Happy New Year!...2009 recap.

Will and I on Christmas Day. :)

Happy New Year! I just realized we are almost a week into 2010 and I haven't posted my 2009 recap or 2010 goals! I am still unpacking and reorganizing around here...getting everything back to normal after traveling for many days. I never even opened the computer while we were gone! I needed a break from anything that would inspire me to make something. :) hehe, I feel so blessed to be part of such an inspiring community online, but I get so excited about everything I see that I want to do it all!...and we know that is not possible. humm...maybe that could be a new years resolution...to sort out my priorities and stick to doing a few things well, rather then trying to do it all resulting in not well...that's not a bad idea. :)

Tonight I peaked at my Goals for 2009 post from last year checking over to see if I stuck to my goals completely...

1- get a bible reading plan started: yep! well, it was not much of a plan...I started out reading the One-Year Bible and got to about the middle of march and was ready to start something else I guess. I found an old testament youth bible at a garage sale with wonderful illustrations and started reading a bit each day. I am almost done with it! I love it!...I think it is the illustrations that draws me in, and I learned about so many stories that I never knew about. I also did an awesome study on Matthew and other various small studies.

2-get my studio put together and get working: yep! I definitely got this one going! I am so pleased with all the wonderful feedback I have been getting from people about my store. It really started to take off around the holidays. I have really enjoyed doing so many new projects! My store is now open again. I will soon be in the process of changing the look of it a little, so be sure to check back in the next month or so.

3-make an indoor herb garden: Yep!...only basil and chives though. Maybe I will attempt more in 2010.

4-get in shape: humm...this I was not so productive with. At least not by my standards. I have been back down to my pre-pregnancy body weight for a while now and have been good about getting normal daily exercise, but I did not started actually lifting weights again to tone up until the last month or two.

5-simplify!: Yep!..it is an ongoing process around here. I am again in the process of going back through our corners and closets. :)

6-learn how to cook authentic Italian meals:...kinda. I cooked a few new Italian recipes farfalle con pesto di arugula being my favorite, but I cut out dairy from my diet early in the year and many Italian meals that I wanted to make included mozzarella.

7-start a scrapbook for Will: Have not even started it! haha. It is always one of those things in the back of my mind. I did start designing a blurb book of his first year that I have yet to finish. :)

8-Make it a handmade year!: This was a big one for me and I am so glad that I followed through with it. It sure was a challenge, but each gift that I gave in 2009 I put a lot of thought into. Most of the gifts I made myself, some of the gifts I bought off Etsy, and a couple last minute gifts I bought gift cards tucked inside a handmade card. But for the most part I never had to walk into a mall or target for a gift. This really forced me to try new things. I learned new crafts and techniques, how to have patience when not getting things done just right the first time, and I also became more comfortable using my new serger.

While looking back over this past year I realized that I have learned so much! But the biggest thing I can take away from 2009 is that I learned how important it is to just...be. Will has made me realize that life is not about getting things done, but about being together. Being still and observant to what God has planned for me on any given day. I am so much happier and content with my day when I just sit and play with Will, or relax and have a conversation with Thad. Seems kind of funny, but I actually feel like I am more productive this way rather then making my day about lists. Laundry can always wait. :) I would always set my goals too high for the day and could never get everything accomplished what I had planned, leaving me discontent and irritated by the time my husband gets home. I can say that this past year has made me really realize this, but I have not been very good about actually doing this. So, naturally it seemed appropriate to make this my new years resolution. To just...be! Be still. Be observant. Be open.

Now there are plenty of other little goals I would like to accomplish this year: curing my cravings, cutting out white sugar, not eating after 8:00 p.m., getting my muscles strong again, incorporating lots more raw meals into my week, always simplifying, start cloth diapering, be more intentional about community, not just read my bible but really study it more often...and there are probably lots more. If you visit my blog often you will probably be hearing all about these and more.

What is the one thing you have learned or took away from 2009?

And the winner is...

The winner of the multicolored felt garland is random #12....Kelli!

...and the winner of my coloring book is random #7...Jennifer!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered I appreciate all your wonderful comments. I am now taking a break from blogger until the beginning of the year. I will keep my store open until the morning of Tuesday December 22nd and will then be re-opening after the first of the year. I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas!...now go celebrate!

xo

Creative Christmas Day 6- Giveaway day!

To top off creative Christmas week I have a couple of giveaways!...first of all because I am feeling generous, and second of all because I have some wonderful blog readers. :)

The first giveaway is one 100 inch strand of my chain-stitch felt garland-multicolor. I have been selling A LOT of these in my store this holiday season. Lots of custom orders! This garland could dress up your tree, window, mantle,wall, or wherever you decide looks best. It really could be used to decorate all year...why not celebrate all year! :)

The second giveaway is one of my coloring books. It includes 14 of my original illustrations each printed out twice for double the coloring. (28 pages total) The cover is a natural felt color hand-bound with hemp. It measures 8 1/2'' x 10''. You can click here to see all the illustrations included.

To enter in the giveaway please leave a comment. Mention me on your blog and I will enter you in twice. Just make sure to let me know in your comment. You have until midnight on Tuesday the 15th to enter, and the winners will be announced on Wednesday morning. Thanks so much for celebrating with me this week!

