The Light That Shines from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.
We woke up this morning with our friends, Hailey and Andrew Bartholomew in Los Angeles. I am so grateful to be here! This morning we watched The Today Show and saw clips of her documentary, The Light That Shines. So fun.
I love her work- her photography and films are brilliant works of love and art. So here we are, with people we adore. I’m feeling deeply grateful.
So, this morning I woke up feeling foggy and was a little slow to start. If I’m being honest, it was a bit of a rough weekend. My husband and I were stuck in an argument that kept repeating itself and each time it restarted we both felt more weary and wanted it to stop. Everyone with a partner knows how that is, right? We worked it out, but today I woke up with a bit of an emotional hangover.
It’s a good day for self care.
I made my favorite tea in my favorite Anthropologie mug and green juice, and I asked that I could let go of all the stuff in my mind that didn’t matter and was bringing me down. I wanted to go into my studio this Monday morning with a clear purpose, open-hearted and ready to do good work for the world.
But in that moment, I wasn’t feeling ready at all. So I meditated. I sat for today’s meditation with Deepak Chopra’s 21-day meditation challenge (which I love.) The meditation was about Dharma – working with the universe – finding out what special talent one has to give and then sharing it with the world.
Funny how often life unfolds when you step back to let it work for you – during the meditation, I got an order in my Etsy shop from a lovely woman who wrote this to me:
“Hello! My children and I made vision boards for ourselves yesterday. I put your artwork front and center on mine, and my daughter used it on hers as well. It was a meditation woman from the cover (and then the smaller picture of the same art inside) of Natural Awakenings Magazine a few months ago. That piece speaks to my soul. Thank you so much for creating and sharing it. I went to your website this morning and saw all of your other beautiful pieces. Your light shines through your art. Namaste.”
I teared up at the end and felt so grateful! It pulled me back into why I do this art. It focused my attention on what matters, changed my perspective, and pulled me out of the pit.
I am back in my studio: Happy Light on (I’m making sunshine inside even when it’s very gray and snowy outside); Pandora station Brighter Than the Sun, and two beautiful dogs sleeping peacefully in front of the heater.
Blog post (check), fill orders and finish custom order painting up next.
I love this day!
(I am SO giving this customer lots of extra goodies in her package today!)
Painting made for Gene Baur, founder of the Farm Sanctuary. Hundred Thank Yous Gratitude Project.
I love animals of all kinds. It is crazy how much I do. When I was little I loved my stuffed animals so much and cared for them like they were my little friends. In some ways, I suppose they were. I am a highly sensitive person and I feel things on a deep level. Especially when it comes to animals.
Painting made for a teacher that I worked with years ago that I asked why she was a vegetarian. I stopped eating meat that day, got my hands on as many books as I could about the subject and we became dear friends. Hundred Thank Yous Gratitude Project.
Growing up we would go out to dinner on Sundays when my dad got paid. It was a big deal because we didn’t have a lot of money so dinner was a splurge. But my parents always wanted to go to Ponderosa Steak House. I never wanted to eat the meat. I wanted the side dishes- the potatoes, green beans, corn. When I begged to make my dinner just the salad bar, my parents wouldn’t hear me. I remember it causing me terrible anxiety and I would work out a plan that would result in my eating the least possible amount of steak.
I was young and really clear that I didn’t want to eat animals. But it would be age 22 before I called myself a vegetarian.
The painting I made for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. Hundred Thank Yous Gratitude Project.
I also learned early on that I am not the activist type. I am more of the hold-the-space-of-love type. I tried volunteering for animal rights organizations and spreading the word about factory farms. But I generally avoid conflict so this was super stressful for me! I also do not believe it is my job in this life to tell others how or what to eat. But I am so very clear on what is right for me to eat.
Having a plant based diet continues to be one of the most wonderful things about my life. It is an act of self-love.
One of the other ways I help animals is to donate. The profit from this pack of cards goes entirely to the Farm Sanctuary, a beautiful sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY for rescued farm animals. I love the work of Farm Sanctuary so much that I made Gene Baur, the founder, a painting for my Hundred Thank Yous project (painting is above.)
In other news, I am very grateful to be in a magazine (other than a Stampington Magazine) for the first time! Kris Carr added my Self-Love Prayer Flags to her list of Top Kitchen Picks for healthy living in Organic Spa Magazine.
Have a beautiful weekend! xoxo
Oh my goodness. It’s GIVEAWAY time!
My 2013 Year of Love Calendar + Gratitude Pack are part of Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Giveaways this week!
Enter here and winner will be chosen on January 12th.
I am so happy to be a part of this since New York Times Best Selling Crazy Sexy Kitchen is my favorite cookbook. I am working my way though it and so far my husband and I love every recipe. My cells beam with joy to be fed such healthy and delicious food. (I’m not even exaggerating – they beam.)
Enter here to get the details and win! Good luck loves. xoxo
What’s Real with Liv Lane from Lori Portka on Vimeo.
Oh how I love my friend, Liv Lane. Oh how I love her e-course BuzzWorthy.
I read this page and was blown away by Liv’s past experience in marketing and promotion. She left the corporate world in 2007, but took all of her savvy business skills with her and shares them in Buzz Worthy. The course really outlines what to do in detail + she has superstar experts in the field that share their wisdom. I was also blown away by this list (scroll down to Amazing Experts.)
