Joy & Bliss on Day 5

Yesterday was a creative one for me. Not only did I finish the wedding piece I showed you but I got the chance to hang out at Maryville's very own Art Experience. I have so much to share from that but am saving for another day:)

I was so looking forward to Friday...lots on my to-do list then dinner and a movie with my husband. A treat we've been doing without lately. However...life and all it's challenges has gotten in the way and we must deal with some ugliness today. *sigh*. In spite of that I DO have gratitude in my heart and want to share a bit of that with you today.

I am linking up with two sites today...Joy Jam and the Bliss List. Be sure and stop by to tell these gals hi. They are great.

1. I find peace, joy and bliss in my daily prayers. I am seriously so thankful for my Father in Heaven that is here for me every single day. What a relief to know I am not alone! {and neither are you}







2. Living on an extremely tight budget has taught me to enjoy the little things even more. It's been fun splurging on a Sonic drink during Happy Hour then driving around for 30 minutes or so to talk. Em and I do that about once a week and I love it. She really opens up and shares her day with me.

3. The fact that American Idol is back for Season 11 is enough to bring me joy. Hearing inspirational stories and great singers is why I love that show so much. Steven Tyler helps a bit, too. Talk about Bliss....:)








Speaking of JOY and BLISS...CREATING gives me both of those feelings!! How are you doing, girls? Are you making the effort to do something creative?? Here's a bit of inspiration to keep you moving through the weekend...Enjoy!

Prompts:

1. Take a favorite stamp or two, a stack of cards or tags and try to use the stamp in various ways. Somedays this is what I need to get my mojo grooving right along.

2. Read a creative magazine or book that's been sitting on your shelf awhile. I have a whole creative library right at my fingertips. It seems when I go back and re-look at them I always find something new to try.

Quote:

Duke Ellington

"I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues."

Links:

1. Here is another blog with free blogger backgrounds. They have a very vintage/edgy feel to them.
2. If I looked cute in this hat I would so buy this...darling!
3. I need all the support I can get these days and Brave Girl's Club gives me that!! This piece of art is speaking to me right now.

Linking up with Joy Jam and Bliss List.

Happy Weekend, girls!!

Happy Creating!!

Love My Fridays

It's late afternoon on Friday and I am just getting around to Blogging...oops:) What can I say? I've been living my life and that's a good thing.

I have a few favorites to share with you today as well as our Friday prompt to take you into your weekend. Enjoy.

1. Please stop by and visit my friend Nicole. Not only does she have a great blog  {Destination Unknown} but I know she could use some kind words this weekend...go ahead and make a fellow Blogger SMILE:)

2. Found this blog last week and fell in love with her work!! Her Painted Word...stop by and say Hi.

3. Can't believe Summer is winding down. It's gone too fast! Yet, I do look forward to my favorite season of all...FALL. Warm, cozy blankets, soccer, Friday night football games, hot chocolates, Halloween, Thanksgiving, shorter days...love it!

4. Really loving my Blog friend Joyce's art lately...her girls are so sweet. Click here then scroll down just a bit...isn't she darling? Joyce continues to inspire me with her Brave Girl ways. Way to GO, Joyce!

Our Friday Prompt this weekend is to spend time with the family!!!

Have a great weekend, girls:)

Lots of Random Goodness:)

When we feel joyful, euphoric, happy, we are more open to life, more capable of seeing things clearly and handling daily tensions.

- Leo Buscaglia

 

Today, I am feeling happy. Today I am ready for anything.

How about you?

 

Lots of fun, random stuff to share with you today. Enjoy!

When I was 12 years old...this is all I could think about....

 

 Shaun Cassidy....*sigh*.

 

I wanted to marry him, more than anything in the world.

 I used to play his records and pretend like I was his back up singer.

 I spent my days dreaming and imagining what my life would be like if only he were in it.

 I doodled his name, in hearts all over my notebooks, my folder, my Trapper.

I was a member of his Fan Club and had over 30 posters of him plastered all over my room. {i still have every single one}

 

I knew every single word to every single song.  

