Songbird

had such a fun day today with my hubby....

this is one of my absolute favorite songs by Fleetwood Mac although this version is sung by Eva Cassidy. (may want to pause my playlist before playing the video...)

"cuz i feel that when i'm with you...it's alright....
i KNOW it's right."

counting my blessings tonight...how about you??

xxoo

who's your biggest fan?

my youngest daughter Syd is  my BIGGEST fan in the realm of my paintings.  There isn't a painting that I have done that she doesn't love and they ALL are her favorite!!  

It is so funny...there will be a painting i do that i just completely hate...  it never seemed to move out of that "ugly phase" we speak of...but when Syd sees it....she looks at it through the eyes of love and because it was her mom that did it...well, it's gorgeous to her!!!  and she begs...mom, can i have it?  can i have it?  we all need a "biggest fan" like that, don't we??!!! 

she asked if i would do some Valentine paintings and have them made into little Valentine cards she could give to her friends and her teachers, etc...  so the picture above are the little Valentine cards for Syd!!  and as you  could guess...she loves them!!!

i hope you are all having a wonderful, productive Friday!  me, well today is "catch up " day since i am behind on what feels like EVERYTHING!  I have given NO time to Mondo Beyondo this week and have really missed it!!  

I did however get to spend two great days with a dear friend of mine who visited me.  We spent the day yesterday eating, shopping, talking, dreaming!  She is very encouraging where my artwork is concerned and even with some of my crazy mondo beyondo dreams!!  I am VERY grateful for my sweet girlfriends that are so supportive....and many i have met through the blogging world!  SO THANK YOU GIRLS...YOUR SUPPORT AND ADVICE MEAN THE WORLD TO ME!!

here's a little song for your Friday...

"You dance like no one's watching

Sing 'till the song ends

Then you sing some more"

find time today to dance and sing like no one's watching and to look through the eyes of love - it's friday!! WOOP! WOOP!

xooxxoo

new painting w/ a lil mission....

WE ALL JUST WANT TO BE...

GO GRAB SOMEONE'S HAND...AND TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE.

OR GIVE THEM A LIFT IF YOU KNOW THEY ARE DOWN...

BECAUSE AFTER ALL...

DON'T WE ALL JUST WANT TO BE LOVED...

TO GIVE LOVE AND RECEIVE IT IN RETURN???

SO TODAY HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW SOMEONE THEY ARE LOVED??

ARE YOU GOING TO HUG THEM TIGHT AND TELL THEM SO, LEAVE THEM A LITTLE SWEET MESSAGE HIDDEN TO BE FOUND WHENEVER THEY STUMBLE UPON IT, DONATE TO HELP THOSE IN HAITI???

DO SOMETHING TODAY TO SHOW SOMEONE JUST HOW LOVED THEY ARE!!

REALLY...

IT ISN'T HARD TO DO!!!

XXOOXXOO

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION and A YUMMY, HEALTHY-ISH DESSERT

(clearing i am working on to honor my list for the Mondo Beyondo course i have been taking...almost finished with it...i will definitely be sharing more regarding all of this)

i had trouble today just picking one song so i decided to pick two...

the first one was sung on the Hope for Haiti Now telethon that aired Friday. There were so many amazing musical acts but THIS one...definitely my favorite...WOW! This song is one of my favorites and their version is just beautiful.

here is today's 2nd choice.....how cute is she?!?!

here are the lyrics...

"A change-your-life-forever-tune

If a song could get me you"

yesterday i thoroughly enjoyed this yummy, yummy dish!! one of my absolute favs...not only is it really healthy, look how PRETTY it is!! ever since my husband and i did our detox/cleanse we have really been trying to eat much more consciously and certainly more healthily (is that a word...???) i cannot tell you how much better i feel in simply changing some eating patterns!

my contribution to our weekend was this delicious chocolate cake with cool whip....but this just isn't your ordinary chocolate cake. it is made WITHOUT eggs, WITHOUT milk....and still just as good!! the only ingredients in this cake are the cake mix (chocolate fudge) and a can of diet coke and/or diet pepsi. yup...that is it!!!! easy, peasy which is the way i choose to bake and to cook!!! my kids gobbled it up!

i hope you all had a wonder-ful weekend. i am having "one of those" Mondays and am hoping it will get better!!!

xxooxxoo

TODAY.....

i'm walking hand in hand with the one i love...

what are you doing???

