Create something beautiful everyday!

or at least try something new...

This is my mom when she was a Rainbow Princess.  Even though she has moved on, her spirit watches over us and encourages us always.

My son chastises me because I make all kinds of things and never seem to keep track of them. As a result, I am constantly going back and forth trying to explain or re-create a past success.

So, in an attempt to document and access my accomplishments in the future, and possibly spark some creative juices, I am posting my ongoing creative endeavors in the hopes that we can all learn from my mistakes and successes.

You can follow along here, or on Pinterest - Let's get started!

Happy Halloween!

A treat for my little tricksters - 

Here is the progression, with a couple of lessons learned:

I used Wilton decorative icing for the face and binder on the "bones".  The brownie recipe is "Nutella Pretzel" from  Chef-in-Training.  The brownies are great, but next time I will use an unfrosted version as they were difficult to put in the bags cleanly.

My trusty Silhouette for the tags.

Had some extra skulls, so I just dropped them in along with the secured bodies.  Using skewers was essential to keep everything in line.

Have a wonderful time tonight, and may many Twix bars be in your future!

Stop wasting time!

Even though I never heard a kind word about him, this still rings true.

Why NOT you?

I knew I liked this line of questioning...

Come on!  Let's keep asking ourselves: Why not me?  There is so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to.  Just keep asking: Why not me!?!

Oprah and Joel Osteen

I just finished watching Oprah's Next Chapter where she spotlighted Joel Osteen.  I have long admired his positive message of hope but was brought to tears to hear him admit that he believes homosexuality is a sin ( http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/Pastor-Joel-Osteen-Discusses-Sin-and-the-Path-to-God ).

While I believe in his sermons and value his insight, here is a subject where we part ways.  I believe that we are all created equal, men and women alike, so if you love your equal - whether it is a man or a woman, you are bringing harm to no one, only love - which makes it anything but a sin.

Be grateful more!  Love more!  Be of service more!  That I believe is the path to God.

Why NOT me?

I read a really interesting article about Diablo Cody's "Aha" moment in the January 2012 issue of "O" magazine.

Diablo Cody from "O" Magazine January 2012

It talked about questioning why things happened in her life, and then she met a strong, cheerful man with cancer who challenged her to ask "Why not me?"

I find this so profound in how we should all view the good as well as the bad things that come up in our lives:

Why not me... to win the lottery, to finally lose the extra weight I have been carrying around for years, to start a whole new path in life at 50, to bring the vision of Poppy Ridge Farm to life!

I'm finally back!

Let the blogging begin again!

Being of Service

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

  

- Howard Thurman

Perspective

Are you enjoying life, or are you enduring life?

If we continue to focus on our problems and complain about our lives, there is no way we can achieve what we desire.

Everyday is a gift and I am so grateful that I'm alive and have the opportunity to praise all of the goodness in my life and raise my spirit even further.

Resolute

I have thought that Poppy Ridge Farm would be along Northern California Coast - then I saw where this piece of land was for sale...



I know that the horses are Photoshop-ed in, but I think you get the point.  Pegasus Ranch is a beautiful home with vineyard acreage in Petaluma California.  I could definitely see Poppy Ridge Farm here!

Dreaming the Big Dream

By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist, we create it.  The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired. -Nikos Kazantzakis

 Photo credit: dustydavis.com