seasonal rituals

Rituals are a beautiful thing. Even though new things bring excitement, rituals ground us. They instill a familiar wonder in each heart by knowing--and anticipating--the rituals each season holds.
Spring is the time of freckles beginning to dot my face and doing school outside and simple meals outside under the shade of a tree glowing with pale new leaves.
 Every afternoon in the summer, when you can practically feel the sun burning your skin, I go to the pool and read. Afterwards, the long summer-night rituals begin: looking for fireflies and batting away mosquitoes and staying up a bit longer to catch the coolness of the darkness.
 Fall rituals consist of slipping into new routines and the first fires, small and smoky. The leaves change colors--or sometimes not, depending on the kind of year that's been had.
 Winter rituals are beautiful if you know where to look. Underneath pale skin lie deep thoughts and warm bowls of soup for what seems like every meal.
And before long, right when you think you can't take another one of those terribly short cold days, you start almost-spring rituals of lengthening days and looking for budding branches and opening windows a crack to let in the fresh breeze. Then the spring cleaning bug hits and when you look up from scrubbing, airing, and dusting, you notice that a new season has pushed through the grayness and arrived and whole cycle starts all over again.
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autumn scents

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wardrobe remix

image source

Here are a few links to help you update your wardrobe for this season for next to nothing...because cheap is good, right?

diy polka dot sleeved sweater via refinery29 || diy peter pan collar via honestly wtf || heart shaped elbow patch tutorial from a beautiful mess || make a hi-low skirt in 15 minutes via rookie mag

And when all else fails, all hail the thrift stores!

C

white

An autumn suggestion: replace your bed coverings with white on white on white. A white pillow, sheets, and coverlet are a welcome spot of contrast against the dark gray and russets of the season.

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make your weekend a good one

The weekend is almost upon us. Here are a few suggestions to make it a good one.

+ Take some time to go hiking in the rain or grab a blanket and find a secluded spot in the forest to read a book and daydream. Nature is waiting there for you; take advantage of her.
+ Go on a bike ride to a park or farmer's market or river--or, simply bicycle to get purposefully lost and discover some hidden nook of your city.
+ Get together with friends and do something spontaneous.
+ If you haven't already, pull out the fall clothing box. Reacquaint yourself with your favorite sweater, wrap the scarf that smells like last winter around your throat, and put on that wool hat and dance around the room.
+ I know it's tough to get up early on weekends, but take one morning to wake up before the dawn; make yourself some tea or coffee, wrap yourself in a blanket, and sit outside to watch the sunrise. Let the steam curl around your face and suck in and savor the crisp fall air.

And no matter what else you do, make sure your weekend is a good one.

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summer's last hurrah

"Summer, after all, is a time when wonderful things can happen to quiet people. For those few months, you’re not required to be who everyone thinks you are, and that cut-grass smell in the air and the chance to dive into the deep end of a pool give you a courage you don’t have the rest of the year. You can be grateful and easy, with no eyes on you, and no past. summer just opens the door and lets you out." 
Deb Caletti

Summer is slipping through our fingertips like fine grains of sand--soon autumn will unfurl in her glory, leaving dewdrops on jeweled leaves like gentle kisses. But for now, let us enjoy summer and all she still has to offer. Make the biggest splash cannonballing into the pool; have one last carefree picnic under the shadiest tree you can find; spend the day soaking up the sun; treat yourself to something extra special; live in sunbleached hair and shorts while you can. These days aren't going to last forever.

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the thing about traveling

The funny thing about traveling is, when every day routine and familiar surroundings and knowing-what-to-expect has all been stripped away, you are left with just the essence of your soul. Without distractions, you only have what's in front of you to fill you up and maybe break you down. And when you're sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower crying, futilely wiping away tears with the back of your hand as they fall faster, everything makes brutal sense and at the same time no sense at all. But the best thing about traveling is that, in the midst of the walking and the talking and the street lights blinking from green to yellow to red, you might just find yourself.

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now and then || roadtrip flashbacks

Now, it's a quiet room; fan whirring, two lamps on, and stars twinkling outside the window.
Then, it was a quiet night; crickets chirping, one camping light on, and the same stars twinkling overhead.
Now, it's a (mostly) clean car driving short distances in town.
Then, it was a car cramped with supplies and dust picked up along the way, driving impossibly far on impossibly straight roads.
Now, it's a soft bed and a regulated temperature.
Then, it was a slippery sleeping bag and toes on warm sand.
Now, it's memories.
Then, it was life.

counting down the days to the next roadtrip.
C

hair wrap tutorial

I love the look of dip-dyed hair or a few bright highlights, but I'm not quite brave enough to permanently dye sections of my hair. Fortunately, there's a super easy, quick way to add a pop of color to your hair, without any commitment! Hair wraps have been one of my favorite things to wear this summer--here's a little tutorial on how to get some yourself.

What you'll need...

