Buzz'n Like a Bee

We're getting close now to the release of the 2011 Mood Organizer. I'm currently working on some last minute revisions before the proof copy can be sent.

Of course, while working on that, I've been cutting and designing some new photo albums and guest books for inside our etsy shop.

Not to mention, I've started remodeling a space here in the house to designate for booking making, designing, and general, just my own studio space. Even if it is on the other side of the laundry room, it's still a good space to work in that is all my own.

Talking about new spaces, the website is making room as we speak for a new space or design feature. We live in this world where we can walk into Sheetz or and grab a MTO (Made To Order.)

I've been doing a lot of custom orders lately for the autograph guest book albums and shipping them to all parts of the world. I love it!

Just like I think you all will love the new feature of my website once it is complete. Soon, very soon, my friends you'll be able to custom design (MTO) your very own photo albums, guest books, and journals!

I'm excited. Are you excited! There's lots of exciting things going on around here.

Well, next week, we'll be back to the ol routine. For now, I've got revisions to make, books to design, and a space to organize.

What's your week been like?

March Madness Journal Challenge #28

Spring is in the air! This morning I awoke to the sweet sounds of birds singing and a squirels racing around in our back yard.

Today, carry your journal around with you and capture - whether in words or sketches this beautiful spring day.

March Madness Journal Challenge # 27

Our last challenge involved dreaming. Today's challenge goes upon the same theme.

Once upon a time you had a dream of where you were going and what out of life. Maybe you're still dreaming...

Today, write about your greatest passion. If you have a dream job what would it be? why or why not you've persued it...

What are you waiting for? Get going! lol...

March Madness Journal Challenge #25

As I was preparing to go to bed for the night I realized I had forgotten today's challenge. Not forgotten really, just gotten distracted with a bunch of other things on my list of needing done today.

So, when you wake up tomorrow morning, write the first thing that comes to mind, or retell that dream you just didn't want to wake up from. :)

See you in the morning.

Mach Madness Journal Challenge #25

Fairy Tales and Castles...

If you could be any fairy tale character who or what would it be?

What would you look like?

What is your happy-ever after ending?

Jot it all down in your journal, you're sure to have quite a tale to tell. :)

March Madness Journal Challenge #24

A few days ago official marked spring on our calanders. With warmer weather brings thoughts of outside pleasures - taking walks, gardening, landscaping, bike riding, and other types of outdoor activitiy.

Today, pull out your journal. Take a look at your back yard and write a list of a few things you'd like to try to accomplish by the end of summer. Like repositioning that swing set that never got put in the right place, or planting those shurbs you've been wanting.

Write a few little notes and make a plan. Spring is in the air! or at least where you're at I hope. :)

March Madness Journal Challenge #22

This past weekend we did a lot of traveling. We love going to grandma's house to visit. As a kid, I have found memories of my own grandmother, picking berries in the summer, making jam, and playing bingo on monday nights.

Hopefully, my own children are making their own fond memories that they will share someday with their children about their grandmas.

Today, take out your journal and record your own fond memories of one or both of your grandmothers.

March Madness Journal Challenge # 19

There are some things that have come to be expected around my house, things that one would say have become family traditions of late.

On thursday nights, my kids look forward to popcorn and a movie in the evening. On fridays, we have pizza for supper. On Sundays, we have tomato soup and sandwhiches for lunch after church.

These have well become family traditions in our house.

Today, take out your journal. Record your family traditions and make notes on how they got started and how long they've been taking place in your home. Perhaps they've been handed down from another generation?

March Madness Journal Challenge # 18

Yesterday I sat catching up on keeping in contact with old friends and friends who needed a little bit of encouragement for their day.

Today, I urge you to do the same thing, except to yourself. Sometimes we run around on our hetic schedules and forget that we too need a little pat on the shoulder, kind word, or sense of accomplishment.

As you pull out your journals, think about what your best friend would say to you on a day that isn't going so well, and write yourself a letter as if it were coming from that friend.

What would that friend say to encourage you?

