WOO HOO!!! It's 2018!!

Just a couple of shares:

NOT loving this...

My word of the year for 2018.

My goals based on my word of day.

Until next time...

Mixed Media Journal Pages

I have been very interested in mixed media pages for some time, but really felt out of my element when I tried to create on my own. I have always tended to be very OCD with my scrapbook pages and greeting cards in the past. Things had to be lined up "just so" and "straight" or I hated them and started all over. I recently found a mixed media artist who I think is just amazing. Marta Lapkowska takes plain paper bags and creates journal pages with so much texture and dimension. She makes it seem to effortless. I just had to try her techniques.

Here are the two pages I have created this week. I can't wait until my next day off to try another page.

To see how Marta creates her pages, check out her Youtube channel: Maremi SmallArt

Until next time...

Chai-Spiced Pound Cake

I am still experimenting with my new allergy laden/gluten free lifestyle. I tried a gluten free cake from scratch today. No box cakes here. I snagged the recipe from the King Arthur Year of the Bundt section of their website.  It is totally yummy if I do say so myself. But man oh man, the cardamon I used in the recipe was quite the ca-ching!!!

Until next time...

Playing Catch Up

The Christmas season of 2015 has come and gone. BUT I still had not finished my holiday journal from that year. Tonight I wrapped that up with a bow so to speak. I had created the book a year ago in an art class, but I had never added all the photos and snipped Christmas cards from that year. My favorite entries are always the photos of all the family kids.  And I LOVE this antique paper I used. Here is the finished product. Thank you for looking.

Until next time...

Time To Calm Down

I am telling you, things have been crazy around my house. Health issues, sleep studies, allergy testing and repeated blood tests have taken their toll on me. Because of that, there has been no time for the Bake Off posts or the decluttering assignments I had decided would be my goals for 2017.

Now it's July already!!! I decided to participate in a self care/creativity online "camp". I am learning to take care of myself. Cooking new snacks and sips. Adding new exercise routines to my daily life. And creating self care planners and fun photo challenges. It's been so much fun so far. I am loving it. Thank you Cori at Camp Reset!!!

Today I worked on a photo scavenger hunt at Glencairn Gardens in Rock Hill, SC. I had 29 items to find in the park. I was there for about 2 1/2 hours!!! But I got them all. I have to tell you BIRDS ARE NOT HELPFUL WHEN YOU NEED TO TAKE THEIR PICTURE!!! Even the squirrel was cooperative compared to those darn birds.

Here are my photos I am pairing up with their clue:

Picnic:  Location is The Tot Lot

Blue:   The original Snap, Crackle, and Pop

Pests:  Large bee collecting pollen

Trees:  Assorted Trees, but I love the Giant Willow

Water:  Come See Me Festival Fountain

Leaf:  It's a pod, but a leaf too!!

Leaf #2: In case some "lookers" think my pod in the
previous photo is not a leaf, lol.

Footprint: I could not find an ACTUAL footprint.  And the
cement was also too hot to make my own footprint.
So I decided to use the Clemson paw print on the
back of this SUV. Hey, it's all interpretation right? LOL!!

Shade: This was my view from the shade on the swings.

Lovely: Potted Flowers

Rocks: Enough said.

Bird: This is the best shot I could get.

Yellow

So Cute: a character created by Vernon Grant
on a tile in the park.

Path: There were so many lovely shots of the paths at the park.

Perfect: multiple step fountains.

Furry: SQUIRREL!!!

Clouds: Got it!!

My Shoes: Enjoying a shaded swing while i journal.

Wings: I love this statue.

Flowers: Love the white!!

Bright: Gold Fish in the Go See Me Fountain.

#Selfie: ME!!!

Grass Blade: Monkey Grass

Weather: It was overcast with an occasional
break through of the blue skies.

Branch: over the water.

What I see: Veteran's Memorial

My Gear: My journal, my phone, selfie stick and pen.
And obviously the camera I used to take this shot.

Mindful Moment: This is the spot I hung out for a while
watching for birds and listening to the sounds of nature.

Above me: Some delicate fuschia flowers that were protected
from the beating sun by the shade above my head.

I add some of the shots to my Happy Planner
and completed the pages in my journal.

I had such a great day, I almost forgot I started off this day at work.

Until next time...