Life lately. Whew. Do you have a few hours? No. OK.. I’ll give you the abbreviated version. Buckle your seat belt, grab your glue gun and let’s go.
What I’m Making

As I shared on Friday, I’m painting a lot right now but I’m also playing around with other things. This weekend I grabbed Infusible Ink by Cricut. If you don’t know anything about Infusible Ink, it’s their newest product that somehow imprints into the fabric instead of laying on top of the fabric like vinyl. You have to use specific fabrics and products for it to work but I grabbed some to play around for you.
I’ll figure it out and share a DIY How to Use Infusible Ink Post this week (or next week if it’s hard to use).
Also right now I’m working on posts for Resin and Alcohol Ink Art and Polymer Clay Jewelry. Make sure you’re following me on Pinterest / Instagram / Facebook to see when those tutorials come out.

I also found this Fall Hoop Wreath in a closet this week. It’s one of my favorite, all-time wreaths but it was on a pressboard (cardboard) frame that didn’t hold up well in the Houston humidity. Unfortunately, the frame broke. I’m trying to decide if I’m going to rip it apart and use the flowers for something else or just put it on a metal hoop and call it done.
What I’m Reading
My husband has been working from home a lot lately in his office, which connects to mine. So I can’t clean my office. Instead, I read. Or that’s what I like to tell myself as I stare at the piles on the floor.

Book #1 – The Choice, Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eger
This book is outstanding. I am almost scared to write out my thoughts about it because I’m not going to do it justice. Dr. Eger survived the Holocaust. I held my breath during her retelling of the horror, just waiting for the day it would end and the sun would shine again but that’s not what happened. Until the day that she chose a different path – one to work on forgiveness and her happiness, she still suffered with the trauma she experienced. It’s a powerful story that points out that we all have a choice to make – one to live in the anger of the past or be accountable for our own selves and chose a better way forward.
I would say… read it. If you’re not sure, just read it. If you hate it, send me an email telling me about it. If you love it, send me an email telling me about it.

Book #2 – The Silent Patient
This book interested me for a lot of reasons but like the best books, just when I thought I had things figured it out something would twist and turn. It’s an easy read but will keep your attention. Plus… it involves an artist. The author had me at painter.
Honestly I never saw the ending coming and almost fell out of the hammock. It’s a great read for the beach or for extremely long swim meets…
What I’m Doing
Sleeping. Or that’s what I wish I was doing.

This weekend we finished out summer swim league for our kids. It was a GREAT year for summer swim league but I am so glad it’s over. Our oldest daughter competed in a two-day meet this weekend for our region and walked away with ribbons and a medal. She met her own goals and then did so much more. Our youngest somehow dove in the pool this summer and came out a serious butterflyer to the point where we are looking at putting her in competitive swim like her oldest sister.
However, I have to say that our middle daughter blew me away this year. Last year she struggled so much with summer swim league that I almost suggested to her to give it up this year. However she set the pool on fire, not only with her strokes but with an amazing attitude that encouraged others. She also took over the mentorship program for the youngest swimmers, making sure they all had an older swimmer helping them throughout the season.
So what am I doing right now? Thinking about how amazing my kids are. Moms that are frustrated or at wit’s end right now – I’ve been there too. Probably will be back there the next time I go look in the teen’s closet – but your kids are good. Their hearts are good. Hold strong, a day of rest is coming.
What else am I doing right now? Making up reasons why I can’t clean my office. Or do the dishes. Or clean the car.