My list of happy

1. The 2nd week back to school after a month off of for my daughter.  The first week back is always the biggest adjustment.  I almost always look to the first week thinking "I've got this" but by midweek I'm just done.

2.  Creative Live and April Bowles Olin (of Blacksburg Belle).  April's 3-day class "Build a Successful Creative Blog" on Creative Live was (is) such a good class.  I still can't believe that since I watched it live it was FREE.  There is no question in my mind that it was worth the time. I'm slowly but surely going to be implementing many ideas from this class right here!  Yay!

3. It's been about 2 weeks but we've finally gotten everything over to a newer computer.  I wasn't able to download pictures until the weekend.  It felt so good.  There were well over 500 pictures on my phone alone from our vacation.  The download from my camera comes next.

4. Cinnamon sugar bacon waffles.  My daughter comes up with these crazy (good) food combos.  So darn good!  I love the sweet and salty flavor combo.  That was probably the first time in more than 9 years that I used the waffle maker.  Way messier and much more fun than I remembered.

Ultimate Blog Challenge

Today is day 30 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  I didn't make it to 30 posts.  This is my 15th post this month.  What I've learned:
1. I actually like blogging.  Even if nobody else reads what I have to say, it's cool looking back to reflect over the past month.  This blog has been a digital journal of a portion of my life.  
2. April isn't the best month for me to make month long commitments since my daughter is off school for most of the month and we often take a vacation, well, we did.
3. 15 posts is progress since I had only posted 6 times between February and March.
4. I didn't stop going when I could have said, "screw it" when I knew there was no way I could accomplish the goal of 30 posts.  I'm not disappointed.
5. I'm glad I participated.  It's been a great jump start to blogging.

Now that the month is over, I'm really looking forward to doing more blogging and continuing to create my own structure in which to do it.

My list of happy

Now that I've been back almost a week (where did the time go?  No, seriously, where did the past week go?).
1. Road trip in California with my honeys. Time to chat and time to be.
2. Tour of Hearst Castle.  Such a fascinating place.
3. Monterey:  Grilled artichokes (where have you been all my life?) in Monterey.  Monterey Bay Aquarium. Watching my daughter fall in love with sea otters.
4. More driving.  Text updates with my sister.
5.  Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.  Such amazing towering trees.
6. Santa Cruz.  Sea lions, surfers, dolphins!
7. Lots of fun and laughs with my family.
8. Business in my Etsy shop when I reopened my shop after my vacation.  Yay!
9. Home Sweet Home, once again :)

Welcome to my sketchbook!

I started keeping a sketchbook of whimsical girls  around August of last year.  I'd bring my sketchbook, pencils and other supplies to have something to do while my daughter was at her dance class.  When she was switched into a higher level class on a different day and time, I stopped doing it for a while.  This was my first time since February.  I'm not aiming for perfection but improvement.

Do you have something you do a little at a time with the aim of improving your skill? 

Super easy canvas!

Here is a super easy way to add something special to your home decor.
canvas (I used a 6"x6")
envelope seal or sticker (I used an envelope seal from my shop, The Whimsical Muse on Etsy)
1. Grab a canvas and envelope seal
2. Apply the seal where you want it on the canvas. You could even add more than one seal. 
3. You're now ready to hang or place the canvas where ever you'd like.
It's that easy!

I have some other ways I will be sharing on using these envelope seals in the coming weeks.

 Have you ever thought about what else you might do with the glitter heart envelope seals from The Whimsical Muse on Etsy (or other fun stickers or seals?), aside from using them as envelope seals or stickers on a card or scrapbook page? 

Did you see the lunar eclipse?

Did you have a chance to see the lunar eclipse on Monday night/Tuesday morning? Normally, I would have  skipped it, especially since my family members were each asleep in their respective beds, but I was intrigued.  I wondered what I'd actually be able to see of this "blood moon."  When I saw it, I was really struck by the intensity of color and how well I could see it without using binoculars or a telescope. I imagine it would have been really great to be able to see it better. 

Did you see the lunar eclipse on April 14th -15th?  What did you think? 

The Whimsical Muse...Crochet School?

I took my daughter who is 8 years old with me when I went to buy some yarn the other day.  She asked me if maybe I could teach her to crochet.  Thinking about how much she's improved with her crafting and how she's really into Rainbow Loom, I figured it would be as good a time as any to start to teach her.  We got out some of the yarn I don't have plans for and I showed her some basics: how to make a knot, chain and single crochet.  Talk about great quality time!  We spent time together doing something that I enjoy when I want something to do with my hands and that she's been wanting to learn.  We both laughed so hard when she used the same hole over and over and created an accidental but really pretty wave in the crochet.  I had only taken my attention off of her and what she was doing for a few minutes.  She decided to get rid of the wave but it would have totally worked to keep it. 

I have vague memories of my grandmother teaching me how to crochet when I was young.  It was something she did often and really well.  I think it was my mom who taught me to knit. 

What kinds of things have you taught your children?  What did your parents or grandparents teach you?