But my boss posted pics of her patio that show just how many inches we really got:
And it's still snowing! At least another 1-2 inches are expected today. :/
At least I'll get one last chance to make that snowman this year!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Snow Day!
My pictures won't do this snowstorm we've had (overnight, ps--just since like 6pm yesterday) justice:
But my boss posted pics of her patio that show just how many inches we really got:
And it's still snowing! At least another 1-2 inches are expected today. :/
But my boss posted pics of her patio that show just how many inches we really got:
And it's still snowing! At least another 1-2 inches are expected today. :/
Sunday, March 24, 2013
TOFW Indy 2013
I thought I'd share a few insights, quotes, pictures, etc., from Time Out For Women this year, so if you couldn't make it you'd feel like you were there with me. :) Also, I have a lot to ponder and work on and I want to remember it all! So, here are the highlights:
About 2,000 LDS women gathered in the Indianapolis Convention Center this weekend to hear fantastic speakers and musicians provide inspiration and promote unity, which is especially nice so close to Conference weekend! The place was packed--this was during a break so you can't tell how truly full it was, but it was!
The fun ladies I got to travel and sit with:
I was ESPECIALLY grateful for the company. After 2012's TOFW in Salt Lake City, with old roommates and friends (which was LOVELY, but they are ALL stay-at-home-moms and conversations were often, unintentionally, irrelevant and even sometimes hurtful), I *knew* I wanted to take a few friends who were in the same stage of life as me (working, with no kids) to a TOFW a little closer to home. I love these ladies like family and I think a simple girl's weekend out with some amazing speakers was just what all of us needed!
We got to stay in a pretty sweet hotel, not only because it was a huge hotel with a great view (see below) but because it had a skywalk to our parking garage, which had a skywalk to the convention center--so it was very convenient! And the BREAKFAST (which we got for free because they gave us a room with a king instead of 2 queens and couldn't rearrange anything) was AMAZING!!!
I also actually bought a few things. :) A lil' book from Sister Mary Ellen Edwards (HILARIOUS), and a CD from Jenny Oaks Baker (RIDICULOUSLY talented). Also, check out the cute tote, navy with chevron pockets and a sweet TOFW logo:
ANYWHO, the theme for TOFW this year is "Higher"--think, believe, live higher, in faith and action. So I doodled the theme (among other things) as I listened:
Side note before I go into the actual notes from the speakers and presenters: When did Jericho Road get so old? ;) I remember, vaguely, knowing who they were back in 2001 when they premiered, and let's just say boy bands aren't the same when they are all in their 30s with children. :) Still a fun group, though--I especially loved their homage to every major boy band, ever--that had us all up and moving!
Okay, on to the speakers. :)
John Bytheway
We came in late on Friday, so we missed about 1/2 hour of introductions and John Bytheway's talk. But we came in enough time to hear him recite this beloved poem:
My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow,
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.
Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.
~Unknown
He also quoted a lady in his ward, who had been through some truly difficult challenges, and I think every pen in the room went flying when he said it:
"I'm going to stop looking at my God and telling Him how big my problems are, and I'm going to start looking at my problems and tell them how big my God is!"
I love this. Can you imagine if we really could do this with simple faith? That's a paradigm shift right there, at least for me. I know I often start expecting things and complaining to God when they don't happen just as I want them to, and many of my problems probably stem from that. What if, instead of expecting, I just started giving and moving forward with simple faith that God can fight my battles for me?
He also reminded us all that God specializes in fixing broken things. And He wants us to come to Him, no matter who we are, what we've done, or how broken we think we might be--just accept, admit that you are broken--that's what having a broken heart is all about!
Laurel Christensen, "Letting Go of Our Fears"
This was "that talk" for me, the one that was the reason I needed to go to TOFW. I love so many of the things she said, and it really spoke to the common experience of every woman in the world--so many times we divide ourselves up into little camps, the "I've experienced this trial or that fear" camps, but in reality they all boil down to the same fears--fear of loneliness, of loss, of disappointment (which, as she pointed out, hasn't killed anyone yet!), of failure, of success, of stepping out of our comfort zones, of not being enough. There are so many fears, and many of us let them consume us, and that can be devastating and debilitating! We can find ourselves, even after thoughtful prayer and action, like Oliver Cowdery in D&C 9:11: "Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now." What sort of opportunities are we missing out on because of our fears? Because God won't give us any blessings we are too afraid to tackle. She challenged us, and I challenge you, to write down ONE. Give it a name and a voice so you can battle it.
Then she quoted 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." These are the things we (and the Lord, p.s.) fight our fears with!
1. Fighting fear with POWER:
"Your identity, even if you don't like it, is your comfort zone." Strike a power pose! (That "Wonder Woman" or Victory pose, for 2 minutes--your body language doesn't just give cues to other people, according to studies it also sends YOURSELF messages--if you strike that power pose for 2 minutes, testosterone levels rise and cortizone levels fall!) That power pose, p.s., can be prayer! (See 2 Corinthians 5:17)
2. Fighting fear with LOVE:
"When you stop praying for what you really want, your heart stops wanting what you are no longer willing to pray for." Think about that for a second. I know I can relate to this--are there things in your life that you have stopped hoping for, or praying for? When you give up, your heart really does start wanting other things to take its place--lesser, easier things, usually. This is not to say that our goals cannot change over our lives, but when it comes to important, life-changing, righteous desires, LOVE and HOPE are the same, and we have to petition God faithfully for those things even for as long as we live! "God will not waste a miracle on a doubter." You know that idea of a faith-experiment in Alma 32? Well, the opposite is true, as well--if you stop experimenting, you lose your belief and then even your desires. "The real tragedy is not in not getting something you desire, the tragedy is not wanting it anymore." Of course, she points out, not always will this mean that you'll get it in the end, there are many, many factors that go into which blessings and trials we receive in this life, "but don't let one of the factors be YOU." God *IS* Love, and we call that love of Him HOPE. So fighting fears with love is really fighting with hope and faith in Him, and letting Him fight those battles for us.
