One Little Word: 2014

It's that time of year, again! It dawned on me Sunday, while sitting in worship, I have not chosen a word for 2014 yet! It snuck up on me!!  I've pondered what I should choose and the same word kept coming to mind, along with the same verses to go with it.

My 2013 word: PURPOSEFUL
My 2012 word: LIGHT
My 2011 word: JOYFUL
My 2010 word: KINDNESS
My 2009 word:  GENTLE
My 2008 word: FOCUS

My word for 2014 is MORE.  Are you ready to just die?! "You chose more?!  What in the world are you thinking?!"  I know, right?  When it first popped in my head, I thought, "No way! I can't choose such a selfish word!" But I realized the things I want "more" of are not all selfish (notice "not all" - I'm pretty sure one of them is). Some of these things are listed below, in no particular order - well, except the first one is the thing I want more of because from it, I think, will flow everything else.

I want more time in the Word. I have been lax about reading and have been doing more of a "devotionalism" kind of reading. Not really studying or meditating - but just reading on a theme, checking it off my list and moving on with my day. Not what I want or need in order to become more sanctified.

I want to be more purposed in outreach - to friends, to neighbors, to family. I want more fellowship and hospitality. I want more homemade stuff - food, cards, everything. I would like more time to engage in my hobbies - both because they relax me and because they get the homemade things done.

I want to be more loving - to my husband, my children, my extended family, my church family, my friends. I want to be more gentle in my speech. I want to be more purposeful. I want to have more light. I want to be more kind. I want to have more focus. And all of those go back to that first thing I want more of - time in Bible study.

My verses for 2014 -

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.             Philippians 1:9-11 (NASB)

Do you have a word for 2014? Specific goals? Resolutions?

Right Now

Try to not be shocked. Yes, I am posting something. :) I just wanted to share with y'all something I have loved doing over the past few months.  Since we are coming up on a new year, some people might want to start it in January.

I do these "Right Now" prompts once a month. I shoot for the middle of the month but as you can see from October and November, it was closer to the end of the month.  (by the way, this photo is actually supposed to be in landscape orientation but I don't know how to make that happen from my phone).  The printable is available here, on Monika Wright's blog.

I used scraps of decorative paper from some of my 6x6 pads to prettify these.  At this point, mine are not bound, they're just tossed in the basket beside the recliner and I grab one when I'm ready to record "right now." I love that this is a quick way for me to record the "dailyness" of my life. I never look at last month's before recording this month's. I had to laugh at the similarity of my answers some months! (two months in a row I was feeling "overwhelmed" - but really, that's the story of my life).

I thought I'd share this month -
feeling: excited about the holidays
on the to do list: finish shopping - tonight!
my guilty pleasure: Mint Milanos ~ hidden above the stove
favorites: homemade sea-salt caramel sauce
dreaming about: sanding and repainting the chalkboard
grateful for: coffee and work
documented: 12/18/13

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Back Burner kind of stuff

When I started blogging in 2004, I was trying to keep up with very young, growing very fast children. I was trying to keep up with vocabulary and milestones and...just life in general.  Kids are continuing to grow and continuing to do it much, much too quickly - but we're past the days where I'm counting words in their vocabulary and the milestones are long ago accomplished.

I was on a digital scrapping design team and I needed a place to share what I was doing. I don't digitally scrapbook any longer. I've taken up Project Life.  Digital scrapbooking became a lot like paper scrapbooking has become -- pile a whole bunch of embellishments on a page and put one tiny little picture on it -- usually in the middle of the embellishments where it's hard to see. There's no title on the page, no date, no journaling.  Yeah, that's going to mean a whole lot to your posterity when they see it. But hey, it got published in some big scrapbooking magazine or featured on some website! Whoohoo. Big. Deal. :p I've always scrapbooked for the STORY. Not to be in the pages of some magazine. Which is why I love Project Life (or Simple Stories, or whatever brand you choose to use)  Whoops. Soapbox. Snuck up on me there. Sorry.

I thought I'd share about baking. But, I had a little boy who needed his momma way more than I had time to bake or share about it.

