Post Cards from Heaven

Actually, they are from Maui but is as close to Heaven as you can get on earth. I was painting my bookshelves when I found a small photo album from my honeymoon. Inside were several postcards that I obviously forgot to send.

I couldn't get over how incredibly beautiful Maui was, I hope my darling and I can get back there someday. We have a slim change of making the trip as early as next February but that idea is in it's infancy so we'll see...




Hope everyone has a lovely postcard friendship friday. Next friday I hope to have an altered postcard or a postcard journal to show.

Healing from the inside and the outside

I've been gripped by a strong desire to feed myself better. All the affirmations, listening to Louise Hay and Dr. Dyer are paying off. I don't think anyone can see on the changes on the outside but inside I feel whole and more connected.
Now I seem to want to start making my outside match how I feel about myself. Here is the plan I've put out for myself:

Body-for-Life Exercise Program (alternate cardio days and weightlifting days)
Eating 5-6 meals a day
No gluten (I've been doing that for a awhile now)
Eating fruit by itself
More veggies on the dinner table
4 cups of water a day (working my way up to 6)
I get one day off a week (if I need it)
Slowly taking the creamer and splenda out of my coffee

My goal is to get back to a healthy weight and to feel more energetic and alive. I'm going to stay off the scale and just use my clothes as a guide. I'm kind of excited about this. I haven't felt this positive in awhile. I think I can do this!

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

I had a great time seeing family and old friends while enjoying some of my teenage stomping grounds. It was fun to see these places through the eyes of my children. We stayed with my parents in a small cottage near the beach in Rhode Island and took in a few sites when the weather was less than beach perfect.



Our first stop was the old carousel at Watch Hill Rhode Island. Believed to have been left behind by a traveling circus in the late 1800s this has always been a big attraction and a favorite memory of mine. You can still ride this carousel and try to grab a brass ring for a free ride!


My son's favorite stop is Mystic, Connecticut. There is so much to do here, in fact Mystic is one of the top 3 tourist destinations in the entire country.



As much fun as it was I'm glad to be back to my routine. I missed at least one postcard friendship friday while I was away and it's nice to join in again. Hope you all have a good one and thanks for stopping by!

Art Journal in the making

I've never really done a lot of journaling. I think the word 'journal' turns me off because it makes me think of a diary or a dreaded food journal that I've used for dieting. Plus, I like my art to be more usable and concrete. But, I'm starting to see the fun in journaling and doodling so I'm working on making a special one for myself. I'm in the very early stages, just playing with the cover, but soon I'll add some cool papers, postcards, brown paper bag scraps, etc. I think it's time I made something for myself instead of making stuff to put on eBay or in my store. I'm posting an early picture and will post another when I'm finished.
Hope everyone is having a lovely day! Be back tomorrow for Postcard Friendship Friday...

Journal Pages

What I learned on my vacation

I just got home from a nice beach vacation; no computer, no internet access, and my cell phone died on the trip. I didn't know I needed the break but now that it's over I can tell you that I certainly did.

I realized I was falling into an old pattern of mine where I forget to enjoy what I'm doing and get all caught up in the end product. That Type A personality comes barging in and I start making lists, setting goals, and putting myself on insane time tables. It wasn't until I stepped back from it all that I realized how much pressure I had (once again) put on myself.

What started as me making art for meditation turned into the following....

2 blogs
working on a new e-book
working on a third 30-Minute Mandalas coloring book
writing off and on for 2 websites
an Etsy.com webstore
a Shophandmade.com webstore
Coordinating a monthly ATC swap
and all the things that come with being SuperMom and WonderWife

And while I completely enjoy every single thing on that list I have to ask... what's the rush?! Why am I doing so many things at once? Why am I pushing myself to finish so many things? Am I in this for the process or the finish line?

I am going to try to reclaim the process. Enjoy every paint stroke and every mistake. I'm going to flow with life and let my angels guide me to my next adventure instead of plowing through it all, too busy to hear their calls.

Horsin' Around

My daughter is the real collector in the family. I'm not one to save something just to look at it, I like to use, reuse, alter, etc just about everything. But the Fairy Princess is a lover of all things pretty and sentimental. So she has her own postcard collection that I dipped into for today's Postcard Friendship Friday.

Here are a couple of her most precious Horse Postcards. These pretty ponies were freebies, which makes them even better in my opinion. They come from Farnam Horse the makers of a variety of horse care products.

They post pictures of horses on their website which I love to browse. Here is a picture of little Snickerdoodle. All together everyone.... "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww."

Out of Sync

I've been painting the house and it's got me all off sync. I'm enjoying the effect the new paint job is having on my 20-something year old home but I can't seem to find time for anything else. Plus the kids are home for summer break and we are getting ready to take a vacation to the beach. I suppose it's only normal to feel off-kilter with so many things changing and happening all at once. Still, I'm surprised that I don't feel drawn to spend ANY time in the art room.

I get like this though. I'm an all or nothing person sometimes. Not my favorite quality to say the least.

I'm going to do my best to go with the flow of things. I'm sure I'll be itchin' to paint more than my house (and my arms, and my hands, and my shoes) very soon.