One Little Word. . .

I did not do this last year, but I am excited to give a whirl this year. This is a concept that comes from Ali Edwards, you can read more about it on her blog. Generally, what you do is pick a word and use that word throughout the year to help you focus on what is important to you. It is very personal and very inspiring.

I have thought very hard about my word for 2009. The funny thing is that it came to me right away, and although I have entertained using a variety of words, this one stuck with me, right from the start. I think that it is exactly what I need right now. My word is...

~Enough~

–adjective
1. adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy desire:
–pronoun
2. an adequate quantity or number; sufficiency.
–adverb
3. in a quantity or degree that answers a purpose or satisfies a need or desire; sufficiently.
4. fully or quite: ready enough.
–interjection
5. (used to express impatience or exasperation): Enough!

I think that this word may be a bit harsh, but it is what I need right now. I feel that I am often pulled in so many directions, trying to get everything done and be a part of everything. I need to focus on drawing the lines and learning to recognize what is obligatory and what is frivolous. I also think I will focus on having enough, simplifying my life. Not needing to purchase every little thing or give every bit I have. Sometimes, I already did/had enough. It is also a word that draws the lines. I think that this will be especially important for me. I am going to focus on drawing the line for myself, stopping the excuses. I am also going to focus on drawing the line for others, when it concerns me. Setting my boundaries. These are just a few of the things that I want to focus on, really for the rest of my life, but for the next 365 days for starters.
I look forward to exploring this word and finding how it truly fits me right now.
............................................................................................................................................................

So, I hope you have a wonderful New Year's. I will be at home cleaning out my scraproom / office. It is my beginning to Enough. I am purging and organizing so I can utilize what I have and purge what I no longer want. I have been working on it for 2 days already, and I still have a ton to do.
So have a wonderful night. Be safe and happy.

Christmas Eve. . .

I think I am having a really hard time this year. I feel so pressured to get it all done. Whatever that means. I am looking forward to tomorrow, and it finally being over. Isn't that sad? I need to step back and remember what this time of year is really all about. I need to remember it is about Family, about sharing time and making memories. I need to say "who cares" and "it's perfect". . . and mean it. I know all of this, but right now it seems like such a hard thing to do. Why is that?

I feel like I KNOW what I am supposed to do. I know that I am supposed to enjoy all of this, but it is just so stressful, and at the end of the day when it is not all done the way I wanted it to be, I feel like I have failed. But who? Who have I failed? Myself. The truth is that no one else cares, no else notices that the little stuff is done or not done, just me. So I need to step back, relax, and let it all go. I think this is my Type A coming through.

So, I am going to go relax, drink some tea, and just relax. I know that there are others of "us" out there, that must be feeling the same way, and honestly, I really did not want this to be my post for Christmas Eve, but I do feel better now that I have "said" something. So, I will leave you with some pictures of my family. Looking at these photos does cheer me up a bit. These are from our family photo shoot earlier this month.

This is the three of us, hanging out on a park bench.

These are my little one. I love his blond curls and dimples.

And him climbing in the trees. Daddy was actually holding on to his pants.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my rant. Sometimes you just have to vent. Have a wonderful Christmas / Hanukkah / Holiday!

Randomness. . .

I thought this might be fun. . . Play along if you would like.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. We go cut ours down every year! So much fun.
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as we get it. Usually around the 1st week of December.
4. When do you take the tree down? January 1st
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but I have to cut it with milk. It is too thick. I do like eggnog lattes from Starbucks the best!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Homemade doll from Mimi. I was "stuck" at her house and terrified that Santa would not find me. She stayed up all night making me a doll that came in a Vans box. That was about 28 years ago, and I still have that rag doll. I love her.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Hands down, my dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? My Son. He is only 20 months, so he does not really "want" yet.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, but it is not up this year. My little one is only 20 months and it is glass. I think I may invest in a new one when the clearances start on December 26th!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. I love that tradition.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ugly sweater that was 10X's too big for me. I actually gave it back.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I have a few. . . The Christmas Story (classically funny), Miracle on 34th Street (magical), and The Grinch who Stole Christmas (childhood memories)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When ever I see something that just grabs me!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Homemade Pumpkin Pie
16. Lights on the tree? yes...tons, stay on multi-colored
17. Favorite Christmas song? Last Christmas I gave you my heart by Wham (so 80's)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Mom's house, every year. I have never missed one, except for the one when I was little and I got snowed in at Mimi's & Poppy's house.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. I have bought 3 in the past 5 years. They keep disappearing on me! One tradition I would love to break!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The "I wants from ungrateful kids"
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We have a tradition to buy a new ornament for each family member every year with our name on it. I always get them from DoughFun. I love the homemade look, and they look great for years and years.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Pumpkin Pie! Homemade, yum!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Photo printer.
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Jennie.

I am tagging anyone who would like to play along!

Here is also a few photos of my December Daily. I know that I am way behind, but here is few that are complete and have been photographed.

I don't know where the photo of my cover is, but here is what is in it so far.


Page 2
Back of page 2

Open page 2 (backside) and front of page 3

I have more done, but it seems that I have lost some of my photos. I will try to get them up tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great night.

Well, Okay I'm a slacker. . .

I can't believe how this month has gotten away from me! It is unbelievable!

The good news is that school is out for two weeks. You have no idea how happy that makes me. Really! I am hoping to get a bit caught up over the next two weeks. I have some layouts for you. These are the layouts that I taught in my class this month. The first one uses Sassafrass paper. It doesn't have a title, because I am not sure exactly what photo's I want to use yet.

The next two are made using October Afternoon paper. I love this stuff. I can't seem to get enough of it. I just want enough to take a bath in it! Ahhh.... I love it! Okay, so the first one uses the Night Lights collection. I think this will be for some pictures of my little one sleeping or hanging out in his pj's.
Here is a close up of the title. I used the letter stickers from October Afternoon, the Spotlight font from Quickutz, and stamps from Technique Tuesdays. I love titles that utilize a variety of techniques and companies.

This last one is one of my favorites. I just loved these pictures. They were taken in my Mom's garden in the front of her house on Halloween this year. My mother-in-law bought Matteo this outfit, and I just love it. I love the blue & orange together with the brown.

Here is a close up of the main picture.

The colors are amazing to me. And I love that brick too! Okay, maybe I am a bit biased, I do think he is just the cutest thing ever!

Anyway, I am off to bed. I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow. I am having family dinner at my house on Sunday, and I have a ton to do first.

I have also been working on the December Daily album, and I have pictures to post. I will get some of them up tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great night.

December. . . Oh so little time. . .

Where did November go? I can't believe that December is already here! Wow! I have so much to do now. I really had a ton to do yesterday, but it didn't seem real because it was only November then. I will be starting my December Daily album today. I need to finish my layouts for my class next Monday, and I have to get my cards out. That doesn't include getting the house ready and decorated. We decided to paint, okay I decided to paint the living room this weekend, so I have to finish that too. And it all has to be done by Sunday! Yikes!

Okay, so I don't have a bunch of crafty stuff for you yet, but it will be coming. I am going to be better at posting this month too! Promise. So off I go to get something done. My little one is asleep and I am home because Daddy was not feeling good this morning. So, now that they are both down, I can get some stuff done. I will post tomorrow with what I accomplish!

Stay tuned!