{bittersweet}

The week after my birthday is always a strange time. After the celebrations are done, and the presents are put away, another anniversary looms.

My dear friend Richard passed away tragically, just a few days after my birthday and just a few days before his own 25th birthday. It's been 9 years now, but at times it still feels so raw. Rich was one of the most complex and beautiful people I've ever known. Incredibly smart and talented, funny and kind, painfully shy and guarded. He was one of my best friends and still is. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and wish he was around in a more tangible way.

So I'm having a quiet week over here. Taking time to just be. Remembering, and honouring grief.

{sunday snippets, the birthday edition}

{sunday snippets} A collection of photos from your week.  No need for words.  Let the picture tell your story.  Pop your link below if you're joining in.

*****

It's been an absolutely fantastic few days.  A perfect birthday weekend. 

The peanut butter and chocolate tart was definitely a highlight.  I started a tradition a few years back of making myself a birthday cake each year.  It's become a favourite part of every birthday now.  I also handmade cream buns, but they weren't as spectacular even though they looked gorgeous.

I spent time with lovely friends, and lots of really wonderful time with Ms L.

Then there were the presents!  I was so splendidly spoiled with art books, gourmet cheese, a gorgeous CurlyPops cover for my Kindle, some beautiful stamps and other little bits and pieces.

A magnificent weekend.

*****

The birthday sale in my shop is on till midnight tonight.  25% off everything with the code 'happybirthday'.

Thanks for all the lovely birthday wishes my friends.

{happy birthday to me, and something for you}

 

Abundance

Painted at Flora Bowley's Bloom True Retreat

My 40th Birthday gift from my family and friends

Print now available here

I'm 41 years old today!  Somehow 41 seems so much older than 40.  I don't know why, it just does.  Last year, in the week I turned 40 we moved house and Ms L lost her job.  All in the same week!  It was huge.  Too huge!

Abundance I

print available here

I remember years ago when I was going through a particularly hard time a friend's Mum said to me "you're life will be completely different 12 months from now.  You can't see it now, but trust me it will.  Change is the only constant."  She was so right.  Whenever things get tough I remember those words.

Abundance II

print available here

Today couldn't be more different from life 12 months ago.  We are completely settled in our beautiful home, I work part-time at a fantastic organisation, my creative business is up and running again with lots of great plans for the future and I'm 15kg lighter than I was a year ago.  

Abundance III

print available here

set of 3 prints available here

Life is good.  It's busy, interesting, challenging and rewarding, yet with a certain simplicity about it that suits me well.   For the most part I feel grounded and focused.  I feel like I'm growing into a version of myself that I'm pretty damn proud of. 

I reckon it's going to be an excellent year.

*****

In celebration of my birthday I'm having a weekend sale in my Etsy shop.  Use the code 'happybirthday' and get 25% off everything through till midnight on Sunday {excludes postage/shipping}

*****

Have a lovely weekend peeps!  I'll see you Sunday for a special birthday edition of {sunday snippets}.

{this doesn't have to be your story}

I spent yesterday in a funk.  The kind that sneaks up on you and before you know it you're completely immobilised by fear and self-doubt and "what if's" and "why bother's".  I drifted from task to task, not really accomplishing anything but unable to surrender and let go.  By the time Ms L got home from work I was in a great big hole.  Deflated, defeated, despondent.

It was yuk!

Late last night I was sitting and re-hashing all the negativity, all the reasons not to try, all the reasons why nothing was ever going to work out, why I'm not good enough, on and on and on and on.

And then I thought "this doesn't have to be your story".  It doesn't have to go this way.  You can keep playing this same playlist over and over in your head, and giving it more strength with each repeat, or you could tell yourself a different story.

The story I told myself was kind and gentle.  It was about being OK with what is, it was about remembering that everything changes, and that these moments of fear and doubt are just moments.  Like everything else they pass.

It was an uplifting story about a women who is bringing her dreams to life, and who is capable of great things. It was a story about strength and determination, and accomplishments already made.  It was a story that loudly declared "why not"?

Ultimately it was a story about choice, about choosing the very story that we tell ourselves.

{the life of a cat}

I wonder what he's thinking about?