karenika

You Choose – Week 21

This week’s pick is about being alive. Seeing the beauty. It says “I don’t expect others to complete me” I want to do what makes me come alive. I don’t want to wait for others to come up with ideas or plans.

some fun butterflies on this one:

You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

A Book a Week – ready player one

I listened to Ready Player One because I’d heard the audiobook was awesome. And it was. It was awesome.

As someone who’s been in computer-land for a long time, but not a huge gamer, I still really enjoyed this nerdy, awesome story. I liked how it all came together. I liked all the little nerdy bits. I liked Will Wheaton’s reading.

If you’re into computers, computer games, at all, you will love this one.

Fifty-Two Stamps – Week 18

This week is another little one that I can use and reuse. Can’t really go wrong with a cute cup.

Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Note to Self – Week 23

This week’s page was a One Little Word lesson. This month is about messages to myself. Where I am now. What I am.

It’s quite shiny:

Note to self: i am both succeeding and struggling and a continuos work in progress. Nothing is ever perfect. Each things takes work and time which means that time and effort cannot go towards something else. You get to choose. Choose wisely. And pay attention to the choices. And also remember that each phase will pass. Be gentle with yourself.

Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Everyday Brave – Week 20

Here’s this week’s layout:

The left side here is a fence i saw in a photo that I loved:

And the right side is the salad I was eating that day.

And there we are. Here’s another week of practicing courage.

Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Stories of Twenty-Fifteen – Week 21

Here’s this week’s story:

Title: Planting Vegetables
Story:
Last year when Jake’s mom was visiting, I asked her if she’s be willing to put some vegetable beds in the backyard. I wasn’t sure if anything can grow in our yard considering how little sun we get and I also didn’t want to ruin any of the grass. But I still loved the idea of the boys spending time nurturing and eating food we grew ourselves.

My mother in law not only rose to the challenge but was thrilled to tackle this project with the boys. So when they came to visit us in March, while Jake and I took our trip to Cayucos, they began their project of creating some planters in the backyard. The boys and she discussed the items at length and ended up with lettuce, peas, radishes, carrots, micro greens, tomatoes pole beans, and bush beans. A nice, wide range of wonderful vegetables.

They bought the beds, the soil, the seeds and spent their weekend putting the whole thing together. And the boys are now tasked with watering the plants every day. They take so much pride in telling me what they chose and how to water everything just the right amount.

I know that for most serious gardeners, this is a tiny step that might not even be worth mentioning, but, for us, this is exactly the right size for a project. We are not usually great at growing things and I love that it’s a small step we can take to try doing something new. It’s manageable by the children so they can fully own the process and take pleasure and pride in the outcome.

Some of the plants have already begun sprouting and it’s so wonderful to watch the kids’ delight in seeing their work come to fruition. It’s so magical to see food growing in our yard. It gives me incredible joy.

Thank you so much, Marilyn, for making my dream come true. For doing it in such a simple, elegant, and kid-centered way. We are all so very lucky to have you and we are so grateful for this lovely new project. It’s the gift that keeps giving again and again. We love you so very much!!

Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

You Choose – Week 20

This week’s pick is about being serene again. Reading always wins, hands down. Nothing like quieting the mind when I am reading.

a look at the shiny:

You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

A Book a Week – we are all completely besides ourselves

I read We are all Completely Besides Ourselves because it was long listed for the Man Booker and I’d already shelved it to be read. And I really wanted to like this one. It was a different story, had an interesting surprise element and felt like it would be good.

But I didn’t love it.

The twist here, too, felt a bit gimmicky to me. The books is so much more than its gimmick that she could have just started with it and I feel like it would have made the book so much better because you wouldn’t be hung up on the gimmicky part.

Maybe I just don’t like any weird twists in books 🙂

Fifty-Two Stamps – Week 17

This week’s stamp is a little zen leaf. It makes me serene to just look at it. And I love that I can use it in my mixed media pages. I love that it’s simple, elegant and beautiful.

Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Note to Self – Week 22

This week’s page was another Life Book lesson. One by Juliet Crane which was about making an owl. I’ve always loved her owls so it was such a privilege to get to make one.

Message says: Let your light shine.

Note to self: what makes you who you are is what’s magical about you. Don’t dim that light. don’t be worried about others seeing it. let it shine out with all your might.

Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.