Rock Painting

Fridays at The Murphy Lodge this summer consist of "fun friday". On these days we tried to come up with something fun of course. In honor of that I thought it would be fun to share on the blog today since it's Friday, "fun friday".

To twist things up a little, the rock painting, was actually done a Monday. Monday's were our Make Something Monday. One particular Monday early in the summer my youngest and I got on her John Deer riding looking for rocks. This nearly turned into a day long project for us. As you can tell below some took breaks in betweens painting. 

I fumbled through the cup of rocks we collect till I found what felt like perfect ones to me. I used the picture in the magazine shown for my color inspiration. 

She was more focused on painting the big rock she found in our back yard. 

And the number reason why of all times I don't get me nails done often. The Saturday before I went with a friend to get our nails done. It was a fun treat for just us mommas. Quickly turning into a painty mess. 

Our day ended with a rainy thunderstorm. 

Can you tell what her rock is?

Can you see my color pattern on my rocks goes with the magazine page? 

Number One Repin

Most of us know what Pinterest is, right!?

If you are not familiar with it then read my post Pinterest.

So, today I wanted to share with you what my number one repin repined is…

100 ways to say Great!

(see picture below)

It currently has 120 repins and 15 likes. 

Honestly, for me that's a lot! Silly thing is it's not originally mine. If you notice above I said it's my number one repin repined. Which means I pined it from someone else board and others are repining it from my board. 

What's your number one repine repined?

Are you on Pinterest?

A peek into my writing journal

Putting pen to paper, I started the writing process of "Under Contract". I am using a 7x10 Canson mix media journal. This type of journal can be purchased at Hobby Lobby, Micheals or online at any art material store. I don't know if you can see/notice in the picture above on the cover a rectangular box penned in the center. If so, that's my markings lining up my thoughts the size the book pages will actually be. I use this as my gage while writing. So I'll know when to start on a new page. 

I love the spiral bound. It's easy page turning. The pages are extremly durably thick which leaves room for less page wrinkling. 

Look at all those messy marks! First draft…a work in progress! #stillwriting #onpageninety

So slowly "Under Contract" is coming to life. That's one of the perks of self publishing you can pace yourself taking one step at a time. While you are still working on all your other timely projects raising a family. 

Here you can see my planning of "Under Contract". As well, I share a snipped what the story's all about towards the end of the post.

See where I started pen to paper here. 

Have you used a Canson journal before?

Have you self published?

What's you writing journal look like?

Have you read a novel in verse before?

DIY mosquito spray

diy essential oil mosquito / bug spray

Becoming the essential oil junkie I have over the pass year making bug spray has been wonderful. I mainly use this as mosiquto spray but guess it could knock out other bugs too. We usually have mosquitos camp out on our back porch to the point you can hardly open the back door to let the dog out with out one flying inside, not anymore! 

What you will need:

spray bottle (a dollar at local grocery)

water 

and three drops each of

citronella

cedarwood

eucalyptus 

peppermint 

lavender

basil

rosemary

lemon

essential oils

Drop your three drops into the bottom of an empty spray bottle and fill the rest up with water. Simple as that… Then spray a mist all along your front and back porch, bricks, doors, patio furniture and all. I even sprayed the base of my flower pots at the front door. It's very long lasting. I spray every 2-4 weeks or in the time range I feel its needed. Also, if I know we are going to sit out side I'll try to mist a few shots in the areas I know we will be sitting. Using this finally got the hubby on board with essential oils… #mypotions #eoils #youcandoit

I've also made this bug spray with only using lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender.

Others essential oils you could add or replace would be thyme, geranium, lemon grass, clove, cinnamon, juniper, and sage. I've used some of these before especially before I had my citronella.    

Do you use essential oils?

If so, what's your favorite one to have on hand?

What I am doing

It's no secret, I've started the writing of my second book (see here), "Under Contract". My first book, Daddy's Briefcase is non fiction. So writing, "Under Contract" has been different since it's fiction. It's really been a fun challenge. Almost like reading a really good book only you are writing it. From one day to the next, from one page to the next, I am uncertain what's going to happen next. I am always on my toes listening, waiting and writing.

I love a challenge as much as I love learning new stuff. With my self-taught personality, I tend to push right through new things I've set out to tackle.

The picture above shows the floor plan the story is based on.

The picture below shows a print out of the first few pages of writing "Under Contract". 

Almost two years ago, while traveling to New Orleans for a day trip, I used my iPad to type the first pages of "Under Contract". 

At the beginning of this summer, I had a sudden urge to continue the writing of "Under Contract". As slow to life as it was coming, I emailed the notes from my iPad to myself. At my desktop, I checked my emails printing the pages out. I could have continued writing on my iPad but really I was feeling the pen to paper way.

The picture above is me gathering my materials to continue the process of "Under Contract" coming to life. #notes #research #anotherfloorplan

 "Under Contract" is about a lady named Marcy Gene who's dream is to have an art studio of her very own. She suddenly realizes life is life, dreaming or not! #shelikestopray

Have you seen a house like this?
Can you believe I am writing book number 2?