Baby Shower cuteness.

Cuteness all put together...

Just had to show the shower graphics all put together... super cuteness, amazing food, fun party.

Sunday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for repeated opportunities to stop talking and just listen.

Cuteness.

Have some new baby inspired art going on around here, partly because I have tons of requests and partly because it's just so fun to create cute art. I love cuteness. How about you?

Random Musings:
I've been away from my blog lately because I've been learning another lesson, one that needs to keep repeating itself. That is the lesson of saying "no." Lately, life has been very full and there are so many... so, so many things I want to do, but I just seem to keep running out of time. Life can be full but it must be balanced. I suppose the balance is what I've been needing as I am walking around in circles.

The lesson... find more balance, slow down, say "no."

How do you find more balance in your life?

Saturday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for lovely friends, old and new.

Worth it.

Such is life.

Wednesday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for full days, lots of sunshine, doggie kisses and no TV.

Havin' fun.

Just playing around with some design ideas for a baby shower I am going to this coming Sunday. Hopefully, there will be some delightful cupcakes to nibble on!

Tuesday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for too much work to keep up with.

Do what is possible.

Today, as I sat in my first class of the semester, it was easy for me to wonder if this is all worth it. Although I find the psychology field VERY fascinating and I am grateful for the opportunity to attend classes again, I was feeling a little overwhelmed at how far I still have yet to go. Far to go within this new field to make any sort of difference. Far to go to figure out if I even CAN make a difference. Then the lovely teacher assigned her students into groups to interview each other and that was the point I wanted to get up and run. High tail it out of there because I felt so uncomfortable sitting in this classroom. I didn't want to talk about myself and certainly didn't want to talk to anybody else because I am just plain tired of my story.

However, I forced myself to stay glued to my seat throughout the break, interview another classmate and even stand up and introduce my peer in front of 40+ people. U-n-c-o-m-f-o-r-t-a-b-l-e.

But during the midst of all of it, something miraculous happened. The little tiny stories about people started to surface, people fumbled, people cheered and at times we all laughed. In a super short amount of time I felt as though I got to know a lot more people. Some of us even formed the beginnings of a bond. Then I realized that we all just start by doing the necessary, then doing the possible and soon we are doing the impossible.

I think that's pretty darn FAB.

Monday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for drizzly rain in the land of sunshine.

It's raining babies!

I don't know if you have joined the group, like I have, that doesn't have many members that are having babies or are getting married anymore. These types of things have come to a halt or at least slowed   w a y   down. That is until recently. I know two people in my group who are having babies! What a delightful surprise! This is some art someone requested for yet ANOTHER baby maker! I think it's raining babies around here.

Thursday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for delightful friends for The Kid, and another successful middle school meeting!

Time to give.

Some of you may know The Kid goes to a charter school and has for several years (although we are new to this particular one just this year.) Part of the deal is there is A LOT of parent involvement, yay, that's part of the attraction on my end because I have found that when the parents are involved, usually you get some great kids. Anyway, I've been getting my feet wet in the volunteer department and donating some graphics time for upcoming events. This is a "pop art" one for an art night... the theme of the night is "pop art"!

Wednesday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for a middle school meeting tonight to explain the rather long and detailed process of venturing into unknown territory.

Swirls and such.

I worked up a little paint doodle for a mural client a few days ago and this is the digital sketch.

Today, it came to life... me hopes she likey! Would you like this if you were a preteen?

Tuesday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for cool days with long strands of sunshine.

There's power in them there words!

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Random Musings:

I read something this morning from a teacher/inspirational artist whom I admire, that struck me as one of those "AHA" statements. It is this:

"People have asked me so many times why and how my life is so great. I think it's because I enjoy the whole thing, and I'm not waiting for a better version."

Oh boy, she just said she's not waiting for a better version! Wow. 

At times I've wondered if I am waiting for something better to happen, just waiting... because I know that something better is out there and for some reason it is just around the corner. So sit and wait. The illusive better version will show up. Sit and wait because all the crumby things that have happened are the precursor to something fabulous.

Um... yeah.

Wake up. This IS your better version. This IS your fabulous life... crappy things and all. It is all about how you live in this everyday life and accept the crap but CHOOSE the better attitude DESPITE the crap.

One little sentence. 

So much power. 

I like it.

Monday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend the day in LA with one of my nieces, The Kid and my mom.

Imperfection.

Random Musings: 
Breathe. I needed that word yesterday. When an elderly man was bitterly mean to me in a parking lot, I forgot all about that word. I reacted instead and let it ruin part of my day.

Then, much later, while I was still running through the unfortunate event in my mind, I suddenly remembered to breathe. Ahhhh, there you are little word of the year! Instantly, in one breath, everything is all right in the world.

Thursday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for mean people as the nice ones seem so much nicer.

Friday's Gratitude: I am so grateful for salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes all in the same day!