3.25.2012

rock the numbers.

let's talk about the rocking horse (afro-child-slash-chicken-head?) we scored at a local thrift store this saturday.

a potential gift for a 1-year-old friend.

3 hours, 4 hands.
21 nail holes patched, 1 round of sanding, 2 coats of Disney's Enchanted Princess paint.
1 new rope "tail", 1 new handle, 1 can of spray paint, 1 name stencil, 1 satin ribbon.
done 1 hour before the party, total 20 bucks.
2 proud cheapos, 1 awesome gift and 1 happy birthdaygirl!














3.22.2012

Cake.

husband declares a chocolate need.
enter The Cake.
double layered, thick frosting, topped with caramel, coconut and walnuts.




monday: 


tuesday:


wednesday:


thursday:

(what?? no more cake??!......
 ok, i make bread.)



3.20.2012

Rainbow and the Monster Box


I recently began volunteering with this organization called Girls On The Run: a character-development, self-esteem building running group for girls ages 8-11.

Last week, our activity was about Self-Talk. We all wrote down on notecards Negative things that we say to ourselves, whether out loud or in our heads. We then took turns running through a tunnel, and all the way to the edge of the field with our notecards. 

One by one, we placed them in the Monster Box. It was far away and took some effort to get to it. But after feeding the Negativity to the Monster, each girl came sprinting across the field, back to the giggling, cheering group. Her hair blowing in the wind and a huge smile slapped across her face. 

Rid of the heavy weight of the "I'm not good enough", "I'm so ugly", I'm too slow", I'm really stupid", "I'm lonely", and "I just can't", she was free to embrace the Positives. 

"Yes, I can"
"I am smart"
"I am strong"
"I am talented"
"I am a good friend"
"I am beautiful"

I put the cold, dark Thursday in the Monster Box. 

I am practicing Positive.


Friday brought colors!

A surprise.
Balloons, bright, round, happy.
Filled my car to the brim.
Each stuffed with love. A note, Sincere.
Positives. Lifting me up. Light. 
My man is so good to me.


A friend came to visit, needing a rainbow.
God gave her a two. A double.
Colors, the most vibrant we'd ever seen.
After rain, the sun makes beauty of its remnants.





3.16.2012

on a Thursday.


What happens to a girl on a Thursday?

On a Thursday after a particularly rough night.
On a Thursday after a particularly rough night which leads to sleeping in.
On a Thursday after a particularly rough night which leads to sleeping in and missing yoga class.

She is imbalanced, unfocused.
Unrecognizable, even to herself.
No one to blame.
Unable to pinpoint the root of this.
Terrified to find it.

She gets dressed, then puts her sweats back on.
Nothing on the agenda, after all.
Tries to force her heart to feel what her mind can easily accept.
Opens her scriptures but stares blankly at the page.
Makes breakfast. The bread is rendered tasteless, the smoothie too frothy.

She sits on the bed, watching the rain fall, feeling as gray as the sky.
Heart simultaneously bursting at the seems and then, completely empty.
Mind unable to form a coherent thought or prayer to a God.
Doubt creeps in like a fog. Fears swallow her whole.
Hours pass. Isolation presses in, heavy.

She reads and reads and indulges in far too much introspection.
Conflicted emotions. Questions.
Recalling the joy in her life, unable to escape the sorrows.
The gaping holes, duct-taped together and covered up.
A smiling face walking through the day.
Wounds never fully healed.
Some fresh, some long forgotten, rehashed in this hour of weakness.

She puts on shoes. Goes outside.
Chasing the sun, darting behind clouds.
Walking the dogs. Arms sore. Puts them away,
Before frustration leads to abuse.

She moves erratically through the house.
Everything to do and no will to do it.
Staring at the dirty floor. Stopping to cry at every doorway.
Traitorous tears that slip out, forbidden.

She can feel herself loosing control.
The walls seem to suffocate.
Consideres going for a swim to stroke out her thoughts.
And the gym, with its bright lights and people.
Too much.
Fears of drowning overtake.

She jumps in the car, drives. Shaking.
Aimlessly. Through town.
Up to the mountains. Seeking an overlook, never finding.
Trying to breathe, in, out, in, out.
Confusion. Irrational impulses come strong, unwitting.
Ever closer. Inches from the edge.

She steers herself home in a daze.
Cursing the loneliness she seeks.
Praying someone will call, anyone.
Then, ignoring the buzz of the phone,
No words for an acquaintance.
No words for herself.

She does the dishes, forcing normalcy.
Hot water burns her idle hands, in a moment of neglect.
The deed completed.
Her face is dripping like the bowls and cups.

She writes. A moment of clarity.
A realization surfaces from deep within.
Peeking, a glimmer. She has power, can change this day.
Feels herself thawing out, touching fingertips.

She looks in the mirror, scrutinizing.
Efforts are made for a man arriving any second.
A day wasted, lost to the trap of sadness.
He comes inside, speaks gently.
Love is there.

A new leaf.


3.05.2012

Evolution of my Dream Bed

























After months of 
planning
dreaming
shopping
working 
sawing
building
clamping
sanding
staining
painting
freezing

BAM.

Special thanks to my incredible husband for making this happen and for teaching me so many tricks of the trade. I now know how to use more tools than I knew existed.