Today's Inspiration: My Man

I know I say it all the time, but it's hard to overstate what an inspiration J is to me.
If it weren't for this loving, gentle, supportive and creative husband - I am quite sure I wouldn't be even half as inspired as I am.
Here is the man who happily rejoices with me over every small accomplishment, every happy project or new idea... the one who encourages me to try new things, the one who is honest when I have a bad idea, but doesn't discourage me in the process of turning it around. The one who actually cares how this shoe looks with this outfit, ("or do you like this one?") and who doesn't freak out when I decide I need to try ANOTHER new form of artwork. The one person who I can count on to read everything I write... The man who knows when his wife needs a good coffee or a trip to a museum or a winter sunset - even more than when I recognize the need myself.
This is the man who won my heart when we were dating by finding a restaurant that was serving carrot soup on a particularly bad day when I bitterly said, "I think only carrot soup would make me feel better today".
This is the man who keeps me warm at night, holds my hand in church, walks in the door every evening with love to give and never lets me give up. I've seen him walk tall as he's faced trials, I've seen him humbled and I've seen him receiving awards. I now have known him a little over 1/3 of my life and I can't imagine life without him.
Talk about inspiration.

Inspiration: Firenze

Today's inspiration comes from the fact that J is taking me to Italy in May. I've almost not thought about it until now, because I am so in disbelief that it might actually happen. This will be our first (non-kid) vacation alone - other than a few weekends away - since our honeymoon in 2000! I am SO ready.
In 1997, I spent the summer in Florence, learning art at SACI (Studio Art Center International) on an exchange program through my school (Pepperdine University). To be able to visit these streets, this amazing place that I loved and really came into my own as an artist is beyond my wildest dreams... and then to get to share it with the love of my life? I cannot wait.Here are some of my precious precious photos from that summer. (Please forgive the fashion faux pas - I was talking to someone the other day who said my exact thoughts here, "It's a shame that the summer we were in Europe. overalls were in style - they've ruined all of my photos!")
This photo - other than the overalls - is so special to me - this was my favorite street to walk down in Florence - I'd go to a certain art supply store nearby, turn the corner and find my beloved Duomo staring down at me.

More Sunset Walk Pics

Here are some more pics from my date with J last night.

I've decided this week to focus the blog on inspiration, only - and not on the projects that I do....

so here is Day 1.

Thanks for the sunset

J took me on a date tonight... Including a sunset walk on the beach in Santa Monica/Venice Beach. Sometimes it's easy to forget this is all happening each night while I'm struggling getting the kids fed and in bed. He took this shot of me, freezing - filling my soul. (I LOVE the beach in winter, more than any other time)

Feeling Generous (Card Giveaway)

I had a few moments this morning to play on Facebook and got to post and respond to a fun thread that's going around there,  called "Craft It Forward" - where people post and then the first 5 to respond get a handmade item from the poster.

Which got me to thinking. I want to blog it forward.

I recently had these fun notecards (inspired by the idea of practical advice from the Bible) made up from some writing that I did on catalogs that came through the house. I can't sell them, since they are technically my writing on someone else's photography, but I can give them away. And that's FUN! I've been using them and loving to use them as gifts for my friends.

So I decided that the first 3 people to respond here will get a card surprise in the mail from me!

Once you comment, send an email to me with your mailing address.

My Intro on Designing Moms

Check out Designing Moms today to see my intro over there.

I'm really excited about being able to be a part of this amazing group of women/moms/designers.... some of whom are my friends, some of whom are new aquaintances.

All in all, it's a really creative group and a really creative site!

(add it to your blogroll, there are lots of fun things coming from there!)

Cozies and Journals up on etsy

Just finished listing the tea cozies and the new recycled SCRAPbook journals on etsy tonight.
here you go.

Z's superhero cape

Here is Z, wearing his superhero cape as he helped daddy fix the grass and plant a tree for Momma's birthday. We've told him the motto of his superhero is, "never give up!"

Tea Cozies

So many of you asked... so I made these up for you to buy...

I'll list them later in etsy - hopefully tonight.

If you want first dibs, though - email me... and we can make it a reserved sale...

There are 4 all total - 2 of each design.

Did I tell you about my birthday?

Of course, I didn't! (sorry) The day we celebrated my birthday (since I'm a leap year baby and didn't get a birthday this year) - I started having a tooth problem that has taken me OUT for 2 weeks now.
I am like the turtle just peeking out now and feeling SO happy that last night was my first night of sleeping without medication helping me... which made this morning MUCH better... no dragon mommy in sight.

So I just have to tell you about how fun my birthday was... For Christmas, I gave J some tix to a re-enactment period play at the Doheny Mansion - Greystone Manor, in Beverly Hills. We've loved Greystone Manor for a long time - the grounds are unbelievable, and we've wanted to see the inside of the mansion as long as we've been able to visit the place... but you can't just go in. So this play is set in the mansion and you follow the actors from room to room. (so fun)
My mom and dad also got tickets and that made for a fun activity to look forward to...but I am getting a little ahead of myself. Since the kids weren't a part of the day's big events, we needed a way for them to celebrate. So we had a breakfast birthday party with 3 friends over, balloons, decorations by the Design Director (of course), and quiche and muffins.
Then J and I headed off to the manor, for a great afternoon - and then we met up with the rest of the SoCal family (suffice it to say, my sister married a best friend of J's and the family tree is quite tidy - all the inlaws and "outlaws" are lifelong friends and the kids are easy cousins.) It's family tradition for all 12 of us adults to get together to celebrate birthdays - and that is a major highlight of living in LA for me.We went to Cha Cha Cha, in Silverlake - a new favorite for me. Which meant that we were in the neighborhood of Intellegentsia. Oh yeah. The brothers and sisters joined us for after dinner coffee and I have to say, it was a great birthday!
(other than the tooth pain)