Studio Jenn

Take 12 - February Photos

2012-02-13T20:30:00.000-06:00

It's time again for Take 12, a monthly photography challenge hosted by Ella Publishing Co., where participants take 12 photos of the 12th of each month to scrap and share. For 2012, I am two for two on this project and feeling pretty darn good about it.

As February 12th fell on a Sunday this year, my day was a mix of puttering around the house and helping out with a fundraiser to benefit a family friend. It was a lovely mix of everyday and special occasion, home and friends, introverted and extroverted, me and others.

Like I said, it was a lovely day.

As I did last month, I will be sharing the words + photos today. Once completed, I will also share a finished layout featuring my Take 12 photos. I am working from a sketch that was included in EPC's Take 12 Kit. My mind is percolating with ideas on how to best document these memories.

I woke up at a leisurely hour on Sunday 2/12. What a lovely feeling. Threw on a sweatshirt and headed into my craft room.

Worked for 2.5 glorious hours on a Valentine's Day mini as a gift for my husband. I am loving how it is turning out. It's almost complete. The photos are printed, the embellishments are collected - I just need to adhere everything into the book. Stay tuned for a dedicated post (with photos!) on this mini later in the week.

Loved seeing this guy as I was leaving the house. I enjoy seeing the little signs of winter around the neighborhood.

I spent most of the afternoon and early evening working a fundraiser to benefit our friend, Casey, who is battling pancreatic cancer. I am in charge of a multi-week raffle so I sold raffle tickets and t-shirts for a few hours. One of the neighborhood's favorite hangouts, The Dundee Dell, hosted the event. Casey has worked there for over a decade. The owners of the Dell donated 25% of the day's total to benefit Casey and his family so Jim & I had dinner there with friends. We had an amazing turnout. I was even interviewed by a local news crew to promote the events.

Jim & Bowers in "Go Big For Casey" t-shirts

Deana & I

Princess Izzy sporting Mardi Gras beads/mask

Kozy & I at dinner


I am the raffle queen

Mr. Sam "borrowed" my iPhone and took a series of self-portraits. Too cool.

Home again, after a long day, I notice a spectacular view from my bedroom window.

I threw on my warmest jammies (with matching slippers!).

And settled in to watch the Grammys.

Good day. And good night...

10 Things - Random Facts

2012-02-10T21:30:00.001-06:00

On the 10th of the month, Shimelle and friends share a list of 10 things. Any 10 things you want. I've been a sporadic participant but decided to jump in at the last minute this month to share 10 random facts about...

this girl

1. I love road trips.
2. If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be on a beach or a sailboat so I could wake up and see the ocean every day.
3. I can hold an entire conversation using nothing but movie quotes.
4. My first car was a sunshine yellow 1972 Volkswagon Beetle. It had a rusted out area on the passenger floor and a manual transmission. I have never loved any other car as much as that clunker.
5. I am a cancer survivor.
6. I have a piece of the Berlin Wall.
7. I regularly buy things from QVC. (Yes, you could call it an addiction...my husband does.)
8. I hate roller coasters and love to dance around in summer rainstorms.
9. My favorite food is Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
10. I sleep with a stuffed turtle every night. His name is Seymour.

Want to share 10 things? Join in and link up to Shimelle's post here.

Day in the Life 2012

2012-02-09T23:58:00.001-06:00

Can I just say that I love this project?

I love this project. I really do.

I have done a day in the life several times in the past. And I just adore the process, every single time. When I look back through my albums, the layouts documenting one whole day of my everyday life are always among my favorites. This year is no exception.

I woke up Wednesday 02/08/2012 fully planning on participating in a day in the life with hundreds of other people, inspired and organized by Ali Edwards.

But very early Wednesday morning I got a phone call from my son. One of those phone calls. The type where your heart sinks and you just know your whole day has just been flipped upside down. Where that one thing becomes your whole day. And that story was not one that I wanted to document.

So, I didn't.

(how liberating)

Instead, I re-printed Ali's daily planning pages (available as a free download on Ali's blog) for today and opted for a do-over.

Today was average. Today was going to work early, stopping by Starbucks to get espresso drinks for three. Today was eating Jimmy Johns for lunch. Today was going to the grocery store. Today was making dinner in my brand new pressure cooker. Today was putting my OLW 'do' into action. Today was getting gas and doing dishes and throwing in a load of laundry. Today was laughing with Jim and dinner for two in the dining room. Today was foot pain and lost glasses. Today was giggling over the phone with my best friend. Today was playing Words With Friends on my iPhone and winning. Today was tv in bed and snuggling. Today was perfectly ordinary - and *that* was the story I wanted to tell.

I used Ali's Day in the Life layered template - available on sale here - to arrange the photos. I used the planning pages to record thoughts and events of the day. I plan on using the sheets to tell the story of the day. I probably will use a 6x12 page to house the journaling. Voila!

Did any of you join in a Day in the Life? I'd love to see your work - just leave me a link in the comments. Here's to a wonderful weekend...

Friday Photo Love: The Uncommonly Beautiful Variety

2012-02-09T01:46:00.000-06:00

I first saw this amazing poster on Karen Walrond's blog, Chookooloonks. I immediately fell in love with it. Karen is an amazing writer and photographer. Her site never fails to inspire and uplift. The poster was created by artist Kal Barteski.

I feel so strongly that this is a message every man, woman and child on earth should hear every single day.

If you love it too, you're in luck. You can pre-order a 16x20 print here.

Gratitude Sunday - For The Boy

2012-02-05T11:45:00.000-06:00

Photo courtesy of Helga Weber

I've been thinking an awful lot this past week about my blessings. We found out that a good friend has advanced pancreatic cancer. It is inoperable. He is 40 years old and has two young sons.

Our neighborhood and circle of friends have come together in an impressive show of support and love. We are hosting 6 weeks of Sunday Fun Days culminating in a blowout event with live music and a silent auction. Local businesses have donated space for these events, food and drink, raffle prizes and auction items. Local residents have offered time, treasure and talent. I am amazed at the generosity and humbled by the depth of giving.

This week, I am grateful for my blessings. I am grateful to be a part of something special.

OLW Blog Hop - 2012 Beginnings

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome OLW blog hoppers! It's time again to 'ooh' and 'aah' over the amazing work done this month by the participant's of Ali Edwards' One Little Word class at Big Picture Classes.

I really like the introductory prompt. As much as I do not typically relish the idea of having my picture taken, I have been trying to experiment a bit more with self-portraits over the past year. Utilizing the timer on my Cannon DLSR and the camera on my iPhone has made the process of self-portraiture so much easier. And I like being able to look back at these photos, seeing the changes and remembering each moment. So I enjoy knowing that each year my OLW adventures will begin with photo of moi.

Welcome 2012.

I like that thought.

In addition to a self-portrait, this month's prompt also included making a series of cards to document, define, explore and create with our word. My word for this year is do. I explain my thoughts on choosing the word do here. Here are my cards.

I am loving how this turned out. The mix of type and handwriting. The neutral embellishments. The color scheme.

love it all.

Up next in this blog hop is Carmen. Check out her post here.

In case anyone needs the complete list of all 46 (yes, that is 46!) participants, I have included the complete list below. This is the largest OLW blog hop to date. I'd like to welcome any and all newcomers. I can't wait to see everyone's take on this month's project. And a huge thanks to Margie for once again supervising and organizing this blog hop.

See you next month - or sooner. Come on back anytime. :-)

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com

Sharyn www.lavieenchic.com

Jill http://jillconyers.com

Lynn www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com

Jenn www.studiojenn.blogspot.com

Carmen http://www.carmenpaulsorthner.com

Marilee http://rose-brier.blogspot.com

Kristina http://hrinspirationfromthe403.blogspot.com/

Cindy C http://www.cynthiacrysdale.com

Kelly http://mindingmynest.com

Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com

Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com

Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com

Brooke www.everysnapshot.com

Naomi www.poeticaperture.com

Melissa http://www.smudgetime.com

Karen http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com

Melissa S http://blog.mshanhun.com

Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com

Donna http://holimess.blogspot.com/

Dawn sunshineandcreativity.com

Katrina www.katrinasimeck.com

Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com

Monica http://scrapinspired.com

Kimberlee http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com

Missus W http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/

Kaylea http://www.myscrappylife.com

Nikki Www.inkyart.com.au

Erin http://erinsparkes.typepad.com/optimstic-fascination/

Jo www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.com

Coley http://coleybelle.blogspot.com

Beth www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com

Veronica www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Jamie http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com/

Monica B http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/

Lisa http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog

Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/

Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com

Veronica http://www.veronicanorris.typepad.com

Cate www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com

Stephanie www.scrapworthylives.com

Orange Gearle http://orangegearle.blogspot.com

Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

Junelle http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com/

Ruth http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com

Becky www.becky-handforth.blogspot.com

Lovely Things

2012-01-31T16:59:00.001-06:00

I am so *loving* the fabulous digital Valentine's kit, Kiss Me, by Rhonna Farrer. The above word art is only a small bit of the available fabulous-ness. There are also brushes, borders, backgrounds, printable tags and flags and mini Valentines to send out. Rhonna's blog is always chock full of inspiration so be sure to check it out.

For the past three years, I have made my husband a mini-book for Valentine's Day. I am super stoked to utilize this kit for this year's project! I am excited to create and share this year's mini with you, dear blog readers. Here's to a wonderful and lovely February.

xoxo,
Jenn

Friday Photo Love: Acrylics

2012-01-27T12:38:00.000-06:00

I am totally loving this collection of acrylic paint colors. I originally saw the image on one of my favorite blogs, Creature Comforts. The artist is named Koey - check out her blog In The Wonderland.

Here's wishing all of you a happy weekend! xoxo

P.S. This is my 100th blog post on Studio Jenn. Woo hoo! Thanks for reading and accompanying me on this journey called life.

For The Love of Jim

2012-01-24T12:20:00.000-06:00

This man is my everything.

He turned 45 this past weekend and we had such a lovely celebration. He actually shares his birthday with his best friend so it's always a party. We went to the Creighton University basketball game in the afternoon, enjoyed happy hour cocktails at M's Pub and had the most amazing dinner at Sullivan's, a swanky steakhouse in downtown Omaha. We enjoyed the food and wine, of course, but this year I was struck by the comfort of long time friends.

The birthday boys - Dave and Jim had a wonderful evening. We all did, really. It is just so nice to see Jim smiling and happy. Relaxed. He works so hard and is so supportive at home that I *love* seeing him at play.

Of course, the ladies had a pretty good time too!

Here's wishing Jim health and happiness in 2012. And here's to us, as well.

Words on Wednesday

2012-01-17T23:41:00.001-06:00

I'm definitely feeling overwhelmed. So many pending catastrophes in our personal life right now - My son. My poor health. Bills, bills and more bills. Family pressure. Anxiety and insomnia.

Yep, overwhelmed.

But I saw these words on a blog a few days ago. They really resonated and triggered a deep, cleansing breath. I save the image so that I could keep repeating the words. Unfortunately, I forgot to write down the source so I am unable to credit my source. Please contact me ASAP if you know the source so I can link up. Thanks!

Always remember: nothing is too hard. It just takes doing a little bit every day. Persistence. Dedication. Deep breaths. And then doing it all again the next day.

What's your best trick for dealing with life when you're overwhelmed?

Progress

2012-01-15T15:50:00.000-06:00

Victory is mine.

I'm not sure exactly why, but I have been quite unmotivated for the past couple of weeks. I've been having a difficult time getting started on projects. Oh, I have tons of ideas...but I've been stalled out in taking action. I love possibilities. I love ideas. I love dreaming and thinking. And once I get going, I love creating.

It's the getting going that is the issue.

And I know that is why I needed 'DO' as my one little word this year. I know I need to push myself out of my head and into my craft room (and other places - gym, anyone?). I know that I just need to let go of fear, of insecurity and start doing something. I know that stagnation does nothing positive. I know the longer I delay the harder it actually is to move forward. I know all of these things.

But it is still hard. And I'm still afraid. I'm still insecure and stagnant.

So I am particularly proud that yesterday I did something. I entered my craft room, moved around some piles and made a layout. Of course, I haven't cleaned and organized since early December which made it somewhat tricky to create this layout...but I persevered. I also made some progress on Project Life.

It was a good start. A good day.

All of this is a rather long-winded way of saying thank you. The blog helps me in many ways, both small and large. Most importantly, it helps keep me accountable. It helps to know that just maybe there is someone out there interested in seeing what I've created.

So, thank you.

P.S. Here's the layout I made with my January Take 12 photos. I used the sketch from Ella Publishing's Take 12 kit as a guide. I love the way in turned out.

Have a wonderful next week!

Take 12 - The Photos

2012-01-13T17:28:00.001-06:00

I had such a fun time taking photos for January's Take 12 project. And I couldn't wait to share the photos. I also plan on making a layout but for now the photos will have to suffice.

