Sunday, February 27, 2011
Creative Therapy Catalyst #128
Creative Therapy Catalyst #128 : What are you (or would you be) giving your children that you wish you'd had?
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Stylish Blog Award
I was nominated to receive the Stylish Blog award from KarenSue at ScrapWhenICan . I am so thankful! Go check out her blog - lots of fun!
So, I am supposed to list 8 things about me and then nominate 8 blogs I love to receive the Stylish Blog Award.
8 Things About Me:
1. I am a stay at home mom and I love it. (I am actually on sick leave but being home for my girls all the time is a dream come true.)
2. I have started a small photography business doing portraits, weddings, events.
3. I dream of publishing a book of my best photographs (architecture, objects, landscapes).
4. I have created almost 600 digital scrapbooking layouts in the past 4 years.
5. I am completely addicted to apples with salt.
6. I have been dealing with mental health issue for the past 12 years.
7. I spend way too much time on the computer.
8. I am learning to love who I am and love where I am at in my life.
And now, I nominate the following blogs to receive the Stylish Blogger Awards:
1. Jill @ Life ... as I see it
3. Lee @ Embrace Life
4. Kyla @ The Kreative Life
5. Sarah @ 2Paws Designs
6. Monica @ Pixel Perfect
7. Amber @ Music and Reading (this is my 11 year old daughter's blog)
8.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Before & After Thursday
Before & After Thursday ( found on the Pixel Perfect Blog) is a weekly challenge where you take a straight out of the camera (SOOC) photo and show the edited version on Thursday. I always use the (SOOC) shot I posted for SOOC Saturday.
To edit this weeks photo I used Pioneer Woman's Fresh & Colorful action and then I boosted up the green a bit. Loving how the edited version has turned out.Saturday, February 19, 2011
My Favorite Things Saturday
One of my favorite things is this old wagon wheel that was on mom and dad's property when they bought the place. It was just inside the tree line and I fell in love with it the very first time I saw it. When my parents decided it was finally time to get rid of the wagon wheels I demanded that I got to keep one. I still love it just as much today as the first day I saw it.Digi In Deep: Lesson 2
With this lesson I learned how to do so many things. The following were all new techniques for me:- how to use a custom shape for a photo background
- how to turn text into stickers
- how to do a curled looking drop shadow
- how to select and deselect certain parts of a shape
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday Fill-Ins
You can play along with Friday Fill-Ins here .
Friday Fill-Ins: "And...here we go! My answers are turquoise.
1. New experiences and possibilities open your mind, heart and soul.
2. Take an unexpected turn on a daily walk you may be amazed at what you find.
3. I'm looking forward to spring and the Tulip Festival.
4. I have lived a life so far that I could have never have imagined.
5. Try to find joy in everything around you.
6. My ability to love and empathize is what's extraordinary about me.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing with the girls, tomorrow my plans include some alone time to create and Sunday, I want to get stuff done around the house!"
Friday Fill-Ins: "And...here we go! My answers are turquoise.
1. New experiences and possibilities open your mind, heart and soul.
2. Take an unexpected turn on a daily walk you may be amazed at what you find.
3. I'm looking forward to spring and the Tulip Festival.
4. I have lived a life so far that I could have never have imagined.
5. Try to find joy in everything around you.
6. My ability to love and empathize is what's extraordinary about me.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing with the girls, tomorrow my plans include some alone time to create and Sunday, I want to get stuff done around the house!"
Monday, February 14, 2011
Mental Health Monday: 5 Ways To Develop A Positive Mental Attitude
A positive mental attitude can help to dissolve stress and can affect your physical well being. Here are 5 ways you can help to boost your positive mental attitude.
1. Create A Positive Environment : Become more aware of the way you are thinking and encourage your thinking to become more positive. If you think positively your mood will reflect this.
2. Do Not Give Up: View setbacks as lessons to be learned and do not walk away. You will have more satisfaction from your successes.
3. Just Laugh : Find humour in all you can you will notice a more positive mood.
4. Live In The Moment : Do not focus on the past or future. Live in the moment and enjoy all the beauty and joy around you every day.
