Embrace Life

real right now | amid the thanks and giving

I am always a little wary of the "Christmas season" as I find it to be one that does not bring out the best in people. Instead, I prefer the more low-key idea of thanksgiving as a season of lowered expectations and raised gratitude.

With our proximity to the U.S., where their Thanksgiving heralds the start of their holiday season, I've decided to use my Canadian Thanksgiving - the second Monday of October, to mark the opening to my "Thanksgiving season" which, this year, will span from Monday, October 13 through Thursday, November 27.

Last year, with the help of Cathy Zielske's 30 Days of Thankful templates and Artifact Uprising, I had a lovely book to recognize the season. The year before, again with the help of CZ, another book was made to celebrate the season. This year, I've gone further back into the archives as I do not want to limit my project to 30 (or 31) days as the season will, for me, contain 46 days. I have purchased Cathy's (limitless) digital kit from 2009.

I spend a lot of time firmly planted in my present and aware of all the things for which I am grateful. I enjoy this project each year as it gives me a tangible opportunity to record - in photos and words - what is the most important to me. Things have changed as my outlook and priorities have changed. These projects provide a nice reference point!

To get me started, I want to take a few moments to observe, absorb and record where I am. Now.

Surprise, a pic of me, today (well, Sunday, at Thanksgiving dinner.) Photo credit goes to my niece, Spencer:

 A few pics of my life, currently:

Lots of orange, and gourds, and cooler weather. Bliss.

Our family room - a rare photo as it is tidy! Love this space.

I take these every day - in actual fact, I take over 30 pills each day. It's exhausting, but I do feel better.

And more of what I am most thankful for, every day:

Adventures with my family! Which always provides fodder for a story or two. In this case, 10 of us headed down to see "Wicked" at the Ed Mervish Theatre. We were a bit early and lucky for us the Hard Rock Café had terrible service - we ended up not being seated - which took us to The 3 Brewers next door. It was so good - service and food A+!  My sister and I were holding our breath regarding "Wicked" as recent productions in Toronto have been less than marginal. I'm so happy that "Wicked" was wonderful! We topped off our day with most of our crew joined up with more family at Grazie for an always wonderful gastronomical experience before heading home. A very long, and very lovely, day.

Words | The Home Key

Recently I started another creative writing course held on Tuesdays in Burlington. Last week I received a note from my instructor, Brian Henry, asking me to do a "Show and Tell" piece for the class. The parameters were broad: pick something to show and then tell about it. Simple enough. Ha! I started the process at least 20 times and finally settled on this one.

SHOW:

TELL:

The Home Key
Creative Writing Class | 500 Words | 30 September 2014

        I look at this small gold house key with cautious anticipation. It may be a small bit of metal with sharp grooves and notches, but it packs an emotional wallop! Will it be the last house key I have on my chain or is it just another one in a collection of many I’ve had over the years?

        According to Dr. Brené Brown, the single emotion people are most afraid of is joy. Seriously. We are collectively conditioned to wait for the other shoe to drop so we never fully appreciate the moments of joy when they are right in front of us. We anticipate with more surety the promise of disaster or, at the very least, failure. Joy is terrifying.

        I don’t want to be afraid of my joy and this house key represents my opportunity to overcome my history, my fear and lean into and fully embrace gratitude. Only then will I fully understand joy.

        The journey to this one key is found in all of the keys before it. The house to which I was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, where my mum was a nurse and my dad worked at the sugar refinery and I spent my days with my grandmother. The tiny two-bedroom townhouse in married student housing in Watertown, Massachusetts, where I moved with my dad, pregnant mum and little sister so my dad could attend school to earn his business degree. The split-level ranch house just outside Cleveland where I was initiated into the lifestyle of quintessential (read: tacky) 1970s suburbia with dads gone through the workweek and cheesy neighbourhood gatherings on the weekends. The house in North Toronto where my mother thought wallpapering the dining room ceiling and putting indoor-outdoor carpet in the kitchen was some kind of interior design statement - it was, and it was not good! The house in the Chicago suburbs with the pool, the ping-pong table and the basketball court in the barn. The other house in Toronto, which would become home-base until I left for boarding school six years later. Then there were no keys since in the all-girls school of 165 students the idea of privacy was absurd. My rooms at university had keys but who ever thought to use them? We never had anything of any value to steal so why bother locking up? My first job took me to Buffalo, New York and a full-on transient existence with various roommates and a boyfriend or two. There were plenty of house keys but the only keys that mattered opened office doors. A favourite key was the one I got when I bought my first house after my transfer to Calgary: a sweet bungalow where I housed my fiancé-then-husband, my first baby and a second soon after. Another transfer brought us to Ontario where I had three more keys to houses that welcomed two more children, survived one bout with cancer, endured one near-death experience, lost one business, and initiated one divorce.

        This key? This key is so much more than a small bit of metal with sharp grooves and notches. This key opens the door to a home as I no longer live in just a house. This key opens the door to my home.

* * * * *

I have always felt, to my bones, that more than anything else, I am a writer.

Growing up I was mocked, ridiculed and told regularly that my idea of being a writer was simply ridiculous. I was too sensitive, I had my head in the clouds, I had to come down to earth and make something of myself. When I was 15 my mother took it upon herself to take one of my hidden works and read it aloud at the Thanksgiving table. I was mortified and never wrote with the same freedom of expression again. It was time to stop dreaming and focus on more practical pursuits. Until now.

