you kneel before this king
and say "I’m clean", "I’m Clean"?
- Excerpt from 'White Blank Page', by Mumford and Sons.
Even though it's not a poem, Mumford and Sons' lyrics read and sound to me just like poems. If you've ever heard their music, you know just how beautiful and poetry-like it is. Marcus Mumford is a lyrical genius and really puts all his heart into what he writes.
A Song :
Florence And The Machine and Laura Marling are two of my favorite artists/singer-songwriters. along with lovely Mumford and Sons up there. Both of these women have written songs that make my heart swell and my soul grow. I couldn't possibly choose just one of them to represent my heart. Each of these songs are up there in my favorites of Florence and Marling, because I could not possibly have just one favorite from both of them. Why I love both these songs? I can't even put words to why I love both of them, so just listen and you'll see!
Quote:
"Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God." - Kurt Vonnegut
"Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative place where no one else has ever been." - Alan Alda
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is wasted." - Unknown
"I'm impossible to forget, but I'm hard to remember." - Elizabethtown
"There is nothing more artistic than to truly love people." - Van Gogh
"the world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. on occasion' some may be correct. but do not do their work for them. seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say "yes"." - keith olbermann
"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." - Franklin P. Jones
{Just like my soul sister Caela, I love quotes, so there's no way I could have picked just one!}
An Item of Clothing:
After I lost 60+ pounds last summer, I was able to wear a lot more of the kinds of clothing I like. Unfortunately, I don't have too many photos of myself in my favorite articles of clothing. I have a favorite yellow dress, two green dresses and several skirts. But telling you doesn't help, now does it? Well, I've fallen in love a lot more with shoes in the past 6ish months or so and these are only a couple pairs that I love. I need to take some photos of the heels I've been buying and wearing lately, they are super cute! Stop by my blog someday, I think a shoe post is in order.
A Place:
My beau's house feels like home. Or wherever he is for that matter. He's one of my best friends and wherever he is feels like somewhere I should be too.
following Bethany's cute idea to become more travel-saavy, i labeled my toiletries with doilies, washi tape, and glitter. i realize i'm going to my parent's house so i don't really need to bring my usual hair stuff, but lately my skin has been out of control. I thought i better bring my sensitive face wash/moisturizer or i fear what my face will look like when i get back.
i can't wait for family time! i'm catching a plane in the morning {prayers for safe travels please!} and will land at DFW around 1 p.m. where my twinkie and her husband will meet me at the arrivals gate (such a happy place!). The last time i was home was in july, so i can't wait to soak up all the time i can get with my family.
Like last time, i've asked my favorite ladies (and friends) to blog-sit. Not only will you get to meet some of my very favorite reads, you'll see why i adore them so.
i decided to give them instructions from thelast series of guestposts on my dolce vita:"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."
starting tomorrow through March 10th, stay tuned each day to see beautiful hearts and please say hello to each fabulous girl visiting. xo
Bring your cup of coffee and come join me as i host this month's favorite book club over at april, maybe.
i'll share my favorite book with you, where you'd find this sentence underlined:
"...she smiles in an exhausted but warm sort of way, as though she is a brilliant sun in some other galaxy." -pg. 170
click here please? and as i mention in my guest post, if you haven't read my most favorite book i'll happily let you borrow my copy although i can't promise there won't be dog eared pages, coffee stains, and underlined sentences like the above. xo
Kaileen is one of my very dear blog friends. She is behind a brilliant blog series calledTruth, Love, & Insight. The idea in her own words:
"Do you ever stop and think about what it would be like if all us — bloggers, blog readers and other online adventurers — lived in the same neighborhood?
We could meet up at the coffee shop. We would bump into each other at the grocery store. We would go shopping, decorate our homes and play with make up together. We’d borrow each other’s books, share music and cook meals together. When someone new moved in, we would have a big block party to welcome them.
In a lot of ways, the web is like a big city with many different neighborhoods. I’ve referred to (and heard others call it) this community. That’s what it is, isn’t it? A lovely, welcoming and inspiring community."
i just love that image! {dear reader, i would always invite you over for coffee and thrifting dates, just so you know} That was the inspiration behind her series of which i was honored to be part of. Please stop by Kaileen's blog today to check out my guest post. I would love for you to and I'm curious to know how you would answer these prompts?
thank-you Kaileen for having me! xo
ps. she's hosting a sparkle swap... doesn't that name alone make you wanna sign up?
Hi lovelies my name is Gracie and I'm from Graciebellabutterfly. The sweet Micaela has asked me to do a guest post for her, which I'm so honoured to do :)
I just adore Micaela. She is like a sister to me and when we write letters to each other she says it feels like we are sisters staying up to whisper secrets at night. And it definitely feels like that. Like Micaela I love to write letters, read books and be creative. I think she is the Queen of beautiful mail and I cherish each letter I receive from her. I hope we will continue our wonderful friendship.
