good for a laugh...

Megan stole this mini book I made for her own creations. The book did have a purpose (for someone else) and I probably would have been more upset had she not put it to good use. She calls it her "scrapbook" and rightfully named. It's full of colors and shapes and little pictures that represent how she sees the world. I love it and have plans to steal some of her ideas for my own.

The other day I was looking through it and found this picture. It was the last entry.



It instantly cracked me up. I was sure of her message, but wanted to find out from her. Later that day I asked her to tell me about the page. She said, "Mom, it's you and dad kissing, you know, but I couldn't put your faces together and me doing this" at which point she lifts her finger to the side of her head and moves it in circles (the crazy sign). Then I asked, "Why would you do that?" and her reply was, "You know, you're kissing.....it's awkward." (she drew out the last word)

and then she laughed.
and I laughed.

I guess somethings kids just know.

And so today becomes 3...maybe not :)

I miss these three.


I miss them in this happy state I found them in when I took this photo. When will they be back I wonder? Each morning since Sunday I've wondered and each morning the same...too sick to go to school (I know at least one of them is faking). I think Megan said it best when she said, "I'm a little bit sick and a little bit better". It may be another homebound day for all of us. Revised 8:20am they were up and ready today. Hooray we're back.

Of course you know someone doesn't feel well when they'll find just about anywhere to fall asleep.

Couldn't miss the opportunity to capture her in a most uncomfortable sleeping arrangement over the weekend. I'm not sure how she's staying on.

Lastly, my art journal entry I was working on yesterday, but didn't finish until last night. I took inspiration from the pottery barn kids magazine.


I guess you could say it goes along with what I was trying to convey in my post yesterday...i can choose to find the good or focus on the bad and I want to turn my thinking around and see the good.

Now I'm off to exercise and feel good about this new day that's ahead of me despite the fact that I didn't sleep well and was up at 4am. At least it gave me a chance to catch up on some blogs.

a different voice

because I haven't a clue what to say or how to say it...

I paint.

Perhaps it alone will share enough of what's in my head.

"just be"
13 march 2008

"stop searching"
late evening 12 march 2008

1, 2, but not quite 3

I feel like I was caught up in a whirlwind and then spit back out. It's always good to hang out with my sister, but of course time stops and when it starts up again I realize it's still going for everyone else and I'm way behind. I guess I have lots to catch up on tomorrow.

1. Thursday before the big birthday rush I worked on my art journal and came up with this



I heard the term "Happily Ever Now" and loved what message it sent to me so I wanted to create something with it. It's a bummer when you're vision isn't completely realized. I keep telling myself it's the reason why I work on my journal so that one day what I see in my head I will be able to create. I'm not in love with it like some of the others, but it's done and I've learned from it...that's all that counts, right? Plus now that I've had a weekend away it's beginning to grow on me.

2. I got up from eating Sunday dinner with my family and started having problems with my knee. I can't stand on my left leg or lock it for any amount of time (it feels like my knee is trying to bend the other way). I don't really understand it, but I'm quick to blame the running I did last week. Yeah, I ran for about 8 minutes each day on my treadmill (pathetic I know). I'm slowly working into it even though I haven't exercised for the last 3 days and will most likely start from where I began last week. Why do I feel with exercise any strides I make get me no where because I'm constantly starting from scratch? Man, it feels like another life lesson could be learned from this...often in life I feel I'm always starting over.

3. So if I have a 1 and a 2 I feel I must have a 3, but I don't think I really have any more of my oh so exciting life to share. Hmmm. I need to eat dinner, but nothing sounds good. I can't wait for bed and am thinking I will lie down as soon as my kids go to bed in about 30 mins. I know, I told you, exciting life right? I guess I just wanted to check in since it's been a day or two. Hope all is well in blogland.

ciao.

living each day

is what inspired me to create this.


another art journal entry.

Happiness cannot be traveled to,
owned, earned, or consumed.
Happiness is the spiritual experience
of living every minute
with love, grace, and gratitude.
- Denis Waitley

Whether our lives are easy, hard, lonely, full, sad, happy, or even complicated, we can live each day and make the most of what we've been given. No matter what it is we're facing I believe good can be found. We just need to be willing to open our hearts and eyes to see.

Hmm, now I need to make sure I remember that.

spt - the 25th hour

Ah, an extra hour each day just for me. A dream...more time.

My first instinct was sleep. I know it seems like such a waste of time, but for me, someone who walks around each and every day in a state of exhaustion an extra hour of sleep would be delightful.

Of course then I think about exercise. I use to love exercising and made a point to do it once a day without exception, sadly I don't feel that way anymore. I just can't seem to fit it in so to have an extra hour a day to use toward exercising is a great way to spend that time because even though I really don't want to I know I need it for more energy.

