Help [ME] Ronda

5 Favs, Grecian Style

It was a fabulous trip in so many ways.  Its almost sensory overload right now reflecting back on the trip.  I walked away with so many good things that i feel hugely blessed.  Good things being not only new friendships but also learning some positive things about myself.  I must write down some thoughts before i forget them all.  I am also trying to get over the jet-lag.  It seems coming back to altitude (the mile high Denver) is quite an adjustment after spending 11 days in Greece.  

Home again

After 24 hours of travel, i finally stepped into my house & hugged my kiddos.  They actually were the ones picking me up from the airport.  Andrew & I passed each other in Philadelphia but unfortunately i was stuck in customs and he had to fly a plane to somewhere.  Such is our lives but i am really missing him right now.  I just want to snuggle up in his arms & tell him all about Greece.

I have so many words that could describe my trip.  And over the next couple days will be sharing more photos.  Right now i am just going to get some Starbucks with Miss Emily and chat a bit before heading into the "studio" to work. 

Love Always

Observations

White: the buildings are all white.  if you would tell me to paint my rooms white at home i probably would laugh at you.  But now i have a new appreciation for white.  White really allows the other colors to pop.  Seeing the blue (and some green, yellow, red) doors & shutters against the white really makes those colors stand out.  Absolutely gorgeous. 

Doors:  You know i love doors.  They seem like the gateway to a whole new adventure.  And these doors here really stand out.  I went in search of rebel doors.  Those people who ventured away from the traditional colors and infuse their own. 

Old:  Delos Island.  The birth place of Apollo & Artemis.  Standing in ruins of a city built before Pompeii and seeing their ingenuity was incredible.  The columns, the mosaics, the market place.  I was just in awe of how resourceful the community was.

Wet:  Mykonos is the island of the winds so the boat ride from Delos was a little rough.  Up & down with sea spray hitting us.  My sunglasses were covered in salt.  There were a few who get motion sickness and they were feeling those waves.  I felt so sorry for them.  For me it was another adventure.  And this has been an amazing adventure.

Stuffed.  Eating here isn't just a meal, it's more of experience of gastronomic proportions.  A sensory explosion.  The food just keeps coming.  One of the things i absolutely love is that salads are for the table, a family style of sharing food.  Lots of cheese, feta.  A few surprises in the salad like candy figs...yum.

a few more days left and then home.  I miss my little family.  I wish they were here with me.  I will have to bring them back here one day.

Life is Beautiful

Can i tell you that i love teaching these gals?  It has been incredible!  I was so nervous leading up to this class.   I have taught before but that nervous feeling never goes away for me.  But once i was in the classroom, something magical happens. 

We tackled this mini album today & yesterday.  I made them fussy cut, spray ink, load on layers and they were bound & determined to complete it!  They really seemed to enjoy it and i was so happy to be part of that journey.  I feel exhilarated and ready to teach again.

Wish you were here

With Love from Mykonos

Yimas!!!

be

be a morning person.  I am loving getting up in the early am to just sit out on the terrace.  it is such an amazing time to just sit & reflect.  it has been so re-energizing for me. 

be an explorer.  i love wandering around the hotel Kouros, seeing where the steps might take me.  I meandered around yesterday seeing  everything with fresh, new eyes, learning i can do things on my own.  and then an explorer with a group of friends.  We hit the town yesterday for a leisure lunch, exploring the streets, peeking our heads into shops we would like to come back too.  This morning we journeyed into town early to see the fishing boats & vegetable stands.  We watched them washed down the streets getting ready for the day, peeking into shops that haven't opened yet. 

be amazed.  at how white can really pop the blues against the buildings. at how many churches this little island can hold.  at the giant pelican....named petros.  at how laughter can fill your heat with love.

be grateful.  for this time with friends, coming early was the best thing to do.  i am so thankful for being part of this group, seeing this island, hanging with some really cool & fun people. 

be upset.  of all the things to leave behind, my camera battery charger.  i could just kick myself.  i kept thinking i needed to make sure i put it in my bag but it was charging my second battery and left it plugged into the wall.  i am trying to come up with some solutions to rectify this but in the meantime my camera is dead so no pictures.  Boo.  The sad part is that i know it is my fault for last minute packing.

be you.  Just learning that being me is enough.  embracing who i am and where i am going in life.  learning to love me again.

Extra-Ordinary Life

I already think i have a pretty cool life.  I love my husband & kids dearly.  I am blessed with a beautiful house & really good family.  Over the past year or two, i have been thinking about needs versus wants and realizing that there are a lot of wants in my life that i may not need.  However, sitting here on a gorgeous white patio over looking the Aegean sea, hearing the waves crash on the shore, watching the sun rise over this spectacular little island hotel, suddenly wanting the wants may not be so bad. 

I got up at 6:00 am this morning.  If you no me, that doesn't happen on a regular bases.  But there is something peaceful about waking that early.  It seems to have given me the time i need to just think & re-energize.  To just stare out into this gorgeous view. I wandered around the hotel taking pictures.  Every where i turn there is just something to capture.  I can't believe i am really here.

There are lots of steps to help me work off the excellent food.  Beautiful steps & staircases that i can't help to photograph.  Dinner last night with Tricia, Ali, Paolo, Elina & her mom was a treat.  Sitting by the poolside, just admiring the scenery & gobbling down lots of tasty treats.  Am I really here?  My flights took me from Denver to Philly to Zurich to Athens to Mykonos.  

It sounds really crazy and i was worried about all the connections.  I should say needlessly worrying because everything turned out just fine.  I was supposed to get in about 7 hours after Tricia, Ali, & Paolo and instead ended up beating them to the hotel by a good 1.5 hours.  We kept bumping into each other along the way which just made the journey that much more fun.  It is only day 2/3 and i am having the time of my life so far.  And then i walk into my room with a bouquet of roses waiting for me that say "With Love from Doha."  Life is so very SWEET sometimes & i am really feeling the joy of it.

it's all GREEK to me

It seems like just yesterday Tricia was asking me to teach in Greece and oddly enough the family & i were saying just earlier than that..."I think Greece should be next on our travels."  So you can imagine what my kids are thinking right now as i pack up & leave them with their Papa for about 11 days.  Andy is in Qatar...that's another story i will share later.  I am off to travel by myself...i admit i am both scared & excited.  I have traveled many places in the US by myself & even to Canada but nothing like this.  I am finishing up some last minute packing & then heading to the airport.  I cannot wait to see my friends, make some new ones, & just be there.  Mykonos & Elina....here i come!

Aphrodite Love

Fancy a Fall Wreath?

Go to Fancy Pants to see how i created this Wreath using the Its Your Day & Rusted Sun Line plus some Helmar Adhesive.  So simple yet ever so cute. 

pieces

 
 

I feel like i am just getting warmed up into this whole art journaling.  I can't believe how freeing it is.  I am just having fun discovering about the paints, about layers, about me.  When i am feeling overwhelmed, I take a break and just playing around with these pages.  I love that they don't have to be perfect.  I love that i can just build & build on them until i consider them done.  I love that they don't have to be complete right away.  I still need to let go a little more but i am not stressing over that.  I am just enjoying the journey. 

Artful Love