3. Fighting fear with A SOUND MIND:
"We sometimes use 'God's will' as a way to abdicate the responsibility to exercise our own." He expects us to make choices, to decide (and tell Him) what we want, to help Him along in answering our prayers. He trusts us as agents unto ourselves (kinda an incredible thought, really), and He doesn't want us paralyzed by fears, disappointments, and all the things that accompany it. She mentioned here that familiar phrase, "When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window," and she said it's not really like that at all. It's not like He says, "Well, you can't walk through this awesome, amazing door, but I'll give you this itty bitty window to crawl through as a consolation prize." :) In truth, He is a master architect and He has doors hidden all over the walls of our lives, and through faith and works we find the doors He planned for us to find. Our job is to walk through them! Just as miracles come after the trials of our faith, PEACE comes after the COURAGE! We don't always get peace before we act, because acting is exercising our agency in courage, or in faith, and THAT'S what He rewards. Remember, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16) They will always be there, in defense of Abraham's seed.
See why I liked it so much? :)
Mary Ellen Edmunds, "Change Your Mind"
"You don't plant corn and hope and pray for a melon!" This started a great talk about likening the thoughts we have, which ultimately determine our actions and destiny, to planting seeds in a garden. You can't plant anger and other "naughty stuff" in your heart and expect to have compassion, patience, etc. Prepare the soil, nourish it by PONDERING. (She quoted bits of Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk that you can find HERE--it's a great one about the importance and implications of pondering!) What happens when you don't plant anything? It's not that NOTHING grows. WEEDS grow, and they grow fast! Idle thoughts are our weeds. "To be spiritually minded is life eternal," and that means our minds should be actively engaged in spiritual things. Meditation, daily or weekly, "Thinking On Purpose," is time well spent. Also, it takes time to grow good thoughts and deeds. I think that's one of the many reasons we have been counseled to plant a garden. It's not just about food storage, it's about learning diligence and important principles of faith and timing in an instant world. :) Also, she quoted D&C 6:16, and she emphasized "yea"--like, "YAY!" Yay, you! God knows the thoughts and intents of your heart and he sees good things there! :)
Sandra Turley, "Sparks of Creation"
I also really liked her messages, even though it was all too brief. Of course, she quoted President Uchtdorf's talk (READ IT AGAIN!) about our innate need as people, and especially as women, to create something that hasn't existed before--because we are children of God, the master Creator, and we each have that spark inside of us. She would share a personal story and then share a broadway song that had new meaning to her (and us) because of that experience. Like "Think of Me" as how Heavenly Father must've felt as He sent each of us to earth. Or "For Good" (from Wicked) as a love letter to her almost-adopted daughter, whom she held and loved after years of awful infertility struggles and a miscarriage, for 43 days before her birth mother changed her mind and took her back. It was touching and moving in every way and I loved it. :)
D. Kelly Ogden, "Pain Amidst the Plan"
I didn't take very many notes, although truthfully it's more because I was getting hungry and sore from sitting at this point. :) So I'm not going to do this talk justice. He likened faith in adversity to climbing a mountain. He talked about his son, who has one leg I think, and a few of his friends with other disabilities who took days to climb this incredible mountain, and the lessons learned through that experience. We recited a lot of hymns that had to do with turning to Christ in our pains and adversity. He quoted Elder Marvin J. Ashton, "Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved." (Love that!) And he said that we are a "Yes" people; because of our faith in Christ, we can say "yes" to answering all the challenges ahead of us.
Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt, "The Intentional Life"
If you could do just one more thing in your life, one big thing, one big goal, what would it be? She had challenged herself to live with a heightened sense of awareness, to see the parable or lesson in the experiences she has, and her talk reflected this! She noted that "the mission of Jesus Christ is to gather. The mission of Satan is to separate." How true that is! How does Satan lie to you and make you feel separated from others, or from the Love of God? Well, whatever it is, our #1 weapon to combat those lies is the Spirit. And the Spirit comes through intentional, deliberate living. "Does your daily routine reflect what you claim to value?" That's a good question to ponder. She says that we must be confident in serving and doing--we must prepare, participate, and remember. And by participate, she doesn't mean show up or go through the motions--she means willfully, deliberatly take part in. "A talk a day keeps Satan away." Study general conference talks and scriptures with a purpose--ask, "What would the Lord have me see, hear, and know as I study?" Identify principles, promises, and make commitments to act. This all doesn't mean you have to add MORE into your lives! "Just do what you're already doingn with greater intensity and purpose." I love that idea. I think I try hard to live an intentional life, but I know I have areas where I could apply this more--especially in my gospel study as of late!
Emily Freeman, "Reaches My Reaching"
"Welcome the tasks that take you beyond yourself." "Launch out into the deep," like Peter. Peter was a big focus of her talk, actually--what it must've been like for him to leave his nets full of fish, to have the biggest day of his career ever, and to leave it all to follow Christ. Then, later, to walk on water! And then get distracted, sink a little, and reach out to Christ to save him. How we all can relate to that moment! But Christ DOES reach our reaching. "Be wise-hearted, not half-hearted," in following Christ. She quoted one of my favorite quotes of ALL TIME:
“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour." ~Winston Churchill
What holds you back from "walking on water," or whatever your personal miracle and life of faith is? Leave your nets and follow Him! Offer your WHOLE SOUL, and He will reach out for you and lift you up.
***
I hope as you study and ponder these words and the associated talks, scriptures, and music, that you feel inspired to "live higher," too. I feel like we are reaching a critical moment in our world's history in which you are either "going into the mountains" of the Lord and thinking, believing, living HIGHER--or else we're falling fast into the valleys and getting eaten by wolves and vultures. It's a scary time, but it's also a marvelous time, and those who seek Him will be safe. I want to be there, to be able to sing, "It is well with my soul."
About 2,000 LDS women gathered in the Indianapolis Convention Center this weekend to hear fantastic speakers and musicians provide inspiration and promote unity, which is especially nice so close to Conference weekend! The place was packed--this was during a break so you can't tell how truly full it was, but it was!
