tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38630374546255227232023-11-16T05:58:10.160-05:00Enjoy the Ride Today!"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'WOW! What a Ride!'"
--UnknownAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.comBlogger502125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-38695060880709326622015-01-01T20:46:00.000-05:002015-01-01T20:46:00.856-05:00Moving Forward in 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am back!</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm just not staying here.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm <a href="http://www.magicalauthenticity.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here </a>now. </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hope to see you visit. </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy New Year!</span></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-44768851910743747912013-10-24T14:37:00.002-04:002013-10-24T14:37:23.486-04:00Help Me Out?Hey, yo! <br />
<br />
A long time ago... maybe a year, maybe more, someone out there in blogland asked people to share with her positive thoughts and feelings that she was going to write on the walls of her new-to-be-repainted scrapbook/craft room.<br />
<br />
I don't know who you are, but I thought that was the absolute BEST idea EVER. And I'm going to steal it... please, if you are still reading this blog, give me a shout out so I remember who you are and how you did it/asked for participation!<br />
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Anyway... we are nearing the completion of renovating the guest room in our house (used to be The Boy's room). We are really almost there! Once it is done, we will be renovating the Girls' room to be my very own scrapbook/art/craft studio. This will include taking down wallpaper, pulling out carpet and floor tiles and then repainting and reflooring. It is going to be quite the job... just like what we're doing now for the guest room.<br />
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This room, once belonging to the two girls of the family, is full of bad vibes and dark mojo. Not to mention it's a little stinky. I really need it to be a place of retreat for me. A place to refresh, release and rejuvenate. Will you help me?<br />
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Please put in the comments some positive thoughts, feelings, quotes or wishes for me and I will write them all on the walls before we repaint (and I will post pictures when we do it). Once we paint, they will be sealed in to that room making it impossible for bad stuff to come through!<br />
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Would love it if you would pass the word, too, since I haven't been very active here lately. I really need the "love". :)<br />
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Thanks friends! You rock!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-62733541474165936702013-10-16T22:24:00.001-04:002013-10-17T13:09:09.713-04:00#500<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUNf4xLqDwvesd6J7VMT5QC0I50tY705ZEd0jV1N47aerIvhfco7d64WgCJT2pjTq52kC2wmHhMfnLSxQuBJ-lUBihZtQsdvvHmpcaByBDGJbMIDzuVtuLkXdsyVgpJP9-fL1VySKURpx/s1600/eeyore6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUNf4xLqDwvesd6J7VMT5QC0I50tY705ZEd0jV1N47aerIvhfco7d64WgCJT2pjTq52kC2wmHhMfnLSxQuBJ-lUBihZtQsdvvHmpcaByBDGJbMIDzuVtuLkXdsyVgpJP9-fL1VySKURpx/s320/eeyore6.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a></div>
<br />
This is my 500th blog post.<br />
<br />
Yes, really.<br />
<br />
Back in the time when I was more active, I would have celebrated this day with excitement and even, perhaps, a scrappy giveaway.<br />
<br />
But I have been neglectful of my blog. And for good reason.<br />
<br />
Instead of celebrating my 500th post, I will be moving on to a different blog. I am not shutting this one down. No, in fact, I hope to return when I can give it my full-on, cheery, artsy, creative attention.<br />
<br />
For those of you who have followed this blog for some time, I feel I owe some explanation. You see, I have really been struggling with depression and anxiety for, well, too long. At first, I thought it was part of my personality and I had to "get over it". But now I know different.<br />
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A very large part of me wants to be authentic. I so desire that, but in the creation of this blog, I have created a personality that doesn't mesh with who I am "now". It is me... the Enjoy the Ride Today message in my header is completely 100% my belief. But sadly, I am unable to transfer that belief into action. While I desire to be authentic, I'm not currently comfortable doing so in such a public environment. But I miss blogging and getting my thoughts and feelings out so terribly much!<br />
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Therefore, I have decided to move to a private blog for now. In there will be the "dark side" of my "enjoy the ride", because, really? Nobody likes to be around an Eeyore all the time. However, if you are truly interested in being inundated with dark clouds, I will be happy to add you, just send me a quick email. If you are mean to me over there, I will disallow you even more quickly. I truly invite those of you who are interested in listening to a lot of blather (no art... well, probably no art) and just supporting me with hugs... because I do need them. But I understand, too, if this is not what you enjoy doing with your time on the internet. :)<br />
<br />
This is why I'm choosing to move on.<br />
<br />
For now.<br />
<br />
I completely believe it will be temporary, but I do not know how long 'temporary' is. So... keep checking back now and again. Who knows... maybe once I spew the darkness into my private blog, I can come back here and share the light.<br />
<br />
Hugs to all!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHUsbtExsCJfKyKeTXx6Rg19jIWR4UXqxpu2JfkpYvBoaW5_uXu8wYCjMHxrne0NvAPASr_ZJT0AstBVgvjGe9YafQieGM3f4ukewltNvrjYLzqNtcw8Vlqw1vzpJ5yrH86_IzUSfajVb/s1600/Halloween2013_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHUsbtExsCJfKyKeTXx6Rg19jIWR4UXqxpu2JfkpYvBoaW5_uXu8wYCjMHxrne0NvAPASr_ZJT0AstBVgvjGe9YafQieGM3f4ukewltNvrjYLzqNtcw8Vlqw1vzpJ5yrH86_IzUSfajVb/s400/Halloween2013_ed.jpg" height="400" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Stamps from <a href="http://www.stampsbyjudith.com/">www.stampsbyjudith.com</a><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-1210326578885873072013-10-14T12:38:00.000-04:002013-10-14T12:38:02.865-04:00The Weird Ways a Brain Works…
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve had a lot of time inside my own head lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things goin’ on in there that we won’t speak
of yet, there’s still a lot of cleaning to do before I invite anyone to visit
THERE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I am struck with how weird my mind
works sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am hoping I’m not a
total oddball here, and that other people have noticed strange ways their
brain/memory stores things.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What has hit me in the head recently is how I view a
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know… a year… 12 months…
winter, spring, summer, fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had
this visual in my head for as long as I can remember… even as a young child… I
finally tried to draw it out so I can explain it better.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There you go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I view
the months like a sidewalk going around the block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except, there is a weird gap between August
and September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often wonder if I put
that there when I was a child, indicating the vast difference between end of
summer and start of school (we didn’t start school until after Labor Day where
I grew up).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even throughout my adult
