Book Report : Big Magic

One of my (many!) New Year's resolutions for 2016 is to read one book a month — which may not sound like a big goal or commitment to some but it is for this gal, who has had many unopened books languishing on her shelves, collecting dust, for years. 

For January, I just finished up the last 20 pages of "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert and it was an enjoyable and inspirational read to say the least. I dogeared dozens of pages to return to when I need a boost of motivation. The book is chockfull of wisdom, delivered in Gilbert's trademark humor, about the joys and travails of creative living. Reading the book felt like sitting down with a good friend who gets you, a friend who truly understands the difficulties you are facing and listens patiently, but then, knowing all the greatness you are capable of, gives you a swift kick in the ass. (Followed up by a warm hug.) 

"Big Magic" is all about getting past the fear of living creatively, of making things, whatever that may be, and putting them out there for the world to see — and, inevitably, judge. Throughout the 273 pages, Gilbert stresses that your creative expression is important, but not that important, and should be taken seriously, but not too seriously. We have to accept these paradoxes and make space in our creative hearts and minds for fun. She teaches that inspiration is all around us, just waiting to work within us if we let it. And if you fail, well, that's OK. But don't give up; just move on and get back to work. Why? Because we love it and creativity loves us. The work may not always be successful, but it will always feed our souls.

Here are some of my favorite quotes, taken from those dogeared pages:

"The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them. The hunt to uncover those jewels — that's creative living. The courage to go on that hunt in the first place — that's what separates a mundane existence from a more enchanted one. The often surprising results of that hunt — that's what I call Big Magic." (p. 8)

"And you have treasures hidden within you — extraordinary treasures —and so do I, and so does everyone around us. And bringing those treasures to light takes work and faith and focus and courage and hours of devotion, and the clock is ticking, and the world is spinning, and we simply do not have time anymore to think so small." (p. 27)

"Work with all your heart, because — I promise you — if you show up for your work day after day after day after day, you just might get lucky enough some random morning to burst right into bloom." (p. 63)

On cultivating a healthy sense of entitlement to live a creative life: 

"Because often what keeps you from creative living is your self-absorption (your self-doubt, your self-disgust, your self-judgment, your crushing sense of self-protection.) The arrogance of belonging pulls you out of the darkest depths of self-hatred— not by saying 'I am the greatest!' but merely by saying 'I am here!'" (p. 93)

"Whether you think you're brilliant or you think you're a loser, just make whatever you need to make and toss it out there. Let other people pigeonhole you however they need to. ... But never delude yourself into believing that you require someone else's blessing (or even their comprehension) in order to make your own creative work." (p. 120-121)

"... Learning how to endure your disappointment and frustration is part of the job of a creative person. If you want to be an artist of any sort, it seemed to me, then handling your frustration is a fundamental aspect of the work — perhaps the single most fundamental aspect of the work. Frustration is not an interruption of your process; frustration is the process." (p. 149)

On laziness and perfectionism: 

"If you want to live a contented creative life, you do not want to cultivate either one of those traits, trust me. What you want is to cultivate quite the opposite: You must learn how to become a deeply disciplined half-ass. It starts by forgetting about perfect. ... Perfectionism stops people from completing their work, yes — but even worse, it often stops people from beginning their work." (p. 166)

"It has taken me years to learn this, but it does seem to be the case that if I am not actively creating something, then I am probably actively destroying something (myself, a relationship, or my own peace of mind)." (p. 171)

On shaking off failure and finding inspiration again: 

"Any motion whatsoever beats inertia, because inspiration will always be drawn to motion. So wave your arms around. Make something. Do something. Do anything. Call attention to yourself with some sort of creative action, and — most of all — trust that if you make enough of a glorious commotion, eventually inspiration will find its way home to you again." (p. 254)

"Fierce trust asks you to stand strong within this truth: 'You are worthy, dear one, regardless of the outcome. You will keep making your work, regardless of the outcome. You will keep sharing your work, regardless of the outcome. You were born to create, regardless of the outcome. You will never lose trust in the creative process, even when you don't understand the outcome.'" (p. 258-259)

What books have you read lately? Any suggestions to add to my list for 2016? I have another inspirational read picked out for February: "When Breath Becomes Air," a powerful and undoubtedly emotional memoir by the late neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi. I purchased the book about two weeks ago while at a book reading led by Paul's wife Lucy (sister of Cup of Jo's Joanna Goddard) in Brooklyn, and so I already know I'll need to make sure tissues are within arm's reach while reading the #1 New York Times Bestseller.

