Attitude of Gratitude Day 24-30

Here I am for my final Attitude of Gratitude post.  I have really enjoyed doing this all month long.  I have realized that there is something to be grateful for in each day!

Day 24

Today I enjoyed the sights and sounds of kids playing just becuse they can!  It is Thanksgiving and there is lots to be thankful for today but above all today I loved that Cole and his cousins (of all ages and near and far) got to spend the day together playing!  I wish this could happen more often becuase they will all grow up to fast! 

Day 25

Online shopping!!! I have dont 90% of my Christmas shopping online and I just LOVE this!  I feel so much less stress by staying home in my warm home and shopping at my leisure.  Now to wrap it all! :)

Day 26

I am big on saving money where I can, especially on necessities like food!   I really hate seeing food go to waste therefore I am always trying to find way to make multiple meals out of what meat or differnt way to use leftovers.  Today I used my stock pile of frozen rotten bananas to make 18 loafs of banana bread - up 18!!!  These will make great gifts for co works, friends and neighbors once I tie a home made holiday tag on them! 

I also have a second thing to be grateful for today.  I am grateful for the early evening hockey game that Cole and I got to watch Tim play in.  He is a great hockey player and back in our days of just dating I just loved how he looked in his hockey uniform and I still get that same loving feeling today - 15 years later!  He had a magnificent game! 

Day 27

This is going to be a love/hate for many people but I am loving listening to Christmas music!  Its really puts me in a good mood :) 

Day 28

A good laugh.  We always need a good laugh and when I need it the most I can always count on my dad!  

Day 29

I am so grateful for Cole.  Today he says to me 

"Mom, I always want you to be happy and I know how to make you happy"

I said " you do, how?"

He replise " When your mad, I will fix it so you will be happy.  Your happy when I give you something. Your happy when I do something with you"

Sometimes he just melts my heart. 

Day 30

My life.  I have had so many blessing from the very beginning of my life.  I need to remember to not take everything I have for granted. Its about time spend together not things gathered and I believe in these 3 words, patience, priorities and perspective. 

Thank you Precocious Paper for this wonderful month long challenge!

Attitude of Gratitude - Day 20-23

Day 20

 Today I am grateful for my home.  I just love to be home.  I like to travel but only for a few days at a time. I love the comforting feeling and relaxing vibes my home gives me. Home has its own smell and sounds that you can not get any places else.  There is nothing better than have a clean home at that!  I have worked very hard and getting my boys to understand that everything in our house has a home and that were it belongs when they are done with it. 

Day 21

I am soooo grateful for online shopping!  Seriously!  Were I love our big stores are Walmart and Home-Depot so the choices are slim.  I love being able to order Christmas gifts at any hour of the day and having them brought right to my door step! 

Day 22

Netflix.  We gave up cable over 3 years ago and honestly dont miss it (or the expence of it).  Since winter is settleing in I look forward to more time in my craft room and when I like to watch TV shows or movies on Netflix through my laptop. Right now I have a slight addiction to Army Wives. 

Day 23

(Hugs) They just make everything better!

ScrapFIT Giveaway

ScrapFIT is

For its Fans!

This week we are here to tell all our Fans, the people who look forward to our workouts each month and join us in staying actively scrapping!

To celebrate our fans we are giving way some FREE goodies!

This is a a lot of loot including stamps, stickles, glitter, ribbon, odd embellishments and a chipboard album!  (Colors and designs of some items will vary)

We have 3 of these goodie lots to give away! 

 

Visit the ScrapFIT Blog to enter!!

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Giveaway ends November 30th

I also want to say THANK YOU to all the FITgirls past and present, so thankful to have been graced with their talents!

A special THANK YOU goes to Missy Widden for saying yes to me when I asked for her help! I could not maintain ScrapFIT without her, she is talented scrapbooker and she is an amazing Weekend Warm Up Coach. Thanks for all you do Missy!

Lastly, Thank you to ALL of our Supports & Sponsors!  I appreciate every donation and every shout out about ScrapFIT! 

Thanks for making this a FUN thing to do! 

 

 

Crafting With My Cricut - Wall Decor

I love my cricut but I do not use it as often as I should!  I have a hand full of cartridges and plenty of paper but I am more apt to reach for a punch then use the cricut.  I am really trying to use it more because the possibilities are endless!  I was inspired my a scrappy friend Diana at Designs By Diana with a post about using your circut to update your home decor.

I purchased this frame at Wal-mart for $8 and made these three inserts for it! 

