Oh my, my, my...

it's been a few days. I've been all consumed with working and keeping up with the details of every day life. Work lately seems to be something more than part-time, as it was intended to be, though I am so grateful that I can be as productive as I am to make as much extra green as I have been. I am wondering what sort of drug they gave me during my hospital stays because since I have returned to work, twice, I seem to be working so much more than I had been since my return to working from home and it really hasn't bothered me, and somehow I am way more productive all the way around. What I am really happy about is the paycheck! Score!

Saturday was a day spent on the go-go and today we are keeping it real by just being. Sometimes it's nice to spend the day just relaxing and doing things unrelated to the everyday stress of work/family but unfortunately I am never quite sure it's okay with me to utilize the downtime myself. I am a constant struggler with the issue of "if I have time it must be used wisely and productively" thus I never quite enjoy the time that is given me even when I do allow myself, wait, not allow myself but convince myself I am due time to just BE. Even when I was recovering for all those weeks it was totally killing me to be laying around doing nothing, even though I didn't feel like doing much of anything. My sweet hubby is constantly telling me to take time for myself because I deserve it though he rarely sees me do it. I feel so blessed to have a hubby who understands that I am my own person and work as hard as I do to keep this place running while also contributing to the bank account. Lucky to also have him supporting my, ahem, habit, illness, whatever you would like to call it. Whatever it is, it's the thing I rarely take the time to enjoy because of aforementioned issues with downtime. I keep telling myself it's okay but somehow it never sinks deep enough. Count that as one of the things I will really work hard on this year.
Something I did take time to make right before Christmas was these cute and simple little calendars. I had so much fun making these to give as gifts. I actually made six but I had already given one away before I snapped a photo. Duh! I hope everyone enjoys them as much as I enjoyed making them.

I really wish I had picked up more calendars so I could make more to give away. Lesson learned! Another thing I plan to do through the year is to work on gifts as the months progress. The creative process is where it is at for me and I love to give away the things I make, unless I find I just can't part with it and does happen on occasion - I certainly couldn't keep everything I make or I'd be unable to even walk into the art room, a.k.a. studio, at this point. Studio sounds so much more glamorous and makes it sound like I am a real artist. Wait - I am a real artist, or at least I claim to be. That's right - the artist always has unfinished projects sitting around waiting to be completed and I definitely have that requirement covered!