From Chaos Comes Happiness

                  I have an amazing husband.  Have I told you that before?   I don't want to gloat, or sound like I am bragging. I am not. I am just recognizing one of my biggest blessings, and sharing it with you today. My husband. He is pretty awesome.  In the past few months, he has been top notch.  And sometimes I forget to tell him that.  Because, I guess, the expectation is for him to be this ' Superman '. Not only for me, but for everyone else.  Sometimes, I forget that he is real. Just like you and me.  Sometimes, I forget that he has pressures and stresses - unlike those that I can relate to. He has that "manly" responsibility to care for all four of us - for our home, to pay our bills, provide . . . all those things. Even though he knows we are in this ' together ' - that we work ' together ' - I know he carries the load.  Yes, sometimes I forget that he really has the weight of the world on h...

One of the biggest lessons I've learned about myself in recent months . . . is that I absolutely love using my art to inspire others. I love sharing my art with people and hopefully lending a bit of inspiration into their day. It's really why I've found myself on this path of living a creative life and is one of the things and matters to me most. So I came up with this class idea for young girls . . . I call it HeArt & Soul. And while I know there are a million "HeArt & Soul" references out there in the world (or at least a thousand) . . . this is my spin on it. And last week, I had a few of Katie and Ella's friends over to try it out. The project is for each girl to make their own little book of happy thoughts, happy photos and happy memories. And my hope is that they'll discover something pretty special about themselves along the way. I start with some supplies and a few pages of inspiration that I'...

Greetings, friends! While I know I promised you lots of stories and some great photos of my adventures (or lack there of) the past few weeks, I wonder if you would allow me the opportunity to do a little marketing for some art classes I am teaching at my local park district this summer. Remember . . . that ART thing that I so love doing? Well, way back when (in January, I think), I was given a great opportunity to develop some art classes for the New Lenox Park District. The classes will be held this summer . . . there are 5 of them all total . . . and as of today . . . gulp . . . WE ARE IN NEED OF STUDENTS!!! So, I thought I would tell you a little bit about the classes in the hopes that some of my local friends and family might be inspired to step up and take a class with me! Here I will share the class description, taken directly from the park districts catalog, and then provide a photo or a little more info about the class for you. Please keep in mind . . ....

It's funny how the universe works. Sometimes the best lessons are learned when we least expect them. Ella lost another tooth last weekend. Another front tooth. Which means an adorable little toothless grin to cherish for a short time, and a little girl who talks so cute . . . it's almost unbearable. When she lost it, we oooo'd and ahhhh'd over her. She is missing both top teeth, and a bottom tooth as well. Poor thing. It's a challenge to have three missing teeth at the same time. Eating requires some strategy as to the correct placement of food, and talking can be a bit frustrating for one who does so much of it. But she is a trooper. As we all made a fuss over her toothless state, I stopped and observed her reaction to our reaction. I began to think that maybe we were making it a negative thing for this little girl. Words like, "Oh, poor sissy . . . how will you eat?" and "Oh, you poor girl . . . three teeth gone at the same time. That...

The other day, I found myself waiting at a red light behind a "soccer mom". I knew she was a soccer mom, because I saw the soccer team window decal on the back of the large SUV she was driving. It was next to the gymnastics window decal, across from the dance company decal, and above the family decal with the Dad, Mom, three kids, two dogs and one cat. In her drivers side rear view mirror, I could see the reflection of her face . . . the mom . With her head leaning on the window, I watched as she closed her eyes. They stayed closed . . . for a few minutes (a train happened to come by at this particular intersection, so our red light became a little bit longer than usual.) Within seconds, a peaceful look came over her face. "I know what you mean . . . ," I wanted to tell her, "I've been there before. In fact, I'm there now." It's funny, isn't it? How so many of us wait for those quiet moments . . . at a red light . ...

I'm looking at everything with new eyes lately, wide open . . . as if I have never seen before. I used to think that I was a pretty laid back person - enjoying the little moments in life and not spending time on the negative. But I think I was totally off. And after all that has taken place in our country the past week, I feel like my eyes are wide open . . . for the first time in years. I'm saying yes to a lot more . . . because I finally understand what really matters. When Katie and Ella asked if they could make cupcakes with the dear friend all by themselves yesterday, I knew the kitchen would become a huge mess and I'd be left to clean it up . . . but I said "YES!" Because, all that really matters is that we are living our lives to the fullest - laughing and loving and enjoying our moments - because every single moment is a precious one. And when they held their just frosted and slightly under baked cupcakes out for me to see, my heart filled with jo...

13 days. It's been 13 days since I've written here. Yikes. That has to been the longest break I've ever taken from my blog. How could it be? Where, on earth, have I been? I've always said I'm Multi-Creatively Challenged - I have a hard time putting creative effort into multiple avenues at one time. I can work on a couple of 'like' projects at the same time, but throw something completely different into the mix, and I'm blubber. It doesn't work for me. The brain can't function. So trying to write a meaningful and well written blog post the past few weeks has been almost impossible. Because . . . I'm in holiday gift making mode. I had a table at a local Holiday Bazaar last week and had a pretty successful show (yay!) Afterwards, I decided to throw a little bit more into the mix by hosting a Holiday Open House at my house . . . TODAY (at 3pm) . . . for all my friends, family members and neighbors. There is something pretty overwhelmin...