"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:
Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
~ Mother Teresa
A Song:
In love with the piano and songs without words. River Flows in You by Yiruma.
Quote:
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
~ Anne Frank
Item of clothing:
a typical me outfit
Place:
The beach. Either Sunshine Coast (pictured) or the Gold Coast here in Queensland, Australia.
Thank You so much Micaela. I hope you have the most beautiful time away :)
I bake cupcakes. It's taken over my life. I couldn't be happier about it.
A Poem:
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
She Walks In Beauty
Lord Byron
A Song:
"Driven By A Beating Heart"
A Silent Film
A Quote:
"Jackie Kennedy would NOT have camel toe"
- Tim Gunn, Project Runway
An Item of Clothing:
I think this counts more as an accessory, but I love my glasses. They are officially a part of me. I will never want contacts. It also doesn't hurt that they go with everything.
A Place:
I will never grow tired of this place. Ever. Even when I'm 50 I will still go, buy a Jasmin tiara and ride Space Mountain at least 4 times.
Hi there, ya'll. I'm Beca from Tales of a Tumbleweed and I was so happy micaela asked me to guest post while she's celebrating her sister's wedding! I am a curator/creator of sweet treats by day, and a small business owner by night and er, day, too! My boyfriend and I make wooden faced sunglasses for our little shop and we live and breathe it! I am a habitual collector and have a strange, eclectic taste that has in turn filled our home with oddities. We have three dogs and one cat who have stolen our hearts.
*A Photo* // The only thing that really matters.
*A Poem* // An open invitation to let your bluebirds free.
A Song* // These are a few of my favorite things. Kanye West featuring Will Oldham and Zack Galifianakis
*A Quote* // "its not my revolution if i cant dance to it." emma goldman.
there is a little anarchist in us all.
An Item of Clothing* // A little black and white Mexican top that I can't live without. I only paid a dollar for it, and it was the best dollar I ever spent!
*A Place* // My grandparents house in the swamplands of middle Florida.
Hi, I'm Gale from Wichser Studio! I'm delighted to be here for Micaela, as she's away celebrating with her family. I swear Micaela is probably the sweetest thing that happened to the net. I always know where I can come to find inspiration and a bit of romance -- Ok, a lot of it, which is why I love Dolce Vita so! Thanks for having me here, sweetie!
Here is my heart:)
A picture:
The last night of our recent Florida trip, night swimming with my husband, brother, and cousins. Every time I see Jeff getting along so well with my family (and vice versa), it makes my heart swell up like I've never quite felt before.
(an excerpt from) A poem:
"The Anthem"
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
-Leonard Cohen
A song: My feel good song at the moment from one of my favorite bands.
A quote: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” -St. Catherine of Siena
I actually first saw this quote on Micaela's post on the Royal Wedding and instantly stored it in my heart.
An item of clothing:
My dad helping me with the necklace I made for my wedding day. I love this moment. A place:
The majestic, Redwood Forest. I want to be where those humongous trees stand!
I am so excited to be here today! I'll be keeping you company while my amiga Micaela heads over to a family wedding. {oh, amor!}
Today I will be showing you mi corazon {my heart}.
Here is my heart...
A Picture:
A Poem:
Bright Star
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever--or else swoon to death.
-John Keats
A Song:
{This might be TMI, but this song makes me want to make out with my hubbers. lol.}
A Quote:
Item of clothing:
I am so into comfort right now! lol.
Don't get me wrong I love wedges and heels.
I am so obsessed with shoes.
I find wedges quite comfy actually.
But these babies right here...wow!
They have like these built in gel insoles.
I am seriously walking on a pillow all day.
Not to mention I got them at TJMaxx for $25. Ya!
A Place:
Cancun, Mexico
We went to Cancun almost 2 years ago for our honeymoon.
Oh how it has changed. It's a shame really.
Mexico is a gorgeous country & now it is being ruined with violence.
While many people say that the touristy areas are safe,
I don't think we will be going back in the near future.
I do have many fond memories though.
Romantic sunsets by the pier.
An empty swimming pool, an empty hotel, empty beach, empty everything. ha!
Hello. Here's to Micaela having a lovely vacation filled with magic and adventure. I just think she is the cutest and I wish I could keep her in my pocket.
My name is Kitty and I keep a silly little blog called Fritzi Marie.
I love to make wishes and go treasure hunting for vintage pretties.
I keep most of them but I like to share so I have an Etsy shop, Fritzi Marie, where I sell my finds.
That is how I met sweet Micaela. She picked up some goodies from my shop and we were fast friends.
I love love love to meet kindred spirits.
A Photo:
My Daniel and my Bono Baby.
My loves.
A Poem:
Alki Beach
Waves have wetted this beach everyday
since it came into being. Beneath,
suffering the ebbs and flows,
a perch lingers near an ornate piling
of mussels, anemones, barnacles, and star fish.