 

Yesterday, my Teen Idol was on Oprah. Oh my heck!! If only you could have seen me...it was hilarious! So there I was, on the couch with Emma sitting to my right, Dave on the left. Oprah did her introduction...then....in...he...walked....SHAUN CASSIDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 No, not the Shaun Cassidy I remembered as a kid...but Shaun Cassidy just the same. And suddenly instead of the 44 year old Leslie that was married with two teen-age children I was 12 year old Leslie, in my room, belting out "Hey Deanie" and "Da Doo Ron Ron". I was bouncing up and down on the couch, flapping my arms and laughing. I was acting like my daughter does when Taylor Lautner walks out that first time in New Moon without his shirt on;)

 

So, yeah, Shaun Cassidy. My dream guy from the 1970's....he was and still is amazing:)

Here is one of my favorite Shaun Cassidy songs to put a smile on your face...

 

 

 

Some other stuff that has just made my week!!

*I won not one but TWO awards a few weeks back. I want to thank Angie and Nikki!! Next week I will post and pass them on!!!!

* What would I do without my Sonic Diet Coke with lime drinks. Love you, Sonic Happy Hour!

*My wonderful Mom gave me an early Christmas present and I am waaaaaay excited!! I am taking THIS class starting in January!! It is with one of my favorite people in the world Melody Ross!!!!

*My Scriptures. They have become such a part of my daily life now that I teach Early Morning Seminary. LOVE THEM!!!!

Ladies, I hope your week has been filled with joy. If your working on our Word of the Week remember to be "PROMPT" in all that you do!!!;)

 

What are you loving this week/weekend??!?!?!

Autumn Splendor

Fall is, without a doubt my favorite time of year...


The colors, the pumpkins, the mums, football games, cool weather, Halloween, Thanksgiving...the list goes on and on!

Here is a peek at my front porch...

It is so much fun to decorate!! Aren't those the cutest little scarecrows you've ever seen??:)

This beautiful, fall weekend my Mom and I are headed to Southeast Iowa for an All Girl's Weekend. Mom, my Aunt and 2 cousins will spend the next few days chatting, laughing, crying and bonding like never before.

Seriously...we've never done anything like this before.

This weekend means so much to me.

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.
Jane Howard

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends:) 

Gearing up For 31 Days Challenge!!

Hey, Hey, Hey...


it's FRIDAY! WHa HoO!!!!!

Lots to talk about today...first off...it has been FOUR weeks since I've shared my Words with you. So...going back to July 2nd here we go!

June 25th-July 2nd: This was the week we packed for my 25 year class reunion and family reunion. Busy but exciting. It was also the week "Eclipse" came out.

My word is: JAM PACKED

adjective crowded, full, packed, busy, crushed, mobbed, cramped, huddled, swarming, overflowing, thronged, teeming, congested, populous

July 3rd-9th: Family reunion, Seminary Training in Platte City, Dinner Theater with Mom and this is the week we decided NO vacation due to our finances. So while, it was filled with all good stuff their was that underlying disappointment from not being able to go to New Mexico and Utah to visit friends. It was a week filled with humbling experiences. To admit that we just couldn't go on vacation to our kids and to our friends. It was hard.

July 10th-16th: I took the humbling experiences from last week and used them to figure out where we needed to go in our lives. My husband did the same thing. We both experienced an awakening this week. We were blessed with so much this week as a result of our humbling ourselves, too. This was an incredible week for us! We are so blessed:) 

July 17th-23rd: I started walking daily again this week. Creatively I am alive. I have taken this week to study my new Seminary class {that's a story for another post}, spend time with my kids, clean up my art space, create, write and be a kinder person. This week has been filled with lots of restoring of myself. My word is restore.

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Are you ready for the 31 Days Creativity Challenge that starts THIS Monday?! Remember if you don't know what that is please click here to read all about it!! Grab a button, too so others can join in.

Here are a few things you can do this weekend to be ready for Monday...

1) Create a space just for you. Even if it's a card table in your bedroom with a shoe box full of supplies or your kitchen table. Have a set place you can go throughout the 31 Days. The front porch or patio works, too:)

2) Buy a notebook or find one at home...or if you already have a journal  then have that handy. You will need this to write down any journaling prompts I give you or any thoughts you may have throughout the 31 Days. Remember the 31 Days is not just about creating with paper and glue but it's also about writing and just taking the time to be. 

