Five Things

5 Blogs I Love

As a follow-up to yesterday's post on why I DON'T read blogs, I thought I'd introduce you to five blogs I try to never miss. (I've tried to pick blogs that are likely unknown to you... I wouldn't want you all to think you aren't my absolute faves -- which you all are, every single one of you!) These are not "scrapper" blogs -- I'll do a round-up of those soon! Instead, they're the blogs I turn to again and again for a dose of inspiration. 

 

1.Hi from Mary of Owlhaven. The woman has 10 kids!! And she blogs! And cooks! And makes it all seem so totally normal (but she doesn't fall into that "Oh, life is so easy and I'm so wonderful and my life is so perfect" shtick that drives me nuts. She makes it real for her readers. I always find inspiration, whether it's much-needed perspective or a great crab dip recipe.

 

2. Think Fast. Kim Kesti is an all-around wonderwoman. I met her at a CKC way back when, and just fell in love with her. Her blog is full of organizing ideas, crafty goodness, menus, family stuff, and more. (Did I mention she is preggers with baby #9???). I think I have a thing for living vicariously through other large families! 

3. Zen Family Habits. Co-founded by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits fame, ZFH helps those of us with a few more bodies in the beds figure out how to go for simple. Practical and well-written, this blog is my substitute for "Real Simple" magazine (i.e., they don't give me 100 uses for reusing plastic bags, or suggest $150 tools to make my life "easier.").

 

4. Salt and Chocolate. Mary Beth presents a world full of love, authenticity, and gentleness. She's a working mom of four whose youngest has been battling cancer (in remission now!). Despite what must be a harried life, her blog is a respite of calm and sanity for me, showing what is possible amidst the craziness of life. She helps me realize how to celebrate the ordinary and find the beauty in the common. (She's the one I got the "nature table" idea from!) Mary Beth makes me see what is possible. I think of her home as a little oasis of heaven on earth, one she gives us glimpses into on a regular basis. 

 

5. The Happiest Mom. I thought that was MY title -- until I realized my kids thought I was "Grumpiest Mom" and "Meanest Mom in the Whole World." ;) Meagan Francis writes a thought-provoking blog on what it takes to be fulfilled and content while maintaining your various identities as mom, woman, friend, etc. etc. She writes extremely well, and while her posts are text-heavy, she has created a blog design that doesn't overwhelm me. She's smart, and you can tell, but she doesn't throw it in your face (in other words, you can still understand her posts even if you're running on fumes after a night of vomiting children or past-midnight project completion for your middle schooler). 

Your turn! Lay some good blogs on me, folks. I want to know what you're reading!

It's Not Too Late for Layout a Day!

The Layout a Day Challenge kicks off on Monday, and we have over 125 LOADsters signed up to spend February with me! 

It's not too late for you to get involved! Click here for more information. If you're ready to go, let me know (email me at lainehmann (at) comcast (dot) net.

Still not sure? Here are five reasons why you should commit to LOAD:

1. It's tons of fun! You'll get a special daily dose of me and my patented wisdom and wit. :)

2. You'll complete layouts! Even if you don't complete all 28 layouts, you'll still have MORE done than you have today!

3. You can win cool prizes! We have weekly prizes from fabulous folks such as Aby Garvey, At the Blue Barn, Liz Tamanaha of Paislee Press, Benzilla Scrapping, and more!

4. You'll get weekly tutorials! Some rad scrappers have agreed to create fun and informative tutorials for you!

5. Hugh!

 
 

And Even More One Little Word Projects

I've been collecting these... here are a few more!

From Judy, an ornament she picked up and altered. It now hangs over her desk:

 

Diana created this awesome layout for her word, ENERGY:

 

Lissa made a beautiful layout for her word, too (BLESSING):

 

Debby made a journal for her word, DETERMINE:

 
Kathleen created this layout for SIMPLIFY:

 

A Week of Giveaways, Day 5: Knit-O-Rama

  

You know I love to knit. And I bet you could guess that I have too much yarn in my stash! So that's why today I am giving away a knitting book (yet to be named), a pair of needles, and some yarn from my own collection (I call it a collection so my husband won't expect me to actually USE it).

