Birthday Joys

Although today is my actual birthday, Mom and Megan and Kayleigh and Savannah took me out to tea for an early birthday treat, since I was going to LA on my birthday.  We went to the tea shop in Pleasanton and ate in the garden. The food was so beautiful, and we all had a great time visiting and giggling and drinking copious amounts of tea.  Savannah and Kayleigh thought of a dozen different party themes and are planning a tea party of their own.  They discovered peanut butter and marshmallow creme sandwiches.  Kayleigh says they are hecka good.

Packing and Purging

I am getting things organized for the movers.  I found things that have been packed away for 5 years, most of it going to the Goodwill.  I have eliminated about a third of the stuff in storage, trying to reach a goal of being able to pack it all in to a 30 foot moving truck.  Thanks God for my friend Kerry who has been an absolute miracle worker, helping me get my stuff together.  We are almost done and soon will be packing the apartment up. 

I am spending my birthday this year in LA with my sweetie.  I am driving down to find a house.  We found one that we love, and we hope we get it.  Just in case, we are still looking at others, but our fingers are crossed.  Finding the right house has been a challenge.  We want to find a place we can make our home.  A place that our kids will love, and that has all the amenities we are looking for.  We love the town we are moving to, and are really looking forward to getting settled and being together as a family.

I don't know how people do these cross country moves, or international moves for that matter. I am really struggling to keep it all together and organized. 

I am dying to do some artistic project, but between my recovering arm and being so busy, I just haven't had the time...  My hope and goal is to get it all organized in the new house the first week of June, so I can start creating things in my new studio right away.  I am really looking forward to a new space, organized and clean where I can spend HOURS making cool things.  6 more weeks and it will all be over. 

Breezie Loo turns 3

My niece the adorable Breezie Loo as I call her had a birthday today.  SHe was so funny singing happy birthday to herself.  Here she is opening her presents, wanting to play with each one and getting mad at us when we took them away so she would open the next one.  I love little kid parties.  Reminds me of all the themed parties I threw for my kids when they were little.  Clowns, pirates, space robots, renaissance faires, tea parties, the jungle, Chuck E Cheese... Those little people birthday parties are over for me now, but man I miss them.....

Easter Break and Touring through LA

The kids and I came down for a week to see Paskie and have a little vacay.  We ate at Forest Gumps the first night and passed the Forest Gump trivia test with flying colors.  It is our all time favorite movie, and we quote it all the time. 

We visited the Long Beach Aquarium on Easter Sunday.  We had fun petting the stingrays and the giant crabs were incredible.  I loved the seahorses.  We have been to a lot of aquariums, and I prefer the one in Monterey, but this one is really nice, and has an arboretum outside with sweet little parrots that perch on your shoulder and drink nectar from a cup.

We went to Knotts Berry Farm, Had the famous Chicken Dinner and the Berry punch.  I couldn't ride anything with my shoulder still in a sling, but had a lot of fun walking around with my honey looking at all the museum exhibits and shows.  It was fun to watch the kids running from ride to ride deciding on which one they wanted to go on first. 

Pascual had to work during the week, so the kids and I went to the La Brea Tarpits museum on Tuesday.  It was cool because it was free day, but there were HUNDREDS of elementary school kids running around on a field trip and it was difficult to see some things.  If you are in the Los Angeles area with kids, definately check this place out.  Kayleigh enjoyed seeing all of it because she had just studied it in school.  Standing next to a mammoth skeleton, you really get a feel for how huge they actually were.  It is a cool experience, and they have the lab there with glass windows where they work on things and you can watch the technicians as they clean the bones. 

We went to Philippes for lunch after the tarpits.  My great Grandpa used to take my grandpa here, and my grandpa took my dad and his siblings.  This has been here since 1907 or something like that.  They make the ORIGINAL french dip sandwich.  The legend goes that a police officer came in to get a beef sandwich and the sandwich maker accidentally dropped the bread into the meat juices.  The police officer told him to use it anyway.  He came back the next day with several friends for another of the french dipped sandwich.  They aren't sure if it was called that because the owner Philippe was French or because the officer's name was French, but the sandwich was born. They were so good, Zack ate two of them.  It was a quick but fun trip.  We haven't been on a family vacation in 5 years, and it was so fun to get to experience a new area, and see some of the touristic parts of our soon to be new home.  I think we are going to love living down here, once we get settled in.

