One Little Word -- July

The July prompt for the One Little Word workshop has been the most 'me' prompt so far -- music!  More specifically -- a soundtrack for my word.  This month I created a personal playlist for my word.  Seeing as how I have music playing at all times while I'm at home or in my car, this prompt was a breeze for me, and super fun. 

I remember in my AP English class in highschool we were given the opportunity to either write an essay or create something for our final class project.  I created a mix tape, or soundtrack I guess, for a novel we had just read in class.  I remember thinking all the people that chose to write an 8 page essay were out of their fucking minds.  I have never liked writing essays, period.  So given the opportunity to make a mix tape as a final project vs. writing an essay about some famous important novel that I can't even remember, the choice was an easy one for me. Mix tape!!

So what I'm saying is I had a great time tackling making a playlist for my word -- heal.  The songs I selected don't literally include my word -- to me it was more about creating the playlist with songs that are important to me now, or have been important to me through my life, and songs that make me connect to my word.  After creating our soundtrack to our word, we pulled lines or quotes from each song to put on 9 canvases.

Here are my canvases:

Although I have only 9 canvases, my soundtrack has 13 songs:

1. My Sweet Lord: George Harrison
2. Given To Fly: Pearl Jam
3. Between Two Lungs: Florence & The Machine
4. Well All Right: Kid Rock
5. Fall On Me: R.E.M.
6. Get Better: Mates Of State
7. Up Up Up: Givers
8. Young Blood: The Naked and Famous
9. Fans: Kings of Leon
10. Someone Like You: Adele
11. Baby, What a Big Surprise: Chicago
12. Helena Beat: Foster the People
13. Crying, Waiting, Hoping: Karen Elson

Then I created a cover sheet for the project and burned my playlist onto a disc to include in my One Little Word notebook. 

On Twitter if I send out a tweet of something I'm listening to right then, I'll include the hashtag #nowplaying, so I put that as my cover sheet.  I put my CD in a sleeve I purchased in a DIY CD packaging kit made by Chronicle Books. 

Here are the lyrics I chose to include on my canvases:

Given To Fly: Pearl Jam
And he still gives his love, he just gives it away. The love he receives is the love that is saved. And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky. A human being that was given to FLY.

Between To Lungs: Florence & The Machine
I have this breath and I hold it tight.  And I keep it in my chest with all my might.  I pray to GOD this BREATH will last.  As it pushes past my lips as I gasp, gasp.

Well All Right: Buddy Holly via Kid Rock
We'll LIVE and LOVE with all our might

Fall On Me: R.E.M.
Buy the sky and sell the sky. And lift your arms up to the sky. And ask the sky, and ask the sky.  Fall On Me.

Get Better: Mates Of State
Everything's gonna get LIGHTER, even if it never gets BETTER

Up Up Up: Givers
Yeah we up up up above love. Yeah we up UP up through the clouds. Yeah we up.

Young Blood: The Naked and Famous
The bittersweet between my teeth.  Trying to find the in-betweens. Fall back in LOVE eventually.

Someone Like You: Adele
Sometimes it lasts in LOVE but sometimes it HURTS instead.

Fans: Kings of Leon
You know the RAINY days they ain't so bad when you're the KING.

Looking forward to what is in store for August!!

One Little Word -- June

The prompt for June was one of the most challenging of the workshop thus far.  It was called Creative Meditation.  We were supposed to create 9 different mini-canvases -- keeping our word in mind as we created them.  I think they were difficult for me initially because the instructor used the word "messy" in the description of the project.  As most of my close friends and family know, I do not mesh well with the word "mess"..... my mind may be a mess sometimes, but my living space and work space are not.  So when I saw the instructor's personal process video for creating her canvases -- I was worried.  I don't work with paints much in my own scrapbooking -- not because I don't think it looks cool.  I actually think it looks really cool.  But paint to me equals dirty hands, and I like clean hands.  I'm so type-A sometimes.  Anyway, long story short, I managed to get over my fear of getting my hands dirty and had a great time creating my most colorful prompt so far.

Here are a few pictures that show my 9 mini-canvases:

Admittedly, I didn't actually get that dirty creating these canvases.  I used watercolors as the background for two of them, and did a little bit of stamping on a few of them.  I purchased a few acrylic paints in lime green, purple, and turquoise, but ended up running out of canvases because I wanted to include a photo of Frank and Spuzz in the project. 

