When a Heart Breaks

There are few things that I know to be absolutely, 100 percent, without a doubt, no-strings-attached TRUE....

I don't normally talk about religion, spirituality, beliefs on this blog but today I feel compelled to do so.

That two thing I know to be true are the strength of the human heart the power of prayer.

In my life I've gone through a lot of heart break in various situations in my life, as have all of you. Our degrees of heart ache vary but we have all been there and once we've been through it it never really leaves us. I believe our heart's are a super strong muscle and can endure much and even can be broken time and time again and yet they still work. I am a firm believe that hearts can literally be broken -- and can just as literally be healed.

It may seem crazy to some but for me, this is what I know. Some pains our so intense that you literally feel your heart break. I woke up this morning in tears, for many reasons but my heart was just hurting for lots of people in my life and for some things in my own life. I turned on Pandora while I cried for a few minutes (I've learned it okay and actually good for me to cry every now and again). A song popped up on Pandora that brought me to my knees, lirerally. I felt this over-whelming spirit of comfort and heart ache fill the room all at once. I'd never heard this song before but it truly touched me so I had to share...



Many times in my life I have been confused about my religious beliefs, where I belong in the scheme or where I attend church or what I believe on various levels and at various times in my life but one thing that has always stood constant. When I pray, it works. I have seen my prayers answered far more times than I ever really deserved. Recently, my mind has been confused but I have tried to focus on the one thing I know for sure, that I CAN pray for comfort and guidance.

The results have changed my world and have helped me realize that the answers will come, that I need to pray more for others than myself and that no matter how full your head is, there is comfort in prayer or conversation with whom/what ever guides your life.

When a heart breaks, it will heal. Not today but it will. When you don't know what else to do, pray, seak guidance in whatever it is you choose to seak guidance in. I don't know a whole lot, but this I am certain of.


Photo: Prayer, the world's greatest wireless communication.
 

Grey Matters

My dad has been on my mind a lot lately (that's really nothing new). I still think about him every single day!

May is also Brain Tumor Awareness Month so I wanted to share some fun things/products with you!

The ribbon for brain cancer is gray.

Show your support for Brain Cancer Awareness by wearing this cozy scarf! It is lined with soft gray fleece for warmth, and made primarily from a cotton designer fabric from the "Snowberry" line. It is heather gray, with large light gray polka dots in rows with small white flowers and aqua accents.

Awareness Ribbon is appliqued onto the bottom of the scarf and measures approximately 4.5 inches tall.

100% of the proceeds from this sale will be donated to Miles for Hope (www.milesforhope.org).


Go here to get this product: http://www.etsy.com/listing/68440847/brain-cancer-awareness-gray-ribbon-scarf


These beautiful ribbon charms are 5/8" long and are silver-tone with an enameled color finish. Each charm has an enclosure hoop that allows them to be easily attached to your favorite bracelet or necklace. Available in all of our cancer awareness colors. I just love these!

Purchase one (or two) here: http://www.choosehope.com/product/ribbon-awareness-charm

Next time I get a manicure, I'm doing this. Love the dark nails with the grey ribbon on one finger. Fun way to show support!



I so smitten with the next item.

Show your support with cancer ribbon awareness earrings. These are Gray which supports Brain Cancer. Hand stitched using delica beads and surgical steel hooks. Approx 1.25" drop.



Get these beauties here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/97442475/brain-cancer-awareness-beaded-ribbon?ref=sr_gallery_44&ga_search_query=brain+cancer&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_search_type=all

There are so many fun and wonderful products over on Etsy so be sure to check them all out, just type brain cancer (or whatever form of cancer you would like) and click search.

One of my favorite gifts to give (hint, hint Mother's Day is like SOON) is one where the products I purchase helps a good cause!

Remember, Grey Matters!


To learn more about brain cancer please visit: http://www.braintumor.org/

Take me with you, Orange Balloons!

Dear Dad,
I often find myself really missing you at the times that are not the most convenient or the most common. Days like Father's Day never trigger an excess of emotion for me, I don't particualarly struggle on these days....

until today.

I can't seem to stop crying tonight. I miss you like crazy. As I sit here packing to take a short trip to Utah to visit everyone and meet Ambree's new little guy I can't help but wish that when I land in Utah, you will be there. I can't help but think that as soon as I meet my new nephew I will only yearn for you more. I know the little guy is a gift from you, a piece of you but I want you!

Tonight I am packing to go home but everytime I do, every time I go back to Utah, I have to face the fact that you aren't there and facing reality is not smething I'm great at. I know that everywhere I look, everyone I see, everywhere I go I"ll be reminded of you. I know it's a blessing to get all those sweet reminders it's just sometimes a bit painful for me. I always fear I won't have the strength to deal with the fact that you aren't there.

I grow to love you more everyday. I see small glimpses of your personality in me as I grow up. But most of all I just wish I was mre like you, a lot more loving and generous with my time, kinder to other, unconditional in my love for others, more forgiving, patient and a lot less selfish. You truly exemplified everything I need to be.

I realize daily how blessed I am to have had a father like you. It's days like today that I need to celebrate you and your life and cherish the joy we shared. But perhaps it's ok that I just miss you today and wish you were here. I wish I could call you on the phone and wish you a happy Father's Day. I wish I could hold on to the Orange Balloons I send up to you and go with them, wherever they go. I just miss you and my heart hurts...a lot.

