200th post to finish 2010 with.

This is my 200th post. It is also my last post in 2010.

So yes, let's pop the champagne and celebrate all the goodness from this past year and all the goodness we can anticipate from the year ahead!

2010 was a good year. See, take a look:

1- I started blogging! I met all you lovies. Read my very first post!

2- A peer introduced me as, "Phoenix Peacock is a tattooed beeyotch badass...both in her ability to tell it like it is and host a mean dinner party while simultaneously baking a blueberry pie and crafting her own gold corset tutu. She has the brains of Einstein and the spirit of Mother Theresa in Ed Hardy hightops, an irresistible combination." I introduced myself in a getting-to-know-you post a little differently. 


3- I met Micaela, just in time to send her brother this postcard.

4- I joined iHana's handmade postcard swap, my first swap ever, and was introduced to fabulous artistic bloggers - one of whom was Janet! Here are some of the postcards I sent:

5- I gushed over my husband and shared a little love note with you.

6- I wrote my artist statement for the second year art therapy students' art show. Which you can read here.

7- I was accepted to present and did present at the art therapy conference. On this blog I shared my excitement and my hesitations about it, plus the post conference thrill of all the potential doors it opened!

8- My husband and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary at an Iron Maiden and Dream Theater concert!

9- I found so many things to be thankful for.

10- I participated in the Art Therapy Alliance ATC swap and met some great art therapists and received amazing works of art. Here are some of mine:

11- Tips on how to make your day instantly better - this post was later a guest post on Marta Writes.

12. I started my internship!

On blogland I also got involved with penpals, swaps, photography scavenger hunts, and silly surveys about a wee bit of me. I've had so much fun getting to know you.

But I have a feeling 2011 is going to be even better! Have a happy new year and I will see you on the flip side. 

Mail Call!

I have had another week of being absolutely spoiled by my mail lovies. My mailbox is happy, I am happy. My neck, fingers, toes, hair and wine bottles are all adorned...

First I have to thank Bev and Mandy. Mandy hosted a huge birthday give away on her blog with a different give away every hour. I lucked out and won from Bev! If you aren't familiar with Mandipidity go check her out and remember to say congratulations because she just announced she is pregnant!!! (so many pregnancy announcements in the last two weeks on blogland... something must be in the internet, if so I hope I catch it). And if you don't know Bev today is a great day to meander on her blog, Flamingo Toes, and say congratulations on her 20 year wedding anniversary! What an exciting day on blogland with all these fabulous announcements.

Anywho Bev gave me credit to her etsy shop and look at what I chose.... this fabulous birdie necklace. I even mentioned to her that I would wear it as a fertility necklace - and that was before everyone on blogland decided to get pregnant all at once! Bev is such a sweetie she included the ring as an extra. I've been envious of those big ol flower rings and earrings I've been seeing so much of in etsy. And now I have one - and its TEAL! whooohooo. I'm very excited and grateful to the fabulous Bev and Mandy!

Then as if that was not spoils enough. Mrs. Micaela Maxham sent me a kissing bunny necklace from Pepper Sprouts to thank me for Christmas cookies I had sent her way. For anyone who doesn't know... I am obsessed with bunnies and my nickname is bunny.   Bunnies make me squeal with delight. So did this necklace!!!! Oooooh, its wonderful. Mrs. Micaela Maxham also has exciting news and is currently packing up and shipping off back home to Texas with her new husband - go send her some godspeed and good luck. 

And then... what do you know but even more etsy goodness from the Lovely Kitty from Fritzi Marie. She too was thanking me for Christmas cookies. I'm starting to think thank yous require thank yous. This girl was just too sweet and generous, like most my mail lovies. I ADORE the artsy postcards, the hairclip, and the necklace she sent along.  The hairclip is particularly cute because it is a cardinal bird; the state bird of Virginia, my home state. The necklace is an adorable chic from the 1920s with a cute 20s bob.... I'm totally contemplating chopping my hair into a 20s bob! Go visit Kitty and her Bono Baby and be inspired to live a FIRE TRUCK year!

I'm almost starting to feel guilty for all the mail love I'm receiving. (and remember, if you would love some mail, please just email me your address!!) One of my best friends, my maid of honor, sent me Christmas gifts to adorn my wine bottles with. I had to laugh, because she gave me two presents: the wine toppers, and an excuse to go out and buy wine! haha. How cute is the dear?!

I was tickled pink to receive this Peace card from Janet. If you don't know Janet - go check her and her amazing artwork. She calls them doodles. I call them drool worthy. 

I got a post secret inspired post card from Sue on swap bot. Keep your eye out in the future for a post secret using her post secret for my secrets wall at internship! I'll say more on that later. 

