Inspired #tenthousand {Everything I needed to hear via Macklemore}

love necklace: Target
10,000 necklace Horse Feather Gifts

In September I bought Macklemore's The Heist.  I'll admit I bought if for it's commercial value.  I liked his songs I had heard on the radio, even if same love reduces me to tears every time.  I don't like to commit to buying music until I'm sure I'm going to like more than one song... I know, awful.  So I bought The Heist knowing I'd like at least three of the songs.  I had no idea that I'd come to value one song in particular, that it's become a guiding theme song for my writing life.
Ten Thousand.  If you follow me on Instagram, then you have probably seen me mention it.  It's a song about art, and creating art.  It's a song about putting in the hard work, ten thousand hours if you will, and having nothing to hold on to, but having everything you wanted it to be.  
A writer can really relate to that you know.  Actually any artist can.  
My love for this song was immediate, the song begins with this lyric: Let the snare knock the air right out of your lungs And those words be the oxygen Just breathe If you read my post, words to breathe by, then you know about me and words.  I feel this.  Words are my oxygen.  And I just fell in love with this idea.  To just let all the negativity, all the chaos around you, all the reasoning and nay saying happening in your head; to just let it go.  Let all the air right out of you, and to breathe in the good.  The goal you have right on the tip of your tongue.  The one that you are too afraid to share.  The idea that you know is so damn good you just need a few more days to savor it.  Breathe in all that you have, all that is good, all that you want.  Breathe it in.  
Then this set of lyrics: Ten thousand hours I'm so damn close I can taste it On some Malcolm Gladwell, David Bowie meets Kanye sh*t This is dedication A life lived for art is never a life wasted Ten Thousand I'm mean, seriously?  How can you not love that line?  But I thought, who is Malcolm Gladwell and what are ten thousand hours?
Malcolm Gladwell is a best selling author, and this song references his book The Outliers.  Ten thousand hours refers to the idea that, "the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours".  And with that I dedicated myself to 10,000 hours.  Giving my writing at least that amount of time.  Even if it's over a few years.
But I'd have to say, my favorite part of this song, the inspiration that I get every time I listen to this song comes from this set of lyrics:
Put those hours in and look at what you get Nothing that you can hold, but everything that it is Ten Thousand As a writer, I feel like I put countless hours into my writing.  And sometimes there is absolutely nothing that I can hold.  I mostly write here, on this blog, and it's all electronic and in bloggy land. There is nothing that I can hold.  Not really. I have yet to be published on paper.  To see my name in black and white.  To hold pages that make up a book.  But regardless of that, when I write, when I spend the time, it really is everything.  And one day, after putting in ten thousand hours or more, it just might be something that I can hold.  
I understand that this idea, finding inspiration from a song, and not from scripture or prose may not be for everyone.  But I have finally admitted to myself that I am an artist at heart.  I create.  Instead of paint or clay, instead of fabric or yarn, I use words.  I use pen and ink and paper.  And this song is about creating. It's about putting all those hours in and doing all the things you said you were going to do, or want to do, or as in my case, have to do.  Because no matter your media, a life lived for art, is never a life wasted.
#tenthousand

Caps for Chemo {via Handmade Escapade}

One of my favorite shop owners and bloggers is here today with a major project in the fight against Cancer.  You may remember back in October when I promoted the "Breast Friends" t-shirt.  Well Katy is back, with an even bigger project that will touch twice as many hearts!   Check her out and be sure to enter her giveaway!



Hey Absolute Mommy fans!  My name is Katy and I am a [slightly crazy] redhead with a mega-girl crush on Megan.  This is my first ever guest post and I’m STOKED that I get to hang out on this brilliant space on the internet.
I’m a northern Michigan native turned West Virginian (go Mountaineers!).  I’m wife to a bearded, flannel loving, stay-at-home dad and momma to a sweet little 3-year old boy and two fur baby dogs.  I over-caffeinate, wear too much purple, drink lots of craft beer and love all things handmade. 
I blog about my family, life and projects at Wild & Wanderful (a play on WV’s state slogan “Wild and WONDERful) and run an indie business where I sell my handmade goods called Handmade Escapade.

