Inspiration

Inspiration

I'm always on the lookout for inspiration. I find it on clothes... the patterns and cut. The colours. I find it in the many magazines I purchase (mostly scrapbooking). I find it in the multitude of galleries around the web. Love to be inspired. If you have inspiration on your blog... I'd love to hear about it.

I've taken up trying to do sketches. So I thought I'd post another one here for you. Hope someone can use it. If you feel like sharing what you create... I'd love to see it... A link? Whatever. Anyway.. hope you enjoy it.

HELP! There's something Under My Desk!

Yeah. For those of you who know me... you know what that *something* is. It's Beauregard, the Problematic Puggle of Perpetual Need.

Beau, as you know.. comes to work with us each day. We have a ritual. We get up... hubby walks Beau, so that he does his dual business... and we put him in the car. I then, feed the cats, and head to the car. Cats must be fed AFTER the dog is in the car, and out of the house. Otherwise, the pretty puggle pooches the poor cats' food. Cats are slimming down nicely, while Beauregard grows by the day. Now.. running an office, with staff and phones, and creativity galore... with a puggle present? Yeah.. not easy. So... paunchy puggle practically preys upon his wayward owner (that's me)... for treats. He understands the game. He knows how to work the system. He knows that food is a noise suppressant. Our puggle isn't nearly as dumb as I have credited him with being. No.. the dumb one? That's me. *He, who looms beneath my desk*... aka Beauregard, the problematic puggle... can oft be found indulging himself with just such a suppressant... such as the piece of doggy bacon you see here...

I am completely in love with my doggy. God knew I'd need to be, in order to deal.

Pride

Pride and Perogative

It's definitely a parent's perogative to be proud of their child. I know that we all run and hide from the parent that habitually talks about the multitude of wonders performed by their juniorette, and at the risk of causing such a reaction... can you indulge me to brage, just for a moment... about my son? My 16 year old son! Yesterday, we attended a breakfast held in his honour (and the honour of a few other students around town). He was given an award. The award was in recognition of his outstanding leadership, volunteerism, faith, and overall accomplishments. The principal at his school read off the many reasons he was chosen, and I was just taken aback by this young man. We have always raised him to serve. Volunteerism has always been the backdrop of our lives, and he has taken that, and moved into his own thing. He has chosen those areas that he wants to help in, and gone off on his own and done it. Then, as we were leaving, one of the trustees came up and asked him if he could come and watch him do his television broadcast on Friday. I just stood back and watched him shine, and deal with his life and surroundings in a way far beyond what I would have done at 16. 16!

Here he is being greeted by the City Officials,

as well as our Priest, who is the Chair of the District Catholic School Board.

This is my son with his Principal.

He was pretty proud of Dana . (you can see Dana's is trying to hide his cell phone in his front hand. Texting is the lifeblood of any 16 year old)

A Few Layouts and a Rut

Some layouts. I have been in such a rut lately. These two layouts are my attempt at rejuicing my creative brain. It's an attempt. The first one, is us at 50's Prime Time Cafe in Disney's MGM/Disney Studio at Walt Disney World. It's one of our favourite places to go. The other layout *Scholarship Recipient* is me... during my college days. I won this for leadership. I thought it was appropriate to put it on today's post, since my son just received a similar award.









For this layout, I used a sketch from our March Newsletter from http://www.wescrap.com/forum/

Come and check the forum out!

TGIF

Thank GOD It's Friday.

I need it. Business isn't as fun as it used to be. I would come in the office before,and I would enjoy myself. Now, not so much. The economy takes a lot of the fun out small business.

I'm just saying.

I did come across a couple of Quotes that I thought were appropriate for those of us waltzing delicately through this economy...

"Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times."

Yesterday.. I spoke about Pessimism and Optimism. So I thought this was appropriate to put here today. It's a great quote, i think.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

I did a layout yesterday. I need to climb out of my rut. I keep doing the same layout over and over. I hate that. Here's the layout I just did.

