The labor/leisure cycle...

It's time to get back to work or school, whichever world you happen to live in. For me, the lines between labor and leisure seem to get blurred.

I like this quote from Aristotle, "The end of labor is to gain leisure." With labor day almost upon us the quote should be, "The end of leisure is to gain labor." I guess it's a perpetual cycle.

The photo on the right was taken on day one of my Creatively Fit walk. The chalkboard on the left is for sale in my etsy shop:) See, labor and leisure, it's all the same!

The collage below includes all of the pictures I took on day one of Creatively Fit!

Have a good evening all!
Cindy

Today was an eventful day!

It started out with my son's first football game of the season. His team won 4 to 3! I think the coaches were more excited than the kids. But the kids were pretty excited too!!

Later that afternoon we adopted a puppy. 6 month old beagle mix, Lucy! It was a long day and I'm tired and have a headache. So that's all for now. Time to take some asprin and go to bed!

I will say she is very sweet and the kids are thrilled! Lucy is fast asleep already!:)
To see pictures of our first walk with Lucy click here

Friday's Featured Follower on hold this week

This week the kids went back to school. I am trying to find balance and flow to my week. I love doing my FFF but it takes quite a bit of time to put together a quality post (about 2 hours). I have been trying to organize my week and figure out how to make it all work.

I hope to have a new FFF next Friday. I should start drafting it now! I know who I want to feature. I just didn't want to throw it together poorly.

I hope my wonderful followers will understand and hang in there with me.

Have a great weekend! I hope to have a new post up by the end of the day:)

A post just isn't a post without a picture. So, here is one picture from my creatively fit walk this morning. How I would love to have an art studio, a real one, separate from my home or attached to my home. Here's a picture of me dreaming about it.:) To see more pictures from my walk today click here.

C is for Crazy Mommy! And Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I was feeling very domestic today. I even cleaned out my refrigerator. (I discovered we had no food, but we did have every sauce imaginable)
Anyway, I though, "how nice would it be for the boys to come home to the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies?!"

So I found a great recipe on tastespotting (this is an amazing site, if you haven't seen it go check it out) I actually tried this recipe once before and everybody loved it. I gathered all of my ingredients and equipment, and started baking!

Well, the boys were very happy and appreciative until I mentioned homework. Then they thought I was the meanest mom ever. My how quickly the cookie turns (or something like that).

The recipe for these yummy cookies is here. Enjoy!

Beach Blanket Bingo!

I am feeling a little blah today. What better way to chase away the blues than a trip to the beach:) I discovered this fun Beach Party at The Shabby Chic Cottage while I was visiting Emma Calls Me Mama. What a fun party.
This little collage includes a beach inspired chalkboard, some pictures of recent visits to the beach, and some of my beach inspired artwork.
Living in Florida we have many wonderful beaches to choose from. Some of our favorites are:

West Coast
Fort DeSoto State Park
Clearwater Beach
St. Pete Beach
Treasure Island
East Coast
Ponce Inlet
Ft Lauderdale Beach
Miami Beach



A Beach Memory bc (before children)
I grow up on Long Island where going to the beach was a typical summertime activity. I particularly remember the summer of my senior year of high school, spending a lot of time at the beach. It seemed like my entire graduating class was always there. We would hop from one blanket to the next. It was our 1980's version of Beach Blanket Bingo!

Here are some of my beach inspired flip flop paintings that I did several years ago!

Head on over to The Shabby Chic Cottage and play a little beach blanket bingo!

First day of school

Oh how quickly they grow! This year my boys are in different schools. My little one is in elementary school and my older one is in middle school. They will never be in the same school together again. It makes me a little sad but mostly I think it's a good thing. They get to be their own people.

The little guy is off on his own. Last night he told me he's going to turn over a leaf tomorrow.:) He's excited about learning his times tables this year.

Have a great day! Go turn a leaf! Love you!

Next, it was my older one's turn. I walked with him this morning. He didn't seem to mind me being with him. I'm sure that will change quickly.:(

We said our good-byes and went our separate ways.

He went to school and I went on my Creatively Fit walk!:)
To see what I found on my walk click here:)

Florida Highwaymen

This morning we were out of the house early, the crack of dawn! I find the morning to be the most inspiring time of day. All the possibilities lie ahead of you...

The picture below was take from the car window, as we whizzed by, enjoying the scenery. This picture reminded me of "The Florida Highwaymen" artists.

"In the early 1950’s through the 1980’s a group of twenty-six African-American artists known as the "Florida Highwaymen" used vivid and bright colors to display the beautiful untouched Florida landscape." You can read more about them here The Florida Highwaymen

Here are some examples of their paintings

Friday's Featured Follower

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Today's FFF is...

