Creative Mo-ments

Week 3...Creative Mo is back!

So the laundry is piling up, the kids are starving, but my art is looking FABulous! (just kidding...) I decided to go ahead and leave the scraploft upstairs after all. The daunting task of moving two project desks downstairs was just too much for our 40+ year old backs. Silly thing is...I have always sat with the window behind me. I switched to the other side and it feels like a completely different room! A view, some great sunlight, and I am inspired to CREATE! I have been working on all my Soul Restoration projects.(6 week class) Each week we are assigned art projects, as well as journaling prompts that coincide with them. Good stuff, I mean really good, get into the heart of it, trudge through the mud of your past, but come out smiling on the other side stuff.  Quite honestly, week one I thought...What the heck was I thinking? This is going to be so hard, and uncomfortable. And I signed up for this?? Week 2: Read the assignment, look at the projects, and think...I can do this, no problem. It was much, much harder than I thought, some tears were shed, and I got through it! The project was a look at your story, your timeline. What has made you, well, you! Week 3: We are now moving beyond our past and into the now. The now is looking really good for me. This weeks project was simple, so I am spending a lot of time journaling, and then art in my journal. My little 99 cent composition book from Rite Aid is really turning into a treasure. I'd love to share it, but it's kinda private, sort of like a diary. I will share some of my art from it, when I get a chance.  Happy Weekend, oh, and BE BRAVE...

HELLOOOO WORLD...Nice to see you in 2011...where have I been? Well, I have been cheating on you, kind blog. Mr. Facebook has stolen me away from you, but now I'm back...at least for today...my visits are seldom, but I think of you often...

The holidays were filled with fun and celebration, and a little sickness for good measure. All in all, we had a fabulous time in Lake Tahoe, and made lots of new memories of Christmas morning at the cabin. Lots of SNOW made it a delight for the kids, and a perfect excuse to stay in our jammies most of the day! A power outage for half a day made us appreciate electricity, AND our wood burning fireplace! Brrrr...

Now we are into the new year, and although it has started out slow for me, I am thrilled to be part of the first ever Soul Restoration Online Class. It has already opened my eyes to so many things and I cannot wait for the next six weeks ahead. I know I am going to learn so much about myself, and others. J is busy auditioning for the upcoming Summer Intensives this year, and Erica is embracing the fun side of her. She has become such a funny, silly girl, and really gets "humor" now, and enjoys making us laugh. Her latest saying, after watching a rerun of the movie Father of the Bride 2, is..."Don't follow me, Banks"...it's when the Mom finds out she is pregnant at age 40+ and the Dad is acting like its a joke. E thought it was so funny...so she keeps saying, "Don't follow me, Banks"...(I guess you'd have to watch the movie to really "get it")

Worker bee Bill wrapped up 2010 with his biggest sale in his career, and was a happy bee! 8 months of working with his customer finally paid off, and he was thrilled. Besides a good commission, he gained a few new grey hairs! For the month of December, our family would say, Intuit (his customer) GET INTO IT! Again...had to be there...

Halloween Memories..."What are you going to be for Halloween?" This question has caused a lot of conversation in our house over the past month...E is notorious for changing her mind, so I waited for as long as I could! E's school has a parade on Friday, so she finally had to decide... It made me think about all the costumes that have come and gone in our family for both my girls...here is a list, and hopefully soon, I will have photos to add to this year's pick!

Jessica
newborn - pumpkin
1 - Pooh Bear
2- Piglet
3- Cinderella
4- Belle
5- Madeline
6- Fiona (from Shrek)
7-50's girl
8- ??
9- A cat
10- ??
11- USC cheerleader

Erica -
1- Ladybug
2- USC cheerleader
3- Minnie Mouse
4- Belle
5- Snow White
6- Fairy
7- Pirate...argghhh!