I thought I'd try sharing paper crafting. But, I barely have time to eek out a card before I'm running out the door to the event where it is needed -- much less have time to take a picture of it and blog. (not to mention, when I do that, I'm told I have too much time on my hands...oh, my. no.)

Life these days is consumed with homeschooling my children, trying to keep the laundry caught up, the house sanitary (it is pretty cluttery most days - but the kitchen and bathrooms are at least sanitary!), and working full-time-plus-some.  Blogging is going to have to go on the back burner for a while. The waaaay back burner.

I may return to blogging. I may not.  But I know this - right now, not thinking about it is what I need. Not taking another minute to do it is what I need. Not having to worry about "is this photo blog worthy" is what I need.  Not thinking about my "brand" and what I want my "brand" to portray is what I need. I don't even WANT TO BE A BRAND!  I don't want to create a Facebook page for my blog. (really?! really?!). I don't want to tweet about my blog. (I don't want to tweet, period) I don't want to create a Pinterest for my blog.  And so, with that, I'll see you again some day, maybe.

edited to add: I told a friend that I'd blog if there was some event I wanted to capture or remember; or if I have a chance to participate in a paper-crafting challenge and need to post it to my blog (those are very rare occurances these days...maybe a little more this summer? I dunno). But, for the most part, you won't see me around here very much and I'm good with that. I'm sure you will be, too. :)

Spring Cleaning: Bathrooms

The bathrooms. Ugh. I never realized how gross cleaning a bathroom can be until I had kids. Seriously, I have not raised them to believe they live in a barn - but that bathroom? Yikes! Their bathroom gets cleaned daily. And I review the cleaning job daily because, let's face it, my Bathroom Cleaner Child's definition of clean and mine are vastly different.   (I clean my own bathroom)

Things we use to clean the bathroom:

Let's start with what is easily the grossest, but most necessary, cleaning job in the bathroom - germ central, the toilet.  I want something to clean the toilet that can be disposed of. I have used toilet brushes in the caddies with the Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner. I actually have toilet brushes in the bathrooms now - but I don't use them. We use the Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Brush.  I have tried both the flushable pads and the "Fresh Pads" (what they call them - these aren't flushable).  The flushable pads are okay for an every day little "swish and swipe" in the toilet - but for the most part, they are like trying to scrub the toilet with a wad of toilet paper (which makes sense - they need to be flushable).  For cleaning the toilet and getting it really clean, I like the Fresh Pads, which are not flushable.  I've also tried the Clorox version of the toilet brush and like it, too. They don't have a flushable version.

Tub, counter and sinks get cleaned with Comet Bathroom Cleaner.  I've been using this for years - since long before we moved into our house.  Love this stuff. It cuts through soap scum, smells citrusy, really like it.  I've tried the Dawn dishwashing detergent and vinegar - but I could smell vinegar for a long time after cleaning the bathroom and I hate that smell. I went back to Comet.

Mirrors get cleaned once a week with Pledge Multi-Surface Wipes.  I've tried the Windex Wipes - they're linty!! (that was the most common complaint in our focus group, too).  I've tried regular glass cleaner with a paper towel and I always end up using too much glass cleaner.

The floors get swept and then we break out the Shark.

We don't scrub the toilet or "Shark" the floor every day (I'm not that OCD and we aren't home enough). But we do try to make sure it is sanitary in there!

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Spring Cleaning: Dusting

It's time many people are thinking about Spring Cleaning. Last month, I had the opportunity to spend four weeks in a focus group where we provided feedback about cleaning products. We were sent cleaning products, we had cleaning assignments, we had to take pictures of the things we cleaned, we provided feedback.  I thought I'd share with you the things I have found that I love for cleaning - some came from this focus group, others have been around The Shoe for as long as there has been a Shoe.  I wasn't paid for this. I wasn't encouraged to blog or asked to blog. I just am.

