let's think of something beautiful.

xoxo,

lesley

falafel update

dear readers,

i know i've been neglecting this blog, but i just looked back and realized that i haven't posted in over six weeks! where does the time go...? life can take unexpected twists and turns, and lately stuff has been going on in my life that has caused me to focus my attention outside of the blogosphere.

i still plan on posting to falafel for the soul, it just might not be as regular as it once was. and even though i'm not blogging as frequently, i'm still out there in the world trying to spread positivity, and i encourage you to keep doing the same!

xoxo,

lesley

another reason to stay positive...

new research shows that optimism can boost your immune system!

xoxo,

lesley

TOMS one day without shoes

i'll be taking off my shoes on april 8th... will you join me?

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... everyone should try

spotted in the window of a local shop while enjoying a walk in this glorious spring weather :)

xoxo,

lesley

thank you.

it seems like people spend a lot of time focusing on their flaws and things they want to change about themselves... i know i do from time to time.

but guess what? you are amazing. so today i want to thank you for being you... uniquely, perfectly, wonderfully you! no one does it better.

xoxo,

lesley

life can start again.

this weekend, a shift began to occur... we are on the cusp of spring. the air seems to be buzzing with energy and potential, and soon everything around us will be bursting into life.

i can't think of a better time for a fresh start. every day life can start again... think of the possibilities!

xoxo,

lesley

love yourself

my friend jess spotted this awesome graffiti wall in florida... it reads, "love yourself like no other."

xoxo,

lesley

the buried life

inspiring, touching, uplifting... not necessarily the words that come to mind when you think of the lineup of shows on mtv. but the buried life is all those things and more.

the show follows a group of four guy friends on their journey to cross items off a list of 100 things they want to do before they die... from attending a party at the playboy mansion to helping deliver a baby. there's also a twist: for every item they cross off their list, they help a stranger accomplish something on theirs.

when i first started seeing ads for the buried life, i was interested, but i thought to myself c'mon, it's mtv... how good could it be? i decided to tune in anyway, and i'm so glad i did! the guys are relatable, hilarious, creative, and fearless. the ways in which they are able to help other people are amazing and totally inspiring. i look forward to watching their adventure unfold every week.

take a few minutes to watch the promo video below and check your local listings for air times :)

xoxo,

lesley

snow days

i adore snow days.

as a kid, i remember the excitement of rushing to the window the morning after the weather man called for snow to check and see just how much had fallen (and the disappointment i felt if there was none!). when i was a freshman at the university of maryland, we had three snow days in a row (they aren't very good at dealing with snow down there), and it's still one of my favorite memories of college. now, as an adult, the idea of being "snowed in" is still thrilling... a day where we are encouraged, expected to stay inside with our loved ones, not worrying about our day-to-day responsibilities.

this past week, we had two major snowstorms. the snow just kept coming... so much that my husband's company actually shut down for a day. a true snow day! it was fantastic, and we took full advantage... just like we would have when we were kids. we curled up on the couch in our snuggies, watched movies, ate chicken noodle soup, drank hot chocolate with marshmallows, and even ventured out to make snow angels.

i think everyone should have a snow day every now and then... even if you live in a place where it never snows! take a day off and spend some quality time exploring the great indoors with the one you love :)

xoxo,

lesley

another note from my hubby...

my husband has always liked leaving sweet notes for me to find around the house. since i started falafel for the soul, he's taken to writing his mini love notes on post-its.

this one stands out among the sea of yellow and pink sticky notes littering my desk... it is so nice to look down from whatever i'm working on and be reminded every day that i am loved :)

valentine's day is almost here... and even if you aren't a fan of the holiday, it's the perfect time to tell someone you love them. try leaving a little note like this for someone you care about, just to remind them why they are so special to you. your significant other, your best friend, your kids, your crush, your teacher, your mailman... they all need love, and finding a note like this just might make their day!

xoxo,

lesley

you are beautiful part 2

i was so very inspired by the you are beautiful project that i decided to contribute to it in my own way. this sign has been hanging in my window (facing out, of course) for the past few weeks...

