Simplicity: Eating at Home

So it struck me last week when we decided to do a DQ run that it costs my family $18 to go to DQ!  If I take my kids to, horror of horrors, McDonalds it is $15- minimum and that is with me getting nothing. (not that I need it!) So while we're all trying to tighten our belts up a bit, I realized the best way (and generally the healthiest way) is to eat at home.  Now when we were younger and the kids were younger we ate out a bit more - we'd be pooped or have a taste for something and out we went.  As we expanded our family, it became less of a habit and now - we'll its just a couple times a month at most and one of those is pizza take out or Ryan and I on a date.  

My Yia yia was a great cook - she was a true Greek woman - feeding the masses at a moments notice.  I think about how back when she was a young mom you didn't have fast food, take out, big box grocers or heat and eat meals.  I try to think about that - women at that time truly spent their WHOLE day in the kitchen.  I try to keep that in mind when I feel like I'm spending most of my day in MY own kitchen.  It got me thinking though - you cooked EVERYTHING from scratch - no boxed noodles, nothing!  It was a better time, a healthier time.  I mean you could still be eating fried chicken, but people didn't get it from KFC, it was homemade, people just didn't eat the quantity of food that they do now.  While I want to embrace the everything from scratch lifestyle - I think I may still buy boxes of rice pilaf and couscous  and steam-in-bag veggies for a quick lunch.  

My new goal is to strike eating out from our budget, not entirely, but maybe once a month.  I enjoy cooking and I realize to cook more, means doing other things less - it is a sacrifice I think it is worth making.  I love making homemade dough - we make homemade pizza every Friday or Saturday night.  It has become our family tradition - I use my great-grandmother's Sicilian pizza bread recipe - and damn it if it doesn't turn out awesome EVERY time.  I also realized that as much as I love DQ, it is an expense that is totally unnecessary.  My dad bought for us a few years ago a malt maker - I think it was a guilt purchase because growing up we always had one that was from my grandfather's bowling alley. It was a professional grade and it was such a treat to have dad make us malts. Dad decided to give the original to Steve and I have the newer model.   My kids love when we make malts - so why the hell should I spend $20 at DQ when I can spend $5 on supplies and make malts for at least two weeks?  It's the simple things that I think stick with us and I want that for my kids.  

I've always been pretty organized with my grocery shopping and meal planning - I just can't wing it - I can wing it when it comes to cooking, but I need supplies. I also have been embracing the shopping style of "perimeter" shopping - it isn't rocket science, but shopping the perimeter of the store will generally provide you with the healthiest, freshest options.  It helps you stay away from all those preservatives (I can't give up goldfish though - sorry!) and God forbid HFC!  It can get expensive if you don't watch it - which is why buying some frozen fruit and veggies can save you a bit, not to mention keeping longer than fresh.  

This spring I plan to finally join the local produce co-op and focus on in season veggies and fruits - not to mention expanding my own garden (another post!) and I've recently gotten in touch with an old co-worker and his wife and they own chickens!!! So I will be buying my farm fresh eggs from them - for much less than the grocer -and not to mention far fresher and healthier than their store counterparts.  I also am going to start making bread - I had a neighbor in my old neighborhood that made homemade bread everyday - it was AMAZING.  Oh do I miss it!  So I am going to start making bread, once a week - that's my goal - it isn't hard and it's cheap as can be, far cheaper than the loaves at the store!  

As far as snacks in our home, that was a purge I did long ago - my kids get smooshed fruit  instead of fruit roll ups, there are tons of healthy chip/cracker/cookie options - and fruit - well, my kids love fruit, so I've done something right. If I am lucky enough to have to take them to the grocery store (yes, that is in my most sarcastic tone) then I let them pick out some fruit or veggie that we've never had - we picked up yellow carrots our last trip to Whole Foods - I was nervous I will admit, but they DO taste just like their orange brotheren.  We also have always done water or milk as our drink options in the house.  That isn't to say that my kids don't get the occasional lemonade in the summer or a glass of soda with pizza on a Friday night, but it's milk or water in this house and I am happy to report that my kids actually like water.  Really, I swear!  So I hope that by providing these healthy choices to them, but not being a nazi when it comes to the occasional less than healthy option that comes their way, that I set a good foundation.  Balance - I like to make sure that my kids know their are other options, that you can have them once and a while, but generally you need to eat good to keep your body from head to toe.  So far so good!

