There’s a gaping hole in my world, today.  A sense of ‘settled-ness’, too.  Last night, I finished Sylvia Day’s 3rd instalment in the Crossfire Series, Entwined with You.

I was thinking about how I’ve got my reading time back, this week, then realised that my whole week was captivated by All Things Gideon and Eva.  One week of Total Indulgence in the Crossfire Series.

Now, I feel that sense of poignant sadness.  A gentle smile crosses my face as I think about where the story has travelled, in the third book, coupled with a feeling of sadness that there is no more … for now.

I started a new novel, one I’m looking forward to getting absorbed into, yet my ‘hangover’ has consumed my senses to the degree of finding it difficult to move on from the Gideon and Eva story. 

Book three has met my needs.  There is intrigue and passion, a continuation of the storyline where questions are answered and provocation is offered.  I am thrilled to have the 3 books to indulge in again and excited that there will be another instalment to look forward to.

THANK YOU, Sylvia Day!

I LOVE Gideon and Eva!

The JOY of spending lots of time in the craft room, listening to the Hay House World Summit 2013 means LOTS of creating has taken place.  The craft table has been covered in fabulous colours and embellishments and the tools of every crafter’s trade.

I began with using up discontinued Designer Series Papers … with a little bit of Card Map Inspiration.

A bit of a flower theme happening … and some Makeesha Byl sketch magic (from a couple of years ago).

Using MORE of my stash of discontinued papers, with one of my favourite discontinued stamp sets: Morning Cup.

I have loved using the ‘coffee’ and the ‘tea’ combinations …

And then … my NEW PRODUCT arrived from Stampin’ Up!  YAY!  The Annual Catalog goes live on July 2 and as a demonstrator, I got to purchase a few ‘sneak peak’ items.  New Colours and New Images!

You might notice that I am rather inspired by COLOUR … the NEW Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and carryover In Colour, Wisteria Wonder, make the Most Gorgeous combo for a simple, blank card!

I LOVE Stampin’ Up!

Forget Me Not Cottages ~ the Music Room …

Fabulous lunch of my favourite foods, organised by my kids …

THE most incredible gift of ‘cake’ from a Gorgeous Friend ~ Michelle Negri.

Priceless!

I’m drinking the coffee … and reading my second book for the month (I know! A bit of a delay in reading achievement, this month!) … and now, at the busiest time of the day and on a day when I have a LOT of commitments, the writing muse is stroking my cheek.

So, I will continue to drink coffee (indulging in my Latte Sessions with Everyone in Motivational Magic goal for June), and reread books ~ “Bared to You” then “Reflected in You” so I can then read the third instalment in the Crossfire Series, “Entwined with You“, trusting my Writing Muse to cool her heals for a little while until I can create the space to weave magic and share stories.

Lots to do today, yesterday and tomorrow.  I include ‘yesterday’ in my “lots to do” because it would seem that the days are merging into one continuous stream of gorgeous-ness … the Hay House World Summit is responsible for that, in my mind, because it’s 10 days of Inspiration and Learning.    Add to that the Latte Sessions which have been booked into my calendar for June AND the challenge I have set the Motivational Magic folk of Sharing Outside JOY each day this month, and the ‘todays, yesterdays, and tomorrows’ all seem to blend together in a beautiful never-ending kaleidoscope of magic.

It was my day for Sharing Outside JOY, yesterday.  I was blessed with having a Latte Session booked in with Lovely Lisa so got out of the craft room and into the outside world.  I did have to go gently as I was still under strict instructions to look after my hip following my chronic pain the day before and a visit to the Osteo.  Actually, it was a gift to Me, to look after myself because this week has been about looking after a couple of other people which has been intense.   They are great now, or as well as can be expected, so it’s my turn.    Anyway, I got out of the house and down to the local shopping centre ~ parked “Lily” and wandered down to the cafe ~ and the gorgeous gum blossoms assailed my eyes.  I LOVE Gum Blossoms!  Almost as much as I LOVE Jonquils! (It’s Jonquil Season – Yay!)

From there, the whole day was filled with JOY-ful Moments: Lovely Latte and Chocolate Mousse; rain puddles to splash in or gaze at reflections in; indulgent shopping for birthday presents; people-watching; Fabulous Conversation; making plans for Writing; beautiful blue skies with white fluffy clouds; my Stampin’ Up! order arriving (filled with LOTS of fun NEW product from the upcoming NEW Annual Catalog); more Hay House World Summit; more creating; another Latte Session with Gorgeous Natalie, via Skype; then a magnificent dinner of Jamie Oliver’s “Jerk Pork” (p. 96 15 Minute Meals), Strawberry, Apple & Rhubarb Crumble and Josh’s science experiment.  Lots of JOY!

