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Category Archives: Personal Journey
Challenged
Glass half full. Positivity. Optimism. Whatever you wanna call it — I have it, and usually in reserve. When I was a younger a friend would tease me by saying that even if I found myself in a hole in the ground, I would find a way to see the bright side. This is why it has taken so long for me to admit to myself that I am struggling with depression. I am still able to see good all around me, in ever day, I just have much less motivation and energy to take it all in. The good news: I’m surrounded my loved ones, I’m taking advantage of resources to help me through, and I know I just need to give myself the grace and patience to work my way through, and I WILL work my way through.
One of those “good” things around me came unexpectedly (as often is the case) in the form of a personal trainer at my gym. Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Crafting, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, challenge, Color Box, Crafting, Michaels, Papertrey Ink, Recollections, Unity Stamp Co.
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My Rainy Valentine
I know, I know…Valentine’s Day was three days ago, however, hubby and I are celebrating this weekend, and what better way to keep the spirit of love alive than to extend the holiday just a wee bit.
As I’ve mentioned in past posts 2010 (and still continuing) has been quite rough on us. Fortunately, we’re not alone facing the meanness of life. We have our faith, we have our loved ones, and we have each other. Even with the challenges we’ve had so many moments of deep, rich laughter, and of course, over the silliest things. How cool is that!
When thinking about creating my Valentine’s valentine, a particular image and sentiment came to mind — Unity’s Rain or Shine. I love the sentiment, “through rain or shine, you’ll always be mine” — perfect! I used Get Sketchy’s GS#74 as my guiding inspiration for the layout, and knew that I wanted to use red, white, black, and yellow (hubby likes those classic colors) so that the card would have a clean and classic look. Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Crafting, Mean Life, Personal Journey
Tagged Bella Blvd., cardmaking, Color Box, cool tool, Crafting, embossing, faith, family, Get Sketchy, Mean Life, Michaels, Palette, Papertrey Ink, stampamajig, Unity Stamp Co., versamark
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Welcome to Paradise!
One of my dear high school friends is moving. This is a good thing (for me). Over the past …many years since high school we have managed to spend only about two of those years in the same state. She has three children — each of them born in different states. I love when we visit. I hate when we say goodbye. But…she’s moving. She’s moving to Paradise. Really — that’s the name of her new home town.
This move puts her and her family (that sounds so grammatically awkward) almost exactly halfway between the home of her parents and the home of her in-laws. Great news for her in-laws, but sad for her parents who have had her a short road trip away. Sad for her to put more miles between people she loves dearly. Happy for her husband and a new opportunity. Bittersweet.
Change is hard. Here’s what I think change would look like on a recipe card: Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, Color Box, Crafting, Get Sketchy, Ippity, Michaels, My Mind's Eye, Palette, Papertrey Ink, Unity Stamp Co.
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Avoid Your Words, Please
Ahh…the memories…picking out the song. It’s a special day, you’ve waited for it all your life, and now time for the momentous first dance. Do you keep it traditional or spice it up with some silly? Do you take lessons to prepare for or decide organically “just go with it”? Whatever the decision, it’s almost a guarantee that in addition to choosing the dress another big decision hurdle will be choosing the song.
Here’s one that will be forever dear, but which didn’t quite make the cut… Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Personal Journey
Tagged faith, family, HHSC, Mean Life, Paper-Source, Papertrey Ink, sizzix, Unity Stamp Co., versamark
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My Heart on a String
New year, new month, new me? Let’s hope so — not the revamped don’t recognize me me, but back to myself me. After all, this is “if she did what she loves”! Since the ball fell in the big apple I’ve been determined to slowly incorporate the things I love back into my life, little by little — you know, baby steps. Much like faith, I am going to take steps with the hopes and certainty that things will get better and I will feel better, and by trusting and taking those steps, THEY WILL. So, I’m taking the risk, stepping out in faith, and putting my heart on the line…or string (you’ll see). Continue reading
Posted in Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, Color Box, Ippity, Martha Stewart, Mean Life, Papertrey Ink, personal journey, Studio G, Unity Stamp Co., well-being
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Top 10 Cards in 2010
December 31st, New Year’s Eve — the time to reflect, to look back, to bid fond farewell, and then to look ahead and embrace the new.
