Category Archives: Books

Happy Anniversary!!

Good evening!

Today is Jason and my 16th wedding anniversary!! Whoo! Hoo!!!

I knew that Jason and I were meant to be together, almost 17 years ago. It was the day that we were both volunteering with a large group of young adults at a young adult fundraiser, where we were raking seemingly thousands, and thousands of leaves from a giagantic farm out in Independence.

We had just finished up for the evening, and Jason had accompanied me on a walk  around the farm. We stopped at this gate, and look across the land, and admiring the view of this little lake that was a ways away. It was a spectacular scene. I realize that I was gazing at the landscape, and Jason was gazing at me. When he caught my eye, I remember not being able to take my eyes off of him. In that moment, I had this jolt of electricity run up my spine, making all of the hairs on the back of my neck rise, and I just knew that somehow, I was going to spend the rest of my life with this man. That moment was like magic! Needless to say, Jason and I were engaged two weeks later. We were married at the age of 19, a little less than 8 months later in a small ceremony attended by our family members, at the church that I had grown up in!! Whew!!

No one was sure we would make it, being so young and all, sometimes we had our doubts too. Marriage is quite literally the toughest job we have ever had, but one that ultimately has brought us both so much love and joy!! I would marry him again in a heartbeat! I really ADORE that man of mine – I know I say that a lot, but I just can’t help it!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MY LOVE!

I thank God for you more and more every day!!!!

😉

Anyway, last night I told you I was going to “go out into the world and find something juicy” to share with you this evening! I am not sure I found anything juicy, exactly, but I did get out into the world for a little while today! I am still not back to 100% yet, having been sick for the past few days, but I am doing my best to just walk it off!!

This morning, I got up early, did my morning pages, which I had been putting off. I then spend a couple of hours on a piece of art work, that is almost done, and my goal is that I will be able to share that finished piece with you tomorrow.

After being cooped up in the house for so long (being home bound for the past 3 1/2 days), I convinced Jason to take me out, even though he knew I wasn’t feeling completely better yet. So, we headed out to Borders where I found a new book series that I dove right into and am now totally hooked on!! It it The Immortals series, by Alyson Noel. The first book is called Evermore, and I am over halfway done with that book this evening! I made sure to pick up the first 3, of the, as of right now, 6 book series, so that way I will be able to keep on reading!!

The premise of this book is that there is this girl named Ever, and  her family has died in a car accident. Ever since that fateful day she can read minds, see dead people, and she can see peoples’ auras. Well, there is this new kid in school that comes along, name Damen, and for some reason she feels this instant, magical kind of connection to him. We are not sure who or what exactly he is yet, but so far we know that there is a definite connection between the two of them!!

I JUST LOVE THESE KINDS OF STORIES!!!

Anyway, I am not going to give any more of the story away, but so far, the book is delightful, and intriguing!! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Jason and I ended our evening with a nice quiet dinner out, and we are now having a peaceful evening at home, which I must admit is rather GREAT!! Him reading at one end of the couch, me writing on the other end with my feet in his lap, and our girls sleeping cozily on both of us!! *SIGH!* The good life!!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Art Studio Makeover, Getting Close!

Good evening!

I am very happy to share with you some pics I took of my art studio/office! As you may know, I have been cray-busily cleaning, organizing, purging, and decorating this room!! I still have some work to do, but it is sooo close that I can feel it!! I am going to make fabric table skirts to hide all of the under table storage, and I am contemplating also curtaining the large bookcase in the corner, to soften the room a little more and to just hide some more of the storage!! Any thoughts?? Let me know in the comments section – I would love to here what you think!!

Anyway, I will stop teasing and show you some pics of where I am at today! (Click on any picture to show larger) 😉

See, there is still a HUGE amount of stuff in this room, but it is organized like NOBODY’S business!!! 😉 This room is going to do some SERIOUS multitasking, collage, painting, jewelry making, office, writing, library, and guest room!!! WHEW!!! No wonder it has taken me soooo long to get it this clean!!! 😉

I just hope that beautiful art studio equates to beautiful art work being created!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

Note to Chunky Dunkers: I can’t wait to see all of you tomorrow evening!! 😉

Wrapping Up a Delicious Day!!

