Today is the last Saturday of the month! Today is going to be all about something I love and that has become a very important part of my life. This is going to probably be a long story! 

At the end of 2020 I closed my business that I dearly loved...it was time though...and I am ok with that. When I closed the business I spoke with this business owner that owned a small business like mine who had helped me in closing out my leftover inventory...I told her that the one thing I was going to miss was designing paper pads and stamps! I did not realize what a true passion that was until I really had time to reflect on the fact I was no longer going to do that.

That person was Jamie of Not 2 Shabby Shop...so we began chatting and talking and her Box of the Month was born...then it has expanded from there...So what does this have to do with love? I absolutely LOVE designing and am able to continue doing that....BUT so much more developed from this. I feel like I made a life long friend, I was able to pour myself into someone who also owned a small business cause that task is not an easy feat when you are doing it all by yourself. 

It thrills my soul to be a mentor and friend to Jamie and I am totally in love with the friendship we have developed and the fact I can help her in anyway that I can.

She recently reached 10K subscribers on YouTube and today just happens to be the Celebration Video hop...There are some awesome prizes! And if you happen to be searching for a small paper crafting store to purchase from, well you cannot get any better than Not 2 Shabby Shop! If you would like to follow along with the Video hop here is the first stop~

My card for today is also a subject that I absolutely love! I LOVE, LOVE , LOVE making coffee cards...This one is up of the Not 2 Shabby blog today for the last inspiration for the Mood Board challenge for February!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Encouraging Words: Word of the Month for February

 Well hello my friends! I am back today with my list of all the things I love! Hope you enjoy taking a little peek into my life with this list!

Intense Feelings

God

My Husband

My family

Friends

Helping Others

Being Kind

Loving Deeply

Home

Great Interest or Pleasure

Crafting

Planning

Mermaids

Flowers

Certain TV shows

Excercise

Summer

Beach

Travel

Color

And I am loving sharing with you every week the card I am creating using long untouched supplies. This week I used an MFT stamp that has been in my stash for not a long time but still hasn't been used...I also pulled out 2 different MFT paper pads that haven't been used. Hope you enjoy. 

Products Used:

Hog Heaven Stamp (MFT): https://shrsl.com/3e5yn

Hog Heaven Dies (MFT):https://shrsl.com/3e66x

* the paper pads were not available anywhere

*the links are affliate links and do not add any cost to you using them...should you decide to pick up this stamp I would love if you would consider using my links. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!.

Encouraging Words: My Word of the Month for February

Hi All! I missed last Saturday due to being away at my daughter's house doing grandma duties for 4 days. Love being able to help out and let me daughter and son-in-law connect and get away. I feel that is so important for a couple. It is something that my hubby and I were not fortunate enough to be able to do when we had children at home, so I am thankful I can help out in that way! 

So, to catch up my word for February is LOVE! Of course...I am a very seasonal type person so it was fitting to use this word for the month of Feb!

 

So, the first post of the month is sharing the month is typically sharing the definition of the word and what that definition means to me. So, since I missed last week I am just going to pick up with that for today. 

an intense feeling of deep affection: to me this means everything! When I love someone I do it with my whole being! 

a great interest and pleasure in something: or many somethings...I have a love for lots and lots of things...which will be next week's blog post!

Thanks for sticking around and reading my blog posts...and I am going to leave you with some card inspiration...which is one of my loves!

These birthday cards are for my contribution for the birthday nursing home donations for March. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Encouraging Words: My Word of the Month

 

Hello my friends! So sorry I wasn't here last week...I was off to Oregon visiting my grandson who turned 5! I do wish time would slow down!!!

He went high flying for his birthday! He was so brave!

Jhett and Mama all suited up!

Ok, so onto the task for today! 

How does my word of the month relate to my word of the year?

My word of the year is Bloom...

I am determined to make this year my best year ever...why? well cause I am not getting any younger and I have so much more in my life I want to do and accomplish. So, I am deciding the no one or nothing is going to stop me! 

I am working each and every day to not be weak or uncertain and I am determined to get things done that I want to do.

In doing all this I will Bloom into the person God wants me to be and reap the benefits from my hard work.

One area I am determined in is to use my scrap stash of pattern papers to create cards. Here is where I am showcasing those cards. 

