::elements of scribble::

welcome 2008, i am so glad you are here.

Grab a cup of tea and settle in for the first post of 2008.  Since I last posted I have left my job, moved away, celebrated Christmas, and started a new job.  I have lived in Richmond exactly a month and I am finally starting to settle in.  Being homesick was getting old (even though there are moments in each day where I just long to be back in Alexandria.)  I miss my friends, but I am starting to make new ones.  Having John here helps too!! 

One of the best things about moving into my new place...my HUGE, AWESOME, BEAUTIFUL art studio.  I have crafted up a storm in there...here are some new pages. (*click to enlarge.)

These are just a few of the already 7 I have created this year.  I love the layout on the left about feeling free.  2007 was all about discovery, tears, and a log of growing.  I am glad to have that layout as a reminder of what I have been through...especially getting to where I am now.  Where I am now is this; my hopes, goals & wishes for 2008.  These are listed in no particular order.

1. I would like run a 5K (actually run the whole time.)
2. To lose 34 lbs.
3. Go JTCC in May to start my web design program.
4. Get published (scrapbooking, cards or painting.)
5. Win an scrapbook/art contest.
6. Fill my etsy shop often.
7. Make one new girlfriend.
8. Take an art class at Visual Arts Center of Richmond.
9. Sign up for a Yoga class.
10. Cook dinner at least three times a week.
11. Get tattoo.
12. Be better about calling and communicating with my family & friends.
13. Floss.
14. Get facials.
15. Live simply.
16. Drink more water.
17. Get a puppy.
18. Make a page about my favorite, can do with out things.
19. Throw a wine and cheese party.
20. Continue to be kind to myself, cry if I have to, and live in the moment.

This is a start.  My start to 2008.  Cheers to a good year!

delish...

xoxo
jeny

so very much to be thankful for

for the first time in a few years this was a wonderfully peaceful and *yummy* thanksgiving.  I am so thankful that my family is starting to move in various directions and we are now at the summit of the mountain we have been climbing.  In a few short weeks I am moving to a new town, a new job, and a new adventure that I am anxiously excited for. 

Goodbye to the sadness here, goodbye to my sweet ham Triplee, my marriage, my old house, my calming condo, my job at EO, my sister who is moving on to a Brand New House in South Carolina.  Goodbye to the wonderful friends I have made here, the memories and the heartache.  This year has taught me that I am strong, that I can do anything I put my mind too and that I am comfortable for the first time being alone in my own skin.  Yes, I am ready for life.
xoxo jeny

april, may, june, july...a blur

Last time  I updated this blog, I was sitting in my hotel room at the four seasons, Tokyo.  Life certainly can hand you a whopping deck of cards when you aren't looking. 

Living in the moment is something that I have been striving for since early February and I actually feel blessed that I have worked so hard to find that balance, because life hasn't been very easy since that hotel room in Tokyo. 

I have lost alot, but I have gained a few things too.  I feel happy, content, grateful almost everyday now.  For the moment that is all I can ask for.  *jeny

The Journey::Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

through the darkness::there is light

I know that you lived a life full of adventure, hard work, and devout spirituality.  I will miss your kind soul.  Rest in Peace Grampy. 

This was a day filled with darkness and light.  It started with some VERY exciting news that I received over email.  News that I have been wishing for, hoping for, & dreaming for.  It is amazing that when you start putting positive things out there in the universe; they return to you in fantastic ways. 

Then I found out that my Grampy passed peacefully away around noon today.  My family sprang into action booking flights and making arrangements to make our way to Maine.  I am super lucky to have a wonderful mommy that  booked tickets for all of us to fly up there.  Can you believe that they are expecting snow while we are there!  It reminds you how big North America really is. 

Last night after Scrabble Sunday I came home to watch an old Elvis movie, 'Clambake" and work on a little scrapbook project.  This past week I got the Xyron Wishblade and promptly was SPARKED by creativity!  The Wishblade cuts letters out of ANY font you  have on your computer.  You can make the letters as big or as small as you want.  You can cut them out of pattern paper, scrap paper.....the possibilities have my head swimming.  You can create shapes and pretty much cut out anything you can think of.  On this page I cut the letters and the little tab (see photo below.)

I have been wanting a tab punch but couldn't find one in any of the stores around here, so I just created my own and "printed (cut)" out a bunch.  I just kind of created this page as I went. 

I used older American crafts paper, scrap kraft paper, black adhesive felt, 7 gypsies gaffers tape, copper ink, a star stamp and a black pen.  Ohhh...and my favorite tool of all... an old fashion glue stick!  Once I printed out the letters, I took the copper ink and stamp stars over different parts of the letters.  Kind of added a cool dimension.  I love projects like this, where you play and experiment and the page turns out just the way you want it to.  A fun little project for a Sunday night.   

This weekend I also got a package from Teresa Collins a FABULOUS designer with one of my favorite companies....Junkitz.  I won a contest on her blog and she sent me some of her papers, glitter letters and a cute little accordion book.  I can't wait to play with those papers.  And today, I got my March kit from jenni bowlin...*so yummers*.  Baby blue, white and black..the colors are so blissful. 

