Who Doesn't Want to Be Overloaded with Cute?

Even though I am still mad that the above picture of Pip has not been included on their site, I can't help but love CuteOverload.com.  I mean, I know that every mom sees her baby as being the smartest/brightest/cutest kid ever, but I really think there is something extra special about a dog enjoying an Italian Cream soda to this degree.  

Anyways, the Cute Overload page is an instant mood lifter.  Try it.  I dare you not to smile while you scroll through the first page of cuteness.  Unless you are a serial killer or some sort of boogie man, you're bound to succumb to the adorableness of it all. 

They now also have daily calendars out, so if for some reason you can't access their webpage from your desk, you can still get a picture a day of super cuteness.

Bookmark this page so that the next time you feel the inclination to kill or maim your boss/child/parent you can get a boost of good cheer.  

Pinterest - An Organization Junkie's Heaven...

I read many craft and do-it-yourself blogs.  About a year ago I saw a theme emerging among the blogs I read - references to a site called Pinterest.  Bloggers were going ga-ga over it.  It required an invitation to join, and I figured it was just a silly time waster.  I didn't give it much more thought.  But the rave reviews continued and it became so prominent amongst the popular blogs I read that I thought there must be something to it.  I requested my invite and finally visited the site.  

Oh me, oh my!

I'm ridiculously organized, and Pinterest spoke first to me on that level.  A place where I could collect the pieces of the web that most interest me in a visual yet organized place.  Pinterest is basically a virtual bulletin board.  Each user can create "boards" that he/she names.  For example, some of my boards are labeled "beauty", "inspirational" and "for the kitchen".  Then I can browse through thousands of images that others have pinned.  When something attracts me, I can "pin" it to a board of my own creation. So, for example, makeup tips could be pinned to my beauty board, a great quote would go on my inspirational board, and a great refrigerator on my kitchen board.  I can then pull up the boards individually and see what is on each one.  Clicking the picture will link me to the external site where the pin originated.  

I love the variety I find on Pinterest.  I've seen everything from date night ideas to how to remodel my kitchen, to books, quotes and suggested recipes.  I can think of no other place where so many of my interests of such a wide variety are ALL inspired.  Pinterest seems to have no limits to the amount of topics it can represent.  Thus, I never get bored with it.  Always, always, there is something new to see.  

Pinterest is perfect for planning.  Whether it's planning for a teacher, a wedding, a party or a holiday, I can search Pinterest for theme specific ideas.  I then get to seperate and categorize them any way I want.  Right now I am considering ideas for the Fourth of July.  I have a board for decorations, one for food, and one for crafts related to that holiday specifically.  I have seen amazing collections of wedding ideas and they have so inspired me that I wish I could get married all over again! (But to the same guy - don't worry!)  I wish Pinterest had been around six years ago when we got hitched.  Teachers would find Pinterest a perfect way of finding new ideas and collecting them.  There's no limit to who might find inspiration here - men, women, children, professionals, stay at home moms - everyone is represented on Pinterest .

I hate to cook.  I hate deciding what to cook.  The recipes on Pinterest make life easier, and the fact that most of them are represented by images and not just words makes it even better.  The biggest downfall of Pinterest is all the crazy goodies and yummy dishes.  I get hungry every time I go on there, even if I just ate.  Desserts, main dishes, wedding cakes, birthday cakes, cheesecakes, on and on and on - it's just a food lover's paradise!  So be forewarned- it's not easy to resist the pull of the great food ideas.  But the fabulous cooking/baking tips will make your time spent in the kitchen better.

Hobbies and crafts are abundant on Pinterest.  I have been doing Becky Higgin's Project Life this year and Pinteresters went crazy posting delightful suggestions, ideas and all around juicy goodness when it comes to Project Life.  I have also completed two Modge Podge projects - the lampshades and the boxes.  I have an abundance of craft ideas pinned on my boards. What I love about this is that it's inspirational, and also that when I am in the mood to put my creativity to good use but am unsure about what I want to work on, I only have to browse my boards to find a good project to start.  Creatives, especially, must find Pinterest a lovely place to exist.  

