Rejuvenate

I recently read a post @ Enchanted Inkdom about writers remembering to LIVE.  Yet this is an area that we sometimes neglect between the routine of life and burying our heads in books, blogs, ink & paper (or computer).  I was reminded of this today as I strolled through our downtown market and soaked in the vibrance with vendors of veggies, soaps, baked goods, art etc.  (I don’t know how I overlooked taking pictures of the succulent peaches, apples, cucumbers, watermelons….)

The below window art created by a local artist, Katherine Devine.  I love the saying she paints here “What is remembered, lives.”

I’m not sure who did these two but they called to me as well.

Sadly, the building these are in will be closed next week for remodeling of an indeterminate amount of time and the shop and food vendors have lost their space and their leases.  So far, the outdoor vendors will remain & I stumbled upon Healing Woman Art. 

Loved her altered journals & fell in love with this particular lady

She had a painting of her as well

 

In talking with Cheryl, the artist, (fascinating and an absolute delight!) I found out that she also has several published books.  Oh, and I can’t forget to show you what else she has practiced her art on ~

Lately, I’ve really been missing the beach & yearning for another vacation.  I overlooked the many opportunities for a mini-getaway in my hometown.

What’s rejuvenated you recently?

(note to the artists ~ if you would like the picture of your art just let me know & I’ll send it to you without the watermark)

Technorati Tags: Enchanted Inkdom,Healing Woman Art

Technorati Tags: rejuvenate,art,downtown,Roanoke

The Optimist’s Creed

 

I found this little treasure on a gas station countertop & had to share (or read it with music).  It was written by Christian D. Larsen in 1912 (if google is correct) & still holds true:

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

If you wrote your own creed, what would it say?

Bloggy Love ~ Second Blog Award (& Some Truths About Me)

 

I am honored.  A sincere note of appreciation to Kim @ A Spicy Boy, A Cat and My Fat Ass.  Yes, she is funny ~ check her out.

Here are the rules for receiving this award.

1) Thank the person who gave you the award
2) Share 7 things about yourself
3) Pass the award along to at least 10 bloggers you think are fantastic
4) Contact the bloggers you picked and let them know about the award

I didn’t make the rules up, don’t know who did & am ok if you choose not to follow them ~ hope I’m not breaking a blogging rule by saying that:)

You all know how little I really talk about myself so here goes…(breathe in…)

1 ~ I write a lot about capturing the moment, writing your way through pain and embracing the inner journey to authenticity; but sometimes a White Russian works as well.

2 ~ I just recently found out that wearing glasses on top of my head is apparently one of my trademarks (see profile pic)

3 ~ I think I went five years once without crying.  Now I tear up even at commercials (the allergy excuse doesn’t work anymore!).

4 ~ After ten years my husband still gives me chills.

5 ~ My girls rock!

6 ~ I love naps.

7 ~ I’ve lost count @ how many times I’ve seen Dave Matthews Band.

Bonus ~ Mid-40’s isn’t so bad:)

Even harder, I have to choose ten blogs out of so many fantastic voices….this is in no way an exhaustive list of the blogs I follow nor in any particular order.  (As previously alluded to in an earlier post, I will be giving out my own “Life Lines” award from time to time.  Mainly because I think we should all receive some validation for speaking our truth and hoping that truth throws out a needed lifeline to others.)

 

All Things Wonderful ~ peaceful blog with interesting info

Paisley Passions ~ wonderful projects

Arsty Canvas Girl ~ living her authentic life

Diamond Potential ~ a blog with heart

live artfully ~ beautiful

Pacifiers Pumps The World ~ love her willingness to try new things on her blog

W.I.P. It  A Writer's Journey ~ Excellent writers’ blog (& aren’t we all writers?!)

Society of Socialpreneurs ~ love this site for networking and support

Wagging Tales ~ another great writers’ blog

I Made It Through The Rain ~ Awesome approach

Secret Garden

 

So it really wasn’t a secret garden but I was captivated by the detail and couldn’t help but look for fairies!  What images have you stumbled upon recently that took you by surprise?

It’s A Celebration!

Just a sneak peek @ what’s coming.

Announcing a virtual party & blog tour for the one year anniversary of “Life Lines: Celebrate Your Journey”, A journal writing workbook designed to enhance sense of self and worth, clarify values, honor life’s blessings and write the future you want.

For more details, click on the picture or tabbed page across the top.  If you are interested in hosting or sponsoring items in the grand prize Treasure Chest, just let me know! (dawn@lifelinesjournaling.com)

There will be linky’s and give-aways ~ hope to see you there!

My First Blog Award & The Artistic Mother

What an exciting day (which is so nice since I’ve been at home with a sick child all week & now I’m sick!).  First, Myrna @ Daily Spirit gave me this lovely award!  Myrna has a wonderful blog so I hope you’ll visit her.

I was amazed by how supportive and validating her gift and words were to me.  It is nice to know that my intention is being felt.  There wasn’t a linky to it and no rules attached.  I plan to post future awards to some inspiring blogs soon.  It is so hard to choose ~ for me every voice is important & each blog represents a unique voice.

The Artistic Mother Group @ Artistic Creations With Trudy





This group is based on Shona Cole’s book “The Artistic Mother” (I’ve previously posted a couple of projects that I had completed from this book).  I had wanted to join this group several months ago but it had already started.  Trudy happened to stop by my blog today and the group continues to grow so I joined in and will post my progress. 
Consider taking this creative journey with me!