I made my own photo collage from Jessica's birthday~ I love the collages/inspiration boards I've found when looking at party planning blogs and websites. There is a whole world of party planning possibilities, and it makes me giddy! Someday I'd love to have a home or property to host events all the time...what a fun job that would be!

Weaknesses...we all have 'em...

 
Ever have something come to you that just hits you like it was meant just for you, on that particular day? That happened to me today, and it was a blog post from Melody Ross, my creativity idol. It can be found here http://bravegirlsclub.com/blog/?p=903  So, being the brave girl that I am, I woke up today feeling rather weak...not weak in body...weak in strength, in willpower,  weak in greeting the day...most days I feel like I can be a success at most things, but not today...thus my post on FB...Monica has "nothing to say..." Sometimes I feel weak because I cannot handle every attitude and challenge Erica throws at me, sometimes I feel weak when the m&ms are calling me, and sometimes I just feel like I'm really not very good at doing much of anything.

What I have realized when reading Melody's post, is that having weaknesses makes you realize how strong you are at other things. I think creatively...there isn't an hour that goes by that I don't wish I could be in the scraploft creating something. Sometimes my mind is completely consumed with what I can make, when I take the time. I find myself feeling weak when I choose to be creative over doing mundane tasks around the house. It's actually a STRENGTH. It says, You know who you are... you are a creative person who needs a creative outlet.  Another self proclaimed weakness is that I love to bake, but tend to see it as a weakness, since it's not always the most nutritious thing to eat, but I'm good at it, and I love the whole process of baking. And the bonus, my family enjoys the finished product. I am going to continue making my personal list, of weaknesses AND strengths that are brought out because of them...and I hope you can too...so...I guess I did have "something to say" today...

"She glances at a photo and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes..."
One of my Dad's cameras was given back to me this weekend...and it could not have been a better feeling to have it in my hands. Sort of like a little piece of my Dad, A part of something he loved...photography. I quickly had Bill put up a shelf up in it's honor, right beside the other camera of his that have. It helps me to feel closer to him, even for just a moment...

Today's message from Brave Girls Club website:

Dear Perfectly Wonderful Girl,

If you want to be really happy.....not just happy, but really really mind-blowingly happy....then practice dropping your attachment to a certain outcome or method of getting to where you are wanting to be.

Life is so funny...the way it twists and turns and curves and bends and bumps and shakes. Life is a wild and crazy dance move, isn't it?

Things are going to happen in your life that you could never have even thought up for yourself. People are going to show up that you never dreamed of meeting or having in your life. You will end up in places that you never planned on being, at just the right time. You will learn things that will prepare you for the next thing, in ways that you never would have known to learn them.....and none of it will have been your
idea!!!!

Be patient with the way that life is handling your plans. So often, we think we know exactly the right way for things to transpire, when really....something so much more efficient, solid, joyful, incredible and perfect is what's in the cards for us. Let life show you some new moves............it's all about the dance anyway, isn't it???

Rock on, brave sister! You are right where you belong, and you are SO LOVED.

xoxo

New Beginnings...

My theme for the new school year is New Beginnings...that includes, a new workout plan, new creative projects to help my creative side, new opportunities to write for a publication, and new (more frequent) posts on this blog I created. Oh, as well as a NEW LOOK for my blog....I started with the basic, and am going to try and give it a little more personality in the coming weeks.

Creativity is happening in the scrap loft, but it's a top secret project that is not ready to be revealed quite yet...although during the summer I did get myself a new desk for the loft! I love it, and will be sharing the entire space on here, very soon! Have a great week!

On a side note: I was absolutely thrilled for the Autism community last night, after winning numerous awards at the Emmy's for the HBO movie about Temple Grandin. She is a superstar in the autism community, and has given me a lot of insight into what it's like to grown up as a girl with Aspergers Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism. The statistics are 7 to 1, boys vs. girls, and her matter of fact way of presenting her Mom at the Emmy's was classic Aspie girl!

 

Helloooo creativity...where have you been hiding?