3) "Like" me on FB. Here is the link or you can click on my NEW badge located to the right. Everyday throughout the 31 Days you will find quotes on creativity and writing and the importance of just being yourself. I will post challenges on Facebook as well.

**Important**

This Creativity Challenge is supposed to be fun! Do not put pressure on yourself. Creativity is all around us. It may be something as simple as you are at the park with your daughter and you notice the beauty of a flower and are inspired to create something using that image or writing a poem. Creativity is about looking at the world through different eyes.

“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.”  — Henry David Thoreau 

Use this challenge to begin seeing your entire world as inspiration. 

” Creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing. It is an attitude, an inner approach – how you look at things . . . Whatsoever you do, if you do it joyfully, if you do it lovingly, if your act of doing is not purely economical, then it is creative.” –  Osho 

I hope you'll join me on this amazing and  mind changing activity!!

EVERYONE participating in the 31 Days Challenge be sure and let me know!! At the end of 31 Days I have a special gift to one lucky participant:)

Let me know...are you playing along?? 

a CrEaTIvITY cHaLleNGE to knock your SOCKS off!!

Whoo Hoo...FRIDAY! My Mom, Em and I are headed out for some yard sales today. Wonder what fabulous prizes I'll find TodAy?! On the lookout for stuff to use in my collages:)

I have been keeping a secret.

Yep.

And only one other person knew about...because she helped design a new button for my surprise...


Thanks again, Leanne!!

Isn't this the cutest thing you have ever seen?!? I love it!! 

Now what exactly is it you ask?

Well, it's a lovely, little button you get to put on YOUR blog...

Why, you wonder?

Glad you asked!

Here's what we'll be doing...

From July 26th-August 25th, {before the crazies of school start} I thought it would be fun to stretch ourselves creatively.

Everyday.

Yes, I typed that right.

Every.Single.Day.

Because, I find when I am in my craft room, surrounded by all my silk flowers and buttons and glue dots and chipboard and paint...

I am at peace.

Full of bliss.

I know when I leave my crafts and go back upstairs to reality I am calmer, rested and able to focus better on whatever's waiting for me...

laundry
making dinner
the occasional sibling argument

You know...life:)

So, as a gift to ourselves, from July 26th to August 25th we are gonna write in our journals, we are gonna create art, scrapbook pages and tags and we are gonna be better women for it. 

We will create lists of new projects we want to accomplish in the coming months. We will find ourselves through our journals while uplifting one another on our blogs. We will write because it makes us feel good about ourselves.

We will finish that scrappy project we have been putting off for months because there just isn't enough time. We will buy a canvas and a few bottles of acrylic paint and we will paint. We will work with stamps and stickers and fabric and thread. We will create, even if it's only for 5 minutes a day.  

By the end of 31 Days we will be healthier, happy women because we cared enough about ourselves and know when we take of us we are better wives and moms.  

So, are you ready?

Grab a button on the top right side of my Blog and let me know {as well as everyone else} that YOU are taking the challenge this summer!! 

Can you do me another favor?

If you decided to take the Challenge {and i sure hope you do!!} would you please share in a post on your blog with a link back to this post? The more people we get...the better!!! 

And be sure and "LIKE" me on Facebook. Everyday enjoy creativity and writing quotes along with little tidbits to help you on your creative journey.

Friday Favs

Happy Friday! You know I love my Fridays!! 

I am feeling inspired and full of energy {and it's 1 in the morning! why do i always seem to wake up when i should be sleeping?}



"All acts performed in the world begin in the imagination." -Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

I have been doing a lot of imagining lately.

Imagining myself at work. On art. Painting, drawing, writing.

I have been collecting and gathering stamps, bits of scrap paper, words from magazines, ink and pens.

I have found some creative art journaling blogs and magazines.

Very soon I will be ready.

Ready to create.

Ready to share.

Ready to inspire as I have been inspired.

I have several favorites this Friday...