Below, carapaces litter the front of the octopus's
den. It rests in its boneless mass, a crab-full belly.
Above, my feet meet waves on their continuous push
over the sand, leaving a salty reminder of what is always
here. Across, Seattle, shaded with gray, sprouts
up with the water as its green in lieu of trees. And next
to the den a gunnel takes up residence
in a Rainier Beer can ten years submerged.
-Dan Morris
Our Song:
A Quote:
"Cultivate your curves - they may be dangerous but they won't be avoided."
Hi! I'm Sarah from Sadie Designs and I am so thrilled to be guest posting on Micaela's blog while she's travelling! Our friendship is born out of having a lot in common, from favourite bands to favourite blogs. I love Micaela's little corner of the internet and hope that someday we're lucky enough to meet at Shake Shack in NYC and eat veggie burgers and ice cream together.
My heart in...
A picture:
This photo was taken of my boyfriend Jeff and I by a post in Haarlem in the Netherlands. We put the camera there and made several attempts at getting something as awesome as this. This was near the end of one of the bigger trips that we've done together. We'd gotten engaged just a few days earlier and spent much of our time travelling with a couple of our best friends in the world. There are nothing but happy memories wrapped up in this photo for me. I love it and am so looking forward to our wedding this fall.
A poem:
Governors on Sominex
by David Berman
It had been four days of no weather
as if nature had conceded its genius to the indoors.
They'd closed down the Bureau of Sad Endings
and my wife sat on the couch and read the paper out loud.
The evening edition carried the magic death of a child
backlit by a construction site sunrise on its front page.
I kept my back to her and fingered the items on the mantle.
Souvenirs only reminded you of buying them.
***
The moon hung solid over the boarded-up Hobby Shop.
P.K. was in the precinct house, using his one phone call
to dedicate a song to Tammy, for she was the light
by which he traveled into this and that.
And out in the city, out in the wide readership,
his younger brother was kicking an ice bucket
in the woods behind the Marriott,
his younger brother who was missing that part of the brain
that allows you to make out with your pillow.
Poor kid.
It was the light in things that made them last.
***
Tammy called her caseworker from a closed gas station
to relay ideas unaligned with the world we loved.
The tall grass bent in the wind like tachometer needles
and he told her to hang in there, slowly repeating
the number of the Job Info Line.
She hung up and glared at the Killbuck Sweet Shoppe.
The words that had been running through her head,
"employees must wash hands before returning to work,"
kept repeating and the sky looked dead.
***
Hedges formed the long limousine a Tampa sky could die behind.
A sailor stood on the wharf with a clipper ship
reflected on the skin of the bell pepper he held.
He'd had mouthwash at the inn and could still feel
the ice blue carbon pinwheels spinning in his mouth.
There were no new ways to understand the world,
only new days to set our understandings against.
Through the lanes came virgins in tennis shoes,
their hair shining like videotape,
singing us into a kind of sleep we hadn't tried yet.
Each page was a new chance to understand the last.
And somehow the sea was always there to make you feel stupid.
A song:
This was a hard one for me to choose, but I knew that my heart in a song would probably have to be Bill Callahan. I was lucky enough to see him live once (and unlucky enough to just miss seeing him live a bunch of other times) and he remains, 100%, my go to guy for any and every mood that strikes. This one's a bit of a heartbreaker, but I really wanted a video of him performing live. He is magical.
A quote:
He chose The Metamorphosis over The Trial, he chose Bartleby over Moby Dick, he chose A Simple Heart over Bouvard and Pecuchet, and A Christmas Carol over A Tale of Two Cities or The Pickwick Papers. What a sad paradox, though Amalfitano. Now even bookish pharmacists are afraid to take on the great, imperfect, torrential works, books that blaze paths into the unknown. They choose the perfect exercises of the great masters. Or what amounts to the same thing: they want to watch the great masters spar, but they have no interest in real combat, when the great masters struggle against that something, that something that terrifies us all, that something that cows us and spurs us on, amid blood and mortal wounds and stench."
-Roberto Bolaño, 2666
This quote changed my life. After I encountered it I began reading long novels and books that I was intimidated by and have never looked back.
An item of clothing:
My favourite clothing-like piece is a leather clutch by Forestbound, but it's not really clothing, per se. So instead I offer a photograph of some fabric that I bought last year. I love sewing and making things and hope someday to make a piece of clothing that I can be really proud of (and actually wear)...these cottons got turned into summer tote bags last year.
A place:
Finally, I think I would love to be that grounded person who would offer a picture of home as the place their heart resides, but mine lives in Vancouver with me as well as all of the other cities that I've called home. Not to mention Portland, Seattle, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Barcelona, and New York. Etc.
My heart has wanderlust, there's no two ways about it.
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