Summer is here!

Summer is definitely here. Kids are home everyday and the weather has heated up. We are going to hit the high 90's today and I will be trying to keep cool. I love this page. Blue for the clear skies and cool lakes and rivers. Yellow for the bright sun and heat hopefully visiting this Summer. Dandelions peppering the lawn and crisp clean linens hanging on the clothes line. Sitting on the porch enjoying the sun before heading out to meet friends in a cool restaurant. Sounds very good to me. I can imagine a day just like this. Hopefully you have days just like this as you enjoy your summer.

Can you guess?

Today I journaled eight truths and one lie. It was our 10th project from paperbella's art e-zine. If you know me well you will easily be able to pick out the lie but if you don't I wonder if you will know what it is.

My Favorite Things

I was working in my art journal today. I finished page nine of the paper bella e-zine project (seen below) and wanted to do some more. I used one of my new rubber stamps by Stampers Anonymous. I think they are my favorite stamp company. I just love kids with wings and crowns. Along the side I put the velvet rick-rack I found at Paper Zone. I got it in pink and teal it was so cute. I also bought some chalk pens to see if they are any different than my poster paint pens. They have the chisel tip, which I don't really like and they have a matte finish. They are OK but I like the Sharpie poster paint pens better. After I watered down my acrylic paint daubers they worked so much better and I am loving having them in my portable tote. I discovered today as I was thumbing through my art journal that it is falling apart at the seams. I put a bit of tape on the really bad pages. I am using the Pentalic one with the elastic band and boy is it getting full and bulging. I think it will last me through the summer but that is about it. I will need a new one for fall. Each page is special and it will be so exciting see the whole journal filled up. If I stick with this type of journal, that means I will have four journals each year. Is that a lot? This is my first year to do the art journal thing so I have no idea. I am already thinking about what I am going to do after June is over and I don't have Teresa McFayden giving me ideas. I have a few books on journaling ordered and they should be here this next week. Maybe they will give me an idea of where to head. I have thought of doing a book of quotes and journaling about them. We shall see.

Bahama Breeze

We went to lunch at Bahama Breeze today. I have never been there but we had great food. I stood under the palm tree and almost poked my eye out on one of those leaves. Seriously, they should come with a warning label.

One of the items we got was Firecracker Shrimp. The sauce was soooo good. I brought some of the sauce home with me. It really wasn't hot but had a unique flavor that left you wanting more.

I don't think I have talked so much about food as I have on this trip. I promise I will get back to art very soon. I have been doing a page in my art journal almost everyday. I went to a huge stamp store and bought some stamps I haven't seen at home and then bought some new paint pens in black, white and yellow that I think I will try out this afternoon. So many new supplies and not enough hours in the day.

Pikes Place Market

We went to Pikes Place Market today. There were so many pretty flowers. I would have bought a huge bunch but when you are traveling there is no place to put them. I took so many pictures just of the flowers. As I was smelling the flowers some old guy came by and told my husband that I was a flameing bombshell. I'm not even sure how to respond to that. I always have these funny experiences when I go there. Last time we were there I was standing at the fish counter with all my kids and some young guys were filming with a video camera and as I bent down to look at the ugly fish with the huge teeth, it came right at me and I let out the loudest screem you have ever heard. Of course it was on video and probably floating around U-Tube land by now. I drew quite a crowd that time. My kids and I laughed so hard about that one. So beware when you visit the fish counter; they have quite a set-up for unsuspecting tourists.

The fruit was amazing. I got a fresh Marionberry smoothie that was to die for.

Evan the vegetables were beautiful. It was a feast for the eyes!

The whole day was so fun. I found an amazing pair of shoes at the Nordstrom Rack as the boys went over to Game Works. My husband and the flaming bombshell had a long lunch at the Cheescake Factory. We are planning to go to the movies tonight to see The Hulk. Not really my kind of movie but all my guys are interrested.

Here they are. Pretty cool huh? I have a thing for shoes. But these not only look good they are so comfortable too which you don't expect when you see them.

Purple, Blue and Pink?

My daughter met us for lunch today and has dyed her hair purple. I love it! I don't think moms are supposed to say that but for the longest time I wanted to dye my hair blue and lately I wish it could be pink. My hair colorist said I was too old to have pink hair. Oh, the nerve of him. I told him that if old ladies could have blue hair then I can have pink. Apparently old ladies get their hair colored blue because they can't see it otherwise. I had no idea. I'm holding out for pink though. I saw a lady at church today, older than me, with bright orange hair. All the power to ya sista!

Beautiful Day!

I went out into the yard today to take pictures of clouds for my new journal page. Yesterday there was only clouds in the sky but today I could hardly find one. Blue as far as the eye could see. I was inspired to take pictures of the few flowers I have in my yard.

I'm not very good with taking care of plants. They either survive or they don't. I think this beautiful rose is starting to become wild but I think it is beautiful anyway.

My Mother-in-law gave me these petunias for Mother's Day and they are blooming their little hearts out. I think pink is color of the day.

As I was taking a picture of this beautiful peony and our dog came and laid down under the bush. She will do anything to get our attention. I couldn't resist taking the picture. It looks like she has a flower tucked behind her ear. So cute. You can see how big the flower is when it is up next to her head. This bush is gorgeous. I am wishing I had a whole garden of them.

Be Your Own Life Coach

I have been thinking about becoming a life coach. Not serious enough yet to do anything about it but the thought is dangling out there and reappears on a regular basis. Anyway, I ran across this article and it is really good about how to be your own life coach.

