"Mission in Chaos"

A "Mission in Chaos!!" sometimes thats what my life seems to be.. never knowing what the next second, minute or hour will hold.. I believe the only real thing I can hold on to is my Faith... Faith in God .. and that I know that He is always there for me... to keep me going... keep me positive.. that and a Venti Ice Coffee with soy!!! I really do feel like this piece on the left... everything jumbled up into one big bunch of ideas..

I believe a lot of times, I am on a "mission".... a mission to be the best Wife, Mother, Frugalista and artist I can be. I have truly been inspired by my visions and ideas of color and my new pieces along with more and more ideas seem to "be on a roll" these days... For some reason my creativity has been locked up with the stress of these harsh economic times.. and after just simply letting go.. and letting God.. take over.. my ideas are really popping!!! I am finding and maybe finally fitting into my lifetime career as a full time Mom on the Run like I say...

I think one of my most difficult tasks is "What's for dinner???" ... I just get completed blocked when it comes to figuring out new ideas to make for dinner.. Frankly, I w

ould be happy with pancakes.. and so would my daughter.. but I may get a little bit of an odd look from the "King of the Castle" haha!!! Seriously though, they all usually eat what I make without toooo many odd looks or running to the ph

one to call for pizza!!! Dont get me wrong, I really do love to cook, bake and create... but the idea thing...AHHHH!!! I just hate it!!! Just tell me what to make and your wish is my command!! Just trying to add more healthy things to the menu is a task in itself... I think the only thing green they get really excited over is Skittles or M&M's!!! Believe me I like them both as well, but a steady diet.. welll... everything in moderation comes to mind.. maybe I should start another blog... !!! thats it !! Another blog for people to comment and send in suggestions.. and we can all share and swap healthy and creative ideas

for meals... not just limited to dinner but everything breakfast, lunch and dinner !!! The Works!!! Creative ideas and crafty, healthy receipes.. that EVERYONE WILL LIKE!!

So, now with Halloween loooming ahead..

and tons of candy and goodies.. to be made and offered, what better time would there be to be able to come up with and share great creative ideas.. and we don't have to stop there.. lets get going NOW.. instead of doing things the last minute for our costumes as well... soo stayed tuned for my up and coming new blog.. "Look What's for Dinner" (under construction at this time) and lets start thinking and sharing our thought and ideas.. Hope to see your comments soon!!!... don't forget to check out the following website in your Haunting Halloween Spirit!!!

): http://budurl.com/BLBL1

So Aloha for now.. !!! Have a good ONE!! Artfulmama

Confessions of a now "Frugalista"

I was just thinking ... about "Money, what is it good for?" The long and short of it is that the more money you have ... the more you want... it just doesn't matter how much we think we need ... and then obtain, there always seems like.. the plain simple truth ... we always need more!! Its a terrible vicious cycle. These stressful economic times have put us all on notice. We are all learning and have been forced to realize the value of the all mighty dollar and the part that it plays in our lives whether we like it or not. We all need money to live and survive but the key is not to get caught up in the deep dark addiction of "spending". I myself am a recovering "Shopaholic". It took me a long time to really admit and the big word and accept this fact of being a Shopaholic but ... its true, "I am a Shopaholic." Definition and or meaning "A person who shops compulsively and or frequently." This like many other addictions, will always be a part of my life and a constant temptation. Fortunately, I live in a place where the nearest mall is three hours away... but believe me if I let myself, I can do preeettty serious damage at the local Walmart. Believe me its not a fun experience. I wished it would have been different but in the long run, but, I have really learned from this situation. The movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" was absolutely totally me.. maybe not to the supreme extent.. but it was me. The statement "I wish I knew then what I know now.. " is really evident with me on this one. Just watching the movie with my daughter.. was, I must admit a little embarrassing.. just because I could totally relate... I was her..".. the rush of hearing the credit card being swiped.." that was a goose bump thing for me.

Believe me I tried to quit.. several times.. I have also cut up all my credit c

ards just to make my statement clear to myself. I used to say like all the other addicts.. "I can quit anytime I want.." But, I would end up going straight to a

store and making a payment .. but then making a purchase immediately after right off the statement.. pretty sick I know.. but it was the nature of the beast. It was a new thing.. something new in my life.

I even remember having a bad day at the office.. and heading straight for the mall on my lunch hour and spending ridiculous

amounts on even just a small tube of lipstick for a quick fix to make me feel better for the rest of the day. Wow, how stupid was I to get caught up in such an "addiction." I never knew how

much trouble this small innocent act would get me into......

So, now as I sit here as a recovering "shopaholic" and randomly dig through old boxes, bags and various other containers.. I sit in wonderment

of all the things that I have spent money on that at the time I really didn't need. I think of all the money I could have saved and used for more sensible things..

but then I think too, that was a different time then and we weren't in such awful economic times. Maybe its just the way I justify it in my mind .. but I literally thought I could use the things that I bought..They say these economic times are turning around.. I'm not sure on that one though.. but I'm hoping for the best. Now, I've adopted a new name instead of the shopaholic .. I am now a thriving and healthy "Frugalista!" My new mantra is " Do I really need this??? or do I just really want it.." I find all kinds of

ways .. to stretch, save, recycle, reuse, re-everything. I find all kinds of ways of refinishing and/or revamping all kinds of things. The new saying at our house now is "Don't throw that away... you never know, it will come back to you in a different form."