The fun ladies I got to travel and sit with:
I was ESPECIALLY grateful for the company. After 2012's TOFW in Salt Lake City, with old roommates and friends (which was LOVELY, but they are ALL stay-at-home-moms and conversations were often, unintentionally, irrelevant and even sometimes hurtful), I *knew* I wanted to take a few friends who were in the same stage of life as me (working, with no kids) to a TOFW a little closer to home. I love these ladies like family and I think a simple girl's weekend out with some amazing speakers was just what all of us needed!
We got to stay in a pretty sweet hotel, not only because it was a huge hotel with a great view (see below) but because it had a skywalk to our parking garage, which had a skywalk to the convention center--so it was very convenient! And the BREAKFAST (which we got for free because they gave us a room with a king instead of 2 queens and couldn't rearrange anything) was AMAZING!!!
 |
| Gorgeous view of the city from our room, on the 24th floor! |
ANYWHO, the theme for TOFW this year is "Higher"--think, believe, live higher, in faith and action. So I doodled the theme (among other things) as I listened:
Side note before I go into the actual notes from the speakers and presenters: When did Jericho Road get so old? ;) I remember, vaguely, knowing who they were back in 2001 when they premiered, and let's just say boy bands aren't the same when they are all in their 30s with children. :) Still a fun group, though--I especially loved their homage to every major boy band, ever--that had us all up and moving!
Okay, on to the speakers. :)
John Bytheway
We came in late on Friday, so we missed about 1/2 hour of introductions and John Bytheway's talk. But we came in enough time to hear him recite this beloved poem:
My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow,
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.
Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.
~Unknown
He also quoted a lady in his ward, who had been through some truly difficult challenges, and I think every pen in the room went flying when he said it:
"I'm going to stop looking at my God and telling Him how big my problems are, and I'm going to start looking at my problems and tell them how big my God is!"
I love this. Can you imagine if we really could do this with simple faith? That's a paradigm shift right there, at least for me. I know I often start expecting things and complaining to God when they don't happen just as I want them to, and many of my problems probably stem from that. What if, instead of expecting, I just started giving and moving forward with simple faith that God can fight my battles for me?
He also reminded us all that God specializes in fixing broken things. And He wants us to come to Him, no matter who we are, what we've done, or how broken we think we might be--just accept, admit that you are broken--that's what having a broken heart is all about!
Laurel Christensen, "Letting Go of Our Fears"
This was "that talk" for me, the one that was the reason I needed to go to TOFW. I love so many of the things she said, and it really spoke to the common experience of every woman in the world--so many times we divide ourselves up into little camps, the "I've experienced this trial or that fear" camps, but in reality they all boil down to the same fears--fear of loneliness, of loss, of disappointment (which, as she pointed out, hasn't killed anyone yet!), of failure, of success, of stepping out of our comfort zones, of not being enough. There are so many fears, and many of us let them consume us, and that can be devastating and debilitating! We can find ourselves, even after thoughtful prayer and action, like Oliver Cowdery in D&C 9:11: "Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now." What sort of opportunities are we missing out on because of our fears? Because God won't give us any blessings we are too afraid to tackle. She challenged us, and I challenge you, to write down ONE. Give it a name and a voice so you can battle it.
Then she quoted 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." These are the things we (and the Lord, p.s.) fight our fears with!
1. Fighting fear with POWER:
"Your identity, even if you don't like it, is your comfort zone." Strike a power pose! (That "Wonder Woman" or Victory pose, for 2 minutes--your body language doesn't just give cues to other people, according to studies it also sends YOURSELF messages--if you strike that power pose for 2 minutes, testosterone levels rise and cortizone levels fall!) That power pose, p.s., can be prayer! (See 2 Corinthians 5:17)
2. Fighting fear with LOVE:
"When you stop praying for what you really want, your heart stops wanting what you are no longer willing to pray for." Think about that for a second. I know I can relate to this--are there things in your life that you have stopped hoping for, or praying for? When you give up, your heart really does start wanting other things to take its place--lesser, easier things, usually. This is not to say that our goals cannot change over our lives, but when it comes to important, life-changing, righteous desires, LOVE and HOPE are the same, and we have to petition God faithfully for those things even for as long as we live! "God will not waste a miracle on a doubter." You know that idea of a faith-experiment in Alma 32? Well, the opposite is true, as well--if you stop experimenting, you lose your belief and then even your desires. "The real tragedy is not in not getting something you desire, the tragedy is not wanting it anymore." Of course, she points out, not always will this mean that you'll get it in the end, there are many, many factors that go into which blessings and trials we receive in this life, "but don't let one of the factors be YOU." God *IS* Love, and we call that love of Him HOPE. So fighting fears with love is really fighting with hope and faith in Him, and letting Him fight those battles for us.
3. Fighting fear with A SOUND MIND:
"We sometimes use 'God's will' as a way to abdicate the responsibility to exercise our own." He expects us to make choices, to decide (and tell Him) what we want, to help Him along in answering our prayers. He trusts us as agents unto ourselves (kinda an incredible thought, really), and He doesn't want us paralyzed by fears, disappointments, and all the things that accompany it. She mentioned here that familiar phrase, "When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window," and she said it's not really like that at all. It's not like He says, "Well, you can't walk through this awesome, amazing door, but I'll give you this itty bitty window to crawl through as a consolation prize." :) In truth, He is a master architect and He has doors hidden all over the walls of our lives, and through faith and works we find the doors He planned for us to find. Our job is to walk through them! Just as miracles come after the trials of our faith, PEACE comes after the COURAGE! We don't always get peace before we act, because acting is exercising our agency in courage, or in faith, and THAT'S what He rewards. Remember, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16) They will always be there, in defense of Abraham's seed.
