Half Way Point

Wow, it's hard to believe that it has been 6 months already. 7, really, if you count the month that we were separated before he moved out but 6 months since the actual "legal separation" began. That means that I only have 6 more months to go. August 21st is the date that I can finally file for divorce. I can do this. I know I can.

It has been a half a year of ups and downs but we are making it through.The kids are doing okay, and we have settled into our routine. I am hanging on as well. I am just ready for it to be over with so that I can really move on with my life. I feel like I have wasted so much time already. It's time to get out and rediscover who I am. I tell people all the time that we are in the "South Carolina One Year Holding Pattern". It sucks but I guess it's what we have to do. There are not any other options.

Right now, I am looking for a place to move to because he wants to sell the trailer. I want to stay in Moncks Corner for the kids' sakes but it is hard to find a place that we can afford. All the houses are like $1200 or more for rent and I just don't think that I can swing that. It is stressful because I just don't know what I am going to do. I would love to be out in Pimlico to be near Mom and Dad but the options are limited. If we do find a place, then I might have to get a second job or one on the weekends and I just can't imagine how that would work.

Not much more to report right now. I have been working on some artwork but nothing that is ready to share. My birthday is this week. I can't believe that I will be turning 39. It doesn't seem like I should be that close to 40. I certainly don't feel it. lol Time just keeps flying by. The kids will be grown and gone before I know it.

Well, anyway, I have been up since 3am and unable to sleep so I just wanted to give a quick update on how things were going. I know that I need to get back to sharing on the blog and I am going to. Sitting down this week to develop a course of action. I need to put a schedule together and prioritize activities. Look for more posts soon.

Laters, Baby


KT

Living the Creative Life 2013

So, 2013 has begun and like everyone, I made New Years Resolutions. Not resolutions so much as what one person described as "intentions". I have a list of things that I "intend" to do in 2013 and you will be hearing much more about them in the weeks to come.

 

In the art community, there is also this thing known as your "One Word". You pick one word to define what you are seeking or hope to achieve in the year. One word to guide you along the path and give you direction. I have a list of words so far that I am narrowing down. I haven't found the "ONE" yet that just speaks to me. When I do, I intend to blog that as well so stay tuned my friends.

 

Today's focus is "Living the Creative Life". One of my first "intentions" is to put more time and effort into pursuing my creative side. I want to get better and develop my artistic skills. Mom and I are taking one of the coolest classes called LifeBook 2013 and I am hoping to take some other courses as well. My goal is to do something creative everyday. So far I have done a couple of art journal pages that you can see below.

 

This is my first fairy art-mother. For the class we are taking, the first assignment was to draw a fairy art-mother who would be your guide in the journey. She would give you pep talks and get rid of all the negative thoughts about your art. Because we hadn't gotten in the class yet, I didn't have a chance to watch the video but I felt inspired to do it anyway just from the pictures that I was seeing in the FB group. So, in the spirit of 2013, I JUST DID IT! I think this is probably the first time that I have ever sat down to create something strictly on my own with no point of reference or directions to follow. For that reason alone, I just love her.

 

 

This second fairy art-mother is based on the course video. She is totally out of my box with the strange colors and the kind of whimsical feel to her. I am hoping that as the course goes on, I will get more comfortable with different styles and incorporate more of them in my work. There are things that I would like to change about her but I am just letting it go. I am not as happy with her. I ignored the lesson that she was trying to tell me and I listened to outside influences (even though they were well-meaning) that led me to go back and make changes that I really didn't want to make. Going forward, I hope that I take that lesson to heart and listen to my own inner voice.

 

 

I think I had the most fun with this one. Back in December, I found a wonderful artist named Sandra van der Geest who works in a collage-y type, mixed media style. This was definitely way out of any box that I ever conceived for myself but I just fell in love with the quirky-ness of it and how the process all came together. After watching several of her videos, this was my take on it. I just love Pink and was immediately drawn to her pic in one of my magazines. The broken heart and the lyrics just seemed fitting at the time. Art journaling can be a way to work through pain and begin the healing process. I think this page is going to be an amazing part of the process. It really got me excited about creating again.

