Day 120 | April Mail Day

Prompt: Share the mail you received from April Mail Call Day.

Annetta | I so very much enjoy and look forward to the thoughtful gifts that I get from my dear friend Stephanie. We live in the same state, but almost an hour and a half drive apart. When mail day comes I feel loved by from my friend.

Stephanie | I love all my goodies. I was so surprised since Annetta left no little clues as to what she was sending my way. A cute little notebook to jot down some creative ideas and more beautiful photographs. I hope we can keep this little tradition going after our journal project is done

 

Day 119 | Dream Home

Prompt: Describe in detail a walk through of your dream home. Do not forget any outside spaces. How would you decorate it? Any stand out pieces of furniture? Even include a rough sketch of the floor plan.

Stephanie | I would love a beautiful old farmhouse or converted barn. A wrap around porch with swing full of overgrown flower pots, an American flag waving in the breeze. Inside is covered in old hardwood floors, open space and original build-ins, full of charm. The kitchen has open shelving and a pantry. The home is open with enough room for guests and a studio space. Handmade quilts will complete each bedroom and display nicely on the metal framed beds. A claw foot tub in the over sized master bath and a large laundry room. White interior with color splashes and lace everywhere. The whole house will be surrounded by lush trees and gardens, a potting shed, and greenhouse and will overlook a lake or ocean. Deer will walk through the grass to find food. Vintage items and thrift shop finds and photographs will decorate throughout the home.

Annetta | I want my dream home to be in California on a 15+ acre rose farm. I want a house that's full of character, is big enough to hold my growing family with a few extra rooms. The house must have beautiful light streaming through many windows. I would love porch where I can enjoy summer nights and a sunroom where I can clam as an office. The house must have a beautiful vintage green house next to it for all my gardening needs. I want it to be a double story with its own unique vibe. I want a big, but photogenic kitchen with a mud room. Since this would be a functioning farm, there would be a few animals, a private garden and orchards. I would also build an additional farm where I can convert it into a workshop place with a bed and breakfast feel. I'd love to have people come and stay for workshops, retreats or just friends. I'm hoping to own this dream home in the next 5-10 years.

Day 118 | My Day Through Instagram

Prompt: Capture and show your day using 1 picture in Instagram.

Stephanie | Today was a family day. We took a ferry boat over to Anderson Island for the first time and explored as much as we could. Despite our best efforts we could not find any beach access points. We did walk through a trail that was muddy and wet in places until the trail was blocked by a fallen tree. Our dog Moose got to run around in an off leash dog park that was also wet and muddy, but he loved it. After driving around for a while, and getting turned around a few times we made our way back to the ferry terminal to head back to Steilacoom. We all got out and walked around for a bit until the youngest had made it clear she was in need of a nap and we needed to make out way home. I was able to snap this shot of a beautiful home overlooking the Puget Sound. This small town has so much character and charm to it, its definitely a favorite place to walk around.  Find my picture on Instagram

Annetta | I was in California over the weekend for a few different reasons. On my way over to LA, I flew and our my way back drove with my husband and a few of our friends. Last night while I was driving I ran over a tire tread from a semi leaving us with no rental, a stay at the hotel and a very delayed drive back home. Instead of cuddling my 4 yr old, I drove 12 hrs home. I am seriously counting my blessings here! We were safe, had a place to stay, got a new rental, got to drive in the day time and I got to enjoy some beautiful scenery, which I normally don't because we drive through the night. My day was nothing grand, but it was good.   Find my picture on Instagram

Day 117 | $10

Prompt: Think of 10 different ways you could treat yourself with less than $10. Do one of them this week.

Annetta | I got to treat my self for actually less than $10. In the morning I went to Starbucks for a 4 pump vanilla latte with a morning bun. It's the simple things that make me happy and I love finding ways to treat myself with less then $10, it's amazing what you can do. Since I am traveling I only have my watercolors and watercolor journal, I'll be driving back to Seattle today and back to my normal journaling in my studio. The watercolor was also inspired by some art I saw in Starbucks. I LOVE their art on the walls, so inspiring!