The Pursuit of Positivity

This is not an easy thing for me. Especially lately. I am not prone to positive thinking. I'm a worrier, an over-analyzer, an anxious heart. Cultivating a "positive mind" and feeling "positive vibes" takes serious work, and sometimes no matter how hard I try I simply can't get myself into a sunshine-and-rainbows state of being. I feel guilty, too, because I keep catching myself slipping into complainer-mode lately when chatting with a friend, family member, or even my husband. No one likes a Debbie Downer, regardless of how legitimate your grievances may be. I do have good intentions though; I do strive for a positive mind and those illusive positive vibes. But my emotional wellbeing is so unsteady at this point that even the slightest bump in the road can throw the Positivity Train way off track. And the Motivation Caboose (or is it the engine?) goes right with it, over the Cliff of Despair and into the Valley of Self-Loathing. 

Anyway, that not very well-crafted metaphor is a vague description of how I've been feeling today. Yet I know this is true: if you think positive and believe positive, you will feel positive. So here's a pep talk for myself (and maybe you, too): Your life is what you make it to be. It is not easy—it is not without challenges or negativity—and it certainly isn't "fair," but hiding from or wallowing in the hard things, the disappointing things, the scary things, won't make your days any better. And they definitely won't make your dreams come true. The only thing that will improve the situation is to take action—to hop back on that metaphorical train—and keep moving forward, remembering that small steps every day are better than no steps at all and that sometimes rejection or failure is pointing you on to something better.

While searching for inspiration to pull me out of my funk earlier today, I found these words particularly comforting and re-energizing: You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.

Powerful, right? While re-reading those words and typing them now it hit me that there is great power in positive thinking (and, as I know firsthand, great paralysis in the opposite). And not just the power to feel better in the day to day but to actually create a happy, purposeful and, yes, victorious life. I've always admired people who seem to possess a sort-of innate optimism, my husband being one of them, but I realize now how important it is to cultivate that quality in myself. Positive mind, positive vibes... Positive life. 

(image source)

Thoughts on a Summer Evening

One of my favorite things about my evening walks in Weehawken (other than the view of NYC) is seeing fireflies dancing around the sidewalk and front yards. As a SoCal native, I had never seen fireflies in person so witnessing one a few weeks ago was quite the thrill. I was in awe with each blink of light.

Now, I have to say, fireflies are not all that pretty in their non-illuminated state. Some insect-phobic people like myself might call them strange looking, ugly even, and maybe a little scary. I truly don't enjoy when they fly up near me or my face. (It's the same way I felt about all the colorful dragonflies buzzing around in Florida, no matter how many times my husband assured me that they wouldn't bite or sting. I like bugs to keep their distance, pleaseandthankyou.)

However, fireflies are incredibly beautiful when they let their light shine. And they are even more stunning when strengthened by a community of their peers, their friends and family.

So, yes, they might just be weird little beetles with glowing lanterns on their tails—that's very scientific of me, right?—but they gave me a lot to think about during my evening walk last night and a few good reminders for us human folk:

Let your light shine. Don't dim your spark. Share your gifts. 

And surround yourself with people who encourage that inner glow.

(Photographs by Tsuneaki Hiramatsu 

via Smithsonian Magazine)

Outdoor Living : Small Patio & Balcony Inspiration

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Every morning I take the dogs for a walk around our apartment complex and I always find myself admiring the way others have decorated their patios and balconies. The furniture they've chosen, the plants lining the perimeter. The way some of our neighbors have made the most of their small outdoor spaces and created their own semi-private sanctuary to hang out or have an evening cocktail. Can you sense a tinge of jealously in my voice? 

