Journal-a-thon
30 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in Craftyness, Personal notes Tags: art journal, black pen, brads, Butterflies, Cymbalta, decorative tape, faces, fibromyalgia, glue stick, husband, journaling, K&Company, le pen, mcdonald's, michael's, monogram, paint brushes, painting, paperclips, pink ink, pockets, Quotes, rubber stamp, self portrait, smash, smash journal, sticky notes, tabs, to do list, word of mouth
UPDATED WITH PICTURES
I am going journal crazy right now. I already had an Art Journal but I wasn’t using it much. I signed up for the Art, Heart & Healing class at http://www.willowing.ning.com/ which just happens to be a free class that can be taken at any time. I will be painting a self portrait or something that represents me in my art journal in the next few days. The class has video’s that teach you how to draw a face and what I’ve seen so far looks great. I’m also doing a SOAR journal at at site called Just Be Yourself. I can’t wait to get going on that one. That is not really an art journal but it’s a way to make the most out of your year. They have a lot of nice graphics that you can print up and paste into your journal. Mine will definitely have some art in it though since I can’t help but doodle all over everything.
Well, today I was out for my doctor’s appointment and I wanted to go to Michael’s to look for some paint brushes. I ended up buying a bunch more journals. I bought a SMASH Journal by K & Company and some goodies to go with it. They have a lot of neat accessories to go with their journals.
Source: michaels.com via Donna on Pinterest
They have neat tabs, pockets to add to whatever pages you want, decorative tape, brads, paperclips, sticky note type markers…. etc. They also have these small tablets with tear out pages that you can add… like say a to do list or a quote. It depends on which ones you get. The journal comes with a black pen with a glue stick on the other end but you can buy more of the pens with blue or pink ink. I really wanted purple though so I bought a La Pen in Amethyst. I bought the pink journal that you can see above. I had actually planned on buying the blue journal since I really liked the design on the front but I didn’t like the designs on the inside pages as much as the pink one. There are several different styles and I just assumed the inside pages would be the same but they actually revolve around a theme. I bought some of the fabric tabs and some pockets for loose things. I also bought these red & blue smash stickers that are like those sticky flags that I usually use for marking pages. I also bought these pads of papers that you can use to add lists or whatever to your pages… I got the Blank smash pad for adding To-do lists or random thoughts I want to remember and the word of mouth smash pad for adding quotes.
My pink journal - The color is off. It really does look the same as the one pictured above.
I also bought a bunch of other smaller journals just for writing, some magnetic list pads for the frig, some note cards and some paint brushes which was the original reason for going LOL
Six smaller journals
More goodies :O)
I almost forgot about the Monogram D rubber stamp!
Lots of paint brushes!
I’m glad I didn’t forget the thing I actually went here for. These were on sale. I like buying things that have containers to keep them in.
My husband swung by and picked up McDonald’s for me so I could eat at home. I didn’t want to get out of the car again since it was so cold. I’m not sure I like those new chicken things. They are like popcorn chicken but they are hard. I think they are just overcooked but it seems like you get more batter than chicken. The honey mustard sauce makes everything better though. The best part is the fries though. Yum.
This was the second time I saw this new doctor since my old one suddenly changed where he worked and then was strangely never heard from again. My husband went with me since he had some questions too. He’s been very worried about me lately. She is going to change my medications around a bit and hopefully it will help the Fibromyalgia pain! I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed that it does. She also wants me to see some sort of therapist that supposedly can help with pain management. Mmmmmmmm I’ve never heard of that. I’ll have to do some research. She ordered some labs and they only stuck me 4 times. I had bandages all over me. I actually felt bad for them because I know it’s me and not them. I can tell when they are competent and they were. The first girl was really kicking herself for sticking me twice so she called someone else. The second lady is their super sticker queen and she even had to stick me twice. They are going to test some vitamin levels and other stuff. The doctor looked at my old labs and said my B12 levels have been low but that’s the first I’ve heard of that. How annoying. She is also testing Vitamin D levels this time around. She is taking me off the narcotics that I was on and having me try some muscle relaxants. I’m also going to try raising the Cymbalta dose to 60mg again. The first time I tried that it made me a zombie. She said it does make you feel tired in the beginning and I should have been started gradually on it instead of taking 60mg right from the beginning. So, I wonder if she knows her stuff… I guess I’ll find out. Hopefully I won’t end up in crazy pain or I’ll lost my mind.