Pinterest can be a great representative of who I am.  I have pinned everything from clothes that I love to jewelry that delights me.  Not only could Kyle or anyone else look at my pins and get ideas on what I like, but it is an insight into who I am.  Like a collage that represents  me, my boards and pins are a reflection of the many components that make me me.  I have found my pins to give me important information into what I really want, need and who I really am.  Because my collections there are just for me, I do not feel pressure to like what others like.  I get to collect what really speaks to me personally.  It's an adventure in discovering what I'm really about, which is exciting!

Finally, Pinterest is just very fun and relaxing for me.  I love to wind down at the end of a day by pinning and browsing.  Kyle usually watches TV and I sit beside him browsing Pinterest.  It always has something new to see, and I notice Kyle watching over my shoulder much of the time.  It's wonderful to spend time selecting and organizing that which pleases me, and better yet having it all in one place for me to reference at any time I like.  


Oh, and my favorite board?  Happy Memories, my collection of all that made my childhood pleasant.  What boards are your favorites? 

Oh, Facebook...How I Love Thee!

In the beginning of my life as a social networking junkie, I preferred Myspace.  I thought Facebook was bland, and Myspace could be spiffed up with all sorts of cool backgrounds and animated graphics.  I loved the personalization that could make it all my own.  Most everyone I knew was also using Myspace, so it made sense to use it.  As more and more of my friends dropped their Myspace accounts and went with Facebook, I began looking into it a little more.  I didn't want to keep up with two different sites, so I had to pick which one to go with.

Before long, I eliminated my Myspace account and went completely with Facebook.  Myspace was getting crowded with personalization.  Glittery and obnoxious became the normal look for many sites.  What once seemed boring on Facebook became appealing - a simplistic look that let the content speak for itself rather than the fancy flashing images and background songs.  

I loved that so many of my extended family members were on Facebook already.  Aunts, uncles and cousins whom I had had little contact with over the years were suddenly updating me on their lives and I loved the connection.  Since we are spread out over the country and we don't really have reunions or anything, Facebook was the next best way to stay in touch with each others and follow the ups and downs.  Instead of getting one letter at Christmas with all the year's details, I began to know my family more intimately and I love this!  I have always wanted a big, close-knit family, so keeping in touch on Facebook helps me feel connected to the family that otherwise might have slipped out of my life.  

I've also tracked down people from my childhood who made a huge impact on me but who I might not otherwise have reconnected with.  I got to reach out to Kandi, my best friend from fifth and sixth grades, who I lost touch with a couple years after moving away.  Ms. Sulzen, an amazing volleyball coach and teacher's aid from those same years who made me feel special and whom I adored.  My fourth grade teacher.  I have been able to tell people how much they impacted my life all because we found each other again on Facebook. 


I love the ability of sharing photos and video through Facebook. I get to watch nieces and nephews and second cousins grow up.  I can virtually visit their recitals, see their artwork and be amazed with their rapid growth.  I can tell them I'm proud of them and let them know I care.  I live vicariously through photos of friends' vacations, their captured shots of first holding their newborn, or give them condolences when they have suffered a loss.  I get to be there for them in a way I probably wouldn't have without Facebook. 


I can use the groups feature to connect with people with other interests.  I don't necessarily have to link them to my personal profile, either.  I can simply interact with them in the context of the group without divulging more personal information that I'd rather keep more private.  I can update group members easily and all at once, and likewise I receive updates from the group without having to visit a large number of individual sites.  Everything is housed under one umbrella for easy access.  

I can link my friends to items of interest to me, and likewise they can link me to theirs.  We can also share pertinent information with other people when we think it will be of interest to them.  This is important to me since I love learning and connecting with people who also love it.  Often, the items they find important are significant to me also.

I love the comments feature of Facebook.  Sometimes it's just fun to read what others think about what I've posted.  Or, maybe I need some advice or suggestions from friends and I can get that all in one place without having to track people down individually.  Comments make me laugh, sometimes cry, or inspire me.  

