I'm Not Into Collecting Funko Pop!, But I Had to Get These Two Cuties: Stitch and Leo

 

 It seems Funko Pop! collecting is kind of a big deal, though I haven't been into it.  Funko Pop figures have their cuteness and seem to be everywhere, but I just haven't had the desire to get into collecting them.

A couple weeks ago I had to order these two cuties!!

The Stitch one I knew of from the Box Lunch Facebook page, but forgot about due to all the craziness in the World.  And then the Leonardo Da Vinci Pop figure popped up as an advertisement.  It's the first time an advertisement got me to buy something!  But oh my goodness, Leo is so cute, and he's one of my favorite historical figures.  Leonardo Da Vinci is so fascinating as a person.  His creativity was off the chart.

 Come on!!!!

Stitch is seriously the cutest!

Isn't this figure simply adorable?

Yes, yes it is.

I love him so. :0)

And Leo!!

I love the fact this Leonardo Da Vinci figure is holding paintbrushes and papers of his sketches.  Several years ago I got to see pages of his sketches in person at the Getty Museum in LA, and they were so amazing.

Leo will be my creative muse. :0)

And now I'm done nerding out.

(Serious, am I ever done nerding out...??!!)

Finally Seeing the Mona Lisa in Person

(2018) I visited The Louvre last week.  Not sure when, I think it was this last Saturday.  I'm so jet-lagged that all sense of time has fled.  (Went to bad last night at 7pm, woke up at 11pm, and I've been awake since due to insomnia.)

During the rush of that day, seeing as many tourist spots as possible, we got two hours in The Louvre.  (Second time visiting; both times were only two hours).  When I visited a couple years ago I didn't seek out the Mona Lisa.  Didn't care to.  Not that She's not worth seeing, just that the painting has a reputation for being overly crowded.

 And it is overly crowded.  There are no exaggerations to the rumors.

 And it's also in front of a lot of glass, where there's a lot of reflection.  Not to mention all the people who crowded the front to take selfies.

I did push myself to the front, not to take a selfie, because it's something I'm not into, but to see it as clearly as possible.  Thoughts?  The Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, is smaller than I thought it would be.  The glass takes away the texture of the piece.  The forced roped distance makes it hard to study and analyze.  The crowds take away from the experience.  It's a little stifling.

But am I glad I saw Her?  Yes.

She's iconic.  Trend setting.  Inspirational.  Contemplative.

Suddenly this little sneaky thought in the back in my mind wondered, "But could She also be overrated?"  Nothing else in The Louvre garners such attention, though much art deserves it.  Isn't that some sort of metaphor for modern life?

 The Louvre had two other Leonardo da Vinci artworks, which no one seemed to care.

 The Mona Lisa sits in a room surrounded by more stunning art.

(I have no idea what's going on in this picture, just thought it was cool.)

When Thoughts of Failure Nag, Press Forward

(View from the backyard)

"We Sometimes think we would like to know what lies ahead, but sober thought brings us back to accepting life a day at a time and magnifying and glorifying that day."  ~ Spencer W. Kimball

So I was laying on my bed this afternoon, pondering over what I would blog about.  What I was thinking about was something quite different then what you see here now, as my line of sight rested upon the side of my file cabinet, and quotes I haven't read in years begged to be read.  The above quote was one of these pearls of wisdom.

I slipped up this weekend.  Nothing bad, mind, just slipped up from this whole healthy mind/body journey I'm on.  Pizza and burgers, chocolate, etc, my will power shot as mental demons attacked.  Wondering if I can be successful.  Wondering if I'll fail all over again.

This quote was what I needed.

Then my eyesight rested on another quote, this time from Gordon B. Hinckley:

"Rise to the great potential within you.  I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity.  I hope you will not nag yourself with thoughts of failure.  I hope you will not try to set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve.  I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know how.  If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass."

Another beautiful quote I use to draw daily inspiration from, but had completely forgotten.

And then another quote, this time on a magnet instead of a piece of paper, caught my eye.  Wisdom from the incredibly brilliant Leonardo DaVinci:

"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection."

So when thoughts of failure nag you, push forward.

Don't give up.

We're all fighting battles, whether big or small, these battles are huge to us, begging for retreat or a white flag.  Don't wave that flag!  Don't turn back!  Press forward and win that much needed victory.  It's closer then you think.

Life was never meant to be easy, but it's sure worth it.

Art of Doing

(Photo taken in Cambria, CA)

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing.  Knowing is not enough; We must apply.  Being Willing is not enough; We must do."

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Or what Yoda said:

"Do or do not, there is no try."