working eight to cain't

As my husband's boss says... that is what I have been doing for the past 2 weeks.  I went down to LA to see my hubby, and help him with interviewing a secretary and getting some office logistics, paint colors, furniture delivery etc.  Lots of phone calls and computer work at a desk that was not comfortable for my sling toting arm.  I guess it was premature of me to go so soon after surgery when I am on pain pills and still have to sleep sitting upright, I can't fix my hair or put on makeup or dress myself without help....   We were there from 7am till 8 or 9 pm every night...  even weekends...  I wasn't working all this time, just hanging out.... I watched a lot of movies on netflix in his friends office in a nice cushy chair.  and cried every night around 7 cause I was so sore and wanted to go home to lie down... only I couldn't lie down.....  so going home wasn't a comfort either...

I was reading that moving and changing jobs are two of the top 5 most stressful things a person can do...  Lets add getting jammed up by your kids school mid semester for a inter district transfer cause you moved out of the district, even though you are in the same damn town and now they are going to kick your kids out if you don't get it from the other district yesterday... and oh yeah, let's add that the IRS pulls you for a random audit, and doesn't care that you just had surgery, that your records are deep in storage and some destroyed from flood damage caused by the rain a few weeks ago that ruined a box of tax records along with your irreplacable childhood photos... And let's also add coming home with your arm in a sling on the airport... extra screening and a pat down by homeland security, plus the drug sniffing dogs... coming home and having no ride from the airport, and your car still at the mechanics after 11 days... No car for the first two days you are home....  then you walk into your apartment to find it smells to high heaven like a litter box... the poor cats box has not been cleaned in 4 days, (there are 3 cats) you remember the lysol and all air freshner things are in storage, and you have no car to go get some... and on top of that, the windows take two arms to open... big sigh, another big sigh... small meltdown as your nostrils and eyes try to adjust to the horrible smell as you clean the cat box and light incense out of desperation.  Now it is worse, cause your lungs burn from the incense, and the cat box has already destroyed your sense of smell.... You go into your room to discover that all 3 cats have a a WWF kitty wrestling championship on your bed and it is so covered with cat hair that you have an allergy and asthma attack.  Perfect...  the meds for that are packed in storage also....  so you sit out on the doorstep, wheezing, sneezing, coughing, eyes watering... and you look up and say to God... ' Bring it on... I'm not dead yet....  what more have ya got for me?"

I am waiting for my life to "get normal" again, and then I had a horrible realization....  this IS normal...  well... I better start looking for ponies....

Fish Market Saturday

We were up at 5:30 am to go to the fish market in San Pedro.  The fishing boats bring in their catch after midnight and the market opens at 3:30 am.  We got fresh Ahi Tuna, a live crab, scallops and fresh sardines for $17... they even have ice there for you to ice your fish down, but since we live 2 minutes away, we just bagged it and left.  Pascual was in fishy heaven.  I forgot to take a photo of all the fish, but I snapped this photo of one of the boats docked at the pier.  As we drove away, a cruise ship was pulling into the port.  It was a pretty cool experience, even if I had to get up at 5 in order to do it.  If you have a fish market in the area where you live, I really recommend checking it out.

Rainbows and hailstorms

The weather is so surprising lately....  We saw a beautiful rainbow as we were driving home from school today, and then drove straight into a hailstorm.  The clouds of the hailstorm were so beautiful.  I love it when it rains and hails when it's sunny.

Here is Mt. Diablo with a dusting of snow on top.  It doesn't happen every year, and this wasn't the first or most beautiful display this year, but I love to look at this mountain as I drive around COCO County...  I will miss this view especially, the one from hiway 4 by the airport and from the top of Willow Pass Road.  I am looking for a painting of Mt. Diable to take with me to LA... Anyone know any local artists who have painted it?

the long and foggy road

we left at 5am and headed for LA in a pickup, with all Paskies papers and clothes in the back of dad's truck.  It was cold and foggy all the way down I-5... as evidenced here in the photos...

these political signs are posted all along the croplands of I-5.  I don't ever remember so many farms without crops in them.  The dust storms are really bad here because of the lack of planting.

The temperature was 41 degrees all the way to th bottom of the grapevine.  We stopped at starbucks and when we came out, the fog had lifted and we could see the mountains.  We drove over the hill and when we got to Santa Clarita, it was 82 degrees....  I think I am going to LOVE the weather in LA....

