Sunday, August 24, 2014

Sunday inspiration

Happy Sunday, friends. ☺

Today's inspiration comes from Jane Perkins, an artist who takes recycling to a new level by recreating masterpieces from things people would otherwise throw away. She calls herself a "remaker," and I think it's fascinating how she can see art where most of us just see trash. You can learn more about her art and her process in the videos below. Enjoy!






Wishing you all a creative and inspirational Sunday. ☺

Friday, August 22, 2014

Friday fun

Happy Friday, friends. ☺

Well, this was a busy week! On Tuesday, we celebrated my birthday and our anniversary, and yesterday was my husband's birthday. I can say with certainty that we have enough cake here to last us a month, although I know it won't be around that long!

How was your week? Do you have any plans for the weekend? I may be taking my oldest daughter to yet another birthday party on Saturday, but other than that, I'm hoping for peace and quiet and time to work on my art—fingers crossed!

I hope you enjoy today's dose of fun. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. ☺

http://www.funnysigns.net/family-owned/
funnysigns.net



http://www.funnysigns.net/liable-to-pee-themselves/
funnysigns.net


http://www.funnysigns.net/only-use-internet-explorer/
funnysigns.net


http://www.funnysigns.net/talk-to-each-other-and-get-drunk/
funnysigns.net


http://www.funnysigns.net/haviture-way/
funnysigns.net


http://www.funnysigns.net/pregnant-wifi/
funnysigns.net






Monday, August 18, 2014

Monday (a)musing

Happy Monday, friends. ☺

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was busy—so busy, in fact, that I didn't get a chance to post yesterday's Sunday Inspiration. It's a good one, too, but I'll just keep you in suspense until this Sunday. :)

Since it's Monday (and the start of a new workweek for many), I think there's a good possibility that we all need a little smile. I think these babies deliver. Enjoy!




Wishing you all a fantastic Monday. ☺

Friday, August 15, 2014

Friday fun

Happy Friday, friends. ☺

Do you have any plans for the weekend? My birthday is next Tuesday, so tomorrow, my family has plans to take me shopping for art supplies. Yay for new paints and inks! Then on Sunday, I'll be attending a birthday party with my oldest daughter. Yay for cake! :)  I hope you have some fun plans, too. Enjoy your weekend—and these funnies.





Wishing you all a wonderful and happy weekend. ☺

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

"What will your verse be?"

My favorite scene from one of my favorite movies. Robin Williams, you will be missed.


Sunday, August 10, 2014

Sunday inspiration

Happy Sunday, friends. ☺

Today's inspiration comes from Mike Stilkey, an artist who paints on the covers of discarded books, then stacks them into book sculptures that have been exhibited throughout the world. You can see a timelapse of the installation of one of his sculptures in the first video below. In the second and third videos, Stilkey talks about the thought process behind the creation of his sculptures and offers encouragement to other artists as they learn to follow their art wherever it takes them. Enjoy!







Wishing you all a creative and inspirational Sunday. ☺

Friday, August 8, 2014

Friday fun

Happy Friday, all. I hope you had a good week. Summer is flying by way too fast!

For today's Friday Fun post, I want to share this video I saw on my Facebook feed the other day. It was tons of fun to watch. (The sequel is pretty good, too. You'll see the link for it at the end of the video.) Enjoy!



Would you push the button?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. ☺

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Art: It's everywhere!

Happy Thursday. ☺

I've posted a few times about my love for street art. The examples I have today are somewhat different in that the artists have created art that interacts with its surroundings. Some of the pieces are amusing; some are absolutely beautiful. All of them are creative. Enjoy!



Wishing you all a wonderful Thursday. ☺

Monday, August 4, 2014

Never enough time? You can find it!

Happy Monday, friends. ☺

Today, I'm honored to have my good friend Tara Tyler stop by my blog as she continues on her Broken Branch Falls Summer Blog Tour. She'll be sharing some wonderful tips for finding time to write in the midst of our busy lives. Her ideas are also great for people who want to pursue other creative endeavors but always seem to find themselves asking, "How do I make time?"

Thanks so much for being here, Tara. Take it away!

* * * * *

Writing in the Game of Life!

Dana was one of my first blog buddies. I met her way back when I was still figuring out how to improve my writing and what to do with it, on Absolute Write. (It's okay for getting advice, but it's more of a distraction with lots of word game threads...)

Dana and I are both busy moms (but that statement is redundant, isn't it?). Her three kids are much smaller and more needy while mine are bigger and self-sufficient, but still needy. No matter the ages of kids, they always take up a ton of your time—silly kids, needing stuff from their moms! And there's always work to be done, in and out of the house.

So how do busy, hard-working moms find time to write?
Well, here's a glimpse at my writing schedule...
  • Weekends and Days Off
    • I usually wake up a good two hours before the monkeys, and this is my favorite time to write.
    • Unfortunately, half of this time is used on blogging, emails, etc.
  • Work Days
    • I take every spare moment
    • lunch, coffee breaks, waiting for stuff
    • not only to write, but to read, blog, jot notes, edit printouts.
    • Waiting is a great time to get stuff done, if I remember to bring it!
      • for kids at practices
      • for water to boil
      • at a restaurant
      • at games (halftime, between innings, when we have to be early, etc)
  • Bedtime
    • My kids sometimes stay up later than me! But they are supposed to have quiet time in their rooms...
    • I'm always tired, but I try to get at least an hour of work done.
    • Then I read a few pages of the book on my night table, and... zzzzzzz
So that's my routine! Fitting it in when I can! What's yours?
When is your favorite time to write? Morning? Evening? Throughout the day?

Dana always has something special to share—from laughs, to art, to sweetness.
If you aren't following her, you should! Thanks for hosting me, girl!

NEW! Try this BEASTLY SURVEY and find out which beast you are!
(And don't forget to enter the giveaway below!)

BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG Fantasy)
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: June 24, 2014 (NOW!)
Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Gabe is an average fifteen-year-old goblin. He’s in the marching band, breezes through calculus, and gets picked on daily by the other kids at school, especially the ogres. But Gabe wants to break out of his nerdy stereotype and try other things. He has his eye on the new ogress at school. Though it’s against all beastly rules, there’s just something about her.

Gabe starts a fad of mingling with other species, forcing the High Council to step in and ruin things by threatening to destroy the school and split up Broken Branch Falls. With help from other outcast friends, Gabe sets out on a quest to save his town. They'll show 'em what different friends can do together!

Available at
B&N ~~~ Amazon
Add it to your GOODREADS list!

Tara Tyler has had a hand at everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy). She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have action, a moral, and a few laughs!


Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series,
The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL

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Friday, August 1, 2014

Back from vacation!

Happy Friday, friends. ☺

I hope you're all doing well. I'm feeling pretty great after my trip back home to Michigan. It's amazing how much better life is when you are able to visit with the people you love! However, I missed the blogosphere, and I'm so happy to be back. Let me know what you've been up to while I've been away. I'm eager to catch up!

Now I'm off to visit your blogs. First, though, I want to leave you with this video that's been making the rounds on the Internet all week. Sadie doesn't want her baby brother to grow up, and I totally understand how she feels. My youngest is almost four months old already. I can't believe how quickly time flies! Don't you wish you could stop it sometimes?



Wishing you all a fantastic Friday. ☺