Here’s this week’s story:
Title: David’s Tenth Birthday at Universal Studios
Story:
When David and I first talked about his upcoming tenth birthday, he wasn’t sure how he wanted to spend it. The more I thought about it, the more I knew I wanted to do something special. He was turning two digits. Two digits. I can’t even believe it.
After some talk back and forth, he mentioned he would like to go to Harry Potter Land. He loves the books and he had heard it was wonderful. I did some quick math and quickly realized that the vacation to the other end of the US would be relatively expensive for all of us and told him that we likely couldn’t do that. He was sad but he understood. So we made plans to go to Los Angeles instead. About a week later, I was still thinking about our conversation and feeling bad that I couldn’t do what he wanted for his birthday. The more I thought about it, the worse I felt.
And then I had this idea: what if I could take him to Orlando on his actual birthday for just two days? just him and me. I asked Jake if he would be okay with it, and he was. So I told myself to not overthink it and, within the hour, I’d booked a plane and a hotel room.
I decided not to tell David anything. The plan was to pull him out of class on Friday and go right to the airport. I was a little worried about how Nathaniel might react but I knew we couldn’t tell him until right before we took David. It was hard work to keep it all a secret but I managed just barely.
When the day finally came, Nathaniel was a total champ and said okay. We flew off to Florida (despite the four hour delay, which is a story for another day) and spent two magical days just David and I. We saw all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and we even managed to go on several rides all over Universal Studios. In the end, David enjoyed the Terminator and Transformers and Men in Black rides almost as much as he enjoyed all the Harry Potter loveliness.
All in all, I hope it was a wonderful birthday, for you, my sweet boy. I am so very grateful to you each and every moment of my life and I hope that every single one of your dreams, small or large, always comes true. I love you with all my heart.
Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
This week’s pick is another honor for serenity. There is nothing like books to bring peace into my life. A cup of tea and a good book can get me through the toughest days. Books can help me forget everything. They can help me find my center. They make me feel full. Grateful. Serene. There’s not one moment in my life that I am not near at least five books. I never, ever leave the house without my books. Ever. They have always been my very best friends in the world. I am deeply grateful.
here is a side look for the shimmer; you can barely see it but there are tiny pearls on the butterflies:
You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
I read Capital for book club. It was a book I would have never picked up on my own. And while I enjoyed it okay, I didn’t love it.
It would have been okay if I’d never read it. But I don’t regret it like I do some books (I’m speaking about you, Gone Girl!) so, all in all, if the subject interests you, I say go for it.
Otherwise, there are many better books.
A little cute but useful one this week. It’s supposed to look like tape. Not sure if it hit the mark or not but I still like it. It feels cute to me.
And here’s the stamp:
Maybe I’ll try a slightly different version of this, too. One with different stripes or polka dots.
Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
This week’s page takes its inspiration from another Life Book class. This one was by Roben-Marie Smith. She did this fun tag and I liked it but no ideas jumped at me for days after I watched it. So I thought and thought and finally decided to print all the inspiring photos I’d pinned as a reminder to keep my core desired feelings in the forefront of my mind. I printed them all out, lay them all over my page, designed each of the four corners for one of my words.
I glued them all and then painted and stamped a little bit on top. It’s not art that I painted but I love looking at it and it makes me feel all of the feelings i want to feel this year and what can be better than that?
here’s the left:
and the right:
Note to self: choose to feel alive. serene. abundance and open!
Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
This week’s page is simple. On the left side, I drew the new containers i bought for my pencils and art supplies. The drawing doesn’t do it justice of course but it was still fun to do. Then I added some washi tape.
The right side is just an orchid that was sitting on my table and a few hershey’s kisses.
And there we are. Here’s another week.
Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
I honestly can’t even remember this week passing by. I must have been more jetlagged than I thought and next thing I knew it was already Friday. I feel like this whole year has been passing by at an usually fast speed. I just can’t seem to get a hold of my days. I also feel like I still haven’t found my new normal so I am struggling with sticking to any type of rhythm which also means I am not eating well or drinking enough water or getting any exercise. Which just accumulates to a lot of back pain, feeling tired all the time, and just general grumpiness/weepiness. But most days I find myself pushing through. Which, of course, is the wrong thing to do. Life most negative cycles, I have to purposefully take a step back and get myself reset. Just can’t seem to find the trick to making it happen.
Here are a few more photos from the last week:
We only took family photos this week.
But we took them in the backyard.
there was much laughter as always.
pouting faces.
angry faces.
surprised faces.
and laughter.
so much joy in these photos. I love them so.
and here we are. Another full week. I am so grateful for my life.
Weekly Diary is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
Here’s this week’s offering from David:
David’s homework log from first grade!
And one from Nathaniel:
Nathaniel’s got some cards his brother got for him at Maker Faire.
David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.
Here’s this week’s story:
Title: White Rabbit Party
Story:
Last Spring, after reading several emails on how the school was still looking for a chair, I decided to volunteer for this year’s Spring Benefit. This was an exceptionally odd choice for me because, even though we’ve been at the school for almost four years, I’ve never actually been to the Benefit before. I had no idea what it looked like, what all the moving parts were, or even what the job would entail. I am not exactly sure what prompted me to even consider it.
But I did.
Right before I decided to do it, I emailed an acquaintance who’d been involved in previous years. I didn’t know her that well but I knew she was nice and I figured not having to do it all by myself would be a good idea.
It wasn’t just a good idea; it was a great idea.
Kerry and I have been co-chairing the event and it has been absolutely wonderful to have her. She is so easy to work with, so very nice, and such a great benefit in all areas where I struggle. I am so grateful she was up for doing this together.
This week, we had a big kickoff event to build some excitement for the Benefit, which is coming up in April. The idea was to make a bit of splash and see if we can get people to donate some parties, maybe volunteer some and hopefully get a few solicitations. I wasn’t very optimistic about potential turnout. But it was quite great.
Parents showed up. They signed up for donating parties, they chatted and got excited over ideas. There was a bunch of chatter and even some solicitations. All in all, it was a definite success.
There are still three months, three crucial months, before the event and I am quite nervous about how well it will all come together but this was one little step in the right direction and yet another example of what a great decision it was to work with my friend Kerry on this party. I am thankful for great partners.
Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
This week’s pick is about feeling alive. No matter what people say, there are some people who are just doers. I value presence and I value serene. But I also value getting things done. It’s who I am. It’s what brings me joy and fulfillment. I love learning. I love growing. It makes me feel alive. It gives me joy. And I love feeling that.
here is a side look for the shimmer; not too much shimmer on this one:
You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
I read The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August because amazon recommended it and it looked interesting, unlike anything else I’ve read in a while.
I like to find really different books. I still remember how much I’ve enjoyed The Golem and the Jinni.
As it turned out this book wasn’t as good. But it was still really different and quite good. I like finding books that are really different because I feel they are really rare. So when I do, even if they are not as good, I appreciate the author trying something different.
Though this one was good.
For this week’s stamp, I did something fun but not super useful. None of my pinterest pins were appealing to me this week and I just felt drawn to this little jar and decided to have fun.
Here’s what the stamp looks like:
I made the jar and then two little hearts to fill it with. I also love that I can use the little hearts everywhere.
Here’s to doing things just for fun every now and then.
Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
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projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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