Experiments in facepainting

Two aha moments here...
1.When doing ART with kids..listen to them and let go of control.
I could see my granddaughter's friends were antsy to get their hands on my face painting supplies..so I relinquished and watched the magic begin. I've painted plenty of faces..no ego involved here (hahaha)
2. My son is an awesome GIRL DAD. Just like I knew he would be. Who else would let their kid and her friends have at it on his beautiful face? Tony teaches at the kid's school..I can only imagine what the kids will be saying at recess today.
p.s. yes..I know it's sideways...I know how to do a lot of things..but fixing a video on my phone isn't one of them

tony's birthday

It's my first born's birthday today...32 years of being his mama..have loved it all. Since I've been in movie mode...here's to you, Tony..I love you.

I have a lot of doodling down time at my j.o.b. (ssshhh...don't tell my boss..lol) and have rediscovered a lost art for myself..loving making details of my brain patterns.
 If I could have a Corinne Bailey Rae vibe goin' on..hang out at a coffee shop and play music..draw...write..guzzle coffee..no smoking, thank you...t'would be a happy camper.

art with the Littles

How lucky am I to have grandkids who love to create? I have collected and altered old train cases for a long time..decided it was time to get some of my collection out and bestow the littles with their own art boxes. Gobs of acrylic dimensional squirty paint later...their creations are divine. Ya..so it took a while to try..just gave us time to make kool-aid play dough!!!!

Be kind to one another

My son asked me if I was ever bullied the other day. I had to think. Ya..there was a kid when I was in first grade who asked me if I knew what a pin was and before I told him I did, he stuck me with the pin he had in his hand. That was about it.
Then I wondered..hmm...what made me go back to childhood when thinking of being bullied?
I guess because that was the last time I wanted to give up my power? I dislike feeling sorry for myself let alone anyone else feeling sorry for me. Me, a victim? no WAY!
The times when people have tried to make me into a victim..or put me in a place of no power...those have been my bullies. A person who sees no other way to feel good about themselves but to keep other people down (in their eyes)...ya..the undercover bully.
Usually someone who doesn't really love themselves would want to see another suffer.
These are the people who probably need kindness the most.

aRt NinJa

happy birthday to me

hello blog world..imaginary audience...fantasy soapbox
I wanted to publicly open up about something cool that happened today.
I recognized that I had let go of a lot of expectation and was able to be in the moment and love "what is".
How very zen of me.
I woke up to being 52 this morning. There was a message on my phone from my singing dad that went like this:
 Happy birthday to you,
 You are fifty two
You look more like forty
And I'm proud of you.
After some name calling text messages (to ease the pain of age?)...my sister, Jackie and I hooked up for breakfast. I was so happy she mentioned it was my birthday to our server so I could have a free piece of pie...Hawaiian Strawberry to be exact...but even more happy to spend infinite time with this gem of a friend. She always knows the right things to say.
I gave up an impromptu lunch date with my first born..but we stretch out birthdays in our family, so I will be seeing him soon...it's BIRTHDAY MONTH, damnit!!
I got to spend a little time with my youngest spawn since he came home early from a work trip. I marveled to Baylee about expectations..and taking what comes and just being happy to be alive and spending time with people I love.
Which reminds me...
I will be picked up shortly to have dinner with my cute mom and dad and my "next to" sister I share a birthday month with AND shared a room with for many years. Back then, it was annoying to have to share. Today..wah lah!!! I am in a place where it doesn't all have to be about me.
How did this happen?
How did I come to love the moments and the people and not judge so much and not compare so much and not want all the attention?
I wish I could explain it better...
Or better yet...wrap it up and give it to whoever needs it.
And you won't know you needed it til you have it. And that's the grandest surprise of all.
I am pretty sure grace has fallen over me today..after a month ..wait...a year of lots and lots of shit.
I am so blessed to have this much love and light in my plain old ordinary world.
Happy FREAKING birth day to me.

p.s. Tony took me to training table as soon as we both had free spots in our day at the same time.an impromptu date never the less.. ..look at this handsome boy who will turn 32 at the end of this month..love him.