Thursday, April 22, 2010

Magazine Street Designs

I know everyone has made a collage of some sort, whether it was in school for a project, taping up tons of posters of new Kids on the Block to their walls (maybe that was just me?), or even of some of your favorite photos in those neat little collage frames.

Samantha of Magazine Street Designs, has mastered this art, I believe. She started with her room (even had items on her ceiling!), then a desk, and even her little brothers arm!

Samantha grew up right here in Maine and now attends college in New Orleans at Loyola University and makes these wonderful collage Eyeglass Cases, Tote Bags, Mirrors, Dishware and even SHOES!!! These creations come straight out of her dorm room!

I sooo want a pair of shoes.

Check her out here at Magazine Street Designs!!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Storytime!

If someone told me yesterday that I will have the time of my life if I took my 1 1/2 year old son to the local library for story time accompanied by singing and dancing, I don't quite know how I would have taken it.

Probably with a slightly confused look on my face while thinking to myself, "Were they serious?" "Nah, they must have been joking." "Yeah, they were totally joking."

Our local library has story time for 1-2 year old children on Wednesdays from 10:30am to 11. And today was my first time bringing Owen. I've been "thinking" about bringing him to one of these playgroups forever. I finally got off my tookus and brought him to one.

I haven't sang "The Wheels on the Bus", "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" or have even done the "Ring Around the Rosie" in a few years. It's just not my thing. I'd rather read to my children or build stuff with them...sitting...alone...in my house...not in public. (Have I made my fear of people and public places clear enough to you yet?!)

I feel great! I'm really, really glad I finally took him! He loved it, and even though not for me, I loved it as well. Even the librarian who ran the story time seemed to enjoy Owens antics. His "Ohhh Wow!" as she turned the pages to her story for this week seemed almost to make her enjoy her half an hour being there too.

We went back to the library later that day, although this time to the main branch. As Cameron and I wanted to check out the books there. And guess who we ran into? Yep, the story teller was there looking for her book for next week. She told me that if Owen was there next week, she really wanted HIM to read the story as she loves him enthusiasm!

Nothing better than a compliment on your child (or children) to make a Mother's heart go 'pitter pat'.

I pray he's treated right
and protected from all that gives him fright.
Protect his heart from kids who make fun
because he's too fat or too dumb.
If he's too skinny or too smart,
please still, protect his heart.
He's so happy and free with joy,
I'd hate to see that be destroyed.
Help him learn from his mistakes,
and never give him more then he can take.
Give him all the love he needs
and bless him with the joy that makes him free.
Save him from the pain life brings,
and make his little heart sing.
Please don't let the world take it away
It’s to precious to let decay.
So I beg please,
Protect him from what he sees
Let him see life in a different light,
Let him see darkness as a starry night.
So please make his heart very strong,
and spread to the world his happy song.

© Amy S. Huston

Monday, April 12, 2010

Hypnotism - My New Daily Cup of Coffee

I've always been a firm believer in trying something out before deciding how I feel about a particular topic. So I guess you can say that I 'sit on the fence' in many areas. One area of psychological treatment that I have sat on the fence with is hypnosis.

Hypnosis, or a hypnotic state, is a temporary condition of altered attention in an individual. A hypnotist is a person who uses hypnotism. Scientific evidence suggests that hypnotism is useful when it is practiced by qualified professionals. For example, some professionals use hypnotism to treat patients who have certain medical or psychological problems.

Today, I had my first experience with hypnotism. And I must begin by telling you, it's not a bad treatment, as suggested by the media. I was asked if it was like sleeping, and yes, I suppose it could be compared to sleeping. Although, hypnotism does require more active mental concentration than sleeping. Hypnotized people can walk. write, and walk about. Usually they are fully aware of what is happening around them.

According to my therapist, I was hypnotized for approximately 20 minutes. It really only felt like 5. Near the end of the session, I felt like I was in a deep state of hypnosis. It was almost like I was there physically, but I couldn't feel my body. I couldn't really move, nor did I even want to. I felt like someone could have hit me in the head with a brick and I wouldn't have felt a thing.

When I opened my eyes I remember smiling. It was such a 'feel good' moment for me - I had hoped that the feeling I had then would last forever. I left her office with a CD of our session in my hands, and later that day I was told, "You're glowing."

I want to listen to my new CD every night before I go to bed, I'm going to call it my 'Evening Cup O' Joe.'

Thursday, April 8, 2010

We Heart Record Store Day!




Record Store Day is the celebration of the unique culture surrounding independently owned record stores in the USA, and similar stores internationally. Record Store Day is celebrated the third Saturday in April. This year it's April 17th.

This is a day where all independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. I think it's celebrated almost everyday in some shape or form here in our house! I think it would in almost any house that had a bass player, a trumpet player, an acoustic player, AND a piano player all under ONE roof!! Of course you will find a few other instruments here in our house as well, but those are just for fun!

