Week 30: Let's Make 2014 Our VERY BEST Year!!

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

I love all the promise a fresh, new year holds don't you??! It's time to take stock of the year past, see where we have succeeded and failed. The New Year makes me sooo happy and excited for all the possibilities just waiting out there for me to experience!

Before we get ahead of ourselves let's talk about last week's prompt...choosing a Word for 2014. Have you got one? If you do...YAY! And if not...there is still time. Sometimes it takes awhile for the right Word to find you. And if the whole Word of the year thing doesn't do it for you...no worries:)

My Word for 2014 is MOVE. Oh how I LOVE that Word this year...it fits me perfectly!! 

I am MOVEing my body by working out at Curves 4 days a week, walking more and eating right. 

I intend on MOVEing my ART in the direction it needs to go...reallly listening to my heart and not my head. Getting rid of all the "shoulds" and "should nots".

My family and I are MOVEing towards a more spiritual home by having family prayer more often than not and getting more active in our church.

I am MOVEing towards a cleaner, well-organized Home by decluttering,,,trying hard not to let  my emotions make the decision about whether or not something stays in our home or goes. 

MOVE is my Word and I am embracing it!:)

Here is the wall-hanging I painted to celebrate my Word this year. It will hang in my studio to remind me of my Goals...

A close-up...

Yes I AM Capable!

It has been a long time since I created a piece of art I LOVE so much!! Felt so good to do this:) 

Speaking of creating...I will be sharing MORE projects and photos on Words of Me Project this year. Join me for my NEW series called "This week i made..." At least one post a week will be dedicated to something I have created in my art studio, a class or even in my kitchen. I hope to inspire you to create more, too!! We are artists after all...and artists CREATE!!!  Oh and by the way...I was prompted to do this after spending an afternoon on Mila's blog. Please stop by and read her story...pretty awesome!

Here is your lesson this week for Being Me...

*pick a Word

*List at least 3 ways the Word will inspire you to reach your goals this year

*Create a Goal List. I use the following headings to help me...

            Home, Blog, Body/Health, Family, Work

I list EVERYTHING I want to accomplish in the new year then look it over and choose up to 5 per heading. If you want you can hang your list in your studio, your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen...where ever you will see it. My family and I type our lists up then hang them in a frame so we are sure not to forget.

*CREATE an art journal page or canvas or something that CELEBRATES your Goals/Word

Remember if you are new here just jump right in!! You are NEVER behind!! 

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Just so you know...

Happy Sunday Girls!! I sure hope you all had a Merry Christmas spent with your loved ones!! Ours was wonderful and full of love.

Just wanted to let you know that as a Brand NEW YEAR approaches our Being Me class will resume on Monday, December 30th. I am soooo excited about 2014 and the promise it holds for my life!!

Also...if you haven't picked out your WORD for the new year...keep thinking about that so you can make your decision by January 1st:)

Thanks again for being here!

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Merry Christmas!

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.  ~Charles Dickens


I am so thankful for each of you! May you have a blessed  Christmas spending time with your loved ones!

Merry Christmas!!!

What's Inspiring Me Lately

"I decided to start anew, to strip away what I'd been taught."  -Georgia O'Keefe


I am READY for a change in my life. Big time change!! I have picked my Word for 2014...MOVE, I am losing weight and inches, I am working on Becoming a better Me with my course "Being Me" and I am sorting, organizing and simplifying our home little by little.

What I am NOT doing is creating. Ugh. I haven't created much in a few months {hence very little art photos lately}. Soooo THIS year along with continuing all of the above I VOW to spend time in my studio creating rather than organizing and just staring at my supplies. Seriously all I have done the past few months is LOOK at my supplies and wonder what I am gonna do with them. Soooo uninspired in the art part of my life lately. Very frustrating!!!

For Christmas I have asked  my strong boys in the family to help me re-arrange my studio ONE LAST TIME. I know what my problem is and what's been keeping me from getting any fun art done...my workspace. I need a HUGE table so I can spread all my stuff out on...not the wimpy little desk I have now:)

While I love this desk...I just can't spread out like I want to. Sooooo my strong boys are moving this downstairs for me and replacing it with an old kitchen table. Yes....everyone in my family thinks I am nuts but I KNOW I will LOVE it!!!! I promise to share photos when it's all done:)

Even thought I haven't been creating much I have been sooo inspired by the blogs I read and all the cool classes being offered in the new year. Here is what I am loving lately:)

1. My friend Jodene never ceases to inspire. She is currently working on a calendar project for the ranches of South Dakota. Her passion is amazing and inspiring me soooo much!! Visit her here.

2. LOVE this artist!! One of my FAVES!!! She is offering a cool FREE class in the New Year. I will be there for sure!!!

3. My sweet Mama just signed me up for this BRAVE GIRL class today!! Merry Christmas to me!! Sure to be life changing!!! If you have never taken a class from Melody Ross you are seriously missing out!

4. I found this woman's jewelry via Brave Girls Club and intend on purchasing this necklace with my Word MOVE on it!!

5. There are sooo many WONDERFUL blogs out there and this one in particular is new to me and inspiring me to just get messy!!!

I am sooo excited....a dear friend is letting me borrow her book on artist Georgia O'Keefe. She is giving it to me to read this Sunday at church. Cannot wait to delve into her thoughts and art!!! Love her!!

What is inspiring YOU right now??

Weeks 27 & 28: Get Ready for YOUR Best Year Yet!

"One's Lifework, I have learned, grows with the working and the living. Do it as if your Life depended on it, and first thing you know, you'll have made a Life out of it. A good Life, too."  -Theresa Helburn


 First off...please forgive me for posting Week 27 so late. We have been having internet issues and my schedule has been mostly work and picking up after my family. At first I was so frustrated but then realized that you are all busy, too and would understand:)

Since I was late and this week will be over before we know it AND the fact that I have sooo much to say this week...I am combining Week 27 and 28 so you have plenty of time to ponder the material. I hope you enjoy!

