photo friday: rainbow

Just a few of my many hair colors over the years.

love is in the air

It's Valentine's Day!

Seeing as my main goal in life is to be a living cartoon character, of course I had to go all out with my neon pink wig, patterned tights and cotton candy faux fur coat. I mean, really now, could you resist these tights? I do not think so. They are adorable.


For her classmates, Autumn made cards with a classic design that I remember from my grade school days; Valentine mice (though she decided they're rats. I wonder why)! Everyone knows how to make these, right? Fold a paper heart in half...

add a face and a ribbon tail...

repeat until a horde of paper rats takes over your kitchen table.

Quick, simple and cute. She loved making cards for her friends by hand. I'm happy to see that she has such a great appreciation for handmade touches like these. It's something that has always been important to me, and I hope to pass those values on to her.

Speaking of cute and handmade, how sweet is this little guy?!

His name is Valentino, and he was made by my good friend Alexz of Spooky Pooky Creations. I won him in a giveaway she held on her Facebook page, and when he arrived in the mail I couldn't stop hugging him. Autumn attempted to steal him from me, but this little baby is all mine. No matter how old I get, I will always be a sucker for plushies, especially the handmade ones. I just adore that pouty little face.

Now I'm off to confiscate some of those Valentine's day candies Autumn got from school. You know, because too much sugar is bad for her. Not because I'm going to eat it. At all.

Happy Valentine's Day!

photo friday: in progress

Zombies!

photo friday: sushi

Chicken Walnut Roll from Sushi Hana in Towson, MD: tempura chicken and fresh apples inside a roll topped with walnuts and a sweet sauce.

I could eat sushi every day. For reals. When I moved to Maryland I was surprised to find that the Baltimore area is chock full of fantastic sushi restaurants. This meal is from one of my favorites. The combination of warm chicken, crisp apples, crunchy walnuts and the tangy sweet sauce is to die for. Just looking at this makes me hungry for it again.

resolutions

Every December 31st, I tend to make new year's resolutions that are all about less.
Spend less. Argue less. Worry less. Weigh less, and so on. There are so many things we all feel that we need to take out of our lives. So many things to subtract. But this year? This year I want to focus on more.

Cook more.

Paint more.

Glitter more.

Learn more.

Photograph more.

Laugh more.

2012 will be my year of more. Instead of listing all the things I need to take away, I'm going to devote more time to all the wonderful, joyful, creative things I can add to make life better for myself and the people I love.

Take a moment today to ask yourself what your world could use more of. Sometimes all that's missing is you.






P.S. And yes, blog more.

happy

photo credit: Tantalizing Enigma Photography

I keep telling myself I'm going to start blogging regularly again, and I keep putting it off. Not because I don't want to, but I never think I have anything worth saying anymore. Maybe I don't, but I figured today, my birthday, is as good a time as ever to drag my ass back here.

The last time I blogged about my birthday, my life was very different. I was very different. Since then I have changed in many ways, mostly good, some...not so much. I have experienced much, and learned even more. I've learned that I am the only person in charge of me, and I cannot sit back and rely on others to decide my fate. People may influence my life for better or worse, but at the end of the day, I'm calling the shots, and I have learned when and how to make better, smarter choices. I spent a long time playing a passive role in my life story, and I'm done with that version of myself.

In this moment my life is, with very few exceptions, exactly what I want it to be. I have a home. I have my daughter back. I am comfortable with my place in the world. I cut my hair, I lost 15 pounds, I'm on my way to becoming the person I wished I was two years ago. Sometimes I struggle with the bills, sometimes Autumn misses living with both of her parents, sometimes I feel overwhelmed. What matters is that I go to bed every night in a place where I feel safe and loved. Things are good, and they're getting better.

SHE'S BACK.

And she's already making art...

making friends...
and making herself at home here.
I've spent the last few days just soaking up her sunshine. She's at least a head taller and missing several more teeth since she left for California last year. I'm finding so much happiness in little things I used to take for granted. Brushing her hair, making her breakfast, folding her laundry. I have missed all of these things so much.

I have missed blogging. I've had plenty to write about, but I guess I just haven't felt inspired or motivated enough to sit down and do it. Now that Tiny Small is here to stay, I think I'll get right back to writing and sharing here. In November I found us a two bedroom apartment in the suburbs of Baltimore county. It's nothing fancy, but it's home.

I love our life here. It's a much needed new beginning for both of us.