[ Our apartment balcony looks like this. Except we don't even have a chair! ]

Our balcony, which I'd estimate to be about 9x4.5 feet, is empty save for a sad fake fern and a gecko plant stand—both remnants from my husband's bachelor days. (Plastic greenery and lizard-themed anything. Need I say more?) Even though we don't have the greatest view, situated right behind a supermarket, we do have some trees and pretty partial sunsets and it was always my intention when we moved in last June to spruce up our little slice of the outdoors. But we quickly found out we wouldn't be staying in St. Pete very long and it seemed fruitless and maybe even a bit frivolous to buy new patio furniture, hang lights, and pot plants and herbs when we'd be moving in less than a year. 

Yet, now that spring is here, I've found myself wishing on exceptionally gorgeous days that we had made the effort and investment to create an outdoor space we want to use. Our goal when we move to Jersey is to find a rental home with a backyard—for us and the dogs. (In the midst of writing this post, the hubs found out we have been released from military housing. Yay!) But even if we end up having to live in an apartment once again, I am determined to create an enviable, look-at-me patio or balcony. For when that time comes, I've rounded up some images to inspire us to make the most of whatever outdoor living space we have, no matter how small. My must-haves: color, texture, nature (succulents! herbs!), a sense of privacy, functionality... and that cozy, intimate, romantic vibe that makes you want to go sit outside and chill.

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More inspiration for your patio or balcony, after the jump...

Back to My Roots : Telling Stories that Inspire

During my California adventure, I spent most of my time back in my hometown of Simi Valley. After the bridal shower and bachelorette party, I didn't have as much on my plate so when I met up with my good friend and former editor, Kyle, for lunch I asked if the newspaper was in need of any freelancers. He thought I was joking at first, saying "Don't tease!" but I told him that I could use the money, something to do and fresh clips. So he put me to work! My first story was more newsy, covering a forum that aimed to bolster awareness of bullying and sexual harassment in local schools and what policies the district has in place to prevent and address such issues. It was an interesting forum but, to be honest, my favorite part was running into my old AP U.S. History teacher, who was the chair of the event. She said she remembered me (though I think teachers feel like they have to say that) and she was so proud of the work I was doing. While working as the lead reporter for the Simi Valley Acorn for five years, I often ran into and even interviewed former teachers, and it was always a sort of surreal, the-tables-have-turned experience.

I still have one more story to finish up for the paper, about bird banding of all things, but today I wanted to share the second story I wrote because it truly moved me and reminded me why I love journalism. My passion is telling other people's stories, particularly heartwarming and emotional ones that inspire. Sometimes these feature stories are the hardest for me to write, simply because I strive so desperately to tell the story correctly, truthfully, authentically, and to move the reader the way it moved me.

This was my assignment: Jenna, a visually-impaired Simi Valley high school student, was going to get a special, one-of-a-kind tour of the Los Angeles Zoo that would allow her to "see" some of the wildlife through touch. I was to accompany her on her tour and write about her experience at the zoo.  I'll break here, so if you'd like to follow Jenna along on her day at the zoo, you can read the story below...

(Photos by RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers)

MEET-AND-GREET—Lynne Getz, a docent at the L.A. Zoo, helps Jenna Barry, a Royal High School sophomore, touch a boa snake at the zoo on March 12. Jenna, who is blind, was given a personal, hands-on tour.

A touching experience
Teen ‘sees’ zoo animals with her hands

Like clockwork, at 9:30 on a beautiful Southern California morning, a stream of yellow school buses pulled up outside the Children’s Discovery Center at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens last week.

Out of each poured a gaggle of eager kids whose raucous voices and laughter revealed their excitement for a day at the zoo.

Among the students filling the sidewalk was Royal High School sophomore Jenna Barry, along with about 10 of her classmates.

While they lined up with the rest of the students for their guided tours, Jenna nervously waited to embark on her own excursion—one unlike any other zoo guest experiences.