1. The view from my front porch in the morning. Gorgeous.
2. I just finished reading Out of Oz, the final volume in Gregory Maguire's Wicked Years saga. I really enjoyed seeing how these books came together. Ever since first reading Wicked several years ago, I have been fascinated by Maguire's concept, writing a completely new story based upon a well established tale - in this case The Wizard of Oz but told from another character's perspective. I am obsessed with the amount imagination and creativity that it would take to accomplish such a feat...and more than a bit envious.
3. The view from above. Dark indigo Levi's. Fleece vest. Uggs. I am both warm and fashionable.
4. Today's lunch consisted of a single cheeseburger from Don and Millie's. Mmmm. Not the healthiest of lunches, but I skipped the fries and avoided the temptation of a double burger. In the end, I feel like I was able to enjoy something I was craving in a responsible way. This is progress.
5. The West Wing. The freaking complete series. Thank you, Santa!
6. Today's weather. Cold. Cold and windy. Hello, winter.
7. My very messy craft table, filled with lovely scrappy goodness. I am especially happy for new Amy Tangerine goodness.
8. My husband's recent baseball card acquisitions. I love that he is a collector.
9. Have you ever owned something that just made you smile when you caught sight of it? That is what happens every. single. time. I see my manual type writer. That it was a gift from my best friend makes it even more special.
10. Poor Jim. He had to undergo an emergency root canal...and was still in good humor and allowed a photo of his slightly swollen, very numb jaw.
11. Emergency root canal = need for antibiotics.
12. Need for antibiotics = trip to the local pharmacy. I love this pharmacy, not just the service but the complete look of the building.

I hope you all had a wonderful January 12th! I'll post a layout featuring these photos soon.

Just Do It

2012-01-12T11:40:00.000-06:00

Image courtesy of Elizabeth Dillow's blog

I am super excited for my venture into Take 12 - a monthly project of taking 12 photos on the 12th day of each month. Started by the good folks at Ella Publishing, Take 12 is a good way for me to commit to a year-long project. It is discrete. It is do-able. It is not overwhelming or exhausting.

It is something I can do.

I will be posting a layout featuring each month's photos here on my blog. Look for this month's layout this weekend.

Now, get out there and start something!

New Year, New Necklace

2012-01-07T14:36:00.001-06:00

My new One Little Word necklace arrived yesterday!

I love it.

This is the second year that I have ordered a necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs. Both have been gorgeous. I wore last year's dream necklace every day and it still looks great. This year's do necklace is just what I wanted!

Here's to the small things that bring big smiles...

OLW Blog Hop - Endings and Beginnings...

2012-01-01T03:39:00.000-06:00

Hello, dear readers and Happy New Year! I am so excited to welcome you to this month's One Little Word Blog Hop. Regular readers are familiar with the OLW concept. For anyone new to my blog, it is an idea originated by Ali Edwards that has taken off like wildfire. In 2011 Ali teamed up with Big Picture Classes to offer a guided yearlong workshop devoted to discovering and documenting your one little word. I am happy to report that the class will be offered again in 2012. Ali describes the experience like this:

"Last year I decided I wanted to do something even more tangible with my One Little Word. I've found that, just like a resolution, it's easy to lose sight of the things you set forward to embark on as regular life gets busy throughout the course of the year. To combat this I plan to bring my word into my life more consciously and concretely and make it more visible by creating an album to hold my thoughts, challenges and inspirations."

The final prompt for 2011's class centered around reflection. Ali designed a wonderful tool to record facts and feelings about our OLW. I LOVED using this tool to record my final thoughts related to my OLW dream. As I pondered the journey that I had taken with my dreams this past year, I was at peace. My journey had been fruitful. I learned what I want and I know how to make it happen. I know that a need to be creative drives me. I know that I have talent. I know that I have a unique voice and perspective - one that can educate, encourage and inspire my fellow creatives. I know that I want to pursue my own business. Someday I will work for myself. I'm not quite sure what this business will be exactly and I'm okay with that. Because I know that I don't have to have all the answers right now. I just have to believe in my dreams.

In 2010 I focused on hope. In 2011 I defined my dreams. As the year comes to a close, I am ready, eager actually, to move onto a new word. Excited to see where this new journey will take me. And confident that I am able to handle what's in store for the future. But I carry these words of years past in my soul. These words continue to speak to me, guiding and leading me even as I venture into uncharted waters. These words are comfortable, like my favorite pair of jeans. These words are familiar, like old friends holding my hand as I embark upon a new path. These words are loved.

And yet, I find myself longing for a change, something new and strange and wonderful. I feel ready to take on the world. I welcome 2012 with open arms. I've ordered a new planner. I've cracked the spine on my new journal. I am restless, filled with anticipation. I need to do something.

Do.

Hello world, a new little word is born.

In 2012 I will do more. Do more creating. Do more documenting. Do more learning. Do more reading. Do more exercising. Do more healthy cooking (to be perfectly honest, do any cooking). Do more good.

Just do.

I completed the pre-class assignment for this year's class, consisting of a title page for my OLW album. I used foam Thickers on template created by Ali. Then I stamped a grid onto the title page and created mini collages in each space. I love the completed look. It echoes the look of last year's title page but is still different enought to be interesting. Here's a photo:

Up next in the blog hop is Cindy. Check out her amazing work here.

Thank you for following along with the OLW hop! If you are interested in joining Ali's One Little Word class for 2012, you can register here. I loved this journey last year. I look forward to the upcoming journey this year. I hope you'll be joining us.

Remember, just do.

Blogging From the Heart - In the Year 2011

2011-12-31T19:06:00.000-06:00

As 2011 draws to a close, I, like so many other bloggers, have been reflecting over the year as a whole. Perusing. Contemplating. Deleting. Cringing. Smiling. Laughing. Giggling. Sharing.

Remembering.

In that vein, I'd like to share some photos + words on the most memorable moments of 2011. While this past year can be most aptly characterized as challenging, in many ways 2011 also brought a multitude of happy, positive, wonderful and exciting opportunities. After culling through my daily planner, iCalendar and thousands of photographs, I humbly offer the Best of 2011.

10. Hilton Head, South Carolina

Good friends + beach + continuing medical education = funnest business trip ever!

9. The "Dream" Journey

For the past 12 months, my One Little Word has been dream. This word has guided much of my thoughts and reflections in 2011. Each month I completed specific prompts, participated in a blog hop and spent a great amount of mental energy identifying and documenting my dreams. One of the things I felt was so special about this journey was that it was devoted to my dreams - not dreams for my family, not dreams for my marriage or my husband, just my dreams. I have found in my life and heard from many others that women have a particularly difficult time focusing on themselves. It has certainly been true in my life. I loved how easy it was to spend a few hours focused on me. I am very excited to see where my dreams are going in 2012...I will be revealing my OLW for 2012 tomorrow morning as part of the OLW Blog Hop. Be sure to check back at 10:00am CST!

8. This Boy's Smile

Although he has had his share of struggles in 2011, this amazing, talented, creative, loving boy has brought me so much joy. His smile is infectious. His zest for life is inspiring. He helps me see the little things, the small every day details that add up to a full and happy life. He makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

7. Reconnecting

I feel blessed to have reconnected with extended family...just in time for a very special 90th birthday.

6. A Visit From The East

We were so excited to host Jim's sister and family this past July. It is the first time they've come to Nebraska since Jim and I married. We explored the city, discovering new places together and sharing old favorites. One of my fondest memories is straddling the state line between Iowa and Nebraska while standing atop the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge and marveling at the flood waters that were so prevalent this spring.

5. This Girl

Jim & I are so lucky. We have the absolute best circle of friends, both as a couple and as individuals. Deana has been my best friends since we met when I was 18 years old. That we've remained so close is a miracle. That we've celebrated birthdays and holidays with each others' families is a gift. That we are godparents to each others' children is a wonder. That we've spent the majority of 2011 laughing is the greatest thing of all.

4. My Mother

The more years go by, the greater my appreciation for my mother. She is my everything.

3. October in Hong Kong
This trip to visit friends in Hong Kong was the highlight of the year.

2. This Man

Jim is the best thing that ever happened to me. I say a little prayer for this man every day. He is everything that a husband should be. He is my partner, my lover and my very best friend.

1. Graduation Day

I have never felt prouder than when my son received his high school diploma. He worked so hard and at times it seemed as if he would never reach the stage. But he never gave up. When several of his friends dropped out or decided the getting a GED would be easier, he stayed the course. Even when he was sad. Even when he was unsure of the future. Even when he was ready to rip out his hair in frustration. He never gave up. This says so much about his heart and his level of determination. This says so much about who he really is. This says so much about his intelligence and abilities. He never gave up.

I hope that each of you had moments to celebrate in 2011. I hope each of you learned something valuable in 2011. I hope each of you laughed and cried, sang and danced, read and wrote, created art and let go of trouble in 2011.

And I wish you the very best as we prepare for 2012. Happy New Year.

Post-Holiday Musings

2011-12-27T00:55:00.000-06:00

I've been doing a bit of reflecting on this past holiday season - this past year really. There were so many lovely moments and a few things that stressed me out, but overall I am left with so much gratitude.

I am grateful for my husband. As I've mentioned before, my husband is, ahem, enthusiastic about Christmas. This is such a blessing to me. Every year, we not only host a holiday party/birthday party for moi, but also host my extended family for celebration on Christmas Eve. This season, both events were totally successful. We added an extra element to the holiday party this year but having a "Mad Men"-themed party. It was quite glamorous, with family and friends alike dressing in retro '60s fashion. Here we are, looking both lovely and in love:

I am grateful for my son. As some of you may be aware, my son is battling with substance abuse issues. I am so proud of him. He is still struggling, but he is taking responsibility for his choices. He is working to stay sober, though not always succeeding. He is living life honestly, sometimes asking for help, more often than not avoiding those who could most help him but always being truthful about his choices. Believe me when I say, this is a major change and has gone a long way toward mending our little family. The truth is a soothing peace in this case, even when I know he has relapsed I am so grateful for the truth. He is addressing his legal problems with courage and grace. It is so, so hard...standing by and watching him battle his demons is the most difficult thing I have ever done. But all of that seemed somehow removed this Christmas. This Christmas he was affectionate, funny, sweet, helpful and comfortable in his own skin. He joked and laughed with family. He shared loving sentiments. He was generous and wonderful. We love him so much.

I am grateful for my job. I work outside of our home - and I love it. I am a physician assistant, working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Each time I go to work, I encounter people who have served bravely, served loyally, served compassionately, served without reservation, served humbly, just served. I am blessed in that every day I am able to give back. I am pictured below with a World War II veteran, Bill, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. I'd like to thank him again for sharing his amazing story, as well as permission to use his photograph on my blog.

I am grateful for family and friends. I am amazed by the support that has been offered to us over this past year - which has, frankly, been a bit more arduous journey than in years past. I have not come close yet to understanding all the ways that we are changed as a family, I am changed as an individual...but I am quite certain that we could not have done it without the support of our family and friends. I am particularly thankful for our mothers.

I am grateful for each and every breath. I have severe asthma. This past year has also been a challenge on the health front. I have been hospitalized several times, struggling to get and stay well. I have been alternatively hopeful and frustrated. At this moment, the entire year seems like a repetitive cycle of illness and (relative) health. I am really struggling with these limitations right now...but I have hope for the future.

I am grateful for my dreams. For 2011, my one little word has been dream. I've blogged monthly about my dreams using prompts from Ali Edwards' One Little Word class at Big Picture Classes. You can read all my previous posts related to OLW here. I have really grown comfortable with the word dream. In fact, I am even more certain now than one year ago that this word chose me. Between the stress of our family situation and the limitations of my health, much of this last year has been spent in meditation and contemplation, allowing me to fully flesh out my dreams. I have great plans for the coming year to take action on these dreams. I am quite excited about it.

I am grateful for you, dear readers. I look forward to sharing the coming year with you.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

2011-12-25T12:26:00.000-06:00

Wishing you and yours peace, joy and love this Christmas. xoxo

New Discovery - Jewelmint, Baby!

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

As I was catching up on my blog reading earlier today (serious understatement, I haven't even opened my laptop in at least a week), I read a great post on Elizabeth Kartchner's blog about a new jewlery website.

It's called, Jewelmint. And it's totally awesome.

Jewelmint is a new concept for a website selling jewelry. Fashionista Kate Bosworth and celebrity stylist Cher Coulter started the website, which customizes a style profile specific to your taste based on a style profile that you complete when you reigster. The site is a membership site, so every month a new piece of jewelry picked just for your style is emailed to you. You do not have to buy it, but if you don't opt out between the 1st and the 5th of the month then you will be charged for it. Check out the site

Check out my style, baby...

click to see image larger

I am a sucker. Not only did I register for the site today, but also I bought my first piece of jewelry today! These awesome Crystal Cascade earings were too amazing to resist.

May you find chic style and kick-ass jewelry - and just in time for a post-holiday gift to yourself.

Free Holiday Printables

2011-12-22T12:27:00.000-06:00

Oh my, oh my, oh my - the Holiday joy is spreading. The Creature Comforts blog featured amazing *free* printables that you can download for all of your Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Festivus projects!

Check it out here!

A Little Inspiration...

2011-12-05T20:40:00.001-06:00

Here are some random things I've seen around the interwebz this week that I am loving.

This calendar by etsy seller Alexander C Sprungle reminding you to get your crafty on.

This 5x7 print by etsy seller BookFiend offering the key to happiness (in my humble opinion).

This totally cute card posted by Amy Tan on Instagram.

This fabulous tag set, plus an amazing giveaway on Janet Hopkin's blog.

And lastly, this title page for my very own December Daily album.

What's inspiring you?

Gratitude Sunday - I {heart} Christmas

2011-12-04T20:17:00.001-06:00

click on image to see larger

I know it is hard to imagine, but I haven't always been a big fan of the Christmas holidays. I used to be quite a Scrooge, in fact. But my husband, Jim, is an amazing optimist and Christmas is his favorite time of the year. At first I just tolerated his enthusiasm...but being around him during the holidays is infectious.

