simple pleasure to self analysis, huh?

one of my friends just took a leap of faith & is now a mary kay consultant. i ordered a stamper for her with her name, website and phone number(as a surprise gift) and thanks to one of my favorite blogger friends, i have discovered a new way to wrap gifts. http://elviestudio.blogspot.com/ initially i felt weird copying her idea but i am one of her devoted disciples in the letter lab :) thank you lori!

there is an art competition coming up for d'art center and today was the deadline for entering. i thought about it, got excited, thought about it some more, procrastinated, thought again, and then finally gave up on the idea (my usual routine). but for some reason, when i got up this morning, i told myself "why not, what's there to lose (besides the entry fee)". so i rushed and delivered my entry in person. unfortunately, i was confident enough to submit only one painting even tho the charge covered up to five. after i dropped it off my mind went on this analytical trip....i think i put the wrong year it was done on the form, i should have used my real name instead of my future name (i plan to change once i get divorced), i should have omitted the frame around the painting in the photo i had to submit, i'm not a professional artist, should i have wasted that $30, what if they do accept my entry, should i just forget about it and wait to see what happens or should i dream it, believe it, and own it......blah blah blah blah blah! ugh! what's wrong with me? i am excited. it's the same excitement i had doing that gift for my friend and creating that name tag. anything i do that has anything to do with art, creativity, writing, taking photos, even giving gifts gets me excited. and it's a great feeling :)

it's my birthday :)

i've always wanted a chalkboard in my kitchen, now i have one

 i took a 5 day weekend from work for my birthday but the days are going too fast! i just wanted to take one of those "stay cations". just stay at home, relax, and do nothing. but it seems i keep finding things to do! sheesh! so i am another year older (and wiser). i have so many things i want to do but i am tired of writing about them instead of writing about actually getting those things done. it's a good feeling to cross things off of to do lists. it's a good feeling to feel productive and i love those days where i've done so much and didn't realize how much time had past. one of my dreams is to one day not have to ever care about the time. it's a fantasy of mine, to be able to go to sleep and wake up whenever i feel like it. work and play all day and just be totally carefree. kinda weird, huh? of course i'd have to be self employed or a lottery winner. don't think any boss would like me to just show up whenever i felt like it.

i know valentine's day has past but i had to get my treats done for my nephew and daughters. i found the sugar cookie & royal icing recipes here:
http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/02/14/conversation-heart-sugar-cookies/
mine look nothing like hers but i had a lot of fun. i also made chocolate fudge and rice krispies treats in heart shapes last week. i just hope they don't become stale before they open their packages.

sugar cookie conversation hearts

they look ok, i haven't tasted them yet but i've wanted to bake these for years now