My Best Shot Monday

Mental Health Monday

Feeling very up & down lately. Might be all the recent changes in my life, might be the added stress of the holidays, not sure really. All I know is that the past week or so has been a constant roller coaster of ups & downs. Having a hard time just maintaining at at even level emotionally. What do you all do if you feel this way?

Inspiration Everywhere Day #1

I am currently taking the latest free class being offered over at JessicaSprague.com called Inspiration Everywhere . Here's what I made today, an Art Journal cover page. I used the layout template provided in today's assignment and just changed up the colors to what inspired me.

Beautiful Sunday

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was watching Amber dance in the first snowfall.

Color Combos Galore #161

I liked this color combination so much I just had to scrap it again!!

You can join along in the challenges at the Color Combos Galore Blog .

Here is the color combo: Hopping Red, brown concrete, chalk white, brown box.

Here's the layout I created:

Creative Therapy catalyst #123

Creative Therapy catalyst 123 : Is there something about someone that you have always wanted to know but never asked?

I'm back ...

Wow ... can't believe it's been a week since I have blogged. I photographed a wedding this past weekend and got so caught up in it that I've neglected this little blog all week. I have missed it. I love sharing bits and pieces of myself but it's not just that, I love documenting photos and scrapbooks and things I love. This daily (almost) blog allows me to look back on the past years and see where I was at, who I was, and what I was doing. I love blogging. I hope that somehow through some of my blog posts I am able to help others, make them smile, perhaps make their day.

Color Combos Galore #165

Color Combos Galore #165. Colors are: Light and Airy Yellow ~ Deepest Sage ~ Shabby Linen ~ Cozy Maroon.


Here's my take on this color combination:

Color Combos Galore #166

Color combo #166 is up at the Color Combos Galore blog . This week's colors are: Merry Mango - Lighthearted Sky Blue - Bright Whaite - Kickin' Back Khaki

Here's my page using these colors:

Creative Therapy #124

Head on over to the Creative Therapy Blog where you can see the latest Catalyst #124 What makes you happy? Here's my page:

Wordless Wednesday

My Best Shot Monday

Mental Health Monday

I always find myself this time of year, as the girl's birthdays approach, thinking about my mental health. This is the time of year I always end up reflecting on the fact that I have been dealing with mental health issues for yet another year. This year it will be 11 years. I can't believe it ... 11 years. I have always hoped and prayed each year that I will celebrate the girl's birthdays feeling stronger and more in control of my mental health. As the years pass though, I find myself dealing with more and more issues and more and more medications. It can be so frustrating. Just for once I would like to know my mental health is more stable ... once again this year I am finding that is just not the case. There are so many people in this world in the same boat as me ... they too, are dealing with their own mental health issues. It can be such a stigmatized illness though, and many people just do not talk openly about that part of their life. I guess for me, I just figure I have nowhere to go but up and feel that maybe talking about it is the answer. Learning that I am not alone and that others live everyday with the same mental health issues as I do ... well that just gives me more motivation. Motivation to get myself to where I want to be ... My wish is that more people start talking about mental illness and talking about how it is affecting their lives.

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things right now is this photo taken of a sunset. Something about the dark and gloom just sets it off.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

Currents

Was reading one of my favorite blogs the Linar studio this morning and came upon this wonderful post called currents. The idea originated from life love paper . Seems like such a wonderful way to share and record those things that are going on in our lives this very moment. Thought I'd try it out as well. So, here goes.

listening: to the quietness in the house as everyone else is sleeping
eating: nothing don't usually eat till about 10
drinking: water
wearing: sweat pants and a t-shirt
feeling: relaxed
weather: the sun is just rising -4 degrees outside
wanting: warmth ... been cold all morning
needing: to get some things on my To Do list accomplished today
thinking: about friendships and how I have met some amazing friends
enjoying: some quiet time to catch up on my favorite blogs
wondering: what I'll do today ... hoping to get lots done

Before & After Thursday

This is a weekly challenge where you take the photo you posted as your Straight Out Of The Camera (SOOC) picture you posted on Saturday and you show the edited version on Thursday.

Original (SOOC) taken with Canon D60

Edited using a light antique action in Photoshop CS3.

Wordless Wednesday

Mental Health Monday : Anxiety Attacks and Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Anxiety Attacks and Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment:

Emotional symptoms of anxiety
In addition to the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, other common emotional symptoms of anxiety include:
Feelings of apprehension or dread
Trouble concentrating
Feeling tense and jumpy
Anticipating the worst
Irritability
Restlessness
Watching for signs of danger
Feeling like your mind’s gone blank


Physical symptoms of anxiety
Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors and make numerous trips to the hospital before their anxiety disorder is discovered.
Common physical symptoms of anxiety include:
Pounding heart
Sweating
Stomach upset or dizziness
Frequent urination or diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Tremors and twitches
Muscle tension
Headaches
Fatigue
Insomnia"

Do you have an anxiety disorder? A few key questions.

1. Are you constantly tense, worried or on edge?
2. Does your anxiety interfere with work, school or family responsibilities?
3. Are you plagued by fears that you now are irrational but you can't shake?
4. Do you believe that something bad will happen if certain things are not done a certain way?
5. Do you avoid everyday situations or activities because you feel anxiety?
6. Do you experience sudden attacks of heart-pounding anxiety?
7. Do you feel like danger and catastrophe are around every corner?

If you experience some or all of these symptoms please do not be afraid to seek help.

My Best Shot Monday

Beautiful Sunday

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things is watching the sprint cars.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

Thoughtful Friday

Before & After Thursday

This is a challenge where you post the picture you used for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and post the same image only edited on Thursday. Details for thr challenge can be found here:
http://www.pixelperfectblog.com/

Original (SOOC)

Edited

I used Photoshop CS3 to edit this photo. Added a lomo action.

Wordless Wednesday

My Best Shot Monday