Beware! Long, Rambling Post Ahead!

DUDE!! I cannot believe I have not blogged in a WEEK! Geez. And let me tell you, I have missed it! I have missed ya'll! I wish I could tell you all about all the exciting things that I have been doing every day all day this week that have been keeping me away from my computer, but this week has mostly been a week full of random. And I do mean, RANDOM. One of those weeks where it seems like every day you have coffee, look around, and it's time to pick up kid and think about supper and absolutely nothing has been accomplished all day long. Well, nothing tangible at least. And as an artist and totally visual person, that is how I measure stuff. Which is just one of the reasons I was going nuts sitting in an office shuffling papers around. Hard to believe that was almost one year ago. Whew! Speaking of where did it go...man, what a whirlwind this year has been!

I actually realized just the other day that the show that I am planning here at my home for November 8 is the same date that I quit my legal assistant job last year. I didn't plan that, of course, but I love that it has turned out that way. I was in such an awful place on that date last year, (and for several months preceding that) that I could never, ever in my wildest dreams have predicted the twists and turns my life would take over the course of the next year, culminating in hosting a show like this. So weird.

But make no mistake. This year has been hard. Very hard. I have been thrown curve-balls like you just cannot even believe, but I'm still here. Sometimes it feels like barely here...but others it feels like "I am woman, hear me roar!" Our family has also been tested to the inth degree...but that is another post all together!

Right now I am just working like a crazy person trying to get my work done to have things to sell, working with local magazines putting out ads to promote the show, my printer to create posters and fliers to post around town and hand out, and creating list upon list of things that need to be done in the yard, in the house, on the porch, in the studio, etc. since the house and the studio will be both be open for viewing, and the items for sale will be set up on the porch. Oh, yeah, and food. Gotta have food. For 10 hours. hmmm. I'm starting to wonder how smart this is! Better quit worrying about it and just get busy!

Oh! I know what I haven't told you about that I did this week....I began the process of finding my style! No, not my artistic style....got that. (for now!) My personal style. I have felt well, for the last year, that I didn't have one anymore....going from suits and 4 inch heels to working in paint in the studio in the back yard...yeah, I had no style anymore. And no extra cash to go looking for one! But it had gotten to the point where getting ready to go anywhere was so awful that I always wound up in a bad mood, and sometimes would just not go at all. My Mom was witness to one of these episodes this week and decided it was high time that we went and found my style. So two days of shopping later (at 60 - 90% off, yeah!!) I think that I may be on my way there! I am stepping out of the warm-up suit rut and into cute dresses layered over jeans or tights and a comfy sweater! I now have jeans that fit and in a myriad of cuts...skinny, full, in-between...and some cute and comfy tops that can also be layered in a myriad of ways! Yeah!!

But, I am still on the hunt for shoes. I have been wearing "fit-flops" all summer, and my leg and back pain disappeared. I have switched back to Uggs as the temperatures have dropped, but I am in pain again. Any suggestions for cute, warm, comfy, supportive, and easy to slip on and off??? I am desperate for a solution!

But before ya'll start sending your best shoe ideas, I thought I'd show you the house (well, the dining room anyway) decorated for fall. I had every intention of participating in Artsy Mama's blog event showcasing other blogger's autumnal decor. That's what I was saving these photos for.

But it was yesterday.

And I didn't remember it until just now.

sigh.

Oh, well....ya'll head on over there and check it out...I'm sure there is some amazing eye-candy to be found! But here's mine...in "summer before" and "autumn after" format....