life, this visual hasn’t ever changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still “walk around the block” in my head when thinking about the future (or the
past) and what month events<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also think in colors, although I didn’t demonstrate that
as much in the image above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My “fall” months (and yes I know fall doesn’t
start until the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>-ish of September) are September, October and
November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I “see” them in dark reddish-oranges
and browns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typical of the season, I
suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once December 1 hits, though,
everything turns blue, except right around Christmas when the greens and reds
take over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once January hits, I turn a
corner… perhaps for the new year, a new direction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blues last until February (indicative of
winter months, which for me are December-February).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>February comes to me in pinks and reds as
well as blues, most likely due to Valentine’s day and the soon-to-exit winter
excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>March is green. I think
because of St. Patrick’s day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>April is
Easter/spring flower colors, pinks, purples, greens, yellows – all pastel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May is green again, because that’s my birth
month, and my birth month gem is an emerald.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>June starts going yellow to a yellow-orange, perhaps summer coming
around the corner… and speaking of corners, I don’t know why June and May are
catty-corner… but that’s how I’ve always seen it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May “slips into” June somehow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>July and August run into each other with hot
reds, oranges and yellows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are my
two least favorite months, despite them being “summer vacation” as a
child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although looking ahead to September seems always so far away
because of the big black chasm, I look forward to it because of another corner
turn and heading up into another new direction/new year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would say that fall is my favorite season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t “wear” the colors as much as I do
winter and spring colors, but I love the temperature, sights and smells of
fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hubs even notices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’ll say, “you look good today” more often
in fall than any other season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something
about this season makes my skin happy, my hair happy, and my heart happiest
than all of the other months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, so assure me, please… I’m not totally insane, am
I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does anyone else out there “see”
things in their mind a little different than, perhaps, the “normal”?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-32881024716269651382013-09-02T23:46:00.003-04:002013-09-02T23:46:53.566-04:00On the Last Day of August, 2013...I spent my Labor Day weekend up in New York with family. The first of my nieces and nephews got married this weekend. When I moved from New York, this niece was only seven years old. My, oh my, how time flies. It is a little nerve-wracking to realize that the people I still have pictures in my mind running around as children are grown up, graduated from college, getting married and starting their own lives and families.<br />
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It's all somewhat surreal at times.<br />
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It was beautiful though...<br />
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It has caused me to start my September off feeling a little introspective.<br />
<br />
How was your weekend?<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-4918918711142190762013-08-25T21:05:00.000-04:002013-08-25T21:30:42.165-04:00Puttering...This weekend was a "puttering" weekend. It started out with The Hubs and I heading to Lowes Home Improvement and buying paint and other sundries needed to finish renovating the guest room ... the <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-door.html" target="_blank"><b>room that used to be The Boy's</b></a>. <br />
<br />
Before we starting painting, though, a few other things grabbed our attention... the light fixture HAD to come down, and then the holes patched. The carpeting - nasty and gross - HAD to come up, along with the carpet padding. Then... the tile... the crappy, barn-red tile that apparently is under every carpeted space in this house including our uncarpeted, basement floor. As The Hubs was taking up the carpet tacks, this tile started to splinter and pop up. So... it, too, HAD to come out. Needless to say, painting has yet to occur. But it feels good to be ready to go...NOW.<br />
<br />
After a day of home improvement puttering, and freezing my own corn...<br />
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I took today to putter around in my craft area. I so easily get frozen with "can't do it well" so I don't do it at all. Today I decided to just putter. Putter, putter, putter.<br />
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To warm up, I did a little decoupage with a paper napkin on a wooden "table tidy" holder. I love using napkins!<br />
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That took a lot less time than I had figured, so I pulled out some stamps that I'd bought a few weeks back and decided to play with my relatively <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2013/05/time-to-play.html" target="_blank"><b>newly purchased Spectrum Noir pens</b></a>.<br />
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I really, really, REALLY need more lessons and practice/work on blending and shading. I sucketh. But... it just takes time, right? And <i>active</i> time, not just <i>sitting around waiting to get better while twiddling my thumbs</i> time. :)<br />
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After all of this coloring, I was a little tired. So I just made one of them into a card and called it a night.<br />
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Nothing fancy, nothing super productive. But time creating. That's what I need to do more of, right?<br />
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Now I've gotten myself into a writing challenge, so I must go and spend some time brainstorming on two short stories. If I think they're any good, maybe I'll share them here. :)<br />
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Did you have a good weekend? Any creative time for you?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-72564077063684802182013-08-22T19:22:00.001-04:002013-08-22T19:29:11.354-04:00Ago.25 years ago, TODAY, I was awoken by a phone call, on my first day of college, to my brother-in-law letting me know that my niece and Goddaughter had been born.<br />
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21 years ago, I was headed back to college for my final semester, having taken a semester as a leave of absence, causing me to be "behind" in graduation. That final semester was filled with some of my favorite times.<br />
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19 years ago, I was auditioning for one of the last plays I ever had a part in: Squabbles. It was a fantastic dinner theater piece and I loved every stinking minute of the production. I still have the script, see?<br />
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My character becomes pregnant in the course of the play. And goes into labor. And has the baby. Something I have never experienced. But acting it was fantastic. :) As soon as that play wrapped, I moved out of my home state of New York to Ohio.<br />
