From Chaos Comes Happiness

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. -Albert Einstein Last night, Ella told PG she wished he was a little boy, so she "could teach him how to blow bubbles and show him her Pokemon cards." She is an amazing soul, this sweet little girl. Where, dear friends, will your imagination take you today?

To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping. - Chinese Proverb  I took this photo earlier this week while leaving the coolest coffee shop I've ever been ( Alterra at the Lake ) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Looking down at my blue toes upon the embedded glass pieces in the stone made me feel as if I was meant to be in this very place at this very time. A moment of clarity. A-ha. Everything does happen for a reason, my friend. Everything.

So, I'm feeling better, my friends. I escaped life for a few days and traveled up north with my girls to visit their Daddy. Milwaukee, Wisconsin was our home . . . away from T.V's, phones, neighbors, family, everything. It was . . . . lovely. Just us. We spent a whole day at an indoor water park (avoiding the rain and heat), and I fell asleep at poolside while lounging in a comfy chair - mouth wide open - for about an hour. I haven't been as relaxed as this in weeks. PG laughed when I finally woke - I can imagine the other guests had quite a chuckle as well. But, it was good. Really good. And I woke up feeling a bit like my old self again. Again, a thanks to all of you, for the kind kind words on my post Monday. My blog has certainly become my land of release - and often feel like I dump my bah-humbugness on you, my faithful friends. I want you to know that your supportive comments pick me up when I am down, and bring such comfort to my spirit. Thank you . . . each of you

The sun'll come out tomorrow, huh? Sure. That song has been playing in my head over and over the past few days. Whenever I find myself feeling a little overwhelmed or a little stressed, it's like this subconscious mind of my past lives starts singing "the sun'll come out tomorrow" . . . and I gotta tell you . . . it's annoying as all hell. Did you ever want to smack Annie ? That little red headed  "the sun'll come out tomorrow" Annie. The "when I'm stuck with a day that's gray and lonely" Annie. The one who will "just stick out my chin, and grin, and say . . . . ohhhh . . ." Annie. Yeah,  that one. Lately I've been in a cranky mood. No reason . . . just cranky. (I think I need one of my very own "Get out of Crankville" cards. . . remember those?) I don't think I like people . . . ok . . . not everyone . . . just  some  . . . and really just want to be alone. I've also come to reali

So, I'm trying to get my life together ( she says, laughing. ) But, it's true. Does it sound easy? It's not. But, I'm trying. Seems I've neglected a great deal of my life the past eight years . . . when becoming a Mom was my top priority (oh . . .that . . . and working a job, keeping a house functioning, meeting the demands of family members, and doing all the other things that I found myself doing the past eight years.) But now . . . I've got a little time on my hands. So, I'm trying to get my life together. I'm starting with my environment, first. My home. It's a lovely, warm, inviting place . . . full of little unorganized messes from room to room. This week, I am tackling my laundry/craft/catch all room - the one that seems to be the biggest obstacle in my creative life right now. I'll show you some before and after pictures when I'm finished with the whole project (because right now, it still looks a mess). But I am most exci

So, my first day as an unemployed Mommy started with a neighborhood DuckTape Purse 101 class in our kitchen. Remember we had discovered this crafty fun in the beginning of the year (click here to be reminded). While we took a break from the whole duct tape thing in the Spring, it appears to have resurfaced in recent weeks. So, Katie, Ella, and two of Katie's friends spent a few hours creating some new duct tape creations that I just had to share them with you. Introducing . . . our most recent duct tape creations . . .  Are these the coolest purses, or what? With only a little help from me, the girls really made these all on their own. I LOVE them! Here is a photo of Katie and her friends, Gabby and Megan, with their purses. Love these girls. Ella wasn't into the whole project . . . she enjoyed wearing her duct tape headband and wristbands and preferred dancing around the kitchen entertaining us. She reminds me a little bit of Wonder Woman, don't you think? (O

I think I'm going through the stages of grief. It's kind of like that, you know? Losing a job . . . something has ended. A relationship has died. My regular blog friend readers know that I am a passionate person, and that passion carries into most parts of my life (both my personal as well as professional life). While work was "business", I had relationships with people who I cared for. It is this part of being laid off that has me struggling most. Little things pop into my head about work, and I think, "Oh, I forgot to send that email . . . " or "oh, I had better finish that . . . " and then I realize . . . it's over. I don't need to do that. I don't need to finish that, or send that. It's over.  Then this overwhelming feeling takes over, like there is something turning in my stomach or like I can't catch my breath. Grief. Yes, I'm feeling it. And I think I'm in the Ice Cream Stage right about now. The b

A couple of weeks ago, I did a post on things I was "blessed with". I love that post so much - (click here to be reminded) that I decided to revisit it today. As you are probably aware - it's been a buzz kill sort of week in our home. So, there is no better time than today to stop and count my blessings. Because even in the middle of some obstacles . . . this week, I am blessed with so very very much. 1) Dear dear friends . . . who send little surprises of support and reminders that I am strong - that I am beautiful - that I have the power to be all that I can be. I am so very blessed to be surrounded by such supportive friends, and I am blessed - so very blessed - to have them in my life. In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer 2) My Sister . . .  There is no way, at a

