Showing posts with label great expectations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label great expectations. Show all posts

Friday, March 6, 2015

CreativeMag.ro plus some insights!


Sit back and have a cup of coffee with me...


As I'm getting ready for summer... (or mostly dreaming about summer days on a rainy-snowing day)




What's new on the blog...
Want to know how I made this art journal page? Click Here!




My Dear Ones,
It's been a crazy busy-ness in the past couple of months and I tried to keep up with the flow. But having two blogs I need to constantly update it's been really really crazy for me. That's one of the reasons you haven't seen too many blog posts around here. Actually, I only posted one at the beginning of the year.
So I decided to simplify the process and write bilingual English-Romania posts on my self-hosted blog at creativemag.ro 

From now on, I'll be posting my art journal pages mostly on creativemag.ro and keep you updated with my latest art journaling pages. However, this blog here hosted on blogger will continue going as a place of sharing my personal thoughts and stories as they come and go. So stick around and come visit from time to time, because I'll be posting about my life and occasionally about the process of creating my art journal pages :) 

Hugs & Love,
Cristina


PS. Have you seen this art journal page? Click HERE to open the box! 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Welcome, 2015!


This year has started with a very cold weather and we decided to stay indoors rather than going out to celebrate, like we use to do every New Year's Eve. But that wasn't really a problem, because we had fireworks in the neighbourhood and champagne was delicious, served with a piece of pineapple cake.



2015 is here already! And we have to make it worth in every second! I can tell you that 2014 was a great year for me, but 2015 is going to be magnificent! I know that for a fact, because I have a strong feeling about it!

Monday, December 22, 2014

A sip of espresso + why I believe in angels



Yesterday I was out downtown and we thought we could have a cappuccino. We got out and it was pretty amazing for December: 8-9C' and almost a clear, blue sky. Of course, if you ask me, that's not normal and something 's  going on, but that's another story.


As we were hitting the coffee shop , I thought to change cappuccino and try an espresso instead. I knew it was stronger, and although diluted with water, it was still strong, but very tasty. I drank about half of the cup, while my husband was having a cappuccino. We hit back our home and I didn't felt the espresso effects until very late in the night: I wasn't feeling agitated in any way, but hour after hour have passed until I noticed it's 4:52AM! While still having an hour of sleep between midnight and 1 o'clock, at 5:50 I've manage to fall asleep again, this time thinking in my mind that I'm going to sleep until 9 AM...at least.


But no. At 6:40AM I woke up again, this time feeling more agitated than before. I already knew the reason for not being able to sleep, but I was totally blown by the fact that my pulse was slightly accelerated after abruptly waking up, as if I was having a nightmare. I know what I was dreaming, and it wasn't something scary. I then remembered that I recently {like yesterday!} saw a tv show where they were talking about angels and how angels can help us. (If you read my Romanian blog, you probably know that recently I've painted an angel in my art journal).
In the tv show, one of the people invited in the show was talking about connecting with our angels. He said that each and everyone of us have an guardian angel and we should first try to connect to our angel instead of praying directly to God. Not that praying to God is something wrong, but angels can bring our souls closer to the divine understanding.


I put my hands closer and begin to talk to my angel. It didn't last long, because my throat was hurting, so I decided to "speak" with my thoughts. I continued talking to my angel and asking to show me what is to be done in this situation, how can I calm my pulse and get rid of the  bacterial infection I believe is causing my pain in the throat, and in less than 10 minutes my pulse went down to normal and I felt so relaxed. Of course, I set myself to relax my muscles and my whole body. Of course, you may say it's a coincidence , and that you don't believe in angels. That is totally up to you. But I know that with angels or without angels, we can control the body processes, like body temperature, pulse and getting rid of light headaches. I know that because I did it only by thinking I am doing this and my body reacted accordingly to what my mind dictated. If you don't believe that, then look for the book "Mind over body" and you will see what the recent discoveries are saying. Oh, and by the way, the book was written by a Ph. Doctor in medicine.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Journaling my life

It is true that I have been journaling and not posting a thing in here. I did wrote many articles, but not necessary about my art journaling creations. And totally left this place with no interesting posts to read.

Recently I've created this cute face on my A5 Canson Journal I bought from Barcelona this summer. I wanted to create something simple and still beautiful, and as I didn't had too much time to work on her face, I've choose to use watercolors and oil pastels.

I did her face free-hand without worrying about the result. The result came out pretty interesting and I decided to try another girl with the same technique. 



 First I've started with some stamping, one flower stamp that belongs to a 3D stamp set, used all over again changing direction of use. Then I went and filled in some color with the oil pastels. I have covered the whole flower petals, but next time I'm going to leave some petals blank and run with watercolors over it. This was the next step, water-coloring the pages with different colors, with lots of water and sprays. Once you get the desired result, let it dry. Or use a heat gun if you can't wait that long ;)
After applying the background, you'll need to draw the face and hair and also fill in some shadows and highlights for the face and neck.