ON MY SERIOUS SIDE...

(me and Channy...Christmas morning 2009)

last weekend i woke up early, piled 3 of my 4 kids into the car and drove over to the beach for the weekend. my hubby was already there since he had a meeting the day prior.

as i was driving...i kept looking in my rear view mirror checking on my kids (as a mom tends to do)...i think! right moms???

each time i would do this, my sweet Chandler would be smiling to himself, talking a bit to himself, laughing a little. it made me stop and think...

i realize the fact that he has autism would seem like a curse to many. and trust me at times it can be VERY difficult. but that day. that particular day, as i was driving and watching him i had to stop and ask myself this...

for a second i wondered...

"maybe the "non- awareness" actually is a blessing...maybe the not knowing the evils and sadness that are in our world can be a good thing??" i don't know...

i know Chandler has many struggles but quite honestly he doesn't really know that. i know by society's standards "he is different"...but quite honestly he doesn't really know that either. what i feel he does know is this...he is very loved by his family, his dad is his constant and sometimes he wishes i would have a baby (and it would be a boy) so he wouldn't be so outnumbered! (LOTS of women in this household!!!)

i am not really sure where i am going with this post...it was just something that has been "sitting" with me over the past few days. i am certainly not trying to "make light" of the fact that this precious boy was diagnosed at age 2 1/2 with autism...i am simply trying to find the blessing in it...the positive.

thank you for listening....

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

yes. yes. yes. Wednesday again!! So today I would love to know this......

WHAT DOES A PERFECT AFTERNOON LOOK LIKE FOR YOU???

I think mine would look something like this...

* yummy salad from my favorite little italian spot with a glass of vino

* off to an afternoon matinee of something funny or romantic with my hubby...eating lots of popcorn with gobs of butter and that yummy sprinkle cheese (so unhealthy...but OH SOOOO GOOD!)

* grab a nice, warm cup of coffee and take a walk with my camera in tow

* home to do a little painting or creating of some sort

* then of course spending time with the kiddlies...laughing and dancing in the kitchen!!

i would love to hear all about yours....

thought i would share some shots of this past weekend...santa brought me a new camera for christmas that i am certain does all kinds of fun stuff...right now i am just pointing and shooting...this is what i got

(my word of 2010...NURTURE!!)

(my crazy little monkey doing cartwheels down the burm)
(my girls....two of the three anyway. the other decided to stay home with nonna and papa and go to her first highschool party!!)
(seriously...one of THEE most amazing sunsets i have ever seen in carp. - stunning and it only kept getting better)
(same sunset...look at the clouds!)
(here comes the crazy rain and wind)
(angry, angry ocean...some monsterous waves)
(lots and lots of rain)

hope you are all having a fabulous wednesday!!! loves and hugs comin at ya!!

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION!!

(new little "hope string" painting)
this is today's song....i remember the first time i heard this song years ago how it resonated with me. the lyrics to this song are so much of what i stand for and believe and am TRYING to implement in my children. believe in yourself, believe in what you do, know you have a light!

check the lyrics out here...

"and if you're trying to paint a picture

but you're not sure what colors belong

just paint what you see

don't let anyone say it's wrong."

we had quite a storm blow through here this morning....lots and lots of rain and crazy wind! my girls and i sat and watched as the waves came crashing in and listened to the rain beating against the sliding glass doors. now the sun is out in full force, drying out all the lovely things that just got all cleaned off!

well...i am off to snuggle with sophia and sydnie and watch a movie!!! happy monday everyone...sending loves and hugs!!

photos of love & those that i adore

(my kenzie and her great grandma lee)
(new year's eve din..couldn't have spent it w/6 better people)
(mama and her girls)
(amore mio)
(scotty's parents....oh how i LOVE this picture)

hug your loved ones tight!!! xxoo

NOW IS THE TIME...

Please check out Ree's site to see the amazing, wonderful thing she is doing to help those who are suffering in Haiti. Visit, leave a comment, do some research for the best charity and aid organizations whose funds go directly to those who need it.

