Crafty Dayeseye

How to Delight Me | Just Be YOU!

Where have I been?

 

I have been asking myself the very same thing these few weeks.

I’m here.

I’m there.

But really, I’m not sure. 

 

This shit is getting real.

2013 is a huge year for me.  I am a college graduate. Like I’ve said before, I never thought I would actually finish college.  I always dreamed of it, and made a few attempts, but this time it is real.  It is real because of the amazing support I have had from family and friends through each step of the way.

From my husband who is a rock, supportive to the core, although he is worried/cautious about the loans we have taken to finance this adventure, more important to him is my happiness, and how this will benefit both of us in the near future.

My parents who just kept telling me “I knew you could do it.”  “You are NOT too old”  “We are so proud of you.  My dad talking me off the ledge when I felt like I was in over my head, had I made the right decision, was I going to be accepted into the program; all of the could I? should I? and would I?’s of my brain.  My mom who kept me focused on the prize, even when I was sure I had failed my first class, or even gotten below a B in anything, she was right…I got a B+.

My husband’s family who helped keet me motivated, donated to my textbook fund, and were there just for a hug when I needed one. 

My three younger sisters who constantly supported my decision, encouraged, and were some of my biggest cheerleaders throughout this journey.

Countless friends.  Oh man, my friends.  I am lucky to have the people in my life that I do.  I don’t have hundreds of friends, but the ones I do have are really more like family.  I’m Aunt Jenn to their kids, we go on vacations together, they visit from far and wide, we talk, sometimes we don’t talk often enough… we drink coffee, we laugh out loud, we cry, but the support and encouragement from each of them has been a huge motivator for me. 

I’ve never heard so many people tell me they are proud of me, and that I have inspired them to do something big, something different.  WOW.  You guys inspire ME!

To say I am humbled beyond belief from the support and kind words would be a huge understatement.

Thank you.

P.S. I promise to stop the graduation talk...for a bit, before you know it I won't be able to shut up about grad school!!!

 

 

How to Delight Me | Hospital Talk

The other day I had to have a procedure done at the hospital, nothing big, but it required anesthesia so someone had to drive me there and back.

Enter my husband. Duh.

After the procedure in the PACU he was there and we were joking around after I woke up.  When I'm nervous I talk EVEN MORE than I usually do, and M- of course was taking good care of me.  While were talking to the nurse she said

Nurse:  "Do you guys work together?"

We both looked at each other an laughed.

Me:  "No, why?"

Nurse:  "Oh, you just act like you are together 24-7."

Me:  "Well, not 24-7 but a lot.  Whys is that surprising?"

Nurse:  "Oh, you guys are just having so much fun together, laughing and talking!"

Me:  "Well, we ARE married.  That must be it"

Nurse:  laughing hysterically, "That usually means the exact opposite, you have no idea."

 

Kinda made M- and I feel good.  We do have our moments, but most of those a good ones.

Thankful for my honey.

Next Step

School is finally out, and I think I have recovered from the craziest semester ever.  My final semester of undergraduate school.

I am a college graduate.

Let that sink in a bit more.

 

I.

AM.

A.

COLLEGE.

GRADUATE.

 

I realize a ton of people have done that in the past, and many more will graduate in the future, but guess what now I am one of them.

What exactly does that mean?  Well loans and now More. School.  I am finally at the point where I will begin to be able give something more back & hopefully help someone become whole again.

 

Like someone helped me a few years ago. 

 

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So after a fun summer of volunteering, art making, work, and misc. fun my adventure back into school resumes.  I will be attending Eastern Virginia Medical School in August. 

I will be studying Art Therapy and Counseling.  This is what all this work has lead up to...me being a grown-up.

Ha.  Me a grown-up? Never.

When I started school I was excited to go back, but never REALLY imaginied I would come to the point of actually fininshing my bachelors.  I had tried 2 times before without success.

This time was different.  With the support of a great family, awesome friends, and the most loving, gentle, fun, kind, supportive, and patient husband ----> I did it.

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On another note... I've been working a little watercolor painting recently.

Home

Based on a post I did about Harper's passing sprung a story for my digital storytelling blog, and this little video...

 

2 Things That Sum It Up

hug a helper.

Any one of the millions, if a hug's not your thing...shake their hand, look into their eyes and say Thank You

I think this is one of the most important things we can do regularly, but especially during weeks like these.

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And just for good measure, I thought I'd put this out there...

My Newest Project

Watercolor and graphite.  -->  Something I haven't done before.

This my friend's (and old, er- former boss's) pup. Hansome Jim. 

This picture was so hard to resist painting.  So.  I gave in and painted him.

I was so happy to hear how much these pups parents were with the finished painting. 

 

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"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."
- Gilda Radner

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luuurve. | Be at Home

I long,

as does every human being,

to be at home wherever

I find myself.

-Maya Angelou

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Right Now | Twenty- Thirteen!

Right Now | Twenty- Thirteen!

 

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

                                            ~Neil Gaiman

Sending love, light, contentment, and new mistakes your way, today and every day!  Happy New Year!

XOXOXO -Me

Misc. Thoughts 2012 Style | #3

 

What's up you say?

• I thought I only had one class to take this fall, but stuff changed. I withdrew from the Art History course in the spring, and am taking that right now.  That leaves me with 1 Art History class left to take and while what I needed wasn't offered at a good time this semester-- I will be taking it in the spring.  No big deal, everything s still on time for September!  YAY!

 

• M- and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary.  Go US!  okay, Go HIM!  he puts up with my wack-a-doo brain every day!  L.O.V.E.

