LOVE this photo that my pal, Angela Magnuson snapped over the weekend at Mall of America, we were both there working, teaching classes and enjoying life....love that I have on a $12 dress from the clearance rack at Ross.....as well as the boots....I just kinda love this photo because I am sitting here in my P.J.s now and that was a short 48 hours ago.......
Well Well Well........has it seriously been 4 months since I have written here? I KNEW when I took a hiatus from blogging that my list of things to get done, accomplish and begin was GIANT, but as I look back on what has been done in the last 120 days......I know for sure now why I needed to step away and focus on getting so many things solidified...and why I am so tired! And...so exhilirated, and feeling so on track.....and so ready to share!!! As you know, we are pretty much completely STARTING OVER in life, after losing everything in that long string of yuckiness.....so when we made a plan and set off to make things happen.......we did it with all of our might. It's weird to start over after 20 years of marriage....no home, no money in the bank, no car, etc......so crazy weird....but, guess what? We are making SERIOUS PROGRESS!!! And we are madly in love and that is the best thing ever. If you want to know how competent I am and how well I hold up under all of this pressure.....read my blog post from last week HERE on the Brave Girls Club blog.
I have gotten quite a few emails over these months asking if I am ok. One thing I always forget is that not everyone is on Facebook. I have been pretty good at updating Facebook about what I've been up to, etc....but when it caps out at 5000 people, that's as far as you can go! Sooooo, my friends, I am so sorry I have not been here...but now's the time. I have gotten things to a place finally where I can share, where I can breathe, where I can be consistent, and where I can actually start blogging again. What I will tell you is that I now have TWO blogs...this one, the Brave Girls Club blog...so...I hope you will have time to come visit on both of them!!! Brave Girls Club has grown massively over the last 6 months, and it is my heart and soul and what I plan on spending most of my career doing for the rest of my life. READ HERE if you want to know what it is all about, why I am dedicating so much of my heart to it, and how you can get involved!!!
I have decided that anything and everything I do career wise for the rest of forever, will have to support BGC in some way, or I will have to pass on it. Things are working out beautifully inside of those parameters. Amazing what can happen when you set your mind on something. I have designed more than 5 new product lines, as well as partnered with Kathy to get our worldwide Brave Girls Club community off the ground. Been working working working working working...and trying to throw some fun in there as often as possible!
I wrote out what I have been doing for the last 4 months...where I've been and why (in case you are interested and to show you I really have not been hiding under a rock!!!).......and for the sake of not completely boring you with it all....I will just write it out in a little list here. Then...over the next few days, I will pick quite a few of those things that I am completely excited about and give them their own blog posts....because there are so many things that you might love to get involved in too, and I would like to invite you wholeheartedly!!!
Ok...here goes...here's the list of why I've been outta sight here...(so happy to be back!) Sorry this is so dang long.....I have been a busy busy busy girl!
In May I was.....
Brave Girl Camp (another amazing time with a long-past-due blog post coming soon!)
Unity Stamp Company!!!!! (I had the opportunity to design a product line for them, blog post coming soon!)
In June I was....
Marq and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary!! We had the opportunity to spend almost 10 days with one of our favorite families in Lake Powell....it was absolutely incredible and the kids came with us! We made memories that will be talked about for the rest of our lives!
DEMDACO I have an amazing, beautiful wonderful product line coming out early next year with this incredible company!!! I got to spend a few days in Kansas City going over my product line, getting to know everyone and talking about lots of future product lines with them! This is something I am SOOOO thrilled about....as the products are gifts and home decor, 2 of my favorite things...can't wait til it's time to blog about all of the details of this!
SOULFOOD Product line - I was working on a product line called SoulFood for GCD Studios that will debut in a few months...and it's all about journaling, soul searching and making new goals and getting unstuck in life...I am in love with it and can't wait to show it to you! If you want to see my other product lines there from this year, including ChipArt tool collection, Artsy Urban and Homespun Chic...you can check out their website HERE
Got a car! - YAYYYYYY!!! I am definitely going to blog about THIS miracle!!! As you know, we decided to be debt free from now on.....since we get to start over....and so I've been without a car for 18 months...in June, I got the car of my dreams......in the most miraculous way! YAYYY!!
In June we were very busy looking for a rental house.....THEN....something wonderful happened there too...I will blog about that soon. Don't give up, people, things always work out in the funniest, most amazing ways !!!
In July I was....
At CHA...so many fun photos to share. My Unity Stamp product line was released there...we had a whole lot of Brave Girl Reunions...and we did the most amazing fun thing in downtown Chicago that is now getting made into a little video.....more about that coming soon!