Jenna is blind. The 17-year-old has optic nerve atrophy, a condition diagnosed in infancy, said her parents, Glenn and Lisa Barry.

While their daughter has no central vision, she does have some peripheral sight, though not in color or great detail.

Because she can’t see the animals, Jenna had never been to a zoo. But after Royal High looked into what types of services the L.A. Zoo could offer teens with special needs peers, a specialized, hands-on tour was arranged, allowing her to “see” some of the zoo’s remarkable creatures through the power of touch.

“She just loves animals, especially cats,” Glenn Barry told the Acorn a few days before the March 12 tour. “I imagine they’ll let her pet something, which will just be a thrill.”

Seeing through feeling

ROUGH ANTLERS—Jenna Barry and Lynne Getz examine a set of 

antlers during a tour of the L.A. Zoo. Because Jenna is blind, she 

received a personal, hands-on tour, learning about animals through touch.

Jenna’s morning began in a classroom inside the Children’s Discovery Center.

Docent Lynne Getz didn’t waste any time, immediately leading the teen to a table filled with animal pelts and bones. Getz guided Jenna’s hand over each one while describing the animal and teaching her about why they feel the way they do.

First up was an otter pelt.

“Feel how thick and how close all the hair is,” said Getz, a docent since 2005 who has experience working with the visually impaired. “Doesn’t that feel good?”

Next they rubbed the pelt of a margay, a small feline that is native to Central and South America. Getz advised Jenna to run her hand from head to tail to get a sense of its size, and then along its claws, which retract just like the teen’s beloved house cat, Baxter.

Together they examined many more specimens: the rough fur of a pronghorn antelope, a fluffy red fox pelt, a baby bear paw, a pair of antlers, shed snake skin and two kinds of bird nests. Jenna also felt bones—real and replica—including the skulls of a warthog, polar bear, rhinoceros, giraffe and elephant, comparing the size of their teeth and the placement of their eyes.

“The zoo is about connecting people with wildlife, and a tactile tour for those who are visually impaired is the best way we can make that connection,” said Kirin Daugharty, manager of volunteer programs. “It allows the visitor a mental takeaway that they wouldn’t otherwise have available to them. A verbal description of a tiger is one thing; touching a pelt, skull or claw is another.”

Though shy around strangers, Jenna listened intently to Getz during the classroom experience, and eventually the docent’s enthusiastic personality worked its magic.

Jenna began to feel more comfortable, a smile forming at the corner of her lips.

The highlight came when the 10th-grader got up-close with an elephant’s leg bone.

“Right now you are standing next to the bones of an elephant,” Getz told Jenna, instructing her to reach down and feel its toes and then move upward, higher and higher.

TALL LEG—Lynne Getz, left, guides Jenna

Barry's hands up an elephant leg bone. The

L.A. Zoo offers docent-led tours to visitors

with special needs.

“I can’t reach it,” Jenna said with a giggle, to which Getz replied, “I know! That’s how tall an elephant is. It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

The duo then left the classroom to tour the zoo grounds.

Jenna walked slowly, making her way with the help of a cane and verbal assistance from her aide, as other schoolchildren ran past. If she was daunted by the noise and activity around her, or the unfamiliar environment, Jenna didn’t show it; she kept moving forward.

“That’s why I think she’s so courageous, to overcome those fears and still be a normal teenager,” said Kristine Bates, a Simi Valley Unified School District aide who works exclusively with Jenna.

Along a path lined with native chaparral, flowers bloom, trees sway in the breeze and birds dart from branch to branch.

Though Jenna couldn’t see these things, Getz helped her envision them by having her feel the leaves on the trees and shrubs and listen to the finches and sparrows as they dined at a hanging bird feeder.

“She’s very detail-oriented,” Bates said of Jenna. “She’s very inquisitive. She wants to know what’s going on around her. She asks a lot of questions. And she wants to know ‘why.’”

Interactive stations at the discovery center provided personal encounters with live animals, including a rabbit and a boa constrictor. And later Jenna met, and petted, Shetland sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats and a miniature horse at Muriel’s Ranch.

