This summer, I’ll be spending a lot of time in the garden.  I plan for this one to be the first of many From the Garden posts.  Some may be more on the ‘philosophical’ side, but most will be hands-on and how-tos.

Over the past month, or so, something has happened inside me.  Something wonderful and comforting.  Something I haven’t felt in, probably, a decade or more.  Locational peace.  What does that mean?  Well, the world to me, really.

Since right before I graduated high school, I’ve always been planning and looking forward to getting away.  Away from Kentucky.  Away from everything I know.  Away from my “comfort zone.”  Away from the familiar, really.  I wanted room to run, explore and go on adventures.  I’ve never been able to really settle, because I’m always hoping and looking for that ticket out of here.

About a year and a half ago, something happened that would change that feeling, and I didn’t even realize it.  Billy and I decided to partner up and get the heck out of dodge.  We reserved a moving truck and started scouring the internet for apartments in Wilmington, NC.  My heart is most definitely in the Carolinas.  They are constantly whispering never-ending sweet nothings, only I can hear, it seems.

I prayed and prayed about the move and whether or not it was truly for us.  Then, just two months before, something in my gut said ‘no;’ not Carolina.  Not yet, anyway.  But I had to get back in school and get that degree, because I was drowning in the salon world. So, we decided on Bowling Green {only an hour away} and everything just fell into place, from there.

We’ve been here over a year and I’m just finally getting that settled-in feeling.  I actually like Bowling Green.  We’ve found an awesome church body to be a part of and have started to really join the community around us.

Don’t get me wrong.  I still hear the Carolinas’ beckon call, but for the first time in ten years, I’m not rushing to get away.  I know we still have at least one more year here, and then its in God’s hands where we’ll be {here or elsewhere}.

I finally feel peace, though.  Even though some things around me are still out of whack and sometimes near unbearable, I feel peaceful, here, in this place.  I can really feel myself starting to trust Him more with my life, too.  He is faithful and He’s showing me just that.  He will get me where I need to be.

We just have to listen.  And with listening, comes peace.

And, oh, what a glorious feeling that is.

Have you had to make any big decisions lately?  Have you asked for help, yet?  What decisions are you currently struggling with?

This past weekend, my Grandmother and I threw my little sister’s wedding shower.  I think its actually the first shower I’ve ever had to plan.  She gets married in June and I am in charge of the hair, makeup and photography.  That will most definitely be a busy day for me.

I didn’t plan anything too fancy.  Her colors are blue and black.  I pretty much decorated the party with my bare hands.  The only thing we purchased were the groceries and eating ware.

You can only imagine how please I was when my sister gave the thumbs up on brownies instead of cake.  Brownies are most definitely above cake, on my list.

For our drink, we made up something new.  We brewed regular black tea {like making sweet iced tea} plus one bag of Tazo Vanilla Rooibos tea.  We then added Granny Smith apples, strawberries, mangos and fresh spearmint leaves.  Yum.  Writing that recipe down in the book.

The crowd wasn’t huge, which made for a more relaxed and personal setting.  We played a few fun games and some lucky ladies won a fabulous facial scrub I made.  I’ll most definitely  have to share that with you sometime.  Its truly amazing.

And then was the flower girl.  She is definitely my child. Haha I can’t wait to watch her perform her duties, next month.  This should be interesting.  Stay tuned, friends.

{ink pen}

My summer break has officially begun.  Happy day.  I don’t even mind all the house work I’ve added to my schedule.  Its been a gray, drizzly day.  I have covered it in flanel and filled it with coffee and photo editing, as well.

{ink pen, pastel}

While I was cleaning and putting away my school supplies {so they were no longer loitering by the couch}, I went through my work from drawing this past semester.  I did a lot of drawings over this past semester.  This teacher had us work more on speed.  We always finished at least one drawing in class {other than big project assignments}.  In my first drawing class, we would spend 3-4 classes on one drawing.

{inda ink}

I loved having so many to look through, this time.  Billy and I went through and picked out our favorites.  The class was broken up into three segments: still life, figure drawing, and landscape/spaces.  Notice you don’t see any figure drawings on the list.

{mixed media}

This one here {above} has probably gotten the most attention.  I shared some photos of it on Facebook and it received several comments.  She’s already been claimed and gets to go to her new home in July.

{ink pen}

{ink pen, india ink}

This was the second to last drawing I did this semester.  I finished it in one class sitting.  Its quite possibly my favorite.  Its sitting out for all to see.

