what a long week!

but it was a good one :)

not everything was fabulous, but you need balance in our lives. if bad stuff never happened, then when it does, you wouldn't know how to deal with it. granted though, some things are so bad, that it seems that nothing can help. but let's not worry about the "if" or "when" and focus on the now :D

i have been spending most of this week preparing my work area in the basement to be more organized so that i can be more efficient. plus, it just HAD to be done. that and re-organize and clear out my childhood room.

i took apart my 2 white bookshelves, dusted them off and used some purple fabulouso cleaner(which by the way...ROCKS!) hauled these downstairs and put them back together again in the basement. i'm actually very handy with tools and ikea furniture doesn't scare me! LOL of course my mom helped since dave works in nyc everyday. try doing this with a very curious toddler grabbing everything in sight :P

so i did this and on monday was when i started. however, since i was feeling great, i overdid it. basically i crashed and burned on tuesday, wed., thursday and by friday, i was feeling better. but i wisely waited until today, saturday, after dave's doctor's appointment, to have him help me bring the last shelving unit to the basement.

so now my room's looking better, the basement's still a huge mess, but you can see that organization is happening there. mom and dad have been a huge help too. my goal is to create a peaceful area in the basement where we can all watch some t.v., and i can work as well.

now dave and i can finally create a peaceful area called Our Bedroom, and move one or two dressers in. yes, my white "shabby chic" childhood furniture is still here. those who really know me from grade school and high school, will remember them. i still need to take down my hersehypark and sesame place pendants down from my door. but my unicorn sticker lightswitch plate will remain ;)

i need to find a place for my childhood books that are not ready for a toddler's hands. i have a lot of them. next project, my closet...sigh. i swear i still have my pink gunne sax dress that i wore for my 6th grade graduation in there! LOL

tomorrow i sing at the 8:30AM mass with the adult choir. moday night i am going to my first every Healing Mass. i'm not sure what to expect, but i will go with an open mind :) i'm looking forward to having some peace :)

so at long last, here is my list, enjoy!

-my daughter
-my husband
-my family
-our friends
-our dog
-zip fizz
-david finally starting his humira injections today!
-the hope that dave's arthritis will get better :)
-my car feels like butta when driving again
-taking new photos that will be soon transpired into great photos
-meeting new people this past week
-rain
-sun
-good tempatures outside
-feeling love

Help My Friends Raise $500 For My MS Walk Team!

go to http://www.blackeyedt.com and vote for "Gotta Go?" t shirts. If it wins they will donate $500 for my MS Walk, Team Imagine! we are almost halfway to reaching our goal!!!! help us raise $2,000!!!!!

so much to be thankful today in so many ways!

-my daughter
-my husband
-my family
-my friends
-my dog
-david will be getting his Humira injections this week! his first official step to feeling better :D
-took care of long over due phone calls
-the sunny, windy, chilly day
-my mom and dad taking jayden outside for a walk and to play
-started to organize my work area
-i found out that my MS specialist in philly is right off the PATCO stop on 9th and 10th streets! no more $25 parking fees at thomas jefferson neuro hospital! :D
-warm showers and baths
-comfy, cozy and warm bed to sleep in
-gnocchi
-finding out that dave has at least another month of freelance work :D yay! the "farm" is saved a little bit longer!
-my daughter almost knows the Hail Mary prayer and already knows when and how to say "amen".

sunday, sunday...so good to me

today i received one of the nicest comments, read my last posting and in the comments to see why. i feel so blessed :)

as my 2 year old refuses to sleep(tonight is daddie's turn) i am so thankful that she is so vibrant ;)

here is my thankful list for the day:
-my daughter
-my husband
-my family
-my friends
-our dog
-naptimes for me and my daughter
-crisp, sunny to mild day
-singing with my church choir every day
-seeing crocuses and daffodils blooming
-the lilac bushes in our yard has green buds
-organizing my work area tomorrow
-coffee
-prayer
-faith

it's springtime!

hard to believe that spring is here already!

with spring comes a new outlook on my work and what i want to accomplish :D

i was researching on how to best promote myself through the etsy seller's handbook and reading up on how others quit their day job and what worked for them :)

it was very inspiring and got me really thinking about what i wanted to do in terms of my life, my work and how to help out with everything going on.

so:

i JUST started this blog. i want to feature artists and their shoppes and host giveaways to help promote myself and others.

come by and follow!
Blackbird's Learning To Fly

Blackbird is a Beatle's song and has been my nickname since high school. Life is a process, and learning is part of life, it's constant.

