It's been a long time . . . .

You know it's been a while since you've blogged when you go to sign into blogger, and actually have to THINK about the user name and password you are entering to get into your blog.

Yes, that's me.

I've been an absent blogger.

I learned a long time ago that the key to a successful blog is consistency. Consistency in blogging. Consistency in reading other blogs. Consistency in leaving comments on other blogs. Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.

I haven't been very consistent. For that, I apologize.

If you are still here and still reading this post, then I say, "THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart!" And here's something else for you . . . I miss you. I miss writing. I miss sharing my daily stories and my journeys and my art and my life. I miss gathering my thoughts and putting them out here for all to read (or at least the 180 so followers I have.)

I always have ideas to write about, you know? Usually when I'm driving in my car, or blow drying my hair, or waiting for Katie or Ella to finish one of their gazillion activities this spring. Unfortunately, my most recent ideas seem to get stuck somewhere between my brain, and my fingers tips . . . never quite making it to this trusty computer for a chance to actually come out.

But, today is a new day. And since this is the year of "me" (remember?), I think I need to change that. So, I am hereby adding a new task to my days . . . 1/2 hour of writing. Just a half hour. To gather thoughts, document memories, share some dreams.

Like, the photo at the top of this post. I took it last week, with my phone. Just happened to be outside, and glanced up to see the most beautiful sunshine HEART peeking through the clouds. The clouds were moving quickly, but I caught it at the perfect moment. See, the old me would have blogged about it the day it happened, and shared many paragraphs with you about the whole experience. I miss that part of me.

So, I've been thinking. I'm going to come up with some things to get the creative brain moving . . . like a weekly post listing 10 reason why I love summer? Or perhaps, the biggest thing I learned during the week? Or how about my daily journey? I haven't shared any pictures with you from my favorite road in quite some time . . . .  Or, maybe a humorous story of my hubby or kids (cause Lord knows, I have those daily . . . like, today. Did I tell you? Ella decided that she should dump 1/2 a container of baby powder on the floor of her bedroom. Wait . . . I said humorous, didn't I? Oh, I'm sure there is humor in there somewhere.)

Whatever it is, I hope I'm back. Back to writing. I miss it. And I have lots to say (of course).

So, here's to a dedicate 1/2 hour of writing each and every day.

Hope to have some good stuff coming out of it . . . hang on!

And that heart in the clouds is pretty remarkable, isn't it? It really was a beautiful moment. I'll have to tell you more about it later! ;)

Peace.

And the WINNER IS . . . .

I bet you thought I forgot, didn't you? I bet you thought I'd never be back to announce our winners for the two picture frames I told you about last week. Well, never fear my friends!!! WE HAVE OUR WINNERS! The winners were selected from the Random.org list generator. (I'm getting a little fancier in my old age, aren't I? For those of you who have been around for one of my give-aways in the past, I have finally graduated from pulling names from a hat!)

I received 12 comments on the give-away post last week, and one of our commentors (Lynn) mentioned that she also tweeted, facebooked and blogged about my giveaway, so she was entered twice! (I need to hire her to do my P.R., don't you think?) And please keep reading this post, even if you didn't win the frame. There is a special surprise at the bottom of the post for everyone!!!

So, without any further delay . . . . can I have drumroll, please!!!

The winner of the

"Life is so much better with Love!" frame is . . .

CONGRATULATIONS KATHY!!!

* * * * * *

Our second winner, who will receive the

"Life is so much greater when shared!" frame,  is . . .  

CONGRATULATIONS LYNN!!!!!

* * * * * *

Kathy and Lynn, I am SO VERY happy that you are our give-away winners! If you both would please email me the address where you would like me to mail your picture frame, I will have those out to you in no time at all! Please email me at chaostohappiness@gmail.com !

Now, for everyone else . . . because I can't stand it for any one to miss out, and because it is my birthday week, and because I am so very grateful for each and every one of you . . .

I have an extra special surprise!

Everyone who left a comment on the give-away post (all 12 people listed below),

each of you will receive a bookmark from my shop!

YES!!! I am NOT kidding!!!

So, if you left a comment on the give-away post and your name is listed below . . . please email me your address at chaostohappiness@gmail.com, and I will drop a bookmark in the mail!