As I sit here watching the beautiful ocean.. or blazing sunset, instead of planning yet another trip to the mall, I just go down in the garage or closet and sift through some boxes and find lots of new to me items. P

robably, because I was in such a delirious mode when I purchased them.

In conclusion to this revelation .. that I've come to realize is truly think before you spend. Don't buy just because you want. Don't get a shopping cart, basket or bag if you don't have the cash cause you know you're just gonna fill it up! But, like even dieters say, you don't have to deprive yourself because if you do you'll just end up on a binge that you may never recover from.. EVERYTING IN MODERATION. Now, thinking back, I should have known that Loreal makeup is probably just the same thing as the Dior stuff in different packaging..I used to spend tons of cash on (just my opinion of course) but you would definitely be

surprised on how much you can save when you're in your own mind.

But there is one good thing about being a former shopaholic....is now I have the convenience of my own shopping mall in my own home!

Inspiration....

Pretty interesting.. I was just watching a tv program, actually a documentary.. on the wonderful artist .. Georgia O'Keefe.. Wow.. such brilliant, beautiful.. colorful work!! I had seen her work in the past.. but really didnt get a chance to really digest her work.. I was soooo impressed and it seemed to give me an uplift.. for at least the day, although I am continuing to look at more of her stuff online. She kept painting and creating till she was 98!! I felt soo.. stifiled .. and stagnant ... until seeing this program. Although I know the chances of being that great are pretty slim.. it does give me inspiration for color! I really love to paint and draw along with my writing and also enjoy sharing with others. The power we have with the internet gives us so much opportunity to ourselves known.. and I love seeing and browsing the talents of others.

Georgia's never ending desire to paint and create is very inspirational to me .. and especially being a woman myself.. gives me that little extra incentive.. to create my own art of all kinds.

We all need an inspiration sometime.. and this wonderful power that we have with the internet is just amazing... !! You can search, learn .... explore they say you can even experience a vacation ONLINE!!! I don't remember the exact websites.. but I know they're out there..

After we are in the midst of our inspiration... who knows what can happen...!! I know with my creative talents.. I can get visions and inspirations at any time of the day or night.. sometimes I get up in the middle of the night and just have to either write something .. or sketch something even if its just a quick note or a name.. if I dont do it just then.. most likely it will be lost.. you really have to grab that inspiration the moment it happens.

This was my inspiration for the day.. I am insanely in love with lime greeen ... I dont know why its just so.... well "inspirational!!" I have had this old stool in the house for just forever.. and today when I saw it "BANG" it hit me.. !!! I just had to jump on it.. Mind you this stool has been in my garage ready for the garbage for quite sometime.. I just always seem to forget it.. and it gets lost in all my other cluttered things in my garage.. So now after today's episode .. this is my new line of "Island Garbage ART!!!" Anything ready for the garbage.. I will figure out something with it. Like I always say someone's garbage could be someone else's treasure!

There are soooo many things and ways to express ourselves writing, drawing, painting .. all we need is a little push or shove ... we sometimes need a little inspiration...!!

Aloha .. and A Hui Ho!!!

The Art of Being a Mom !!

The Art of Being a Mom.. wow.. that it truly is.. but more importantly the statement and book.. there is a book you know.. The Art of Being a Woman is truly a major statement!! It is truly that.. AN ART. It is also the most difficult job for ANYONE.. but one you can never really be trained for or receive a degree for.. it is a thankless job.. but then again so rewarding.. a truly fullfilling position.. that you may never be able to use on a resume or as a reference of almost any kind. I am in the process of writing a book.. to recognize, celebrate and encourage these women they call Moms. Once this particular position is held.. you will never be the same .. whether you physically have given birth, adoption.. or just taking care of your own husband.. the job is pretty much the same. Now by no means am I complaining... just stating facts, experiences.. my own personal advice from experience.. and I truly do not profess to be an expert by any means.. just reporting on first hand.. on the job training.. I often dreamed about an actual handbook for this job.. or position.. but NO ONE has been able to be "on the spot" with their Mom position. Dont get me wrong .. we are ALL IN TRAINING.. and unfortunately this pretty much doesnt end.. no mater how old or far away.. or even independent your children claim to be. WE ARE ALWAYS THERE... no paid vacation, no sick time, no days off, no specific time frame, no end of work.. no even time for yourself.. if your not smart enough to take it from the beginnng.. My advice is YOU GOTTA TRAIN EM EARLY!!! Its not like I'm not a "devoted" Mom.. I will and would do anything for my family... but we Moms do have to have a little time for ourselves.. to remember who WE are.. or to pursue things and events that we would like to do .. enhance our personalities and even stimulate our minds!! Wouldn't that be something!! Something other cooking dinner, laundry, gardening.. cleaning, taxiiiinggg!!! After all Moms are people too.. So thats why I say that there is definitely and "Art " to being a Mom. We all have find just the right way to juggle, organize and coordinate the timing to please all of our family members.. and fit in that special personal time for ourselves..

Like I said, "Don't get me wrong..." I really love being a "Mom" and couldn't imagine being anything else... but IT IS truly the most difficult but the most rewarding job in the world.

So have a great day, enjoy your family and get a little time for yourself.. !! Aloha!