She left the petting zoo with a souvenir: a piece of sheep’s wool she stuffed into her pocket for safekeeping.

“When I tell my mom about my day at the zoo, she’s going to be so jealous,” Jenna said.

Her last stop before meeting her classmates for lunch was a ride on the zoo’s carousel. Getz and Bates described the various animal figures she could ride, and Jenna said she wanted a cat; any cat would do. So they helped her climb aboard a lion, king of the jungle.

Just like when she hopped off the bus that morning, Jenna was a bit nervous, unsure of what was about to happen.

But as the ride got going, she let her guard down, smiling from ear to ear as she spun round and round.

“It’s been really fun,” Jenna said about her time at the zoo, listing most of the day’s activities as favorites. “At first I was a little nervous . . . (but after a while) I started to feel excited because I was touching stuff that no one else could.”

Jenna is such a sweet and incredibly courageous young woman and it was a pleasure to meet her. Walking around the zoo, I couldn't help but notice all the beauty around us. It was a warm, sunshine-filled Southern California day. In addition to all the wildlife housed at the zoo, the property, also a botanical garden, is strewn with lush and colorful plantings and flowers. There was so much to see and Jenna couldn't see it. This fact struck me suddenly while strolling the pathway with her and my jaw clenched as I felt my eyes begin to water. I swallowed that emotion but let the feeling of gratitude sink in. Spending the afternoon with someone who doesn't have their sight, but continues to charge forward through life with grace, strength and optimism really puts things into perspective. 

Covering Jenna's day at the zoo truly awakened my soul in more ways than one. It reminded me what my calling is, what I am meant to do: to share people's stories. I have so many interests and passions and different endeavors that I'd like to pursue, but I can't ignore how I feel when I go into journalist mode, when I sit for hours to craft the perfect story, when I see my writing in print. My joy is heightened when the story is appreciated by those who read it, and especially by those who it was written about. The week after the story was published, I received a thank you note, in brail, from Jenna. I will cherish it and my experience—like many of the experiences I've had as a journalist—forever.

As always, thank you for reading!

Purposeful Days : Progress Not Perfection

We're near the end of January and that fact has inevitably lead me to reflect on those goals I made at the beginning of the new year, just a few short weeks ago. While I have made some progress—I launched a 365 project in the hopes of upping my calligraphy game—I feel like I've hit a bit of a slump in other areas (and my MOH duties have, at times, distracted me from my personal pursuits). But I need to continue to push myself forward, be bold and make things happen. Things that will better myself as a person but also, perhaps more importantly, make me feel better about myself. (Eating better, exercising. Feeling like I have purpose.) I was hoping I could dedicate this last weekend of January to making strides forward, but my schedule is already busy. Full of fun things (a girls dinner tonight, Gasparilla tomorrow, Super Bowl Sunday!) but full nonetheless. I guess I need to cut myself some slack. Just not too much slack. 

"Ask yourself if what you're doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow."

It's all about progress, not perfection. I have to afford myself a measure of grace. But I also need to make the most of each beautiful day. I tuned into a webinar with Lara Casey on Wednesday afternoon and my major takeaway was that while you need to be patient with yourself and your goals— especially when making big changes, because results often don't come right away—patience does not mean procrastination. You still need to take action. I need to take action. And be purposeful. Stop the analysis paralysis that I am often guilty of. This is the formula to follow: Action + Patience + Grace = Making It Happen.

Have you made progress on your goals for 2015? Any tips and tricks you've found for pushing yourself forward through a slump?

(Wreath image by Wild Folk Studio, 

Ask Yourself via She Knows, Pink Petals by

Megan Gilger/The Fresh Exchange) 

Goal Digger : Making It Happen in 2015

Happy New Year! Hello, 2015! I ended 2014 with a bang and as a result spent January 1st in recovery mode, on the couch, in PJs, eating Chinese food. Perhaps not exactly the way I wanted to start the new year but, oh well. Today is a new day. And while yesterday wasn't the most productive, I did do one productive thing related to my resolution to be bold, to live with intent, and make things happen: I started reading Lara Casey's new book, "Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear, Take the Leap, Live on Purpose."

