2014 Countdown till christmas: Day 1

December 5, 2014

December is here, and that means it's time for an Xmas countdown! I'll be posting an illustrated advent calendar every day in the month of December. Hope you enjoy!

Hi! I'm Sarah.

This blog is where I share inspiration for creating an oasis for body, mind, spirit & space.

It's an extension of Very Sarie- my creative studio that combines Design, Art Direction, Illustration, Styling & Content Creation.

I'm thrilled you're along for the ride.

ARE YOU A KINDRED SPIRIT? Then we should definitely get to know each other.

Hit me up your favorite way below.

MY ADVENTURES ON iNSTAGRAM

I’d say this was my dream breakfast scene except I hate grapefruit. Anybody else 🙋🏼‍♀️. It’s so pretty though...I keep trying to start a love affair. Pretty sure it’s not going to work out though. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This image is part of the “healthy start” collection in the stock shop. Check it out- link up there in the ol’ bio. ☝️
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#oneofthebunch #handsandhustle #dslooking #morningslikethese #darlingweekend #gatheredstyle #thedulcetlife #aquietstyle #petitejoys #thehappynow #lifeandthyme #theartofslowliving #styledstockphotos #styledstockphotography #styledstock #styledstock #brandingmadeeasy #brandstylist #risingtidesociety #fempreneurs #risingtide

Where do you go when you're looking for creative inspiration or regeneration?
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I feel like I've been asked this question so many times, and I always give the answers you're "supposed" to give: The beach! A museum! Traveling to or exploring new cities! And while those answers are all true, they're also a lie.
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I'm an extremely social INFP. In fact, sometimes people who don't know me well mistake me for an extrovert. So sometimes, I feel bad about retreating. "I should be out there socializing! I already spend a lot of time alone, what with working from home and all, I should push myself to go do more or see more people!" I think.
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Why do I bring this up? Because I realized the other day, the place I've always gone when I needed creative inspiration or regeneration is my home. I love to decorate, and pride myself on creating spaces that are welcoming and rejuvenating- even if that's not my chosen profession. From my rearranging my bedroom when I was a little girl, to my dorm rooms, to my first ever apartment, to the house I live in now and the many places in between, my home has always been my sanctuary. A place that becomes a creative lab of sorts. Where I can completely, fully, become myself with no other eyeballs on me.
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So I'm not going to apologize anymore for being inspired or fueled up by the place where my butt sits most hours of the day. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE exploring & checking out new things, and visiting new spaces and places with old and new, but being a homebody....that's who I am and I sort of think that's cool. .
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#inspiredlivingmagazine #bhghome #targethome #howyouhome #styleathome #thejungalow #highvibelife #livewithintention #mindfullife #highvibetribe #inspireme #livecreatively #newdaynewstart #roadtohappiness #slowlivingforlife #slowlivingrevolution #seekinspirecreate #capturequiet #daysofsmallthings #smallmomentsofcalm #whimsicalwonderfulwild #tinytinymoments #capturequiet #slowlived #reclaimthehappy #beautyyouseek

Because dogs dressed up as food on Halloween never gets old. IT NEVER GETS OLD- OK??
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Here’s to more treats than tricks today. 🙂🐶🎃👻 #ritabluenose #georgiapjones
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#halloweencostumes #halloweeneveryday #halloweendog #halloweenfun #thedodo #dogslife #flashesofdelight #ohwowyes #abmlifeiscolorful #abmlifeisbeautiful #bhgpets #bhgcelebrate #dogsincostume #ellenratemydog

Hey there Friday. I’m feelin’ ya. I’ve been a little scattered this week. I make a list of things I want to work on, and within 30 minutes I’m veering off in a different direction. Is it the moon?? Just me?? Anybody else have a week like this??
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In others news- I was up before 5:30 AM 4 days this week thanks to my new sunrise lamp. And yes, I’m actually enjoying these quiet morning hours. My 23 year old self would be really disgusted with me right now 😝.

Today's gratitude:
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Living in a city that gives me access to any weird ingredient, supplement, etc that you could think of. Always insuring my smoothies are “super charged”.
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My puppies. Always. They melt and expand my heart each and every day.
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Grocery delivery. Although... sometimes I think it's inching me closer and closer to shut-in status. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Fashion Sneakers. May I never have to squeeze my feet into stilettos ever again.
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My new pants that look like actual pants, but feel like yoga pants. How many pairs is too many??
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What are you grateful for this Wednesday?

