July 23rd, 2015 klwade Posted in Cardmaking | No Comments »
I have the Big Top and the Compass sets.
On both of these cards I used distress inks to color the backgrounds. I love distress inks. Everything looks so colorful!
July 23rd, 2015 klwade Posted in Cardmaking, Simon Says Stamp Card Kit | No Comments »
I love the nautical look and was so excited to get this kit in the mail. Since I had to make cards quickly for my consignment shop, I grabbed this kit. After looking at everyone’s inspiration, started cutting paper and designing.
I wanted the lifesaver to have some pop so I used Glossy Accents to make it more visible. This card screams nautical to me!!
I wanted the look of the ship sailing away in the stars. Reminds me of Peter Pan.
I love the coral paper in the background. A simple design so the beautiful paper is not lost in stuff.
July 23rd, 2015 klwade Posted in Meditation | No Comments »
“To live a life of gratitude is to open our eyes to the countless ways we are supported by the world around us.” ― Gregg Krech
In today’s meditation, we look at how grace can dissolve the resistance and obstacles we find in our life. We’ve all had times when we’ve struggled and encountered obstacles. These outer resistances are signals from our true self that there is some inner resistance, which comes from the limiting belief that we are a separate self. These beliefs are often a sense of entitlement, selfishness, or pessimism, and they block the natural flow of gratitude and grace.
As we practice gratitude, our perspective expands and we see we are not isolated at all. We are supported by the generosity of the universe in endless ways. Seeing this, our negativity, sense of entitlement, and all obstacles dissolve like morning mist with the rising sun.
My Notes:
One of the most impactful message in this meditation is the resistance are signals from the true self. The belief of entitlement
When you feel resistance, stop and pause, give yourself a moment. See it as an opportunity, that all will be well. Meet them with gratitude, it is hard, but you will slowly change your perception. As you see each obstacle you will see it as a lesion to find grace. Eventually Grace will find a home within you.
Entitlement that all rewards are deserved and earned, hence there is no need to be grateful. This is thinly veiled selfishness. All my life I have struggled with entitlement, especially in the workplace. Because I do not fight for that which I earn and deserve, many try to take it away from me or deprive me from those rewards. I was looking at it from a selfish point of view. I lacked gratitude and grace. Often I could not understand why I felt that entitlement was wrong but still felt I deserved it (a natural conflict), but listening to this meditation, I realize that I should have gratitude to those rewards instead of angry about the entitlement. My soul would have been more at peace, I would have been my true self.
July 23rd, 2015 klwade Posted in Meditation | No Comments »
“Just be, right now, here; and breathe. Begin to trust the magic of yourself.” ― Nikki Rowe
In today’s meditation, we will discover how gratitude makes the present moment fully alive, awake, and enriched. We will learn how every instant of our life is a unique gift and that when we are awake to this special value of the Now, we step into a state of grace.
So much of our cultural conditioning pulls us out of the present moment, striving for an impossible ideal in the future. Somewhere outside this present time, we hope to have what we currently lack, or look like what we think we should look like, and feel the happiness we don’t feel now. But this assumes that the present is inherently lacking, and the present is all we ever know. Practicing gratitude turns this around so that we find our completeness in the present moment.
Many time I dwell in the past or think of the future, that I totally miss the present. Live in the present, have gratitude for the present. In my meditations today I focused on feeling present, not let my mind wander and leave the here and now. It felt as I slowed down time. I was in the moment.
July 21st, 2015 klwade Posted in Meditation | 1 Comment »
“The road to happiness starts with a deep breath and an awareness of the many blessings tied to that single breath.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich
We might think that to live in grace requires us to pursue a devout lifestyle and retreat from the world. However, we have learned that grace abides in all things, all places, and all times. If we go beyond our changing personalities to connect with our essential self, we contact this ever-present grace and can live this state of grace even in the everyday world.
Our true self is peaceful, but not inert. It is intelligent, powerful, and intimately involved in our every wish and dream. The true self has the creative power and intelligence to direct and manifest your life’s journey. When you step into and participate with life from this level, you are always grateful and find grace everywhere.
