Monday Musings... Friends

“This party is not just for me, it's for my friends.”

~Mary Hayes

I've been away for a couple of weeks. A couple weeks ago on a Thursday, my 5 year old woke up with strep. Three days later after 3 separate visits to Urgent care on the same day, the rest of us were diagnosed with it. I haven't been that sick in a long, long time! I have lost my creative edge and my edge on my house and home. I am still working my way back!

On January 19th, I joined the ranks of the 40 and over crowd. My birthday plans for a day of shopping and lunch with a friend were "crushed" for that day as my sick 7 year old so eloquently put it. Fortunately for me, the Friday night before, my 3 friends (Gina, Chris and Aamie) surprised me with a night out at a local painting place.

We had so much fun painting, drinking red wine and eating a yummy chocolate cake. They showered me with gifts, but none as wonderful as the gift of their friendship. I love these ladies! Thank you all for making my 40th birthday so special!

Speaking of friends, my friend Gay at It's a Hodgepodge Life asked if she could interview me for a feature post on her blog. That interview was posted today! I'm hoping you will go and visit Gay today and leave a comment to tell her hello. While you are there, be sure and take a look at all her beautiful projects and ideas. I have been "blog friends" with Gay for quite some time. I am sure you will love her too! :)

What about you? Do you have fantastic "in real life" and "online" friends like I do? Please share!

A "trashy" post... my Mom would have cried with me, then she would have dug in...

First, let me put a disclaimer on this post. I am well aware our recycling habits are not up to par. Please don't comment on them as that is not the point of this post. I also know that this picture is blurry because, let's face it I only took the time to take one quick picture. Trash is not very pretty subject matter! :)

The above picture is 2 bags of 4 day old trash dumped in a pile on my driveway. Why is it on my driveway you would ask? Well to make a long story short, I lost my beloved Mom's silver ring. I know you understand how very much this ring means to me if you read this post right here. She wore it nearly every day for 30 years and I have worn it nearly every day in the past year since I have received it. I, to say the least, was beside myself that it was missing.

After turning my house upside down on Saturday. I would not let my husband put the trash out at the curb until I went through it one last time. If I didn't I would always wonder if the trash was where the ring was. I put this smelly, gross job off for a couple of days because one - I was hoping the ring would show up before I had to do it, two - it's freaking cold outside, so I was waiting for the warmest part of the day (which happened to be 48 degrees) and three I had the sinking feeling it wasn't in there.

As I processed through all this. I began to picture my Mom with me and what she would say and do if she were here. Very simple, she would have hugged and commiserated with me, then she would have rolled up her sleeves and started digging. We would have had giggles at being reduced to looking for a ring in 4 day old trash. So I pictured Mom, watching me as I dug through this pile and I was okay with it. Okay with the trash and finally okay with the fact that the ring I cherished so much wasn't in that pile.

About 20 minutes after I finished my task, I met my daughters' bus. As Katie (my 7 year old) and I walked into the house I told her about my trash digging and that Nana's ring is still missing. Then I said, "But Nana left us so many gifts that cannot be lost." Without missing a beat, my wise one said...

"Love."

 

P.S. I'd like to thank my friend Chris publicly for loving me so much that she would offer to come over and dig through 4 day old trash with me (just like my Mama would have done). I love you my friend!

Megan's Quote... Prepare to be inspired!

Recently, I was approached by my Daddy's wonderful girlfriend Connie to pen her granddaughter's quote for a birthday gift. Above is the finished piece (well almost the finished piece, but that is a whole other story).

I hope that you are as inspired by Megan's words as I am. She is all of a ripe old age of 14. I think she is amazing. Her mother Denise emailed me recently so that I could know who I was writing for. Denise describes Megan as... "a girl who truly just enjoys being a 14 year old girl, playing in the fall leaves, turning cartwheels in the grass, being silly with her friends.  In this day of girls wanting to grow up too fast, I feel very blessed that Megan is enjoying each moment for its greatness."

Blessed indeed!

I also got to see some lovely pictures of the beautiful girl behind these words of wisdom. She is every bit as beautiful as her words.