Family Reunion - I have a huge and fabulous family......we had THE GREATEST REUNION over 4th of July weekend!
20 Year High School Reunion - I was in charge of parts of this....so that was a busy time...no, you are not mistaken when you see that my 20 year anniversary and my 20 year high school reunion are the same year...yeh, I was one of those girls..........still madly in love, though!
Brave Girl Camp - ANOTHER INCREDIBLE, LIFE-CHANGING CAMP with a full house of amazing women....blog post coming soon about that for SURE!
Product line - working on a product line that I will be telling you all about soon......with a fabulous new company called Rendi!!!
Started guitar lessons-WOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!! Definitely a blog post coming soon!!!! This has been a lifelong dream and I can play more than 10 songs now!!!!
In August I was....
Taking a road trip with Margie to spend a few days with Christy after her father died unexpectedly. It was one of those times in your life when you have a million things to do, but nothing is more important than dropping everything and going on a rescue mission to love someone as much as you possibly can. We had the best time. She would have done the very same thing for me or Margie....
Brave Girls Club website & blog we spent most of the month finishing up our new website and blog....take a chance to look through every page and all of the blog posts........Kathy and I built the whole thing, just she and I...she is an HTML wiz......I can design...we are both fiercely READY to do this....so we just put our heads down all summer and went for it....we are so happy with how it turned out and can't wait to see how it grows!!! Thanks so much for all of the amazing support and for getting involved!!
Online classes - we will be having our first of MANY online courses, starting in January. I am working on the workshops and we will be marketing it very soon...here's a little tiny sneak of it.....
working on Rendi products...........I will tell you SO MUCH about this later...but I am SO EXCITED to be involved with this company! This will forward so many happy words of encouragement, kindness and hope....on pretty wall art....can't wait...the company launches in 2 weeks!!! It's a home party company, so if you are looking for a great way to make some extra money, check it out.......
In September I was and I am.......
working more on Rendi things.....I love designing for the company and I'm excited for all of the people who will be working with them! WATCH THIS VIDEO if you want to know more! I will also be blogging all about it VERY SOON!
School started! If you are a mom...you KNOW what that means....2 ft. high piles of paperwork, shopping for clothes and supplies, getting the kids where they need to be! I have the GREATEST KIDS! (you do too, I bet!)
The Creative Connection....I just got back from this phenomenal event! I can NOT say enough about it...I'm sure I will have a FEW blog posts either here or at BGC about this.....I got to meet so many of the women I look up to and follow.....looooooved meeting and speaking to Ree Drummond....she is the real deal, 100% authentic and amazing.....EVERYONE I met was this way...loved them all. I will definitely be attending that event every year for as long as they have it! I was invited kinda last minute and I am SO GLAD I said yes....it was lifechanging in so many ways. I took my tools and did some demos too...had so much fun with all of the artsy ladies who stopped and made bracelets with me!
Scrapfest - Scrapfest is the masssssssive event that Archiver's puts on at Mall of America every year. I have been attending this event since it started, and it seems to get bigger and more amazing every year. I had the honor of teaching a few classes and also hosting a party at one of the stores.....I am forever impressed with the Archiver's team for what they pull off year after year!
Woodbadge - My hubby, my one true love ALSO facilitates a training in the mountains...Sept. is the month that he is gone for 2 weeks. I don't need to say much more. I miss him. badly.....bad bad badly. Can't wait for Oct. BGC and the whole week we get to spend together!
Inspiration Unlimited - On Thursday, I will leave for Las Vegas to be the keynote speaker at this FABULOUS event hosted by my dear friend, Teresa Collins. I am soooo looking forward to this! I will blog more about it later!!!
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Soooooo, there ya have it! Now I gotta head on over the Brave GIrls Club blog and write there...I hope you will join me! A new post will be up later tonight! Thanks for stickin' with me! I love ya all so much!
xoxo
melody
P.S. I made a goal to sprint as much as I could til we had things rolling....now it's time to slow down. I do not believe in living this kind of crazy life for any longer than it is necessary. I am tired..........I really am. We are making great strides in our life, so....now it's time to make priorities and only do what is absolutley necessary. and....just want you to know that i have an amazing husband, a wonder woman bunch of sisters and 5 phenomenal kids who help me every single day. I have THE MOST SUPPORTIVE, ANGELIC and WONDERFUL friends who help me with my kids, my family and my sanity. Reading this list made me tired tired tired....it is too much....I never could have done any of it alone.....time to simplify!!!! We did what we had to do, now it's time to simplify....xoxoxo
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