This song came on my iPad and it hit me so hard...

"What would you think of me now? So lucky, so strong, so proud, I never said thank you for that..."

"And if you were with me tonight, I'd sing to you just one more time, a song for a heart so big, God wouldn't let it live..."

"May Angels lead you in? Hear you me, my friends. On sleepless roads, the sleepless go..."

Song: Hear You Me, Jimmy Eat World 

I love you!

More about ME, ME, ME

I've decided to make a little change to my blogging life, let me try to explain...

I have two blogs. One about ME and my personal life and one about ME and my personal life and blindness. So mostly I have two blogs where I write a lot about ME. So I'm combining these two blogs since I pretty much talk about ME all the time anyway...

Slate & Stylish (this blog) and Glitter Pink Sneakers: Notes in Orange Balloons (my other other blog) are pretty much joining in marriage. Blog Bliss!

I will be keeping the title Slate & Stylish cause I like it and it's catchy and I thought I was clever when I came up with it.

So now you S&S readers will have to bare with hearing even more about me and my regular random, daily thoughts and activities. I hope you don't mind!?!

I have a little segment I did over on the other blog called Notes in Orange Balloons, it's occasional writings I do to my dad, so that will now be a part of this blog.

The writing nuttiness is pretty much the same, so don't expect too much of a change. Now you'll just know even more how truly NUTSO I am.

So PLEEEEEEAASE don't leave me because I will totally take it personally and unfriend you on Facebook.

5. Tying the Knot: Pretty Little Details

When I started planning our wedding, I only knew two things I wanted for sure:

1. Bright Colors

2. Little Personal (DYI) Touches Throughout

So here are just a few of the little details that GQ and I and many of our wonderfully talented family and friends helped us create to make our day unique and fun...

These boutonniere's were one of the first things I made for our wedding. I spotted something similar to this over at DYI Bride and fell in love. One of my most favorite little details of the day, and something the guys can keep.

Each bridesmaid wore a bright colored butterfly someone on their body, hair, bracelet, corsage or pin. The butterfly became an instant theme for our day when I first spotted these little beauties at Hobby Lobby.

We decided early on that we didn't want a traditional cake. So we got creative and came up with the idea to do my Aunt Vickie's famous sugar cookies. They were adorable and delicious! We topped off the cookie display with a giant chocolate cupcake in celebration of my dad's birthday which is also on March 4th. We started the cake cutting ceremony with a lovely rendition of Happy Birthday. It was a truly sweet moment!

This darling little cube was made by Shonna Clift over at Sweet Stick'ems Custom Vinyl. It was a perfect touch to the cookie/cupcake table and I motto I proudly live by:

"Life's too Short, Eat Dessert First" Amen.

Sweet Stick'ems also created this little quote frame. A favorite quote of ours from my favorite author, Dr. Seuss. We thought the good Dr. Seuss fit in perfectly with our brightly colored nuptials. 

Quote: You know your in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

One of my favorite touches were these darling chair signs that hung on our chairs at the wedding dinner. They turned out to be pretty fun for pictures as well. Again, Sweet Stick'ems made these lovelies for us.

Candles were a major element of our big day, they lined the entire room and adorned the tables as centerpieces. My hope for a romantic and elegant look came together with some soft candlelight.

The tables turned out bright and beautiful thanks to my cute grandma who handmade these beautiful table runners for us in orange and pink. The lanterns were added with some bright rose pedals and the beautiful vase on the sweetheart table made for a beautifully romantic feel.

Second to the button boutonnieres was my bouquet. A picture of an orange and pink rose bouquet I found online inspired the entire color scheme of the wedding. The beautiful roses were done by Skyline Floral of Salt Lake City. 

Some of the best gifts we received and one of the most lovely aspects of our whole day were the darling picture frames my cute cousin Kayleen made for us! After having our conversations about how they should look long distance and Kayleen never seeing my wedding colors first hand, they looked so perfect with the theme and vibe of the wedding. 

This a little card/keepsake box that GQ and I made together. The plain box was found at Hobby Lobby.

And one of the sweetest, most heartfelt gifts we received was this gorgeous wedding signing book made by my sweet friend Jaime. Every page was handmade and reflects various sweet moments in our relationship. Each page has one orange balloon on it with a quote, from this very blog, of something I wrote to my dad in my Notes in Orange Balloons. Every page is also tactile so I can feel every detail of it. It is a beautiful gift that we will truly cherish forever! Thank you sweet Jaime!

Every little detail was so sweet and had a personal touch from us or one of the amazingly talented people in our lives. 

We also created a little dream board with a list of each of our hopes and dreams. Something we can keep and have hanging in our home forever. It was a fun project and a sweet personal touch to our day!

At the end of night each guest got a balloon and we released it into the sky before we left. It was a really special moment for us as every year, on my sweet dad's birthday, we release an orange balloon to celebrate. Happy Birthday to my Sweet, Sweet Dad!

This frame of my dad and I walking on the beach in California was places on a special seat for him.

It was a sweet, wonderful day with all the personal touches we hoped for.

Love is in the details.