I like the way they turned out though -- they are all different bright colors, which makes me happy.  We were supposed to choose a color to use as a jumping off point for our canvases, but I knew right away I didn't want to focus on just one color.  And that is one of the cool parts about this project -- you can create whatever you want, and whatever makes you happy! 

One Little Word -- May

As you know from my post from yesterday, this week I'm featuring a series of posts to catch you all up on my One Little Word project from Big Picture Classes.  I know you guys have been waiting with baited breath for my next installment.....May!!

So, May's prompt was one of the least challenging so far.  In a word -- documentation.  We were encouraged to write down our ideas, thoughts, tasks, missions and stuff we'd like to tackle with our word this year.  Also create another cover sheet for the month. 

Cover sheet:

Hello May! Lovely to see you again......
Still using patterned paper from a kit from Freehand Scraps.  I think the star stamp is a Tim Holtz stamp - love his stamps!

And my documentation:

I'm not sure you can see in this photo what the template spaces say -- each 8.5 x 11 sheet has 5 spaces to write.  Each space is divided in to two smaller spaces. The top space says Task/Mission/Goal/Objective/Thoughts/Stuff to Tackle.  The bottom space says Comments/Observations. 

Here are a few of my written spaces:

1. Create new memories with another dog.....I fell in love with Spuzz the moment I saw him, and haven't looked back!!  So happy....
Comments: Spuzz is so different than Milo as far as energy level, he keeps me on my toes.  Looking forward to adventures!!

2. Work on educating myself on foods that are easy to digest after gallbladder removal, I would like my digestion to be more predictable.
Comments: More fresh foods!

3. Keep Frank as healthy and happy as possible. Do the best you can with his medication, and don't punish yourself if he is combative.
Comments: It is your strength that you realize Frank will not live forever -- you'll know when he is ready to go.

4. Create an outdoor space to enjoy.  So looking forward to my deck area -- a place to sit and enjoy the fresh air.
Comments: Don't forget to allow Frank to experience the wind and sun in his fur.

5. Do something active 3 to 4 times a week.  You enjoy walking, do this with Spuzz. Zumba class was fun a a great workout.
Comments: You are reminded more and more as time goes by how important your health is, you really have nothing if you don't have your health!

Those are 5 out of 8 "tasks" that I have documented so far -- maybe I'll jot down more as the year progresses.

One Little Word -- April

I think this week I'm going to do a series of blog posts catching you all up on what I've been working on the past few months with my One Little Word workshop at Big Picture Classes.  I've been having a lot of fun working on the project!!  I'm pretty sure I've already covered the first few months in previous posts, so I'll start with April.

April's prompt was called "Note to Self."  I had to write a letter to myself -- taking stock of where I am right now (or back in April), envisioning where I want to be, setting intentions, and writing it all out.  Also had to take a self portrait and make a cover sheet.  One of the cool things about the class is the instructor, Ali Edwards, creates templates for us to use.  We just have to fill in the information, either hand-written or typed, and pick out our own paper to use.   

Here is my cover sheet and self portrait for April:

Most of the patterned paper I've been using for this OLW workshop has been from a monthly scrapbooking kit I purchased from Freehand Scraps over a year ago.  Lots of colorful paper -- I've been using a lot of lime greens, bright pinks, and turquoise on this project.  I chose to keep my self portrait a little funky, using a picture I had taken with my iPhone one day when I was playing around with some glasses from my Tickle Trunk.  Tangent -- "Tickle Trunk?  WTF is that??" -- is probably what you're thinking.  I got the term from my bro-in-law, Mike, who is originally from Canada.  Apparently in Canada there was a kids show where there was a trunk full of props and costumes called "The Tickle Trunk" -- anyway, despite the creepy name for it, I have my own Tickle Trunk full of costumes, hats, and strange glasses.  You never know when you're going to need a Wookie costume, am I right?  I have a Wookie costume, BTW, so if you need to borrow it, just let me know!  Soooo, where was I..... yes, my photo.  I'm wearing some glasses from my Tickle Trunk. 

And my letter to myself:

I'll write it out because only like 4 people actually read this blog and I'd show you this letter in person if you asked, so why not write it out here.......right? Right.

Dear Jess,

Right now you are: Content. Emotionally you are feeling fantastic! Armour thyroid has truly changed your life. You are loving your new home and how happy you are creating this long term space for yourself. You are working on processing Aunt Judy's death - time and reflection will help you heal. You still think of Milo often, sometimes there are still tears. But you are looking forward to opening up your heart and home to another dog. Frank is doing as well as can be expected - you have accepted the fact that he will not be here forever and you must enjoy every moment you have with him.

