Holes

During a great message today I heard this, a little something I'll never forget.

A father needed to help his son with his outbursts of anger. He told his son, "every time you feel angry I want you to go out to the fence and drive a nail through it." So every time his son was angry he would go out to the fence and drive a nail through the post. His son found that each day he drove less and less nails into the wood.

The son came to his father and told him that he was rid of his anger. The father told him, "very good. Now everyday you don't feel angry go back out to the post and remove a nail." After all the nails had been removed he told his father.

His father said, "very good. (Looking at the post full of holes.) This is what your anger does, it leaves an impact in other peoples' lives."

In light of the many tragedies we've been hearing about, I thought this was fantastic. Just as a You-Tube message can leave an impression on us, this did me. E and I have been talking a lot lately about bullies. And I continue to remind him that, "hurting people, hurt people."

The full message today was from James 1: 19-27.

Everything That's Beautiful

"Everything that's beautiful, everything that's wonderful, every perfect gift comes from you".

The other morning e and I wanted to "rock out" (thank you Janine for the lingo, it's cute to hear him say it). I put on a Chris Tomlin album and we danced and sang to Everything That's Beautiful. 

e says to me: "Yeah, it can't come from US then it wouldn't be a great surprise!"

You're right e. You're a perfect gift, one that is full of surprises daily! And for this I give thanks.

Dinner Talk

e: "I'm going to live with my Daddy when I'm older."

Me: "You are?"

e: "Yeah, I'm not going to live far away!" (said with a "gosh/dah" like attitude with a smile)

Me: "True, (with exaggeration) that's not far away!"

e: "It's south, actually I'll live in the south."

Me: "The south, like Florida, where Papa Joe lives?"

e: "Yeah, or southwest."

Me: (never hearing him refer to the southwest) "Oh, like New Mexico or Texas?"

e: "Yeah, Texas, you know where they have those things?" (he's now motioning with his pointer fingers and going poke poke)

Me: "e, are you talking about a cactus?"

e: "Yeah, those."

Not sure where Southwest - Texas - Cactus all came from but it's hilarious to me. 

Well done e!

"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you were a 'good person' is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you’re a vegetarian."

 "We judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions." 

Added To My Book

Added more images to my Design set on Flickr.

This body of work, spanning from 2000-2010, are some of my favorites from their time. The work ranges from National brands to local St. Louis musicians. I also had to throw in the series of e's Birthday invitations, I love them.

I don't have a website but rather a Flickr site that houses my Design, Art and Photography. Now I'm happy to say that it's updated!

Enjoy!

Dinner Menu

Our sushi favorites

e's:

Cucumber rolls

Avocado rolls

Hamachi kama (yellow tail jaw)

Seaweed salad

Tamago (sweet egg omelet)

Ebi (cooked prawn)

Mine:

Hamachi kama

Octopus or seaweed salad

Shiro maguro (white tuna)

Unagi (freshwater eel)

Spicy scallop

It's always fun to choose the rolls and we always finish with something sweet like: mochi ice cream. Flavors: red bean, chocolate, strawberry and mango...delicious!

Hungry?

Christmas 2009

Aunt Celine and Lorianna's tree in FL.

This year e and I traveled to Tallahassee for Christmas and New Years. It had been since e was a year that we had participated in all the holiday traditions with the family. This year's recipe called for all the emotions and I'm still feeling the affects. (I journal this entry now before it's 2011 and I see that 2010 has only 12 entries.)

2008 was nice beginning the rituals of Santa's cookies and treats for his reindeers in our St. Louis home but I have to admit there is something so special about a house full of people and having time to visit with old friends in a town I called home for 20 years. 

2008, our home in STL.

We traveled for an extended time to Florida to stay with Celine and Lorianna, they were the perfect hostesses. From day one of landing in the warmer climate we were super busy. Mornings started very early and nights lasted well into the morning, a perfect recipe for sleep deprivation. 

Our time consisted of seeing Papa Joe, being with the entire family for both Christmas Eve and day and celebrating friendships I've had for 20+ years. Starting with Papa Joe, the time out on the farm was super special. e did his job helping Papa feed up the horses.

We also spent time out on the golf course with Papa Joe and Uncle CJ.

Golfing was super fun and I even got to try the sport. It felt good giving the ball my all but didn't do so well at it. e on the other hand, by the time he got in a few practice rounds in was doing rather well both at the sport and driving the cart.