All you wannabe knitters, this is your chance! Leave me a comment and tell me how often you want me to post on my blog:

A. Every day

B. 4-5 times a week

C. 3 times a week

Tell me the truth now, don't just say "A" because you think that's what I want to hear! I WANT THE TRUTH (and yes, I can handle it).

A Week of Five Giveaways!

What better way than to bring a little life to a cold, dreary January than to have a week of giveaways? For the next five days, I'll be offering a number (five, to be exact!) of fun and fabulous prizes. Today we've got...

A Year in the Life!

This fabulous eBook, written by the ladies of Write.Click.Scrapbook and published by Ella Publishing Co. is replete with gorgeous layouts and page ideas for scrapping your year in 24 simple pages! At $6.99, it's a steal. I'm giving away a free copy... all you have to do is leave me a comment tell me what you'd like to see more of here on Five Things. Contest will close Monday night at midnight, as we've got a full slate of prizes for the week. Ready, set, go!

More One Little Word Projects

These are so fabulous, I have to keep sharing!

From Rebecca, who says, "I made a simple little digiscrap "Layout" (for lack of a better term) and posted it on my blog and printed it out to put on my desk!":

 

Karen made this adorable mini-album about her word for 2010: Intention. See the rest of the book on her blog.
 

I was cruising around the web and discovered this beauty on ScrapYoga's blog. Her word is PRACTICE:

Nanciquilts put hers in the banner on her blog (click over to see -- I couldn't figure out how to copy).
 
Erin created this GORGEOUS canvas... she's so multi-talented I may have to pull my hair a little bit:

 
What have you done with your One Little Word?  

5 DIY Bulletin Boards

Now that we're settled (more or less!) in our new house, we're working on ORGANIZATION. Actually, I'm always working on organization! But right now, it's front and center. And one thing we are greatly in need of is a bulletin board to serve as our family control center. (I have some twisted notion that by creating a place for all our stuff, that our stuff will actually migrate -- and stay! -- where it's supposed to!). 

Here are some fab bulletin boards that would be easy to make and customize:

1. Wine Cork Board.

 

I don't even want to think about the amount of wine one would have to consume to make this. We drink MAYBE one bottle a year -- and most of that is for cooking! (I admit, I'm a screw-top kind of girl...). All the same, if I could get Gary Vaynerchuk to help me out, I'd be making this just for the texture and coolness of it. Head on over to Apartment Therapy for step-by-step photos and instructions. 

2. Family-Size Spectacle.

 

If I had any sort of carpentry skills, and if I had any idea what homasote* is, I'd be whipping up one of these. I SO WANT ONE. Look for details at Woman's Day. 

*I just looked it up: "Homasote is a wallboard made from recycled paper pulp. It can be purchased at home-improvement stores; ask to have it cut to size for you at the store, or use a circular saw or table saw to cut at home." So now you know.

3. Floral Delight.

 

This one makes me happy just looking at it! I would hate to cover it up with announcements from the school about head lice and overdue utility bills, though. Spotted at etsy, but I'm thinking I could do this.

4. Scrappy Goodness.

 

I fell in love with this one from Brenda Walton. The designer used scrapbook papers to jazz it up. (Scrapbook papers? What a concept! I think I have some of those lying around...)

5. Vintage Thrift.

Ummmm... LOVE!! How simple and easy? (At least it looks simple and easy.) Check out the details here on Gogoabigail's blog.  

Your turn: What do YOU do for corralling paperwork? Do you have a bulletin board? Drawers? What? (photos are always fab.) 

 

 

One Little Word - More Ideas

I got some great comments in response to my post on One Little Word last week. Here are some of my favorites:

Kate created this gorgeous piece of art for her 2009 word:

 

She kept it near her desk throughout the year as a visual reminder of her word. She says, "This year myself, my husband and my son have chosen words, so I will do a bigger piece. And I will scrapbook this Awareness piece in the next couple of days with a page about the word and how it helped me."

