one moment: new beginnings

Many moments this month have been about new beginnings, the start of my favorite season; fall, a baby shower for a good friend who is having twins (yay!), a wedding shower for someone I've been friends with for over a decade and our family embarked on the search for a new rental home. In the midst of all the moving talk my 7 year old son got himself hooked on the HGTV show House Hunters. He has been recording episodes like a mad man and was so excited last week when we started looking. He loved every house he saw and wanted to discuss all the options just like on the show. It's been pretty cute. We have even discussed careers building houses, designing houses and decorating houses. He says he would like to design houses and some buildings too but no bigger then 5 stories, because he doesn't heights.

Funny how house hunting goes, we saw an apartment and 3 houses the first day. We saw a really cute house in a nice neighborhood and we thought it was a great fit for us. After a day or two I started worrying about the size of the home and how we would fit everything. My need to explore as many options as I can kicked in and we were on the prowl driving around neighborhood to neighborhood and of course searching online. After seeing a number of different options we came right back to the first house we liked. We went back to see it a second time and this time I brought a tape measure, took down all the rooms measurements and created the little layouts above. Once I figured it all out I found that everything fit wonderfully. I totally should have done that the first time around and I could have saved us the wild goose chase - then again I probably would have done the exact same thing! We were approved for the house this week and will be moving 2 weeks from now. New beginnings are certainly a challenge but also a wild adventure full of unexpected surprises.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

showing off new photos of my shop's necklace lineup

I recently picked up a neck piece in an effort to show clearer pictures of the necklaces I have for sale in my shop. I have tried to draping them in creative ways and photographing myself wearing them but neither of those really worked out. So, for now, this is the best way I can think of to show how each necklace design drapes and fits. Do you think these photographs would help you as a customer visualize wearing the design?

Delicate Multi Strand Necklace - Dainty, bohemian, shabby chic.

 

Blue and White Necklace - Nautical, bold, beachy chic.

 

Vintage Inspired Crystal Brooch Necklace - Statement, sparkle, rocker glam.

 

Blue and White Braided Necklace - Fresh, delicate, beachy chic.

 

Red, Copper and Brass Braided Necklace - Earthy, delicate, bohemian chic.

 

 

Cream and Yellow Braided Topaz Crystal Necklace - Sparkly, romantic, casual chic.

 

Red and Brown Chevron Hand Painted Necklace - Earthy, rustic, bohemian chic.

potatoes and peas in red curry

This Meatless Monday post comes from a cookbook I am currently reading, Gourmet Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Lynn Alley. I have made this recipes 3 times in the last 2 weeks because of how much my husband and I love it!

Potatoes and Peas in Red Curry

2 pounds small red potatoes, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1 yellow onion, sliced vertically
1 can of coconut cream (I used 1 can coconut milk)
2-3 tablespoons red curry paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce (I omitted this)
1 large sweet potato, peeled can cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup frozen peas
Salt to taste
1/2 cup dry roasted cashews (I omitted these)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Wash potatoes and add them with the onion into the slow cooker. Mix coconut cream (or milk), red curry paste, sugar and soy sauce together and pour over potatoes. Cover and cook on low for about 3 hours (potatoes should be a little tender when pierced with a fork).

Add sweet potato, cover and cook on low for about 2 1/2 hours or until all potatoes are tender. Add peas and salt to taste and cook uncovered for 15 minutes longer. Add cashews and cilantro to each serving. 

I serve it with rice but, you could also eat on its own. 

Learn about the Meatless Mondays Campaign

jewelry display ideas for your home or craft booth

 I found this idea over at Apartment Therapy.

I am sharing a mammoth roundup of simple and inspiring ideas for displaying your jewelry over at Soft Flex Company's blog today. There are many beautiful ideas for your home and with some of you gearing up for holiday craft shows I hope some of these ideas inspire you for your booth too!

you have my heart

Then, 2001

Bert and I have been married for 10 years today! We celebrated last week by spending the day driving north with stops at Sedona and Flagstaff along our way to the Grand Caynon. We had long walks, delicious quiet (kid-free) meals together, and a precious night of just the two of us. It was awesome.

Now, 2011

Today we celebrate all that we have been through together ... friendship, love, growth, adventure and of course our share of challenges. I am grateful that we have always worked through our challenges together. We truly adore each other. I can literally spend all day wasting my time with with my husband (and many days we do just that) without every tiring of his presence. I am grateful to have a constant source of love in my life and am so thankful for this man, our family and the life we have built together. 

Bert, you have my heart.

tukula head wraps

My package of head wraps from Tukula arrived! I have been pretty excited about these beauties. Just look at them, such wonderful patterns and colors! They come in a set of 3 random African prints, not knowing what would arrive was definitely part of the fun.

Tukula is a cause driven business dedicated to investing in Ugandan entrepreneurs. Artisans are paid an above average wage in return for quality handmade products which leads to healthier families, economic development, and responsible consumerism. Visit there website here and facebook page here.

