What's Your Motivation??

I've recently come to realize that not having a job has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to deal with. Since I was sixteen, I've never gone longer than two weeks between jobs and, at times, I worked up to three jobs at once (in addition to a full course load in college). Needless to say...I like to work!!! My work life has always come very easy to me and not having something to get up for every day has been really tough. Luckily, I was raised as a Christian and I believe in God so I know that there is a reason for everything...I can't imagine not having that knowledge and comfort to see me through!!

Aside from that knowledge, one of my biggest motivators has always been music and that has never been more true over these past few months. Here are a few of the bands I can't live without lately (of course, these are just a few of the many)!!!


Kings of Leon



Nouvelle Vague



Zero 7



Armin Van Burren (this isn't the album cover but I really like this photo!)



Koop



Emiliana Torrini


So I want to know, What's Your Motivation!!! Leave me a comment...I love feedback!

Nouvelle Vague

I am in love with this "band" and thought this video was quite interesting. Check out Nouvelle Vague...you might recognize some (or most) of their songs...

Friday Flickr Find...

So our family has been all about puppies for the last month after my parents got a new golden retriever puppy named Jake! He's just the cutest little thing (see his picture here) and I thought I'd look at other pictures of doggies for this week's Friday Flickr Find. I just want to hug 'em all!!!

Thanks for the great comments this week and have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Gizmo, originally uploaded by Dragan*.

Peppina, originally uploaded by reportergimmi™.

Are You Looking At Me ???, originally uploaded by Neville_S.

Mini Toy, originally uploaded by El Buen Matador.

Floyds Big Nose (explore #44), originally uploaded by Boab22.

happiness is a warm puppy (and a handful of them is even better), originally uploaded by manyfires.

I will be here for you...., originally uploaded by Lukman Kusuma.

los trillizos westie, originally uploaded by agustina.

the kids, originally uploaded by Carrie Taylor.

Sally, Sally, pride of our alley, originally uploaded by bitrot.

He's badd, yo, originally uploaded by rgdaniel.

play. with me., originally uploaded by saikiishiki.

Sleeping beauty, originally uploaded by Look at my photos.

Puppy Love...

I just had to share the pictures of my parent's new puppy!! His name is Jake and he's a Golden Retriever who is a little over three months old. He is the sweetest, most well-behaved little guy, (at the moment) is already house trained and can sit on command. He has his first "puppy socialization class" tonight and I can't wait to hear all about it! What do you think?!?!?!?

What he does best!




Don't you just wanna hug him?!?!?!?

Bode 22

Yes, I know it seems like I've fallen of the face of the earth lately, I've just not felt like blogging. Sorry for my absence!

But I came across this today and wanted to share. One of my bloggy friends, Meg from Bode 22 was just published!!! Her fabulous Berry Vine Plate Clock was featured in the September 2008 issue of Better Homes and Gardens!!!!! Check it out, and also be sure to check out her fabulous Etsy shop and her blog. Congrats girl!!!!

Mesh Chair

If anyone is travelling to Chicago in the near future and wondering what to do, I highly recommend taking a little trip up to Andersonville to the shops on Clark. I met a friend there last weekend and we had fun perusing some really cute places for vintage furniture and clothing (and new items as well). I saw this great chair and fell in love...now if I just had a place to put it!!

Liz Wolfe

For some reason, I'm totally fascinated by the art photography of Liz Wolfe. Maybe it's the pretty pastels she seems to favor...or maybe it's the delicious looking candy she uses to create her landscapes. Either way...I'm in love with these photos and wanted to share them with you. Please check out her site for even more!

Liz hard at work!



















If you like what you see, check out Liz's shop to purchase her beautiful photos!!

Bike Furniture

I love the idea behind the cool collection of Bike Furniture by designer Andy Gregg!!! Talk about functional art that is great for the environment! Andy has taken old, run down bikes and created furniture pieces using the wheels, frames, handlebars and anything else he can come up with...I LOVE the outcome!! I'm not much of a bike rider (something about riding on the city streets with cars whizzing past doesn't sit well with me) but I have a group of friends who are obsessed with biking and fixing up old bikes. Wonder what they would think of these pieces!

Dark Passage

After seeing this post by Diana from Please Sir...I was reminded of a site that I came across a while back. I'm in total agreement with Diana about the haunting beauty of an abandoned building or place and that's why I love Dark Passage. A collection of photos taken by "urban archaeologists," this site provides a documentation of architectural decay. I'm captivated by the poignancy in these photos and I thought I'd share a collection of my favorites...