Good evening!

I have had a VERY SWEET Friday hanging out with my sweetie! We stopped at the craft store so I could get some missing supplies. After which my car battery decided to conk out, and my mother-in-law very sweetly came to give us a jump, so in turn, as a way to say thank you, we took her out to lunch and had a very nice visit with her!!

Next Jason went to the pet store to get the dogs some treats, while I headed over to St Vincent’s to see if I could find anything that might help me organize my craft room – no luck today! BUT, Jason and I quickly met back up again, and we headed over to Borders to do some book perusing!! I bought a few books, one of which was a book on Uncluttering my life, which I will tell you about in another post, but was really ironic, because I have been going through some SERIOUS shopping issues right now!! I can’t say that I am a shop-a-holic, but when you have so much stuff that you are bringing it in faster than you can get it back out – that is a problem!!

I have psychoanalyzed myself and have decided that what is happening is that throughout the past 8 weeks, while working on uncovering my inner artist, I have discovered that there really was a different me inside than what I was letting show on the outside. So, what I think I have been doing now, is letting her shine a little more! My style is softening up and becoming more girly, my hobbies, and free-time activities have really changed, and I have been re-stocking supplies (so to speak) to support the new me, HOWEVER I haven’t let go of the old me and all of her trappings yet!! In all honesty I am a little scared! Old Christina has been around for such a long time that it almost feels kind of like a death, which is ok, I just have to get some support as I get my environment in new Christina shape, while getting rid of anything that doesn’t honor my authentic self, which includes all of this old clutter!!

My sweetie has told me that he would help support me/cheer me on, while I pack up boxes and make some serious headway in getting rid of all of the un-me things in this house, tomorrow morning!! Which is EXACTLY what I am needing. I think I am finally at a place where I am cool with letting go of those old disappointments, unfinished projects, unread books, unworn clothes, craft supplies, etc. etc. etc. You know, all of the miscellaneous stuff that I have been holding onto just because “I might need it someday!” So, I am hoping to be able to post some serious before, during, and after pics tomorrow of some of the areas I am going to tackle! I would like to see, by Sunday evening, some SERIOUS progress having been made!! I will keep you posted!! 😉

Where was I? Oh yes, back to today! After we left Borders, with new books in hand, we stopped at another craft store – I am in search of a mini crown rubber stamp, and for some reason am not finding any!! Anyway, next we stopped at the grocery store to pick up some deli sandwich, that we used  for a light dinner when we got home. YUM!! and finally, we watched Gnomio and Juliet, which was such a cute movie, but I must confess, I may never look at gnomes the same way again!!! LOL! 😉

I am excited to see what tomorrow brings, I know we have a date night with some good friends of ours tomorrow evening, so that will be fun!!

Until tomorrow…

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

Art Studio Reality Check!

Good evening!!

Wow! Where do I start??? I have a lot going on, right now, but I wanted to share about an EMBARRASSING secret that I have been living with, that is becoming a bigger and bigger obstacle on my path to to my creative self!!!

This evening I spent a little time in my “Art Studio”. I say art studio in quotes because my space that can become my dedicated art space AKA Art Studio! Well, let me show you some pics:

I am ABSOLUTELY MORTIFIED of this CATASTROPHIC MESS!!!

(Click to enlarge)

and just take a gander at my work table!

(Click to enlarge)

How the heck am I supposed to get any CREATING done in this HEAP of a room!!

AAAAAAAACK!!

My craft room has become a problem for me, as you can see from the ATROCIOUS pics above!! So, I have decided to host my own makeover intervention with myself!! This whole transformation is being brought on because I have been spending some time reading the latest publication of Where Women Create. I want to have a room comparable to one of these women’s FABULOUS art studios!! With interesting and fun storage idas, everything organized with their own style stamp on their spaces!! I just know it will make any art I create that much sweeter!! Ok, that might be wishful thinking on my part, but it really would make it be a space that I would LOVE to spend time in, and not a space that I cringe to!!!