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16 years ago, I had just started dating the man who would become my husband. <br />
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13 years ago, I was a new wife and a new homeowner.<br />
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3 years ago, I was entering my 40th year and looking for a new lease on life.<br />
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1 year ago, The Hubs and I were preparing to be empty nesters.<br />
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7 months ago, I quit going to my <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2011/09/visiting-sadist.html" target="_blank"><b>personal trainer</b></a> and my anxiety decreased dramatically. Perhaps the two were connected.<br />
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3 months ago, I was spending a lovely weekend in my hometown with family. I love a nice road trip.<br />
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1 month ago, I was loving several days in a row of "me" time, alone in the house with just a bunch of art supplies and my pets.<br />
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1 week ago, I was preparing for my iced tea in the park event.<br />
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1 day ago, I had a black cloud hanging over my head.<br />
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1 hour ago, I started writing this blog post. I've obviously been interrupted several times, because this certainly is no great piece of literature.<br />
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Interesting how time passes, no? Tell me about some of your "agos". :) <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-40428875699845854242013-08-20T22:12:00.003-04:002013-08-20T22:12:44.691-04:00GimmeGimme some spray inks and a stencil or three, some markers to doodle and I am a happy girl!<br />
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Believe it or not, this is my Very First "play" in my butterfly journal that I made at the beginning of this year. I had to "break the seal" of "messing it up" and I think I did myself good in the process. <br />
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I need more hours in the day. Just for play. <br />
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Fall is right around the corner. My favorite season. It is a time when I feel at my "best". Fall looks good on me too. :) I love creating in the fall. I feel such peace and inspiration at this time of year.<br />
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Sadly, it also is a time that seems to fly by in the blink of an eye. Every year I tell myself I'm going to savor it; I'm not going to miss it. And every year, it seems that it just winks past me.<br />
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Today I sat down with a calendar for the next four months (yes, I know that goes into winter). I have decided I'm going to schedule in some time to savor it. I need to. The last third of this year is going to be enjoyed, dammit, if I have to find a spell to stop time to do it! :)<br />
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Anyone have a time-stopping magic wand out there for sale? Anyone? Anyone? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-52329699817493130802013-08-18T17:43:00.000-04:002013-08-18T17:43:11.429-04:00A Beautiful DayYesterday was a beautiful day for an iced tea party in the park with friends:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-62394792475981827402013-08-15T22:07:00.000-04:002013-08-15T22:26:05.448-04:00Pushing Through the "Meh"...Meh.<br />
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A "newer" word meaning to feel bleah, apathetic, unexcited, bored and "over it". Meh is how I have felt the past few days, hence, no blogging from me. Tonight I was ready to let the meh continue and move past the computer and straight into bed. But then, inspired by a <a href="https://effy-wild.squarespace.com/blog/2013/8/14/blogalong-with-effy-1430-practice" target="_blank"><b>previous blog post by Effy Wild</b></a>, I decided that the meh can't win tonight.<br />
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So... a little post to share with you those people around me who inspire me artistically, to help get my creative juices flowing again and push me past the meh, both in my blog world and my artsy world.<br />
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Kicking it all off for me, honest and truly, was <a href="http://bravegirlsclub.com/soul-restoration-1-and-2" target="_blank"><b>Soul Restoration</b></a> with Melody Ross and The Brave Girls Club. I still want... no NEED... to go back to this course and <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-soul-restoration-blog-hop-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><b>revisit it</b></a>. I signed on for Soul Restoration 2 and never did complete it. Yes, this was a big one to kick me in the pants and start peeling away the ties that bound me into do-nothing, both creatively and in life. <br />
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Shout out to <a href="http://limegreenbogiegirl.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank"><b>Kirsty Wiseman</b></a>. She was the first person, two years ago, to successfully get me to "art" in the <b><a href="http://limegreenbogiegirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/me-in-my-moleskine-online-class.html" target="_blank">Me and My MoleskinE</a></b> class.<br />
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I played more in that class and drew my first face with her lessons and support. AND, I actually 99% finished that class - a very, very rare occurrence, so you <i><b>know</b></i> that means something!<br />
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I shared some of my completed pages <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-me.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>. <br />
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I then proceeded to sign up for a fantastic <a href="http://limegreenbogiegirl.blogspot.com/p/dslr-training.html" target="_blank"><b>photography class</b></a> by Kirsty, and I am so very sad to say, I never completed it. Thankfully, I know I can go back and read the PDFs still. You know, when I get a Round Tuit.<br />
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So, next up on my inspiration list is <a href="http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Cheri</b></a>... you may know and love her from blogging world, at least many of you who have read my blog for so long... you know her. She inspires me every time we interact! And I love what she had done with her creativity, She Art canvases and especially with watching her photography skills develop!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqrr7a6z2stchBBctsMTK3uNBdlcsWXvEQQ5i2Nw1URIxIn1IrYag8OR80BT8o5E5fBuIEuAKQT7qhaSy14OTuS2fT2gphZBLj-t4ESkUECrYXTeDFyDVDQwuUbGXwGq5LSrUfTTEmQc/s1600/PhotoStyle6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqrr7a6z2stchBBctsMTK3uNBdlcsWXvEQQ5i2Nw1URIxIn1IrYag8OR80BT8o5E5fBuIEuAKQT7qhaSy14OTuS2fT2gphZBLj-t4ESkUECrYXTeDFyDVDQwuUbGXwGq5LSrUfTTEmQc/s400/PhotoStyle6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From a recent post of Cheri's - her photos and layout! Click her name above to visit her blog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I am so thankful Cheri and I are friends.<br />
