Back To Life - back To Reality!

Back to life, back to reality, back to the here and now....  Remember that popular 90's song by Soul II Soul?  Man, that was my jam, ha ha.  More than that though, those lyrics describe exactly how I feel right now.  You see, last week Thursday my trusty companion, my mac computer, crashed out of the blue.  No warning, just died. 

Let me tell you I was devastated. Incredulous.  Frustrated. All kinds of emotional.  After all, I am a Graphic designer and my computer is literally my umbilical cord.

When I finally calmed down enough to think sane thoughts, I took some time off from work to regroup.  (A small benefit of being my own boss) Well, my Mac had to be replaced so I ordered one right away and tried to forget how much money I was spending.  (By the way that didn't work.)  Then, I tried to figure out what to do with myself in the main-time... Since I had ordered my computer, I had days to wait before it arrived. 

 Let me tell you, the first few days sucked!  Royally.  I was counting down the day, hours and minutes until my computer arrived.  I guess you can say that I was in digital detox......complete with nervous twitches, anxiety and the patience of a junk yard dog. This went on until it occurred to me that when I was on the computer and really busy I always told myself that if I had more time I would complete my unfinished projects, experiment with new recipes, watch some movies I had been meaning to see....and trust me the list of things to do went on.  Hello, free time!  Let's just say that things changed dramatically after that.

And just when I was really starting to have some fun, my new computer arrived. 

 I am happy that it is here.  I am.....kinda. Lol, back to work I go, yay.  And trust me, I have so much to catch up on.  Hopefully though, I will remember a valuable lesson I learned from this whole experience.  My live, my reality, is not in a box...no matter how useful or tricked out it is.  Can I get a Amen!

Have a good week lovelies.

Cherio!  

Update, Organize And Refresh Your Home Office. Yes You Can!

If I were a super hero, my kryptonite would be clutter.  Put me in a very disorganized and chaotic work space and if I cannot get it fixed pronto, I melt down like ice cream on a hot plate.  I know, it sounds crazy but its true.  With this firmly in mind I decided to revamp my home office.  When am done it will be functional, stylish and tailor made to fit my personality.  I am so excited!

Personally, I only want the bare essentials on my desk like the computer, phone, and a note pad.  Everything else usually is within arms reach but organized in a drawer out of sight.  My only exception to this is if there is shelving above my desk.  These shelves can be used for storage and to stylize the office as well so I add personal things I enjoy like beautiful hardcover books and my favorite pottery.  Items like framed Art, potted plants, and other momentos are also a great choice to personalize an office.  Be careful not to over accessorize though, make careful selections for your display. Remember:  Its harder for something to stand out if everything else is clamoring for attention. 

Easy Tips & Tricks

1.  Desks, metal and wood filing cabinets can often be updated with spray paint.  

You can also improve desks and define the space by covering drawer faces and walls with wall paper.  If you a have a desk that do not match your filing cabinet, try one of these ideas for a more unified look.  Tip:  If possible, put your desk near a window that overlooks the  garden or scenery you enjoy for added tranquility and natural light. 

2. Storage is vitally important to keep your office organized, clutter free and it can also add personality to your work space.  Stop looking at storage bins/units as just a necessity and challenge yourself to embrace the creative possibilities.

3. Trash containers used to be another of those office necessities that you just buy and use without much thought.  Not any more. There are so many stylish trash containers available now, so buy something you really like.

4.  If you have a wooden desk that is a little dated or scratched, why not spruce it up?  You can paint it a beautiful color of your choice, add a glass top, even decoupage it.  The sky is the limit.

5.  Define your office space by using a free-standing decorative screen, wall art, or an area rug.

Whatever improvements you decide to make to your office, remember to enjoy the experience.  After all this is one makeover that will bring you countless returns! Literally.

