Day 158 | Proud Of

Prompt: What are you proud of yourself for?

Stephanie | I am proud of myself for not including myself in another persons drama. Given the nature of my relationship with this person I try to keep a relationship going, but I find myself pulled into drama continuously. I am proud that I have been able to keep my distance and not get sucked into the cycle again. I am at a place in life where I am ok walking away from this relationship, so the drama this person creates doesn't get to me anymore, I don't feel the need to fix it and do/be what this person wants. I have come to the conclusion that I will never meet this persons expectations, they will continue to blame me for things I didn't do, I will never be/do enough, and I am ok with that now. I no longer feel the need to please or gain approval. I finally understand that this person has their own issues and demons they need to confront that has nothing to do with me. I am proud that I am able to stand up for myself and stop this cycle.  

Annetta | I am proud of myself for not letting the expectations of high school that were set for me be my limit. They told me I couldn't do certain things in my life or that I wouldn't get to be what I really wanted to me, but I told them I will be. I, despite what others have thought or said about me, am a success, I am beautiful, I am talented and I have many things to offer. I am proud of where I am in my life and did not quit even when others have said I should! It's so easy to sit back and life happen, but that's not my route. I have dreams, goals and a life to live!

Day 157 | Favorite Books

Prompt: What are some of your favorite books and why?

Stephanie | I am not a reader, I wish I was, but I have a very hard time getting myself to pick up a book and finish it, that's just not the way I learn or retain information. I am working to change this about myself as I want to be a reader. I will say my favorite books are the ones I currently have but have not yet read. I am making it a goal to not only read them all the way through but to learn and apply the valuable information inside to my life. I currently have 2 home-school books and 1 called 'Untitled: Thoughts On The Creative Process' that I am working on.

Annetta | I love reading, I just don't really have the time to sit and read like I used to in my teens years. If I am reading a book its past midnight. My husband reads so many books and highly encourages me to do so to. I am currently working through two books. One is called Beyond Positive Thinking which I'm on the last chapter and the other is The Nesting Place and I'm on the 3rd chapter. I have many book floating through my office, purse and nightstand. Reading is important to me as it helps me grow.

Day 156 | Number One Goal

Prompt: What is your number one goal or intention for the next six months? Mind map a few ideas and then for the goal that resonates with you the strongest write it out in the present tense, as if you have already achieved it. Starting with  I HAVE NOW...or I NOW HAVE IT... Then copy your goal/intention to a piece of paper and keep it somewhere you will see it often to help keep you motivated and inspired.

Stephanie |

I HAVE... no need for coffee or caffeine.
I HAVE...a thriving business.
I HAVE...more family time.
I HAVE...a happy and blessed life.
I HAVE...more patience.
I HAVE...a happy marriage full of love, support, encouragement, appreciation, laughter, and fun.
I HAVE...a healthy body strong and fit.
I HAVE...more positive time with the girls.
I HAVE...a clean and organized home we enjoy living in.
I HAVE...more positive thoughts and outlook.
I HAVE...a positive and successful homeschool experience.
I HAVE...more love to give.
I HAVE...a home full of fruits, veggies, and wholesome foods.

Annetta | I picked one goal to focus on, the one that's popped up in my conversation with my husband the other day. I Have...a successful Society6 Shop where I have a good side income from my art and illustration I create.

Day 155 | 5 Images

Prompt: Share your day in 5 images.

Annetta | Photo 1 - After dropping my son off at preschool I went to Anthro and came across these cute shoes for sale that will be my shoes while in Europe for three weeks this summer. I also treated myself to breakfast at Evolution. Photo 2 - I usually cross stitch while my son is in preschool and today was his last day. Photo 3 - Started using my new mug from Anthro the moment I got home and of course styled at picture for Instagram. Photo 4 - Spent some time with my son in his preschool workbook. I plan on working with him throughout the summer in kids workbooks so that he continues to learn and has something to do. Photo 5 - My studio and piles of work. I'll be in my studio the rest of this day working on editing, watercolors and of course this journal. There will be plenty of tea for me!

Stephanie | 1. My sweet babies having a cute moment together and actually letting me take their picture 2. Cleaning out vases of dead roses left me with pretty rose heads and petals 3. Lunch quesadilla turned pizza wrap, tortilla, cheese, tomato topped with greens the folded in half 4. My cross stitch project that's almost complete 5. Scored a ton of fresh roses from the abandoned house down the street.

Day 154 | 5 Good Things

Prompt: Tell me 5 good things about today or yesterday.

Stephanie | 1. painted and hung shelves in the girls room 2. found cute plants to decorate the shelves 3. woke up to baby kisses and snuggles 4. picked fresh roses from my garden 5. picked up two books on homeschooling that were on hold at the library. 

Annetta | 1. Going to Creative Live for a Q&A with Kari Chapin the author of Handmade Marketplace 2. Actually cleaning the house and doing laundry (something to be proud of) 3. Sleeping in until 8:30am 4. The sun coming out to play here and there 5. Getting some much needed work done

Day 153 | Advice To A Child

Prompt: If you could give one piece of advice or self-belief to every child, what would it be and why?

 

Stephanie | I think children should grow up believing that they are loved and they are beautiful. I think children don't hear it enough and the older they get its said less and less. I think people make a lot of bad decisions in life because they don't believe they are loved or that they are beautiful, they try to fill that void and usually seek it through the wrong avenues. 

Annetta | Every child is loved whether they know it or not as God's love is great. Every child needs to grow up feeling loved. I'd also tell them to never give up on themselves or their dreams and what they need is already inside of them, they just have to discover it through the ups and downs of life.

Day 152 | Favorite Quotes

Prompt: Dedicate a double page spread to some of your favorite quotes.

Annetta | My quotes came from my new favorite book called The Nesting Place. I'm not really a quotes girl in the fact that I personally do not collect them. My favorite quote from the book is "The beginning is always today" by Mary Shelley.

Stephanie | I don't usually reference quotes or have any stored away in my memory as favorites but I do pin ones I like on pinterest and use them when needed. These were all from my Quotes board.

"The flower doesn't dream of the bee. It blooms and the bee comes"
"A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it, it just blooms"
"Stars can't shine without darkness"
"Be happy with what you have while working for what you want"
"Creative minds are rarely tidy"
"It's not who you are that holds you back, its who you think you're not"
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- you'll be criticized anyway"
 "Jealousy comes from counting others' blessings instead of our own"