Mentioning Uncle CJ, another special part of this trip was that Mom and Uncle CJ came too. It was a real blessing to have everyone together this year. Here is a great photo of the four of us on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve was just as I remembered with the Polish dinner before Catholic Mass. To finish the evening we played the game, Yankee swap. This game is always hilarious with 18 people. Aunt Mary's house was full of people and full of laughter. Christmas dinner needed yet another leaf in the table to house us all. 

Christmas morning we all woke at Celine and Lo's. After waiting patiently for (Great) Gran and Aunt Celeste to arrive we tore into the thoughtful gifts. One very special gift e received this year was his very own and super nice camera. After presents we ate a great breakfast and rested until it was time to head out for dinner.

The trip was full (as I mentioned) not only with family but friends as well. After Christmas a few of us girls were able to get a night out since our travel dates overlapped. It was so nice seeing everyone. Nikki made a special flight in so that she could catch up (so thoughtful). It had been a long time seeing some of them and what was so fantastic was we picked up right where we all left off. True friendships withstand the test of time, this group is for life!

(Left to Right: Jeanie, Heidi, Carrie, Nikki, Anita and myself)

It was difficult coming back to an empty home. e's father was able to pick us up from the airport and immediately started his visit with e since we had been gone for weeks. I mourned the quiet a little and caught up on sleep. I truly enjoy a full home and all the commotion. Thank you to everyone who made these holidays so special! Now onward to 2010!

You can see a lot more photos of Christmas 2009 here uploaded to e's Flickr site.

2009 Handmade

 

This past Christmas I decided to be creative and make some handmade gifts. In the eleventh hour, staying up until midnight, three days before traveling home to Florida, I made these Holiday Thank You Note Cards. The very next day I was able to get the design to my printer and they so thoughtfully rushed this job through to completion. I was happy to pack these cards on time to give as gifts for family and friends.

2009 was a year where creativity in handmade crafts made a presence. I was hopeful to get more pieces made but I'm happy with what I did accomplish. I am notorious for having lofty ideas and never generating one so several won out and for this I'm thankful.

The image close-up also shows a "Little Abbie" I blogged about her here. This is a gift for a my dear friend Andrea who we'll be seeing this evening for dinner. 

Let's see what 2010 brings out as far as my creativity! 

Enjoy!

Vintage Wedding Design

Design*Sponge is a daily website dedicated to home and product design. I try and make it a ritual to visit this site which gives me creative inspiration. I've been making a list of things to redesign in my own home so I've been frequently visiting.

Today I caught this entry and I'm overwhelmed by just how stunning this wedding is in every detail! Immediately when I saw her dress I thought of my grandmothers dress. I have been blessed by my grandmother to walk down the isle in her vintage treasure. I hope that I can one day wear her dress and even more hopeful she'll still be with us when I do so.

The part of Arlene's dress that I love is her slip. It's simple, elegant and sexy. When I saw this dress I thought how perfect it would be to overlay whimsical flowers and lace over the top. In addition to the dress, each detail of this wedding is perfectly designed. The flowers in various vessels in an array of colors and textures and the little handmade details add a sweet final touch. I could really see myself in this family of photographs, the bride and her new groom look wonderfully happy.

I have high hopes to get back into this blog I share with e. I thought this would be the perfect first entry. Perhaps I will get Gran's dress out and take a photograph of it. I think it would add to this entry and I'd like to have a journal of it. 

Enjoy.

Golden Dragon Acrobats

This past weekend I took e to see the Golden Dragon Acrobats. This was the first time I have taken e to a Performing Arts Theater. The show was at the Touhill Theater on UMSL's campus. We had balcony seats in the first row so that he could freely move about without anyone obstructing his view.

I had talked to his Daddy about taking him prior to ordering the tickets since it would cut a bit into his time. He loved the idea and got him ready for me before to the show. I wish I had a picture to post of how handsome e looked when I picked him up. Daddy had spiked his hair, layered his clothes, put him in a pair of skinny jeans from H&M and (best part according to e) he got to wear Daddy's cologne. As e walked out of the house to meet me he was holding his shirt out, with a large grin on his face, for me to smell.