And a few Holiday cards from family. I cracked up at the one with the chickens, or "the ladies" as they are called by the family. The card says to have an "eggcellent" holiday. ha.

And you can't expect me to be so spoiled without sending mail back to all these lovies...

So yesterday I sat down with piles of cards and postcards to send some out!

 Look at this cute bunny re-interpretation of the famous Raphael's Cherubs.

 And a note card that has a photograph of a child's art piece from art therapy with the Healing and Performing Arts Program for Children in Sacramento, California. This is a program that provides opportunities to express feelings for children and adolescents who either have cancer or are dealing with a close loved one's cancer.

All this generosity is making my heart swell. I think it means I need to go out today and pay it forward. All this mail also makes me incredibly happy! What is making you happy today?

No to the more

I hope you had a merry Christmas if you celebrate it.

2 years ago I started to use this short poem that someone had passed on to me in an email "Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" as my guidelines for the gifts I give my hubby.  

Right now it is difficult to even get four really nice presents - so this year it was Christmas on the cheap.  However, even when we do have money (oh please oh please, money tree, please bloom in our future) I plan to stick to using this little poem. Particularly when we have kids. The idea that people actually go into debt over holiday gifts is sickening.  And even for those people who have no problem affording all those gigantic overpriced piles of gifts, I'm just not sure that it is really necessary or even healthy.  

I have a hard time understanding the mass amount of blog posts and facebook statuses I read that were all about how stressful present shopping is.  Doesn't that seem to be missing the point?  Gifts are supposed to be a part of the over-all giving spirit.  Yet the majority of people I know seem to get stressed out by it. Can someone explain it to me? It just doesn't make sense. Sure there may be that one or two people that you feel pressured to give a gift to even though you don't really like them.  Apparently there is also this whole notion of the "perfect gift" that you have to hunt for.  I suppose I've been in a contemplative practice for too long since I have disqualified the word "perfect" and decided that it belongs in the same world as unicorns and other myths. In the end, I also really just enjoy giving.  Even as a kid that was a big joy and just as satisfying if not more so than opening presents received.  I think it is the big consumerist, materialistic push about bigger, better, and more that has everyone in such a frenzy.  When you think about the word "frenzy" do you associate it with peace, love, joy, merriment? Nope, neither did I.  Frenzy sounds like a mix between frantic and crazy.... or in other words a disaster. 

So I don't know about you, but I hope I continue to remember this little poem in the future. I'm sure as time goes on and we become more financially stable those four presents will become bigger and better. But I am putting my foot down to the more. 

I think this is also my theme for the year to come. After graduation we might be moving. Even if we stay in Colorado, we may very well be switching houses.... hopefully actually buying one.  With the impending move, I'm getting ready to say no to more. No more clothes, no more art supplies, no more extras.  I will use what I have because I have plenty.  I am also saying no to new projects - at least until May. I have plenty of those to finish also.  

As I examine those things I need more of, I'm really going to be asking myself to carefully determine between needs and wants. I may want more art supplies but I certainly don't need them. I may need more food and I will actually need more food. But I'm done with the excess. Listening to all the buzz about holiday stress and excess has only been the tipping point.  And in 2011 I'm saying no to the more.

Reverb 10.21

December 21 – Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?) (Author: Jenny Blake)


I cheated, I wrote the one to my past self first and then this one... it was easier that way, particularly when I see how much of it is the same 


Dear self,

(in November, out with friends after presenting at the AATA conference)

School is not life or death. You already know you will graduate with straight As... so why stress? 


Get out and see more of Colorado. You will miss it if you move. 


Continue to make your home life a priority, but get out more with friends. Have fun. You are not old enough to be so focused all the time.  Find your community and give it love. Let it give you love back.


Follow through with all of your plans and projects. Stop adding more to the list and enjoy accomplishing finishing the projects you have already started.  There is more time ahead for all those other plans and projects.


Enjoy all the success that is coming to you this year. You have worked hard for it. And it will motivate you to keep going.


Stop worrying about money, babies, where you will be living. It all works out and you are incredibly happy with how it works out. 


Stop all the negative self-talk. Its not getting you anywhere. 


Xoxo, your future self.


_________________________________________________________________________




To my almost 17 year-old-self,

(Getting ready for the Junior Spirit Rally)

Don't push through the pain. It will only make things worse, not better.


Soccer isn't everything. Neither are straight As... go out and live a little. In 10 years no one is going to ask you what your high school GPA is, so it is not worth all the stress to get those better than perfect scores. You're a smart cookie. You will succeed in life; so stop thinking everything depends on one grade, one class, one this or that. So go have fun!


