A Letter To Kevin Bacon...

many of you probably follow Ali Edwards' blog, and are familiar with her fight for autism. You've seen her talk about her Six Degrees Badge, in which Kevin Bacon will make a matching contribution to his top 6 contributors. He was on Ellen the other day, and was talking about his organization, Six Degrees, and mentioned a woman in Oregon who's badge is in honor of her son, who has autism. how's that for paying it forward? and scrapbookers who watched that immediately knew he was talking about Ali. i have donated. my daughter doesn't have autism. but what if? there's always that chance. and why not? it's $10. 10 flippin dollars, people. if you haven't donated, you should. 10 = one trip to starbucks for me.

so, in listening to this and reading ali's blog, i felt compelled to email Mr. Bacon's site, in the hopes that my letter makes it into his hands. i want him to know what an intricate part of our little scrapbooky world, Mrs. Edwards really is. i mean, when have you stopped by her blog, with your morning coffee, and NOT been inspired? she puts it ALL out there. she challenges the everyday. and you know what? in the words of AE.. .

IT IS OK.

here's my letter.. now go donate, damnit!

http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/

Dear Kevin,

I have been following the Six Degrees Campaign, namely the Ali Edwards Badge for her son Simon. I was dumbfounded to hear you mention her on Ellen yesterday. You mentioned a woman from Oregon who’s son has Autism. This woman, whom I’ve never met in person… is astounding. Not only is it an everyday fight for a cure for Autism and research for her… she is a light and a fire in the lives of women across the world. You see, Ali belongs to this tightly connected world of Scrapbookers and Paper Crafters across the world. She creates art, everyday. She shares her life, everyday. She inspires, everyday. And she does this selflessly. Honestly.

So, as I sat and watched the webcast of your little snippet about Six Degrees over and over again, there were tears. Tears! There were tears streaming down my face. A woman in Oregon. WOW. If you only knew what an inspiration she is to all, not only through her never ending fight for Simon and those affected with autism... but it's her daily inspirations. The inspirations to help us to look deeper. Listen more closely. Watch more intently. To life. To create with reckless abandon. I have become a better artist because of her. Not to mention, a better mother, woman, wife, friend… because of her thought provoking words.

I believe in my heart, what you are doing is a good thing. Really good. Paying it forward. I am a HUGE believer in that theory. And let me tell you, Ali Edwards is truly an example of this theory. I do hope her charity earns your match. I hope she has the honor of meeting you some day.. for it would do you a great honor to have the pleasure of meeting her. To simply sit down and have a cup of coffee with her.. you will see what I mean. And me? Never even seen her in person. But I have coffee with her every day. Each morning, her blog is the first place I visit. It’s the first place I look for inspiration when I am compelled to just jump back into bed and wish today had never begun. Divine inspiration.

Cupcakes and other things...

i had my very first experience baking with my daughter the other night. now mind you, she is just about 2. what a BLAST that was. i mean, seriously. who knew motherhood could be so grand. now, to some, this may not seem like a huge deal. but to me? i've waited my whole life for this. to have a sidekick. and that *someone* up *there* really knew it had to be a girl.

fast forward to the next afternoon. said cupcakes were ready to eat. they were very intricate for momma. including pouring jello into them after they dried, then frosting, then creating flower petals out of marshmallows to decorate the top. so flippin cute. to die for actually! so, post lunch time... my girl is given her very first cupcake! she wouldn't touch the damn thing. wouldn't touch it. it had come right out of the fridge. she exclaimed, "it's too cold momma.. too cold!" so we had to pick the marshmallow treats off the top, place them in her mouth, as she stated, "too sticky, momma! you do it!" so we realized... our cupcake is afraid of said cupcake! does she know what she's missing? anyhow.. made for a great little story line, which will make for a great little layout.. which will make for one very happy momma!

on other things... still NO WORD on the friggin JOB! ugh! i was so angry to a point. makes me realize perhaps i really don't want the job afterall. i have been told twice that i would have an answer, and both times, let down. very unprofessional, in my book. so, i have not let this get me down. i've vented, i've let the anger go. the boss i hav enow is a gem and i would be sad to lose him. he provides not only professional growth on a very sincere level, but in turn, it creates personal growth as well. he has helped me to become a better listener.