Thanks for checking in - I am amazed at how interested people have been - really.  I promise I DO have Penny Pickles stuff coming soon.  I just finished my first jumper last night, I have a second one to start, but is cut out (a baby one no less-yikes!) and I have a multi-tile name that I am about to start!  So we're busy as can be here at Penny Pickles, which is why this morning came a bit earlier than I expected and I've had a very S-L-O-W day. I hope everyone has a great week - I think next up will be home organization - since I'm in the midst of redoing much of mine!

Take care!

My 100th post - simplicity

While I feel bad taking Gabriella's place, I feel this sense of urgency to post about something that has been weighing on me for a while - simplicity.  It has been coming to me in small waves the need to have less, the desire to do more, to shift my focus from things that don't matter to things that have the utmost importance.  Today I just need to share them, publicly declare them, make them more real.  

I feel a bit like this..

Purging:  

No not THAT kind of purging, but if you know me at all I am constantly purging.  How can you constantly purge?  Well, honestly I don't know, it is amazing how "things" have importance one day and then two weeks later they don't.  When Ryan and I first graduated from college and moved in with one another we had A LOT of stuff.  Things that we have accrued while at college, furniture, portfolio stuff, high school memorabilia, childhood things, clothes, you name it - not to mention the stuff WE finally had the money to buy - nicer clothes, a few things from Pottery Barn, some antiques. When we moved from our modest sized home to our current home that in my opinion is pretty big, it was a whole new game.  Our house is deceptive in size from the looks of it, but we have over 3500 sq feet in this house and all but about 500 of it is finished. That is a lot of house in my opinion.  It is easy to want to fill the spaces- furniture, things. We've done well, but after mom moved in and all of the things she brought with - it gave us a whole new challenge.  Now that mom is gone, it has been harder than normal to purge some of the things in this home.  I try hard to keep the words of my Yia yia in my mind, "it's just stuff, it doesn't bring people back" when I look at things I want to donate.  These prophetic words from a woman who left Greece at age six and had to leave her favorite pet goat forever to come to America!  She knew what she was talking about! 

My mom was a keeper, so as you can imagine I have had (still have) a lot of stuff to go through. I've done well, pictures and memorabilia are the hardest because my children are so young - they won't really know who their yia yia was as a person throughout her life.  Sure I will tell them, but nothing beats holding her cheerleading letter in their hands, just as it is for me to hold the amateur boxing program and see my grandfather's name in it.  So I try as I may to simplify everything - I am the keeper of generational memories and fortunately and unfortunately I will undoubtedly pass this legacy down to my children.

Not to leave you with thinking I am a hoarder, I have passed most of these memory items, pictures and such on to my cousins, aunts, uncles and extended family.  I try to only keep what is really important to me and generally what is really important to me I hang on my walls (thus I have the butter paddles of my mom's on the wall in my kitchen in a shadow box with other items that were parts of my grandfather's life as a launderer).  Ryan and I both have the philosophy that if something means something to you, that you put it out, hang it up and display it so that you can enjoy it and share it.  What good does it do in a rubbermaid tote? That is also why in Penny's room she has two shelves filled with antique dolls of my mom's.  I have my grandmother's suitcase that she always used to travel filled with more doll clothes and things to fix antique dolls - this has been downsized from THREE containers to one - so I am pretty proud of my organizing skills.  

the living room

I try to loosely embrace the idea of Feng Shui - not to the core, but the idea of having so much STUFF that it clogs up the energy flow of your home, yourself.  I believe it - now I am not a supporter of having a home devoid of all things but we try to generally have our rooms pretty simple - seating, a table  and some pictures on the walls.  Our bedrooms are generally a bed, nightstands and a bookshelf or dresser.  Penny's room is the most filled because her doll things are there, but even then it isn't too bad.  Our bookshelves are our one case where they are filled to the brim with books - but I think those bring their own positive energy into an environment. 

I love the feeling of sitting in a uncluttered room or when I've just dropped off a few boxes to goodwill or the local shelter.  It feels like freedom, peace - knowing that I have removed something I don't need, and gave it to someone who could use it.  I try to think about individuals around the world from the most basic to even our European counterparts. I love watching house hunters international when their in Europe - England in particular.  They are looking at these 600 sq ft flats that cost as much if not more than my home and they are thrilled with the space!  Wow - that is an eye opener.  So if you take anything away from this way too long, rambling post - take this - that its okay to have things but have them where you can see them, use them, because an item loses its value if it has no use.  Look at the boxes in the closet, garage, attic - if you don't know what's in them, you don't think you'll use it - get rid of it, purge it and feel the freedom!

