I am working on...

I am working on being patient when things don't go the way I think they should.

I am working on journaling several scrapbook projects that need the stories finished.

I am working on each room in my house, one by one, taking the desperate areas and giving them a thorough cleaning. Today I did all my bathroom cabinets and drawers. ahhhh!

I am working on being a better friend. Instead of thinking about somebody, calling them to tell them. Instead of thinking of something nice to do, doing it.

I am working on my one little word for 2011 -- grace. I am trying to see it in my daily life. I am looking for ways to photograph it.

I am working on this office. I want a better handle on what I have and what needs to go. I want it to allow my work flow to flow.

I am working on backing up all my photos on to discs. Since I lost 3 years of photos, I feel the need to have a gazillion backup plans now.

I am working on carving out my quiet time reading God's word. I am working on relying and trusting Him instead of trying to figure my out of my messes I have created.

I am working on keeping it all in perspective.

etc. designs selling at Spring Hill Formals

I just made a line of formal earrings and bracelets for a local store - Spring Hill Formals to go with their prom dresses and formal wear. So if you are a local - go check them out!

Coming to a mailbox....

I love to cut and glue and use glitter! So making Valentine's was waaaaaay fun for me! Here are some of my creations for this year - coming to a mailbox soon!

Family Photo #1 ... little late

Okay...so it is not glamour shots! I decided to take a picture in our living room "as we were". You can see how thrilled Sarah is - hee hee! She is a teen lounging around in the AFTERNOON still in her pajamas and not gussied up, so she was not amused with my idea. To be fair, I had just returned from the gym without makeup and all sweaty too! So here we are for January (a little late) I hope to post a family photo each month just for fun!

letting it go...

this is my office.

One day I hope for it to be a guest room when I can spread out in the basement, but for now I am cramped up here with lots of ideas and limited space.

My office is constantly in a state of disaster and when it is not, my kids walk in and say "WOW" out of pure shock. Since my scrapbook weekend, I have fallen behind on life. I now have new stacks of things to do and bills to pay. I have orders to fill for etc. designs. And I have piles of unfinished scrapbook projects to tend to and piles yet to unpack.

grace.

I am going to give myself a little on this "thorn in my side" this year. I choose to look at this room as the hub of my life that is in constant motion, creating, managing, working, and will thus probably never be neat and tidy. Grace.

Feeling better already! :)

Family Photo

I decided to adopt a new tradition for the year - to take a family photo once a month. Not necessarily a fancy or formal photo - in fact, I would prefer it not be! I just want to document "us" through the year, watch the changes and reflect on times we were together. Already, my new great idea has been derailed because we saw very little of each other - together - in January!! Gasp! I have pictures of 3 of us together - but not all four...and 5 if you count Raffy. Life is already moving at breakneck speed and I do not like it, Sam I am! I did enjoy an great weekend away on my annual scrapbook journey to the Delaware coast - brrr! Made some great memories while documenting those of my children's school years. When I came back, Vince left to be with his dad in Texas; then home for a night only to leave again to Atlanta for a national meeting. So when Vince gets home on Friday I plan to take a picture of all us - no matter how sloppy or sleepy - I am going to make it my mission! In the future, be on the look out for more monthly photos and a few words to let you know what is developing in our lives.

In other news...I am still designing jewelry for my company etc designs and came out with a line of Valentine bracelets that sell for just $15! I think they are quite cute! Business was great at the holidays and I am hoping things go as well this spring. I may even consider a craft show or two. Not sure!

This week I am planning on playing catch up in my office: hook up my new printer (actually try to get the new hooked up printer working); make some jewelry for a local bridal shop; purge my old magazines to the recycle without looking through them for hours; write some snail mail (I'd really love to create some handmade Valentine's!!) and journal all those pages I created in DE!

welcome twenty 11

I can't say this year started out as calm and peaceful as I would have hoped, but it certainly has been busy. We rang in the new year with our neighbors in a fairly low key get together..then came Vince's 50th birthday celebration and then I finally got Christmas down and packed away. In a sense, I feel the year is finally "beginning".

I adopted Ali Edwards challenge of 'one little word' last year - where you pick a word in lieu of a list of resolutions. Last year my word was 'simplify'. I think I made great strides in simplifying my life although, I feel there is room for growth. This year my word didn't come to me as easily. Because I had such a struggle with depression this past year, I thought briefly of adopting the word 'joy'. Then because I am such a perfectionist, I thought I would do 'simplify' again and do it better! But one word kept creeping into my life in different ways and the word I feel finally chose me was 'grace'.

So, I will be excited to report back periodically and let you know how grace is shaping up for me in 2011. Pick a word for yourself this year - it's not too late and share with me! I would love to hear what speaks to you.