I’ve had this image open on my computer for weeks. Didn’t feel like using it for some reason.
I’ve been thinking a lot about imperfection today. It’s the topic of one of my new classes for 2011. So how about some normal-life photos? Imperfect ones.
First up is David’s school photo. Remember the one we practiced smiling for, for so many days? Well you can decide if it worked.
I’ll leave my thoughts out of it. Here’s a photo I snapped of him when he came home from school. He’s growing up so fast.
We have a lot of this at home. David lying on the couch, Nathaniel walking up to him and showing him things and sharing.
David doing snow angels on the floor.
Nathaniel crying cause David put the cards away in a drawer he cannot reach.
David lying on the couch and smiling at me.
And Nathaniel making his “I know you’re going to take a photo of me so I’ll smile” face.
This is our life. The ordinary moments. Nathaniel gives hugs each time you ask now. I was having a rough morning so as I cried on the couch, he came up next to me and gave me a big hug. All on his own. And then kept hugging me. I’m afraid I did not just snap out of it this morning as I’d hoped but I am finally feeling better now. An amazing, kind gesture by Amber and My Mind’s Eye (as if they didn’t already spoil me way more than enough) was sort of the moment that tipped it over. It was such a surprise, so much kindness that I literally couldn’t take it. I wept and then I went walking and decided I needed to let it all go. I have such an overwhelming todo list now that I am not exactly sure where to begin and I am experiencing one of those paralysis moments. It doesn’t help that I am exhausted, too.
I have so many thoughts on my mind. About meeting needs. About feedback. About setting goals and accomplishing them. Values and feeding them. So much swimming in there. Good thing it’s art journaling month. I have so many posts I want to write, too. About exercising. About my journaling. About happiness month back in July. But for now I have to work on my class work. I need to buckle down and get it out of the way. I think it will lift most of the weight off my shoulders.
Here’s to hoping good mood, positivity, and productivity return. And soon.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am thankful for a completely unexpected package in the mail. Some wonderful, happy product from My Minds Eye. Pure kindness and generosity. I am deeply grateful.
2. I am grateful that I walked for the tenth day in a row. I am aching all over. Literally. But I am trying to keep going.
3. I am grateful that some of the undecided bits of my work are now decided. I am still more frustrated than I would have liked about some of it but at least there’s resolution and now I can move forward, hopefully.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing Star Wars with Hasen (David was Luke)
2. coloring my U puppet (Umbrella Bird)
3. Checking out a Star Wars book from the library
And here’s page seven.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. It’s hard not to compare. Especially to someone who’s already reached your goals. Someone who’s ahead of the game. The thing is we always compare someone’s best with our worst. Isn’t that silly?
A few people have been asking me about my book. I’m using the same book I used a few months ago. It’s an old 7gypsies chipboard book filled with all sorts of pages. Chipboard, paper, watercolor paper, copic paper, normal paper, etc. I pick pages at random depending on my mood and just do whatever I feel like.
I have an awesome give away today!
Here’s the description from scrapbook.com:
Textured Fades Embossing Folders from Sizzix easily emboss in such a way that select areas of the image appear perfectly faded and distressed. You can turn ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil or vellum into an embossed, textured masterpiece. This set of Embossing Folders showcases the bold and edgy style of Tim Holtz. It contains two large A2 folders, measuring 5 3/4″ x 4 1/2″ x 1/8″. Texture Fades Embossing Folders are for use with the Texture Boutique, BIGkick, Big Shot and Vagabond machines only (used with a pair of Cutting Pads and the machine’s included Platform). Each sold separately. This Texture Fades Embossing Folders Set includes these two folder designs: Halloween Night (A2 Large); Poison (A2 Large).
Isn’t it awesome!?!
All you have to do is leave me a comment in this post. I will keep it open for a week so your deadline is Sunday night. I will announce the recipient next Monday.
Purple flowers. They are currently bringing joy into my home.
Happy 10.10.10. I hope yours went well. I’m still in the funk that seems to be enveloping me right now. I can easily list you many reasons for it but I think it’s time to just snap out of it. I’ve been thinking a lot about the “what you focus on flourishes” adage lately (I should make an art journal page on that one.) and I’ve been stuck on this negativity with one of the issues in my head and it’s time to let it go. I should either embrace the positive things about it or walk away from it. Both are viable options. Sitting and sulking and having conversations in my head over and over again is not a viable option. So expect a much better attitude tomorrow. Enough is enough.
I snapped very few photos today for some reason. This is one of the little boy.
And one of the big one.
And that’s it. Not sure why.
I did scrap, walk, and make an art journal page today. and I played cards with David. And we all went out to dinner together. So there was much activity. I just feel enveloped by negativity a bit. I am officially telling myself to let it go. let it go. let it go. do you think it will work if I just repeat?
Here’s to waking up with a better attitude tomorrow and hopefully finally getting to write all the thoughts on my mind. I hope your weekend was good. Giveaway coming tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am thankful that I got my ring back. I don’t know if you remember but a few months ago, the diamond in my engagement ring had fallen off. We found it and sent it in to get fixed. It took a long while and more money than I would have liked but here it is, back on my finger and it’s buffed and shiny.
2. I am grateful that jake and I spent some time playing Wii last night. It was super fun to play just the two of us.
3. I am grateful that I got to play cards with David today. It was so much fun to watch him play and win and lose and just have a good time with me.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. coloring
2. playing crazy eight with mommy
3. going out to dinner together
And here’s page six.
back to paint. I’ve recently fallen in love with the color yellow. and orange. and I just decided it would be fun to honor it.
Details:
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.
details:
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:
1. I am thankful about my hair. I wish I could make it so pretty myself.
2. I am grateful that I walked again. That brings my sum up to 12.5 miles and eight consecutive days.
3. I am grateful for my husband, who’s been pitching in a lot the last few days. I’ve been sick and unmotivated and tired so it really helps so much to have him and more significantly, his energy.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. coloring – he really loves coloring lately and I loved it so much too so it’s fun seeing this on the list again and again
2. playing wii
3. building my lego with daddy
Here’s the item I did over the last few months:
60. Clean up the Garage.
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:
1. I am thankful that i have no big obligations and no impending deadlines. I need rest and I can get it.
2. I am grateful that my family is so amazing. so kind, so sweet. i am so so so blessed and i don’t want to forget it for a minute.
3. I am so grateful that I’ve walked 7 days in a row. I didn’t feel like doing it any of the days. And yet I did it. I got out there. I tried. I worked. One day at a time.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. coloring at apple at school
2. helping avi and the teacher with a coin puzzle
3. playing a dice game at school
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:
In my family, we always create a special present for big birthdays. For my father’s 50th we made a videotape of all of his friends telling stories. For my mom’s 50th, we made her a website with all her friends. For my sister’s 30th, I made her a book. And just recently for his 36th, I made my husband a book of stories from all of his life.
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?
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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
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