Leadership and the Future

My son's Principal approached him yesterday, and asked him if he would be interested in attending a week long Leadership Convention in Ottawa. He told him that it would be wonderful for his resume, and for acceptance into the University of his choice. So, Dana is thinking about it. I hope he goes. They sent him to one last year... A Hoby Leadership Convention... and it changed his life. It certainly changed him, as a person. He would need to fundraise $800... but the schoolboard would find the money, if need be. That's what his principal said.

16 is a difficult year, so I really appreciate when things like this take place. I know that children are getting into a lot of trouble at this age, and I just want him kept busy, kept motivated... and kept out of much of the trouble. These teen years are not for the faint of heart.

My FIRST Attempt

Ok.. so keep in mind that this is my very first attempt at this. But I thought I'd try and put something here each week, to inspire. Here is a sketch that I drew up today. Hope someone can make use of it. It's 8.5 x 11... but you could make it a 12 x 12, easy enough.

P and O

P and O

Pessimism and Optimism.

I've always had the soul of an artist... one of those maudlin depressed sort of artists. Even as a child, my Mom used to tell me I was an old soul. Someone burdened by the world. And I'm still that way. But I'm changing. I am on a train to change. Some take that train to Georgia. Me? I'm on my way to change.

They say you make your own presence. You need to have an *attitude of gratitude*. I'm building my life around that. My future is being built on the foundation of optimism and gratitude.


I wonder what that will mean? I wonder what changes that'll bring?
My quotes for the day? They're on Optimism, of course!

"NOBODY can go back and start a new beginning,

but ANYONE can start today, and make a new ending."

~ and another ~

"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are,

you would never think a negative thought.”

What about you? Do you tend towards positive? Or negative? Have you had a fairly positive life? Or... has your life been fraught with pain and difficulties? I think that is where much of our attitude comes from. Difficulties and pain. I mean.. put two women together.. one happily married with 4 healthy kids, money in the bank, living in a nice home, while the other is divorced from a terrible marriage, with no kids, even though she wanted them... no money in the bank, and no home of her own. Ask them both about how positive or negative they are. I'm not sure that we can judge them on their answers alone. I mean.. honestly... one has all of the circumstances to BE happy... while the other does not.

It's a difficult world. And it's getting more difficult ever day. In going over this, I've been thinking... since it IS so difficult, is it not better to be happy regardless? Why did it take me so long to come to that conclusion?

The Interviewer

Back to talking about my 16 year old. Yesterday, he interviewed David Onley. For my American or non-Canadian friends, you might ask... "Who's David Onley?" Well... I will tell you. He is the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and a former Television personality and news anchor in Toronto. He is also a fierce and tireless advocate for the disabled. All in all.. a pretty impressive guy. Dana said he was wonderful to interview, and extremely nice.

This child of mine, is getting a better resume than grownups already in the biz. And he's got some really fun interviews coming up in the next little while. Can't wait to tell you all about those. He's got an interview with one of our favourite comedians, coming up. That should be a hoot.

Anyway... that's my day. Not very exciting. But it's all mine.

Just Playing Around

Now, where to put it...

I wanted to do something up on our trip to Cuba. I've got a few things on the go. This, I put together using 2 different sized canvases. I'm building a wall in my livingroom, of frames. I've been trying to *design* the finished look... so that it looks well thought out. I'm putting this on that wall.. just not sure how or where. It's about our trip to Cayo Coco, Cuba, in January. The saying... "Embrace the Ocean with Open Arms and Sandy feet." I put that there, because I absolutely loved the ocean in Cayo Coco. I still have to do something with the seashells that I picked. I might put them on a frame. Or something altered for the fireplace mantle. Just not sure. It doesn't go where it's sitting now. I just put it there to take the picture.

Thought of the Day

Thought of the Day

"Character is built out of circumstances. From exactly the same materials one man builds palaces, while another builds hovels."~ G. H. Lewis ~

or

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."~ Henry David Thoreau ~

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I love these.

