Self Awareness

Here in Virginia, we had a number of offices up for vote. Myself, my husband, and my two older daughters all voted. Currently, I'm on the home stretch of my Bachelor's degree - taking POL 300 this semester. We're looking at all kinds of past events (Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) and more and as I'm reading the text and listening to the lectures, I'm wondering where in the world I was that I am so little aware of all that occurred in my adult life?!

Where I am in my life now, I see that life really DOES go in seasons. I guess during my mommy phase, my biggest concerns were my househould work and the health and happiness of my children. Now that they're almost all grown (baby is looking at 15 now), I find myself becoming aware of the bigger world. Things that were once remote in my mind - like politics, economics, world affairs - now actually have an interest and meaning to me. I'm wondering how I went through so many years of life with my head so firmly immersed in my immediate world with no windows looking beyond.

Another part of my life revelations comes from iTunes. Apparently, there is a world of knowledge to be had there for free on podcasts and iTunesU. I've searched up a bunch of topics in a variety of disciplines and subscribed to many. There are some amazing people sharing all kinds of knowledge expanding discussions. I find I can listen to podcasts as I go about my daily work and still get tons accomplished. Suddenly, a whole new world of learning is at my fingertips. Remarkable! I've been listening to PRI (Public Radio International), podcasts on technology, application podcasts, marketing podcasts, casts from Harvard Business School, some fun arts and crafts casts, enterpreneur discussions and so much more. Anyone with an ipod that is not taking advantage is this vast world of knowledge is missing out on more than they can imagine! As a matter of fact, time for me to head to iTunes now and see if there's anything new for my brain expansion project.

So much for good intentions

Lately, I've been busy on other work and have fallen behind in my online world. Melody is helping me with Farmtown and I've actually missed several days at Slots! Who could have imagined. Co-worker is on vacation and I'm pulling some overflow to help. No issues, just keeps me really busy all day long.

I have yet to unpack the work laptop from the weekend away - I should get my photos uploaded - one of these days. Got 2 events coming up in November and I still need to complete the class packs and sign ups. Some days I am not sure if I'm coming or going.

How about you? Busy much?

R & R

Had a wonderful weekend away - worked on completing a number of projects I had begun in my recent travels. I was quite pleased with all I accomplished. The weekend was cold, rainy and dreary outside, but inside, I was in a place of peace and creativity. Wish I could have those times more often.

Yes, I know you're probably saying, how about showing us some of these fabulous projects you keep talking about... well, here's the thing - for some reason, editing and printing photos really doesn't excite me. I have Photoshop Elements, but it's still so tedious and there are so many steps. Wish I hadn't lost the web site for that one scrapbooker who tells how to use actions to do some of the basic photo edit steps easily. Without pictures, scrapbooks really can't be considered complete.

Ce la vie... one of these days I'll get "a round tuit" and actually photograph the projects to share.

Hope all is good with you. I'll try to check in again with some photos to share in a few days.

Home from Travels!

I have had the most amazing several weeks taking incredible classes with some fabulous instructors. I now have tons of projects to finish. Part of today's duties - choose my photos and print so I can build some of these awesome starts.

Scrapbooking art classes are all well and good and the new techniques and perspectives I've gotten from them are totally wonderful, but until I add my photos and story, they're just pretty pieces.

How about you? Are your scrapbooks just pretty pieces or are you really getting into the exploring and documenting your life part? When the two come together - then you get WOW.

Back and Gone Again

Got back from Inspiration Unlimited - you'd think I'd have a good photo of me and Teresa Collins, but I've got to say, while she looks lovely, I think I need my photo guru daughter to fix me a bit before I want you seeing me looking like that.

The event was wonderfully done - smooth, well organized, tons of creative ideas and projects, shopping, and also set in Sunset Station in Henderson Nevada (a casino, in case you didn't know). Needless to say, I had an incredibly wonderful time.

Went to work yesterday. Today, I'm off again to Houston for a store owner training with manufacturer classes and a trade show. Again, I'm expecting to have an awesome time learning new things, hanging out with old friends and making new ones.

When I get back in town, I'll try to get some photos uploaded here to share the fun with you all.

Have a great day!

Creative Explosion with Donna Downey

Had a marvelous weekend with Donna Downey and friends learning some incredible art techiques in 3 different, awesome classes. We did Bloom Friday night - lots of fun new mediums introduced to my scrapbooking. Saturday morning was Fabric Scrapbooking - again, a whole new adventure for me with lots of mixed media art and cool new techniques. Saturday evening, we did the Watercolor, Doodle class and once again, new concepts to play with and develop. Between all the creative input and the fun time with my friends, it was a terrific weekend.



Today's goal, catch up on life and bills and chill before I head for the day job tomorrow.

I love exploring new creative avenues and really enjoyed Donna's "yes" approach. It was very relaxing although my brain was near bursting by the time we closed shop Saturday night. Donna! Thanks for the awesome event - it was fabulous!

By the way, for those of you considering Donna's classes - I can't guarantee you'll actually come away from the class with completed albums, but I can assure you that if you go into them ready to learn and explore new avenues, you'll have a serious growth experience. I ended up getting her (autographed) Fabric Scrapbooking book, one of the skirt pages kits, the tag book kit and this cute pin at the top of the post.

Back to School

It's official - my last child has had her first day of high school - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. As I was leaving for work this morning, I happened to be trying to leave my court just as the elementary school bus pulled up to collect the children. Even though it was raining here today, moms were waiting with their darlings and one mom stood under the hatchback of her mini-van to take photos of her child climbing onboard. It's been so long since our first first day of school, it is almost hard to remember. Another reason that scrapbooking is so invaluable. My two older daughters were homeschooled for several years before they all went to public school, so I don't have their first photos, but I did make a charming layout (in one of my many completed layout albums) of Mags. Got a little teary eyed thinking about it today.

How about you? Any firsts for you this season?