- scissors
- embroidery thread in two colors of your choice
- a section of your hair

Let's get started!

1. Gather a small section of hair where you want the wrap to be. I chose to put it towards the front, but you can place it in the back as well, where it's not as noticeable. Regardless, the section should be fairly small.
2. Tightly braid the hair.
3. Knot the first color towards the top of the braid.
4. Tightly wrap the thread around your hair. Make sure to watch for gaps and push up accordingly (I should have done a better job of watching out, hah). When you run out of the first color, knot the second one to it and continue wrapping.
5. Wrap until the end of your hair, then knot it and cut off any extra thread hanging out.
6. All done!

This is such a sweet style to play around with! I haven't had more than two wraps in at the same time, but it would be so fun to have five or six in. Just be sure not to brush the wraps, as it will cause them to loosen, tangle, and fall out. Enjoy your new summer look!

C

in the summertime

In the summer, I don't want to spend loads of time on my appearance; simple and fast works for me. But just because you settle for a tank and cut-offs doesn't mean that it has to look frumpy! The back of this tank I chose has a pretty crocheted open back (unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it), which allows a breeze to sneak through and perfectly worn denim short are always a winner. Add a belt and a statement necklace for a little extra pizzazz and you're good to go!

Happy summer!

C

(photos by ellie be photography)

ode to summer

It goes like this:

The blackberries fade from green to crimson to black, hanging deliciously tantalizing and low on the vine.
The stars seem to shimmer in the night sky even brighter than before.
Adventure and camping and roadtrips--that is all that needs to be said about that.
The air cleaves to your body, warm and sticky in a nice sort of way.
The night holds off longer and longer, waiting in shades of peach and marigold.
The cool blue-green expanse of the water has never felt this good.
And you--you're waiting in the wings as the season takes center stage, just enjoying and anticipating and soaking up the precious months.

This is summer and this is how it goes.

carlotta

learning to cartwheel

I had somehow managed to make it to the age of fifteen years and eight months without knowing how to cartwheel. Oh, I would cartwheel mentally whenever I was particularly happy about something, but I was never able to actually do it. So I did what any normal person would do: I added learn how to cartwheel on my bucket list. (Which was actually the only thing on my bucket list. Aren't you glad I have high goals in life?)

My eight year old sister is the queen of cartwheeling. She is seriously one of the best I've ever seen (you can check out this video if you want to see her in action). She cartwheels all day, every day--down the hallways, in the front yard, in the backyard, on the trampoline, at karate, at ballet...you get the picture.

One night in late spring, after the dinner dishes were washed and the table cleared, she lead me to the golden light filtering through the backyard, determined to teach me once and for all how to cartwheel. We stayed out there for well over an hour. I repeatedly fell and made an all around fool of myself while my sister coached and cheered my on in between those perfect cartwheels of hers. By the time it was dark, my cartwheeling skills were nowhere near perfect, but they were much better than they had been earlier in the day. We practiced every day that week, and while my cartwheels are still nowhere as perfect as my sister's, I can do them. No longer am I the fifteen year old who can't cartwheel, but I am the fifteen year old who just learned how to cartwheel--and who checked off the one and only item on her bucket list.

I wonder what my next goal will be?

much love,
carlotta

the twilight

There's a certain quiet beauty about the twilight, when the sun has set but still leaves a lingering glow in the west and trees are mere silhouettes in the darkening sky. Sitting on the front step still hot from the sun, watching the stars twinkle on one by one, and breathing in the silky almost-night air is my favorite way to unwind. And when I head inside (after the mosquitoes have had a royal feast on my blood), I store up the calm until I can sit in quietness again the next night.

much love,
carlotta

collecting moments

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the future and how it's made. What makes up the moments deemed fit for stashing away? How is it that every day seems the same, yet when we look back, it all seems so different? There's a specific line in Mushaboom by Feist that goes: and we'll collect moments one by one // i guess that's how the future's done. It's been running through my head over and over the last few weeks and I've been mulling over the truth in that statement. Really, all the future consists of is collecting moments and making plans. We just have to decide which moments we want to keep and which to discard, which to build our memories with and which to learn from.

much love,
carlotta

may playlist

One of my favorite posts each month is the playlist. I love the diversity in our tastes in music and seeing it all come together. Here's May's playlist--enjoy!

listen on spotify

much love,
carlotta

before the computer.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that gets sucked into the computer. There are blogs to read, tweets to tweet, statuses to post, and friends to catch up with--it can be a bit overwhelming. Inspired by this pin, here are a few things to do before you plug yourself in.



[1] write a poem (to get your creative juices flowing)
[2] workout (to get your heart pumping)
[3] journal (ditto number one)
[4] spend some quiet time outside (to replenish your calm)
[5] read part of a book (to fill your brain with imagination)
[6] do something productive (to feel accomplished)
[7] drink some water (to help your body)
[8] chat with a friend (to show them you care)

Do you have anything to add to the list?

much love,
carlotta

tips & tricks | inspiration

Following up to March's post on photography, today we're sharing a collection of thoughts about inspiration. It's an often-overused word, and sometimes it can be hard to define what inspires us. It's not always simple to know how to use that inspiration either, and how not to feel like you are copying others instead of purely being inspired.