Since this blog is supposed to be about my creative process, as well as my everyday ramblings, I am happy to say that my creative mojo is back! Not sure why it happens, but sometimes it hibernates for months at a time. I have been asked to explain my process of scrapbooking, and how I decide what to scrap, what to not. If you've seen my scrap loft, you'll know I scrapbook more than the average girl. Most people don't have a room just for scrapbooking. I am lucky I can. Well...I sort of just took it over...lol!

Anyway, my process in nothing out of the ordinary, but using page planners really helps me get from piles of supplies and photos to finished process (a page) or as we say in the scrap world, a layout. So here's my method of madness:

Moment or event happens...take photo! take lots of photos! A digital SLR gives you the option to do just that. Snap like crazy. I leave my camera out all the time~ I've caught many moments I would have missed had I not had it easily accessible. "Ethel" usually hangs out on my built in desk...seems to be a good spot around our house.

Download photos to computer, and immediately to Shutterfly. I try not to wait, otherwise I forget to do it. Sometimes I place an order right away, most of the time I wait until I have a good amount to pay shipping on. Shipping can be pricey, but the quality and wait is worth it. I've tried Costco, I know some people swear by there, but I don't. Reason: too many bad experiences. It's just personal preference. Plus, I love getting a package in the mail from Shutterfly! :)

Next, I sort...by event/occasion. I have a storage box I work from that is almost always full, sometimes I have to use another one. At that point, I use a 3x5 card standing on it's end to tab these photos. It typically says, the event/month/year. When I have photos that are random, usually single photos that I want to capture in my scrapbook, I set them aside for a tab with "moments" for later...sometimes that can be weeks or even months. It all depends. If I know I have a photo I want to highlight as a single photo on a layout, I will order it in a 5x7, that way I'm ready to roll when the creativity hits...

Now onto page planners. I find the best way to join papers with photos is to use these. They are an old school item from Cropper Hopper, but they do a great job. They house the photos of that event/occasion/moment, along with the papers, stickers, journaling tags and all embellishments I'd like to use with them. It's definitely not a fool proof plan, but it works for me, and I'm stickin' to it~ SCRAP ON!

The stuff no one tells you about...

Yes, the tough stuff in parenting...when you have to guide and support your teenager, as they navigate choices/decisions in their lives. It sorta sucks...but no one tells you that part. Where is the book? What? There is no book? Just wing it? Okay...so I tried that this week. I suggested she pray about it, and I knew her heart would tell her what to do.
As many of you know, Jessica was offered the opportunity to return back to Joffrey Ballet this fall and attend their trainee program. What did it entail? Well...living in dorms, doing independent study for high school, and dance 20-25 hours a week. As well as rehearse/perform in the Nutcracker this December in NYC, and several other productions. Basically, eat, sleep and breathe dance. Many aspiring dancers do it, sacrifice it all, and pursue their dream. J and I spent hours on the phone, discussing the pros and cons, things she would miss, and wouldn't miss, the fact that it snows in NY, and how our lives here at home would go on too. I had to tell her that as much as I would like to pack up and live with or right by her, it was not possible. I heard the struggle in her voice, and felt her weigh all her options, and quite honestly, it killed me inside to see her struggle like that. Wanting both, but not being able to have both...her dance, plus her home. My heart hurt for her. She was trying to be a grown up, but then again, she is 15...she shouldn't have to be...at least not yet. A day later, she called and said, "I want to come home for the fall, I want to work hard at my dance studio in their new conservatory program, be in the Nutcracker in December, audition in January for Ballet Summer Intensives, see my friends at school, and see you guys. I would miss you all way too much. I love New York, but I am a California girl."

She will have many more opportunities... maybe not like this one, maybe even better! The great part about ballet is you are always striving to be better, to improve, and to advance, which can open up new doors. So even though sometimes God closes a door, he always opens a window. And as a Mom, I pray my ballerina girl will dance her way right through it...
~M