During last August, Big Picture Scrapbooking held a summer promotion where we were sent a Cocoa Daisy kit and each made three pieces of art. This is one of them.
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Today I had a hair appointment. While I always dread going there and sitting for hours, I always feel happier on the way home. I look better which instantly improves my mood. I wonder if exercise will ever become that way for me. David had a doctor visit his school last week and he got these gloves, which he decided made neat socks. I couldn’t help but laugh, too.
After I came back from the appointment, I sat to scrap a bit and Nathaniel discovered this hat and decided he had to wear it.
And since he’s so beautiful, I let him do whatever he wanted.
While David played Wii, of course.
And I walked. And Jake got groceries and is now upstairs bathing the kids. Ordinary, uneventful day. I love it so. Still in the thinking process here but I haven’t produced much yet. Need focus to sit and type things up but seem to be lacking focus and energy. It shall come back at some point, right? My todo list is only getting bigger. Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: Here’s the item I did over the last few months: When we first moved, I wasn’t sure how I was going to arrange everything so I decided that things that didn’t already have a known home were to be placed in the garage and we would slowly open the boxes from there as needed. Which meant that our garage ended up looking like this:
We left the right side empty just in case were going to put the car in there.
So the left side got all the boxes.
here’s a closeup
The photos do not do it justice. I cannot tell you how terrible it was. We could not get into any of the boxes. The door could not be opened. A few months ago I decided that was that and I was going to tackle it. I was told getting it professionally done would be around $6000. There was no way I was paying that. So I found some metal shelves on Amazon and we measured the garage and I went to town. I bought one just to see if it would work. And when it did, I bought four more. Jake helped me move the boxes. We opened nearly all of them, threw out and/or donated a ton of stuff and then ended up with this.
I cannot take photos that do it justice. Especially since I didn’t have my wide-angle lens.
But trust me when I tell you that everything is 100% organized now. One section for less used stuff like luggage, camping gear, etc. Another section for office supplies, toilet paper, etc. Everything has its place and I can easily get to it all. Jake has his own area now too with two tables, lots of space and both garage doors open without problem. No smell. We still need to sweep in there but otherwise it’s completely happy and it was done for exactly $300. More money than I wish I’d spent but considerably less than the $6,0000 I was told. The best part is that the garage is now 100% usable. And I feel so much more peaceful. Isn’t that what it’s all about after all. And here’s page five.
Something slightly different today. Linen background with a bunch of ribbon and some wire. Old text paper and that’s it. Just felt like doing something different. Not my favorite but I cannot put my finger on what I dislike. Maybe all of it…. Details:
For the last few days, I’ve been feeling more and more exhausted. Where lifting my arms has become an effort. I am also shivering and my head hurts. So it’s possible that I am getting sick. Not idea. It’s also meant that I am low on productivity and energy in general. I’ve been exercising and doing my art journal and then just letting everything else go. I’ve been going to bed at 8:30-9pm hoping to catch up on sleep to see if that will fix things. I am guessing it’s the extra exercise that’s making me tired but who knows. When David’s at school, Nathaniel quietly goes through all of his things. Unless he’s destructive, I don’t meddle.
Today he discovered this sheet of star stickers I was using with David. And then stuck them all over himself.
And when I called him, he gave me this look, of course.
He also signed more for the first time. Did it perfectly. Flower, more, food, bye, thank you. all the ones I’ve tried to teach him, he’s learned. But no spoken words yet. After I picked up David, I was so tired, nauseous and sick that I decided we needed to go out. So we went to a cafe and had some snacks and then did some shopping at Trader Joe’s. Now we have lots of fruit. I am always happiest when we have lots of fruit at home. When we got back, they played outside a bit while Jake and I chatted and I rested.
And now they’re asleep and I plan to snuggle up with Jake and then read some and head to bed. Plans for this weekend include some scrappy time, art journals, walking, writing BPC courses, and reading. I get to have some pampering time at the hair dresser, too. Small things. That’s what life is all about. I changed my header today. Felt like it. I love this butterfly. It goes with my word for 2011 too. And I’ve been asked by several people if they can subscribe to my blog by email and now you can. If you look on the right, there’s a place for you to put your email. It will email you my new posts when I post them. i was thinking maybe next year I’ll do monthly newsletters with some inspiring content. would that be interesting? Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: And here’s page three.
Yep, a bit of the same theme as yesterday. And similar colors but I still love it. Paint, trim that I colored with copics, some beads and some alphas. Now is always always always the best time to start. Details:
Journaling Reads: This year, I decided to take the tradition even further and not wait for a “big year.” Life is short and one birthday is no more significant than another, if you ask me. Why wait until we reach a big, round number when I can make a meaningful present now? So my hope from now on is to make something meaningful as often as I can. These presents take time and effort from not just me but others, so it won’t necessarily be an annual event. At least not at this scale. But it will be frequent and it won’t wait for a 50, 60, 90. It will be as often as I can and whatever birthday comes next. Or I won’t even wait for a birthday. Any day is special, right?
