From Chaos Comes Happiness

Isn't it frustrating to be traveling through life, enjoying the views, feeling happy and optimistic, when . . . . BAM . . . you hit a wall. While trying to back up and take another route . . . . BAM . . . . there was a wall behind you that you didn't see. Well, that route didn't quite work out as you planned, now did it? Let's try this way . . . I am sure the view will be much better there . . . . BAM . . . . well, where did that wall come from? I'm feeling a little bit like that today. The universe has tilted, and while I am blessed with so many things in my day . . . I'm feeling a little off. Tired. Worried. Frustrated. Tired of trying to make everyone happy. Worried about those I love. Frustrated that I need to get over all of it, and just give it up to God . . . I have so many blessings. I know that. But... BAM. Another wall. How do you knock down the walls around you?

You may recall I have written a few posts about my love for American Idol. Last year I commented  here , that if I were 20 years younger, I'd be there . . . auditioning . . . signing my heart out . . . selling it . . . giving it my all. But unfortunately, Idol was just a few years too late for my time . . . so I live vicariously through the amazing group of singers who appear on the show week after week.  Last week, I was speechless after a performance by a young 23 year named Jacob Lusk. Did you catch it? Brilliant, I'm telling you . . . brilliant. I've been humming, singing, jamming to this song since then. PG bought the version off of iTunes for me, and I spend most time in my car with it blasting. A few days ago, I found myself going down my favorite daily road singing at the top of my voice . . . when I looked up and realized my neighbor was driving in front of me. He was waving . . . at me. I new my "Secret Idol Jamming Session" would be questioned,...

While strolling through the French Market in New Orleans on Saturday, PG and I came upon a woman sitting behind a card table, waiting for someone to sit next to her. Waiting to read someone their tarot cards. I've never been one to  fall for fortune tellers before, or tarot card readers. But I was in New Orleans, the home of all things voo-doo. I immediately looked at Phil and said, "I want to have my cards read!" So, I sat down . . . and spent the next 20 minutes in the midst of a lovely conversation with Audrey, my tarot card reader. She was a lovely lady, and I so enjoyed talking with her. Did she tell me anything life altering? No, not really. She did say that I worked in the medical field (which is correct), that I have two daughters (also correct), and that I worry often and put a great deal of stress on myself (again . . . correct). She also was very certain that I worked from my home (which I don't do right now, but did do for five years), and ...

I like to design blog headers. I do it for fun. I can spend hours in Adobe Illustrator, as I fiddle around with my computer mouse and keyboard. I draw everything by hand . . . just my mouse and me. It's a bit archaic (as I understand there are cool little tablets and computer pen thingamajigs out there), but I often think, "If it's not broke, why fix it?"   Inspiration comes at the strangest times for me . . . usually late at night, after the kids (PG included) are all tucked in and gentle snores are heard from the floor above. Then, the creative juices start to flow and before I know it, hours have passed. I thought I would share some of my recent creative projects with you. The above image is my very first attempt at a digital scrapbook page. My friends Cindi and Peggy are brilliant at this digital stuff . . . me, not so much. Cindi told me that I needed to sit and watch a tutorial on the whole process, and work a page side b...

Ooooooo . . . friends . . . . . I have something exciting to show you!! Something that has me approaching my blog with a pep in my step and a smile on my face. A few weeks ago . . . I printed my blog. Yes, I did. Ok, let me first start by telling you a couple of things. 1) I was not paid in any way for this post, nor did I receive any compensation (monetary or otherwise) from the company I am about to tell you about. 2) I am a paper girl. Now, let me elaborate on that one just a bit . . . I love the computer. Really. We are friends. We go way back. I enjoy it. It brings me happiness (most of the time), it inspires me, it has introduced me to hundreds of really cool and amazing people. But, I am really all about the PAPER, my friends. I need to feel paper. Touch it. I need to turn pages of a book (kindle fan, I am not). I like to read in the comforts of my favorite chair, leaning back with a comfy pillow and the feet up, covered by a soft blanket. That is 'as goo...

The words, "You have one sick child," is not what one wants to hear upon their return from a weekend get-away. Well, actually, one never wants to hear that a child is sick. But I especially wasn't looking forward to hearing those words, after an amazing weekend of this . . . and this . . .  and this . . . and this, too . . . Unfortunately, our Katie came down with some sort of 'bug' on Sunday evening. As soon as our luggage hit our laundry room floor, I heard my Mom say, "one child is sick . . . but the other is just fine." Oh, boy. So, tomorrow we'll be visiting the doctor. I think a fever bug has hit our home, and poor Katie has been fighting it will all her might all day long. Ella, so far (knock on wood) is doing fine. But I may take her for a check-up, just to make sure.  Before I head off, here are just a few more pictures of our weekend in New Orleans. We had a fantastic time . . . jus...

So, I'm a bad mommy . . . because yesterday I just couldn't handle the leprechaun trap. PG helped me convince the girls that the leprechaun will come to visit the night of St. Patrick's Day. So, I was off the hook last night. But this evening, there was no way to avoid it. I tried to upload a video of the girls telling you all about their traps, but PG is out of town, and this darn flipvideo thingie is not cooperating. (NO, it's not user error . . . ok, maybe it is. . . . ah well.) Anyway, we are hoping for gold coins in the AM. So, keep you fingers crossed. I'm off on an adventure the next few days . . . will update you on all the fun next week. And while I go on and have an exciting few days, I can't help but remember the tragedy of Japan. . . . I've stopped and said a silent prayer a thousand times, and tomorrow I am taking part in a day of blog silence to remember the victims of the earthquakes last week. See For Japan with Love for more informatio...

