Thursday Thought to Ponder

"When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."

Barbara J. Winter

I'm Lovin' it Monday

I am doing this I'm Lovin' It Monday while laying in bed recovering from a sinus cold (pity me yet). While surfing the web from my sick bed, I came across this wonderful product that made me smile.......Happy Tape!

The ideas and uses for this product are endless, I must have them all......well, at least a lot!

Another thing I am lovin' is http://shopittome.com/. It is like your personal online shopping bargain hunter. You sign up, pick your favorite brands and sizes, how often you want your "salemail" and you get notified of what items are on sale. My favorite part is that you get a picture of each item so you can just browse through the email to see if there is anything that you must have! Since they only display what is available in your size, there is none of the disappointment of finding a great deal just to discover they only have it in the smallest or largest size available!

Anthropologie Inspired, Ready for Baking!

I fell in love with this apron at Anthropologie and thought......how fun would that be with Amy Butler fabrics?
So here is my interpretation of the Spring Mix Apron. I would change a few details if I ever made another one but I am happy overall with how it came out!

100 Inchies Project- Wings

Here are my latest inchies from the 100 inchies project. I was inspired by the wings theme to more of a tattered, shabby chic interpretation with lots of glimmer mist, stamps, paint dabbers and crocheted lace

Thursday Thought courtesy of Regina Spektor

No one can make me sing dreamily in my car like Regina Spektor and she has done it again with her new album Far. The song I am playing on repeat right now is Laughing With, can you blame me? I have posted the video and lyrics so you can sing along with me!

Laughing With


No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God
When it's gotten real late
And their kid's not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they're mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one's laughing at God
When there's a famine or fire or flood

*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they've lost all they've got
And they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very
poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

Thursday Thought to Ponder

"No one is perfect....that is why pencils have erasers"

I'm Lovin' It Monday

Okay, how can you NOT be lovin' this dress from Downeast Basics? I immediately fell in love with the Plaza Dress! Fun tuxedo ruffle, polka dots, coordinating buttons and belt in a contrasting color.....I'm sold. But what makes this dress even better is that it is $9.99 right now. Wanna know something more? You can get an additional 30% off by entering the promo code SPRINGSALE....that makes it $6.99 . For me, my grand total for one dress WITH shipping was $12.94.

They must have just found a stash of these in storage since it was from their holiday 2007 line. I love that the two color choices offer completely different looks. Teeny black and white polka dots or large cider colored spots with the great purple accents! So, I bought them both for less then the price of what you could get a dress for on sale for at Target! Now, if they only sold that great yellow bag.....

Let's move on now for what I am lovin' for my crafting. I just love these sentiment flashcards from 7 Gypsies, what a fun addition to any layout or album. And this Birds Of A Feather chipboard set from Maya Road is just so inspiring, you will want to add one to every project!

Thursday Thought to Ponder

"Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief"

Thursday Thought and the Festival of the Arts

"My heart will take me to the top or take me to the bottom,

My heart will determine where my final destination is going to be"

Our Stake Relief Society is having a Festival of Arts Show featuring different artists interpretation of the theme, "The Lord Looketh Upon The Heart" based on 1 Samuel 16:7: "for the Lord seeth not as man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

I immediately knew I wanted to do a scrapbook style layout for this project but I had been seeking inspiration on how to pull that off. Afterall, it didn't seem to right to put a picture of how we see each other on the outside on a layout meant to express that we are truly judged and seen by what is inside. Then it came to me that it shouldn't be so much of a standard photograph but an expression, a reflection of the heart and I thought of my favorite photo of Jonas and started cropping and printing it different ways. I was relieved that it all came together like I pictured it in my head (which isn't always the case) and I can't wait to see all of the other entries!

A Little Mother's Day Treat

I am lucky to say that I am friends with some pretty fabulous women that just also happen to be fabulous Moms. Better yet, they help me to be a better mom through their laughter, support and sometimes commiseration! I wanted to do a little special something for them for Mother's Day so I altered some mini composition books and made some coordinating clothespin magnets and bought some chocolate, of course, .....lots of it!

Then I decorated the front of a plain white paper gift bag and cut off the front handle so I could hang them on their front doors as a suprise on Sunday ! Hopefully this little gesture will go a long way in showing them how special they are!

The Bright Side

It's no secret, I LOVE Shade Clothing. In fact, I am relaxing right now in the Striped Boyfriend Tee in gray and white, but there I go getting distracted!