see it? move in a little closer...

my husband and i live in a second floor apartment overlooking a busy intersection. lots of people walk by every day, but i have no way of knowing if anyone has noticed it. i do know that it always makes me smile when it catches my eye as i'm walking home.

i added the smaller pink sign below it as an extra piece of encouragement... it reads, "keep your heart open."

xoxo,

lesley

roses are red...

the other day i walked past this car and saw that someone had left a single rose on the windshield. i have no idea who put it there or who it was intended for, but i thought an i love you card would compliment this sweet gesture perfectly...

xoxo,

lesley

these have to be some of the most adorable post-its i've ever seen. click here to read how michelle of locked out blog is using them to motivate herself to meet her 2010 resolutions!

xoxo,

lesley

news flash

this newspaper vending box caught my eye while walking around in philadelphia... it seemed like a popular place for posting stickers and little bits of inspiration, so i thought i'd add a bit of my own :)

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... let go.

{photo by tiina treasure}

xoxo,

lesley

craft hope.

this is just a beautiful thing...

after hearing about the disaster in haiti, the ladies of craft hope decided to take action. they opened up an etsy shop and sent out an appeal to crafters and artists to donate whatever items they could, with all proceeds benefiting doctors without borders.

the ladies wanted to help out however they could, and had modest expectations for the shop. but in the past few days, the shop has sold 700 items and made over $10,000 for haiti relief... and the numbers continue to grow. i donated two prints from my etsy shop, and they sold before i could even spread the word!

if you're still looking for a way to get involved and help out those in need in haiti, this is it. there's still tons of great stuff up for grabs in the craft hope etsy shop... you can get a wonderful handmade craft and help raise money for doctors without borders at the same time. it's a total win-win.

and if you're not convinced yet, here is a selection of some of the lovely handmade items that have been donated to craft hope to tempt you...

click here to shop craft hope for haiti!

xoxo,

lesley

help haiti

we have all heard about the devastating earthquake in haiti and seen images of its people's suffering... the best thing you can do to help right now is to make a donation to help support relief efforts.

any amount you can give is appreciated. according to unicef, just $1 can provide a child safe drinking water for 40 days and a generous gift of $50 can provide 40 packets of high energy protein biscuits.

the unicef u.s. fund is absorbing all administrative costs so that 100% of every dollar donated goes straight toward helping people in haiti.

thank you so much for supporting my fundraising efforts... click here to donate.

xoxo,

lesley

senseless beauty

i spotted this bumper sticker on my walk home from the train station yesterday, and it totally made my afternoon. it seems so rare these days to see a bumper sticker that's not political or sarcastic, and this one had such a lovely message.

the world could always use more beauty and kindness... so randomly, senselessly put some out there today :)

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... love signs

i recently came across these beautiful and touching photos on diana's charming blog, please sir. here is diana's story about the photos:

during my morning ride to work i discovered these adorable signs posted on the side of the road. a combination of driving, looking, swerving, scouting... and one by one the signs became more sweet and sincere. i have no idea who or what they were intended for, but they touched my heart and brought a little happiness to my day.

what a lovely, romantic story. to the mysterious stranger who posted these signs, thank you for sharing your love with the world!

xoxo,

lesley

pocket love

i'm having so much fun with my i love you cards... i left this one in the back pocket of some jeans at our local thrift store.

xoxo,

lesley

you are the coolest kid in school.

posted at the mall in a teen clothing store.

i might be all grown up now, but i still remember what it's like to be an awkward kid trying to fit in... sometimes it just feels good to know that *someone* out there thinks you're cool.

xoxo,

lesley

p.s. i'm so glad to be back, more posts to come this week... :)

new year, fresh start.

hello lovelies!

i wanted to apologize for being m.i.a. this week... with the new year here, i decided to take some time to reassess my situation and reorganize my home so i can have a totally fresh start. i'll be back next week with plenty of new posts... so stay tuned :)

xoxo,

lesley