2010 hasn’t been the kindest year. In fact, life has been downright mean. In response, I’ve been in survival mode, focused on seeking out the good, and thus AWOL from the blog. BUT…I’ve still been making cards, and still reading blogs — my therapy. Good medicine — eeking out creations card by card, and so gratifying to see them in one slideshow together. My cardmaking goal in 2010 was to send out only homemade cards for the various birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other celebratory occasions. Did I meet it? You betcha! For 2011 — I hope to continue in the same, but to celebrate a few more, and to increase the cardmaking (maybe 5 a week?) — still some reflecting and goal-making to do. Will let you know the final decision.
For now…in following with the tradition of reflecting over the year, I present my top 10 card creations of 2010. Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Crafting, Mean Life, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, Crafting, Mean Life, personal journey
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Being a Grownup
Being a grownup means rousing oneself from a wonderful Sunday afternoon nap to get ready.
Being a grownup means not snoozing an additional 10 or 15 minutes while hubby starts preparing for guests.
Being a grownup means pitcing in to make the house “presentable”.
Being a grownup means saying “thank you” without being reminded by your mother. Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Crafting, Mean Life, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, Color Box, Crafting, design, Marvy, Mean Life, personal journey, Recollections, twine, Verve
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I don’t know…can you?
Remember Uncle Ben? From Spiderman? “Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.” There’s big wisdom in those words. I would also suggest — with great freedom comes great responsibility.
Uncle Ben from Spiderman movie, 2002
(Photo: Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben and Tobey Maguire as Peter Park in Spider-Man [2002)"]
One of the qualities that I cherish about the Christian life is the quality of freedom. God has created us in His image, yet
He has created us all uniquely — and along with that, He has created us each with our own minds and thoughts — freedom. When God sent His son to die for our sins, He gave us — freedom. When we choose to accept Christ as our Lord and savior, we have the freedom to turn our backs on the sins of our past and live a totally abundant life — overflowing with goodness we never imagined. Sadly, we also have the freedom to turn our backs on God and live life as we please — but that’s a whole other post. I’m a huge fan of having my own mind. I’m a huge fan of freedom — of all kinds. That being said, I realize that with freedom comes a balance of using my freedom responsibly, as well as respecting the freedom of others. I also realize that too much freedom isn’t always a good thing.
I am a being that requires boundaries. I need structure. Parents set boundaries for and discipline their children out of love, but also as a necessity — much as we don’t like to admit it — we crave limits. I know this logically in my brain, yet sometimes living out a life with boundaries, a life that balances responsibility with freedom is one of those “easier said than done”. Continue reading
Posted in Mean Life, Personal Journey, unemployment
Tagged faith, movies, personal journey, Transitions by Bridges, unemployment, well-being
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For Every Purpose Under Heaven
For every purpose under Heaven…there is a time!
I so often forget this. In a society that prizes productivity, and in a being that has learned to adapt very well (me), it is so easy for me to forget that taking the time to rest, time to be quiet, time to cry, time to throw away, time to quit searching, time to heal — that taking the time for each of these is incredibly important.
Interestingly enough, the first step that Bridges proposes (in Transitions: Making the Most of Life’s Changes) is: take your time! He writes, Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Mean Life, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, faith, Mean Life, personal journey, Transitions by Bridges, well-being
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When Life Gets Mean…and the Go-to’s Are Gone
Let’s face — life can be downright mean. Life doesn’t discriminate, it just doles out the ugliness to any and all of us. Irregardless of who we are, who we were born to, what we believe in, how much money we make, what we look like, where we live, where we’re from, who we do or don’t work for — it does not matter. At some point we may experience grieving a loved one, losing a job, losing our home, losing our health, financial insecurity — you name it, and at one time or another we will experience the “meanness” of life in the form of unexpected changes or devastating discoveries.
