edited to add: this has been sitting in my drafts folder, I thought I had posted it already, but, um no...

A few weeks ago, I was touched and delighted to be awarded the "I love your blog award" by the sweet and talented Nelda Ream. I was even more touched when I read her post on the award - so generous. Do take the time to explore her blog, she has some beautiful work on there, and a sneak peek of her upcoming article in Somerset Life.

I don't know what has taken me so long, it has been a lightning speed kind of month.

So on to spreading the love...

I can't even tell you how many blogs I have in Google Reader, and I try to keep up with them all, although the frequency varies with the pace of life. Certain people though always make my day better, so even if I only have five minutes for blog reading, I will check in with these. In no particular order... I love these blogs:

1. Carla Sonheim of Snowball Journals. Carla has been so generous and encouraging over the past 18 months, a time of huge growth in my artistic life. She has a fun cereal box transfer tutorial on her blog right now.
2. Liz Elayne Lamoreux at be present be here. Liz is incredibly productive, but also incredibly grounded. I'm amazed how often a visit to her blog rewards me with exactly the words I needed to hear at that very moment.
3. Sharyn Tormanen at Live from Tormville. Inspirational scrapbooker, mother of four and a hardcore daily blogger. She always makes me laugh, photography is amazing and her scrapbooking focuses on the story and the pictures, which for me is the whole point.
4. Amy Giles at Amy Rehnae. She's living the dream... she was just published, takes classes, and shows and sells art. And it is good art.
5. Dawn Sokol at D'Blogala. She's bringing art journalling to the people, celebrating the good and encouraging those new to it, all that and she manages an impressive amount of journalling and blogging herself too. Make sure you check out her book 1000 Artist Journal Pages too (and if you get your hands on a copy, I'm on page 159).
6. Andrew Borloz at &drew. Beautiful books, beautiful photography, he has a fantastic eye, and sees opportunities for art everywhere. I always come away envious and inspired (mostly inspired).
7. Judy Wise at the blog with her name. I only wish she knew what a big deal she is to me! She shines and gives such gifts wherever she goes. Her blog makes me feel joyful and inspired and reminds me what is good and rich in the world.

I am a night owl. That is part of my personality, and just the way I like it.

but on the other hand

I am an insomniac. I lie awake, thoughts racing through my brain, the chance to sleep flying out the window as dawn and the alarm and the work day loom ever closer.

I think I sabotage myself in part, because I enjoy the night so much, and maybe I even worry I would be less interesting if I went to bed earlier. I know that's weird, but we all have these little self-illusions. One of mine is the image of smart, creative types pulling all-nighters, black coffee in hand, cigarettes burning. Okay, I don't smoke, but you get the picture.

So I am giving it a try. I am drinking herbal tea, Dr. Stuart's Valerian Plus, to relax me before bed. I am drinking tincture of valerian in bed to quiet my mind and let me drift away. And to round out the night I have finally invested in one of those dawn simulating clocks. The light gradually comes on over half an hour, which triggers your mind to do natural waking hormone stuff (you've got to make sure it's enough lux and full-spectrum - hubby with a flashlight pointed at your face will not have the same effect!), then your alarm goes off at the set time, with birdsong, or surf, or froggies (you can have beeping or the radio, but hey, I'm being a good girl and going to bed, at least grant me my whimsical chirping alarm sounds!).

So far so good, I'm waking up more willingly, and haven't pressed snooze yet!