Raige Creations

Surprisingly, this song had the distinct effect of making my day...well....lovely.  I was driving to work one day last week, in heavy traffic. I have mentioned before , perhaps a few times , how bad traffic is. A normal 20 minute drive takes me 40 or 45 minutes during rush hours. I was getting more and more irritated, going 4 miles per hour, then 12, then 4, then stop. Oh, and excuse me I was leaving space between vehicles, not saying please cut me off.  Geeze. And then this song came on. Well, it was just a lovely song really. So mellow. It has quite a nice message too. I mean how sweet the lyrics are! Just lovely. By the time I got to work, it actually WAS a lovely day. No the traffic didn't get better. My mood did. I was noticeably in a better mood, humming along this quite , well frankly quite repetitive, song.  After so many lovely days you just start having a lovely day! Just goes to show you, we can change our moods and perspectives. Sometimes all it takes is...

Carry on. What we must do. It is hard, these days, but in the end, we must carry on. A popular WWII slogan the English came up with back in 1939. Much unknown then, it's resugence took the world by storm in the 2000's. The original was  Keep Calm and Carry on . The original displayed at Barter Books Many  Keep Calm and.... slogans  are out there. So, so many variations; some are funny, some are motivating, and they all have Keep Calm to start, because that is actually very good advice in so many situations. This song is a fun song, (yes I know, the name of the band too , but it really is an uplifting fun song), it lifts the sprits. Mine anyways.   Cause we are We are shining stars We are invincible We are who we are On our darkest day When we're miles away So we'll come We will find our way home A good reminder to keep that one foot moving forward, carrying on. We are who we are, after all. We must remember to Keep Calm a...

Another Monday, another week of what the heck will happen this week? source And we are just floating around waiting for the next WFT moment. I say, it is time to enjoy some Modest Mouse then and we can all float on together. Alright, already, we'll all float on, alright Don't worry, even if things end up a bit too heavy We'll all float on Alright, already I kind of love that the video has the band in a little puppet show, moving around with magnets. Being controlled by someone. Read into that what you will, I sure we could draw some real life parallels. And then there are the sheep. All singing along, as we float along. Perhaps another real life parallel can be found here. But I won't be drawing or finding any parallels today, it is Monday after all. Asked about the song in an interview with The A.V. Club , Isaac Brock , the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band, said that he consciously intended to write something that felt more po...

Well this year I am trying it. A Good Things Jar Good things jar. Strategically placed. For years we have seen this idea, but I bet no one has really ever done it. Well, okay not no one, but really, do you know anyone that has ever done this? Just do a quick  Pinterest  search and you will find a bunch of Jar Ideas. Source - Pinterest I never have started a jar, but always thought it was a good idea. This year, I finally put one out. Strategically placed next to the fridge, on top of our antique medicine cabinet, in plain view. (a photo of my mothers now in the background, near our duct tape because you never know when you will need duct tape, and emergency flashlights and candles which we need more than you would think because the power goes out that often. Ah island living.) I still need to put scraps of paper near it with a pen, so it is easy to add the good things. All in an effort to ensure this year, setting the tone for the next decade, will be differe...

Source - Pinterest Go, ask, step. Sometimes we need a reminder, if we are feeling stuck or stagnant, to just do it. Sometimes it is that simple, even if it does take a great effort. It will get you results. I needed this reminder, as I have stopped working out, been really lazy, and now feel stagnant. I will be starting a new job Monday, which I am actually very excited about, even if a bit worried about the huge job description and big responsibility.  I worked my whole life really, for just this type of position (GO), I applied (ASK), and I was offered the job (STEP). Now, after weeks of waiting and being most definitely lazy, back to work I go. For me, I have decided this also means back to working out, back to blogging, back to not being lazy. A good reminder, just to GO, ASK, STEP.

Motivation. It is hard, yo. Especially to get out the door, and drive to have a swimming workout. from teespring.com It is not uncommon for me to have major motivational problems to do this. Especially when my coach (hubby) says he is not up for going with me. I sit and battle with myself that I really SHOULD go, but don't want to ~ it takes so much preparation to go. Both physically and mentally. These help, a little gift I got myself - I LOVE these goggles. He usually says, after I whine about the struggle to him, ' Just go if you're gonna go !'  His way of motivating. Gee, thanks coach . I guess it is somewhat effective. I have this struggle nearly every time I plan to go for a swim workout, so I often go to Pinterest for motivation, as one does. Usually, it works: his words in my head and reading all the motivational things I find.  This made me think about the whole process that makes it so hard to do. To get ready: put in contacts. put on sui...