The messaging feature is fun for "chatting" with friends and family.  Especially in those wee hours of the morn when I cannot sleep.  I log onto Facebook and see which of my fellow insomniacs are awake, and we can keep each other company.  Or we can just chit chat back and forth as we watch the same movie or TV show.  Even though we're not together in person, we are sharing life in real time. 

While face to face interaction would be my preferred method for connecting, that's just not as realistic in today's world.  Everyone seems so busy with their individual endeavors, their jobs, their hobbies, their kiddos.  Families are spread across the country and event the world.  Friends are not always able to visit as much as I'd like, nor am I able to visit them as much.  Facebook is an adequate substitute for me.  I'd rather get what I can through Facebook than not have that interaction at all.  

Of course there are drawbacks and issues in regard to Facebook, but overall it enhances my life in many ways.  I love that I can log on at my convenience and be updated about the people who are important to me.  I love that I can participate in their lives and they in mine.  It's not as good as "the real thing", but I'll take what I can get.  

21 Things...

Pip loves the Internet, too!  But he gets tuckered out from the excitement.

 I spend a significant amount of time online, and I have been amazed with some of the great places I've found to learn, amuse myself or explore.  I thought I would share 21 of my favorites over the next few blog posts.  

I first went online in around 9th or 10th grade, I'm guessing.  I set up my first email account on Yahoo! in 1999.  I visited my first chat room in the summer of 1999.  I immediately fell in love with the 'nets ability to connect me to the world and people like me.  I've made some amazing friendships online.  My dear Ruth came all the way from Texas to marry Kyle and me!  

I've also been connected to people who I wouldn't otherwise have had much communication with, including family members and even acquaintances from childhood.  People might have passed out of my life permanently had we not reconnected through Facebook (or Myspace) all these years later, or stayed connected through Facebook. 

While the Internet is appealing to some because of their ability to hide their true identity, I fell in love with it for the opposite reasons.  I could be just me and find people who liked me for me.  It was liberating and exciting to know that I could say what was on my mind and heart without seeing the look of disapproval on someone's face.  

I am still passionate about the Internet for the same reasons and so any more today.  I love learning.  I would be a full time student for the rest of my life if I could.  The great part of the education I have already received is that it has well prepared me to continue my education on my own.  As much as I miss being in a traditional classroom and listening to great lectures, there are so many other avenues available for educating myself, and the Internet is just one of them - but a fantastic one!  The information is unlimited, and even though it must be scrutinized for bias and inaccuracies, there are a plethora of reliable sites out there for obtaining info on any subject I can think of. 


As I share my favorites with you these next three weeks, don't hesitate to share some of yours with me via the comments section.  I would love to know what interests we share and what playgrounds I have yet to encounter online. 

Lazy Days in the Sun...

Pip and I are in agreement that these 70-something degree days are perfection.  They are what made those below zero temps and 50 mph winter winds bearable.  Around 4pm each day we venture out to the yard and soak up some sun until Kyle gets home.  Pip has various stages of sun-bathing.  He starts out looking around, peering at the birds, the clouds, and anything else that moves.   

 Then he tries to look at the sun but gets all squinty-eyed in the process. 

 Finally, his eyes close and he starts to relax and just soak up some sun. 

I'm probably a bad mother because I don't put sunscreen on him.  So far neither of us has fallen asleep long enough to wake up scorched.  While Pip sleeps, I read my Nook.  I am thankful to the Nook developers for making my Nook screen glare-free.  It's so nice to have a readable screen even when I am in the sunshine.  It is easier to read than a white-paged novel even with sunglasses on.  


So thankful for warm sunshine.  It's quite wonderful.  Pip thinks so, too.

Another Modge Podge Project...

Last week's Mod Podge project was unexpected.  I had picked up some new CD jewel cases as Office Depot, because I use them to store my clear stamps and I needed some cases that were in better condition.  I was storing them in two photo boxes the size of a large shoe box.  When I bought the cases I noticed that they came in sturdy cardboard boxes that left them perfectly displayed. 

I wanted to pep them up with some scrapbooking paper, so I found some paper in my favorite color and cut it into strips.  