The Interview

My Son, interviews Prime Minister Paul Martin

I have told you all before, that my son, Dana... who is 16... wants to be a television journalist. His idol, is Tom Brokaw. He is already making a name for himself, and does do some on-air work as a freelance journalist. His School Board has recognized his talent, and has sent him on various projects on their behalf. Last year, and this year... he has done a number of interviews for a Board video to be shown during their large end of the year workshop for teachers, board members, city councillors, priests, etc. The other day, he interviewed Canada's past Prime Minister... Mr. Paul Martin. We're incredibly proud of him, and we've been told he has a tremendous natural gift, and will go places. Its already proving so, and we're just hanging on for the ride. He is extremely driven... at SIXTEEN, for goodness sake.

Here he is, during the interview with Past Prime Minister, Paul Martin.

The Economy

Scary Times.

As a small business owner, any time the word RECESSION is spoken.... repeatedly... or even once... I get scared. So many people are suffering. So many are so scared. I wonder how long it will last. Or how bad it will be.

In this economy, how will it affect the Scrapbooking Industry? Will even more stores close? Will we lose some manufacturers? Will we have few new products to play with? Will quality suffer? Will I have to stop shopping?

Is the economy affecting your life? Business? Ability to scrapbook? Are you noticing changes in the industry?

Do you think the media is blowing this out of proportion? Or do you think it's worse than they are saying?

Do you have any tips for getting through economic downturns? Anything you'd like to share?

On a More Cheery Note.....

............................ or maybe not.....

I've been feeling a little lost about my son. 16 is a funny age. Not fun... funny. They are striving for independence, yet very demanding in a "let me be" sort of way. The little boy who hung on your every word and deed, is now the young man who is embarrassed by your every word and deed. So... I have been feeling sad. He's a great boy (young man). He's no trouble. But he IS 16. And he is NOT that into me any more.

With that in mind, I made this layout. It's of him and me, when he was 11. It's called "We Would Laugh Out Loud". The journaling says: Dana... you are still at an age where I am the most special person in your life. You still love me very much, and long to spend time with your Mommy. Laughing and playing... always.

Award

He Won An Award Again!


My 16 year old son, Dana, has once again won an award. It's the Applause Award. The School Board annually honours six students from each school at the Applause Breakfast. This program formally recognizes students who make a significant contribution to the life of the school. My son is involved in every social justice, social, and volunteer program at the school. He is also on Senate... so we are very proud of him. I need to do up a page for this. What a boy. Excuse me for my bragging. I'm just so happy for him. There are so many issues one could be having with a 16 year old boy, that I am beyond happy for this award.

Dana... we're so proud of you.

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Love Fest '09

I had a fun time at our International Scrapbooking Crop. You shoulda come those of you who didn't)... and Thanks for coming.. (those of you who did). LOL I participated in some of the challenges... ran some of them... and had a blast. GREAT bunch of ladies on this forum. I haven't uploaded everything yet. But here are a few layouts that I did.

Destruction, Chaos, and Clutter, Oh My.

Destruction, Chaos, and Clutter, Oh My!!!

My tiny little crap room... um... I mean, Scrap room, has finally reached the end of the line. There is no more room, without heading upwards... skywards... or just plain stacked.

I entered the abyss, last night, after having a lovely with hubby, at the Homebuilder's Ball. There was a comedien, that Gary thought was hysterical. Me? I was bored, and would much prefer to be in my (s)crap room. With a few glasses of yummy red wine in me, I was less inclined to create, and more inclided to look at my stash and wonder how it got so full up in this teeny tiny little room. oy.

I need to clean things out. I need to hunt thru the internet, and find the fab ideas that others use, in order to organize my scrap stuff. When I find my ideas, and begin to implement them... I'll post here as I go... Maybe, you can use some of the fab ideas I find. Who knows? In the meantime... if you think of some ideas, and feel like sharing... I'm all ears.

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