Does it rain in Heaven?

We had some pretty rainy days here in Chicago last week. A whole bunch of drops fell, as many of us ran from store to store preparing for our Thanksgiving gatherings. Yes, I found myself in the middle of some pretty cold and damp days that left me chilled to the bone. And thinking . . . . about rain . . . and heaven.

I'm not an umbrella sort of person. I think I'm actually umbrella-challenged. Many a times I have found myself the unfortunate soul whose umbrella flips inside out, or with spokes that have cracked and left half of my umbrella collapsed and hitting me in the face. Not a pretty picture, I tell you. And I find it almost impossible to get my car, open the door, sit down, close the umbrella, and pull it into the car with me . . . without getting myself absolutely soaked in the process. Yes, I am what you would call "umbrella-challenged", and I am not afraid to admit.

While driving around last week, I started to think about my lack of umbrella finesse, and wondered if this meant it was time for . . . the bonnet.

You know the bonnet, right? Like . . .  a rain bonnet.

I remember my Grandma wore them. I actually think Grandma must have owned stock in the rain bonnet business, because she actually had rain bonnets in every color imaginable. Never was Grandma without a rain bonnet in her purse (she was prepared . . . you never know when you might need one. They were usually right next to the butterscotch. Because, you never know when you need that, either.) 

Purple, yellow, gold, silver, white, black, red . . . every color under the sun. She had them all. And she wore them. And her hair looked perfect. All.of.the.time.

I think I need one. A rain bonnet, that is. (A butterscotch would be kind of lovely right now, too, come to think of it.)

Ok. Maybe not yet. But . . . when does that rain bonnet stage hit? Is it the same time the AARP card arrives? Or perhaps when that first social security check comes in the mail? Or is it when you realize that you are umbrella-challenged?

Hmmmm . . . I wonder.

When I think of heaven, I never imagine a single rain drop falling from the clouds. In my heaven, the sun is always shining.

But in my heaven, Grandma still carries her purse and her rain bonnet, just in case. The rain bonnet is white, I'm sure. To match her wings.

Love you, Grandma.

And I think of you. . . every single day.

:)

p.s. If you happen to be in the market for a rain bonnet, they are available on Amazon for $1.59, and here is a link to purchase it. Disclosure: I have not been paid or rewarded in any way for mentioning rain bonnets in this post. Nor have I received any products in return for my endorsement of said rain bonnets via this writing. However, if you represent the rain bonnet company, feel free to send me a bonnet. I might need it one day! ;)

Magnificent SUNDAY Vlog and Cyber Monday Info!

Wow . . . can it be that I was away from the computer all.week.long?  Where did the time go? I unplugged. Big time. But, I'm back! BIG TIME.

And  JUST  IN  TIME!!!

ANNOUNCING A BIG CYBER MONDAY SALE

in my Etsy Shop . . .

Tomorrow, November 28th, 2011,

click the "SHOP" tab above, or the shop to the right of this post,

or THIS LINK to get to my shop.

Add the coupon code CYBERMONDAY at check out,

and save 15%!

15% OFF OF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE!

Now is the time to start shopping

for the holidays, my friends!

Pick up something unique and special
for those in your life!

PLUS . . .

Purchase something on MONDAY, 11/28, and receive a free item.

It could be a book mark, a magnet, or a set of cards.

It will be FREE, and it can be another gift off of your list (or something special for YOU!)

And here is my special addition SUNDAY VLOG with a challenge for the week. . . .

HUGS, dear friends.

I'm feeling a little more creative in my brain this weekend. I think I'll be writing again very soon!!!!

Peace to all!

p.s. Spread the word . . . tell a friend . . . share the joy (and the sale) with those around you . . . we're all family here . . . I don't mind! :)

Magnificent Monday VLOG #6!

Holy Guacamole!!! I'm LATE!!!

For those of you who enjoy your first sip of Monday morning coffee while watching the lively entertainment of my Magnificent Monday Vlogs . . . I apologize! I missed our Monday Morning date, and for that I am so very sorry!!! But, better late than never, right? Perhaps a mid-afternoon coffee will work today!

Enjoy!!!

Will be back soon with more delightful tales!

Wishing you Peace, and a happy life, my dears!

He SO gets me

I'm participating in a heART exchange art swap this week, and I'm so very excited about it. It has been coordinated by the amazing Louise Gale, from yourheARTmakesadifference.com. If you take a few moments and read a little about this swap, you'll probably agree that it is definitely a "win-win" sort of thing. One of those opportunities when you can share something special with someone, and receive something special in return.

So, the swap is something you have made . . . from the heart.

And after a few moments of brain-storming, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was stuck, however, when coming up with the words to put on my piece. . . . what to write . . . what to write . . . I sat at the dinner table Monday evening throwing sayings out for PG's input. Nothing worked.

Then, HE (Mr. Phil Guy himself) came up with it. "Follow Your Heart," he said. As simple as that.

I stopped and thought about it.

Hmmmmm. Follow your heart.

