[i] LoveLife

A future and a hope.

Good bye 2012. You will go down in the history of my story as an extraordinary year... Quite possibly the year (of my life) that would most beautifully play out as a made-for-TV movie. We ran the gamut, you and I. From pain and despair to joy and delight. From hopelessness and anger to hopefulness and peace. I trudged my way through a ton of  nasty fear and then I hopped from lily pad to lily pad of good fortune. It was unlike anything I could have predicted. My dreams come true - and I made it through some nightmares.

Which is really what we all did - and we all DO. Every year.

The print above is a special project that popped up at a time when I wouldn't normally have the time for something like that. But, I had an open window and the phrase (whether you are religious or not) is optimistic and encouraging. I fell in love with it. (This was for you Lisa - your sweet husband loves you to the moon and back.) It's a sweet 8x10 professionally printed piece... AND... In celebration of closing the book on 2012 I have a handful of really big, beautiful 20x24 versions of this print. They are in my ARTshop until they're gone.

Start the year filled with big, fat, beautiful HOPE.

I sure am.

Episode 05 Wild Obsession on Animal Planet (Canada)

SURPRISE (or at least it was for me)! The episode of Wild Obsession that features my trip to Churchill aired on Animal Planet (Canada) on Monday and Tuesday of this week. CRAZY. I was told it would be airing in February. So I was not prepared. And I don't have cable. And it was a bit of a flurry of emotions. I haven't seen the entire show just yet - but am am pretty overwhelmed by all the notes and texts and emails and reponse that's been sent my way.

It was a life-changer for me. And I really don't cry THAT much in my regular life. It was pretty emotional for me. I'm a thousand times committed to doing something amazing for polar bears. I have a few things in the works - and I'll keep you posted. Because I will need help.

If you wanted to see the episode - I believe they are having a Wild Obsession marathon on DEC24 starting around supper time so CHECK YOUR GUIDE. It's not playing in the US (yet) but maybe if you send Animal Planet US a note - they will pick up. (?)

Today: painting polar bears. ;)

GO!

Beautiful winter.

The last half of the last month of the year around here has been nothing short of SPECTACULAR. Like living in a snowglobe. I love this place.

Let the year end with beauty. xoxo

Ho ho ho!

Hello Monday of the last full week before Christmas. I am pretty excited about this week. I'm tying up loose ends and feeling pretty unstressed. Normally, I am racing around this week like the world is about to end. But, last year I raced myself into a body shutdown.

And I never want to experience that again. Ever.

SO. I am heading in to this holiday season - prepared to TAKE A BREAK. To put my feet up. To enjoy the company I am with and to let little things slide. To have more cider! To walk in the snowscapes.The girls learned a rhyme that they repeat often through the day, "you get what you get and you don't get upset." I have no idea where they learned it. But, I like it. I will adopt it.... "You get (done) what you get (done) and you don't get upset."

Super awesome.

***The deadline for ordering things from my ARTshop (to get before Christmas) has PASSED. You can still order - but I have no idea for estimated delivery times. I'm sorry and I wish I could make it happen for everyone, but I can't. If you ordered BEFORE the deadline - then I will be driving over the border tomorrow to make it happen.***

Today: extra coffee, extra print packing, extra holiday tunes, extra gift wrapping and extra Pilates. I'm feeling retrospective... as usual for the last two weeks of the year. And what a year it was.

GO!

Glorious gift ideas!

This is a short list of my FAVOURITE items in my ARTshop. They make exceptionally good gifts and are ready to go! (PLUS. I am going to head over the border next week to make sure that all of the US orders find their way home in time for the holidays. Order before Friday to make that deadline!)

1. WHEN YOU LOVE print
2. BÉBÉ OURS print - the newest polar bear artwork
3. For a limted time! The WELCOME busroll is back!
4. HAPPINESS IS HANDMADE print
5. The #vintageCAMERA series prints and originals
6. 30,000 feet: HAZE original painting
7. BIG RED original painting
8. HELLO BABY - the baby book
9. Larmes de Plumes No.08 original painting
10. Bokeh No.01 original painting
11. holidayMAGIC memory keeping book.

Just a reminder that until DEC14 at 11:59pm - use discount code: JOLLY for $10 off when you spend at least $50.

AND, if you want the gifts in time for Christmas the deadline for US orders is DEC14 at 11:59pm. For orders heading to CANADA - it's DEC17 11:50pm.

*** OH! I totally forgot to mention that there are really sweet gift ideas available at DENY designs. Sheets, pillows, canvasses, blankets - ALL WITH MY SCRIPT WORK. They are so fun!

Today: I am trying to make a couple of things happen so that I can spend the whole afternoon painting. Pilot's birthday part for her and her friends is on Saturday and I want to get everything prepared so that I don't have to race around at the last night. LIKE USUAL.

GO!

12.12.12 to Pilot.

Five years ago this firecracker joined the the world as we know it and life has never been the same. NEVER. BEEN. THE. SAME. Maybe because she gets up with the birds and it's likely another 5 years until we can sleep until 8am. Maybe because she's the reason we have two other hearts in our care and the best little adventure going. She is loud and smart and sweet as pie. In fact, we call her Pi. To you my biggest baby: happy 5th birthday!

