On Turning 40

iPhone Cupcakes

Turning 40 years old is interesting. All the people older than 40 pat you on the back and welcome you to "the club". All the people younger than 40 just look at you, say nothing with a nod of the head, acknowledging your birthday but somehow having pity on you all at the same time.

I remember watching Oprah when she turned 40 years old and she kept saying how she's waited for this age all her life. I recall her saying that 40 is the year when you've got it together, where you've finally settled into yourself. After hearing that, I've longed to get to this age, and, you know, I think Oprah was right.

I don't pretend to have it together, or even claim to know what I want to be when I grow-up, but this I know: I know that for the last 40 years I was becoming who I am today. Now, for the next 40 years, I get to enjoy being who I've become.

A special heart-felt thank you to all those who took their time and thoughtfulness to wish me a happy birthday yesterday. Your comments, well-wishes, and e-mails truly made my day. Here's to another 40 years, and beyond!

What I Made Wednesday {Milemarker 40}

This is the year of the big 4-Ohh for me; today, in fact! I'm not hung up on age but when you start your day in a brand new decade, I think it's an opportunity to reflect, take stock, and figure out where you are headed and how you think you want to get there.

I'm a lover of lists, a technician of To-Do's, and I take great pleasure in crossing off each line of tasks, putting the chore to the proverbial bed. No great surprise that I'd want to mark today's 4th-decade birthday by recording a few reflective thoughts on how I would like the year to go (I know, God's laughing right now). And to display these plans of grandeur, I thought today's What I Made Wednesday would be a good display of my list. As the year progresses, I'll be sure to cross off the tasks and, by the time I turn 41, I should have a set of Mod Podged numbers all scratched out with successes and great experiences.

What You'll Need
Cardboard numbers (found at Hobby Lobby)
Scrapbook paper
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Scissors
Pencil
Sharpie Paint Pen
Super Glue like E-6000 (not shown)
Your own list (no, you can't use mine)




What You'll Do

First things, first: Take your scrapbook paper and lay it on top of your number. Then, flip it over and trace the number with a sharp pencil.

Cut along the outline.

Repeat the outlining and cutting for each number and for both sides.

Apply Mod Podge to the flat surfaces of the numbers and press down the cut-out scrapbook paper.

Oh, bother! Now you've got the sides to contend with - easy!

Take your scrapbook paper and align it with the side of the number. Make a mark the width of the side.

Cut the strip with scissors or a paper cutter. Glue the strip along the side of the number. This will take a couple of strips to get all the way around. Don't forget the inside of the number, as well!

Advice: When gluing the strips on the sides, try to make it so the ends of the strips do not stop on any corners of the number but rather in the middle of a side. See above, that's one strip and I made sure the end didn't land on a corner.

Now it's time to take your heavy duty glue and glue the two numbers together. Note: I tried to get any paper breaks on the side where I knew it wouldn't be visible since the numbers were going to be glued together. Take a look: my one strip of paper fell short but it's on the side where it won't be seen once the numbers are glued together. Keep that in mind.

It's too pretty to write on, but that's the whole point, isn't it?

What You'll Need to Know to Finish
These Sharpie Paint Pens have been really great to use and versatile in so many projects I've completed lately. I've created my list of dreams and goals for the year and I just started writing them all over the finished 4-0 sculpture (sure, why not call it a sculpture?).

When dry, take another swipe all over the sculpture with Mod Podge to seal your writing.

I'll keep it as a daily reminder in either my office or bedroom to make this year one of sowing for the future. At 40, I'm finally wise enough to know the life I want to live, and I'm finally old enough to make all of it a reality.

Want to get me a birthday present? Ahh, how thoughtful of you! Just become a GFC Follower, a Linky Follower, or both, or 'Like" LOVD on Facebook, and I'd be happier than an old goat in sunglasses.

And don't forget the giveaway I have for you. Click here to enter. 

Want an update on how I'm doing? Click here! 

A LOVD {Giveaway}: Official LEGO Star Wars T-Shirt

My birthday is tomorrow and it's a biggie. I believe giving really is better than receiving so what better way to celebrate than with a giveaway for all my LOVD readers.

Moms, grandmothers, babysitters, girlfriends, if you win this T-shirt for your LEGO/Star Wars fan, they'll love ya to pieces! The T-shirt is a size Medium adult and is pre-shrunk cotton.

It's so easy to enter, just leave a comment. Not sure how? Keep reading. Not sure what to comment? Just tell us who you want the shirt for or who your favorite character is, or why George Lucas is a genius. It doesn't matter what you comment, just leave a comment for entry! You have until Thursday, April 19, midnight, to leave your comments for entry.

Not sure how to leave a comment if you don't blog? No prob.

a. Click "Comment" at the end of this post

b. Type your comment in the "Leave your comment" box

c. Enter the word verification

d. Choose "Name/URL" as your identity if you don't know what the other choices are

e. Just put your name (or what you want to go by) in the Name Field

f. Don't have to put anything in the URL field - when the winner is picked, they'll have to claim the prize by e-mailing me by next Monday

g. Then click "Publish your comment"

MORE ENTRIES, more chances to win...

2. "Like" feelLOVDeveryday on Facebook

3. Become a Linky Follower of feelLOVDeveryday

4. Become a GFC Follower
5. Subscribe via e-mail AND verify your subscription

For every entry activity, be sure to leave a comment!!!!!!