This is the lake at the top of the grapevine.  I forget the name of it.  You can see it when you are heading south on I-5.  I am happy with how all these turned out, considering I was snapping them as we were flying by at 80 MPH.

here we are at the Grand Del Mar for a black tie event with Paskie's work.  I LOVED this dress... it was from Nordstrom,Kayleigh and Megan helped me pick it out.  It had little ruffles all the way to the floor and looked like a flamenco dancers dress.  I didn't think it would look good on me, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Too bad I didn't get any full length shots of us all dressed up.  We looked really great.  It was a lovely place and a very fun event.  We are really having fun with all the new adventures his new job is taking us on.

Moving into the new year....

Literally.  Pascual is moving to San Piedro in Los Angeles to a home that has a view of Catalina Island.  The kids, cats and I are moving to a small apartment that I can manage on my own after shoulder surgery this month.  We are selling most of the furniture and household items, so if you need stuff, give me a call.  I already purged the studio last sale, but there are still some things out there that will be going as well.    Big garage sale on the 14th and 15th this month  Leftovers will go to the Hall Closet and then everything we are keeping is going into storage until the big move. 

I will be commuting to LA a couple times a month helping him get his office ready.  We are all very excited about the new adventure of living close to the beach.  Zack is thinking he may want to go for Baseball again in high school down there.  I support whatever my kids want to do.  At least with Lacrosse down there, the weather is 70 degrees in the winter instead of the freezing cold we have here.  I will be creating my non profit down there, and providing art with dumpster diverted materials to youth, elderly and veterans.  I am very excited about getting the new program started, but sad to leave my students at Juvenile Hall, and my friends at the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary, the Hall Closet, the Contra Costa County Probation Department, the Martinez Art Gallery and all the people who have helped make my little art program a success. 

There are many things I will miss about living in the Bay Area.  So I decided to take the time to post a list of things I will miss with a photo.  This is challenging, since my cameras are all broken and the computer is dead and this little notepad I have doesn't have a card reader...  but I will figure it out somehow.  I will persevere, and I shall overcome my obstacles. 

One thing I will miss are the lovely rolling hills and the view of Mt. Diablo from highway 4 and 680.  Especially the rare sight of them covered with snow like we had just before Christmas.  I have only been to the top once, but I intend to take the kids up there before we leave and take a picture of the East Bay and the Carquinez Straits behind them.  My goal is to post one thing a day I will miss until I leave.  I may live in Orange County soon, but my heart and roots will always be here in Martinez and the East Bay.

Garage Sale SUCCESS!

What kind of scrapbooker am I?  I had my record BEST garage sale on Saturday and sold $1000 worth of art supplies and various junk and didn't take ONE photo.  All of it was art and craft related.  I put the add on Craigslist and included my phone number.  I got a lot of calls from people about the sale in advance.  People were very respectful and didn't come early.  I was happy to donate the leftovers to the Hall Closet and get it out of my garage.  It feels really great to have all those things gone.  Now I am looking at how I can get rid of even more and have another huge sale in November or December.

Some of you know I have been struggling with a frozen shoulder for most of the year.  I just found out that there is a significant tear in my rotator cuff, and I will probably need surgery.  OK... that will happen after the first of the year.  I can't be limited in my mobility before the holidays.  I need to be able to do all my holiday baking and crafting.  I am selling in 2 boutiques this year in November.  At least they are letting me see the doctor I want, the same one who did my nephew and sister-in-law's surgeries.  I will be glad to get the mobility back in my shoulder.

Check out this adorable little Breezy Bug I photographed in my front yard this morning... Invasive pests, they're here and they're hungry...  Anyone heard those adds on the radio by the California agriculture department?  They crack me up.  Like them, Breezy never met a plant she didn't like... and enjoys picking flowers and pods and some of the last tomatoes. 

Letting Go....

It seems as if everyone I know is in a state of loss.... Jobs, homes, income, lifestlyle, pets, family members, mobility, cognative function, health... With so many people losing so many things, doesn't it seem logical that we would want to HOLD ON to the things we can?  Hmmmm... Why can't we lose the things we want to lose, like weight, gray hair, bad memories, painful and ackward situations.  It would be so much easier if those things just disappeared. 