For more ideas check out these links

http://www.homeydesigning.com/201001/home-office-design-ideas-from-pottery-barn.html

http://www.thelennoxx.com/browse-by-style/classic/design-ideas-for-your-home-office/

http://archinhome.com/tag/home-office-pictures/

http://www.decorpad.com

With A Grateful Heart

As we approach Christmas day every single hour the shopping and mad dash for decorations or last minute gifts greatly intensifies.  Unfortunately the stress levels for most people are becoming just as elevated and intense with each swipe of the credit card and each new receipt for items purchased. Why do we do this to ourselves every year? When I found myself venting to a dear friend of mine about my impending holiday doom, I suddenly had a moment of absolute clarity.  Is all of this really necessary for me to have a merry Christmas? 

Well, the answer to that after some thought is a resounding No!  Oh happy day!  
With this new found sense of freedom, there's a new sheriff in town. 


Yes, I still plan on giving and receiving gifts this year however, I will make an effort not to think so much about what is given but appreciate  the spirit in which it was given. Now I am not advocating giving a gift that is useless or thoughtless, in fact I am encouraging you to do just the opposite. 


















 Before you run off to the mall think about who you are buying something for, are they artistic, romantic, sentimental, adventurous, superficial? If they are the latter, off to the mall you go!, if not you may be able to give something that you can make or put together yourself. Some of the the best gifts I have ever been given have been gifts that were fairly inexpensive but totally took into consideration some of the  things I love. I have received everything from lemon meringue pies to exotic seeds, pods and beach glass, and I was just as thrilled to get them as someone who perhaps got a designer bag. It made me feel special and this is what we strive to do for others at Christmas.  I really want to celebrate this Christmas in the true spirit of the season which is love.  I figured I would make a list and check it off as I complete each task.  Well, here goes, am sharing this with you since these are all Godly deeds that cost little or no money to do but will bring joy and love not only to our own hearts but to all around you.  And that my friends as we all know is what Christmas is all about!

    Christmas To Do List

1. Give a hand written letter or handmade Christmas card to someone who I care about but haven't  spoken to in a while.  In my own words tell them how much they mean to me.
2. Bake something that one of my siblings really likes and surprise them with it.
3. Give a gift to a child whose parents cannot afford gifts for the holidays
4. Spend quality time with my family with absolutely NO computer time on Christmas day.
5. Pray and have a grateful heart throughout the holidays
6. Do a free piece of Graphic design for a new startup business
7. Hug more and be more affectionate
8. Wish the telemarketer a Merry Christmas instead of hanging up on him or her right way
9. Compliment and tell people when they are doing a good job or if they look nice
10. Smile more, especially with someone who seems to be having a bad day

Picture This!

Some times its the simple things that makes us appreciate life most. Today I got out of bed after battling a cold for the last few days and I realized that I felt much better. No sneezing, coughing, aches or pains to speak of, its amazing how I appreciate feeling well again. Just yesterday I was lying down thinking of all the things I wanted to do once I felt a little better so here is one of them. Photography and digital collage! Yes, I said it, maybe not deserving the exclamation mark for some but for me its very exciting stuff. It sends shivers up my spine when I think of the fun I could have with a digital camera and my faithful Mac computer.

Last year I had challenged myself to create digital collages that expressed my faith in God and inspired people. As a result of this, I created what you see here and many other prints that you can find at: wandadmcphee.etsy.com

All of these prints started with a piece of photography that I shot while I was up and about or I set up the shoot based on a specific idea I had. Once I had the photo I took it into Photoshop and then added textures and filters. I also imposed and blending other images and colors into the original photo. Although some of these pieces I did are a bit advanced to someone who is new to this, you can get great results too by just taking a great photo and converting it to duotone. (two colors only in image) A lot of my prints are done this way and I just love the way this adds an element of mystery and interest to photographs. At the moment am working on a few ideas for new prints, I will post these as soon as I finish them. In the main time, get your feet wet, dust of your camera and take some photos. Not only do they make great Art framed on your wall but you can sell them as well to wholesale photography sites on the web.

Well, what else can I say but, lets do this!