Hannah says
I'm inspired by late night talks and laughter over campfires that stretch into the morning ringed with dawn, words and songs and music that make you sad and happy all at once, lazy summer evenings and going barefoot and baking, family and traditions, authentic life, genuine love, and passionate people, and art, fresh food straight from the garden, and the way some smiles reach to your eyes.

Kendall says

Gathering inspiration, for me, has always been the easy part. Finding gorgeous pictures, reading warming words, looking at lovely designs; there's an endless list of things that inspire me. Finding inspiration is not the hard part. The hard part is putting that inspiration to use.

I wish I could say I had some foolproof method for getting going, but the truth is, like a lot of things in life, I'm just making it up as I go. I'll tell you what works for me, though. I've found that surrounding myself with pretty things is not enough to go on. I need to surround myself with inspiring people as well. Seeing and interacting with real people who have struggles like me, but who are also imaginative and hard working and are doing and creating amazing things, that's what really motivates me. Once I see someone who has succeeded, it makes me want to succeed all the more.

It's easy for me to get inspired, but what I have to work on is translating that inspiration into something more tangible. Best of luck to you!

Carlotta says

Inspiration ebbs and flows like waves, some big and towering, some just ripples on the breeze. It's a fickle thing, and not something that can be sought. Mostly, though, it comes when I'm not looking for it. It comes when I am in deliciously drowning in life, both the good, the bad, the gritty, and the messy. It's there when I am lying on my back, feeling the sun soaking in through my pores, spreading into a golden tan and bringing out the freckles. It comes when I read words that stir up beautiful aching, laugh until my stomach muscles hurt, sink my hands deep into cool damp earth, and eat a dish that tickles my taste buds in the most wonderful way. And when inspiration comes, there's nothing you can do except hang on for the ride.

Katie says

I'm inspired by words. Poems and songs that speak to me. Stories that break my heart. Phrases like this, "we yelled at the top of our lungs because we were just these small humans but we felt more longing than could ever fit inside us," that say everything I've always been trying and failing to say for myself. I have journals and notebooks filled with words, my own and those of others.Words are powerful. They inspire me.

Libby says

Inspiration comes from everywhere but I can't always actively seek it out. For me, I can't sit down and think "I want to be inspired!". Sometimes, just beginning to make art and tell stories and plan meals, even if you're not feeling overwhelmed with ideas, is enough to get the creative juices flowing. Pick up a pencil. Write the first sentence. Buy some pasta. And then let the rest of it come, from knowing you have the beginning of a something there already.

What are your thoughts on inspiration? What topics would you like to see in the coming months discussed under 'tips & tricks'?

reawakening the feelings

Spring is an extra special season. You are reminded of traditions and rituals that take place in the sweet new sun, the ones that return just as you were beginning to forget during the long, grey winter. You relearn what the feeling of sunlight on skin feels like, what waking up in the tent to the birds chirping sounds like, what eating outside tastes like. Whether it takes place in your backyard, along the river, or in the woods, here are a few tips on how to reawaken all those feelings.

bring

A quilt (one that preferably has memories of springs past intertwined in the fabric), a sketchbook and pencil for recording things, a book to get lost in.

eat

Pack a thermos of lemonade, bread, cheese, jam, and other snacks.

do

Study the pattern of the new leaves and bark, listen to the bird calls, crunch through leftover leaves, explore anything that looks enticing.

Happy spring!

much love,
carlotta

spring style

Just a little spring-y outfit, perfect for these warm days. When the afternoon rolls around and my hair starts to plaster to my neck, I've found myself pulling it up into a messy bun and securing it all with a headscarf. Cute and functional--what could be better? Oh, and those moccasins? Never leave my feet. Ever.

much love,
carlotta

found

A few newly discovered reads...

[1] kjrsten madsen

Everything about Kjrsten's blog is pure magic. She lives in London with her beautiful family and shoots film like none other.
visit here

[2] aprons and birds

Victoria's posts are wonderfully simple, with dreamy photographs showcasing her meals and adventures.
visit here

[3] lingered upon

She lives in New York and photographs lots of food (I usually leave her blog hungry)--Alice is my kind of girl.
visit here

[4] roost

I'm convinced Coco has some sort of magical powers. Her recipes are convincing that healthy tastes good--and her photographs, videos, and words are entirely irresistible.
visit here

[5] cindy loughridge

Cindy's work is positively dreamy. She has this way of capturing moments--the feeling, the emotion, the mood--that is rare and noteworthy.

visit here

Do you have any new-found reads that you are just dying to share?

much love,

carlotta