Creative Christmas Day 5- Relax.

picture by SashaW

As we speak I am soaking my feet. I can not tell you how wonderfully relaxing it is having my feet in warm water while looking out at the snow and eating some chocolate of course. :) I have realized after putting a lot of my time in to making gifts and preparing for Christmas I have not been taking much time to relax...and with a 1 year old this time is short and precious! As women we are made to be the nurturers and to put others first. It is hard to remember to take time for solitude and relaxation. No one wants to be stressed, especially this time of year when we are supposed to be celebrating the birth of Christ. Stopping each day to remember why I am doing the things I am doing and redirecting myself if necessary. How often do you pause to be present and really enjoy the beauty of a moment or place? I remember as a child the times I would be the most present, reflective and aware of my surroundings was while I was waiting for a ride. I would look out the window, sometimes draw pictures on the window if it was cold outside and fogged over, tap to a beat in my head, watch the squirrels outside, and just be. Being is just as important as doing.

"Slowing Down the speed of Life", a book written by Richard Carlson states 5 consequences from being busy-minded:

1- Become reactive instead of responsive.

2-Take negative behavior personally rather than seeing the innocence.

3-You miss out on the good times.

4-Loose sight of compassion.

5-You expect too much from others.

I am guilty of all of these at times and I have realized that life is too short to spend your time and energy doing what drains you. Yes there are chores that need to be done even though we don't want to do them, but they might not need to get done just that minute. Here are a few ideas I came up with to stop today and relax and reflect, followed by a foot bath recipe. :)

***stretch.

***breathe deeply.

***take a gratitude walk: alone or with your family. Start walking outside and while looking at the trees, sky, etc. share out loud what you are thankful for. If it is cold, then bundle up! Fresh air is always a good thing. (It just might be a shorter walk)

***say no if you have to.

***make a rice sock for your shoulders...or maybe make one as a gift for a friend.

***sip some hot tea.

***enjoy a foot bath. :)

-1 gallon of warm water

-3 drops of lavender essential oil.(use peppermint if you have a stuffy nose)

-1 cup of Epsom salts

*oh it feels so nice on a cold night. :) Did you know that your feet have the largest pores of any area on your body. Foot baths could help improve your circulation, ease fatigue, and relieve stress and illnesses.

Take care of yourself so you can care for others.

Creative Christmas Day 5- Yummies!

Row 1:Wheat-free- egg-free cookie cutter cookies, Pumpkin Bread with no sugar

Row2:Italian Chard Stuffing, Excellent Eggnog

Row3:Red Cabbage Cranberry and Apple Slaw, Almond Butter Balls

Row4:Peppermint Log, Apple-Cranberry "Cheesecake"

One of my very favorite parts in celebrating the holidays are all the handmade goodies. These are some recipes I have collected to share with you. I have only made the almond butter balls myself so far. I make those many times though out the year, they are so simple! I may not get to all of these recipes this year but I definitely plan on making the peppermint log and the Italian Chard stuffing. Those look super yummy and unique. I also came across some yummy ham glazes that might be interesting to get creative with this year for those of you who have the traditional ham meal. Now I just made myself Hungary.

Have a splendid afternoon!

oh yeah...I forgot to mention...

...that my coloring books were featured on the 2009 holiday gift guide on Going Home to Roost. You can check it out here:

http://www.goinghometoroost.com/2009-holiday-gift-guide/

Just wanted to mention that real quick! :)

Creative Christmas Day 4- Charity

Did you know that approximately 40% of the world's population survives on less than $2 per day?...and that worldwide, 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation, and more than one billion people lack clean and safe water. I am so thankful for how and where I came into the world and for what I do have. It is hard to imagine living in those type of conditions all the time. It is easy for me to believe that I need to give. I have been commanded to give.

While looking for charity options this holiday season I thought to myself...Why do we give to charity? Is it really for them? Is it for me? Is it for God? Is it for a tax break?..hum, maybe for some people. What does the bible have to say about it? It may sound funny but as I researched I realized I still had a lot to research about this topic. I did come across a website I thought was very interesting that I wanted to share with you. I do not agree with all of the doctrine of this specific church, but what the writer is talking about on this page about charity I felt was very factual.

The Greek word 'agape' is translated as both charity and love in many places in the new testament. (mainly just in the KJV) Many people just think of charity as nothing more than giving money or donating something for a good cause. In this article the author says...

Charity specifically refers to the love that we have toward other men. Paul stresses that we are to walk "charitably" toward our weaker brothers (Romans 14:13-15). He praised the Thessalonians because "the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth" (2 Thessalonians 1:3). In 1 Peter 4:8-9, Peter told the believers, "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging."

I think his point was that the new testament talks about charity as a specific kind of love. So I redirected my thoughts about how I can give charity....how I can give love. It may not be writing a check to sponsor a child, or it may. My point being that you should not limit yourself to making charity only about money. Get a group of friends together and cook a meal for a specific group of people. Feed the homeless at your local shelter. Smile at the person in the car next to you at the stoplight. Get creative! Show love!

...and of course I have a list of links for specific organizations that need some love. :)

*Uthandoproject.org- an organization where you crafters can make dolls to send to children in South Africa's Kwazulu-Natal province.

*globalgiving.com-$50 will pay an orphans tuition for an entire year!

*humankindness-a Kentucky gal raising money to buy school supplies and etc. for a K-5 school in India.

*bloodwatermission.com-help work against the HIV/AIDS and water crisis in Africa.

*Compassion International-Learn about sponsoring a child in need.

Go Share the love,