I'm back!

It's been a busy couple of months and the next couple of months will be just as hectic.  But I like sharing what I cook/create, so I'm back.  :)

This was one of my first attempts at creating a gift tag.  I don't usually include tags, but I had this pretty paper (I can't remember where it came from) and I have this lovely gold flake that I try to slap on everything.  And I needed to use up some flowers and sequins so I'd have a little more space in my craft cart.  This was the final outcome!  Pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Happy May Day!

Accept...or change

I picked up this cute little stamp at a local shop a couple of weeks ago (Stampers Ink on Shawnee Mission Parkway).  I'm not particularly fond of mooses, but I thought this little guy and the sentiment worked well together.

It didn't hit me until this weekend, after a particularly rough week, that these words are perfect for me.  That realization hit just about the time I saw an inspirational poster on Pinterest saying it takes 28 days to break a bad habit (anybody know if that's true??).  Naturally, I've got quite the list of bad habits I'd like to break.  Now to narrow it down to just a couple.  I'll let you know how it goes.

What's a habit you'd like to break?

Hello

Sometimes I manage to put together something that I'm really quite proud of.  This card would be it.  I can see a few little things I'd change if I could, but overall, I think this is challenge-worthy.  I wish I had mad photography skillz, but...you'll just have to take my word for it.  Hopefully we'll soon be saying hello spring!

Ready, set...

Pax River MD - Nov. 2014

Here we are, on the eve of my 48th birthday.  Poised, hopefully, on the edge of something great, holding my breath and tentatively lifting my foot to take that fateful step.  Hoping beyond hope that what's ahead will be worth all that I'm leaving behind.

The last few months have been full of deep thoughts and introspection.  Lots of soul searching conversations with myself have turned into cautious, word-filled forays into my deepest thoughts and fears with those I trust most.  Sometimes I haven't liked what I've heard.  Sometimes I haven't liked the way I've felt.  To say that growth is painful is an understatement.

For the majority of my adult life, I've toyed with the idea of "getting healthy."  For me, that was the narrow-minded pursuit of turning my body into a svelte, drool-inducing key that would magically unlock the door to a magic kingdom that would instantly make my life something perfect, amazing and fulfilling.  That never happened.  I have a deep abiding love of "bad" food and lazing on the couch.  So I embraced the "body acceptance at any size" movement and went about my merry way, quite literally rolling through life, your stereotypical jolly BBW.

At some point during this last year, the darkness inside my head came spilling out; the pain and anger and confusion refused to be bottled up any longer.  To say that I embraced it isn't a strong enough description.  The bitterness of failed relationships and missed opportunities choked me.  The pain of my failings and as a wife, widow and mother led to hot tears of shame and regret.  Envy, doubt and distrust have been my constant companions.  The few bright spots in life fought mightily against being eclipsed by the sadness and didn't always win.

I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a religious person.  I have faith, yes, but when the politics of religion jump into the mix, everything gets muddled and ugly.  I believe in God.  I believe in Jesus.  I believe in the Holy Spirit.  I pray when I'm scared.  I give God thanks when things go right, from the mundane to the major.  I don't blame Him when things go wrong.  I just don't.  When things do go wrong, it's my faith that gets me through.  Believe me, some things have gone very wrong in my life.  Yet I've never felt alone, even when I've been terrified.  I've always known that I'll make it through, somehow, someway.  And so it has been my unwavering faith that is bringing me through this long personal winter and into the first hopeful, watery light of spring.  Those talks I mentioned earlier?  God used those to plant seeds of hope.  While they've long been dormant, they've started to germinate, slowly unfurling deep, strong roots.  At long last, it's time to break through the rocky soil and reach towards the sun.

While I'm working on getting the outside healthy, getting the inside healthy has to take priority.  This won't be easy.  It won't be pretty.  It will hurt like hell.  That's okay.  Because I'm not alone in this fight.  Not by any stretch of the imagination.

And so...ready, set...go.

Time is flying by!  Hard to believe that January is already down to its last drop.  As much as I hate to wish time away, I have to say that I don't really mind.  We're just moving closer and closer to my road trip with my girlie and the grandbabies.  She thinks I'm going to lose my mind being locked in a car for 24 hours with two toddlers.  And I might.  But I'd pretty much do anything to be able to see those sweet little faces...even when they aren't being sweet!

Anyway, since we're getting close to Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share the last of the cards I managed to put together.  Nothing extravagant or technique heavy; that's just not my style (or talent).  But throw a piece of chocolate in the envelope and somebody will be happy to get one!

Let the Love Fest Begin!

I've actually put quite a bit of effort into making Valentine's Day cards for my nears and dears this year.  To start things off, here's a very simple card.  A few cuts, some distressing, some gluing, and voila!

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