Joy Express

I’ve been stamping again – a LOT – to the point that I think I have almost overdone it!  LOL.  But … I have a fabulous stash of cards ready to send off when I need them, and some stunning 3D projects to grace the craft room. 

Isn’t that Designer Purse and coordinating cards set fabulous?!  This project was from UStamp “With Love … 2010″ and created by Becky Roberts ~ stunning, stunning, stunning!  I revisited a designer series paper pack which has been quite neglected in my stash, recently, called “Haiku”.  I love the thought of the purse holding several cards and then given as a gift … hmm. I wonder if that’s a great workshop theme?

What are you doing, this weekend, which brings you Pleasure and JOY?

I read a book once, all about “Pleasure” and what kind of ‘Pleasure person’ you are ~ I am a Visual Pleasure person.  Having read the book, I appreciate the truth of that observation.  I notice, stop and comment when things catch my eye.  I have been known to wander into a clothing shop purely because the fabric in the outfits is so eye-catching. 

It’s also why I enJOY stamping so much.  In fact, I was just stamping ~ having got my morning routine on an ‘abundant time’ note, today (that means I woke up early enough to be able to read, stamp and blog, before breakfast!) ~ and creating my own version of a Very Cute Baby Card I found on Nichole Heady’s blog.  I LOVE her designs because they are so simple and I can make them up while honouring Stampin’ Up! product.  I have just purchased some Baby themed stamps and was using a stampin’ wheel when I realised that the simple ‘hint of a background’ I used on the card could also be used on the envelope!  So, I have created my own fancy paper envelope, just like those you can buy made with watermark or parchment paper.  Woo Hoo!

This, in turn, made me think about how much pleasure I receive from decorating the envelopes for my cards; how much pleasure I receive from knowing that my decorated envelopes add a little magic to the post box; how much pleasure I receive from knowing that the postal workers will probably have a Smile cross their faces when they are sorting My Mail.  It’s also why I put Lots of Lovin’ Energy into my stamping … a simple yet effective process for Sharing the JOY.

The Pleasure just goes Right on Giving …

It’s also how I like to manage my life: whether it be when I am out doing basic shopping and I leave the supermarket with a ‘Thank You. Have a Fabulous Day!” to the checkout operator; after coffee at my favourite haunt and I leave a little ‘extra’ in the tip jar or share a compliment with the fabulous staff; and at workshops when I like to have a little Gift as a Thank You for attending our event.

I receive Great Pleasure from Giving & Sharing Pleasure!

On those days when I wake up feeling a bit battered or low on energy, it’s FUN to be writing about FUN things on my blog because that’s the greatest energy boost one can indulge at 5.30am!  LOL.  Today’s energy pumping, pleasure-indulging FUN song is this one … also in my CD player.  It really gets me up on my feet, dancing like nobody’s watching, and allows me to connect with the FUN things in life!  EnJOY!

… Giggling about your friends comments about yesterday’s song choice!  LOL.

…  Choosing a new FUN song for today!

…  Eating ALL the Chocolate Icecream that’s left in the container because you don’t want to share it and it makes you feel like a kid, again (even though you feel Really Sick afterwards!).

…  Wearing mis-matched socks under your jeans.

…  A private Giggle because you know you have done something so un-adult-like by wearing odd sox (well, for ME, it’s unusual!!), and no-one knows but YOU.

… Imagining your friend taking over the Dance Floor and showing off his prowess to Adam Ant’s Stand & Deliver!  Woo Hoo!  Thanks, Mark!

The other day, I was making freshly squeezed juice and included half a beetroot.  Beetroot is a fabulous vege to include because it’s really good for you and it’s a Fantastic Colour!  It also brings an interesting smell/taste sensation. 

I got Kels to have a sniff and asked her what the juice smelled like.  Her response? “Dirt.”  I then did the same with David.  His response?  “Mud.”  My response was “Earth” and the image I got was of the wonderful vege garden on the Jamie Oliver program.  I felt like the juice was an edible version of the most incredible organic garden.

This got me to thinking about how Perception is a very subjective awareness.  I don’t think Kels or David were overly inspired by the juice, especially the aroma.  I, on the other hand, was Very Inspired because it represented all the things my body craves and loves.

“Perception”seems to be something I have explored for all of my lifetime.  I remember a counselling session when it was pointed out to me that my recollection of a situation was Coloured by my Perception of the situation.  I had a chat with my brother about something we’d experienced as kids and his memory of it was sufficiently different to make me realise that all life is lived through our perception of events and how they make us feel.

I have been having fairly intense examples of exactly this, over the last couple of months.  And, I do realise that a lot of what colours my reaction to a situation comes from my head.  Not necessarily from my heart.  I get caught up in the judgement of what I am experiencing rather than just feeling it, and responding via my internal guidance system.

I am not sure there is a solution to this process (which doesn’t always suit me!) other than a lot of Stillness and Reflection Time.  I do know that when I am caught up in this ‘judgement/perception’ energy, the best way to manage it is to Talk.  And talk.  And talk.  Not necessarily everyone’s solution but an essential one for me.  Because, once my thoughts are out of the way, I can go back to approaching life from a more balanced and accepting perspective.

So, keeping in mind that Perception also governs my thoughts of what is FUN in the music world, today’s journey into the past is with Adam and the Ants with Ant Music!  LOL.  EnJOY!

[By the way, after David read yesterday's blog and checked out the video of Buddy Guy he told me that this amazing gentleman is who we are seeing in concert in March!  WOW!  More synchronicity from the Universe! ]

I wonder if there is something significant about February 21?  ‘Cause I am feeling Much Improved (emotionally, that is) this morning and I just wondered if the date was significant or the fact that I ‘unloaded’ my thoughts and feelings, yesterday (the day of the Celebration of Dad’s Life Event), was the reason?

Either way, I can now Move On with being HAPPY ~ thank God ~ and just deal with the Moments of Grief as they occur.

David is indulging his Rock God status at the moment, with the Backs Against the Wall guys.  Yesterday, they decided to play Sweet Home Chicago for their next song.  In its usual synchronistic way, the Universe has sown the seed of that song into my awareness, this morning, so I checked out You Tube. 

Oh WOW!

I LOVE Blues!  And, I found an awesome video of Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton performing Sweet Home Chicago.   I Love how Music can change your mood, just like that.  And, I love how much FUN a song can be. 

I confess to really only knowing the Blues Brothers version of Sweet Home Chicago and thought that would be a great song to enJOY while Sharing the FUN of the next few days until St Patrick’s Day.  Imagine my surprise at finding the fabulous performance of ‘Eric and Buddy’ and then seeing their Fabulously Funky Guitars! 

David is always checking out the guitars which are being used by performers so I am a bit ‘brainwashed’ by the process.  I have No Idea which guitar is which but I have an eye for Visual Delight and Buddy Guy’s guitar is black with white polka dots!  Fun and Funky!! 

Then I saw Eric Clapton’s guitar and it’s like a Funky Patchwork effect! 

And then …  I saw them grinning at each other … they were having FUN!

That’s exactly how I feel when I am Doing What I LOVE!  Woo Hoo!