My new chapter

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Beth F.
A beautiful Miami sunrise. 😍

Exactly a year ago today (3/30/2021) my divorce was finalized. It was a day for me to breathe a sigh of relief.  After dealing with the ex-husband’s silent treatments,  threats and offers to try again if I was willing to meet certain conditions, I was beyond ready to be done.  His moods could shift just like the flip of a switch and I never knew which side of my ex-husband I might be dealing with.

After going through all that, I knew that I needed to do some work on myself before I entertained the thought of being with anyone again. I was broken and I knew I needed to heal and to learn to be ok with myself and to set boundries for any future relationships. At that time, one year seemed like a perfectly reasonable amount of time to give myself before embarking on any dating adventures.

I was still holding on to some slim hope that maybe my now ex-husband would decide that he missed me and that he might be willing to give us another chance. Maybe counseling could help, I thought. After all, the last time we saw each other in April, he said he would probably always love me and we kissed.  I remember telling him that if he could figure out what was going on in his head and give us another chance, I didn’t plan to start dating until March 30, 2022.

I finished therapy in June and had my therapist’s blessing to try my hand at a date here and there. I activated accounts on Zoosk and Match.com Although I did go out on one date and a few activities as friends, I think the hope for a possible reconciliation was still there. Once I discovered that there had been another woman in the picture, I found it MUCH easier to let that hope die.  I felt so stupid and so gullible, but at least I finally had an explanation for the erratic behavior.

Fast forward to August of last year. I had exchange students arriving in the middle of the month and decided that one last date before the schedule got crazy might be fun.  I was a bit apprehensive as I walked through the Olive Garden parking lot, and when I saw my date on the bench out front, I thought….”Nice! He is cuter than his profile pic.” I was a bit sad when our lunch date was ending, so when we made plans for a movie that evening, it was very cool!  We ended up seeing quite a bit of each other in the days that followed and a sweet kiss after a walk through the park made me want to see even more of him. ❤️

We enjoyed a short walk on the beach during our last morning in Miami.

We have been together for seven months now and took our first trip together last week. I can’t answer for him, but I know I really enjoyed having time away from responsibilities and time to just enjoy each other’s company. I think we complement each other very well. I love it when he holds my hand when we’re walking and when he calls me “hon” or “dear”. He is incredibly talented at fixing and building things. He is currently working on building a shed for me and I am in awe of how he knows exactly what to do without even looking at any plans. He has it clear in his head what it should look like and he just goes from there and creates it!

A memento of our trip. 💕

I tend to overthink and to look far into the future. Right now, though, I am telling my brain to trust my heart and to enjoy the present moment. ❤️ I don’t need to know exactly how the story turns out to make the very most of this wonderful new chapter! ❤️

The shed in progress! Such incredible talent!! 😍
Posted in adventure, Carpe Diem, Dating, love, moving on, relationships, Vacation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Personality

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Beth F.

I am what is mine. Personality is the original personal property.

Norman O. Brown

Last week I took one of the free online Myers Briggs personality tests. I got the result INFJ (The Counselor). I went down the Pinterest rabbit hole after that, finding one post after another that “so perfectly” described me. I retook it today and while I got INFJ once again, I also had “VERY GOOD MATCH” with ISFJ and “GOOD MATCH” with INFP

Is this an absolutely accurate science? No, but I found the descriptions to be fairly on point with my own characteristics. I like the following website because it gives the personality type as well as a brief explanation of the results.

https://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-personality-test-new

Mine, for example breaks down as follows:

  • 65% Introverted, 35% Extroverted (Engergized by time alone v. Energized by time with others)
  • 47% Sensing, 53% Intuition (Facts/Details v. Creative, Interpretive)
  • 28% Thinking, 72% Feeling (Head v. Heart)
  • 45% Perceiving, 55% Judging (Relaxed, spontaneous v. Orderly, scheduled)
Copied from Pinterest…..a playground for information about personality types! If you feel so inclined, follow me here: https://pin.it/4lnq2pY
I love to create little works of art to share with the special people in my life.
I LOVE attending live theater performances and listening to the Soundtracks or Cast recordings. This is my “My Favorite Broadway” playlist, one of many playlists on Spotify!
I certainly fit the INFJ hobbies profile….. art, photographs, gardening (and photographs of my gardens!)