Thanks for humoring me on my spree - we'll see what tomorrow brings!

I had intended to cover a few more items here, but realize that this post would go on FOREVER, so I will save them for each day this week.  Gardening, Eating at home, Home organizing, Greening the Pages and Family time will have to wait. I think with the light at the end of the tunnel of winter shining brighter, and the fact that for our family of five to go to Dairy queen costs nearly $20, I felt compelled to get all my thoughts lined up so I can be more organized heading into spring.

my second boy

I figured since I'm waiting for Ryan to cut some matte board for my latest project I would do a little post for my second boy, Drew.    Drew is one of those kids that has that nervous laugh when they get in trouble - you know the one who smiles under the stress of being scolded.  Yep, that's my Drew.  I have dubbed him my little Santa Claus because he is generally the happiest child you will ever meet - unless it has been a long day and I am forcing him to sit quietly in the frame section of Hobby Lobby - then all bets are off (Leslie can attest to this).  He is my big kid - he is huge, tall and solid as a brick.  But when he opens his mouth he still has some of that familiar toddler ease language that I can't bring myself to correct - thus we live in Nosabelle (Noblesville).  He still Woves me and I know, as it happened with Jon that wove will turn to love and never look back.

I was farting around with my camera this morning and took this one - I am madly in love with it - not because it is some photographic genius of a shot, but because it captures his "smirk".  So back to the laughing and smiling when being disciplined, another one of Chris Kringle's tactic's is the smirk.  It is one of those flawed moments in parenting when you laugh, when you should be very, very serious.  He kills me when he gives me the smirk!  He has had it since he could smile and my mom and I agreed upon seeing the smirk the very first time - he can look like a cherub and a devil all in one glance.  

He is my big boy wanting excessive hugs before bedtime in one moment and running around like a jedi knight the next.  He is fiercely protective of his little sister and his best friend Paige.  He has more emphathy than any four year old could possibly hope to possess - let alone an adult.  

Yes, Penny is wearing the elefun nets on her head - a trick big brother showed her, but beyond making her look like a fool he also takes such good care of his baby sister.  More times than not he will crawl into bed with her at nap time to read her one more story because mom just can't read another book.  He also idolizes his big brother  - having that typical best of friends /worst of enemies thing going one.  Lord help me when they are teens.  The best part is the fact that he is a minature, hairless version of my husband - it's freaky really and nothing makes Drew happier than to "work" with HIS tools, tuck his pencil behind HIS ear and fix things with dad.  It brings me joy to see them together.  

There are times that I am sad because of all the distraction that occurred while Drew was little - when he was four months old mom was first diagnosed with cancer,  our lives were bouncing back and forth between here and up north, then Ryan worked out of town, we moved and eventually mom moved in with us.  So much happened that there are voids in my memory of him growing up - I have them all journaled - thank goodness, but I guess he is the happy kid that generally goes with the flow because of everything he's seen and done.  I am so blessed to have him.  He is so different from Jon, but not in a bad way, but in so many other good ways.  I enjoy so much the little boy he is becoming.  He is the "Norm" of his classroom and its been that way since he started school- his effortless ease, his self assurance is amazing.  If he wants to wear a spiderman costume to target than by all means. If he wants to wear his sisters leg warmers on his arms because he's cold that day, than he will.  He is so comfortable being Drew, that I strive for that own self confidence in myself.  I love him so much more than I can ever explain.  

Thanks again for enjoying my ramblings - next up Mac's tiles.

my boy

So I don't have any Penny Pickles work to show you at the moment, but I have one that needs to be matted, one nearly done and one that I am just getting started on.  Plus I was asked to make two jumpers for big and baby sister for a gift to a friend - I have lots going on!  But I wanted to share a picture I took about a week ago of my big boy Jon.  Jon will be seven next month - oh where has the time gone?  I still see my fuzzy haired baby, but in the same breath I can't imagine him not being my articulate, imaginative little rock star.