See why I liked it so much? :)
Mary Ellen Edmunds, "Change Your Mind"
"You don't plant corn and hope and pray for a melon!" This started a great talk about likening the thoughts we have, which ultimately determine our actions and destiny, to planting seeds in a garden. You can't plant anger and other "naughty stuff" in your heart and expect to have compassion, patience, etc. Prepare the soil, nourish it by PONDERING. (She quoted bits of Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk that you can find HERE--it's a great one about the importance and implications of pondering!) What happens when you don't plant anything? It's not that NOTHING grows. WEEDS grow, and they grow fast! Idle thoughts are our weeds. "To be spiritually minded is life eternal," and that means our minds should be actively engaged in spiritual things. Meditation, daily or weekly, "Thinking On Purpose," is time well spent. Also, it takes time to grow good thoughts and deeds. I think that's one of the many reasons we have been counseled to plant a garden. It's not just about food storage, it's about learning diligence and important principles of faith and timing in an instant world. :) Also, she quoted D&C 6:16, and she emphasized "yea"--like, "YAY!" Yay, you! God knows the thoughts and intents of your heart and he sees good things there! :)
Sandra Turley, "Sparks of Creation"
I also really liked her messages, even though it was all too brief. Of course, she quoted President Uchtdorf's talk (READ IT AGAIN!) about our innate need as people, and especially as women, to create something that hasn't existed before--because we are children of God, the master Creator, and we each have that spark inside of us. She would share a personal story and then share a broadway song that had new meaning to her (and us) because of that experience. Like "Think of Me" as how Heavenly Father must've felt as He sent each of us to earth. Or "For Good" (from Wicked) as a love letter to her almost-adopted daughter, whom she held and loved after years of awful infertility struggles and a miscarriage, for 43 days before her birth mother changed her mind and took her back. It was touching and moving in every way and I loved it. :)
D. Kelly Ogden, "Pain Amidst the Plan"
I didn't take very many notes, although truthfully it's more because I was getting hungry and sore from sitting at this point. :) So I'm not going to do this talk justice. He likened faith in adversity to climbing a mountain. He talked about his son, who has one leg I think, and a few of his friends with other disabilities who took days to climb this incredible mountain, and the lessons learned through that experience. We recited a lot of hymns that had to do with turning to Christ in our pains and adversity. He quoted Elder Marvin J. Ashton, "Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved." (Love that!) And he said that we are a "Yes" people; because of our faith in Christ, we can say "yes" to answering all the challenges ahead of us.
Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt, "The Intentional Life"
If you could do just one more thing in your life, one big thing, one big goal, what would it be? She had challenged herself to live with a heightened sense of awareness, to see the parable or lesson in the experiences she has, and her talk reflected this! She noted that "the mission of Jesus Christ is to gather. The mission of Satan is to separate." How true that is! How does Satan lie to you and make you feel separated from others, or from the Love of God? Well, whatever it is, our #1 weapon to combat those lies is the Spirit. And the Spirit comes through intentional, deliberate living. "Does your daily routine reflect what you claim to value?" That's a good question to ponder. She says that we must be confident in serving and doing--we must prepare, participate, and remember. And by participate, she doesn't mean show up or go through the motions--she means willfully, deliberatly take part in. "A talk a day keeps Satan away." Study general conference talks and scriptures with a purpose--ask, "What would the Lord have me see, hear, and know as I study?" Identify principles, promises, and make commitments to act. This all doesn't mean you have to add MORE into your lives! "Just do what you're already doingn with greater intensity and purpose." I love that idea. I think I try hard to live an intentional life, but I know I have areas where I could apply this more--especially in my gospel study as of late!
Emily Freeman, "Reaches My Reaching"
"Welcome the tasks that take you beyond yourself." "Launch out into the deep," like Peter. Peter was a big focus of her talk, actually--what it must've been like for him to leave his nets full of fish, to have the biggest day of his career ever, and to leave it all to follow Christ. Then, later, to walk on water! And then get distracted, sink a little, and reach out to Christ to save him. How we all can relate to that moment! But Christ DOES reach our reaching. "Be wise-hearted, not half-hearted," in following Christ. She quoted one of my favorite quotes of ALL TIME:
“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour." ~Winston Churchill
What holds you back from "walking on water," or whatever your personal miracle and life of faith is? Leave your nets and follow Him! Offer your WHOLE SOUL, and He will reach out for you and lift you up.
***
I hope as you study and ponder these words and the associated talks, scriptures, and music, that you feel inspired to "live higher," too. I feel like we are reaching a critical moment in our world's history in which you are either "going into the mountains" of the Lord and thinking, believing, living HIGHER--or else we're falling fast into the valleys and getting eaten by wolves and vultures. It's a scary time, but it's also a marvelous time, and those who seek Him will be safe. I want to be there, to be able to sing, "It is well with my soul."
Monday, March 18, 2013
30 Things You May Not Know About Me
I'm 30 today! And looking forward to a very relaxed day for a change! Anywho, as is tradition, here are 30 Things You May Not Know About Me:
1. Unless it's chocolate or smothered in ice cream, I don't like pie!
2. I got my first cell phone when I was almost 24 and my first laptop about a year later!
3. I got a 32 on my ACT. I'm not stupid! But sometimes people act like I am and it bugs me! Condescending people are the worst!
4. I cry when I am angry or embarrassed or PMSing, but not very often when I'm sad. When I'm sad I just get really quiet and aloof.
5. I used to be SO INTIMIDATED by children with special needs. I am SO GLAD I have this job now and have learned that I do have what it takes; it's an empowering feeling when you connect with a kid and know what they need even when they can't express it themselves! I could write a whole series of posts on how this job and these kids have changed my life...maybe another day...but for now, moving on!
6. I hate running...but I also really wanna do a 5K. And run the whole thing.
7. I've done some pretty cool stuff in my life...like help build car interiors, record an original song in a recording studio, and most recently seen Brian Regan live. I forget sometimes, in my righteous and not-so-righteous desires to do and see and be more, that I have led a life many people would envy.
8. I am CONSTANTLY switching out words for each other. Or even words that don't go together at all. Like just today: "Let's go wash your hair" (I meant hands; "At least they speak a different country!" (I meant language.) and, from earlier this week, "Those tweeting sounds are for the deaf." (I meant blind.) My brain gets ahead of my mouth and sometimes words get switched. But if you know what I mean, don't make a big deal about it, please. Or I will start correcting you and bringing up your weaknesses all the time!
9. Sometimes I just get in a mood where I want to punch someone in the face. Not any particular someone, just the act of punching a face (which I have NEVER DONE, by the way! :)
10. There was a point in my life where I was known as "the Construction Paper Queen," because I could freehand just about anything with some scissors, construction paper, and a glue stick, no matter how many layers there were.
