LiFe {unscripted}

11 & 12

from the 34th List.

11.  Over the past year, I took an online course over Adobe Illustrator (Illustrator 100: Essentials), and is still slowly (very slowly) making my way through the second course (Illustrator 210: Illustrating). 

I switched over to Adobe CC a while back and realized that with CC I could also download Illustrator.  Awesome, right?  My thinking: "HOW much different could it possibly be from Photoshop?!" 

I opened it up and starting moving things around - and it slapped me in the face - or rather slapped my hands away from my keyboard.

IT WAS/IS DIFFERENT in so many ways. 

Frustrated, I shut down the program and did not look at it again for a while. 
I feel like I am pretty handy dandy with Photoshop - I had classes in college where the professor handed us the book and told us to go through the lessons.  At the time, I was all, whaaaat?!  But I went through them, and realized...that's how you learn things like this.  You have to actually play.  Since then, Photoshop and I have been besties. 

So imagine my disappointment and frustration when I could not conquer Illustrator. 

And then out of the blue, I had the thought - "Um duh, surely there are online courses/tutorials out there that could walk me through the in's and out's of this program."

I did a little research, and came across Atly.com 

I read the excerpt from the class Illustrator 100: Essentials, and decided that I would try it.

I'm so glad I did!  The instructor, Alma Loveland, is such an inspiration and so very talented.  Her style of teaching was so great for me.  The class included lots of videos with Illustrator downloads to practice with after watching the videos.  Learning by doing is best for me.  

I finished the course in my own time - and then decided to start the next one: Illustrator 210: Illustrating. 

It's just as great - same smart and fun instructor with the same format - only more in depth. 

That course, I am still currently taking...life got busy and I put it on hold for a while.  But that's the great part about atly.com.  I can go back and reference everything, re-watch videos to relearn some info I forgot, and pick back up right where I left off.  Again, my kind of style. 

So If you are looking to learn something new, or have always wanted to learn how to use that tricky pen tool, I highly recommend taking these courses :)

A screenshot of a pen tool tracing.  Not for anything in particular, just practice.  

12. Favorite Things. 

A few things that I have been favoring this past year/month/week.

Bonlook Glasses.  I am embarrassed to say how many pairs I may or may not own.  But I feel like if I'm gonna wear glasses, they might as well be fashion statements, right?! 

My current favorite pair: Martha in Blue.

Unfortunately the color is sold out, but you can get the green Olive color for $79 - with prescription!  Steal!

Nickel & Suede leather earrings and cuffs. 

Yup.  When I find something I love, I fall hard for it.  I am pretty sure these beauties have been on my ears in one color or another since I got my first pair.  

I first saw their gold slit cuff on Instagram on a fellow mama+blogger, Lindsay Wilkins, who described it as her go-to choice for jewelry so her kiddos don't get scratched or pulled on. "looks exactly like a pile of gold bangles, but is super light and so soft."  And her photo was on point to match!  So for a friends birthday, I ordered her (and myself!)  a matching pair of medium gold leather earrings, and the matching gold leather slit cuff. 

Um yeah.  I was immediately sold as soon as I opened the mailing package.  The side of the packaging evenwarned me: "Life-changing jewelry."

I love that I can wear them with dressy attire, dress casual, or even wear them to dress up a comfy t-shirt and jeans (okay, yoga pants!) outfit. 

Dude.  If these are not on your Christmas list yet, they should be. 

Speaking of t-shirts and jeans (yoga pants - lol!)

Walk in Love T-shirts

I fell in love with them the moment I saw them on Instagram - and they never disappoint. 

Soft and comfortable tees that boldly and beautifully share God's word. 

I am sure I have other photos in their tee's but this one is most recent.  Also  - she looks so much like herself these days in this picture.  Adorable, silly, messy-hair-don't-care, woke-up-like-this, caught-you-taking-selfies-momma, toddler self.  Also, she is one of my favorite things for always (gush!).  

In the unisex size tees, I wear a small, but in the women's size tees I wear a large - I like them fitted but not super snug.  Also, just a few days shy...they had a great Black Friday sale last year - and I'm sure this year will be as great!

These are a few of my favorite things...can you tell I'm in the mood for the holidays?! 

Just slightly, right?!

 

Relax

It's a part of parenthood that is hard for me.  To relax.  Sure I finally relax at the end of each day.  But during the day - is it possible to relax knowing that there are a million things I could get a head start on? 

It is not every day that I get a chance to take a breath and just sit.  As I imagine it is for most working moms.  Usually when we pull in the driveway, it's a matter of quickly unloading, going in to change clothes, and then I heading back out to go teach a class or two at the gym. 

And then on Tuesday last week a little girl chimed in as we pulled into the driveway, "Mommy can we jump ow-side?!  You watch me?!" And I for a second started to hesitate.  But instead, I shook my mental list of "things I can get a head start on" and I said,  "Okay, babe, let me put our bags down inside, and we will come right back out."  On this particular day, I didn't have to quickly change and leave.  I had time in between.  It was as if somehow, her little self could just sense that mommy needed a few minutes to just relax.  A few minutes to sit and enjoy the beautiful fall day that was taking place outside.  Maybe she is my whisper from God to take a breath.  To enjoy the time in the moment when we have it - and not use it trying to mark things off my list like laundry, dishes, or cleaning out the fridge.  

And so I sat and watched as she jumped on the trampoline and Henry showed his enjoyment for being outside of the gate by rolling in the grass.  I jotted a few things down in my 52 Lists Book that I had yet to start for the week.  Ironically, the theme for the week was  "LIST YOUR GREATEST COMFORTS."  Ahhh, I thought to myself, "I see what you did there, God!"  It also dawned on me that I shook my "mental to-do list", to actually "write a list" - He's smiling, I know.  And I smiled as she brought me rocks from the driveway (her new favorite thing to collect lately).  And then began to bring me sticks she had collected and asked me so carefully to hold..."here, mama, hode deez." 

In that moment that I realized it had been a while since we just enjoyed an afternoon - unrushed - after school.  It was more than worth documenting with my phone camera. 

Parenting is full challenges.  Not being able to relax is not even on the top ten of that list, but it is a struggle.  Am I right?!   But I also feel that they are my grace.  The two of them, Ellis and Henry,  give me His kind of grace.  Pure and complete unconditional love.  Even on the days when we are rushed and don't have time to sit out and relax, they give me grace in the simple acts of just being them.   Sweet, silly, crazy, rock-and-stick-collecting, rolling in the grass, cat-chasing, loving hearts.  And I guess in some way, when I remember that, I can relax - even during the rush.