My mom and stepdad and my 2 year old niece have been living with us.  Having a two year old around all the time takes me back to that person I used to be when my kids were two.  I remember now how harassed I was when the boys were little.  How hard it was with them so close in age, and how I couldn't wait for them to outgrow another difficult phase.  Now they are both taller than me, and I look at them and wonder where the time went.  In 6 years Kayleigh will be off to college.  We will be empty nesters...

No one WANTS to spend time with me any more except Kayleigh.  The boys are here, but usually in their room watching tv or on some technoligical gadgetry of some kind.  I REFUSE to get my kids cell phones.  Austin was the only senior to raise his hand in school when the teacher asked who didn't have a cell phone.  He said he felt like a big DER...  I say technology is turning us all into a bunch of unsociable idiots.  I spend maybe 5 hours a week on the computer.  I check email and once in a while post on my blog or facebook.  I suppose if I had one of those newfangled phones with internet and all the apps, I would be on line more often.  I am kind of thankful for my old jankey Nokia from 7 years ago.  I have dropped it a hundred times and it still keeps working.  But it also enables me to have a fairly technology free life.  When I get in the car with my kids, we TALK... What a concept.  We listen to Alice Radio in the morning sometimes, and laugh along to the crazy talk with Sara and Vinnie, but basically, it is great time for us to chat, about our lives, and things that we have going on.  No one is texting friends of searching on their ipod.  Family dinner nites are sacred in our house.  Tuesday and every other Sunday is family dinner nite.  All of us are here together around the table, eating, yelling, carrying on and just being a big ole loud blended family.  I like to call us a modern day Waltons.  We usually play a game after dinner, or watch a movie.  Video games and internet are banned on family nites, and on weeknights in general for homework purposes. We only have one working computer that barely limps along, so the kids are allowed to use it only for homework.  The boys tend to obsess on the games otherwise and spend a lot of time on x-box live and WOW if I don't monitor it. 

SO what does all this babble have to do with loss...  I guess as I look at it, I am seeing ways that I have lost... contact with my kids, and good friends.  People I see rarely because we are "too busy with our lives".  I have been cleaning out the studio and turning it from a crap collecting room to an actual studio.  The plan is to have art friends over for regular get togethers and make things from all the cool stuff I have collected.  I want to start collecting good memories with family and friends.  My family and friends mean more to me than stuff...  but in the face of so much loss over the years, I found myself collecting little things here and there, until I had a TON of things that filled my space, and life, but not my heart.  They say that clutter is emotional baggage...  I say it is more than that...  For us altered artists, it is also stifled creativity.  All these things we collect to one day use to make something cool and artsy.  I had a room full of that.  Now I am getting it to a place where I have a lot of supplies, but they are all organized, and put away in a way that I can use them to create, rather than collect them to maybe do something with one day...

Purging is hard for me.  But nonetheless, I take a truckload to the store every week of things I am getting rid of.  And adding another run every few weeks to the depot to get rid of the artsy stuff the closet can't use.  I get a sense of freedom, a big release every time I get rid of something.   And I am loving all the negative space in my house!  It is like a Flashdance moment "What a feeling!"  I am getting there, a little more every week.

Art Gallery Show

We had our show at the mARTinez Art Gallery on the 18th.  The turn out was great, and I was very pleased with the work that was done by the young men on the YOTP unit.  Please check out the Green Youth Project blog here to see the wonderful artwork these talented young men have created.  I am so proud of all of them, and their accomplishments, and very honored to be working with them. 

I get mixed feedback when I tell people what I do.  Things like "Why do you want to work with 'those' kind of kids?"   I say why not?  It takes a certain type of person, to have passion for teaching, passion for art and creativity, and you have to really love kids, especially troubled teen agers.  I can check yes to all the above.  I have had many tell me they think I have found my calling.  I don't know about that... but I do know, that in spite of having my time slot moved several times, and dealing with a lot of internal politics, I am NOT giving up on these kids or this program. 

I need space for a reuse center.  I want to provide a safe place for the kids to go "on the outs" as they call being outside of incarceration.  A place that will help boost their self esteem, where they can work and earn some money and where they can connect with other artists to mentor them through their transitions.  So many of these kids have nothing to go back to once they get out.  With a 60% recidivism rate, the odds of rehabilitation are not in their favor.  I think we need to spend more money on programs for these kids while they are still young and able to be rehabilitated, BEFORE they end up in prison.  Programs like the one I am putting together, that connect them with mentors and positive role models.  There is really nothing out there like it.  I have the dream, the vision, the business plan, now I just need some money and the space to house it.... 