Confession: life has been particularly mean to me over the past couple of months (yes, this is why I haven’t been writing). I won’t go into details now — maybe later — but I know that we all experience pain, loss, suffering; I know I’m not alone in this.
So, what do we do about it? How do we manage? Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Mean Life, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, faith, Mean Life, personal journey, Transitions by Bridges, well-being
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Mission Accomplished!
The Mission, if accepted: Complete a 5k on Sunday, June 6th, 2010
My Personal Goal: Walk/Jog said 5k and complete in under 45 minutes (i.e. 15-min miles)
The Contender(s): Me, and my beloved team of support (AKA my husband and friends)
Location: The Pasadena Rose Bowl – site of the famed Rose Bowl Tournament and the Tournament of Roses Parade — complete with a perimeter pedestrian path of 3.2 miles (5k)
The Lowdown: At 6:40-something on Sunday morning I hear my husband’s alarm going off, knowing I now have about ten more minutes before my back-up alarm goes off. I greedily relish every second of half-sleep, peeping one eye open every other minute or so to see how much time I have left. Continue reading
Posted in Community, Exercise, Health, Personal Journey
Tagged 5k, accomplishments, Exercise, Low-Cost Activities, personal journey, Rose Bowl, walking/jogging, Weight Watchers, well-being
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Happy Day, Mom
It’s one of those days — like Father’s Day, birthdays, and Thanksgiving. A day to slow down, reflect, and appreciate. And I love living in a nation where we are encouraged with space in our calendars, and even space in our schedules to do just that — pause and be thankful. Yesterday, our family did just that. Continue reading
Posted in Cardmaking, Crafting, Personal Journey
Tagged cardmaking, Crafting, family, holidays, K & Company, Michaels, Paper-Source, peekaboo window, personal journey, Recollections
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A Wrapper’s Delight
In my messiest (and of course, most creative) days the dining table, coffee table, and even sometimes the tarp on the floor are covered in crafty supplies. If you’re picturing inks, decorative papers, punches, and rubber and clear stamps you’re right. But there’s more. Even before delighting in making handmade sentiments I have been a beader. So in addition to said supplies, one might also find eye pins, head pins, various pliers, crystal beads, glass beads, precious metal findings, and more. If I was to define myself as a crafter, I would probably first identity myself by my beading, then my cardmaking, and then my crocheting (although it’s been about a year since I’ve crocheted anything). Ironically, though, my Etsy shop displays some of my jewelry, while thus far in the blog, I’ve only shared my cards. In the spirit of sharing some of my latest work and to even things out a bit, I give you “Wrapper’s Delight”. Continue reading
Posted in Beading Jewelry, Crafting, Personal Journey
Tagged beading, Crafting, Michaels, well-being, wire-wrapping
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Left My Heart in Chinatown
I think it may have started with Mrs. Wong’s kitchen, but ever since a young girl I’ve long had a soft spot for Chinese culture. Whether Mandarin or Cantonese, the languages of China are my absolute favorite to listen to — some enjoy French, others Italian, I love hearing Chinese — perhaps because I understand nearly none of it. Many of my childhood and teenage friends were from Chinese homes, growing up in the U.S., but preserving their language and culture through Saturday schools, practicing traditions at home, and maintaining a tight-knit and friendly community. The writings of Amy Tan, Aimee Liu, more recently Lisa See, and others helped to paint greater landscapes of China in my mind. And the food — don’t even get me started on the food! Continue reading
Posted in Personal Journey, Travel
Tagged cable car, Chinatown, family, personal journey, San Francisco, Travel, U.S.
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Seaside View: Reservations for One
The ultimate in multitasking — doing the things I normally do and love — reading, writing, listening to audio books, watching movies, even napping, and while doing all these things traveling three hundred miles. Have I transformed into Superwoman? No. I just took an eight-hour trip along the Golden State on the Amtrak. Riding the rails, one of my favorite ways to travel. Continue reading