Lately I've found some workshops and courses that have lead me to believe that maybe, just maybe, I can tap back into the writer buried deep inside.

Happier You | Day 14

PRACTICE GRATITUDE

Not so long ago it was a struggle for me to find anything good in my life to dwell upon. I don't know when it happened, but a few years ago I simply decided to reject the habits of my childhood and focus on only the good in my life. Not just give it lip service, but truly believe it. Before I long I was practicing "turning shit into sunshine" and every day since has been better for it. With this new view of the world I have realized that it is the flaws and challenges that give our lives depth. Without the lows how can you appreciate the highs, or even the simply okay days? I have learned some wonderful lessons and am grateful for every one of them, big and small.

The assignment: Find at least one thing to be grateful for today. Write it down and put it some place where you can see it all day. Let it be a reminder for you to say thanks throughout the day.

I figured I'd go big with the thing for which I am most grateful, daily:

__________________________________________________________________________

Like Bree Hester, I believe you choose to be happy. Sure there are bad (out of your control) things that happen, but how you handle them is completely up to you. Your choices are your responsibility - there is no blame, no shame, no nothing but accountability. Your attitude is your decision. I choose to be happy. Happy within the context of not wearing the proverbial rose-coloured glasses or any expectation that those who populate my life have made the same choice :) Last October, Bree put together 31 DAYS TO A HAPPIER YOU and, armed with her PDF, I'm using March - that dreary time between winter and spring that seems to drag on forever - to make the conscious choice to be happy every day this month!

list | 05 grateful

52 LISTS | Week Five | List what you are grateful for

(Not much has changed, this list starts with pretty much a repeat of my list from last year, but I've added so much more to the end!)

The start of every new day and that I'm here to make of it whatever I want . the love, trust and respect of my children . my inquisitive nature and insatiable need to learn . my home and those with whom I share it . always having something to do . freedom of choice . my dad . the forgiving nature of my children . a good eye - the photos I take look good . thyroid medication . girlfriends . the opportunity to take the time to plan my future . resilience . laughter . conversations with my sister Beth - enjoying the bond of shared past . technology: Google, my blog, Pinterest, Facebook, CBS Sunday Morning, Netflix, mac, SiriusXM, iEverything, Photoshop Elements . good eating habits . life at a nice pace . returning to the person I am . constant change: weather, people, opportunities, situations . longer days . sauvignon blanc . the beach house in Cape Cod . Brené Brown, Danielle LaPorte, Cathy Zielske, Oprah, Susannah Conway, Patti Digh, Ali Edwards . late baseball games in the heat of summer . a cleaning team every Monday . long tops that cover my butt . dimmer switches . amethyst geodes . Chloé, giver of the best hugs . watching football with Caden . weekly Skype and FaceTime calls with Claire . Cole calling to check on me . white peonies . well written novels . honest conversations . gas fireplaces when it hits -15C and colder outside . Eileen Fisher . annual visits to Canyon Ranch . candlelight . my "Desire Map" ladies . newfound confidence . opportunities available to me and my kids . affirmations . reformer Pilates . meditation . salt rooms . my initiation to old practices . Staples, Curry's and Deserres for my paint, paper and pencil fix . rib eye steaks . Glaxal Base lotion . cashmere . pedicures . sleep .

What about you? For what are you most grateful?

* * * * *

Do you want to join in? Head over to Moorea Seal and check out the 52 Lists.

* * * * *

The 2014 collection:

1 of 52 | 2 of 52 | 3 of 52 | 4 of 52 | 5 of 52 | 6 of 52 | 7 of 52 | 8 of 52 | 9 of 52 | 10 of 52 | 11 of 52 | 12 of 52 | 13 of 52 | 14 of 52 | 15 of 52 | 16 of 52 | 17 of 52 | 18 of 52 | 19 of 52 | 20 of 52 | 21 of 52 | 22 of 52 | 23 of 52 | 24 of 52 | 25 of 52 | 26 of 52 | 37 of 52 | 38 of 52 | 39 of 52 | 40 of 52 | 41 of 52 | 42 of 52 | 43 of 52 | 44 of 52 | 45 of 52 | 46 of 52 | 47 of 52 | 48 of 52 | 49 of 52 | 50 of 52 | 51 of 52 | 52 of 52

Project | Thirty +1 Days of Thankful

I have a few flaws - some louder than others. I am doing my best to take a good look at them and change what I can or maybe just change my outlook and some of those flaws might not be "bad" after all.

The first thing to do is admit you have a problem. Right? Well, okay: I AM A PROJECT JUNKIE. To be honest, one of my biggest most consistent flaws is that of the "the unfinished project". I am REALLY GOOD at starting things. There are so many good ideas, I jump from one to another - to another - to another. Sometimes they are just started and I drop them because they didn't turn out to be what I expected. Sometimes there is that one "perfect" element needed to finish it off. Sometimes they are just waiting to be simply uploaded and/or printed to be completed and yet they sit in my computer. Very few meet the stage of finished. 100% done.

Today, I celebrate a triumph! I am sharing a 100% finished project.

This was a simple get-it-done, a 100% no-brainer project. The brilliant Cathy Zielske has her annual Thirty Days of Thankful project available over at Designer Digitals. I LOVE this project - it was one of the projects I finished last year: Thankful 2012.

I have so much in my life for which to be grateful, it is important for me to recognize and express it. The best way possible is via my favourite format: pictures + words.