 This one will be displayed during the non-holiday seasons.  I used the Sans Serif Font Cricut Cartridge to create this saying.

 This one will be for Christmas time! The paper already had this lovely tree on it and I new I wanted to use it as a display piece for the holidays so I added the Merry Christmas using the Story Book Font Cricut Cartridge.

This one is currently on display!  I used the Plattin School Book Font Cricut Cartridge  and the Gypsy Wanderings for the pumpkin.  

I just love how this turned out and I think I have a new love for my cricut!

Attitude of Gratitude

Day 15

I am grateful for my Mom!  I come home from work and not only has she stopped down twice to check on our dog Bauer but she has spent 2 hours of her day with him!  While she is here is has done a full load of laundry and another is drying.  She has put away the dishes in the dishwasher and wiped off the counters morning breakfast crumbs!  It just makes me smile to some home to these piles of neatly folded laundry on my bed sorted out by whom they belong to.  My mom is wonderful, kind, caring and I am so thankful for every little thing she does for me and my family.

Day 16

Long walks and talks! Its been over a year since a friend and I have started doing about 4 mile walk a few times a week.  We both have full schedules so we plan week by week but those walks are greatly appreciated!  They are good for the body and good for the soul!  Thanks Cindy!

Day 17

Today I am grateful Cole is doing well in School.  I had his first parent teacher conference for second grade and he is doing wonderful!  He is an amazing speller - he does NOT get this from me!  He is now a 'helping hand', one of the kids that gets paired to sit with another kid that needs some help with their reading and math facts.  I am so proud of Cole for doing his best and always wanting to go to school everyday!

Day 18

Friends!  I had the best time last night with my girlfriends!  When we get together you are sure to have a good time!  We are never short on new stories to share about parenthood, you are sure to laughing until you cry at least once and when you leave we are already planning the next time we will get together!   Thanks for being great friends! 

Day 19

Today I am grateful to be able to give the gift of giving.  I feel very fortunate that I can donate to the food pantry, hand off Cole's toys to a local charity, donate clothes to the salvation army, buy cookies from kids raising money for school and take a few kids off the Christmas giving tree to give a special gift to.  Its not always financially easy for people to give but if you have a giving heart you will do what you can so that you can spread that joy.

New Paper Lovelies Kit!

Paper Lovelies newest kit is availible today!

This kit is packed full of stunning Prima Holiday paper and embellishments!   I new exactly what I wanted to do with this kit! Home Decor!!!

This is an advent banner for the 12 day of Christmas.  I had these little paper bags left over from my Christmas Card project and I use some wonderful new dies to create the lovely circles for the bags. I put binder clips on the banner to easily get the bags on and off so that I can reuse this.  I cant wait to fill this with a few mini lego people, arcade tokens and candy for Cole!

I have had this bare wooden birdhouses for a while now and I new I wanted to decorate them for the Holidays and this Prima line was just right!   I painted the small edges first and then decorated the sides and roof with the paper.  It was fun to accent them with the garland, flower and blue gems that came in the kit.  This will be a great addition to my Holiday decorations.

Be sure to to check out what the other DT members created with their kits here

Do not hesitate to get your kit as the low price of $15.00 these kits will go fast! 

Happy Scrappin!

Weekend Work

While I was away at a scrapbook retreat over the weekend to teach a class I was able to get a little work done for myself!  This was the first time I enjoyed a weekend long retreat for myself vs putting one on!  I had a great time with a good friend and met lots of new friends!  I am so grateful for Kathy and Pam at We B Scrappin for putting the retreat on - it was a nice break.

So, I had some new kits on my hands and sketches to create with. Here is what I came up with.

This layout was actually a sketch challenge at the retreat.  I loved the sketch so I thought I would give it a try and I WON!  I was so shocked and thrilled to win as it was a viewers choice!  Most of my papers and embellishments came from this months Scrapbook Circle Kit - love this one!  I also was able to play around with some new dies to create the circles and scallops. 

Before I went to the retreat I looked online for a few sketches to save to my favoites on my phone so I would have them when I needed them.  I just fell in love with this sketch from Sketchy Thursday!

Its so simple and can take you anywhere, and it took me to creating this layout.

 I just love this picture of Cole. He looks so grown up and I have no idea why he decided to throw me the peace sign but I love it!   Thanks for another great sketch, Sketch Thursdays!

Attitude of Gratitude Day 7-14

Wow, its been a  busy week but I have been keeping track of my gratitude daily and I finally have a bit of time to write it down. 

