SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

Wednesday is here yet again...this week seems to be cruisin right by...this year is coming near its end and a new one is upon us!!! so i have been sitting here with my coffee trying to figure out the perfect question to end Say Whaaaaaaaat Wednesday 2009 and am struggling. I thought of the obvious questions about resolutions, etc... and after stepping away for a few hours...going to an antique store (such cool stuff) and having an amazing Italian lunch...THIS is what i came up with...

WHAT 9 WORDS OR PHRASES DESCRIBE 2009 FOR YOU?

I think my 9 would be...

adventuresome, connected, bless-ed, perspective given, quick, retreat, copyrighted (whoo hoo!!), friends/family (i put these into one because friends become family, family become friends...), fearless creating.

i had a wonder filled 2009...full of ups and downs! i like to focus on the ups and learn from the downs!! i also heard on the radio today that tomorrow is going to be a Blue Moon on New Years Eve!! It is called a Blue Moon because it is the second full moon of the month...pretty cool, huh?!? I think we all should make a wish on that blue moon come tomorrow...k?? JUST DO IT!!!! NO WISH IS EVER TOO BIG!!! WHOO HOO!!!! wanted to share my day a bit...

cool mannequin angel at my favorite antique store fun little treasures that just HAD to come home with me...they were calling my name and i just couldn't ignore them!!!

THEEEE best salad EVAH from GianFranco's!!! this is my Italian lunch...do as they do in Italy...always water and wine with lunch!!

can't wait to hear what you all have to say about 2009!!! love you all so much...you have made my year SO much better than it could have been!!!! this...i am sure of!!! hugs and loves.

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION!!

come sit down here next to me with your glass of vino. or coffee. or tea...and let's talk! let's talk about life, kids, boys, girls, art, books, music, food. let's tell each other stories. let's laugh. let's cry. let's be. this is where i am sitting as i type this post...i love this part of the house...it's my favorite room. i'd love some company!!

HERE is my Monday Music Inspiration! This song NEVER gets old to me...I always love to listen to it...sing it and act like I am playing guitar right along with the guitarist!!! (that's quite a picture...let me tell ya!) Here are the lyrics..."i'm amazed at the lack of evolution. i'm amazed at the lack of faith."

painting i did that was inspired by all my friends i made in oregon. miss those gor-juss souls.

Sophia and Sydnie learning to make pumpkin bread on Christmas Eve with Grammie! (it was delish!!) I HEART this picture SOOOOOO much!!

Happy Monday fellow bloggies!!! loves and hugs!! xoxoxo

GRATEFUL

found my pictures from Italy!!! in the midst of my craziness during the holidays i found my pictures from our trip to Italy...thank God!!! I honestly had kind of given up hope in thinking they were packed away in some box since we had moved right after we got back from our trip there. Scotty and I were married on the Island of Capri in April 2008...it was a dream come true and something I will forever be grateful for. I am not sure why i am posting about this...guess i am just feeling very blessed in this moment and feeling the nostalgia as this year is slowly but surely closing in on us. Goodnight blog loves! xxooxxoo

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

as 2009 is coming to a close and the New Year is closing in upon us... i would love to know this...

WHAT WAS YOUR THE SINGLE BEST MOMENT OF 2009??

I realize this could be a very hard question for some as there may be many "single best moments" for this year. But try to narrow it down to just one. One that maybe brought many things into your life, possibly even changed it!

My moment was the last evening I spent in Manzanita Oregon during the Be Present Retreat. It was a moment unlike any other I had ever experienced. It was a moment of tenderness, truth, raw emotion and possibly more love than that room could hold!! I literally felt like i could pop!! It changed me...it was a life changing moment that I hold near and dear to my heart...always!

I would love to hear about your moment! That shining moment of 2009!