It all started so innocently, just four short weeks ago. It was a regular Scrapbook Cellar gathering at my sister’s home. I was heading there for a day of creative soul filling and an all out sisterhood chat fest. I was doing the Starbucks run (as I usually do), and asked my fellow creative characters if they would like one as well. And it was Peggy who did it . “I’ll have a skinny caramel macchiato, please,” she said. Skinny. Caramel. Macchiato. Three words that would change my life. Yes, this is another post about coffee, and I apologize to my faithful blog readers who are not coffee drinkers. (I apologize because really you should be coffee drinkers . . . kidding!) As I look back on my blog, I find that the subject of coffee has been written about once or twice (three times, a lady) before, and perhaps knowing that you have a problem is the first step in recovery, isn’t it? I have no problems. (Therefore, I must not be addicted, right?) Ok, back to Peggy . B...

My friends, I had a fanTAStic weekend. I did. I hope you did, too. Because, I really really did. I don't mean to brag . . . but my spirit was renewed. And I am feeling more like the newer version of the 'old' me, than I have in years. And that really is a good thing. Friday evening I spent the night with my dear friend Cindi (from 'So, That's Why!' ) and after a lovely dinner and one glass of wine, we did a little shopping and creative soul filling at some our very favorite places (Lane Bryant and Barnes & Noble.) We laughed and laughed and oooo'd and ahhhh'd all night, and I felt like a part of my life long ago abandoned was returning . . . a part of me that I didn't even know still existed. (Thank you, Cindi!) It really was wonderful! Saturday was spent in down town Chicago at the St. Patrick's Day parade (will have to update you with photos from that event at another time.) PG's work throws a HUGE St. Patrick's Day event fo...

A few months ago, I started receiving emails from Oprah. I don't know why, but I imagine it has something to do with creating my dream board on her website, that now has me receiving regular thoughts of "O" (or the thoughts of those associated with her.) I have to admit, I often breeze over those emails with little notice. But every once in a while, something will just speak to me. This week, I received one of those . . . Seriously? The "Feel Good Challenge"? Moving toward the life you want. Hmmmm . . . certainly Oprah, nor Dr. Oz or Dr Rosen are aware that I started Weight Watchers this year. Most of you are probably not aware that I am doing Weight Watchers. But then again, a few of you have been privy to my secret . And while I've had a successful couple of months on the program . . . I've stalled. And it kind of bugs me. This email kind of got me thinking about it again. "Knowing your body gives you the power to change it, ...

I've been looking at so many parts of my every day life with a different eye this week, paying special attention to the colors and textures that surround the many moments of my day, and grabbing the camera to catch these moments exactly as they are. Tonight, I played around in photoshop with a particular picture I took over the weekend. I tried a number of different filters on the photo - from "stained glass" to "fresco" and everything in between. I really have to play around in photoshop some more - what an amazing program. I decided on "Palette Knife" . . . I love the colors . . . I like how they make me feel. Bright. Cheery. Happy. With a bit of mystery . . . I think that's a perfect description of myself. Oooooo, I sound so 'Bond, James Bond - 007', don't I? Ok, maybe not. But I do love this picture . . . The world is your kaleidoscope, and the varying combinations of colors, which at every succeeding moment it presents ...

I love coffee . . . but I'm sure, if you have visited me before, you already knew that about me. But no matter how much I love coffee, it usually takes me a while to enjoy a cup of it. Especially in the mornings. And this behavior is something that usually frustrates PG, as he is our resident coffee preparer extraordinaire. It seems that most mornings start the same way: PG makes the coffee PG asks if I would like a cup I answer, "Yes, please!" PG pours cup of coffee Cup of coffee sits on counter for a few minutes PG reminds me, "Honey, I poured your coffee . . . " I answer, "I know, thank you!" Cup of coffee sits on counter for a few more minutes PG urges, "Honey, your coffee is getting cold. . . " I reply, "I'm coming!" And with that, I finally pick up my cup of coffee and take my first sip. However, today I grabbed the camera first, which I am really sure aggravated PG a bunch (as the coffee had now been sitt...

I’m not quite sure how it happened. One minute, we were planning what our family (the four of us) would be doing for the evening, and 10 minutes later, their bags were packed and they (Katie and Ella) were heading to Grandma’s for a sleep over. I’m sure my mom is trying to figure out how her evening changed so quickly, too. I am most grateful for whatever powers worked their magic (specifically, Katie and her “Please, grandma? Can we please come for a sleep over?" ). Because they were off to a night of fun at Grandma’s, and I was given a “Get out of Crankville FREE” pass. PG and I found ourselves in the movie theater watching “The Kings Speech” just two hours later. The movie was exceptional. My friend PK emailed me months ago telling me that I must see it. It took me awhile to get there, but I am SO GLAD that I finally did. Have you seen it? Amazing film, isn’t it? Back to the evening. Actually, back to earlier this week. I found myself in a challenging time of parenth...

What do you get when you add up a crazy week of doctors appointments, work, and furniture deliveries, with a few day of Internet problems and computer issues? You get a week of no blogging. sniff sniff. Forgive me. This weekend I am trying desperately to slow it all down. I felt like I was coming down with something yesterday - just my body's way of telling me to get a grip - focus - stop. The good news - all appointments are complete - all furniture has been received - the new computer is even up and running (with all necessary programs installed) and life is GOOD. So I can return to blogland!!! YIPPIEE!!! And I have about a million and one friends blogs to catch up on! Please give me a few days (little does the husband know - I'm spending the night in front of the computer!! YIPPIE!!!) But before I do that . . . this morning the girls asked if we could make a puppet show. I went into full force creative Leanne mode, and with the help of a few straws and some pa...