• I had a tonsilectomy.  If you are over the age 16 and the Doctor suggests this procedure...RUN.  RUN FAST.  RUN VERY VERY FAST.

• I burned a bridge.  Not on purpose, just acted like a jerk.

•  I spent three days with my favorite 4 year old, just the two of us.  No sisters, brothers or Mommys and Daddys...just Aunt Fer-Fer and Belle.  Sad part was I was sick the whole time!  We stayed in, painted, colored, napped, watched movies, snuggled, and cooked.  Good thing the weather wasn't awesome, or she would have really been missing out!  Belle made sure I stayed hydrated and ate healthy the whole time.  Bowl after bowl of Bing Cherries because "Cherries are juicy, they make you feel good!"  Hey, it worked.  I got better.

• I spent three days with my favorite 5 year old, just the two of us.  No sisters, brothers or Mommys and Daddys...just Aunt Fer-Fer and Mia.  We crafted our A--es off!  If someone is bound to be the next Martha Stewart, it's this little lady.  Glitter, glue, paint, fabric, flowers!  We had fun, even did a photo scavenger hunt in a few antique stores...that turned into DRESS UP with every hat, fur stole and pair of sunglasses the place had, and that's a LOT!  We had fun, made gifts for all the siblings and cuddled.

• We adopted a new (3rd) pup!  Well, and eight year old pup.  Love her!!  M ore about her later!

• Two profoundly sad things have happened, and we are healing as a family right now.  Maybe I can share more later.

• I am so excited about NEXT tuesday!!!  Get out and vote, and don't forget this isn't just about the national election THINK LOCAL TOO!

 

 

How to Delight Me | Take Me on a Date

M- took me on a date this weekend.  I love that! 

We went to the Smithsonian National Air and Space musem in Chantilly, Virginia.  This is an extention of the Smithsonian A&S in D.C.

It is H-U-G-E!  It is a giant hangar, full of airplanes and other flying machines... 

 

There are no words that can describe the feeling of standing next to this plane.  None.

Fun!!

luuurve. | Spotted in Downtown Norfolk Virginia

Yes, Please.

So simple!

A tire

Some Paint

Drill holes for water drainage

rocks

soil

plant

I want to paint and attach like a hundred of these to my shed out back!

Trying Every Day

                                                                                                                                   -RWE

Birthdays, Tonsils, and School

Time...I guess it just flies by doesn't it?  How did this thirty-something happen?  I mean really, just the other day I was nineteen.  NINE-TEEN.  I knew everything, I could do anything, I could be anything.

I guess the only thing that has changed is I finally realize I don't know everything, BUT  I can do, and be anything.  The thing I want to be most is ME.

The exciting thing is, I am constantly a work in progress, constantly building a better me, constantly winning the battle.

My birthday was 5 days ago, and I am 31.  (Well, I'll be 31 until I'm 41 at least.  Just a minor detail really.  We won't get into actual numbers..I hate math.)

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NOTE:  If you are over 15 don't let your doctor talk you into having a tonsillectomy (if you still have them).  That's what I did just before my birthday.  It left me with amazing pain, not so amazing pain killers, and what feels like swallowing barbed wire anytime I swallow.  Not pretty.  It has taken me out of work for three weeks, and I only feel about 60% back to normal.  Hopefully one day soon I will be able to eat more than mashed potatoes, overcooked nooodles, and pudding.

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I will be a college graduate in MAY!

My classes this semester are pretty interesting, a web design class, psychology-theories of personality (the last pre-req I need before I apply for the graduate program I want to enter!!), a combination art history and ceramics making course, and an art history class.

Two more classes and I am done!  Last night it really hit me.  I am going to graduate COLLEGE.  I know, I know, a day late and a dollar short, but at least I'm FINALLY making it happen!! 

_______________

What are you making happen these days?

luuurve. | Welcome Sweet Tilly!

My new niece arrived this morning!!

She is so perfect, just ike her sisters and Brother!

 

I'm so excited for my sister and her family.  She has what MUST BE the cutest little people, and now there is one more!  I'm proud of my sister and her husband who are awesome parents who love and nurture even the quirkiest parts of each of their children.  Theirs is a no holds barred love, big hugs, sweet kisses, whispered words, and loud joyful laughter.  Sometimes life gets messy, but what kind of life would it be without that?

I love my sister and her family more than I can ever express, now there is MORE to LOVE!

How to Annoy Me | The Great PB&J Challenge 2012

So, have I mentioned this? 

The PB&J challenge. 

It goes something like this:

me: What are you making for dinner tonight honey?

him: Do you want pizza or peanut butter and jelly?

me: AAUUGGHH, I hate pizza, PB&J please.

him: Okay, PB&J it is.

 

After a few minutes in the kitchen M- came out with two PB&J sandwiches and a big glass of milk for me.

 

While I was taking my 2nd or 3rd bite I said:  This is sooo good, I forgot how much I loved PB&J!  Like you could eat pizza every night, I could eat this (cue sounds of doom).

him: No, you couldn't.

me: Yes, I could.

him: I know you, you like all different things, you could not eat PB&J EVERY night!

me: Yes, I could.

him: Okay then, PB&J every night this month.

(This was june 2nd)

me: you got it, PB&J every night we eat at home, because I know we have some dinner plans coming up.

him: okay. good luck.

 

We have had Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches EVERY NIGHT THIS MONTH except 3, one a wedding ( awesome), one a date night, and one a night with friends.

Please!  Someone SAVE ME!!!! Invite us out to dinner, I'll even pay!

(But I won't give up!)