WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CELEBRATED?

 

I hope your answer to that question was yesterday, or minutes ago, but I had to take a  hard look at my answer….because I couldn’t remember the last time. And it’s not because I have nothing to celebrate. Here’s a summary of what I’ve been up to the past 12 months:

• Published my first-ever book: A Life Without Limits
• Reconnected to my creative energy. I am drawing and coloring every day.
• More Than Words workshop was borne…a high energy, fun workshop designed to help others revive their creative juices too.
• Published my second book: a coloring book for grown ups called The Mindful Journey ~ Color, Create, Journal.
• Continued to color and create and developed a line of art and opened my Etsy Store.
• Found and bought a vintage Airstream (AKA Gypsy) that will be my haven and artist’s studio while I’m on the road.
• Rekindled my love of fashion sewing and am finally using the fabric I’ve been collecting for 25 years.

In one short year I can truly say that I am a writer, an artist, an adventurer, a vintage Airstream renovator, and a home fashion sewer (again). And I would be heartbroken if I couldn’t be all of those and more.

So as you can see, there have been rich opportunities of things to celebrate. You would think that I would be jumping for joy with all the accomplishments I’ve done (both internal and external). So the burning question is why the hell aren’t I? Hmmm, I’m still working on that one, but until I fully understand it, I know that I can learn new behaviors:

• I’ve learned how to define and embrace the adventurous side of me (on my terms),
• I’ve learned how to change my relationship with fear so that it no longer defines what I do,
• I’ve learned how to let go and trust whatever comes – to actually enjoy the feelings of uncertainty and anticipation.

 Now it’s time to learn how to CELEBRATE. To begin, I am journaling not only things I am grateful for, but I am imagining myself as my BFF and what I would say to her (me) about who she is and what she is accomplishing, perhaps even write a letter to myself (oh, I know: write a note of congratulations on one of my note cards and send it to myself)….a simple shift perhaps, but I suspect it will be significant….I’ll let you know.

It’s time to infuse some JOY into my life, and I think conscious celebration will accomplish that quite handily.

In the meantime, ask yourself when was the last time you celebrated YOU as being fantastic, wonderful and good enough? It’s a worthy question and worth a moment to think about. 

GRAND OPENING ~ Please come....

New Etsy Shop for Loving the Adventure

I’m am so excited to announce the Grand Opening of my new Etsy Shop. It’s been a dream of my ever since I first learned of Etsy. I invite you to check it out here.

I currently have all my products for sale on Etsy – it’s so easy to sell and buy. I played with the idea of having a ‘shop’ on my own website, but Etsy is such a complete package for the seller and the buyer that it doesn’t make sense to go it alone (see, even loners know when it’s time to join a community).

So here’s a sampling of what you’ll find – these are my favorites:


UNDER THE STARS Wall Art

Under the Stars Wall art - 8x10 image in an 11x14 Violet hued Mat (Comes unframed)

“Bask in the moonlight under the stars and listen to the call of the wild. Breathe in the smells and sounds of nature for that is where your heart resides.” This beauty is only $16 plus shipping (and if you’ve priced mats lately, you’ll know what a great deal this is).

SET OF 4 NOTE CARDS (5X7) from the Vintage Gypsies Series

"Vintage Gypsies" Series set of 4 5x7 Note Cards (blank inside)

One each of the following titles:

“Just Another Day in Paradise”, “Under the Stars” “Airstream Heaven”, “Airstreams and Palm Trees”

Vintage Gypsies Note Card set of 4

Four individual cards created from my original illustrations that have been digitally colored.

Set of 4 - 5x7 Glossy Note cards

Includes white envelopes

Each comes in a protective clear plastic sleeve.


And I can't leave out The Mindful Journey Coloring Book:

There are lots more to see in my Etsy shop (just search LovingTheAdventure if you lose this link).

There are also many, many more ideas that my creative brain is dreaming up (Think Airstream shaped cards - yes I will hand cut them).

While I would love for you to shop with me – think self and gifts, I especially want you to visit my shop and give it the good energy that only you can bring. The more visitors I have, the greater chance of upping my search standing and that alone will translate to sales. 


Wish me luck (I know you do), and talk about me – I can hear it whispering on the wind and I love it!!!

