Not getting lost in Iowa....yep, really

Anyone that knows me well (or has taken a ride in the car with me), knows I have no sense of direction (and I mean NONE AT ALL).  The compass did not come with this brain or body when I was born and at age 44 years, the compass has not managed to find me.



Photo credit goes to: 
http://www.insightzonecoach.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Compass.jpg

  
I was married for 17.5 years and we were together all the time so Ex-H drove us everywhere meaning I didn't need to worry about finding my way.  We worked at the same place so we rode together, we ate out together, we shopped together and we did everything together.  On the rare occasion when I managed a moment alone I could easily find the kids daycare, the local drug store or grocery store as I knew one direct route (so not kidding) to each of them.  In December 2005, when I finally became a single woman again (12/30/2005 at 12:30 pm....not that I'm counting or anything) I found that I really didn't know my way around town.

Well it has been 6.5 years since my divorce and I can still get lost in my own town, even though I've lived here since July of 1993.  Some might call this ridiculous (like I have any control over it....), some might say I'm just dumb (about some things , yes....), others have said it is because I'm blond (hmmm....maybe) and I'm sure others think I'm just mentally unstable (definitely.......).

But I am proud to say that during the month of July 2012, I took my youngest and a friend to Adventureland in Des Moines Iowa and managed not to get lost.  Now this is a real feat for me.  I also managed to find my way to Archiver's.  Hello people....this is one awesome scrapbook/crafty type store that I've only been to once before.   Not only did I find the store, I spend 2 full hours looking in every aisle and at every item on every shelf drooling over all the cool stuff.  I usually have teenage boys with me so I don't get to linger in stores like this....they can only stand about 10 mins before they become annoyed and want to leave.

And then I found The Cheesecake Factory, which I had never eaten at before and comes highly recommended.

I ordered the lunch portion of a southwest chicken salad, yum....I ate about 1/3 of the salad and was so full I didn't have room for cheesecake (damn it already!). 

The kids were still happy at Adventureland so I then found a movie theater and saw the movie "Brave".  Awesome illustrations, graphics and music!  The story is about a strong-willed girl who wanted to be her own person.  I loved it!!!

By the time the movie was over the boys were hot and tired and ready to head home.  So I scooped them up and ran in to Subway to feed them, then off to home.  I was so pleased that I managed a trip out of town and back without getting lost.

This was a happy moment in 2012!  Count your blessings people, it is the small stuff that helps cushion us from all the challenges out there.

Hugs,  Erin

Words of Wisdom Wednesday - 45 Lessons Life Taught Me

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written."

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive but don’t forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Hope this puts a smile on your face.  Hugs,  Erin 



Update: Art Journal Cover- Your Living Canvas Workshop

Here are the final photos of my Art Journal cover,

to be used for the Your Living Canvas Workshop by Christy Tomlinson.

We started week 2 yesterday and I just love this class!!! 

It is so motivating for me and makes me itch to sit at my table

 and paint/play/create.

Close up of the heart....might have to redo this as you can't read it very well.

The front cover

The back cover

Close up of my writing on the back, it says:

Cherish all the moments
My story has a beginning, a middle and an end...
The part that shape us are all the moments of happy and sad.

Hugs, Erin

Art Journal Cover - Your Living Canvas Workshop

The new online class, Your Living Canvas Workshop by Christy Tomlinson is FABULOUS....I could hardly wait until I got home on Monday evening to start watching the videos and reading the class instructions.  Our first assignment is to complete our journaling which are questions that make us think about things that have shaped us (challenges, accomplishments, etc).  They are the things that make us who we are today.  I had finally started my answers to the questions but couldn't wait to watch the videos.  The first video was Christy showing us how she created her Art Journal cover that we will use during the workshop.

I started with a Daler-Rowney wirebound sketchbook, found here.  It is only 65lb paper so I will be applying gesso to adhere 2 pages together.  This will give me enough paper thickness for the mixed media supplies I will be using on my pages.

Here's photos of where I started and where I ended up on Tuesday night.

The cover of this journal was not smooth so I started with scraps of patterned scrapbook paper, applied with Mod Podge.

Then I applied various Americana DecoArt paints, purchased from Christy's shop as the base for the front cover (above) and back over (below).
I then used a stamp with black ink and bubble wrap
to create some texture/dimension over the DecoArt paints.

I dabbed paint over the heart stencil

(from Walmart - can't find a link for you online).

I used some Golden fluid acrylic paint in

Quinacridone Magenta (love, love, love this color) to create circle/spirals

 and then dabbed my thumb in some DecoArt paint

and pressed it in the middle of the circle. 

And here's a photo of my fingers after swirling the Magenta paint (which is a permanent paint - like ink) on the Journal. You can see the green and purple paint from smearing the DecoArt paint on the edges with my fingers.

The Journal didn't feel quite finished so I used my FAVORITE PEN
to doodle around the edges, around the circles and the heart.
Note: the Permaball Pilot pen has been discontinued by Pilot

 so you can only buy in Christy's shop.

 

Then my youngest child (T2-Teenager 2, who is 14 and very artistic)

thought I should add some orange paint and some rectangle shapes.

So I did.

But the orange paint over the stencils didn't come out with clean edges

so I doodled around the rectangles and the stars with my favorite pen.



And then because you can't stop until you get a FEELING
that a painting/journal page/craft piece is DONE,
I added some white with a Painters pen in various areas.



as you can see above and below...both hands were messy by the end of the evening

So it was after 10 pm by the time I got to this point and

I couldn't decide what else it needed ... so I decided to stop.

I am still thinking about a title for this Art Journal.

Hopefully I will have some time tonight to

finish the cover and start Page 1 of the journal.

Hope you are having a good week!

Hugs, Erin



Funny Friday - Why Men are Never Depressed...

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED

Men Are Just Happier People --

What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack...

You can be President.

You can never be pregnant.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.

You can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you,

He or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough..

You almost never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes..

Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, even decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives

On December 24 in 25 minutes.

TGIF... Enjoy your weekend and your loved ones.  Hug and kiss those you love and make sure they know how much you love them.  We are all very blessed, even when life challenges us to our breaking point. 

Big Hug to everyone,  Erin

Words of Wisdom

This came to me via a newsletter I receive weekly, but rarely take time to read.  This is seemed to hit home today as I've been feeling down (like a black cloud is hanging over my head) about life lately.

I hope these words inspire you or give you pause to think about life and your blessings.

Hugs, Erin

__________________________________________________________________________________

Words of Wisdom

(from Michael Josephson at Character Counts)

Find the lesson in every failure and you will never fail.

1. The likelihood that you're right is not increased by the intensity of your conviction.

2. Real friends make you feel worthy and make you want to be better.

3. When you are in a hole, stop digging.

4. Don't confuse fun with fulfillment or pleasure with happiness.

5. Refusing to let go of a grudge is refusing to use the key that will set you free.

6. Counting on luck is counting on random chance. Your odds are much better when you plan and work.

7. Hating hurts you more than the person you hate.

8. Being kind is better than being clever.

9. Don't underestimate the power of persistence.

10. The easy way is rarely the best way.

11. It is much easier to burst someone's else's bubble than to blow up your own.

12. You can't avoid pain, but you can avoid suffering.

13. Self pity is a losing strategy. It repels others and weakens you.

14. Shortcuts usually produce short success.

15. Control your attitude or it will control you.

16. It is more important to be significant than successful.

17. The world is waiting for you to heal it.

Remember: character counts!