You are my inspiration.

Inspiration.
Where does it come from?
Is it really a magical muse that comes to us in a dream and sprinkles brilliant ideas as she dances in and out of our consciousness? Or is it the magical thinking that happens when you are vacuuming or taking a shower - that's where some of my best ideas happen.  When my mind is occupied with something totally mundane and allowed to stretch it's legs and run for a bit. 

Or maybe it's a little bit of these two ideal all mixed together. Maybe some higher power leads us around until we are able to see the "secret sauce".  Maybe sometimes inspiration is like a good crockpot roast.  You have to let it simmer and stew for a while to really bring out the good flavors - all that good stuff has to mix and meld for a bit til it is truly ready.

I don't have the magic bottled and for sale.  I'd be super-rich and wildly popular if I did - but here's a little crazy example of what happened to me this last week in order for me to have the epiphany that I had this morning.

I'm sure you have heard that it has been HOT in Dallas for the last - well 43 days.  We were even on track to set a 20 year record of 100℉ days until last week.  Thank you Mr. 99℉ Thursday. Anyway, it's hot - egg-frying-on-the-sidewalk-hot.  My workbench happens to be located in a small 2-story building  in our backyard.  This sounds all sexy and quaint, but in reality, the building leans, it leaks, and it is not insulated.  This adds up for not so nice working conditions when you are torch firing and and trying to make silver do your bidding.

Because of the extreme heat, I have moved into our house, specifically the kitchen table, to attempt to get my fall lines finished to be ready for the upcoming shows.  Well, anyone who has done any kind of an "art" project will know - the supplies needed for a project seem to travel and expand as you are working. I soon was spread across the entire table and had begun to move into the formal dining room.

Night after night I found myself setting up TV tables for my 3 and 7 yr. olds convincing myself that it wasn't for much longer.  So, the days progressed. My "3-day tops" had turned into almost a full month of "Mommy working" at the table.  Yesterday, I had finally hit my wall of looking at all my supplies being strung all over the place and my understanding husband and boys having to "just deal with it".  I have realized that I was beating myself up more than they ever were.  I really don't think they could care less - they just adapt and more on - but all I saw when I walked through the kitchen and before I turned off the light to go to bed was "bad mom, bad wife." It didn't make for sweet dreams.

So, what did I finally do?
Yesterday I decided to re purpose an area in my "office" a.k.a. spare guest room.  It took some maneuvering to get everything sorted and in order - but I'm almost there.  It's not a sexy and cool studio - but it is functional and cool, but most importantly, last night we were able to eat as a family sitting at our table and not at four TV trays in front of the TV.  Not sure the boys are happy about the new arrangement but they will adapt :)
I know it sounds like a no-brainer, the solution that I finally came to - but it was a process. I should have done it 30 days prior,  but I think we all want to think we are super-women. Sometimes that just isn't in the cards.

OK - so where is my inspiration in all this?
I was thinking last night about what was happening to me. How I felt like I had to keep adapting and changing because of the heat,  because of my old rickety building, because of the start of 2nd grade for my 7 yr old, because of my husband's travel schedule.... so many things happening in my life just felt like I had to be a chameleon all the time - changing to what was around me in order to survive.  I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but I really believe that we all do this.  It's the people that have perfected the art of adapting that make it look easy. I by no means have perfected it - but I think I am getting better with all the practice. 

So that's it, there is my inspiration for my new charm design that I am working on right now.  The easy-going chameleon. Going with the flow, adapting to the environment and what nature throws his way.  I think if I wear this charm and think about it the next time that life throws me a curve ball then I might be able to handle it a little better.  I believe that finding inspiration is very similar to our time hear on earth.  It is all about the journey, not the destination.  You never know when those special moments or opportunities for greatness will pop up and test your ability to adapt and persevere.

It's still super-hot here in Dallas, and the weatherman isn't predicting relief anytime soon. But, hey, I'm OK with it. It might just be another opportunity for my muse to dance into my bedroom tonight and sprinkle some more inspiration my way :)

My friend the mouse.

