It's Not Fight or Flight, and It's Not Eat, Pray, Love

One of the things I learned in the body language book was that "fight or flight" is a myth. My theory is that it's actually a myth perpetrated by bullies to make themselves seem tougher by implying that there are two types of people - those who run, and those who fight.

The limbic system actually does something quite different. All animals, not just humans, go through a different sequence when confronted with a threat.

Freeze. Flight. Fight.

Fighting is actually the last, and least desirable option. Why? Because fighting gets you injured or killed.

Freezing does a few things. All mammals' primary "I'm going to eat you now" reaction is triggered by motion. We are visual creatures. Freezing is the most critical response, because it makes you invisible, hence, a less likely snack option. It also gives you time to prepare for phase two, if necessary - flight. In order to prepare for flight, you do all sorts of things. Your nostrils flare, because you need oxygen to run. Your pupils dilate to help you see more accurately, because there's nothing more embarrassing than running into a tree when a cheetah is chasing you! And last, and ONLY if the first two didn't work, do you fight.

So there you go. Something you've heard all your life is a lie!

Now on to Jackson Galaxy. When I went to see him speak, he joked about eat, pray, love. He said that if you want happy felines, you have to align yourself with the normal cat progression, which is:

Play. Eat. Love.

This is a very different cycle from canines.

Cats need to hunt before they eat. If they don't, then they can have play aggression, or, as most people know it, ankle attacking. If they get out of sync, their play (prey) occurs at inappropriate times. So he recommends a good play session before you feed them. After they eat, they're happy to lounge on your lap like the spoiled little beasties they are.  I've started paying attention to this and they are much happier and calmer in their downtime if I wear them out before I feed them with crazy mouse games.

Now, if you're a human, what you should do is:

Stamp. Stamp. Stamp.

That's what I do, anyway!

Today is a very special day - it's the 5th birthday of the Color Throwdown! I'm lucky enough to have been an Alumni and very honored to help them celebrate! I love their color combo for the birthday celebration!

I stamped an image from Greeting Card Kids (retired, but I will never let go) in Memento Rich Cocoa ink, stamped off once.  Then I colored it with just two Touch Twin Markers: YR29 and YR31. I used Afternoon Picnic paper on a Baked Brown Sugar card base. Easy sepia look!

Please hop over to the Color Throwdown blog to wish them happy birthday - there's a GOOD chance you might win one of their awesome prizes.

And I challenge you to start paying attention to your response to stressful situations. I never, ever realized that freeze came first, but now I'm hyper-aware of it. You'll be amazed when you start to notice it.

And don't forget to play with your kittens. Or to stamp, stamp, stamp. :)

Loveyameanitbye.

When You Care Enough To Send the Hairy Beast

I bought a stamp that says that - it has the little Hallmark crown over it and it just cracks me UP!

I thought about stamping it on the back of my Christmas cards, but then I decided I should be more serious so I used my normal one.

That's right - I said Christmas cards. Again.

I'm in full assembly mode at night. I have a mobile command center in the living room and am on phase 3 of assembly. Sadly, phase 3 is always where I discover the flaw in my design that grinds everything to a screeching near halt of slowness. Phases 1 & 2 had me feeling all smirky that I had designed a pretty smooth mass production piece of paper art, but 3 is always the DOH moment.

Oh well. I plod on, still determined to make my weekend mailing deadline! The hopelessness has left me!

Now to today's fun!

LOOK at this gorgeous Color Throwdown combo!!

I knew when I saw this I was going to get all Die-licious all over it,  and I was so tempted to use my butterfly embosslit, but I knew I couldn't resist my new toys.

I busted out my Fashionable Hearts Embosslit and my Labels Collection framelits from the upcoming Occasions mini, along with the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set for a quick & happy card.

Those Color Throwdown ladies are brilliant. This combo just makes my eyes happy. Especially in this drizzly nastiness that will not leave my state.

One of our local radio hosts even commented on how we're all going crazy from this Seattle-ness. We Texans are not built for this. I'll be thrilled to see the sun again. I may not come inside for a while when it comes back.

I'll just post a pic of the sun here and you'll know why I'm gone!

Loveyameanitbye.

We Interrupt This Broadcast...

To bring you some squealing!

I didn't finish work today until 9. Normally, that would just be a long day. But today, it was more excruciating than normal because I knew as soon as I was done, I could bust into the box containing my Occasions Mini pre-order that was torturing me with its silent presence while I slaved away!

GAH it was nearly unbearable.

But as I finally sliced the tape on the box and lovingly beheld the beautiful Pool Party twine, the cherry scented embossing powder, the Framelits, and OMG the stamps, I forgot my long day.