It all seems so surreal to me...every time I sit and watch the coverage I struggle to grasp that "this really happened. this is really happening." i count my blessings. i pray. i reflect.

OKAY...SO GO. DON'T WAIT... GO NOW TO REE'S SITE....sending my love out...

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

Whoo hoo! You know what Wednesday means.........

Time for SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY???

Today I would love to hear all about this....

WHAT IS ONE GUILTY PLEASURE YOU ARE EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT?

The sad fact for me is... i have more than one!!

But this is the one I don't admit to very often.

I still will watch "The Real World" on MTV.

Yes I know, I am in my late 30's... but yes, MTV is still a part of my life!! Not sure I am ever going to REALLY grow up!!!

So...tell me, tell me...what's yours??? Would love to hear!!! xxoo

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION AND A HANDMADE GIFT...

(12th century castle in Fumone, Italy...wine with little fried donuts...soooo good...i was just reminiscing!)


monday, monday...da da, da da da da!!

this is the song today!!! love him, love the song, love his voice....yup i dig him.

here are the lyrics... "Somewhere out here is a lost and found...somewhere out there is a lasting love...."

photos of the hat my hubby MADE for me for a Christmas gift...we each drew names within our family this year and HAD to MAKE something for that person. this is what he made for me. i absolutely LOVE it!!! FOCUS is a word we use a lot and one of his favs.... so this is my art hat to wear when i paint!!! he did a darn good job i think considering he was totally stressed about it!! just wanted to share!!!

Cheers to Monday....

LOVE LISTS...GOOD FOR THE SOUL

(YES...VALENTINES IS COMING AND SHES OUR REMINDER)
there was a night back on December 30, 2008 (and yes...i meant to type an 8!!) that i had a couple of hours to myself since my hubby took the kids to the movies.

so i snuggled in with a yummy glass of merlot and began to type....i didn't really have an agenda but this is what it turned into.

i began to write things that i love or have loved in my life.

initially i thought "well i will write 100"...then it turned to 150...and before you know it i had written down 207 and i continue to add to this list.

it was so much fun and made my heart GIGGLE!

so i tempt you to do this...and for some reason i did it in 3rd person...not sure why!! so here are a few i wanted to share...

THINGS THAT KOLLEEN LOVES...THAT MAKE HER HEART GIGGLE!

* A REALLY GREAT HUG

* HAVING COFFEE WITH HER MOM

* DANCING ON HER GRANDMA JULIE'S FEET WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN THE KITCHEN TO POLKA MUSIC.

* WATCHING A NEW MOM HOLD HER BRAND NEW BABY IN HER ARMS

*TAKING NAPS

* RIDING HER BICYCLE THROUGH PUDDLES OF RAIN AND PULLING HER KNEES UP SO HER PANTS WOULDN'T GET WET

* HAVING MOVED TO PHOENIX, AZ AT 24 NOT KNOWING A SINGLE SOUL.

* OPEN MINDED PEOPLE

* BEING A STEP MOM - SHE FINDS IT CHALLENING BUT REWARDING ALL IN THE SAME BREATH

* BEING RAISED IN A SMALL TOWN IN ILLINOIS

* HOLDING HANDS ON THE BEACH WITH HER HUSBAND

* HOLDING HANDS ANYTIME WITH HER HUSBAND

okay...you get the idea so i will quit boring you!

SO DO IT!

IT'S GOOD FOR THE SOUL...I PROMISE YOU!!!

HAPPY SUNDAY BLOG LOVES! XXOO

Just say yes...

if you just say yes to this...

dreams and

wishes may come true!

i promise...it will be an experience you will never forget!!! (my sweet little hearwingsisters promise!!!)

loves to all of you on this friday!!! xxoo

SAY WHAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

OH YEA! YOU KNOW IT!

IT'S THAT TIME!!! SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAT WEDNESDAY??

Today I want to know this...what ONE thing is a "must do" for you in 2010??

me...well to be completely honest it is to make it through the next 3 days of this cleanse/detox!!! i know that is kind of a lame answer but it is getting more and more challenging my friends!! so i will write more through out this year on "must do's" once i start this next week!

i also was the proud recipient of an award from this sexy, amazing, talented goddess! She is oozing with so much talent...go see her beautiful jewelry and paintings!! I was lucky enough to get one of her necklaces imprinted with the word "artist" and I cherish it and the friendship we have begun!! Thank you so much Kelly for passing this award on to me!!! xxoo so....