Thank you for the opportunity to pen Megan's birthday gift.

Happy Birthday Megan!

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Monday Musings... On Being Real

How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. 

~Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.

~Raymond Hull

Always be a first-rate version of yourself,

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

~Judy Garland

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves

to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.

~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

It takes courage to grow up

and become who you really are.

~e.e. cummings

Let the world know you as you are,

not as you think you should be,

because sooner or later, if you are posing,

you will forget the pose, and then where are you? 

~Fanny Brice

Baby I'm Amazed by You!

This is my oldest daughter Katie. She is so talented and she constantly amazes and inspires me. I am so impressed with her childlike ability to create with wild abandon. She is fearless!

Here is her finished artwork. Here her medium of choice was my Prismacolor colored pencils. I love it!

This piece she did for me. Isn't it beautiful? I asked why she picked the word and she said it just came into her mind. I told her it was the perfect word  for the perfect picture.

This was a piece she doodle on a Mommy and Katie art night. Awesome use of color I say!

She is 7. She amazes me... I want to be just like her!

Monday Musings... Beginning

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

~Plato

"There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...

not going all the way, and not starting.”

~Buddha

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

     “The first step towards getting somewhere

is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

~Anonymous

"The most sacred place dwells within our heart,

where dreams are born & secrets sleep,

a mystical refuge of darkness & light,

fear & conquest,

adventure & discovery,

challenge & transformation.

Our heart speaks for our soul every moment while we are alive.

Listen... as the whispering beat repeats:

be...gin, be...gin, be...gin.

It's really that simple. Just begin... again."

~Royce Addington

Embrace 2011!

As of the time I am writing this post, it is 9:15 AM on New Years Day. My darling little ones and husband are still sleeping from their late night. Our neighborhood sounded like a war zone last night. It is legal to shoot fireworks here within city limits on July 4th and New Years Eve.

I myself have always been an early riser. Yet another gene from my sweet mother I suppose.While I might need a nap later this afternoon, waking early today has given me some time to myself. So... I decided to use my new Christmas gifts and post a doodle for you. Using Faber Castell Pitt Pens, my brand new Copic markers (LOVE THEM!) and my shiny new scanner I came up with this 2011 doodle. It was really fun! What I love about doodling is that you cannot make any mistakes. I didn't spend my time worrying how it looked as I did it. I find that I am more free and creative when I shut out the inner critic. Can I hear an AMEN!?

It seems pretty common around the creative blogs to choose a word for the year. I have mulled this over quite a bit in the last week and I decided on the word...

EMBRACE

Why did I choose this word? Because this will be the year I turn 40. Yep, the big 4 0! In fact, this mile stone will happen this month. I have spent a lot of time pondering this fact, looking back and where I have been and then forward at where I want to go.

I have realized in the past couple months that I spend many a night laying my head on the pillow frustrated beyond belief that I have not spent any time doing any of the things I enjoy, chasing goals and dreams I want to chase. I've been saying yes to everyone else but myself and the one who has given me talents to share... God. Who the heck am I to say no to God?!

Before Christmas. My husband Chuck and I had a talk about being creative.

He asked me, "What do you need?"

 I said, "What do you mean, what do I need?"

He said, "What do you need to be creative? What is it?

Tell me and I will get it for you."

"A scanner/printer, some new professional markers and time." I said.

"There is only one catch..."

"What's that?" I asked.

"That you do something with it. Stop saying yes to things that take your time and energy away from the things you want to do and start doing creating."

So, the very next day, we ventured to Hobby Lobby and using our 40% off coupon (one for each of us) we bought 2 sets of 6 Copic markers. Very expensive, but well worth the price in my book. I followed up the next week and got 4 more colors to add to my new collection. Did I mention I LOVE them? Then on Christmas Eve Chuck went to Office Depot and bought me a cool new scanner/printer so that I can scan my art for the blog and print some for my Etsy shop.

So, here I am this morning looking forward to 2011. Here are the things I plan to embrace...

God

My children and husband

Creativity

Being 40

Talent

Love

Imperfection

Joy

Peace

It's gonna be a great year! I just know it!

What will you embrace in 2011?

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