 

And last but not least, I created this page yesterday while I was sitting at the park watching the kids play. This is the quote that inspired this blog and I have had this vision in my head ever since I read it. I just wasn't sure that I could translate it to paper. Again, new year, new me...JUST DO IT! I had a lot of fun playing with my new Neocolor watercolor crayons. I think that I still prefer my acrylics but it is fun to branch out every now and again.

 

I hope that you all are having a fabulous 2013 so far. Do something creative everyday. Do something for yourself. Enjoy life and the process. That is what it is all about.

 

Hugs,

Katie

December Recap

Well, I took a blogging hiatus. We'll say it was for the holidays...yeah, thats the ticket! lol So, since it has been awhile, I figured that I would do a December recap before starting off 2013. The holidays were good. It was an adjustment for everybody but we made it through with minimal drama. Everybody played nice. lol

 

This was our annual picture in front of the Christmas tree at the Festival of Lights. We go every year and take this same picture. It's really neat to see how much the kids have grown...and of course my ever changing hair styles/colors. One day the kids are going to look back and be worried about who the strange lady is in the picture. lol

This was also the year of the handmade Christmas. I crocheted these owl/Angry Bird hats for the kids, learned how to knit  ruffled scarves and even created a Scrabble tile art piece for Mom.

 

Thank goodness for Mom and Dad because they helped the kids make these wonderful gifts for me. They were so proud and I will treasure them always. Skylar's owl is just too cute with the three little baby owls on top of my trophy. Brayden made me the Auburn earrings because he knows where my heart is. And Peyton's hand print on the ornament made the cutest little snowmen.

 

Skylar performed in her very first play in December and was fabulous. She was definitely born to act and gets that from her father. We surprised her with flowers after the show and she lit it up the room. Her valley girl/prep was spot on with the eye rolls and finger snapping. 

 

Brayden put together his very first Lego set all by himself and followed the directions. Took him about 3 hours but he was so proud. I was amazed!

 

 And Peyton discovered her inner artist. She has been watching all of my creativity lately and has been very curious. Water colors are a favorite and she got sets for both our house and Grandma's house for Christmas. Look out world...you will be paying money for these one day!

 

We had a little excitement at our house the day before Christmas Eve. The kids went to play outside (Okay, they were driving me crazy in the house so I banished them to the outside!) and decided that it would be fun to decorate each others faces (Well, for Skylar to decorate their faces). The problem is that this isn't washable marker...it is SHARPIE PERMANENT marker! I was so furious with them that I immediately drug them in the house and threw them in the shower after a few choice words, of course. lol But, in the midst of the chaos, being the photographer and the scrapper that I am, I had to capture the moment for posterity (and future blackmail!) Can you tell by the sheepish look who the very guilty party is?

 

New Year's Eve was spent with these beautiful ladies watching Clemson win their bowl game and ringing in the New Year. It was so much fun and we ended up closing the club down after dancing the night away. I love these girls and can't wait to spend 2013 with them causing a little bit of trouble and having a whole lot of fun!

 

And last but not least, here is my accountability portion of the recap. Not too bad because I didn't gain over the holidays which is amazing in itself. I tried to watch what I was eating and kept my portions small. I lost a little bit but I have to get back on the wagon now that it is January and start losing again. Goal is 10 pounds by my birthday which is March 1st. Bought two more Jillian Michaels DVD's for Christmas so she is going to whip me into shape!!!

 

 

Here is the before picture and I can't wait to add the after by the end of the year. I am not totally unhappy with this because I have lost 20lbs but I have a long way to go still. Eyes on the prize and hopefully it will be a brand new me by 2014!

 

Hugs,

KT