Turkey Day or Thanksgiving Day?

What do you call it? I used to thoughtlessly call it Turkey Day, myself. A day to get together and eat? (Being a foodie, you know that I'm there!) But in recent years I've had a complete turnaround on that thought. This year I am thankful for so much and I want to give the day it's proper due.

My family will be sharing dinner with a new group of friends and I'm excited to share this yummy dish (an homage to my French heritage); Sweet Potato gilette. I got the recipe from Epicurious, but here is a picture of the galette (pre-baked). I will report back on how it tasted, but I'm guessing it's gonna' be delish!

As far as gratitude goes, well...there is so much! I'm thankful for my fiance, Barry, who is a never ending source of support and love. I am thankful for my kids--each and every one of them--and I am thankful for my granddaughter and soon to be second grandchild! I am thankful for our health, our house (be it ever so humble, it is HOME!) and thankful that I live in a country that allows me to practice my religion without fear of imprisonment. I am thankful for my mom and my dad, for my grandparents (even though they have all passed on I know they are still with me!), for my numerous aunties and uncles who offer support and encouragement and intelligent conversations! I am thankful for my extended family and distant cousins, who, even though we don't get to see each other very often, are all present via the Internet and Facebook! (love it!). I am thankful that I am able to go back to school after all of these years and further my education and pursuits of career, dreams, happiness. I am grateful that, as a woman, I have a choice in career options. I am ever grateful for all the blessings my God and Goddess bestow upon me and my family, however small they may be, however ambitious they may seem...for this and for so, so, so much more, I am grateful.

And so now you might understand why I choose to call the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day instead of Turkey Day. If we are to be relegated to one day per year, then I will give this day it's proper respect and address it with a "Happy Thanksgiving Day!"

Griffin is Going to the Coast

Aromatherapy by Blackbird Creative

Today I did a test run and made my first batch of massage oil, called "Dream by blackbird creative." Amelie was so impressed that she asked if she could have it. I gave it to her because this child needs all the help she can get unwinding at night and going to sleep. But also, too, because I wanted to test out this batch before making any more.

Instructions: Massage a drop of oil onto your pressure points before bedtime. Top notes of lavender with sweet orange on the back end soothes the mind, allowing you to settle into blissful slumber—perfect for dreaming the night away. Dream Oil can be used to scent sachets, on lamp rings, or pour a few drops in your bathwater for a relaxing spa experience.

I will have more scents available in the coming weeks. I haven't listed these for sale yet because I want to create the other scents and make a bigger batch (small, still, but bigger than today's test run.)

And, by the way, if you are a family member, yes. You will be getting this for the holidays!

Out with the Old...

It does seem a bit early to be singing Auld Lange Syne, but I feel like I need to get a head start!

Blackbird Creative is having a clearance sale...check it out!
www.blackbirdcreative.etsy.com

We need to clear out our old inventory because we have a ton of new, cool vintage stuff to list...look at our finds!

Can you feel the ETSY love?

Being listed in an Etsy Treasury is like being accepted into a new community of friends. I was rather surprised last night when I did a search of my shop and found Blackbird Creative was listed in a number of treasuries! Now I understand why I got a sudden rush of custom orders and sales! Thanks Etsiers! Feeling the love!!!!

Check our listings in the following treasuries!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c50c5e411178eef179f6df5/marie-antoinette-her-life-and-her-love?index=1

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c51bcb3bb2d6d910b9c926b/lavender-blue?index=0

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c4ca57aea126d9149b23900/farm-fresh?index=2

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c46ec035aaf6d917cfb2077/boudoir-basics?index=3

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c478ef7ea5f8eef9a3bb942/saturday-at-the-farmers-market?index=4

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c45a82ac9fe8eef167bef18/we-are-gathered-here-today?index=7

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c44f132c9fe8eef80a5db18/boy-i-didnt-see-that-coming?index=8

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c4503a83f476d91bcac4828/summer-time-in-the-country-and-the-livin?index=9

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c1a4aaacb686d91dc956f95/ready-to-be-loved-again?index=12

