A Few of My Favorite Things

While I am out on the road seeing this beautiful world I decided to think up some creative series to introduce that I can crack out fairly quickly since I need to focus mostly on Dissect the Planet. Although, seeing as how Dissect the Planet is a more professional platform I still am keeping Her Eclectic Life up and running so that I can have a place to laugh, cry, and share my emotions with old friends and new friends. Hope you will stick around for all the exciting things to come. Don't forget to check out the first new series post "Words To Live By" here, and tune in every Tuesday for new and uplifting words.

And without further ado:: Series 2:: A Few of My Favorite Things

Current style icon: Rooney Mara

Current go to for clothing:

Current favorite web addiction: Polyvore

Current favorite destination: Bogota, Colombia

Current favorite tunes:

Currently craving: Really amazing Mexican

Currently reading:

These are just some of the things that brighten my day, and after a long rainy weekend here in Bogota, I have been listening to loads of Dianna Ross and the Supremes. What are some of the things that bring happiness to your day?

x0- Etheline

What we're really up to--

As some of you may know we have turned our lives upside down in a pretty dramatic fashion in the last 6 months.If you are new to this news, please grab a drink, have a seat, and let me tell you all about it--

My husband, Tyson, and I have been married almost 6 years. We have been blessed with 3 beautiful children, two boys and a girl, ages 5,3, and 1. We have been residing in Atlanta, Georgia for the past 5 years and bought our house there 2 years ago. Life was moving pretty wonderfully. We had ups and downs like all, but over we had it good.

In the last year however, we had decided that as much fun as this was we wanted more from life. We didn't want to have to wait until we passed our prime to enjoy the fruits of our labors and travel the world, and weren't about to let the fact that we had small children stop us. I have been (and planning) to homeschool our kids and the two ideas seemed as two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together.

We made the opportunity to take our family and explore this beatiful world we live in. Life is to short to not grab every chance you get to meet new people and explore different cultures. We kept a few precious momentos that, in the end added up to about nine 18 gallon plastic totes, and sold everything else we owned. We purged over and over until it was gone, by way or garage sale, craigslist, and donations.

In the beginning of April our family grabbed our Osprey backpacks and passports and boarded a plane for our first destination; Bogota, Colombia.

We will be staying for 6 months and have created a website were we hope you will follow along and share with your friends. The idea is to share and inspire as many as we can. The world is a big place, but everyone knows someone:)

Please visit Dissect The Planet and follow our families adventures.

xO- Etheline

Words To Live By

I am a collector of sorts.

I am a lover of words.

What better way to celebrate each passion than a new weekly edition called, "Words to live by"

And what could be more appropriate for me than this::




A little background info:
When I was a junior in high school I had this amazing English teacher. He was younger which immediately broke the mold of the boring ladies in their 60's that made up the rest of the department. He was a chameleon of sorts; teacher by day, surfer by weekend. There was a little bit of him that related to every kind of kid that passed through his class, from loner to athlete.

We had this book we'd write in and at the end of every week he'd take it and gives us notes. I appreciated it, even then. My last day in his class I got my final feedback from him. It was a letter I still re-read from time to time that I am still learning from these 10 years later. After he closed he said, "remember not all who wander are lost."

Lately in my life, as you can imagine, this phrase has aided me in finding the courage to radically change my life.

What teacher in high school impacted your life?

xO- Etheline

You know that saying...

...Objects may be closer than appear?

>Well today I fell pray to a simlar misconception. I visited both dramatic ends of the spectrum we call good and bad. This morning Royal and I decided to go on the highly recommended Bogota Bike Tours. It was over cast out, as most days are here during this time of year, so we thought it a perfect day to see some highlights of Downtown Bogota. The part they don't divulge is that the tour is 4 hours! Yes I said 4, which was no where to be found on the flyer. Give me a second and I'll go into why this became a problem.

I had never used one of those child seats that strap on the back of the bike and while Chaz and Margot looked at me quite skeptically, Richie showed faith in his mama and climbed on back.