Morning routine- do you have one?
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Mine's always changing but it's an essential part of keeping me on track as a work-from-home solopreneur/freelancer/consultant. Without some sort of grounding routine in the morning, my day meanders off course faster than I can finish my first cup of coffee.
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So, while it's always changing, these are the elements of a good start for me: Self Coaching (Check out @lifecoachschool to learn more about that), journaling, hot coffee followed up by hot herbal tea or dandy blend, and some sort of spiritual practice- sometimes that looks like meditation, sometimes pulling and reflecting on cards, sometimes writing to my intuition.
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Things I'd love to make more of a habit: rising earlier and movement like light yoga or a seven-minute workout. I've never been able to make any sort of morning time movement stick though, so if you have any tips, lay them on me in the comments!

Anybody else have quirky attachments to certain office supplies? This photo cracks me up- mostly because it highlights one of my most favorite things: Pentel champ mechanical pencils.
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Actually- I have many of them. I discovered them about 15 years ago, and they are literally the only thing I write with. Ever.
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Just look at that one- the little clip thingy is busted off, and the eraser is nothing more than a flat nub. I don't care though.
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I've actually had moments of anxiety when I can't find one (which is ALWAYS weird because I have like, 20 of them stashed everywhere), or when I run out of lead. Is this weird to have such unnatural love for a writing utensil??
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IDK- when I use them, I just feel like my thoughts and ideas flow better, you know? And why pencil and not pen? No idea. Cause I rarely use the erasers. I scratch things out with the pencil just like I would with a pen. It just seems faster then erasing- and who's going to see this stuff besides me anyhow?
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And the sidekick to my pencils: loose printer paper. Yep. Give me my laptop, my pencils, and a pile of printer paper and I could work all day.
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If you're a weirdo like me, share your favorite office supplies or tools below. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
(BTW- look at that fiddle leaf in the background. It's about one leaf away from touching the ceiling! So proud of that- well, not so little anymore- fella.)

Wow- this week was down and dirty, and flew right by. I'd say I was happy for the weekend, but my biggest plans so far are taking everything out of my kitchen cupboards and reorganizing.
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While I wouldn't list it in my top ideas for a roaring good time on the weekend, I do have a strange affinity for organizing things. So there's that.
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List off all the way sexier things you're doing today and tomorrow so I can pretend we're besties and/or live vicariously through your escapades, K?

One last harvest of basil from the yard, and one last batch of pesto. 🌱
Although I’d love to be, I’m not much of a vegetable Gardner these days. We’re stuck with small container gardening for now, so it’s a just handful of herb plants.
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Every time I clip a few for dinner, it’s pure magic to me. I grew up in a gardening family- we had apple trees, rhubarb, raspberry bushes and every kind of vegetable you could imagine.
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Now I know it was so my parents could save money + still be able to put decent food on the table for 4 hungry kids. Back then, it certainly wasn’t magic to me. I had no idea how special it was to grow and eat your own food. (Plus, it was the 80’s- having a vegetable garden wasn’t exactly cool, and “weed the garden” seemed to appear frequently on the chore list)
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Now, I marvel at freshly picked produce more and more. With each passing year, the ability to grow something-anything!- and then pick it and eat it only becomes more magical.
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I look at this photo and think- I made that. I took a tiny seed from last year, put it in the dirt, and all summer long it grew and grew- inspiring meals & recipes along the way. Then, it was so pretty, I took a picture, finding joy in one of my favorite ways- being creative.
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So yeah, when I look at this photo, I think of so much more than just pesto. And that’s a damn fine feeling.
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#thechalkboardeats #storyofmytable #beautifulcuisine #myopenkitchen #bonappetit #thekitchn #food52 #foodwinewomen #mycommontable #kinfolktable #roadtohappiness #slowlivingforlife #slowlivingrevolution #seekinspirecreate #capturequiet #daysofsmallthings #smallmomentsofcalm #whimsicalwonderfulwild #tinytinymoments #capturequiet #slowlived #reclaimthehappy #beautyyouseek #myquietbeauty #thewildnesstonic #the_gentle_manifesto #aslowmoment #slowdownwithstills #mycommontable #kinfolktable