I've farted around with the processing on this picture, but decided I like the raw image out of the camera the best.  I love this picture for a few reasons, first to me it is the quintessential childhood picture - he was looking down at something on the ground, so curious, but it shows his beautiful eyelashes that he has had from day one.  It also shows off his freckles, that I LOVE!  His soft perfect skin and his long hair that is forever in his face.  He looks so much like I did as a kid - acts like I did too - so it brings back so many memories when I watch him in action. I told Ryan, we don't have quiet, demure kids that follow all directions.  Ryan's reply was, I'm glad, they be free thinking adults that will succeed.  I agree with that wholeheartedly, but I know from my own experience he has a long road a head of him with teachers and people who don't like individuals or little people with their own opinions.  Ah well, I'll try to clear that road off when I can and just offer a hug when I can't.  After having three kids, I don't love any one more than another, but I do love each of them so differently it is hard to explain until you've had more than one child.  Each of my children are so unique, with such different qualities - I am so blessed to have my own mini-melting pot here in my house.  

This is my Jon working hard on his science fair project testing whether homemade glue works as well as store bought varieties.  He received first place and I am so proud of him!  I love the look of concentration - sometimes I wish my biggest stress was whether to use the red or blue marker!

I just wanted to give a bit of love to my eldest boy - there is something about your first that holds a unique bond, we stumble together through this part of our lives - him as a child and me as a mom.  He is a terribly forgiving soul and since he is receives the brunt of my parenting mistakes - I am very grateful for his grace. 

Have a great weekend and Thanks!

My Girls....

It has been awhile, but not without good excuse.  Last week seemed to blow by and then I was gone for the weekend for a much needed and anticipated girls weekend. I've mentioned my girls before: Annemarie, Angie, Brooke, Hea, and Jill.  They are my girls from my HNTB days and I have known them for nearly 10 years now. There is no price for what they are worth to me.  We try to get together every 6 months or so - Jill living up in Chicago and Hea down in Lexington.  To commemorate our 10th anniversary and just to say I love you, I painted and framed a canvas for each of the girls.  Each day I will highlight one of those paintings.  Today will be Annemarie.

Now it is weird how things work out, but I thought long and hard about each of my girls, where they were in their life and how I see them. Along with my blessings and prayers for them and what I see for their future.  So when I thought about it I saw the Tree of Life being the perfect muse for my painting for Annemarie.  The beautiful thing about art is that you don't have to recreate the wheel - you can take things that exist and make them unique because they are YOUR interpretation.  Here is Annemarie's Tree of Life:

There are few reasons why I chose the Tree of Life, the first being that Annemarie is adorably pregnant and expecting her second daughter at the end of April.  The second is that she is evolving as a working woman, part time working woman/stay at home mom to full fledge stay at home mom.  If you have ever made this transition, it is much, much harder than it seems.  Lastly, I am blessed enough to have a bible study with Annemarie and my other girlfriend Brooke, which is not only taking our friendship to a whole different level, but helping us, Annemarie flourish and set deep roots as a Christian. Thank you Annemarie for your friendship and your love - I am truly blessed!

Next up: Angie!

Thanks!

Go Pack Go!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas - I know I did and I can't believe it is already over.  The best part is that now I can post some of my finished pieces that were Christmas presents!!!  

It is no secret that my brother is an enormous Green Bay Packers fan.  He has traveled to the frozen tundra alone and with friends and family to support his team.  He's pretty passionate - to the point were he can be downright ridiculous, but we humor him all the same!  My mom, an avid Bears fan, wondered where she went wrong with my brother (the Packers fan) and me (the Colts fan).  Lets just say it would make for some interesting fun when our teams played one another!

In any event, a while ago Steve had asked me to do a Green Bay painting for him.  Years ago I did a 16 x 20 canvas with his name: Mr. Renzino, for outside of his classroom.  It had all of his favorite things on it, the White Sox, the Packers, Basketballs, his black cat, and much more.  I thought I would do his new canvas in the same size, in the event it was vetoed by my sister in law for home display and he could at least take it to school! So I painted the Green Bay and Packers names in their authentic green and gold, but instead of the typical "G" logo, I decided to switch it with a much more interesting icon.  The cheese wedge!

And yes my brother does own a cheese wedge hat - courtesy of me many birthdays ago.

Steve was surprised, which was nice, and I am pretty sure he liked it:

Once again, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday, there is more to come!  Take care, travel safe and thanks!!!!

A new appreciation...