Of course if I used the extra hour to do what I really wanted to do I would spend most of it in my studio creating.



Yesterday while going through some papers in my studio I found this sketch

and decided what the heck, while the laundries mid cycle I'm going to work on my art journal since I didn't last week. It was one of those weird mornings where I came off of no sleep and just wanted to indulge myself to get me moving. Really all I wanted to do was sleep so I felt good about this alternative.

I had seen these cartoon characters online a while ago and my plan was to attempt a self portrait, attempt being the operative word. The jury is still out on this one. The more I look at it the more I don't like it, but it was a fun experiment for me. While paining it Megan said, "mommy is that you?" "Well it's suppose to be" was my reply, only to hear her say, "I knew it was cause your chocolaty eyes, like mine."

But let's face it, an hour really isn't that long and if I were better about organizing my time I know I could find an extra hour in my day to do something more meaningful. So that's a new goal of mine (thanks lelly)...find an extra hour of me time each day.

finding good

I woke up this morning to a bit of grayness in my head. I just felt sad for really no reason at all. Usually this emotions works it's way into my entire day and takes over so after talking to Adam on the phone I decided to change my attitude and try to push through what I was feeling.

My cure...to find good things in my day and surprisingly or not so surprisingly I have been able to find a lot.

1. I made myself work on my art journal which instantly made me feel better.






2. Happening upon Megan surrounded by her happy things and playing quietly.



3. My dad is dropping something off this afternoon and bring me lunch.

4. It's snowing beautifully outside and I can enjoy it from my window.

5. While downloading photos (on my point & shoot nikon) I took last night while ice skating with the youth I found this


and this (remember my post about Bella learning the lesson of money, well this is what it looked like before I left her to decide)


and this video megan took (excuse the bum shot). I think she was trying to take a photo, but it was on the wrong setting. It made me happy because it shows me on a regular day with megan close behind.


6. the kitchens clean

7. I have book club tonight.

8. Did I mention my dad was bringing me lunch. Yum!

day 10

so lately i have been in a bad way. i never understand why. it is just my life cycle. the one where nothing is good but really everything is. its hard to get out because all i want to do is embrace it. this entry for me was trying to let it go.

day 9

I have decided i miss my stamps. I still have them all clustered together in a box. The stamp shelves Adam made me are too large for my wall. I need him to cut it in half or figure out a different place to put them...any ideas? It makes a difference not having them out at arms length to draw inspriation from. This afternoon I was looking in my box for something, found the flowers, and went for it. The entry did not take me long at all...about 15 minutes while tess was cutting up her paper.

I enjoyed the process of making this one.

day 8

I am finding this to be a little bit more difficult than previously. I don't know if it's because i'm finding less time to work or if my ideas aren't flowing as easily. I won't give up though.

day 7

Initially i was going for something different, but like the path it took instead.

Day 6

This took no time. I think I may also incorporate this into a layout.

added swirls (rhonna farrer) in photoshop after I scanned it. However the black one is a rub-on.

Day 5

I had fun doing this. Just writing down my random thoughts about what i want out of life.
It felt therapeutic and needed.









digital elements...rhonna farrer of course.

day 4...21 day challenge

I'm actually meeting the deadlines so I am proud of myself for that.

Its fun to have no rules.

Day 3...21 challenge

Still plugging along trying to find out what works for me. It is still hard to think this way. Hopefully I'll get there.

I did enjoy doing this one since I used photoshop. I used some of Rhonna's brushes round and round & swirls found at two peas. Love all her digital kits. It would be fun to play with them more, but I can't seem to get away from the paper and all the supplies. Love using my hands.

Day 2...21 day challenge

Thanks all for the kind words & encouragement.
Here is day 2 of 21.














Just so you know it is never to late to join. Anyone can do it. Go to Rhonna's site to find out more.

21 day challenge

For a long time I have been discouraged about my creativity. I feel like there are so many things that I want to explore, but don't. It's all my insecurities of not feeling comfortable that holds me back. So I sign up to do the 21 day challenge created by Rhonna Farrer.

I must say this is more challenging than I first had anticipated. It is hard for me to think this way. In fact the entry I am showing I do not like. I like my thoughts and feeling, but not the way it turned out. I wanted to rip it out of the book and start over. I stopped myself. This is the reason why I am doing this. To explore. To feel more comfortable exploring my creativity.

I actually debated whether or not to post it. Of course I feel it is part of the challenge. It is so easy to give up. Keep it hidden and not share. I want it to be real. I want to really learn. To jump over the hurdles I put in front of myself.

So here is day one. I may or may not show them all, but I am looking forward to working on it each day.