I would also like to take this time to thank each of you that pop by my humble little blog time and again and show your love. It means so much to me and I cherish your words and your encouragement. I have many aspirations for 2010 where my creativity is concerned...the possibility of taking that etsy jump...even though it terrifies me!! So I will be needing some encouragement as I set some of those goals!!!

with all that being said...I want to wish each of you a very happy, fun filled, lots of laughter had holiday season!!! loves and hugs flying out to you!!

xxooxxooxxoo

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION!!

(first official commissioned painting....Merry Christmas YaYa...one of my dear friends mamas!)

in sticking with my post from yesterday...my Monday Music Inspiration is this song. i feel my husband loves me in this way and i KNOW it is rare and it is a GIFT. As for Alanis, i have always liked her and respected her creative ability at writing such real and raw lyrics. She is a talent... "What I resist, persists, and speaks louder than I know. What I resist, you love, no matter how low or high i go." Lyrics can be found here. Hope you all take a listen and enjoy!!

here is my youngest, Sydnie with Santa. She asked for a snow globe and a "real" rose. Really?????? Can I just push the pause button now and she can't get any older or wiser!!!! ; ) I am thoroughly enjoying this season with her...knowing she is my baby and is growing up so fast!! She's hilarious!!!

loves to you all!!! xxooxxooxxoo

Dear Scott

yesterday was your birthday and i am clearly a day late on this post. i hope you had a very happy birthday and may all your wishes come true. i cannot begin to tell you how much i love you and how many of my wishes YOU have made come true. the safety i feel in our relationship has given me room to find myself again. you love me unconditionally...you love ALL of me and i don't know that i will ever be able to thank you for all that you give to me! you are an amazing husband, father, friend...person. you make me want to be a better person and i know i AM better for having you in my life. i feel like the luckiest girl in the world having you walk next to me on my journeys. i love you and hope we celebrate TONS more birthdays together!!! you are my everything papa!!! xxooxxoo

IT's time to SHOUT OUT!

this is what i kind of feel like doing right now...Flying!! Flying away from the stresses the holidays tend to bring on even though i FULLY realize they shouldn't!!! I finally boxed up all my gifts to ship to my family in Illinois so that is a big weight gone!! Of course I decided to do all these little last minute things and little creations for them...so i pretty much brought that stress on myself!

Today I would LOVE to send BIG SHOUT OUTS to........

Gloria who is an amazing, creative, beautiful, inspirational, brave, loving, tender beauty who i met in Oregon a couple months ago. She is a gor-JUSS person inside and out...go see her and give her some sugar...tell her who sent ya!!!

Silke who paints some of the most beautiful faces I have ever seen and takes amazing pictures with wonderful stories to match. I love hearing of her German traditions and heritage...she inspires me and i always love visiting her blog to see what she is up too. Go see her and give her love!!

Shonna who always has something new and fun to look at...she is super creative and i adore her sweet paintings!! You have to go visit her so you can see exactly what i am talking about...tell her i said so!!

Thank you girls for the love and inspiration you bring into my world!!! Now...here are a few pics from a couple of weeks ago...

my kiddlies decorating our tree...tradition with the hats and the best darn hot chocolate i have ever had...made by my handsome lovely hubby!
the finished product...love how i can lay in bed and see our tree from where i am...great vision to wake up too! and lastly...
hope you are all finding bits and pieces of his through your holiday season!! xxooxxoo Happy Friday one and all.

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

yup...it's Wednesday everyone...time for say whaaaaaaaaaat Wednesday question...so here goes

"If you could be anywhere... with anyone RIGHT now...where would you be and who would you be with??"

me...i would love to be with my grandma julie in her kitchen dancing on her feet to polish polka music!!! i LOVED that growing up and always felt so safe in my grandma julie and grandpa louie's house. i have so many amazing childhood memories in that sweet, cozy home in small town illinois! from all the times i spent there coloring, coloring, coloring to grandpa bringing us buggy donuts on saturday mornings. i am SO grateful for the time i was able to spend with them growing up and the impact that had on me now in my adult years. thank you grandma and grandpa! i think they are dancing together right now on Heaven's floor!!

