Inspired by Maroon 5

(A little backwards today -  Day 17: Sing.  Sing a song… make it simple to last your whole life long!  How did that feel?)

I’m so excited to see Maroon 5 this week. So. Excited. Missed them in October, so I made sure I bought tickets early when I found out they were making another stop here. My kids are looking forward to it, too – so much so that we’re jamming along to the albums and practicing on Band Hero.

So, yes, my husband and I are taking them to the concert. It’ll be fine, it’s outdoors… the weather is supposed to be fantastic. I’m just a little worried that they’ll be too tired and miss the songs they want to hear, or the little guy will miss seeing Adam Levine in person. You can’t imagine how angry Ollie gets. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed.

Day 16: Do you create best when your emotions are high?  Do you turn to creative endeavors when you are sad, angry, or just filled with joy?

I used to think I created best under pressure. It’s just that I finish projects under pressure, self-inflicted or not. Creating for me isn’t when emotions are high; inspiration seems pretty random for me. Whatever I’m feeling, when I create, I’m transported, distracted for a little while. I empty my head, and fill my heart. Does that make sense? Then I finish, and voila! – I return to my routine.

So I offer my Maroon 5 inspired art. Music moves me… what better way to get in a creative mood than to immerse myself in their albums? Try it sometime. Listen to your favorite artists and create. Maybe you already do.

Can you guess which songs inspired which pieces? (Click on the thumbnails to zoom.)

All Tangled Up, the “Monster” and last little inchie (number 7)… really like those.

Tags: 30 days, art, concert, doodles, doodling, Maroon 5, music, music groups, summer

30 Days of Creativity – Day 15: New Ideas List

Day 15: Do you like to try new things?  What about trying to do something new you like or dislike?

I absolutely love learning about new things. Trying new things? That might depend, but I’d like to think that I would at least give it a chance. I’m not much of an outdoor, athletic person, so those types of activities would definitely be more challenging. Hmm. Then maybe I should try more of that? Something to ponder…

Here is a list of five (though there are more) things I’d like to try to do by the end of the year. Is it bad that three of the five things are food-related?

Cream Puff Pastry (picture from www.marthastewart.com)

• Learn how to make Pate a Choux (Cream Puff Pastry) from Martha Stewart (book or website).
• Make a killer pie! This strawberry-rhubarb pie recipe has been haunting me ever since I saw it on the Oprah show.
• Bake a yeast bread or cinnamon rolls… successfully. I haven’t had too much luck with baking with yeast.
• This one is a “dislike” but necessary: Add a new exercise routine besides spinning. (I really love my bicycle…)
• Sew a tote or bag from one of these bags and purse tutorials. I bookmarked this a year ago. : (

What about some of you out there? Maybe we can support each other!

Tags: 30 days, tutorials

Our House Guest: Graham the Dog

Hello there! Our guest blogger today is Graham, the dog, owned by my husband’s sister and her husband. Graham is a Bichon mix (I think). He was our houseguest for four days. By the time this posts, he will be on his merrily way to (or newly arrived at) a new home with my sister-and-brother-in-law. My kids and I will miss him a lot.

Our buddy, Graham

Hi. I’m Graham. I love car rides. It’s especially fun when I end up visiting people I like. But, I should’ve known better when my owners brought along my food, dishes, bed and toys. P.S. I moved my food bowl by myself.

Pelt. Graham loves it.

So, I waited and waited for my owners to come back. Figured I should get comfortable, except Julie kept taking my picture. After she went to sleep I ran under the dining table to find some good eats, then ran upstairs to sleep with the kids. (Forget my regular bed – I slept by the little guy. Right on his bed, even!) They’re so fun, but I think I make them nervous. They tried to show me how to use the computer in the morning so I could talk with my owners.

Who's spying on me?

Learning how to Skype

I had fun staying with everyone – even Uncle Pork* – but I didn’t get any table scraps from him this time. I got to walk around, meet some other dogs, take a few car rides… the best part was tagging along for a soccer game. All the girls wanted to pet and play with me. So. Much. Attention.

After Dinner

Those kids wore me out

Fun as it was, I was so tired from all the activity in this house. They’re always on the move. How’s a dog supposed to get any sleep? But I did, and I loved sleeping over. I hope the family liked having me too. Thanks, guys!

