Guest Posts on the way...

I have got some fabulous guest posters lined up during this month for the Blog Party.  You're not gonna want to miss this!  Each of them are going to share their thoughts on CELEBRATING THE EVERYDAY and what that means to them in their life.  I've asked some of my favorite bloggers for their perspectives on this and I'm looking forward to sharing the ways that they savor the big and little things of everyday life.  There will be posts from photographers, small business owners, students, soon-to-be mothers, scrapbookers and lifestyle bloggers.    I'll be sharing at least 2 of these specials posts each week.  I hope you'll come back then, read and enjoy their words and add to the celebration yourself. :)  

What did you do today to celebrate? 

What does celebrating the everyday mean to you? 

A mix tape for the celebration.

Music holds memories for me.  Music inspires and records and lifts and envelopes.  Music chronicles each portion of our lives.  So I created a little mix tape just for this special occasion:  CELEBRATING THE EVERYDAY here on my blog.  Just some fun songs to brighten your day, make you smile, maybe tap your feet and take a pause for a moment and savor today.  Enjoy! 

Celebrating the Everyday from shadylane_14 on 8tracks.

What are some of your favorite songs right now?

What is a song that always makes you smile? 

Instagram for the win!

One of the best way's I've been able to celebrate the everyday has been through Instagram.  For the longest time it was only available for the iphone, and I was considering buying one just for this app...for real. But then in early April it was made available for the android market too!  You can believe I jumped on that, and started taking and sharing little square pictures with fun filters like a crazy person.  I've been having fun with my 365 project taking a picture every day, but there is just something special about Instagram.  I think I stop and pay attention to the little things even more than I did before.  Savoring these little square moments. 

April 2012 via Instagram

Follow me on Instagram: @shadylane_14.  Or if you don't have the app see my profile and pictures HERE. 

This is just one way I'm celebrating the everyday....

Do you use Instagram?  

What's your favorite filter or thing to photograph with it?  

Please share your Instagram name cuz I'd love to follow you too! 

WELCOME

I am so eager to welcome you to my new online home:  shadylaneblog.com!  I'm opening the doors today and letting in the light.  If you're in a reader please pop on over and take a peek and the new design.  I'd love your thoughts, opinions, comments and if you spot anything a little off or missing a correct link, please let me know.  I am pretty proud of how everything came together.  It went through a few drafts, but in the end it is exactly what I'd hoped:  a place for me to share my story, chronicle my life, become a better writer, learn more about myself, show my pictures and my design work and ultimately CELEBRATE THE EVERYDAY.  

So that is what the month of May will be all about.  Celebrating the everyday.  There will be a post every day of some sort.  I've got some great giveaways lined up (my first ever on my blog!), some amazing and inspiring guest posters (some of my favorite bloggers have agreed to share their thought on celebrating the everyday!), a few of my special features (see my hair is short and blond now; look for another installment of The Hair Diaries coming soon!), and finally some thoughts on my recent diagnosis and what that means for my life right now.  

So welcome!!  I'm so glad you're here, and hope you'll pop back in throughout the month. Its gonna be a fun blog party. 

Its happening...

and I am so excited!!  

I'm working on the redesign of my blog and just wanted to do a little post to say that things might be a little wonky while I'm updating design elements.  And you know what got me super motivated??  Turning my handwriting into a font!  I used yourfonts.com and it was only $10.  I can't wait to integrate my own handwriting into my blog to make it feel even more personal.  

I have also decided to change the name of my blog.  It has been Serendipity since 2005 when I first started blogging.  And its pretty amazing that something I felt so strongly about then still resonates with me.  This was the description of my blog that I wrote back then: 

 Fortunate accidental discoveries in life and art.  Its finding the beauty in everyday life and capturing moments that will never be forgotten. Its seeing joy for joy itself learning to savor it. Its my life...lived in; learned in; loved in.

I still feel like this is what my blog has been about and will continue to be about... just under a new name now.  Shadylane has been my nickname since I was a little girl.  Its special to me, its personal, and I've always used it.  My email address I've had since I was 14, my twitter handle, my photography business name.  So I wanted to unify everything.  I went back and forth for a little while, but when I saw that shadylaneblog.com was available I jumped on it.  And the first time I typed that in my browser window and was directed to my blog I knew it was the right move.  

Full blog reveal coming May 1st.  Get excited!!  I know I am. ;)