Stephenie put together an AWESOME slideshow (in more ways than one!). Check it out on her blog (scroll down to 12/30). She inspired me so much that I'm working on my own slideshow!

 

Christina ordered this card for her 2010 word, Peace. She found it on Coolmompicks. She adds, "I'm also choosing a verse for each of the twelve months to have as a focus. January's is Col. 3:15: Let the peace of Christ control your heart."

J'adore this magnifique frame by Anne. (She is French so I get to drop sophisticated phrases in my blogging when I talk about her.)

 

What about you? Got any creative ideas?

  

5 Reasons 2010 Will Be Different

 

I've been thinking long and hard about the new year, new beginnings, and what I want from 2010. If you've followed me for any length of time, you probably figure I've got a list of resolutions a mile (or 5!) long. And you'd be right -- at least to start out with.

But as I made mental note after mental note of the things I wanted to change/become/do/create/have/give/reveal in 2010, I put the brakes on. After 40 years, I know myself, and I know I tend to, ahem, OVERDO it when it comes to taking on more than I can chew. So I decided to boil 2010's resolutions down to a simple FIVE THINGS I aspire for in the next 12 months.

In crafting these resolutions, I set some ground rules:

• I would select five (and only five) "major goals" for 2010 that covered a good range (not all health-related, for instance, or shoe-amassing-related).
• They would be goals I felt in my core -- not ones I selected for someone else, but for ME. Ones that made my heart cry "YES!" when I thought of them. (That allowed me to cross "Do a triathlon" off the list. It's worthy but it's not MY goal (thank goodness).
• I would pick items that could truly change my life (in small ways or in large ways) if I were to successfully undertake them for the next year.
• They would be in my control. (In other words, "Sell my mystery novel" wouldn't work because it implies someone is buying, and past efforts show that no one wants to buy my mystery novel.)
• They would be progress-oriented. (I didn't want goals that were all-or-nothing, but rather ones that would allow me to feel some level of success even if I didn't do them every day, or every week.)

So after pondering that list, and looking at my possible goals in light of my "One Little Word" for 2010 (Light), here's what I came up with:

1. Bible Study. I will join a women's Bible study fellowship. (Spirit)
2. Books. I will get rid of 50% of the books I own. (Material possessions)
3. Yoga. I will start doing a regular yoga practice - either in class or on my own. (Health)
4. Budget. I will track all expenditures according to the family's budget. (Financial)
5. Mom/Son Book Club. I will read a book a month from the list that Ben has created for me, and we'll spend time talking about the books. (Family)

Of course, there are a ton more I could add -- but these are the most important things to me this year, the goals I know in my gut I need NOW.

I'll be updating you on my progress on the first of each month. And these year-long goals won't take the place of my regular monthly goals (there may be some overlap, but I see the monthly goals as more tactical than strategic, if you know what I mean).

Note on finding myself: One thing I really strive for in my writing, goal-setting, and life is AUTHENTICITY... that resonance between the inner and outer world. It can be tough to figure out who I am, what I think, and then be brave enough to share that with the world! If you're working on those areas, too, I suggest you pop over to Jennifer Louden's blog and read her current series of blog posts on authenticity -- what it is and how to live a life full of it.

Jennifer is one of my dearest friends, my personal coach, and one of the wisest souls I've ever encounterd. Plus she's really fun! Jennifer runs a series of retreats throughout the year, including a virtual retreat coming up in a few weeks. I'll tell you more about that soon!

Want to play? What are your goals/resolutions/intentions for 2010?

DESTASH!

You knew it was coming... so here you go!

Guidelines:

-Payment via Paypal only
-First come, first served (email me and respond with Paypal payment)
-Shipping is approximate (International will be more)
-Sorry, everything's already boxed up, so I can't take pictures -- that's why these prices are so low! 
-Most products are brand new and in package. I've tried to note where items are partially used. If they are used, they're still in new condition and are an almost-complete set (for instance, an alpha set might be missing a few letters)
-I've tried to link to some similar products so you can get an idea of what the product is. The actual product may be the same or slightly different!