Of the three options available, I chose the 6"x8" template and went so far as to order the Handbook Album System from Studio Calico. Then it occured to me that I've always wanted to order a bound book - a real honest to goodness printed book rather than an album. Could I do it? Could I "get over" my gutter issues?

I did!

This envelope arrived, only 5-days after the book was ordered:

WOW. Anything arriving completed, to Canada from anywhere is outrageously wonderful!

The pages are stunning. I am so pumped about this book!

Just click on any of the images below to make larger.

 

Do you participate in a Gratitude Project? Which one? For what are you most grateful this day? month? year? Could you, like me, have written pages and pages, or do you keep things pretty tight - maybe a top three? How do you honour those you feel fortunate to have in your life?

Spill!

celebrating the every day | scrapbooking

 

 

Isn't it funny how

day

by

day

nothing changes

but when you

look

back

everything is different ...

C.S.Lewis

 

Blink. Here I am, in my late 40's with four kids, one divorce and countless changes and experiences collected. I've read an overwhelming number of books. Taken good and not-so-good courses. Purged much bad, embraced much good and I'm in the process of deciding on what to do with the rest.

In that decision is the status of my scrapbooking.

Scrapbooking made me a better person. It certainly made me a better mother. In order to write stories about my kids I had to be there, fully; engaged, fully. It would have been so easy to go down the open rabbit hole of despair but in order to be authentic I had to be engaged and you can't be engaged when you're not present. For years scrapbooking was my refuge. I could focus on the people who brought me joy. Our stories. I could hide behind the camera and take photos of my four adorable children and focus on a life worthy of being recorded in albums.

I remember one day, at a crop, listening to a woman declare how she had purchased some new trendy paper and was going to go out to buy her children matching clothes and take them on a "photo shoot" to the park so she could scrapbook the photos to match the paper. To that point it never occured to me to take my kids on some clothes-match-paper-photo-shoot and I have to admit, I was kind of happy it hadn't! What memories are those? "Mama made us wear these strange clothes and then she took us to a place we never go to have photos taken." That would be just weird. No doubt it would be followed with "and then she got mad when we didn't cooperate" NOT experiences I was willing to risk making memories about.

Rather than creating an illusion, in that moment, I decided to live it - for real.

At the time there was a vast chasm between the mother I had always thought I would be and the mother I was. It was time for me to make an focused effort to become my ideal version of myself for my children, for me. I couldn't write, let alone publish, something patently dishonest, so I decided to make my life completely genuine and true.

Within all of my albums are authentic stories which were rarely influenced by the need to be "perfect" or *gack* fake! I am proud of my albums and that my children will be able to visit their history without any fear of it being contrived, made up, or overly-influenced by some crazy trend or celebrity dictate. Maybe they won't be thrilled that the albums are somewhat myopic, written from a singular point of view - mine - but they'll have a simple recording of their every day existence.

How can I give up the one thing that saved my life?

The reality is, I can't. It is a practice so fully ingrained in my life it would leave far too big a gap to fill. Even when I'm "behind" or didn't do a project "right" there is still joy in the process, in the organizing and collecting and writing and photo taking. The crafting and creation of something tangeable. And, wholly ours. The stories are ours and ours alone and within those every day moments our lives are celebrated. Through those stories my children are validated. They are enough. Within those albums is evidence that  I showed up.

These days it's just different. Like the quote above: but when you look back everything is different.

My albums have evolved. I'm now almost 100% digital in my approach to memory keeping - with the occasional hybrid project thrown in for variety. I really want to just publish them in book form and I am in the process of finding a printer and really need to deal with my "gutter" issues! Some things stay the same - so much creative choice!

Nowadays my favourites (continue to) include:

• Cathy Zielske, a perennial favourite for templates and her blog.
• Karla Dudley, her papers and elements leave me breathless.
• Ali Edwards, her projects are timeless and appealing.
• Becky Higgins, Project Life is exactly what I need to keep celebrating our every day. Every day.
• Big Picture Classes, the courses offered are wonderful and I take at least one per quarter - if not more!
• Designer Digitals and Pixels&Company have so much good stuff!
• Archivers Annex and Studio Calico are my go-to for all other supplies! There is not a lot available in my area and these two companies are not making a killing on shipping.

Some old, some new, some combinations of both.

Scrapbooking is like an old friend. Always there when I need it. Though sometimes I waver and wonder if it's all worth it, I'll never give it up. It will simply change and evolve with time and experiences.

Family | Grandpapa

Taken: 5 November 2005, Fifties Diner, Oakville, ON

As I arrived in Arizona, Claire let me know her dad had left to go see his father. Grandpapa had been diagnosed with lung cancer. It was sad news indeed. Guy had, over the last 20 years, cheated death on a regular basis. We agreed to break the news to everyone else upon my return. Alas, plans are not always convenient for the universe. I returned to a quiet and sleeping house, and after three hours sleep, I woke to Cole responding to his learning on Facebook that his beloved grandfather had passed away.

Over the last week we've been piecing together, as best we can, the circumstances and plans.

It has lead to a number of interesting conversations. My belief is that a funeral is for the living - you attend to celebrate with those you love the life of the beloved who has passed away. Others believe a funeral is for the dead - to show respect.

I've let my children make up their own minds as to how they best want to honour their Grandpapa.

Guy was a lovely man with a kind heart. We will miss him.

30 Days of Thankful | Share 05

Wow.