Megan shared her space with me today to let me talk about my project “Caps for Chemo”.  It’s a BOGO program at it’s finest: BUY one, GIVE one.  Order a custom made hat from  me during the month of January and I’ll make two!  One for you, one for someone going through chemotherapy.  It’s kind of awesome.

• Caps for Chemo 2011: $500 raised & 45 hats donated.
  
• Caps for Chemo 2012: $720 raised & 45 hats donated.
  
• Caps for Chemo 2013: $360 raised & 36 hats donated.
  
• Caps for Chemo 2014: Awesomeness to be determined.

What exactly is ‘Caps for Chemo’? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 2010, a friend and I dreamt up a way to take these tiny selling platforms of ours and turn them into something positive for our surrounding communities.  Naturally, when you have a knitter and a crocheter in a brainstorming session together, you’re going to come out of it with a hat promotion.
With the backing of some amazing individuals, I’ve been able to continue this for four consecutive years.  My friends, family and fans have all been huge supporters.  Each year, an outpour of generous people purchase and donate hats for chemotherapy patients nearby.
I’m not a doctor, I can’t cure cancer.  But I can cover some heads with some cute hats!
Hair loss for people during their chemotherapy treatments tend to be something that is a difficult thing to grasp.  It’s bad enough that they are going through all of the health-related issues…but to have people actually “see” that they are sick tends to make it a bit harder.  With Caps for Chemo, we try to alleviate some of that discomfort – by helping keep the noggins of these brave individuals both warm AND stylish.

How can I help? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s the easy part!  Simply order a Caps for Chemo promo hat from my shop during the month of January and I handle the rest.  Each hat ordered is made twice: the first goes to you (the buyer) and it’s duplicate goes to a chemotherapy patient in my local area.
Where exactly do the donated hats go? ----------------------------------------------------------------------I have a connection through Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  I’m located in Wheeling, West Virginia and it’s only fitting to donate to a local chapter and help my neighbors out a little bit!!
Each hat will have a donation card attached to it, telling the recipient where and whom their new headwear donation is from.  (I don’t put last names, for your privacy!!)
Why the LLS [Leukemia & Lymphoma Society]? --------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, cancer is something that my family has come to know a little too well.  There have been four people in my immediate family diagnosed with cancer.  The “C” word.  Gross.
I’ve now had a total of three people on my mom’s side of the family be affected specifically by Lymphoma.  For some reason or another, it just doesn’t want to leave us alone.  The LLS has been very supportive of my family and I’d do anything to help others that are in similar situations.
For more information about the LLS, here are some websites:

• www.lls.org
  
• www.lightthenight.org

Okay, how do I get started? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2014 promo launched January 1, 2014.  All of the available hats are listed in my shop (sizes XSmall – XLarge) and you can find them all in the Caps for Chemo section [HERE].

Questions??  Just email me: katy@handmadeescapade.com

And just because I love all things Megan, I’m going to give one of her awesome-sauce followers a hat of their very own!  PLUS, a second one will be donated in their name with the rest of the Caps for Chemo pile of goodness.
Can I get a ‘whoop whoop’ for that?  Thanks Megan for letting me hang out here today!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Words to breathe by {2014}

There is a trend among us bloggy people, like me, to pick "one little word" at the start of a new year.  Its purpose is to guide us throughout the year.  To take root in our heart and remind us as we make our way into a new year, as we chart new territory, this word can serve as our guide.  I like this idea, in fact my word for 2013 was "zest", to really capture and taste the zest of life.  I think I did a pretty good job of living in the moment, of tasting the zest, but it wasn't the only word that guided me last year.  I couldn't even begin to list the words that guided me in the last year.
You see, I'm a logophile, a lover of words if you will.  I love words in many ways.  I love screenplays that create great movies and tv shows.  I love lyrics that make beautiful music.  I love manuscripts and blogs and letters and novellas, and prose.  How could I ever pick just one word to guide me through an entire year?  Words are my oxygen.
I did start the year with one word: Soar.  I thought about the new year that lay in front of me and I really wanted to rise to meet it.  I thought about the goals that I always have at the beginning of any year and I wanted to rise to meet those.  Even if it was hard, even if there were trials, even if there were heartaches; I wanted to rise above them and soar.  But I was still a little unsure of this word.  It hadn't taken root, so I looked on Pinterest for a little inspiration.  I found this:

Pinterest / source

 And suddenly Soar had roots.
Then I was thinking of the challenges I had in 2013.  What was my biggest source of stress? I'm pretty sure it was over scheduling.  It was spreading myself and my resources too thin. Whenever a friend would ask how I was, I would always respond:  Busy.  My kids could feel it. My husband could see it.  And it totally exhausted me.  So I felt like a guiding word for 2014 could also be, Balance. I didn't realize how fitting until I found this:

Pinterest / source

How interesting, that balance is something we create, not something to seek out and find. Could I actually hold the key to creating a balanced life?  I honestly always believed that balance was something you arrived at, something you achieved, not something I actually had the power to create.  Boom.
As I went along during the first few days of 2014, my list of words grew longer.  With thanks to Pinterest.

Pinterest / source

I really can do anything, but not everything.  And at some point in 2014 I'm going to come to a point where I'm going to have to decide that it's Enough.  That what I'm doing is enough. That what I've achieved is enough.  And that if the girls have clean underwear and grilled cheese for dinner, then I have certainly done enough on that day.  Because sometimes even the smallest victory is enough.

Pinterest / source

And while I think that Enough is plenty to be proud of, there will always be room for More.  But more of the fun stuff. The laundry will always be there, so will the dishes and the floors that have scuff marks.  The toilet will always need scrubbing, and the counters will always need wiped.  But my children will one day outgrow Saturday morning cartoons in their pjs.  They will one day think the magic of sparklers on New Years Eve, lame.  They will one day roll their eyes at the thought of going to a movie with mom.  So in 2014 I want more LOVE.  I want more FUN.  I want more last minute, heat of the moment adventures, even if it's just a walk to get popsicles.  I want more books and more music.  More everything that makes an ordinary day extraordinary.  More.

Pinterest / source

Little Miss Momma posted this quote on Charity on her Instagram a few nights ago.  I rooted immediately.  Charity is deeply rooted in love.  It's an unconditional kind of love.  When I think of charity I think of giving to those less fortunate, but that is charity in a material way.  This takes on a deeper meaning when we are think about charity in an emotional way.  Are there people in my life that deserve more charity from me?  Absolutely.  Am I going to try and be more charitable? Hell yes.  So charity was added to my list.
Have I totally lost you?  Too many words to keep count?  Soar, Balance, Enough, More, Charity.  I couldn't bring myself to pick just one.  I find that I want to surround myself with inspiration and words more and more these days.  It's not a bad place to be.
Five little words that bring new meaning, new lessons, and give strength to old goals.  Five little words to breathe by.


PS: remember that this is my first week at my new job. Be sure to come back Wednesday for a new post!

Life Lately {Happy New Year}

New Year's Eve was spent in the comfort of my living room, in the comfort of my favorite leggings, playing card games with my neighbors while our children played at a very high volume.  There was food, there was fun, and there was sparkling cider for everyone.  I'd say that it was a quiet night, but that's impossible when you have seven adults and seven children under the same roof on the most exciting night of the year.  And even though I wasn't drunk like the new years eves of my past, it was till exciting.  It was the first time both my kids stayed up, which was a blessing and a curse, since kids under six don't do well with a two am bedtime.  It was the best way to end a wonderful year that was so full of life and love and people.  Because it was the people, many of them who were in my living room who made 2013 what it was.  

New Year's Day was a day spent with family, some from out of town and some in town.  It was the best way to start a new year.  More people, more life, and more love to share.  Sure we were tired, hungover with lack of sleep and too much food, but it didn't matter much.  We had more food and less drink, and for Mackenzie a little more sleep.  It was all in all a great day.  Just the kind you want to start 2014.

Like many of the bloggers out there I picked a word for 2014, it's a good one, but today I felt like I needed more words.  I feel like one word, to guide my entire year is really very limiting. I'm a writer, I live and breathe by words.  They make my world go round.  I'm not ready to share my word or words just yet.  I'm still working on soaking them all in.  I'm writing about them to really find out how they will guide me and sustain me in 2014.  There are big changes ahead for me, but I don't necessarily want to change who I am.  So how can my words for 2014 help guide me through change, but not change me at my core?  I'm working to find that out.