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<a href="https://effy-wild.squarespace.com/" target="_blank"><b>Miss Effy Wild</b></a> is up next. She was the first person I really explored art journaling through. And I must admit, I've "failed" miserably. Not that I'm not being artsy and enjoying it, but I have been stuck in cement with trying new things up until recently. Not a fault of Effy's at all! Through her <a href="http://effywild.com/bod-2013-session-2/" target="_blank"><b>Book of Days</b></a> course, I really did start to realize that my likes and desires for art and crafting were really far beyond (but include) simply scrapbooking and making cards. I ashamedly admit, I never honest and truly started or completed a single layout in Book of Days. But, what I have learned and truly LOVE, is how to hand bind canvas covered journals. You can see my most recent ones in a blog post <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2013/04/retreat-ing.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>. But it was Miss Effy's book binding class that really lit that fire under me. Thank you EFFY! I must also say, she is the reason I am blogging again, having started her own blog-along challenge. Thank you for that too, Effy, because I have really, really missed it.<br />
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Last, but not least... actually, only "last" because she is most recently in my world view. <a href="http://www.willowing.org/" target="_blank"><b>Tamara Laporte</b></a> and her <a href="http://www.willowing.org/life-book-2013/" target="_blank"><b>Life Book 2013</b></a> course. Wow. I won a spot in this, as you may have read in <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2013/08/art-exploration.html" target="_blank"><b>an earlier post</b></a>. I cannot even begin to explain how awesome it is and how much I am enjoying it EVEN THOUGH, I'm super-dee-duper behind. There is no behind, though... just loads of things to do and I'm not in the same week of the year as the present. So, I guess you could say I'm time traveling through Life Book 2013. What I have loved about this course most is that I am finding the techniques I really love, new ones I haven't tried and old ones I'm practicing at... but moreso, I'm figuring out that it's okay to not like a certain style or technique and let it go without perfecting it. Thank you Effy (again) for the giveaway that won me this class... and thank you Tam for all the fantastic time and effort and beauty and creativity you put into this course. It's fantastic!<br />
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You know what? I feel better. More inspired. Ready for the weekend and ready to carve out some time to be creative and PLAY! Thanks for letting me share what's inspiring me.<br />
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I really think I love pushing through the meh!<br />
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Help me keep going! What or who is inspiring you lately??<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-18213100011856368512013-08-12T23:07:00.000-04:002013-08-12T23:07:06.832-04:00Hold on Loosely.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I received a Facebook message from someone who I
admire, unrelated to any artsy type of community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had asked her a question and part of her answer was “hold on loosely”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since reading that, it has struck a
chord in me that keeps reverberating through my head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hold on loosely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It echoed around until I started doodling on paper while at
work, in hopes to set the thought free (like singing a song that is on endless repeat inside your head).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4zFweYGzB5U4qDvDqgyWel1tFTp9POJ3de9g4PIw_zRBKtwSBZckhv_lqz97BGyadQzlrIkPVCtBeC7zZPNQ-5IxmhnGBI1v72Msi2qZ0939Ljg9aVHlamsb7daCwWzLZ1AaEhdnwv1j/s1600/HIL-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4zFweYGzB5U4qDvDqgyWel1tFTp9POJ3de9g4PIw_zRBKtwSBZckhv_lqz97BGyadQzlrIkPVCtBeC7zZPNQ-5IxmhnGBI1v72Msi2qZ0939Ljg9aVHlamsb7daCwWzLZ1AaEhdnwv1j/s400/HIL-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My whole life I have never succeeded at that… “hold on
loosely”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hold on tightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too tightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check out this photo… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjCYfm04yHCNv4oMemG-oQ9OmHf6bc7PjRbNGRTo_ktUWMMCkYBU_WNoL8YsaBwnaGGt0Bs8yp3V9rC49QjuC_J_LcjdHGnMtrSukYEgF6jAQFm77gMvocyLUxgcTOFCPyVPe936Ion03/s1600/HIL-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjCYfm04yHCNv4oMemG-oQ9OmHf6bc7PjRbNGRTo_ktUWMMCkYBU_WNoL8YsaBwnaGGt0Bs8yp3V9rC49QjuC_J_LcjdHGnMtrSukYEgF6jAQFm77gMvocyLUxgcTOFCPyVPe936Ion03/s400/HIL-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The tip of my index finger is white
from the pressure I place on whatever tool I am using, when I write or draw or
anything (cut, paint, stencil…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have
this vivid memory of writing in grade school, and the teacher walking behind us
(the students) as we practiced our letters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember him pausing behind me,
when he suddenly reached over my shoulder and attempted to grab my pencil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He failed to pull it from my hand because I
was gripping it so tightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me
to loosen my grasp and to let it flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hold
on loosely.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have, to date, never
perfected that grip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To date, I have a
constantly sore index finger, which is why I prefer to type over writing any
day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It isn't just physical objects. I hold on too tightly to my emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hold on too tightly to the people that surround me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a hard time letting go...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">a n</span>early impossible time, actually, of letting
things just “go”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After reading the
statement today in my Facebook message, I then spoke at length with someone –
again, unrelated to the person on Facebook – who brought this up as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “You need to learn to let [it,
that, fill-in-the-blank] go.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There it was again, in different words perhaps, but there it was. "Hold on loosely”… reverberating through my
head again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have realized that this is different. It isn’t about setting something or someone free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That whole:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"If you love something/someone,
set it free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it comes back to you, it’s
yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it doesn’t, it never was.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That isn't what I’m focusing on here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hold on loosely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
it doesn’t get pulled away, then it <i>was </i>meant to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> At least for now, in the moment. </span>If it is pulled away, then it <i>wasn’t</i> meant to
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it isn't meant to be and you are holding on too
tightly, you could get hurt in the process, in the losing of the "it"; torn up by the brutal, forced separation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like my index finger holding onto my pencil too, too tightly, until it
aches and becomes stiff, and if that teacher were behind me to yank it from my hand, I know that it would still hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I can hold on to
what I value, but I need to hold on loosely; learn to v<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>alue it while it is with me, whatever “it” is and learn that by holding on too tightly, I will be hurt by my attempts to keep “it”