*Uncle Pork a.k.a. my husband. Some time ago, he gave Graham some table food – mostly bacon and bbq pork.

Tags: dog, family, houseguests

Wordless Wednesday: Kitchen Play

Tags: kids, playing, restaurants

Mother’s Day Lesson

Mother’s Day. Idyllic. Breakfast prepared by the hubby and kids. Homemade cards and notes.

Lunch with my family. Beautiful weather for a soccer game. Daughter’s team wins! Come home, neighbor friends outside, kids excited to see them. Screaming. Giggling.

Just when you think everything is picture-perfect… you get a reminder of what it’s all about.

“MMMMMOM, she called me a LOSER!”

What?!?! This was unprovoked (I later verified). I was stunned, especially since we considered this little person a friend. I wasn’t sure if she knew what she had said, had done. The older kids were confused not knowing what happened.

“She called me a loser! Hmmmph!!! That was mean!” Arms crossed. My little man stomping away towards the back door with teary, glassy eyes… going inside the house. He’s four years old with a sensitive soul. He knows enough that it was negative. My heart was breaking for him, we’ve never had to deal with that sort of talk.

Not seeing any grown-ups around, and wanting to say something, I softly said to this child, “I think you said something not so nice. Something unfriendly. I think you hurt Ollie’s feelings. Maybe you might want to say sorry.” And after a few seconds, she walked away saying absolutely nothing. This person broke my son’s trust and confidence. How do I know? For about fifteen minutes, there was lots of snuggling and he kept repeating what she said. I had to do some rebuilding. The discussion ended up like this,

“Your friend said something that hurt your feelings, and I’m sorry…”

“Yes.”

“You’re super sad about that. I know.”

“Yes.”

“Well, is that true? Are you loser?”

*sniffle* “No.”

“Just because that one person said that… it doesn’t make you a loser. You know you aren’t one and we don’t think you are. We love you very much, and you have lots of pals at school and friends…”

*wiping nose* “Right.”

“So, are you a loser?”

“Nope.”

“What’s your name?”

*smirk* “Oliver. Oliver Tiu.”

“And you’re a good boy… funny… good brother… smart…”

“Yes.”

“And you’re cool!”

“YEAH!”

“Next time someone says something hurtful, you tell them, that it’s not true. And, you walk away. You don’t have to listen to (those mean words).”

“Yeah, it’s not true! I’m not a loser!”

Right, kiddo, you’re not. Far from it.

—

As your mom, I wish I could always make things right for you, but I think my biggest hope is to raise you to be good people, and to make sure you know what you need to know to make good decisions; to arm you with skills to get you through the rough patches… to know that life is great, but hard work, too. Amidst all the laundry and house chores, nagging about toys all over the floor, know that I’m trying to be the best mom I can be, always hoping that you’re learning something and loving your childhood. I love you guys, more than you know.

Abby and Mom at Baptism 2002

Ollie and Mom 2007

Tags: kids, lessons, Mother's Day, parenting

Royal Wedding Viewing Party (for one) menu

Image courtesy of Craft (blog.craftzine.com)

Let’s face it, there’s a bit of Royal Wedding fever, like it or not. My husband, not. Me, love it. Well, I like the pageantry, I like the fashions, the pomp and circumstance. I remember when Charles and Diana were married. I was only seven years old, and it was magical.

Diana and Charles (1981) Image from BBC

This time around, I haven’t paid a lot of attention to all the hubbub. How can anyone escape it? William and Kate are all over the news, but in my house there are two kids and we watch lots of kid shows. So, I’ve set DVR to record the coverage on Friday, you know, in case I don’t get my butt out of bed at 3 a.m. There’s a viewing party in my neighborhood at 5 a.m.! Alas, I don’t know if I’ll get there either. Besides, I have a kid to drive to school, and a household to run… DVR is the way to go.

I think I’m going to make a batch of blueberry scones, and buy some clotted cream and lemon curd tomorrow… ooh, and pick up some Earl Grey at TeaLula. I’d love to know if anyone else out there is having a viewing party.

Tags: Charles and Diana, Royal Wedding, scones, wasting time, William and Kate