Dusting:
First, this came from the focus group. This is a product I would have never thought I'd use. I have seen them in the store and thought, "Nah. Not for me." Then I got one and I love it.  It is the Swiffer 360 Duster.  This thing is fabulous for cleaning light fixtures, ceiling fan blades and blinds. This will be a permanent part of my cleaning arsenal (by the way, Kroger has their private label brand and refills - I have found it works just as well)

Pledge Multi-Surface Wipes. The thing I like about these is that the kids can use them and I don't have to worry about them emptying a can of dusting spray. Also, we can use them on the dining table, electronics, and glass & mirrors. One wipe, lots of surfaces. Works for me! I wish they came in a bigger pack like diaper wipes!  I am now keeping a pack of these in the van because we can use them on the dash, on the table, to clean out the five-billion cupholders, to clean the windows. Love.

Of course, I also still love a good can of Pledge and an old cloth diaper to use in dusting as well.  But, as much as my kids were going through the cans of Pledge, I have to say the wipes are a pretty good alternative.  One day in WalMart, I found a little microfiber dust mitt - it reminds me a little of shag carpeting - Annie loves to use it on the window sills.  We also use it on the computer armoire. It works great on the louvered doors.

And, last but not least, my original Dyson DC07. Yeah, the very original that they don't even sell any more because it's so old.  We have replaced the power switch twice (can purchase on Amazon for a few bucks), we have replaced the power cord once. It's still going great!

I hate dusting as I'm pretty allergic and end up coughing, sneezing and itching (I sound like I'm three of the seven dwarfs there!) We live in a very dusty house, too - so we are frequently changing the air filter in our HVAC system.

Any good dusting tips out there? Let me have them!

The Busy-ness of Life

Things have been crazy around here for the past nine-ish months!

Right after Memorial Day last year, I gained some significant responsibilities at work. I felt like I was drowning - but eventually gained confidence in the new system I was given. While I'm still working some pretty major hours (10 hours most days), I don't feel as lost as I did back in June!! I'm going to try to start blogging on a more regular basis and I'm trying to craft more - it relaxes me!!

Speaking of crafting - tomorrow is Harrison's birthday (he'll be FIVE!!!). He decided he wanted to do a pirate theme for his preschool birthday celebration. And, of course, everyone needs an eye patch. And a compass. And TATTOOS! So, I made a mad dash to Michael's tonight to get the little plastic bags for everything --

Topper is made using PTI Pure Poppy cardstock, Tiny Treats: Halloween and Tiny Treats: Birthday stamps and the Mat Stack 4 Layers die.   The tattoos in this bag are tucked behind the compass.  He's so excited about turning five - it's a lot of fun around here these days. 

I'm also going to try to spend some time getting caught up on my Project Life album. I had 130+ photos developed from Shutterfly earlier this year. Quite a few of them...from a special night with my sister and my two older girls:

Yeah. We were that close to the stage. It was such a fun (but LOUD, even with the earplugs in) night. 

Now, it's almost midnight and I'm so seldom up this late. New job duties require that I'm up and on the system before our staff gets there as I have to set-up everything. I'm dragging!!

Valentine Treats

Try to not fall out that I'm actually blogging. I don't want you to hit your head or anything. :)

Thought I would share Valentine Treats with you.  I know, it's already Valentine's Day and you need ideas for right this second!!  Well, these don't take too terribly long so hie thee to Michael's or Hobby Lobby, and Wal-Mart, Kroger or Target to buy the supplies and get to crafting. Or, just pin it and do 'em next year.

First off, preschool treats:

Preschool Valentine Treats

A long time ago on the Carol Duvall show on HGTV (yeah, that long ago!) they did a little matchbook "Cookies for Santa" treat. I loved them - made them then, used the idea again for Elizabeth's first birthday and have wanted a reason to make them again.  Well...Harrison wanted to give his preschool class little individual packages of Goldfish. It dawned on me that I had the perfect stamp and die from Papertrey Ink (Tremendous Treats: Valentine) to make the little matchbook treats as the "presentation." So excited.  It doesn't take much, you know. :)

The white cardstock was cut in half length-wise (to be 4.25" x 11") and scored at 1/2" and 6" from the left (short sides parallel to the scoring grooves).  Then all die-cutting and stamping were done.  The embellishments were put into place and then the package of Goldfish was tucked under the 1/2" fold, stapled in place and the matchbook was "closed". Harrison signed the inside of the cover.