Today already seems to be continuing in the energy of JOY and Beauty.  I have shopping planned, creating to work on (4 more Affirmation Cards awaiting their ‘words’), pot plants to plant, Gregg Braden to listen to on the Hay House World Summit, and Family Dinner to enJOY tonight for birthday celebrations.

So, my wisdom for today is that Life Is Great ~ when you plan, organise, commit, and are rested and pain-free.  That’s what I have learned, this week.  I love the Medicine Wheel One Year Journeys because it gives me a yearly theme and a monthly focus.  I always attempt to Notice and Share JOY, sometimes less successfully than I would prefer.  This month is about noticing the BEAUTY around me and within me.  On Motivational Magic, we are focusing on Outside JOY.  It’s like having an anchor point, a place of commitment and focus, and that provides me with a framework in which to live well. 

Food for thought: The Kickass Life Podcasts.  Food for the Soul: Hay House World Summit 2013.  Feeding the Creative Spirit: Stampin’ Up! product used to make cards and affirmation cards.  Feeding the Physical Spirit: walking ~ the gym ~ stretching ~ fabulous food.  Today, yesterday, and tomorrow ~ What a JOY! 

Feel like I have been ‘off world’, this week.   It’s been a bit of a bizarre week with a lot of unusual things happening and, as a result, the world has passed me by so I feel like I’ve been ‘somewhere else’.

First up, I hold the Hay House World Summit 2013 accountable.  What a FABULOUS distraction!  I spent the first 4 days listening avidly to everyone I could ~ obviously, I couldn’t listen to ALL the amazing interviews Hay House had available each day, but I did make sure to listen to my ‘favourites’ and to some New Inspirational People. 

The wonderful thing about being connected to my laptop for hours at a time was that I caught up on some crafting.  I love that I have made birthday cards and housewarming cards ~ Daniel and Lauren are moving into their new apartment today, so we indulged in some essential items (like saucepans!!) as our housewarming gift; and Lovely Lilli has been relocating this week, too.  I do love having an ‘excuse’ – and the time! – to create new cards!

Every time I listen to anything with Louise Hay I am inspired to created affirmation cards!  Within the first day of the Hay House World Summit, I had created half a dozen cards and I am now up to 18!  I had a moment of inspiration, over the weekend, to create an affirmation card display, for the downstairs toilet.  Cheryl Richardson, Jack Canfield and David Wood all talk about where they display their affirmations and Vision Boards, and the toilet door is the perfect place ~ captive audience and all.     After a lot of planning and thinking and measuring, I realised that a simple cork noticeboard would suffice and I just needed to make about 60 affirmation cards!  With the help of all my wonderful Stampin’ Up! product, and Louise Hay/Hay House Summit, I am well on my way.

I am looking forward to my SU! order of NEW product arriving so I can create some MORE affirmation cards!

In and around that, I have a Goal for June:  To have a “Latte” with each of the people in Motivational Magic.  And … I’m LOVING IT!  I have most of the group booked in for a catch up session and think that it might be possible to chat to everyone before the end of the month – but it’s a squeeze!  In fact, it’s quite the organisational challenge!  So far, I have ‘attended’ 4 chats/lattes and had such a wonderful experience with each of them.  Such different people and all a delight to spend time with.  Another two, today …  I love, love, LOVE that I can chat with the folks interstate and overseas ~ Skype is such a gift!  I feel so much closer to my overseas MM ‘family’ and look forward to the interstate gals hooking up. A couple more dates to add to my calendar and I’ll have all 26 Motivational Magic members organised for a latte catchup!

The one thing that has been ‘missing in action’ is my reading. I still haven’t finished a book this month!   I simply cannot figure out how to craft, listen to the interviews (only up for 10 days) and read, as well as do the ‘normal’ things I do!    So, the reading has taken a back seat and people like Alex Woodard, Denise Linn, Colette Baron-Reid, Nick Ortner and Jack Canfield have take pole position in my priorities.  It IS a JOY to have such opportunities and options!

… Receiving a Beautiful Comment from an Amazing Person! 

“Love being with you and knowing that you are a part of my life and such a key to my self-improvement and positivity!”

… Being gifted with Incredible Handmade Cards,  as ‘thank yous’ for a gift of cardstock & inks & embellishments, from a Gorgeous Girlfriend’s Gorgeous Kids!

… Spending time with Inspiring Authors and Speakers!

… Latte Sessions!

I’ve been thinking about how BEAUTY is going to play out in my life, this month, and while pondering, noticed how ‘beautiful’ my button stash looked …

So, I played with them a little bit, during the cold wet afternoon!

These were based on a design I made for Kels’ birthday card, but I can’t show that ’cause it’s a surprise!    I think I have fallen in love with the Two Tagz Die – just in time for it to be retired   from the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog - all over again ’cause I have used it a LOT today!

A variation on a theme …

… all because I was Inspired to use up some of my gorgeous buttons! 

I think BEAUTY month is going to be Fun!

All product is from Stampin’ Up!