If any of you are so inclined and love finding out more about what makes us tick, I suggest taking the test and seeing if you think the results are accurate for you. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for reading!

Posted in creativity, gardening, Just Me, Learning, personality | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Take Nothing For Granted

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Beth F.
My daily reminder to make the most of life

This post might will show what a strange duck I am. This little zentangle is posted on my bedroom mirror and every time I see it, I am reminded of my own mortality and of the fact that I need to make the most of the time I have here because I never know what day might be my last.

I have learned that everything in life is fleeting. Beautiful flowers in the spring and summer wilt and die. Beloved pets cross the rainbow bridge. People we love die or disappear from our lives.

As dreary and depressing as this seems, the lesson I glean from it is to make the most of the happy moments we are given. We should enjoy and appreciate the people in our lives while they are with us. As Elpheba sings in “As Long As You’re Mine” from Wicked (one of my all time favorite musicals), “And if it turns out, it’s over too fast, I’ll make every last moment last”.

I do tend to overanalyze sometimes and to worry about the future. What if this happens? What if that happens? I am trying to be better at living in the moment and enjoying the happy times and not wondering what will happen tomorrow. To paraphrase the brilliant author, worrying about tomorrow’s sorrow only robs today of its joy. Here’s the actual quote:

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.

Leo Buscaglia
Another zentangle I see every day that reminds me to make the most of every opportunity

Life is too short to worry about anything. You had better enjoy it because the next day promises nothing.

Eric Davis

When the difficult and sad times do arrive, I think it helps to have memories of happier times to help us remember that life is a balance of good and bad. I believe that one day, when I breathe my last , I will be reunited with all my friends and family members who have gone before. Those people live on in the memories they made, and I, too, hope to someday live on through happy memories I make with all those I love and care about. So, to sum it up, make the most of every day and take nothing for granted.

Posted in Acceptance, Carpe Diem, Celebrate, Embrace Life, fighting fears, happiness, Worry | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Angel Numbers

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Beth F.

Today is a remarkable day in terms of numbers, 2/22/22. It is a palindrome as are several days this week. Not only that, as I have learned, repeating numbers are often referred to as “angel numbers.”

I know, many might find it ridiculous, but to those, I say, why not be open to messages from our angels in whatever form they might come? While I have never been lucky enough to have direct communication from my guardian angel, I know that I am watched over and protected. I grew up saying the “guardian angel prayer” at night and still say it.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here.

Ever this night be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.

Amen

To those who are like me and believe in signs and messages, here is some information I found that tells us what messages are to be gleaned from repeating numbers:

  • 111 – May signal the start of something new in your life. Also a reminder that what you focus on, you manifest, so keep your thoughts positive!
  • 222 – A sign that everything is working for you and that you are on the right path. You just need to keep the faith.
  • 333 – A message that your angels are always with you. A sign that you need to trust your intuition and to let go of past regrets and failure. Move on with God’s light guiding your way.
  • 444 – Your angels are around you right now, supporting you and encouraging you. They want you to achieve the goals you are working towards. Tune in to receive the intuitive nudges and guidance that they send you.
  • 555 – Huge changes are unfolding, or are about to unfold. This is a message to release the past and what no longer serves you. It is a sign that you are going to change your life for the better and to become more aligned with your truest self.
  • 666 – A sign of love and devotion. Listen to what your heart is telling you. Be more open and open-minded about relationships. Let go of fear and bad habits and positive things will start happening.
  • 777 – A call from your angels to trust them and to use the blessings and gifts that God has given you. By using these gifts to improve other people’s lives, your life will improve as well.
  • 888 – A reminder that life always moves in cycles and that you are entering a cycle of prosperity and abundance. This number is a powerful symbol of financial manifestation, but also a reminder that because life is cyclical, retaining a sense of balance is important.
  • 999 – A message that one life cycle is going to be over because it is time for new beginnings. A sign to release control of something so that there is space for something new .

Thank you to my angels for watching over me, keeping me safe and nudging me in the direction of serving God and my fellow human beings! ❤😇❤

Love, ❤ Beth

Posted in angels, anticipating good, Beautiful, communication, Embrace Life, keep your eyes open, living life to the fullest, love, nurturing | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Be Mine…..all year long ❤

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Beth F.

