Happy Birthday - It's All About the Present

It's my party and I'll blog if I want to! ♫

Here's the great thing about a birthday that falls on a Monday--you tend to celebrate all weekend to make up for the fact that poor-you, your birthday's on a Monday!

So other than having a great weekend - here are my five tips for being uber thankful it's your birthday!

1--It is indeed your birthday, a celebration of the day you arrived on the planet, and many people are so happy to have you here! Remember that whether you celebrate like the Queen of England or the Queen of Frugality! You can't put a price on love, happiness and thankfulness. But you can have them if you wish.
2--It's a great opportunity to be a blessing to others - since you're so thankful for another birthday, pay it forward and do something nice, be kind, and make someone new glad that you're here.

Me and my precious mother on my first BD

3--Yeh...eat cake Marie Antoinette! I say, if you are pretty good about avoiding those sweets most of the time, this is the day you should enjoy yourself. I always think of my mother's strawberry cake which she had made for my birthdays most of my life. It was this moist, unbelievably rich cake full of strawberry heaven goodness with an amazing icing on top. Today is the first birthday I've ever had without my mom here on the planet with me. About this time last year was when her health had started failing, she was recovering from a hospital stay in a health center. It was a Sunday, and I made her favorite chocolate bundt cake and took it to her room--the whole cake--to celebrate my birthday with her. She talked about the day I was born, in beautiful, sunny California, and what it was like when she brought me home...we lived only a mile from the ocean. Today I realize how wonderfully blessed I was to have a mom like her, and I know she is well cared for in her new heavenly dimension--so now, I have yet another reason to be thankful on each and every birthday and think of her and how much she loved me and all the things she always did for me, and especially how she always looked at me with that sparkle in her eye that only your mother has for you. I really miss that. It's how I know she'd want me to have another happy birthday.
4--If you don't have someone special in your life right now to treat you well and celebrate your day--then treat yourself! There is no rule ever written that says you can't treat yourself well. It's part of being madly in love with your own life, choosing to be happy no matter what, and turning down all invitations to any pity parties. It's your day. Choose bliss. Celebrate your life.
5--It's all about the present. Now, I don't mean the birthday present...although there is one, right? That one thing you really really wanted? This year I just wanted a new bag--but--I wanted a Dooney & Burke. Low and behold I got one! (thanks to a sweet husband who always listens) I just have a thing for Dooneys and Coach bags--it's the feel, the smell, and how they last forever. Even if I could, I'd never spend ten thousand dollars on some designer bag...I'd rather feed someone who's hungry if I had that kind of moolah to throw around. But, a brand new very cute black D&B crossbody for my birthday is perfect!
Back to the point though...it's all about the present. That means, living in the moment, enjoying every moment, being aware of the sun on your face, the fresh air, the smiling face you're looking at, the smell of your cake, the sweet birthday wishes from others...yep. It's all about the present. Enjoy it. Be thankful for it. And at the same time be filled with happiness, joy, peace, bliss, hope, faith and love on your birthday.
Today, here where I live, it is a beautiful, sunny, windy, warm day. I'm going to take a walk today, for sure, go out to my garden, and kick some leaves in the air. Because tomorrow - we'll be plunged down into the thirties and forties the rest of the week! Remember, I'm a California girl - this Ozarks winter stuff is not my nature--but I hybernate in my craft room very well.
Back to today, it's nice and just what I ordered. The sun is out. I've already written something (you're reading it, thank you and bless you). It's my birthday. ♥


Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch
 

A Perfect Summer's Day at Last

We are about to kiss Summer 2013 goodbye. I'm relaxing with my little laptop, and thinking of all the best moments. Summer lovers must be a little sad--although we've all had our weather roller coasters, the last bit of August was absolutely beautiful here in the Ozarks, and September has heated up enough to keep my tomatoes and my tan going--why would I want to bid all this heaven farewell?

There are things I love about fall like wearing sweaters, making apple pies, decorating pumpkins, and hot cocoa on a crisp fall day, it's true. 

But it will all have to wait one more moment while I reminisce about my summer. I stumbled upon a sweet summer memories blog post, which made me think it's time for another. I had posted this one in July of that year, and it was kinda fun.

♥ Read Cats and Quiches

 This year we were not able to travel...and I didn't even really have my deck to sit out and sip coffee on because it is all torn up right now! I've been looking forward to a new deck for a while. So, things are not perfect, but that's no excuse not to find some bliss. 

These are a few of my favorite things from this summer.

I found a new cozy corner on my greenhouse sunporch.

We actually grew pumpkins this year! We've already harvested the first big orange one. It was great weather for the squash family.

My aloe vera plant (which has now been moved to that new cozy corner) is huge!

My front yard flowers have been amazing. In the flower box hubby built for me many moons ago, are marigolds grown from seed, impatients, and pink lavender.