For the past 10 plus years I have picked a Word to inspire me throughout the year thanks to the very talented Ali Edwards. Here are a few of my Words from years past. TRUE, STORY, REINVENT and POSSIBILITY. This past year I created several sweet canvas's that have hung in my studio all year, reminding me to be TRUE to my heart.

I found myself questioning what my TRUE passions in life are, my values, my faith, what makes my heart sing. I tried my best to do only those things that were TRUE-ly speaking to me and say NO to those things that I didn't want to do. TRUE has become one of my favorite Words and has inspired me in my art this year and my writing.

This year I began thinking about my word in November...it's usually when I get the urge to start reflecting on my life and making new goals...I know that the New Year is not far away....and I LOVE a NEW FRESH YEAR!!!

So this year, as I was searching for just the right Word a few kept popping up...CREATE, ARTFUL and FORWARD. I KNOW that in 2014 I want to CREATE MORE and SHARE on my blog all my work. I also know I TRULY want to CREATE art pieces that reflect MY style (which I found this year due to me listening and being TRUE to my heart!!).

Still...none of those Words TRULY spoke to me...

Then, one beautiful, sunny moring as I was power walking up a hill it hit me...I KNEW my Word of the Year!!! I had taken the steps to start getting my health back by joining Curves Complete and knew that getting in shape would be a priority for me in 2014. My teaching  is stepping up a notch in the New Year when I fly to South Carolina and teach at a Beach Retreat in October!! And THIS is the YEAR I work hard at getting published and really sharing my work on my blog. I KNEW my Word for 2014 should be

MOVE

to change from one place or position to another.

to set or keep in motion.

to prompt, actuate, or impel to some action: What moved you to do this?

to arouse or excite the feelings or passions of; affect with emotion

I LOVE my Word and am sooo excited to MOVE in 2014!!!!

Your goal for the next few weeks is to think of YOUR WORD for 2014. Make a list of your goals for the new year and see what really jumps off the page at you. Create a canvas to celebrate your Word and hang in your studio, your bedroom...anywhere you will see if often.

Coming up in the next few posts are links to some of my favorite mixed media artists and art, a few classes on my Wish List, a fantastic jewelry artist you will swoon over, my NEW art project for 2014 and more. I hope you will continue your journey to BEING ME in the New Year as well!! We will be covering these topics in the coming weeks...

1. Passion/Fear

2. Your Life Enhancers

3. Are you a Caterpillar or a Butterfly?

4. Who should YOU Forgive?

5. Our Gifts and Talents

I appreciate each one of you and look forward to a wondrful 2014 filled with art and inspiration!!!

Week 26: Time to REALLY Take Care of YOU!!

It's not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It's necessary. -Unknown


The past 4 weeks I have been on a journey to wellness and healing. If you are friends with me on Face Book then you may have read my posts about it and if not...here is my FB page:),

It wasn't that long ago I was running marathons, eating all the right foods, really taking care of ME.

With my Team in Training teammates in Anchorage. It was 4:30 in the morning here!!!

Me, my Mom and Jacks in Anchorage, Alaska for my first marathon.

Even though my kids were little, I made ME a priority by eating right and working out. It made me such a GOOD mom!!! Really, I KNOW that when we make sure we are taken care of...EVERYONE benefits!!

But somehow, through the years, the stress, the setbacks we've had financially....I have put ME last. Whenever someone needs anything...I am right there...to support and cheer on. To lift up and help. Yes, I have my art which has helped tremendously with my stress levels...but my body has been failing me. It's tired and weak and in pain. It has been no way to live.

So, 4 weeks ago I made the decision to join Curves Complete. Several of my good friends had seen phenominal results and I was watching!! I couldn't get over how HAPPY and at PEACE they were. I was craving both of those things so much but was very hesitant to sign up for the plan. It's 60 bucks a month and 60 bucks right now is a lot. 

I prayed on it and received an answer! I have been working 3 to 4 days a week at the schools subbing so my checks have been really good. I am so grateful for the work!! And even though we use that money primarily for groceries and other bills my husband told me to go ahead and sign up...do something for yourself!!

Girls...this is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT thing I have done in YEARS!! I am feeling sooooo good about myself. I am getting stronger both physically and mentally. I am lifting weights and building up my upper body. My headaches are disappearing!! With the Curves Complete plan I eat healthy veggies, lean protiens and fruit. I do eat starch...but I am choosiing to stay away from bread for now. Water is a huge part of the program and I am drinking it with lots of lemons. My diet soda habit has gone from a 32 ounce soda a day to 2 or 3 a week. Eventually I want to be DONE with the soda...and I WILL get there!!!

At my weigh in and measurements Monday I have lost a total of 3.5 pounds and 9 inches!! 1.5 on each thigh!! I have also lost 1 percent body fat and gone down nearly one whole BMI point...all in 4 weeks!! 

All of this has made me realize that it has been WAY TOO LONG since I TRULY cared for myself. No wonder I was hurting all the time! 

This week I want you to BEGIN working on YOU. 

What is it that needs EXTREME self care in you? Are you in need of more exercise, do you need to forgive someone so you can move on? Are you going 20 hours a day just doing and going and doing and going without ever taking a break?? Do you need more sleep, more down time, more friend time? Whatever it is that YOU need...BEGIN!!! Don't wait like I did for years!! Just do it! Take it in baby steps and keep moving forward!!

Let me know how you are doing with the Challenge. Leave a message here or in our FB group here.

If you are new to the 52 week Challenge or just want to review it go here.

Thanks so much for joining me. I love having you here!!!