Jennifer @ Destined for Gratefulness!

Jennifer is the sister of one of my previous FFFs Julie @Simply Sanborn!

Jennifer is a SAHM to her adorable little boy Gavin, age 3:) Her husband Kris also seems like a great guy. Here is a picture of this handsome family.

I love reading about the antics of a three year old boy! Been there:)
There is never a dull moment with a preschooler! This cute post sums it all up. The circus is in town! Or many of us can relate to a moment like this, Just call it a teachable moment.
They also have a really cute Labradoodle! We are always thinking about getting dog someday. We think this is the dog for us. I'm going to have to get some more info from Jennifer about this breed.

Jennifer shares some wisdom in her post Mean Moms that I really appreciate. It reminds me to keep up the good fight. Thanks Jennifer, I needed that!

Jennifer is also involved in a really important cause. Relay for Life . Cancer effect so many peoples lives in so many ways. It is in everybody's interest to find a cure.


She is the team development chair for her county. This is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. It is a 24 hour walking marathon raising funds to find a cure for cancer.
Jennifer discusses her own experience with skin cancer. She has had cancerous moles removed and thankfully seems to be is doing well. It is frightening to hear the word cancer in any form. I wish her good health. She also reminds us of the importance of sunscreen or as Gavin calls it skunk screen.


To end on a lighter note.

Who doesn't love a good chocolate chip cookie recipe. These look so good. I'll have to try this recipe!





Please take a moment to stop by Jennifer's blog and leave a comment or two. And become a follower!

I love my fff. Althougth I don't get to visit everybody's blogs everyday I try to spend some quality time with one blog once a week. It is really nice to take the time to read the history of a blog and get to know the person behind the blog a little better.

As I say each Friday this is my way of saying thank you to my followers.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Keep following, you never know when you may be my next FFF!

I hope you will also stop by Creatively Fit to see where we've been walking!

I almost forgot! Jennifer I would like to give you my butterfly award!

This award is for you to take and display and give to whom you like.:)

14 Years of Wedded Bliss

I would first like to say, if I have ever forgotten anybody's birthday or other special day, please don't be insulted. I forget my own special days too. This morning I kiss hubby good-bye before he went to work as if it was just another day. (We're so alike, we both forgot!) It wasn't until I was on the phone with my mom this morning and she wished us a Happy Anniversary that I was reminded. Oops!! I did remember on Monday that our anniversary was today. But today it completely slipped my mind. Not because it's not a special day. It's the day that changed our lives, the day our new life began together.

A brief history of our love story.
We grow up in the same town. To be exact, right across the street from one another. We carpooled to elementary school together. We were not really friends growing up. Our older sisters were best friends. I went off to college and he stayed home. When I graduated from college I came back home. One day I was in a bookstore and there was this guy standing at the magazine rack with back to me. When he turned around I realized it was Chris from across the street. He had a beard and mustache that covered his face but all I could see was his beautiful eyes. And yes I know it's cliche but for me it was love at first sight. And althought he doesn't like to admitted I know at that moment he felt it too. And the rest is history...

We were married on August 20, 1995. It was abeautiful summer day on Long Island.

Through the years our love has grown . We have learned that love alone does not keep a marriage strong. We continue to learn more about each other everyday. Fourteen years later we have grown to a family of four and continue to live, love and learn.

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Creatively Fit Update!

The new blog, Creatively Fit has been up and running now Since August 3! People are joining and it is getting very exciting. We now have ten active teammates and more are getting ready to start their Creatively Fit walks. Our teammates come from Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, California, Pennsylvania, and Alberta, Canada!

If you are looking for a way to get motivated, to exercise, this may be the thing for you.


I was not motivated to go to the gym. I found myself sitting at the computer unmotivated, turning into a computer blog blob:) I figured the easiest thing to do was just get up, put on my sneakers, walk out the door and just start walking! As I walked on that first day I started thinking, "This is going to get boring fast." Then I thought, "What if I had my camera with me and I took pictures along the way?" I started looking at my surroundings as if I had my camera. I was amazed at all that I was inspired by, around me! From there Creatively Fit was born!