Various teacher treats:

Harrison's teacher treats, this one doesn't show it but I tied the tops of these with some red twill ribbon - so cute!

The girls' teacher treats - these are tied with bright pink and purple baker's twine.

I did the Hershey Nugget treats for teachers like I did for Halloween 2011 (measurements for tray: 2.5" wide, 6" long, score at 1/2" on all four sides, trim corners to make into tray; to cover Nuggets, cut patterned paper into strips 1" wide x 3" long). I absolutely adore the monkey paper in Harrison's treats and the "I love you" text paper used in both sets of treats. Lots of fun.

I love paper crafting - even when I am absolutely wiped out (which I have been of late), I still enjoy making little treats like this.  A friend of mine said I have too much time on my hands. Actually, I don't have much at all. Since last May I've been working 10-12 hours/day, plus homeschooling my girls. I've chosen to stay up a little later to cut paper, taken it to bed with me to cut and "glue" (actually used my ATG) during the late news and while snuggling with children. I'd work on it 30 minutes at a time for several nights in a row. Not much time on my hands at all - just choosing to spend a few minutes on something I enjoy. I refuse to feel guilty for that.


The details:
Goldfish Matchbooks:
     Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific), Circus Peanut (Bazzill Card Shoppe), Phoenix & Mermaid (Bazzill    Dotted Swiss),             Lip Gloss & Atlantis (Bazzill Bling) 
     Patterned Paper: Hawaiian Shores Pattern Pack (Papertrey Ink)  
     Stamps: Tremendous Treats: Valentine (Papertrey Ink)
     Dies: Tremendous Treats: Valentine; Limitless Layers: Hearts and Limitless Layers: Circles (Papertrey Ink) 
     Ink: Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink), Pool (Impress Fresh Ink), Onyx Black (Versafine Tsukineko)

Hershey Nugget Trays:
     Cardstock: Hot Fudge (Bazzill Basics)
       Patterned Paper: all are by Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby)
       Other: Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Pure Poppy Twill Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Pretzel Rod Bags (Wilton)

Happy New Year! Photo-heavy post

So, 2013 is here. Something some people thought we wouldn't see (shoot, they thought we wouldn't even see Christmas) - instead, we got...wait for it...Apoca-lizzard!!!  That's Apocalypse + Blizzard, just in case you were wondering. I saw "Snowmaggedon" used some - but they had that last year on the east coast. And I saw "Snowpocalypse" used a lot; but, really, Apocalizzard is funnier. And  in the interest of full disclosure, one of my Facebook friends came up with it - I did not.

We lost power during the wee small hours of the morning on December 26. My husband woke up at 3:00 and said, "Power's out." Amazing how those two words woke me up immediately. I texted Entergy and got a text back "Server overloaded. Please call to report your outage."  I had no idea how bad it was until the sun came up, I had my glasses on and I could look at the outage map.  We were without power until Friday afternoon but have friends who were out until early evening last night (12/31).  It is amazing how bad things were in Little Rock!

The kids had a blast playing in the snow - and so, a week later, here's how Apocalizzard looked at The Shoe. Other than resizing, all of these photos are SOOC. 

My next-door neighbor's tree. Pretty, even if she did lose a few branches.

Bitsy about to make a Snow Angel. She did bundle up right after this - but initially she bounded out the door without zipping, grabbing a hat or gloves. She learned...quickly!

Bit's Snow Angel

Nin had to make a Snow Angel, too

They loved being out in the snow. Elizabeth asked, "Is this our Christmas card picture for next year?" I hope I get another great picture of them during 2013 - but just in case I don't, you may see this one again! ;)

 

Trying to sled (she eventually got the hang of it...after putting the sled into the ruts the tires had created)

Here is everyone else on the sled they got last year for Christmas and never got to use since we didn't really have "winter" last year!

And here's your warning:  I love the way icy, snowy trees look against a crystal-clear, blue sky. These are just a few of my favorites.  

 

And here's a shot of a bit of our cedar. So glad we didn't lose any of it - several of our neighbors lost big chunks of their cedar trees.