the little things

So I decided that I dislike resolutions many years ago, but I do still set goals for myself. As a matter of fact, I set them quite frequently. And you know what I always seem to focus on? The big stuff. The huge projects that truly should be about 5 or 6 things on the list instead of just one. And nothing ever seems to get completely finished and I feel that I have failed to meet my goals. 

We often say, or hear others say, that it is the little things that make the biggest difference. So my current goal is to focus on all those little things that I have pushed behind the all-important big items on my lists.  For example: today I finally cleaned the old toaster oven and put it in storage in the basement.  It has been sitting for 6 months on my kitchen counter, unplugged and unused. I cannot begin to tell you the sense of accomplishment I feel when I walk in my kitchen and there is clear counter space! This was one of the many things that previously was lumped into "finish the kitchen" on my list.

"What's next," you ask? Well, I don't know... maybe I'll dare to find a storage space for my baking sheets.

12 Days of Christmas

It has been a mad house around here!  There are too many wonderful things happening, and absolutely no time to blog about them.  This year the boys and I are doing an "Advent: Preparing for Christmas" project.  1 envelope every day that has us do one activity to get ready for Christmas.  So far we have made paper snowflakes to hang on the windows, danced to Christmas songs, decorated the Christmas tree, and set up the Nativity (just to name a few).  We are also opening one new book each night to read together.  I admit, not all the books are Christmas themed (it was harder than I thought to find 25 children's Christmas books considering that we already own a bunch).

So with all this family Christmas stuff, I needed to do something for me.  I decided to participate in Scrapbook Challenges 12 Days of Christmas Progressive Challenges.  Each day a new step in the progressive layout is posted.  Tomorrow is the last day, but here is what I have so far:

I encourage you to swing by the site and try it for yourself!

Happy Holidays!!!

July Featured Member

I am sooooo pleased to announce that I have been chosen as Scrapbook Challenges July Featured Member!!!

I love this online scrapbooking group! There are tons of great sketches and challenges to inspire me and get my craft in gear  ; ) 

As the Featured Member I also get to give a challenge of my own this month... check back later to find out what it is!

Pagemaps Blog Challenge

I completely credit Pagemaps for the way I scrapbook today.  By looking at the sketches and seeing the examples, I was able to train my mind to see layout possibilities everywhere I look.  I seldom find a sketch that I love so much to duplicate (and that fits photos I am scrapping), but this is one of those rare moments.

Here is my layout for the Pagemaps Blog Challenge this month:

and the pagemap provided:

I am in love with the way it turned out - and that is what matters in scrappin' : )

Challenge Yourself

I think that should be my motto this year, if I was into that sort of thing. 
Here is a summary of what I have challenged myself with so far:

1. start and keep up a blog (as you can see, I am fairly successful at that so far)

2. create more projects using material (my stuffies have been my main fabric project - see my 1st one here)

3. start digital scrapbooking (I have been on a roll with digital layouts recently)

4. enter more scrapbooking challenges from multiple sites: here are two challenges I have completed this week

"Stretch"

and the sketch from Twisted Sketches

 

 "Blue"

 and the sketch from Scrapbook Challenges

Oh yeah, and I also am being "challenged" by having to move again in 7 months!!! Keeping a house clean with 3 little boys is the biggest challenge of all!

What are some of your challenges this year?

Cleaning House

If you had one day to pack up and move, what things would you focus on?  I've noticed that we all tend to get ourselves overloaded with stuff; especially the longer we live in one place.  Why do we feel the need to fill every cabinet & drawer & closet & table top & even the tiny space under the beds?

Well I'm a little fed up with having all this stuff that doesn't serve any purpose.  I'm tired of making space for all the "what if"s and not having room to breathe!  Unfortunately, that now means I am on a lets-get-rid-of-everything-that-isn't-being-used rampage.  I will apologize ahead of time to any emotional damage I may do to my children (who think it is a crime against nature to get rid of anything they have ever touched).

You are all welcome to play along with me.  I will begin each Sunday with a new cleaning goal:  this week is to tame the paper beast!  All the school work that has been piling up since September will be sorted, scanned, and recycled.  All the bills & receipts will be filed appropriately.  All tax documents will be sorted for "processing" at a later date.  All the newspapers, magazines, & catalogs will be banished to the recycling bin.  If I can accomplish this - no WHEN I accomplish this, I will be able to see my long-forgotten counters & dressers & desk tops! 

So what are you going to do to clean up your life?  Post a comment and let us know!

A Challenge of Gratitude

My first challenge for myself, and any of you who want to join me, is to be more grateful for all of the wonderful things and people in my life.  I plan on doing 4 projects this month (one each Saturday) to help me focus on gratitude. 

I found some fantastic inspiration for my first project on pinterest, and then to the original blog:  A Day In My Life: This Much Card

I thought this would be a perfect way to get my boys involved in saying thanks to family for the wonderful holiday celebrations!  So I took the idea and modified it so we could have one card for all 3 boys to send together.  Here is where I normally would insert a photo of my finished project, but the cards are still unassembled due to an unexpected bloody lip (and that's a story for another day).  So here is my work in progress:

I can't wait to finish these with the boys & send them out!  They also make a great Valentine idea :)  Go ahead and try it yourself and post a link in the comments below - I'd love to see what you create.