1. Eclipse. It was soooo amazing. The characters have really grown and Edward is looking particulary charming in this movie. I give it 9 out of 10 stars:)

2. Going Home. It's been 2 years since I've been to Fort Madison, Iowa. This weekend I'm there...seeing old classmates as well as family. Can't wait to catch up with everyone and see what is going on. Hoping to be inspired:)

3. BLT sandwhiches.

I don't know about you but in the summer we just don't cook a whole lot. This past week my family and I have been living on these yummy sandwhiches!!

4. George Washington. My hubby Dave is reading the book we gave him for Father's Day..."The Real George Washington" and he has been sharing it with me. That George was a pretty amazing guy!! You can buy the book here.

I know...I'm kind light on Friday Favorites today...but it is getting to be 1:30 and I really should be in bed by now-LOL!!

A reminder...

We are almost up to 80 Followers!!! Thank you so much girlies!! You can win these amazing prizes by ...

Leaving a comment here

Becoming a Follower 

Liking me on FB!!!

Handmade tags by me:)

A HUGE collage kit!!

This darling mini album by Jenni Bowlin with papers and few other surprises!!


Or you can win the latest book from Jillian Micheal's "Master your Metabolism".

Good luck!!!!


Drawing will be held next Thursday the 8th.
Have an amazing Independence Day!!!

Friday Favs {photos}

Is it really Friday?! I think I say this every single time it comes around. These summer days are faster than a speeding bullet-LOL!

Okay, so yesterday, I soooo needed one of these...it is my friend Leanne's "Get out of Crankville" card.

Yes, me, the perpetual "Happy Girl" woke up in Crankville yesterday morning.


I woke up complaining about money {the lack of}, owning a business {somedays I wish we were NOT self-employed} and the fact that so and so is going to Hawaii...and how we've never been to Hawaii and we'll probably never be boing to Hawaii and how unfair it all is and blah, blah, blah.

There was just no getting me out of Crankville.

1 ) Until these two silly girls came down the stairs.

Maddie and Emmi. These two spend as much time together as possible. This summer Maddie has practically lived here.

Aren't they pretty:)


So, these two came down the stairs, laughing and Em asked me what we're going to do today.

Me in my crankiness, grimaces and says "Nothing".

Silence.

I continue..."We could go to St. Joe and get my phone" {I have been without my phone for 3 weeks. It just died one day and they were replacing it with a free phone}

It was decided then...Dave even gave me a bit of cash so I could buy some fruit and veggies at Sam's Club. On the way down we listened to music, sang at the top of our lungs and giggled all the way down {it's a 40 minute drive}. We even managed a trip to Hobby Lobby where I bought my first set of drawing pencils {graphite and charcoal pencils). They one cost $8.99 for the entire set {and it is the girl's and I's secret!!} I am grateful for these two girls who turned my crankiness into happiness:)

 2) My office space and all the stuff in it.

As you may remember I spent a week sorting, tossing and re-arranging my office.

I have a REALLY nice creative space in my basement...built in cupboards, a desk, etc. It is where I've created for the past 3 years. But there are no windows in my space and I'm a sunshine kind of girl. Soooo I moved a few of my supplies up here to office in hope the big window and open space would inspire me.

After cruising through dozens of blogs last week with the "Where I Create" Series...I wish for a more cozier and sweet space...but for now this will do.

This is what I call my "Faith" Wall. Everything that inspires me is here {not everything but a few of my fave things}. I love suns, my Mom gave me that cross, one of my fave words is FAITH and there is that Maya Angelou quote I showed you the other day...This is my favorite thing on the wall...

Remember my Dad I told you about? This is a photo strip I found of him and I after he died. There are hardly any photos of us together when I was a baby so I treasure this. I was like a year old here...I had it professionally framed.

Love my Twilight journals...

And look at this treasure. My Grandma Jackson made this for me before I was in Kindergarten.

Here is what it looks like opened...

That's me. It's an old cigar box she mod podged!! I sure wish I would have mod podged with her!!! 

I put my collection of old postcards in it.

Here is my favorite thing in my space. It hangs right about and to the right of my computer.

It's my Inspiration Board. I have had one of these in my bedroom since I was in grade school. I love them!! When I hung this up a few weeks ago {it had been downstairs} I was inspired to add the punched butterflies!! I just attached with glue dots:)

I love that photo of me. I was going in the 8th grade!

