Bohemian mom

Thunderstorm

2009-07-11T10:50:00.013-04:00

I woke up very early this morning to the sound of thunder rumblings and bright flashes of lightening outside my windows. Storms like these are one of my favourite things in the world. Even though this friend came over last night and we stayed up way too late watching scary movies, I just couldn't stay in bed and sleep through this awesome storm. While there was a lull in the rain, I headed out to my back yard with my camera. My garden, also known as "Terra", is doing quite well. Have you ever noticed how plants seem to grow 6 inches after a thunder & lightening storm?

And look at what's growing in my backyard...raspberries!

This is one of the few things I chose to keep from my childhood. Our "white rabbit" was always situated somewhere in the backyard of every home I lived as a child.

I have been carrying this rabbit around with me through every home hatchling and I have moved to, and he finally has a spot outside in a yard again.

Wrecking the Journal

2009-07-10T00:02:00.006-04:00

Oh wow, I don't know what Keri Smith had in mind, but this is one of the most bizarre experiences ever. Week 6 already and I'm still trying to overcome my anal respect for books, and although I "burnt this page" with an exploding firecracker, I failed to get a pic of it.

(click to enlarge the gross-ness)

Check out Jamie's insights and more "Wreck this Journal" bloggers.

Full Moon Dreamboard

2009-07-07T23:55:00.013-04:00

Hello Jamie & fellow full moon dreamers....

Tonight is the Full Buck Moon. It is referred to as such because July is the month when the tiny new antlers of buck deer begin to sprout from their foreheads

It's also often called the Full Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms tend to occur frequently during this month.

Also known as The "Full Moon of the Guru"... an ancient tradition in India when heavenly teachers offer powerful blessings to the human race. It is a time of opportunity for divine energy to bring new levels of compassion, joy, peace, and divine intelligence to the world.
A night dedicated to thanking all our teachers, in every walk of life; especially the difficult ones who challenge us to reach deep within to feel love and compassion. A time to celebrate the teachers in your life... your kids, parents, siblings, friends, spouse, co-workers, etc.

For years now, I've been on a journey of trying to live mindfully and not put so much importance on the material things in life. I began this frame of mind when my car died and I couldn't afford to get buy and insure another one.
For the past 4 years I have been beaten down by living a constant struggle to find employment I can access without a car. My small town has few, if any employment opportunities and I've gone after them all, mostly part-time cashier work, even though I have a college diploma.
WIth my self-esteem eroding more with each passing month, depression and a taste of defeat I've never known before, I stand and wait for city buses that drive by irregularly and infrequently to transport me to a part-time, usually night job and work for minimum wage. Walking through snowstorms, pouring rain or sweltering summer humidity, I try to stay positive, I try to put money away, even if I can only afford $20 a month in hopes of reaching that forever unattainable dream of owning another car.

For my dream board this month, I want to acknowledge and celebrate the "teachers" and "gurus" in my life.
My altar with my Buddha, where I sit mindfully and try my best to be thankful for being able to provide what I can for my daughter.
My father (who is deceased), and taught me great lessons in work ethics and being thankful for any car... as he himself could never afford his own new car until all his children were grown and living on our own. Before that, he always drove what he could afford to pick up used, and fixed it himself. I thank him for his resourcefulness, and how it rubbed off on me.... a quality I never even realized I possessed until I became a parent myself.

And finally I acknowledge whatever universal force may be trying to teach me something?... may be leading me in the direction of moving to a "bus community" where I can access employment opportunities? OR maybe my car is on it's way to me as I write this?

But mostly, I thank my hatchling who is such a brave and resilient kid. She never complains, never feels self-conscious that we are perceived as "poor" in our community. She never complains that it takes us a whole day to shop for groceries on buses, never complains if we have to walk in a snowstorm to her dance class, or a dentist appointment. Never lets it get to her that I can't be "one of the mom's" who drives the kids to the movies. She is the most optimistic, non-materialistic, most enlightened, most precious teacher I have in my life. And one of the few non-shallow teenagers in today's world.

