DIGISCRAP QUICKPAGES!

So, I know I've been a slacker.  About many, many things.  I'm working on it.  :)  One thing I tried to get caught up on over Thanksgiving Break (yay for 4-day vacations!) was my Project 366 and other 2012 digiscrapping pages.  I'm almost there...it's hard to find inspiration for multi-photo pages, but Pinterest helped.  :)  Anyway, in the process of trying to wrap up my own scrapping for the year I have created some pretty awesome (she said so humbly) quickpages for you to use--personal use only, as per kit designers' requests.  Again, I found many inspirations via Pinterest, so I can't take much credit for the layouts themselves.  But still, I DID enjoy making them, and I think they turned out lovely.  Much more like what I want my pages to look like.  I have been trying to be better about crediting designers and such, but since I wasn't that concerned about it when I first started a lot of my older kits have no credits.  Let me know if you know how I can remedy that.  Otherwise, take a look, and feel free to download any .png files that strike your fancy.  :)

80s Quickpage 1
Using the kit "Kickin' it Old School" by Colie's Corner
DOWNLOAD HERE

Birthday Boy
Using bits and pieces of several kits
DOWNLOAD HERE

Birthday Girl
Using (mostly) the kit "They Say it's Your Birthday" by Christie Dawn at Scrappin' Serenity
DOWNLOAD HERE

Bubbly QP
Using several of the mini kits from The Blog Train Blog's talented "Inspire Me" designers.
DOWNLOAD HERE 

Christmas Tree QP
Using several mini kits from Stuff to Scrap's "Christmas Love" blog train designers.
DOWNLOAD HERE

LEGO-inspired QP
Using "Block Party" (uncredited, sorry)
DOWNLOAD HERE

Ribbon QP
Using "Atomic Cool" by Bella Gypsy (plus a circle stamp from somewhere else, uncredited)
DOWNLOAD HERE

Autumn QP
Using "Autumn Thoughts," a favorite kit of mine, from Designs by Megan Turnidge
DOWNLOAD HERE

Happy scrapping!  I'll share my creations with you soon, I promise!  Just another pic yet to take (crucial) and a page or two to go and I'll be all caught up.  But I wanted to share with you NOW so you can get a head start on your holiday scrapping if needs be.  Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Day 22 and final: Today, I am thankful for traditions. Our Thanksgiving tacos are something I look forward to almost every year, even though we rarely have them ON Thanksgiving day. And just as honorable are the turkey-potato-cranberry sauce traditions shared around the nation and in my Dad's home each year. I'm thankful to spend today with them! Paul and I are still relatively newlyweds and without children so we are still figuring out all the traditions we want to have in our own home someday...but Pinterest helps. :) Here are some I know I want to have:

1. A visible and cute countdown whereupon we write something we are grateful for each day of November until the BIG day. :)
2. Pumpkin pull-apart bread and the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie for breakfast.
3. Someone making cute placemats while I'm busy cooking. And a cute white tablecloth that everyone can sign and write on--the biggest blessing of the year, signed and dated and then embroidered to last a lifetime! Brought out to add into every year for as long as possible!

What are some of YOUR favorite holiday traditions?

Tip of the day: get offline. Go tech-free for as long as possible today and just enjoy the traditions of your family, whatever it looks like. We all have something to be grateful for and we can enjoy those blessings more in real life with the people actually around us than we ever could on the phone/computer/TV/video games. :)

Thankful, Days 20-21

Day 20: I'm thankful for our car!  It's still relatively new to us, and it makes running errands, visiting family, having 3 jobs in our household, and running to church meetings SO MUCH MORE DOABLE!  I love having a reliable, safe mode of transportation.  LOVE IT.  Yay for Punky!  Not that I hate buses or bikes or walking, but when that's your ONLY choice...well...cars are much more convenient and fun.  :)

Day 21: I'm thankful for YOU!  Yes, YOU!  My friends, my "chosen family."  I'm grateful to the many people who CHOOSE to be stuck with me for a spell in this thing we call life!  You shape a part of me, and it's nice to have people who are willing to help you and love you and laugh with you and make sure I'm "growin' up good."  :)  I am so blessed in the close friendships I have, and even the not-so-close one, because we all need a little pick-me-up now and again and my friends are NEVER short on happiness and inspiration and service and love.  I'm thankful!

