My mom Opal was a talker and she always had words of wisdom. She passed on in 2009 and this blog is my way of remembering what my mom said. 

I can remember her telling me to be me, not who others wanted me to be.

As you can see from the photo above, she never let anyone tell her what to do and she was bright and full of life. Me? I was a tomboy who didn't want to stand out.

Some of what she told me was silly, some crazy and of course there were serious talks. 
I think this will be fun.

Toodles.

Hi! It's M.E. and I'm back.
I tried a few other blogs and I have so many memories here, so I'll hang out for a while.
Our cat Logan is 15 now and is ready to move on. It's heartbreaking. My heart goes out to all who have ever lost a pet.

 I cut my long hair in 2014 and haven't really missed it. For the new year and my since my 50th bday will soon be here, I went with Pink hair...dark pink.

well, I'll go for now. More to come I promise!

Weight and Health

 After finding out I am pre-diabetic, I have changed my eating habits and have been searching for better foods and treats. I am learning so much about starches and sugars and well, what I should and shouldn't eat.  I have cut out all white sugar, white bread, white rice, most all breads and no pasta.
I use Blue Agave Syrup for my sweetener and Greek Yogurt in place of sour cream and the milk for my granola. Kale, spinach, quinoa and cauliflower are my new best friends. Take fish oil everyday, fish oil and vitamin D.
The number one thing I had to cut out was the hardest...Dr Pepper. Every once in a while I have a diet soda, but it's rare. I try to choose cranberry juice with a diet lemon/lime soda when I do. I won't lie...diet Pepsi has made it's way into my belly. Truthfully though...no soda for me.  So that is why I am posting about the apple cinnamon water. I am hoping that I can find something I like that will help me out and this sounds good. I'll let you know what I think next time.

Apple Cinnamon Water  is something I just read about. I guess that both apples and cinnamon boost the metabolism, so drinking it is supposed to be a great way to lose.
This is a link to the website Lose Weight By Eating!
http://tonetiki.com/2012/04/01/apple-cinnamon-day-spa-water-0-calories/

 Recipe
Makes 2 liters, re-fill water 3-4 times before replacing apples and cinnamon.
INGREDIENTS:
1 Apple thinly sliced, I like Fugi but pick your favorite
1 Cinnamon Stick
DIRECTIONS:
Drop apple slices in the bottom of the pitcher (save a few to drop in your glass later) and then the cinnamon stick, cover with ice about 1/2 way through then with water. Place in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
LASTS FOR 24 HOURS IN THE FRIDGE.
Nutritional Info:
Calories: 0
Fat: 0
Fiber: 0
Protein: 0
Carbs: 0

\All credit for this goes to Audrey Johns and her awesome website.
Oh and so far I've lost twenty pounds. :)
Have a fabulous day!

It's that time again, the time to blog. I spend so darn much time on Facebook that I have forgotten how to actually write a real post.

I get up, get ready for work, go to work and come home. I usually go straight to look at Facebook and then before I know it it's bed time. At least that is how it feels. I do sleep a lot...my doctor has banned me from going to my bed before 9pm, otherwise I sleep all afternoon. She asked me to go get some blood tests to figure out why...three weeks ago. I know, I will, just waiting to pay off the bill for my visit with her! Hahaha, don't you just love it. 

This year I didn't want to do any resolutions that I would just drop after a few weeks, so I am going to give more encouragement and give more to others...random acts of kindness.  I find it isn't that 

hard to do. I bought the person behind me in a drive up a coffee, made art for a friend and gave a lady at Michaels my 40% off coupon.

I have so much on my mind ALL of the time. I just wish the ringing in my ears would quiet down a bit so I can hear what I'm thinking. 

I woke up this morning thinking it was Thursday and that after tomorrow I was gonna get to sleep in and do something fun like paint all day, then around noon, my coworkers told me it was only Wednesday...that is so not Thursday...so, of course I was a bit bummed and all. However, guess what? It's bedtime and tomorrow is Thursday. Yay!

I'll have to take some photos so I can have pics on my posts. When my other computer died, I lost all my pictures...all my collection from the last 8 years. C'est la vie.

See you all again soon.

<3 

I'm here now.

 Well, it sure has been a while hasn't it? My friend Judie has noticed. It's time to blog again.
So much has happened in the last year.
My daughter moved to be near me finally. I didn't like her being a state away, so having her in the next town is awesome.
My son has moved out and is in college...doing great! His best buddy from Washington moved down here and they are roomies.
Our sweet cat Scratch lost his fight with cancer a handful of months ago. Sure do miss him.
I got to take the Dementriloquist class by Michael DeMeng! It was a dream come true to take one of his classes. He rocks.

I put a piece of art in a local art show. It didn't sell, so I get to keep it...unless you want to buy it? Hee hee hee, I'll post more about it soon.
I am slowing getting back to doing art and making jewelry. I put a lot into my job and kind of lost myself. I am trying to find that old me again.

Speaking of work, I am officially a designer. I designed the Deluxe Lollipop Surprize Ball at Tops Malibu.    Cute eh?
I'm still tired all the time, getting health checks regularly and still having low platelets. That will go on forever.
Well, I will post regularly now that I have returned. I have many things to talk to you about.
Toodles. :)

Using the good stuff

Karla of Karla's Cottage put out a challenge for using ones "good stuff" in their artwork, so here goes...

Now my stuff isn't as good as some of the good stuff out there, but this is mine.

I have hung on to this little flower pot for about six years now...

I love these ceramic or clay flowers. I wish my camera had taken a better photo, the colors are sweet...

So there ya go, I love my little sweet stuff.
Go to Karla's and see all the others out there playing along.

Birthday

Had my birthday yesterday.
We went out to a steak place and I had some good "happy" food.
On Friday the girls at work made me a pineapple upside down cake, my favorite, and it was yummy!
They know me well too. They each gave me a gift card, one to Ben Franklin, one to Michael's and one from JoAnn's. I spent the Michael's card yesterday!

Blog post share

Where Women Create
Has a story of Lisa Leonard and her work. They also have a giveaway to win something!
Go check it out and enter for yourself!

Previous blog

Simply Sage
was my previous blog
and
it followed me through a lot of life, both good and bad.
I am trying to get going on my jewelry making again and more arts and crafts.
I still do things for swaps, however I am usually in such a hurry to mail that I don't get a picture first!
This week I am starting blogging again.
My goal is at least once a week...with photos!

Scratch

My buddy Scratch had cancer in his leg and hip. It was moving and growing fast and we were afraid we'd lose him.
The vet took his leg and part of his hip before it could reach the spine.
He's been such a trooper. He hops pretty well now and even though he loses his balance at times and falls over, I think he'll be fine.
He was an all out outdoor boy before surgery and now, well, he likes to spend most of his time inside on his pillow.
He cracks me up the way he uses his pillow.

This pic is right after surgery. He now has all the staples out and his fur has grown back beautifully.

We love our pets...all four cats. They are one thing that makes my life happy.
What makes you happy?