So, more to come! I will definitely keep you all posted!! 😉 Over the next week or few, depending on how long it takes I am going to be taking some progress pics to show you what progress I am making on turning this room into a place of BEAUTY and CREATIVITY!!! This may take a while!! 😉

In the meantime,

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

A Challenging Weekly Challenge!

Good evening!

As many of you may already know, I have been following the 12 week program, called The Artist’s Way. I am in week 5, and I have to tell you that doing this program may be ONE OF the BEST things that I have ever done in my adult life to in my quest to bettering myself!! I have been consistent with my Morning Pages, every singly morning, whether I want to do them or not, and I have gone above and beyond on making sure that I get my artist’s dates and weekly questions done EVERY SINGLE WEEK! However, I think that week 5’s challenge is going to be the one that REALLY tests my resolve!!!

This week’s challenge is supposed to help you listen in on what your inner voice is saying by avoiding any and all outside media. So, the challenge for this week is that I am not supposed to read any books, or magazines, watch any television, or movies, or play on the internet.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!

I didn’t realize what a crutch these things have been for me until I tell myself I am not allowed to do any of these things!!! I think I have used a lot of these activities to just “numb out” over things in my life.

How many of you do that?

Is it only me??

Let’s just say, it may be a very long week!!!

I know that every step of the process so far has been, just that, a process, and so far I have learned something new about myself all along the way!! So, for this week’s challenge I thought something that might get me through this challenging week would be to have some activities on hand, so that I don’t have to try and figure out what to do at the last minute – a la “I’m bored” style!! Not that I would really have anyone, but my poor sweetie to whine to about this, but I digress!! 😉

Some optional activities for this week will be:

  1. Writing
  2. Drawing
  3. Painting
  4. Cleaning
  5. Organizing
  6. Kissing
  7. Swimming
  8. Walking
  9. Cooking
  10. Baking
  11. Skipping
  12. Dog walking
  13. Photographing
  14. Miniature golfing
  15. Sculpting
  16. Bowling
  17. Dancing
  18. Stretching
  19. Sleeping
  20. Meditating
  21. Day dreaming
  22. Recycling
  23. Volunteering
  24. Making Love
  25. Twirling
  26. Laughing
  27. Card playing
  28. Any game playing in general
  29. Dressing up
  30. Playing make believe
  31. Making a video
  32. Playing with makeup
  33. Listening to music
  34. Blogging
  35. Decorating
  36. Furniture arranging
  37. Collaging
  38. Nature walking
  39. Yoga
  40. Mani/Pedis

That is a pretty healthy list, and some of these things really excite me to think about being able to do this week!! There will be no need to “Numb out” this week, I can just get out there and

LIVE, LIVE, LIVE my life!!!

You know what Auntie Mame always says,

“Life is a banquet and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death!”

OK, so I realize that is a movie reference, but I didn’t watch it, I am just recalling it, so I think that counts as being compliant!!! LOL! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Random Thoughts for the Day!

Good evening!

To say that I am tired is quite the understatement. I am zonked, pooped, spent, drowsy, lethargic, sleepy, drained, bushed, wasted, stale, exhausted, weary, beat, haggard!! In other words I am ready for a breather!!! 😉

My sweetie has totally made my day this evening! He new that I was having a long day, and when I got home today, I was pleasantly surprised to see that not only did he make dinner tonight, he even set the table nicely and we had a nice dinner together!!! I know you guys must be so sick of hearing this, but I am really SO IN LOVE with my husband!! He is SUCH a KEEPER!!! 😉

Ok, so what has been going on with me?? Well, I am still doing my morning pages from The Artist’s Way. I am into week 4 now, and I REALLY DO SWEAR BY THEM!! I can’t ever imagine me not doing them again!! By clearing the “clutter” and negative self-talk out of my head, they have helped me tap into a part of myself that I thought was long since dead, and in reality it was just a part of me that I had let go dormant.

In the last four weeks, I know I have really changed a lot. I find that my perception about the world around me has really changed for the better, and I think that those closest to me have been able to see that. I feel like I don’t have to be a doormat any longer, always trying to please my friends and family, although I still like pleasing them, I don’t have to do it at the sake of myself and my own happiness. Now, I am part of the equation.