Tremendous thanks goes out to the talented and ever-inspiring Cathy Zielske for the idea and the templates. My 30 Days of Thankful is COMPLETE! I really enjoyed how this album turned out.

Throughout this project, I have happily included the bits and pieces of my every day that fill my life - right now. I could probably do this every day and find something new in it for which to be thankful.

For that mindset alone I am grateful!

You can find all of my Days of Thankful here:

30 Days of Thankful | Share 04
30 Days of Thankful | Share 03
30 Days of Thankful | Share 02
30 Days of Thankful | Share 01

What about you? Did you/are you participating?

30 Days of Thankful | Share 04

'Tis the season to be thankful, right? Continuing with my Cathy Zielske-made templates, I'm still participating in CZ's 30 Days of Thankful: Share-a-Page Fridays. This is turning into a fabulous album!

Volleyball photo found online.

And with that another week of thankful pages are done!

How about you? Are you participating?

30 Days of Thankful | Share 03

Are you participating in a "thankful" or "grateful" project this November? I've joined in Cathy Zielske's 30 Days of Thankful: Share-a-Page Fridays and I'm continue to surprise myself by staying on track. One happy thing for which I'm grateful just naturally rolls into something else for which to be thankful. I love my life!

Full disclosure: I did NOT take this photo, but for the life of me I don't know where I found it.

And there you have it. What were you thankful for this week?

Come back next Friday to see what I was thankful for through the week coming up. In the meantime, head over to CZ's place and check out all the fantastic pages all linked up!

30 Days of Thankful | Share 02

Are you participating in a "thankful" or "grateful" project this November? I chose to join in Cathy Zielske's 30 Days of Thankful: Share-a-Page Fridays and I'm actually on track!

Photo Source: Blankets

Photo Source: Maple Leaf

 

Photo Source: Chicken

And there you have it! What were you thankful for this week?

Come back next Friday to see what I was thankful for through next week. In the meantime, head over to CZ's place and check out all the fantastic pages all linked up!

30 Days of Thankful | Share 01

Though our Canadian Thanksgiving has long past, I've always considered November to be the month to dedicate to those things for which we are most grateful or thankful in our lives. I often participate in gratitude challenges at this point in the year, and this year I feel expecially thankful for those in my life who make every day worth enjoying.

I'm joining in Cathy Zielske's 30 Days of Thankful: Share-a-Page Fridays because

1. The timing is perfect
2. It can be done in a digi-format (I still haven't dug out all of my paper album supplies)
3. I already downloaded the templates before the share-a-page idea came up
4. I have a great deal - way more than 30 reasons - for which to be incredibly thankful
5. CZ is in charge :)

Two days down. Two layouts made. It's starting off well :)

So there you have it, the latest and greatest project. Come back next Friday to see what I was thankful for through next week. In the meantime, head over to CZ's place and check out all the fantastic pages all linked up!

things we do | inspiration in minneapolis

Often our family field trips come as a result of a question posed by one of the kids. In this case, Claire said "Maya, who?" Evidence that I had clearly failed as a mum or Oprah went off air too soon!

Sometime in late September we were having a typical family conversation about everything and nothing. We tend to all talk at the same time which is sometimes confusing, but more often it is amusing and filled with information. During one of those crazy cross-talk sessions it was revealed to me that Claire did not know who Maya Angelou is ... huh? I was flabbergasted. THIS must be rectified!

I knew Dr. Angelou was still speaking but her schedule was limited. After all, the American national treasure, is 84 and goes to all of her engagements via bus. I was not deterred. Claire offered a challenge and I was going to find where this brilliant woman was speaking and go listen!

It turns out the closest venue in the near future was Minneapolis! I had to get tickets. Then it occured to me that I have a virtual friend, with a daughter about Claire's age, who might be interested in attending. Should this woman prove be the same as the woman I've come to know on her blog and in her classes (we all know a public persona can differ from that shown publicly) I was sure she'd at least be happy to go to the show. Much to my delight, Cathy Zielske and her daughter, Aidan, agreed to join us!

This was shaping up to be a real adventure.

Then Claire didn't want to go. This year she's in boarding and in her final year of high school. LOTS of pressure to perform. She didn't want to spare the day - and it would be a full day. I promised her it would be worth it and if it wasn't she could hold it against me forever :)

Well, great news: it was worth it!

Everything was gathered up for our big adventure: passports, itinerary, event tickets, wallet. All set!

We left a foggy and miserable Toronto Pearson and arrived in a drizzly day in Minneapolis-St. Paul. It turns out that Claire got my poor travel gene and we were both a bit woozie when we arrived. Then there was the crazy cab ride to the hotel. The $40 bill didn't help much!

She spied the Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet upon our arrival. Not deterred by being in a busy city core, she headed over to check it out. (My kids seem to thrive on the energy found only in big urban centres, the complete opposite of our sleepy, suburban environment.) I had to laugh at her text: "Outlet? With these prices this is no outlet." That's my girl!

 Time to get ready!

Yes, I'm starting to take more photos of myself. Proof I was here! Then, with tickets and camera, we headed down to the lobby to meet Cathy and Aidan. So exiting! It was a quick walk to dinner at Bucca di Beppo Restaurant.

