Ready for Spring

Where have I been? Truthfully, I’ve been right here, but unable to write it all down. Oh where to begin…

On September 18^th I received a call from my mom that my dad had a massive stroke and was in the hospital. I flew home that night (to WA state.) I spent the next two weeks in hospital rooms and then a hospice facility, waiting for the inevitable and getting to know my family better than ever before. My dad would have loved all the attention. In the end, he took his last breath surrounded by family, his bride of 65 years, my mom, by his side. It was truly a peaceful and beautiful moment. As she says, “it was a good death…”

Then I spent the next week trying to help my mom begin this new life, which meant a lot of paperwork. And a lot of phone calls. So much confusion and anxiety for her. I did my best to help, but truthfully, I didn’t know all that needed to be done. But, she got through it.

When I returned to my home, I panicked a little. My mom spent most of her life as a homemaker, so her income always depended on my dad’s. And, she went through a little rigmarole to get things straightened out. She also took a huge cut regarding income. I started freaking out about what would happen to me if something happened to my husband. And luckily a friend had an entry level,  full-time position open. I took it, eager to go back into the working world! About 2-weeks in, my panic turned to exhaustion as I tried to juggle everything I did as a homemaker and now a full-time employee. I failed miserably. I yelled a lot. My husband took on so much that he was exhausted. And finally I asked my family how they felt about this new life. They were miserable too. My son said, “I liked it better when you didn’t yell.” Six weeks into the job, I quit. I’ll figure the rest out later.

I started the New Year with a plan to get my mind, body, and spirit in order. I started eating healthier and exercising – running, slowly, but running nonetheless – and I feel better! My mom came to visit for a month. Testing the waters to see if she’d like to move down here. She liked it. More on that later. But, while she was here, her home was broken into. Only four months after her husband dies, her home of 30 years has been violated. And once again, she has to get paperwork in order. Accounts are frozen, she has to deal with an insurance company. She has proven to me that she’s the strongest woman I know. I only hope to be half the woman she is when I grow up.

 

Ready for Spring

 

And there we have it.  It’s kind of funny that I put it all into one blog post. I’m ready for spring. It’s so very close…

 

Peace, Love, and Chocolate

Wednesday Inspiration

Hello!

 

Here is something I look forward to every Wednesday: a video from Donna Downey, working in her Inspiration Journal.  I hope you enjoy!

Peace ~ Love ~ Chocolate

Handmade Planner

Hello!

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a link on Pinterest to this 3 year altered book journal from Stargardner's Journal...

Photo Credit

After reading her description of using it as a document of daily happenings and a record of things past, a light bulb went off in my head! When I worked full-time I had yearly planners that I saved from year-to-year. It was a basic office supply, but I saved them because I could easily thumb through the months to remember how long a project took, or phone numbers of contacts (that I didn't call but once a year.) It never dawned on me to make my own planner!

SO, I've decided to make one for the next year:

I used heavy 7 pieces of heavy card stock and assembled them like an art journal (with a basic bookbinding stitch). Then I decorated it.

The inside so far

I messed up a little with September. But I don't care. That's the charm. I tried to give October a very Halloweeny feel. To make the squares, I just used a stencil template. I'll work on the other months as I go.

The back

I decorated the back to match the front. I used wallpaper boarder that I found in a clearance bin for a dollar and some turquoise paint. I sealed both the front and back with Mod Podge.

I love it! I'm going to carry it in my purse and hopefully it will become a record of my days. I'm also going to be on the hunt for a book to alter for next years planner. So much fun!

Peace ~ Love ~ Chocolate

The Joy Diet

Hello.

I'm not sure if you saw a post of mine last Friday about an online project I wanted to start - but I've removed it. And I apologize for being so hasty. But the truth is I jumped before thinking and if I would have continued, I would have landed head first.

Photo Credit

But, I will tell you, I am spending the next four months on me. And I'm starting with the book, The Joy Diet, by Martha Beck.

Photo Credit

I'm on "menu" item #1 and have a feeling I'll be there a while. It's sitting for 15 minutes doing nothing. Basically meditating. Something I've always wanted to do, but every time I try, my mind distracts me. Beck gives tips about how to guide what she calls, "squirrel brains" to mindful contemplation.

 

I'm also revamping my diet. I've started with giving up soda and drinking water and juices (some coffee and tea also). That has me feeling better and not so dehydrated. Next, I want to add exercise. But, I have to pace myself. If I try too much at once, I'll create anxiety for myself and quit everything.

 

So, anyway, another blogland lesson for me.

 

Peace ~ Love ~ Chocolate

Birthday Reflections

Last week I had my birthday. I turned 38, which really isn't an exciting birthday. But I do like the fact that my b-day falls in the middle of the year, because I think this is a good time to assess how I've been doing since my New Year's post.

Me on the 4th of July

And I think I've been doing pretty good. Excellent actually! I've definitely gotten out more. And I've met a lot of great people who I now consider friends. My art has a location to be shown. Two locations actually and I have more events coming up! Wow, lots of changes in the last few months!

The one area I've fallen short in is getting healthier. It seems the busier I've gotten the worse I eat! I need to make this my focus for the rest of the year. I know I would feel better and have more energy. I NEED the energy!

Tomato from my garden - a good start in getting healthy!

Yes, I see more veggies in my future. Water too. I have a horrible diet soda addiction that I need to overcome. And exercise. Who has the time? I do actually. But I have a million little excuses as to why I can't. But I have to. I need the mind/body balance that I'm lacking.

So there it is. More goal setting. More to do. More Joy.

Do you take the summer to assess your goals? How have you been doing?

Peace ~ Love ~ Chocolate

Ice Box Cake

I’m a bit of a Food Network/Cooking Channel junkie - not because I like to cook so much - but because in the last two years I’ve been thrown into the duty, since my family has gone down to one income. What I’ve found is that things I thought were complicated to prepare, are actually pretty easy. Like this Ice Box Cake:

Source: foodnetwork.com via Joyce on Pinterest

I was perusing the Food Network when I saw Ina Garten - aka The Barefoot Contessa - making this ice box cake.  I changed it up a little because I didn’t want to add alcohol to a dessert that my son would eat. Trying to be a responsible mom!

My version - not as pretty - but tasty!

Here’s my version:

2 cups heavy cream
2 tsps vanilla extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsps cocoa powder (I used Hershey's Special Dark)

1 bag crispy chocolate chip cookies

First, I gently whipped the cream with a hand held mixer, until it thickened slightly. Then I added the vanilla, sugar, and cocoa powder and continued mixing until the cream thickened (like Cool Whip). You have to be careful to not over whip, otherwise you'll get butter! It took about a minute.

Then, in a round cake pan (Ina used a spring form pan, but I didn't have one and didn't want to buy one), I layered the cookies, then whipped cream, cookies, cream, cookies and had a layer of cream on top. I covered it with plastic wrap and let it set in the fridge overnight - about 12 hours.

Easy peasy! Actually, it took longer for me to write this post then to assemble the cake! And it was DELICIOUS!!! It's not something I'd make every week, because of the high fat content, but for get togethers it would be fabulous!

Let me know if you try it!

Peace ~ Love ~ Chocolate

Happy 4th!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!





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