****************************************************************

I have to name 10 things I love and then pass on to 10 blogs I love to visit--here we go...my 10 things I love as of right now!!

1. my sexy hubby who is oh so good to me!

2. the smell of rain on its way...right before it begins to pour down.

3. a secret i can't share yet within my family...good stuff.

4. my house lit up only my candlelight.

5. chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven...falling apart as you pick them up.

6. this movie....LMAO! seriously if you are the least bit down...get in the car and GO TO THIS MOVIE...YOU WILL LAUGH!! I PROMISE!!

7. the Chicago Cubs...sweet home Chicago!

8. the beach in carpinteria, cali and that sweet little beach town

9. my son Chandler's aids...Marci & Kara...they are sent from God!

10. conversations with my 7 year old...so random, so hilarious...like last night..."mom what happens if you drink shampoo?"" yup! that's my baby!

So...passing this on to........

Patti at PBSArtStudio

Cris at Mommys Midwest Mountain

Chrissy at Cul*ti*vate

Bella Rosa

Gloria at Creating Free Spirit

Elizabeth at Retinal Perspectives

Micki at The Art Hermit

Patty at Nomadic Notebook

Lori at Happiness Through Art

Jennifer at Pease Porridge

ALL of you inspire me and i would LOVE to know more about each of you....please post on your blogs and keep this award moving along!!

happy wednesday loves!! xxoo

MONDAY MUSIC INSPIRATION!!

(ringing in the new year with my baby girl!!)

first Monday of the new year and i decided to stick with my Monday Music Inspiration...hopefully it is bringing some inspiration to those of you who visit me or maybe it brings some new music/bands into your lives...today i chose this song. the first time i heard it...i loved it. there is something haunting about it....here are the lyrics.

"one foot in and one foo back. But it don't pay, to live like that."

(new heartwingsisters i am working on)

i know for many of us it is back to work. back to school. back to routine. however, for me it was the beginning of a 6 day cleanse!! i know, call me crazy....i know i'm calling myself that!!! I just hope i can get through it...this girl LOVES to eat!!! My hubby and i are doing it together which should help in the realm of accountability! I have never done anything like this before so not sure what to expect...i am only about 7 hours in to day 1....i will do it! Bound and Determined!!

the blue moon on new years eve and my babies +1 are making their wishes upon it!!! i told them...no wish is ever too big!!!

happy monday all!!! sending out loves!!! xxooxxoo

HOLIDAY BREAK, A TOAST AND A WORD....

my holiday break is coming to a close....funny how i feel the bitter sweetness of it. i am sad that the spontaneity of being on vacation with the kids is leaving but happy that schedule and routine are right around the corner!!! i know, i know...what the heck?!?! everyone that has ever known me, knows that i like it a little sweet and a little sour....likes to have the black and the white....and i am DONE trying to figure that side of me out...NOT!!! ; )
i spent my new years eve with my 4 babies, darling hubby, yummy lasagna (made by my yummy italian hubby), red wine and of course a champagne toast at midnight! it was quiet...and it was GOOD!!! now i am ready to bring on 2010...just a couple of days behind everyone else!!!

after reading this post on my sweet friend Gloria's blog...i felt compelled and challenged to find MY "word" for this year. I thought about it, slept on it and kept seeing this word and feeling it come up in my throat over and over. NURTURE. Yup. Nurture. is. my. word. I want to nurture my children, nurture my husband and our relationship, nurture myself (my heart, mind and soul), nurture those close to me and those i don't even know yet, nurture my creative side, nurture my vulnerable side, nurture all the facets that make each one of my children the unique little souls that they are, nurture all the "shoulds" that creep into my mind... analyze them, deal with them and put them in their proper place, nurture the relationships i have somewhat neglected over the years, nurture the most important relationship there is...mine with me! NURTURE AWAY IN 2010!!

So... What is your word??? Tell me all about it!! I want to know!!! loves to you all! xxooxxoo