11. I seriously have the worst memory, if not of the whole world then at least out of my family. It's to the point that when any sibling starts off a "Remember when...?" story either I or they will say "No, probably not," before try can continue!
12. I hated reading until my senior year of high school. Now I can't get enough of it!
13. Crafty trends I finally gave into: hardware and chevrons. Trends I may NEVER get into: owls, mustaches, chunky jewelry. Birds are on the fence.
14. I hate being late, and both our families are ALWAYS running behind. :)
15. I'm boycotting baby showers 'til further notice (basically til a REALLY good friend gets pregnant, I can't keep up with ward stuff anymore!).
16. I want to be 150 pounds by my next birthday. It's possible, right?
17. I love jicama with lime juice and chili...my new fave snack!
18. I have a weird hair, yes, just one, growing out of my arm that is darker and thicker and longer than the others. Same thing on my neck.
19. The best gift I got was from Paul--30 weeks of random acts of kindness (for others, once a week). So excited!
20. I don't get the allure of bubble baths. Or walks, just to walk.
21. A few of my favorite things: giraffes and penguins, chocolate chip cookies, peacock feathers, Thai food, newly sharpened pencils, guitar music, the smell of books...
22. I am 21% complete on my weight loss goals for the year! I'm 0% far along on my writing goals, though.
23. When someone starts talking about car stuff, phone stuff, or computer stuff, I hear the voice from Peanuts adults (wa wawa wa wa...). True story.
24. I don't like green smoothies. Or most other smoothies, for that matter. I try to enjoy it because it can be healthy, but...
25. The word "crusty" gives me the willies.
26. I keep two small notebooks in my purse to record writing and personal inspiration, and somehow they both have Eiffel Towers on them. Guess I can't escape my youth that easily!
27. I've only had two pedicures, but they have both hurt! I must either have weird feet or just get bad people to do it.
28. I am tired all the time. And I don't even have kids yet! And tired Celeste = weepy Celeste. I have to sleep before making big decisions or working out conflicts or it just doesn't happen.
29. I love the style of the 20s, the music of the 50s, and the technology of digiscrapping today.
30. I pick my nails all through church. I think that's why they are so brittle!
Well, not that exciting. But that's me, all the same! Maybe next year I'll switch gears a little and make it more a "top 30 events of being 30..." :)
Weight Watchers, Week 5
Well, I lost 3 pounds, but I don't know how! I finished off my cake, ate out twice...still, I guess Spring Cleaning did me good. No new recipes to report, but stay tuned! Next week I'll have a few for you. :) Over and out!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Date Night--Props!
Do you remember Whose Line? Do you remember the bit "Props" where they each were given some random prop and they had to come up with as many ideas for use as they could? Well, that's pretty much what we did last night. On a whim. With this:
Yup, a travel pillow. And we had a grand old time, and it didn't take up much time at all. (Some of our answers included a toilet seat, giant phone, nose ring, every facial/body hair you can imagine, an elephant trunk, a giant's bangle, football shoulder pads, Geordi's viser, bunny ears, the front half of a puppy, etc...)
This is a quick, fun game to play with kids, too--and it encourages creativity! Grab a weirdly-shaped-something in your own house and play, with your spouse or whole family. And enjoy the giggles, because there will be plenty! :)
My Spring Break
It was the perfect blend of productivity and laziness. I would, say, fold laundry for an hour, then read a few of my new children's books. Then I'd get dishes done and trash taken out, then I'd read some more. I stayed up much later than I ever thought I could, then still managed to get up early enough to cross a few more things off my spring cleaning list (and get a few more books read) before 6:00 hit and I lost all motivation. Evenings were spent watching TV and movies with my hubby, snuggling with my puppies, eating leftovers (and cake, and candy...yeah, it is hard to be on a strict diet when you're home all day long, especially if it is also birthday week!), and playing games. Not as fancy as a vacation, but I'd say it was still a pretty great break. I am definitely longing for summer now!
Here are some of the things I accomplished:
*Working on a LOT of school stuff for next year, including book labeling, classroom management stuff, job applications, etc.
*Cleaning out and sweeping, mopping, and reorganizing the pantry, laundry area & closet, and coat closet.
*Getting on top of laundry again!
*Cleaning out the fridge/freezer
*Reading well over a dozen chapter books of varying levels...
*Rearranging my bookshelves and DVD shelf, as well as our three junk drawers.
*Getting new phones!
*The usual stuff--bathrooms, dishes, trash, bedrooms, floors, etc...
*Seeing Brian Regan!!! With some family and friends!
Things I still didn't quite get to:
*Working on my NoVeL!!! :(
*Cleaning out the shed...it was supposed to be warmer than it was!
*Cleaning out storage closets in guest room...I'll admit, I just chose reading over it. Maybe next week. :)
*Crocheting and sewing (or setting up the sewing machine, for that matter.)
*Practicing my flute, for music stuff coming up soon!
*Tracking. That's what it's called when you keep track if your food and points on Weight Watchers. I didn't do this much this week, mostly because of late night can't sleep cake binges. It'll be better now that I don't have that stuff in the house!
Here's to another work week...only 2 1/2 months left 'til summer break!
Happy St. Pat's!
My mantle, which is really a few pictures, a cup, some hats and leis and sunglasses, etc. :)
Me, happy to be a day away from finishing my 3rd decade of life!
Don't eat Pete! From here:
http://www.ishareprintables.com/pink-polka-dot-creations-8Sunday, March 10, 2013
Weight watchers week 4
Well, I had more than a few slip ups this week. Partially thanks to my secret buddy at work who gave me all of this (and then some!):
This, along with another bag of cookies and a box of candy...my undoing! So I sort of gave up this week, and indulged myself early in some birthday cake while I was at it:
Sooooooo good. But between all that and not really being in the mood to cook much, I gained back 2 pounds.
Moving on!
This week, which is already halfway over, has gone pretty well even with eating out and finishing off the cake so far. So I feel better about it. :) Fruits and veggies as snacks are what is keeping me sane right now! That and SPRING BREAK!!!