Et voila! The finish product with some text added and the pages are ready to be loved and appreciated.


Sunday, October 6, 2013

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me! 

No candles allowed at the coffee shop (no smoking cafeteria) 

Days go by, months go by, years go by and life goes on. Another year begins for me. With a magic number. 


This tart was actually mine, the cheese cake was my husband's. But we've shared both anyway. 
I am so thankful for everything in my life and I want to thank my husband for being so wonderful every day.
YES.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!



Monday, July 8, 2013

A little bit of this, a little bit of that...

We have good days, and we have bad days. This is one of those you feel like it will never end. I think I should learn some stress management lessons in order to calm down and relax in every given situation. And most of all, to learn how NOT to worry even when others next to you do. Luckily, I have my positive thoughts with me and I´m playing positive affirmations, too.
Meanwhile, I did some faces just to forget all about it and I want to share them with you. If you already follow my Instagram, Pinterest, Fashiolista or Facebook, you probably saw these posted in there.
I did the red hair today, but as you can see I like to work with many different girls at the same time and then come back and finish them. Some of them have to wait longer than the others, but in the end I manage somehow to finish them all. I guess it's because I don't have too many. ;)
redheaded with green eyes by Cristina Love on 4thelovers.blogspot.com/

redheaded with green eyes by Cristina Love on 4thelovers.blogspot.com/

purple hair whimsy girl with green eyes by Cristina Love on 4thelovers.blogspot.com/
This one is from early today, she on a small paper card, measuring 8,5cmX14,3cm Still needs a lot of work.


girl with purple eyes by Cristina Love on 4thelovers.blogspot.com/
Just a sketch, but I'm pretty happy with the result


redheaded with blue-green eyes by Cristina Love on 4thelovers.blogspot.com/
This one is just sketch with color pencils, but I love how it turned after all. 

purple hair whimsy girl with green eyes by Cristina Love on 4thelovers.blogspot.com/
I'll leave you with this whimsy girl I just love, with that purple hair with golden accents, looking straight at you. 
What do you think of them all? 


Hugs,
Cristinaღ

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The change is in the air!



"WHAT DO YOU want? Most of us have forgotten how to dream outside of our sleeping world. For some reason, the little kid in us—the one who has no problem suspending reality in favor of Fantasy Island—has gone to sleep.Maybe it’s because all of our dreams have been shot down in favor of the practicalities of making a living and putting food on the table. Maybe we’re afraid to step out and take a chance to think of a world filled with unlimited possibilities. Reasons abound to justify why we don’t dream. All of my mentors and heroes are dreamers. If they can do it, why can’t I?"

And I gotta tell you: I sit back and look back into my life and see that nothing out of the ordinary had happened. And this has to change. Now. I mean NOW! 
What do you think needs to be changed in 2013? What are your dreams that you're keep thinking every day without doing nothing in return? 

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New year everyone!

Happy New Year! 

And hope you all have a great magnificent year! 

We have enjoyed a super new year's party with lots of laugh and delicious food, and I only went to bed at 6AM, when I was more than exhausted! 

I love this pinky
After 6 hours, I was on my feet again and thought ...why not start 2013 doing something that I truly love and enjoy? So I took my sewing tool and started to sew on this new collar I'm working at these days: a soft pink with silver inserts, gorgeous to wear when spring comes in town. ;)


sewing and sewing

And because the New Year's Eve we have to shine, I've wore my nails in glitter! 

I love this manicure!


And we've enjoyed our xbox by playing bowling and other games.

This is me looking for the ball...

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Celebrating happiness - letter of the week 13

Photo source
{this is Bucharest, Romania by night}


Christmas is gone! flew away! Vanish! I can't imagine how this time flies and another year is just about to end. I don't want to get melodramatic, but the truth is that I have o idea how a single day goes by, what's to say about a whole year?!

I wanted to do so much, I've done so little. I've always wanted more and more and in return I only got what I've deserved: a little bit of this, a little bit of that and most important, the feeling that I am love. Had to deal with 2 accidents, both domestic, one fall and another one collapse. The feeling that I am not myself anymore.  The fact that I had my smile with me all the time {except the moments when I really felt I had to cry} helped me to see the bright side of every situation. And I say I am a positive thinker, but most of a time I'm pretty much a pessimistic one. Not helpless, not without dreams. I am a believer. I believe in truth and in good deeds. They will come in return one day, so do no harm. Love the others like you love yourself. Help people discover the beauty of life, coz life is really truly beautiful. It's magnificent! In every way! Life is a gift we should treasure.