other than than ...i have been busying myself with making Christmas gifts this year. given the financial situation of many (including us)... due to our crazy economy... i started a new tradition in my family where we each drew a name out of a bowl and had to MAKE something for that person. i guess it is my attempt at teaching my kids to tap into their creative sides and to also show them it isn't all about spending money and going out to buy gifts, but rather being creative from our hearts!

the pictures above are of a journal i made for my oldest daughter Mackenzie who is 15 and quite the poet...this post references her gift for doing just that!! i drew her name and thought this just may make the perfect gift! i also made a journal for a very dear friend of mine as a gift. in the interior of the journals i sporadically wrote quotes or my own little messages with some personal photos to make their" journal journey" more interesting...it was made with TONS of love and many personal touches!!

if you are interested and would like me to make one for a friend, sister, daughter, aunt, mom, son, brother, dad, yourself, etc... please let me know as i will be taking custom orders after the holidays!!

Happy happy Wednesday blog loves of mine..loves and hugs comin at ya!!! xxoo

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION!!

so this is my song for today...if you can take a second to actually watch the video, some of the images are really beautiful and touching. Here are the lyrics... Stars are dancin' on the water here tonight. It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight...love this!!!

i think i chose this song today because i am trying to put things in perspective...counting my blessings and TRYING not to stress the small stuff...seems harder to do around this time of year!!

i did the painting posted yesterday and am trying to live those words...Let Go!!! There is very little we can control in life, right?!?

Happy Monday one and all! Sending loves and hugs! xoxox

IT's time to SHOUT OUT!

(MY FIRST OFFICIAL HEARTBROTHER...MINUS THE HEART WINGS BECAUSE HE NEEDED TO HAVE THESE GREAT, FUNKY SUPERHERO ROCKSTAR WINGS! what do you guys think??? be honest...or lie!! ; )

IT'S FRIDAY BABY!!!! WHOO HOO!! I am SHOUTIN OUT to these 3 lovely, inspiring, beautiful, incredible souls...

Patty who takes these gor-JUSS photos and writes the most beautiful words to match the images. Thank you Patty for your inspiration!!! Go see her post today and tell her who sent ya...AWESOME!! xoox

Giovanna who has an eye for fashion like no other!!! She also draws sooooo beautifully and if you go see her today you will know exactly what i mean as she has created one of her drawings as a potential header for her blog. (btw...i WANT to be that girl in your drawing!!) Love you sweet girl!!

Chrissy who is so creative and inspiring...an amazing mom to 5 beautiful kids and a wonderful friend...i don't know if she realizes just what a precious, rare gem she is!!! She knows exactly the right words to say to lift you up and help you stay the course. I am also SUPER grateful to call her my dear, dear friend. I love you C.

lastly i wanted to share my absolute FAVORITE ornament on my tree!! Don't you just want it to become life size and hop on inside and drive the countryside or the mountainside or the coast line!!! I DO, I DO!! Who's comin along?!?!

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

Wednesday already everyone!!! Here is my question for this chilly and wintry Wednesday...

WHAT SONG BEST DESCRIBES YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW??

(TITLE, ARTIST AND WHY PLEASE...i put the first song that came to my mind!)

(Fleetwood Mac Concert Chicago, Illinois March 2009 - my hubby surprised me and sent me home with concert tickets for my siblings and i. we had already given tickets as a gift for my parents...GREAT NIGHT...AWESOME HUBBY!!)

i am thinking mine would be "We are Family" by Sister Sledge because this time of year to me is all about family. I get quite homesick as i am the only one living out in Cali while the rest of my family is in Illinois. I miss my sisters and brother and of course mom and dad! I miss my nieces and nephews and bro-in laws and sis-in law! We always have so much fun on Christmas Eve...eating, drinking and dancing around in my mom's kitchen...its always really loud with a lot of laughter! I miss it as I haven't been home for the holidays in over 10 years. So yes..."We are Family" would be my song right now since they all have been heavy on my mind as i am forever grateful for all the wonderful, crazy memories i have with them! I love you FAMILY!!!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!! XOXOX

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION!!

here is my inspiration for this fine Monday! hope you all enjoy...click on the word "here" and you will see and hear the video...he's pretty easy on the eyes too!! ; )

i thought i would share the lyrics along with it...there are some GREAT ones in this song...you can find them here.