I completed a very simple one tonight but it will serve as a masculine Valentine's Day card when I deliver cards to the Nursing Homes. Even though I only completed 1 card, I have everything prepped to finish up 8 more cards which will be done before the end of this month!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Encouraging Words: My Word of the Month

 Hi Everyone! So happy to be back for my regular Saturday blog post! So today, I start with a prompt....

What are some areas of my life I need to be determined?

• in my spiritual life
• with my cleaning habits (my craft room)
• my routines (meds, wellness, beauty)
• sending out cards
• planning
• getting outside

I also still need to stay determined with using my stash of paper, stamps, and supplies! 

I did not have time to complete a card for today cause I have spent the last 2 days working on destashing and making room in my craft room...it is a small bedroom and is filled to the brim with craft supplies! 

So, I did pull out a birthday card I made a while back to share with you today. Hope you enjoy and I will see you next Saturday!

Encouraging Words: Introducing My Word of the Month for January

 

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to my regular Saturday blog post! I am embarking on this journey where I will have a word of the month and will have a blog series encompassing this concept. It is going to be fun doing this! Something I tried to do last year and did not complete. 

If you have been reading my blog this week then you know I am claiming this as my year! And that I am KICKING PROCRASTINATION TO THE CURB!

So here is my word for the month of January!

I am determined to get off on the right foot this month and set all the systems in place to have a successful year. 

This is one of the ways I plan to do this! So,  in moving forward on some of my crafty goals I will also have a card each week with this blog series to kind of go along with the word of the month.

Today, I made a birthday card for a February date. 

This card applies to my determination in a few different ways.

First, I am getting ahead on birthday cards and not waiting until the last minute.

Secondly, I am using things in my stash that have been there for a long time that have never been touched.

Lastly, I am able to use this card weekly to participate in a challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Encouraging Words: My Word of the Year: Day 5

Question to answer today: 

How will I know all this is working?  

First, I have purchased 2 separate planners...

a. one to keep track of my work with Not 2 Shabby Shop

b. a specific Goal planner to keep track of my YouTube schedule, my life, my goals, and my wellness

How do I plan to use these planners?

a. Not 2 Shabby planner: I will plan for the upcoming week on Saturdays (or Friday nights) should I be planning to be gone on Saturday....I frequently go to my grandchildren's ballgames and sometimes are gone from early in the morning until late at night on a Saturday.

b. for the specific Goal Planner I purchased a Clever Fox planner after watching a YouTuber review this planner. I purchased it off Amazon. 

I watched a whole lot of planner videos between Christmas and New Year's and immediately new this was the planner for me. There are prompts for goal setting and prompts for a Monthly review at the end of each month. By keeping up with these things will help to keep me on track this year.

Next, I have my crafty goal spread sheet to keep track of...I will also have a physical calendar hanging in my craft room that I will be able to write that days progress on and see it in front of me all the time.

Finally, someone in the planner community that I have watched a view of her videos gave this tip: Keep your planner out and in front of you. Keep it on your desk. For me this is going to be key! Previously when I did paper planning, I would write and plan in it on the weekend and then leave it in my planning bag all week long and rarely look at it. So leaving it out and open will give me the motivation to make sure I am using it! 

In conclusion, I am praying that by putting all these systems in place ahead of time will be the key to a successful year and KICKING PROCRASTINATION TO THE CURB!

This will be a picture I print out and put in the front of my planner!

Join me tomorrow when I will publish my Word of the Month!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Encouraging Words: My Word of the Year Just 90 Goals

 

Today I am sharing my Just 90 Goals! I came across this wonderful planner gal from the UK when searching YouTube for goal setting videos...I just fell in love with this planner and the questions surrounding it. She just launched this goal setting planner called Just 90...the premise is to set 90 day goals with Action Steps and assigning actual dates to those steps to complete that goal. When watching her series of videos surrounding her explaining how to use this planner I realized that what was missing with my goal setting was to actually set Actions and dates to complete each goal.

I want to thank Emma from Plan, Inspire, Create for coming up with such an awesome plan and inspiring me to start the wheels turning on getting these goals created.

This set of goals is different from my crafty goals that I talked about in yesterday's blog post. And the past couple of years I have not really set any goals outside of crafty goals. I felt like that was really something that I needed in my life. I have approached retirement as a FREE environment and well even though it is nice not to have a finely tuned structure to my life...I have felt like I am missing something and things I want to accomplish in life have just not been happening. 

