Realityarts - Inspiration, Art and Creativity

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Gratitudes - My Mothers Joy

My Mothers Joy

She still has energy and despite the dementia she has a joy for life that really makes me feel grateful for my own..

What are you grateful for this week?

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Clearing the Clutter Challenge Revisited

Since coming back from holiday I have wanted to keep the clutter free environment going and thought it was time to renew my clearing the clutter challenge. I started it in January this year and there are still quite a few things on the list that needed to be done. Over the years I’ve collected quite a few products and then bringing stuff back from the holiday I felt a clear out was definitely in order here. When I got everything out it wasn’t as bad as I first thought. I had recently had a make up clear out and just had the basics in the bag.

I went though the body products, it is always great to try something new and experience different scents, but I ended up having too many to use as I didn't throw away anything. I cleared out the old products and got the basket below to keep the things I wanted to keep to hand and use more regularly, the other things were stored in a draw.

I have the regular sized products I use and the smaller travel size for when I’m going away

Scented candle supplies

After clearing the body products from the draws I found some lovely spa products, lush soaps and fizz bombs that I had brought. The plan is now to make more fuss of myself and have regular special spa treatments with the products and scented candles. Next on my list to tackle will be my art materials!

This has been a great excuse in giving my creative self a little bit of extra TLC that it deserves!!

What is your favourite bath treats?

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Post holiday reflections...

It's been just over 2 weeks since we came back from our holiday jaunts and we were very fortunate to have been to not one but 2 destinations this year - Barbados and Menorca.

In Barbados we spent 3 weeks lapping up the sun, sea and sand and sights.

We visited family and friends and got all the vitamin D, and fresh food we needed. For those who have had Barbados on their lists of destinations, I definitely recommend you get there if you can it is a lovely island.

Three weeks was just enough time to unwind and go to many places that we missed on previous visits. The beaches are beautiful and we made visiting the beach and swimming an essential part of our trip.

Miami Beach

Dover Beach

We went along the Fish fry at Oystins - sampling the freshly caught fish and even took part in the Sunday night Karaoke at Dover Beach organised by Mr Mayer's and his wife (another really lovely couple who have a beach cafe there). Me and Alan did what became one of our signature tunes - Three Little Birds by Bob Marley.

As flowers and plants are my thing I made sure I visited the Andromeda gardens, the Wildlife Reserve

and Flower forest and was able to feast my eyes on some beautiful plants and breath taking views.

I also used the opportunity to catch up with some of the local artists on the island and it was great to see them at work and also visit some galleries as well such as The Bridgetown Gallery at Sheraton Mall and NuEdge Gallery

We came back to England for a week to catch up and then flew out for a week in Menorca.

Ahisha and Malakai came with us and he was a joy to have on holiday - his first!

We met some amazing people who made our stay even more than the blessing it was and we went on many of the excursions around the island....

Mike our representative from our resort showed us around Mahon and a visit to the local gin distillery where we sampled Pomada and a range of other liqueurs. We visited Modas leather factory and were treated to a fashion show seeing many of their lovely designs.

Mike and Alan as we relaxed by the port

Mike proved to be a font of knowledge about the island, with his generous nature he went out of his way to ensure everyone had a good time. We accompanied him on the Es Grau Nature walk, which backed onto a beautiful beach, in which the water was not only shallow but extremely warm.

Malakai enjoyed all the attention he got on holiday

with Uncle Sekani and his mum having a swim with his special ring

As in Barbados, Karaoke is popular, Ahisha and Sekani doing a duet

Alan and Sekani taking it in on the Yellow Catamaran - Mahon

breath taking views at Cala Galdana

A visit to Ciutadella and the caves at Cala Morell and a tour of Cala Galdana on Thursday which was our last day was rounded off by a visit Ferreries to see the Fiestas of Sant Bartomeu and the riders as they rode through the village, it was very exciting and was a lovely end to a fun pack break.

I have felt very fortunate to have been able to go away and my mind is now focused on working hard and developing the many ideas that I have been thinking about with my art, it has been great to be back in my studio.....

and getting acquainted with my supplies. Over the coming weeks will be sharing what I am doing on the 21 Secrets course and also catch up with my contribution to Creating in Faith over at Motley Soul.

Sekani is now back at school and attending the 6th form - a new adventure and one that awaits many young people who embark on the next stage of their learning, and for all those who have decided to return to study and our prayers continue to cover them for a sound mind and focus on all they have to do.

Blessings always!