In the movie Eat, Pray, Love, Julia Robert’s character says something like I have worked so hard to create this life, why can’t I see myself in it. I feel like that really summed up what I had felt about me in my life. Every single thing I have in this life is because I created it. I did the work, I made the sacrifices, and I made it all happen, but why wasn’t I happy. Because I realized that I wasn’t there – I wasn’t represented in my own life, I wasn’t present!! What a wake up call!

Doing my morning pages, writing my thoughts, feelings, emotions, desires, and dreams out on paper for an hour every morning, has helped me get out of my own way, and find out what truly makes me happy! A lot of those things that make me happy now are the same things that made me happy when I was a little kid, and rediscovering that has really opened a world of true joy in my life!!

Some of those things are:

  • Walking barefoot through the grass
  • Playing with my best friend out in the rain
  • Reading a good book while laying upside down in bed
  • Coloring
  • Making something from nothing
  • Racing to the other end of the pool while holding my breath the whole way
  • Making a fort with my sweetie just for the sake of having a fort to play in
  • Trying a new recipe just for myself
  • Laughing so hard with friends that you all end up crying from happiness!!
  • Dancing as if no one is watching
  • Not caring when I realize someone is! 😉

I am learning that it is all these things that bring you back into your own life, it is what is bringing me back into mine. These minor changes have made me excited to get up in the morning, which is a huge change from getting up every morning because I feel obligated to, or it is the responsible thing to do. I also realize the truth in the quote from the movie The Answer Man,

Kris Lucas: Why can’t I do the things I want to do? There’s so much I know I’m capable of that I never actually do. Why is that?
Arlen Faber: The trick is to realize that you’re always doing what you want to do… always. Nobody’s making you do anything. Once you get that, you see that you’re free and that life is really just a series of choices. Nothing happens to you. You choose.

This has been something that I have been whining to my husband for YEARS!! Why can’t I do what I want to do? When is i t my turn??? By using my Morning Pages, I get it! I FINALLY am understanding that I DO choose! I get to do it right now, and every moment, of every day! That knowledge is what true freedom is all about!! I am so thankful for this book, and my sissy who sent it to me, thank you Alex!! Opportunities are presenting themselves all around me, and all I have to do is be open to trying out new things, and not being afraid to walk down new paths!! So, tonight I am going to take care of myself by having a nice, peaceful and quiet evening, and letting myself fall asleep nice and early!! NOW THAT is what happiness is all about!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

An Afternoon of Living Life!

Good afternoon!!

Before I head out the door to go back to the art studio, Create a Memory, to work some more on my glass fuse project, I thought I would stop and organize my thoughts a little bit, not only for this weekend,but for the week.

As you may have noticed, I have started tracking my food, and sharing my daily eats out here with you for the past two days! In looking at what I have been eating, I realize I need to do a more diligent job of making sure that I have plenty of healthy foods on hand, so that I can do better at avoiding the candy jar at work, and make sure that I am not purchasing food from the work cafeteria. Now, please don’t get me wrong, the food is delicious, BUT I don’t know what is in it, AND when nothing sounds good I get fried chicken strips and fries! DEFINITELY NOT health food!!! I am asking my body to be so much more physical than it has in a while, and I just need to make sure that I am getting it the nutrients it needs so that it can stay powered up for me to keep going!! AND for every pound I move, all movement is just going to get easier and easier, and I will be able to lesson my knee, ankle and foot pain!!! So, I don’t know if you just heard the Rocky sound track going on in my head, but it just did and it is BLARING!! 🙂 It is reminding me to get out there and MAKE it happen!! Anyone have any chickens I can chase??? 😉

So, today, I need to create our week’s menu for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and all snacks, then I am heading over to Create a Memory and I will be over there for a few hours, working on my glass project. Next I will head over to the grocery store and pick up needed groceries to meet our menu’s needs, and then I am going to come back put it all way, and make my way over to our pool!! I haven’t dipped in a couple of weeks, and that is my second FAVORITE workout, second to belly dancing, of course!!! (Walking is my third favorite, just in case you were wondering, and biking is fourth!!)

