This week’s page takes its inspiration from Mati Rose McDonough’s lesson from Life Book 2015. Her little boat made me so happy that I needed to do one myself right away. I loved working on the background of this page. I just played with the colors I loved and didn’t overthink any of the process. That’s generally when magic happens.
The writing says: always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.
This is a perfect quote for someone like me. someone who always worries. Someone who imagines bad things in her head a lot. Someone who isn’t always all that optimistic. I want to change all that. I want to believe in magic and that it’s not only possible but probable in my life. I’ve been so lucky, so incredibly fortunate in my life that I owe it to the universe to honor its wonderfulness.
here’s a front view it’s less shiny:
Note to self: be open to the possibility of wonderful. full of wonder.
Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
I am still running behind and this is falling to the bottom of my catch up list. It will all work out and I will be magically caught up one day. Just not today :).
The left side here is a house I liked. I wish I could be better at drawing and painting houses, I really like seeing them.
And the right side is a couch with a plant. Nothing like the huge brown couch I own but I like it.
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.
Here’s this week’s offering from David:
David’s got the schedule for the Sharks games and a Chrome sticker and a stamp he really likes.
And one from Nathaniel:
he made this awesome centerpiece from cardboard and spaghetti for Christmas and this story went along with it.
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: Early Morning at Cafe Borrone
Story:
Saturday morning I found myself awake at 5:46am. As I was lying in bed, trying to decide whether I should go back to sleep or get up, I heard Nathaniel go to the bathroom. Since Jake looked like he was going to stay asleep, I decided to sneak out of bed and go downstairs to meet Nathaniel and ask him if he’d like to go to Cafe Borrone together. He said, “Yes!”
We looked up the Cafe’s hours and found out that even though they don’t open until seven am, they serve coffee starting at six. So we grabbed our books, got dressed and drove to Borrone. There were no other customers, so we had our pick of tables. I got some coffee and Nathaniel got some ice water and we sat inside by the windows.
We spent the next hour working on different problems in Nathaniel’s second grade workbook. We did some science and then we learned about telling time. We even played math bingo. By this point, it was past seven, so we got up and ordered a strawberry tart for Nathaniel (his favorite) and a warm croissant for me (my favorite). I tried to get some photos of him working but Nathaniel, being his sweet, silly self, made funny faces, laughed, and then laughed some more, so all my photos are blurry and silly. But I love them.
I love them because they were the perfect ending to the perfect morning. They are such an excellent reminder of Nathaniel’s sweet, kind, and silly disposition. All in all, we were there for a little over an hour. It was the very best way to start my morning. We got a little work done, we ate some tasty food, we laughed, we hugged and we spent time just the two of us. And I will likely cherish this ordinary Cafe Borrone morning for weeks and weeks to come.
Yet another example that ordinary moments are what make life so extraordinary. That these are the moments I live for and strive for every day in my life. This is what I want more of in my life: little moments of connection. Small ways to carve time to spend with the people I love so very very much. I am so glad I chose to get out of bed.
Thank you, my sweet boy, for bringing so much light into my life.
Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
This week’s pick is about being open. believing that wonderful things are happening all the time and can happen at any time. Being open to receive them. Noticing them when they do. Allowing all of the goodness to wash over you. And opening your arms wide to receive it all.
and it shimmers 🙂
You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
I read Unwinding for book club. It’s nonfiction and a book I would have never ever picked up on my own. Ever.
But it was interesting. Too long, but interesting in parts. I feel that, like most nonfiction, it could have been 50% less writing, and I would have found it more interesting, more readable, and more worth my time.
If you’re a fan of nonfiction and history, this is one for you.
This week’s page is another one of Tam’s beautiful Life Book lessons. She had these wonderful connected shapes but I was doing assignment on Valentine’s Day and thought it might be fun to just use hearts and see how it turned out. I also decided to use some colors I don’t usually use.
I will admit, I don’t like how it turned out. I don’t hate it, but it’s nowhere near the top of my favorites list. I did love her art and I will have to try this lesson again another time, without the hearts and with different color choices.
The writing says: we are all connected through love.
I’ve been doing this new practice this year where I just assume someone’s snappy comments are not about me. When they don’t say anything and my natural instinct is to go to my head. To make it all about me. To assume this other person is upset with me. But this year, I am doing the opposite. I am assuming it’s not about me. I am thinking of other possibilities. I am even thinking they want to help me. I am thinking they want the best for me. It allows me to expand and not contract. It allows me to be my best self. It allows me to remember that the world is full of abundance. That we’re all connected and can do more together. Always.
Note to self: assume the best of others. assume they want the best for you. they love you. and love them. unconditionally.
Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
Apologies for not posting Everyday Braves for the last two weeks. I actually did these a while ago but haven’t had time to upload them as the last two weeks have been a rollercoaster ride of insane amount of work. Now that we are back to normal I am hoping to catch up on all things slowly.
The left side here is actually a Swiss tram. At least my version of it. I did this page before my first trip to Zurich.
And the right side is a teapot and a swing of flowers in the middle, just for fun.
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.
Here’s this week’s offering from David:
David’s got a photo of him from when he was younger and some robot cards from Maker Faire.
And one from Nathaniel:
One final Nathaniel glitter page. He loves making these.
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: My New Planner
Story:
I blame Christy Tomlinson. Or maybe I should blame Stephanie Howell because Christy wasn’t even in my Instagram but Stephanie was and she posted a photo of some beautiful planners Christy was giving away. Then I added her account to my feed and, within a half hour, I was shopping for my own planner. I haven’t even owned a planner since 1990s and I have no idea why I suddenly had the unstoppable urge to own one.
After pondering it pretty much full-time for two days, I decided to bite the bullet and get one. The gold one was on sale for 50% off so I decided it would be a good first test to see if the planner thing would actually work. I bought the planner and even though I knew it wouldn’t arrive for at least a week, considering it was coming from Australia, I started stalking the mailman.
I spent my waiting days buying smaller but fun planner goodies, some a4 paper, and thinking about all the inserts I want to have. I designed five different kinds of inserts. Each day, my anticipation grew and grew and the planner could not get here fast enough.
Finally, this Friday, the mailman showed up with the planner in his arms. I almost kissed him. It was as beautiful in person and I’d anticipated. I spent most of my day making the inserts, the dividers, filling the pockets and making a fun but personal dashboard to remind me of what I want this year to be about.
I’ve only had it for a day and a half, so it’s too soon to tell whether this solution will work for me long term. The planner is definitely thicker and heavier than the Moleskine I was using before so we’ll see if it’s sustainable but, for now, I am enjoying it. Even though I probably didn’t need another obsession in my life.
All joking aside, it has been really fun dreaming up different ways in which I can organize and track my life. The colorful pages of my planner make me happy and give me hope that it might be able to help me get my life back on track.
Here’s to hoping it’s not just pretty but also effective.
Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
This week’s pick is about abundance. An abundance of kindness. Being open to receiving it and to giving it. Being kind even when the other person might not fully deserve it. Being kind for no reason. Being kind without waiting for anything in return. Being kind because it makes me feel wonderful to be kind. My goal this year is always be as kind as I can be, and then be a bit kinder than that.
no shimmer on this page. 🙂
You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.
I read Sweet Tooth after letting it sit for a long time. I am a big Ian McEwan fan and I wanted to read it as soon as it came out, but I just couldn’t get into it.
So I finally picked it up again and decided to listen to it.
It was a good choice because this time I finished the whole thing. And I really liked it. I loved the storytelling. He has a way with stories and characters. And he just doesn’t disappoint me.
Not his best but I still liked it a lot.
|
projects for twenty twenty-six
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
|