If anyone reading this knows of a space in Contra Costa County we could use for a while to house a very worthwhile program, please let me know....

A funny email today

I get lots of jokes form my Uncle Bob, but I rarely forward them. Not because they aren't funny, but just because I hardly ever have time to read them. I store them in a jokes file and every once in a while when I need a laugh, they are there waiting for me. I clicked on this one for some reason, and laughed so hard I had to share it. I have been complaining to Pascual about ALL of these things.... Being the Insurance Man that he is, he tells me that they are going to have to write me off as a total loss, and maybe some mechanic will buy me cheap and part me out.



IF MY BODY WERE A CAR.... If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish, and my paint job is getting a little dull. But that's not the worst of it. My headlights are out of focus, and it's especially hard to see things up close.My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here's the worst of it -- Almost every time I sneeze, cough or laugh, either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires. CASH FOR CLUNKERS..........I QUALIFY

Pizza Night

Homemade pizza last night, Kayleigh was the chef. We make it in a 2 1/2 pound loaf bread machine and it takes 1 hour till the dough is ready. If you don't have a bread machine, get one at a local thrift store or garage sale. We use ours all the time and make fabulous bread with it. It kneads and proofs the dough and gets it through the first rise, then you shape it, let it rise again and bake... very easy. Even I can do it, and I am not the bread baker Paskie is... I am the cookie, cake and pie lady.

Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 cups water

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons bread yeast

1 tablespoon flax seed (optional)

Place all ingredients in bread machine pan according to the above order exactly. (wet ingredients always go first) Program the machine for the pizza cycle, and press start.

When the machine beeps at the end of the cycle, remove the bread pan from the machine and turn dough out on to lightly floured surface. Divide dough by cutting with a knife into desired number of portions. Roll out to desired thickness. Transfer to baking stone or cookie sheet, spread sauce, cheese and toppings. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until pizza is desired golden brown doneness.

1 batch makes 3 pizzas as pictured, 18 inches wide with thick crust. I double it and make 4 large pizzas with my extra large cookie trays. We often make mini pizzas when the kids have friends over.

My favorite gourmet version is ranch salad dressing for the sauce with roasted garlic mixed in, fresh sliced mozzarella cheese, diced chicken breast browned in garlic, crispy crumbled bacon, chopped green onion, diced fresh tomatoes from the garden. It is delicious and it disappears fast. Some make it with Alfredo sauce, we tried both and you don't really notice the difference.

Give it a try. It will only cost you the price of the ingredients, which I guarantee will be less than half the cost of one pizza, and your kids will love making it.

Making Pizza

Mom and Teen came over for the weekend and I made Pizza with Adrianna and Breezy. I love the photos of them rolling out the dough. Breezie was really into it, and wanted to eat the dough and threw a fit when we took it away. I love spending time with the family. I forget what it's like to hve a 2 year old around... She is into everything. She calls me Auntie and Pascual is Tio or sometimes Tito, and she tells us over an over "I low-lu" which is Breezie language for I love you. It just melts your heart when she says it... Ahhh... almost makes me want more...

Youth Poetry

I am starting up a new blog here specifically for the youth art program. I wanted to share a poem that was an honorable mention in the Juvenile Hall Poetry Contest in April, for National Poetry Month. Please check out the new blog for updates and info on the project featuring some of the art and poetry created by at risk youth.

No More!

You smile at the edge of sight,
and I turn to see you. No More!
You whisper between words,
and I hush to hear you. No More!
without you I am in darkness,
and the sun hides beneath the world.
No More! Will I ever be held down,
or be a menace to society. No More!

Mother's Day at Tilden Park

We spent yesterday at Tilden Park with my mom and stepdad Teen. We had a great time with a picnic, and then a tour of the Botanical Gardens and ending at the Merry Go Round. I have never been to Tilden Park. My mom hadn't been since she was a kid. It is a lovely regional park with lots of picnic sites, and activities for a fun family day. Located off Fish Ranch Road just before going through the Caldecott tunnel, it runs out over the hills between Berkeley, Oakland and Orinda. On the way in there are some vista points with fabulous views of the entire San Francisco Bay. There are some lakes, a steam train, the Brazilian Room which is rented out for weddings and parties, horseback riding, pony rides. I was amazed at all the things they have out there. Donald, our friend from the Hall Closet runs the Merry Go Round out there. They do it up special for Christmas, and a special haunted house spooktacular theme at Halloween. If you live in the area, give it a try. Spring was a nice time, everything is in bloom. Pascual was surprised that such a large forested area even existed on the border of Berkeley and Oakland. I thoroughly recommend taking a look at your local regional parks website, and go see what is available in your area to explore. You never know, you may discover a new favorite place that you've never seen before. Here are some photos from the day.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Traveling for treasures

As anyone who knows me is aware, I will travel FAR with a big empty car to find cool art junk. I stop at all yard sales and flea markets, and I am always on the lookout for something I can use in my art classes with the kids.