2012. I grew up. Grow stronger. Learned many lessons, but the most important of all is to love. And when I say to love I mean not to love only your lover, wife/husband, kid/s, friends and family,  but to love ALL human beings. All beings. I've learned that happiness is a journey, not a destination. I've learned that happiness is a matter of perspective and not a given conjuncture.

After 7 years with my lover, friend, husband, my everything as the saying, I've finally embraced happiness and its sweet taste. And is nothing how I imagined. Has nothing to do with money. Nothing to do with material goods or possessions. Happiness lays inside every one of us. We just have to look closer and open our hearts. If not to others, at least be straight to ourselves. And then the happiness will bloom. Your heart will sing, your legs will dance, your body will find its balance. 

We are going to step in 2013 in a few hours. I wish you all have the strength to find your your way in 2013 if you're still in the mist or to follow it on if you know the road!

***Happy new year!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Great Pema Chödron's quotes

From QueenCreative

I found this article with some incredible quotes on learning about your own self and how to treat yourself and respect yourself. I had to share it with you and keep it close in my blog for later reading. I begin to love QueenCreative's blog and I'm keeping a close eye to what's going on her bogging platform. You should check her website.

I didn't know about Pema Chödron until now. It's great to discover inspirational people who make the difference between feeling lost and feeling fulfilled.


Patience With Yourself (click to open source)


Some wonderful quotes from the Buddhist nun, Pema Chödron. She was born inNew York City, went to Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut, and then to Berkley. Miss Porter’s (now called, simply Porter’s Farmington) has a long list of famous alumnae, including Gloria Vanderbilt, Gene Tierney, Lilly Pulitzer, Letitia Baldridge,  Jacqueline Kennedy, and Dierdre Blomfield-Brown, now known as Pema Chodron.
Learning how to be kind to ourselves, learning how to respect ourselves, is important. The reason it’s important is that, fundamentally, when we look into our own hearts and begin to discover what is confused and what is brilliant, what is bitter and what is sweet, it isn’t just ourselves that we’re discovering. We’re discovering the universe.
*   *   *   *  *
We can drop the fundamental hope that there is a better “me” who one day will emerge. We can’t just jump over ourselves as if we were not there.
*    *   *   *
People get into a heavy-duty sin and guilt trip, feeling that if things are going wrong, that means that they did something bad and they are being punished. That’s not the idea at all. The idea of karma is that you continually get the teachings that you need to open your heart. To the degree that you didn’t understand in the past how to stop protecting your soft spot, how to stop armoring your heart, you’re given this gift of teachings in the form of your life, to give you everything you need to open further.
*    *     *    *
Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.
*   *    *    *
—Quinn McDonald is writing a book about inner heroes and inner critics. She’s wondering what they are saying about her.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

You can create an exceptional life!

You Can Create An Exceptional LifeYou Can Create An Exceptional Life by Louise L. Hay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What people do really want in this life? What would be life without wishes?! And what would one do if there's nothing to fight about?!

Life is full of unexpected situations, big opportunities, small sweet things...life is wonderful! And if you get to see this sparkling side you're on your way! You found your path! Be happy, relax, do what you like and make life as you want it to be! You hate your job? Do something and change it, discover the things you like to do and do that instead of going every day at work doing what you really hate! You're no longer in a good wonderful relationship? Then do something! Change it, see what's wrong, do the right moves, discover the trouble and move forward! Never stay in a relationship just because your friends say so, or your parents or the society! You have the right to be happy no matter what! Don't be ashamed! Step aside! And the list can go on.... BE WHAT YOU WERE MEANT TO BE and all the rest will come to you!

View all my reviews

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Sex at Dawn

Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern SexualitySex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I set my mind to buy this book when I've heard about it. I know there's more than just sex, I've always knew that. And I've always felt that we humans are not monogamous, but something more than just two parts forming a couple, bended into marriage and united by our kids. NO. You have to read this book if you want to discover THE REAL YOU. The truth beyond the veil. The force of all things, hidden very well by the society, religion and dogmas. Held behind walls and unspoken. YOU REALLY HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. YOU OUGHT TO. It's mandatory. It's like the air you breath and like the ground you walk on. Have no idea where all that sexual attraction is coming from or why you feel the way you feel sometimes, then grab this book and read it. And keep it close, you may actually want to review some pages. I've read the first 55 pages in 1 day! And I'm not a fast reader at all!

View all my reviews

Monday, August 20, 2012

My dream wedding is...