This song is included on one of my playlists for my run/walks - or Wogging (a term I just heard this past weekend at a 5k that I signed up to run, but ended up doing the walk with a jog in the middle mile. I love that term!) My oldest son made me a playlist just for Wogging , in his smart-assy way included songs with the words walk or run in them, but this one actually has a great beat for walking. The song also reminds me that taking a walk, run, or exercising in any way, really does wonders. It makes you exert energy, which lowers stress. It takes your mind off all those stressful things that have been bothering you - or else it helps you work through issues that you have been struggling with.  If you are oustide exercising, it helps to remind you how awesome nature is - either the views, the rain, the hot, the cold, the earth and plants - awesome in positive and negative ways, all keeping you humble to its power.  After you are done with your walk, run, Wogging, ...

Yup, this was the converstaion I had with my youngest after I got back from the store yesterday. You see, we had the wonderfully aweful vertical blinds in every room of the place we have now. The ceiling fans blow the strips so they make noise, they stick so you can't open them without a fight, and well they are just plain ugly. And they let light in. A 17 year old doesn't like this fact in his bedroom. So I went to the store, got these great curtains, on sale. Was waiting for the sale..... They are light blocking. What the boy wanted. A normal 17 year old request, yes, but also because there is a light right outside his window that shines right in his room everynight.  Easy Peasy, hang and ready to go. Except they were WAY too long. So some alteration was needed. But then we discussed options, and he just wanted one piece of fabric going across the full window. He wouldn't be opening them - ever - and didn't need the bulk of two. Wanted a clean no fuss thin...

No, not the new Adele song , I have yet to hear that believe it or not. But at least I am not out of the loop enough to know there is a new Hello song that isn't Lionel Ritchie.... Yes, it would appear I have been MIA for quite a while. And in some ways I have been. It has been almost an entire year since I have posted a blog. I have some drafts, but also almost an entire year ago. But I have been around. Just distracted by real life (which honestly has been wonderful). I gave up my smart phone, and do scroll around Facebook and Pinterest, but writing has taken a back seat to actual life and work. So, now I wonder if there is anyone out there that still would like Raige's thoughts of life, motivation, and creation? Yes, the Floyd song does fit here. Is there anybody in there?  Just nod if you can hear me. (But since it is not Monday, no music today.) I will still try to write, because as I realized something: I often wrote thinking I was helping others, but as I ...

Into the wild.... I heard this song while on a walk/run. It is such an inspirational song to me, I love the whistling, and the strength of her voice, and the lyrics........ Somebody left the gate open You know we got lost on the way Come save us a runaway train Gone insane How do we how do we not fade How do we how do we how do we not fade away How do we how do we oooh Into the wild How are we living living living Into the wild How are we living living living Are we lost on the way? I say only if the gate is closed. With the gate open, we are living. source The gate is opening for us...and I myself am quite looking forward to be on a runaway train, gone insane! {also metaphorically} Am I more scared than not....not this time! It is about time we got up, out of this rut, ask that important question - how are we living - and take off down that path we need to go.... Into the wild.... Wooohoooh!  Woohooahoo Heeeyyy Heeey Is...

As you may have guessed if you are a follower, I have not been keeping up with my workout schedule. You may have noticed I stopped writing about running and walking, stopped posting my workouts, stopped talking about it altogether! Well, you are right. I have slacked. Big time. I did manage 2 workouts last week, but I barely remember them. They were at the beginning of the week, then I didn't go at all the rest of the week. This week, I am NOT off to a good start. Haven't been at all.  I know, you are saying 'well it's early in the week yet'. Yes, but tomorrow is supposed to be COLD! Chance of snow. Yuck. Plus, I have SO much to do, I just haven't had the time to spare.  Yes, this is an excuse. I know.  But I successfully have talked myself out of getting out there several days now. I reasoned that the time it takes to walk (or run) plus the necessary shower afterwards was just too much! I could accomplish so much on my list in that time. Lame...