so, it's thursday.. the week is almost over. i've got BIG plans for myself this weekend. going to tackle the bedroom. a very, very sore subject in my life. perhaps if i can make an improvement or two, i may post a pic. let's just say, when you live in a house that is almost 50 years old and not much has been upgraded in those 50 years.. you are left with some funky-ass paneling on one wall and the same funky-ass paneling on the ceiling in matching squares. let's just say, it's so funky-ass, we can't even begin to describe it. oh and i've got shabby chic style and no way to make it work. but we'll see what a can of paint might do in there.

till then.. take care and happy thursday-ings!

on getting published...

So, for the first time ever, i got the glorious email in my inbox from Memory Makers... one of my LO has been picked up for their book called 601 Great Scrapbook Ideas.I will write more later... but for now.. i can't keep my feet on the GROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

music warms my soul

wow. i am still in awe. so much so i almost can't even put it into words. i had so many good bloggy ideas to compose about my john mayer experience... but it was so amazing, i just can't put it together. but i will try. i never really knew how much music moved me. never. i mean, i knew it affected me in such a positive way. but the john mayer show my husband surprised me with moved me into such a good place. i think i was waiting to get into that place, this show just gave me a slight push. and i fell.

i have been a fan of john mayer since i first heard his "inside wants out" cd. never did i know what an astounding guitarist he is. watching him get into his groove was like watching a passionate love encounter begin and end. intense. at such a young age.. he is at a level few ever make it to. he is one of the greats. not only does his sound make me happy.. the lyrics reach to the depths of my soul on so many different levels.

music makes me happy. simply. happy. i must be surrounded by it from this point forward. constantly surrounded. i know, i probably sound like a total nerd.. but hey.. to know me is to love me. regardless. i found my happy place in the last couple of weeks. this music just pushed me into head first.... and so i leave you with this... i do truly believe now, the hear tof life is good. simple. and good.

"The Heart Of Life"
I hate to see you cry
Lying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears
And listen
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
You know, it's nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
But, then your circle of friends
Will defend the silver lining
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it's good
~ John Mayer ~

so loving these lyrics right now...

this song below just hits home. really speaks to me.

"Fidelity" ~ Regina Spektor ~
(Shake it up)
I never loved nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds
I hear in my mind
All these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
I hear in my mind all this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
It breaks my heart
And suppose I never met you
Suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never ever let you kiss me so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never ever saw you
Suppose we never ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs just to break my own fall
Just to break my fall
Just to break my fall
Break my fall
Break my fall
All my friends say that of course its gonna get better
Gonna get better
Better better better better
Better better better
I never love nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting by heart truly
I got lost
In the sounds
I hear in my mind
All these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
I hear in my mind
All this music
And it breaks my heart
It breaks my heart
I hear in my mind all of these voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
Breaks myHeart
Breaks my heart

gratitude. right now.

I love Ali Edwards. I mean that in a.. I stalk her blog daily, and rarely post.. because so much of what she says and does just needs to marinate within me.. and a TON of it really hits home. her blog entry today talked about being grumpy and just in that palce you can't shake. i'm there most of the time. unable to find my true happiness. unable to shake the funk. a know a great deal of it is related to my health.. and well, how unhealthy i am most of the time. a great deal of which i really have no control over. i've got virtually no immune system anymore thanks to that lovely ol' graves disease. so, i get sick. often and easily. it sucks. (and NO! to my friends who love me.. it's not because i don't wear a coat.) haha

so, i'm going to take these thoughts from ali below, let them marinate and push it off on to my tiny, minute reader base... think about gratitude. really. think. about. gratitude. i have tons. instantly that come to mind. things to be grateful for.

so, go hear.. check out ali's site... she just rocks... http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/

SIX THINGS SHELLEY IS GRATEFUL FOR RIGHT THIS MOMENT:
1. i can hear daddy giving the love of his life a tubby, right now. right below my office. pure bliss.
2. see above. my office is home. i am intensely grateful for that.
3. i have a man that loves me. unconditionally.
4. i am a mom. period. need i say more?
5. i have a good life. now.
6. the sun is shining. i live in upstate ny. again.. need i say more?

what are you grateful for? right now? this very moment?

