can't let 'em get the best of me

Starbucks, that is.  A few weeks ago I posted here that for the first time in about 12 years, I was about to go to work outside the home.  I recently became a Starbucks barista... and I have to admit, the job is pretty fun while I'm there, but it is kickin' my booty big time.  I work the opening shift most days starting at 4am... which means I wake up at 3am.  Holy moly... I'm not as young as I used to be!  And I'm feelin' it.  I don't have a problem getting up at that hour... or being genuinely cheerful before the crack of dawn.  But what is hard is that in the afternoons, when I'm home with my kids, I'm super tired and probably not a whole lot of fun.  I'm realizing I have to be careful not to let Starbucks get the best of me.  As in the best part of me... the happy, nice, patient me.  Somehow I've got to figure out some balance so there's plenty left for my family.  Take now for instance... I'd love to be painting, but I really should be sleeping.  I'm sitting in bed as I type, but felt like getting this out before drifting off tonight.  I need to come up with some sort of schedule that works.  There are so many things pining for my time and I have to come up with a system to make things like laundry, cleaning, cooking, playing, painting and resting not seem so overwhelming.  I do hope that this working thing is just for a season.  I really want to work from home, doing art, where I call the shots and wake up and go to sleep and have days off when I want.  But for now this is my lot and I need some balance to make it all work.  I have a husband and four amazing kids who are growing and changing, and I don't want to miss it.  I want to find a way to tend to my responsibilities while savoring precious time with my loved ones.  Right now it's a huge adjustment.  But I have hope that balance is just around the corner.

collaboration coming soon

I posted this last week on my other blog:

Status update a few nights ago on Facebook and Twitter:  brainstorming, plotting, devising, conspiring, planning, collaborating.... need to be sleeping. stay tuned.

We've been back in the Bay Area for five plus months now.... but our stuff (aka most of our home furnishings and belongings) is still in Minnesota.  We are feeling SO ready to go get it and have it here.  We're still catching up financially from the two huge moves in six months and are no where near being able to afford the trip + uhaul necessary.  So as I was drifting off to sleep the other night, my mind was whirling.  Trying to figure out a way.  We're thinking the trip total will be pretty close to $4,000.  Crazy, I know! 

Whenever you're in a situation that seems impossible, you have to look around and take stock of what's available.  Like in the Bible, when Moses was afraid to confront Pharoah to let the Israelites go out of Egypt, God asked him, "What's that in your hand?".  And He used the staff Moses carried to perform miracles and accomplish His will.

We have art in our hands.  So here's what I came up with.  If we do 100 paintings between us, and sell them for $40 each, we'd could make what we need.  So we're percolating ideas and brainstorming and coming up with a list of titles for paintings.  We'll each do our own take on each title, and everyday we'll release two paintings (one of each) until we've done all 100.  We'll be starting a new blog and an etsy shop for the collaboration.

The theme will revolve around the move, transition, Minnesota, California, new beginnings, roots, family, etc.

I'd love feedback and/ or suggestions for this undertaking.  We need to come up with a name for the project, and we could use some title suggestions for the paintings.  And of course, if you'd spread the word about this, with links to our blog and shop when they're up, that would be MUCH appreciated!

**Update:  We have a name!  We're calling this the Retrieval Project.  And we have our list of titles.  We're busy with our ideas and our paintings, and are planning to launch the project on August 1st.  New blog will be up soon also.  Please stay tuned!