Monkey Bread

Got to have breakfast with some of my friends yesterday morning and I made Monkey Bread. Can you say YUMMY?????? I took the recipe from Pioneer Woman.

Halloween

After two steroidal epidural injections, I am finally out of pain. I'm not crying anymore and I can walk again!!! I'm hoping this will work and am saving the third injection in case I need it. Going to see a neurosurgeon at Northwestern in two weeks as the doctors here want to operate. In my mind, that is a last resort!

Did a few pages while I was stuck at home dealing with my injury and the construction in the basement. The carpet is being installed right now and I can't wait for it to be done! I can't take the mess and disorganization that my house has become. I need order! BUT, I now have a REAL art room for myself and I had it painted a light pink. I'm not sure I really like the color, but I can always change it. I think I'm going to make it my mom cave and really have fun decorating it so I love working in there. I still don't have any natural light as it is in the basement, but it is my own space and I can't wait to get in there again!!!
My kids collected a RIDICULOUS amount of candy on Halloween and of course I'm the one who can't stop eating it! This happens every year. They both went as Ninjas and had lots of fun

at our neighborhood party and then trick-or-treating with friends.
Here they are doing their best ninja poses before their school party.

doodles & charms

I was playing around with my paints and paper canvas a few weeks ago and this is what I ended up with. I limited my play time to 30 minutes and only 5 -6 colors. Was fun, but I need to do this more so I don't analyze, plan and over think. It's hard to be free and let go.

My back has been terrible for the last month and about a week and a half ago it completely went out. I experienced the most horrible pain that just wouldn't subside. This has happened many times before, but as I'm getting older these "episodes" have been happening more often, with more intensity and lasting longer. I couldn't move my right leg. There were a LOT of tears here! Not to bore you with the details, but it turns out I have a BIG herniated disc. Yesterday I got a steroidal epidural which was excruciating. I cried in the procedure room.

It seems like it is working b/c today is the first day in almost 2 weeks that I don't have any pain. My sister (who is a Dr.) reminded me that I'm still experiencing the side effects of the anesthetic and the initial load of steroids. I'm hoping this works, because if not I was told I need surgery!

So I have been depressed b/c I haven't been able to really do anything. LOTS of lying around, which I'm not good at. I have been doodling and drawing in my journal. It's been challenging b/c we are also building out the basement and I am getting my own art area that is going to be great!!! It's not going to be with the workout equipment anymore and I plan to make it all mine and pretty. I'm very excited! But, I've been dealing with banging, drilling, hammering, sawing, etc. while not feeling well. The steroids are making me feel awful, and every now and then I feel a twinge in my back.

I'm hoping this is it for the medical issues. They say things come in 3's right? It started this summer with that awful bug bite on my foot that I reacted to, then my tooth surgery and now my back. I should be done now, right??????

I found these cool charms at Michaels. You can use them with other components to make charm necklaces and bracelets. I think I am going to use these on upcoming journals. I need to get going because I want to try to sell some journals on Etsy! They need to finish the basement ASAP and my back needs to recover on its own so I can do my thing!

I have had a crazy few days filled with lots of emotion. I guess the fact is that at some point,

you truly need to face the music and deal with the hurt and pain. Keeping it all closed up

can only last so long. The time has come for me to get some resolution so I can finally close

a certain chapter for good. Hopefully, healing will come and the hurt & anger will dissipate.

This quote is so true. I will not wither away!

I recently was offered a job teaching how to make and create an art journal at a local art school. I am excited for this new journey! Who knows where it will lead? I made two samples that could be shown because many people don't know what this is. Yesterday I got a call from the school's owner telling me that those who have seen the samples love them and are excited for the class! The owner said she loved my work and was blown away by the vibrant colors. I am in the process of putting it all together and outlining the scope and sequence of what I am going to teach . If enough people sign up, the class will start the first week of October. Woo hoo!!

cake pops

Do you know Bakerella? If not, check her out at bakerella.blogspot.com

My girlfriend bought me the book

CAKE POPS (by Angie Dudley) for my birthday. I decided to make cupcake pops for the BBQ we are going to today. Here is how they came out from start to finish! Delish, not too messy and only three fell apart.

Ready to try all the cute designs in the book and perfect my skills. Working in 3-D is challenging but fun! Best of all, you can eat the ones that don't work. :)

Have a safe Labor Day!

Pages from Teesha Moore workshop

As I posted last month, I had THE BEST time in OH with Teesha Moore. It has taken me a while to start posting some of the pages I created in the book I assembled. Life is starting to shift back to routines as school is starting next week. Crazy!

I had surgery on my tooth and the prognosis is good! I try not to think about what the surgeon did, because when I do think about it, I get freaked out. No one can tell when they look at me, but I am VERY self conscious when I smile. My smile is a little altered too! My kids love to look at it and exclaim, "GROSS!!!" or "EEEWWWW!" :)

Anyway, I am looking forward to getting some time to create. It has been VERY sparse this summer. Not only does my daughter love to use my supplies, but now ALL of her friends love it too. The time is coming (I think) for me to act upon my desire to teach kids. I have an interview at a local place, but I am not an art teacher. I am a certified teacher who is an artist. Not sure if it will matter. Would it matter to you? I wouldn't care as long as creativity was embraced and the enthusiasm and fun existed. I'll let you know what happens!