Last night was the Gaines family Christmas celebration...our last of the season. God, I love my family. We had a great night playing games, opening presents and just being together!! We're a crazy bunch and I love us!!
I love the cleanup after Christmas almost as much as the holiday itself! I like getting organized...ready for a fresh start in the New Year! The tree is already down, the stockings taken down and all the pine needles have been swept up.
This season has been filled with love, friends and family. And we still have the Gaines family celebration tomorrow! I am glad it's almost over...although I enjoyed every minute. I'm exhausted!
I hope you all had a happy holiday season!!! I'm really looking forward to 2011!!!
Sometimes you just need to mix it up a bit. Do something different. Get out of the rut of routine. I'll show you what a CRAZY rebel I am....I cut my hair. Yeah...I know...intense, right? :) Well, for me it was enough! I've had long hair for awhile now and I decided to try something new. And contrary to the weird look on my face in this picture, I LOVE IT! Shorter and blonder and more fun!!
If you're looking for a great stylist, Mandee Jenkins at Salon Gregories in Newport Beach is amazing!! She is the boss of my hair. If she doesn't think it will look good....it doesn't happen! She definitely has the final say! Thanks Mandee!!!
Way back when, my great-grandparents came over from Jolly Old England. My Nana was epitome of a proper Enlish lady...with daily tea time and pictures of the Queen above her bed. Nana passed away many years ago. And when she did, she left a legacy and a big ol' crazy family. We don't get to see each other that often. But recently, at the encouragement of my cousin (second or once removed...I can never remember) Kim, we planned a mini family reunion! We rented a photobooth, of course, and had a great time reconnecting with everyone. I sure hope we can do this more often.
I hope to get more photobooth pictures soon but until then...here's a peek!
Thank you Amy & Randy for hosting such a great event. And also to everyone who brought Nana's recipes to life! (Laurie, the boyenberry pie was so good. totally reminded me of nana!)
LOVE STORY #1...In September, my little sister, Lauren married her longtime love, Blaine. The day was like a fairytale. They should have been on the cover of every wedding magazine. Just breathtaking. I was honored to be in the bridal party and Kayla sang as Lauren came down the aisle. My motherly pride was in full swing. Here are a few pictures from the day...
LOVE STORY #2...My brother Andy just got engaged and we couldn't be happier for him. Candice is a doll. She is the perfect addition to our family. Way to go Andy!! We now have another wedding to look forward to next year. ...some pictures from their engagement party...
LOVE STORY #3...Brian & Lea. Theirs is a story of lost loves reunited. High school sweethearts, soul mates....whatever you call them, they couldn't be more perfect for each other. They each have a child from previous relationships and now...drumroll please...they are expecting a little bundle of their own. I'm excited for them and just adore Lea....and Brian, too!
And last but certainly not least...my love story.
It's the story about finding the love of my life when I least expected it and wasn't looking for it. I never knew love could be like this. He is amazing! He is my best friend. He makes me laugh...makes me think...and never makes me feel like I need to be anyone but me. I love who the person he is and the person I am when I'm with him. He's my rock. I love you Kevin.
You'll be hearing more about us...don't you worry!
I just found this website.....I LOVE IT!!! Ask my kids and they will tell you that I love nice people! Every time someone goes out of their way to show a little kindness, I say, "You know what??" and they'll say..."I know. You love nice people." And I really do!
Kindness is underrated and often dismissed in this dog eat dog world of people scratching their way to have more, do more, be more than those around them. Being nice goes a long way. It can make someone's day a little brighter and it's good for you too. Going through your day focusing on being nice to others helps you focus on the good in life...and that's always a positive thing.
Melissa Morris Ivone is the founder of OperationNice.com and I think she's amazing! She is definitely doing her part to make this world a NICER place! Thank you Melissa!
So go out there and show some kindness!!! It will make you smile and after all, as Buddy the Elf says: "I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite!"
Choosing my favorite art supplies is easy...but when I was asked to narrow it down to just a few...now that was hard. But here it is. I used the following supplies {my faves} to create the project above.
PRISMACOLOR PENCILS
PAINT
WATERCOLOR PAPER
SHARPIES...AND ALL PENS
MY COMPUTER
PICTURES
I'm still going strong with my creativity class...and loving every minute of it. In the past few years, I had literally silenced my creative "voice". I thought I had to in order to cope with the stress of my divorce and the pain I was going through. I mean, how could I be focused on meetings with my attorney, running a business and being a single mom when I was focusing on doing something that was fun and an escape for me? Isn't that selfish and frivolous? Absolutely NOT! I wish I had let that voice speak regularly during that time. I think it would have helped me process things faster and possibly with less pain. I can't go back in time. But in exercising my creativity again...I've learned a very good lesson. This is me. It's part of who I am. When I'm not creating....I feel like there is something missing. I will never let that part of me be silenced for this long again. Stress or no stress....I will work through it with color, photographs, paint, pencils, words and music.
It feels good to find that part of me again.
I will never give anyone the power to silence me again...creatively or otherwise!
Now this is living!
The following is a post on Facebook from my loving son, Tyler. He teases me A LOT about being introspective and annoyingly positive. This is what he thinks I'm all about. It's a good thing I can laugh at myself...I laughed hard when I read this (although I did have to fight the urge to post a picture of his 2 year old ass on the toilet). It goes a little something like this:
Co-owner of me & my BIG ideas....soaking in the joy of life everyday! www.mambi.typepad.com
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