We all get inspiration from different things & happenings in our daily triumphs & struggles . This week I’ve drawn inspiration from an endless ocean I haven’t seen in a very very long time – too long. There is just something soooooo soothing about the constant ebb & flow of that mighty, unforgiving power! The Pacific is so different from the Atlantic – not better – just different!
I’ve also found creative inspiration in random things I’ve run across this past week. The first being the inside of the shower curtain of the condo we called home for the first part of this week…… ( I know weird)
Every time I looked at this shower curtain all I could see was the gentle scallop of cream on cream with buttons at the tops of the scallops. I believe this idea will make an amazing looking wedding page! Stay tuned – I plan on trying this soon!
Also from that same shower, the surrounding tile spoke to me… I see the sand & the shore in these tiles & plan to do something like that soon too!
There are a lot of bikes in Southern California & there are a lot of these signs in every city…..I can see a fun, carefree page with a bicycle & flowers with these stuck in….
While I’m always sad when vacation ends, I’m also excited to get home & put my inspirations & my little random scraps of life to paper, and I will try to keep a little of the power of the pacific in my heart! ❤️
Hey everyone – I’ve thought a few times about what I would post this week & it wasn’t until Wednesday or Thursday when I came home from work & saw the pile of mail on the counter, where my son leaves it everyday, that it hit me. I saw that white box with pink writing & forgot everything else! Happy mail!!! Like a kid set free in a candy store, I ripped at the single strip of packing tape holding the box shut! I subscribe to a monthly club kit from The Stamps of Life & I so look forward every month to seeing what treasures Stephanie B has packed into this box of yummy goodness! As I opened it and began screaming “omg my spirit animal,” my son asked “mom are you ok?” I have to give him credit for enduring my acting like a 3 yr old & making him look at all the lovely pages & goodies. But, being true to his form, with all his 16 yr old sarcastic-ness screw face, he added “mom, maybe you should sit down.” The ideas for this blog began swimming in my head….
Happy Mail!!Good stuff!!
I was in Walmart a couple weeks ago and I noticed amongst all the cutesy valentine stuffed animals an absolutely adorable creature! There he was, all soft & cuddly, with Velcro hands and a little red heart on his chest that read “love me.” My spirit animal. I was in love. I named him Fred! I don’t know why – he just seemed like a “Fred.” It may seem silly, but I finished the grueling task of Walmarting with a little pep in my step – it’s the little things!! When I finally reached my car and unloaded my groceries in the still pouring rain, my inner 3 yr old kicked in again as I fished Fred out of the bottom of a bag & ripped off his tags & hooked his little sticky hands around my rear view mirror! Fred was home! Never mind all that frozen food in the back – priorities, people!
Fred!!
Why take life advice from a sloth? Well, I ask you, why not? I decided to turn to my go-to site for creative inspiration – Pinterest! Pinterest & I have a love/hate relationship, but I thought I’d give it the old college try. Here’s what I came up with, after 5 whole minutes of searching funny, cute, little sloth memes:
1. Slow down. Take your time. Be grateful! I can do this. We move so quickly on a daily basis, always hurrying to get to that next place or that next level that we forget to slow down & enjoy the sites! Whoa! Slow down there, Speedy Gonzalez, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Slow down enough to notice that little black kitty scurrying thru the parking lot, or to appreciate how green & beautiful & new all this recent rain has left everything, or as simple as taking that few seconds to hold the door for that person racing to beat that dreaded time clock. Look up, smile, take in all that’s around you – things you take for granted every day! Be grateful for all the little things because it’s all those little snapshots of your every day life that make up your bigger, more beautiful picture!
SLOW DOWN!
2. Get a grip! It is what it is!
We spend so much time & energy on making our little slice of life “perfect,” when, in fact, most of the time, we don’t hold the keys to the control panel to make that a reality. It is what it is! Work with it, not against it. Turn it off- turn it back on! I’m gonna be honest here, most days I have trouble finding two socks alike in color & my car keys! And guess what? That’s ok! Don’t be so hard on yourself to live that “perfect” life. Celebrate your accomplishments – no matter how small!! Get a grip (or re-grip)! It is what it is. Hang in there – get it? HANG in there! I crack myself up!!
CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
3. Relax often. Chill. Drink lots of water. Get lots of sleep. Hang out a lot.
You see what I mean? My spirit animal!!!!! In this rat race we call life, our bodies need to recharge. Be honest. When is the last time you you chilled with the sole purpose of just chilling? No agendas. No schedules. No reservations. Just chilled? This is hard for most of us. I’m usually not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. Order a pizza, break out those sodas (or pops) & eat off of paper plates! Or maybe those pizza rolls are calling your name? Oh come on, you know you love those hot, little bites of cheesy goodness! (The gym will still be there on Monday – I promise). The toys all over the living room & the dirty laundry will still be there tomorrow! Let the kids just play & have easy fun & laugh without all those rigid rules! When’s the last time you had a “girls” weekend just to chill – no agenda – no schedule? When’s the last time you & the kids had a movie night in the bedroom so your hubby could have a card night with the guys in the dining room? We all need to relax & rejuvenate!
No matter if you agree with me & Fred in our sloth-like adventures, live YOUR best life!! Take the time to enjoy your life here on earth – it’s the only one we are given & it goes way too fast! Learn to enjoy your little scraps of life! Slow down, relax, enjoy! Find your spirit animal! #slothlife❤️
hello world! You ever have one of those ah-ha moments? On a recent trip to NY for a close friend’s daughter’s wedding, I experienced an ah-ha moment! After two days of trying & driving 2.5 hours to Charlotte to catch a plane, I was finally on board on time & we were taxiing out to takeoff – 3rd in line – I said to myself, finally, I may make it in time for this wedding after all!! We make that final turn, the pilot hits the gas and we are full throttle, leaning back in the seat, waiting for that lift off feeling…..then all of a sudden bam! The pilot slams on the breaks and makes a very fast left turn, crossing both run ways & parks the plane just off the run way! Accckkk!! I didn’t know a plane could turn that fast!!! We all just look at each other – THAT was not normal! “We apologize, ladies & gentlemen. As we hit the throttle, an engine warning light came on. Maintenance is on the way out to us & they will investigate the problem & try to fix it right here.”
What?? Engine warning light?? That does not sound good……everyone turns on their phones & starts to text their loved ones….. engines are turned off & the door is opened & the maintenance guy enters…testing ensues…
what now? We don’t have much choice…we sit & wait at the end of the run way, our plane rumbling & the ground shaking with the Other planes each taking their respective turns at take off. A few more updates – everything tests as normal – it is decided that an early morning de-icing hit a sensor, making it inoperable – it was being cleaned off & tested as he spoke…..
Maintenance guy leaves, cabin door is secured – “flight attendants, prepare for departure.” What????? We are left to assume it was fixed…we cut in line to take off, turn the corner, and once again, full throttle……..
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until we were wheels up & airborne & I realize tears are rolling down my cheeks……so thankful for those loud engines blaring – I don’t think I’ll ever complain about their noise again!! In that moment, I decided life was too short & I was gonna start this blog & do more of what I love!! So come along on this crazy ride with me, and hopefully we can scrap & craft along the way! At times I may seem random, but isn’t that what our best life should be – a series of random, happy “scraps” of life??!!??!! Now, to muster enough courage to get back on that return flight home tomorrow morning….
