Scrap Yoga

Happy St.Patricks Day!-carrying on a tradition!

 

On the coast where we live,m there is this stretch of major raod that connects Los Osos to Morro Bay. It's really quite beautiful as it takes you right along the inlet bay, where the tides rise and fall to fill the waterways. Well closer to the Los Osos side, drivers are greeted by a might statue of Los Osos....A big Bear. This is a lifesize bronze or some kind of metal bear. Usually every holiday the bear is dressed up to match. So we, The Warner family decided to take it upon ourselves and decorate this bear for today, St. Patricks Day! The girls were so excited and I think we have a new tradition!!!  Along with the leprechauns that came by this morning (will post pics later!), we will now be dressing up Los Osos for all to see!!!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

For some crafty goodness head on over to the Scraps Of Color blog and check out my latest posting and fun St.Patty's Day Craft!!!

And If you get a chance Scraps of Color is hosting it’s 1st ever Creative Blog Hop!  Join us this weekend for tons of fun, creativity and prizes!  All weekend long you’ll have the chance to create fun projects, be inspired and win!   To get your crafty mojo flowing...just follow the 1st EVER SOC Creative Team Blog Hop at http://www.scrapsofcolor.com Friday, March 18 - Sunday March 20, 2011!

Charming Changes!

Decided to make some changes...in my free time...what!? Well, having a bum knee helps! But been busy uploading pictures for a friend, working on a logo for another, making some cool picture calendars, crafting cool etsy stuff with my girls...yeah...I got some time! But really, when you have kids...is there ever enough time?  Well, I guess the most important thing is making the most of the time we have! Right? Right!

Spark! of Romance...but so much more!

Since having my knee surgery I have had much time to contemplate and think about things. I think about my memories, my growing up, my future goals, things to get done, things to purge, things to do. But more so than ever, I have been thinking about Trevis.

Yes, I realize Valentine's day is upon us, but this post really isn't about that one day. It's about the life I have with him.

He is an amazing father. I am so impressed with his willingness and just matter of fact love to be with his kids, take care of me and take care of our lives. NO, I am not awarding him a medal. He is doing exactly what he should be doing as any parent and mate should. But I want to give him credit where credit is due. Us moms often get credit for doing so, well, so should dads.

I recently read a post from Simple Mom that talked about how to teach him to romance you and i realized the pure simplicity and honesty of this realization. It isn't what he buys me, it isn't flowers or candy or "things." It's a whole bunch of other things, little things, meaningful things because I now take so much meaning from them. It's about what I CONSIDER to be romantic.

-Making sure I take my meds and have my legs elevated

-Laughing and playing with the girls

-Taking the girls to 4H and school and the park and to parties

-Making us all big breakfasts

-Making my coffee with me asking

-Asking my opinion and sharing his about the world, economy and politics (even though we don't always agree...we still talk

-Having patience when mine has run out, and vise versa

-Combing the girls hair before I braid them for the night

-Going to work and coming back home to work some more

-Giving me my fix of dark chocolate even though I shoudn't

-Fixing the bathtub leak

-Making me laugh

-Letting me cry

It's the little things that are romantic. Let's face it. I changed my ideas of romance, otherwise our relationship is based on material goods. No. I want our relationship to be based on respect, freindship and a genuine care...this is real life....not some glorified movie. I want the real life. I have the real life...with him...my husband...my best friend...throught the difficult lows and the wonderful highs. I could not imagine my life with him. Now is that romantic or what!?

Thank you honey for being you. We are not hung up on roles. We are just doing what needs to be done. You do know what I go through as I know what you go through. We are doing the best we can and that is all anyone can ask for. I like and love you with all my heart. And even though you may not get to reading this, I am glad it is out there. I appreciate you, and I know you appreciate me. Spark! is on and here to stay!

I'm just wine...ing!!!

I was looking through my photo library and came accross a folder I made full of wine pics. I realized I had wanted to do something with these, so I went and got creative with some flourishes and this is what I cam up with!  I love my MAC! Helping me SPARK! my creativity!! Especially with my bum knee!

I wasn't exactly planning of starting off the year with an intense kneee surgery. But I feel very lucky to be surrounded by a community of caring friends. This whole past week, my friend Robyn set up a week of care meals. Thanks so much to Robyn, Jeanne, Jennifer, Idona, Shannon, Candida and their significant others for all the wonderful food this week. It has helped so much and Trevis and I are simply overwhelmed. At one point we felt kinda non-deserving of all this, but then graciously took the help and kindness with love! We look forward to paying it forward when we have the opportunity! Thanks to Teresa for my care package and to Amanda for the crutches...and thanks to all my buddies and friends and family that have offerred words of care and comfort on facebook, drivebys and daily phonecalls (Emmer!)

 

I have to look at this knee thing as the SPARK! to get my health back and take it seriously. I still think this is going to be a great year! I raise my internet wine glass to you all and to the future and all that it may hold. Already only 11 months to go until the new year! Let's make them count!

Victory!!!! Now I love ETSY more!

Check out this email I just received from change.org!