Shade has partnered with United Way for this fabulous campaign and 50% of the proceeds are distributed to families in need throughout the nation. Chelsea Rippy, the owner and CEO of Shade, wanted to find a way to help those effected by the economic downturn while spreading a message of hope and optimism. And as an added bonus, they just happen to be adorable.

I'm Lovin' it Monday

I have had a very creative last few days (posts to come) so I had to narrow it down for today's picks.

First, I am lovin' this great Jane Market Bag pattern from Alicia Paulson over at Posie Gets Cozy . I can't wait to use mine out shopping and what a great, easy gift to make. Added bonus, downloadable pattern....talk about instant gratification!

If I have mentioned this before let me tell you again how much I love Tattered Angels Glimmer Screens and Mists. The stencils are easy to wash, sturdy and reusable and are such an easy way to add an elegant and subtle detail to your paper craftin, layouts, etc. You don't even want me to get started on how great the mists are....we could be here all day!

Thursday Thought To Ponder

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile"

Thursday Thought To Ponder

"When drawing a map of your life, be sure to use a pencil."

I'm Lovin' it Monday

Between Spring Break, the Nana in town, one of my best friends moving to Idaho and this fun stomach bug circulating through the house- it has been a while since my last post. Is anything worse then then a toddler with the stomache flu? It just breaks my heart, they have no idea what is going on and their eyes just plead for help. Hopefully, the worst of it is over!


So let's start out the week with a fun freebie that I Am Lovin'! These great calling cards by Cameron Blazer of Cottage Industrialist. I love these for playdates, what mommy doesn't deserve her own mommy calling cards! To check them out and download the pdf, click here

Also, be on the look out for a fun new look that Lisa over at Yummy Web Studio has been working on for me!

Thursday Thought To Ponder

"The greatest of all arts is the art of losing ourselves in service of others"

To me, this is just so beautifully said. Sometimes we get into so consumed by our own identity and our own "world" that we tend focus our attentions on what makes us happy instead of what makes our Heavenly Father happy. We are reminded time and time again that charity and service to others are so much of our purpose in this life and sharing our talents and our time are such an easy way to do that!

I'm Lovin' It Monday

This Monday I am Lovin' this great custom ribbon over at J Caroline Creative. She has turned these great prints from fabric designers Jessica Jones and Patty Young into these great jaquard ribbons and I love the Proud Grosgrains by Keri Beyer!
They are a little pricey but worth it for an extra special project! What else am I lovin'? I am lovin' my Meiko CD , she has such an amazing voice and you can't help but sing along!

Thursday Thought To Ponder

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache. "

I love this quote by Marjorie Pay Hinckley, it really rings true to me. Lately, life has been such a whirlwind! With our three boys and two foster sons (both under 2) that were surprises, what was supposed to be a temporary situation has been over four months now and has changed our life dramatically. As we were finally adjusting to the situation, drama broke out in one case and then our poor Cooper has been so sick and not responding to any antibiotics. I have been to the doctor with him every day this week and finally the aggressive treatment is over (after $125 in co-pays). It has been heart wrenching taking a child who was already petrified of the doctor's office there every day to sit for an hour and have shots while he cries and begs to go home. After yesterday's round I was worn down and needed a little celebration with the family. So we all went out to a fun dinner at Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger.....no more sickness, no more being trapped in the house, free at last!

Fun right? Well, it was until little Christopher, who had refused to eat dinner (VERY unlike him), looks up and then proceeds to throw up all over the table in a crowded restaurant. As I ran over to cover up the mess from the other customers, he continues all over himself and me. So I scooped him up like a football and ran outside. Another sickling, public embarrassment, cry or laugh? I am choosing to laugh!

Word Themed Inchies

I completed these word themed inchies over the weekend as part of the 100 inchie project on Swap-Bot . I knew exactly what I wanted to do for this theme. I watercolored each of the inchies' backgrounds and then used the words as inspiration for the design.

There is nothing like an inchie for a quick burst of creative refueling! I keep a container full of them on my workspace to play with, doodle on or draw inspiration from.

I'm Lovin' It Monday

Yes, I am still alive but with Cooper still fighting a bad infection and lots of movement on Christopher's case, I just haven't been able to blog. I am praying that round three of antibiotics for Cooper and today's hearing for Christopher will bring some much needed peace!

Now, to business......this Monday I am lovin' Sassafras Lass' Paper Whimsy Blossoms . The large ones already have inked edges, what a time saver. I ran out and bought every set and I am saving them for something special!