opening party!

hello friends,

we want to invite you to celebrate take heart's two month anniversary with us!

we hope to see you there...thursday 9/29 *4 - 8 pm...

xo

the loudest voice is not necessarily the truest...

my cousin came to visit austin this weekend and it was great seeing her. she gave me several good reminders.

the following are really good things:

1. family
2. laughing
3. mary oliver
4. images of cats and dogs hugging

love you liz.

thank you mary oliver, cuteness, and laughing.

xo

The Journey

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice--

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

"Mend my life!"

each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do--

determined to save

the only life you could save.

music...

i feel so thankful that i can say i love where i live. that feels good.

number 3 item i am thankful for in austin, seems appropriate to speak about on day 1 of ACL.

3. music

even though it has been quite a while since i have gone to see live music, i just like knowing its there, any day of the week.

i love living in the live music capital of the world. i love that the holiday decorations on congress ave. are musical notes and instruments.

thank you austin music scene for the energy and creativity you add to austin.

have fun at ACL this weekend! xo

janis

austin

1962

neil young

austin

1976

ray charles

austin

1983

my thoughts create my reality...

a good friend of mine told me she was trying an experiment. she told me she was not going to worry for 30 days.
this sounded good to me, as i have the tendency to worry.
so the next day i told her i was joining her 30 Day No Worry Program.
i started on sunday, so today is day 4.

this is very good practice for me.

i know worrying about something does not make that thing happen or not happen.
worrying is the opposite of trusting.

during this process of getting out of the habit of worrying and a worry thought comes to mind, i think of the title of an art show that the woman had who makes the wonderful postcards we sell at the shop. her name is ayco, her business is called childlike wisdom.

thank you ayco for the reminder that my thoughts create my reality.

here is to less worry, more trust.

dream catchers...

hello friends,

we are excited about a recent line of products we received. we are now carrying lovely items handmade by saratops from los angeles, california.

the dream catchers are made with such care. made with vintage fabric, hemp, and recycled leather.

we also have her sweet recycled security envelope gift tags and notebooks.

thank you sara, we love your items.

 photos by saratops

today can be the someday i have always wanted...

i read the perfect thing this morning and i love when that happens, so i thought i would share it.

"each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days...what you can do or think you can do, begin it. for boldness has Magic, Power, and Genius in it."

- johann wolfgang von goethe

hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend...

xo

artwork made in germany by froschkind  (http://www.etsy.com/shop/froschkind)

Sydney Hale Co. soy candles now at take heart....

we are now happy to be carrying Sydney Hale Co. soy candles. these candles are hand poured and blended in Virginia.

i don't have enough good things to say about these candles and company.

if you are not familiar with soy candles, they are the best. longer burn time and smokeless.

each candle is 14 oz, double wick, burns for appx 50 hours, with a reusable container.

other than being handmade, smelling wonderful and great design...we especially love Sydney Hale Co. because they donate 10% of each sale to a local animal rescue organization in Virginia.

we have 4 unique and lovely scents:

fir + blue sage
agave + honeysuckle
mint + geranium
cypress + cassis

xo

thank you for a great first month...

we made it through our first month of business and it has been wonderful so far! again we want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement.

trying to stay in the present, while looking forward to getting into september with the hope it will cool off a bit, i continue to focus on the things i am thankful for in austin.

the second item on my list that i can't deny is:

2. uchi

i truly love this restaurant. i appreciate the attention to detail and unique flavor combinations. my two favorite desserts, ever, are the peanut butter semi freddo and coffee panna cotta. the taste and texture combo is to die for and the presentation is beautiful. i usually can't decide which one to get, so we just get both.

thank you uchi.