No recipes to share this week since we ate leftovers and frozen meals, sorry! I'll try doing better this week for all of you. :)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
St. Patty's Day Digi Freebies :)
I always get a little stuck on St. Patty's Day decor. I don't want a whole mess of rainbows or pots of gold, and half the crafts out there are for children--and almost all the other half LOOK like children made them. :) Finding sophisticated and yet fun decor is just hard sometimes.
Here's an 8 x 10 freebie (the one you download is blank, ready for you to just insert your own pics and print off!). Paint a cheap frame green and sparkly, scatter some gold coins around the base, and you'll be set! I saw this idea via Pinterest and knew instantly I wanted a digital version to change out over the years, and even though they have a template for Photoshop I can't really figure out how to use it on Paint.NET...so I made my own. :) (Special thanks to Tam from Sew Dang Cute Crafts for the idea and template, even if I didn't use it...and to Trina from Delicious Scraps for the free Lucky Me kit I mostly used for the projects...mostly... :)
And, to go with, it, a little 5 x 7 jpg for you to record 5 things that made you "lucky" each day. :) Just print it off, put it into a cute 5x7 frame with glass, and use a dry erase marker to write and wipe off your gratitude lists each day! :)
Hope you like them! More ideas to come...I hope. I've got a few Dollar Tree items just waiting for someone to be creative enough to use up. :) I love St. Patty's Day, always have, because it's the day before my BIRTHDAY. So I always feel lucky. :)
HappyScrapping Decorating Celebrating!
Here's an 8 x 10 freebie (the one you download is blank, ready for you to just insert your own pics and print off!). Paint a cheap frame green and sparkly, scatter some gold coins around the base, and you'll be set! I saw this idea via Pinterest and knew instantly I wanted a digital version to change out over the years, and even though they have a template for Photoshop I can't really figure out how to use it on Paint.NET...so I made my own. :) (Special thanks to Tam from Sew Dang Cute Crafts for the idea and template, even if I didn't use it...and to Trina from Delicious Scraps for the free Lucky Me kit I mostly used for the projects...mostly... :)
Hope you like them! More ideas to come...I hope. I've got a few Dollar Tree items just waiting for someone to be creative enough to use up. :) I love St. Patty's Day, always have, because it's the day before my BIRTHDAY. So I always feel lucky. :)
Happy
The Coolest Library App Ever!
So. In anticipation of hopefully having a classroom of my own next year, I've been giving some serious thought to how I want the little things to run. One thing of particular concern is my library, especially not knowing what levels I need to stock up on or really figuring out how I want it to all run...
When you click on "Add Book," you can choose to scan barcode, search by title or ISBN, or input manually. Here's the manual part. Note the many different ways you can record the level a book!
You can see your library and all the books you have. Handy. You can also check here to see what books are checked out, etc.
If you click on students, you can add people here. Obviously I don't have a classroom yet, so I used a few family/friend names to see how it all worked. You can add new people just by clicking the + and you can even add in parent and contact info!
If you click on a student's name, this screen shows up. Notice how there's a chance to see what books that student has out, as well!
When you go to check out a book, this is what comes up. You literally just scan your book and scroll down to your name and click on it. Voila! Finished!
This is the screen that comes up when you want to make a barcode label for your books. I have been surprised how many of my books, especially the classics, don't have barcodes! This is easier, I think, than having kids search for titles each time.
...until now!
BookRetriever is an AWESOME app that lets you scan in all your books, create a class list, and allow students to check in and out books. If your book doesn't have a barcode to scan, you can generate one right from the app! It's super user friendly, even for kids. I could easily see us eventually doing something like this around the house, too! Anywho, I'll walk you through the basics, in case a cheap app isn't appealing enough for you...and then tell you what I don't like about it.
Here is what the home screen looks like. Clean icons and simple labels. Love it already!
This is the screen that comes up when you want to make a barcode label for your books. I have been surprised how many of my books, especially the classics, don't have barcodes! This is easier, I think, than having kids search for titles each time.
Pretty sweet, huh? I'm in love. Did I mention it is ONE DOLLAR? Cause I'm pretty sure it was. :) The only real drawbacks are that it occasionally crashes and you have to restart it (especially when building your digital library), and the limited database. Only about 1/3 of my books actually scanned, so manually inputting each book (not to mention I haven't even looked up levels yet) is time consuming in the beginning. Also, the editing option is limited to how many copies you have (so if an author is unlisted you can't just list it, etc.). Hopefully these are things they will fix soon. But it's still VERY worth it.
My classroom librarian will have more to do than just tidying up the books occasionally--they'll get to create labels, check in on how many students have books that are almost or over due, and get to hound everyone for me! All at, literally, the push of a button! Wahoo!
I love this day and age.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
GoodWill Goodies
The lines were long this morning...but oh so worth it!
I got there a couple hours after it opened, so I didn't find the usual clothing scores...aside from an awesome dress that is just perfect (pic later of it actually on me) and a tie for Paul. So, naturally, I headed to the book section.
THE BOOK SECTION!
I don't usually have the patience to look through every stinking book they have, but with having my own classroom a very real possibility next year and the lines not getting any smaller, I decided to give it a whirl. And I'm so glad I did! 23 books, 21 of them various children's books, for a mere $7.35. Gotta love that!
The books include 3 Judy Moody books, a boxcar children, some Disney I Spy books, a few nonfiction books about rainforests and the Pony Express, a very boy book (Knights of the Kitchen Table) by John Scieszka, some Winnie the pooh books, etc...plus Trumpet of the Swan and Summer of the Swans, two books I remember loving as a kid. :) And 2nd copies of The Legend of the Bluebonnet (DePaola is a fave of mine even now) and The Paper Bag Princess. Lots of goodies to add to the collection! I also got young reader novels of HighSchool Musical 1 and 3 and a ballet book for Katherine, the girl I am a para for. I will most definitely be checking their kids books out every month from now on! You can't really beat $0.35 a pop!