Day 7

Today I want to say how thankful I am to have a job.  I really love my job.  I enjoy my early hours, the people I work with and for, I grateful to have the opportunity to work a 4 day work week and I love seeing all the different people that come in to where I work.  I know how lucky I am! 

Day 8 

This may sound a bit crazy but today I need to say how grateful I am for exercises.  It have battled with my weight my whole life but today I feel comfortable in my body.  When I was 29 I promised myself that I would not go in to my 30's feeling uncomfortable and unhappy - not how I look but how I feel.  I wanted to feel better.  Its been almost 3 years now since I started 'eating better to feel better' (a motto that has been so good for me) and I started off with some simple 30 minute Jillian Micheal's videos.  Now (with a BIG push and a BIG THANK YOU to Missy) I am doing P90X workouts and feeling wonderful. This is the first time I have gone back to look at pics as a before and after and I am so proud and grateful to have come so far. 

 2009

2011

Day 9

Music, I love music!  When you come to my house you will most often find music playing vs the TV on.  I love all kinds of music but my favorites are 80's songs!  I love to crank up my 80's play list or Pandora's 80's play list while cooking or cleaning - music really puts me in a good mood!

Day 10 

Today I sat down to create a grocery list for next week and with doing that I went through my massive pile of coupons. I just LOVE coupons!  Using coupons to create a stock pile of foods my family uses all time really helps to keep money in our wallets.  Keeping our food bill down means we have extra cash for fun family activities!  I am grateful to help my family by using coupons to stretch our dollar.

Day 11

Today I was thankful for a long ride with a good friend.  We enjoy these long rides to chat and talk about life without any outside interruptions.  Thanks for a great time Sheila!

Day 12

Coffee. Oh I love thee!  I am grateful for all kinds of coffee and all the magnificent flavored creamers out there.  I just adore my morning cup of coffee in my small little cup that fits my hand perfectly filled just half way with coffee (so I can drink it all before it cools off to much) and blended perfectly with my cinnamon vanilla creamer.   Really its just such a simple pleasure. 

Day 13

I was lucky to get away for 3 days to enjoy a scrapbook retreat for myself this past weekend.  I did teach a class but other than that I was crafty for myself the whole time!  I am very grateful to have time to be crafty.  Crafty time is peaceful, relaxing and time that keeps me balanced in the rest of my busy life.

Day 14

Today I am grateful that we are still enjoying fall type weather.  Its so often that winter is upon us in October but today it was a wonderful 60 degrees with a nice a warm wind!  I spent the entire afternoon until dark outside with Bauer and Cole.  I hope we can get another week of this weather!

Scrap N Chat Date

**For all my local Scrapbookers**

The Holidays are quickly approching and the calendar is already filling up!  Normaly I do not do a Scarp N Chat Day in December however, I am not able to host one in November so, December it is!

Scrap N Chat Day

Saturday, December 3rd 9am-5pm - Cost $10

At my home. Lunch will be provided. Its a great chance to finish up Christmas Cards or gifts!  Please RSVP no later than 3 days prior to date.  

Hope to see you there!

A Banner For Cole

While I was away at my Scrapbook Retreat I was able to get a little crafting done for myself, well actually for Cole.  I really do enjoy making banners and I had told Cole I would be making a 'space' themed on for his bedroom door.  So here you have it!  I just love these papers - thanks to a great kit from Scrapbook Circle.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Attitude of Gratitude - Day 5 & 6

Day 5

Tim, my husband.  Today I am grateful for the evening spend with just him.  Its not often in our busy day to day lives we get to enjoy time when it just the two of us.  I always know how important he is to me but tonight we were able to cook dinner together while listening to our favorite play list and talking about life.  These are times that bring us closer together as a couple so that we can be better parents and improve as a family.  Its good to take a time-out with your spouse.

Day 6

I have a lot of gratitude to express to the many Kit Clubs, Etsy Shops and Design Teams that have given me the privilege of being a part of their team.  Only a little over a year ago did I only 'wish' I could be on a Design Team.  Its truly an honor to be chosen to create with these amazing products that the owners have so carefully made or put together.  Then to have my work shown as a representation of what the Kit Club, Etsy Shop or Store has to over is really an honor.   I love being crafty and being part of a verity of Design Teams really helps me put bring crafty on the top of my to-do list.  So thank you to the following places for giving me a chance.

