My One Word for the Year: Harmony

My word last year was EMBRACE.  All year long I held on to it. I lived it. I wanted to embrace the life I was given and stop fantasizing about one that I was supposed to have.  I embraced Sofie's Autism. I decided we were not living with Autism. Autism was living with us.  Those were some huge steps that led me to greater awareness, self acceptance and love.  All from that one little word. So, now that 2012 has begun I need a word.  A word is much easier to focus on than a resolution. It is actually an un-resolution.  You can read more about that here on myoneword.org

So, now here I am with a great job, a desire to keep my CTMH business and creative endeavors growing, a husband who is around a lot more and a family who is thriving, not just surviving.  So, I immediately thought of balance. But I want more than things to be balanced. I want it all to work together for God's greater plan.  So, I decided on  

HARMONY.

I am a visual girl, so I needed something to look at and I found a couple things on Pinterest that I wanted to share.  Here is the what. What does harmony mean and how can I live my life to obtain it.  This is perfect.

Source: Uploaded by user via Sarita on Pinterest

Source: internetcafedevotions.com via Sarita on Pinterest

I have to say though that my crafting is a HUGE part of this.  I LOVE that I am a consultant with CTMH. Today we got to see the NEW Spring/Summer Idea Book online and it is amazing! I am absolutely NOT giving up my 22% discount. PLUS we earn select product credit based on our sales.  With LOW quarterly minimums I am not worried about keeping it!  I can't WAIT to work with NEW product.  I will be hosting a crop in February to launch the new book. You won't want to miss it!

So, this is my goal. To find harmony in my life between my full time job, my family and friends and of course all of my creative adventures.  (I realize now that is more important than ever!) Have you thought of your word for this year?  If you have, I would love for you to share it by leaving a comment!

 Happy Crafting and Happy New Year!
Sarita

Little Reminder January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

 Hello and Happy New Year!  Welcome to our January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  If you have come here from Haley's Blog then you are on the right track! This month's set is a fun one that I am very excited to use this coming year!  My family is celebrating 2 babies and 1 wedding in 2012. You can see why I will be getting a lot of mileage out of this set!

 I chose to make a simple celebratory card for the New Year.  I hope you enjoy.  It may be hard to see but I stamped the Let's Celebrate in Bamboo for the background and then stamped it twice in black.  I thought the bling added some pizazz.  I like the contrast of the natural Kraft cardstock with the wild zebra print of Roxie and then some sizzle from the splash of lagoon. Maybe that's what I am hoping and wishing for my new year.  How about you?

 Products Used:

 Z1375 Kraft cardstock
x7140B Roxie Level 2 paper pack
x5904 Splash of Lagoon cardstock
Z1360 Rhinestone Designer Brads
Z1463 Just Blooms Flutter Paper Shapes (Butterflies)

Well, now it's off to Angela's Blog to see what she whipped up with this stamp!  Don't forget to add this to your order this month for only $5 when you spend $50.

Pinterest is my Happy Place

This super simple yet elegant Christmas decoration was inspired by Pinterest. So, I actually went back to something I pinned and recreated it!

    

My version is in the following picture.  I received so many compliments and they were incredibly easy and fun to make. I used the evergreen from the trees in my yard. I also happened to have mason jars. PERFECT!  I added this fun striped ribbon that I got from SU and walla!

Have you found Pinterest yet?  If you have talked to me lately, chances are pretty good you have.  Think of it as a virtual bulletin board where you can pin ideas for just about anything to it. I love looking at my boards- which I have several including Home Decor, DIY (secretly this is my husband's project board, but he doesn't know that *wink)., Scrapbooking, Paper Crafts, Recipes and my new one, Preschool Teaching Ideas.  I even have a board on there for my teenage daughter with things she might like or things I want to remember to show her. There are many great conversation starters on my Wordy Wise board.

So, everytime I see something on a blog or a website  that I want to save- I no longer print it off YAY!! ( so it's very eco-friendly). Nor do I bookmark it in my favorites.  I clearly can't remember how I even filed them in Favorites , much less FIND IT.

So, what's the big deal you say? Great! I can put pictures on a board- sounds like tons of other websites.  No, no no my friend, here when you "pin it"  to your board and then go back to it, you are taken directly to the website it was pinned from!! Now, I know you must be smiling by now.

Here's the really fun part, people who have your same interests and styles can follow all of your boards or just one of your boards.  So, then there is a whole community of pinning and repinning fools! You can add comments, mention people and even "like" a pin.  I have really learned a lot about my friends this way. What you pin says a lot about you.

So, when I am having a bad day or just need a shot of inspiration or have crafters block I have a place to go that immediately makes me smile.  All the things I love in one place. So, I am not only saving the environment, I am also saving time. Okay, if you are on Pinterest you know that might be a little white lie.  It can be addicting as all get out!  So, beware of the time sucker it could become. However I do think the pros outweigh the cons.

 If you would like an invite to Pinterest just email me and I will gladly welcome you into our circle. But don't say I didn't warn you.  If you are on Pinterest simply click this button and you will be taken to my boards!  See you there!!