On New Year's Eve, I downloaded the e-book, my first purchase on the Kindle Fire my husband got me for Christmas, and last night, with my hangover finally subsided, I figuratively cracked open the pages.

I'm only on page 35 so far. I've read through chapter one (Stop Chasing Perfect) of section one (Surrender Your Fear) and yet Lara's words already have me feeling uplifted and motivated. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. The book compels you to face what has been holding you back. In chapter one, I had to think about and write down how "chasing perfect" makes me feel and believe about myself (inadequate), what I am really striving for (happiness, success, significance), what my life would look like if I thew out the "shoulds" (freedom!) and what has stopped me from taking a leap of faith (fear of failure). I also had to answer that seemingly simple but not-always-so-easy-to-answer question, "How are you?" with uncomfortable honesty (a little lost, discontent, uninspired, unmotivated). Most of the time we put on the charade of perfection, that everything is "fine," but the only way one can truly move forward in a positive and productive way is to confront the issues that have been weighing down our body, heart and mind. And that's just what "Make It Happen" does, at least in the first 34 pages. Though I don't doubt there are more stop-and-make-me-think discussions to come.

The lies of perfection and shoulds tell us we aren't enough, but the truth paves a path for us to an abundant life of joy where we are more than enough. -Lara Casey, "Make It Happen"

At the end of chapter 1, there is a "Take Action" step to write a statement and place it somewhere you'll see every day. I'm also going to put it here:

I was created for a purpose, 

and it's time to make it happen!

In addition to reading "Make It Happen," I ordered a set of Lara's PowerSheets, a six-month supply of goal-planning and action-inspiring worksheets (105 in all!). In addition, I purchased Emily Ley's Home Base Binder Kit to keep them in and further help me get my life, and by proxy, my hubby's life, better organized. At first I thought the binder was something that would better serve a family, a couple with kids, but then I thought, what the heck. I need to be organized now with a system in place before I have kids! Which is a something G and I hope will happen in 2015.

I'm still waiting for the mailman to deliver my worksheets and binder, but I can't wait to receive them! Luckily, Lara recommends waiting to fill out the PowerSheets until you get to section four of the book, so I have some time. As Lara says, there's nothing magical about January 1. I'm not going to fail just because I didn't have all my ducks in a row yesterday. Setting and achieving goals is a journey, a process, and I am looking at the whole month of January as a season for just that.

I'm not necessarily planning on blogging about my whole "Make It Happen" journey, but I wanted to share with you today in case you are looking for some goal planning tools and resources. Even if you're not interested in the book, I'd highly suggest checking out Lara's blog, which is chock-full of inspiring, go-get-em content. (This would be a good place to start.) Not to mention beautiful downloads for your desktop to keep you motivated.

I particularly like these: Go & Do. Because Done is Better than Perfect. So true and yet so hard when you are a perfectionist like me. But I know I need to "stop chasing perfect" because, many times, it's fear of not being perfect that keeps me from getting anything done!

So here's to choosing PURPOSE over PERFECT in 2015. Cheers!

("Make It Happen" images via Lara Casey, 

Home Base Binder via Emily Ley, 

Goal Digger top image via Jenna Kutcher)

Inspiration for the New Year

As we are on the precipice of a new year, I gathered together a collection of inspiring words that I'd like to stitch to my heart and carry with me, to motivate me, through 2015. If I had to choose one simple phrase as a theme of sorts for the coming year, it would be this: BE BOLD. I want to live boldly, laugh boldly, love boldly. I want to embrace the uncertain future and all its possibilities. I want to take risks, do what makes my heart sing and not fear failure. If anything, I want to welcome failure, learn from it, grow from it, and keep on going. I desire bravery, courageousness. I want to cultivate fierceness. As incredibly hard as it is for me, the one who hates change and feeling uncomfortable, I want to break out of the old habits weighing me down, live with intent and create magic.