I dedicate my dreamboard to the teachers in my life, my gurus....

Summer Update

2009-07-04T09:30:00.014-04:00

Summer has taken off in full swing here. It's been a blur of gardening, fruit picking, and late night bonfires, swimming and biking and having fun with my hatchling, who has her own agenda of sleepovers and sleeping in.
As per usual, our place is the "hang-out" for both her friends and mine, so many nights have been spent outside at our bonfire pit, roasting marshmallows and yes, hotdogs (ewww).

We've had lots of rain and some great thunder & lightening storms, (which we love), so we spent a couple late nights out on the front porch with neighbours watching the whole street light up like daylight and rain pouring down in sheets.

This morning, the sun rose bright and sunny and my fellow granola friend called for our weekly girl's outing for coffee and a trip to the farmer's market. So I woke up hatchling, who has definitely reached that teenage "nooooooo....let me sleep 5 more minutes", stage.

she was crashed out on the couch after we got in late last night from here.

where she bought this next book in the series...

and where I got my favourite beverage, which is a big deal for me, as we don't have one in my little town...

So this morning, we walked to the farmer's market and as always, I had my camera with me...

Hatchling boarding the bus to go back home with our strawberries, raspberries, & zucchinis....baking zucchini bread today - yummmm!.

AND...
Happy 4th of July to all my American Bloggie Friends!!!!

and...Sarah Palin is Now the Joke Her Opponents Wanted Her to Be?

When Barbie Goes Bad

2009-07-01T12:39:00.013-04:00

It's July 1st, CANADA DAY here in my little corner of the world.

With the sound of firecrackers echoing all over the city, myself & my somewhat twisted friends decided to come up with an original creation to celebrate the occasion.

Meet Suicide Bomber Barbie

(do not try this at home)

couldn't get the exact timing of the explosion on film, but Barbie screamed and threw her arms up in the air

the devastation was shocking and disturbing

Yes, we are a strange group of friends with a twisted sense of humour, but I can assure you that no impressionable children witnessed our actions.
And only one Barbie doll was harmed during this Canada Day celebration.

Happy Canada Day!

Wishcasting Wednesday

2009-07-01T10:12:00.008-04:00

Today is Wednesday, the day we all come together and project our wishes out to the Universe. There's power in numbers and so much fun in the support we give one another on these days.
Our manifesting goddess Jamie, asks us "What do you wish to nurture?"

For me, as you know, it's the first time in years that I've had a yard. My hatchling and I have been breaking the ground, turning over soil and are now weeding and nurturing tiny vegetable plants and sprouting seeds.
I wish to nurture these plants into healthy organic vegetables for us to eat, thus saving money at the grocery store and farmers market.

and a private corner of our yard is now a Zen garden

peace & happy wishing!

Sacred Sunday

2009-06-28T13:05:00.005-04:00

Is there anything more sacred than discovering a world of colours and oh-so-exciting accomplishments with a little 2 year old?
My babysitting gig this morning, as my own hatchling is at her friend's house for a sleepover.

Have a happy & colourful Sunday

Am I An Idiot?

2009-06-26T15:37:00.009-04:00

Excuse me, but am I the ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD who refuses to put Michael Jackson on a pedestal? Am I the ONLY PERSON who remembers that he raped little boys?

No doubt he was a Super-Talented performer and a Huge Pop Icon who most definitely made a huge impact on the world....but that and his "dysfunctional" childhood doesn't entitle him to commit hideous crimes against children; he was still charged with some serious child abuse. Acquitted, yes, but only because of his money and who he was.

So please CNN reporters, STOP comparing him and his early death to that of John Lennon's. Stop saying his name in the same sentence as Lennon's. And stop overshadowing the heroic cancer battle and unfair death of Hollywood's 1970's sex icon and actress, Farrah Fawcett.