"It's what you do," he said. "You follow your heart. That's what you are doing right now in life. Following your dreams. Doing art. That's what you should write on your art piece."  

He gets me.

So all day today, I created. I made four pieces in this collection total, each one with slightly different colors and lettering. I'll only be sending one out to the Art Swap, and this one . . . well, this one I am going to hang in my kitchen . . .

I love it.

Follow your heart . . . where it leads you.

Perfect, don't you think?

I think I'll make jewelry out of it. Maybe put some prints of it on Etsy. I'm loving this, friends. Art. It's pretty wonderful.

I'll share more from the art swap next week. Can't wait to see what everyone does.

Wishing you peace.

Magnificent Monday VLOG #5!

Oh, what a week! So glad to be here, and so happy to show you a few new items I've been working on. Hope you enjoy!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Have a Magnificent Monday!

I Can Hardly Stand Myself

I'm like that mad scientist (and my hair even looks the part this morning), up all hours . . . in my lab . . . with fits of sleepless laughter over the creations I am pouring myself into. It's not a pretty picture . . . but that's been me this week. I feel like I'm rushing against the clock. But there is really no clock. Just my own internal creativity trying to get out.

I can't hold it any longer. Here is a sneak peek of what I've been mulling over . . .

I mean . . . really . . . MY work . . . MY art . . . in a beautiful little pendant tray that you can wear and have with you all day long. I swear . . . it's a dream, I tell you. A dream.

and a few more . . .

But that's not all.

ANNALEE

at the holidays!

All made by these very two hands typing right here.

Seriously.

When I think about what I am doing, I could cry.

Seriously.

A dream.

I still have a little work to do on the ornaments (must add the metal wire hanger and a jingle bell, because . . . it's the holidays after all!) But I woke up this morning (after another late late night in the studio) and had this overwhelming urge to share these pics with you! I will have all items on Etsy THIS WEEKEND!! (Probably Sunday). Make sure you "LIKE" my facebook page on the right, and I'll update Facebook as soon as they are available for you!



Life is Good, my friends.

So Good.

Peace.

Little Ears that Hear

Oh, dear . . . those little ears that hear.

I've got four of them in my house, you know. Two belong to Katie and two belong to Ella.

And I am often very aware of those little ears during the day. It has always been really important to me that those ears only hear things that will build them up and make them happy. That is what they deserve. And I work hard at that. Those little ears are the reason I stopped watching the news about eight years ago . . . children don't need to hear about the dangers in the world right now. If the TV is on when I am home, it is always set to either the PBS children's channel, or Disney (and I've been known to turn off both of those from time to time.)

I'm aware of those ears when PG and I talk, too, as the laundry room has turned into our meeting place for serious conversations about life and family. However, every once in a while we must slip and have one of those grown up talks in a place where little ears dwell. Especially lately.

You see, PG has been traveling so often lately that we don't have much time to have those serious conversations many partners in life have. You know, the "how are we going to pay the mortgage this month?" conversations, or the "what's left in the account for groceries?" sort of conversations. So lately, they are taking place whenever and where ever they can.

Yes, I am so very blessed to be taking this artistic journey in life right now, and following my dreams . . . but the truth is, I am constantly ridden with guilt that I should be out getting a "real" job that delivers a "real" paycheck every month. Starting a business is rough . . . especially when funds are low. And while PG has been so supportive, my own guilt takes over week after week.

We must have had one of those "talks" this weekend. And today, I realized just how those little ears work. You see, it's a rainy and gloomy day in Chicago, and I decided to drive Katie to school (instead of her climbing on the bus in the damp rain this morning). I dropped Ella off first, then took Kate on to her school. And she LOVES when I do this. She considers this our time to talk. And boy oh boy . . . does she talk. I hate to admit that I often find my mind wandering as she goes from one story to another (remember . . . she tells stories like her Daddy!)

But today, I heard her stories. Each and every one. Although one story really sticks out.

"Mom," she said, "I know that money is really tight right now and you and Daddy are talking a lot about not having enough money. And I just want to tell you that you really shouldn't worry about it. I mean, I know that it is tough . . . believe me . . . I know . . . " (which just cracks me up, that she . . . the 8 year old . . . knows). She continues, ". . . . but the thing is, that you are an artist Mom. And this is all really new and the right people just haven't seen your work yet, and some day soon, you are going to find yourself getting orders on the computer every single day, and you will be making a lot of money for our family. So, I am not worried, Mom. I believe. I don't know if you believe, Mom, but I believe. You're going to make it, Mom. Yep. My Mom is an artist, all right."

Those little ears.

Does she have any idea what she does for my soul? Will she ever know how she and her sister are the driving force behind everything that I do? That they are my inspiration?

And that because of them . . .  I believe.

Yes. I am blessed. I am an artist. I am a Mom. I am loved. I am poor. But I am rich, in all the ways that matter.

Peace, my friends.

Magnificent Monday Vlog #4 and GIVE AWAY WINNER!

