i have been so looking forward to sharing this with you - blog it forward - an idea to share the love - share the inspiration from the amazing victoria of sfgirlbybay - and featuring 300 bloggers - think of it as an enormous digital chain letter!  passed to me from natty michelle, today is my day {along with 9 other bloggers listed below} to share some with you some of the things that inspire me every day...

i spend a lot of time meditating on water.  it balances me - when i swim i feel incredibly at peace, anything that may be ailing me does not matter in those long moments.  because of this, i find my self wholly inspired by water and attracted to art, music - anything that honors this element.

 
i am of the school that believes there is no education like that of travel.  the voyage - both physical and spiritual can transform you forever.  the butterflies that beat their wings against my belly as i prepare for a trip are a welcome sensation - it is something that my husband and i hope to share with our daughters throughout their lives...

i find a great deal of creative inspiration in music.  i find my desires changing as often as my mood - sometimes it is french pop, sometimes the blues - very often the likes of danzig and the ramones.  right now i am loving...

~ the heavy;

~ dragonette;

~ field music;

~ girl in a coma;

~ and zoot woman.

after returning from italy last summer i began i rather intense affair with fellini.  and marcello mastroianni.  i watched every movie i could several times.  the world of 1960's italy in black and white is intoxicating and i have yet to move on from this inspiration.  it permeates all facets of my life - my photography, certain aspects of the way i dress, the music - la dolce vita.

my life was forever changed when i was in sixth grade.  i came across a copy of edith hamilton's mythology in the school library and have since been forever lost in the mists of mount olympus.  the stories and their associated heros have played significant roles in my creative life for nearly 20 years.  and athena - the great goddess of war and wisdom has been a constant presence in my life.

above all else there is love.  i am so inspired by love.  for the love i share every moment with my daughters.  the unconditional love i am so blessed to have from my husband and family.  the supportive and encouraging love i have from my friends.  i see it everyday in the people in my life - and they inspire me to love more and more.  because regardless of anything and everything else, i know without a moments reservation that i can look to those in my life for love and comfort.  and that when they are sinking, my love can keep them afloat - it is awe inspiring - it is unconditional.  it is love.

for more inspiration, please visit the other participating in blog it forward today and be sure to check in with nest dallas design as i pass the torch to her tomorrow...

~ angiegoboom;

~ cafe cartolina;

~ pois rouge;

~ design fixation;

~ s.hoptalk;

~ her sunday dress;

~ the baker's daughter;

~ lilac & ivy;

~ victoria klein.

xoox~jla

p.s. the message of blog it forward is to pay it forward.  i had a simple, but wonderful experience yesterday with the same message.  sitting in the drive thru at starbucks, about to pay my bill - i was told by the cashier that the woman in the car ahead of me paid for my drink.  "why?" i asked.  the cashier shrugged with a smile.  so i wanted to pay it forward - and i bought the drink for the woman behind me.  a simple thing - but kindness is simple, is it not?  and incredibly powerful.  so today, pay it forward.

Comments

[chelsea]

love your list and of course the accompanying photos. that starbucks story is sweet. thanks!

[Amanda {Mocking Bird}]

i adore the way you describe italia...i think we experienced the same magic. i ache to return.
love xxx

[Silent Storyteller]

Wonderful wonderful post. The photographs are exquisite. Thank you for sharing a little of yourself with us

[angie]

what a fantastic post!

your photos are amazing; especially the b&w from italy.

have a happy day!

[jen]

lovely post. you are one inspirational woman!

[Melissa B.]

Very sweet post. Thanks so much for sharing!

[Marisa (Good Good)]

Awesome blog-it-forward! These are all things that inspire me greatly as well and I can't wait to check out some of these bands you recommended.

[and flowers pick themselves]

your post really resonated with me today, especially your words on travel and water. thank you for this!

xo Alison

[charlane]

ahhh, love

i went to see Percy Jackson and the LIghtening Thief because I love mythology so much. makes you wonder sometimes why certain things call to us.

[Arcadia]

those random acts of kindness pull my heartstrings every time I hear about one. someone did the same thing for me at the bridge toll. great post by the way!

[Crystal]

So, so beautiful. Your photographs are always the perfect finishing touch to your beautiful posts.
And thank you for the list of wonderful music links.

[Jennifer White]

Amazing post Jen... made me smile and am looking forward to my 'blog it forward' later in March. Such wonderful inspirations you listed as well... and I'm all over that pay it forward (or backward in the drive thru) ... I will be doing that tomorrow most definitely! xo

[vanessa joie]

This was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your inspiration.

[em jae]

positively lovely.

is that first picture of your desk? i am super in love with that Polaroid collage... think i may have to copy this idea... :)
thanks for the inspiration!

[Beth Dotolo]

Loved reading your post! Thanks for passing the torch over to me...

[em jae]

i know already commented on this one, but i was so inspired by that photo collage -- it helped spark my Fashion Friday blog today! thanks for the inspiration :)

[ashley english]

i love, love, love this! and the ending, with the pay-it-forward random-act-of-kindness coffee is just sensational! gave me a lump in my throat. i adore those sorts of things.
there's a really inspirational foundation called "acts of kindness" where you can read about all sorts of acts of unconditional love: http://www.actsofkindness.org/stories. advance warning, though, that you may need to read with a box of tissues at hand!
and, you can follow them on twitter for random acts of kindness ideas: http://twitter.com/kindtimes

[joslyn]

this is fantastic...your inspirations are lovely and I LOVE your Starbucks story. I'm going to pay it forward this week for sure. thanks for the inspiration.
xo

[Alli (One Pearl Button)]

Such gorgeous photos, and I love your Starbucks story. Thanks for sharing!

[karin maier]

I love those images. Beautiful post

[plaisirs simples]

i am SO inspired by this wonderful post and project!! your loves/interests are so well put! thanks for passing this on..i will start to follow the chain!

[Sonya McCllough]

I love your blog header, your font choice and use and your concise inspiration post.

[SEO Company]

We can get an education that people who read more are more to make good.You read a lot in your student days.

[Anna]

i love this post, jen. seeing what inspired everyone is so, well, it is so inspiring!!

have a good weekend.

[friday tea]

your photography is beautiful!