My brother is turning a small box truck into a motorhome, with a garage in the back for his son to haul his motorcycles. I am thinking... hmm... I would like one of those for myself... I could fill it with supplies, and take it around to all the art retreats around the country, sell stuff at the vendor nites, and have lots of space to store stuff, and a place to sleep at nite while traveling around. It is the new gypsy wagon. Can't you see it, with a cool painting on the sides that says the art gypsy... It gives me a lot of ideas...

Soul Collage

Pascual and I went to a Soul Collage workshop on Valentines day, and he was such a great sport... Helping me make collages and visiting with all the ladies. He did some really cool ones himself. You can learn about Soul Collage here. It is a process of making your own personal power or divination cards, to help you look at issues in your life. It is a very personal and spiritual process. I want to start doing them with the kids in Juvenile Hall. These are the first two cards I made on Valentines Day.

When you are done making them , you go around the room and everyone reads their own card in what is like a channeled space. Another person scribes what you say and reads it back to you. I found this lady Sandy the facilitator on meetups.com and she is wonderful. If you live in the Bay Area, I would recommend a trip to her workshop to make some cards, it was a wonderful experience. I took my mom on Saturday and we both had such a great time...

I liked the fountain image, but when I turned it upside down, it looked exactly like the image I picture when I meditate, of what source energy looks like pouring down over me. I found the planet images to represent universal energy, and this is what came out... "I am the one who is the universal source of energy. I am the one who brings all the posibilities of the universe into being. I draw from many existances throughout the universe. I am all that is."

I loved the pregnant belly image, and I love clocks, I collect a lot of clock imagery. I had chosen the background of a firey star galaxy photo because I loved the colors. I put them together, and then went looking for a earth photo and found this one was perfect. I made the card in less that 5 minutes, the energy and creation if it just flowed. This is what I channeled: "I am the one who creates a new time in the world. I am pregnant with the possibilities of a new way of BEING on this planet. It is time to nurture and give birth to new ideas, taking the time to love ad grow while treating the planet with reverence and respect. My time is NOW. "

These cards I made on my second workshop day with my mother. Mom LOVED it, and had a lot of great information to share with everyone. Of course, she ROCKED at the channeling... but then she is a pro...

"I am the one who is drowning under the weight of unnecessary burdens. I add to these burdens by continually taking on more. The universe sends me tasks and challenges in small manageable pieces, and yet I let them overwhelm me. I need to be like the ice cube, and learn to float on top of the emotions, to stop fighting the current and let my life flow."

"I am the one who takes time to nurture herself. I am the one who moves effortlessly in a pain free body. I am grounded and centered when I make time for myself."

I have been trying to get the boys in my class to see beyond the images they are selecting... to find something different in the images that could make them something else entirely. I showed them these collages, and they were inspired. The light bulbs were popping on all over the room, and now I think they are getting it on a whole new level.

I love this medium... Any other Soul Collagers out there?

Happy Valentines Day

I had a sweet valentines day with my honey... I made a Paella and tapas for him, and homemade chocolate truffles. Of course I forgot to photograph them... He bought me lots of Chocolate... In Catalonia they celebrate a sweethearts day in April where the women buy the men books and the men buy the women a red rose... We usually attend a Catalan party celebrating this holiday in the city with our Spanish friends. Pascual is getting more accustomed to American traditions... He says ours are Hallmark holidays and Spanish holidays are religious... and the Spanish have many more holidays that we do. No wonder they are so relaxed over there, they get a long weekend every month just about.

Here is a photo of the heart box I got in the Diva Swap from Jeri. I LOVED everything in it... So many cool things, and some I have never seen before. She altered a chocloates box and filled it with all kinds of artful goodies. Thanks so much Jeri... it was PERFECT!