I've had many moments the past day or two when I found myself driving my car, wondering to myself what I will do next. I've done what I've always known to do in this life of mine - always worked and had a place to be - always had a job to do - always had a task to accomplish. For the first time in (can it be?) 25 years, I don't. No job to go to. No boss to answer to. No list of things to get done. I have no plans for tomorrow. Absolutely none. I came home on Wednesday and told Ella and Katie that Mommy no longer had a job to go to. Katie, at first, thought I was moving the office to our home and said, "Oh, Mommy! That's GREAT! We'll be able to do art projects when you take your lunch break!" (Cute, isn't that?) I explained to her that Mommy was going to be on a PERMANENT lunch break, and we could do art projects ALL DAY LONG. It took a second for her to realize what that meant. And after she hugged me and made sure I was o.k., the biggest grin

First and foremost, a great big HUGE thank you for the kind and thoughtful messages from many of you dear blog friends. I can't tell you how much your supportive words meant. Yesterday was a rough day. Actually, the past few months have been rough. According to my dear blog friend, Bossy Betty, I have been given "permission to sulk and get a little freaked out for two days" at which time I am advised to "look ahead at all that wonderful possibilities that await!" Thank you, Betty. (Gees, I love that Bossy Betty, don't you? She is really the best.) So, I'm doing just that . . . . giving myself two days. And then, I'm moving on. Because I know that this is all for the best. And I know that I am blessed beyond words with this life of mine. I know that this is the beginning of something amazing. And I know that you are there with me . . . so, I'll be back in a day with some more positive thoughts. Here's one to tide you over until my

So, I was laid off  yesterday. Office closed. Position eliminated. Production down. Costs up. Can't keep it going. Adios. Finished. Kaput. Done. This is Life. Maybe tomorrow I will write the epilogue on this portion of my life. Maybe this is the start of a something new. Maybe it is time to finally listen to those inner whispers. Maybe. For today, I'd appreciate it so much if you'd throw some positive energy out there in the universe for me. I'm packing up the office today - throwing away 8 years of what I've known. So bittersweet. It's going to be a challenging day for me. In the meantime, a thought . . . I like that. Wishing you Peace, my friends.

Have you ever heard of a Smash Book? If you are a scrapbooker or art journal person, you may have. If you are not one of those types, you may not have. I am a scrapbooker . . . but had no idea what a Smash Book was. That is, until my dear friend Peggy brought hers to our Scrapbook Cellar gathering last month. She introduced us all to her cool little composition journal, and the conversation went something like this: PK :  Here is my Smash book. Me : Your what? PK : My Smash Book. Me : Like, smash, what? PK : Smash . . . things. You know. Like, stuff. Me : What? PK : See . . . I will put stuff in here. Junk. Things I don't want to lose, but don't know what to do with. Me : Huh? PK : Smash. Me : I don't get it. PK : Google it. CE (our friend, Cindi, who just entered the conversation and saw was PK was holding): Oh, a Smash Book! Cool! Me : Huh? CE : Google it. LT (my sister, Laura, who is right there with me): I don't get it. So, I googled it.

I know I've told you that I'm going to The Creative Connection event in September. I'm SO excited about this conference - and can't wait to be surrounded with amazingly creative women from all over this country.  In addition to hearing some amazing keynote presentations from the likes of Cristina Ferrare , Becky Higgins , Karen Walrond , and my personal idol Kelly Rae Roberts , I have signed up for a number of cool creative TCC Handmade Classes that I am so looking forward to. I mean, I am taking a class with THE Stacy Julian and another class with art journal guru Melody Ross . Seriously!!! Pinch me . . . . I must be dreaming! A whole three days of rubbing elbows with women who are making a living with their art, their words, their blogs, and their lives. That's pretty powerful, inspiring stuff. Another class I signed up for during this TCC Event is "Photography to Boost Your Creative Voice."   If you are a long-time reader of my blog, you might rem

So . . . guess what I did last weekend . . . go ahead . . . guess. Ok, let me give you a hint. It had something to do with this . . . involved staring at this . . . and had a little bit to do with these folks . . . Yes, my friends. I slept (brace yourself) OUTSIDE . . . IN A TENT. Eee-gads!!!! It's TRUE!!! Ok, Ok. So . . . it was in our backyard.  But, seriously . . . ME . . . IN A TENT . . . ANYWHERE . . . is pretty much a miracle. How did I find myself in this position? Well, remember these people? Yeah, these people wanted to. Truth is . . . these people want me to go REAL CAMPING in a REAL CAMPING SORT OF PLACE where you DON'T have REAL BATHROOM FACILITIES. (I have a problem with that.) So, THIS LADY (that would be me) suggested perhaps we try the backyard first. It was . . . . . it was . . . . it was pretty much the most uncomfortable evening of my life. But, that could have something to do with the fact that we slept outside o