R.I.P. Jackson, but your character and moral compass doesn't even compare to that of Lennon's. And if "We Are The World", doesn't include innocent trusting children....who does it pertain to?.

just my .02

Wreckage of the Journal

2009-06-26T01:10:00.004-04:00

It seems (compared to some of you rebels out there), that I have been much too tame in my wrecking of the journal....hmmmm.

Jamie's vlog this morning made me feel like she was speaking directly to me and made me feel a whole lot better. I am having a blast with this book, but with the end of the school year, a friend's new baby, a funeral to attend, my already late solstice party planning, I've been overwhelmed and not doing much with the book.

But here's what I got for ya this week...
(I'm thinking maybe I should let my cat puke on it or something for next week?)

peace

click to enlarge pics

School's Out !!!!

2009-06-25T08:31:00.004-04:00

My daughter doesn't know who Alice Cooper is. I feel so old.

Wednesday Wishcasting

2009-06-24T08:00:00.003-04:00

This week Jamie our wishing goddess asks us...What do you wish to savour?

I wish to savour all the tastes of summer of course...

* Eating yummy & healthy veggies from our backyard garden.

* Going fruit picking with my hatchling, when most of it ends up in our mouths instead of our baskets.

* the taste of Starbucks iced coffees while hanging out in Toronto this summer...doesn't get much better than that!

Happy Wishing Ladies!

Summer Solstice & a Newborn Babe

2009-06-23T01:00:00.003-04:00

Although the solstice was this past weekend, with Father's Day, a call for rain, and one of my friends giving birth to this little precious babe, I decided to hold off my annual Solstice party until next weekend.

beautiful baby M....with the thickest darkest head of hair I've ever seen on a newborn.
Holding a newborn baby always makes my heart beat faster and yet slowly melt at the same time. It's like holding the future in your arms. such potential, such a teeny dependent spirit who will grow up so fast right before her parents eyes. I'm so happy for them, and so proud of my friend, a good healthy mama who ate nutritiously and nurtured her little growing baby girl inside her.

My hatchling who is currently taking the babysitting course is itching to babysit this little beauty. It's funny how life works in synchronized cycles...hatchling's babysitter "graduated" recently as my daughter approached her 13th birthday. She had the same babysitter, (the daughter of a teacher at her school), for the past 6 years. We took her out for a fancy girl's lunch with tea and little sandwiches....a little token of our appreciation. And now my baby is 13. Where does the time go?

So anyhoo, with all that's been going on, I've decided to have my Summer Solstice Party this coming weekend. Here's a pic of the invitation I made in photoshop (click to enlarge)....and of course you are all welcome. Anyone in the area can email me for directions!

peace & babies & sunshine

Divine Decluttering

2009-06-22T08:33:00.010-04:00

Seriously....what's wrong with this picture?

If you said "the scary, but cool Michael Myers doll does not belong on my Buddha altar", you're absolutely right!

Yet this is where he was residing last week when I began Leonie's fabulous decluttering project.
I am determined to make a space where my "inner goddess can shine".
If you don't know this brilliant, inspiring, creative aussie goddess, do yourself a favour and check out her website. It's overflowing with colour and art and magic and creativity.

The e-course that her and Lisa are coaching together is helping me with something I've been struggling with my entire life! CLUTTER!!! I am one of those people who likes to have all her "things" out in plain view. My apartment reflects me and my tastes, my interests and my path in life....perhaps a bit too much.

Goddess Leonie...and her gentle guidance is helping me separate what I LOVE from what is just a collective pile of "stuff" I've accumulated over the years...it SO works!!!

And with a 13 year old daughter, there is no better time than the present to introduce her to this process...to and create and respect her own space to nurture her own inner goddess.

hatchling's very own goddess space is evolving, and we're quite pleased with my attempt at tie-dying her walls with purple paint

(hatchling's boxspring & mattress on the floor...hippies raising hippies - lol)

I'm excited. I'm inspired and I'm beginning week 2!!! Who knew housecleaning and decluttering could be fun??

Thanks Leonie, for being born during my lifetime!