DREAMING OF AIRSTREAMING

Happy Friday the 13^th!! This week has been triple digits where Gypsy and I are hanging out. Not much done since I’ve been back from my 2 week visit with my kids. However, I've been crafting in-house, and I finally finished the frame for the medicine cabinet mirror.

Cabinet sans door

Fresh paint - blank canvas

Completed

Close up of corner

Funny, I’ve been drooling over shell frames for decades and I’ve even had a collection of shells almost as long. Thank you Gypsy for being the inspiration to make it all happen.  What do you think? Don’t you feel adventurous just looking at it?

 I did order some “luxury” items for her too,

Double pancake LED RV lights

The double pancake LED replacement lights are perfect for better quality lighting and low heat output and low energy usage. It was a splurge, but I’m confident that they will be well worth it.

And the Fan-Tastic Vent (with thermostat!!) will be a wonderful edition to the overall comfort as well – it will exhaust hot air out, or pull cool air in – thermostatically controlled depending on the temps. I think I have met my criteria with these purchases: Well lit, well ventilated, and cooler comfort inside. [Of course, I still have to paint the interior to finish the criteria of bright and cheery].

Fan-Tastic Vent fan

 I haven’t been pleased with how the cabinet and closet doors have turned out – the paint has cured for 6 weeks or so and it just doesn’t feel good to the touch. I’m going to break down and buy Krylon spray paint and do a final coat just to give it that polished look (and hopefully give it some durability – a small space is no place to have “delicate” paint).

All in all, I’ve been busy trying to move forward, stay cool and take advantage of some in-house down time. 

I also have some big news to announce – but that will have to wait for a few days – I will probably do a mid week announcement, so be on the lookout to learn more of what I’m doing. 

SOMEONE MOVED THE EDGE

What do you think of when you hear Loving the Adventure? Just what is adventure to you? If you’ve been following me for a while you know that I find adventure just about everywhere. It’s all about attitude and perspective. Quite frankly it is my way of surviving the everyday stuff. Some people look for the positive, I look for the adventure.

I used to think that adventure meant going and doing, and I imagine it’s what many people think of as well…but as exciting as going and doing sounds, I haven’t the time, energy nor money to play quite that large all the time.

So while my grand going and doing adventures happen about once or twice a year, I still want to feel adventurous every single day. It’s juicy and invigorating. Feeling adventurous, to me, is akin to feeling alive.

As you know I’m in between adventures now…feeling a bit of a lull, and I've spent the wee morning hours contemplating my life….Am I happy? Am I contented? Am I leaning into fear enough? Am I moving forward? The answer to these questions is a solid YES! (Whew!).

But the edge of my comfort zone isn’t where it used to be: someone moved the edge, and I’m no longer on it. I think I’ve become accustomed to this life of not knowing what is coming next – of letting go of stuff that holds me down – of not wanting any real ties to anywhere. While living this way used to feel slightly uncomfortable and unnerving, it doesn’t any more….the edge has moved further out – which means my world of possibilities has expanded.

The long and short of it is, I am comfortable. Not a bad place to be especially with the imminent new world of adventure that will open up to me when my travel trailer (AKA Gypsy) is road worthy. How long that will take doesn’t seem to be the issue….her restoration process is my regeneration….we are both gearing up to do some wonderful things.

But for now I will be loving life and Loving the Adventure – with freedom and creativity. Life is good. 

Puppy Update

It’s pretty funny how exciting normal body functions can be. Yesterday the pup continued to drink water throughout the day – and kept it down. He still wouldn’t take the special food that the Vet gave us so I was administering ½ tsp at a time of chicken soup via eye dropper. Can’t say he really liked that either, but I did this every half hour or so hoping to get some nutrients in him and not overload his digestive system.

While my daughter-in-law was feeding the other dog his kibble, the pup acted really excited. She tried 3 (count em, 3) kibbles that he gobbled down – a quick call to the Vet confirmed that it was OK to let him eat – at this point he NEEDED food.

Yes, he ate a bit more – drank more – slept through the night and this morning a happy and hungry puppy greeted me. I'm still waiting to see how ‘things process through’ him – if you get my drift. Today, I am more hopeful that ever….today is the birthday party – today’s going to be a good day!!!

NB – as with all Parvo cases, it is always a 50/50 chance of survival - and very little hope during the darkest hours. I am filling my gratitude pages with joy this morning. I know we can only breathe easy – not fully out of the woods yet, but right now, my heart is bursting with love and gratitude……I’ll take it. 