One year from now I hope you'll be: Emotionally solid. Content with where you are in your personal and professional life. Drinking lots of water and sweating on a regular basis. Taking care of you. Opening up your heart to the possibility of falling in love. Loving Frank or loving your memories of Frank. Creating new memories with a new dog (or dogs!!). Laughing!! Connecting with friends and family. Continuing to be strong. Continuing to heal.

Love, Jess   

Wrapping up One Little Word for February....

As you know from previous posts, I decided to take an online workshop through Big Picture Classes -- specifically One Little Word by Ali Edwards.  My word for 2011 is HEAL.  For February, Ali asked us to see our world through the lens of our camera -- to look for our word in the world and capture it.  Either by literal representations of our word, or figurative representations.  We were to choose at least nine images to use in our album.  Here are my nine images:

Top row:
1. Frank's medication: as some of you may know, I have to give Frank prednisone, twice a day, every day.  As you can imagine, giving a cat a pill twice a day is a challenge.  A month or so ago, I had reached my wits end.  I found myself on the phone with my vet, crying.... Frank had figured out all my usual tricks of hiding pills in food.  If Frank and I were going to emotionally and physically survive his illness, we needed to try a new method.  Luckily there are pharmacists out there in the world that compound medications specifically for animals.  I breathed an enormous sigh of relief when I picked up Frank's prescription for transdermal prednisone.  It is fricking glorious.  I rub a pea sized amount into his ear twice a day.  He gets his medications AND some lovin' from yours truly.  It is healing for both he, and I. 
2. Frank soaking up some sunshine by the front door.  The sight of this small little pleasure for him brought me great joy, and some of my favorite photos of him so far this year.  It's the little things in life that make me happy. 
3. Stack o' music.  I have music on in the house almost constantly -- it is definitely soothing.  Plus, there are so many songs that I have listened to during rough patches in my life, that I remember fondly for getting my through those sad or frustrating times.  For example, I'll always remember Florence & the Machine's album Lungs for being on repeat after Milo died.  Song that I find to be healing?  Between Two Lungs.  Look it up, it might just make you feel better.

Middle row:
1. Milo and I.  Moments before he passed away.  No, this photo wasn't taken in February.  And you may be wondering why I included a photo of a really sad experience in my life.  Actually, looking at this photo brings me a lot of peace.  Peace knowing that I was with him til the end.  Peace knowing that he wasn't struggling in the end.  He just quietly passed away with me by his side.  And it is these thoughts and emotions that help me heal. 
2. Stack o' books.  Books for learning and growth.  The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown.  Inner Excavation: Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media by Liz Lamoreux.  Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart.
3. My savior -- Armour thyroid.  Yeah, you've already heard me sing it's praises.  But let me just say it a few more times for the record!!!  :)  I have felt like a different person since I started taking it in late November.  This drug has seriously helped me in the healing department. 

Bottom row:
1. Healing Our World magazine.  Quite the literal photograph of the word Heal.  Arrived in the mail one day. 
2. Letter to my dear sweet Milo.  I wrote a letter to Milo after he died.  I thought it was good to get all my emotions on paper.  A healing exercise I guess.  As the years go by I think I'll forget the little things I loved about Milo.  It will be cool to read the letter down the road and be able to recall all those cute things he used to do, those things that made me fall in love with him over and over and over again. 
3. Milo's collar and leash.  As time goes by, I'll look at his collar and leash less and less.  Maybe someday I'll put them in the wooden box with his ashes.  But I never want to forget them.  So I'll keep them in my memory through this photograph.

Ali added an additional prompt for the month of February -- enlarging a photo that stands out to you.  In the January prompt, I had to write down words that I wanted to invite in to my life for 2011, one of the words that I invited in to my life is PEACE.  I chose this photo for my photo enlargement because it seems peaceful:

It was taken one cold sunny day when Kim, Casey, and I were down at Golden Gardens.  Kim was showing me different techniques to use to take better photos, and this is one of the photos I took that day.

So far I'm having a blast with my One Little Word project for 2011.  Ali's prompt for March is all about taking action.  I'm already starting to work on it -- I'll fill you in on the details later in the month!   

One Little Word 2011 -- January

Here are a couple pictures of my One Little Word project so far.....

Title page: Heal

Welcoming my word into my life for 2011
This page is all about creating a series of small canvases that name, invite, claim, quote, and generally welcome my word into my life for 2011.