What I have learned so far.
1. I am motivated to walk simply out of a desire to be creative, share and connect with others. What other fitness program offers that?!
2. I am looking for new places to walk and explore everyday. Getting outside awakens all my senses and improves my mood.
3. On the days that I take the "boring" route, I discover new things and realize that there are interesting and beautiful things to photograph even in the most "boring" places. This is how I am growing creatively.
4. The more I walk and take pictures, the faster I get at discerning what will make a good picture. Thus, walk, click, connect. It's that quick and simple! In the beginning, you may find that you don't get as far on your walks or get there as fast, when you're taking pictures. As your critical eye sharpens (strengthens) you will get faster at clicking and walking.
5. The most important thing: I am getting up and moving! (Better than sitting at the computer for an extra hour:)
6. Sometimes when I'm walking I don't think I'm getting any interesting or good pictures. However, when I get back to the computer and look at the pictures, I realize that one or more themes have unfolded during my walk. The creativity continues as I edit my photos. Picasa is a great way to group photos together to create themes.
7. I am connecting with other people who motivate and inspire me!
8. It's working!
From peaceful gardens...
to busy city streets...

Creatively Fit walks can happen anywhere!


If you are interested in joining Creatively Fit you can email me and I will send you an invitation to join. Feel free to spread the word.

Have a Creatively Fit day!:)

Lucky Penny Pendant!

Yesterday I received a lovely gift in the mail from one of my FFF's Denise @ Teddy Started It. I love my new penny pendant! Thank you so much! I have worn it already and have received many compliments! Of course, I direct them to your wonderful etsy shop Flutterbygirly, so they can have a luck Penny Pendants of their own:)

Below are pictures of the front and back of the pendant. As you can see, it is made with a real penny.

Above you can see the pretty little metal box the pendant arrived in. And the picture to the right shows how pretty it looks paired with other similar charms. But I think it looks best on its own.

Thank you Denise!

A bed frame makeover

I spent the weekend working on this bed frame for a client. The before picture is on the left, the green faux patina. She wanted to update the look with a multi layered sofisticated metallic faux finish. The look was achieved with 4 layers of paint, 2 base coats of brown, one layer of antique gold, sponged on and the final layer of pearl white, applied with a heavy sponge application. The end result was an elegant and classic look.

Here is a close-up for a better look at the effect. This bed took a total of 10 hours of none stop painting to complete. (Well I painted for 6 hours straight yesterday and 4 hours today). Although it may look like there was not much to paint, consider the tight quarters that I was working in and all of the different sides that must be painted. There were major PITA factors here, probably one of the most difficult jobs I have done to date. You can't see it in the picture but there is also a foot board. Lots of up and down, over and under, making sure not to miss anything.:)

Click on the images to see enlarged photos for a better look at the details.

The Simple things

I have been enjoying my Creatively Fit walks. I am feeling more energetic and creative. When I go out on my walks, I never know what will inspire me. Sometimes there are big unexpected surprises like a beautiful gaint sunflower and other times it is a tiny weed poking its face up to the sun, that grabs my attention. These pictures to the right were all taken on my walk yesterday. The world around us is a big wonderful place with little surprises around every corner.

These two pictures, on the green background, were taken by my seven year old son, on our creatively fit walk, on Friday. He insisted that I give him the camera. I'm so glad I did! Life through a child's eyes is beautiful.


I hope everybody has a happy and peaceful Sunday. Take time to enjoy the simple things in life today.:)

Friday's Featured Follower

Happy Friday!

Today's FFF is:

Mary @ That Design Girl

Mary was one of my earliest followers. Her about me is short and sweet:

Hey everyone! Cincinnati born and bred, living it up down here in Nashville with my fiance and our funny cats.

But there is so much more to this girl. Mary has degrees in Architecture and Interior Design ( two things that I have always wanted to study). She also has a great etsy shop.

Flutter Bags by ThatDESIGNshop

She elevates gift bags to a high art! I know, I never get rid of my gift bags. I think I would frame these!

So Pretty!

One post that really touched me was Let's take a moment... Amen. My heart goes out to everyone who is currently out of work.

But let's not forget the happy things in life too!

Mary is on her way to wedded bliss. And as all brides-to-be, she is in training. She is walking her way to fitness. You can read more about her progress here.

Mary has also become part of my Creatively Fit team.

Please head on over to Mary @ That Design Girl and show her some bloggy love. And don't forget to stop by her fabulous etsy shop.

I would like to give Mary my butterfly blogger award to proud display and share.


Thank you to all of my fabulous followers!

Have a great Friday and fantastic weekend!

More Chalkboards!

Our inventory is growing. Here are a few more that I will be adding to my etsy shop.

This 12"x12" square chalkboard is perfect for kitchen message board or office notes.

This one is perfect for little love notes, 5"x7" chalkboard

This one makes a perfect little welcome sign, 13"x4.5" chalkboard.

This chalkboard is great for practicing times tables and spelling words. There's even a ledge for the chalk! It's almost time for back to school! 15"x19.5" chalkboard.:)

More to come...