" Dog Days Are Over " Florence and the Machine cover courtesy of  moshi moshi records Dog Days.  Are they over?  Well, depends on what you think of when you say that.  The dog days are frequently referencing the hottest days of summer. The days when not much is happening, lazy days of summer, etc.  ( source ) Other interpretations say that dog days are about nothing happening…progress stagnating. And the horses coming in? That could be about things moving forward, 'getting a move one'. The horse is about power, wealth, victory. It’s about success. ( source )       Florence and the Machine interpreted their song quite colorfully back in 2008. And then in 2010, came out with this less colorful one, more white with splashes of color. Though hubby disagrees with me on the meaning of dog days, I am sticking with my interpretation of this song:  The stagnant times are done, things are about to get going again....

source: Pinterest At 7am this morning, the rain pouring down, this was my entire attitude.  I know I started out yesterday a bit crazy , but I eventually got it together and went to town to take care of a few things.  I actually got a lot accomplished! Today, I decided it would be a leggings and big baggy sweatshirt kind of day. I had a lot to do, but didn't have to go anywhere. So I decided to slum it a bit. (I didn't even wash my hair!) Well, here it is, almost 2pm, and I haven't crossed anything off my list! YES, I even made a list!! So I decide to at least get a blog done. And as you can tell, I was not really motivated to write, but I just decided to get it done, and that would be one thing off the list. Not the best attitude going into it.  This is one of many days I have had like this lately. Sorry, but I have to ask.... "What is wrong with me?"   I have had far too many days where nothing gets crossed off the list! I have several of those d...

Standing outside at 7:30 am, in my bathrobe, taking pictures of the sky. (it had beautiful pinks and sweeping clouds) Spaghetti and meatballs for breakfast. (trying to make use of the leftovers from the fridge instead of throwing them away) Get More: Ozzy Osbourne , Crazy Train , Music , More Music Videos Yes, it might be one of those kinds of days. source: Andrea via Pinterest At the very least, it will be interesting.  For a Monday, CRAZY might be the only way to handle it, a nice change from the unproductive, lazy, blah weekend I just experienced.  How do you get past an unproductive spell?

It has been so long since I have done a collection!  I think the aliens helped me do this one....I have been so out of sorts this weekend it could only mean one thing.... Aliens. Aliens Made Me Do It   Curated By: RaigeCreations ArtFire.com Part of my goal to get back to featuring cool artists and creators!  So, now that the aliens are happy, I can move on to other things. But I must say, this has strangely motivated me....See what searching creative things can do for you? Give it a try! Look at creative things, search silly topics. If you are in a funk, this may just be the thing to get you out.  What strange things have you searched in the hopes of getting your motivation back on track?

I have been off my game lately. Or should I say on a different game? I don't know. After the Jingle Bell Run , I stopped running. After two months of blogging every day, I all but stopped blogging. I didn't even blog about the actual RACE I ran for goodness sake. After applying strenuously for new jobs listed on the online sites, I stopped applying.  (Until today, that is.) So what HAVE I been doing? I  HAVE  been cooking more (mostly).  I even made pancakes for a breakfast yesterday, and we all sat down as a family and ate breakfast, well brunch really it was noon, TOGETHER! We never do that.... And Kung-Pow Chicken and Lasagna, two days in a row! I  HAVE  been spending time with the family.  The kids all home on break, Assasin's Creed IV for Christmas (Pirates! We all love pirates and this game is kinda fun to watch, with all the pillaging and plundering and shark fishing and all....) Then there was The Walking Dead Marathon. I am...

Original Artwork by Paige These boots were made for art class actually,  by my daughter. But how can you see a picture of boots and not think of Nancy Sinatra and These Boots Are Made For Walkin' ?  It didn't help that we found  Austin Powers  on the telly last week. It is a good tune to start the week, especially when last week was sort of my 'week off' and I really could use a boost to get some crap done this week!  Last week, -I took the week off from running (and even walking) ,  -I took the week off from blogging (was 2 months of NaBloPoMo too much? perhaps. But I wonder this week if I had that to get me blogging I wouldn't have dropped the ball there) , -I even took the week off from putting real pants on! (I did put on leggings and sweatpants, don't worry.) I did manage to: -list some Jewelry for Bridget (all the jewelry from the Blue Rage , with still loads more to list)  ( Artfire section for AF shoppers , Zibbet se...

Yes, please. Someone Wake Me Up .  I can't believe how much I slept all weekend. Naps were frequent, if short, and actually I loved being so lazy ~ at first.  But I knew things had gone too far when I actually contemplated going to pick up the pizza in my pajamas. I had been in pajamas all weekend actually. Well, not the same ones, I did shower Saturday, but put on new pajamas. So Sunday night, when I actually considered going out in my PJ's, I knew something was off. This morning, I was well on my way to another day of PJ's and couch time, dozing off at 8:30am! What the heck is wrong with me? (I like to blame an evil couch, it has this effect on many that come to our house.) I knew this rabbit hole I was going down was not going to be full of adventure , it very well could become a downward spiral . I had to brake the cycle! I decided against a run (again - been several days now, but that is another thing that is 'off', still figuring that out). I sho...