5. Expect Good Things : Recognize that you deserve to have good things happen to you and expect that they will. Maintain that positive attitude.
You can view the full article I read here:
http:fitnesshealthtoday.com/5-ways-to-develop-a-positive-mental-attitude/
1. Create A Positive Environment : Become more aware of the way you are thinking and encourage your thinking to become more positive. If you think positively your mood will reflect this.
2. Do Not Give Up: View setbacks as lessons to be learned and do not walk away. You will have more satisfaction from your successes.
3. Just Laugh : Find humour in all you can you will notice a more positive mood.
4. Live In The Moment : Do not focus on the past or future. Live in the moment and enjoy all the beauty and joy around you every day.
5. Expect Good Things : Recognize that you deserve to have good things happen to you and expect that they will. Maintain that positive attitude.
You can view the full article I read here:
http:fitnesshealthtoday.com/5-ways-to-develop-a-positive-mental-attitude/
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
My Favorite Things Saturday
One of my absolute most favorite prized possessions is this photo of my grandfather taken during World War II. My grandfather passes away almost a year ago and I asked for this from my mom to remember him by. She framed it for me and then completely to my surprise added the medal he wore on his army hat in this picture into the frame. How very special. This is something I will treasure for all time.Friday, February 11, 2011
Color Combos Galore #178
Here's this week's colors posted on the Color Combos Galore Blog.
and here's my take on these colors - had a lot of fun with this color combination not one I would have though of using
Friday Fill-Ins
Friday Fill-Ins: "And...here we go!
1. Family means absolutely everything to me.
2. Life is full of ups and downs make the best of them.
3. Trust in God to lead you in the right direction.
4. It very well may be for the best.
5. Parents are the luckiest people in the world.
6. I heard what was said.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to see my birth father, tomorrow my plans include relaxing with no kids and Sunday, I want to go to the Rideau Canal with the girls!"
1. Family means absolutely everything to me.
2. Life is full of ups and downs make the best of them.
3. Trust in God to lead you in the right direction.
4. It very well may be for the best.
5. Parents are the luckiest people in the world.
6. I heard what was said.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to see my birth father, tomorrow my plans include relaxing with no kids and Sunday, I want to go to the Rideau Canal with the girls!"
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Before & After Thursday
This is a challenge where you take the photo posted as Straight Out Of The Camera (SOOC) for me it was on Saturday. You show the edited version on Thursday.
To edit this photo I used the photoshop action Misty Sunset by Paint the Moon
Thursday Thirteen: 13 Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me
1. I cannot do the dishes without getting the front of my shirt soaked.
2. I almost always wear a ponytail.
3. I am scared driving in the dark.
4. I just got new glasses, just waiting for them to come in.
5. I just started a small photography business last spring.
6. I have pierced ears but hate wearing earings.
7. I live in track pants.
8. I have 2 college degrees (Developmental Services Worker & Health Care Aide).
9. I spend endless hours on the computer.
10. I collect sandcastles.
11. I used to be a gymnast.
12. I am lazy when it comes to exercises.
13. I always eat Amber's cookies.
2. I almost always wear a ponytail.
3. I am scared driving in the dark.
4. I just got new glasses, just waiting for them to come in.
5. I just started a small photography business last spring.
6. I have pierced ears but hate wearing earings.
7. I live in track pants.
8. I have 2 college degrees (Developmental Services Worker & Health Care Aide).
9. I spend endless hours on the computer.
10. I collect sandcastles.
11. I used to be a gymnast.
12. I am lazy when it comes to exercises.
13. I always eat Amber's cookies.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Creativity 101 {lesson 1} Discover Your Creative Genius
{lesson 1} can be found here at ABCcreativity .
"Any time we see what we want, rather than blindly accepting what it is - we are dreaming." (Andrea Schroeder)
Here are some of my dreams:
- I would like to create a strong group of women for friendships, creative souls I can relate to
- I would like to join the gym, cut back on caffeine and stop smoking
- I would like to find a new apartment by spring, a place I can make into a home
- I would like to pay off some bills and start saving more
- I would like to feel comfortable leaving the house
"When you are focused on connecting with your creative genius and let it express - miracles will occur." (Andrea Schroeder)
When I repeat the words "I am a creative genius" in my head I know that I can do anything. It's up to me to live the creative life I have imagined for myself. I am a creative being and I need to trust in that. I need to believe it. I need to act upon it. For it is up to me what dreams I accomplish. It is up to me to shine.