And now, I {heart} Christmas.

He's made me a believer in the spirit of Christmas. He's made me look forward to Christmas. He's made me happy and cheerful to be around in December. He's made me anticipate Christmas carols in November. He's made me complete.

I saw this manifesto on Shimelle's blog the other day and it reminded me of everything that Jim has taught me. I am so grateful to have a partner that brings out the best in me. I am so grateful for Jim.

OLW Blog Hop - Reflections On Dreaming

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

Here we are again, fellow OLW-ers. Welcome back for this month's One LittleWord Blog Hop. I am so excited to share my thoughts and my project this month. I can hardly believe that a only single month remains in 2011.

For any new readers, One Little Word centers around the concept that a single word can be powerful and enriching, impacting on our lives in ways both large and small. Each year, I for the past several years I have chosen a single word to inspire and guide my journey. For 2011 my word has been Dream. You can see al previous posts pertaining to OLW here.

I was first introduced to the OLW concept by Ali Edwards, who I consider my personal hero. I loved following Ali's journey with her OLW on her blog so you can imagine how stoked I was when Ali announced that she had teamed up with Big Picture Classes to teach a year long class specifically focused her OLW philosophy. Each month Ali sends out an email of encouragement and reveals a prompt relating to our word. Several of the other ladies in class and I have been posting a report about each month's prompt on our blogs. The clever and amazing Margie organizes our merry band into a cohesive unit for a blog hop where we share our work and support one another through comments.

I cannot thank these women enough.
They always inspire me.
They always support and encourage me.
They keep me accountable in documenting my OLW journey.
They sometimes make me laugh.
They sometimes make me cry.
They never cease to amaze me with their warmth, creativity and insight.
No, I cannot thank these women nearly enough.

This month's prompt brought us back to writing. Oh, the writing. How I love the writing. Ali developed a series of "I statements" that were starting points for reflecting on varying aspects of our word. I loved this approach as it right away lent focus and direction to my journaling. The different completed journaling will back the nine photos taken for last month's prompt in a divided page protector. Six of the cards were pre-printed with "I statements" but the other three were left blank to allow for individual creative expression. I adore anything that offers a bit of structure but still allows for a massive influx of creativity and arsty exploration.

Here's my completed project for November:

click on image to appear larger

I was pretty simple in my documentation this month. I used my own handwriting for most of the journaling cards, but I had to break out my trusty vintage typewriter for one card (snatches of a favorite poem). I laid out Studio Calico's butterfly masks and then misted the entire page with Mr. Huey's Custard and a couple of pops of Heirloom Blue. Then I sprayed over the entire page with Mr. Huey's Calico Shine (such awesome stuff!!). I layered varying washi tapes over the center card and added the small canvas letters for my title.
I left two cards wordless, relying the butterfly to convey my sentiment. I have used butterflies throughout my album as symbols of my dreaming.

I am excited to see what Ali has in store for us with the final lesson for 2011. Also, if you've been following my blog and wishing that you would have joined us for this year's OLW journey, I have good news for you. Ali is doing it again! She will be offering another year long OLW class for 2012 through Big Picture Classes. I strongly encourage you to register. It has been an amazing experience.

Next up in the blog hop is Cindy. Check her out her fabulous blog here.

Word-spiration

2011-11-28T20:41:00.001-06:00

Typographical print by Jeff Rogers as seen on the DesignWorkLife blog.

I am totally loving this quote - and the typography as well. Here's to living a dramatic life - in the Hitchcock sense anyway...

Friday Photo Love - The Exotic Edition

2011-11-25T13:08:00.001-06:00

Recently my husband & I took an amazing trip to visit friends in Hong Kong. They live on one of the outlaying islands away from the hustle and bustle of HK central. This was the amazing view right outside our home-away-from-home on Lamma Island. I plan on posting a more photos from HK, as well as photos of a mini-book that I completed to document this amazing vacation.

Stay tuned...and happy weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T20:40:00.001-06:00

Photo courtesy of Anthology Magazine

I am grateful for so many blessings in my life, most importantly my family and friends. Here's wishing a happy Thanksgiving to all.

Sunday Gratitude

2011-11-20T13:23:00.001-06:00

I am grateful for the fabulous sock monkey slippers that were a present from my best friend Deana...but I'm even more grateful for her love and friendship.

I still like presents though....

Friday Photo Love - 11.11.11

2011-11-11T11:47:00.001-06:00

I am blessed to work with our nation's veterans every day. But today I am particularly grateful for to have that honor. Thank you to all veterans for the gift of your service.

OLW Blog Hop - My Dreams in Pictures Redux

2011-11-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome back for this month's installment of the One Little Word Blog Hop. As the year winds down, I am so very grateful to be able to look back at all my previous posts about my word of the year, Dream. I love having the concrete evidence of how much my word has come to be an active part of my life. I love seeing where my word has taken me. And I love seeing how much I have changed and grown with the influence of my one little word.

This month, we have 14 amazing women participating in the blog hop. I've said it before but it's worth repeating. Be sure to check out all of these fabulous ladies' blogs. You will be amazed at the creativity, humor, sentimentality, depth and joy that shines through on every single page. I know I can't wait to see each and every post.

October's prompt was a return to a class favorite - using 9 photographs to illustrate your word right now. What I really enjoyed about this prompt was going back to look at February's collage after I had put together the collage for this month. It was interesting to see what inspired my dreams now compared to those images that sparked my imagination near the beginning of this journey.

Below is this month's collage. I've listed the words behind the photos underneath. Once again, I plan to make a layout incorporating these words + photos. But in my album, the photos will not have any words on them (or numbers for that matter). The numbers correspond to the written statements for each photo.

1.I dream of new directions.
2. My dreams are bright and sometimes burn with intensity.
3. I dream of the exotic, the foreign, the unfamiliar.
4. Some dreams strip you bare, exposing all of my vulnerabilities and fears.
5. My dreams, collected and savored.
6. Dreams can be mysterious, leaving only hints and remnants for me to piece together.
7. I am ready to go where my dreams lead me.
8. Some dreams are comforting, like the sun shining warmly onto my face.
9. Some dreams are a baptism, like a clean rain sluicing through my soul.

I've been thinking a lot of the dreams I had in childhood, how as a child I wasn't afraid to dream, how I didn't put limitations on my dreams. Through my recent experiences in Mondo Beyondo, I've re-connected with these childhood fantasies. Some bring me laughter and amusement, some are unrecognizable, some generate a bittersweet sense of loss, and some still ring so true. More importantly, Mondo Beyondo taught me how dream again. I mean really dream, with abandon and imagination and longing...and without practicality or limits or fear.

I am learning to let go of fear, of all anxiety as I face the future.

I wanted to use a photo enlargement to convey this re-connection to my childhood dreaming.

What are your dreams right now? Are you pursuing these dreams? I really hope so...

Next up in the blog hop is the fabulous Cheri. Check our her blog and enjoy the rest of the hop!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T19:41:00.001-05:00

Me and my BFF - are we be-witching? ; )

OLW Blog Hop - Catching Up

2011-10-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to the One Little Word Blog Hop! For those unfamiliar, OLW is a year-long class offered by Big Picture Classes and Ali Edwards. Each month, Ali puts together a prompt that explores a different aspect of our word, as well as a creative project that reflects the month's theme. This year, my OLW is dream. You can see all of my OLW related posts here.

Due to recent events, I missed out on last month's blog hop. But I have completed the prompt. In August, we were tasked with a self-portrait and a loving message to ourselves. I used a photo taken with my iPhone.

For this month, we went back to deeper thinking. Ali challenged us to choose a battle worth fighting for in relation to our OLW. She also asked us to identify a battle that we are willing to surrender.

Powerful stuff.

I chose to fight for my dreams by enrolling in Mondo Beyondo, an online course devoted to dreaming big. I had seen the class many times before and was always interested...but I had not been ready to take the plunge. Shortly after watching Ali's presentation about choosing our battle, I received the Mondo Beyondo newsletter. It seemed serendipitous that the Fall Session started September 12th. I registered immediately. I am LOVING this class.

One of my favorite exercises so far was identifying my core values. I'll leave you today with my list:

Acceptance – Giving myself permission to dream big & small and then being open to what I discover. Having the courage to believe in the goodness of myself and others. Seeking more gratitude, less judgment in my beautiful everyday life. Weathering the storms of life with grace, wisdom and humor.

Authenticity – Keeping it real & owning my own particular brand of crazy. Being true to myself in all my varying roles. No comparisons, no competition. Seek to add value in all the I do. Admit my frailties. Allow venerability.

Balance – Set priorities for family, work, household and creativity. Adopt and keep a schedule to avoid becoming overwhelmed! No more paralyzing fear of imperfection. Know it’s ok to be ok. Learn to say no, kindly but firmly. Celebrate the wins.

Commitment – Keep pushing to improve dedication and reliability. Follow through. Self-motivation. Work harder at marriage & motherhood. Heathy habits are now imperative! Manage chronic disease, eat better, move more.

Love – Hold fast to “the greatest of these is love.” Let this be your anchor. Kindness first. Generosity of spirit and materials. Honor my husband. Support my son’s move to independence, guide him without guilt or smothering. Learn to love from afar. Grow my spirituality. Take care of our earth.

Next up on the blog hop is the wonderful Nicky. Check out her post here.

Farewell Coco

2011-09-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

Last night we had to give away our sweet, sweet Coco girl. And it just about killed me...

I've had allergies since childhood, but as I've gotten older, both my allergies and my asthma have progressively worsened. And while I knew that I was somewhat allergic to dogs, I've never had a severe reaction to any type of dog. I've had dogs as pets my whole life.

I'm a dog person.

When Jim & I got a dog together in January 2007, we chose a breed recommended that was recommended for people with allergies, a Chinese Crested. From the start, she was a perfect fit for our little family. Loving and sweet. A snuggler. A lap dog, but not a 'yip' dog. Protective. Smart. A little dog with a fierce heart. And so, so loyal.

During my recent hospitalization, the pulmonologist advised us that no dog is truly hypo-allergenic and that we needed to "get rid of the dog."

Thankfully, a co-worker of Jim's was willing to take her. I couldn't be more grateful. We know she has a loving home. We know she will be well cared for. We know she will bring joy to another family. I am certain of that.

But I am certain of one other thing as well.

Coco will always be my dog.

Thought For Today

2011-09-25T22:15:00.000-05:00

Return To Blogging - From The Heart

2011-09-23T23:30:00.000-05:00

As many of you might have noticed, I've been conspicuously absent for the past six weeks on my poor blog. I have been dealing with some fairly overwhelming family and personal issues during this time. Partly out of shame, partly out of fear but mainly out of not even having enough energy to open my laptop at the end of every day, I told myself that I was "taking a hiatus" from blogging...but less like a planned sabbatical and more like just plain running away.

I was really just avoiding the issue of how to creatively express myself in the face of adversity. How do you present the struggles and challenges of real life without becoming overly emotional or coming across like you're just complaining? I mean, god forbid my blog should read like an overwrought teen diary, teeming with angst and drama. While life has certainly felt like I've somehow wandered onto the set of the "Real Housewives of Omaha," I was less than enthused with the thought that my blog should be perceived as such nonsense. I admit it - I was worried about being too open, oversharing or (gasp!) wandering into the dreaded TMI zone.

But then I read this post on Ali Edwards' blog last week which started my thinking that maybe I was holding back unnecessarily, that I can be real and authentic about my struggles in a productive way. Shortly after, I read this post on Stephanie Howell's blog and was completely thunderstruck, awed and inspired by her challenge to Blog From The Heart.

I hear you, universe. And I offer you my heart in return.

My heart is breaking. My darling boy, my only child is a drug addict. He has been since the tender age of 14. To save him, we had to let him go for over 1 year when he was 16. A year filled with insight and laughter and tears and healing and sobriety. After returning home, he underwent close monitoring and remained sober for an additional 8 months. He relapsed in January of this past year at the age of 18. We had an intervention in mid-August but he declined help. We had to have him removed from the house after he destroyed our living room furniture and assaulted both my husband and I. I have had only sporadic contact with him since that episode. Right now, my family is broken but I cannot fix it. I am helpless, forced into the role of observer as my only child battles his demons, doomed to stand by and merely watch. But I have hope, always hope.

My heart is overwhelmed. The stress of a blended family is taxing to a relationship in the best of circumstances. Obviously, the present is not something that could be characterized as the best of times. Jim and I are working through these challenges. I'd ask for your support and prayers over the coming weeks that we can grow tighter, stronger and more committed through our shared strength.

My heart is grateful. We are blessed with an amazing and wonderful circle of friends, as well as both of our families. To say that these individuals, our tribe as it were, have banded together in a truly awe-inspiring display of support for our family wouldn't come near enough to describing the outpouring of love that we have received.

My heart is healing. In the midst of all the turmoil, my asthma flared up (thanks again, fall allergies) and quickly developed into a serious pneumonia. I spent the majority of the past week in the hospital and needed two days of ICU care to remain off of a ventilator. This was truly one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. But I am lucky. I received excellent care and responded perfectly to medication. I have been home since last Tuesday and am feeling my strength coming back.

My heart is kick-started. Needless to say, this recent health scare has reinforced an urgent need in myself to make some lifestyle changes. I hereby commit to improving my eating habits and increasing my physical activity. I am completely deconditioned. But I am strong. I am capable of change. I am focused and determined.