Yep, that's me, kneeling on my desk to get a shot because the mood struck. ✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Does this happen to you? You're in the middle of something else, and suddenly you just HAVE to do this one thing? I'm trying to balance these whims lately by checking in with myself to see if it's ACTUALLY inspiration knocking on my door, or if I'm just using it as an excuse to procrastinate on that list of things I'd rather not do. (sometimes, it's a little bit of both.)
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Regardless, I'm sure there's still a fair amount of desk kneeling in my future still.
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#mycreativebiz #savvybusinessowner #handsandhustle #creativelifehappylife #creativeentrepreneur #creativepreneur #creativeentrepeneur #calledtobecreative #communityovercompetition #creativehappylife #creativityfound #femaleentrepreneur #beingboss #girlboss #risingtidesociety #womeninbiz #ladyboss #thenativecreative #solopreneur #craftsposure #beyourownboss #womeninbusiness #creativelife #theeverygirl

I was looking back through a bunch of "old" photos, and an idea struck me- why can't some of these be offered in the stock shop??
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The answer is, they totally can! So I just put together a bunch of mini collections called "simple ingredients." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Basically, you get 5-7 images for just $7- the cost of what you would normally pay for just one image!
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Link in my bio to check out all the tasty new treats in the stock shop. (Including these oh so pretty blue and brown eggs)
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#healthcoach #wellnesscoach #wellnesscoaches #wellnessblogger #healthymindset #healthcoaching #wellnessworkshop #healthandwellness #wellnesswarriortribe #wellnesslifestyle #lifestylecoach #wellnessjourney #livingwell #healthylifestyle #slowlivingforlife #slowlivingrevolution #seekinspirecreate #capturequiet #daysofsmallthings #smallmomentsofcalm #whimsicalwonderfulwild #tinytinymoments #capturequiet #slowlived #reclaimthehappy #beautyyouseek #myquietbeauty #the_gentle_manifesto #aslowmoment #slowdownwithstills

I’m a total nerd when it comes to planning out new collections for the stock shop, and I’ve got a couple of collections right now in the works that I feel all of the good feelings for- I ordered some extra special, super magical props, because I firmly believe that stock imagery (especially used for health & wellness + social media content) doesn't have to be boring. (I'm looking at you sleeping-facemask-woman-with-cucumbers on-your-eyes picture.)
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First, I set up a Pinterest board to start curating the "mood" of the shoot.
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Then, I actually create a mood board, and use that to make a shot list- complete with thumbnail sketches of all the different images I'd like to capture.
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Last, I get to hunt for props. It's equal parts gathering things from around my house/studio and visiting favorite shops for that little special something, something. This is where things really start to come to life, and I can truly start visioning how the whole collection comes together!
What kind of process do you love in your life or work?
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(PS- looking forward to many fall bonfires i this spot right here)
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#risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #creativepreneur #soulpreneur #ofsimplethings #beautyinsimplicity #slowlivingcreate #flashesofdelight #darlingdaily #holdthemoment #wandeleurspark #creativelivefolk #folkmag #createexplorediscover #realfolklife #folkscenery

My dear friend,
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How are you feeling today? I mean really? How does your body feel? How does your mind feel? Are you taking care of yourself? Because you might be having kind of a crappy day and you’re trying to forget about it on here. You might be avoiding something...which is why you’re procrastinating with me. Maybe you’re waiting for something while you’re in line. In that case, I hope you’re waiting for something fun.
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Whatever your day is looking like today, can you promise me one thing? That you’ll put your phone down and do something without a screen. I don’t know, hug someone you love, really enjoy a piece of fruit you eat, go outside and feel the wind in your hair, do the dishes and feel the water run smoothly off of the plate you just cleaned. Whatever it is, remember something beautiful about being alive today.
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I’ll try to do it too.
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But also...just curious...why are you on here right now? Avoidance? Procrastination? Boredom? Escape? Let’s commune for a sec before we go do our awesomely present things. .
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#roadtohappiness #slowlivingforlife #seekinspirecreate #capturequiet #daysofsmallthings #smallmomentsofcalm #whimsicalwonderfulwild #tinytinymoments #capturequiet #slowlived #reclaimthehappy #beautyyouseek #myquietbeauty #thewildnesstonic #the_gentle_manifesto #aslowmoment #slowdownwithstills #highvibetribe #heartbliss #lookwithin #highvibelife #intuitiveliving #crystalsofig #crystalenergy #crystalsfordays