Also, I want to make sure that I share this quote that I found this morning, as I was doing some early morning reading,

“Chance is always powerful.
Let your hook be always cast;
in the pool where you least expect it,
there will be a fish.”
~Ovid

This quote really seemed to be fitting as I am out there trying to feel my way to my art medium, and it reminded me to keep looking. Even if you think that something is not what you want, try it anyway, you just might find that it is EXACTLY what you have been looking for!! POIGNANT!!

Anyway, I will try and post again this evening!!! My day is not complete unless I am able to get a post out at least once a day, but I prefer twice!! not only to stay in touch with you, but to stay in touch with myself too!! I am learning that that is VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Have a FABULOUS afternoon!!

A Happy Week Night Date Night!

Good evening!

This post is getting done much later than I normally like to get my posts done! Matter of fact my bedtime is actually in 8 minutes!! I feel so OLD all of the sudden!!! LOL! Ok, not really, but I was excited to tell you about our evening!!

Sometime late this afternoon, my sweetie texted me to find out if I wanted to go across town tonight, and go hang out at our FAVORITE bookstore, and he would will treat me to dinner afterward! Well, NORMALLY, I would say

“No way! Not on a work night!”

but I found myself saying,

“Sure!”

That, my friends, is GROWTH!!! LOL! 😉

I realized that this could be an opportunity to dip my toes into being creative tonight by reading any and all of the new Somerset Publications that Somerset produces, and the do have A LOT! and MAN AM I EVER glad I did that!! I am filled with so much inspiration for art projects to try, and adventures to take, and I am even now on the hunt for some Oregon-based art/craft classes so that I can immerse myself more into the creative community. Like I have been saying for the past couple of posts, my chosen medium is still in the works to be decided upon, but right now I am pretty open to whatever possibilities might present itself!!

Does anyone know of any classes, retreats, workshops, artsy/crafty get-togethers in the area? Please let me know in the comments above!

If I can’t find any, or enough to keep me busy, I am going to have no choice but to put some together myself and make a call to all of the Artsy Gutsy Chicks I know!!! There have GOT TO be more women out there taking the same creative journey that I am!!! If you might be interested, let me know in the comments, and I will put together a list of ladies, and if demand is high enough, I will get a class going!! 😉

What a GREAt NIGHT!! My sweetie really outdid himself in the brownie-making points department tonight! He really went out of his way to treat me like a lady and make me feel special!! Thank you, my love!! After 16 1/2 years of marriage, I am ALWAYS just so THRILLED that we not only love each other, but that we are still IN LOVE!! What a blessing that man of mine is to me!! Love, I hope I can make you just as happy as you make me!!! Thank you for tonight!! 😉

My cup runneth over!!! 😉

I have a meeting at 7:30 in the morning, which means I have to leave the house about 1/2 an hour early, so I am going to go get ready for bed for the evening!! I just KNOW I will have to keep a journal by my bed this morning, so that I can jot down any project ideas that pop into my head!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Happy Easter!

Good morning, and Happy Easter!!

I have finished my morning pages this morning, and my sweetie is taking an early morning nap! I just LOVE quiet Sundays!! We are fortunate that we are able to get those every once in a while!! Seeing that Jason and I do not have any children, Easter is usually a day that just comes and goes for us, but today we are going to try something different. We are going to have a special Easter, just the two of us!

For lunch, Jason made sure we had a nice spiral cut ham, so I am going to cook him his favorite for supper – ham with my mamma’s special glaze baked on it. I am also going to make a few deviled eggs, and a small potato salad, just like we had every Easter growing up with my family!! Add to that a lovely green salad and some fresh steamed broccoli, and I think that we will have a VERY special Easter supper, just the two of us!!! 😉

