Inspaperation..

Saw this cool sketch challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays, and figured I'd get my paper-crafting mojo started.

I used We R Memory Keepers' White Out Collection - Hoopla paper, and Stampin' Up! stamp set Celebrate Everything. Here's what I came up with:

Hoping to get a few more cards/trinkets made today..

*Later*

I got a second card done today. Our personal challenge was to use a retired paper pack from Basic Grey Infuse . I also decided to use this card from my mom's friend Shannon over at The Giving Finch. I just loved it. Here's my card:

And a close up of the bird detail:

Wet paint and life improvement..

So today was great. I got to bed shortly after my post, and woke up at 6. Instead of going back to sleep until Kennedy woke me back up, I got out of bed and started my day. I did laundry, took out garbage, halfway cleaned the stove, went to the gym, got some delicious school supply yum yums at Staples.. including this beauty:

   so cute!! mine is aqua however..  

which I'm going to use to custom create a MOMager just for me.. I can't wait to get started on it tomorrow..

This is totally random, but I absolutely love road paving. There is something about the crisp dark coloring of the new asphalt against the mundane colorless life that existed along the old, not cared for road. The crisp darkness of the charcoal asphalt plays against the crisp, clean, white of the newly painted fog lines. I just love it so much.

It makes me think about all the little touch-ups we do to keep our appearances fresh and interesting. Haircuts and colors, nail polish, jewelry, make-up, our clothes, shoes, handbags, etc.. What was the most recent purchase you made to liven up your appearance? I bought a new pair of sunglasses the other day. They were an inexpensive Target delight, but those coupled with the right make up and hair style, and I feel like a million bucks..

It is time for bed now. My ambition and need for wind-down time just got sucker punched by exhaustion and the reminder of only getting four hours of sleep last night.. here's to hoping for a little more, but waking up early enough to be semi-productive tomorrow.

Here comes the sun..

Boy, oh boy, was I accurate in my word choice for 2011.

change

I've been a little blonde,

more blonde,

and then a lot of blonde..

Bought MY first car and insurance,

got my first diamonds,

my job became intolerable

but, next week I'll be transferring into a new venue, and starting a new experience..

Today is the two year anniversary of my cousin's death, in three days I turn 23, and in four days I start my new position, and that's just what's on the schedule this week.. Needless to say I have a lot going on right now and I'm trying to find the motivation to make it all happen successfully.

I watched Limitless today, my first thought was 'I wish I could get that..'. My concluding thought was, what if I could just make the most of the time I have and use the full 20% of my brain that I have access to, to accomplish as much as I can. I can guarantee I frequently do not live up to my potential. I often choose to veg out in front of the TV using the excuse that I'm 'thinking things over' 'planning things out'.. but what I need to do is just get up and do whatever I thought needed to be done. If I'm sitting on the couch, watching a show on NickJr (that I occasionally get sucked into) with Kennedy, and I'm thinking about when the floor was last swept, and that it should probably be done today (aka it'll never get done unless my mom does it), I need to just get up and sweep the floor instead of thinking and daydreaming about it.

I need to start living. I don't need to do MORE than what I'm capable of.. I just need to do WHAT I'm capable of, instead of so much LESS.

I'm hoping to start blogging my accomplishments, failures, frustration, and elation, as a means to monitor my progress (and even prove I've done stuff if no one believes me haha).

So now at 1:32AM I'm going to go to sleep, hoping to be more productive tomorrow that I managed today.

It is the eve of Kennedy's first birthday bash. I'm up late cleaning, baking cupcakes, and getting ready for tomorrow. While I'm excited, I can't help but to think about how spoiled Kennedy will be. He won't be spoiled in a bad way, but I know I will do anything in my power to make his life as happy as possible. This vacation has brought up thoughts and fears of one day when Kennedy and I will be on our own. And I will be left to be his mother and his father. I have a hard enough time being his mother with help from MY mother, I can't imagine what it will be like to be on our own. Yet part of me longs for it every day..

Revamped to-do list

BIG PROJECTS
Organize Bedroom.
Lose Weight.
Scan all pre-digital photos.
Organize craft room.
Organize office.
Scan all 'grandparent' docs and photos.



LITTLE PROJECTS
December Daily 2010
Soul Restoration
Bookcase
Jewelry station
Clothes sorting

2011

Today is the 16th of January.. already.. Yesterday my beautiful baby boy turned one..

It is amazing how fast the last year has passed by. There were so many things I wanted to get accomplished, that I didn't. As well as so many things I experienced that I didn't think was a possibility a year ago. However, I want 2011 to be different. Which is why my One Little Word for 2011 is Change. There are so many thoughts swirling through my mind. So I decided one of the first changes I'm going to make is to blog more, so I have a means to organize the jumble of thoughts I have.

2011 So Far
I started my new year's resolutions a little early. As of December 29th, I vowed to cut out pop and start exercising more as well as eating better.  Since the 29th I've worked out 6 times (an average of once every three days), and have only had 3 sodas (an average of one every six days [much better than six in one day like before]). Eating better has been hit and miss, but overall I'm doing a lot better. I've lost a little over 3 pounds total (gained weight on the second weigh-in)..

On January 7th, my mom left for London, to satisfy her "two-week" residency requirement. Also on the 7th I began my 12-day vacation, the longest period of time my son and I have spent without a supervisor/helper since he was born. It has been amazing, and hard at the same time. My mom is my best friend and not having her to share my days with has been a struggle, but it was a decent sacrifice so I could spend more time with my son. Not to mention it has been a much needed break from work.

On January 11th, I started Soul-Restoration. This is an amazing experience and I am so glad to be a part of it and that I got to be home to focus on it during the first week of the six-week program. I am already learning so much more about myself and what I want from my life. It will be a struggle for me to create boundaries but it is a change that I so desperately need.

Hope to accomplish
In 2011, I hope to finish my 2010 December Daily album, my Soul Restoration project, purge the unnecessary, lose at least 25 pounds (I would then be back at my weight when I graduated high school 4.5 years ago..), I would like to finish some jewelry pieces, as well as my room transformation, I hope to be more organized for my 2011 December Daily album and finish it before 2012 lol, blog more, create more, change more.