My thankful list for today :)
-my daughter
-my husband
-my family
-my mom and dad
-my friends
-our dog
-finishing up a product photography gig.
-singing at a fellow choir member's wedding today.
-great weather
-migraine medication
-feeling creative
-selling items at the mew gallery in philly
-prayer

positive quotes from etsy sellers

there is a wonderful thread on etsy called The Power Of Positive Thinking. i was given permission to add the quotes here, enjoy! and please be sure to visit their shoppes, i added their links to their names :)

"We don't change what we are, we change what we think what we are.'
~Eric Butterworth

"It's all about how we "see" things. How we see our lives, our art, our work...what do you see? Are you maybe not as happy with things as you could be? Change the way you look at them. See the glass half full instead of half empty. Most of our lives can be different and not by changing US, just changing the way we think to a positive direction. The old saying of "look for the silver lining in the dark cloud" is so true. Take one thing that you see as a negative today and think about it in a positive light, you'll start to see how your positive thinking changes that situation. Think positive, you'll be happier for it! Have a good day."

Ozark

"Very true, Ozarknana. People often don't realise it's not a certain situation that makes them unhappy, but the way they look at it. There isn't one truth. There are many truths and you have the ability to pick the one that you want. If it rains outside and it makes you feel sad, you'll have a real off-day. But you can also choose to think wowwww, now I can turn on the light, the heat, the fireplace, make myself a nice cup of tea, and don't have to go outside! That's a totally different point of view, and you'll have a cosy, warm and happy day.
And on the etsy-side: when sales aren't what you expected them to be, you can start doubting yourself, and your craftmanship. Why don't people buy my things? Am I worth selling my art? But you can also keep believing that it WILL HAPPEN. Today, tomorrow, next week or next month. Both thoughts will put you in a totally different mood.
For me, I'm optimistic! I always (try to) see the positive side of things, situations and people. Makes life so much better!
Wishing you all a happy day with lots of positive thoughts!"

Ine

"Do what you love, and LOVE what you're doing. Spend as MUCH time as possible doing things that "light you up". You are actually feeding your soul in this way ;-)

Deal with negative things when they come up, but don't dwell on them!! Focus on the things in your life that you're grateful for and you'll soon find that you have MORE things to be grateful for! Make gratitude and joy your "default setting".

If this has not been your way of life thus far, take baby steps. If you can increase the joy and gratitude in your life by just 5 or 10% in the next week, you've made a huge change for yourself!! Increase it as you go along and soon it WILL be your life!!

Happy Wednesday!"
PhantomFoundry

"One of my favorite thoughts on this is (don't know the source)
* Every flower must bloom
* You can't pry open the petals of a rose
These help me be patient and know that I too will bloom!"

FeltWerker

"I spent a month actively being positive and it made a lot of difference as I'm not naturally this way."
Junkartist

"Well put, by all."
Milesoftextiles

"Thank you everybody for such positive thoughts! i'm absolutely tired of "no sales, crisis, i'm giving up,..." we need more threads like this one!
Junkartist,
i'm not naturally this way too, but i started changing my mind a few years ago and can't recognize myself (in a positive way :) and all my close ones are noticing those changes in me.
you already see the result and it's just a beginning. don't stop, keep going! good luck!"

valworld

Networking, Networking and More!

taxes are DONE! i have a few extra bucks so i ordered printer paper for fine art photo printing and today i added myself to 2 freelance websites:
elance
ifreelance
i need to get more noticed out there! so let's see how these pan out.

i also found out that i got ACCEPTED into the 32nd Annual Bordentown Street Fair! this is a HUGE event in my town next to the Cranberry Festival and the Iris Fine Arts Festival. my friend eric gibbons pretty much told me that i HAD to sign up for the Iris Fine Arts Festival. so that's what i plan on doing this weekend.

i re-designed my graphic design site:
deirdre's graphic designs
i'm hoping to get more gigs to add to my portfolio :)

the photo of me in this post was shot in playa del rey, ca at my friend, rebekah's, baby shower. her family friend's home over looked the pacific ocean and that's me relaxing for a bit on their deck.

so with that thought on my mind, i feel a bit more relaxed and have a to do list:

-scan negatives
-re-organize my bedroom and my daughter's bedroom
-submit images for my stock photo site
-add more items to my supply shoppe on etsy
-shoot more!

ok, i need to bathe my adorable daughter, so here's a quick positive list:

-homemade spagetti and meatballs
-my daughter
-my family and friends
-my health
-gorgeous weather
-the season of lent