I have a new appreciation for what my  Yia yia (grandma) and mom would go through in preparation for the holidays and the meals included in those holidays.  While I helped, I never was in charge. Meals at my Yia yia's involved enough food to feed most of the southern suburbs of Chicago.  It didn't matter how many people were invited, you just had lots of choices.  It was an impressive spread to say the least.  My mom would, from time to time host these holidays as a break to my Yia yia.  She too, paid no attention to the attendance, but rather the options and making sure that NO ONE would go home hungry.  After my Yia yia passed away, mom took over the responsibilities and like many families as the kids grow up the extended families start to make their own traditions and so on.  So even though our holidays were typically mom, dad, Steve, myself and Ryan, you would swear about 50 more people were going to show and rudely declined at the last minute.  We would laugh and tell mom that she works too hard, that she doesn't need to do so much or make so much.  She wouldn't hear of it.  You can always eat leftovers.

So today I have a new appreciation, since Mom lived with us last year during the holidays she was a big help in the preparations and cooking. It was something she could still do.  This year I am flying solo.  I am still making a "nice" ham.  I have a few different appetizers, a few different sides, bread, pie, cake (thanks to dad), cookies. I decided though to prepare all of my food today and then bake it tomorrow.   My plan is that I can spend tomorrow enjoying my family and not be confined to the kitchen.  As I am preparing and using every knife, cutting board, bowl and corning ware container in my kitchen I realized all the hard work that was put into the holiday meals of my youth. The part that I took for granted is now mine to have and as I look at my overstuffed fridge I realize I have WAY more food than my dad, steve, anna and my family can consume.  I couldn't help it you see, you can always eat left overs and I want to make sure everyone has something they enjoy. ;o)

The other side of this is that I realize how blessed I am to have the ability to feed my family so abundantly.  The fact that I won't need to worry about my family being hungry and knowing that we will all be warm and safe and together is a Christmas gift all unto itself.

So while this Christmas is a bittersweet one for with mom's absence, I am so very happy and blessed with what I DO have.  I pray that all of you have a very Merry Christmas and embrace all your blessings tomorrow, as I will.

  

Christmas 2007

Thanks!

She'd be 59

Me and Mom when I was 4

Today is my mom's birthday.  Happy Birthday Momma!  If she were here today, she'd be 59.  It is weird not buying her presents or celebrating with her.  I decided that this day was going to be a bit challenging so I invited my dad, Steve and Anna over yesterday for a birthday celebration, in mom's honor.   Dad brought little gifts for everyone, because it is something mom would have done.  She always had little presents when you would see her. She was a very giving person and I believe wholeheartedly that if she were here now she would singlehandedly be trying to stimulate the economy all by herself!  

I decided for our menu we would have all of mom's favorite things.  We had cheese and crackers and shrimp with Hoffman cocktail sauce (because it is the only cocktail sauce mom would eat).  We had a "nice" salad - which consists of iceberg lettuce, croutons and italian dressing.  Mom would always make us have a "nice" salad growing up at dinner.  Imagine my surprise when I started grocery shopping and learned that there were several types of lettuce and an actual nice salad can have lots of fixin's.  We then had a "nice" roast with veggies and bread followed by a banana cream pie, which was mom's favorite.  Ryan picked it up at My Sugar Pie in Zionsville and man is it a fabulous pie.  

Mom probably would have been a tad disappointed that it had a meringue top and not "real whipped cream", but it was seriously the best pie I have ever had.  My dad also brought a cherry chip cake with cherry frosting.  In the winter months of his retirement he has become quite the little baker.  It was nice to have our little family all around, but I couldn't help but feel the void.  We all do, it is obvious.  

Dad helped me decorate a bit after the kids went to bed and then got up this morning and left just a bit ago.  He is going to go to mom's grave and bring her 8 carnations, one from each of us, they were her favorite.  I am sorry I won't be able to go today - in two weeks I'll be up there and visit then.  I hate and love going to the cemetery, it is nice to have a place to visit, but I hate what it represents.  It just sucks all the way around the block.

So today I fill my day with nonsense like laundry and cleaning.  I am going to yoga tonight for some much needed exercise, meditation and reflection.  I want to thank my friends who have called, emailed, and posted with their thoughts and well wishes.  It means more than you know.  These next two months are the final last of the "firsts."  It is just so bittersweet, holding onto, "this time last year..." which is helpful and painful all in one.

And away from the dark side...in the world of Penny Pickles I have several paintings going on and I can't wait to finish them up and show them to you! I hope you all have a great week and once again thanks!

Go Horse!

While this has little to do with paintings or Penny Pickles, it does have A LOT to do with the mental health of the artist behind Penny Pickles, ME!  I do have a few paintings waiting in the wings - but I am waiting on them getting to my clients, so until then, my day at Lucas Oil Stadium will have to suffice.

Sunday, Ryan and I had the good fortune to score some sweet seats from my girlfriend Heather, the creative genius behind Maida Vale.  If you are in need of anything stationary - including wedding and shower invites or announcements - this girl is the person to go to.  

I digress.  So Heather and Shawn have super amazing seats and they live in Seattle and weren't able to come in for a hand full of games.  So they offered them up to some of their friends.  We jumped at the chance and have secured our position as buyers for as long as they live in Seattle.  

I digress again.  We went to the Houston Texans game - and it was AWESOME.  First off the seats are amazing, second off, I hadn't been to a Colts game in two years, third, it was a phenomenal game and we won!!!!  So as we are sitting in our amazing seats, I look down a couple of rows and who is sitting there?  Ashley Manning, Peyton Manning's wife.  She was decked out in a gorgeous blue leather dress and well, there was no denying it was her (especially after I spied her wedding rings.  She got up and moved to the boxes above us - so we tried to be suave and catch a picture, here's what we got.  I swear it is her, I feel like an idiot with a Sasquatch siting. 

Anyway, at halftime we went to the Bud Light Zone to visit our buddy and old neighbor Mikey T. Poor Mikey has season tickets - but his seats are under the press box and you literally can not see half of the field.  So he stands in the Bud Light Zone with the other poor folk with crummy seats.  We went back to our seats after the half and who was sitting in our row, but the entire staff from the Tickets and Promotions staff.  So I made minimal small talk, but I was able to ogle over one of their Superbowl rings, which, even for being the second tier of rings, was amazing!   It was an awesome game, we won, Bullitt made an amazing defensive interception to secure that win and I couldn't have asked for a better finish.  

After the game we went back to our old neighborhood and had wings and beer at KSR (Keystone Sports Review) - which btw is THE most amazing bar food in the world and their wings are better than dare I say BW3's or Hooters.  We ate and visited with some old friends and then headed back to Canada to pay the sitter and put the kids to bed.  

Other than my body rejecting the shear volume of nasty, greasy food, it was a PERFECT day!  Any chance I can get out with Ryan and spend a bit of time with just us is great -but this date exceeded my expectations.

Later this week, I'll be sharing some of my new pieces - until then take care and Thanks!

Patience... the final frontier

Okay, the title is a bit over the top, but there are days when having patience is as unattainable for me as discovering new galaxies.  Where to begin...

Well Ryan is done with his interviews, they all went really well. He's had an offer, and the rest have said, "you're great, we'd love to have you, but we aren't slated for extra work or a need until after 2009", humphf!  However, there is one, Ryan had two interviews, they went great, he is suppose to go back in next week to finalize the details of an offer- but alas that hasn't been scheduled - so we aren't sure when that will be.  It is a "soft" offer, if you will. Which is fantastic, and out of all the companies he interviewed with, this one by far was his favorite, the one he felt most comfortable with, the one he feels he could "fit" right into.  Which is awesome.  It is a challenge, however, to still not know the details.  

With that, I always have a hard time with patience when I work.  When I finish something, I want to package it up and mail it out NOW. But there are things that need to be done first, sealing, photographing, packaging, waiting for UPS or USPS to process and deliver, and then waiting for feedback.  You see I am a psycho when it comes to tracking.  I check daily to see where my packages are-when I see something is delivered I freak.  "Why haven't they emailed?" "Do they not like it?" "Did it get delivered to the wrong house?" "Is it raining there?" "Do they have a porch?" "Did it arrive in one piece?"  Seriously, this is where I am nuts. I don't worry this much while I am painting or even as I am developing a piece, just when it ships and the client receives it.  My most recent client's computer is down. So for both of us until that is up and running (not to mention her having the time to sit down and write- with her busy schedule and two very busy little boys)- I wait to hear what they think.  