Aren't they gorgeous? The girls are only a few months apart in age and they had a ton in common. It was so nice to have Claire open up, with her defences put on pause for the evening. (Like many people, she can get very nervous meeting new people and she tends to be a bit prickly until you get to know her). With Aidan being a vegetarian and Claire not getting any "good" pasta in residence it was the perfect restaurant choice. The food was AMAZING. I loved that it was all served "family style" and wish there were something similar here - outside my own kitchen :)

Then we were off to the big event!

Extraordinary. The courage of kindness and the gift of rainbows will be something that stays with me forever. I had said to a friend on facebook that I would love to be like Maya Angelou when I grow up but I don't think I'm brave enough to endure the struggles she's had to endure in order to become the woman she is now. The stories were amazing. Her voice and tone was like a big hug, so engaging. What a tremendous evening!

I know that you can hear many recordings on YouTube and other internet sites, but being there was what it was all about. The audience was mesmerized and we spent a lot of time clapping, laughing and we were happy to give her a well deserved standing ovation upon her arrival and at the end of her inspiring talk.

Many thanks to Cathy and Aidan for sharing this special evening with us!

A bit of after-event conversation. Claire had a few questions that had never occurred to me to explain before we went to the talk. The Black-American experience is something quite foreign to my daughter and not something we in Canada are exposed to with our own "minorities". We just don't share the same history of slavery and oppression. In fact, the town we live in was one of the final destinations of the Underground Railroad, something I wish we celebrated. I think it would be a good idea to explore the history more - if for no other reason than to understand the divisiveness and rhetoric of our closest neighbours and largest trading partner. I'm so glad attending the talk lead to a great conversation and a lot of thoughtful questions!

Happy that the one-hour time change got her some extra sleep!

From my years in a hockey rink I became a fan of mixing too sweet hot chocolate with burnt coffee. It makes a pretty decent mocha. I have to say, THIS morning mocha in the airport was AMAZING.

We had some time once we cleared security so Claire quickly moved on to another priority - Halloween costumes! And with that our Minneapolis adventure came to an end!

I wonder what will be next?

Create | The 'Ful Album Project

Over the weekend I found a new album project over at Designer Digitals that resonated immediately. I am at a stage in my life for which there are so many thing going on - good, bad and I am so grateful for all of it. When I saw this new Cathy Zielske album project, I bought and downloaded it first thing in the morning - I had it completed and submitted to Persnickety Prints by 4PM, with a trip to the golf store, the bike shop and the mall all thrown in between!

Love me a simple, and manageable, project that takes me by surprise.

What do you think?

TITLE PAGE

MINDFUL

THANKFUL

JOYFUL

HOPEFUL

GRATEFUL

My favourite projects meet a few criteria: simple themes, simple design, flexibility, genuine emotion and honest words. This project is certainly one of my new favourites. Oh, and it's done! That is the very best part :)

About flexibility: The photos and words chosen are those I feel today, in this moment. This is not how I felt a year ago, and doubtful the same as I will feel a year from now. Certainly I will be 'ful of many the same things, but I'm sure other things will become more of my focus. Or my children will be something for whom I am more "mindful" or "thankful" than "hopeful" and for completely different reasons. Maybe things will be more light-hearted and silly? Or more serious and dour? Let's hope life brings with it plenty of silly!

Elements of this project include:
Template: Cathy Zielske, The 'Ful Album Project, Designer Digitals
DigiPaper: Maplebrook Studios, Graphica Solids, Designer Digitals
Photos: From my collection, though I don't remember taking the veggie one.

As always, thank you Cathy Zielske for all that you do. I enjoyed taking my day and reflecting on all those thing in my life that make it 'ful.

g*list | october

sleeping with the window open a crack. bliss.

hard decisions made. and accepted.

working together with the kids.

homemade chicken noodle soup.

season tickets for maple leafs hockey.

fantastic interim report cards.

kindness and understanding of others.

teenage drama and the opportunity to learn and accept.

my kids horsing around with each other.

clean bedrooms.

fleece mittens. fleece blankets. the promise of winter.

laughing. a lot.

not falling back into old enabling habits.

sauvignon blanc.

a new week. challenges ahead.

.

so grateful.

 

inspired (as always) by the incredible afm.

g-list | september

cooler days.

return of routine.

a clean kitchen.

time to read.

enjoying morning coffee on the back deck.

listening to new - kid chosen - music.

kindness of others.

a tank full of gas.

hearing my kids laughter.

comfortable sneakers.

getting it all done. scratching things off my list.

always having something to do.

choosing happiness.

enjoying the journey. this new life direction.

new beginnings. a new week.

.

so grateful.

 

inspired (as always) by the incredible afm.

these days ...

these days i've discovered the only place to cool off is dark and mossy.
cape cod, july 2011

these days i'm trying to enjoy some summer downtime.
these days i yell less and laugh more.
these days i am hoping for a quick sale.
these days i am being realistic. fingers crossed all the same!
these days i've been walking more and more every day.
these days i am (finally) looking forward to writing again. so relieved.
these days i am filling up my pinterest boards with ideas for our new home.
these days i miss someone i have no business missing.
these days i'm catching up on and finally responding to emails.
these days my kids are all in need of something: necessities and niceties.
these days i'm wilting in the heat.
these days i'm risking more as i no longer worry about rejection.
these days i'm trying new recipes and enjoying the benefits.
these days i am so thankful. more each day.
these days i am dreaming about paint chips and area rugs.
these days i'm looking forward to lunch with girlfriends.
these days i'm back to saying "yes" more than "no".
these days going back to the same place every year is so comforting.
these days i'm encouraging my children to choose patience and kindness.
these days i'm listening to new music, this is a favourite.
these days i want to read more but still compute way too much!
these days i look forward, not back.
these days i choose open not closed.
these days my kids are growing up too fast - where's the reverse button?
these days i'm trying new fruits and vegetables.
these days i realize weight has no bearing on worthy.
these days i welcome the changes and challenges in my world.
these days my "to do" list is becoming a "ta da" list!