I trust my creativity.
I am learning to trust in my creativity. I just need to believe it, to feel it, to breath it into my very being. Writing this affirmation down makes me feel powerful. Makes me feel as if I can do anything. I can make anything happen. The more I trust, the stronger I will be. The more I trust, the more I will accomplish. My creativity can take me anywhere I want to go. If I trust in that creativity I will move in positive directions.
"Any time we see what we want, rather than blindly accepting what it is - we are dreaming." (Andrea Schroeder)
Here are some of my dreams:
- I would like to create a strong group of women for friendships, creative souls I can relate to
- I would like to join the gym, cut back on caffeine and stop smoking
- I would like to find a new apartment by spring, a place I can make into a home
- I would like to pay off some bills and start saving more
- I would like to feel comfortable leaving the house
"When you are focused on connecting with your creative genius and let it express - miracles will occur." (Andrea Schroeder)
When I repeat the words "I am a creative genius" in my head I know that I can do anything. It's up to me to live the creative life I have imagined for myself. I am a creative being and I need to trust in that. I need to believe it. I need to act upon it. For it is up to me what dreams I accomplish. It is up to me to shine.
I trust my creativity.
I am learning to trust in my creativity. I just need to believe it, to feel it, to breath it into my very being. Writing this affirmation down makes me feel powerful. Makes me feel as if I can do anything. I can make anything happen. The more I trust, the stronger I will be. The more I trust, the more I will accomplish. My creativity can take me anywhere I want to go. If I trust in that creativity I will move in positive directions.
DYNAMO: Currents
listening: to the sound of the air purifier (it's really getting on my nerves this morning)
eating: nothing yet
drinking: hot black coffee
wearing: track pants, t-shirt and a sweater
feeling: motivated
weather: grey -12 degrees (feels like -17 with the windchill)
wanting: to feel rested I am so tired of only sleeping a few hours each night
needing: to keep my eyes on the future
thinking: about a photoshoot I want to do with my mom
enjoying: my morning routine of coffee while I blog, read blogs and update Facebook
wondering: about whether I am going to go to the movies with mom tonight
eating: nothing yet
drinking: hot black coffee
wearing: track pants, t-shirt and a sweater
feeling: motivated
weather: grey -12 degrees (feels like -17 with the windchill)
wanting: to feel rested I am so tired of only sleeping a few hours each night
needing: to keep my eyes on the future
thinking: about a photoshoot I want to do with my mom
enjoying: my morning routine of coffee while I blog, read blogs and update Facebook
wondering: about whether I am going to go to the movies with mom tonight
Saturday, February 05, 2011
One Word 2011 : Challenge
I am really feeling as if I have definitely chosen the right word for me and what's going on in my life in choosing the word challenge as my word for 2011. I have been in a rut so long just hiding out that I never realized how many ways there are that I can challenge myself everyday. I am feeling so purposeful, so motivated and so positive.
Health & Wellness: I really haven't been challenging myself in this aspect of my life yet. In all honesty when it comes to exercises and nutrition I can be quite lazy. I hate exercises of any kind and I eat what I want whenever I want. This is an area that for the month of February and onward that I really need to work on. I am joining a gym called Curves where you do a 30 minute circut three times per week. I am challenging myself to force myself to go no matter how I am feeling about it. It really is time I got rid of the extra 30 lbs I am carrying. I am so tired all the time and spend night after night with very little sleep. I am going to challenge myself in a few ways for this. Firstly I am a huge coffee drinker. I am going to start limiting myself with my caffeine intake. I really do not mind drinking decaf coffee and in the past few weeks I have started drinking it much more often especially in the evenings. This is something I am going to continue to do. My goal is to have my first few cups of regular coffee in the morning, and then decaf the remainder of the day. I am also going to give in to my aversion to the sleeping pills my doctor has prescribed for me. The medications I take each day cause insomnia and I have always been to scared to take the sleeping pills. I am always scared I won't wake up if one of the kids needs me. I am going to start taking them every now and then as I just can't go on any longer with such a small amount of sleep. I have a doctor's appointment this week and am going to talk to my doctor about quitting smoking. It is something I have been thinking about for a long time and it's high time I get motivated to do so.