Finally, my kids.  Well who hasn't had their patience tested with their kids.  Okay if you haven't bless your soul, but mine happens on a daily basis.  One would think that I would be pretty good at it by now - nope, not so much.  Just when I get a handle on it or make a conscious decision to relax and stay calm one of them runs in with a humdinger.  Ah, the joys of being a parent. I can see my dad just chuckling now- he enjoys this spectator perspective, I know my mom did as well.  I now believe the saying "grandchildren are the prize for letting your children live."  

Exhibit "A"

On a happier note tomorrow will mark the beginning of my contest!!!! Check back for the details (there aren't many, but I've got to build up interest somehow - and seeing as I am terrified of clowns over exaggerated announcements will have to do!)

Random thoughts for the day...

Today is a collage of thoughts.  

Ryan had his follow up meeting/interview with a company in Zionsville.  He said it went very well - he is suppose to go in on Monday and they will firm up an offer.  Cross your fingers, pray, send good energy - whatever it is that you all do, do it please on our behalf, it would be nice to start the week with a job.  He is at an another interview this morning, he isn't back yet, so we shall see...

I am almost done with my most recent order for a nursery, its cool because I am hand lettering the babies name and birthdate.  The bedding that they have and what I modeled the painting after is so cute - I am moving right along and if I play my cards right I will finish this evening.  It is amazing to me how some pieces go so quickly and others not so much.  I need to do a quickie surprise gift, so hopefully this weekend I can whip that little fella up.  I am waiting on some feedback from two other pieces or else I would have some pictures for you.  But alas, I do not.  But I did find this little one - if you have a mac, you gotta love photobooth!

Me with two out of my three chickens!

Oh, the contest, okay so I am going to open up the contest on Monday!!!! I have my idea and I will explain what I need from you, then on Monday look for the posting, okay unless something bigger happens, then we'll start Tuesday, but for now its Monday!  I am excited for my first contest, now ask me next week when I have two entries into my contest, how excited I am.  So check back, tell your friends, until then...

Thanks!

it started as a normal day...

So today started off normal, I woke up early and ran, Ryan got ready for work, I began my day doing some errands and then the bottom dropped out.

Ryan called me at the grocery store and said "I was just laid off."  I don't remember much after that, I know I screamed "you are kidding!" and then we hung up and then I called my dad because I was so shaken by the whole thing.

So here we are, both jobless bums - no really Ryan is doing well - this wasn't performance at all - the company is hurting, like most and they are downsizing, again, for the third time.  So we sit here analyzing his small, but thank-goodness-he-has-one severance package and going over our options.  He's already putting out calls and emails and such, it isn't a matter of if he'll get a job, its when and hopefully soon.  

How does this effect you? Well extra prayers are always good - keep your ears open for any opportunities and pass them on freely.  Oh and did I mention that I can paint...

catching up with the pages

The phrase "we've been busy" is an understatement.  Where to begin - the weekend after our 10 day visit with the Pages of Tennessee, we had my Cousin Caity and her husband Jim and their adorable children Peter and Sophia.  Then the kids and I went up to my dear friend Darcy's, to camp in their camper with her beautiful girls, Katie and Karlie.  Whew!  All this and I still managed to finish a custom canvas that I will be shipping out in the next couple of days, along with another cause ribbon that I have yet to photograph - nevermind the heaps of laundry that I WAS caught up on, but have miraculously reproduced like rodents in a small cage.  

Who's excited about a vacation?

I am happy to say though that I am thrilled with that fact that this time on Saturday I will be in North Carolina on my way to holding my best girlfriend Traci's new baby boy Beckett!!!!  This is my longest overnight away from the kids (I won't be home until Tuesday- no email, oh the horrors!).  I am confident that they will be fine and what a great chance to hang with dad (let the pizza roll dinners begin!) But for now, I have shopping for said pizza rolls, laundry and cleaning to do to prepare for my time away - next week I will be posting pictures of my newest paintings - so check back and until then - thanks!

Dad and his biker gang!

Penny's got flair!

Just a side note, so my mom was notorious for buying the kids cowboy boots in all sizes, "just in case" they grow out of them and need the next size.  Well, Miss Penny was no exception, I believe my mom bought these little gems when I was 7 months pregnant.  They are white with pink stitching and glitter in the accent areas - totally all girl.  Well they fit Penny now and she belongs to the "Drew: House of Fashion" and likes to pick out her own shoes - the girl has flair!  Anyway - here she is modeling her latest creation! (and yes we do have an "AIM" sign above the toliet - now if I could just get a "Flush" sign we'd be all set) - ah, I digress...