 
Quote canvas: The quote I chose doesn't contain the word "heal" but it definitely pertains to "healing" -- I think it is an awesome quote, powerful, and I'm looking forward to focusing on it in 2011...."Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."  -- Helen Keller

"I chose this word because...." canvas:  It has been too long since I have felt well.  2010 was a hard year...both physically & emotionally.  I want to feel strong again - it is time to HEAL!

Thesaurus canvas: soothe, improve, harmonize, free, revive, make well, make sound, alleviate, improve, mend, make healthy, rebuild, fix, rejuvenate, compose, make whole, remedy

"With this word I invite....." canvas: strength, laughter, peace, satisfaction, contentment, change, opportunity, happiness

Definition canvas: To make healthy, whole or sound. Restore to health; free from ailment. To free from evil, cleanse; purify; to heal the soul

I included pictures of Milo and Frank, because they are part of my healing process.  To heal emotionally from the loss of Milo.  And to help Frank physically heal, or at least maintain his current level of health.

Speaking of Frank's health -- status update -- I'm so incredibly excited that Frank's current medication regimen is working.  He's gaining weight -- half a pound in 5 weeks!  Anyway, he is going to be on steroids for the forseeable future, and he's hating them so much.  I'm surprised he has let me give them to him for the last 4 months!  I placed one on my tongue the other day and it was awful, so bitter, I couldn't even brush the bitterness out of my mouth with toothpaste.  Poor guy has been dealing with that twice a day since September.  Anyway, my lovely friend Heather came over last week to show me some techniques for getting Frank to take the medication without having to hide it in food.  Although Heather made it look quite effortless, Frank would hide from me every time I brought the pill out.  Frustrating for sure!  $87 later I have a transdermal gel that I rub in to the skin of his ear twice a day.  My heart is swelling with joy at the awesomeness that is compounded medication!  When I talked to the pharmacist at Ballard Plaza Pharmacy on the phone a few days ago, I started crying with relief.  Relief from having to worry about trying to get Frank to ingest that bitter pill twice a day.  Now I'm simply giving him love while rubbing medication in to his skin.  So amazing and awesome.  Love it.  Much respect to compounding pharmacists :)

One Little Word -- 2011

I'm hoping 2011 will bring many changes and new challenges for me.  This year I've decided to participate in an online workshop over at Big Picture Classes.  One of my favorite scrapbookers, Ali Edwards, is teaching the course "One Little Word", and I'm *really* excited about it.

When I signed up for the class, I didn't have any "words" in mind.  After a few days of pondering about 2010, and what I want to focus on in 2011, my one little word found me while I was listening to "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison.  Heal.  That is my one little word for 2011.  Not really sure why it found me during "My Sweet Lord", but it did. 

2010 was a challenging year for me, both physically and emotionally.  Being sick during the beginning of the year with my gall bladder issues, then working on recovering and finding a new balance without my gall bladder definitely has been a journey.  I have never felt older physically, unfortunately.  Most of my close friends know that I have also had some challenges with my thyroid over the past few years.  Finding a medication and dose that works for me has been difficult.  I have finally found something that makes me feel as close to "normal" as I have felt in years, I haven't felt this good since prior to my hypothyroid diagnosis in 2007.  It feels incredible actually.  *Insert fist pump here.*  Emotionally, the past few months have been hard, with Milo passing away, and Frank's health being less than awesome.  I'm ready to laugh and smile more.  I'm tired of the lump in my throat and the tears.  This is where my one little word for 2011 comes in...... Heal.  I'm ready for it.

Heal: 
Verb
1. to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment
2. to bring to an end or conclusion, as conflicts between people or groups usually with strong implication of restoring former amity; settle; reconcile
3. to free from evil; cleanse; purify: to heal the soul   

From thesaurus.com:
Heal:
Definition: cure, recover
Synonyms: alleviate, ameliorate, attend, bring around, compose, conciliate, convalesce, doctor, dress, fix, free, get well, harmonize, improve, knit, make healthy, make sound, make well, make whole, medicate, meliorate, mend, minister to, patch up, physic, put on feet again, reanimate, rebuild, reconcile, regenerate, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, remedy, renew, renovate, repair, restore, resuscitate, revive, revivify, salve, set, settle, soothe, treat

I'm sure I'll be posting about my workshop progress as the year unfolds.  For now, I'm going to brainstorm ways to incorporate Heal into 2011!