{pastel, graphite}

This was our final project, which was inspired by Kandinsky.  I really like the bright colors and am generally happy with how it turned out.  However, I don’t know that I’ll be using oil pastels much, on my own.  Then again, maybe I just need to try playing with a more high quality product.  I just wasn’t too crazy about it.

This summer, my goal is to get my hands on some water colors.  After playing so much with ink washes, I’m dying to dabble in that colorful world.

Happy Mother’s Day, loves.  I hope you didn’t forget to do something special for yours.  I’m lucky enough to not only be a mama but to have a few very amazing mamma-figures to look up to in my own life.  Not to mention the honor of being one myself.

I have an amazing Grandma whom I’ve had the pleasure of spending lots of time with, over the years.  She is very much a role model in my life.  My Grandma has taught me a lot about being a woman of God.  She’s taught me that even if I am right, sometimes its best just to keep quiet and bite my tongue.  Living in the country, she’s taught me that we don’t always have to go, go, go. Sometimes, its nice to just sit on the porch and swing for a while.

Instead of being cursed with a wicked stepmother, I was blessed with a lovely one.  Teeyl has taught me so much over the years.  Growing up, I knew as a woman, I had to find a man and get married.  She taught me one of the greatest lessons of all: how to be an independent woman and live my life for myself.  She taught me about patience, making the best decisions, and what it means to be a lady.  One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from her is that in everything, there’s growth.  Bad things will happen, but life is more rewarding if I try to find the good in situations instead of sulking and complaining.  She taught me to have my own opinion and express it respectfully.  Teeyl also taught me that there’s no such thing as being bored.  There’s always something to do.

Then there’s my Mom.  The one and only.  She’s taught me a ton.  The most prominent in my mind, though would be about strength.  She’s taught me to stand up for myself and the ones I love.  She taught me if I don’t give up, but fight through, I will come out alive.  My Mom taught me to be careful with who I trust.  I learned from her not to be judgmental of people because of where they’ve been.  She taught me about tradition and power of love and family.

And then there’s my own experience in motherhood.  More than anyone else, lately, Lilie Jo has been my greatest teacher.  She has taught me about unconditional love and how amazing it feels to have it for someone else.  LilieJo has taught me so much about perspective and the magic waiting to be found all around us.  She’s taught me about adventure and has reawakened my imagination.  And don’t even get me started on how much patience she has taught me.  My daughter has taught me about what kind of woman I want to be, in order to set the best example for her to not only look up to but to be able to look back on and be proud.

This little girl has brought me more happiness than any other thing/person in this world.  I love watching her grow and become a little lady.  I can’t wait to see what other adventures lay ahead of us.

I know I’m a bit late, but I didn’t want to just pass over the Kentucky Derby.  I mean, we are native Kentuckians, right?  No, we didn’t go to any parties or drink mint juleps, sadly.  We really just browsed some yard sales and the flea market and went fishing.

However, I did attend a Derby race held here in town.  We created a most fabulous Derby hat for Lilie to wear for the occasion.  Her preschool class paired up with their reading buddies {4th & 5th graders} for a trainer/jockey duo.  They used tobacco sticks, paper and yarn to build their stick thoroughbreds.  Lilie and Tori {her buddy} named theirs ‘Gopher’.   I have no clue where that came from.  She thought it was great ’til she heard another horse was named ‘Stinky Feet.’

They had several races to avoid crashes and the winner even got to have their picture taken in the winner’s circle covered with “roses.”  It was cute and oh-so-funny to see.   There were some spills, but nothing major.  The first aid area was pitiful and somewhat amusing.  Not that the children were hurt, just… I guess you just had to be there. Yeah.

Do any of your celebrate for the Kentucky Derby?  Cinco de Mayo?  Or maybe you were one of the clever ones and celebrated Cinco de Derby.  Tell me about it!

You know how they say, “kids say the darndest things?” Lilie Jo is constantly coming up with the most random stuff to say.  Sometimes sweet, sometimes cute, but mostly just hilarious.  Her perspective on the world is ever so inspiring.  I thought it would be fun to share some of the entertainment from time to time.  I think I’ll keep a running draft to sporadically add her silly sayings to.  Here’s the latest batch of laughs.

Little boy: {loudly and slightly aggressive} Yeah, and I have a dog and he’s real big.
Lilie:  Yeah!?  Well, I have a cat, name Bogie, and he eats boys!!

Lilie:   I have magic, too.
Lauren:  You do?  What kind of magic?  Can I see?
Lilie:  Yeah, but not at the dinner table.