 

Change Is in the Air!

If this June turns out to be anything like last June, or the one before it, things are going to be more than a little crazy here on the home front. The olders have their year-end exams and then prize day mid-month, while, on the flip side, the youngers will be bored to tears all day long putting in time until the last day of school - on June 30th! - and need some stimulation when they arrive home. This last month of school is a long one - for vastly different reasons.

How does that affect me?

I love my blog, I love writing, I love reading, I love sharing and I love hearing from everyone. Every day.

I'm taking a break.

I'm going to take the lessons learned at Canyon Ranch and invest my normal blog time into something more in need of healthy focus: me. I had a good head-start but I'm slipping. Way too many distractions! It's time to re-adjust and continue to fill my heart with good feelings, my stomach with healthy food and move, a lot, more. A lot more than I have since my return home.

I'll be back through the summer, but not on a regular basis. As I move myself and the blog toward one filled with more quality than consistency, I'll still share my interviews, my currents, my 12 of 12, my thankful thoughts and a few other projects - just to keep myself from going exercise crazy - and keep you from forgetting me!

I'll continue to update via Facebook and via BBM (PIN: 20E28BE9)

Change of Scene

This was my view over the past 10 days:

as my sister Beth and I walked to breakfast. Hot sun, cool breeze, clear skies. Sigh.

This was my view this morning:

Welcome home!

I miss the Arizona weather, great food made by someone else, the company of my sister and endless activities; but, in the same breath, I'm so happy to be home with my family. I've never been away that long. It was the perfect trip at the perfect time.

I have to ponder a few things and then share all that I learned. There is just so much ratting around in my head! It needs some time to settle.

Guess what? I returned to a clean house! My family went bonkers while I was away and it is a joy to have fresh flowers on the sparkling clean glass kitchen table. That is where I sit, right now, watching the fog as it does it's best to stick around.

Today is going to be busy:

1000+ photos to edit
1000+ blog entries in my Google reader
1000+ ideas rattling around in my head
1000+ calories to burn today

and no doubt 1000+ other things to do.

I'm off to make a list :) The best way to ground myself and get back into the swing of things.

Happy Wednesday!

Wellness Wednesday: Encouragement Box

In mid-January, once all of the frantic idea-a-minute posts were read through and I sifted the do-able from the rest, I found one entry from the thoughtful and inspiring Jamie Ridler that didn't just speak to me, it shouted (nicely, of course) and I found it irresistible.

I knew it would be important to get my "box" put together quickly as mid-winter was approaching and it is one time of the year I find difficult to navigate. The days are bleak and cold and there is little motivation to be found. I'm certainly not comparing my days to anyone who might be diagnosed with SAD, but a little support is welcome.

I have been very fortunate to receive kindness here on the blog in form of comments, and often some of you take it one step further to send me an e-mail, and I have been the recipient of cards and letters in the much coveted snail mail. Taking Jamie's advice to make this simple and not a chore on my "to do" list. I printed the e-mails. I collected the notes. I screen printed the comments. YOU will keep me going through the bleak days and for that I am very grateful.

What helps you work through the winter blues? Do you have an encouragement box? Something similar?

If I'm a Good Mother

I was inspired by this post and thought I'd give it a try.

If I'm a good mother it is only because of ...

Chicken Fingers
Equipment trees
Established routines
Perrier
Cyber & IRL friends
Laundry love
Sauvignon Blanc
Singing in the car
Lists
Flip Flops
Canon 40D
Grilled salmon
Clean bathrooms
Lemon anything
Family support
Jamie Oliver
Crafty projects
Eucerin Cream
Oodles of activities
Books
Cool basement
Mechanical Pencils
Blackberry
Pub Night
Popcorn
Reactine
Hugs
Bubbles & Sidewalk Chalk
Lake views
Daily walks
Always having something to do

At the end of it all, if I'm a good mother it is only because I have four spectacular kids.

Inspiration Staycation and more ...

Moonshine on the lake. Photo taken 25 July 2010.

Sometimes I need more than my view to offer up inspiration. When I was over at the Divas and Dreams Photography blog participating in her creative workshop, I noticed a little button on the lower left side which said Inspiration Staycation. Hmm. Interesting. I'm all about the staycation. As it turns out, after clicking the link I discovered Kim Klassen was starting a creative workshop on August 2nd - she promised paint, photography, tag making ... a bunch of inspiration. Five days of creative fun.

I couldn't resist!

As I did with my D&D Creative Workshop posts, I've taken the time to mull, create and put in draft. Does this make my pending posts perfect? No. But my blogcation is training me to take my time and not feel a sense of obligation to the blog or an obligation to share. I will share, just not right now :)

I have to say, this summer I have been humbled and inspired by the number of generous bloggers who give of their time and talent, to provide those of us hungry for creative fuel, thoughtful and quality FREE content. 

What about you, have you found inspiration on line? What was the best thing you found that you participated in. Share your links in the comments. It's going to be a long, cold winter and no one says any of these projects have to be done immediately, right?