Stephanie | 1.  buy myself lunch 2. buy my coffee at my favorite stand 3. find treasures at a thrift shop 4. pick up farmers market flowers 5. take my car to a car wash 6. pick up a new magazine 7. have an at home movie night 8. go out for ice cream 9. mail a package to someone 10. have a picnic at a park. I LOVED how my girls were sitting and being artsy with me this morning, they were painting while I was doodling, it was a perfect moment. I'm happy that I can inspire them to be creative too.

 

Day 116 | Pick A Quote 6 + Download

Pick a quote you like and share it in an artistic way.  *Available as Downloads*

"Happiness depends upon ourselves." -Aristotle

Stephanie | While sometimes it is hard to believe it, happiness does depend on ourselves, we choose to be happy or not.

Annetta | Stephanie picked a beautiful quote that I whole heartily believe in. I am in LA this weekend so there is no journal page with my download, but I hope you enjoy the print that I worked on.

Day 115 | Draw A Picture

Prompt: Draw a picture....

Stephanie | This started out as a great idea, just draw a picture, easy. But then I had to come up with something to draw, not so easy. I have a hard time coming up with ideas without a direction. So then I began to panic, not knowing what to draw. My 5 year old suggested I draw her, so I attempted that, but eventually-after looking through pinterest- I chose a different direction. In the end, I had a great time with my little project. 

Annetta | I got to fly into LA a day earlier then my husband, who is driving over with friends, to spend some time with a dear friend of mine. She took me to Dedcanso Gardens here in La. It was filled with beautiful gardens, but my favorite out of all of them was the rose gardens. When we were at the gift shop they were selling succulents of many verities. I've been studying them for a commission and chose them for my drawing of the day. I'm not a succulent person as they are a big trend and I like to do my own thing, but I did adore the shape of their perfect leaves. I'll be in LA till Sunday so my posts will be coming from my hotel room.

Day 114 | Assumption

Prompt: Tell me about one assumption that people make about you that is just not true. Why do you think they assume that? How does it make you feel?

 

Stephanie | People assume that because I am overweight, I over eat. While sometimes I don't always super healthy, I don't eat in excess. People don't know that I typically only eat 1 meal a day. Just because they see me eat my entire meal doesn't mean I eat like that all day long. I am currently on a 'diet', trying to eat healthy and watch calories. I have a hard time reaching my requited calorie intake. I have to force myself to eat snacks and meals throughout the day. I don't wake up hungry, I am not a breakfast eater, I usually don't seek food till late afternoon/evening. What I weigh is not because I take in too much, its because I don't take in enough. I don't like to eat in front of certain people, I really watch what I put in my mouth in front of them, or I make it a point not to eat in front of them. People have no problems judging you without knowing the whole story. I don't see why people feel they need to say some remark if I finish my meal. I have starved myself for days after hearing some comments.I have always been big, I have always had large hips, thighs, and boobs. I have always had trouble finding clothes that fit and feeling good in my body. No one knows the battles Ive gone through and for people to judge me on a teeny-tiny glimpse they see in my life is not fair and it really hurts.   

Annetta | I often wonder what people assume of me. I am not 100% sure, but I think they assume I am not genuine. I am an upbeat person which make it hard to take me seriously I guess or at least at first. They also think that I am much younger than I am. The last part I enjoy, who doesn't like to be told that at the young of 30.

Day 113 | Family

Prompt: I am grateful for my family because....

 

Stephanie | It was 7 years ago today (April 23, 2007) my husband and I lost our first child to a miscarriage. That was one of the hardest things I had ever gone through. I was left broken and afraid we weren't able to have kids. The pregnancy was a shock to us, but it changed our lives forever. The entire pregnancy just didn't feel right but everything kept showing up normal on scans, there was nothing to be done at that stage to prevent anything anyway. I was at home by myself, my new husband was across the state preparing to deploy, when I miscarried. I was so overwhelmed with sadness and guilt, in a single moment our baby died. We will never know what that baby would have been like, whether it was a boy or girl, who it would have looked like. A piece of us will never walk this earth, but rather watch over us. I have since has 2 successful pregnancies with 2 beautiful and healthy girls. Losing a child makes me so extremely grateful  for my little family my hubby and I have created together, I love my girls more than anything. 

Annetta | As I was working on this post I realized something. Family is the only role in life that is irreplaceable! We all long to play a irreplaceable role, to be valued, loved and cared for. All the things that we long for come through family. If our family is broken, we end up growing up broken and in turn can break our own families. Family is something I am beyond thankful for and cherish every single day deeply!