The festivities for this celebration vary by store, but usually consist of performances, cookouts, meet and greets with artists and many more.

Be sure to visit your local INDEPENDENT Music Store on this day! Celebrate Music!

Photo © 2009 Ren Michele Photography

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

I'm starting to get bloggy excited over here!

I've decided that my original blog (http://renmichelephotography.blogspot.com/) was getting a little jumbled. I had posts about my photography, then I had posts with my little stories (about my adventures, my kids, my life in general). Today I started to wonder if I was getting sidetracked? As I have a passion for photography, but then I also like to TALK too!

I noticed that some folks have 2 blogs, some a lot more! And I wondered if I should do that as well. Could I REALLY have enough of interest for TWO blogs?

I sure hope so because I just created my newest addition to my bloggy family!

The original blog will be used as strictly all things photography. Photos of my kids, my friends, how I managed to get that shot, what I'm learning, and even how I'm pushing myself to have my own (GASP) photography business/gallery. As YES, that IS MY PLAN!!

Wanna come along for the ride? :) I sure hope so! This page is where I plan on talking about anything and everything about life in general - being a parent, pets, politics, bizzaro things that I've ran into, you NAME it!! :) Introducing, "Wake Up and Smell The Coffee - Thoughts Written and Pictures Taken While Half Awake."

Here's to Happy Reading!

Renee

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Pillow Fight...

Who knew that there was such a thing as "International Pillow Fight Day?!?" I sure didn't know about it! Well, just so you are all aware, Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 was International Pillow Fight Day. I don't think that anywhere in Maine participated in this event. But boy I sure wish we had!

As part of the 'Urban Playground Movement', the goal is to make unique happenings in public space become a significant part of popular culture, partially replacing passive, non-social, branded consumption experiences like watching television, and consciously rejecting the blight on our cities caused by the endless creep of advertising into public space.

This is all done in the hopes that it will result in a global community of participants, not consumers, in a world where people are constantly organizing and attending these happenings in every major city in the world.

So next year, I want to make this happen!! How many of y'all are with me?! There will be few rules:

1. Hide your pillow until the fight begins

2. Don't make it obvious that you are there waiting for the fight to begin, sit in your car, pretend you are waiting for the bus, whatever floats your boat.

3. ONLY soft pillows!

4. Swing lightly! (C'mon no one wants to get HURT - we just wanna have fun!)

Yeah! I can just see this happening now! :) I'm laughing just thinking about it!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Move over ladies, I wanna knit too!

"Click-clack, click-clack."

Recently, I have grown accustomed to hearing the subtle sound of knitting needles tapping each other back and forth. Knitting seems to have become a new pastime for hip young women seeking a fun and positive stress-reliever.

But men? Better yet, boys?

My son Cameron just turned 9 years old in February. He enjoys skateboarding, riding his bike, building ships with his Legos, and most recently, he has added knitting to this list!

When Cameron came home from school one day and told me how one of his teachers showed him how to knit, I never thought it would become what it is now. I guess I just simply thought that he would create one thing to try it and he would move on. I mean, c'mon, his classmates will give him a hard time about this for sure, won't they?

Guess again! Last week we took Cameron to the craft store and he purchased a bright orange set of knitting needles with his $5 allowance money. He has taken these to school with him so he could work on his projects during some of the free time that he has in school. He has said that some of the other kids in his class, girls and boys, have come to school with a set of their own needles and they are knitting as well! What a trend to start! Last year Cam was reading in class when he wasn't supposed to be, and it's knitting this year!

In the past 2 weeks alone Cameron has made a scarf for his brother Owen, two other scarves, a baby blanket and has just finished his birthday present for John III.

Apparently, knitting helps to calm the nerves, organize one's thinking and to help relax a person. Never mind the self esteem it gives someone when you see a finished product and you can say to yourself, "I created this."

The best part about Cameron's knitting passion for me, is the fact that it's turning his head, even if only for a minute, from the corporate, computer age junk. It's teaching him an economic and socially responsible way to make his own stuff when he can. It makes me proud that instead of begging for an expensive toy that he'll only play with for half a minute, he chooses to savor a $7 ball of yarn that can entertain him for a week, well almost a week at the rate he's going with it!

I guess now I should ask him if he'll teach his Mom how to knit as well! :)

Friday, April 2, 2010

April Showers Blog Design Giveaway

I learned from a fellow blogger, Ericka at alabaster cow that April Showers Blog Design is having giveaway with 3 prizes!

Why I feel that I already need a blog overhaul when I just started blogging very recently...but...start out with a bang? Yeah, that's what I'm thinking! :D



Good luck and have fun! I will say however, I'm beginning to feel a little like a stalker as I entered like 5 times! Yes! You can enter that many times, check it out for yourself!

Cheers!