I have everything from stickers to tags to photos to scraps of inspirational paper to my Art Goals on this board. I will add or remove stuff as I feel inspired to. I'm confident it will be jam packed with goodies in no time!

Now I KNOW that eventually I'll end up back in my space downstairs. I LOVE it there. That's why I only brought up a few things I can use to scrap or collage or paint. I am very blessed to have several spaces I can call my own. This is my space for now.

3) Cheesy "B" type scary movies. Yes, sad I know. But they are so much fun to watch!! Me and Jackson enjoy watching them whenever they are on the Chiller Channel. This morning I came across one I'm really looking forward to and one I'm sure will be just TERRIBLE [in a fun sort of way!!} It stars two 80's pop icons...Debbie Gibson and Tiffany and is called "Mega Python versus Gatoroid". How cheesy is that??! You can read about it here.

4} My WORD of the Week.

SELF-ABSORBED

–adjective

preoccupied with one's thoughts, interests, etc.

 

These past few weeks I have been consumed with organizing, cleaning, doing my own thing...Usually I am more giving, but lately...it's all about me. {time to have a balance again}.

5)  My NEW amazingly beautiful Header and Button from Leanne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! {please grab a buton!!}

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Just so you know...I love all the comments from the NEW girls and thank you for becoming a Follower!! And of course you girls that have been faithful followers and readers for some time now...I love you guys!! A reminder about the give aways...

2 Collage kits and the book by Jillian Micheals "Master Your Metabolism". 

Become a follower for one entry

Like me on FB for one entry

Leave me a comment for one entry

We are up to 71 followers now!! Just need 9 more to reach my goal of 80 by July 8th!!!!


Happy Friday, girls. Thanks for all your support!!!

Friday Favs

Hey, Chickies...how is it going today? I have a skip in my step as we approach the weekend. It has been a very good week for me. Life is good right now:)

So, ya' know how my Blog is called Words of Me Project? Have I shared last week's word yet...um, NO.

Try as I might Mondays just don't do it for me. I think because I do "Make My Monday" interviews. So I have decided to start sharing my word during my Friday Favs post. Makes sense...afterall words are my very favorite thing of all.

Last week was Girl's Camp. I was one of the cooks remember? also And while it was long hours and work it was also Fun! I met wonderful women from the area, amazing girls and I got to see my daughter giggling and making new friends, too. And I  was able to spend hours and hours with two of my best girlfriends!!

I'd have to say my Word from last week is....

INSPIRATIONAL

–adjective

1.

imparting inspiration.

2.

under the influence of inspiration; inspired.

3.

of or pertaining to inspiration.

Last week I was most certainly under the influence of inspiration!! 

{to be clear...since today I begin posting my Word on Fridays...I will be going from Friday to Friday} 

My Word from this past week has to be

FEARLESS 

–adjective

without fear; bold or brave; intrepid.

Love that "bold or brave". While I wasn't fearless against anything major like some bad person trying to do wrong or standing up for myself in some unpleasant situation...what I have done this week is stepped out of my comfort zone. I created a space so I could do my art. Just saying "do my art" sounds foreign and a bit silly coming out of my mouth.

I mean...I don't "do art". I'm no artist. I'm just a Mom, a housewife, a woman who has this deep down need {secret} to play with paper and glue and paint and words and ideas and inspirations.  

And yesterday I began. I used gesso. I painted. I used techniques. I collaged. I used a pencil to sketch something on my collage. I mod podged. 

I can't wait to do it again. 

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On with my Friday Favs for the week. 

1. Spending time being inspired by my darling daughter Emma. Love her fearlessness when it comes to ART! 

 That is Em on the left

2. Collage Blogs. Holy Moly there are DOZENS and DOZENS of amazing collage blogs out there!!! Check out these...you won't be sorry!!!

My Heartful Life

An Artful Life

Frosted Petunias {thanks, Leanne!!}

My Awakened Heart {Bev, you are amazing!!}

Vintage Bunny 

Love of Collage

Astrid's Artistic Effects  

Alexa Lett {she graciously did an interview here last month!!}

Like I said...be sure and check these talented and inspiring ladies out!! 