Weight Watchers, Week 3
Hello! Another week down, and it wasn't all that bad, even with a dozen cookies from a secret buddy at work, a splurge on a Kit Kat Bar, and eating out once! I hit my first goal, my 5% goal (passed it, actually, for a total of 12 pounds so far), and am now working towards a new 10% weight loss goal. :) This is just through changing my diet, not my exercising routines (yet)!
I don't really notice or feel a difference in my own body yet, though. I haven't lost a pants size or anything, and I feel like my gut is as big as ever...so I'm not quite sure where these points are melting away from! And I have to admit, some days I feel super deprived and other days I feel like I'm shoving food begrudgingly in my mouth at the end of the day to use up all my points. I'm rarely hungry anymore, and smaller meals are the norm now, but I am ALWAYS MUNCHY. So my new goal for this week, in addition to walking with a coworker after school AND doing 1/2 hour of yoga in the mornings, is to chop up veggies and have whole fruits handy for when I'm getting the munchies, instead of wasting the points on low-calorie chocolate brownies, peanut butter, and the like. :) This will save those points for much-needed lean proteins, and more CARBS! (Not that I'm not eating them now, but sometimes I don't so I can sneak in a brownie later...no bueno!) Also, no more chopping fruits up for fruit salad--I tend to eat WAY MORE than I need to if it's in a salad form, which is eating into our budget. So whole fruits, one at a time, will be better for our wallet AND my waistline.
Although, my hubby got a HUGE promotion at work this week so I WILL be eating out tonight...and there WILL also be Cold Stone involved. :) Thank goodness for those activity points I'll be racking up!
Anywho, here are some of the meals that have kept me satisfied this week, as always, with recipes to come (linked in the captions):
 |
| Easy Egg White Omelette (my new favorite breakfast!) WW 2+ Points |
 |
| Raspberry-Dijon Glazed Ham (WW 5+ Points) |
 |
| Grilled Cuban Chicken with Black Bean and Mango Salsa (WW 7+ Points) |
 |
| Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin (WW 3+ Points) |
 |
| Lemon Chicken & Broccoli with Penne (WW 6+ Points) |
Lemon Chicken & Broccoli with Penne (WW 6 Points+)
I made a double-batch of this, so that I could have enough and leftovers and Paul wouldn't starve. This recipe, though, serves 4. I made it serve 8, which really served 3 actual servings and then Paul could eat the rest. And he did, happily, because this lemon chicken is light and DELISH. I also added in 1/4 c. cooked whole grain penne per serving because the sauce and everything sort of DEMANDED a delicious carb. I highly recommend it. That's what makes each serving 6 points instead of 4. Just FYI. :)
2 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
12 oz boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into THIN slices
2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 c. chicken broth, fat-free and reduced sodium
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 1/2 c. uncooked broccoli florets (FRESH)
2 tsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine flour, salt, and pepper on a plate and toss chicken pieces in it 'til coated well.
2. Heat oil in large skillet or pot/wok, add chicken and cook 'til lightly browned. Remove chicken to a plate.
3. Put 1 c. broth and garlic into pan, and bring to a boil, scraping browned bits off the bottom.
4. Once boiling, add broccoli and cook about 1 minute.
5. In small cup, stir together remaining 1/2 c. broth, 1/2 tbsp. flour and 1/4 tsp. salt; add to skillet and bring to simmer over low heat.
6. Cook until broccoli is crisp-tender and sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in chicken and lemon zest, heat through.
7. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley and lemon juice.
Serves 4. 1 c. per serving = 4 Points. Add in 1/4 c. cooked penne for an additional 2 points/serving.
Enjoy!
Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin (WW 3 Points+)
I had people asking me to make this again. So I think it was a hit! It's so simple, easy, and hardly any real work for ME, so I think I can oblige them! The pork turns out SO moist, and the herbs give it a fresh feel. Serve it up with some salad for an easy plants + protein meal!
INGREDIENTS:
2 tsp. dried thyme
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
2 pounds LEAN pork tenderloin, raw
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 400. Coat a shallow baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Combine herbs/powders/salt/pepper in a small bowl. Rub oil all over pork, then sprinkle with herb mix. Place in prepared pan.
3. Roast about 35 minutes, or 'til cooked through.
4. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing thinly.
Serves 8.
1 Serving = 3 Points+
Grilled Cuban Chicken with Black Bean & Mango Salsa (WW 7+ Points)
Oh, man. I could eat this chicken ALL DAY LONG. Or at least the salsa. Seriously, Paul and I are hoping to make a huge bowl of it sometime and just eat it all up with some chips. I have no idea how many points that would be, but whatever it is, it'd be WORTH IT! That's how delicious, soft, sweet-and-tangy this dish is!
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 c. orange juice (can have mix-ins...ours actually had mango fruit juice, too)
1/4 c. chopped cilantro
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. ground cumin
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 4 5-ounce pieces. (Basically I took the two smallest breasts in the frozen bag I buy and then one medium piece and cut it in half...)
1 c. cubed mango (about 1 actual mango)
1 c. canned black beans, rinsed and drained
2 Tbsp. red onion, chopped finely
DIRECTIONS:
1. In small bowl, mix OJ, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Remove 1/2 cup and place in baggie or bowl, and add chicken (turning to coat). Seal and marinate in fridge for at least one hour.
2. Meanwhile, to make salsa, add beans, mango, and onion to the remaining OJ mixture. Toss well (I added a little more cilantro here), and refrigerate up to 12 hours (I just did the one, too).
3. Grill chicken until cooked through (took about 8 minutes on my indoor grill).
1 piece of chicken and 1/2 c. salsa = 1 serving = 7 Points+. Serves 4.
Raspberry-Dijon Glazed Ham (WW 5 Points+)
This was SO GOOD. SO good. And easy, which made for a great Sunday night dinner! Also, it makes 8 servings so it's great for those of us whose spouses AREN'T on any diets and/or if you need leftovers! Hope you like it as much as we did!
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
1/4 c. dijon mustard, the grainiest you can find (with seeds)
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
a 2-pound cooked, smoked lean ham (I actually found one at Walmart...score!)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325. Coat a small baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Make glaze by stirring first four ingredients together well. Save about half to serve with the ham.
