January 10 - The Beginning is Always Today and January 17 - Georgia O'Keeffe
January 24 - Words With Friends
February 7 - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
The funny thing is that I really like the pages I've made. I think I just need to work at my own pace.
I've been eating a lot of food like this lately, even developed a liking for Hommus. It's been a week since I started the Total 10 Diet to break my carb and sugar habit, and I'm still alive. All those foods I thought I couldn't live without, I've managed to live without. Haven't had a carb or refined sugar in a week. No pretzels, no pasta, no doughnuts. Haven't had any dairy in a week. No ice cream, no French Vanilla Cream in my coffee. No coffee.
I've lost 5 lbs.
I don't feel bloated anymore. I'm not struggling to breathe so much when I wear my jeans, and I can zip them without sucking it in.
I actually love the berry smoothies in the morning, but it's not always easy to figure out what to eat at other times. The diet consists of a little protein and a LOT of vegetables, which I love, but geeeeez. Salads with bland vinegar and oil dressing and freezer chicken everyday are a bit much. But I've figured it out....I actually remember how to cook. Chicken Fajitas tonight and on to week 2!
I won a beautiful address and card book in an auction and always knew I wanted to alter it for a journal. Some of the pages have beautiful floral illustrations that I don't want to cover up, other pages can be painted or papered, but it has pockets and tabs and all kinds of goodies. When I first got it (months ago) I altered the cover in the same style as the journal I got from Yolanda Pasillas, yoliebean on YouTube. I adore that look.
The first page in the book is from a swap I did at Your Paper Pantry with Jane Bain, lizbeth601 on YouTube. She made a beautiful collage for me that I've kept in my craft corner for years. Originally it was mounted on corrugated cardboard that I had to remove for placement in the book. I think it makes the perfect first page. On the left side of this two page spread, I'll add some writing and a recipe card Jane included for apple cake!
The second page has an art postcard from Tamara LaPorte, a couple of business cards and a tag that served as a mailing label. I found a bit of lace in with my keepsakes and attached it to the edge of the page. The opposite page will have photographs of the items associated with the cards.
All in all, I think this is going to be a fun book to look back on when it's finished.
Have a good day friends! xxo
The office was located in a building for a veterinarian specialty group. Dental, Cancer, whatever, it was a big building. I watched the dogs come and go to the other vet offices. Little dogs, big dogs, dogs dancing in circles, dogs with cones on their heads, itty bitty lap dogs and great big HUGE dogs. Heidi seemed to be the only cat until a woman sat down by me and put her carrier on the seat between us. She asked me if I had a sick kitty and I told her all we had were some dental problems....."and you"? My heart broke when she choked out the words that her 9 year old cat had kidney disease and had experienced some problems that morning. She tried desperately to speak but she was struggling so hard to keep the tears back that she couldn't. In that moment, I felt my own desperation as I grabbed her hand and held it tight. There were no more words as we held onto each others hand. Two strangers who knew nothing about each other except that we both loved cats. I could have known this woman my entire life for the compassion I felt, but I didn't even know her name. And then it was my Heidi's time to be examined. I gathered her carrier and waved a quick good-bye to the woman that had touched my heart so deeply.
This brief encounter was sad and heartbreaking, and I'll never forget it. Two strangers able to connect on a level so deep. An immediate, heartfelt connection. It was sad, it was beautiful. It reminded me how wonderful this life can be in spite of ourselves. I reached out to someone, and walked away feeling like she had given me a gift.
Week 22
Week 23
Week 24
Week 25
Every day has a prompt, but it's up to you if you want to use the prompt or not. There are also themes to choose from, or "one staple" collages, or anything you want to do. It's not about rules or working on something you don't enjoy, it's about being creative. Every day. It's fun. It's loose and free.
Day 1 - Prism
Day 2 - Circus Tent
Where?
Day 3 - Hello, my name is...
Day 4 - Puzzle
Day 5 - Galaxy
Day 6 - Nail Polish
Day 7 - Yellow
Day 8 - Mandala
Day 9 - Alphabet
Day 10 - The Beatles
Day 11 - One Staple Collage
That wasn't the prompt. It's just what I did.
Day 12 - Paisley
Day 13 - Gasp! I missed one!
Day 14 - Magenta
Day 15 - Stickers
Day 16 - Roll the Dice
Day 17 - Polka Dots
Day 18 - Orange
Day 19 - Oh no! I missed another one!
Day 20 - Candy Wrapper
Day 21 - Repeating Pattern