Then I grabbed the Modge Podge and a brush and got to work coating the boxes and the paper. 

Then I adhered the papers and coated the entire box in another layer of Podge.

 

I let it all dry for 24 hours and then sprayed it with a coat of Mod Podge brand acrylic sealer in matte. 

 And ta-da!  Great new boxes for storing my clear stamps!

Authenticity...

First of all, thanks for the sweet Facebook and emailed comments on my Monkey Mind posts.  Your kind words of encouragement mean the world to me!  When I started this blog a couple of years ago, my goal was to find a place where I could be true to myself and speak from the heart about matters important to me.  Read more about that here.  Writing has always been a way for me to organize my thoughts and figure out who I am, but figuring out who I am has been more important to me in the past couple of years as I've been a little lost in figuring out the direction in which my life should go.  I've lost my way a few times, and writing consistently grounds me to a degree.  

It's really hard to figure out who my authentic self is, and to a large degree that is because I am a major people-pleaser and I've spent far more energy and time figuring out how to give other people what they want rather than what my own needs and desires were.  It's really easy to turn my focus to other people when I want to avoid dealing with my own needs.  In its early stages, it felt selfless and generous to always focus on other people, and it was a safe coping mechanism for me when I was younger.  Unfortunately, loss of self and the constant focus on what others need is exhausting and eventually led to resentment - the very opposite of what once felt like a positive way to exist.  

I've heard many times that depression is anger turned inwards.  I never considered myself an angry person, but I've had to acknowledge in the past few months that I have a lot more anger than I ever realized, and it generally manifests in resentment and hurt.  I'd rather do just about anything that get or feel anger, and so I've developed some bad ways of dealing with a very human, necessary emotion.  Now I have to undo it, and it takes time and patience and the willingness to feel discomfort.  

It's still so hard for me to be honest with myself in my writing, both in journaling or here on the blog.  I'm so fearful of criticism or of someone disliking me for something I said.  It's silly and yet so ingrained in my way of speaking, writing and living my life that it warrants addressing in order to move past it.  The only way I can work on it is to take baby steps, and to be a bit more vulnerable than I generally want to be.  

I've been thinking about people I admire or who touch a nerve in me, and I've realized that they are generally people who speak their minds and live their lives in accordance to those beliefs.  And they aren't necessarily people I agree with.  Often the opposite, actually, but I respect people who have conviction and live congruently with their values.  I've realized through reflection and therapy how incongruently I live at times.  I have high standards for myself and others, but often my behavior does not line up with those values, and then I am disappointed in myself and the negativity towards my self spirals out of control.  How many times I have later thought, "I wish I would have said..." or "I wish I would have spoken up...". 

It's so hard to become who we are meant to be.  It takes work to fulfill the potential we have and to give back to the Universe more than we take from it.  How many times I have said, "I should..." or "If only...".  It goes back to active vs. passive behaviors.  A lot of life has passed me by, because when depressed, I don't have the energy or capacity to simply act.  I try to embrace the times when I'm not depressed and make the most of it, but if I'm honest with myself, there's a lot more I could be doing to facilitate the process.  A big part of that is living with authenticity and learning to be who I am meant to be.  What a huge task!  But one that totally started to pay off the minute I started to come out of my shell and figure out who I really am outside of the past roles I have had.  

It's a raw feeling to open myself up to criticism.  I feel akin to a moulting snake.  Using its head upon a hard object, the snake splits its skin and begins the process of crawling out of the old skin turning it inside out.  Mid-process, the snake appears grotesque, but once moulting is completed, the snake's skin is vibrant.  The snake has to go through this process in order to grow, and therefore gets a frequent fresh start, sometimes several times a year.  I'm learning to appreciate that I can have fresh starts as often as necessary, just like the snake.  The snake grows all his life, so he must continually undergo the moulting process.  I'm a big believer in life-long growth and learning, so this is a particularly meaningful analogy for me.  

I hope that as I experience the growing pains of finding my own authenticity, I can remember the inspiration of the snake.  It may not always be pretty, and it may even be quite painful at times, but the potential for vibrancy is always present.