I had talked up our date and went to YouTube with him to get a small preview of the performance ahead. We were both ooohing and ahhhing over the acts. e: "look Mom, they're juggling!" me: "look e, it's with their feet!"

e was quite taken by the theater. He was ready for the show to begin and he found it more exciting to stand at the balcony and watch. At first he was still and quiet, then he went from exaggerated applause to (by intermission) getting a little too comfortable with the railings on the stairs. I was starting to notice his little gears working out how he could maneuver such moves/stunts. It was then I knew I was going to have to drill in his little (almost) 4 year old head that we don't attempt these "tricks" at home. The Acrobats are trained professionals and if little boys want to learn they have to go to Acrobat School.

We had a nice rest of our evening, after the show we went to dinner and then on home. After putting on our PJ's I told e how I could help him continue to learn some gymnastics. I have been teaching him a few skills sharing how I was a gymnast for many years myself and then moved on to teach little boys and girls his age. With great enthusiasm he wanted to practice and when giving him some direction I could clearly see that all he was interested in was learning to scale the wall or do a "flip". I'm not exactly sure why there weren't more disclaimers to that show, I'm definitely taming a little Acrobatic beast within him now!

I'm thankful for...

At bedtime I encourage e to list some things he's thankful for during prayer. This evening we made a game out of it. He would say one and then when I would go to share mine, he'd giggle and interrupt me with another one of his. Our dialog went a little something like this...

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my elbow (he fell and scraped his elbow).

me: Yeah, that's a good one.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my belly.

me: Oh yeah, how's it been feeling? That's so great e.

e: How does he talk to us?

me: He speaks to our hearts.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my knee. Remember that one day...I can't remember, but he healed it.

me: Yeah, I remember you once having a hurt knee, that's a good one too, He's so faithful. Isn't it cool how he made our bodies heal?

e: Can our bones break?

me: Yes. And do you know our bones can grow back together?

(I then went into a description of how they heal using my hands and fingers to show a break and then how they come together/fuse back together. Then I told him it was my turn.)

me: (rushing while e was interrupting) I'm thankful for a nice dinner.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing your back.

me: (again rushing while e giggled to get his in) I'm thankful for you.

(And then I stepped it up a notch and started naming a bunch of people.)

me: Daddy, Janine, Pop, LaLa, Grandma, Papa Joe, Uncle CJ, Great Gran, Aunt Celine, Our Church Family......(by this time he's really silly and laughing).

e: I'm thankful for my Daddy creating my house.

me: Oh e! That's wonderful! I've gotta tell your Daddy that one, that's so sweet.

e: (very seriously) You know...we have bones and they heal. (Gesturing with his hands) they go like this and then we put soil with them and they grow back together.

me: (I said nothing but rather made mental note of blogging this entry.)

e: Why do you have that in your hair?

me: It's my barrette that keeps my bangs out of my eyes.

(And after a long pause and time of me convincing e it was time to go to bed e says this to me:)

e: I'll hold your hair back Mommy so it's not in your eyes.

e you are such a sweet boy.

love you son, good night.

A Short List Of Great Words

E has been using some great words lately, he uses them properly in a sentence and can give me their definition.

• Delicate
  
• Participate
  
• Similar
  
• Disgusting
  

Just A Few...

This recent photo was taken at his Daddy's. I love it.

Just a few things said and asked today:

• Although I realize this question is inevitable, it still won't ever be an easy one to answer. On the car ride home from school today e asked why Daddy and I don't live together and that he wished we all lived in one home.
• Tonight at dinner I was singing a silly song. When I couldn't remember the words e reminded me; "Daddy is a greater knower". Me: "your Daddy is a great knower, I'll have to ask him". (Hey Daddy do you know the lime in the coconut song? What are the words?) By the end of dinner e had made up the words, "you put the lime in the coconut and I don't know" (repeat). Pretty funny.
• e and I took a walk after dinner. I pushed him in the stroller not the wagon tonight. We were going over bumpy sidewalks when he said, "we need to get Ewan here." I questioned what made him think of Ewan and he said, "remember Mommy how Ewan and I laugh when we go over the bumps in our wagon?" I love his little memory. Ewan and family we miss you.
  

The Start Of A Collection

My Latest Design Experiment

This is a photograph of my latest design experiment with fabric and paper. For my girlfriend Daniella, I made her a headband for her Birthday. Here is a close-up of the flower details of the second headband I designed. 

I've decided to do more handmade gifts being inspired by so many new design trends and by my pocket book. With less money going into my "gift" budget I've managed to create two designs for two dear friends. The other design, that is still in testing after making a batch that only half survived, is the "Little Abbie". This feather barrette needs a little more attention to detail before going out to the masses (see below). 