Not sure how i feel about that photo but I love the deep color in it. I should start writing these earlier in the day, I’ve realized that after five pm, i hit a low for the day. I am exhausted and it all just descends on me suddenly so I am low on energy and positivity. Anyhow… Here’s the face Nathaniel makes each time he sees the camera, now.
These shots were taken right after he woke up so his cheeks are red and he looks happy and rested. I love these photos.
And his funny, subtle, quirky faces.
My sister-in-law, Andee, makes these calendars for the whole family each year and both my kids love love LOVE looking through them. Thank you, Andee!
When we went to David’s school last weekend, we bought some used books for him. And he’s been reading them.
And there’s nothing that gives me as much joy as watching my son read.
Literally, nothing.
I love reading so much that seeing my kids doing it makes me deeply happy. I hope they love it as much as I have all my life. I’ve been thinking more and more about 2011. And the rest of this year. My focus for October is the art journal and the walking. November will be a bit tricky with deadlines and short trip out of town and then my parents visiting. So I plan to keep walking and possibly pick something more flexible for the daily activity. Not sure why. Open to suggestions. Maybe drawing. Or watercolor. Something small, I can take with me. And then it’s December. December is all about December Daily for me. Tons and tons of family time. And planning and preparing for 2011. For next year I think I will have year-long focuses like I did 52 things this year, and then monthly ones like LOAD. They both really help me in their own way. I also will be continuing with some of the things that I’m committed to or things I love like: layouts for The Girls’ Paperie, Tim Holtz, and A Million Memories, weekly books, daily diaries, creative therapy. Some things will end like 52 things, weekly gratitude (though I will continue the daily practice) and Crafting with David (which ended a while ago). And then some new ideas like: bringing back digital downloads, practicing other crafts like sewing/knitting/emboridery/etc., weekly art journal, weekly focus on health/exercise/diet, weekly books with david and journals with david. Those are some of my current ideas. I might get more or remove some. Who knows. I also want to do some more “thoughts” posts. Like the ones I do on Tuesdays for Weekly Gratitude. I used to write a lot of my thoughts on this blog and it sparked discussion and I loved it. So I am thinking it might be another good thing to do. I will likely do a blog redesign. Probably a simple one that’s not drastically different but if you have input/feedback on the current blog look/feel let me know. I am open to comments. That’s what’s on my mind today. How about you? What’s on your mind? Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: And here’s page three.
I’ve been thinking a lot about starting things where you are instead of where others are or where you wish you were. For me this is specifically about the struggles I’ve had around exercise and getting in shape, etc. This is a reminder to me to start where i am. and that it’s time to start now. don’t wait. it’s ok to be where i am. i can do this. I channelled my inner-donna for this one. I used some golden paints, beads and flowers and alphas. simple but i love it. Details:
I generally pay attention to an author if her name happens to pop up several times in a week. And Kristin Hannah did exactly that. I read about her in several blogs, all about different books. So I thought it was time I read one of hers. I looked around a bit and decided to giveBetween Sisters a try. I must admit that it was hard to get into it. I didn’t like her voice or her writing for a while. I kept waiting for the story to begin. Hundred pages in, I still didn’t care too much for any of the characters. Too one dimensional, too obvious. I could tell it would be one of those Hollywood stories of strife and sadness but a perfect, happy ending. And it was. But somewhere along the line, I did sort of start to like the characters. They all grew in their own ways a bit and in the end I was sort of sad to see them go. All in all, I am not sure I will read any more of her stories but I cannot say that I hated it fully. Just a little too simplistic and obvious. But it was a happy ending and I needed one of those after the hard books I’ve been reading. All in all, it was ok.
Argh. Today got away from me really quickly. But I am not complaining as I was able to work, do art journal page, read a tiny bit, and do my walk. I am low on photos today, thought. The big boy:
The little boy:
And again the big boy:
That’s all I got today. And I have to run out the door for a dinner and I have yet to do several items on my todo list. And I can’t believe it’s almost Thursday already. Sometimes days seem to crawl and other times, they just zoom by. I am feeling better today, thank you for your kind kind words and for telling me it’s ok to sulk on my blog. I try to be honest and realistic but not whiny. I don’t think that’s productive. But anyway. Things are better now and my jaw is in less pain, thankfully. I have several things I want to write about but I haven’t been able to get organized. I am hoping tomorrow is the day for that. Three Things I’m Grateful For: Three Things David’s Grateful For: And here’s page two. focused on yesterday’s thoughts of regret.
My page is using a lot of Tim Holtz products so here they are: Details:
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