I got the email...

the email I didn't even remember I was supposed to be waiting for! I submitted a piece of artwork for Sommerset Studio magazine back in the beginning of the summer, and quite frankly, I forgot all about it! It was a submission under their guidelines, and I sent it with all the hope and wishes I could give that little box! And then I forgot about it! lol...

So fast forward 4-5 months, and I get an email yesterday from the publishing company, asking if I am still interested in having it in the magazine, and if I am, can I write up a small article with it? Why YES I can! So the saying goes, "when you least expect it, expect it!"

Happy Thursday!
~M

Today's burning question...

Brought to you from the amazing author, Danielle LaPorte. If you don't know about her yet, you need to!  (psst...there is a link in my sidebar to help!)

So, here is today's burning question:

What’s chronic, repetitive, or inflamed in your inner or outer life?

Muscles get inflamed and choked from repetitive overuse. And it takes just one overtaxed muscle to stifle an entire limb, which then throws off the alignment of our whole body. When we stop using the muscle in the same way, blood flow can return and pain makes way for vitality. In the same way, an old psychic wound or one small behaviour continually repeated could strain your whole life.  Freedom begins when you can identify the aggravation you’ve been accommodating for so long.


I would have to say, mine is "letting myself get overwhelmed with all I have to do..."

I think about it, go over my mental to do list, and can easily work myself into a frenzy. It can paralyze me if I let it, and I have worked hard to break it down into small bite sized pieces to swallow.

Here are some things that have helped me to, as I say, "take it down a notch":

•   Make a list!
• Assign items to each day, as to spread out the workload for the week. (after all, I am a single Mom, and that has it's own endless list)
• Allow for detours, and bumps in the road, they will happen!
• Be okay with moving an item to another day if it's not completed.
• Breathe
• and last but not least, ENJOY life along the way!

So, now it's your turn...answer the burning question in the comments below, or on your own blog, I'd love to read it! Post a link to your blog in my comments if you do!

~M

It's HERE!!!

And I am so excited to share this news with all of you! About six months ago, I got a message  through my ETSY shop , asking if I would be interested in having some of my artwork published in a book titled, "Fundamentally Female". It would be a compilation of stories, quotes,  and art all from females.

Of course, I said I'd love to, and she requested I submit as many as I'd like. I submitted 5, and all five were chosen. It finally arrived at my door today, and I am so honored to be a part of this amazing book. I'm sharing the cover, as well as a sneak peek of some pages. It can be ordered online at www.reneerongen.com and is a perfect gift for any female in your life!

~Keep creating,
Monica

When a group of women (& a few good men) pull together...

an AMAZING event can happen! Survivor Crop 2012  is well underway, with the event coming up this weekend in Vista, California!

This week I have seen dozens of women behind the scenes putting in endless hours of work, in so many different ways. I am honored to be a part of it all. Everyone sharing their talents, all in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness. This 24 hour crafting event brings together 120+ people giving their time, and donations they've worked so hard to collect for this great cause. I have participated over the years, but this year, it has a special meaning to me.

My Aunt Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, and is currently undergoing Chemo treatment. She will not be up for being there to see it all, but will be there with me, as I honor her, and all the women who've had it touch their lives. I will celebrate with the survivors, honor those we've lost, and cheer on the women who are bravely battling this...especially Linda...xoxo 

How the heck do you pronounce it??

This is the question of the day for me...I recently had several pieces of my art reproduced as "giclee prints. They are a reproduction, created on canvas, with a very real depth to them. They came out great, but the question still remains...how do you say Giclee? When looking it up online, it showed the pronunciation as zhee-clay...while others say, gee-clay, or ghee clay...regardless...I'm sharing a photo of several I had done...

Left to right: Music is love, Waves/Surf, BeYOUtiful, What I love most...

Learning and growing...

I took the leap a few weeks ago, and signed up for Kelly Rae Roberts online e-course, entitled Flying Lessons , but not the kind you are thinking of! It's a class about learning how to let my business soar! And holy moly, I have already learned SO much...my mind is full of ideas, suggestions, musts, and on and on...I am so blessed and lucky to be a part of this online community. My class is inspiring me to shine, and so I created this canvas the other day, and wanted to share it with all of you...

Bringing back the bloggity blog...

Where have I been, you may ask?  Well... I've been taking care of my life, one moment at a time. This year has thrown me a few curveballs, as well as a lot of welcome surprises! My 'little business that could" has really taken off and given me opportunities to meet a lot of great people in the handmade industry. Or as us cool people call it, the Indie biz. (just kidding, I never call it that, and I've never been that cool. Crafty yes, cool? Not so much) After my big move in March, which seems to be around the time I left my poor blog to fend for himself, I settled into my garagio (garage+studio) for some creative time...and just kept going...I am vowing right now to put some more energy back into my little blog, and give it the TLC it needs and deserves...I've got so many great things in store, how can I not share them??

I've added a Facebook business page  that I update frequently, to give my customers a peek into what I'm up to most creative days...kinda like a blog, imagine that! Click and Like it! Here is the event I will be at this Sunday, October 7th. Stop by the booth and say Hi!