My heart is inspired. I joined the fall session of Mondo Beyondo. As the site says, "I have joined Andrea Scher and Jen Lemen as together we explore Mondo Beyondo--the powerful point of view that transforms our deepest dreams into practical realities." I'm really looking forward to focusing my emotions and energy into a positive endeavor.

What is your heart feeling right now?

Friday Photo Love - The Someecards Edition

2011-09-23T15:18:00.001-05:00

Due to some unanticipated health problems, I have been woefully absent from my little blog. But I am back! And glad to be here...although still no running allowed for me if I want to keep breathing.

Look for a longer and more authentic post later this evening...and thanks for sticking with me, readers.

OLW Blog Hop - The Musical

2011-08-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome once again to the One Little Word blog hop. I have really come to love these monthly gatherings, my friends. Participating every month in an organized group activity (thank you so much, Margie!) has been supremely helpful in keeping me on-track and accountable with my OLW dream adventures. Even when I haven't actually completed the prompt, preparing for this blog hop keeps thoughts and ideas about my word at the forefront of my mind.

Bet you thought all that was a lead up to my explaining how I don't have this month's prompt completed.

Well, you would be wrong. ; )

Because there is no way that I would miss out on a prompt that involved music. I cannot tell you how excited I was to see song lyrics as the main component this month. Music has always been a huge part of my life, my family's life. Just about this time last year, I wrote a post describing the soundtrack of my life. It is one of my favorite blog posts ever (if you're interested, you can check it out here). And I got just as much satisfaction exploring songs from the perspective of my word, from seeing where my dreams lead me as I did when I wrote about this last year.

Music is just magic to me.

I actually did my cards digitally this month. I do all kinds of scrapping - traditional, digital and hybrid - but this is the first time I've done an all digital layout for this class. Truth be told, it was fun playing with type and color on my laptop. I'm a little bit geek at heart so sometimes I find great joy creating through technology.

Here's the listing of my lyric choices -

1. The Cave | Mumford & Sons
So make your siren's call and sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
'Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

2. All You Need Is Love | The Beatles
All you need is love

3. Love at the Five and Dime | Nanci Griffith
Dance a little closer to me
It's closing time
And love's on sale tonight
At this five and dime

4. Thunder Road | Bruce Springsteen
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night

5. F*cking Perfect | P!nk
Pretty, pretty please
if you ever, ever feel
like you are nothing
you're f*cking perfect to me

6. She Got Her Ticket | Tracy Chapman
She got her ticket
I think she gonna use it
I think she going to fly away

7. Dream a Little Dream of Me | Ella Fitzgerald
Sweet dreams til sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

8. Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise | The Avett Brothers
There was a dream
And one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage
I broke in and demanded somebody free it

9. Defying Gravity | Wicked
It's time to try defying gravity

And I utilized the feature on my printer that prints directly onto a CD in creating my playlist! Total score. Here's a peek at this month all together in my album.

Next up in the blog hop is Maureen - check out her blog here.

10 on the 10th - 10 Moments To Remember

2011-07-10T00:00:00.002-05:00

This month's 10 on the 10th captures 10 moments of this summer that I want to remember. Always.

I want to remember how blessed I am to witness the bgeinnings of a deep friendship between the daughters of two of my best firneds. There is something beautiful and meaningful in the continuity and interweaving of mothers and daughters.

I want to remember how lucky I am to have such a wonderful mother. I'm totally enjoying watching her with her grandchildren. My only child recently graduated fromhigh school. When he was younger, I was too overwhelmed with struggling to find my own parenting style and too insecure to appreciate all the insight that my mother had to offer. My brother and his wife married young but waited several years to have children. I love how relaxed I am with my niece and nephew. I can see now how amazing my mother is - and was - with children.

I want to remember all the warmth, laughter, adventure, exploration, giggles, hugs and love that we shared with Jim's sister and family. Good times.

I want to remember the scarifices made by all of the servicemen and servicewomen so that I can live in a country where I am free.

I want to remember how wonderful it is to have a group of women friends who exemplify everything that is right about being a woman.

I want to remember how much I love this young man, how scared I am about the changes coming our way and how hard it is to let go...

I want to remember how much I adore this man. He is my everything.

I want to remember the free and easy feeling of relaxing by the pool. I want to remember that I had the courage to put on a swimming suit, even when I thought I was too fat. I want to remember how cleansing it feels to dive into the cold water. I want to remember going off the diving board and doing handstands under the water.

I want to remember experiencing the magic of the musical Wicked with these fabulous people.

I want to remember the sounds of a ballpark in the summer.

What do you want to remember this summer?

PS If you want to see more 10 on the 10th, check out Shimelle's blog here.

Friday Photo Love: The Bad Mommies Club

2011-07-08T20:52:00.000-05:00

I just love these ladies.

And The Giveaway Goes To....

2011-07-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much to everyone that left comments on my June OLW Blog Hop post. I really appreciate your kind words and support. In addition, I learned lots of interesting tidbits about my readers. By far, the most interesting random fact was this:

Congratulations, Cynthia! Email me at jennhv@cox.net with all of your contact information and I will send a goodie box your way.

OLW Blog Hop - I Remembered Pictures... And I've Planned An Awesome Giveaway

2011-07-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome back friends! I am super excited about this month's One Little Words blog hop. Ali hit the ball out of the park with this month's prompt. I'm talking grand slam, out of the stadium home run.

This month we took a step back from prompts that centered around deep thoughts, letters to future selves and documenting our planning process and ventured back into the artsy, crafty side of things. Now don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed every single one of the previous prompts. The contemplation, planning, and exploring the depth of my Dreams has helped me to keep my OLW in an active place in my life. It gave me a timeline of sorts for action steps. It offered some accountability in committing to this process. And it opened my eyes to new perspective. To read more about these prompts, you can check out my previous posts on my Dream journey here.

But I was so ready for some hands-on creativity this month. In fact, I was desperately ready to express my Dreams in a more artistic way. Our prompt this month was this:

This month you’re invited to create a series of nine mini-canvases that will fit inside a divided page protector. The main encouragement I want to give to you is to simply keep your word in mind as you play.

Perfect. Just perfect.

The color scheme for my album has been turquoise, grey, red and yellow. And this month I was feeling yellow. Such a bright, sunny, cheerful, happy color...the exact right sentiment for my outlook as I move forward on this Dream quest.

Here's my collage:

I was super inspired by this stamp that Ali used to create her crossword pattern. I am a major crossword geek! And while I didn't have that stamp, I did have the amazing red + yellow crossword patterned paper that I've been hoarding for a couple years. I used the paper, a brad and stamped my OLW to create the central canvas around which I built the others. I love how it turned out! Here's a close-up the central portion:

I also have photos to share of my completed project pages for March, April and May. Can you believe how long I've been slacking on sharing my completed pages? Yeah, I know, I can't really believe it either. But here they are anyway... If you want to see any image in a larger size, then just click on the image.

March - Folded

March - Unfolded

April - Left Side

April - Facing Pages

May - Facing Pages

May - Closeup on Quote

May - Spreadsheets

May - Spreadsheet Detail

June - Facing Pages

Now, some of you might remember from last month that I started on embellishing my OLW album cover. It is complete! I love, love, love the butterfly accent with the flower cluster - doesn't that just evoke Dream-iness?

And here's a couple of detail shots of the cover elements...

Last but not least, I am super stoked to announce my very first giveaway!

(cue applause)

I am doing a major de-stash of my craft room. I'm talking tons of patterned paper, sticker sheets, embellishments and even some American Crafts Thickers. I mean, who can resist Thickers?!?

No one, that's who.

I plan on filling a US Priority Mail flat rate shipping box to the brim for one lucky reader. To be eligible for this box of awesome-ness, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me one random fact about yourself. I will collect comments until 11:59pm CST on Thursday July 7th. The person with the most interesting factoid will be crowned winner by moi and announced Friday July 8, 2011. So be sure to stop back.

Thanks for hanging in there on this much-longer-than anticipated post. Next up on the OLW blog hop is Kathryn at Katlo Designs. Check out her blog here.

Happy Hopping!

Friday Photo Love: The Chase Is On

2011-07-01T02:47:00.000-05:00

I somehow managed to lose the identifying information for the designer of this super, fabulous quote. If anyone knows who created the word art (I added the frame), please leave me a comment so I can properly credit the artist. Thanks!

For The Love Of Jeopardy!

2011-06-14T22:46:00.001-05:00

So, here's something you may not know about me - I am a Jeopardy! fanatic. For the past couple of years, I have taken the online test in the hopes of becoming a contestant. This year I passed the online test and was invited to audition for the show!

Monday morning Jim & I packed up the Kia and hit the open road. My audition was scheduled for 3:00pm in Kansas City, Missouri so we had to travel about 3 hours. The drive down was interesting. We got to see several areas of imminent flooding and also areas of sandbagging to create levees. We arrived in KC just before 1:00pm so we decided to explore the downtown area a bit and grab some lunch.

I had some difficulty swallowing lunch - I was nervous! My throat was dry and my heart was racing a little bit. I didn't expect to be anxious as this was something I was doing just for fun. It reminded me of taking an important test or my first day working as a physician assistant. New. Exciting. Intimidating. Full of anticipation.

I was feeling all of these feelings and more.

The first thing I had to do was complete an application. Then the contestant coordinators took everyone's
photo with a Fuji Instax instant camera. It's funny but this was the thing that reassured me, helped me to relax. I also have an Instax and this commonality seem to bring the whole experience back into focus. I was here to have fun. I found myself starting to breathe easier. My heart slowed. I could suddenly swallow again.

The aspiring contestants were taken to another room. We went through some practical instructions on how to play the game, including tips on ringing in and review of specialized topics like "Before & After" and "Rhyme Time." Then we had to take another test, play a mock game and participate in an interview. I had such an amazing time. I laughed. A lot actually. I got to talk other people who love Jeopardy! just as much as I do. Really smart, funny amazing people. And if nothing else, I got this totally awesome pen.

Thank you, Jeopardy!

10 on the 10th - 10 Books That Changed My Life

2011-06-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome, readers! Today I am initiating a new feature on my blog inspired by Shimelle Laine and her Beyond Blogging for Scrapbookers class called 10 on the 10th. Each month on the 10th I will unveil a new listing of 10 - it could be 10 things I love, 10 ideas I Wish I Had First, 10 Favorite Desserts, even 10 Things I Hate This Month.

I really love this feature.

For this month, I wanted to showcase something a bit meaningful and truly personal to me. Ask anyone that knows me well to name one of my defining characteristics and the majority will tell you that I am a reader. I love to read, always have and always will. I am prolific in number and eclectic in taste. I believe that books have the power to shape and change what we know, what we believe and even who we are.

Here are 10 books that changed my life, changed in both big and small ways.

The Velveteen Rabbit is the first book that I remember reading on my own. My mother had read it to me many times and I always associate this story with her. Loving something (or someone) so much that it becomes real is a theme that resonates deeply in me...and has remained with me since my earliest days.

Bridge to Terabithia is beautiful story of friendship, love and loss. It is the first book that touched me so much that I cried. It was also the first time I really identified with a character. I vividly remember sitting at our kitchen table, sobbing as the story came to its close. I was 9 or 10 years old but I knew then that I wanted to be gifted with this type of friendship, a deep, loyal and abiding friendship. And I have...

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was the quintessential coming-of-age novel for girls like me, becoming a young woman in the 1980s. I walked each step with Margaret as she moved, made new friends, had her first crush and even started her period. Her confusion, insecurity and courage were supremely reassuring to an awkward teen like me. I knew if Margaret could do it, then I could, too. This book gave me strength at a time I desperately needed it.

The Handmaid's Tale was a revolutionary read for me, delving into gender roles, feminism, patriarchy, the religious state and childbirth as a reflection of society. It challenged my rather narrow view of the world and pushed me to think of myself in terms of my sex.

A Prayer for Owen Meany is a novel I return to again and again. I love the exploration of spirituality, social justice and fate. This is the first book I ever read that explored the Vietnam War and its effects on America's psyche. It opened my mind and my heart, reinforcing my own belief in God and a commitment to evolving my own life's purpose.

The Prince of Tides introduced me to the wonder that is Pat Conroy. He speaks my language, knows my heart. This story also cultivated a lifelong love of the South Carolina Low Country, despite or maybe because of the very foreignness of this place compared to my own home in the Midwest. A story filled with the beautiful balance of comedy and tragedy, love and loss, forgiveness and rage and family.

Bridget Jones's Diary was the breath of fresh air that brought me laughter, hope and a renewed belief in love when I was scrambling to find a way to believe that I might be happy again after a crushing heartache.

The Harry Potter series holds a very special place in my heart. This is the first set of books that my son and I read together, every one. We started when he was 5 and finished when he was 15. All but the last two novels I read aloud to him, even when he was clearly capable of reading them alone. We shared and inhabited this wondrous world together. We discussed concepts like destiny, magic, sacrifice, love and honor. My son is a fervent crusader for social justice and always looks to uphold the rights of the underdog. I like to think of this as a bit of the "Harry Effect" and it makes me smile.

Life of Pi was an amazing adventure to me, filled with equal parts beauty and horror. Themes dealing with religion, what it means to be human and what it means to be animal captivated my imagination. I dwelt on the nature of solitude and the concept of a strong, independent self. I wondered at my capacity for survival. I questioned if I could kill. And I celebrated in the very notion of being alive.