Habits: I have many bad habits I fall back on when I am feeling anxiety or depression kicking in. I am challenging myself everyday to not fall back on these old habits. To do something new instead of what I have always done. This week this has been working out wonderfully for me and I am more motivated than ever to break these habits.
Hiding: This week I have not been able to challenge myself in leaving the house everyday as the girls and I have all been stuck inside sick. Next week I will be back to making myself leave the house at least once a day for something other than driving the kids to school. The more I get out, the more I will feel comfortable doing so.
Digital Scrapbooking and Challenges: I have been keeping up with some of the challenges I have committed to participating in this year. Project 365 is not going as well as planned. I will continue to challenge myself in taking pictures each day. I also challenge myself to finish my Digi In Deep V2 class, Joy of Love workshop and to continue to work on Creativity 101.
Thinking: I have been doing really well at challenging my thinking. To look for a better way to deal with what is going on around me. To remain more positive and motivated. The more I challenge myself this way the more it will feel more natural to focus on the positive.
Health & Wellness: I really haven't been challenging myself in this aspect of my life yet. In all honesty when it comes to exercises and nutrition I can be quite lazy. I hate exercises of any kind and I eat what I want whenever I want. This is an area that for the month of February and onward that I really need to work on. I am joining a gym called Curves where you do a 30 minute circut three times per week. I am challenging myself to force myself to go no matter how I am feeling about it. It really is time I got rid of the extra 30 lbs I am carrying. I am so tired all the time and spend night after night with very little sleep. I am going to challenge myself in a few ways for this. Firstly I am a huge coffee drinker. I am going to start limiting myself with my caffeine intake. I really do not mind drinking decaf coffee and in the past few weeks I have started drinking it much more often especially in the evenings. This is something I am going to continue to do. My goal is to have my first few cups of regular coffee in the morning, and then decaf the remainder of the day. I am also going to give in to my aversion to the sleeping pills my doctor has prescribed for me. The medications I take each day cause insomnia and I have always been to scared to take the sleeping pills. I am always scared I won't wake up if one of the kids needs me. I am going to start taking them every now and then as I just can't go on any longer with such a small amount of sleep. I have a doctor's appointment this week and am going to talk to my doctor about quitting smoking. It is something I have been thinking about for a long time and it's high time I get motivated to do so.
Habits: I have many bad habits I fall back on when I am feeling anxiety or depression kicking in. I am challenging myself everyday to not fall back on these old habits. To do something new instead of what I have always done. This week this has been working out wonderfully for me and I am more motivated than ever to break these habits.
Hiding: This week I have not been able to challenge myself in leaving the house everyday as the girls and I have all been stuck inside sick. Next week I will be back to making myself leave the house at least once a day for something other than driving the kids to school. The more I get out, the more I will feel comfortable doing so.
Digital Scrapbooking and Challenges: I have been keeping up with some of the challenges I have committed to participating in this year. Project 365 is not going as well as planned. I will continue to challenge myself in taking pictures each day. I also challenge myself to finish my Digi In Deep V2 class, Joy of Love workshop and to continue to work on Creativity 101.
Thinking: I have been doing really well at challenging my thinking. To look for a better way to deal with what is going on around me. To remain more positive and motivated. The more I challenge myself this way the more it will feel more natural to focus on the positive.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Thursday Thirteen : Favorite Foods
You can play along with this blog meme here:
1. Weinerschnitzel (especially from Maxamillians Restaurant)
2. trail mix, the kind with dried fruit
3. Stuffing
4. steak, medium rare
5. spaghetti
6. baked potato with TONS of sour cream
7. meatloaf
8. cucumbers with lots of salt and pepper
9. crab legs with melted butter
10. coffee (I know, I know, it's a beverage, but to me it is a food group all unto itself)
11. chicken, chickpeas, tomatoes & rice
12. broccoli, chicken & cheese casserole
13. apples with salt
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