My Niece & The Power Of The Right Hair!

I figure that it's one of my jobs as this beautiful girls Auntie, not only to protect her sweet heart

but to help her find who she is as a person and to help her spirited character come out with strength.

One of the physical ways I've helped her do so is to take her for a hair cut that she so desperately wanted and I am astounded honestly by the change in her attitude & how she holds her head higher.

It's been amazing to me to see how much poise she has gained with one simple hair cut.
If it seems like I am a doting Auntie, that's cause I am!  She's been living with us 3 months today!!
and I just know she'll get a kick out of seeing herself on my blog today, ha ha.
(Little Bird, we're going through the roughest time right now but I am so glad to be your Aunt XO)

Today

It's the end of what has been a very stressful month...

Long story short:

there was a lump in my boob which lead to doctors visits and was followed by mammograms and tests

and call backs for more crappy mammograms, than ultrasounds and a biopsy

than the torturous waiting for results...

But I am just back from my doctors with happy news

that though I might have to have the lump removed

it's still nothing to worry about because it's not cancerous tissue...

Well I am just ready to start a fresh month...

Where hopefully Ella Lunas leg will be doing abit better...

where I'll dive into some yoga...

where I'll be able to breathe deeply..

and where I'll have long days all cozy like with my honey and bunnies...

...and long days with my work...

(These coloured pencils heads are for some mixed media piece I am working on lately)

Life can be scary can't it...

but boy oh boy these worries & blips along the way can put things into perspective quite rapidly!

And for that, I am feeling very grateful.

So although I do have  a sore head to tend to today (it started up with last nights downpour) 

Today's agenda is a simple one:  

First, a leisurely cup of coffee with a chapter of a book...

Than it's outside we go for an afternoon with bunnies & coloured pencils...

It'll be a great day...

and I am breathing...ahhhh....

Wishing you all a stress-free and lovely lovely day.

XO Mandy XO

p.s. My August newsletter goes out later today...if you would like to receive it just sign up here.

"Everything's Going to be Okay"

Good Tuesday Everyone,

Here is a new image...a whimsical and unearthly blue bird flying amongst the stars. This illustration was done to be inspirational but also at the same time it is meant to be grounding, as I am hoping the bird looks and gives the viewer a feeling of relaxation...that everything will be 'okay'.

To buy the original please click here.

To buy a print please click here.

I love this piece because 'everything is going to be okay' was exactly the mantra I had to repeat to myself the days after I finished it. Here's a question, I don't want answered but that I still want to throw out into the void...can art actually sometimes foretell the future? Anyhow, here's what happened; I was having a wonderful time in Toronto at Judit & Ed's place. I was suppose to be home on a Tuesday but things happened causing my ride to be unable to come pick me up on the scheduled day, so we all decided that I would stay another week on top of the initial week. I finished this illustration on a Tuesday and Wednesday at 6am, I got a call from home saying Ella Luna was very sick and it was strongly suggested that I get home as soon as I could. The bus and train weren't an option because they took 6-8 hours to arrive at home and neither left till at least 9:30am. So I did what I originally thought was the unthinkable..I rented a car and drove myself, ha ha. Now I know this doesn't sound like a big deal to most people, but for me, it was a massive thing....a big fear overcome and conquered. Despite the fact that I lived in Toronto for 5 years and drive quite alot....I've never had the nerve to drive in Toronto on my own. I always needed that expert beside me telling me which lane to get into, and which exit to take etc etc. But when push came to shove, I had to get home to my Ella Luna and I just did it, in 3 hours I must add, ha ha. The whole time...being terrified of being in the car in the middle of Toronto and the expressway all on my own...being terrified that Ella wouldn't be able to hold on till I got home...I kept telling myself 'Everything is going to be okay"...and it was:D I got home safe and sound with renewed confidence in my strength and abilities and our beautiful Ella Luna has fully recovered.

Life is just so much more fulfilling and amazing when we can move freely through it...and when you reach that fear that is blocking your way, if you really must bust through it, have the belief in yourself that you will. I think that most of us are alot stronger than we give ourselves credit for. I love the saying "A woman is like a tea bag, she never knows how strong she is, till she's put in hot water".

Till tomorrow, be well everyone and happy creating.