Road to nowhere fast
14 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Personal notes Tags: deaf ears, graduation, kids, mistakes, Quotes, scholarship, senior year, teens, winston churchill, wise men
My oldest son is going to be 18 this April. He is in his senior year and even though he is incredibly smart he is barely passing. He has thrown away all chances of getting a scholarship and he had a good shot. At this point I’m worried that he might not graduate (and even if he does he’s said he isn’t going to the ceremony) but I’ve also told him all I can……. and these mistakes are his to make. I hate to be that way but I remember when I was that age and no one would tell me anything. I was just sure everyone was against me (and in my case some actually were). It is very upsetting to see him doing so poorly when he had such promise but I know this is not the end. He can always dig himself out off the trouble he gets into. It will just take time and hard work. My husband and I have done it and so can he. I guess I am just now realizing that I can’t save him from making the mistakes young people make. I can try…… but it just falls on deaf ears.
He has to make his own beginnings.
“All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.”
~Winston Churchill quotes
Love & Fill in the ____ Friday
06 Jan 2012 5 Comments
in Personal notes, Photos Tags: bad breath, dog, facebook, Fill in the blank Friday, french fries, google, love, NaBloPoMo, Quote, Quotes, snow, spring, toe nails, turn up the music, victor hugo, yawn
“What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love!”
― Victor Hugo
You can join “Fill in the blank Friday” by just clicking this link, copying the lines to your blog and answering the questions! Link up there too so other people can see your version.
1. One of my favorite things to do when I have free time is play around on the internet. I especially love to check out new pins on Pinterest and maybe even add a few (hundred). Then I read some blogs and write in mine, listen to some music on youtube, check out facebook and my inbox and than just google anything that comes to mind.
2. When I have free time I tend to do what I wrote above or I knit, crochet or do some other craft, turn up the music, journal, paint my toe nails some crazy color I wouldn’t want on my fingernails, paint or draw, take some pictures, and READ.
3. If I had an entire day completely to myself I would do the above. I almost always have the entire day all to myself and that isn’t always fun…..but I guess I also clean and organize some stuff every day
4. I would prefer to spend my free time (alone or with others…) oh with other’s definitely… unfortunately people are usually at work or school or otherwise doing things they need to be doing. I love those days when I can spend the day with my husband. We go shopping and sometimes stop by and get some french fries at McDonalds or go to some other restaurant and read the paper (fighting over sections)
5. Most of my free time happens all the time now. I can’t work anymore and my kids are teenagers. Every day is free time and it gets really lonely.
6. The best thing about free time is being able to do what you want to do when you want to do it.
7. The next time I have free time I should probably clean my house and the clear out the garage but instead, I’ll probably do what I mentioned in #1 LOL
The NaBloPoMo Prompt for today is
Do you wish the start of the year was in a different season? Which one?
Spring. I think starting a new year with new growth outside would be perfect. Besides, I’m cold. I love to see the snow receding and the new green grass starting to emerge. I love it when I see the first shoots of my perennials start reaching for the sun. I love seeing the neighborhood children start to come out again to play in the puddles made by the melting snow.
Here is my picture for my 356 Project
A doggie yawn
Doesn’t smell good, I’ll tell you what…
Today, I knit
08 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Knitting, Personal notes, Quotes Tags: art journal, knitting, lion brand, Quotes
“The high note is not the only thing.”
-Placido Domingo
I really don’t feel well today. Not because of the usual reasons but because of God’s gift to women. Thanks God, really. Well I am not very friendly at all and I’m avoiding all other humans to keep from losing friends.
Pink sweater
So I’ve been knitting. I am participating in the Lion Brand Blog’s Knit-a-long (KAL) We (people from across the globe) are making a sweater together with the help of an knitting/crochet expert from Lion brand. This will be my very first sweater I have ever knit. I participated in their last crochet-a-long (CAL) where we made a reglan pullover but that was much easier! That is a lighter summer top. This will be a nice lose fitting sweater with a shawl colar. I am making mine in Wool Ease Blush Heather. It is a nice soft pink and it is only part wool so not so scratchy. The yarn recommended in the pattern is a beautiful self striping wool yarn called “amazing”. Just as the name suggests, the colors are AMAZING! I was especially amazed to find it at my local Joann’s store but when I reached out and picked up a skein of it I wanted to THROW it back down. It felt like steel wool! I don’t care how amazing it is I can not put that next to my body. The yarn I bought is much softer and there were so many beautiful colors that I had a hard time choosing. If this sweater turns out well I may make another in another color.
A blank slate
Also, I am going to start an Art Journal. I bought a sketch book to use but I’m not really sure how to start. I’m waiting for inspiration. I am sure greatness is soon to happen here.
