Samantha Hanson, LPC, ATR, Clini-Coach®

Archives November 2016

Change

Change can be difficult to handle.  With the recent election everyone has their thoughts and beliefs and feelings toward the situation, and they are allowed to have them.  I have seen a lot of this on social media, and I don’t necessarily agree that that is the best way to express things; however, we each do the best that we can and if that includes using our social media as a support, by all means use social media to express yourself.  Personally, for me I like to find a more creative way to express myself. With a sale at #joanns I discovered #prismacolor colored pencils!!!! OMG they are amazing.  (I also just found Walmart sells them way cheaper in case the sale has ended by the time you read this post). They are the best colored pencils I have tried yet!! (received some #mandala coloring books last Christmas that I go into every now and then) The colored pencils I have used up till now that I truly enjoy are woodless colored pencils.  The only downside to them is they are limited number of colors.  This Prisma pack (24 colors) is a wonderful variety!!!! and the color is like cream, I barely have to touch the paper for the color (which is truly vibrant) to hit the page.  I’m used to colored pencils where force is needed to fill in the space.  This requires a light touch, which requires an adjustment period and is totally worth it.  I started out my morning preparing for a management “fire safety, appliance and housekeeping check” this morning and while I was waiting for them to come, I tried to make coffee and of course grabbed the container out of the closet and knocked a can from 4 ft up, onto tip of my big toe.   OUCH. so, while I was recovering with a bag of ice until the inspection came/after he left (went just fine btw) I decided to distract myself from the throbbing pain by experimenting with the colors.  I almost wanted to cry at how nice these pencils work.  Granted part of that may been from the pain…. I always enjoy trying new materials. Especially good quality materials!!!  I recently saw this “art box” subscription through Facebook where you pay $25 or $35 a month and receive a box of supplies to try with a small art project for inspiration (like a mini painting that comes with specific-colored markers to re-create that painting).  I’m very tempted to try it for a month or two as a Christmas present to myself.

However, you need to help yourself de stress from the election, I hope it works out for you.  If you do #create, please feel free to share an image in the comments!

Update on Kitty!

My cranky old man kitty Mickey had his heart scan yesterday.  There is no sign of heart disease!!!!!!!! So thankful!!!  I will be getting the specifics in the next few days after the doc does the write up but basically one of these valves is just a hair too close to an artery so when he’s stressed it gets sucked in and that’s what causes his heart murmur.  He is given the clear to go under anesthesia for dental appointments!!! We almost didn’t complete the scan because he wasn’t allowing the doctor to do the initial exam.  They ended up holding him down and putting a muzzle on him. He survived and was given extra treats upon arrival at home 🙂 after an especially cranky afternoon he’s now appeared settled again and taken over his chair in the living room. he’s 15 ish and I’ve had him since he was about a week old, so definitely my baby!  I remember bottle feeding him, hand feeding him, litter training him.  So thankful he’s ok and hopefully will last me a few more years!!!

Feel free to share pictures in the comments of your fur babies 🙂