Write it in your journal, and if you feel like sharing it here, please do. :)

March Madness Journal Challenge #16

Remember back when you wrote your name on the first page of your journal?

As a kid, we'd often be encouraged to expand our vocabulary in elementry school by writing our name at the top of a piece of paper and figuring out how many words we could make using those letters from our name. We couldn't make two letter words, the minium was three. It was great fun and the class often shared some words we thought no one else would have on their list.


Today, write your full name at the top of your journal page and see how many different words you can make from the letters of your name. There's no letter count, so "a", "is" and so forth count. :)

It's okay if you fill the page and have to write on the back too!

Come up with any interesting words?

No cheating! no dictionaries or thesarus to help you. :)

March Madness Journal Challenge #15

Today its Monday, yep the beginning of the week. Mondays have a way of being hetic and choatic in our household. No one wants to get up and go to school around here, they'd like it if monday was still part of the weekend.

Honestly, it gets me all creased in folds....

So today, make 15 creases or folds in your journal page. Trace them with a pen or pencil to outline them. (they may go flat again with closng the journal).

Start with the outer edges of your page and fold and crease any direction you like - do it 15 times.

Have fun. :)

March Madness Journal Challenge #14

As I sit and finish my morning devotional, I am reminded of God's loving presence in my life.

One of my favorite verses of scripture is:

"Delight in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

Today, pull out your journals, take a moment to reflect on this past week, and write down all the things that have brought delight to your heart.

Even if you just have one thing, and I pray you find at least one, record it in your journal.

March Madness Journal Challenge #12

Being a stay at home mother, wife, and active person, I can easily think of a dozen things I need to do today, tomorrow, and most days of the week.

Today, open up to a new page in your journal and list all the things you need to do today. Yep, today is the day your make your "to-do" list in your journal.

Are there twelve things? or perhaps you have less. It doesn't matter.

Now use your journal today to accomplish those things on your list and cross them off as the day goes on.

I know one thing I can alreay cross off, I wrote my to-do list!

March Madness Journal Challenge #3

Okay so yesterday we got a little deep, diving into your childhood. How did that come out? Alright?

Today on a new page, write the lyrics to your favorite song.

Oh, and did I forget to mention, you have to write them upside down on the page. :p

If you can't remember all the words to the song  replace the forgotten words with "Falalalalalala".

That was just silly wasn't it? Go ahead when your finished and rip out the page, crumble it up, and toss it in the waste basket.

No wait! That was your favorite song, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said throw it away.  You'd best retrieve it. Smooth out the page and tape it back into your journal with the lyrics right side up. You never know when you might need those lyrics to serenade your sweetheart.

Organizing Itch

The two things I love most - besides my family - is sewing and writing. Lately, however, I've had the organzing itch.

Whether your a mom with three kids, like me, or just have a hetic schedule in general, it pays to be organized.

Today, I organzied my kitchen. I got rid of the piles of completed school work from my oldest that had started to tilt off the water cooler and threaten to spill across the floor. I sorted them into piles of keep and toss. The toss pile went straight into the garbage. The keep pile, I sorted again. I put things in order ofwhere they needed to go and filed them.

Then I moved on to my cupboards. I'm quite proud, I arranged my pantry and set up my lazy susan in an order where things were easy to find, even for my youngest, who will most likely mess up my organized lazy susan before supper time tomorrow.

What didn't need to be on my countertop I put away. If it didn't have a place I made one for it repectfull of how often I use it. Most things just went into the laundry room cupboard.

When I was finished I wiped my kitchen down. I didn't scrub, but wiped it down. It took less than an hour.

Tomorrow, I'm up for organizing my office. I have piles of writings that need files and put in some order that I can find them as I proceed from project to project. It would be nice to have everything pertaining to one manuscript, planner, or journal in a binder of file rather than the piles on the floor and over my desk.

I'll let you know howit turns out. Baby steps, but I may just find I have more time for the things I love- like family, writing, and sewing if I could find what I'm looking for rather than swiming in the footnotes with my kids searching for a quote.