Two tips of the day: (1) Get some exercise, outdoors if possible.  Endorphins PLUS fresh air PLUS realizing all the good things our bodies CAN do = happiness!  (2) Try out a new mantra for yourself.  Or, if mantras aren't your thing, make a list of good things about YOU today!  Be kind to YOURSELF and realize YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD and YOU ARE AMAZING!  You can do ANYTHING! Anything.

Thankful, Days 17-19

Day 17: I'm thankful that some people still believe in the arts for kids...and they're the passionate ones, so they will always win! :)

Day 18: I'm thankful for modern conveniences like central heat and air, running water (and hot water at that), electricity, and an indoor washer/dryer. So many things we kind of expect to have but that are really just amazing, life-altering, health-promoting conveniences that make everyday living so much easier.

Day 19: I'm thankful for modern medicine, and for the relatively new experience of being insured!
2 hours and 15 minutes in the urgent care waiting room, plus half an hour of actual visits: $50.
2 prescriptions for bronchitis and a sinus infection at CVS: $60
The hope of being able to breathe and sleep well again someday soon: priceless. :)

And here are 3 tips to improving gratitude:
1. Forgive other humans.
2. Don't compare yourself (or your blessings) to other humans.
3. Compliment other humans.  Remember the 8:1 rule...it takes 8 positive interactions to "cancel out" a negative one in a relationship.  Remember that especially with your spouses and your children. 

The wording may seem funny in these..."other humans" instead of "others."  But sometimes that word, "human," reminds us (or at least ME) that that's exactly what we all are.  I know a lot of these are easier said than done, but when you put it into perspective and remember to be as kind to others who are just trying to figure out their way as much as you are, it makes it a little easier.

Easy Flower Pot Cupcakes!

These are some of the easiest (but not cheapest!) cupcakes you will ever do. Perfect for bridal shower, garden/spring parties, or girlie girl birthdays, these easy flower pot cupcakes will have everyone super impressed...without you having to do much work at all!

You will need:
*cake mix and ingredients/materials to make it into cupcakes
*chocolate frosting
*small, cupcake-sized flower pots
*Dollar Store flowers and wire cutters
*One package Oreos
*candles (optional)

1. Bake your cupcakes as you normally would.
2. After they've cooled, stick them (paper and all) into washed and dried mini flower pots.
3. Dollop a small bit of chocolate frosting on each one and use the back of a spoon to spread over whole cupcake.
4. Pulse or smash Oreos until dirt-like, then spoon and press into frosting.
5. Cut each flower stem about 3-4 inches and stick one flower in each pot. Can reserve one cupcake for candles if desired.
6. Enjoy! Take out the flower and use a knife to pop out the cupcakes before eating to ensure food safety and that no one digs their fork into the paper! :)

Much easier than pre-treating the pots to bake in or making it all from fondant! And everyone gets a pot and a flower as a keepsake! :)

Thankful, Day 16

Today, I'm thankful for CELEBRATIONS!  I love having a chance to pause life (somewhat) and just celebrate the good and exciting things happening.  My roommates and I used to throw a party for just about everything!  I miss that.  Today, I got to celebrate with not one but TWO special little girls, each celebrating an 8th birthday this weekend.  And I get to celebrate special moments with each of them again tomorrow!  I'm so excited (but not as excited as they are, of course!).