Me: I love you.
Lilie:  I love you more.
Me: I love you most.
Lilie:  I love you infinity plus three and a half!

Lilie: {in shower} Mom, when I grow up, will I have boobs?
Me: {laughing} Well, yeah.
Lilie: Oh.  So I’ll probably need to use your bras, huh?
Me:  I imagine you’ll have your own by then.
Lilie:  That’s ok.  I’ll just use yours.

Lilie: Mommy, what’s ‘faith?’
Me:  Its like… Well, you know how you believe God is there, even though you can’t see him?
Lilie: Yes, I can.
Me:  God?  Lilie.  When have you ever seen God?
Lilie:  He’s every where, Mommy.  In the clouds, the flowers…
{Wow.  Just wow <3}

Its my last week before classes and I’m swamped.  About 95% of my time not spent taking care of Lilie or eating is spent on school work.  I only have one final exam to study for, but I have several tedious and time-extensive projects I’m working to finish.

This first of which is due tomorrow.  This Kandinsky-inspired oil pastel has been something I’ve been sporadically dropping work into.  Sometimes I’m excited about how its coming along but, occasionally, I hate it.  I’m finding that I’m not really a fan of this medium, either.  Maybe that’s the problem.

However, ink pen is one I always hated.  Since I’ve been forced to experiment and use it anyway, though, I’ve really come to enjoy it.  The past few weeks of landscape drawing outside have been absolutely marvelous.  An activity I hope to enjoy often this summer.

Yesterday, though, we were handed a sheet of watercolor paper and told to use our India ink and do a wash drawing outside. I’ve come to so love this medium and am just dying to get my hands on some watercolors. My next trip to Hobby Lobby will not exist without watercolors.  This day, though, I used my ink pens and brushes.  This is when the piece was half finished.  I can’t wait to show you the finished product.  It is likely my favorite from this whole semester.

Sorry, I haven’t been too present, lately.  Let me get through this last week and a half of school and I’ll be ready to throw some goodies your way.

Happy May Day!

Oh, darlin’.  What a week it seems to have been.

In case you hadn’t noticed, Fuzzy Little Wishballs has been through, yet another, makeover.  This was all initiated by some malware code being planted in my blog.  Yep, I got hacked, yet again.  Needless to say, I’ve sought out the best in security plugins and tightened my ropes.  This baby’s solid–err I hope.

Luckily, I had planned on doing a redesign after school let out, so I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted.  I love the new look and hope you don’t have any trouble finding what you need.  If you’ll notice, I actually switched some links out over on the right.  Some that were never used {google+ & tumblr} for new ones {flickr & instagram}.

So, please look around and see what you can get into.   Also, I’m missing quite a bit of posts from my first six months.  I’m still working on getting that restore.  That’s taking a back burner, for now, though.

Hello, love.  Happy Friday!

Today is a pretty big day.  Lilie and I are going to get her enrolled for kindergarten.  I’m so excited for her!  Where has the time gone?  Its crazy how much faster time seems to go by as you get older and have kids.  We’re constantly doing something which makes the time seem to just zoom by.  ”Time flies, when you’re having fun.”

I’m certainly looking forward to savoring time spent together this summer.  It will be my last summer break before my last year of school. That’s a whole can of worms in its self.

Anyway, before I get too sentimental, I’ll get to what I came for.  Or rather the other way around.  I made something the other day.  As I told you before, and if you’ve ever received an email from me, one of my all time most favorite quotes is one that seems to touch on all parts of life.  The good, the bad, the actions and the emotions.  My stepmom shared it with me a few years ago and I’ve kept it somewhere I could see often.

I decided to make it into my own print.  I have a couple of frames laying around and a whole pack of card stock paper.  This will be perfect, perhaps, in my kitchen.  I hope you enjoy this free print, too.

click here for letter size .jpg
2550x3300px
cmyk 

Happy hump day, loves!  Friday is just around the corner!

My Friday will be spent addressing invitations for my little sister’s bridal shower.  I’ve been appointed head chief of the mission, and Grandma has been recruited as my assistant.  She’s a great partner, so I have no doubt it will be a success.

Since I’m throwing this shindig, I’m obviously head of decision-making.  Therefore, when the question of invitations came up, I already had an answer.  I created this lovely little design to lightly reflect the style/theme of the wedding.  Blue and black are her colors and big eye catching daisies are her flower of choice.

Well, what do you think?  Do you love it?  Assuming you do, I’m happy to inform you that the design can most definitely be customized to fit your needs right over here.

Later, Gater!