1 winner will be randomly chosen by computer. You must check back on Friday, April 20 for the winner. Winner must privately e-mail me their home address within a 48-hour period from time of announcement to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen.

Thank you to the local LEGO store at Beachwood Place for donating this great shirt from a recent LEGO Club Meeting event (a paid event). For more LEGO store events like this one, click here. There are FREE events also hosted by LEGO like the monthly mini build sessions. Find out more from this earlier post!

 
On a sidenote, thank you, thank you to Jenna Burger from Daily Do It Yourself! for featuring my What I Made Wednesday Melted Crayon Project. Go check it out - woo-hoo!!!
 

Gratitude Journal Monday

Happy Monday, friends. It's time to declare some gratitude. Whether you're thankful for getting the taxes in on time, or simply for the sun rising another day, it's important to send out some thanksgiving into the Universe because, what you send out, comes back to you two-fold. Don't believe it? Just try it. No, it won't happen over night, but over time, your heart and mind will change, erring on the side of positive. I started my own journey here, and continue it because it feeds my soul, sets my spirit straight, and soothes the wrinkles of daily life. You can begin your own journey right here and now by commenting some of your own gratitude. I can't wait to read some of your declarations!

201. I am grateful the taxes are done and sent on their way - life around here may now resume.
202. I am grateful to be turning 40 this week and look forward to the next chapter.
203. I am grateful I am not the same person I was when I turned 30 - wisdom has that affect.
204. I am grateful for the opportunity to take care of my family while staying at home.
205. I am grateful for the beautiful souls that come together at this little blog where we share our hearts and ideas with one another.


Have a happy week!
 

Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 42.

Goodbye freezing frost and layers of thin snow welcoming the early-spring morning.
Goodbye readying for communion and Good Friday by eating fish all week - I may be growing gills myself.
Goodbye turned over cement truck that caused such a bumper-to-bumper back-up on the highway I missed my son's choir solo.
Goodbye being so proud of a family member's recent choice to be a SAHM - so tough to walk away, I should know.
Goodbye Good Friday (Eastern Orthodox celebrate Easter this Sunday).

Hello Sunday's Coming.
Hello sweet baby girl celebrating her first year of life.
Hello enjoying that monumental cake smashing moment.
Hello dyeing some last minute Easter eggs.
Hello arranging baskets, hiding eggs, and bathing in salvation.

This week's lesson coincides with this Holiest of weekends: Easter. I think of Jesus and His journey led by God. We, too, are led by God and the promise was never that the road be a smooth one each day we take in a breath. I stand in the church and look up at the cross as the painting of Jesus looks down upon me, eyes gentle, caring, sympathetic, and hopeful. The cross I see has two sides. The first side represents crucifixion, the second, resurrection. We, too, must carry our cross through our own crucifixion to get to our resurrection. But, whatever pain or suffering we must endure as we go through, we are no different from Jesus in that God is always with us, in bad times and good, during pain and joy, through suffering and peace. Sometimes we have to take the journey to get from one side of the cross to the other side for victory. Stay strong and we'll all make it through.


Curious why I'm celebrating Easter this weekend? Click here.

Mind Control

The mouth reveals what the mind thinks. Today I take communion, the Thursday before celebrating Orthodox Easter this Sunday. My hope is to cleanse the way to great thoughts and discussions.

In conversations you have with others, which describes your mind? Yeah, I think I can make some improvements, too.

What I Made Wednesday {Family Tree - LOVD Style}

When opportunities to be creative fall right onto your lap or into your e-mail's Inbox you can't help but feel so grateful and giddy at the prospects. This was the case for today's W.I.M. Wednesday.

If you've been a regular reader, then you're aware of the LOVD jewelry I'm honored to make for people wanting to celebrate their families, special events, and personal moments. I hand-stamp metal for necklaces and bracelets I weave out of jump rings. I've been so busy with special orders I have not had the time to open up the Etsy shop, but it's coming.

So, when I received this e-mail from my neighbor wanting to do something special for her mother-in-law...

"...she is NOT a jewelry wearer, and she rarely gets anything special! We want to treat her "just because!" I LOVE the look of your stuff you make, those hand stamped little gems of cuteness!

Would you have the time to stamp out ... all her grandkids? I sort of envision "hanging" them somehow on a picture/graphic tree of some sort to show each family, then put it in a shadow box for her with some sort of saying.
Would you at ALL be interested in doing something like this?"

...the gears in my mind started spinning out of control and yielded these results:

I found beautiful, sterling silver doves that I wanted to stamp to represent the grandparents and I placed them nearest the nest. I love the way my antiquing of the silver turned out because, in the light, you could see a rainbow of various colors representing each offspring's family. I thought that was a nice accident.


Each of the grandparents' sons had their own families (one, of course, being my neighbor), each represented by a different metal: brass, copper, and nickel. I normally do not use nickel in my jewelry, but since this wasn't going to be worn, I went with nickel to save lots of nickels (sterling silver cost is at an all-time high - YIKES!).

Great things happen when minds and efforts come together, even when it's outside of the box. I'm so pleased with the way this project turned out and I hope the recipient of this heartfelt gift resonates to her core and tells her how loved and appreciated she is by my neighbors, her son and daughter-in-law.

Thank you, neighbor, for the opportunity to be so creative and put my bird metal stamps to good use!