I wore the orange pattern today, and in fact I still have it on! Sorry for the slightly creepy picture of me. I was trying to get a good angle of the head wrap, I usually squint in pictures and I am trying to work on that. haha.

I wear my hair up in a bun or pony most days so, having these bold and beautiful head wraps will make me look good and feel good with little effort, easy peasy. The one I'm wearing now has stayed put all day without the need for any bobby pins and it is so comfortable. Aren't new accessories fun?!

ced: history at the grand canyon

This month's creative every day theme is history, so, today I'll share with you some pictures from our trip to the grand canyon last week. The Grand Canyon reveals a beautiful sequence of rock layers that serve as windows into time.

From Wikipedia: The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery. It is considered a Wonder of the Natural World.

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile (6,000 feet / 1,800 metres) Nearly two billion years of the Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists, recent evidence suggests the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River continued to erode and form the canyon to its present-day configuration.

one moment: a grand day

My one moment this week was at the majestic Grand Canyon. Bert and I traveled north for an early celebration of our 10th wedding anniversary. Despite living in Arizona for 13 years neither of us had been and thought it was about time we went. It was magnificent. Truly a wonder to behold. I felt so tiny and insignificant in the presence of this massive canyon with its layers of time preserved in the rock. Sure puts things in perspective. My husband and I laughed at my ever increasing deep conversations that had us pondering everything that came to mind at that time and space.

I have much to be grateful for ... the cancellation at the historic El Tovar that allowed us to get a room right on the canyon at the last minute, my mother in law for watching the boys and our dog Chloe, the beautiful road trip Bert and I took there with stops for breakfast in scenic Sedona and lunch in downtown Flagstaff, and mostly for the soulful and loving memories the canyon brought to us in celebration of our 10 years together.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad,
ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

sketching mandalas

a peek inside my sketchbook ...

one moment: stomach pains

This cactus looks like my stomach felt - Phx Desert Botanical Garden

So after a very nice week of hitting the trail each morning my OM moment was being hit with stomach pains for 5 days. Out of nowhere I felt my stomach swell and a pain emerge on my right side and lower back. It was a pain I had once before, while vacationing in New York this past June. I thought the pain was from too many protein bars while traveling but, alas no protein bars where had leading up to this past Saturday. I found out that I have a family history of gallbladder issues and I think I am experiencing them too. On Sunday I started researching online and I found gallbladderattack.com. It has a wealth of diet information. Bert ran out for beets for me to eat to help my pain and it worked so, now I'm trying to change my diet to be gallbladder friendly. According to the website I should avoid eating greasy fried food, meat, dairy and gluten. Yikes!

I finally started feeling better Wednesday night and by Friday I was back to eating 3 meals. I am currently meat and dairy free. On a positive note, I lost 4 pounds this week making my total weight loss 6 lbs in 2 weeks. Sweet! I picked up a vegetarian cookbook at the library and made my first meal last night ... potato and peas in red curry sauce ... yum! If you have a veggie recipe you love, please share it with me. I'd love to try it.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

september biz goals

August was a great month of creative energy. Being an August baby, I always make sure to have a good time in August (no matter how stinking hot it is here in Arizona). The kids are back in school, they are really enjoying learning and the new activities they are experiencing. Ethan is learning the violin this year and Hudson is giddy about everything at school especially computer lab and P.E. I am enjoying everyone in the house being back on a regular schedule. 

August Goals

• promote etsy birthday sale - did this all month and had a few sales!
• finish "blue" bracelet I started - need to pick up crimps before i can finish
• creative every day challenge check in, theme this month is "red"- blogged here and here.
• create a 35 before 35 list - Fun! I tweaked it a bit all month and I think I am happy with the final list here. Now the real fun will be doing these things
• play with new watercolor paints and paper - this has been great 
• continue preparing for move - Put this out of my mind for the month, I needed a break.
• make time to move - family walks, yoga and dance - I started walking my myself in the morning and took the kids a couple of evenings. I hiked tonto natural bridge with my family and I joined a friend's yoga class one night which was wonderful.
• others things i accomplished this month ... opened a fine art america shop, although not ready to show it yet, posted new braided necklaces for sale in my etsy shop, made my first hemp necklace, created the teach play love painting for our dear daycare provider who we said goodbye too as our youngest child went off to elementary school and lastly finished commissioned painting for a baby girl's nursery.

 September Goals

• creative every day challenge check in, theme this month is "history"
• play with new watercolor paints and paper
• work on this blog pages: design, invitation and praise
• work on fine art america shop
• create necklaces with art pendants I made a few months ago
• outright accounting program
• pick up on preparing for move
• make time to move - family walks, yoga and dance

If you would like to join in the Meetup biz goals fun, head on over to Athena Dreams to read more about how we support one another and how to join in.