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c2ab3c73d6d8eef8f36ad44/turn-the-page?index=15

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c26987818cd6d915dec641f/loteria-mexicana?index=16

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c16c1ee17146d9156d2901c/country-road-take-me-home?index=17

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4bfe81f58ccc8eefd3d9aac7/1950?index=19

You have this fantasy of living in a Pottery Barn catalog, sipping iced sun tea while lounging on the day bed on the sleeping porch. A gentle breeze blows through and your bunting flags wave overhead. In the corner there's a wooden box filled with dominoes and a deck of playing cards sits on the table, aching to be shuffled, waiting for a game of solitaire. The scent of lavender and mint and onions from the surrounding fields fills the air. It's hot outside, but a dry heat that you know will cool to a more temperate air later in the evening and you'll be able to enjoy a delicious meal outdoors. But for now, you just want to sit and read a book in the shade, sipping on your tea.

Here it is, the middle of July, and I feel the summer slipping away from me. Those lazy days of summer. Just can't get enough!

Stressed Out/ Blissed Out

When life gets overwhelming, it helps to get back to basics. I learned this lesson a long time ago, and I feel that lately I may just be reliving this experience.

When I was a freelance writer, I had a pretty tight schedule. Since I also held an office job, was a single mom of four children and a first-time home owner of a 100 year old home (read: much maintenance--on my own!), I had to be on top of my game.

So, my days would go like this: wake up at 6:00 am and do an hour of yoga, get the kids up and ready for school, head out to the office, put in my 9-5 and then get the kids from after school care. We'd all get home, I'd cook dinner, help the kiddos with homework and chores/ baths/ night time rituals and then I would sit down to my computer to begin writing. Often times, I'd be up until midnight or later working on assignments.

That is, usually, I was on top of my game. I shared custody with my ex-husband, who lived only a few blocks away. The kids were with me five days and then with him for five days, and during my "off" time, I did not always keep to my schedule. Because I didn't have the kids, I gained about five extra hours a day, essentially.

"This is great," I remember thinking. "I have so much time to focus on my writing!"

Well....not exactly. My once rigid schedule turned into this: up at 7:00 for an hour of yoga, ride my bike to the office. Put in my 9-5 or 6 or 7. Meet friends at the neighborhood pub du jour for a drink and a sandwich. End up staying until 10 or 11. Get home and tell myself I would focus on writing--- "tomorrow."

This usually repeated itself over the next three days and on day five, I'd really crack down, feel the pressure and produce my work. It worked. I produced. And it was good. But....I was not proud of myself for handling my schedule the way I did.

I would play mind tricks with myself, telling myself that, because I had so much "extra" time, I could wait until later to write that article/ do the laundry/ do my yoga. And now, I feel as if I am falling into this same mind trap. Since I've been a "stay-at-home" worker/ mom again, I haven't stuck to any schedule at all.

And now with looming deadlines, I'm starting to feel a little pressure, a little stressed out, if you will.
*************************************************************************************

This past weekend, we went to the Lavender You-Cut Festival at Lakeside Lavender Farm in Nampa. As we walked up the long drive, the scent of lavender wafted over us and I began to feel somewhat relaxed.

There were a lot people, for sure--mostly middle aged women living out their French Country fantasies and the husbands who escorted them (and that description fits me, too!) There were lots of bees, too, as you can imagine, with over 1500 lavender bushes. But the bees were happy and drunk on nectar and didn't seem to mind us chopping away at the flowers.

We enjoyed the day in the hot, hot sun, and with the humidity, it felt a little like Iowa to me! At the end of it all, we indulged in homemade lavender ice cream while we listened to the jazz-fusion band hired to entertain everyone. In all, it was a good day.

*********************************************************************************
Today I finished a project I've been working on...bunting flag. This one (below) is called "Bliss" because it portrays inspirational words (such as bliss, joy, hope, love...) on some of the pendants. Also because these little flags make me happy! I tell you, it's the little things in life that make it such a big deal!