[ Photos by Rachael King Johnson of HeyKiddo.ca ]

Hey Pilot,

It's your birthday. Five long years that went by in the blink of an eye. You're one heck of a star and I count myself among the luckiest in the world to have someone like you in my life. This year has been especially exciting for you because you are a fulll-on student. You can write and your brain is starting to read. READ! I love the look on your face when you sound out a word and then BINGO - realize that the letters on the page MEAN SOMETHING. And that you totally get that reading is powerful. Fireworks. I love you. I love the way you are quick to forgive and first to hug. I love the way you adore your dad. I love the way you look out for your sisters. You engage with them. You love them. You smile big and you laugh loud. (You cry loudly, too - but it's usually pretty short-lived.)

Pilot, the last five years have been a pleasure. Honestly, I am not worthy. You are amazing and I couldn never imagine life without you, my first-born who inspires, challenges and motivates me.

I love you, buddy. Happy 5.

**

Today: we are having cupcakes and treats and a celebration of the person named Pilot and the day that is 12.12.12. A milestone for us here and the start of a season filled with the birthdays of a whole bunch of people we love. So good. 

GO!

Three GOLDEN rings...

Cheers! This is the week that marks the official begin of our holiday madness. My eye is twitching already. I am hoping not to forget to check my lists twice and be on the ball this year. I've pretty much bombed the girls birthdays for 5 years and counting. I took care of most of my running around yesterday so hopefully I ca be present and PREPARED.

Speaking of PREPARED...

1. GIVE. Whether you are looking for a gift for your kid, your friend or YOUR SELF - there are lots of things in my ARTshop that make good gifts.

2. Be JOLLY. In fact, use the discount code JOLLY in my ARTshop to get $10 off when you spend at least $50 (until Friday, December 14th at 11:59pm)

3. SHIPPING DEADLINES: This is important. CanadaPost is not awesome, but it's all I've got and that means that the DEADLINES FOR ORDERING THINGS are right around the corner if you want them for Christmas.

LATE DATES FOR DELIVERY:

CANADA: ORDER BY DEC 17
USA: ORDER BY DEC 14
INTERNATIONAL: Unfortunately, I think that deadline was somewhere back in mid September. Kidding, but I can't guarantee it at all.

Today: I am sketching, painting and dreaming up some creative Conservation ideas. Hoping for a peaceful and incredibly productive Tuesday for everyone.

GO!

Pretty awesome Gluten-Free shortbread recipe.

The holidays just aren't the holidays for me without a few treats. And treats, let's face it, are a total bummer if you're gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free. So I have collected a stash of candycanes. And these shortbread cookies.

Gluten-Free Shortbread THAT ACTUALLY TASTES LIKE CHRISTMAS.

1 cup butter (or vegan replacement like Earth Balance or whatever the heck you like best)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup corn starch
1 cup white rice flour
Generous teaspoon of pure vanilla

Whip in the order listed. Drop by the spoonful onto parchment paper.
Bake at 325 F for 14 minutes. Eat.

NOTE: I didn't whip it and it was fine. I tried it in the cookie press with disappointing results.

Today: busy business and a road trip. And hopefully an afternoon full of painting.

GO!

Love times three.

LOOK! I am really happy we got our photos done this year. I am so in love with these girls - it's ridiculous. LOOK AT POET'S funny face! Photos are WORTH EVERY PENNY. These photos are by Rachael of HeyKiddo.ca (and she is also LuckyGirl Photography if you're in the market for a wedding). Left to right: that's Penn, Poet and then Pilot.

If I look happy in the pictures...

It's because I am.

Today: a morning field trip. I am no where near done my Christmas shopping, but I am not really worried about it because I'm kind of just in a post-art-show, post-radical-polar-bear-trip, post-awesome-family-photos kind of haze. AND I found a recipe for Gluten-Free Shortbread cookies that taste like the real thing. So Christmas is pretty much solidly in the bag for me. Everyone on my Christmas gift list: you are just getting shortbread and bottles of wine. And big hugs.

GO!

holidayCARDS!

For some reason - it took me a long time to find my holidayCARD groove. BUT here they are. I am feeling decadent this season - the glitter, the sequins, the velvet. It's awesome. It's time to enjoy and celebrate the excitement. And JOY. And man, these beautiful little girls of mine ARE SO EXCITED. It's contagious and awesome.

Oh man. I can't believe that my Girl Tribe is getting so big and grown-up. It's awesome. This holiday season has been the most amazing time with these glittery souls. I love, love, love them. (THESE FANTASTIC PHOTOS ARE BY RACHAEL at HeyKiddo.ca)

The holidayCARDS are available in 3 different designs and a bunch of colour palettes. THEY ARE SO EASY. Send me your photo and the name you want and I'll make it magical AND SEND YOU BACK A HIGH RESOLUTION DIGITAL FILE. Then you can go print your cards wherever you want - in whatever quantity you'd like. And send them to the whole world. Or two one person. It's all up to you.

(AVAILABLE until December 20, 2012.)

Today: I have a couple of projects on the go, but most importantly - I AM ENJOYING THE SEASON. I am having apple cider. I might even squeeze in some painting. It's good. GOOD.

GO!