3. Prepare ham for glaze by scoring 1/8"-deep criss cross marks all over the top and sides of ham. Brush with half the glaze.
4. Bake for 1 hour, brushing with glaze every 15 minutes. Thinly slice ham and serve with reserved glaze.
Serves 8, with about 1 Tbsp. extra glaze included per serving. :) Each serving = 5 Points+
YUM! We served this with a veggie/salad mix. And, of course, fruit salad from the weekend. :)
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
1/4 c. dijon mustard, the grainiest you can find (with seeds)
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
a 2-pound cooked, smoked lean ham (I actually found one at Walmart...score!)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325. Coat a small baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Make glaze by stirring first four ingredients together well. Save about half to serve with the ham.
3. Prepare ham for glaze by scoring 1/8"-deep criss cross marks all over the top and sides of ham. Brush with half the glaze.
4. Bake for 1 hour, brushing with glaze every 15 minutes. Thinly slice ham and serve with reserved glaze.
Serves 8, with about 1 Tbsp. extra glaze included per serving. :) Each serving = 5 Points+
YUM! We served this with a veggie/salad mix. And, of course, fruit salad from the weekend. :)
Easy Egg White Omelette (WW 2 Points+)
I have found a lovely way to get in THREE OR FOUR FOOD GROUPS in the mornings without hardly even thinking about it, AND it's only 2 Points...not a bad start to the day! Here are my easy egg white omelettes!
INGREDIENTS:
3 Egg Whites
3/4 c. frozen or fresh finely chopped veggies (for EASE in the mornings I buy the seasoning mix, which includes frozen onion, celery, and peppers, as well as a package of chopped frozen spinach...it's all pretty cheap and I hardly have to work at all for it!)
1 Tbsp. shredded cheese
1. In a small bowl, beat egg whites just until they start to change color--hardly at all, but nice and scrambly for sure. Add in the veggies.
2. Spray a medium-sized frying pan with 1 spray of olive oil or vegetable oil. Pour in the egg/veggie mix and, if necessary, flatten/spread out with a spatula (my frozen veggies need this sometimes, but I don't think they would if they were fresh).
3. Cook until the top loses its shine. Sprinkle cheese on top, fold in half, and slide onto a plate.
Serve with a side of fresh fruit and enjoy! Protein and TWO fruits/veggies servings in one meal. (P.S. If you want carbs and to make it an even more complete breakfast, you could serve it alongside a whole grain English muffin--only 3+ Points more!)
3 Egg Whites
3/4 c. frozen or fresh finely chopped veggies (for EASE in the mornings I buy the seasoning mix, which includes frozen onion, celery, and peppers, as well as a package of chopped frozen spinach...it's all pretty cheap and I hardly have to work at all for it!)
1 Tbsp. shredded cheese
1. In a small bowl, beat egg whites just until they start to change color--hardly at all, but nice and scrambly for sure. Add in the veggies.
2. Spray a medium-sized frying pan with 1 spray of olive oil or vegetable oil. Pour in the egg/veggie mix and, if necessary, flatten/spread out with a spatula (my frozen veggies need this sometimes, but I don't think they would if they were fresh).
3. Cook until the top loses its shine. Sprinkle cheese on top, fold in half, and slide onto a plate.
Serve with a side of fresh fruit and enjoy! Protein and TWO fruits/veggies servings in one meal. (P.S. If you want carbs and to make it an even more complete breakfast, you could serve it alongside a whole grain English muffin--only 3+ Points more!)
Digiscrapping Blog Trains Galore!
There are some FANTASTIC freebies out in the digiscrapping world EVERY start of a new month, but I found this month's to be extra fun and wanted to remind you all about them! Remember, digiscrapping is the most fun when it's FREE! :)
First up, how cute are these lil' monsters? With a fun, bright palette, this MEGA kit by dozens of designers is perfect for tickle monsters, silly faces, or any other fun pics of your own little monsters. I am actually thinking about having this exact color palette and monster theme in my classroom someday (after I get tired of the LEGO one, of course!) and can't wait to use this kit as part of the decor! Check out "Monsters, Monsters Everywhere!" at Stuff to Scrap!
Next up, take a ride to the Orient with Digi Scrap Forum's "The Chinese Orient." If you eat Chinese/Japanese/Thai takeout as much as we do, or if you have fun celebrating the Chinese New Year, this kit is perfect for you! And even if you don't, the orangey pinky red colors are beautiful and well-worth investing in just for the normal papers and generic embellishments! Check it out HERE!
And, last but not least, who is ready for SPRING?! I know I sure am! This superkit from the Digi Shop Talk blog train, "Bright Days Ahead," is perfect for the dreamy and sweet springtime pages soon to come! It's amazing to me how the same color palettes look so different from designer to designer--not that the colors don't blend, but how one can be dark and rich, while another can be light and fresh! Anywho, without further ado, check out "Bright Days Ahead" HERE!
First up, how cute are these lil' monsters? With a fun, bright palette, this MEGA kit by dozens of designers is perfect for tickle monsters, silly faces, or any other fun pics of your own little monsters. I am actually thinking about having this exact color palette and monster theme in my classroom someday (after I get tired of the LEGO one, of course!) and can't wait to use this kit as part of the decor! Check out "Monsters, Monsters Everywhere!" at Stuff to Scrap!
Next up, take a ride to the Orient with Digi Scrap Forum's "The Chinese Orient." If you eat Chinese/Japanese/Thai takeout as much as we do, or if you have fun celebrating the Chinese New Year, this kit is perfect for you! And even if you don't, the orangey pinky red colors are beautiful and well-worth investing in just for the normal papers and generic embellishments! Check it out HERE!
And, last but not least, who is ready for SPRING?! I know I sure am! This superkit from the Digi Shop Talk blog train, "Bright Days Ahead," is perfect for the dreamy and sweet springtime pages soon to come! It's amazing to me how the same color palettes look so different from designer to designer--not that the colors don't blend, but how one can be dark and rich, while another can be light and fresh! Anywho, without further ado, check out "Bright Days Ahead" HERE!
As always, happy scrapping!
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