Aaron's busy season has kicked off so it's Maddy and me around the apartment most of the time. Good thing we are such good friends, she's really getting fun to play with. It's VEGGIE time around here and here is the tally:
peas O carrots 3 Rice cereal 30
Something like that. Peas are out. Carrots are in!
And catching up on our winter hibernation..
Ahh too cute.
Delish Magazine has a wonderful feature on Anna Maria Horner, one of my fabric/artist/creator favs. In fact, peruse the entire online magazine because I found some great recipes and articles that can easily fill some of the empty afternoon hours you may have lying around. Or, if your bathroom needs cleaning and the dishwasher is calling your name (I'm not liistenniiing!) it's a great distraction to soothe a guilty conscience when work is calling your name and you just don't want to do it.
On Anna Maria's site itself she has some beautiful pictures and it always fills my creative bank.
Reading the article on Delish about how she started into the business, how she organizes that creative mind with the demands of a business I was surprised when she said mentioned the amount of time she spend sketching, scheming ideas was really low compared to what most people thought, and how much of what she does is "grunt work" and "not pretty".
I guess in my mind I envisioned her life as sketching, drawing, creating, sewing to her hearts content, people clamoring her to write books, go to craft shows and that life was just breezy and fulfilled because of the beauty she was surrounded by and the extraordinary talent she has. I'm always surprised to find out that my view through the window into other people's "ideal" lives is just that. A window looking into just one of their rooms but I miss the whole rest of the house..the exhaustion from being so busy, the stress, the worrying about problems we don't even know about, the struggles they have with looking at themselves in the mirror without seeing all they need to work on. I've realized (in my old 24 years of age) how much people really are alike. Everyone has problems they are plowing through (or ignoring). Even those who seemingly "have it all"don't. They put on a brave face. They emphasize the positive. And that's what we see. And if troubles don't bug 'em now, they will. At one time or another.
It makes me grateful for the life I have. For the troubles I face. For the strength of character I get to keep building as I get through one and jump into another. For those moments when Maddy is asleep on my lap and I feel pure joy.
Yes, the end of the year always saddens me but I can't help but look forward to the wonderful moments I get to live ahead. Bring it on!
This is so insightful, thought provoking,delightful to read and inspirational. Really loved ready what you had to say and what you were thinking about. Very interesting about Anna Maria Horner, as well. And, per usual for me, loving that "baby faced" little one, food and sleep. They just go hand-in-hand. xoxo
ReplyDeletehahah "rice cereal 30" yes indeed, i'm not surprised. perhaps she takes after me, and will love just plain, salted white rice when she gets older ;) and you make a very good point when you say that when you look through a window into other people's lives, that's all you're really seeing, just a window and not their whole lives. sometimes i find it easy to forget that other people who are in positions that i would like to be in have hardships as well..
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing the word about Delish! I am so pleased that you enjoyed the article about Anna Maria. She was such a pleasure to interview and write about. She's such a "real" woman, if you know what I mean. She has the same issues we all do, and her take on life as an experienced mom of six and extremely successful career woman at the same time, was one that has inspired me. Seems to have inspired you too, and that makes me very happy. That's what I created Delish for -- to share these stories.
ReplyDeleteThank you again! Spring Delish comes out in early March, and I hope you enjoy it.
Warmly,
Tamara Komuniecki
Editor-in-Chief of Delish Magazine