The Kite Runner is one of the most beautiful and tragic stories I have ever read. Its themes of family, betrayal, shame, love and redemption set against a backdrop of war torn Afghanistan are difficult to read. There is violence and horror, racial and religious persecution that sometimes is sickening, but it is tempered with friendship, loyalty, forgiveness and love that is a balm to the soul.

This list is by no means exhaustive. I'm sure I could come up with another 20 or 30 books that changed my life. But I'm more interested in you right now. What are some of the stories that changed your life?

OLW Blog Hop - My Dreams in Pictures

2011-06-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome back for this month's One Little Word blog hop! I am so glad that I am working a little bit every month on my word for 2011 - DREAM. Participating in these monthly blog hops help keep me motivated and excited to share my experiences. You can check out my previous posts about documenting my OLW here.

I am really loving how Ali has structured this class. There is great balance so far. Balance between words and photos. Balance between thought and action. Balance between creativity and organization. Balance between dreams for myself and dreams for my family.

I am always struggling to find this kind of balance.

So it was really refreshing to see this month's prompt dealt with list making, tasks and to-dos that related to our word. And Ali even created a really special spreadsheet to organize our goals. I didn't get a chance to photograph my own completed spreadsheet, but here is a photo of Ali's example.

One of my self-appointed task items was to create a layout that documented the words that went along with this photo collage. I knew that I wanted to record those words but I didn't want to add the words directly onto the photos in my album. I just loved how the images stood alone, how they progressed and complemented one another. I was afraid adding the words into the collage would distract from the impact of the images themselves. I can happily report that not only did I complete this layout but also I took a photo. Aren't you so proud?

I used my old manual typewriter to journal the dream statements. I love adding typed journaling to my projects. It just adds a bit of grunge and a dash of sentimentality that can be a great contrast to the more artsy, creative photos. Because this layout faces the divided page protector holding the full-sized, unadorned photos I knew I wanted to keep the photos on the layout small. I chose to center words + photos and surround them with plenty of white space. I added some stitching, some splatters and my title. I totally love it.

I also did some work on my album cover this month. I am using the Pink Paislee canvas album from the Parisian Anthology collection. I added some dangling crystals, a metal heart and key, ribbons and string. I love the girly effect. I have this great Jenni Bowlin yellow butterfly rub-on that I've been hoarding in my stash for months. I am going to add that to the front of the album along with the One Little Word title...but I haven't worked out exactly how yet. But come on back next month and see what I come up with!

Next up on the blog hop is Junelle at Yes and Amen blog. Have fun and see you soon!

That's My Baby

2011-05-19T12:50:00.000-05:00

Make an announcement

Friday Photo Love: The Whoopie Edition

2011-05-13T18:27:00.000-05:00

I am so loving these fabulous Mini Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from Starbuck's. Newly discovered, but sure to be habit forming...

For All The Mothers

2011-05-08T12:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day.

Friday Photo Love: The Blues Are Good For you

2011-05-06T12:29:00.000-05:00

Original photo by Colorful Pixels By Life

I Call It "Royal Wedding Fever"

2011-05-02T02:07:00.000-05:00

You might have noticed that I missed last Friday's segment of Photo Love. Well, it is because I came down with Royal Wedding Fever.

And it is very contagious. Just look at these two...

Deana and I totally went crazy for the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton (for you morons out there who weren't sure what royal wedding I was referring to). Deana dug out her wedding tiara - and the silver, china and crystal stemware in case you were wondering about our level of commitment - while I made myself a veil to wear with my own (plastic) tiara.

Really, how cute are we?

So, Deana took Friday 4/29/2011 aka Wedding Day off of work while I already had the day off. We planned to nap in the evening and then meet at her house around 2:30am to begin the festivities. The actual wedding ceremony was slated to begin at 5:00am in our time zone. But...neither one of us could sleep. Truly, we were 'too excited' thinking about the wedding. I gave up the pretense of sleeping about midnight and just headed over to Deana's house.

We drank mimosas while watching the pre-wedding tv coverage. We ate scones with homemade clotted cream (a super yummy treat). We snarked on people's attire and speculated about the dress. We ooh'ed and aah'ed at the pomp and grandness of it all. We got nostalgic, thinking back on Princess Di's wedding to Prince Charles (Deana made a scrapbook of said event which proved quite sentimental). We remembered our own weddings with smiles and (maybe) some tears of joy.

So by the time the actual wedding began, we were both fighting to stay awake - just like this little Princess.

We made it through the vows and some singing. And then I had to go home because I am old and can no longer celebrate through the night. I knew I had to make it into my bed or I was going to be sleeping in Deana's arm chair. So I fell asleep at home, cozy and comfy in my own bed, amid the sounds of cheering. With the image of the wedding kiss as my last concrete memory.

OLW Blog Hop - Still Dreaming

2011-05-01T11:34:00.001-05:00

Welcome to all visitors participating in the blog hop celebrating this month's One Little Word workshop by Ali Edwards!

This year my OLW is dream. You can read here for about my experience this year with my OLW and a bit about the OLW concept.

I have been doing the monthly prompt's along with others in the class. It is definitely a great way to keep my dreams at the forefront of my mind. In March, the assignment was to stake an action step related to our word. My action step was reading The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed To Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown. I learned some excellent strategies to let go of perfectionism. I have a nasty habit of thinking life has to be perfect, that I have to be perfect. It adds stress to my life and keeps me from achieving my dreams...so it is time for me to kick perfectionism to the curb.

Goodbye perfection.

This month our prompt was to write a letter to ourselves - taking stock of the OLW process, envisioning where we want to be and then setting intentions for the rest of the year. For me, the most important part was writing it down and placing it in my album. Things always seem more real, more significant when I can see it written down. Seeing my dreams for the future, for my family and for my own personal growth outlined in black on crisp white paper helps to crystallize these dreams in my mind. Just one more step to turning dreams into realities...

I haven't been great about photographing my work but I promise I will have photos to share next month. Thanks so much for visiting! Come back soon and leave a comment.

Next up in out OLW Blog Hop is Donna. Have a wonderful weekend.

Totally Rad Sneakers

2011-04-26T14:47:00.000-05:00

My good friend Mr. Sam spent some time with me this weekend. He had these cool, retro sneaker on but they were very plain. I noticed that he had taken a blue ballpoint pen and scribbled along the tongue of one of his shoes. I commented that I liked the way he 'personalized' his shoe. He immediately said, "You know what would be so cool? I could use your paints and add more!" I immediately said, "Call your mother and ask her."

Mom said, "Yes."

Instead of paint, he decided to use Studio Calico Mists, Staz-On Ink, stamps and Sharpies to decorate his sneakers. Because the mists are water soluble, I sprayed the sneakers with acrylic sealant when he had finished his design. I'm sure that the color will still fade over time but it will certainly last longer having been sealed.

As you can see, the sneakers turned out awesome. It only took about 20 minutes from start to finish. I helped a bit with the stamping but otherwise Mr. Sam did the whole project himself.

Pretty good for a 7 year-old, right?

Friday Photo Love: The Whole Package

2011-04-22T01:03:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: Irene Suchocki

I have fallen in love with the photography of Irene Suchocki. She describes her work perfectly - "I am a Montreal-based fine art photographer. I enjoy experimenting with different styles and techniques, both in-camera and in my digital darkroom. Faithfully capturing a scene is less important to me than finding that little bit of mystery or evoking a certain mood. I like to explore the ethereal, the surreal, the whimsical, the mysterious, and the beautiful. I enjoy creating little poems for the eyes."

See more of her gorgeous art here.

Friday Photo Love: Minty Dreams

2011-04-15T12:18:00.000-05:00

Click to see larger image - photo by Cindy

Friday Photo Love: Spring Is In The Air

2011-04-08T14:24:00.000-05:00

photo credit: Inspire Lovely Etsy shop

Friday Photo Love

2011-04-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

Introducing Friday Photo Love

2011-03-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

click to see larger image - original photo courtesy of Mary Falvo

I am super excited to introduce a new feature on my blog - Friday Photo Love. Every Friday I'll be posting photos that speak to me. Some will be my own photos. Some will be photos that have been shared under a Creative Commons license. All will be photos that speak to me.

I hope they will speak to you, too.

Good Morning Sunshine

2011-03-23T23:45:00.001-05:00

Click to see larger image

Some thoughts on my morning routine...

My Blackberry is like an extension of me. I feel horrible, like something is missing if I accidentally leave this precious device at home or (God forbid) anywhere else. Not only is it a phone, email delivery system, web browser and camera but also it is my alarm clock!

I like a lot of time to get up and moving around. I want to be able to lounge, catch up on email and read all of my favorite blogs. Ali's blog always sparks my creative mind, but I'm also inspired by DesignWorkLife and Studio Calico. To get my pop culture fix, I turn to MamaPop. And Someecards never fails to make me laugh uncontrollably.

If it is a really good day, my hair will just naturally flow easily into tangle-free, wavy curls. But that never happens. Like most naturally curly hair, mine requires a smoothing, anti-frizz serum, a good diffuser for blow drying on low and a quick prayer to the hair gods. I use this serum to achieve curl greatness.

I am a lip gloss kind of girl. Lip gloss, not lipstick. I am currently using this for an everyday gloss. My shade? B Sexy. 'Nuff said.

I live in Nebraska. In case you are unfamiliar, it gets extremely cold here during the winter. This year, my feet have been saved by wearing my Ugg slipper boots on a near constant basis. The boots are heavenly. So soft and so comfy. My feet stay warm and feel good, too.

I don't really come alive until I have had my morning coffee. It's not the caffeine. Ok, it might be a little bit the caffeine. But I truly love the experience of drinking a Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte as I start my day. I am lucky because we have a Starbucks in the lobby at work. It's a habit and an expense but it never ceases to make me smile and appreciate my day. That's worth quite a bit.

What's your favorite morning routine?

PS I used this digital layered template by Ali Edwards to create my scrapbook page. The majority of the papers come from a kit designed by Jessica Sprague that came with one of her classes. Other paper came from Kate Pertiet and Jesse Edwards at Designer Digitals.

Blogging For Scrapbookers

2011-03-22T00:38:00.004-05:00

Remember all those times that I said I was going to be a better blogger?

Blogging Research Wordle, originally uploaded by Kristina B

Yes. I know that I've said it a few times but believe me it's harder than it seems at first glance to come up with new and fresh topics. And it is even harder to find the time to actually sit down and write. But I still aspire to be better...

Enter Shimelle Laine and her fabulous class Blogging for Scrapbookers.

I plan on using the daily prompts to guide new and exciting content. And hopefully, I can pick up a few tips on organization & time management as they pertain to blogging. I know that I have lots of areas that can be improved so I am very interested in how to make these changes.

And honestly? I absolutely love learning new things.

So, here's to a wonderful adventure. What's something new that you look forward to this year?

I've Got the Luck of the Irish

2011-03-17T12:36:00.000-05:00

Here's wishing all of you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Photo courtesy of En Pointe Photography

Cover Me

2011-03-17T01:32:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post tonight to share an album cover that I recently created. A friend of mine is getting married and last weekend was her bridal shower. I knew that I wanted to make something for her gift. After hemming and hawing about what I was going to do, I finally decided to make her a memory book of the actual bridal shower.

I have had a Prima Canvas album in my stash for almost a year. It is a super cool album - both the cover and 5 insert pages are made of thick canvas fabric. It also comes with 5 plastic page protectors. The canvas comes undecorated- so I'll admit that I was a little bit intimidated to work on such blank space. Here's a photo of the album without any alteration.

click on any image to see larger

See what I mean? Intimidating...

To begin the album, I used her wedding colors of pink and green to build a background. Then I added layers of paint, dictionary page, paper flowers, chipboard butterflies, metal flower brads, stickers and fabric brads to further customize. I made similar collages on the inside canvas pages, building around a central focal photograph from the couple's engagement photos. I used the page protectors to hold basic 8x8 background cardstock, again using the wedding colors. I printed out decorative journaling cards personalized with the bride's name. As each guest arrived at the shower, she was given a card and asked to write down her best marital advice for the couple. I used my Fuji Instax instant camera to snap a photo. While the other guests played typical shower games, I adhered each advice cards next to a photo of the author on the cardstock. I was able to perfectly fit 2 cards/photos per page. At the conclusion of the shower, the bride was took home a fully completed memory book.

It was a huge hit.

I wish you could see it. I really do. However, I ~~stupidly~~ accidentally forgot to take any photos of the interior pages. But I did a couple of shots of the cover. This is how the finished album appeared:

Here's a close-up of the collage:

Lastly, here's what the journaling cards looked like:

I really love making personalized gifts like this. What are some of your favorite crafty projects?

Soul Restoration Blog Hop or Better Late Than Never

2011-03-05T17:44:00.001-06:00

Hi friends! As you might have noticed I was a little late posting for the SR Blog Hop. So, so sorry...I had it set up to post automatically yesterday morning but clearly my poor blog was struggling with technical difficulties. Anyway I am posting now in the hopes that all might be forgiven.

I was completely blown away by my experiences during the Soul Restoration workshop. It was intense, amazing, heart wrenching, cathartic, uplifting and majorly empowering. I would highly recommend this workshop for anyone longing to regain "the real me." Another session of Soul Restoration 1 is beginning April 5th and Soul Restoration 2 will then start June 7th. I will definitely be moving on with SR 2. More sharing about the curriculum and registration information can be found here.

Please check out the Brave Girls - you won't be sorry!