While I was out yesterday I picked up the two most recent copies of Artful Blogger! This publication, put out by Somerset Studios is quickly becoming my FAVORITE publication!! Every page is a feast for the eyes, and I can spend a BLISSFUL day pouring over it’s pages!! Each issue is an addition to my ever growing library of creative and inspirational resources!! What a FIND!! I can only DREAM of being featured in this publication someday, when I am a real-live professional blogger!!! That is ok, baby steps – baby steps!! I will get there someday!! I CAN’T WAIT!!! 😉

My sweetie just came down from his nap, and he was singing “Happy Easter” from the movie Easter Parade to me! He knows I just LOVE watching that movie EVERY Easter, and he always watches it with me!! Isn’t that just DIVINE??? So between Easter with my love, a home cooked meal that reminds me of home, and my new copies of Artful Blogging, it’s gonna be a good day, a very good day indeed!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS Easter day!!! 😉

Catch-Up Tuesday!

Good evening!

I have to tell you that today has been such a very good day!! REALLY!!! The sun is shining, Chris and I have help at work now, which is DIVINE!!! Plus Julie really is VERY SWEET, so she has been a joyful addition to our team!!

I am sorry that my posts have been a little sparse the past two days! I had gotten caught up in a book – yes, I still do read, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE!! I just finished reading  City of Fallen Angels, by Cassandra Claire, with my girlfriend, and co-worker Chris. She had finished it before me, which meant I HAD TO GET IT READ so that we could discuss!! WHEW!! So that is what I have been busy doing.

Ok, I got the last few pages read right before bed last evening! and can I tell you???

WHAT A HORRIBLE ENDING!!!

There is a movie that came out in 1982 that my mom used to watch A LOT when I was a little girl, it was called The Pirate Movie. Well, at the end of that movie, the main character, Mabel, who had been having a pirate dream for the length of the movie, realized she was getting a bad ending. She start calling out, “I want a happy ending! I want a happy ending!!” and the dream froze and, long story short – she got her happy ending!! Well,

I WANT A HAPPY ENDING!! I WANT A HAPPY ENDING!!!

For those of you who haven’t read City of Fallen Angels yet, Chris and I are both sooooo dang frustrated that we have to wait probably another year before we get to find out WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!! UGH!!!

What is a girl to do??

Hmmm… I could always start another book???

😉

As I said earlier in this post, it is so nice and sunny here today – the first real feeling day of Spring!! FINALLY! This cheery, warm weather has started me dreaming about my farm again!! I am so ready to go out and find my farm! Today would be the most DELIGHTFUL day to go out and play in the gardens, take a nice leisurely walk, and spend some time laughing with my sweetie in the great outdoors!!

My sweetie is out working on a roof for a customer, and so I am home alone for dinner. I had a pretty big lunch today, so I have decided to do a light fruit and veggie based dinner tonight – kind of like a mini cleanse!! I have had a lovely pear, a nice crisp apple, and some freshly sliced strawberries!! Later, when/if I get hungry again, I have the makings of a fresh, crisp, green salad, which should be DELICIOUS!! if I get really hungry, we have some fresh baguette in the kitchen too, that I can tear a chunk off of!! Or maybe I can add about an ounce of cheese to the mix, for some calcium-rich protein! YUM! We’ll see! (NOTE: this is my attempt to live spontaneously! WILD? I KNOW!!!!)

I have decided to start buying only organic produce. It is more expensive, but I think in the long run, it can only help us by not consuming quite as many chemicals as we have eaten in the past! So, we have been eating organic produce for a few days now, and I have to tell you, that I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of a lot of these foods. They just taste better. More flavor, richer, somehow!! It has been less than a week, and I am already hooked!! Go figure!! Thanks for the words of encouragement, Sis!!! 😉

Tonight, I am going to do a little more reading, but I think I am also going to go take a nice walk out in nature, and just soak up as much vitamin D as I possibly can!!! Doesn’t that just sound lovely???

Have a FABULOUS evening!!

Note to Chunky Dunkers: I can’t wait to see all of you at our Chunky Dunker’s Club, here tomorrow night!!! It will be great to talk about our ups and downs in our efforts to getting fit and healthy!! If anyone would like to join us – I should have the night’s post published by 6:30 PM! The more the merrier! GO CHUNKY DUNKERS!!! 😉