Self prescribed timeout

Hello Friends.

I have been doing a lot of thinking. 

I have been avoiding a lot of hard emotions and feelings.

I have been trying to "get in touch" with myself.

I have been avoiding work.

I have been saying yes when I should be saying no.

I have been stuffing my grief deep inside when I should be letting it have it's time.

I have been angry and I have been barking. 

I have been feeling guilty for one reason or another.

I have been trying to be better. 

A better friend to myself, my body, my soul, my heart. 

I am trying to realize that I just cant do it all.

All of these feelings or lack of feelings have left me completely run down. 

I need to put aside a few things to make room for what needs my attention now. For right now that means self care, family time, bringing ideas and inspiration to life that light a fire inside me. It doesn't mean trying to blog, thinking of and executing blog posts has gone from enjoyable and inspiring to absolute dread. For those of you that come often or every day I know you have noticed a decline here and I don't want to feel guilty about that. 

I am taking a self prescribed time out. 

I will be gone until August. Not sure when exactly but I do know I will be back. I love to be here writing and sharing... just not right now. Have an amazing summer friends.

I value each and everyone of you that support me and read my story. I will not completely disappear, you can come follow along with me, my summer and my inspiration on my Instagram feed, my handle is nadinekaren. 

Until next time.

♥

Camp He Ho Ha Getaway

Two weekends ago I headed out on my first scrapbooking retreat with the most wonderful group of ladies. I didn't know what to expect, I packed WAY too much stuff and I had such a great time! The location is about 45 minutes outside of Edmonton beside a beautiful lake. The weather was beautiful (minus a wind storm) and we were able to get outside and take in the scenery each day (and a few million selphies). I was there from Thursday afternoon to Sunday and it was SO great to have me time. I quickly realized that I need to do this more often, not necessarily pack everything I own but to get away and enjoy the quiet and stillness of not having any responsibilities. I can't even remember the last time I was away from Anna and from Cory- 2007! When I stopped to think about it I couldn't believe it. I was clearly due for this sort of adventure.
I admittedly had a hard time getting into the creative spirit. I spent the first day organizing but that was OK with me, I love organizing. I could have just walked around and sat and listened to all the stories all weekend... and ate Skor bar bites. I ended up getting 14 layouts complete and they were for me... not for a deadline or a class or a project. That was a big wow for me.
I can't thank Cathy enough for organizing this for all the ladies that attended. I know how much work it takes to organize a group of ladies and I am grateful I was included.

our dorm

the craft room

playing

happy

selphie after selphie

Candace, me, Karen, Lisa, Alison, Annette

a lot of silly and a lot of laughs

the whole gang

catching magic sunsets

Too da loo...

Missing from photo: our girl Lisa

I am 100% stepping out of my comfort zone tomorrow and heading out of town with this crew and 6 other ladies to a scrapbooking retreat. I have never been in the 13ish years I have been scrapbooking. I also have never been away without either Cory or Anna for this long since 2007!What! I'd say I am long over due for some ME time. 

I have 1 million things to pack... deep breath. 

I am signing off until next week, I'll be back Tuesday here to share for Layout Love Tuesday. Until then...

kiss kiss