Happy Birthday Sarah and Olivia!
This is one of my favorite pictures of them. They were about two here. And here they are today, making the same silly faces. Thank you, sweet angels, for all that you have brought me. I cherish every day with you.
Welcome Home…and An Idea Taking Shape
I also came home with a book crystallized in my head. It’s been something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and a conversation I had with a homeless man on 5th Avenue helped it all fall into place for me. I’m drawn to those sitting on the ground for some reason, and I always stop and talk with a few that look capable and willing to carry on a conversation. I want to know their stories; I want to know how they got to this point in their lives; I want to know their wishes and their dreams. And I’ve seen that many times, just someone sitting down and talking to them, someone recognizing that, “Yes, I do see you there and, yes, you do matter,” can make a world of difference to them in ways that we may never be able to imagine.
The man I talked with Saturday was a Vietnam War vet who lost both legs to the war, but I heard no bitterness in his sweet soulful voice while we talked, only gratefulness for the conversation and the Coke I bought him. He had a beautiful black dog with him (yes, you know the dogs are always going to suck me in), and I was touched that he made sure his dog had everything he needed when he himself had so little. So there we sat…he in his wheelchair and me and his dog leaning up against a 5th Avenue purveyor of finery neither he nor I could ever afford, and we had a lovely chat. I’ve found that if you open yourself up to strangers, even those that most everyone else intentionally ignores, you often find blessings and reminders of how much you actually have to give to this world, and how much others can give to you. Remember my friend Franklin Fung Chow?
Gone Shoppin'
Moments That Take My Breath Away
That gets you through the day, ain’t what it’s all about,
You might just miss the point trying to win the race.
Life’s not the breath you take, but the moments that take your breath away.”
The Happy Book Travels
Love this turtle, so I did one of my pages next to it. This was a fun project, but I think what I enjoyed the most was being introduced to “The Happy Book” itself and seeing the joy in the girls as they read through the traveling copy we received. We decided to order or own copies to keep here and play with, one for each of us (though I must admit, I had a play date with my friend Dana recently and decided to give her my copy! I must order another!). I like how this book doesn’t have a beginning or an end; just open up a page and play. And I like how this book doesn’t involve “deep thinking.” It just asks you to think about fun memories or create new ones and to try to see the happy in everything you do. And as you already know, I fully believe happiness is a choice, and it’s up to each of us to make the most of what we have. The girls wrote about what makes them happy on the left page below; my second collaged page is on the right. What’s your happy moment today?
Get your own Happy Book here.
The Harvey Collection on Display!
A Bonus July Free Bling!
To be eligible to win, simply visit either of my Etsy shops (here for jewelry and here for photography) and leave a comment in the comment box below with the link to your favorite piece along with a way to reach you and where you’re from. Or email me with the subject line FREE BLING and let me know what your favorite piece is and include where you're from by midnight Thursday, August 5, 2010. Want two entries? Tweet, blog or Facebook this giveaway and leave a second comment with the link. The next winner will be drawn via random.org Friday, August 6, 2010. Don't want to miss a single Free Bling Friday? Click here to sign up for free weekly email updates or subscribe in the reader of your choice in the right column over there. Be sure to join my Facebook Fan page in the right column for Fan specials! Thanks for stopping in!
Nothing But The Book!
Best Shot Monday July 4th Style!
And just for good measure, here’s the girls and DH floating.
And since I haven’t shared a picture of Molly with you all grown up (most of the way anyway), here she is watching the action. She’s about eight months old now. We've finally decided she's a lab/shepherd mix, based on her behavior and her coat (she sheds like no dog I have ever seen.) Remember what she looked like when I brought her home? I hope all my stateside friends had a great Fourth of July holiday. Here is today's Best Shot Monday post over at Tracey's Blog. Go take a peek!
A Special July Free Bling!
For July, I have a bit of a twist for you. I’ve been talking with Connie of Dirty Footprints Studio quite a bit lately, and as luck would have it, she drew my name out of the hat to win a prize. One of my choices was her Art Journal LOVE Letters online class. Well, since I’m already taking that class, AWESOME!, I decided to choose that option anyway and give the class away as July’s Free Bling. So this month, you can win a little Art Journal Love Learnin’! Here’s what Connie says about the class…
“This is not just an online workshop. This is an online LOVE affair. Art Journal LOVE Letters is an experience for you to fall deeper in LOVE with Art Journaling and your own Creative Juicy Life. Consider me the Cupid of Creativity as I guide you through your Art Journal LOVE affair using inspiring prompts, ideas, fun techniques, and LOVE struck musings on the beauty of Art Journaling and truly living a Creative Juicy Life.” Don’t want to wait to win and instead want to sign up NOW!? Visit here!
To be eligible to win this extra special giveaway, simply visit either of my Etsy shops (here for jewelry and here for photography) and leave a comment in the comment box below with the link to your favorite piece along with a way to reach you and where you’re from. Or email me with the subject line FREE BLING and let me know what your favorite piece is and include where you're from by midnight Thursday, August 5, 2010. Want two entries? Tweet, blog or Facebook this giveaway and leave a second comment with the link. The next winner will be drawn via random.org Friday, August 6, 2010. Don't want to miss a single Free Bling Friday? Click here to sign up for free weekly email updates or subscribe in the reader of your choice in the right column over there. Be sure to join my Facebook Fan page in the right column for Fan specials! Thanks for stopping in! And hope over to Connie's 30 Journal 30 Days post featuring yours truly! And don't forget to take a peek my bonus July Free Bling here!