My mailbox garden was grown from seeds...marigolds and zinnias.

I made blueberry muffins with real blueberries! So yummy. I'll post this recipe soon, I promise.

I finally went to the new location of the FM Store--my favorite fabric store. I just get lost in there dreaming about all the things I'm going to make! This time I was picking out a chair covering. Here's a few fab pics!

I actually knitted a lot this summer. I finished a patchwork knitty quilt, and I'm almost finished with the second piece of my knitted tank top. Woo hoo!

Minnie is hanging out with me right now, telling me her best moments of summer. ♥ She loved my daughter being home and constantly hanging out in her room--especially when she has friends over!

I love wearing summer shirts and shorts much more than cold weather clothes! Almost all the shorts I wear have embroidery on them! Embroidery is how I tatoo!

Speaking of wearable art (embroidery in particular) I found my Mexican dress! A dear friend actually bought it for me in Mexico and it is filled with the most amazing embroidery...gorgeous! My daughter thinks it looks like a blue tent on me, but I don't care because I'm so in love with the embroidery. What a nut! I need a good photo of it and soon. ♥

I discovered "earthing" the simple act of walking barefoot on the ground to transfer the earth's free electrons (the most potent antioxidants) into your body. It sounds so simple--too simple almost. But there are places in the world, like in Austria and Switzerland, where there is a tradition of getting up in the morning and going barefoot. What will I do when it's too cold outside?

I'm still eating, cooking, and canning tomatoes fresh off the vine. Nothing like it, period.

I decorated my typewriter! Might as well...only four ribbon cartridges left before it gets upcycled!

Finished the butterfly scarf--it will be fun to wear this fall and winter. Now that's something to look forward to!

I became a contributor to Tag Tuesday. I love making tags, and they have so many uses. Being a part of Tag Tuesday is just more motivation!

My hubby's in an awesome show at the Little Theatre, but still took time to go to a lovely craft fair with me!

I started making mood boards - fun! Kinda like inspiration boards. And I've turned Pinterest into many inspiration boards for myself. Love it. Join me on Pinterest! (see my link at the top right)

I made pink lemonade a lot. Yum.

I made an upcycled summer art journal using vintage file dividers for the covers--very cool.

Read Upcycled Art Journal here.

I did a lot of reorganizing in my crafty corner!

Don't forget to write down what you loved about this summer, whether you blog about it, put it in your art journal (I'm putting mine in there too), or just make a list--it's really fun to look back on and makes you remember all the things you love about your life.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Summer-at-Home



















 

Progress on the Novel

I am really having fun with NanoWrimo this year! I have not quit--still going! Here is a screenshot from my stats on the NanoWrimo.org website, so you can see how I'm doing. Happy writing today--I have some crafting and art journaling plans for the weekend, and my birthday on Saturday. Woo hoo - 52!

EAT, WRITE A NOVEL THIS MONTH, DREAM OF PUBLISHING IT, STITCH

NanoWrimo - Here I Come!

November is National Novel Writing Month. When you join NanoWrimo at www.nanowrimo.org, you are making a commitment to write 50,000 words this month. The whole point is to focus on the pure output, and leave the editing and worries to December and beyond.

If you love to write, it's fun! Although it's a challenge, even though all that is required of you is pure writing, it is good for you in so many ways. For one, you have to write every day. When you write every day, you become a better writer. Period. If you love to write AND art journal, like I do, your journaling even gets better. Also, you may end up with a real novel on your hands. That's exciting! Even if you start this out and do not know what you are doing, if you write every day, and write 50,000 words this month, you will have a story.

I write in my very own genre, called StitchLit, because most of my bigger works have been about stitchers! I can't help it...I write what I like.

My daughter, also a writer, is taking on this challenge with me, and she is doing quite well already. So, off I go to catch up with her! I fear this may infringe on some of my crafty time this month--but I hope not too much. I still have to stitch, play with paper, and color something every day! In the meantime, I will try and keep you updated on my NanoWrimo progress--even if I quit!

Eat, WRITE, Dream, Stitch

Summer Dreamin' and Schemin'

 So here we are...approaching mid-August..and what have we done? Every fiber of my being is completely rejecting the back-to-school promotions right now! I've still got summer plans to carry out! While my official summer break is over, and I'm back to the office 40 hours a week--I'm not giving up on my summer dreams and schemes! I actually love my work--and that includes all my work--but I do love and appreciate the actual work I get paid regularly for. I have a lovely office, and work with the most wonderful people. I'm pretty organized, and I get a lot done. Sure, I'd love to be able to just write all the time and create my stuff--but a paycheck and health insurance are true blessings! I live close to my work, so I have several hours even after I get home to get creative, and I have the weekends and a lot of holidays and vacation. Am I ever tired? Sometimes I think I'm always tired! But it's not a sin to be tired. I even walk two miles every morning when I get up, first thing. So I know how to push through tiredness--and even a pinched nerve in my back. I'm pretty good at just acting like I feel wonderful! And sometimes, when I act like that long enough, I do!