THE WEEK ON A ROLLER COASTER

Birthday girl and all around magnificent child

I know you’re expecting to hear from me today, but things have been pretty busy and I just haven’t been able to clear my brain to get any writing done. So I’ll make this update brief because many of you have been asking how things are going.

Mr. Hyde - puppy supreme

The week started with a very sick puppy who is not out of the woods yet. He has Parvo and it is a hideous virus that has put us all on an emotional roller coaster. Mr. Hyde is a 3 month old German Shepard ….he had his first round of vaccines and contracted this at the time he should have had his second – the Vet is holding off to give him a better chance of fighting this. Yesterday’s prognosis: He isn’t good, but he isn’t horrible…..we are fervently keeping our fingers crossed and our floors and soles of shoes mopped with bleach solution. This morning he was up and wagging his tail for some attention – I’ll take any positive sign I can get on his road to recovery. Go Mr. Hyde!!

Judd (AKA best dog in the world)

The other dog, Judd, is bigger and over a year – he was a rescue pup so we can only assume he’s protected….his size and age might have given him protection, but he is isolated from the pup (vice versa actually) and he is showing no signs of Parvo so we’re breathing sighs of relief.

Child sized horse

 My magnificent grand daughter’s birthday party is (tomorrow) Sunday – I can hardly believe that she will be 5 – they do grow up fast, don’t they? On my way to get her some craft supplies to keep her very creative brain in gear my car decides to die – literally – in the middle of the road. I can see the craft store a block ahead, but I couldn’t leave my car while waiting for the tow truck. So close, but so far away. Because I travel so much, I have the super duper premiere plus roadside towing service, so I got a tow and a ride back to my son’s who just happens to be an ace back yard mechanic…..fuel pump, ordered new one, installed and on the road again – I’ve raised such a wonderful son!!

Multi tasking at its finest

Oh yeah, the internet is a wonderful place to order children’s craft supplies, so I’ve even got that covered – today is spruce up the house/yard day, finish up some odd errands and tomorrow we party!!!

LIFE IS NOT ALL AIRSTREAM

I’ve been playing with my grand daughter this week. She is becoming the most wonderful young lady (she’ll be 5 in a few days) who loves to learn and craft – and she is so good at it.

She’s equally left brain, right brain: She can draw and embellish with detailed flair, and do ‘take-away’ problems too. And she hasn’t even started Kindergarten yet…..

She also loves to go on ADVENTURE. That’s a big word in her vocabulary these days. She’s learning that everything she does can be an adventure.  She and I look for ways to make everything just a little more special just by looking for the fun and the good - or maybe just thinking about something differently. It’s all about attitude, as you know, but this darling child is living it every day. Needless to say, her grandma loves every minute of her fully engaged limitless energy.

But Gypsy is never far from my thoughts either. I did manage to find what I think will be the perfect fabric for the bedroom curtains. It’s currently a duvet set, but nothing like a pair of scissors and a sewing machine to repurpose things. I can see the completed bedroom in my mind – It is filled with my favorite colors and textures and smells. I want everything luxurious yet washable,– and I will do that by scents, colors and layers. This travel trailer (such inadequate words to describe Gypsy) will be a haven while on the road – sort of like a boutique hotel on wheels. Not to mention the artist/writer studio in the front room….she will be a huge part of my personal spirit and energy – but she will give back ten-fold.

I also broke down and got an orbital sander complete with a 50 pack of replacement sanding discs. Since nearly every square inch of Gypsy has to be sanded prior to painting, I realized it’s crazy not to get one….so upon my return to the mountains, I will tote the generator down to her, plug in my new sander – suit up in goggles and dust mask and get ‘er done. So far, my excitement is more about being finished, not doing – Maybe I need a little grand daughter magical thinking to shake things up a bit.

Next week I’m IKEA bound before I head further North. They have great (and inexpensive) cabinet hardware that I want to buy – as it all needs to be replaced. I am also looking for more small space organizing ideas which IKEA is brilliant at.  It will be hard to keep it simple on this trip, don’t you think?

I left the Airstream in such a positive, good space that I’m able to relax and just dream about when I get back– now that’s my kind of adventure. Hope you all enjoy your weekend…you know mine is going to be good.