Scrapbooking.

I have so many lovely memories connected to scrapbooking. At first, I made cards and decorated photo albums with scrapbooking treasures. Later, I used the tools to add to my journals.

I remember the joy of wet ink pads and tiny dolls with pinafores on rubber stamps. Burst of stars, favorite words, fairies, and more were mine to put anywhere, over and over. Mom and I colored stamps with brush-tip markers.

My Nanna would take me to scrapbooking stores with walls of rubber stamps and giant rolls of stickers. I collected hearts and stars. I wish more of those stores still existed.

I cut sheets of cardstock in half and then cut the edges with patterned scissors. I added stickers and silver ink to make love letters.

Sakura's Gelly Roll pens have made me so happy since before high school. The pens come in metallic, glitter, neon, and gold and silver shades. I use them in my journals. My darling friend Melissa and I used the pens to take notes in class and to write long notes to each other. In Boone when I was an undergrad, I went to Cheap Joe's Art Stuff and bought pens from the mega display. Now, Charlotte has a Cheap Joe's, and even Michaels has a small selection of Gelly Rolls.

I used to make collages with patterned paper, magazine pictures and words, watercolors, glitter, rhinestones, paint swatches, stamps, and stickers.

I've never tired of stickers and wild inks.

Sleeping Beauty's Fairies.

I love the idea of the fairies in Sleeping Beauty coming to bless the new princess and give her gifts. In early versions, I think about 12 fairies visited the baby. What gifts would I want surrounding my cradle?

1. A sense of beauty--feeling beautiful and recognizing beauty with joy.
2. Musical talent. I'd like to learn instruments easily and sing well.
3. A limitless supply of good books.
4. Focus--for reading, conversation, and learning.
5. A love of learning.
6. Time for books and writing.
7. A unique but loving mother's heart.
8. The ability to sew and enjoy it.
9. Kindness.
10. Easy travel.
11. An essential core of joy and peace.
12. I'd save this one in case of a curse!

Surprise Sparkles.

I love surprise sparkles.
My arm, my inner wrist, my chin.
A stray bit of gold.
A patch of purple shimmer.
A glint of pink.
A little shower from a journal.
They feel like reminders of who I am or at least who I want to be.
They surprise me at odd moments and makes me smile.
I often don't know how I got them.
Sometimes, I plant glitter in a book or a bag.
I sometimes find surprise sparkles on people I love.
They make me feel as if almost anything, any place, anyone were potentially magical.

Restoration: Week 7.

This past week, I restored some of my confidence in myself. Oliver had a field trip to a museum in another big city. I volunteered as a chaperone. The driving, parking, finding everything, and managing Oliver's stress were major challenges for me. But I got us through. I probably won't volunteer for anything like that again any time soon, but I know I can be brave if I have to be.

Poetry baths restore my connection to words, the sound and shape of them, as I read aloud.

I went to the gym with Josh at his college. I walked for an hour on the treadmill while I read The Perfect Girl e-book on my phone. We plan to use the gym twice a week in addition to my once-a-week walk with Bruce. I hope that will restore my sense of fitness and endurance.

Josh and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary this past week. I hope we can restore and renew our connection daily.

A Bold Reader: Week 7.

I finished a book this past week: the official movie novelization of Crimson Peak. I felt so dorky reading it, but I enjoyed it so much! The book always gives more than the movie. But I won't get into my book/movie opinions now.

Bruce and I are more than half way through Sleeping Beauties!

I didn't replace Crimson Peak. I need to push myself with my children's lit focus. I only have a month left until spring and the shift to young adult it.

I've not caught up with my Bible yet, but I'm getting there. I read a lot of it yesterday, and I didn't read anything else except for my poetry bath. I liked the immersion.

I'm reading Underwater City, Best American Poetry 2010, and New Southern Poets for my poetry baths. I should be able to finish BAP this coming week.

According to GoodReads, I'm still two books ahead of schedule for my goal!

Restoration: Week 6.

A small but restorative moment: I asked Oliver whom he loved, and he said, "I love Mama." His teacher had told me that he'd answered that question that way at school. I felt my dried-out heart welling up.

Josh and I went to his college to use the gym. Our gym is under renovations. I got on the treadmill and walked for 45 minutes while reading a literary suspense novel (The Perfect Girl) on my phone. I hope to restore my physical health, get closer to my goal weight, and perhaps restore or at least protect my mental health. Josh and I will go to the gym twice a week, and I'll walk with Bruce once a week. I did discover that I've lost another 5 pounds!

I finished two books this past week. I feel much more...nourished now that I am reading regularly again. It restores to me such an important part of myself. And I'm ahead on my GoodReads goal for the year.

I watched a movie called Crimson Peak. It was one of my favorite kinds of movies: psychological thriller with a bit of horror. One of my restoration goals is to watch a movie each week. I have always loved movies.

This coming week, I want to be more curious.

A Bold Reader: Week 6.

I finished two books this past week! I finished the short book on French capsule wardrobes. I didn't get much out of it; I may read another book on the topic.

And I finished Donald Hall's 400+ page selected poems, White Apples and the Taste of Stone. I've read it night by night for weeks, poem by poem. So I've read seven books this year!

I added Underwater City by Kelle Groom to my poetry bath ritual.

Bruce and I are about halfway through Sleeping Beauties, and I'm enjoying it.

I've been reading the (dork alert!) official novelization of Crimson Peak. I really like it. I look forward to getting back to it.

I've fallen behind with the Bible, but I will fix that this week.

Reading so many books at once is a bold move--and I love it. I feel I'm becoming a stronger reader day by day.