In this post, I shared some of my initial thoughts about the Soul Restoration workshop and a tutorial on the construction of my 'soul house' journal cover. Today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite journaling pages.

Next up in the Blog Hop is Dawn Hueser - check out her blog for more Soul Restoration goodness.

Feeling the Love

2011-03-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

click to see larger image

I'm definitely seeing this concept in action in our lives right now. What a huge blessing...

PS I saw this amazing project on Beth Shaleben's blog. You should check it out.

OLW Blog Hop

2011-03-01T10:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome friends! I am so excited to be participating in this month's One Little World Blog Hop. There are 44, yep that's right, I said 44 participants. So be sure to check out all of these fabulous ladies' blogs. You will be amazed at the creativity, humor, sentimentality, depth and joy that shines through on every single page.

click on image to see larger

To anyone unfamiliar with the concept, One Little Word was first introduced to me by Ali Edwards. As she explains, "I am a fan of welcoming the new year with open arms. I love fresh starts, new opportunities, clean slates, possibilities. Back in January 2007, as a way to celebrate these beginnings, I started a public tradition of choosing a single word to focus on over the course of the year."

I have been choosing my own word of the year since 2008, but have only been blogging about my word since last year. In 2010, I kept my focus on hope. And in 2011 my head and heart are filled with dreams. The greatest hurdle in this process for me was to make sure that I took the time to acknowledge my dreams every day. Not just opening up and admitting that I have dreams but really believing that I deserve for all of my dreams to become truth. I am taking a class taught by Ali through Big Picture Classes exploring and focusing on my One Little World dream.

Last month, we completed the title page of our album. You can see mine here. We also used divided page protectors to house a series of nine cards created with words, clip art, quotes, patterned paper and embellishments. These cards exemplified and symbolized our One Little Word in graphic detail. Again, you can see my collage here.

For February, we also created two projects. First,we collected nine photographs that spoke to us of our word, in my case my visual interpretations of my dreams. These will go into the reverse of the divided page protector used n January. I thought long and hard about which concepts, ideas, wishes, fears and emotions that I wanted my photos to convey. Here's what I cam up with:

click on image to see larger

For my second project, I knew I wanted to incorporate a photo enlargement as contrast to the various smaller images. To help simplify the concept of dreams; to see a beautiful reminder of my capacity for dreaming; and to aid in instilling the belief in me that I have the power to turn my dreams into reality; I created this print:

click on image to see larger

Thanks for stopping by Studio Jenn! Please drop me a comment or any questions that you might have. Next up in the OLW February Blog Hop is Kathryn Lowe. Here's the link to her blog Stamping With Kathryn Lowe. Have a wonderful Tuesday - now go & do something that you love!

PS In case you've gotten lost, all of the OLW February Blog Hop participants are listed here on Margie's blog.

Thought For Today

2011-02-28T23:00:00.000-06:00

via Poppytalk

And I just thought you should know.

Be sure to stop tomorrow morning for this month's One Little Word Blog Hop. Yes, that's right - I am participating in my first ever Blog Hop.

Intrigued? I know I can't wait to see all the blog-spiration. See you tomorrow. It all goes live at 10am CST.

Soul Restoration Reavealed...and a Tutorial

2011-01-14T21:12:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to be taking Soul Restoration with the gals over at Brave Girls Club. I've been receiving daily inspiration emails from the Brave Girls for the past year. So many times, these little messages are exactly what I have needed to hear. Words of encouragement, words of love, words of courage...so many beautiful words. When I couldn't find the words on my own, it was such a blessing to receive the words from them.

I thought I'd share the cover of my soul house journal - and just for the fun of it, I'm posting a tutorial on how I created it as well. This is truly the blog that keeps on giving.

Everyone started with a blank mini-album but the covers differ among the class between canvas, denim and wood. My class kit came with a denim mini-album made by Chatterbox. It started out looking like this:

So here's what I did to alter and personalize my cover. You didn't think I was just going to show the finished project right from the get go, did you?

Step One

First, I removed the two denim loops on the top left of the cover. I knew I wanted to adhere a doily or other type of paper accent which would not lay flat on top of these loops. And yes, I did save them to use on another project. Then, I used Mister Huey's Calico White mist, Maya Mist Buttermilk Cream mist, Tattered Angels Caribbean Blue Glimmer Mist and white acrylic paint to splatter and grunge up my background. Next, I took a vintage paper doily & used Iridescent Pearl Glimmer Mist to add some sparkle. Then I used more white paint and blue mist to lightly splatter the doily. After everything dried, I used matte Mod Podge to adhere the doily to the album.

Step Two

I took a pre-pleated ribbon (made by Pink Paislee, I think) and cut it to fit the album cover. Since I wanted the red to be a bit more bold than the original dusty red color of the ribbon, I used Mister Huey's Schoolhouse mist to add that true red color. I then used 1/2" double sided Red Line Craft Tape (love this stuff!) to adhere the ribbon.

Step Three

I knew I wanted to use the bottom right corner for the title statement of my album but it took me some time to find a way to display the "I am closed for restoration" saying. Initially I thought I might place it on top of the fabric loop that was already in place on the album...but I just didn't like it...so I took that loop off and looked at other options. I decided on using a Jenni Bowlin label sticker because I really liked how the red edging complimented the ribbon. The original sticker has light black polka dots on the background of the label but I found that the dots actually distracted the eye away from the sentiment. To counter this, I simply used white acrylic paint to cover the dots. I also added a second ribbon down the left hand side, adhering with 1/4" size of that handy, dandy Red Line Craft Tape.

Step Four

I used paper from an old dictionary to construct a lovely paper lollie. If you are interested in learning how to make these, check out this video by Rhonna Farrer. She does a fantastic job demonstrating the technique. Again, I had to add some glitz over the lollie with a couple of sprays from the Pearl Maya Mist. Here's a close-up so you can see the detail of the paper lollie...

Step Five

I used one of the Pink Paislee House of 3 tickets as a base of the accent atop that fabulous paper lollie. I added a bit bolder aqua blue color to the outer edges with some Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Ink and added more sparkle with the Pearl Mist. I used my Hero Arts alpha stamps to add the "please be patient" phrase. I had a plain chipboard butterfly That I misted Schoolhouse red and then added Pearl also (I just can't get away from that Pearl Maya Mist)...it is a much truer red than in my photo, actually matching the red of the ribbon exactly. Lastly, I added some Basic Grey mini pearls to the butterfly's body for just a touch more of the aqua color. Here's a detailed look at the ticket element.

Step Six

To complete the cover I added a vintage key in the upper right aspect. I used Tattered Angels Vintage Hardware Antique Keys in black but the black color was all wrong for this project. Not to worry - I simply used acrylic paint to white wash over the key and voila! they key is now perfect.

I hope you enjoyed my first tutorial here on Studio Jenn. I certainly enjoyed sharing it. Leave me a comment if you would - I'd love to hear what you think or any questions that you might have.

One Little Word: Dream

2011-01-14T02:02:00.001-06:00

My one word for 2011 is Dream.

God, I love this word...so full of possibility.

You might remember, in 2010 my word was Hope. My outlook at that time was much more thoughtful. And it was exactly where my focus needed to be as our family faced some challenges last year. I needed some serious reflection but it was essential to ground these deep thoughts in a positive, loving, hopeful way. Looking back, it is very clear that I *needed* hope, as much as hope as I could get.

And now, I am ready to move on...

I'm really looking forward to seeing where my dreams will take me this year. I am anticipating an adventure. I purposely chose a word that was not just a concept but also an action. This year I want to move forward. I am open to change. I will listen to my heart and soul. I will turn my dreams into realities.

I'm undertaking two specific activities to help me on my journey.

The first is an online workshop with the fabulous Melody Ross of the Brave Girls Club, aptly titled Soul Restoration. Soul Restoration started this week on the 12th - I'm totally loving it! Look for some more sharing on this tomorrow - and my first ever tutorial.

The second is a formal class (cleverly entitled) One Little Word taught by my favorite scrapper Ali Edwards. Ali describes the class like this:

For 2011, I want to do something even more tangible with my One Little Word. I've found that, just like a resolution, it's easy to lose sight of the things you set forward to embark on as regular life gets busy throughout the course of the year. To combat this I plan to bring my word into my life more consciously and concretely and make it more visible by creating an album to hold my thoughts, challenges and inspirations.

You're invited to join me on this journey.

Each month you'll receive an email and an invitation to visit the One Little Word classroom. Inside the classroom, you'll find a gentle reminder message, encouragement to refocus, and a simple creative project to complete related to your word. At the end of the year you'll have an album that celebrates and honors your word - making it that much more concrete and visible in your life.

I think this is such a powerful idea. This month we worked on a title page for album, as well as a text-driven collage all about our One Little Words. I'll leave tonight by sharing my completed projects.

PS Registration for Ali's One Little Word workshop is open all year long. Why not join us?

Oh. Hello 2011

2011-01-08T23:56:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe that we are already over one week into 2011. I am the worst blogger ever.

:: hangs head in shame ::

But I persevere. I have many hopes, plans, dreams, schemes and ideas for this coming year. I'm sure you won't be the least bit surprised to find out that "Become a Better Blogger" is pretty high on my list.

And for the past week, I've put some time and energy into identifying concrete strategies and tasks that I can implement to make this goal an actuality. I have a plan. And I'm super jazzed about it.

What are some of your plans for 2011?

Balancing Act

2010-12-15T00:39:00.001-06:00

I am constantly feeling behind.

Maybe it is winter. Maybe it is the holiday season. Maybe it is the abundance of patients requiring exams before the end of the year. Maybe it is the pressure to clean my house before our annual holiday party this Friday. Maybe (surely) it is a combination of all of the above...

Whatever it is, the result has been one very flustered Jenn.

Until today.

Today, I just decided that I was going to put all that nonsense to rest. Life is a balancing act. I know that I am I am getting it all done...even if I don't feel like I'm getting it all done. Now I just have to keep telling myself that! Here's a little chart I found online to help me as I go forward... (sorry but I didn't make note of the creator so if you know it, please let me know so I can give proper credit!)

On another, note - I have been really enjoying the daily prompts from Reverb 10. As I was going along, I realized that the majority of these prompts dealt with subjects that were a bit more personal than I wanted to share on my blog. I've actually been doing these prompts as pages in my art journal which has worked out really well. I like the comprehensive nature of combining all the topics into one month of journaling.

I've also been working a little bit every day on my December Daily album. I am following a similar layout to Ali this year, using her pre-designed daily overlays with enlarged photos and transparencies as the main components. I have completed days 1through 5 (although I haven't gotten any photos taken)and the album covers. I am also taking photos everyday and making little notes of the stories that I want to tell. I am taking this project in a very relaxed manner. And I am looking forward to some devoted crafting time this weekend.

The Art of Letting Go - Reverb Prompt 5

2010-12-05T23:26:00.000-06:00

Prompt 5 - Let Go

Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

This is a compelling topic. I often feel that knowing when to let go and when to hang on is truly an art form. Some people are born with an abundance of this talent. And some people (moi?) are blessed with other gifts. However, I believe that everyone can learn this. I am getting better at recognizing the appropriate choice as I move into new stages of my life.

This year I worked on letting go of anxiety, freeing myself from panic and fear. This is something I struggle with on a near daily basis. I started having panic attacks shortly after I finished chemotherapy in 2003. For about a year, fear ruled my life. Over time, I've learned different kinds of coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques to help stop the panic. As a direct result, my anxiety has gotten increasingly better over the years. This year, was the best year yet. I accept that I may never be free from anxiety but I can learn to let it go when it creeps into my life.

Catching Up On Reverb 10

2010-12-04T15:48:00.000-06:00

I've really been enjoying the daily prompts from Reverb 10. The past couple of days have been very busy on the work side and I haven't been able to capture my thoughts here on the blog. But I have been ruminating on each prompt, formulating my mental response. I'm excited to share.

Prompt 2 - Writing

What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)

This one was simple and easy to identify - television. Watching tv is the single biggest time suck in my life. I know that I need to find better balance in my life between work, creativity, family and personal. I used to be very adept at setting priorities in each of these areas and sticking to them. And let me tell you, parking myself in front of the idiot box wasn't a big part of that scene. But little by little over the past several years, I've given up on many of these areas and allowed "relaxing" to move unchecked into the forefront of my life. That something I am hoping to change in the coming year.

Prompt 3 - Moment

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)

I loved this prompt. The past year was intense, filled with change, growth and renewed love in all. I identified several momentous events that occurred over the past year and then honed in the perfect one. I chose to address this prompt within my art journal so I could better illustrate the colors, textures and feelings. Since this event is deeply personal to my family, I am choosing not to share the completed page on my blog. But I encourage you to do something creative with this prompt as well.

Prompt 4 - Wonder

Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)

As time moves forward, I admit that I find it more and more difficult to maintain my sense of wonder, particularly in the face of the increasingly negative tone the seems so prevalent in today's society. I have also noticed that the greater the personal challenge in my own life, the less I am able to muster up any feelings of wonder whatsoever. But I have also learned that the best way to regain positivity and hope during these times is to find the wonder.

I personally believe the key to cultivating a sense of wonder is through imagination and curiosity. Keep an open mind. Developing a keen eye toward the new and different. Practice tolerance. Appreciate the little things. Notice your surroundings. And don't forget to ask questions.

Explore.

Read.

Learn.

Play.

Hello December Daily and Reverb 10

2010-12-01T23:11:00.001-06:00

Ok, don't hate me. I know, I know...my big return was supposed to be in September (ahem) but in my defense, I've had a whole lot of crazy going on in this life. However, let's not live in the past...