1.Making Memories Grab Bag - $20 + $8 shipping

This box includes products from relatively current lines, including Noteworthy, Animal Crackers, Funky Vintage, and more:

• 25 sheets of patterned paper
• 4 sets of ribbon (approx. 25 yards)
• Epoxy shapes
• Page markers (Noteworthy, almost full set)
• 3 sets of alpha stickers (one is new, two are partial but nearly new)
• Glitter die cuts
• 2 sets Funky Vintage clear alphas (Classic Ruby + Funky Lizzie)
• 3 Journaling notebooks (1 "nearly new")
• Ready to Glitter sticker set
• Flocking and Foiling set
• Mini stapler set (with staples)

2. SOLD KI Memories/Love, Elsie Grab Bag - $22 + $8 shipping SOLD

So much fun stuff, ALL NEW!

• 20 sheets patterned paper
• 3 Sheer Delights 12x12 overlays
• 5 laser cut lace papers (12x12)
• 5 packs "Softies"
• 2 sets "Hip Chips"
• Clearly Cool dot alphabet stamp set
• Icons clear stamp set

3. KaiserCraft/Sweetwater - $12 + $6 shipping

A blend of some great products, ALL NEW!

• 11 sheets KaiserCraft patterned paper
• 9 sheets rub-ons (12 inches high!)
• 2 sets Sweetwater "In the Loop" circle frames and journaling cards ("Cotton Candy" and "Basic Black")
• Sweetwater foldover minialbum, black/white
• Sweetwater doodle disks
• Sweetwater foldover minialbum, browns and blues

4. SOLD BasicGrey - $25 + $8 shipping SOLD

It kills me to let this go - but I know it will go to a good home! ALL NEW

• 35 sheets patterned paper (Off Beat, Ambrosia, Urban Prairie)
• Mellow Mod alpha sticker 12x12 sheet
• 1 pack 180 brads
• 6x6 paper pad - Sugared
• Sugared chip stickers
• Pack of fibers (I think it's Sugared)
• (Un)dressed chipboard - Hip

5. SOLD Cosmo Cricket - $25 + $8 shipping SOLD

Oh, happy day! Such fun colors. ALL NEW

• 12 sheets patterned paper (Sweet Mix, Honey Pie, Get Happy)
• 1 sheet diecut letters
• Honey Pie blackboard (black chipboard)
• Get Happy blackboard
• Fleuriste blackboard
• Cogsmo blackboard
• Vintage Mix alphas
• Cogsmo cardstock stickers
• Fleuriste cardstock stickers
• Cogsmo ribbon pack

6. SOLD American Crafts Grab Bag - $25 + $10 shipping SOLD

My heart is breaking... but my loss is your gain! ALL NEW

• 70 sheets of patterned paper (Reindeer Games, Everyday, Kids, Play, Amplified, A la Mode, Metropolitan, A la Carts, Bookshelf, The Goods, Sixth Avenue)
• Flair - Cool
• Treehouse Kids chipboard (package came open but it's new!)
• 4 bottles Zing embossing powder
• Kids Book #1 Rub-ons (black)

7.SOLD Rub-On Grab Bag - $25 + $6 shipping SOLD

My heart is beating faster, just typing these up! ALL NEW!

• American Crafts Jane caps
• American Crafts Ned caps
• American Crafts Ned white caps
• American Crafts Ned blue lowercase
• American Crafts Trademarks black
• American Crafts Eddie white caps
• American Crafts Jack white caps
• American Crafts Jack caps
• American Crafts Jack lowercase
• BasicGrey Wholy Cow!
• Dee's Designs Accents
• Heidi Swapp Habitat - Moss
• American Crafts Ricky Sidekicks (black)
• Creating Keepsakes Hustle alphabet
• Impresson Stax

8. SOLD Cardstock Grab Bag - $15 + $10 shipping SOLD

A papercrafter is nothing without her cardstock! Whether you're  a scrapbooker or a card maker, scoop up this bargain box of high-quality cardstock goodies.  

