Month: May 2019

I have decided to put a challenge together to jump-start some creative juices in all of us. I have a five-week plan to help us get started. I say it’s time to turn our ideas into a reality and begin to fuel these stored away passions. We will begin taking action on our passion’s with a small monetary investment of one hundred dollars. I have begun saving my change in old water bottles. I will say it’s easier not to spend when the money you are saving is in coin form. (Take this as a tip from a long time saver.) If you think you can’t get started moving your passion in the right direction with just one hundred dollars, then I especially throw down the challenge to you.

Five weeks is our timeline. Any more and we’re gonna be spinning our wheels, and any less it’s possible we won’t be able to come up with the money. One hundred dollars spread out over five weeks. I’ll bet it’s there. Not saying you might not have to pack a brown bag lunch or give up your Starbucks but it’s there. If you can’t find a way to save it- find a way to make it.

Can you dog sit or kid sit? Do you love to bake and could you put together a Facebook post asking folks to buy your cupcakes, cookies or pies? (see how I slipped pie in there) I think there may be a lawn that you could mow or a friend who needs help with chores.. whatever you can think of. Do it!

We are women who have raised kids. We have made budgets stretch further than most can imagine. We have had to be creative with how we spend and save. But here’s our chance to dig deep and do it again. This time it is not for anyone else, or anyone else’s needs and that can be an odd concept for some…myself included- but here we are and it’s time to find and follow our passion.

So what will you do with your hundred dollars? Well, that will depend if you’ve given your dream enough thought. Are you a person who loves photography but never signed up for the class offered online? What if you want to start baking and you have had your eye on some special molds you’ve secretly coveted? Do you need business cards made or fliers to promote yourself?

I started with a crude sketch of my own writing space. I haven’t had my own space for that in over twenty years. I know that having a place that is all mine for just my writing would be inspirational to me. So that is what I want. I have already bought a large picture I love of an old typewriter, and now I am building on that. I want to find an old desk to refinish and maybe even a fuzzy rug that my bare feet can curl around while I am enjoying the clicking of keys.

Let’s not over complicate this idea. Don’t get bogged down. What’s the first thing that pops in your head? Write it in sharpie, pin it on the fridge and start saving. I will be updating how my writing area progresses and I hope that in five weeks you’ve saved your money and are on your way to investing in your piece of pie.

Till next time- Erin

I can recall with uncanny detail the days of 1972- Christmas time to be more accurate. I had received a fisher price boat from Santa, and man did I love that thing. A life vest that would fit a dog? What? I thought it was hilarious. I loved the ridged bounce off the diving board with the circle lip that would hold the dog until I was ready to plunge him into the bubbly water below. There were yellow deck chairs for the people of the boat to lay in and it was how I loved spending my time, in a bubble-filled tub that would get cooled off so many times my mom would have to come in repeatedly to add more hot water as my fingers became prunes.

Outside of the tub, there was coloring. Ahhh, the good old days.

Living in Illinois as a child I spent many an afternoon in the winters playing inside at the kitchen table avoiding the harsh Midwest weather. Our family table was where I could create. Our kitchen table was magical with paper, coloring books, and crayons. My Mom would wash dishes or do other kitchen chores while Elvis played for hours on the record player. The whole kitchen smelling of pine- sol and life was good.

Coloring and creating was my “thing”, and within that was the Crayola that had been given the name “Cornflower Blue”. It was my favorite. To this day I literally feel happy just thinking of that color. I loved how the slightly gray coloring pages were just rough enough that the color would come off the crayon with little effort, and oddly enough when I think back on my childhood I often think of days spent creating with this color of crayon.

As easy as it is for me to recall the past, it’s equally as easy for me to envision the future. Which brings me to this point. Your past filled with dreams and memories from it can help shape your passions. I am happy when I think of the feelings I had in that old kitchen. To this day if I am feeling low my sink at home will be filled with warm water and Pine-sol-because I want to be that kid whose Mom is still here. I want to be the carefree kid who can smell Pine-sol mixed with Cornflower Blue crayon. So as I follow through with the vision this is what I see.