when the time has come for it to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to learn how to hold on loosely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I will find serenity in that.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-57183340934629584312013-08-10T22:04:00.003-04:002013-08-10T22:06:48.919-04:00Improvements...Today was a home improvement day. Lots of projects started at our house, but none too many finished. Then, on top of it all, our garbage disposal quit on us last weekend. So... today was a "get up, get out, get it bought, get home, get it done" day.<br />
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Just a boring ol' day in the life of a homeowner. At least I got a new, working garbage disposal out of it. That's fun.<br />
<br />
Except this mess is not boring, nor is it fun...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKdlSyEbqW0-TEBKCLqyuSNJeLM47KDm8thStMQ3mUOCHOolhlK_nIzBrEVX_CWZ9EBsFkqy4HE_ZeRT-elDz8SkBusqf5fgf5Gj_SCEyHw6gOiTCVDjwfdBgs9plRYsaVpklvdU75kwF/s1600/Alex+Room+Sand+2_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKdlSyEbqW0-TEBKCLqyuSNJeLM47KDm8thStMQ3mUOCHOolhlK_nIzBrEVX_CWZ9EBsFkqy4HE_ZeRT-elDz8SkBusqf5fgf5Gj_SCEyHw6gOiTCVDjwfdBgs9plRYsaVpklvdU75kwF/s400/Alex+Room+Sand+2_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
That is the bedroom we are renovating after The Hubs took a sander to it and sanded the walls down.<br />
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Beauteous.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow he is tackling the bathroom, which also needs to be sanded. I'm sure it will be a lovely mess as well.<br />
<br />
But I'm not dwelling. Because... then we can PAINT!<br />
<br />
And then we can move the spare bedroom stuff into the renovated bedroom (after we get the flooring in, of course, but I'm jumping ahead because I'm excited)... and THEN we get to renovate the OTHER bedroom... AND THEN it becomes my new scrappin'/art space! I'm so, super, duper excited about this!<br />
<br />
I have a great space now, as you may have read about <a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-finished-aka-scrap-room-finale.html" target="_blank"><b>previously</b></a>, when we moved me downstairs, a few years ago, into The Hubs' "man cave". Also, I mentioned my space when we added my new <b><a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2011/07/lost-weekend.html" target="_blank">slat wall</a></b>. It's a good space. A great space!<br />
<br />
But you know what? It's always dark down there... and often sounds like Football... and that's really stoppering up my creative Chi. I will have less room upstairs, but... I think things will flow so much better with windows and light and No Football! So I'm SO EXCITED to be moving upstairs.<br />
<br />
Eventually.<br />
<br />
<br />
But first we have to clean up this mess.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXv3hWi63fjO53k09x4Sepk79P4b_YxBOf_QPPFak65qZ4CIfhEz6zmo_qWmrC0ze8UyDWUHPVG5ql-w7HksrGbCO_xrKh2VJvrhp5LPVrnwwvoLD7HhcW1ADNi85Ob8fv4UjRVlY_2sp/s1600/Alex+Room+Sand+1_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXv3hWi63fjO53k09x4Sepk79P4b_YxBOf_QPPFak65qZ4CIfhEz6zmo_qWmrC0ze8UyDWUHPVG5ql-w7HksrGbCO_xrKh2VJvrhp5LPVrnwwvoLD7HhcW1ADNi85Ob8fv4UjRVlY_2sp/s400/Alex+Room+Sand+1_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyone want to come help?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-5293664832252268782013-08-08T22:06:00.002-04:002013-08-08T22:14:34.261-04:00Just Play.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBEJe7V0lwAqzdpyVV7Y_PT24oyeUdf81RINkOh7Q3bMLpmb_qGJcEdMvp8RWx8zakEw7PlWDuUaSKcI46OCi8_d17F_KS7w1ILgQ35NymaujHxiAf1MaaDOPDCADpPxyitdH_Wjpe4IP/s1600/teathanks3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBEJe7V0lwAqzdpyVV7Y_PT24oyeUdf81RINkOh7Q3bMLpmb_qGJcEdMvp8RWx8zakEw7PlWDuUaSKcI46OCi8_d17F_KS7w1ILgQ35NymaujHxiAf1MaaDOPDCADpPxyitdH_Wjpe4IP/s400/teathanks3.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad lighting. This is really on Kraft paper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I came home from work today and busted through the "have to get done" list in an hour. I was so surprised, but of course since I am fueled by unresolved "<a href="http://enjoytheridetoday.blogspot.com/2013/08/feeling-stormy.html" target="_blank"><b>stormy</b></a>", I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. I started to go into my room to do some job #3 work and decided to take a break and play a little.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgot8v8WO-oeJrImRghrmRzF_9v-pR96Gzn27HlEgA5o0BtYZo4i0kKgZ_HlEs2pK9Z2g41XY1v0qLsQsJSxl9_-FT4F5HoobhVF-W55vkYMqZ9jCgCjoFGvGNlZghVr3F86ns24_CKB3Ih/s1600/teathanks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgot8v8WO-oeJrImRghrmRzF_9v-pR96Gzn27HlEgA5o0BtYZo4i0kKgZ_HlEs2pK9Z2g41XY1v0qLsQsJSxl9_-FT4F5HoobhVF-W55vkYMqZ9jCgCjoFGvGNlZghVr3F86ns24_CKB3Ih/s400/teathanks1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nothing fancy, just some mini thank you cards for my tea customers, but it was relaxing to cut and glue and stamp and ink... and just play.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZO0qV1TATJhxLSs_RubStOPV3IP1PTCrmki1_KacLv_yZqTrRNddvvzln7HSwxhoAK0ojVsbpVIuY3u5QsUHx6KowdnfnZMwHKNsGaDTYI0ducGfJH9GeaHpqK3i1JSeLIFGHU7aZc30/s1600/teathanks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZO0qV1TATJhxLSs_RubStOPV3IP1PTCrmki1_KacLv_yZqTrRNddvvzln7HSwxhoAK0ojVsbpVIuY3u5QsUHx6KowdnfnZMwHKNsGaDTYI0ducGfJH9GeaHpqK3i1JSeLIFGHU7aZc30/s400/teathanks2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I need to remember this feeling. And then do that more often.<br />
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Just play.<br />
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Yes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-82888742676621131582013-08-07T22:32:00.001-04:002013-08-07T22:32:56.657-04:00Words of Wisdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtjrsPjzsexBI9uRWL3FYtFqzqUa_xr458M7do5C0Yzzfz1XN6jfd-O-QyDotslDxHVkauC8lKbzLmkaV6bZ_6SbJhX86D4hSXPId-U3GvMCmgJ7bx4xFCIlE6exTkyRg6o3CnzMSwwg8/s1600/fortunes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtjrsPjzsexBI9uRWL3FYtFqzqUa_xr458M7do5C0Yzzfz1XN6jfd-O-QyDotslDxHVkauC8lKbzLmkaV6bZ_6SbJhX86D4hSXPId-U3GvMCmgJ7bx4xFCIlE6exTkyRg6o3CnzMSwwg8/s320/fortunes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcByTA_LHK9ZQ8ustOLVPeuJ7LNUtETuNpd-DsclqIQ4D5VnyT9jVWotLkK2pLsvzsY3fvXofAB2zLRMQAVIRIs_r0BhKeHCKuAiCH_jnFXMAIgz6OAWQzC8LfasuIiNDYFnasjHb9bxjE/s1600/art+not+match+couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcByTA_LHK9ZQ8ustOLVPeuJ7LNUtETuNpd-DsclqIQ4D5VnyT9jVWotLkK2pLsvzsY3fvXofAB2zLRMQAVIRIs_r0BhKeHCKuAiCH_jnFXMAIgz6OAWQzC8LfasuIiNDYFnasjHb9bxjE/s320/art+not+match+couch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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:)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-47162122408280263022013-08-06T20:56:00.002-04:002013-08-06T20:56:43.594-04:00Feeling Stormy...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kxg3KmTsGi14DkjbdEa0NE_eJNHougaZP-pPyA1v0mN_tLHWcSAAZP9x-Sw5AYMzvm3mWqdWpDiLrd0Jm_se3Mxq-akoQRmiI6kn9mjMHBWmT_jo1h1mENhERXWA67TZYMsnt_WkLA5C/s1600/stormy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kxg3KmTsGi14DkjbdEa0NE_eJNHougaZP-pPyA1v0mN_tLHWcSAAZP9x-Sw5AYMzvm3mWqdWpDiLrd0Jm_se3Mxq-akoQRmiI6kn9mjMHBWmT_jo1h1mENhERXWA67TZYMsnt_WkLA5C/s400/stormy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/bigo_info">Dave Winfield</a> | <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/">Dreamstime Stock Photos</a></td></tr>
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Today I am filled with disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disappointment in the life I am living, the
choices I have made and now live with the repercussions and mostly, vast
disappointment in so many of those I have let in and held close to my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am disappointed in the choices those people
have made and sad that the future, which is now, did not turn out to be what I
had hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am filled with shadows and
it is hard to climb over them, or move around them or push through them to see
anything that is shiny and wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am disappointed in myself for not Seeing the reality, having instead chosen to
follow my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following your heart is