Practical Scrappers / ScrapFIT / A Few Of My Favorite Things / Ideas For Scrapbookers / The Scrappiest / Sweet Peach Crop Shop / Scrap It With A Song / Paper Lovlies / The Paper Trail / Scrapbook Circle / Paper Issues / Perfectly Precocious / Flamingo Scraps

New Sweet Peach Kit Kits!

Its a new month and that means new kits from 

Here is the Sweet Kit

The Juicey Kit (this the one I got to play with this month)

And The Add Ons

 I received the Juice Kit this month which contains a mini album!  Since I am participating in the Attitude of Gratitude challenge this month I thought what a great way to capture all my gratitude in this mini album!

Here is a few of my mini album pages already for me to document in! 

BTW the adorable butterfly and some of the fabric embellishments on the inside of album came from Tessa's amazing Etsy Shop !

Be sure to get your Sweet Peach Kits soon - they are almost gone!

Attitude of Gratitude - Day 1-4

Its November and I have my showing my Attitude of Gratitude.  I am very excited about doing this all month long because its important to remember all the little things in life that can easily be taken for granted.

Day 1

Today I realized how grateful I am to have our dog, Bauer.  I love dogs and its had been 2 years since our family included a dog and I have to admit I was hesitent about getting another becuse I had grown acustom to the freedom of not having a dog. 

With that said it has been an adjustment to our family schedules having a dog but the amount of love, laughter and happiness Bauer has brought to our house out weights everything else!

Bauer does not even know it but he has not so much for our family.  

*He has helped me to let go of my list of things I 'have to do right now' and just step away to play with him! 

*He has given Cole a friend to play with at all times!  Those two have a play time routine that only they understand- it includes a lot of running, rolling around and laughing.

*He has forced us to take more time to be outside as a family!  We take time to visit a near my nature trail 4-5 times a week, we take some toys and ball and go play around at the school soccer field on the weekends. 

*He has won Tim's heart with just his pure cuteness!  

 Thanks Bauer!

Day 2

I am so grateful Cole has the need to be creative!  I am not sure if this is something he was born with or we were able to instill in him, either way its something Tim and I encourage it!  There are so many gadgets and gizmos today that are meant to entertain kids (and I am not opposed to them and we own a few of them!) that kids forget to create their own entertainment. 

Cole will spend the better part of his days dressing up and reenacting as a pirate, ninja, or a superhero, building a track for his hot wheels cars or Thomas train or most of all building and creating with his massive pile of Legos! 

Keep being creative, Cole!

Day 3

Happy 

1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.

2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.

 

Today is a day to be Thankful for my ability to be 'Happy'.  I arrive at work at 5am and work with the public all day long and so many people comment to me (especially early) how 'Happy' I am, EVERDAY!  It is true that I get up with a spring in my step and song in my heart most days!  I dont know why this is but I am thankful to be cheerful, positive and happy - its just my nature.

Day 4

Today is Friday and its the start of my 3 day weekend!  I am so very very lucky to have 3 day weekends, every week!  These weekend are therapeutic for me. I have a very structured week, work, dog, cole, workout, dinner, bed - Repeat.  But the weekends are where I get to be creative, productive at home and spend time doing things I enjoy with people I love.  Thank you to my employers for giving me the privilege of 3 day weekends!

ScrapFIT Workout #55 - Tis' The Season

Workout #55 - Tis' The Season

We know Christmas will be here before we know it so lets start spreading ideas for Christmas Cards and Tags!  Show us what your putting in the mail or attaching to a gift this year!

This year I have gotten a good jump on my Chrstimas cards!  I have made these little little tag bags to give out and enclosed will be a wallet size family picture.

This ideas was great for my scrap paper and scads of ribbon and buttons!  I found these adorable little bags (and others) at Endless Inkabilities

We are thrilled to have our newest sponsor!

Burlap & Buttercups is a monthly kit club delivering beautifully coordinating scrapbooking supplies.  Every month we provide our subscribers with a generous assortment of patterned paper, cardstock, stickers, ribbon, and many other fun embellishments – enough to create a number of layouts and projects.  Each of our scrapbook kits puts inspiration at the fingertips of those seeking to preserve treasured memories.  We continuously browse the manufacturers' latest offerings, selecting some of the hottest new products to hit the market… so our members can simply open their boxes when they arrive and begin creating!

Burlap & Buttercups are offering up this AMAZING Kit to winner of Workout #55!!! WOW!

 Head on over to ScrapFIT and to join in on this Workout!