REALLY!

I just feel like sharing some goodies with my blog friends this week, so please do send me an email with your address, and I'll have a bookmark in the mail to you within a day or two!

Congratulations EVERYONE!

The Start of Something Wonderful

I'm 41 today.

Forty-one.

41 years . . . young.

41 . . . and just starting life.

41 . . . it's going to be my year, I tell you. The start of something wonderful. Yes. I feel it. I don't know what it is. But I feel it.

My dear friend and I were talking last week about this impending day of celebration, and she said, "I think this next year needs to be YOUR year. YOUR year to focus on what YOU want." At first I thought it would be so selfish . . . to have a year of me. But the more I thought about it, the more appealing it sounded, and the more I realized how much I need it. A year of ME. A year to focus on me . . . inside and out. A year to listen to my heart. A year to nurture my soul. A year to feed my spirit. A year to exercise. A year to pamper. A year to meditate. A year to live. . . I mean, really live. To go where I want to go, when I want to go there, doing whatever it is I want to do. My year.

I like it.

And it starts . . . today.

The first day of my 41st year.

It's sort of fitting that PG and the girls started our garden yesterday. As I stood back and watched my amazing husband teach his daughters about the fine art of planting and loving and growing a garden, I thought about how this garden will act as a sort of reminder to me as I start this new year in my life. Like a new plant, I need to be handled with care.

I need to be grounded, focused, and firmly planted in my life.

I need to be watered, trimmed and weeded.

I need to be encouraged and shared and smiled upon.

And I need to remember what matters most at the end of the day are the people I share this life with. I am blessed beyond words, my friends. And as I look forward to this next year in life, I count my blessings on the past 40 years . . . they have been better than I could ever imagine.

It really is the start of something wonderful.

Much love to you all!

p.s. Don't forget to leave a comment on THIS blog post for a chance

 to win one of my hand-painted picture frames!

The winner will be announced on Wednesday!

Peace!

Everything's Coming Up . . . GIVE AWAY!!!!

Greetings my dear friend!!!! Oh, it's so wonderful writing again . . . I've SO missed our chats!

As you know, I've just finished 11 posts from the 101010 Project. That project came along at the perfect time for me, when I thought I had lost every ounce of creativity and had forgotten what I was trying to accomplish in this creative life of mine. Thank you for welcoming each of my soul sisters here, and reading their words. They really are a remarkable group of ladies.

This month is just flying by, my friends. My days have been full of a million end of the school year activities for Katie and Ella, preparing for a garage sale in our neighborhood this weekend, visiting with family who came into town from New York, and oh . . . did I mention . . . creating?

Yes, I've been a painting fool. I've mostly been working on some new picture frames. Oooooo . . . I have to share them with you . . . I want to put them in my Etsy shop, but each time I make one, it is bought up by family or friends! What's a girl to do?

Each one is an original, designed by me, and hand painted by me . . . and Katie and Ella (our two little artists helped with the first coat of paint on many of them.) I think my favorite is this one . . .

However, I SOLD it to a neighbor who was giving it to her Mom for Mother's Day (how sweet!) I've made a few more, though (they may look slightly different, though. Remember . . . each one is an original hand painted design, so they may vary slightly from frame to frame.) I really love this one, too . . .

Oh, I love them so much . . .

LET'S HAVE A GIVE-AWAY!!!!!

Lord knows, I have been talking about doing one for sooooo long!!!!

So, let's do it now!

Here's all you have to do . . .

Leave me a comment, and you will be entered to win one of the above.

If you mention it in your blog post, or linked people to it on your facebook page, 

tell me so in your comment and I'll enter your name into the drawing TWICE!!!!!

That's TWICE THE CHANCE to WIN!!!

I'll keep this post up until Wednesday, May 24th,

when I will choose one winner for each frame (so if you win, you will only win one).

So, shout it from the roof tops . . .

tell your friends and neighbors . . .

blog about it . . .

facebook it . . .

and maybe I'll be mailing YOU one of these lovely frames!

(Oh, did I mention . . . I will be throwing some other little presents in the box?  You never know what you will receive unless you leave a comment!)

Hugs, my friends!