Small Steps Matter

I heard a great quote today.  "When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion."  I just love that.  Small steps matter.  Small kindnesses, thoughtful gestures, helping hands, they all matter because together they can move mountains.

Here is where I heard it.  This guy's book, Getting to Yes, is one of the landmark books in negotiations.  At first I thought his talk was pretty Pollyannish but by the end I really saw the picture he was trying to paint and really liked it.

Adele, Adele, Adele!

I'm so excited.  Adele is coming out with her second album.  I love her and her voice.  Here is the first single, Rolling In The Deep, from her new album and it does not disappoint!

Candy Store

I was in the storage room this morning eyeing the clear plastic Christmas boxes like a kid in a candy store!  I wanted to open them up just to check out all the fun stuff we're going to be using to decorate the house but I resisted because...well, you know...it's just too soon.

I'm SO excited to make the house Christmasy with the kids.  :)

Making A Little Progress Each Class!

:)

Warrior Moms

Have you seen this post? It's been circulating around the internet. It's a great testament to how mothers need to be warriors for their children...strong, protective and loving.

I just hope that I can be like her no matter how my children identify themselves and they challenges they may face in the future.

Moms rule! :)

Art & Music

Things that I'm grateful for at this moment:

Painting class and the friend that pushed me to take it. He quit being an attorney about ten years ago to pursue his photography. His work is being exhibited in a few places in town and he is starting to get incredible recognition of his talent.

I'm not sure if painting is my main passion but it's been something that has brought a new challenge and focus to my creativity. It's been so challenging and rewarding doing this class. Each frustrating moment of class culminates into something learned and something new, which I end up loving.

Here are a few painting sketches that I've done in class. They are timed pieces, usually half an hour to an hour.

I'm also grateful for music. I came upon this women today and just loved her voice and her rendition of this Katy Perry song.

The Painting Continues

I didn't realize when I signed up for the painting class that I would have actual homework! It's not like we're getting graded or anything but since I'm a serious type A person I had to do the assignment, even if it was in the hour or so that I could hold the kids off from touching my painting stuff.

Here it is. Quick and dirty but fun to do.

And then today we did several quick color studies. This was an hour pose.

Until today's class I was still thinking about quitting but I realized today how great this class has been for me. It's helping answer a question I've had for a long time - can I really paint or am I just a standard fill-in-the-colors/copying from a picture kind of painter. Am I any good? Or am I just faking it? Since I haven't had any real formal training, I've always been so intimidated by real painters. And this class is being taught by a real serious nationally recognized talented painter. If anyone can answer that question, she can. And so far, she's given me some pretty good feedback. I'm a novice painter but I have something and that's good enough for me! :)