Quick and relaxing

So simple, so relaxing... I glued a background of my own printed artwork, grabbed a couple of water soluble oil pastels, a worn-out brush, gesso and a pencil and just started playing. It was very fast and completely fulfilling. I was a new person, with a happier new attitude after I finished these.

I wish I had the camera turned on so that you can see how fun it was. I even "made" my daughter and husband try when they walked in my room. Hana wasn't in the mood so she made a safe, simple rabbit (complaining that gesso turns everything white). DH was having more fun and was just scribbling with two colors and smiling when the 'creature' emerged.

I'll try to make a youtube video of the process when we return from the vacation
(leaving tomorrow YAY!!!)

Snail bird?

Thank you for cheering for me in the running department! I thought of you while I was fighting with the treadmill yesterday. It wasn't an easy day, but I pushed through (btw - DJ - I wear Vibram five finger shoes... check them out, funny looking!).
Look who I've met when I took a walk:

Isn't he adorable?

Look at the hair style!!! I love love LOVE it!

Now, why would I turn such a sweet bird into something silly looking as the thing on my page?
I should have looked at my photos and  drew him better.

Unfortunately, there is no help for my page - my creature will never look like the real bird.
I couldn't stand looking at it, so I made some changes. I turned him into a snail bird.
I think it looks better, and his butterfly friend agrees with me.

20 minutes!!!

I'm so proud of myself that it's embarrassing. I don't remember when was the last time that I was walking around with a huge grin on my face as now. Why? Because I finished week 5 of my "Couch to 5k" training and I did it well!!! Five weeks ago I would have laughed at the though of running 20 minutes. I would consider even 3 minutes an accomplishment. But 20!!!! I feel like I'm on the top of the world and wish that I could turn into a Forest Gump like creature and run without stopping for days. It is soooo cool!

I even asked Hana to take my picture as soon as I finished it so that I can remember how good it felt. The photo landed on my journal page. Not the best page in the world, but very personal and as such - perfect for a journal. Now, can I run for 30 minutes? And will it make me thin and fit overnight (just joking and wishing). Three more weeks of training... we'll see.

I felt

Julie is cool

A couple of days ago Julie wrote a thought provoking post and illustrated it with a very interesting photo. She explained how the photo was made, so this evening my husband and I had some fun with the technique. I was literally jumping up and down when I saw that it works and that you can draw/write with light. Thanks Julie!

Mystery

Do you know what this is?

I do, because I read the label in the store.

I never noticed it before.

Isn't it beautiful? So sculptural.....

Did anyone try it? Any recipes to share?

Silly journal painting

Things don't have to bee serious all the time, right?

It's fine just to enjoy the rich colors...

And shapes...

That's exactly what I did.
I didn't want to think, I just wanted to hold a paintbrush in my hand.
I started by drawing a random shape, adding a big eye to it and picking colors that made me happy.
It turned out to be a pretty silly looking spread in my journal.

Makes me smile. I love my moleskine.

I am determined

Please notice that I didn't write "she is" like I usually do. It's because it's about me. I want to succeed.

For most of my life I thought that I am the only person on this planet that cannot run... even when I was younger/thinner/fitter my lungs felt like they will explode after 30 seconds. A full minute was my max! I know that my lungs are fine and healthy, so my guess is that it has to be in my head.

Lately, I've started to whisper to myself that I know I can do it if I play it smart and really, really try...

I found an 8-week long program online called "From couch to 5k" and decided to become friends with my treadmill. I'm on week 3 and so far so good... I'm actually enjoying it. I wear my funny Vibram shoes and I believe that they help.

Do you think I do it? Can I train myself to run (ok - to jog, move a bit faster than walking)? Three miles...
Exactly how long the path close to my home is.

If you know any mind tricks I can play to make this work, please share.
I'm putting it out there in the open, stating my intention...
I am determined to succeed.

- spread in my journal -