Birds and family ...

Who knew when my sister Andrea moved to town with her family, part of her entourage included birds. THREE of them!

Claire and Cole are totally enamoured with them.

Well one of them. The yellow one.

Now they're killing me with constant requests for birds. OMG. Save me. No pets!

I might lend Claire and Cole out to bird-sit. But no way are we going to have a bird, or hamster, or turtle, or guinea pig, or dog, or goldfish, or gecko. Funny, no request for a cat.

No to all of it!

BUT a big YES to having my sister and her family here in town. I'm so thrilled to have family close by. In 15 years of marriage, Louis and I have never been in the same town as any family member and it is such a thrill. When they moved back from Chicago they could have chosen any community in the GTA and I'm so happy they chose to be in the burbs with us! I can watch over her house when they head on holiday, she can have an emergency contact invested in her family, I can give them the name of the best Chinese take-out in town (I did that first thing!), she can support Cole's fundraisers, I can babysit and give them a night out. Who am I kidding. Claire or Cole can :)

The comfort and trust that is part of being part of a family makes her being here a joy and a relief, a comfort I didn't realize I was missing until she arrived.

Beauty in Imperfection

In lieu of SOOC Saturday, but still on the topic of photography, my reflection of participating in a Photo A Day for 365 Days ... just in case you're interested :)

I love rustic and this was one of my favourite photos of this year. I took it while at the family reunion in Pontiac, Quebec this summer. This is in it's un-altered, un-cropped, un-straightened, un-photoshopped, naked state. The alternate shot to the one I chose for Day 212: July 31, 2009.

The lesson I learned while participating in Project 365 through all of 2009 is that often there is more beauty found in imperfection than anywhere else. Beauty can be found anywhere, it just depends on lighting, angle and the feelings, emotions and memory a subject evokes in the viewer.

Taking a photograph a day for a whole year was a huge project and I am thrilled to have participated. It did not feel like a chore, ever. Sure, there were lulls, when life got a bit out of hand and I had to remember late in the evening to get a quick capture, but really, it was a great excuse to find the small details that make our life ours. A child sleeping with an open laptop a la Claire; towels left on the bathroom floor a la Cole; full sink of dirty dishes left to overcome and laundry to be folded; the small things at the end of the day, evidence of a day well lived.

The actual photo taking was not a chore. I always thought I never left home without a camera in hand; I was wrong. This exercise really forced me to grab the camera and take photos with purpose. I discovered beauty where I thought there was none, and found flaws in what I thought was flawless.

Wow. A project I not only started but finished - well, I will finish. After all, there are only a couple of days left! My failure? Not uploading them all to be viewed on the blog dedicated to that particular portion of the project. I'm hoping to get that done by December 31st at midnight! Thank goodness I didn't embrace the scrapbook/crafty idea, that would have been totally out of control. Though, I am considering turning it into a coffee table book.

The project is about to start again. This time around, I'm hoping to be consistent and post each week the seven photos of the prior week. Not only that, but now that I've conquered my fear of the "text tool" on Photoshop Elements, I might even document what the photo was about or what inspired me to take it! Who knows, I might even join a Flickr group (there are oodles of them) and hold my photos up for *gulp* criticism. Well, maybe only the best of the bunch :)

Did you participate in the POTD or 365 Project in 2009? What lessons did you learn? Did you discover a favourite lens, venue, subject?

Oh, and altered, cropped, straightened, photoshopped, dressed, the above photo looks like this:

I am a bit of a purist, I think you should do what you can with your camera, your settings, your lenses and not depend on software to get the look you were going for in the field, studio or wherever you happen to be. But, sometimes, a bit of colour saturation is really nice ;) I'm also enjoying knowing how to make it all work.

Merry & Bright

From our home to yours, we're sending along wishes for a

Christmas & Holiday season!

This is a very quiet time of year for our family with exams over, a lighter hockey schedule, choir performances performed, birthdays celebrated, cookies baked ... and eaten.

Ahh.

Time to enjoy sleeping-in, wearing slippers and comfy clothes, lazy days of no place to go.

Alas ...

I hear my children conspiring to roast marshmallows, go ice skating, watch movies, make "real" hot chocolate or mull some cider, head over to the mall, bake more cookies, there is always something in the works.

I really should have named this new blog "looking for a dull moment" :)

Enjoy your time with your family, cheers!

Love me a boy with manners

Good manners, that is!

For Cole's hockey team party, which we were unable to attend, I put together some gifts for the boys. They were all distributed at the party, and as far as I understand, everyone enjoyed them. I am relieved!

Tonight, Louis and Cole walked in from hockey practice and I was handed a bottle of wine and a notecard. I opened it to find the most lovely "thank you" note from one of the boys on the team.

It was one of those moments that makes your heart hurt with the kindness of it all. I know how hard it is to cajole my kids into writing notes and expressing their feelings in a genuine and kind manner. I so appreciate the effort made - by the boy and his parents. 

You're so very welcome, Cameron. You're a good boy and a pleasure to get to know. I'm so pleased, not only that you are a teammate to my Cole, but his friend as well. 

Early Family Christmas

The Saturday before the Saturday before Christmas is one of the highlights of our year.