Today, I painted
06 Oct 2011 1 Comment
in Painting, Personal notes, Quotes Tags: art, fall, leaves, painting, Quotes, watercolor
“When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and look out upon the beautiful world, I think God that I am alive.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yesterday I was feeling really bad (emphasis on really and bad) and I really didn’t want to get out of bed but I didn’t want to miss another art lesson either. So I went and I painted badly. It’s hard to paint when you’re in pain. Then, later after I had taken some more pain medicine and was feeling a bit better I got my paints out again. I looked through my pictures I took when I went to Chena Hot Springs with my husband for our 20th Anniversary. I took a lot of pictures of fall leaves so I could paint them later. When I finally looked up at the clock again it was 5 am! So I went to sleep for a while and then after I woke up I added some finishing touches. I love fall leaves. The colors are so beautiful and rich! I just want the world to stay those colors forever but here in Alaska we only have about 2 weeks before it’s all brown and on the ground waiting to be covered up by snow.
- Rose hip
Here is my painting… Not the best but I will most likely paint many more pictures like this until I get better at making the paint do what I want. This is watercolor and I love working with it. I get the neatest effects… sometimes it works like I want it to and other times it sticks out it’s tongue at me and says “na-na-na-na-na”. I am learning a lot during my lessons and also from watching other people. I joined the Fairbanks Watercolor society and they have meetings where they teach various things. I’ve only been to two meetings so far and I’ve had a lot of fun. I’m also learning about Art Journals. I love this idea. I always like quotes or poetry, either to spark an idea or I actually add them to a picture, especially in my sketch book. So I bought a sketch books especially for that purpose. In that book I can use pencils or paint or collage with neat little scraps of things I’ve collected. It’s a cool idea. I have a friend who is going to teach me more about this and I can’t wait!
Today
04 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Personal notes Tags: pain, Quotes
“God does not cause our misfortunes. Some are caused by bad luck, some are caused by bad people, and some are simply an inevitable consequence of our being human and being mortal, living in a world of inflexible natural laws. The painful things that happen to us are not punishments for our misbehavior, nor are they in any way part of some grand design on God’s part. Because the tragedy is not God’s will, we need not feel hurt or betrayed by God when tragedy strikes. We can turn to Him for help in overcoming it, precisely because we can tell ourselves that God is as outraged by it as we are.”
–Harold S. Kushner
Today…. I woke up in pain…. I laid back down and woke up again….still in pain. I finally got up and started to do something from the much larger things I planned to do today.
Tomorrow will be better.
Help Yourself: Finding Hope, Courage, and Happiness
30 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Book Reviews, Personal notes, Quotes, Reading Tags: anger, book, Dave Pelzer, forgiveness, Help Yourself, Quotes, Reading
Help Yourself by Dave Pelzer
This is a wonderful book I’m reading by David Pelzer. I had already read his books, A Child Called “It”, The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave. This is a sad story that doesn’t end that way. I have read so many stories of tragedy and pain and they usually leave you sorrowful, wishing there was some way to help ease the pain. This story ends with a man that came through his pain to help YOU.
I have been fighting with forgiveness for years and years. I hold grudges and then the negative feelings eat away at me. I have been trying to stop holding onto the pent up anger and forgive but as of yet I haven’t had much luck. Sometimes I push it into a dark corner in the back of my mind for a while but it always comes back when I least expect it. You never know when someone might say something that brings it all back again. Then, as I was reading this book, David Pelzer began to speak about FORGIVENESS. Now if he can do it I should be able to! I bought this book simply because it had his name and face on it and figured it was simply more of his story but it’s not. It’s about forgiving and moving on, about finding real happiness that is blocked out by the dark clouds of hate. He has already done it; he moved on. This book is for helping others do it too. I hope it can help me. I have decided to make this book one of my permanent collection.
“If I have learned anything from my unfortunate childhood it is that there is nothing that can dominate or conquer the human spirit”
“I learned as a child…the value of personal responsibility and opportunity.”
“Because of my childhood experience, all I desired was a better life for myself…. While adverse surroundings play an important role in our lives, if we are willing we do not have to be dominated by them.” - David Pelzer
Yiruma
26 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in music Tags: music, piano, Quotes, soothing, soul, yiruma
“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.” – Author Unknown
I get lost in the music of Yiruma. His piano music just lefts all my worries and I feel as light as a feather. His fingers are magic on the keys and I could listen to his music all day. I’m amazed when people don’t know his name.
Forgiveness
07 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Personal notes, Quotes Tags: anger, Emerson, forgiveness, Quotes, resentment
“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s easy to forgive the little things, like when Riley breaks one of my vases, but it’s the big things people do that we tend to hang on too. I’m the worst for holding grudges. Once someone does something big enough to make me angry I can’t seem to ever get over it. Then, everytime I see them or even think of them I remember what they did and it makes me angry all over again. This doesn’t happen very often but it doesn’t take much. These are the feelings that eat us alive. I am working on forgiving them but it is hard. Just when I think I’ve done it something comes up and I realize that old resentment is still there.
Lord, help me to learn to forgive just as you have.
