My 2012 Motto

So I kind of dropped the ball on last year's motto. I was looking for the perfect words to just come to me like in 2009 and 2010 to help me to focus on grace. I didn't ever find the perfect words, and well, I wasn't so very graceful either. I'm moving on and forgiving myself on that one. (I hope everyone who had to be with me while I was ungraceful will do so as well.) This year I didn't really have to go on a motto hunt. My sister shared a quote with me that immediately resonated and set me on the right path to find my motto to (try to) live by this year. Here's the quote that led me to my motto:

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it."  ~ W. Feather

And here's my 2012 motto:

Seriously, I love it, and it's perfect for me right now. It's something I struggle with on a regular basis. Sometimes I can get too goal oriented where I focus on the end result and make all the in between stuff not so fun. Or I get in the mindset of when ________ happens things will be better / smoother / awesome-er. Or I find myself just going through the motions and not really feeling anything.

Example: I have to give the kids a bath. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I just don't want to. And it shows. I mean, if I have to do it, why not be in the moment and enjoy it? It's better for everyone, and you know what? It ends up being joyful (or at least less not joyful).

Sooooo, this year I'm focussing on finding JOY in the JOurneY.

Anything you're focussing on in 2012?

I'm Thankful for... a free printable!

I decided to reincarnate last year's I'm thankful for... pad. Same design, but this go 'round it's prints out into strips that can be made into a thankfulness chain.

Click on the following link to download: Thankfulness Chain Download. Then just print them out on any normal-sized paper, cut along the gray lines, write your thanks and staple or tape into a loop.

You could also use the strips in a pocket dealie like we did a couple years back. Or create one of these simply adorable little pumpkins I found via pinterest. 

{top from Playful Crafts; bottom pumpkins from Craftiness is not Optional}

Have fun! I would love to see pictures of your chains, or however you decide to use the download. Thanks!

Halloween Download for YOU!

Last year we failed to get the halloween/fall decorations down from the attic. This year I'm being proactive just in case that happens again... I've been seeing a lot of and really liking the look of subway art as of late, so I decided to make a little Halloween print to use as a festive decoration. And it's also set up as a download for you! 

I was apparently in an indecisive mood when I created it because I made four virtually identical versions to choose from. 

Just click on the link below to the one you like. Print it (choose for it not be scaled so it'll fit nicely into an 8x10 frame), cut it out, and frame it! Print out a few extras and give to teachers/friends/neighbors as gifts. 

version 1

(simple black background)

version 2

(black background with border)

version 3

(multi-colored)

version 4

(ink-saving white background)

If you print this out and use it, I'd love for you to snap a pic of yours and send it my way. It makes me happy to see my PS~downloads in use. Thanks, and happy (almost) October to you!

Friendship

I've been thinking about friendship lately, and how we arrive at it and devote our time and selves to it... Sometimes it's an instant connection that grows. Other times it takes a while and you don't even know it's happening. You can't necessarily try for the relationship, although it often takes intent and effort. It's an unknown equation of timing, chemistry, similarities and/or differences, personality, and some intangibles... I read this quote and thought it summed up my view on friendship. 

Leave it to Socrates to say it so well!

I love you more than...

I have a dear friend, Jenny, who has this little ritual she does with her family. She'll say to one of her boys something to the effect of, "I love you more than... blueberry pancakes!" And they'll follow it up with something like, "Well, I love you more than... football!" It could go on and on from here, with a bold proclamation of love each time. Isn't that just the sweetest thing?

{Jen and her sweet boys... Thanks for the inspiration!}

I tried it with my little guy and found out he loves me more than riding his bike and his blankie! Talk about totally filling my bucket! It left me feeling all loved and excited to try it out on the rest of my family. Jen's convo also gave me an idea to make as a download in my shop... In the same vein as the menu planners and calendars, here's a reusable "I love you more than..." print. Just slip it in a regular ole 8x10 frame and start the sweet interactions!

Here's my latest for the hubby: Worked great considering a did a little shopping this past week...

What? Christmas Already??

We're already deliberating over here over what we're going to be dressing up as for Halloween. (Well, the kids are as I'm not much of a dresser upper, even though I married into a very Halloween-y family... Thankfully they love me anyways!) We can do that because it's now September, just a month prior to October. It's totally on schedule, right? But Christmas? Surely not... I really didn't just see Christmas ribbon and ornaments decking the halls of our local super store, did I? That's a tad early, and a bit coo-coo, if you ask me. I mean, the temperature still pretty much triple digits most days.

I guess I've got a bit of the crazies going on too because I made (a version) of our Christmas card already! I guess it's not too crazy, seeing that's what I do, but if you look at my track record our card is generally the last one I get too. Last year, I actually had to send out a "Happy New Year" card because I was so delinquent. I decided to take our vacation photos and get after it. I'm also excited to try out some new shapes and designs I'm considering offering this year. So here it is... Let me know what you think!

A funny, telling, little side-story: We took the kids to the beach one night in coordinating outfits with the intent of taking some photographs to hang on the wall. Our expectations were high and we let the kids know exactly how we wanted them to act. We were a bit intense, if we're being honest. And you know what? They. were. terrible. They were goofing off and not following our directives. We were grumpy. And gripe-y. And disappointed. But you know what? The pictures turned out great. I really couldn't be happier with them. Their little personalities showed through. They were acting like their little brother and big sister selves. He was pestering her, and she was in her motherly (bossy) big sister mode, directing him and positioning him. If I were not in such a tizzy, I would have seen how precious this evening was. We got back to the condo, looked at the pics and promptly offered our apologies to the kids. Then we headed to Dairy Queen for Blizzards!

We definitely should have toned it down. No direction needed.

Lesson learned.

Changes...

I saw this and just had to smile. First it made me giggle. Then it made me think...

from factsaboutyou, via this lovely gal's board while slightly addictive-ly perusing pinterest

What if it was this easy to cut the unhealthy out of your life, whether it be people or things or thoughts? Would you do it? Should you? Are these people/things/thoughts there to teach us about ourselves?

I'm not so sure, but it's got me thinking...