The path of grace has always been considered unique.
Contact your true self. We all have many selves. We show many people different selves. We use those selves in many situations and put them away when we don’t need them. If you go deeper, pass those other selves, your true self is there. The permanent eye behind all passing experiences is your true self. It is silent but not passive. The true self always knows all about you, your dreams and hopes. It knows what you should do. My true self is always grateful.
July 19th, 2015 klwade Posted in Meditation | No Comments »
“The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you can live fully in the present.” ― Dana Arcuri
In today’s meditation, we explore how gratitude engages us in the evolutionary flow of life. When we offer the world our gratitude, grace responds and completes the circle. Our inner and outer worlds merge into one harmonious flow of existence.
As we use our gratitude to join this awakening of joy and beauty around us, we also find that our life becomes easier, more fun, and more meaningful. This nurturing power of grace comes from the source of Being which sustains everyone and everything in the universe. As human beings we can consciously choose to step into this flow of grace to enrich and elevate our lives.
Grace is the knowledge that we matter, that we are understood. Gratitude is the catalyst to getting grace. Be present in gratitude, Grace will respond.
Your perception will shift, what was plain before becomes beautiful with perception.
Grace is like the rain, it falls on everyone alike
Being aware, we can ask for grace. Grace comes from within you and it has intelligence. It knows what you need or what.
July 19th, 2015 klwade Posted in Meditation | 1 Comment »
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” ― Karl Barth
In today’s meditation, we learn how to recharge our gratitude batteries. If we are tired, upset, or stressed, then our heart is closed and we are not able to feel or express real gratitude. Genuine gratitude comes from a feeling of contentment, safety, and being welcomed in your life – what Buddha called the “gladdened heart.”
This natural energy of gratitude is awakened when we meditate. Our intention in meditation will be to invite this warm attitude of appreciation into our awareness and perception. With this recharged heart of thankfulness we will find reason to be grateful wherever we look.
A closed heart cannot feel gratitude. Gladdening the heart can recharge you, like recharging a battery.
Recognize this energy, this is the feeling that you are welcomed and safe in your life, you feel you are supported in whatever you want to be. Abundance had included you.
Renew this energy, it happens when you meditate, you are requesting the warm attitude of thankfulness
Awareness will renew this energy that is unique to gratitude. You can get a surge of gratitude by simply looking at a beam of sun light and see the dancing particles
True gratitude comes from knowing that you belong in the infinite dance of life. The tiniest element fits into the whole.
July 17th, 2015 klwade Posted in Meditation | 2 Comments »
Gratitude Is Within You
All good things bring gratitude.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Kripa Hum
I am divine grace.
“Gratitude is the experience of our true self.” ― Gina Lakes
Gratitude is a two-way flow of appreciation between your thanks and the uplifting response that you feel in return. Today in our meditation, we begin that conversation and find that as this conversation expands, we create even more thankfulness. We will learn how the flow of gratitude from the heart is received by Nature in the same spirit it is given, and it is returned back to us as grace. In today’s meditation, we learn to express gratitude from the silence of our awareness, which is the source of grace within.
3 good things
Cool Breezes on a Spring Day
Feeling Creative and inspired
Falling asleep in my bed
Inspiration Pictures
July 17th, 2015 klwade Posted in Meditation | No Comments »
The Path to Grace Begins Today
When I am grateful, I find my grace.
Dhanya Vad
I feel gratitude.
“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” ― Maya Angelou
The source of grace already resides within our own awareness. We don’t need to go anywhere or search anywhere to find it, we only need to change our perception of what is already around us. We will learn how gratitude shifts our awareness, changing our approach to others and the world. This new perspective will reveal the grace that already inhabits our life.
I am grateful for the love of my animals. thier love is in the purest form. They only want to love me, and for that I am grateful!
Inspiration Pictures
July 7th, 2015 klwade Posted in Outdoor, Shopping Finds | 1 Comment »
Its party time!!!
Pool and Water!!!!!
I planned this wonderful event and we had fun!!!!
The Decorations
This is the green corner of my garden.
