::keep a breast::

Since it is October, it's appropriate to talk about boobs. In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I'd love to help spread the word. I mentioned my friend Leah earlier (at the end of this post). She's a pro longboarder and travels around the world promoting yoga, surfing, and a healthy lifestyle. This is where I learned about the Keep a Breast Foundation and I Love Boobies Campaign:

The Keep A Breast Foundation™ is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support. Through art events, educational programs and fundraising efforts, we seek to increase breast cancer awareness among young people so they are better equipped to make choices and develop habits that will benefit their long-term health and well-being.

Did you know girls as young as 10 years old are being diagnosed with breast cancer? Just recently, a woman close to me had an operation to remove her breast due to the ugly disease. Which, would be an easy decision for me-- take my boobs (I never had much of them anyway). As heart-breaking as the stories are, it's important to share knowledge and talk about it, especially with your girlfriends.

The I Love Boobies Campaign has turned into an artist event as well. The artwork is made from a cast of a woman's body and hand painted. All for a good cause and spread the awareness. I've choosen a couple of my favorites for your viewing pleasure.

All images courtesy of Keep A Breast

::i want to sleep outside::

Cheers to a relaxing Friday night. I met up with some friends at Lake Mirror for Pics on the Promenade, and it was one of my favorites: Hook. Such a good flick. We caught ourselves quoting most of the movie (not J, he was sleeping after a Von Shroom burger at Chop Shop).

This weekend I'll be heading east for hiking and camping. It's a primitive campsite only accessible by boat, so we're hoping to see all sorts of Florida's native wildlife. The best part about camping is having really great equipment. When we were little, my siblings and I could have cared less about the preparation. We were too excited to fish and eat s'mores. Now, older and more conscious of comfort, it's essential to have the right stuff:

• A great hiking backpack. I use this one, designed specifically for the female body and there are so many hidden pockets that make for great storage.
• An air mattress is crucial and will be worth every penny. You never know what to expect when you set up camp. You cross your fingers for a nice soft clearing, but sometimes life gives you stones, sticks, and pine cones. Luckily, I have this little guy.
• Last, but certainly not least, the tent. I bit the bullet last year and bought J this MSR tent. It's light as a feather, packs up to the size of a loaf of bread, and sets up in 2 minutes.
• Other items to consider: camping pots & pans (don't forget the stove), portable shower, and of course, a bottle of wine (or two).

all images courtesy of weheartit

What kind of adventures are you getting into this weekend?

::let's get personal::

For my birthday last month, J got me a super sweet new camera. She's an amazing piece of equipment. Some training is still in order to maximize her abilities, but she's been making my pictures look good simply on the automatic settings. There are so many bloggers out there that are multi-talented: great photography, creative illustrations, witty writing, and beautiful style.

It's rare that I stay in one place on the weekends. Weekends mean adventure. And now with my spiffy new friend (oh, personification) to capture those moments. There's so much to see and do out there. Things might get a little personal-- Here's a look through my lens...

::recap: winter haven market day::

6 petals made it's debut at Market Day this weekend. It's a very new event to the city and much needed. It's an older, agricultural town that's reluctant to change due to the older powers that be. Luckily, there are many young, educated, and talented people making their mark and switching the tides of "how things have always been done". Young entrepreneurs are popping up and making their voice heard, which make me smile.

Things just seemed to work out serendipitously (vocabulary word of the day) on Saturday. The weather was incredible. The artists were in a cover breeze way to which customers claimed I had the "best spot". I couldn't agree more-- the cool breeze lasted the entire day! All the local favorites were there with their goodies: R & R Chutney, Noble Juice, and Lasater Flowers & Gifts. Local farmers were selling their delicious fruits and vegetables, so of course I stocked up on avocados, and sipped on a carrot, beet, and celery smoothie. Just being at the market makes me feel healthier.

Shop update: the online shop has run into some speed bumps. But have no fear, 6petals.com will be up and running shortly. Thanks for your patience and keep spreading the love.

::watch this...or this watch::

I'd like to give myself a pat on the back for my limited spending this month. And by "give myself a pat on the back " I mean I want to buy this watch.

A co-worked emailed me this Gadget Lab article from WIRED Magazine. I immediately fell in complete lust. I have to have it ("as much you need a hole in the head" I can hear my Dad in the background). Not only is it a hand-crafted piece of wooden art, but each purchase plants a tree.
See...

In other exciting news, 6 petals will be setting up at Winter Haven Market Day. This is a new event (this Saturday will be the 2nd gathering) and I'm excited and jittery about this new venture. I'll be displaying handmade jewelry, home decorations, art, and vintage items. In preperation, I needed to finalize a new business card. Here's the look...and the new logo.

I always love feedback, so fire away {I haven't sent it to the printer yet} :) I'll upload some inventory photos as I get ready for Market Day.

Have a lovely Friday.

::freelance::

Soon after college I realized I enjoyed creating the art for advertising...not selling advertising or media buying. So, why not start my own graphic design company? Okay. CreativeFreedom was born. I've been lucky to work with a hand full of clients on a wide range of projects: billboards, a newlywed cookbook, Christmas self-mailer, business cards, posters, etc.

Recently, I put together some art for a community event downtown. It involves beers and bratwursts-- how could I resist?!

Get ready for some polka!

::hello peafowl::

Bet you didn't know this tidbit of trivia: peafowl. The male is referred to as a peacock and the female is a peahen. For the record (and for simplicity) I will call them peacocks.

I grew up in a small town and lived on the end of a dirt road in the cutest little brown cottage (I know, sounds like Little House on the Prairie doesn't it?). One thing I loved was seeing peacocks roaming the neighborhood. Lately, I end up seeing them at the zoo or some random street corner, but far fewer than "back in the day". I even remember my first pair of peacock feather earrings. An inspirational bird of a colorful feather...

images courtesy of weheartit

::closet case::

In an effort to reorganize my life a bit, I thought I'd start in a small space: the closet. A girl can dream, right?

images courtesy of elle decor & weheartit

I'm ready to swap out plastic and wire hangers with quality wooden and fabric hangers. I admire the clothing items I have and have done well throughout the years to take great care of my wardrobe. Fun fact: I still have pieces from 9th grade that I wear on a regular basis. I'd like to think of my closet as another room in the house. With all the lovely fabrics, textures, colors, and let's not forget, SHOES. Most of my organizing woes stem from my lack of ample space for my shoes. Of course, the possibility of having shelving (as in some of the above photos) isn't in the cards for some of us, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

A few tips to closet organizing:

1. Arrange your closet based on where you are (physically and/or emotionally). Your geographical location plays a large part. Obviously, if you live in Florida, put the coats in the back of the closet, and even store most of your sweaters in an under-the-bed storage bin. Emotionally, if some items "don't fit" put them in another location, or even donate them to make space for what fits your body well.

2. Keep a consistent system. Choose a system that works for you and your lifestyle. For example, pick a certain day out of the week to do laundry and take dry cleaning. Also, make a point to hang your items shortly out of the dryer to save on ironing time! And, put on your favorite tunes to keep yourself dancing around while folding your t-shirts.

3. Make the most of your space. No matter what size your closet is, make it functional. There are lots of great products that can fit, hang, collapse, and expand to fit your needs. Research and find what works for you.

Happy organizing.

*p.s. In completely unrelated news, my surfer-friend Leah landed front page on Liquid Salt. She's quite the badass. I thought I'd share the love for waves-- take me to the beach!

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