I have some extra calendars and it is time to get them out and into the world! So my holiday gift to you- Buy One Get One Free Calendars.
While I am at it, I decided I would add Prints and Posters to the mix! Buy one as a gift and get one for yourself.
Calendars: Get one free with every one you buy. Automatically!
Prints and Posters: Buy one and write the title of your FREE second print/poster in the “note to loriportka” box as you check out.
How Long’s the Deal? Monday and Tuesday only, December 10-11.
Thank you lovelies! I hope the season is treating you well. I hope you are not overwhelmed. I hope you are finding time for hot chocolate and twinkling lights. With Much Love, Lori
Just wanted to say Helloooo. I am deep into packing and shipping these days with a very grateful heart. Hope all is well in your worlds. xoxo
Here they sleep all day in my studio. Sweethearts.
I’ve always been a Rule Follower. (Unlike my husband who is a Rule Breaker.) But this time, I thought, What the heck.
Use Code GRATEFUL as you check out through Wednesday, November 28th at Midnight PST and get 20% off your entire order.
20% off 6 Soulful Gifts!
1. A Year of Love 2013 Calendar made my Lisa Sarick and me.
“Your 2013 calendar arrived today and opening it was like a blast of beautiful Light. Thank you for your gorgeous art.” -Belinda Davidson
Includes:12 art prints, cut out cards + a free prayer poster, written by Lisa Sarick, to add to the love.
2. Be Beautiful Bangles are back!
The original set of bangles I made recently sold out in two days, so I decided to make another limited edition set just for the holidays.
My Yoga Card Sets -1 and -2 are two of the best selling items in my shop. So, I thought…why not make more card collections? So I did, and here they are-
4. Prayer Flags
Good wishes to brighten up every room.
May you wake with GRATITUDE
May you see BEAUTY every day
May you GLOW with HAPPINESS
May you know you are LOVED
May you know you are WORTHY
May you sleep deeply and PEACEFULLY
Special pricing is available when you orderprint bundles of 3 or 4!
6. A Month of Thank Yous : Gratitude Pack
This is really a gift that keeps giving and spreading gratitude out and into the world.
Included in the Pack:
I also have Gratitude Packs without stamps.
The energy of gratitude is real; it grows and expands, gathering more and more good with it. Gratitude pulls you into the now. Gratitude uplifts. Gratitude is the most beautiful prayer there is.
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Use Code GRATEFUL as you check out through Wednesday, November 28th at Midnight PST and get 20% off your entire order. Yaaay!
I am so grateful for all of you, for your support this year, for all of your kind words. I wish you ease and simplicity this holiday season. Cheers to you!
I am writing this still snuggled in my bed drinking Yerba Mate. It is snowing big fluffy snowflakes outside. It’s dark and kind of pretty and peaceful this morning
I’m happy. Today is a great day because my Year of Thank Yous Gratitude Pack is part of Kris Carr’s Holiday Guide (And I LOVE her, so it is such an honor!)
She lists suggestions for keeping it together during the hectic holiday season + a sweet gift buying guide. I’ll take one of everything!
I’m giving a 20% discount to Kris Carr friends who visit my etsy shop – You can use the code too! Type in GRATEFUL in the code box as you check out for a discount on your order.
And I am way ahead of the game (even though I am a day behind)- Cyber Monday for my shop is actually going to be on Tuesday to give everyone a chance to breath. The newsletter is written and ready to go- if you want to be a part of the discounts offered, sign up on my blog on the right-hand side. Yay!
If you don’t already have it, this (New York Times Best Selling) cookbook has become the only cookbook I am using from Kris Carr and Chef Chad Sarno. I love love looooooove it.
And to add to the love, I wanted to share my dear friend, Liv Lane’s newest creation!
There are many designs to choose from and each has three different heart magnets to switch up your necklace- artwork designed by Liv. I’ve already ordered mine! Such good energy- a meaningful gift. And so pretty!
She also made a sweet holiday guide- The Holiday Bliss List Gift List – where I will take one of everything, please.
I hope you are having a great start to your week after a long Thanksgiving weekend. xoxo
What’s Real with Rachel Awes from Lori Portka on Vimeo.
I am so happy about this interview with my artist/writer/psychologist friend, Rachel Awes! Rachel has a new book she wrote and illustrated titled All I Did Was Listen. Her book combines anonymous quotes from her psychotherapy clients with illustrations + written reflections from Rachel that tell a story everyone can relate to and feel as part of their own story- filled with messy bits and beauty. I read it with tears and goosebumps and my hand on my heart almost the entire way through.
In this interview, Rachel shares the inspiration for her book, how she pushed through feelings of doubt and fear during the 4 years it took to create, and how it feels to have her book endorsed by SARK (and Kelly Rae Roberts)!
squeeeeeeze!
I am one of the lucky few to have read the prototype of her book before it went to press and loved it so much that I ordered 5 of them to give as gifts. You can buy it as one or a girlfriend pack of 5 (includes 5 of Rachel’s greeting cards and 5 bookmarks) for the holidays.
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Side note about what it is like inside my head: So, you guys. I did this video with Rachel weeks ago, and I couldn’t get it to upload and I stressed and called the apple store and stressed some more and tried again and went to the apple store and gave up and freaked out and tried again and yesterday my husband swooped in like an angel and fixed it with one setting, in one second. And I learned a lot. About letting go, surrendering, trusting right timing and remembering to ask the angels for help. Yes.
