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