I am so excited to welcome December! This is always an amazing time for our family. Jim absolutely adores the Christmas season and not so long ago I felt, um, decidedly different. For many years, the challenges of meeting the needs of parents, step-parents, extended family and my own little family to celebrate the holidays became overwhelming. Really, it just seemed like so much work.

Enter Jim.

His enthusiasm for Christmas is absolutely infections. And, he single-handedly turned this Scrooge into a holiday elf. So much so, that last year I instituted my very own tradition - creating a December Daily album, documenting each day of this magical season from the 1st through the 25th. The concept of this project was started by Ali Edwards, an amazing artist and one of my personal heroes. I was amazed by how much this album reinforced the joy of Christmas for me. It is truly one of my most favorite creations. I will be photographing last year's album and posting to my Flickr photostream this weekend. And I also plan on sharing my pages from this year's album as well. Right now, I am still constructing my base pages. But I started taking pictures and making notes about today's story. Look for a post this weekend sharing my base concept and my first few creations.

I am also adding a new twist on my blog this year. I am playing along with Reverb 10. Creator Gwen Bell has this to say about Reverb 10:

"It’s an open online initiative that encourages participants to reflect on this year and manifest what’s next. It’s an opportunity to retreat and consider the reverberations of your year past, and those that you’d like to create in the year ahead. We’re connected by the belief that sharing our stories has the power to change us."

I. Love. This.

So today's prompt was to encapsulate 2010 in one word. This year my one little word was hope.

Coming Soon - The Return of Jenn

2010-09-14T10:55:00.002-05:00

J, originally uploaded by Jonny_Wan.

I've taken a couple of months off from blogging this summer to concentrate a bit more on family and spending one last summer with Grand Master B before he graduates from high school. But I am ready for my return to the blogosphere. And I have many wonderful things to share.

For now, check out this amazing typeset by Jonny Wan. I love this colorful, ornate lettering. Thanks to Courtney at designworklife initially posting this awesomeness!

Just Keep Climbing

2010-06-27T00:52:00.000-05:00

I have been feeling so proud of Grand Master B these past few months. Since he's been home, he has been very serious about continuing to stay positive. He participates three times per week in an adolescent group program, as well as individual and family therapy. His mood and general outlook on life is so improved compared to one year ago. He will be entering into his senior year of high school with a C average. He has been working part-time at Taco John's. He has a very sweet girlfriend, although young love does seem to be a bit stormy at times. He is happy. He is striving for balance, like the rest of us.

Watching him work so diligently at keeping his life positive and healthy is inspiring from my viewpoint as his mother. But it is also painful at times. I want to help, to keep all the difficulties at bay, to protect my child. But I know these are lessons that he has to learn for himself. Doing the right thing, making the right choice is not always easy. In fact, it's almost always harder than the alternative but it is so necessary. I find that all I can do is remind him that I love him and that I am so proud of him. And remind him that I will always be beside him.

Knowing this story is at the forefront of our lives right now, I was inspired to create a scrapbook page documenting it. I showed it to B and he really liked it. I do, too.

A New Adventure

2010-06-16T00:14:00.000-05:00

My Tell Your Story art journaling class with Elsie and Rachel has sadly come to an end. I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this class. I have always been a journaler of sorts. In the past I've done several different types, ranging from simply making lists in my daily planner to creating very artsy and detailed layouts for my scrapbooks. But I had never committed to journaling on a daily basis.

And I want to.

One of my goals for this year is to do something creative every day. I find when I make the time to create I am more relaxed and productive in all the other areas of my life. But, I had been struggling to find a way to balance my need to create with the real life time demands. I love scrapbooking. And I firmly believe there is no one way to scrapbook. I am a "hybrid" in every sense of the word. I scrap with paper and glue. I scrap digitally with my laptop and Photoshop Elements. I scrapbook both 8.5x11 and 12x12 pages. I make mini-albums. But the stress of creating a layout - or even part of a layout - everyday was really overwhelming. My scrapbooking is very much a story driven process. And let's be honest, not every day has a story that I want to tell. But every day does bring new feelings and experiences that can be documented. I found keeping an art journal was really the perfect fit. I put much less pressure on myself regarding my journal pages than I do my scrapbook pages. Art journaling was easier and faster to conceptualize and complete for me. I am just in love with this direction in my creative journey.

So, I was particularly excited when of my Tell Your Story classmates Janel organized a 30-Day Journal Challenge through her blog. I love the ongoing commitment to keeping up with my art journal, and the added accountability of participating in a group helps keep me on target with my goals. The Challenge started yesterday - and I am loving what I am seeing in our Flickr Group!

Here are my first two pages.

click on image to see larger

Worlds of Fun

2010-06-12T22:19:00.002-05:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, our family traveled with our best friends to Kansas City to take a day trip down to Worlds of Fun. Now, this is an amusement park that my own family went to every summer as I was growing up. Deana's family also went every summer. And, as I was a Gleek long before it was popular, I also went every summer in Junior High and High School to perform with the show choir. Hell yes, I am that cool.

click on any image to see larger

But, I digress...

The park was open 10:00am -10:00pm and we stayed from open to close. We were total troopers, including Mr. Sam and Princess Izzy. Grand Master B would have left about 6:00pm but then got a second wind and rallied for the rest of the night. Our friends, Adam & Nisy, took my trusty CR-V for the day and lent us the "Swagger Wagon" (minivan) so we could all fit in one car. We planned to stop at The Waffle House in Rockport, MO in an homage to those childhood road trips but the Waffle House in Rockport no longer exists. Now, it is the Black Iron Grill Steakhouse and Saloon (see Facebook page here) which wasn't open at 7:45am or we might had breakfast there out of sheer stubbornness. Instead, we journeyed on down to the traveler's standby Cracker Barrel which not only has sinfully good food but also features kitschy shopping.

Deana & I actually went to the grocery store at the ungodly hour of 5:30am so that we could bring lunch. I froze 10 bottles of water overnight before we left. We each carried 3 bottles in our bags into the park and used the remaining bottles as added ice in the cooler. It was kind of nice to take a break midday to sit down and have a little picnic. Bringing our own water and lunch saved us a bundle! We planned to eat dinner in the park but instead we had snacks and kept on riding. We ended up stopping to eat a BK on the way out of town because after 12 hours we just didn't care anymore.

Some highlights of the day:

Mr. Sam is a total daredevil! He shares Grand Master B's love of all things roller coaster.
I am almost phobic in my dislike of roller coasters but I will ride any spinning ride you can find.
Princess Izzy is not wild about fast rides.
When everyone else went to ride the 'big kids rides', Princess Izzy & I hung out at Camp Snoopy where she got to enjoy all the 'l'il kid rides.' It was a match made in Heaven.
Deana, Dave, Jim and B all agreed that the new-to-us coaster The Patriot totally rocked.
We all loved the water rides, especially the Monsoon and the log ride.
Grand Master B can meet cute girls anywhere but an amusement park is like a gift from little Baby Jesus in this arena.
We all took on the challenge of the rock wall, except Princess Izzy (too young) and Jim (staff photographer). Dave and B made it all the way to the top and then rappelled down like pros. Deana & I managed not to kill ourselves...and only one of us fell on her butt but you have to guess which one.
Our husbands bought us bunny ears that light up and flicker like a strobe in da club. Yes, we rock.
3-hour road trips are much worse going home.

I'll leave you with some photos of the day which was amazing. Wish you could have been there!

PS Check out this totally cool photo Jim took of the Spinning Dragon roller coaster at night.

The Soundtrack of my Life

2010-06-11T01:09:00.000-05:00

click to see larger image

I recently completed this journal page on 10 songs that changed my life. I love how the page turned out. Every time I glance over it, one of the song titles will catch my eye and I will instantly hear a line or two of lyric in my mind. In that moment, I am actually transported back to a different time and place. I experience the perfect blend of nostalgia and relief.

The power of memory is strong…strong enough to remind me that I do not wish to re-live any part of my life, however intense or however happy. I am content to live in the now, but it is comforting to know that with just a few notes, my past and I can join for a brief second.

Just a few days ago, I received an email from Mama Kat that contained several writing prompts. One was to write about the soundtrack of your life. I knew that this writing would perfectly complement my journal page. In the spirit of reflection, I thought I’d share this soundtrack of my life with you. These songs are all equally important and are presented in delightfully random order.

“Yesterday” – The Beatles

Yesterday,

Love was such an easy game to play,

Now I need a place to hide away,

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

I grew up listening to The Beatles. They were one of my mother’s favorite bands. It is no wonder that after experiencing my first real heartbreak at age 14 I turned to the familiar crooning of the Fab Four. This song was particularly poignant in that the words mirrored my disillusion while the melody enveloped and comforted me.

“So Lonely” – The Police

Just take a seat, they're always free

No surprise, no mystery

In this theatre that I call my soul

I always play the starring role, so lonely

Who would’ve guessed that I would have to go all the way to Germany to discover the beauty of The Police? I studied in Hamburg in 1990, the year I turned 18. It was an amazing experience, filled with exploration and freedom. I spread my wings, lived a little on the wild side…well, wild for a small town girl from Omaha, Nebraska. I might have lost my henna-dyed hair and my nose ring, but I will never surrender my love for punk music.

“Thunder Road” – Bruce Springsteen

The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely, Hey that's me and I want you only.

Don't turn me home again I just can't face myself alone again

I will always think of my husband Jim when I hear this song. It is always there…in his smile, the way his eyes crinkle at the corners, how he holds me as we dance across our living room. This is the score of us falling in love.

“Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd

How I wish, how I wish you were here.

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,

Running over the same old ground.

What have you found? The same old fears.

Wish you were here.

I will always and forever associate this song with loss. It is bittersweet to hear even now. Although I have come through a stronger and wiser woman, I cannot help but feel the sadness, the grief of that time.

“Black” – Pearl Jam

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life

I know you'll be a sun in somebody else's sky, but why

Why, Why can't it be, Why can't it be mine?

I first heard Pearl Jam in the fall of 1991 when I started college at UNL, along with Nirvana and Soundgarden. I was poised on the brink of adulthood and this angst-filled music resonated with the many chords of change within me. When I became pregnant and gave birth almost exactly one year later, the Seattle sound was still extremely popular on college campuses. In my mind, this particular song became an anthem of all I had left behind in choosing to have a child on my own at age 20, a decision that I have never regretted but altered my life dramatically to say the least.

“She Will Be Loved” – Maroon 5

It’s not always rainbows and butterflies

It’s compromise that moves us along

My heart is full and my door’s always open

You can come anytime you want

This just means so much more when you truly understand how love works.

“With Or Without You” – U2

Through the storm we reach the shore

You give it all but I want more

And I'm waiting for you

I could have picked nearly any song off of U2’s The Joshua Tree as this entire album made an impression on my young and fertile mind. When this album was released in 1987, I was a freshman in high school. I was just discovering my own musical tastes and U2 was like manna from Heaven. I was figuring out that I had a mind and starting to dream of the places it might take me. I was part of a team. I got my driver’s license. I fell in love for the first time. And inevitably, I had my heart broken. “With Or Without You” takes me to the highs of that time and then abruptly leaves me sobbing in my driveway, sitting in my yellow VW bug until the windows fogged completely over and my mother had to come out and coax me inside.

“The Boys Of Summer” – Don Henley

But I can see you, your brown skin shining in the sun

You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby

And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong

All it takes is hearing the first few bars of this song to take me back to summer camp, young love and feeling like I was becoming a woman. It is a heady feeling that always leaves me smiling.

“Closer To Fine” – Indigo Girls

I'm trying to tell you something about my life

Maybe give me insight between black and white

The best thing you've ever done for me

Is to help me take my life less seriously, it's only life after all

Ahhh…a young student’s anthem discovered on a college campus. If you’re over the age of 35, you know exactly what I am talking about.

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – The Rolling Stones

You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes you might find

You get what you need

I first remember this song from my early childhood. My mother was also quite the Stones fan. I can never hear this song without picturing my mother driving with the windows down, a cigarette in hand, the radio turned up and singing at full volume with her head thrown back and a smile on her face. It fills me with a tremendous sense of gratitude and wonder and love. I am so thankful for my mother. For the love of music she fostered. For the intellect she nurtured. For the moral compass she instilled. For all the songs we sang together.

I still love the Stones. I often play this song on my iPod in the car. I don’t smoke and I can’t stand the windows being down when I drive (except when I am in a convertible, duh). But I sing at full volume with a smile on my face and my head thrown back…just like my mom. My son sits in the seat next to me.

And I can hear him singing along.

My Life A to Z

2010-06-02T21:43:00.000-05:00

I saw a really cute idea on Carrie's blog to post an A to Z list of things about our home. I just love this! And since I am not yet ready with my fabulous post about our recent visit to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, it just worked for today!

Here you go:

A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: 71

B- My BEDROOM theme is: eclectic - a mix of Mission furniture, vintage lamps on either side of a King-size bed and a lovely, crisp blue & cream duvet set

C- The CAR in the driveway is: Honda CR-V

D- My DESK looks: pretty tidy with an over sized cutting mat, spinning craft organizer and a paper tray for current projects

E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: never exact (ha!), just varies day-to-day

F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: my face

G- My GARAGE is filled with: my husband's tools

H- My HOME is: my refuge

I- If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: laundry & a kickin' flat screen tv

J- My favorite JUICE is: Apple

K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: the butcher block island

L- The LAST person who visited my home was: my best friend Deana & her kids

M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: From Gina the best box of scrapbook material ever!