Technorati Tags: artistic mother,blog award

Girl Power Day

Original Image from Graphics Fairy

Everyone has their own version of truth.  I prefer Marianne Williamson’s take on this day, Friday the 13th.  The following is one of my favorite passages from her book “A Woman’s Worth”:

We are used to thinking of Friday the thirteenth as bad luck.  In fact, Friday the thirteenth was the day the witches gathered.  When the patriarchal system, headed by the early church, began to squelch the power of women, witches were deemed evil, and many great women were deemed witches.  Their meeting time, then, was seen as bad luck rather than as what it truly was: a time to gather and share energy and pray together and heal.

Our mystical power should not be relegated to the distant past.  It still exists.  I want mine now, and so does every woman I know.  Our power is not evil but good.  We must reclaim our goodness as well as our power.  Today, the reason we haven’t found our grail, the key to who we are as women, is because we look for it in worlds of false power, the very worlds that took it away from us in the first place.  Neither man nor work can restore our lost scepter.  Nothing in this world can take us home.  Only the radar in our hearts can do that, and when it does, we return to our castles.  There we are crowned in gold, and we remember how to laugh, how to love, how to rule.

We can’t look to the world to restore our worth: we’re here to restore our worth to the world.  The world outside us can reflect our glory, but it cannot create it.  It cannot crown us.  Only God can crown us, and he already has.

Reflect in your journal - or blog:) – how this resonates for you. 

(Shameless marketing – for more writing prompts on honoring the goddess within, click on the above picture…)

Technorati Tags: writing prompt,journal writing,may queen musings,girl power

 

Treasure Chest

 

Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.  Henry Miller

What unexpected treasures have you encountered this month?

Technorati Tags: journal writing,writing prompt,lifewriting

Dream Boards

I went to the craft store yesterday and I’m amazed that I left minus only $30.00.  I am like a kid in a candy store & it is so hard to choose!  I left with some new paint, papers, foam board, fat quarters and stickers (it was a good sale!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I needed to go because I’m working on some journal totes and needed interfacing

 

And I also wanted to work on a Dream Board, often called Vision Boards.  I have done these for years but can never get mine looking like those that I’ve seen as examples.  I can’t clutter my board ~ I suppose because my dream is simplicity.  I did add some “clutter” through painting the background first.  Well, painting sounds like I’m a real artist ~ I scribbled some paint on the board.

 

I used oil pastels to draw a vase with a few flowers (because that’s all I can draw besides a coffee cup and lightbulb!) and put a “yoga” lady in the center to represent me as a balanced foundation ~ because this is a DREAM board.

My flowers had hope, imagine & dream.

 

 

 

 

I added a cross charm, some ribbon on the edges (not shown here), lots of glitter and a “balanced” definition.  Also not shown here are the pictures and words around the center = my hopes for a future filled with abundance in authenticity, wholeness, dancing in the waves and creative endeavors.

What gets your creative juices flowing?

Taking Measure

Today @ work a new wellness program was announced.  Many of the women (self included) groaned when we heard that as part of the initial health assessment, we would be weighed and our hips and waist would be measured as well ~ we can give birth but don't pull out the scales and measuring tape!  As much as I dread it, I need to see where I am and where I need to be if I want to see my daughters’ futures unfold and enjoy some quality of life.  Sitting in the middle of my forties is a bit of a reality check against the youthful ignorance that took for granted energy, strength & elasticity.
It occurred to me that this physical path parallels that of my inner journey.  As I’ve gotten older, my priorities have evolved and what once made sense doesn’t always fit anymore.  
Take some time to write about what no longer fits in your world.

Technorati Tags: writing prompt,journal writing,lifewriting

Meet Me on Monday with a Twist

 

Java over @ Never Growing Old has these fabulous blog hops for building community (not just building numbers) and “Meet Me on Monday” is one of them.  This one I haven’t participated in before but I thought it would be fun to answer five questions about myself since I rarely “talk” much other than pictures and writing prompts.  (And you know there will still be a writing prompt at the end!)

1.  What is your favorite holiday? 

Christmas & I’m planning a special series for Holiday Heartwriting.  My oldest daughter was born Christmas Eve with a fatal congenital defect.  Through experimental surgery and prayer she survived and thrived and each year is a reminder of the blessings of life. (Below is my oldest when she was three – she’s now 22, playing dress up.)

2.  What color clothing do you wear the most?

Black, although this summer I have worn more greens and browns (with some black thrown in of course).  It’s just the easiest to coordinate.

3.  What is your heritage?

American mutt although I identify most with the Irish ancestry.

4.  What is your middle name?

Marie.

5.  What is your favorite cookie?

Do I have to pick just one?  I love any with nuts, no raisins, chocolate chip of course, fig newtons and vanilla sandwich (not really Oreo’s so much).

So let me add my own twist.  Take any, or all of these questions, and write about a moment in time.  For instance, write about baking your favorite cookie, the smells, the taste, the cherished memory if you baked with a family member etc.

Technorati Tags: blog hop,lifewriting,journal writing

Transformation

 

 

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.  ~ Maya Angelou

Using the transformative stages of a butterfly (egg, caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis and butterfly ~ seeding, feeding, hidden & protected by silk and finally, wings), write a fictional or personal story about a metamorphous you (or your character) has experienced.

Technorati Tags: lifewriting,writing prompt,journal writing