Victoria Moran listed 10 questions to ask yourself. They would be good questions to journal through. For those interested, the link below explains them in detail.
Here are the questions:

1. Is this good for me? Is this good for me today, next week, in 10years, physically mentally and spiritually?
2. What does my Body have to say about this? Do you feel a yes in your heart or dread in your gut?
3. What are my values? Know them by heart so that you can apply them.
4. What would Jesus do? He is your on-call mentor.
5. What am I not seeing? Often what we are not seeing is what we don't want to see.
6. What really matters here? Evaluate not only right and wrong but more important to less important.
7. Where should I act and where should I step back? What is your given part in this situation? Remind yourself that although life is a series of mini dramas none of them need a drama queen.
8. What would make me genuinely happy? (that won't make you unhappy later) Make a list of things that make you happy and do some everyday.
9. Who has some guidance for me right now? Take some deep breaths and let names come to your mind then use your rational mind to sort through them to find someone who could truly help.
10. What is the divine, intention for my life today? (God's will)

http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/10waystobeyourownlifecoach.html

Consuming Passion

Did you hear about the guy in Mexico who just entered the Guinness Book of World records for drawing the largest drawing? He used 800 pencils and it took him 6,000 hours to finish. He lost 35 pounds because he forgot to eat and drink. Now that is passion for you. If I ever forget to eat and drink you will know that I'm doing something pretty extreme. He did loose 35 pounds though. HMMM. That is a lot of drawing. I wonder if there is something that I am that passionate about. To have my mind so focused on one thing that I would ignore my health? Nope, can't think of anything. I think I would have to be lost in the desert or maybe if one of my family members was really ill and in the hospital but something by choice that would consume me like that? I just can't imagine it. I guess you never know until it happens. I'm sure he never thought he would get so wrapped up in what he was doing either. Passion is a funny thing. It takes you places you never thought you would or could go. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080611/ap_on_fe_st/odd_mexico_largest_drawing

Where the day takes me

Sunday was one of those days that you just don't want to end. Sunny!!!! Gotta advertise that because they are few and far between these days. I was relaxed and I got to meet so many wonderful women at church. Then out to lunch with hubby and we talked and talked while the boys went to the movies. Then we all went for ice cream and home to watch movies. It was truly a day that planned itself and turned out great. My journal page about it didn't turn out too bad either. I tried some new techniques from the e-zine @ www.paperbellastudios.com. Made my own hand drawn and cut out letters and buildings to chart out what I did that day. First time for me to leave the page white and not cover it with paint or paper. I am half way through my art journal and it just brings me such joy to hold it in my hands and look through the pages. Everyday starts out a mystery of what will appear there and in the end a page of memories and thoughts and creative imagery has appeared. How incredible that is to me. It amazes me. I don't know why but it does. Child-like wonder I guess. I hope you have something in your life that brings out that feeling because we were all created with it and it would be so sad if it was lost.

Waiting

Here is the journal page I made on day two of the Write time, Write place journal project with http://www.paperbellastudio.com/ . As I thought about summer I realized that I was waiting for it to start. Rain and cloudy skies kind of put a crimp in the shorts and t-shirt attire. But what really stood out was the fact that I spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting for good weather to have fun, waiting for an invite from a friend to go somewhere new, waiting for a cleaner house to invite someone over, waiting for time to miraculously appear to start exercising, waiting for health issues to arise to motivate me to lose weight, waiting for others to make up their minds about vacations to plan my summer, waiting for kids to grow up to have dreams of my own. So much wasted time that could be used enjoying life. Ecclesiastes 5:17 says Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud-frustrated, discouraged, and angry. If you look in verses 19-20 Solomon says; To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.

I don't want to wait anymore. I want to take each day and enjoy it for what it is. Enjoy my work when I am doing it, enjoy my times of playing when I am doing that and make time to do the things that I want to do and not wait any longer for other people or situations to change. Accepting what my lot is and enjoying being right where I am, letting God give me joy in the midst of it all. Moment by moment, step by step.

Summer Shoes

I had the urge to buy a fun pair of summer shoes. All I have right now are very practical shoes that get worn day in and day out. Which is really nice but once in a while you have to break out and let your crazy side win and get a fun pair of shoes. I have never bought Birkies before but I fell in love. I mean, who could turn down a pair of shoe that says things like, POEMS & ART on them? Especially when the only pair left in the store is your size. Now all I need is some decent weather to go along with them.

The Creative Call - chaper 1

Today I read chapter one in The Creative Call. I loved that the author asks, "Have you asked Him what He wants you to do with the talents He has given you?" How often do we take for granted what we are good at or ignore it all together because we are just ok at it. The author goes on to say; "Without realizing it, we have wrapped up our imaginations and talents into neat little packages and stored them somewhere out of our range of consciousness." I have recently re-discovered the artistic side of myself and it is like opening a package and pulling out, one by one, new treasures that have long been tucked away in a back closet. As I pull each one out of the box I must remember to ask the Lord how He wants to use these gifts and to give Him the glory for it. And also, remember that practicing our gifts is a form of worship to Him. I am loving this book so far. I hope the any of you reading this book share what you are getting out of it and what treasures you are finding tucked away that need to be opened and enjoyed by all.

So many possibilites-so little time

June is here and comes with so many possibilities. There are so many things I want to accomplish this month that I am almost stuck from not knowing where to start. I think I need a plan. My life has been going pretty willy-nilly since last June when I quit my job. I can't even believe it is a year already, how did that happen? YIKES! Time is flying by. Now I am starting a new job although it is part-time; so much better. I am also starting so many new pursuits that I question the logic in that. I am joining an art group, I am doing the Bella e-zine June journal project http://paperbellastudio.com/kits.html and starting The Creative Call along with starting two new Bible studies. Sounds like a lot, even to me. OH Boy. When I am doing nothing everything sounds easy to do then I suddenly find myself doing too much. Balance should be my goal for July. I think June's goal will be "one day at a time. " Well for today I have laundry and doing some reading. I think I can do that.