Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Compliments of the Shine Challenge

Everyone has "that" person at work.
C'mon, you know who I'm talking about.
The person that no matter what you do, it isn't good enough.
The person that is always so quick to point out your faults and mistakes
    (and yet can never admit their own).
The person that you have just accepted that you cannot get along with -
     and you've grown comfortable with that strained relationship.

I came upon a blog today by the lovely Ashley.
She beautiful - isn't she?
Even better is that she's even more beautiful inside
She dreams of changing the world and has started The Shine Project.
She's encouraging us all to step out of our comfort zones
and bring light,
love
and hope to the world.
It's a small sacrifice for us to make a huge difference in the world!
She's even come up with some amazing weekly challenges!
This week's challenge is
A compliment a day keeps low confidence away!
I love this idea!  I'm in!

You know that person I mentioned earlier,
the one that I've grown comfortable not liking?
I don't like that about me, that I can be comfortable with that.
I decided that for day one of my compliment week, I would make it a good one.
Sure, I could tell L that I love her shoe collection.
I could tell K that I love her accent.
 - but those are only surface things.
The small effort on my part would only share a little joy.
I figured I would make this first compliment a doozy.
I went up to that person that I "love to hate".
(eww, I don't like that word, but I have to be honest, right?)
I told him that I really liked his presentation today (true),
that he gave me a lot of things to think about (also true),
and that we should work together in the future (yep, this one is true too).
I don't think I breathed until after our conversation.
Just approaching him, my stomach was full of butterflies.
After though? I felt GREAT!
And, I could tell he appreciated my compliment.
I know this project is to bring hope and joy to others,
  but this time, I was filled with hope!
While we may never be BFFs,
I hope we can grow into a relationship of mutual respect
 and maybe it all started with just one step out in faith.

BTW, I'm pretty sure God has a sense of humor.
My boss approached me and told me that the three of us
(me, him, and the above)
need to meet next week to discuss a project together. 
Thanks God. ;D
 
 
-Melissa

Friday, March 18, 2011

Signs of Spring

The Cherry Blossoms are getting ready to burst in fluffy pinkness.
Thus is one of my favorite times of the year.
I can't help but remember that the day I brought Miss T home from the hospital,
each one of these trees was a burst of color,
delicate pink flowers everywhere.
In about two weeks, T turns one years old!
Get out the tissues, I'm going to be weeping mess!

I've decided that in honor of the time year that we celebrate Miss T's birth,
I am going to bring her to Washington DC to see the Cherry Blossoms
and take part in the yearly Cherry Blossom Festival.
I hope this can turn into an annual family tradition.
I'd like to even purchase or make a Cherry Blossom outfit for her each year too.
This is the outfit I brought her home in -
 (Gap, Cherry Blossom Infant collection 2010)
She was swimming in it, the tiny thing she was!
I haven't been able to find anything to purchase this year, but I did find a few fabric options!
 Big sakura flowers on burgundy one yard Cherry Blossoms: Pink by Studio E - 1 yard Robert Kaufman Kawaii Asian Sakura Cherry Blossom Blue Fabric - By the Yard
I especially like the second fabric because of the orange and pink flowers. 
Orange in our family serves as a reminder of my brother-in-law who passed away nearly 8 years ago.
I love when I get to incorporate his memory into the things I create!
I'll keep you posted on what I make for her...

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Sick Momma

Ok, I've found a new way to top "Mommy Guilt" - The Sick Momma

I rarely get sick.
Of course I get the occasional cold, but as far as really sick?  I'm lucky to say that only happens once every couple of years. 
And by really sick, I mean
the need to sleep for 15 hours in a row - for three days in a row,
body feels like it was run over by a garbage truck,
head is about to explode,
the mere thought of a sip of water or ginger ale is as appetizing as drinking bleach.


The last time I was sick like this, my weight dropped to high school levels.  I remember it clearly, January 2008.  After it passed, I remembered being weak and pale for days.

Well, I've was struck victim again this year.  From Sunday to Tuesday I was racked by - well all the above symptoms, but in addition was The Guilt

See, this time, I have a baby girl to care for, love and be available for.  Even in my disorientation I tried to be present.  I swaddled myself up on the couch with her on a playmat in front of me.  I'm not lying when I say I couldn't even muster up the energy to look at her, nevermind interact, play, smile at her.  I think she could sense trouble brewing.  That day she started making her concerned face.

Thank God for my husband.  For all his germophobia, he remained healthy and took care of Miss T while I slept Sunday away.  At one point around, oh, 5:30 pm, I remember him saying something to the effect of "I'm just going to leave you alone so you can rest".  You know when I saw him next? 1:30am!  Then it was back to bed until 8:00am.

In my pre-mommy days, the second day of a sickness is bearable.  While you may not be able to work, you can manage to provide for yourself - barely.  I was in a panic regarding how I was going to be able to manage for my self and my child!  I actually begged my husband to stay home.  The wonderful man that he is, he called in, again took care of both me and Miss T, and still managed to get some work done.  He's amazing I tell you!

Day three, you can usually drag yourself to work or you can milk it and use it as a "recuperation day".  I had our friend watch T while I slept. 

All this time, The Guilt was building. 
For three days now, I hadn't been able to kiss, hug, or somehow demonstrate my complete infatuation with my baby girl.
I hadn't been able to stimulate her intellect, nurture her curiosity, foster her courage. 
Have I permanently stunted her growth and development?

Ahh, day four.  I actually want to eat.  Of course its just a bagel and I regret eating the whole thing afterwards, but just that I desired to eat was HUGE.  And not just that, I can not only pretend to smile at Miss T, I am grinning ear to ear just to hold her, talk to her, play with her.  While I should have stayed home all day again to rest, we went on a lunch date, me and T.  We played all afternoon.  I got to hug and kiss her goodnight.



We're slowly getting back to normal.  The laundry piles are getting smaller and perhaps I'll actually make a real dinner tonight.  Poor hubby.  He was our big time hero this week.  I love you baby!  Hopefully its another three years until The Sickness strikes again!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

I've been featured!

The lovely blogger from 202 Designs features a new Estian artist every couple of days.  She's an artist herself and her paintings are amazing! 

I'm loving these new damask bird branch paintings she finished recently and I'm trying to figure out where I can put one up in my house!  Check out her shop when you get a chance!

Damask Bird Branch - Green - 8x10 Acrylic Painting

Well, guess what!  She's featuring me today!  Check it out here.  This is sooo cooooool!  It's kind of like high school when that guy you've been crushing on forever finally notices you! 

I'm super excited to share the things I've been working on.  Just last night, I finished Miss T's Easter dress, just like the one featured today.  Now I can start some more color combinations and experiments!  I'm also working on some new techniques for hair accessories.  I'm so excite for spring to arrive, but did you know, it's just 98 days until summer?  Woohoo!