N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: a keep-to-myself girl

O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: diet A&W cream soda

P- My last house PARTY was: a welcome home party for my son

Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: pasta

R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: my craft room

S- The SHAMPOO brand I use is: Garnier Fructisse

T- My largest TELEVISION is: 36

U- UNDER my bed you will find: nothing

V- The last time I VACUUMED was: last week

W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: our beautiful neighborhood

X- I wish I had X-TRA: closet space

Y- My YARD is: nice but we need to update the back deck

Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: variable, but usually 11 or 12

so what does the A to Z of your life look like?

Scrabble Nameplate Project

2010-05-26T16:55:00.001-05:00

I came up with a really cute and easy project this past weekend. I thought I'd share it here, along with a little how-to.

Let's start with a picture of the finished project:

click on image to see larger

I so adore this project, particularly because of the simplicity factor. So let's move right into the how-to, shall we?

I started by using aqua acrylic paint to cover the entire tile holder. I used two coats because I wanted it to be extra aqua-y, but it has a kind of cool, color wash effect with only coat so it's up to you!

Let the paint dry completely.

Decorate the back first. I used patterned paper and the Martha Stewart Crafts Butterfly Border Punch (I got mine here) to make a border for the back side. I adhered the butterflies with Modge Podge. Use a thin layer of Modge Podge on the back side of your paper and place the border onto the holder. Then use a second thin layer of Modge Podge over the top of the paper to adhere securely. Let this dry completely. Lastly, spray the entire surface of the tile holder with acrylic sealant. I used the glossy type which I bought at Hobby Lobby. Here is what the back side of my nameplate looks like:

click on image to appear larger

Now we can move on to the fun stuff - embellishing the front. I used a cluster of fabric flowers and a Jenni Bowlin chipboard butterfly to decorate mine. I used a plain old hot glue gun to adhere the elements. I placed several layers of foam square adhesives (like these) to fill in the space between the butterfly and the tile holder and added a dollop of hot glue for good measure. Lastly I used the hot glue gun to adhere the Scrabble tiles spelling my name. A closeup of the finished product looks like this:

click on image to see larger

As an alternative, you could leave the Scrabble tiles free and clear of all adhesive so you could change out the letters. Just think of all the possibilities...

I hope you enjoyed this little project. If you make one yourself, please link it up in the comments. I'd love to see your work!

Speaking Of Transformation

2010-05-22T23:54:00.001-05:00

I am so proud of this boy. He decided to cut his hair...I love it!

Change Is Good

2010-05-21T17:36:00.002-05:00

Click on image to view larger.

Yesterday's prompt in my art journal class was "Change is good." And it was right on track for my thoughts over the past several weeks.

I believe that very few people really enjoy change. I know there are those who relish novelty and need to have constant changes in stimuli, but I can't say that I actually know any of these people. Most people I know, particularly my family, would prefer for life to stay just the way it is, no matter how stagnant or stressful the situation. I mean, everyone gives lip service to wanting things to change, wanting life to be easier, wanting things to be better but very few do anything to make those changes happen. Making the move from wishing to doing takes a considerable amount of courage. It's like the place we know in life, no matter how difficult, is preferable to the unknown. So often, we are willing to settle for the familiar rather than embrace change.

I was certainly guilty of this kind of thinking in the past. But about a year ago, the reality finally sank in - if I wanted my life to change, then I was going have to consciously make that happen. I could no longer be a passive bystander in this game of life. I would have to move into the driver's seat. Luckily, my husband Jim came to this same place in his life at exactly the same time, although his route was quite a bit different than mine. We both had fears and issues about change...but we knew we were ready to stop letting fear rule the roost. Believe me, adopting this new attitude was not easy but it was absolutely essential to the process.

I'm still learning to see change as good. My initial reaction to change is a tightening of my stomach muscles and a brief spasm of nausea, but it resolves in a couple of seconds. And then I take a deep breath and remember all of the wonderful things that have happened for our family since we decided to live life on our terms. So I relax and smile. It's just another small step along this journey that is our amazing life.

How do you react to change?

A Never-ending Spring

2010-05-17T22:35:00.000-05:00

I have a hard time balancing how I feel about spring (the season, not the coiled tool part).

Clearly, following the dreary dark coldness of winter, I am in need of light and sunshine. I love the look and sound and feel of spring. I look forward to the growth, the flowers, the very brightness of spring.

Then I smell the air...and for one brief second I am truly in Heaven, savoring the sweet aromas of spring...

And, then I am in Hell.

For that is when the 'sneezing, congestion, itchy nose, itchy skin, itchy eyes, watery eyes, scratchy throat, can't catch my breath and then have an asthma attack' time of year begins. And goes on. And on. And on...

This sucks.

So, please forgive my sporadic blogging. I will try harder to fit it in between gasping episodes and sneezing fits. I am now entering the Nyquil haze but will try to return with more pages from my art journal tomorrow...if I am alive.

Dream Home

2010-05-12T08:33:00.003-05:00

Dream Home, originally uploaded by studiojenn.

Yesterday's prompt in my art journal class through Red Velvet Art was to focus on your dream home. Jim & I have spent many an evening musing with a glass of wine over this very topic so I was totally stoked to tackle this in my journal.

I love the way this turned out. It perfectly captures my feelings.

What's your dream home look like?

In Honor Of My Mother

2010-05-05T22:45:00.001-05:00

I've just been thinking a lot about mother's day this week. The older I grow, the more respect and awe I have for my mother. I do not think I am alone is experiencing this phenomenon. I am still organizing some deep thoughts about motherhood in general and how special my mother is specifically, but in the meantime I wanted to share this great picture of my mother & I at the welcome home party. I love how natural we both seem. I love the wide open smiles. I love how you can actually feel the love...

Welcome Home

2010-05-02T13:00:00.001-05:00

I am still filled with joy and laughter from the lovefest last weekend that was Grand Master B's welcome home barbecue. There was just so much support from family and friends, our adult friends of course but also B's own close friends. It is amazing to see the progress that he has made this past year. But it was also incredibly moving to see such outward support and pride for his accomplishments from his own peers. And B did such a good job of interacting with everyone. He did not isolate himself with just his friends. He sat and had conversations with his family, from the younger cousins to his great-grandparents. He was open and inviting. He joked with my girlfriends and entertained the children out in the backyard. So many people mentioned how happy he looked...and I couldn't agree more. It was truly a celebration of him.

My immediate family was there (of course) but aunts, uncles, cousins, godmothers and grandparents made an appearance as well. It was exciting and moving to meet a new member of our family, Princess P. She is 5 years old and is a complete angel. My first cousin just recently found out he was a father. This is the first extended family event that she has attended. We are so glad that she is a part of our life now!

My uncle Jimmy provided the meat, a fantastic smoked pulled pork, from his kickin' restaurant Boxer Barbecue in Council Bluffs. We served his homemade sauces with the meat, both a sweet thick sauce and a thinner smoky sauce with a vinegar base, on a plain hamburger bun. My good friend Laura made a cabbage slaw that complemented the meat perfectly. I put mine atop the meat/sauce but lots of folks ate it on the side. Special thanks to Grandma for mac salad and salsa, Mom for amazing potato salad and beans, Deana for making deviled eggs and cupcakes, Michele for pasta salad, Denise for fruit salad, Kozy and the Molinas for veggie trays, the Hagstrom's for ice and Jones for my very own jalapeno plant.

The best gift of all? This look on his face...

Yep, he just looks so happy.

Message of the day

2010-04-29T13:58:00.001-05:00

Day 3, originally uploaded by studiojenn.

Let me introduce myself...

2010-04-28T11:29:00.002-05:00

Intro page 2, originally uploaded by jennhv.

So I apologize for my absence over the past week but I am have really been enjoying having Grand Master B around 24/7 and, I'll admit, it has taken some transitioning to become a fully functioning mama again. But so worth it. We had a really lovely barbecue in honor of his return home and to celebrate his accomplishments last weekend. More on this later...

I thought I'd share the introductory page from my art journal. I have been really attracted to this concept for while but just hadn't taken any steps to start. Then I discovered Tell Your Story, a guided class on just this subject. The teachers, Elsie and Rachel, share tips, techniques and journaling prompts every day for 6 weeks. I am feeling so energized in just what we've done in the past 3 days. This class is just the thing I needed, plus I feel developing a daily habit of journaling every day is both helpful in my creative journey AND necessary for my ongoing mental health.

I used this first page as a means to explore the many roles I play, issues and fears I am dealing with right now, trivia and tidbits about me and celebrating all that is wonderful in my life, this very minute. I painted the background with my absolute favorite aqua acrylic which gives it just the light and breezy feel I was trying to portray. Aqua just makes me happy. Then I taped down a piece of my personalized stationary for the journaling card. I used colored mists, chipboard, letters and a paperclip to build on the theme. I really love this.

I will be sharing some of the pages from my art journal over the next few weeks, as well as other items of crafty goodness. And I will share photos and stories of B's welcome home BBQ later tonight or tomorrow. Til then... Happy Wednesday, America.

Missing In Action

2010-04-22T23:13:00.000-05:00

Just a quick check in to let you know we are alive and well. Having Grand Master B home is filling my heart to overflowing. I am so happy. I am also exhausted. This week has been full of meetings, appointments, more meetings, organizing, cleaning, worrying, rejoicing, gratitude and exhaustion. And we have a boat load of painting to look forward to on Saturday.

Anyway, you can all look forward to a return to regular blogging next week. This week I am documenting my Week in the Life project along with Ali Edwards and hundreds of other crafty ladies. Next week I'll share some of the words + pictures from this week in my life.

He's Home

2010-04-17T19:31:00.000-05:00

The day has finally arrived! Grand Master B is home. This is what I think every single time I see his smile.

We are working like mad to clean, organize and repaint his bedroom, and this has sparked a frenzy of activity to organize the rest of the house, too. Believe me, Jim & I both have so many things that need to find another home. So it's Project Organization around here. I'll be back Monday night with an update...and maybe even a picture or two.

More Scrapbook Pages

2010-04-14T22:29:00.001-05:00

I'll bet you thought I had forgotten my earlier promise to share the rest of my pages from Sketchbook, the online class that I took with Kelly Purkey. Well, I surely did not. In case you missed the earlier pages, you can find them here and here. This post will cover the pages that I created based on sketches 8 through 12. Enjoy!

Sketch 8

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Sketch 9 (personal information x'd out for privacy)

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Sketch 10

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Sketch 11

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Sketch 12

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Here's to putting creativity in action! I hope all of you are experimenting with adding a little creativity in your loves, too.

So Proud of This Guy

2010-04-13T23:20:00.000-05:00

Grand Master B has completed the residential portion of his treatment program and is coming home to stay this weekend! We are so excited and proud and happy and anxious and completely overjoyed... You get the picture. All of the sadness, all of the distance, all of the separation was worth it. I am convinced more than ever that hope is truly my little word for this year... Looking at him, knowing how hard he's worked, seeing all that he's accomplished just restores my belief in the power of hope.

Monday Fun Day

2010-04-12T23:09:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful night out with some of my girlfriends seeing the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra at the Holland Center. Learned some cool stuff at the lecture prior to the show & then totally grooved to the smooth sounds of Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Good times. back tomorrow with news about an upcoming crafty project!

"Goodnight John Boy..."

Embracing Your Own Creativity

2010-04-10T23:55:00.000-05:00

I have been musing a lot over the past few weeks on the concept of creativity, more specifically embracing personal creativity. I got started considering this idea after a friend of mine said to me, "I wish I could be as creative as you. I just know I could never do any of that stuff." My immediate response, "Of course you could. But there is a learning curve. Like with anything new, it does take time and practice." And then she responded sadly, "No. I'm just not creative."

This really bothered me. Because I just don't believe that. I refuse. I believe that we are all born with a sense of the creative. Creativity is akin to imagination. Everybody has it but not everybody knows how to use it.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of creativity is artistic or intellectual inventiveness. Creativity is marked by the ability or power to create or bring into existence, to invest with a new form, to produce through imaginative skill, to make or bring into existence something new.

At its most basic form, creativity is birth, bringing something into existence. And we all have the power to do that.

Too often, creativity becomes synonymous with artistry or talent or genius. This does a disservice to all. Some of the world's most creative individuals, such as Albert Einstein, Linus Pauling or Marie Curie, had very little to do with art and very much to do with changing the world. It is less about talent and more about openness and a willingness to explore new things. It means continually looking at the world around us with fresh eyes and a new perspective. It is both vast and yet intimately personal. How creativity manifests in my life may be very different from how creativity is present in your lives.

I think that is why there so much resistance to creativity. It is powerful. It can be overwhelming. And it very often produces fear.

Fear is a natural enemy of creativity. So are self-doubt, insecurity, perfectionism, self-criticism, inflexibility and comparing one's self to others.

Conversely, there are many emotions available to you that will foster creativity: courage, acceptance, confidence, letting go, embracing imperfection, flexibility and focus.

I guess it is just a matter of choice. I have actively chosen to live my life creatively. And while I may not produce the kind of changes in the world as Albert Einstein, I certainly produce changes in my world that make me and those around me happy.

I wish you the same. Because you are creative, too.

Mea Culpa

2010-04-10T08:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's planned post got derailed by a lovely but impromptu dinner with friends. See you later tonight...