So, for January-March I have set 3 goals. 

Physical: To Consistently go to the gym 5 days a week.

Professional: I will be consistent and on time with the tasks I need to accomplish each day.

Passion: I will create and maintain a clean and inviting environment to work in each day.

I won't go into the action plans for each goal but I am well on my way!

Join me tomorrow as I share how do my crafty goals and Just 90 goals fit in with my Word of the Year.

Encouraging Words: My word of the year Day 3

 

A reminder of my word of the year! 

Today I am posting my crafty goals for 2022...I have tried these types of goals several  different ways over the past years. Most recently, in 2021 and 2020 I dabbled in digital planning with GoodNotes. I did love that but found it was one more thing to create each month. And I would often fall behind on creating that which would then create a snowball effect. 

So, I decided to completely simplify my method. I kind of "borrowed" this method from my friend Beth from Bourbon Creek Crafts. If you are unfamiliar with her YouTube channel you should check her out. 

How does this fit in with my word of the year? 

First of all...crafting makes me happy! and I love to use my crafting to uplift others. 

Secondly, I do feel like I am fulfilling my potential by utilizing the things I have at hand. 

Finally, I want to be a resourceful person.

Sorry if it is a bit blurry...I had to do a screenshot.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Encouraging Words: My Word of the Year Day 2

 

Welcome Back! I am here today to tell you a bit more about my word of the year. I created a Vision Board to help me look at and be reminded  throughout the year the how and why of my word of the year. I will be printing these 2 pages out and put them in my planner. 

Some reasons behind the items on the Vision Board

Starting with the top left corner:

Flowers show their beauty...they don't just talk about it! 

Blooming in adversity: Who knows what this year holds? I want to break the past of letting things derail me. So when something difficult comes my way I want to have the strength to plow through it and come out on the other side stronger and more beautiful.

Columbine Flowers: I just thought these were a beautiful flower...love the color!

Siberian Lily: I have lilies growing in my yard...not this color but I thought this color was so pretty!

Beautiful Girl: I want to remind myself that I can do amazing things this year!

Christmas Cactus: We have a gorgeous Christmas Cactus the blooms beautifully every Christmas...it amazes me that the plant knows exactly when to bloom.

Bloom: I chose this word because I want to finally bloom into the woman that I believe God intended me to be! I have struggled all my life with some of these things and I want to enjoy my last several years on earth blossoming into the soul I was meant to be. And I also chose the font because I love Scripty fonts!

Again starting in the left corner:

This quote is to remind me to keep blossoming all year!

I am planted in this earth for a reason and I need to continue to search for that but do it to the best of my ability...at times I don't think I have been doing that.

Flower Wreath: A reminder that my strength comes  from above and not from within.

Tulips: My most FAVORITE flower!!

Set another goal: A reminder that even though I may be older it is never too late for self-improvement.

Some more beautiful flowers!

Do more of what makes you happy!: This quote is to remind me when times may get tough!

Beginning: I am putting a lot of work right now into reflection, writing goals, putting these systems into place, but it will all be worth it because the beginning is the most important part!

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my ramblings!

Encouraging Words: My Word of the Year

Thanks so much for joining me today! I have a very special blog post for you today! I am introducing my word of the year and what it means to me! My word of the year is BLOOM! If you didn't check out my Reflections Post from yesterday please go check that out! I am claiming 2022 as MY year! 

I don't want to dwell on negative things, but a bit of a back story...I have in the past always been a procrastinator, which in turn means I have let people down in my life! Well, I decided this is the year I am kicking procrastination to the curb. I have spent the last 2 weeks reflecting and giving much mindful thought to how I want to craft a new life for myself! So, I am embarking on a new journey and will be doing a blog post all year long every Saturday sharing, learning, and reflecting on my word of the year and how it will impact my life! 

I have also carefully thought out words for each month to compliment the word of the year! This is something I began last year but failed to complete...no more of that either! So to kick of this series cause I have a lot to share...I will have a blog post each day this week! Hope you enjoy and that I can inspire you with my words and creations. 

Hope to see you tomorrow when I will share my complete vision board for my word of the year!