supposed to be a good<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my heart has been left battered and
bruised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to know, now, when
to follow my heart or when to capitulate to my logical brain, my embittered
conscience that now guides me with doubt and sarcasm.</div>
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I am entering my middle life and hate looking back with
wiser vision and seeing where I could have possibly changed my life had I only made a
different choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize that I would
probably still make the same choices, and then where does that leave me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right back here in the shadows.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Don’t get me wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am not ungrateful for all of the good I have in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life is not horrible by any means. I had just hoped for more ... or better... or just different... than where I am at now. Because of that disappointment, I have a hard time moving forward, because by moving forward, I need to accept all that has been. Accepting that is so very hard when I am so filled with unhappiness regarding how things have turned out.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I know that tomorrow will be a new day. A fresh start. I know that I will continue to move forward and fight the disappointment again. Today it was just overwhelming. But some very wise people have assured me that it's okay to feel stormy now and then. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Thank you for the butterflies.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-19632063944240424742013-08-04T23:23:00.001-04:002013-08-04T23:23:49.913-04:00Charleston Tea Plantation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lYQNDI3whf3CjGYyRSlXAIvgWqm6CvY8BjBjLb4sgKJMpdlf_Rfq4CDN1KW_0KpJC1-ryMazxY1PAW_-XU0xwI3ijJrApMhzdBpLecScm9VGBzPNl_ltdanpv0d5kL74T4Rm8SKEGSAm/s1600/PhotoGrid_teaplantation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lYQNDI3whf3CjGYyRSlXAIvgWqm6CvY8BjBjLb4sgKJMpdlf_Rfq4CDN1KW_0KpJC1-ryMazxY1PAW_-XU0xwI3ijJrApMhzdBpLecScm9VGBzPNl_ltdanpv0d5kL74T4Rm8SKEGSAm/s400/PhotoGrid_teaplantation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Just a glimpse at my day today. This is our tour of the Charleston Tea Plantation. I am so, so exhausted, that I am not going to go into details, but for now... here's a peek at how tea is grown at the only tea plantation in the United States of America. :)<br />
<br />
More later...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-79120164648114200522013-08-03T07:00:00.000-04:002013-08-03T07:00:01.597-04:00Eleven HoursAfter eleven hours driving in the car yesterday... alone, I would like to add... I finally made it to South Carolina. While the trip was mostly uneventful, there were a few miles (many, many miles at one point) where the traffic was down to a crawl. Thank goodness for satellite radio!<br />
<br />
Have I ever told you I melt? "South" is not my happy place. In fact, when I moved "south" to Ohio from NY State, it took me two years to adjust to the warmer climate. <br />
<br />
I'm not joking.<br />
<br />
So... here I am in the true south. I think. South Carolina has south in it's name so I think I can accurately call this the "south". Of course, that doesn't quite work the same with South Dakota, but let's not go there.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you, I am melting. Even though I'm a good witch, I'm melting... melllltttinnnggg. If I'm not sitting still next to the air conditioner, it is so humid that just walking makes me saturated with sweat. But, thank goodness for A/C when I'm near it or I truly would be just a puddle.<br />
<br />
But I digress. Want to see what I see? <br />
<br />
This is my view from my room:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZXX7g1MUHr0GIQ9h3cNjI3KSXruu80VaIx6Km-L5OJPwGTJXhBRdwgX8xc-mYhiVLvKddHRBoeV09vtb-Orc7EzVOWgU5WVybFHMSkJs4d_DPc3dcyDHm-BUxZGIY47nS3_fRaIulyCV/s1600/hotelview_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZXX7g1MUHr0GIQ9h3cNjI3KSXruu80VaIx6Km-L5OJPwGTJXhBRdwgX8xc-mYhiVLvKddHRBoeV09vtb-Orc7EzVOWgU5WVybFHMSkJs4d_DPc3dcyDHm-BUxZGIY47nS3_fRaIulyCV/s400/hotelview_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Not that I will be in it very much. No, instead, I will be spending some quality time with some of my co-workers at <b><a href="http://www.tealightfultreasures.net/tealadykb" target="_blank">Tealightful</a></b>, learning some new things, tasting some new product, and having an otherwise jolly good time. I will be sure to share more with you after our tour on Sunday! :)<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-52438752038815287952013-08-02T07:00:00.000-04:002013-08-02T07:00:12.092-04:00Things You See by the Roadside...So, I meant to share this much earlier this year, but... life happens. There is a billboard that is north of where I live. I have passed by it several times and it always catches me off guard and then gives me a giggle. This year, we passed by it before we realized it, on our way to a scrapbooking convention. <br />
<br />
No worries, though! I pulled a U-Turn, headed back... pulled another U-Turn and here we were able to get the picture.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gpCLZ6bMmoY9NwAshGZKd3QfsnSpG-rWnwQf2jzFPUGVTfpKUICHCbbscWaOdPWPmX6ZyK-HVsyEI467i2f6d-TvCXVbVFLitvS1hDmSPZ_cJJG4xnNdEyEgQboTABfpu-KmOO5nba6V/s1600/psychics+know.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gpCLZ6bMmoY9NwAshGZKd3QfsnSpG-rWnwQf2jzFPUGVTfpKUICHCbbscWaOdPWPmX6ZyK-HVsyEI467i2f6d-TvCXVbVFLitvS1hDmSPZ_cJJG4xnNdEyEgQboTABfpu-KmOO5nba6V/s400/psychics+know.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I don't know why I find this humorous, but it makes me smile every. damn. time.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-15223709168038968342013-08-01T06:00:00.000-04:002013-08-01T06:00:09.312-04:00Art Exploration…<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Toward the end of last year I was very excited to discover
that I had won a spot (thanks to <b><a href="http://effythewild.com/" target="_blank">Effy Wild</a></b>’s giveaway and <b><a href="http://willowing.ning.com/" target="_blank">Tam LaPorte</a></b>’s
generosity in donating a spot) in Tam’s <b><a href="http://www.willowing.org/life-book-2013/" target="_blank">LifeBook 2013</a></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I was excited, I must admit more than a
little apprehension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking through the
course description, I was afraid the gift would be wasted on me, because I considered
myself to be oh-so talentless in the realm of Art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, really… the last time I remembered
picking up a paint brush was in grade-school art class (which, by the way, was
one of my favorite classes evah)! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a
crafter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a cut-n-paster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Art?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s downright scary.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With trepidation, I did promise myself to open my heart and
mind and just TRY and PLAY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promised
myself to embrace IMPERFECTION (with <b><a href="http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cheri</a></b>’s voice echoing in my head).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promised myself that I would not compare or
judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To that latter statement, I do
admit I rarely go look at what other class participants are doing for fear that
I will do exactly that, so a piece of me feels guilt for not participating more
fully in the class with regard to socialization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yet another piece of me is so super-duper
proud for achieving the no-judgment/no-comparison goal so much of the time that
