Monday, June 1, 2009




Hi everyone!! Happy June!!


How are you? How is everything going with you?? I really want to know so please share :)


First, I want you all to know that I have been thinking about you and I miss you. Recently, I haven't been around as much as I was - like many of you - working on a million projects. They all seem to have the same deadline! Some have come to an end now and some new ones that I am insanely over the moon about are just ramping up. But the biggest one I'm working on is this playground. I will be emailing people about the 2nd grade project, responding to emails (please forgive the delays), adding more fun projects and launching the site in the coming weeks.


I'm sure it feels like I've been saying that forever - again please forgive the delay. Each time I've been close to launching I've discovered a new need. This site needs to be a few different things in order to accomodate all I want to do. That said, I have finally gotten the much needed help I need and it will be up soon. That will be followed by a massive promotion so there is LOTS to come.


In the meantime, I want to thank you from the very bottom of my heart for making this playground such a special place. Thanks for hanging in with me and always being such beacons of inspiration. The week ahead is going to be tons of fun so please come back and visit.


Speaking of inspiration, Janie of http://www.lifeartdesigns.etsy.com/ and http://www.mypolymerclaycanes.etsy.com/ sent this to me and I LOVE it...there are SOOO many that I needed to read and will need to re-read. So, I pass along this gift to you. Have a wonderful day all :)


Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio


"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more. "


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

13 comments:

jodi said...

Boy, I needed this today. It was one of those days that felt like everything was piling higher and higher. Literally, my laundry because our dryer broke today. Lots of other things too. These points were good reminders and put all the little stuff into perspective.

Thanks for today's post. I need it and I thank you.

Natasha said...

Oh Jodi! I totally understand days like that which is why I'm SOOO glad this post came at the right time....I was feeling a little like...a loser behind on everything and this made me feel like Superwoman...Jodi you are anazing and doing an awesome job1!

FunkyMonkey Girls said...

Awesome and I am officially a home owner!! I move in on Wednesday:)

Funky Monkey Girl,
Jolene

aquamaureen said...

Thank you, Natasha . . . That "list of 45" was just what I needed.

meherio68 said...

THANK YOU for sharing this.
I needed it too— it's been (yet another) one of those weeks.
I hope it's OK I post it in French on my blog. I suspect many people need it...

Felicia Kramer said...

These are wonderful! You have also helped me immensely with a special gift for someone. My dearly loved niece is turning 49(!!!!) this week and she and I both choke on that number. To me she will forever be a sweet six-year-old. I'm going to take these 45 and add 4 more of my own for her birthday. Thanks!!

Natasha said...

Jolene - congrats, congrats, congrats!!!! That's the best news...you must be SOO excited...can't wait to hear all about the new home...you will have to send pics too!!

Aquamaureen - you are so sweet but don't thank me...thank Janie for sending it and Regina Brett for writing it! I needed it too!

Meherio68 - you are welcome and I would think that Regina Brett would be honored if you posted it in French...maybe there is even a way to email her...I'm sure she would be flattered!

Felicia - What a fabulous gift for her ...not only would Regina Brett be honored but your neice will be so touched....great idea!!

lifeartdesigns said...

Wow, I popped in here to check out the latest...and imagine my surprise :). Natasha, I'm so glad you posted that. I see it is having the same effect on some others that it had on me. It also sounds like a lot of us are in the same mode with lots on our plates right mow. And dear Natasha, please don't worry about all that YOu have going and how long it is taking - believe me- you've got some loyal friends here that totally understand because the (we) have the same juggling act with life and all going on! It's all good and it will all work out when it is supposed to.
Cheers everyone and good luck in all you endeavors! Oh, and here's something I've been working on...I showed it's proress in my Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeartdesigns/
Hugs to all!
Janie

Natasha said...

Janie - you are such a sweet soul..thank you from the bottom of my heart for that ....I needed that today....I SOOO miss you and love that you come to play even if its for a few brief moments....AND I LOVE that face in tin...Janie how did you create that?? I LOVE watching you grow as an artist ..your work has always been sensational but it is growing stronger and more incredible....YAY Janie!! Hugs to you

lifeartdesigns said...

Thanks Natasha! How did I create that? :) One feather at a time, lol. Actually, I had this strange candle holder (a really ugly one!)with a face on it that I had kept to make a mold of the face. Then I textured and antiqued the face I made from it. And you can see the feathers came from a cane I made... It's a custom order for a lady who is going to give it to her Dad for Father's day. Great fun to be a part of someone's gifting! I think it makes the work all that more special knowing it's going to be a gift.

Phoenyx Ravenswing said...

Greetings!

That is such a kyool e-mail bit! :-) I received it from another source, and it is one I will actually be passing on.

So excited to hear about all your new projects! May they come to good fruition soon! :-)

The wedding plans/etc are coming along nicely. :-)

Looking forward to meeting you & Jen-jen in NYC next week! :-)

BB & GF! :-)
-Bird

PS - Captcha = blessedd. We are blessed indeed - to have this site, to have each other, to have all that we have in our lives. :-) -B! :bird

GottaLoveMom said...

Dear Natasha,
Happy June to you, too!
Whata perfect list! A great reminder in our hectic schedule...
I'm going to have to tweet this..
See you soon :)

SalvagedExpression said...

If there is such a think as hectic or occasionally frantic waiting then I'm there. The list definately helps!
Lots going on though I'm hesitant to mention too much of it for fear of jinxing it. I should be a home owner within the next month unless something goes horribly and unexpectedly wrong! My shop is picking up and things are going well.
Good luck everyone with your trials, tribulations and triumphs!