The first little girl, So-and-So as I like to refer to her in cyberspace, is 8 TODAY!  She's the little girl I work with at school.  She brightened everyone's day today by singing happy birthday to herself and telling everyone she was now 80.  :)  Her eyes lit up and I think she was actually a little overwhelmed by all the attention today as birthday banners and balloons, bags and buttons, stickers and pins and hats were all around us today.  She teaches me SO MUCH about life and celebrating the small things, and tomorrow she will be baptized too!  I can't wait to be a part of her special day and see how TANGIBLE the changes she makes in all of our lives will be on everyone's faces.  I think it'll be standing room only!

The only way I could get her to stay still was to have her sing happy birthday to herself.  This face, her singing face, is one I know well!

The second little girl, Caida, is my niece, and we will be celebrating all weekend long!  Tonight Paul and I got all dolled up and took her to "dinner and the theater!"  Our civic youth theater put on a production of Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, so we took her to "'da OG" (Olive Garden, her favorite) and then out on the town.  I don't know for sure, but I think it was her first time ever watching a live play.  SO FUN!  I love being there for firsts and I know it was a special evening *I* will always treasure.  (We also got her the book and a plush toy so she will have something to remember the evening by, as well. :)  Tomorrow we'll celebrate with friends at Chuck E. Cheese, and Sunday I'm bringing pretty cupcakes over to her home for a family gathering. 

Sassy!

Smiling with a mouthful of popcorn...maybe not the best move.  But she had a blast, really.  :)

I love being a part of each of these sweet girls' lives, and all the things they teach me about health, patience, love, forgiveness, work, and family.  I am thankful to celebrate with them and take a piece of their innocence and goodness with me!

Thankful, Day 15

Today, I'm thankful for TV and movies.  Paul and I both grew up on TV, and while sometimes I wish we liked them a little *less* (or less often), I have to admit, it's still a favorite way to pass the time.  Especially after a long day at work when I have no energy or desire to do my chores and there's something REALLY FUNNY on!  Or when we have the grumpies--it's nice to have a distraction for a while.  I like quality entertainment in all its many forms, really.  Thank heavens for TV and especially for Netflix.  :)

Tip of the day: Find the humor in the moments all around you.  Sometimes it's easier to get frustrated than to get the giggles, but lightening the mood a little will certainly help everyone around you put the moment into perspective and be *able* to feel gratitude again!

Thankful, Day 14

Today I'm thankful for smells. Good smells, of course. The kind that bring up happy memories. Like rain, fresh bread, my sister's cotton candy body spray, chicken soup (making some broth right now with herbs from my summer garden...YUM), babies, and snow. We take our noses for granted, I think.

Tip of the day: Sing a song (or listen to music) about gratitude.  Don’t let the feelings of guilt come settling in—just  let yourself be grateful.

Thankful, Day 13

Today I'm grateful for comfort food.  Arby's curly fries and shakes did it for me today.  Tonight, grilled cheese and tomato soup.  PB&J tomorrow and, realistically, I will probably make a Steak and Shake run before the week is out and enjoy a Frisco Melt or the Chili 5-Way, because I CAN.  Especially on cold days when you're already not feeling well and you're just bummed out and don't even know why, good "comfort" food has a way of nourishing the spirit as well as the body.  I don't know why this is true, but it is. 

What are your comfort foods?

Tip of the day:
Meditate and pray for perspective on your trials.  It's never so bad as you think.

Thankful, Day 12

Today, I'm grateful for my snooze button.  Up until recently I was never a fan...what was I thinking?  :)  I love smacking that snooze on my alarm clock or my phone over. and over. and over again.  I purposely set my alarm a good hour before I have to wake up just so I can revel the feeling that I'm "cheating" time and sleeping a little longer.  Silly but it works.  And if it doesn't, if I really can't go back to sleep, then I have an extra hour to myself while the rest of the house sleeps.  Which is just as glorious.  :)

Tip of the day: Do something you absolutely love today.  Part of true gratitude is not just expressing it but ENJOYING THIS THING WE CALL LIFE.