The property next door to my home is empty. I can sit on my back deck with a drink in hand and visualize turning it into a retreat. There will be small cabins, just big enough for a bed and two sitting chairs. Space will be filled with Shabby chic decor and each room will be finished with a framed coloring book page that had been colored in Cornflower blue. Somewhere on a small shelf will be a few antique toys and I wouldn’t be surprised if my old friend Mr. Dog wouldn’t be standing tall wearing his life vest in at least one of these cabins. On the small front decks of each cabin I will provide seating with some flower pots, and it will be tranquil. Cornflower Blue retreat will also have animals in a small area with a tiny barn and split rail fence. Two alpaca’s named Elvis and Priscilla (shout out to my early Elvis memories) goats, and seven chickens one each that my Grandkids can pick out and name. Evenings will find guests sitting around the fire pit with drinks and s’ mores will be made. These days that I describe are as vivid to me as the day’s that I remember and they bring me joy to think about. Imagining my guests sitting under a pavilion for meals that I have prepared at my house. Evening entertainment of music and storytelling- I can picture it all.

I have taken this vision as far as making a business flyer- it’s very simplistic but it’s a visual reminder of a dream. It makes it all make sense. If Cornflower Blue Retreat never comes to fruition then so be it- but to me, it’s here. It’s in my mind as a dream that has come to life.

This to me shows how something as small as a childhood crayon can become a passion. Think about what makes you happy. Something as small as a crayon, when you follow it through can become an idea that is bigger than you even realized it could be.

So what was it? As a child did you love to draw, play in the grass or go on long walks with your Dad? Did you build forts, bake cupcakes or do science projects all day in the kitchen? What could that lead you to today if you thought it through?

If you were not blessed with a childhood that brought you peace and good memories than think back to where you went in your mind to escape. Did you tell yourself that when you were the adult you were going to get in a car and drive/explore? Were you going to be in a band or learn how to fly a plane? You are still here, and the good news is you are the adult now.

Here’s to taking one step today to finding what it is you want to do. Grab the fork and look for the last piece of pie. It is yours to take!

Till next time- Erin

Not long ago, there was a top 10 list of things your mom never told you going around Facebook. Listed I believe in the second spot was this: “She wanted the last piece of pie.” And so it was born. This idea that I could start a blog that discusses the things in life that we moms have willingly given up for our families and how when the time is right- we can grab a fork and enjoy the last piece of pie ourselves.

The title is a nod to all those Mom’s who put themselves if not last then close to last as they raised a family. We’ve all done it. One morning you’re looking at those concert tickets that you’d love to buy, and by the afternoon your kid’s have come home with soccer sign up forms, or a note saying they need a new costume for their dance recital. The hundred dollars you’ve saved for that girls night out is quickly given up when the car decides it’s going to sputter and stall and so on and so on.

I’d like this to be a place where my storytelling can help open up others to think about some of their dreams. These dreams are allowed to be wild and far fetched. They are allowed to be whatever you want them to be. I have hopes that we can become a community that puts a little focus back on ourselves. The last piece of pie is my passion. It’s my outlet, and I hope you will find my stories and quotes and small video’s to be fun and uplifting. I intend for it to be a place of positive reflection and prompting.

My children are grown and have families of their own they are raising. I have a very blessed life. My blog is not to suggest that I should “have it all” but rather a realization that I have done what was necessary during my child-raising years, and now I am free to explore my interests…passions if you will.

I’m going to be touching on some idea’s that I’ve had for years. Job’s I’d like to try and some projects I’ve been thinking about that I hope to move off the paper and put into action. I have fallen in love with writing again, a love I have had as far back as I can remember. I had shelved this passion for years, but now is the time to enjoy The last piece of pie! I’m guessing I will have some flops along the way- but I will be in pursuit of what brings me personal accomplishment and joy. There will be inspirational quotes, and both fiction and non-fiction stories. I’m throwing it all in here, like a big pot of soup I will add all I can and hope that it will appeal to you.

So now is the time. I’m looking forward to hearing from others, let’s network and see what we can do to make each other’s passions come to life. So here we go ladies, pick up a fork and finally enjoy “The last piece of pie”.

Till next time- Erin