One Art by Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

*****

Feel not, loss not.
Who is the bigger fool?
You'll be missed...

Dedicated to....

My Children,
My Love,
My Best Friend...

You know who you all are~


I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)
I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

Thanks for being a part of me!

Summertime Pages

Here's a sampling of what we created at our Scrapbook 101 Class ~ "I Know What You Did Last Summer!"

The pages are ready for your summertime photos.

Hope to see you at my next class!

What is Desire?

According to Webster, "DESIRE is having a strong longing for". Below are quotes from different famous people about Desire.

(1) The wise man will love; all others will desire. ~Afranius

(2) One must not lose desires. They are mighty stimulants to creativeness, to love, and to long life. ~Alexander A. Bogomoletz

(3) If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it. ~Brendan Francis

(4) One must desire something to be alive. ~Margaret Deland

(5) Desire is the root of all evil. ~Dahli Lama

According to you, how do you define Desire? Which of the ones listed above do you strongly agree with or strongly disagree with and why.

Something to ponder about...

Leah, this one's for you!

I added the pegboards in my Art Studio after seeing Leah's Scrapbook room. Thanks Leah!

Please view my Art Studio for a total picture of where I do all my creative work! Well...you know what I mean. I can be pretty creative anywhere... HAH! Joke!!

My 5' x 5' work table is my prized possession. Got it at The Container Store after their Christmas Sale 3 years ago. I got everything with stand included for only $80! Such a deal! My DH was the one that advised me to get it. Glad I listened! :)

My Art Studio evolved from a small 10' x 10' guest bedroom to a 13' x 17' living room space. If you ask me, this is the most used living room space I've ever seen! Lots of activity going on here.

I'm close to everything, the kitchen where I do my "other" creative work. Plus, I love the fact that I can be around my family while I do my "work".

What's my work you ask? I have an online business "Dazzle In Style" - go check it out! Plus I also teach classes. I'm having a scrapbooking class this afternoon -- care to join us?

If any of you are interested in attending any of my classes, make sure to drop me an email and let me know so I can keep you posted!

Love that chicken from Popeye's

After craving for some after 20+ years, my DH brought home some chick-un from Popeye's! That's got to be my favorite pig out food! YUM!

Time to do some cardio-kickboxing! Aaaa--yah!

A Day in the Life of Connor

What is life like at 20 months? Simply hard? Or is it hardly simple?

Get up at 7am. Change clothes. Brush teeth, Come downstairs for breakfast. Loves oatmeal. Lately, your appetite has been very light. But most days, you will also have a piece of toast, whole banana, cup of milk. You eat more than me!

I put your snack on the bookshelf. See there's Rex your buddy! He cleans up after you, just in case you drop something! That picture was taken back in February 2006 - that's why you still have that goofy hat on. You love to wear hats!

Watch Disney or Nickelodeon. Your favorite -- "DoodleBops". You dance, you sing, then you want to eat some more. Of course! You've already spent all that energy.

Strawberry or Blueberry poptarts. Cup of water.

"We've got the whole wide world to explore....." You copy the "Backyardigan's" You spin like they do then you fall down. LOL!

11:30 Lunch time. Of course. By this time, I'm also getting exhausted. I've probably chased you all around the house. Changed your diapers for the third time. You terrorize Rex (our dachshund). Ohh, I can't wait for nap time....

12:30 until 2:30pm. We turn on your radio (you like sleeping with some white noise on - the sound of the ocean actually). You hug your blanket, put your head on the pillow. You're so good about putting yourself to sleep. You're re-energizing!

"Mama! Waaaah" you're up again!

We play some more, you throw your toys all over the place, chase Rex, drink, snack, make a mess. Ava's home! You guys can play. Gives me a little break. Sometimes, the three of us watch the Food Network. Like Mother, Like Children! It's funny, how you love to sit on the couch next to me and watch Racheal Ray, or Giada or Paula Dean. So attentive! Speaking of food, it's 4:30pm, time to make dinner! Soon, your dad will be home. I can't wait.....he takes over! R-E-L-I-E-F!!