Reflect & Manifest #reverb10, December 31-The Core of Me

#reverb10 December 31, 2010   { the last day }

This is hard to define. How do you define the core of something, let alone myself. I think I am still trying to find myself. I am realizing things about myself, mor now than ever. I am an emotional eater. With some spark stratagies, I plan on chaning that this new year. I think this year will be out discovery for me. I will discover things I may not want to, but need to. It will be hard, and even harder to discuss what I may find with those I need to. I beleive that at the core of me is someone who wants to be active. A caring, giving person, of her time and efforts. A person who is an optomistic person at heart...someone others can rely on. I am a patient person, one who listens. I will do those things I set out to do because it is the decision I have made...not what someone else may want. I will come into my own and unravell the mystery that is me...because I am...there is so much more to me than what people see on the outside or what they have experienced with me in the past. I hope they are still interested in finding that, but if they are not, I must continue to evolve. There is no time for complacency...life is way too short. I am afraid of one day dying with regret...that is such a lonely and sad way to go. I will cry openly and whole heartedly...cause that is what I do..cry when I am happy, cry when I am sad. Let go. Grow.

It's a new year. Now is your change. Don't give up. Take it.

Reflect & Manifest #reverb10, December 29-Defining Moment

A defining moment for me this year that is creating a spark for me is the changes that my body has been going through. About 2.5 months ago, I was simply getting out of bed, and my left knee gave out on me. I wasn't running a marathon, or jumping out of a plane...no. I was just getting up for the day. When I went to a series of doctors over the next few weeks, I learned on my birthday that along with a slight torn meniscus, I also have arthritus...joy. All on my 41st b-day.

I sulked for about a day and then realize...I can change this. I remember a me that was always active and athletic. No more excuses. I must change back into a healthy lifestyle...for me, for my family. Period.

I took a negative, and made it a positive for the rest of my life. Thank you knee.

Thanks #reverb10 for the prompt!

Reflect & Manifest #reverb10

December 28 - Achieve

For next year I want to achieve a healthy lifestyle full of activity and play for myself and my family!

How do I plan to do this!

Check out my list in the last post!

PuraVida!

So much to share and be thankful for!

BUt I will have to update later...but here is a list:

Soiree & Holiday Showcase

Prudent Advice and Babble

the i like books

And Scraps of Color E:Spire

I am on the creative team!

 

And of course my family and friends!!! I miss my brother, my parents and friends up north. Looking forward to hanging out today with our extended fami;ly in Atascadero. Looking forward to time with the girls, and finding Trevis all over again...and finding me too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Sound advice to a happy mom!

-one of my all time favorite layouts

 

From Hybrid Mom at yahoo shine! I saw this and had to repost!

Here are 10 things happy moms do--so remember these tips in your day-to-day life!

1. Find time for yourself
Happy moms know they deserve a little time to themselves. When you know you're going to have a little room to breathe later on in the day, it's easier to take on everything that's in front of you. Our formula? Take 2 hours out for yourself every 3 days.

2. Don't make a happy baby, happier!
We all do it...you see your baby's head at what you're sure is an unnatural angle snoozing in their car seat. You just know they'll be happier if their head was straight.  So you move them. And they wake up. Then they scream. Or, you see them playing happily in the sand. You just know they'll be happier if they played on the slide. So you interrupt them and move them to the slide.  And they're angry. And they let you know they're REALLY angry.  Here's the thing, they were happy. It can be hard to do, but if your kid's not complaining, leave them be!  Happy baby = Happy Mommy.

3. Embrace the mess
So your house doesn’t look like something out of a magazine. That just means it’s cozy! Your children have hands coated in dirt from the playground and faces coated in spaghetti from dinner. It’s not gross—it’s an adorable photo op! Life is about how you look at things. Next time that pile of laundry that’s been sitting on the chair for three days starts to get you down, just remember… it’s probably feng shui.

4. Make time for your friends
Your family can survive without you while you make time to see friends. You are a woman with your own identity and its imperative that you and that identity go out for some margaritas once in awhile!

5.  Stop blowing yourself off
While you may be the one taking care of everyone, it doesn't mean you can't also get what you want. Help your family realize your needs are as important as theirs and when mom is happy, everyone is happy, but when mom is not....

6.  Get in the zone
Take 10 minutes to do absolutely nothing but rest. Take a break from your day, close your eyes, breath in slowly and deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth.  Repeat several times. Think about a place you love that is relaxing, spend 10 minutes there in your mind.

7.  Remember your dreams and goals
 Everyday we are encouraging our children to reach their full potential. But sometimes in the midst of being a parent we forget about our own dreams and goals. The best thing you can do to encourage a child is to lead by example –happy moms hold on to their dreams and goals and don’t let go.

8.  Be lighthearted
Don't be the uptight mom. Be silly and dance with your kids to their music or tv show tunes. Be romantic and pull your partner into a waltz. Dance in slippery socks in your kitchen while making dinner.

9.  Bend the Rules
One of the best parts of making the rules is occasionally breaking them. Maybe it’s taking your child out of school for half a day on their birthday, or waking them up in the middle of the night to see a sky of shooting stars.  Happy moms know how to turn the mundane into fun.

10.  Mind your own business
Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Stop seeking the validation of others and be confident in yourself.