Oh, dear friends! This was a very exciting week for me! And what a MAGNIFICENT MONDAY it will be . . . for ONE LUCKY WINNER!

Watch the Vlog to find out WHO will win one of my original canvas art pieces!!

CONGRATULATIONS to our WINNER!!!
Thank you ALL for entering the give-away!

Before I leave, here is a picture of the table I set up for the Vendor Fair on Friday night (this is the one I talked about in the video.) I'm pretty happy with how it looked . . .

Remember . . . this can be YOURS! Visit my Etsy shop (click on the SHOP tab above . . . or click on the "Chaostohappiness" Etsy images at the right of this post.

Lots of good things coming this week . . . will be introducing a monthly email newsletter that you can sign up, along with making some new products (can you say . . . JEWELRY!!! WAHOOOOO!!!!) and CARDS, CARDS, CARDS GALORE!!! It's a pretty great time to bring some of this happiness into your life!

Peace, my friends!

Sunday Lovelies

I love coffee . . .

(yes, I AM using my Christmas mug!)

I love cake . . .  

Together, they make a lovely pair.

Don't you think?

Wishing you a delightful Sunday full of all your favorite lovelies, my friend!

p.s. Don't forget to leave a comment on THIS POST to be entered to win an ORIGINAL canvas piece of my artwork! The winner will be announced in tomorrow's Magnificent Monday Vlog!!! Oh, and it's going to be a wonderful Vlog, my friends. I have a few great stories to share!

See you then!

Moments

I haven't been enjoying the little moments lately. You might be surprised by that. If you know me, you know that I am usually ALL ABOUT the little moments . . . taking notice of the birds, the leaves, dirty feet and lollipops. All things I have caught a glimpse of in the past and have written of here.

But lately, I'm trying to just get by. Trying.

Trying to raise my daughters. Trying to keep my house going. Trying to balance the national debt (our debt, that it). Trying to start a business. Trying to be a friend. Trying to be a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a wife, a mother. Trying to be me.

And the little moments? They are getting lost in the middle of all of the chaos. They are being overlooked and swept aside for something more pressing. Like, laundry. Or, groceries. Or . . . you know. Life.

And I miss them . . . the little moments.

I feel the difference in my soul.

Because those little moments make up the person I am.

And when I am without them, I feel empty.

On Halloween night, another one of those "A-ha" moments happened for me, and it all had to do with the little moments.

It was 9:00 pm, and I was exhausted. The weekend caught up with me, the day of fun caught up with me, the husband leaving for another business trip caught up with me. And I was cranky. My mind was on the schedule for the next 5 days, and the thought of PG being gone and me being in solo mode was all that I was thinking of. And then . . . there with my mind going in a thousand directions . . . I had two little girls to put to bed.

I am always amazed at the different behaviors of my two daughters. Bedtime is when I can really see it. Ella is pretty cooperative and usually jumps into bed without any prompting needed. She plays hard during her day, so she welcomes the softness of her pillow and her comfy bed with open arms. A story, a kiss, and she is down for the count. Katie, on the other hand, always has a million things she has to accomplish before she can go to bed. One last drink of water, one last look at a book, socks on the feet, blankets in place, and then . . . oh, yeah, "Mom . . . I have to tell you this one thing before you leave" is always uttered from her lips when I put her to bed at night. She tells stories like her father (which, if you know anything about Phil, know that his story telling abilities are very detailed. This detail can turn into some pretty lengthy stories!) It is usually a given that Katie will summons me back into her room to tell me "one more thing" every single night. Over and over again.

This drives me crazy.

It does. Really. Because I usually have three loads of laundry to get to, or a dishwasher to empty, or a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode to watch (hey . . . I'm being honest here . . . I need some down time!).

So, back to Halloween Night . . . I was ready for the couch. And there was Katie . . . calling me back into her room.

"Mommy?"

"Mommy?!?"

"MOM!"

"Kate," I said . . . very frustrated and ready to be done for the night, "what is it?"

"Mommy," she answered, "I just want to tell you that I had a really great day today. The best day in my whole life."

Bam.

Right there. A moment.

Not only that she wanted to tell me that she had the best day in her life. But that . . . she called me back in her room. I realize that my 8 year old will not always call me back into her room. I realize that there will be a time when she wants me no where near her room.

And right then and there, I realized that this moment is what I always dreamed of. 20 years ago, when I was looking for love and trying to figure out so badly who I wanted to be in this world, and what I wanted to do with my life . . . I knew that I always wanted to be a Mom. I knew I always wanted to feel the unconditional love that I saw my nephew give his mom. I new that I wanted to fill my home with love and laughter and family and happiness. I knew that I wanted to end each day reading bedtime stories and giving kisses and hugs.

And then start each day over again.

Mommy.

I'm living my dreams. Not my artist dreams. Not my business dreams. My LIFE dreams.

And I am blessed.

Here are just a few pictures of a our many Halloween "moments" that I wanted to share with you . . .

I hope you enjoy some of your little moments today, my friends!

Peace.