So back to my summer dreams and schemes...I'm working on a few things...designing...sketching out plans...finishing up a big writing project...and having fun in the middle of all of it. My little idea book and creative journals are hopping with creative madness and mess. I've simply got more cutting, coloring, gluing, stitching, cooking, gardening, writing and socializing to do before we call it a summer kids!

I'm warning you--it might be late September before I call it another summer-past. If it stays warm, and I'm still picking tomatoes...it's summer!

In the meantime, I think what I like about having plenty of summer dreams and schemes is knowing that I'm cooking up a lot of projects that won't even be through until the middle of winter. When I move in for the winter, and I'm not sitting in the sun and out in the garden, I will need plenty to keep me busy and happy in the house!

Sadly, my big writing project actually involves Christmas--they are Christmas scripts and I need to get them to my publisher by September! The other Christmas item I want to do way ahead of time is make my own cards this year--I think that's a fab idea. Along with that, here are the other schemes I've got going and things I just want to do. I'm sort of rewinding and fast forwarding at the same time.

I want to make more cards--like this one for my daughter's birthday this summer. I love adding tags to cards--and I'm working on acquiring more of those lovely stamps. I think stamping is a lot like when I was little and had a coloring book in my hand all the time. Because you're not drawing--the stamp does that--you're kind of decorating...and that is so fun and relaxing.

Here we go--I had to have an excuse to show my doodle-embroidered cutoffs again! Doodle embroidering is at the top of my list and I have two more pairs of cutoffs to do. I don't know where to fit them in with all of the other things I want to do--and timing is critical so that it's still warm enough to wear them for heaven's sakes! One pair is green, like these, and the other is white--talk about a blank slate with doodle embroidering on white shorts...the possibilities are endless!

I keep wearing these all the time because they make me feel crazy creative!

Okay, do you see this tree? This pitiful little dead cherry tree? It is in the very back of my property, past the garden. It used to be the most gorgeous cherry tree--we enjoyed its harvest, year after year. So did the birds if we didn't pick the cherries soon enough! But sadly, one winter, a horrible ice storm hit, and our sweet little tree didn't recover. I can't bear to have it completely cut down...soooo...I'm going to yarn bomb it! I can't wait! I think it will be really cute. So stay tuned for that--I'm saying no more!

 In other news--I'm going to keep eating more veggies! Fresh, steamed, whatever...I'm going to keep doing this. I had an excellent checkup at the doctor--my bloodwork, blood pressure...all that blood stuff...was EXCELLENT! At my age, I'm very happy and proud of that. (51, by the way). So veggies, let's do this thingie!

Speaking of veggies--I'm going to keep picking and eating cherry tomatoes, every day, until there are no more. I'm not tired of it...no really...I'm thankful. Love these thingies! They are expensive at the store, so glad to have them for free right in my own backyard.

And speaking of tomatoes in my own backyard--I've got tons, including yellow ones. So I've decided to fresh-preserve the yellow ones too! I think they are pretty and unique--you probably can't buy canned yellow tomatoes at the store. Right?

 I'm going to keep planting seeds--especially basil--it goes with my tomatoes and I LOVE fresh pesto.

SAD! But not for long.

We are beautifying this sad little alcove by our outdoor workshop building. It is going to be ahhmazing--we're talking lots of paint...furniture...creative flooring...even beads, hanging things and painted rocks--so fun. I'll share all about it when it's done with all the before and after pics--this will go well with the yarn bombing. Can't wait! (Can you tell I've been watching Worlds Most Extreme Homes?) Of course, my hubby is in on this, doing the heavy lifting. He's the best.

Here's my hubby with some friends--we've had some fun times this summer, and I want to meet up with more friends and have more fun!

I will let sleeping cats lay...even if they're laying in a basket of my fabric!

Reorganize my sewing niche...

Buy more notions...

Open my Etsy store...Teacup & Pebble...

Bake more rosemary and tomato bread...

Glitter more and create more papercrafts...(this project was so fun!)

Work on my mixed-media projects so dear to me...(yay bowls o buttons!)

And one more thing...go to more ballgames! That's me on the left, peeking out from behind our mascot when I sang the National Anthem with a group earlier this summer. I love going to the ballgame with my hubby--having a bratz...sitting outside in a nice breeze. It has been horribly hot this summer--so I'm ready for some nicer evenings and simply more fun. We also go to my little nephew's ballgames...very fun. Family time is important, most of all. And I think my creative life just makes me a better mom, worker, family member and friend.

Keep scheming and dreaming!