heart songs.

We pulled into the parking lot right as the song started playing, and our hands collided when we both tried to turn up the volume. It's the type of song where you drive around the block one more time, or you sit in the driveway or parking lot, just to listen to it. I have a theory: songs on the radio sound better than they do anywhere else. You can't rewind and listen to them over and over, and there's something special about knowing that those songs are heard by hundreds of other people as you're listening to them.

When that first song started playing in the parking lot, he sighed and turned to me. "This is a heart song," he said. Songs like that bring back an immediate rush of memories.

Wherever You Will Go, by the Calling, is one of those songs. It plays at the end of the video tape version of the Stanley Cup- the year that the Colorado Aves won. I can't count how many times I've watched their victory, scoring that goal over and over through our old VCR player. It brings back memories of living in Colorado as a little girl, where hockey is the kind of sport that matters. It makes me nostalgic for a place that I haven't missed in a long time.

Whenever I heard 100 Years, by Five for Fighting, I'm back in the bottom bunk of my small, ground floor bedroom, in Amman, trying not to cry on that first night away from home. I flipped through the songs on my dad's iPhone until I found this one, and it was on repeat until I fell asleep. I listened to that song countless times when I was fifteen..."Fifteen for a moment/ caught in between ten and twenty." All of my memories from that summer play with this song in the background.

Lastly, and most recently, is We Are Young. Fun sings this song in the background of the Chevy commercial. I first heard it that night during the Superbowl. My friend Tyler and I sang the chorus all night long, before going home and looking it up. Last Wednesday, we listened to it while my best friend interpretive danced while she drove her car. It's tied to so many memories and moments from the last month and a half.

What are some of your heart songs?

xo
katie

ps. compiled on spotify, for your listening pleasure. 

instagrams from the bush.

photos by @llamagirl 

last three photos are mine @helloabbigail

don't be alarmed
when you sit on the deck
and you find that your shoelace
is being pecked by a chicken
it's completely normal
to hear the howling of sled dogs
or to see a llama 
being taken for an afternoon walk
and yes,
that is a miniature donkey
and yes,
it is pulling a miniature sleigh

These are some shots from my aunt & uncle's beautiful log-cabin home out in 'the bush'. Basically, a little farmyard nestled in the woods. Silly as it sounds, instagram has become a daily way for our family to keep in touch. I love being able to see what kind of crazy things my cousins have been up to, whether it be Meadow taking Ruby the donkey for a run, or Kazan just playing guitar with his dog, Zephyr, at his feet. Not to mention, Patti's photos are pretty much the perfect inspiration source for home decor, am I right? So until we meet again, instagram will do.

xx
abbey 

i go to seek a great perhaps.

“Francois Rabelais. He was a poet. And his last words were "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps.” -John Green, Looking for Alaska 

I, like Alaska Young, believe I have a great perhaps to be found. I don't know what it is, or where it will be found, but I think I know how to find it; travel.

I caught the travel bug young, my first flight was when I was six months old. and I've always had this dream to visit every state in the United States before I die. I love to travel because I love the moments that can't be planned. I think that's why photography and travel almost go hand in hand, they're all about capturing and remembering those moments.


Even on the most planned-out trip will there will be something you could never have planned for. Like a proposal at Disney World, the shells at the beach being more abundant than they have been in years, a cousin loses their first tooth, a quick downpour in the middle of a hot July day. Those things can't be put on the agenda for the trip, and that's why travel is so enjoyable; it can never be fully planned for.

Photography can never be fully planned for either, I didn't wake up one day and say, "oh, today there will be a dead fish on the beach and i think i'll take a picture of Peter holding it that i really love even though the fish is dead which is kind of gross." That kind of thing just doesn't happen. I think my great perhaps, whatever it may be, will be found in the unexpected. Because in my opinion, you can't set out looking specifically for a great perhaps, it's just something found along the way.

I guess this is where it all becomes a bit contradictory. I am seeking but not specifically looking for a great perhaps. It's a contradictory sentence, but really no different than this: while I was in Paris, we woke up one morning and decided we were in desperate need of a little French coffee shop and/or bakery. We knew what it was we were looking for, but had no idea where to find it. So we wandered the streets of Les Halles, just taking in the smells, reading the menus, peering inside. Finally we found one. Tucked in between a taxidermy shop and a signless building was this beautiful bakery.

We would have never it if we hadn't been searching for something. So to find my great perhaps, I have to be on the lookout. I don't need to know what I'm looking for exactly, but I'll know when I find it.

so yes, I am seeking my great perhaps. No, I do not know if I'll ever find it. No, I will never stop traveling in search of it.

christina is an aspiring photographer and writer of heartfelt photography. she has a bucket list, loves running, traveling, and love stories. she tweets too much, and her project 365 can be found here.

thrifting tips

From racks full to bursting with clothing to rows and rows of shoes to household goods galore, thrifting is a world that can be overwhelming. I don't blame the ones who stay far away from Goodwill--it can be scary! But luckily, you don't have to be scared or overwhelmed any longer. Here are a few tips to get you started.

perserverance

Perseverance is key. It can be tiring flipping through fringe-bedecked dresses and blazers with shoulder pads that could reach China. But think of it as a treasure hunt instead! The things you can find are so exciting if you just keep on going.

find the potential

There is potential in almost everything. Love the fabric of a dress but hate the cut? Make a pillowcase out of it. Find the cutest shirt ever but it's a tad too big? Belt it. Discover your dream pair of boots but they're scuffed? A quick application of shoe polish will do the trick. It's important to see beyond what you're holding in your hands--don't judge a book by it's cover. Chances are, whatever is wrong with it can be remedied.