I'd like to say that I'll make lots of these and give Etsy a try but I'd rather keep my expectations low and surprise myself. I'm known to have lots of big ideas and not follow through, it's my design handicap.

I hope to follow this entry with many more designs along with a creative direction. I think it will be fun to get a group of girls together of all ages to do a little photo shoot with some of these pieces. While laid up in bed with a horrible cold I've managed to get quite a few flowers created so let's see where this goes...shall we? Instead of "see ya", I'll say "stay tuned".

  

This is me at Abbie's 30th Birthday wearing a "Little Abbie".

My table setting on HGTV

By accident this evening I found this link:

http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/table-setting-inspiration/page3.html

I was doing a Google search to see if you can connect to this blog by searching my name. I'm still learning all the in's and out's to Blogger and was wondering how easy others can connect if they don't have the proper URL. To my surprise was this little blurb on my table design.

On Flickr I have a few of my photographs and designs. I sent this image to a HGTV group I joined but didn't know it would be picked up and written about. I love what they had to say, it made me smile that they highlighted the design.

The Office

Ummm, what? Huh? Is this a post?
...yes, yes it is! And after I share this story I'll post a long list of events I need to cover!

When I picked up e from school today I saw that this evenings teacher was a substitute so she didn't have much to report during her short shift, so I asked e how his day was.

After offering to hold his graham cracker he started sharing a story that quickly got him flustered. It started off with him saying he "didn't do anything wrong", or "bad" or "naughty" which I of course questioned. He then stopped at a little lounge area, sat down on the couch and told me, "me and Ms. Ann had a 'serious' talk today". He didn't want to share the details of this "serious talk". I got down to his level and told him how it takes courage to tell the truth and that I wanted him to speak from his heart. Yes, I seriously say those words to him for those perhaps giggling or taking notes.

The story jumped around a little but I did clearly get that he ran from Ms. Ann and had to go to the office. We passed by the office on our way out and I asked the girls up at the front desk if they knew anything about his bad behavior today. One woman with a soulful voice said, "ummmmm hmmmm, I know he did something but I didn't get the details". The other woman stopped and shared a bit more to help put his pieces together. Apparently children who jump from cot to cot in the classroom during nap time get to go have some "quiet time" in the office so they don't disrupt other children's sleep.

I told e as we walked out to the car that we needed to call and talk to Daddy, tell him honestly what happened, he hesitated at first then agreed. We continued to talk a little bit about what is the "right and wrong" thing to do. He told me he appologized and then decided to compare and contrast the "serious talk" he had with Ms. Ann to some of our "serious talks". Then without skipping a beat shared that at Daddy's he "doesn't have any 'serious talks' with Daddy"... I had to stop myself from laughing!

We had a great rest of the evening. e called his Father and shared the news (well, I did then he did). He's apologized not only to the teacher but to both his Father and I so I've laid it to rest. Nothing like getting called to the office for the first time. Can't wait to see Ms. Ann on Monday and get her version of the day.

Now for the list of blogs I MUST get to writing:
(Not in any special order and I'm certain I'm missing thousands in between)

• Mother's Day
• Our trip to England
• A shift in our schedules
• Your audition
• Your theatrics
• Easter 2009

Roast Beef

I told myself that when I revived this blog my first entry would be titled "Roast Beef".
Entry no. 3 in 2009
Title: Roast Beef
Story:
There are tons of changes happening in our lives right now and in the recent past. I'll get to all of them one of these days but this story MUST be a priority. It's simple really but does need a little explanation up front.

e's father has sold his home and they are moving to a home that used to be his Grandfather's (a home he lived in when he was younger for a short period of time). e's father is looking forward to this new beginning and is ready to try on new things. One of those new things is gardening and perhaps raising a chicken or two. How yummy to have fresh eggs!!

Sharing the news with e, his father asked him what he'd like to name his chicken. Without skippping a beat e said, "Roast Beef"! "Perfect", said his father. I think so too, PERFECT! Now I'm just waiting for the move and for the purchase. I can't wait to go visit their new home and take a picture of Roast Beef. Be sure to look for that entry.

Giggles,
e's Mommy

Mod Sale

Simple~thoughtful~handmade Design.
Recent finds at a Danish Modern Garage Sale.