Dinner time. Bath time. Sleepy time.....around 8pm. You put yourself to sleep. How nice. This is about the only time when I can hold you and you don't move! Love it! You look so angelic. Hah! You're "re-energizing" for the next day.....

Starts all over again.....

Summertime

I love this time of year. Right now it's bright and sunny about 78 degrees. The grass is green, all the flowers are in bloom. The air smells so sweet. The kids playing outside, laughing, screaming. Everything is just lovely.

Me?

I remember growing up in the city, going by the lake, rooftops, 31 flavors. Laying out, catching some sun, being goofy! One Magnificent Mile...

Cherished Memories.

Ours to keep...

My friend...

"There are many people who come and go in our lives. A few touch us in ways, that change us forever, making us better from knowing them. You have made a difference in my life and for this I am grateful. Thanks for being YOU!" ~ Author Unknown~

Do you really have to go? Of course you do. This is the beginning of a new life. A new chapter. The rest is still "Unwritten".

I WILL MISS YOU!

Life changing decision....

I was asked this question -- "How do you make a life changing decision when there's no clear cut direction staring you in the face?" --

I have to say it was a very good question and I had to step back and think about it. So I thought, let me do some scrapbooking as I think this one through....

So there I was, pictures, paper, embellishments, all laid out on the table not really having a clue of what I was going to make. I don’t know what the end result was going to look like. But one thing I knew I had was my creative instinct. I knew if I just trust in myself, I can do this page. And I had confidence that no matter which color paper, or type of embellishment I used, it will look outstanding! And, if nothing else, there are also books and magazines and other resources that I can go to for ideas and inspiration if I need it. So then it hit me! The answer to the question.

We seldom know what we want to do or where we want to go. We don’t know how our life will be like, thus the pages in my scrapbook. We all have our tools our resources to mold what we want to be. Read a book, talk to friends, pray to God. And trust your instinct. You’ll find your answer. Just like the process of making my scrapbook page. I knew if I used what I had (paper, glue, etc.) and trusted in my abilities to do a great job, that is what my end result will be.

Have confidence in yourself. Go with your instinct. Go with your heart.

There are lots of opportunities out there. They're staring us in the face. Go deeper and listen. And make it happen!

Life is much like scrapbooking as you can see with my example above.... or also like driving a car. You get in the car, fill it up with gas, bring a map and go. And it’s OK to stop and ask for directions or take detours. You’ll get there.

So figure out what you want to do or where you want to go. If you have then do it. There’s no real rule book in how to live your life. We’re all unique. Make it exciting. Trust in yourself!

Enjoy the process!

Are YOU a Life Artist?

You read what I wrote on my "About Me" right there on the right underneath my picture. So what do you think?

Are you a life artist?

Do you take photos of anyone, everyone, anything and everything? Do you have stories to tell about those photos? Do you bring them all together on any type of canvas? Whether it be paper, your computer or even a shirt or a mug? Do you keep a journal with all kinds of wonderfully interesting glimpses and snapshots of your life, desires, feelings and emotions? Do you celebrate life through art?

I want to hear your thoughts. Write me and tell me! And if you don't think you are... then go grab the last photos you took. Tell a story. Put it on paper.

Celebrate LIFE!

Live well. Laugh often. Love much.

That's how I try to live my life! Our time here is limited, it is only loaned to us for a while. So live it well. Live it as you will and set a good example. Live life with passion. Live, laugh and love like there's no tomorrow. Don't let others tell you what to do.

Follow your heart and intuition.

They somehow already know what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary.

Who keeps me busy?

My reasons for being.... the night before I have a plan of how my next day will be like; what I need to do, what I want to do and what I would love to do..... and they both make it all possible!

It's funny that my plans for the day are all business related, mind you, and for some reason, those things don't get done or just get partly done. These two somehow, take over, they become my day, and at the end of it all....they're the result of what I needed to do, what I wanted to do and what I loved to do!

See how that works?!

If you're a mom you know exactly what I'm talking about....

About me....

wife. mother. sister. aunt. daughter. teacher. coach. friend.

scrapbooker. stamper. photographer. muralist. cook. shopper. traveler.

artist. creator. designer. dreamer.

passionate. inspiring. lover.

busy.