Monday, March 8, 2010

Fun!

We had such a great weekend! Friday evening, Danny and I spent at home. I've been fighting a cold so we stayed in for the evening and caught up on some DVR. Saturday morning, I got up early and Vannah and I went to Wild Eggs for breakfast (let me just say, I highly recommend the breakfast burrito). After an early breakfast, we joined by friend Jackie and her sweet little girl Lucy for the Home & Garden Show and the Kentucky Crafted Art Show at the Fairgrounds. The Home & Garden Show was nice - there were so many beautiful things that I knew I couldn't afford, but enjoyed looking at and dreaming about (especially the pools!). I loved the Kentucky Crafted Art Show - there were so many talented artists there and I left feeling very inspired! After walking around the fairgrounds all day, I met my sister and brother-in-law (they were on their way to the UofL game) and was able to spend a little bit of time with my niece before passing her on to my mom and sister. Saturday evening, Danny, Vannah and I had dinner with Danny's extended family. It was so great to spend some time with his family - we just don't see each other enough! I had planned on Sunday being very relaxing, and it was for the most part. Vannah and I had lunch with my friend Macy and then went back to Macy's house to work on some crafts that we were both inspired by at the Kentucky Crafted Show. We went seperately, but both fell in love with these mixed media collages. So, yesterday, we decided to make our own. Vannah joined in on the fun. It was a great time filled with shopping at Michael's (my favorite store), Mod Podge, and paint!
 
Vannah made this adorable collage with the heart/music notes stamp. She added glitter and paint splatter to hers. I just love it! She's quite a talented young lady!



This is Macy's artwork. I love the tree stamp. It's just so doggone cute!



And finally - my interpretation. I love it! I can't wait to make more! The woman who made similar ones to these at the Craft show was selling them for $25!

Last night, I watched the Oscars with my friend Kristin and her dad. They made yummy nachos and we definitely enjoyed the show! I was so glad Sandra Bullock won for best actress - I've always loved her so much and was glad to see her take the trophy home!
 
So the weekend was wonderful and I am definitely looking forward to this week! It's my last week in my current position. I hope to use next weekend to relax and prepare for my new job! I'll start out tonight by having a few drinks with my co-workers to celebrate my last week!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Feeling Music Brings...

I think I'm having a better day today. At least so far. I drove to Lexington yesterday for a program and had a little bit of quiet time in the car along the way. It always amazes me how music can move you and invoke such strong feelings in people. Sometimes, a certain song or two will come on my iPod and I change it immediately - there are a few songs that get me every time. The song that Dad and I danced to at my wedding is one - who knew how prophetic the song would come to be.

(Okay, so this is weird - I'm sitting here listening to my iPod as I type this - another song that brings me to tears every time I hear it just came on - "Go Rest High on That Mountain" by the wonderful Vince Gill...must change now before tears start falling. Danny and I saw him live about a month after Dad died and I just sat in the VIP section at Horsehoe Casino crying...I just couldn't control myself. I don't know if it's Vince's voice or the lyrics to the song, but it gets me every time.)

Anyways - yesterday, I was listening to my iPod and one of my all-time favorites popped up: "Soulshine," originally by the Allman Brothers Band, covered beautifully by my musical boyfriend, Warren Haynes (LOVE!). I have always loved this song, but with whatever I was going through yesterday, the song spoke to me in a different way. Here are the lyrics:

When you can't find the light
That got you through the cloudy days,

When the stars ain't shinin' bright,
You feel like you've lost you're way,
When those candle lights of home,
Burn so very far away,
Well you got to let your soul shine,
Just like my daddy used to say.


He used to say soulshine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Hey now people don't mind,
We all get this way sometime,
Got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day

I grew up thinkin' that I had it made,
Gonna make it on my own.
Life can take the strongest man,
Make him feel so alone.
Now and then I feel a cold wind,
Blowin' through my achin' bones,
I think back to what my daddy said,
He said "Boy, in the darkness before the dawn:"

Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don't mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness,
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul.
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this.
And when your world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control.

Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Lord now people don't mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

So there I was, driving to Lexington alone, belting this song out, tears streaming down the face. I love it. And now, the iPod has shuffled and landed on my ultimate music pick-me-up. If I am having a bad day, I put this song on and it always makes me smile. What is it? Well, it's "Gin and Juice" originally by Snoop Dogg (not a favorite), but covered by "The Gourds." Just something about hearing a bluegrass/country band sing a rap-song gets me every time!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

I'm having a bad day...

I really am. I'm trying to snap out of it, but I'm just frustrated. I want this time in my life to be in my past. I am ready for new challenges and new adventures. So, I dug deep and found a couple of quotes that are often helpful to me.

"The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all." ~Leo Rosten

I think this quote is saying that once you are productive, once you do matter, once you are useful - you will be happy. I am generally a happy person, but over the past few months, I've realized that I need to get "back to my roots" and back to what matters to me most. I need to feel that the work I am doing is connected to a mission that I believe in with my entire being. I believe I've found that, and now I'm ready to start again.

"You can't change the world but you can change yourself. You shouldn't concern yourself with other's perception of you but rather concern yourself with your character, which is the true measure of who and what you are." ~ Coach John Wooden

Danny sent me this quote many years ago. I think I was still away at college and we were doing the long-distance thing. Those were some great times, but definitely had their trials. I can't remember the situation I was going through at that time, but Danny emailed me this quote and I have kept it pinned to every office bulletin board I've had since then. It really just speaks to me. So here's to a better day! And a very happy birthday to my dear friend Macy!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Just in case you want to buy me a present....

I'll take this! The new book by Kelly Cutrone, founder of the PR firm "People's Revolution." Her new show "Kell on Earth" has quickly become a new favorite. I love her. She's the kind of lady who cuts right through the BS and gets straight to the point. Her one-liners are priceless. So - if any of you were thinking of buying me a book (and I'm sure that's at the top of your to-do list), this is the one that I'll take.

And if you don't already know, I have an addiction to books. I love to read, but I think even more than that, I love to buy books. I love being surrounded by them. I love re-reading a book I haven't read in a long time. My book obsession is probably worse than my crafting obsession. Thank God for Half Price Bookstore.

I can't wait to get my copy of this book...to ready Kelly's story and get to know her better!