random notes wednesday (checking in)

I am feeling like one of Santa's elves: overworked, underpaid and on a tight schedule! Besides getting ready for Squam next week, I am busy working on a lesson plan for an upcoming art journaling online workshop. I will be one of 21 artist's presenting a tutorial, and based upon the descriptions from each participant, it is going to be a jam packed program filled with juicy ideas and techniques guaranteed to knock your socks off! I will post course details as soon as I have them.

I am also preparing for Cowgirl's birthday party. I am finding it hard to wrap my brain around the fact she will soon be six! Let me tell you, planning a kid appropriate and budget-friendly party is no small feat. Some moms make it look easy, but me? You will see me sweat. Summit on Global Warming - that is a cake walk in comparison. We are talking about keeping a herd of six and seven year olds busy and happy for 2 hours. I have a few successful parties under my belt, but I never assume it will be easy. (Ask me about the year I had them decorate pumpkins AND their cupcakes - oh yeah, mayhem with paint and sprinkles.)

To top it all off, I had some dental work done today and for the better part of the day I felt like the left side of my head had morphed into Elephant man with drool. Not pretty, but I worked through it. (Hey, I even recorded my art tutorial video! And to anyone who think making a video would be much easier than writing up a lesson plan with pictures, let me just say this: lots and lots and lots of outtakes! My hat is off to you divas of the "how-to" films.)

So after this crazy day - which included martial arts class - I did what all good mommies do: filled the giant tub with bubbles and had a mini-spa night with my girl. My girl who is, by the way, a budding writer. Today she came home with a drawing from art class and across the top was her first full sentence in writing on her own:

"We love dogs."

Yes, we do!

Sounds like a good opening line for a future novel, doesn't it?

How has your week been treating you? We want to know:






And here's a great question from my mother after seeing Eat, Pray, Love: what three countries would you choose to live in for one year? I am still considering my answer.