To me, Valentine’s Day is not merely limited to a lover but speaks of universal love.

Dimple Kapadia

As I was working on these little valentines last night, I was anticipating who I could share them with. I like to think that my little creations bring happiness to the receivers and I love hearing that confirmed by the recipients. If they bring a smile to the face of the person receiving them or even seeing them, it is incredibly satisfying.

I love the above quote because I think it is true that Valentine’s Day is for everyone who is special to us. Of course I hope to celebrate the day with my sweetheart, but I think it is also important to make this a day that we honor the friends and family members that we love as well. Honestly, I think it is good to celebrate those we care about all year long, so I enjoy making little reminders that I care throughout the year. Holidays of any kind are a great reminder to share with the people we care about how much they mean to us.

So to all my friends and family, my sweetheart and my lovely fellow bloggers, I hope every day is worth celebrating and that includes the fun holidays like Valentine’s Day! 💕

I think that Valentine’s Day is only as good as you want it to be. You know, I don’t think it should be anything fancy, nothing crazy. As long as you’re spending time with that person that’s special, I think that’s a great Valentine’s Day.

Prince Royce

Love, ❤ Beth

Posted in Celebrate, friendship, love, relationships | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Back to Me

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Beth F.

If you are lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Last night I threw myself a little pity party. Sometimes I need to get out of my own head, I think. I tend to overthink things and my mind was in overdrive last night. Why, I asked myself, am I spending Saturday night all alone? My mind quickly stepped in to answer me….. because nobody cares about you. I wallowed in that for a little bit and then decided I needed to get off that thought track before I started a nosedive into “negativity land”.

There are so many things I enjoy doing alone, and if I can’t be happy alone, I won’t be good company for anybody else.

My message to myself…rethink alone time! ❤

I ended up working on some little watercolors, taking a bath and catching up on (almost all) the latest episodes of “And Just Like That”. It surely wasn’t the terrible tragedy I initially made it out to be.

Some watercolor practice helped to pull me out of my funk. 😊

This morning I started thinking of all the things I enjoy doing and made a mental list of them. I am beyond capable of finding fun things to do even when I am by myself. Here’s what I came up with:

  • Play with my watercolors
  • Watch an episode of a show I enjoy
  • Read a book
  • Work on a puzzle
  • Feed the birds and squirrels
  • Write a letter to a friend
  • Work on my sweepstakes
  • Journal
  • Write a blog post
  • Take a nap
  • Make cookies
  • Do some laundry (not as fun 😉)
  • Go shopping
  • Play with my puppy

I have to remember my Dad’s favorite saying, “Life is What You Make It.” I will make today a better day! 😊

Posted in Acceptance, feelings, fighting fears, Love Yourself, vulnerability, watercolor practice, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

I AM smiling 😉

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Beth F.

I don’t think you should try to be anything you’re not. If you’re not smiling all the time or always happy – I don’t think it matters. If you’re having a bad day, show you’re having a bad day. Don’t try to put up something that’s fake.

Elle Fanning
Some days, this is the closest to a smile that I can get ;)

I’m not having a BAD day, but just feeling a bit blah. 😐 I think it is the weather. January is often pretty gloomy. Staying at the office for lunch doesn’t help, but I have to do a bit of running later this afternoon. I definitely am looking forward to warmer, longer days and a few less obligations! I think it’s okay to have days that aren’t the cheeriest. Today’s high temp is only 14 degrees. Brrrr! I will let myself be a “gloomy gus” today and will hopefully be back to feeling a bit more chipper tomorrow!

  • Wednesday Addams and I both have our “meh” days!

You just have to be authentic. You can’t fake a smile. You have to do what you actually enjoy.

Charli D’Amelio
Posted in Blah, feelings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

What a difference!

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Beth F.
A new watercolor creation that captures my current mood. ❤

One year ago today, I could not have foreseen the events that would unfold.  Exactly a year ago today, I tested positive for Covid, was dealing with mind games and threats from my narcissist ex and was feeling defeated, dejected and so alone. A month later, with the help of a wonderful therapist, I was able to begin to see what a toxic relationship I had been in and that being alone was so much better than that. I found the core of who I am and the confidence to make it on my own if I needed to.