When Fathers Day Sucks

2009-06-21T09:31:00.012-04:00

*warning – intense bummer post

This year will be the first Father’s day for my friend who recently lost his dad.
The day that now represents a visit to the cemetery every year instead of to his childhood home.

For he now belongs to this club, this new experience of “grown up life” where our parents are no longer living. Where in the blink of an eye, you go from being a carefree "child of someone's", invincible and untouched by the cruelty of such experiences, to realizing that nothing is forever and parents do die and it’s a horrible thing to go through… this final sort of initiation to prove that you’re indeed grown-up, ready or not..

You don’t know what to say. You don’t know how to help him cope, because you don’t know how it is that you yourself have managed to cope every year, every Father’s day, other than renting movies like "Field of Dreams" and "Frequency"

You remember standing in that funeral home, being strong, being brave, because everyone tells you to be strong and brave. Well meaning people approach you and hug you, some with tears in their eyes, and they tell you how sorry they are, and others, usually uncles who smell of cigars, who have mastered “funeral social skills” and will affectionately recall the happy times and good things about your dad and your ice cold heart will begin to melt… just a little….and for just awhile.

You realize that death isn’t like it’s been shown on TV all these years and when you look at that body lying in the casket, with his eyes shut peacefully and wearing make-up to simulate a healthy looking complexion and you want to scream that it isn’t the same person you saw in the hospital bed the night before.

But it’s just a body; you’re supposed to remember, not your dad, just a body. That’s what they tell you.
But then you realize that you came from that body, you’ve hugged that body you’ve been picked up as a child by those arms; you’ve memorized that face, you know where every freckle, every scar is, and it isn’t just a body…not to you.

And then you go home with your grief and your plates stacked high with cold cuts and cabbage rolls, buns and cookies… and enough macaroni salad to feed a farm. You’re left alone just as you’re coming out of the fog to deal with this loss, this hole in your heart they call grief.

And you wait for the day when you will “get over it”, but that day never comes because you are forever changed. Your life is different now. You are a different person now. A person who’s father has died...A person who knows the pain of saying goodbye to one of the only people who remembers everything that happened the day you were born.

And ever so slowly, those final memories… the hospital bed, the images of the small frail man who you called Dad,, begin to fade and are replaced with the best memories of the dad you knew, the dad you grew up with, the happy and healthy and strong and invincible father who carried you high on his shoulders, who kissed tears away and told you everything will always be ok.

And you learn to accept that it’s not his world anymore, now it belongs to you, and that life really. does. go. on.

in memory of my dad who passed away 16 years ago

I've Lost 11 Pounds !!!!

2009-06-18T07:32:00.006-04:00

And this is how I did it...

* 3 weeks off the Tostitos...I cannot believe what a fight this has been with cravings!

* 6 weeks since I wrote this post

* A little over a month with....

~little or no junk food/processed food.

~blending & drinking daily green smoothies thanks to Jane's recipe sharing.

~ drinking LOTS of water, with the juice of a lemon squeezed into each jug of brita water, also lots of herbal teas instead of so much coffee with milk & sugar.

~forcing myself to eat this every day for breakfast.

~eating this or similar yogurts every day.

*Back to yoga practice every day. I try to do some morning poses including those good for the abs, and evening poses to wind down and get a good night's sleep. At first it was difficult to get back into the routine, rather than my early morning computer time...but I've managed to make time for both.

*With the nice weather, I've been walking everywhere, longer walks and more often, & bike riding with hatchling. Digging a garden by hand is good exercise as well.

To generalize, I've simply been eating less, eating healthier and moving my body more often and at a faster pace.

I was seriously eating a bag (large bag) of Tostitos almost every night for the past year. I know...gross. And what a struggle to break out of this habit!
I began making the bags last longer, switching to the little bags, and finally weaning off completely. I've managed to stay away from them. And for the first week, I think I peed enough to fill Lake Erie. Must be something to do with the high & steady salt intake over such a long period of time.

I don't really feel any better yet, it's much more like a stubborn struggle against cravings.(I could easily park my butt on the couch and eat a CASE of Tostitos right now....yummy stuff! and it's a constant battle to say NO to buying them).

Although, I do feel a bit more energy and I walk up a street everyday that slightly inclines, and I've noticed it's getting a tiny bit easier to walk it, and my jeans are ever so slightly loose on me.

So, I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing....next - Quitting Smoking!! (oh gawd!)

peace

Wishcasting Wednesday

2009-06-17T08:47:00.003-04:00

Today is Wednesday!!! And that means we get to cast a wish as well as support each other's wishes.
Today our wish goddess Jamie asks ....."Who or what do you wish to play with?"

Well, I'm just gonna put it "out there" and wish to play with all of you guys!!!
I'm imagining a huge playful Blogapalooza!! Where us goddesses could all meet up in real life, play with glue and glitter and bright coloured messy paints. Where we could cut up magazines and make dreamboard collages together, where we could all bring different ingredients and make some of Suzie's yummy recipes, and dance and rock out with Genie to her cool music... Wouldn't it be oh so fun?

Happy wishes ladies!!

The Envelope Please.......

2009-06-15T23:34:00.007-04:00

Wow! I have been honoured by Jennifer of Barefoot in the Sand, with these 3 fabulous awards> Thank you so much Jennifer...I am touched and humbled.

The International Reach Out Award:

This award was developed by Tessa in honor of Dr Maithri Goonetilleke's birthday. Tessa was inspired by the way Dr Goonetileke reaches out to others and, with his humanity as her guide, she created this award "to acknowledge the depth and breadth of the warm open-heartedness from bloggers all over the world who reach out and touch their readers with their words." Tessa goes on to quote Dr Goonetilleke: "It has been my experience that whenever one human being reaches out to another in compassion, a bridge is built. A bridge which leads out of despair, into the light of hope and the possibility that tomorrow will hold a few less tears than yesterday."

Sarah from Cottage Garden Studio has beautifully described what this award means...

"The Mental Duck to Mental Swan Award is given to two amazing groups of bloggers;
1. To Bloggers who encourage and nurture others bloggers to explore and grow in their creative, spiritual or mental lives.
2. To Bloggers who are blooming and growing creatively, spiritually or mentally in their lives & sharing it on their blogs.

This Noblesse Oblige Award is an award given to those who promote creativity, and positive thinking. The recipient's blog is refreshing and creative and has a clear purpose.
The recipient of this award is recognized for the following:

1. The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervade amongst different cultures and beliefs.

2. Their Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage, and offers solutions

3. There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Cultures, Sciences and Beliefs

4.The Blog is refreshing and creative

5. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking

All I can say is Wow. I'm wordless, and that practically never happens at my blog!:) I would love to believe that my blog is all of these things, as I do try and write posts that reflect all of the above. I usually stick to my single mothering/struggling experiences, and I'm honest. What you read is who I am, and I always try to set an example that we can all achieve anything we desire. That we can survive and even passionately enjoy our circumstances, and the journey this life leads us through. I try to "keep on keeping on", sometimes with a bizarre sense of humour, but always with an authentic heart and spirit.
peace
*********************************************************

The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following:

- Create a post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.

- The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.

- Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably
citing one or more older posts as support.

- The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.

- Blogger must display the Award at any location at their Blog.

Thanks again to Jennifer. I am honoured to have received these awards and would like to pass them on to a few bloggers who I think embody the qualities of all 3 awards...

* Tabitha at I Choose Bliss
* Genie at Reality Insanity
* Tori at "her path"
* Molly at Her Speak

Bohemian Living & Joy

2009-06-15T07:40:00.015-04:00

my neighbour's hatchling - who looks A LOT like the cute little Miss Shiloh Brangelina-Pitt! (below)

Incorporating Brandi's Joy Rebel mission today into my post. Listing ways of experiencing joy.
I live in an apartment house... which means there are people living above me, beneath me and beside me. When you're living in close quarters like this, it's important to get along with your neighbours, and if you actually like them, it's a bonus.

Altogether there are 5 kids living here. With the nice weather finally here, there are little hatchlings running about the house and the yard while us parents sort of congregate on the front porch. We all get along famously, and I find myself relishing in that sort of communal living energy....the spirit of sharing and being supportive of one another. Where we may trade cup of sugar for a cigarette, free babysitting for a ride to the laundry mat or the grocery store, and there's always a door to knock on if you're in crisis...you know - when you don't have milk for that 1st coffee in the morning?

Bohemian living is generally defined by choosing an artsy and non-comforming lifestyle over monetary gain or the traditional way of living.
Meaning that many of the places I've lived have been, let's say...run down?, less desirable by the general population?, sometimes even considered "dumps"?... but nothing a couple gallons of paint and a bucket of drywall compound can't fix...most definitely an opportunity to let loose my creative license while decorating. (I once painted a giant tree on the wall of my bathroom). And in the end, the cheap rent is worth it. I can spend my money on other things (my hatchling, outings,... journals, art supplies :)).

This weekend was spent hanging around the house, and living fully in the joyous moments of spending time with my hatchling. We worked in our garden...noticed our sprouting lettuce plants have been nibbled on by neighbourhood bunnies. We relaxed and chilled ("chillaxed", as my hatchling says), we watched movies, read books, burned incense. Yesterday, the smell of our baking oatmeal cookies wafted through our communal abode, so we took a plate out to the porch to share, while one of the neighbours did a Tim Horton's run.

It doesn't take much to make me happy, to bring joy to my life, and I'm glad.
peace & happy Monday

My Kid went to Camp and all I got was....

2009-06-13T11:44:00.005-04:00

...this super-cool, awesome, handmade with love, hippie, hemp key chain!!!!!!!!

After being away for 5 whole days, my hatchling has returned happily and safely to me.
Covered in black fly and mosquito bites, tangled hair pulled back in an elastic, dirt under her fingernails, grassed stained and ripped jeans, she has never looked so perfectly beautiful as she stepped off that big bus last night. I almost cried, but instead hugged her so tight that she said, "Mom, you're gonna crush me like a bag of potato chips".

She had a great time and enjoyed every exciting moment of her camping experience. Even the 5 hour-stuck-in-traffic-bus-ride back home was fun. She pigged out on her favourite homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that I had ready for her, showered and crashed out in her own comfy bed all within an hour of being home.

Today I get to hear all the details, the memories made, and see the whole camping experience through the eyes of my hatchling.

*Note- this stuff does NOT work. However this stuff does!
peace

Have You Been "Wrecking Your Journals?"

2009-06-12T06:00:00.004-04:00

It's Friday! Reckless, irresponsible, carefree, careless, wild and daring Friday!
Well, in blogland anyway.

Those of us participating in Jamie's Wreck this Journal project are into week 2 of Keri Smith's genius little book.

I found it oddly liberating to deliberately try and mess up a book. I love books, all books and have always been respectful, even anal when it comes to my books.
So in the name of this project, here's what I did this week......

click on pics to enlarge them

Can't wait to go around the blog-o-spere and see how reckless everyone has been!

(It's not too late to join us.)

And I Love Her

2009-06-11T06:12:00.011-04:00

I woke up just before 6:00 a.m. this morning and am having my first coffee as I write this. I've been sort of quiet all week.

I am missing my little hatchling...who is gone on a week-long camping trip with her class - their end of the year trip. She's hours away from me, north of our little bohemian diggs, and I am oh-so-proud of her for being so grown up and independent.
It's the very first time she's been away from me, other than sleepovers at friends.

I'm proud of myself too, for saving the money, paying the school a large sum in monthly installments....and for not hugging her and bawling all over the place at the school this past Monday morning as her class boarded the big bus.