Actually I forgot everything else in the world. Most notably laundry and dusting. Actually, I hadn't been thinking about those at all, so that's kind of a gimme. Anyhoo...

Isn't it fun after all these years to still have a box of new stampy goodness turn you into a squealy five year old on Christmas morning?

I love that.

Of course, the next thing that sets in is the paralysis of "where do I start?" "What do I play with first?"

Under normal circumstances, I respond to this paralysis by seeing something shiny and wandering off to Pinterest or Twitter and not stamping anything at all.

But today, I had a mission. This week's Color Throwdown.

Now tell me that when you look at these colors, that you can refrain from thinking about a gnome. And if you do tell me that, I will totally call you liar. Because you're thinking about a gnome.

Well darn it - so am I! And I happen to HAVE a gnome in my big box of stampy goodness. Actually several, ridiculously adorable gnomes and some hilarious sayings. Like "You light up my lawn."

Bwahahahah!

Stamps: Gnome Sweet Gnome (Upcoming Occasions Mini) Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White, Old Olive

Ink: Soft Suede, Creamy Caramel, Daffodil Delight, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive, Going Grey

Accessories: Perfect Pennants Die, Circle Die, 2.5" Circle Punch, Blender Pen, White Gel Pen, Dazzling Details

That cracks me up!

This set is called Gnome Sweet Gnome, and also has a girl gnome, a baby gnome - yes, a baby gnome - and 9 other adorable stamps. (Available January 4)

I hand fringed the grass with my rubber scissors. The ticket with this is to put the highest row on first - believe me, I've done it wrong and it's embarassing.

A person doesn't need to be humiliated by an improperly terraced card. Save yourselves. My pain is your gain.

In case YOU have a new box of stamps you want to play with, come play in the Virtual Stamp Night challenges this weekend on Splitcoast! I'm hostessing one with a very "me" theme and I'd love to chat it up with you in the forum so come on over.

Also, be sure and check out this month's Creative Crew gallery (you have to be logged in to Splitcoast to see the gallery) - it's AMAZING.

Oh lookie - we're halfway to Friday. :)

Loveyameanitbye.

I'm Selling This Card For 12 Million Dollars

Yep.

This dude sold this boring photo for 4 million because he only took six photos or some nonsense so they were rare. Seriously.

This photo.

It gives me narcolepsy.

Hey - you - wake up. I know it's a boring photo, but you need to keep reading.

So if some shyster can get 4 cool ones for that, surely I can get 12 million for my card, of which there is only ONE!

It's first come, first served by the way. No shoving.

Today's 12 million card is even MORE special because it's for TWO challenges - the Color Throwdown (CTD168) and the Touch Twin challenge (TTC05). Since these were the colors for the throwdown...

Naturally, I had to make Tami's little gnomie sort of Santa-esque. He's so cute as a garden Santa.

Stamps: Gnome one like you (Gina K) Paper: SU Patterns Pack Ink: Memento Accessories: SU Polka Dot ribbon, Twinery Buttercream twine, ShinHan Touch Twin markers: R11, R14, R131, YR135, 120, CG0.5

You probably better hurry before I decide that 2 challenges means double the price, my gnomies!

I do accept PayPal.

Loveyameanitbye.

Wow Bags

I was talking to my friend Korin yesterday about those early creations we all made when we first got obsessed with stamps.

Now, of course, we think they are so lame and childlike compared to what we make now, but back then, it was like the sea had parted when we had more than one layer on a card (all layers were square of course) or did something crazy like put organdy ribbon on a card.

One of the very first things that just flipped my lid was a "wow bag". I'm so embarrassed to even talk about it. Take a white lunchbag, and using a rolling stamp, roll a hot pink pattern diagonally, then a lime green line, then pink, and so on. Punch two holes in the top and put a huge, hideously bright pink organdy bow on the front. People would literally SCREAM about it at stamp classes back then.

How far we have come, ladies. How. Far. We. Have. Come. Now I guess we're making all the things that will embarrass us in ten years.

Some things stand the test of time though.

I still enjoy coloring directly on my stamps with markers and "huffing" to get multicolored images. I decided to use that for my first....... drum roll please ...... guest spot on the Color Throwdown blog! Squee!! I'll be hanging out there every Wednesday for a while and I'm very excited! This first color combo was MADE for me and this technique too!

How beautiful is that? Here's my take.

Stamps: My Friend, Warmest of Wishes Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake Ink:Basic Black 
Accessories: Baja Breeze & Olive Markers, White Twine, Rhinestones

How's that for a wow bag?

 

Come play along with us with this pretty combo and add your link here.