I'm here!  Really!
I'm swamped, but I'm still here!  :)

 

This month I have been painting my little heart out for The Hearthside Collection.  I have over 50 pieces completed and am on the home stretch.  I owe a HUGE 'thank you' to my husband for being a terrific support!  In addition to spending some quality time with the kiddos so I could paint, he's been sanding and prepping cabinet doors for me to paint for Prairie Hearth.  I couldn't do it without his help.

 

Right now I have two card tables and two 8' tables set up in my studio space.  There are decorative plates and trays as far as the eye can see.  :)  I hope the weather cooperates because I have to conduct an outdoor photo shoot within the next week.  (I have the toughest time getting clean color-true photos indoors sometimes.)

 

I am SO EXCITED with some of the large cabinet door designs I have spinning around in my head.  Stay tuned!  *spoiler alert*....I've bought chalkboard paint and am going crazy with it!

 

On a side note, a very dear friend of mine has introduced me to www.myfitnesspal.com.  This has been a life changer.  For starters, it's free!  You set up an account with your basic info such as height, weight, age, activity level, etc.  You enter your goal weight and how much you want to lose a week.  (It won't let you go crazy here...I think 2 lbs. a week is the max.)  Then, it calculates how many calories you should eat a day to meet that goal.  You enter your meals (either by using their awesome data base or entering your own info) and it will produce a food journal for you- - keeping track, item by item, what the calories are, etc.  An exercise log is included (which is a motivator because it shows you how many more calories you can eat that day because you've exercised!) and even a water tracker (if you want to use it).  It's user-friendly and AWESOME!  Using it has really opened my eyes.  Also, I have found Classical Stretch on public television.  Try it.  Seriously.  You will not believe how such gentle movements can kick your buns!  It feels like I'm waking up my body every time I do it.  It's a little tai chi, a little yoga, some crunches, etc.  I've had ACL knee surgery twice and am trying to work with my shoulder instead of getting surgery...and Classical Stretch feels TERRIFIC!

 

Okay, I gotta get back to painting.  Take care all and thanks for hanging in there with me.  Stay tuned for some photos asap!