Next year you will meet a boy. The first real love. Date him for a year - that will be fun. Then dump him before you spend years in an unhealthy not-so-fun relationship.  Go into college single and have fun without a control freak boyfriend monitoring every little action you do.  And when you finally realize you aren't going to marry him like you thought - thank the stars. You get to marry someone so much better. Relationships aren't supposed to be that hard.


Enjoy your group of girls. Enjoy all those girls nights. Enjoy all those work-out sessions. Enjoy being one of the boys. Enjoy playing soccer. Enjoy it all. You will miss it.


Stop all the body image BS. You are beautiful.


And stop worrying about what other people think about you, you will find out later on just how many people liked you, respected you, etc.


Xoxo, Self

Mail Call Monday and a trip to the zoo!

 Ooooh, I went out to the mailbox this afternoon and found out just how SPOILED my friends make me! The darling fabulous Claire sent me bundles of Christmas joy!

Isn't she sweet? I love that Christmas card... and I am going to give myself a home pedi and mani tonight!!! Its hard to see in the photos but she sent along adorable hair clips from . As soon as I opened them I said "she so gets me" because these are right up my alley in terms of style and personality! I will don those badboys in my hair once I have silly red and green alternating nails! Its going to be a silly fun evening ahead! Thank you thank you Claire for all the treasures!

And bundles of Christmas cards arrived over the week. 

Including all the family photos. Which, there is one of my Texas nephews and niece that is adorable. You should check out my sister-in-law's photography. She is pretty darn good.

And a pop-up Christmas card!

One of my sillier friends said she checked to see if this book was written by me before buying it as my gift. Wicked humor, stepford wife-isms, and recipes. It is snarky and funny and I will have to share tidbits with you in the future.

This weekend we went to the Denver Zoo to check out their lights.

I thought of Marz when I saw the seahorse! 

They had predators all over. Its hard to tell, but in the not-so-great photo below, there is a large feline hunting gazelles that are running away from it. There was also a bunny being chased by a wolf and other little animated light scenes of animals being chased or eaten. I found it rather interesting/disturbing/funny.

And I will only share one actual animal with you (we could only actually see the indoor ones since this was a nighttime zoo visit) and that is because he looks so darn cute. What a sweet little (HUGE) Komodo Dragon. I want to kiss his nose while hoping he doesn't eat me!

Reverb 10.18

We had our secret santa gift swap at my internship this week. With a $10 limit, I never want to buy something cheesy that the person won't really appreciate. The guy who I pulled is really into reading and mountain biking. So he got a $10 gift certificate to a used bookstore in town. I also don't like just handing out a gift certificate. And since he isn't the type that really wants homemade goodies, I thought I would snap some pictures of my bike. I'm really excited with how they turned out (see above) and thought I would share them with you also!

And here is the Reverb 10 for today.


December 18 – Try What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it? (Author: Kaileen Elise)


In June 2011, I am going to try to find my dream job. Scratch that... I *am* going to find my dream job. 


Throughout 2011 and starting this past week, I am also going to try to get back in shape - not because it is the new year and that is on almost everyones to-do list every year  - but because it is time. This is particularly difficult for me for two reasons (1) my illnesses. sometimes exercise actually hurts me more than it helps me. It is a fine line that is never clear since the intensity of my illness quickly fluctuates. Somedays I can do exercise and its a good thing. Some days even the smallest amount seems to knock me out for the day - or for a week. (2) before I had symptoms of my illness I was a star athlete that LIVED in the gym or on the field. I worked out, ran, swam, biked, and played ball for HOURS every single day. So setting limits to respect my illness is hard. I tend to down-play what a great job I did if I was only able to do it for 15 minutes or 30 minutes. The inner critic gets very mean when I reach my limit since my old limit was pretty much limitless. So I am also going to be trying to shut my inner critic and the "old me" up. I am no longer the girl who participates in triathalons, has all sort of scouts trying to sign her for their soccer team, has an 8 pack stomach, and can leg press more than the football players.  I've come to accept that I will never be that girl again - that was the old normal. But I am hoping for a new normal - where I have enough energy to walk the dogs, do an intense 30 minutes on the elliptical machine (YAY! for a cardio machine that is nice on my joints!), make some baby steps in the free weights, and getting rid of the fat baby bump that I have that doesn't actually have a baby inside by doing regular ab exercises. 
Baby steps baby steps toward these goals. Usually I get overwhelmed and frustrated with finding the line between doing exercise that will knock me off my feet for days or weeks and not getting enough exercise into my day. And since this line is never clearly defined, I've tended to just give up. This year I am going to try to stick with it!