I had one of those "Mom" moments last week. You know, when you find yourself watching your child and you suddenly are so overcome with emotion that tears start flowing, uncontrollably, down your cheeks. Of course, this happened to me while I watched Katie during her swim lesson. I mean, it's an emotional time, right? No . . . I don't think so. But right there. Poolside. At our local Lifetime Fitness. That's when it hit me. As she listened so attentively to her instructor, and grasped the butterfly stroke with such ease and finesse, I sat there . . . bawling my eyes out . . . like a baby. Because somehow, somewhere, at some point in the past 9 years, this little baby became a girl. And she is . . . amazing. I don't know how it happened. I mean, I remember bringing her home and those first few sleepless months, thinking that this was the hardest thing I've ever done. And don't get me wrong, it isn't easy . . . being a parent. It is hard...

A girl in our community died last week. She was 18 years old. She graduated the catholic high school in town just this past May. She was said to be full of life and happiness. And she died. Apparently, drugs are involved. I am not sure what kind, and at this point - does it really matter? But, from what I have read in the condolences and comments on various online sites, it was drugs that did it. I didn't know this girl. Although I can just imagine now that I probably crossed her in the street at some point in our lives. I could have easily drove right past her in parking lot at Ella's Preschool, since the schools are located nearby. Or, perhaps she was in line behind me at the McDonald's once or twice. Maybe she was the teenager I "shhhh'd" at the movies that one time last year. Or, she could have grabbed a coffee at Starbucks with a friend of hers once, as I smiled at their  friendship from across the room. Maybe, even, I shook her hand in...

I have a blessed life. With each and every breath I take, I am blessed. From the very first ray of sunshine that falls from the sky, to the very first sparkle of stardust at nightfall, I am reminded of the blessings in my life. I don't know if I always realized that. I was too busy going through the motions to really get it. But now, after 40 years, I finally see it. I am blessed. And with that affirmation, comes strength. The strength to stand tall. For what I believe. For what I feel. For what I want. For who I am. And standing tall . . . that is the biggest blessing of them all. Peace, my friends. Here's hoping you are standing tall, too.

So, one of the exercises for the ecourse I am taking is to make a business vision board. YOUR vision of where you want your business to go. I absolutely LOVE this exercise and began to dream of a business I actually never quite thought of before. Here is a peek at my board . . . Come back on Monday for my next "Magnificent Monday Vlog" and I'll talk about my board and tell you what it all means! Oh, before I leave . . . I have to share one more quick story and photo with you.While I was downloading the above picture from my camera, I found that Ella got a hold of my camera yesterday and took about 30 pictures of her club penguin computer game, AND my studio.  I love when she does this and when I can see the world through her eyes. Here is a photo of my studio work desk, from Ella's height. Yep . . . that's it. Cluttered and crazy . . . just full of happy chaos . . . and right in the middle of some awesome creative time this past week. LOVE IT! Hug...

WELCOME BACK, my friends! And WELCOME to the return of my Magnificent Monday Vlog ! Grab your coffee, pull up a chair, and sit down for installment #10 of our joyeous girl talk! I think I created a major fashion faux pas . . . I am wearing the same shirt that I wore in our LAST vlog, back on December 12, 2011. FOR SHAME!!! Note to self: do not wear repeat clothing on blog. It makes it look like your clothing budget is really really small for your vlogs. ;)   I'm so glad you are here . . . enjoy!

I'm focused today. Lots of things on my list . . . and one way or another - I'm going to accomplish them! I've realized that I am the only person who can get me out of Funkytown. So, I'm working on it . . . one moment at a time. I'm leaning on my *COURAGE* this week. When I picked that word, I had no idea how much I would rely on it. We (COURAGE and I) are standing up for ourselves. We are believing in each other. We are encouraging each other. It's a wonderful thing. I also have these two amazing little girls . . . you know? These two little souls who continue to remind me of what really matters in this life of mine. I was having one of  those evenings last night . . . watching the clock every second waiting for bed time to come. Just praying for some quiet and the sounds of "Mommy . . . Mommmm? Mom! MOM! Mommy!!! Mom . . . Mom?!?!? MOM!!!!!" to rest their little heads down for the night and leave me with some peace....

I'm finding myself again. Little by little, small pieces of me are coming back. Finally. I've been gone for a while. A few weeks, at least. Burned out. Unplugged. Drained. Every ounce of energy that once was mine had left me. I felt it. In my very soul. But, this very day . . . I feel it coming back. I threw myself into my business and my art the past few months . . . and took little time, if any, to slow down and breathe. It caught up with me. Periods of total exhaustion and emotional emptiness took over. And I shut down. This past week, I found our couch . . . and that, along with some wonderful movies (It's a Wonderful Life, The Bishops Wife, Sherlock Holmes, Gypsy, and Little Women) have pulled me away from all of the worry and the over analyzing. God Bless my PG, he has been picking up in my mental and physical absence; doing laundry, washing dishes, parenting, everything. I'm not totally sure he understands what has been going on in my mind, ...

There are times in my life when I want to stop the clock . . . not forever . . . but just for a little while. Today was one of those times. Katie started 3rd grade today. 3rd grade. I don't know why I feel this way. As I watched her walk to the bus today, I thought about how fast life is moving. Slow down, baby. Slow down, just a bit. For me.

So many things touching my soul today . . . so many people making a big difference in my life. People who have no idea who I am. Isn't it amazing how we can touch each others lives without even knowing it? My dear friend Leslie at {Words of Me} Project wrote a very touching post today, on finding herself in the midst of some difficult obstacles (pain) in life right now. I admire her more than words can say. While reading her post, I felt myself in awe of those people who are their authentic selves - on good days and bad. I often find myself traveling from blog to blog reading inspiring, motivating and creative posts and looking at creative pictures taken by people who, in my eyes, are just about as perfect as can be. While I know the grass isn't always greener on the other side - I wonder if they truly are as happy as it seems. Authentic au·then·tic 1: obsolete 2a : worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact b : conforming...