it outweighs the twinges of guilt about being antisocial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However… as is always my way with classes, and as I know
some of you can jump on my bandwagon… life has gotten the best of me and I have
not been “keeping up” with the class offerings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In acknowledgement of my own time-management imperfection, I’m “okay”
with being so far “behind”, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
why am I okay with it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the few
classes I have completed have blown my mind!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I CAN do “Art” with a capital “A”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s not all just cut-n-paste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have picked up paint brushes and watercolors and markers and stamps and ink and
masks and templates and … wow… a graphite pencil and used them to draw and
color and … ART.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not realize how good
it feels to learn from these fantastic instructors and learn things that I LOVE
to do and things that are … eh… not my “thang”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My only longing wish is to have more time… to make more time… to do more
of the lessons and keep growing my own niche of Art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems that every lesson I do becomes my “favorite”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the last lesson I completed and she’s
absolutely my Favorite of all favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I <b>drew</b>... yes, <b><i>drew</i></b> her from ‘bones’ up and while I know the wolf howling in the
background is a little hard to distinguish, I’m fantastically proud and happy and excited
with her... and moreso, inspired by her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGu0ln3mU5WdMy80fnVnAskspJKGsTdIB-XpnA-7MmYkBWHWhzBE-l90JhwjUPMAx8BFJG5rE7JCx8YquhT-q481Ip0fOqlcXLySsjO38PRAY8lDh-74AvqroX-RWH9hUD3-yjnNglfPF/s1600/Courage_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGu0ln3mU5WdMy80fnVnAskspJKGsTdIB-XpnA-7MmYkBWHWhzBE-l90JhwjUPMAx8BFJG5rE7JCx8YquhT-q481Ip0fOqlcXLySsjO38PRAY8lDh-74AvqroX-RWH9hUD3-yjnNglfPF/s1600/Courage_ed.jpg" width="287" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just wanted to share a little bit my art exploration this
year. What I love most about it, is that by exploring art, it is helping me explore myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope you are exploring new
things too!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-75296464159549213072013-06-28T12:37:00.001-04:002013-06-28T13:18:35.557-04:00Learning to Be GentleHello my online friends. I keep thinking about all of you (those who are still looking around to see where I may be) and missing the blogging world. <br />
<br />
I have been struggling for many months in many areas of my life. There have been events that I wish I could share but then, I feel that the privacy of them is more important than my venting to the internet-netherland. This has caused me to feel quite stunted in what I can share, and so, my sad little place of sharing, here at Enjoy the Ride Today, has been empty and full of cobwebs. <br />
<br />
I am sorry.<br />
<br />
What I can share is that I am on a quest to be more gentle with myself. It is a very hard journey and one that I have spent a lot of time falling down on. The "being gentle" aspect is in every part of my world, but one part that I have shared with you here in the past is my Fitness Foibles. While wandering around the internet, I came across this story, and it truly, truly resonated with me. I think every woman in the world needs to read it. And while my little blog may not be read world-wide, perhaps the one or two of you here who take the time to read it, will benefit from it. Please, take five or ten minutes and read. Share if you find that it strikes a chord within you.<br />
<br />
It did me.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="http://www.rolereboot.org/life/details/2013-06-when-your-mother-says-shes-fat" target="_blank">When Your Mother Says She's Fat</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>To be clear, I am not suggesting that your mother did this, nor accusing my own mother of this...</strong> but practially everyone I meet has a self-depricating manner in one way or another. And it has an effect. It really, really does.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Be gentle with one another. Be gentle with yourself. I am struggling... but I am trying.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-81473912811726160302013-05-15T22:32:00.001-04:002013-05-15T22:32:14.765-04:00Time to Play!So...<br />
<br />
Yeah...<br />
<br />
I've been saving up every $5 bill that has come my way for months. A $5 bill appears and off it goes, into a little hidden envelope. No touchy! <br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
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Because of this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XG8-cHx8bwbyClFesemEOVGDnuc-xzAGDAJNxIEMUKDNduspiFlkLsW2leKLDJ8iZGDhRaDRGegZI3jqdtbDU0kMZaFeFsGOVBxrZ5ZRPn1wN_Gn1UyU2AfkTcvNi_qlhY_PK_2Nq_8o/s1600/MegaMeetLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XG8-cHx8bwbyClFesemEOVGDnuc-xzAGDAJNxIEMUKDNduspiFlkLsW2leKLDJ8iZGDhRaDRGegZI3jqdtbDU0kMZaFeFsGOVBxrZ5ZRPn1wN_Gn1UyU2AfkTcvNi_qlhY_PK_2Nq_8o/s400/MegaMeetLogo.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>
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Yep, yep... shopping extravaganza! My friends and I even skip our local scrapbooking convention to go to this one. </div>
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While I was there, I stalked one of my favorite people, Judith from <a href="http://www.stampsbyjudith.com/" target="_blank"><b>Stamps by Judith</b></a> (and Heather). I just love talking to her and spent about half of my $5 bills at her booth.</div>
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And then... I fell in love... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrud06rVj6W9OCFg8uNYkGV6NuoODOzKKfAVxoSB03WmqfhixeDg10qe8U_jgut16dsJuda6XTOydZAIyXCDSraTCE4HcUu32SpqS-tcvALRW8vEmGsrUOTu73-IQtP31lCIOu2uN5P2gP/s1600/MegaMeetSpectrum_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrud06rVj6W9OCFg8uNYkGV6NuoODOzKKfAVxoSB03WmqfhixeDg10qe8U_jgut16dsJuda6XTOydZAIyXCDSraTCE4HcUu32SpqS-tcvALRW8vEmGsrUOTu73-IQtP31lCIOu2uN5P2gP/s400/MegaMeetSpectrum_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A super great deal from <a href="http://www.crafterscompanion.com/Spectrum-Noir_c_69.html" target="_blank">Crafter's Companion - Spectrum Noir</a></td></tr>
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In addition, I attended a great presentation by Queen and Co. This led me to some freebies and sale/specials on another new(er) love, Washi Tape:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDZgtmosarYen4OZpZkaUGRbF8wT2haKRj_ZiH-XpX1bI2GiWwAXaX9g_ej9pa5PtLUhUWWOrgJgnTtu66orueUP14kZzneDLsAmnnyWK61uLnmx0HVEvUqnNjY5cdWIP-0CyqrFOCBLd/s1600/MegaMeetWashi_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDZgtmosarYen4OZpZkaUGRbF8wT2haKRj_ZiH-XpX1bI2GiWwAXaX9g_ej9pa5PtLUhUWWOrgJgnTtu66orueUP14kZzneDLsAmnnyWK61uLnmx0HVEvUqnNjY5cdWIP-0CyqrFOCBLd/s400/MegaMeetWashi_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm so excited and itching to play. But first, I need to recoup some of my spending money this weekend at a scrapbooking "garage" sale put on by several of my friends and me. Wish me luck! Because I already have a new wish list started...</div>
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How about you? Any new "toys" in your toybox?</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-72874080761512196932013-04-27T01:37:00.003-04:002013-04-27T01:37:27.870-04:00Retreat-ing...Hey howdy...<br />
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I'm in the middle of my annual springtime scrappin' retreat but wanted to pop by and write a little, since I've been missing it, and y'all. :) I hafta say, I'm really excited for how productive I have been this retreat, so far. I will be sharing what I've made but at the moment, everything that I've made just happen to be gifts and I can't show pictures until they're all delivered. I know, I'm such a tease!<br />