It's true that I made resolutions and declarations for 2014, but those are really ideas and guidance. Everyone needs a road map.  The New Year can be so exciting, because we think it's the only time we can start fresh.  The only time of the year that we can make changes big and small.  I find that I believe that too.  This year I hope to remember that every day is a new chance at a fresh start.  Some days I may need one, other days I may not, but fresh starts will be there for the taking.  

I've spent the last few days in thought as I put away Christmas decorations and throw out empty boxes and tissue paper.  How do I want to spend this year?  It really feels like the end of an era for me.  I'll be resigning from my part time seasonal job to start a new part time job.  I'll now be considered a part time working mom, whatever that really means.  For the first time since having my girls I will really have to decline invitations, I will most likely miss things that happen during working hours, and I know for a fact that since I will be working some nights I will miss a few bedtimes.  That is all new for me. That fresh start, clean slate feeling has been amplified.  I'm nervous, but I'm excited.  And even though I know that missing good night kisses for the first time will reduce me to tears, I will also have the confidence as a mother that I didn't always have.  I'm sure I will still struggle with some guilt, but it won't be debilitating.  And any worries I have, will most likely disappear with a new routine, a new life style and a new way of "momming".  Like I said, big changes ahead.

Last night I went to bed in sweats that are older than Mackenzie.  Isn't that crazy?  Clothes that are older than my baby.  It made me wonder how I got here.  Did I even realize that with every day that passed, every month we survived, every year on the books, that I was growing?  Did I even stop to notice for one moment that we built this?  The Hubbs and I.  This family, this life.  My first Christmas as a mom was so hard, I remember being a zombie, not really enjoying the moments.  I remember Mac's first Christmas being full and chaotic, but being just as tired.  And while Christmas with kids will always be exhausting, it's a different kind of exhausting now.  This kind of exhausting is the kind that leaves you content.  It makes you realize that there is no place on earth you would rather be.  Sure New York at Christmas is beautiful I'm sure, but for now, right here, is where I want to be.  Even if the decibel level is off the charts, even if the floor is covered in wrapping paper, even if every damn dish in the house is dirty.  This is my mess, this is my chaos, this is the house that we built. 

This is my last post for about a week.  I've had to come to terms with that.  I'm not sure I'm going to have the time to set up a few to publish any next week.  I start my new job and that seems challenging enough right now.  I'm holding on tightly to my words of the year.  I'm replaying my song for 2014 in my head.  I'm repeating my 2014 mantra as we speak.  I want to make 2014 a great year, with big goals and new successes.  But for right now, I'm going to take my time and bask in the clean fresh glow of the New Year.

Goodbye 2013 Hello 2014 {Year in Review}

 

Two Thousand Thirteen was so good to us.  We were blessed beyond measure.  We were happy and joyful.  We had challenges that came and went.  We failed, we faltered, and we flew.  As I went through some of my favorite Instagram pics, I realized it was so hard to pick just a few favorites.  It was also hard to believe that so many of these were months ago, when they feel like yesterday.

 

 

January cupcakes for the Hubb's birthday.

 

February early morning grocery shopping, donuts included.

 

In March this face turned thirty five.

 

In April this one turned three.

 

Also in April I saw my name in print.

Even if it was small print.

 

May brought the best Mother's day present to date.

 

In June my baby turned six, became a first grader, and lost a tooth.

 

In July I got bangs to vainly cover a bald spot.

 

In August I got up close and personal with my waxer.

Raw chicken anyone?

 

In September the Hubbs and I rekindled our romance.

 

In October I realized that this was all I needed.

In November I found bliss in the most mundane of tasks.

 

In December I was so damn grateful for these two humans.

Santa was so good to them, and they are so good to me.

It's New Year's Eve while I write this.  It will publish while many of us sleep, while some of you ring in the newyear.  I will stay up for the New Year, I may even stay up longer than that, but the most exciting thing about tonight is that there are no plans.  No requirements.  No expectations.  Just me and some unruly children who will eat chocolate and pop corn well into the night.  Who will ring in the new year, but just barely.  Who will have no rules at all for the next few days as we ring in the new year.  As we hold on to every last bit of our school and work vacations, and set sail for our new voyage of 2014.  Make it sweet, savor every second, and have a very happy New Year friends.

          Linking up with these gals!