Of course I'd like to be more organized, quit biting my nails (again!), make healthier food choices, exercise more, get my bank account on an upward swing... All those things I resolve to do every year. But I think that striving to live a more purpose-driven life will lead to a happier and more fulfilled me, and many of those things will just naturally fall into place.

Now, I know there is nothing magic about January 1. And I will need to remember that when I inevitably fumble in my grand (but doable, step-by-step) resolutions. Every day is a new day for a great day. Nevertheless, New Year's Eve does prompt reflection and the feeling that the slate is being wiped clean to start fresh and anew. So tonight, when the clock strikes twelve, I will toast to 2015 and welcome all that is to come and all that can be with open arms and a bold heart.

Do you make resolutions? If you had to pick a word, or a few words, to guide you through 2015, what would you choose?

(Image sources: Fierce, Be Brave, Start Today, Do Things,

 Less Habit, More Intent, She Believed, Don't Compare, 

Go Do Them, Why Not, Happy and Bright, and Magic)

Fresh Perspective on Holiday To-Do's

Now that I've posted about all my wants (and definitely-don't-needs), I thought I'd share this clever little holiday to-do list that you may have already seen circulating the interwebs in one form or another. Even if you have, it's worth another look. This smart list is one to keep in mind during the frenzy of last-minute shopping, Christmas card mailing, deck-the-halls decorating, never-ending gift wrapping, holiday party hopping, and certain over-indulging. Whatever or whoever you believe in, the true reason for this season is LOVE and we can't let that simple fact get lost in the commercial (and sometimes competitive) hustle and bustle, which can easily zap the joy out of what is supposed to be the happiest time of the year—if we let it. But if we stay grounded in love, gratitude and generosity, the holidays really can be merry and bright.

Christmas Wishes of a Creative, Girly, Boho Gal

Just in case you are still on the hunt for the perfect gift for the lady in your life (or, perhaps, yourself), I present my Christmas wish list. I'd be ecstatic to find any of these goodies under the tree, and I'm willing to bet other girly-girls with their heads in the clouds and a bit of a boho streak would be thrilled with Santa's picks, too.

The Photojojo Lens Set to upgrade her iPhone-photo-taking, Instagram-posting game, resulting in professional-quality images that make all that time she spends getting the perfect shot well worth the effort.

A book that feeds her jewelry addiction while also sparking her imagination and desire to create.

Small, lovely spiral-bound journals (left, right) filled with calligraphy-quality paper that promote doodling, daydreaming, list-making and goal-crushing.

Cozy, boho pullover sweaters (left, right) for when she wants to be comfy but still look stylish. 

A textured, jewel-toned frock that is a great base for fall layering, a romantic, crochet-edged faux wrap dress perfect for a winter date night but can also carry into spring, and bib necklaces (pink, black) that can be worn with both.

Chic, streamlined and versatile bags that look luxe (but are a steal) and go with everything in her wardrobe. Top: Convertible Vegan Crossbody in Midnight; Bottom: Slouchy Vegan Tote in Mulberry/Taupe.

Sexy, feminine high-end perfumes that she'll save for nights out with her man and other extra-special occasions. Tom Ford Velvet Orchid, an oriental floral that evokes a warm exotic garden, and Jo Malone Cologne Collection, a set of five most-loved fragrances that can be layered to create a signature scent.

Urban Decay's newest palette, Naked On the Run, since she owns Naked 1, 2 and 3 and, as a true make-up junkie, can't resist adding to her collection, no matter how full the bathroom drawers may be. Plus, this has almost everything she needs for a quick weekend getaway.

A trio of Grace Kreinbrink's peaceful abstract watercolors in shades of purple and pink (Falling Petals, Trickle and Wisteria) because they would be beautiful accent in her mostly-stark master bedroom, plus they perfectly complement her bedding.

A shimmering, foil-pressed print of the Golden State, to remind her of home. 

A lovely and inspiring mug to start her day right—with coffee and encouragement.

What's on your holiday wish list?

(Top image taken and edited by me)