Chairs and Cushions from Target
Outdoor Seat Cushions in green
Green Garden Stool by Sam’s Club
This is the orange side of the garden. Sorry the photo is funky, I was really taking a picture of the garden stool for my sister. We decided to use a navy blue garden stool instead. Thank Goodness that SAMS Club had the stools on sale. Yahoo!!!! And speaking of clearance, I got the second set of chairs on clearance. AND I got the last two chairs. Yahoo!!!!
Orange striped lumbar cushions by Target
Navy Blue or Orange Garden Stool
I made these seat covers for these chairs. I used the same material as the big chairs and sofa. I love these folding tables from Lamps Plus. I have the navy and the light blue ones. The candle holders are from Joann Fabrics.
Monterey Table and Chairs in Ocean Blue and Sky Blue
So I wanted to add some extra things on my patio cover.
In the morning the sun beats down on you that I decided to make an awning to cover the area. It was a tricky process. The material was not really wide enough, but the angle was also wonky based on the patio curving. So I actually make a long strip of fabric and made a rod casing at one end. I ended up putting a cheapo curtian rod in the end and dropped it onto the rails. It was fell between the slats and stayed put. At the other end I looped it over the end rail and then ran it behind a rod that holds the curtains.
I also added some patio lights. I just attached them to the slats by using a plastic tie cord. But the cool part was we added the lights to a switch that we can turn it on via remote.
And of course there is the overhead ceiling fan. Which I love! A great find at Lowes!
Remote Light Outlet Switch Set
I had a pile of old vintage signs and I wanted to put them somewhere in the yard. I finally found this cool bench from IKEA to hang them on.
The only problem with this bench is it is suppose to be anchored to a wall. I did not want to that so I got creative and my brother helped me add braces to the back. So now it is real sturdy
The bench opens to store stuff, what I dont know. But one day I will put something in there. LOL
So since I was projecting the movie across the pool, I needed to have a larger screen than I wanted. But it is pretty awesome.
It is a portable screen that I can take camping, or over to another persons house as well as let friend borrow. Very easy to put together
Visual Apex ProjectoSCreen144HD Portable Movie Theater Projector Screen
Candles placed in holders (these are awesome remote color changing timer candles perfect for outdoors)
Games placed out, and appetizer plates are ready. These plates are cool because they are melamine and look like paper plates. Very cute.
The mason jar makes a wonderful flower vase, it is from World Market which is AWESOME!!!!
Box of towels just waiting to be used.
Drink central…. Mason jar for margaritas and some Raspberry Lemonade for those who don’t want booze. Of course I had to use paper straws. Reminds me of the past. LOL.
I actually did not have enough matching plates and stuff so I had to go out and get some new stuff. LOL No problem!
Most of it came from World Market but the bowls were from my local Vons Grocery store. Of course I had mason jars already!!!
Fiji Melamine Plates and Bowls
I replaced the old outdoor rug with this awesome one from World Market.
Penny, my sweet pooch had to bring her chew toy out for the party
Music was playing from the speakers that I hung from the patio. I dont have a picture but believe me. We listened to 1950’s tunes from Amazon Prime (love Prime and the free stuff you can get)
To hang all this fun stuff from my patio (curtain rods, speakers, ceiling fan, solar lights) I use these AWESOME hooks. Nobody has these, nobody, thankfully this man created these hooks, I love them and use them all over my patio.
FOOD
We had ribs, cowboy beans, Potato salad, berries and a tart for dessert
My sister made the potato salad. My MOM use to make the best potato salad and when we eat this it reminds us of Mom. Same with the cowboy beans. A favorite from Mom.
We played Cards Against Humanity and laughed and laughed until the food was ready.
My brother laughing and having fun!!
My Sister Janice and her husband Barry. Barry won the game!!!! You can see th awnings behind the curtain rod from this shot. As well as the other stuff hanging from the patio.
After dinner we swam and goofed off. When the sun went down, we watched a movie on the screen.
We watched the Homesman. What a great movie with Hilary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones.
We had popcorn, and movie snacks.
It was a good party, we all had fun, and the dishes went unwashed until the morning!!!
If you have any questions about my decorating or recipes, please let me know.