Each year we are so fortunate to celebrate our family Christmas before the hustle and bustle really sets in. Growing up, this holiday was always a bone of contention with my parents. For years we spent Christmas with my mother's parents with very little regard for my dad's family. I'm pretty sure that experience is what my Dad considered when we all went off and got married and had families of our own. Years ago, he and my step-mum decided our family would celebrate Christmas on another date so as not to create conflict with any other plans. After all, Christmas is just a day. One to be celebrated surrounded by love and family.

Along with my four sisters we bundle up our combination of spouses, children, step-children, parcels, presents and stories, get all dressed up and head over to the same dining room we've been enjoying delicious food, great wine, steadily-improving entertainment for the last decade or more. There is certainly something to be said for tradition!

I always try to find something to give my sisters that gave me some challenge or joy through the year. This year my original order is more than a bit late, so I've run out and picked up copies of:

which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Well, I've enjoyed so far. Am I crazy to give away great books before I've read the end? Probably. But that's just the way it is, today!

Now that all the cousins are getting older, I've put my kids in charge of choosing the gifts. I always used to get them a set of pajamas and a book - you know, the top book for their age range for the year. Thank goodness for those lists! The other day my kids came home with:

a cat, a beaver, an owl, a giraffe, a lion, a cow, a pig, and a tiger to add to the festivities! They are very cute, and hugely warm. Fingers crossed that everyone enjoys their gifts and they don't receive so much they have to pay for extra baggage for their trips home! 

We are all so looking forward to this evening. The kids have all of their snazzy outfits are pressed and ready. We just have to get through Claire's science exam, Chloe's dress rehearsal and performance, Cole and Caden's hockey practices. Then the fun begins!

Oh, and a reminder, today is 12of12. Be sure to be taking your photos! I can't wait to see what you did all day.

ETA: It's 11:30 and I've finished and THOROUGHLY enjoyed the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It was wonderful from beginning, middle and end. So glad I chose to give this to my family. Just wonderful.

Welcome!

Welcome from Lemons2Lemonade.

Welcome from theLINARstudio.

After much thought, and much input from you, my lovely readers and friendly bloggers, I've decided to combine both of my blogs and create just one space for me and my life: creative life and every day life. A place for me to embrace all of it, and share it with you.

Welcome to Embrace Life: the good, the bad, the creative!

This is a new space where I hope you pour yourself a cup of whatever makes you happy, sit down for a bit, and enjoy bits and pieces of my life, which will include:

• the books I'm reading
• how we celebrate our every day
• embracing my imperfection
• family and the adventure of raising four children
• food & drink
• creations from the studio
• gratitude
• home decor ideas
  
• things that inspire me
• domestic success and challenges
• music
• serendipity
• my e-course obsession
• people we know
• photography
• places we go
• sports, hopefully not just hockey
• and some writing, who knows, it might be good

Who knew a simple $15US e-course over at shimelle.com would turn into a whole new chapter in my blogging life? It was becoming cumbersome to write two different blogs on two different platforms and I really started to have difficulty deciding what things went where. My creative life is such an integral part of me, I wanted to share my stuff. Having identical posts on two blogs became ridiculous.

I appreciate all of the e-mails I've received from those who have supported this change and responded to my request for input. I was brought to tears, a couple of times, by your kind words and encouragement.

Let me assure you that my "regular" postings will continue as often as I can manage, and for as long as they continue to be interesting! Those include:

• Sunday: For Today
• Monday: My Best Shot Monday
• Wednesday: Wellness Wednesday and/or Wishcasting
• Thursday: *8 Things
• Friday: TGIF
• Saturday: SOOC Saturday
• Monthly: 12 of 12
• Monthly: Lessons

I'm hoping to participate in and share a few other ideas, challenges and opportunities: Creative Therapy, One Little Word (even now, in it's defunct state as of late-October, it is still overflowing with inspiration), Ella Publishing, Co., JessicaSprague.com, write.click.scrapbook., Creative Scrappers and who knows what else is out there to embrace? Oh yeah, on top of all that creative challenge, there is LIFE. Raising four active kids is always a challenge with many ups and downs. I'm thrilled to be in a huge community of those who, with me, experience the joys and struggles of raising teens and pre-teens with integrity and humour. 

So here we are.

The main request from your lovely e-mails was that I maintain the look and feel of Lemons2Lemonade. I believe I have visually, and the content should continue given that I'm bringing it all here! The other big issue raised was in regards to comments. I agreed; but, selfishly, I chose the Typepad format as it is the easiest way for me to respond to comments. I felt that the give-and-take relationship was missing from L2L and I like being able to "talk" to you!

No doubt over the next couple of weeks I'll be fiddling further with formats and such, and feel free to leave me comments if something is not working, or you'd like to see something you like. There are still things to be done, and a blog is never a static project (part of the fun ... and frustration).

This has been such an intense few days of design, decisions and occasional bouts of digi-despair. I never thought I'd ever get to this point of done. I have to say a huge thank you to my new cyber friend Sharyn for her insight and support, Jill for her incredible knowledge, as well as a few others with their hints and tricks, freely shared on blogs and message boards.  The other big thank you goes out to my children for without their need for clean clothes and rumbling stomachs, I'd never have left the computer screen. Well, except for attending over a half dozen hockey games, that got me up and dressed :)

Thanks for your support! I'm looking forward to a lot of fun :)

(For those of you who need your hand held, like me, you can go to your Google Reader and "add a subscription" so you don't miss a post. Or, if you don't use Google Reader, just bookmark the new blog. Don't use the "subscribe" button ... I still haven't figured out feedburner! Be sure to remember where I am, and come back, often!)