Soul Restoration

Today I'm starting Brave Girls Club's Soul Restoration for the 4th or 5th time. I'm hoping to actually follow through with the entire class this time. I think I'm going to try to focus mainly on doing it digitally; the previous times I got hung up on my art projects and painting. Also, if I focus on digital, everything will stay put on my laptop instead of getting mixed up in Kennedy's Lego mess haha.

Focuses:

• Kennedy - quality time
• Kennedy - school prep
• Work - specials
• Work - new job?
• School - staying caught up
• Personal - soul restoration
• Personal - Spanish/French
• Personal - reading more
• Home - getting more done

I'm getting pretty distracted watching SR videos..... Night.

Take 1,524,267.. and counting.

Well, it's been 3 years since my last post. A lot has changed, a lot remains the same.

Home: I still live with my parents. Kennedy has grown to the ripe old age of 4.5, and starts Pre-K this fall.

Car: I traded in my Saturn earlier this year for a Toyota PriusC. My wallet is thanking me for getting twice the mpg, especially averaging 50 in daily stop and go traffic.

Work: I still work at Terra Vista in the Snoqualmie Casino. Next month will be my 3 year anniversary there, in April I celebrated 4 years with the casino. I was working on specials for a few months, really honing in my skills and impressing my bosses, but have been put on the bench for the past few months. Hopefully soon I'll be able to start getting my creative genius on again.

School: I finally finished my associate's degree last August. I'm currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix for a BS in Accounting, and I'm looking to transfer to WSU's online Accounting program at some point.

Life: I've been feeling very lost. I've realized that the few (three) people I call my 'best friends' really don't know me, just the current dramas in my life. And I don't really know them. I went to my friend's wedding Saturday night; I knew no one there other than him, I had no idea how he met his wife (other than Events and Adventures) and knew nothing about her or their lives currently. I hadn't seen him in close to a year, and the last time we saw each other, Kennedy and I were mostly the topic of conversation.

Percolating on this, I realized that I don't even really know who I am. Through the years, I have changed myself so much to be what I thought those surrounding me wanted/expected me to be, that I don't know who I am. I have this amazing kid that has his very own personality, and I find the things he's learning from me, are the things I don't want him to be, nor do I want to be those things either.

I'm hoping to start a soul-seeking journey, as well as reprioritizing how my time is spent, and on what.

More to come...

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.

It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song..

I started a new canvas last Tuesday. Here's the progression:

Finished for right now..

Goodbye my almost lover..

Baby News:

Today my baby boy is two months old. It's flying by so fast. His one month portraits came in the mail today.. He is so freaking adorable!

Craft News:

I've gotten beads together for my next three necklaces. Jacob's Bella - teal and black, Edward's Bella - blue and black, and Bella - red and black. I took Delilah to the co-op and brought Emma and Holly home. I took some new pictures of them today and posted them in my Etsy Shop.

Emma: 

Holly:

You were born to be my Baby.. and Baby, I was made to be your.. Mom.

To start things off.. Oh my goodness I love my baby boy. He's eight weeks old today. I can't believe he's that old already!!

He's just so precious..

On to the crafts..

I started my new necklace last night, got halfway done through the first pass, and then I knotted something up and had to start all over. This is a picture of the first pass through half..

And here's the finished necklace [Delilah]:

Your love is like Bad Medicine.. Bad Medicine is what I need..

Today has been a day of organizing. I finally finished inventorying the scrapbooking papers we have. All with the exception of Stampin'Up papers. Next to be inventoried, drawers/shelves in the cubes. As I've inventoried, I've organized the cubes based on items and/or brand. (As shown below)

1. 12 x 12 paper pads
2. Stampin' Up Paper
3. Kits
4. Felt
5. Basic Grey Papers
6. Stickers & Miscellaneous inventoried items
7. Random 12 x 12 papers
8. My Mind's Eye papers
9. Cosmo Cricket papers
10&11. Miscellaneous- to be inventoried and organized
12. 6x6 paper pads
13. Adhesives
14. Sizzix Dies
15. Ink Pads
16. Miscellaneous - to be inventoried and organized
17. Glitter, eyelets, paint, embellishments
18. Clear stamps
19. Ribbons, buttons, fabric embellishments
20. Scissors
21. Brads, Paper embellishments
22. Punches
23. Frames, Miscellaneous - to be organized

 The other item on my agenda was to start a new beading project. I'm making a necklace with these pretties..

I am Jack's blog o' bracelets.

Mackenzie:


Isabella:


Lulu:


Gabriella:


Piper:


Holly:


Emma:


Priscella:


Ginger:

I am Shannon's requested blog update..

Things have been a bit busy around here. Kennedy Adam Grey [aka babydot] joined us on January 15th, at 4:48AM. He weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 20 inches long.

He"ll be eight weeks old on Friday!! It's so hard to believe that it's been that long already. Before he was a month old, I had gallbladder surgery to have my gallbladder removed, and I'm finally getting through the day without pain from the incision above my bellybutton. Enough about me, on to the crafts!!

This week I finally tackled a project that was purchased before babydot's arrival. Wooden recipe boxes, and giant wooden clothespins (recipe holders) I decided to couple the two, so I have two sets with two pieces.

Holiday Season Memories

2. Scrapbook a photo you’ve taken over the holiday season and share one of your favourite memories before you forget those details.



One of the best family days in December was the 5th. We woke up early, and headed out to get our Christmas tree. After, we got Starbucks and came home to put the tree up. AFter the ordeal of setting up the tree, we ventured over a few blocks to watch the Santa Parade.

So this is the new year..

1. Take a photo of yourself and blog one or more goals you’re working toward in the new year.





My main goal for the new year is to better my health and life. I plan to eat better, and to lose a lot of weight. I want to set and accomplish goals when it comes to creativity and artsy business. And most importantly, I want to be the best mother I can be to my little bundle of joy that will arrive later this month. :D I can't wait to meet him.

Thankful: November 26

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


Today I am thankful for future Thanksgivings that will be free of family I don't like.

Thankful: November 25

Since the holidays are not looking too "merry and bright" for me right now and my lack of food that I can eat, today I am thankful for the fact that I don't have to drive today and tomorrow. I am sad that I won't get to see my Oregon family and be there for my Aunt Molly on our first Thanksgiving without Adam, but I'm kind of relieved to be at home this year.

Thankful: November 24

Today I am thankful for getting a glimpse of another gall bladder attack last night. There is no way I'm going to have another one, I don't care if I starve, I don't want to feel that pain again.

Thankful: November 23

Today I am thankful for my loving 'daddy'. He has been in my life since I was 2. He loves me as if I was his own flesh and blood. There are so many personality traits I learned from him. After hearing that I was in the hospital, he made a point to come down and see me today. He brought me applesauce and bananas.. :D so sweet.