"You’re the color of the colored part of The Wizard of Oz movie" - love this and

"we'll throw the careful into the crazy". good good stuff!!

i am SUCH a music person and so influenced and inspired by so many different musical styles. it is funny how i tend to pick out one line, maybe two...that just make that song for me!!!

here are 2 paintings i have been working on. i am starting a series of these that i am going to put in my etsy shop. my goal is to have that open up sometime in January...!!!!! (fingers crossed)! I was also asked by a friend of mine to do a painting for her mom!! i am so excited and am going to start that project very soon since it is for Christmas!!

and last but most certainly not least...my baby girl turned 7 yesterday and here she is opening up a pair of boots that she got and just LUUUUUVED!! i am still in the process of writing her birthday letter to her! she is an amazing little soul who has an infectious love for life!!! i strive to be more like her in that realm!! i love you Sydnie Lou as wide as the sky and as deep as the sea! and as she says to me..."mom, i love you the last number"!

Happy happy monday one and all! Peace!! xxooxxoo

it's time to SHOUT OUT!

(shouldn't we ALL be funky, fierce and fabulous!!!)

Today is the day that i give 3 Shout Outs to those lovely blog friends that inspire me, make me laugh, create beautifully, write beautifully, take beautiful pictures, etc... etc... etc... so without further ado...SHOUTIN OUT TO:

Danielle who's creative prowess is endless!!! She is so creative and kind and I was fortunate enough to meet her at the retreat i attended in October. Watch for her shop opening very soon...Wish Bliss Studio on Etsy. I cannot wait...she is on her way to great creative successes!!!

Charmaine who paints these gorgeous, sexy, beautiful women and also passes on some great music for me to check out! She is currently up for an award to have one her lovelies grace the wine labels for an Ontario winery. I cannot imagine hers not getting chosen...so deserving...go visit her blog and check it out!

Elizabeth who takes the most beautiful pictures and shares her stories so perfectly...go check it out. She is an angel and was right there next to me the entire time at Be Present Retreats when i was trying to comprehend the fact that I am in Oregon and my son is being rushed to the hospital back home. Thank you dear one...you will NEVER know how much that meant to me. xoxox

so when you're out and about in blog land...go visit these sweet souls and tell em who sent ya!!

Peace and Love!! xoxoxox

oh yes...one more thing...i LOVED every one's comments regarding the infamous Fruit Cake...and in case you were wondering i still haven't gotten that cold, frosty A&W Root beer i was craving 2 days ago!!

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

yes...it is that time again!! time to pose the question and excitedly wait for some answers!!!

so with some thought, this is what i came up with....

"WHAT IS UP WITH FRUITCAKE?? WHEN DID THE MADNESS OF FRUITCAKE BEGIN AND DOES ANYONE REALLY, TRULY LIKE IT?"

i would also love to know of your family traditions during the holidays if you would be so kind to share!

today...i am craving an ice cold frosty A&W Root beer!!! Just thought I would let you all know that!!

love to you all! xxooxxoo

it's monday music inspiration

in staying true to some "structure" to my blog...i have chosen this song for my monday music inspiration. this is the kind of song that is perfect to listen to when you need to be taken to a different place in time. that is... unless you are sitting with your toes in the water and your as* in the sand!! (hopefully none of these lyrics offend anyone!!)

i hope everyone is having a joyous Monday! i am working on several little paintings with a new idea i conjured up in the shower since that is where i seem to have alot of creative ideas...or in the middle of the night when i am sleeping! had one of those last night and thought FOR SURE i would rememember this morning! well...not so much! : ( maybe it will come back to me tonight!

sending my love out! peace!! xxooxxoo

it's not friday??? well...it is to me!!