Vintage Wedding Dresses
The thought of moving to Barcelona still pumps in my head and I cannot stop thinking on how it will be to organize my wedding there, right on the beach. With a small audience will be a perfect wedding. ;-) well, perfect for us. We should thou get civil married here in our country of residence because you have to be civil married in order to have a wedding, being on the beach or not.
Here is what I've found just looking for 3 minutes, with the help of our dear friend Google:
Destination Weddings in Barcelona: http://weddings.about.com/od/weddinglocations/a/BarcelonaWeddin.htm



And I found this beautiful blog with lots of information and things you need for a wedding in Barcelona, but not only, it's a bout weddings in the whole Spain:

Monday, July 16, 2012

Things should be simple. Or are they?



You probably noticed I'm pretty a non-driven person. I'm almost never decided about one thing or another, and I question the facts all the time. I wonder what to do, what's best to do, what not to try and stuff like that, but most of all - I'm asking myself WHAT DO I WANT?! Because not knowing the answer to this question may lead to serious unhappiness. And the truth is that, the more I let go thinking about it, the closer I get to seeing things as they are: simple. And the simple fact of being aware of this makes me feel better. I'll start with the beginning: I am here, I want to go there. The rest will come along.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Relocating may not be the key

Have no time, nor the patience to actually write about it, but I've found these web pages to meditate on: Where are we running and why we want to move: I want to live and work in Spain, UK citizens move in Spain as well looking for a better life, Italians want to live in UK, Bulgarian look forward to France and Israilians are relocating where ever they feel it's better, and for them anywhere else is better than the native country. BUT WHAT are we all hitting?! We all look for a better life, but we don't actually see the real problem: any place of the world might be hit by recession, and it wll be at some point, sooner or later. The economy as we know it and the monetary system are wrong, we have to change something. In this rhythm of consuming and over consuming the goods and services the Earth itself as well as the nations will go down. We cannot go back, but forward. And the forward step is to change something. We cannot continue like this.

Here are some web pages to consider: read them, study them, meditate on them!
  1. http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/30/news/economy/spain-recession/index.htm
  2. http://www.expatarrivals.com/spain/moving-to-spain
  3. http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/a/b/living-in-spain/
  4. The one talking for itself: http://www.costablancauncovered.com/expat-stories/I-hate-Spain.html 
  5. Moving Truck Courtesy of the Recession: What it's like to relocate because of the downturn. An articles about Americans. http://www.doublex.com/section/work/moving-truck-courtesy-recession




.

Monday, March 26, 2012

A note

Intro: I cannot remember when I wrote these lines, they were saved in a notepad, so I cannot see the date or time, but I believe it was somewhere in October-November 2011.

I'm sitting here in my old-fashioned chair, in this magnificent big room, with charming curves and tall walls. It's past midnight and I'm a little dizzy. I had a coffee at 4 pm, which is totally unusually for me; on top of that, I also had an energizing cocktail at 3 pm and some Goji fruits at 6 pm. What came out of this? Well...a so-called "not in the mood" stage which I have to confront with and make it disappear. After all, it will pass by its own when the moment is right. I already have that dizziness I told you about, but still have so many gains to write some thoughts here.

Well, recently I just figured out what I really want to do. Not that I didn't know already, but I was...afraid to accept it, that in this moment, I mess up things so bad I don't know how to pull this in a good light. I have missed the chance to be in the same group with the girl I was talking for bout two years now, a girl from another town who wishes so much to be a dentist, that she's not thinking 'what about that', how about this' and so on. SHE is JUST living the moment, and the moment is now, is hers. Why? How? Well, she looks right forward to her dream and stands up for it. I just had the "not so good for this thing" and look how I ended. Is this destiny?


And there was another notepad saying:

So that was the thing, I thought I was too little to make it. I arrived home, and I start writing about it. Where was this fear come from? It was something beyond my understanding or was it inside me? However, there was fear. And fear has nothing to do with success. Nothing.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

I am LOVE (Building my future)

This is when my future starts. As I've told you, I thing I've manage to figure it out what is what I want: to have a flexible, home, online-like job and to work from where ever I want and whenever I want, to be able to choose my  working time, when to sleep, when to eat, when to work! And all this are soooo possible right now, right in this moment! It all starts in here, starts right now! I have to believe this and make it true as no body is going to believe it for me, and even so, I HAVE TO believe in it! So I've decided to do more work and actually do what I want: handmade earrings and accessories and then sell them to people that appreciates the art of uniqueness at a fair price for me and for them. And I've just realized WHY I haven't sold anything until now: is because I haven't trust myself for what I am, a pure, unique person with beautiful, magnificent talent of doing special things. I work with LOVE. I am love!

This is what I most want to know. WHAT IS MY DESTINY? Why I am on this Earth? Why I came here? What is my mission? I have to find the answer at that question and in order to do that I'll have to follow my intuition, let go with the wind, with the race...be here, right here and right now. I cannot be somewhere else, but NOW. let the show begin!