• 12x12 Coredinations So Mod Super Assortment (80 sheets)
• Bazzill cardstock trio, 8.5x5.5, Raisin, 15 sheets
• Bazzill Monochromatic, 8.5x5.5, Yellows (25 sheets)
• Bazzill Purples, 8x8, 25 sheets  (link is to 12x12, but colors should be the same)
• Bazzill Yellow Green, 8x8, 25 sheets  (link is to 12x12, but colors should be the same)
• American Crafts 5x7 black, 60 sheets
• American Crafts 5x7 white, 60 sheets

9. SOLD Little Yellow Bicycle Grab Bag - $20 + $10 Shipping SOLD

Got a little one in sight? This grab bag includes plenty of goodies for plenty of pages about the baby in your life! Though some products are listed as "boy" or "girl," I found both lines to be suitable for either "flavor," for the most part. Here's the complete Baby Safari girl line. And here's the Baby Safari boy line. Check out Zinnia here.

• 14 sheets patterned paper (Baby Safari and Zinnia)
• Baby Safari Flanimals
• Baby Safari Textured rub-ons
• Baby Safari Buttons
• Baby Safari Brads (boy and girl)
• Baby Safari Dimensional stickers
• Baby Safari Chipboard stickers
• Baby Safari Cardstock stickers (girl)
• Baby Safari Cardstock glitter alphas (girl)
• Baby Safari Epoxy stickers (boy and girl)
• Baby Safari Photo mats (girl)
• Baby Safari 12 Month cards (girl)
• Baby Safari Clear Cuts (boy and girl)
• Zinnia felt stickers
• Zinnia 6x6 paper tablet
• Zinnia Epoxy stickers
• ZInnia Glitter stickers

10. SOLD Heidi Grace/Cloud 9 Grab Bag - $20 + $8 shipping SOLD

As you know, these products aren't being made any more. Heidi Grace was one of my fave designers (and still is) with her whimsical, cute designs that never cross the line into "too cutesy." I kept a bunch, but I also weeded a bunch out! I was getting tired by this point, so my descriptions are a little sketchy. Sorry about that! I've marked the price down accordingly.

• 20 sheets of patterned paper (assorted)

Frost Boulevard:

• 12x12 punchboard - 2 sheets
• Frost Boulevard rub-on alphas
• Chipboard alphas
• Chipboard shapes
• Cardstock Sticker Shapes
• Alpha embossed stickers
• Satin stickers - words
• Glitter cardstock stickers -shapes
• Printed flowers
• Glitter flowers
• Ribbon (6 yards)
• Flourish rub-ons
• Word rub-ons
• Alpha rub-ons
• Cardstock glitter alphas
• Satin mini letter stickers
• Border satin stickers

Hannah's Story:

• chipboard stickers (2 sets)
• epoxy brads
• Mini accordion album
• Ribbon (5 yards)
• Sticker numbers, alphas
• Cardstock border stickers

Paradise Point:

• Shape glitter stickers
• Flocked shape stickers
• 6 yards ribbon
• Alpha rub-ons

Be Loved:

• Cardstock though starter stickers
• Mini album

11. SOLD Valentine's Grab Bag - $25 + $10 shipping SOLD

You'll be all set to make dozens of Valentines with this assortment of lovely (haha!) products. All new! Perfect for a class, or make and take.

• 40+ sheets assorted patterned paper from Scrapworks, BoBunny, and more (all Valentine's themed)
• 8 sheets 8.5x11" red cardstock
• 2 packs American Crafts Valentine's Flair
• 1 pack mini metal circle tabs
• Cloud 9 epoxy circle stickers
• Heidi Swapp giant pink blossoms
• Pink brads
• Ribbon
• SEI Candyshop 12x12 stickers
• Heidi Grace plastic embellishments (hearts, etc.)
• 6 unused rubber stamps (5 from Paper Salon, one from Imagetree)

12. SOLD Ribbon Grab Bag - $20 + $5 shipping SOLD

HUNDREDS of yards of ribbon are crammed into this gallon-size Ziploc bag! All colors, all manufacturers. Not little trims of ribbon but full yards and more! Ric-Rac, polka dot, mesh, fiber, gingham... you'll have a field day!