Having said that, though, don't buy things that you know will just end up in your "to-do" pile. It crowds your closet and it's money wasted.

look for sale tags

This is a big one! Almost every piece of merchandise is marked with a colored tag for better organization. Most thrift stores will have a color/tag of the day that's discounted--for example, all items with a red tag are half off, all with a green tag are twenty five percent off, et cetera. Be on the lookout for a board with a color(s) of the day when you walk in.

wear comfortable clothing

You're going to be on your feet for a long time, flipping through racks and hunting through shelves. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing--it's probably not a good idea to wear those new five inch heels if you're planning on hitting the thrift stores. Also, make sure your outfit will enable you to on clothes quickly and effortlessly.

have fun!

Most of all, just have fun. Be a little crazy, try something new. After all, you're spending all of what, fifty cents? Bring a friend and laugh through the aisles. Thrifting is fun!

much love,

carlotta

online magazines

It's confession time: my name is Libby and I like magazines. In fact, I love them. I keep finding more and more fantastic pieces of work in the format that is a magazine, and with the internet, they're even more easily accessible. Most weeks new emails arrive with links from the other staffers--read this, watch this, how amazing is this? Here's a selection of the online magazines we read, for your perusal and pleasure.

{front page of rookie, 9th March 2012}

Rookie
Rookie is like the cool older sister of your bestest friend, when you are both still young and the sister is all cool, maybe at art school or something? It's a little bit political and full of opinions but also has pretty pictures and crazy DIYs. Good stuff.

{winter 2011/2012 cover of freckled}

Freckled
This online magazine with an aim to inspire is a dreamy collection of stunning landscapes and talented artists. It's gorgeous and makes us all want to travel.

{cover of Wayfare Pilot Issue}

Wayfare
Another gorgeous travel-orintated magazine, Wayfare is full of beautiful images, wanderlust inducing articles and unsual experiences. Well worth a peek!

{cover of Trp 2011 Volume 1 UK}

Borrominibear
This issuu account is full of incredible artwork from documenting the international travels of borrominibear, who 'loves to sketch'.

Which magazines, either online or in print, do you enjoy reading?
xx
Libby

free verse poetry

Today, we're sharing with you two lovely free verse poems emailed to us by Fernweh reader Shelby. Isn't she talented?

BLESSING

to be remembered is
a beautiful thing
to look past the strangers and meet a beloved smile
to know the curve of the shoulders
and the music of the unheard laugh
to love the sparkle of the eyes and
the dip of a whisper
to know that you matter
you are valued you are loved
you are Somebody not somebody
to be remembered is
a beautiful thing

TODAY MEANS I LOVE YOU

a to-do kind of morning
stretching far back in my mind
with out-loud smiles and candle-bright gazes and
memories of playing in cabinets
on tuesday mornings
paper jumping heart to hand
fresh ink spanning the gap no tongue can bridge
a connection over shakespeare
and at last warm-spiced sighs over blankets and
popcorn to unwind the day
woven
a tapestry of i love you’s
all threaded with kairos and
hemmed with your faithfulness
we look
and it is good 

tips & tricks | photography

We're starting a new monthly series here on Fernweh, of tips and tricks relating to a different topic each month. Different staffers will contribute ideas and then in the comments, please leave your thoughts and advice. This month we're kicking off with something very important to all of us--photography!

Abbey says light & shadow are your friends.During those days when I was just beginning to dip my toes into the sea of DSLR photography, light and shadow was something that scared me. I remember only wanting to shoot during the late afternoon, when shadows were scarcely cast. For some reason, I had this assumption that the darker spots would 'disrupt' my photos. I soon learnt otherwise. If light and shadow were so important in my paintings, surely they were important in my photos, too. Shadows create depth, and light alone can tell a story. As documenters and photographers of daily life, let's not be afraid to experiment.

Hannah says stop looking at images by other people and start looking at your own. Figure out what makes you tick, what kind of photos click with you, why you do what you do -- then do it. Make art that you love, art that matters. Begin to see your work as valuable and unique for what it is, and embrace your style and voice. Recognise that your photos will never look like such-and-such's, but they will look like yours. Celebrate that and make photos that you love. Ignore the trends and fads and dig deep. Pretend that you only have five shots to take -- how would you take them? What would you highlight? What would you leave out? How would you compose it? Pay attention to light, always light. Photography is about light. And stay true to you.

Katie says focus is so crucial. It doesn't have to be perfect, and especially if you're using a manual focus lens, it rarely is. But. The focus changes the entire tone of the photo. I took these two pictures sometime last year. In each of them, the focus is obviously different, and that changes the whole photo. Keep an eye out for what you're focusing on versus what you want to focus on.

Libby says take your camera everywhere. I cannot stress this enough! Take it to your grandparent's house, on walks with the dog and even out shopping. You'll come across incredibly opportunities and a change of scenery from what you can photograph at home. And taking your camera out with you will help you build up confidence too. You might feel a bit silly, acting all fancy and 'only' using a point and shoot, or maybe think that your DSLR is too heavy to carry around, but trying bringing your camera out once or twice and month and documenting a journey or a different house. This can really open your eyes to so much new creativity. And sometimes my photographs of my hometown, like the one above, aren't the most exquisite, but they mean so much to me, and they remind me of the place where I am right now. Stretching the boundaries of your photo-taking locations is so important.

Please share your tips, tricks and thoughts below.