(my little creations at Be Present Retreats with Kelly Rae)

okay...so i screwed up ALREADY with trying to have some structure to my blog. as i was brainstorming and writing ideas down...i wanted my fridays to be "shout out friday" and other little morsels of stuff. i want to let 3 blog friends know what i think of them!

so i am going to pretend it is friday and not sunday...k??? k...so today...i want to give shout outs to:

kelly who makes fun, sentimental, creative jewelry and really beautiful paintings. she is also pretty witty and i always love visiting her blog and reading up on what is happening in her corner of the world. Salute sweet kelly!!

jennifer who has such beautiful words and images to go along with them. she is an amazing, brave, endearing soul who i adore and hopefully will get to connect with again soon! and...

lori who is oozing with beautiful artwork and such a positive nature. i always love visiting her blog as she is a big inspiration to me.

so thank you lovely girls!! you bring more than you know into my life day in and day out...go visit them and tell em who sent ya!!!

not much else...decorating the house today with our tree and all the little goodies i have collected over the years. Between my husband and I blending our families and lives a few years ago...we have lots of STUFF!! went to see Blindside and New Moon this holiday week...both good! at least i thought...husband agrees! sending virtual hugs and love out to whoever wants it!!! xxooxxoo peace

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

so with my attempt at creating some structure to my blog posts...i have decided to make Wednesdays be...

SAY WHAAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY!

say what wednesday will typically be a random question asked and hopefully answered honestly...or on occasion it just may be that...say whatever you want...a "free for all" forum, so to speak!! last week i asked this question... (and loved ALL the answers...btw!!!)

"is it okay to wear slippers to the grocery store??"

so on this particular Wednesday i have decided to pose this question...

"if you saw a someone out and about in the public and they had a tear in the rear end of their pants...exposing the undies...would you go up to them and tell them or would you worry you may embarrass them by pointing it out, etc...??? would you want someone to tell you??"

and yes...this REALLY did happen...to my most conservative husband today at the grocery store! in his case he actually knew because when he bent down to grab some corn muffin mix he heard the rip...and wouldn't you know he JUST got to the store!!! bless his heart...he kept on keepin on!! after all we needed all the goodies for our big traditional Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!!

With all that being said...i am forever grateful for my family, my children, friends (old and new), my health, home and the feeling that i am walking the right path at this time in my life...and of course super grateful for all my friends out in blog land! love you all tons!! xxoo

weekend wrap & monday music inspiration

my little "love" creation on Friday night! She is all about the love!!
yummy goodness for our family adventure on Saturday.
this sweet little town we drove through on our way to the Sequoia National Park - i loved this!!!
arriving at the Trail of 100 Giants - my babies!
one of the 100 Giants on our Trail - A.MA.Z.I.N.G.
my three monkeys talking about God knows what!!
the roots to one of the fallen giants
the family feet of the Harrison 6-Pack before leaving the trail and heading home
"i don't wanna go home...i don't wanna go home"
this beautiful surprise as we were driving home...simply on the side of the road - so awesome
and yet one more surprise on our journey home...you may have to look VERY close to see her. She is camouflaged pretty well.

This pretty much sums up my wonderful family weekend. I also had time to give alot of thought to giving some type of structure to my blog which i feel tends to go all over the place. So i have decided to attempt to create some rhyme and reason. One of the things I came up with was to have Monday music inspiration...to share with you a song that either inspired me through out the weekend or was just something i was listening to quite a bit or maybe a song that says what my weekend represented better than i could. Hopefully you will enjoy the structure i am attempting to make!

so with that being said...my Monday music inspiration is this...take a listen!! i have always liked him and who would have thought she can sing the way she does. i have always liked her too...so beautiful! i think their voices have a great blend. hope you all enjoy and have a

FAB-U-LOUS Monday!! xoxoxoxox

can i brag???

