Longing

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and i'm longing longing longing
bursting at the seams
for a place and time and a kind of home that is yet unknown to me.

i imagine the kind of when and i imagine the kind of how but there isn't really any knowing that kind because i'm presently here right now.

 

Friday Favorites || 17

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This NPR podcast episode was pretty much the best I've listened to all month

The Headspace app! I am on day 3 of 10 of the free sessions and I really love them. This was an app I'd downloaded a while back and never got around to using. Always having to delete it to make room for iPhone snaps. But I finally made a point to keep it and it's been so nice to start my mornings with it. 
Not sure I'll pay for it after the free sessions as there's so many other resources for guided meditation. Do you have any favorites?
I've also used Calm in the past and liked that too. As well as the Mindfulness Project. 

How to leave no trace

These thoughts on simplified and minimal lifestyles

All of the pins I've been putting on my home Pinterest board lately

Give Wild - Artifact Uprising's new campaign where you buy a limited addition print and it sends three kids from title 1 schools to a national park.
Such a beautiful way to give. And if you aren't convinced why this matters — In the thick of the trees, on a dirt trail, where you can hear your voice echo - we find ourselves. We listen & learn from the quiet in ways we never knew were possible. We come across undiscovered potential within. We simply, pause - a break far from the screens, notifications, and noise. This wild is the place where we will always return. We know this wild is one to be shared.

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Learning To Let A Little Green Into My Life

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A few months ago I started a little photo project on Instagram under the hashtag #learningtoletalittlegreenintomylife.  

Since then I've come to grow (no pun intended... just kidding... pun totally intended) my appreciation for the little bits of nature and greenery I've brought into and become more aware of in my day to day. 

It's not an aesthetics thing.
It's not a branding thing.
It's not to make my Instagram feed look prettier.

It's because sometimes when you live alone, and you don't have pets because you travel so much, it's kind of nice to have something to take care of other than yourself.

It's because it's really rewarding to rescue little pieces of nature and bring them back to life.

It's because it's so satisfying to witness something grow. And know that you had a part in it.

It's because it's nice to wake up to lush greenery in your home.
Especially when it's a million degrees outside (hello Richmond humidity).
Especially because you would love nothing more than to be in nature but you actually can't stand being in nature at the present moment because you hate sweating.
(This is another reason I love the water so much I think.... I'm in nature but readily able to cool down via. wind or water!)

It's because it feels good to cultivate life.

This article a while back definitely inspired me to jump on the plant game more than I had been, but also the slow living mindset I've been trying to carry with me and introduce into my life over the past year has a lot to do with it as well. 

Plus, the mantra itself is a reminder to be open to the possibility of new things.
To not be closed off. 
To let a little green into my life.

Photo projects like this are fun and help me challenge myself. 
I also have... 
#theshadowdiaries
#writingsfromawouldbebeatnik 
#leneysairstreamdream
#anywhereonthewaterisaplaceicallhome 
#thethriftingdiaries 

And of course #daughterofasailor and #theknittingqueen and #thetravelingphotographer and #weddingphotographerdiaries. Though those seem to have attracted some other users lately so they're not just my own photos like the above tags are! ;)
 
Do you have any photo projects? I've always wanted to do a specific 365 day one! What about you?

Slow Living | Mr. Draper

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Today's post is brought to you by a new friend of mine over in Australia. 
Alistair of Mr. Draper makes the most lovely linen goods, and what's more, he is so passionate and enthusiastic about what he does, which makes his work all the more beautiful. 

He sent me one of his doona's, (for us American's that's the Australian name for a duvet cover) and I honestly don't know that I've ever loved a handmade piece for my home more than this ocean of blue goodness. 
(You can see early photos on Instagram here and here as well)

It's so soft and the color is incredibly rich and gorgeous. It transformed my bedroom into that calm, cool and inviting place I'd been dreaming of almost instantly. 
Not to mention I'm head over heels for his branding and packaging.
Alistair is such a kind and wonderful person to collaborate with and support and I hope that if you're in need of any linen you'll check out his shop! He also makes sheets, tea towels and pillow cases as well as other home accents. 
I'm also in love with his practice of repurposing your worn out linen. 
Slow living and mindfulness encouraged in your home? Check.

"The core principal behind Mr. Draper's products is to not just buy and toss stuff every few years. Rather, make a considered purchase that will be with you for many years to come."

This post was sponsored by Mr. Draper.
You can shop through their online store as well as connect with Alistair on Instagram.

If you're interested in sponsoring a post or collaborating, shoot me an email: agirlnamedleney@gmail.com

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Other artists and makers I love whose work was featured in this post include...

Nanin - Palo Santo + Desert Rose Candle
Willow Knows - Scarf
Oldtime Feeling - Floral arrangement
Matt Johnson - American Hearts Book
Alex Elle - Note 2 Self Journal
Yesterday's Heroes - Sheep and Shepherd framed art
The Rootless Spruce - Travel Journal

Friday Favorites || 16

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The Most Important Thing About Your 20's

The Kinder Homes book from Ikea looks like an interesting and good read! Has anyone read it yet? 

Gypsies Get Married Too

This song/video combination

This image

A beautiful guide to and images of Morocco

Really resonate with this piece on overcoming cynicism in pursing a conscious lifestyle. Would love to hear any additional thoughts and resources on this topic if you guys have any as it is one that is so very near and dear to my heart!


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In The Wake

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she told me that  was beautiful. 
a "different" beautiful.
"more" beautiful. 
over and over and over again.
and that she hated me for it.
in that sort of half-joking-but-not-really way that girls do sometimes so that they can get away with saying hurtful or deeply true things that they aren't brave enough to fully say. 
i'm not speaking of it now to brag about my beauty.
i know i am beautiful.
no i am not always secure and sure of that. but i have gotten to a place in my life where my worth isn't defined by that piece of me and i also know that truth without needing another's validation of it.

and so it's not that i am uncomfortable being told that i am beautiful. 

it's that i am uncomfortable with other women degrading their beauty in the wake of my own. 
 

iPhone Snaps | Fig Picking

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It's no secret that I have quite a deep and over sentimental love for figs.
Seen here, here, here and here... 

Shortly after coming home from a long trip recently, I spent an hour or two of an afternoon fig picking, fig peeling and fig mashing for fig jam with two lovely ladies.
It was the perfect first thing to do after being on the road for a week.
A welcoming back.
A slowing down.
A this-is-home.

Friday Favorites || 15

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Discovering this local Richmond band

These beautiful thoughts on seasonality  

I kind of want this sandal making kit..

This song

The Exponential Benefits of Minimalism -- While I am not going as far to purge my closet of everything but two pairs of pants and three t-shirts, I have made a conscious effort over the past year to be more inttentional with my posessions and what I own. Even more so recently, letting go of things that don't "spark joy" as the famous konmari method touts, and that I don't use (or, in recent thought process, I couldn't see moving across the country with...) 
Favorite quote from the post: "The things we want only come once we create the space for them."

The concept of Sofar sounds really awesome to me. Hoping it comes to Richmond soon. What do you think about it?

This video of a story from a wooden boat builder.

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