Day 112 | April Mail Call

Prompt: Send mail to each other with items that can be used in our journals.

Stephanie | Royal and Red seemed to be the theme I put together this time around. I found a really cute gift while shopping at Micheal's a few weeks ago, I thought it would be perfect for Annetta and our mail day. The rest of the items coordinated rather well with my initial piece.

Annetta | My mail day is inspire by neutral tones with a few pops of color. I honestly didn't put much thought into my mail day as they always seem to just come together naturally. I am hoping that every mail day is better then the last!

Day 111 | High School

Prompt: Tell me about your time in High School. What are some of your best memories? Who did you spend the most of your time with? What were they like? What did you have in common?

What fashion trends and popular crazes swept through your school while you were there? If you had to be defined by one subject in school during your high school years which subject would it of been? What did you want to be when you left high school?

Stephanie | I don't remember too much about High School. I wasn't popular, I wasn't involved in sports, I didn't really fit in anywhere. I had my few select friends and we kept to ourselves. I was known as 'the Beatles girl' because I was obsessed with the band and was always wearing their T-shirts. I wanted to badly to be part of the art rotation but my schedule never allowed for it, so I was a choir nerd instead. All the girls in the class would battle between Nsync and the Backstreet Boys. I didn't follow fashion, I had my own style, complete with purple hair and eyebrow piercing. High School was not my favorite time, i have changed a lot since then but I knew when I left I wanted to be a photographer.

Annetta | Stephanie explained it very well, choir nerd and I rooted for the Backstreet Boys. Unlike Stephanie, I didn't have any real friends in High School. I was on the bottom of the food chain. I got made fun of, beat up and sat by myself during lunch. I could be exaggerating it at this point, but that's what I honestly remember. Stephanie and I went to the same school, I knew of her, but we hanged out in different crowds. When I entered into High School I truly was the biggest nerd, but by the time I left High School I showed potential and have slowly grew into the person I am today. I'm a late bloomer and High School is not kind to late bloomers, but life is. I'm glad that those years are behind me and that I know who I am and whose I am!

Day 110 | Ideal Friends

Prompt: My ideal friends would be....

Stephanie | Supportive, creative, funny, loving, understanding, dreamers, giving, cares for my family, has my back, there for me when I need it, understands my life as a mom and business owner, not friends out of convenience, makes an effort to maintain relationship, loves me, pushes me to be better.

I am truly blessed with the friends I have, I know I can count on them for anything, they are amazing people. I need to find more creative people to surround myself with as well.

Annetta | I want my friends to be beautiful on the inside out, for them to be creative, fun, ones who can make me laugh till I cry, who are able to love and forgive, are positive, able to listen, share & encourage me.

Day 109 | How You Make Others Feel

Prompt: In detail write about how you would like people to feel after interacting with you.

Stephanie | I want people to feel happy, loved, comfortable around me, that we are/could be friends, inspired, relaxed, supported, heard, and want to come back to me. 

Annetta | I want people to walk away feeling inspired, encouraged and uplifted.

Day 108 | On Your Own

Prompt: Create a list of things you enjoy doing on your own.

Annetta | I like to do several things on my own: antique shopping, watching chick flicks, cooking & cross stitching.

Stephanie | With 2 young children I don't get to do much on my own. So I would take great pleasure in doing some things by myself, like using the bathroom without an audience, a shower, sleeping on my side of the bed without kicks from tiny feet. I would also like to be able to work without being interrupted, painting, creating and cleaning.

Day 107 | Having Purpose

Prompt: What does 'having purpose' mean to you?

Annetta | I believe in purpose greatly! I know that we all have a purpose and that purpose isn't just for us, bot for those around us. Having a purpose is something that is beyond us, something that is more than us. We all have a purpose and we are all called! Having a purpose is supposed to lead us to the One who has created us. He gave us our own dream & our own calling. It makes use better people as well when we have a purpose. This I know from my own experience.

Stephanie | Purpose gives you a reason to get up and do things. I have a purpose to take care of my girls each day, the depend on me for their survival, it is my responsibility to care for them, that is my purpose in life at this moment.