(me and Kenzie Wrigley Field 2009...i'm a diehard cubby fan!!!)

my daughter (stepdaughter)... Mackenzie found out today that she won first place in a poetry assignment in her English class. I really felt compelled to share this with all of you... so here goes (with tears streaming down) as i type it...

Fallen,

Depressed,

Drowning in Sorrow,

Torn by Cancer,

Risen AGain,

Stepped out of the past,

Uplifted by the people who love me,

blessed with a new mom,

learned to love again.

- Mackenzie Harrison (11/2009)

So...for those of you new to my blog, Kenzie lost her mom at 11 years old to that icky gross vicious thing we call cancer. She has had a lot thrown at her at a very young age...from losing her mom, to her younger brother being diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2 years old, who is now 13 and a beautiful amazing young man!!

So needless to say, i am a proud mama!!! She is beyond her years in so many ways but hides it most of the time. This is when I really see her...through her poetry! I love her and she teaches me more than she knows!! I hope you all appreciate Mackenzie Nikole's words.

Sending out lots of love and hugs and kisses!! Hold those you love close...sometimes we don't even realize what we may be doing for someone else, just by being us!!

xoxoxox good night!

live loud & a question

Live Loud Baby Girl!!!

that's my motto for the day, for my girls...for ALL girls...for everyone for that matter!!!

Live it... and live it loud...it's your life...no one else's! i created this painting about 2-3 weeks ago and had so much fun with her. i just let her come about without a ton of thought or preparation. My friends that have been over and looked at her immediately thought she was me...but in actuality she was inspired by this sweet, sweet baby girl i met at the Unearth Retreat in Manzanita. Serena is one of those souls that has that quiet confidence and tender, tender heart. We really got to know one another during an activity we did depicting our core values. I was so blessed to do that exercise with Serena...thank you baby girl, who runs and does cart wheels and round offs in the sand, who is a beautiful mama to two adorable babies, who has so much talent and creativity to share with the world...who i adore!

and...one more totally random thing. i posted this poll on my face book account and it was fun to hear some of the responses so i thought i would pose it out into the blog world....here goes:

IS IT OKAY TO WEAR SLIPPERS TO THE GROCERY STORE???

Clearly there is no right or wrong answer...just honesty! xxooxxo

awards and other goodies

I have been fortunate enough to be given an award from this absolutely adorable, creative, inspirational fashionista! Thank you so much Giovanna...your precious! GO CHECK OUT HER BLOG!! She has such an eye for fashion and design...SUPER talented!!! So...

To accept this award do the following:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

5. Nominate 7 Kreative Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

So...here are 7 things about me:

1. The first time I ever painted was less than a year ago and I was scared half to death of the blank canvas...da da da daaaaaa!!!

2. I absolutely love going to the movies and am especially happy if they have that yummy cheddar cheese powder stuff you can put on your popcorn...i know, i know soooooooo bad for you!

3. I admire people who completely step out of their comfort zone and go into a situation without any expectations.

4. I hate touching escalator railings because i think it is gross!!

5. All i ever truly wanted to be since i was 18 was a mama! (And thankfully I am one to 4 GORGEOUS kiddlies!!)

6. My biggest dream come true (thus far) outside of having my beautiful children was getting married in Italy.

7. My favorite meal is toasted cheese (that is what we call it in the Midwest) and tomato soup....YUUUUUMMMMMMMMMY!!!

Now to pass on this lovely award to these creative blogs...and it was EXTREMELY hard for me to pick only 7 because there are SOOOOOOO many blogs that completely inspire me....

1. Gloria: CreatingFreeSpirit

2. Chrissy: Cultivate

3. Danielle: ScrappyBetties

4. Lori: Happiness Through Art

5. Renee: Circling my Head

6. Charmaine: A Charmed Life

7. Mindy: TimsSally

I also wanted to post a pic of this lovely treasure that arrived on my door step from this awesome, creative, inspirational, genuine scrappy bettie!!! Love you Danielle - thank you so much for EmmaBug!!! I adore her...and you!!!!