off balance

 

If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are? T.S. Eliot

Scrapbook Inspiration

  

One of my favorite things to use merit badges for is scrapbooking or journaling. I like the simple idea of just pasting the badges into a moleskin journal and handwriting the tale of what was endured/accomplished/overcame to earn the badge.What a great gift that would be to give your kid when they have their first child!

If you are more talented with your memory preservation skills (as I am not) you can make something a bit nicer and more complete. This scrapbook was featured on write.click.scrapbook and designed by Elizabeth Dillow. I love the images, lengthy text and merit badge embellishment.

Have you used merit badges in a scrapbook? I would love to see!

merit badge tales- Michelle

Check out this funny story Michelle used to win a badge in a recent giveaway with Get Born magazine. I can really imagine this. I might have come close to living it! 
 
"I once showed up for an (adult) birthday party with my sweater around my waist and a sling across my chest because in the ten minutes it took me and my new infant to get out of the car and to the door, my baby had nursed and puked it up drenching my white shirt, pooped and put her foot in her diaper while I changed her then stamped her poop foot on my chest, and I stained my pants with unexpected post partum bleeding!!! I walked into that party like a battle-hardened warrior carrying a plate of cupcakes"

map of my heart

My daughter and I made maps of our hearts.  Mine in my journal, and hers on a piece of watercolor paper folded like a map.We were inspired by a local poetry coop and this post. What a sweet and contemplative project this was. Eva wrote about the things that were so important to her, like her imagination, pets, famuly (sic), friends, and breakfast. This is hanging in her room and so purely captures her at seven, with all her rainbow, sparkly self. I enjoyed making mine too, although it looks so restrained and organized compared to hers - such is the life of a grown up. This would be a great after dinner art project for a whole family to do - pretty simple and pretty revealing (mine has things like coffee and quiet creative time). We just used a black sharpie marker and watercolors. What else could you make a map of? A map of my brain? my desires? my favorite flavors? my previous homes? Endless.....

get a new perspective

Are you making resolutions this year? Lists of things you want to do more of, better, more efficiently?  Or things that you will stop doing all together? After  years of putting things like, "learn how to make puttanesca sauce" on my list, I decided to try something different. Inspired by this post several years ago, I have switched to a single word.  I love the contemplation of this one, single word. What is the one thing I need more of this year? How can I distill all my wishes into one word? It is a challenge, but one that has given me more energy and hope than the huge bucket lists I have made in the past. 

So, this year my word is tend.  A simple word that is not nearly as flashy or impressive as words in the past - but one that really captures what I need to do this year, which is to take care of what I have. I want to tend to my electronic files and finances, my micro businesses, my garden, my sewing and creative attempts, my relationships, my health, my community, this website.  I do not need to seek anything new, just cherish and nourish the riches that are all around me. 

I still have some BIG goals in my future (India!), but I think I will get to them by tending to all the threads in the rich web of my life. The stronger my web is, the more I will catch (as opposed to years past where I was constantly casting about - like the spider hanging on a long silk, ballooning around wondering why she is not catching any insects.)

If you could pick a word for your year, what would it be?

Happy New Year

 

This is what I will be eating tomorrow. As a transplanted midwesterner, I have a weird relationship with southern food culture. On my first day of elementary school I did not recognize any of the food on my lunch tray. There were grits, greens, and ham (all freshly made in the cafeteria kitchen). When I worked at my first corporate job, several women threw me a party with the intent of introducing me to all the southern delicacies I was ignorant of.

Many years later, I am coming around. I am now in bona fide love with collards and all other greens- albeit with out the hamhock. I can make a mean red velvet cake and might even be able to tell you the difference between Georgia and South Carolina BBQ. So, I look forward to ringing in the new year with black eyes peas (hoppin john), rice and collards. There might even be some sweet tea and a peach cobbler. 

The New York Times just published a great piece on the cultural roots of this meal that will make it even more special as I remember the people who brought these foods to America from Africa. Read it here.

As I look forward to the new year, I am glad to have something so special that ties me to the past. I wish the same for you! Happy 2001!

Pickle Jar Exchange

 

I have an amazing group of friends that I meet with each month for a night of creativity, conversation and laughter. Each month a different woman hosts and leads in teaching a creative skill. Usually there is some creative writing project too. 

We have candle dipped, sewn, paper mached, wove, made books, made vision boards and more. I love this night more than any other during the month and leave feeling energized and nourished. 

One recent project had everyone bringing many slips of paper with quotes, affirmations and inspiring words.

The idea came from an aunt who had a paper slip filled pickle jar sitting on her counter and used it as a go to for pick me ups. 

Feeling dejected? Go to the pickle jar! Wondering what to do? Go to the pickle jar!...... It will you give you the guidance and perspective you need.  

I love the idea and was lucky enough to find a great shaped pickle jar with a green top. I look forward to sharing it with my kids and husband as it becomes a fixture on our counter too.