Are you team summer or team autumn?
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Summer slips away a little slower around these parts. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It's sometimes hard to notice the transition when you live someplace like LA, but lately, the mornings are darker and just a bit cooler. Sunny afternoons get chilly real quick once the sun goes down.
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It's usually about this time of year that I waffle daily between missing those crisp midwestern fall days that look and feel like they’re straight out of Stars Hollow, and blissfully pretending that summer never has to end because the weather report still says sunny and 80 degrees. Regardless, it's always hard to believe that we're just about 3 short months away from wrapping up another year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I used to be 100% team autumn. Now, I'm not so sure...the light, heat, and energy of summer definitely filled me up this year. Can I choose both?
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#liveinspired #mindbodysoul #mindbodyspirit #holisticliving #healthyhappylife #nourishyourself #holisticmama #wholefoodplantbased #iamwellandgood #thenewhealthy #fruitsandvegetables #healthcoachlife #healthyfoodinspiration #foodiefeatures #healthnut #veganhealth #cameraeatsfirst #farmersmarketinspo #

Anyone else as obsessed with tea as me? 🙋🏼‍♀️
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always have my morning cup of joe, but tea...so many options...so many flavors, combinations, times/places to drink it.
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I basically have a whole big bin filled with all my different tea options in my cupboard (#obsessmuch)
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Throw in a magazine or two, and some journaling and that’s instant alignment time for me, my friend.
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#thatauthenticfeeling #simplepleasures #livesimple #thislifetoday #ofsimplethings #petitejoys #flatlaylove #flatlaynation #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #beingboss #hustlewithease #brandphotography #brandingphotography #losangelesphotographer #creativecontent #slowlivingforlife #slowlivingrevolution #seekinspirecreate #daysofsmallthings #smallmomentsofcalm #whimsicalwonderfulwild #tinytinymoments #capturequiet #slowlived #reclaimthehappy #myquietbeauty #aslowmoment #slowdownwithstills

Coming out of the weeds...
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I was taken DOWN by a cold last week. There was so much I wanted to get done, but my body said NOPE.
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I fought it for a couple days before finally raising the white flag, and doing what I would tell anybody else to do: rest, rest, rest.
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A quiet weekend on the couch paid off- I’m back in (almost) fighting form and ready to jump head first into that (now) extra long to do list with glee.
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You’re never so appreciative of health than right after you’ve been sick- amiright???

You know the feeling when you master something that’s actually pretty simple, but has eluded you for some mysterious reason? Yeah...that’s me with a melon baller. Finally got that skillset licked. Anybody else kicking bootie today, or is just me? 😂😉

Back in LA after a quick trip to Minneapolis. Had some quality time with friends and family and of course spent a day strolling around the state fair- cause that’s what you do in MN this time of year.
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The longer I’m in LA (8 years this Sept! 😳) the more bittersweet my trips to MPLS are. Around every corner is a memory, so I spend a lot of time reflecting on some pretty pivotal times in my life. But also, time marches on, and neighborhoods and familiar haunts are different. Changed. It’s a city that I’m deeply connected to but not connected to at all anymore all at once.
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It sounds melancholy, but it’s not. I love that I can have a home in my heart for many places at once.
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Give a Labor Day weekend shoutout in the comments below to ALL the places you call home!
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#roadtohappiness #slowlivingforlife #slowlivingrevolution #seekinspirecreate #capturequiet #daysofsmallthings #smallmomentsofcalm #whimsicalwonderfulwild #tinytinymoments #capturequiet #slowlived #reclaimthehappy #beautyyouseek #myquietbeauty #thewildnesstonic #the_gentle_manifesto #aslowmoment #madeformore #encourageothers #focusonthepositive #joyinthejourney #liveonpurpose #shareyourheart #labordayweekend