Feb 8

Day 12: Self Portrait

Day 4: Happy New You!

Jeff, another friend, and myself are having a small 4 month challenge to lose 25 lbs. Pictured above is the base of a veggie soup to be eaten throughout the week. I guess I have fear of failure of actually losing the weight or being able to stick to any sort of plan. Getting an inhaler for the first time in my life has shown me, though, that I really need to start taking care of myself. I have found that certain foods may be triggering my allergies and I have to figure out which foods and environmental allergens are effecting me.

Day 2: Return to the Couch!

Black Friday Faces! 4 AM!

SO I didn't intend on doing Black Friday shopping at 4 am but my second oldest son came into my bedroom at 3 am that morning and accidentally woke me up so rather than sit in the dark I decided I'd go shopping super early and take my younger sister with me...

Media Blackout...

starting tomorrow, I will be kicking and screaming as I endure a media blackout as well as a blackout from reading of any kind and that includes blogs! I am working my way through "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. Week 4 requires that I do no reading of any kind and fill my time with other endeavors. SO, see you next Tuesday unless I cheat which is always possible.

Self Portrait Before Date...

Jeff and I will have been together for 19 years in a week or so. We've been married for 13 of those years. We went out this weekend...

Future Studio...

Today was the day set aside to regain/gain some divine mojo as deemed by a fellow blogger, Megg. This morning I awoke planning to set aside the day to start making the space in our carriage house/barn deemed as mine, my own. This meant cleaning and going through boxes from our move eight years ago consisting of art school memorabilia and lots of negatives, photographs, and obsolete photography equipment mixed with some dried up clay and glazes. Throughout the day, I started to feel overwhelmed but I knew that today was divine mojo day and somehow that reminded me that I need to quiet those damned negative voices that normally keep me stagnant. I decided that rather than one day for divine mojo, I am going to dedicate the rest of this week to the project. I fully intend to write down all the negative things I tell myself, burn them up and release them to God to be replaced with positive energy and thoughts. Awhile ago the following verse from the Bible came to have new meaning for me,

"Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Before whenever I read this verse, I only heard the negative side of what it could mean... what I shouldn't be thinking about or watching on TV or listening to or whatever. Lately, though, it's taken on a deeper meaning for me... I think this verse means that we should focus on the positive things in life and ignore the negative voice in our head telling us that we aren't good enough, that there will never be enough time, that we are too old, etc. So, for me, finding divine mojo means taking this verse to heart.

The Outside:



Panorama of the inside (BEFORE)

After 10 Hours Driving...

two blown out tires in two days, one piece of metal hanging down in the wheel well, pulling a camper with no view of what's behind me, and no air conditioning for the final 10 hour drive... A drive that should've taken two days total driving 6 hours each day and stopping for the kids sake dragged out instead to four days, driving only an hour or two each day until the last day where I drove about 10 hours, but with many stops. I am just about decompressed and wish I had had my camera with me because I do have stories to tell. ;)

Hot and Humid!

Waist. Waste?

The Difference Still Remains...

My right foot is so much less swollen but nevertheless it still doesn't look like my left.

Eyes after Counseling

What Lies Beneath...

I took a bath the night I got the cast off and really, really wanted to take an "after" shot... meaning after all those disgusting layers of skin came off. My foot looks nice and pink now.

82/365 Spring Self Portrait in Pink

The Buzz Coffee...

The cup you see is the cup design I used for my short-lived coffee bar... The Buzz. We probably have about 250 of these cups left to use if not more. But, it's all good. It was all worth the experience and wasn't a huge outlay of cash.



And, a good ole self portrait...

Cast Off, Cast On

4 weeks in this one and then x-rays and hopefully a walking boot.

Indulge Me: Jalissa or Deff... You Decide!

Sorry, I just had to post more from Saturday night at Jess's house. I thought this had a photo booth feel. Being at Jess's with Jeff really made me realize that Jeff and I need to get out of our house and out with others more often. We had a great time and it was very relaxing.

Pain!

I am not looking for sympathy. This is how I feel in more ways than one. Having a cast makes my leg feel claustrophobic especially at night. And, the pain goes in and out.

The bright side: I've played more chess and Barbies than I have in a long, long time.

Waiting Room with Red Fluevog and Red Purse...