3. Date Nights. Yep!! My husband and I {and Em} are all going out tonight...dinner and a movie and I can't wait!

Have a magical weekend, girlies!!

Don't forget you can WIN a collage kit that I'm putting together of all sorts of goodies and you can win the book by Jillinan Michal's called "Master Your Metabolism".

Be sure and leave a comment below...become a follower and click HERE to "Like" me on FB! You will get an entry for each thing you do!!!  

Happy Weekend GIRLS!!

Friday Favs {and my word-finally!}

Here it is FRIDAY and I haven't posted my WORD from last week! It's not that I don't have it picked out...I just kept putting it off then I forgot about it...you know...
So...here it is the WORD that best described my life last week...

GRACIOUS

Gracious means merciful, compassionate, pleasantly kind, and courteous.

I am so very grateful for the love and mercy my Heavenly Father has been showing my family and me. I feel like He has graciously been pouring His blessings down on us. Even though times are tight and stressful I continue to feel His love in abundance. 

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Drumroll please as I announce my Friday Favs....{lol} 

1.  I have been a BIG fan of Hungry Girl for several years now.

 Not only do I get her daily, motivational e-mails but I her first book. I highly recommend Hungry Girl for delicious, nutritious food ideas. And if you are on Weight Watchers she assigns a Points value to every recipe-cool!


2.  Excedrin Migraine
What would I do without this stuff??!

Unfortunately I get migraines { a lot} and without health insurance it's nearly impossible to pay for my prescription meds all the time. These little pills help fill in the gaps and I am so thankful they work.

3. My day wouldn't be complete without my caffeine fix {see why above}. These are my two favorites...

And this one...{wish i could find that shirt. love how "old school" it is!}

 4. There is one show I have enjoyed more than any other this winter..."The Biggest Loser'. Talk about inspiring. And really, I think the main reason it has spoken to me so much this year is the fact Dave and I are on our own weight loss journey. I learn so much listening to Jillian and Bob talk to the contestants! Here are my biggest inspirations this season... This is Daris. He has come such a LONG way!!!

 And then there is Ashley....she is soooo strong!!

 The finale airs Tuesday...but I won't be home....so I'm gonna DVR it and have a friend over on Wednesday afternoon!!

5. Speaking of weight loss. I have lost 2 more pounds this week for a total of 13 pounds!!!! I am soooo loving this!!:) 

6. Just gotta share this project I created a couple of weeks ago. I made one for a friend who needed some cheering up and one for me! The one I made for Lauren is a bit larger than mine. Here it is, sitting on  my kitchen counter. It makes me smile!

Now for a close-up...

These are just butterflies I punched out of scrap paper with a bunch I won from EK Success lots of years ago!!! 

The inspiration for this came from one of my favorite "life artists" Ali Edwards.

7. Remember this photo I shared with you yesterday??

I took my Mom and Emma here Wednesday after school. It's an Iris Farm and it's GORGEOUS!

 

 

We had never been here before. It was one of those things where I was looking in the paper and ran across an ad for "Rainbow Iris Farms". 

It was a short drive over the border into Iowa and then a few twisty turns about 4 miles on an old, gravel road. These iris's were breathtaking {on a gloomy, old, blustery day!}

Iris's are my Mom's favorite flower EVER!

She just loved it and ended up buying quite a few bulbs to plant in the fall.

These purple flowers are my favorite!!

These aren't iris's but aren't they cool?!

Me and Em...love this photo!!:) What was so fun about our journey...is that it felt like an adventure. This reminded me how much fun {and how important} it is to just get out and do things!!

8. My last Friday Fav today is nothing short of amazing {to me!!} I have been a HUGE fan of American Idol ever since it began. This year, however, I haven't felt connected or passionate about any one Idol. All that changed with ONE song Tuesday night. All I can say is.... INCREDIBLE!!!

**See video below!!!!

And there you have it!! Lots of Friday Favs fun!!

Ladies. I appreciate you all so very much!! Thanks for all your kind comments. reading my blog and just so you know...I love your blogs, too!!