So I've been playing with a new blog design, etc. during the evenings. I've been hanging out with our little commune of close neighbours, sitting outside late in the evenings, talking, drinking Tim Horton's coffee and smoking cigarettes.
This guy came over and helped me tremendously finish a THOROUGH spring cleaning, and power-cleaning and rearranging hatchling's room....NOT A SMALL FEAT. He brought space-clearing incense and braided sweetgrass, and we rocked to his new CD of Hindu Rap music.

This week I've been soaking in the love, the friendship and support of those who understand how close me & hatchling are. Those who know that I worry about her needing me and me not being able to get to her fast enough. Those who give me lots of "awwwwwww, she'll be fine at camp", those who know how difficult it is to be away from your child for the very first time.

I know she's safe. I know she's having a blast with all her best friends. I know she's eating well. Cell phones were banned from this trip to preserve the integrity of the whole "camping experience", and also to prevent homesick kids from calling their parents....which only intensifies their feelings of being separated from their moms & dads. The kids were allowed to call home last night and I was sooooooo happy & relieved to hear my hatchling's little voice, all excited and talking so fast about about canoeing and kayaking, rope climbing and bug bites. She's happy, she's confident, and she's having a blast!

This week I've been hit with the realization that I really don't have a life other than being "hatchling's mom". It's difficult to admit, but I seriously have lost my identity in the process of mothering. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change my life for anything, and I believe parenting is first and foremost on my priority list.... but I'm learning that I need to find a healthy balance somewhere in-between mothering, and reclaiming my own identity.

My growing hatchling comes home tomorrow night when all the parents meet the big bus at the school....and by that time, I don't think I'll be able to stand to be away from her for one more minute!

peace

The Art of Frustration

2009-06-10T11:51:00.003-04:00

Ok, it's getting there. As god is my witness, I will never again attempt to make my own blog template until I am much more proficient at reading html codes!!
Holy moly!!!
I still have to put all my sidebar widgets back and figure out how you guys can post comments....I seem to have screwed that up.

Been having a blast in my new photoshop program though...thanks to this guy (can't even link to his blog right now), for the free installation.

Party on people....I'll be posting again soon.

html = arghhhhhhhh!!!

2009-06-08T12:04:00.004-04:00

I know....it's the blog banner that took over the world!!!!!!!!
Still playing with this...
Yes, my blog is sort of "under construction". I've been playing with html codes and trying for a new look here, but arghhhh.....it's sort of difficult!!
Anyway, I'm still around....just my sidebars are temporarily MIA.

peace

The Next Chapter

2009-06-05T00:43:00.010-04:00

Let's WRECK THIS JOURNAL People!!!

With none other than the inspiring and creative Jamie from Starshyne Productions... Our leader in The Next Chapter.

This is Day 1 of Book 3 for us, and I have enjoyed these projects so much. I've crossed blogging paths with some of the most inspiring people and I'm really looking forward to continued creativity & fun, growth & connecting with everyone involved in this book project!

"Carry this with you everywhere you go." is the first instruction given by Keri Smith. Check - it's tucked into the backpack that goes everywhere I do.

click to enlarge

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am really psyched to work and play through this book. I filled out my name & address on the first page and leafed through the book....it's a panic!

Tomorrow

2009-06-04T08:43:00.006-04:00

Tomorrow Jamie begins leading our "The Next Chapter" group on a new and exciting journey through the book "Wreck This Journal" by Keri Smith.
The irony of it is that I bought this book for my hatchling a couple summers ago while we were checking out bookstores in Toronto.

She loved it and it really is a cool and fun book. And of course I love Keri Smith, cause she's a girl after my own heart. Canadian indie writer, unorthodox and completely off the generic guidelines of writing a book. She had an original awesome idea and ran with it.

Getting my copy today hopefully. This will be our 3rd book journey through Jamie's fabulous "The Next Chapter" series. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy these projects and how inspiring it is to join a group of kindreds all working through the same book. Kudos to Jamie for being such a supportive and enthusiastic leader throughout. I can't wait!

Do you have your copy of Wreck This Journal? Are you ready for some fun?