Royal was the picture of a Greek God having Chaz on the back of his bike and Margot in front in the baby bjorn. Did I mention he has a GOPRO camera strapped to his head?? Tourists were actually taking pictures of hime. I think he secretly liked it.

I really enjoyed biking around; it was a lot of fun. I've never been a huge biker. Not for a lack of trying it just wasn't something that fell into my scope of athletics. We stopped in a really populated square and the kids got to feed a llama, cause llamas roam around the busy streets here with mini saddles on there back. Its kinda cute and kinda sad if I'm being honest.


We got to see a lot of daily life happening through the eyes of Bogotonians. About an hour and a half of riding we arrived at the second largest market in Bogota. It was amazing. We sampled tons of new fruits that are only indigenous to South America and saw a man carving his way through a cow head like he was just working on his latest sculpture.

Favorite Photo of the Day

xO- Etheline

A "first day of the rest of my life" kind of day

To say its been a busy day, heck a busy couple of weeks, would be an massive understatement.

But I'm very happy to announce that after long months of saving and minimizing, selling and renting our house, and 2 flights totaling 6 hours...we are finally here.

Welcome to Bogota, Colombia my friends. I hope you enjoy the ride--


Xo-Etheline

A Regal Breath of Fresh Air

This weekend I gave in and watched Downton Abbey. It's not that I didn't want to watch it. I absolutely adore period stories, and therein lies my problem. I really really try to practice the saying moderation in all things, but sometimes I fall prey to the whirlwind of amazing storytelling. So when the mechanic called Saturday morning and said that our truck {which is our only vehicle that can fit all our family right now} wouldn't be ready until Monday morning I knew this was the weekend to give in. So now I am entirely caught up, having watched Season 1 & 2, as well as the Christmas Spacial.

Here are some of my favorite things::

I love this opening shot. I love the way Lord Grantham refers to himself as just a steward over Downton Abbey. That even though he is an Earl, he knows that there is a triviality about it.

Up next...Lady Grantham. I absolutely love that she is American. Not just because I am too, but it just seemed like such a perfect play to bring into the story. I think it is wonderful how she protects her girls and when necessary she rises to any occasion with grace and dignity. I really identify with that idea, although I'm still working on the execution. For my sake lets pretend that she isn't so easily be swayed by O'Brian, but more on that wretched bat later...

Anna and Mr Bates....Their story is so much more fun to watch to me than that of Lady Mary and Matthews Crawley. I adore the way Bates speaks to her. You can tell that he hold her in the highest regard and is utterly devoted to her. The words written for him truly come from another place. He is deeply honorable, almost to the point of self-sacrificing, but it suits him. I think it's great the Anna jumps in tells him she loves him even though it was so nontraditional for this time. Sometimes moments are presented to us in life and we cannot have them pass by without some sort of declaration to mark them.The way Anna stands by his side without question makes these two a perfect match! I am so happy that he isn't getting the death penalty. I kinda think I would have stopped watching!!

Seriously....I love this picture. Yes, it screams Twilight, but come one. This is a sexy snap! I wasn't a fan Matthew in the beginning. He nose was so obnoxiously up in the air at the whole idea of being the heir to the Crowley name. I'm not sure when it happened, but I quickly warmed up to the idea of him. I love that Lady Mary gives him a run for his money. It's fantastic to fall in love with someone who matches your wit and passion in life. Trust me...I know;) And that sealing kiss in the snow. Can we say, FINALLY!

and really...don't even get me started on these two! Absolutely wretched. They fuel the flames to each others nasty fire. Why must it be so? Let's hope in season 3 we see something that resembles a redeeming bone in their bodies.

Well that wraps things up here. It has been said that season 3 will begin filming this spring with actress Shirley MacLaine to join the cast as Lady Cora Grantham's mother. That should be interesting and entertaining, to say the least! Let's hope that we don't have to wait to long to see what happens next to all our friends at Downton Abbey.

Have you seen Downton Abbey? Are you a fan? Who's your favorite?? I'd love to hear.

xO-Etheline