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

creativity

I found the motivational boost below, while searching for an inspiring and touching quote about an encounter i've recently had with an old, very dear friend of mine.. more on that in a while... but... wow. just. wow. how perfect are these words below about creativity. i HATE HATE HATE it when people say.. "oh, but i'm not creative... i don't have time.. " blah blah blah.. it's all empty words to me. it is true.. creativity can simply mean, seeing a connection to something, where a connection does not exist. i have been spending my days lately working on my creativity. seeing a new way of doing things. even in work, it's creativity that often helps me find ways to be more efficient. but it's in my passion, that creativity drives me.

so, you fellow scrappy folks (and other non-scrappy like folk), read below.. and just be. just. be. creative. it's just that easy.

"Be creative Creativity is not reserved just for those who engage in artistic pursuits. In every life, in every situation, there are opportunities to be creative. Being creative means acknowledging that there are many possibilities beyond the obvious. Being creative means having the courage to consider doing things in a way that's different than the way they've always been done. Creativity gives you the ability to solve multiple problems with a single course of action. Creativity transforms weakness into strength, and builds value where there was none before. Imagine the possibility of a connection between things that don't appear to be connected, and creativity will start to take hold. Look at life from a new perspective, and it will further nourish your creativity.
Creativity refuses to accept limits. And as such, with sufficient creativity you can move beyond any obstacle. There is always room for improvement, and there is always a place for beauty, for achievement, for fulfillment. Be creative, and you'll continue to add richness to life."
-- Ralph Marston

on liking me...

this is a task that has not been easy for me in the past several years. motherhood has taught me SO much about this. i spent my twenties not liking myself. disrespecting myself. not taking care of myself. in my thirties, i was faced with one health problem after the next, so i really began to loathe myself. to question my worth. and then i got pregnant. it all changed. i realized in order to raise a healthy, self respecting child in today's society, it has to begin with me. if i do not take care of myself, like myself, and cherish myself... of what worth am i to my daughter?

today's quote really hit home to me. i am working towards more and more success. and i am liking it. and i am liking how i do it. i am simplifying life and that to me is success in and of itself.

"success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." ~ Maya Angelou

happy tuesdays to ya!

very random things today...

so loving these little create your own card catalogue lists... i found through this blog http://www.teresamcfayden.typepad.com/ which she found on this site http://www.blyberg.net/card-generator/ .. too cute!

• i am having trouble keeping to my lists. when i was crashing with Grave's disease three years ago, I made lists, then lists to tell me where the list was, a list on how to most effictively follow the list.. and then a list of where to keep all the lists. yes, grave's caused me to lose my car in parking lots on MORE than one occassion. good times, i tell you.. good times.
• autism scares me. i mean it really scares me. it is the unknown. i follow AE's blog daily, and am astounded by her perserverence on such an intense level. my daughter does not have autism. but Lord, what if? how can what you have just be stripped away from you in an instant? i am thinking so much about this right now due to the recent episode of extreme home makeover. 5 children. all biological. 4 children with autism. wow. i mean. wow. i sobbed for these people. for happiness and grief for what that mother must endure on a daily basis.
• i need to get out more
• i obsess over things i have NO control of
• i need to get out more
• i learned a valuable work/life lesson today. no one you work with is truly your friend. NO ONE! i thought i had a few good ones. they were like family to me. and in an instant, i learned. not so much. lesson learned. game on. that's all i can say to that.
• i really think all of my hard work WILL pay off someday
• i need to get out more
• i wonder if my husband knows how much i really do love him?

hard work?

i've worked hard the past 5 days. so hard, my head hurts. i have another interview on wednesday, to which i feel i have been set up to fail. i am relying on someone else to provide me the information to complete a project i am supposed to present on wednesday as part of my interview. i have no way of going around this person to get what i need.. they have the info i need. so.. to my quote of the day... yes. hard work. it is an opportunity. perhaps someone will notice and realize my potential anyhow. i am driven and the inablities of others to follow through and communicate, just makes me work that much harder. demanding to be noticed.

what causes you to work hard?