It is going to be a long week/weekend away from my new products.  It has been awhile since I got some new scrapbooking stuff and of course now that it is sitting around inspiring me I will be away from it.  Luckily I created a little "art journal" to take with me to Tokyo.  It is the perfect travel size art companion.  A little black book, staedtler pens, and my trusty glue stick.  More photos from this little guy next time.  I hope to just tear ephemera as I travel around Tokyo....eliminated the mounds of maps and things I usually bring home from a trip.   

Until then....
*jeny 

rush of memories

Today was a hard day.  Today I learned that my grampy has reached the end of his life.  I admire him for being brave enough to decide that he has had enough.  He has been sick for a few years, but this winter was especially hard on him.  I honestly could write for hours and still not be able to mention all the wonderful memories I have of him.  When my mom called me this afternoon I cried.  I cried because I suddenly felt like I couldn't remember anything about him.  I felt like I should have written down all his stories or little sayings.

I wanted to asked him again how to make molasses cookies or how to pray the rosary.  I wanted him to take me into his wood shop and show me how to make a  doll cradle; something he made for all his granddaughters.  I wanted to hear his gruff voice wake me up at 4AM so that he could take me to the lake to go fishing.  He isn't always warm and fuzzy, but he loves his grandchildren and there has never been any doubt about that. 

This past November during Thanksgiving my sister and I went to Maine to spend sometime with him.  We actually got to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with him and feel his excitement over having a glass of red wine.  He also scolded my sister and I for not immediately cleaning up after dinner!

After dinner, after dessert, and after cleaning up the kitchen I went upstairs to his room and asked him to teach me how to pray the rosary.  The church has always been so important to him and I wanted to have a piece of that with me.  I got out my rosary and followed along with him as we went bead by bead and prayed.  When we were done, my sister came into the room and we sat on his bed while he rocked in his rocking chair.  We started to ask him questions....things we had both wondered about.  He told us about his service in WWII, and how on a short leave his own mother didn't recognize him when he showed up at her front door.  He grew from a boy into a man.  We learned how he met grammy and that on the day of their wedding the coldest day of the entire year, the only way they could get to the church was in a limo belonging to the funeral parlor across the street. 

My grampy is full of talent and mischief and getting the chance to hear from him these moments; these memories that he treasured was awesome.  These are the moments when scrapbooking isn't about the newest paper, best photos, or perfect embellishment; it is about the stories and the voices that belong to them.  There will never be a moment that was as special as the thanksgiving eve my sister and I spent with him.  I know I will cherish that memory for the rest of my life. 

Grampy, I hope you know how much I will miss you. 

*jeny

quick & light

This is going to be quick tonight because I am excited to start working on a new project...let's just say I have a deck of playing cards and a really good idea!

First::  My good deed for today was calling my mom out of the blue, just to say hi.  I have been so hard on her for so long and I am doing my best to let her know that I love her and appreciate her.  After all, I learned recently that I got my "silliness" from her.

Second::  Since I am using this as a journal to help keep me in the moment, I wanted to share a few of my favorite foods.  As soon as there is a hint of warm weather my mind wanders to my most FAVORITE meal; Cucumbers & Tomato Salad with feta, olive oil and balsamic.  Yummy, yummy, yum!  It is so simple to make: 

A Quick Warm Weather Favorite

*1 Cucumber

*2 Roma Tomatoes

*Reduced Fat Feta Cheese crumbles

*EVOO (extra virgin Olive oil)

*Coarse Salt & freshly ground pepper

*Balsamic Vinegar is Optional.

Enjoy!

Third::  I don't spend nearly enough time talking about my little cutie pie.  Triplee, or Triplee Triperson, little ham, bean-sprout.  I love her so much and wanted to show a cute picture of her from this past weekend.  She is such a little cuddle bug.  Have a great night!  Off to craft.  Yup, I actually craft! 

*jeny

post #2...

So cool.  The past three months (well two.5) I have been really into learning about myself.  I love finding these cool personality quizzes.  If you are into color, take this test!  See you tomorrow...with photos! ::jeny m:: Congratulations. You are YELLOW. YELLOWS are motivated by FUN. They are inviting and embrace life as a party that they're hosting. They love playful interaction and can be extremely sociable. They are highly persuasive and seek instant gratification. YELLOWS need to be adored and praised. While YELLOWS are carefree, they are sensitive and highly alert to others' agendas to control them. YELLOWS typically carry within themselves the gift of a good heart.

YELLOWS need to look good socially, and friendships command a high priority in their lives. YELLOWS are happy, articulate, engaging of others and crave adventure. Easily distracted, they can never sit still for long. They embrace each day in the "present tense" and choose people who, like themselves, enjoy a curious nature. YELLOWS are charismatic, spontaneous, and positive; but can also be irresponsible, obnoxious, and forgetful. When others interact with you, as a YELLOW you respond to them best if they take a positive, upbeat approach and promote light-hearted, creative, and fun interactions with you.

Understand that no two YELLOWS are exactly alike. Although you share the same core motivation as many others, your personality is still unique to you alone.