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I will, however, show you something I did a while back at a scrapbook weekend in February... my first handmade journal, from start to finish. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXmnS8uENT5eeClrOI-8suSVeNgLoFTuFbnv05aXWMTX5R-w-_2YKVmw0tQMLzxM6RwR0yaryABOAx1qhP93OamTtJnF3Q-y703ipOGRCmYF4ITulpHpQd0plo6Vhpj8UtsBCEx0vdB8r/s1600/PhotoGrid_1361754380510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXmnS8uENT5eeClrOI-8suSVeNgLoFTuFbnv05aXWMTX5R-w-_2YKVmw0tQMLzxM6RwR0yaryABOAx1qhP93OamTtJnF3Q-y703ipOGRCmYF4ITulpHpQd0plo6Vhpj8UtsBCEx0vdB8r/s400/PhotoGrid_1361754380510.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMOKSgEC7f4COIWChv-izvTDcX6hQHGKmeabcxMKnkETUUFvyBpH50rKJ0KjMgFWJY7KZ79t6DXpGhd5pwz7FcLtCJwaTA2ns3OVUw2omtirF2cIfi1kFBSchlx4GbTvhM5wUG98TW9eh/s1600/PhotoGrid_1361747474879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMOKSgEC7f4COIWChv-izvTDcX6hQHGKmeabcxMKnkETUUFvyBpH50rKJ0KjMgFWJY7KZ79t6DXpGhd5pwz7FcLtCJwaTA2ns3OVUw2omtirF2cIfi1kFBSchlx4GbTvhM5wUG98TW9eh/s400/PhotoGrid_1361747474879.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I took a free <b><a href="http://www.theglitterhood.org/group/book-binding-101" target="_blank">Book Binding 101 course from Effy Wild</a></b> and this was the result. I was so stinkin' pleased with it! When I was making it, a friend saw the finished product and asked me to make one (with dragons instead of butterflies) for her son, for his birthday next month. I finally finished that one, and feel safe enough to show you as neither she nor her son read my blog...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM0Etj5aQ-1oda8UZSC4dv1fvtD1RJvYWxyeoRajwaAUfUsMuMWjYGpNxkSJybxPv810TLs26PWJMPFy_UGD8oWxsYWs_qngtZOxYVftjWdLmwv_qpMWYNXhfp6oQXneQV1nSGOezP7XB/s1600/DragonJournalCollection_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM0Etj5aQ-1oda8UZSC4dv1fvtD1RJvYWxyeoRajwaAUfUsMuMWjYGpNxkSJybxPv810TLs26PWJMPFy_UGD8oWxsYWs_qngtZOxYVftjWdLmwv_qpMWYNXhfp6oQXneQV1nSGOezP7XB/s640/DragonJournalCollection_sm.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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I was thrilled with how it came out! <br />
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So, see? My fingers have not been idle, they just haven't been typing much. Which, to be honest, I'm sure my laptop appreciates since by the time I'm done with these journals, my fingers are pretty inky.<br />
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Anyone out there doing anything fun and creative lately??Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-32822700011175132322013-04-10T22:33:00.002-04:002013-04-10T22:33:28.097-04:00Just One Thing...So... today I really was going to share with you all the artsy things I've been dabbling in. <br />
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And... with the best of intentions gone awry, I have had no time to take the photos and share with you what I wanted. <br />
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So today, on this very rare, overly warm, beautiful spring day, I offer you one thing that is making me happy right now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxIK0oVl-Va-vdz_YAkN35U2v7gYeniljOR_h5zs3rbQ3qZ_RdeipKK-c44I9KrX9tiYZeZfp6MydLo3A9fwUvE6Xw-FOvU6mrdFfPj0rC9TnfgqYwtKBY7LCS-zOu9xGrcL2J6cjkFWN/s1600/2013-04-10+07.59.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxIK0oVl-Va-vdz_YAkN35U2v7gYeniljOR_h5zs3rbQ3qZ_RdeipKK-c44I9KrX9tiYZeZfp6MydLo3A9fwUvE6Xw-FOvU6mrdFfPj0rC9TnfgqYwtKBY7LCS-zOu9xGrcL2J6cjkFWN/s400/2013-04-10+07.59.17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy Daffodil Day! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-29437004808363102282013-04-07T13:18:00.000-04:002013-04-07T13:22:00.775-04:00Room for One More...I have had a teddy bear collection for as long as I can remember. Over the years it has grown from a few to... a room full. Once I reached adult-hood I had mixed feelings about these stuffed and fuzzy friends. Should a grown woman have a teddy bear collection? Isn't that childish? Won't people think I'm weird? Do I really want to carry these bears everywhere I move? (And we won't even touch the surface of my before-Toy-Story-existed feeling of my toys coming to life and won't-they-hate-me-if-I-give-them-up?)<br />
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With these recurring mixed feelings, every so often, I would "cull" the group. I would let go of the bears won at carnivals or through quarter-games, hand-me-downs or ex-boyfriends. But the family would soon grow again as people bought me teddy bears as gifts for birthdays, Christmas or just as a way to say, "I love you."<br />
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Once more, I was compelled to "quit" my collection. I told family members to stop buying them for me. I told my mom that I was "done" with teddy bears. Yet, as we wandered through the mall, shopping near Christmas time, we inevitable ended up in a stuffed animal section of some store or another. And every time I would touch and feel and hug the bears that whispered to me, "take me home". <br />
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On this one particular shopping trip, I found a happy bear with plaid paws and a ribbon - Christmas colors. I held on to him as I walked around and my mom said to me, "I thought you were done with teddy bears." I remember responding, wistfully, "there's always room for one more." But I put the bear down and walked out and continued on with our Christmas shopping.<br />
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I didn't give him another thought. Until...<br />
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That beautiful teddy bear, with the plaid paws and ribbon, end up as a gift to me, from my mom. Attached around his neck with another ribbon was a note that read, "Someone once told me: 'there's always room for one more.' Merry Christmas."<br />
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Through the years I have again, and again, culled my teddy bear collection. Most recently, a couple of years ago, I went through all of them, photographed most of them and packed them off to Goodwill. But there's still one among the select few who still share my home with me... my stuffed and fuzzy family.... Mr. Room for One More.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCHFXPYewQzMb6ilUmwRBhlL1MygS-a7NeuE7WAHa3eOrx_HRsVdWNmYcVPctm3sog_SulQPTQusYJEizYtkO5QeAP6IM4TeuccHnvln5nW6XF_xALDHbevHXtnGsUMO_M742ZNQ5J1iL/s1600/04_OneMore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCHFXPYewQzMb6ilUmwRBhlL1MygS-a7NeuE7WAHa3eOrx_HRsVdWNmYcVPctm3sog_SulQPTQusYJEizYtkO5QeAP6IM4TeuccHnvln5nW6XF_xALDHbevHXtnGsUMO_M742ZNQ5J1iL/s400/04_OneMore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This little piece of nostalgia brought to you by Sian's <a href="http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com/p/storytelling-sunday.html" target="_blank"><b>Storytelling Sunday</b></a>: My Precious edition. For more stories, <a href="http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com/2013/04/storytelling-sunday-three-pick-your.html" target="_blank">please visit here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863037454625522723.post-30835756109351045582013-04-03T09:33:00.000-04:002013-04-03T09:33:03.992-04:00Fear of FailureHistorically, I have let fear of failure hold me back from way too many experiences and opportunities. I struggle with it still. A discovered a recent saying that has resonated with me and thought I'd share... for anyone else who struggles as I do...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>"You've failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn't you? Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs. Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't try."</em></span><br />
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-- United Technologies</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03179157859926062726noreply@blogger.com1