I won't lie - if I were to see a mouse right now, I'd be on the top of this desk blogging to you with my toes. It's so crazy.  There is no way in the world that a simple little mouse could ever hurt a person - yet just their presence brings out screams and brooms with really long handles.

Poor little guys.  I think they have gotten a bad wrap. Throughout history they have been associated with destruction.  Eating crops, carrying the plague  - wow.  That's some bad stuff. What about the good stuff?  "Quiet as a mouse" if this is the case I know a 7 and a 3 year old that I wish were mice! Heck - look what our most beloved Micky Mouse has done for their image and most recently that master of culinary delights, Ratatouille.  I think our little friend has come a long way.

The reason I was thinking about the mouse today was because I am having some crazy trouble with my website. The programming is all off and the fonts look wonky on some web browsers. I am pretty new to website building - ChickeeBoom was my first.  I know just enough to be dangerous - but not enough to see this problem clearly.
I know I am just missing something. What could it be? I have read all the help forums but no one seems to have the exact same problem that I am having.  I know the solution is there - so close.  I'm just missing it. 

Enter our friend the mouse. He he actually helped me out tonight. While I was thinking about this situation I went and looked at some of the animal symbols and there it was. Mr. Mouse teaches us to be aware and pay attention to the details. He is also a symbol of intelligence - so maybe that is helping a bit tonight as well. But after reading that I really tried to focus on reading all the info (not just scanning for important big and bold words - you know you do it too!) I re-read document that I had only scanned earlier and took it step by step.  I can proudly say that I think my fonts are fixed!

I just finished uploading the new site and as I clicked the "refresh" button (with my right eye squinted and my lips all scrunchied up) with fingers crossed.... voila! success. Thank you, thank you, my littlest friend the mouse for reminding me that it's all in the details.

Need. Help. Please.

Ever feel like the world is getting you down? Feel like someone has their big ole foot on your head and won't let you up for a breath? Well, I'm feeling that way today. 
Two nights ago my 3-year-old had a bad dream or something and decided to headbutt my face at 4:00 a.m. Talk about a wake up call.  My mouth was bloody and my tooth loose... not sure how it will all work out cosmetically but my son didn't even wake up and only had a small bump on his head the next morning - so all is well, I guess. 

I was thinking about how I was feeling and wondered if any of my charms might offer me the little extra help I'm looking for these days - and guess what? There is. Our little cute friend the monkey is a symbol for help in child rearing and caring for the elderly. It's a total nurturing symbol.
In the wild, female monkeys help take care of all the family members - all of them-  from young to old.  I"m sure there is plenty that I can learn from them right now.
So today I think I will add my little friend "cheeta" to my charm cluster; cause Momma needs all the help she can get!

The monkey is also a symbol of intelligence, respect and communication.

Cha - Cha - Changes

The butterfly is the epitome of "change".

This little caterpillar is born to our world and has to face many adversities. The birds and larger bugs are trying to get her right from the beginning.  If that's not enough, she then has to start her climb up to the tallest of trees she can find all the while protecting herself from being devoured by larger and stronger creatures.  Finally when she makes it all the way to the top of the tree and is totally exhausted and she just wants to rest, a huge blanket encases her and she thinks she is dying!

So much stress and struggle.

BUT - you already know the end to this story - and it's a good one!
All of her struggle was not for not - just when she thought she could endure no more and she was dying, she emerges as a gorgeous butterfly.  All the while when she was struggling and striving, she was learning and growing; developing into a beautiful butterfly just waiting to spread her wings and show her beauty to the rest of the world. 

I love this tale. Imagine in your life if you went through a transformation that left you totally unrecognizable to the rest of the world? How would you adapt - would it be good or bad? 

Many believe that the butterfly represents transformation, but it is also believed that it is a symbol for the ability to deal with change - elegantly and with grace.


Are you or a close friend dealing with something in your lives that you can't figure out if it's making you stronger or about to kill you? I've been there. Maybe a butterfly charm would be a great reminder to hold up your heads and spread your wings and float right on past all the turmoil and craziness that is happening in your life right now.