The months that followed found me doing a lot of work in the new/old house and in the yard. Weekly therapy sessions were incredibly helpful. When I commit to something, I give it my all and therapy was no different. I journaled my little heart out and was upfront and honest. I came to realize that though I have my faults, like everyone, I did not deserve to be treated the way I had been. 

I regained the self-confidence that had been worn down in the course of that relationship. I was comfortable in my own skin again and was given the green light from my therapist to spread my wings and to get back to living again. ❤

The thought of being in another relationship was scary, and I set my goal far into the future. I decided that I would start dating again when my divorce had been final for a year….March 30, 2022. Well, you know what they say about best laid plans. 😉💕😉

Along the way, I found joy in my friends and family, in my yard. and in my drawing and newly obtained skill of watercolor painting. Finding happiness in my own pursuits is what I believe allowed me to be open to the relationship that I found and am building with my new sweetheart.

Thinking of all the wonderful, kind people in my life inspired this zentangle. ❤😊❤

Gone is the anxiety that plagued me in my previous relationship. I no longer have to feel like I am walking on eggshells and to feel like I will never be good enough. With my new beau, I am relaxed and comfortable. The thought of seeing him makes me happy, not anxious, and I never feel like he will judge me and find me lacking. He is incredibly thoughtful and kind.

I enjoyed trying this new technique with my watercolors. I really like the results! 💙

I think the purpose of this post is to give hope to anyone out there feeling hopeless and alone. There is light at the end of the tunnel. A year ago, I felt mired in sadness and hopelessness. Today I feel hopeful and happy. I am excited to see what the future brings. I did the work to be happy with myself and along the way I found a special someone 💕

What a difference a year makes! ❤ I am wishing all of you joy and happiness in the year ahead of us. 💕😊💕.

Love, Beth ❤

Posted in Carpe Diem, creativity, Dating, feelings, happiness, independence, Let it go, Love Yourself, moving on, relationships, watercolor practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Love, love, love…

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Beth F.
Before embellishment
Watercolor practice ❤🥰❤

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.

Ann Landers
I am very happy with the results of my practice session. I might even say I LOVE them!
Posted in accomplishment, love, Love Yourself, watercolor practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Wishes Come True

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Beth F.
My latest little drawing inspired by my sweetie and made possible by an awesome YouTube tutorial from Vishal Arte ❤

Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Franklin P. Jones
Posted in anticipating good, Carpe Diem, Dating, Embrace Life, feelings, love, relationships | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Amazing work, my skilled sweetheart!

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Beth F.
The tub surround was in VERY rough shape before my sweetheart stepped in to help.

Skill is the unified force of experience, intellect and passion in their operation.

John Ruskin

For the past two months, we have been struggling with the tub surround in the upstairs bathroom. We realized there was a problem when water started dripping into the basement bathroom, located directly below this one. I think it has been going on for quite some time, but since it hasn’t gotten the chance to dry between showers now that there are more of us using it, we realized what was happening. The tiles were loose in spots and had not been caulked in many years, I’m sure. That combined with the fact that the sheetrock behind the tiles was not the type that resists mold and mildew made for a moldy mess.

By the work, one knows the workman.

Jean de La Fontaine

Over the course of several days, the old tile came out, the correct sheetrock was installed and finally the tub surround panels were put in. It is such an amazing transformation and I am in awe of my honey’s handyman skills! As Jean de La Fontaine so aptly says in the quote above, one knows the workman by the work. Judging from the completed project, my sweetheart is amazing!!

The completed project – What a transformation!!!
Posted in accomplishment, completing tasks, relationships, thankfulness | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

“Happy” Holidays

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Beth F.

Happy, happy Christmas that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!

Charles Dickens

Remembering Christmases past in my new/old home! My son Nathan helped put the lights up using the nails my Dad pounded in place for a guide many, many years ago. I believe Mom is able to see it and is very happy to see the home that holds so many memories smile for the holidays once more. ❤🎄❤

  • Photos from years past when the family was all together ❤️
Posted in anticipating good, Beautiful, Celebrate, completing tasks, Embrace Life, happiness | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments