playful.productive.present

I'm HOME and looking forward to ...

Yay. It's NO MAKE UP MONDAY and maybe even no shower Monday.

What an AMAZING adventure we had in Japan. I am working on my highlights post (coming soon) In the meantime (WOW) Every room of my house is calling me. I feel like I'm drowning in sea of piles and mess. I am NOT kidding. I'm taking a new approach to unpacking this time. It's called make your bed/empty all suitcases on top and go from there.

this is what this approach looks like.
As I was getting all five of my darlings out the door at various times this morning, I started in on the knife drawer. I mean really, you should see my house and then I start cleaning some little corner, like the knife drawer. weird.

Oh well ... the laundry is well underway and I'm going to put myself on the timer as soon as I go jogging. I know from experience that you can accomplish much in 60 minutes of concentrated pick-up and put away.

It is so good to be HOME. I missed milk and cold cereal and sweets (The Japanese don't really eat dessert -- at least not as regularly as I do and my sweet tooth felt this.) I also missed my domesticity. I got up on Saturday, cleaned my kitchen really good, mopped the floor, organized the fridge and made a big pot of 'leftover' soup. I also made a nice long list of around-the-house projects for fall. We ran errands and visited with some neighbors and I thought I was pushing through the jet lag until about 5:00pm when I laid down for a quickie nap and didn't wake up for 3 1/2 hours.

Sunday was restful and relaxing. I taught Relief Society, visited with Kayce and made dinner. We attended a baptism last night, which always makes me so happy. Came home, fell into bed and slept like a baby until 6:00 am -- I hope to be back on the 5:00 am schedule by midweek, as I don't get enough quiet time, unless I can get up early. Addie now has pre-school on Mondays and Fridays, so I dropped her off and am blogging and then jogging.

Speaking of Addie ... Geoff removed her stitches on Saturday.

She was so brave through the whole incident (the emergency room and the stitches removal) She'll have a little scar, but it will be hidden in her hair and I'm just so grateful she didn't get cut any closer to her eye.

Trey started orchestra at the middle school at 7:40am this morning. He is pretty excited and will hopefully be learning (at least initially) on his great grandfather's violin. Russell Julian was a music teacher and I've been displaying this violin in our music room for the last 3 years. This was all his idea and he is really excited. I was surprised to see at least 50 kids that showed up with instrument cases in hand. I suppose I can live with the empty spot on my shelf.

In addition to pecking away at my fall list of projects, I'm looking foward to ...

Cut the Crazy out of Christmas

This class started last Thursday and I'm so doing it. I'm NOT going to get caught up in the craziness of Christmas this year. I'm serious. I'm posting my 12 Days list in November and I'm going to be more organized, so that I can relax and enjoy and give this most important holiday the meaning it deserves. I've tried to convince myself that I LOVE the hustle and bustle and the late nights and the over-the-topness of my past holidays, but I really do want to simplify and focus on the things that matter most to me. I've printed my handouts and am setting up my binder today!

I'm looking forward to ...

Yesterday and Today

Ali gives so much to the scrapbooking community on her blog, I'm really excited to settle in and experience her insight long term, in her first workshop at BPS. She assures me that I can keep up and still enjoy this festive time of year. I believe her.

I'm looking forward to ...

image source.

WICKED We are traveling to Seattle this weekend to see this famed musical at the Paramount. I saw it in LA with girls on the Simple Scrapbooks team a couple of years ago and have since wanted my family to see it. 

I'm looking forward to ... 

The Youth Leadership Summit on Wednesday, October 28th. I'm the keynote speaker. While I've presented at church functions, this really is the first time I've spoken outside the scrapbook industry -- they are expecting 400 high school students (primarily those involved with FBLA) I'm nervous, but I'm excited too. I have read some great books and have some great stories to tell!

 and finally, I'm looking forward to ...

The BIG surprise I am going to show you on Thursday. Remember last year when I challenged you to photograph and document and celebrate your present. Well, it has been a year this Thursday and it is time we revisit that little project. We will.

good times ahead.

Gone, day 5

Today is a very special day.

Because ... today, eleven years ago I gave birth to a baby boy who completely changed my perspective on motherhood.

I was not happy when I found out I was having a third boy. I wanted a little girl. I was overwhelmed with two little boys and a husband that was a very busy medical resident. Everyone told me that the third child was the hardest -- the one that would put you "over the top." I was worried and wondered WHY?

But I quickly learned that what "they" didn't know (I didn't really know it either -- yet) was that Heavenly Father knew exactly what I needed. He knew that I needed to "specialize" and that like my great-great grandmother Minnie McDougal (mother to 10 sons) I would discover unbelievable joys in raising boys.  Heavenly Father sent me Trey and Trey kept me up at night so we could spend time together, alone -- but Trey also made me laugh and helped me find my groove as a mother. He was and still is incredibly loving and easy to be with and talk to. He came with a wonderful sense of confidence and an easy-going nature that attracts others to him ...

So, every year when the air cools and the leaves start to turn I get to celebrate this boy and FALL a little more in love with him and the idea that what we think we want isn't always what we need. 

Trey ... it's your special DAY, and since Dad and I are in Japan, we have something special for you. I've asked Jennifer to have you read this blog post when you wake up, so I can tell you to go look in the laundry chute ... and see what you find.

Here's a little Happy Birthday HINT:

In your FAVORITE COLOR (of course.)

love you!

 

miscellaneous stuff.

OK Wow. My Internet does not like my blog. I can pull up any website in lightning speed, as long as it doesn't end in .typepad.com -- so wierd. According to my Internet guy this is something Comcast needs to fix. Hopefully, this will happen tomorrow. Since I'm enjoying an intermittent moment of connection I'm going to catch up with a bunch of miscellaneous stuff.

I finished up my school shopping days with the boys last week. I took Taft on Thursday and Trey on Friday. I'm sure I've said this before, but children are different people one on one. I generally feel like I have a harder time syncing up with Taft. He has a rather complex personality and his whole demeanor can change in an instant. I feel the need to be very careful around  him and I'm never quite sure how he will respond. He is very loving, but also very guarded and private with his emotions. But after 20 minutes of him being my singular focus at Subway, the insecurity started to melt away and I was privy to some very interesting opinions and observations.

My total investment was 5 hours and roughly $350 dollars, broken down as follows:

Subway $ 9.72
Kohls $ 108.45 (I need to return the $5.99 lava lamp with a burned out bulb)
Children's Place $ 101.89
Build-a-Bear $ 12.65
Krispy Kreme Donut $ 1.09
Target $ 88.06
Payless Shoes $43.27 (bought 1/2 price boots for Addie too!)

As we drove home, I asked Taft to rate his day on a scale from 1 to 10. His answer? Googol (as in googolplex)

That's a pretty decent ROI. I ran some errands after school today and took just Taft into Barnes and Noble. I told him I had so much fun with him shopping that I think we should start having a little date together once a week. He said rather nonchalantly, "Ok. that would be fine" and then he reached out and took my hand.

If you haven't heard about the Cards for Kate campaign, I'd like to make you aware. Kate is a little girl fighting a brain tumor. She and her family could really use your prayers and your encouragement in the form of cards. You can read more about her story, by clicking here.

Kristina Proffitt, Jennifer McGuire and Jana Millen have organized this effort and I'd love to see the online scrapbooking community get involved. Pull out some paper and stickers and have a little card making session with your kids. When you're done, send them here:

Jennifer McGuire
Card Drive for Kate
PO Box 428612
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242

Speaking of good causes, I've enjoyed Cathy's blog posts about charity: water.  I'm on board! I learned about the far-reaching need for clean water almost a year ago when our friends, the DeMars, returned from a mission to Kenya.

I decided then that this would be one of my life-long "causes." I love water -- the sound of it, the smell of it and the taste of it. I can't imagine not being able to get it. I support the Clean Water initiative through LDS Humanitarian Services and recommend any effort that helps people help themselves in this way. Kuddos to Cathy and everyone that has supported her in raising nearly $5,000 (cool.)

 

I received an email from Kristen a week or so ago asking about the colors in my kitchen. I have used two colors of green and they come from the same Behr swatch (#400D)
The lighter green is Grass Cloth and the darker green is Grape Leaves. I keep thinking I'll wake up and decide not to like my green kitchen, but it hasn't happened yet and it continually gets a good response from visitors and friends. If you're thinking of adding more color to your home you've got my vote. If you want MORE inspiration in this department, check out this book, by Susan Sargent. It is my favorite.

Unfortunately I didn't read the email from another Kristan until it was too late today. I was headed out to meet boys after school and run errands and she was looking for a photo that I posted to my blog months and maybe a year or more ago. I had zero desire to look something like this up, so I just took a new photo. Here, for Kristan and anyone else who is making MORE sandwiches these days, is my sandwich-making drawer and cupboard.

 

As much as possible, I like to keep stuff you use together, together. So the lunch sacks are next to the PB & J, in the cupboard just above the drawer. The baggies and napkins and little Compendium window cards and pens are in the drawer. I bought a whole box of little baby spoons (like you find at Baskin & Robbins) a year or so ago and I keep several in this drawer too. They are perfect for little pudding and fruit cups. I thought this morning that I need to get my kids to wrap up loose change in tin-foil for milk money -- that's a HUGE time-saver too!

OK, see? That's all pretty random.

Be sure to check out the Ella-bration that's going on ALL week at Ella Publishing. Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow with more.

New Teacher Day.

We were a day off yesterday ...

 

But, today did NOT disappoint.

Trey has Mrs. Freeman and the best part, Pete (also jumping) is in his class. Taft has Mrs. Grooms. We don't know her, but we hear good things. BTW Taft is happy, he just doesn't like Mom's crazy photo ideas.

that's all.

Time Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise,
Walk with the knowledge that you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed,
revived, reclaimed and redeemed,
Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
You'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands;
One for helping yourself,
The other for helping others.

***
Sam Levenson

NOTE: This poem was one of Audrey Hepburn's favorites and has been erroneously attributed to her. It was read by Miss Hepburn to her sons, Sean and Luca on Christmas Eve, 1992 and also on occasion when she was asked for beauty tips.

I've been invited to help present an evening of Inner Beauty to a group of Young Women (girls 12 to 18) in a neighboring ward (LDS congregation.) I have 5 minutes to shed some light on the second line about lovely eyes. I take these things very seriously and always get so nervous. I finished my preparations early this morning and thought I'd share this poem with you because thinking about it and the theme of inner beauty has caused me to think about our children and especially our teenagers. As they head back to school and face the peer pressure and popularity contest that is an ever present thing in their classrooms and hallways, I think we should remind them that it is what is on the inside that matters and that what is on the inside will be seen in their eyes!

I absolutely believe that our eyes are our most important feature. Beautiful lips, shiny hair, a svelte body and all the poise in the world cannot make up for empty, sad or shifty eyes. Eyes are the windows to the soul.

My message (in short) will be that there is a difference between seeing and seeking and that they very best way to seek the best in others is to seek the light of Christ in our lives.

I love this quote that I found:

"A sacred light comes to our eyes and countenances when we have
a personal bond with our loving Heavenly Father and His Son."

James E. Faust

Food for thought. OK ... Off to go school shopping with this boy, who is lately cracking me up! I'm looking forward to good ole one-on-one.

Wish me luck today and tonight!

weekend report + today

Friday, my cousin Melissa (Missy) and her husband Chris and their kids, Bayley, Kaitlyn and Josh drove over for the weekend. They moved to Seattle this spring and so we wanted to be the first to introduce them to the Inland Northwest. We so enjoyed their visit ...

We headed to Coeur d' Alene on Friday night and ate at Hudson's Hamburgers which has been a favorite for a full century (that's 100 years) they don't do anything but hamburgers and don't ask for a straw either. We love to take visitors to Hudson's. After we ate, we just hung out on the beach and Clark took a few brave souls to Tubb's Hill to jump off really BIG rocks.

Our first stop Saturday morning was the BIG red wagon and alphabet blocks at Riverfront Park. Both make for great photos.

 

 Tickets to ride the rides are a bit pricey these days, but we bought a punch card that allowed everyone to pick ONE ride. Some of us opted for the Ferris Wheel.

At 44, I'm still delighted by the fact that the same people who start out in front of you end up riding your tail.

This is me shooting UP.

 

And this is me shooting DOWN. 

And this is my MOST FAVORITE photo of the weekend ...

 

I set my camera to action mode and got lucky!

We played a great game of kick game on Saturday afternoon -- Chris was dealing with a painful back, so we gave him a break on the pyramid.

Seriously so much FUN. Thanks Bissendens -- we LOVE you!!

After a BBQ that night, the big girls all stayed up to work on an upcoming BPS project for me. I get to be a guest designer for Kolette's Life Well Crafted class in November and I'm really excited! If you haven't signed up for the FREE audio version of this inspiring class, click on the link above and get registered. From there you can join in month to month and enjoy ALL of the goodness that the yearlong students have been enjoying ALL year long.

Today ... I slept in (til 6:30) cause I was exhausted. I'm learning to cut myself some slack on Mondays. Our summer weekends have been pretty full and so I've unofficially instigated slow-mo Monday mornings and no make-up Mondays. I've decided to allow myself a slower start with time to calendar the week, shop and run errands. I try to be done around 1:00 so I can get organized at work too, but ... it's OK if I don't make it.

Today ... I walked around Pier One. This is good for my creativity. I'm anxious to spend some time and energy on corners of my house that have been ignored for the last several months. I can feel that fall "get organized" buzz coming on. I bought a small/tall table for my dining room (on sale) and some little gifts I needed.

Today ... I had a really good talk with one of my sisters and my mom. I thought how lucky we are that we can connect so easily these days. I can drive and shop and talk and I LOVE that.

Today ... I went to Costco hungry. This is NOT a good idea. I mostly bought good stuff, but I did splurge here and there.

Today ... I FINALLY stopped at the fabric store and bought fabric to cover my new kitchen chairs. I'm very excited for this project, so it will be number one on my list this coming weekend. I've got three more kids to do school shopping with. 

Today ... I came home to a cute box tied with polka dot ribbon and stuffed full of homemade brownies. Thanks Kiley!

Today ... in fact RIGHT NOW, we are driving to the elementary school to see the class lists. So exciting!

Tonight ... We are having a going away party/family home evening for Lauren (at her mom's house.) We are really going to miss her, but we're excited to get to know Jennifer. I'll introduce you to her later this week.

Be Happy.

everyday summer winners

What a delight to log into the summer classroom last night and find an inspiring collection of summer images. Pictures of garden harvests and water fun, or stormy skies and family gatherings ... I promise if you go look, you'll be motivated to take your camera out over these next few weeks and see what you can "see."

I just love this one. It is so everyday and absolutely captures the joy of outdoor gathering. Love the vans open, the fold-up chairs, the "blurry" waves. To me, it is perfect in it's imperfection. Melony will be getting the pack of Eerie papers from Basic Grey.

And then there is this. If this doesn't make you want to get down low and see your everyday world with a new perspective, then I don't know what will. This is truly sidewalk chalk made into photographic art. Wow. Kuddos to Lee Currie from Ontario, Canada. I can't wait to see what she'll do with the Indian Summer line. 

I've already been with this boy to adjust his high school schedule and now we're off to the orthodontist to get his braces taken off and then we're off to do our school shopping. Good times.

frog of the day.

 

Oh the magic you can capture with two minutes and a camera!

I just tucked this guy away in my summer folder -- I'm already missing these lazy, frog-filled days!

this post was brought to you by the number 7.

I guess I'm on a bit of a YouTube kick, but I'm in a the mood for a Friday Flashback. When's the last time you saw The Alligator King and his 7 sons?

I bought a Sesame Street DVD to play in the van several months ago and this little diddy has emerged as a favorite.

Trey + Taft both has every word memorized. Anyway, have a listen and see if it doesn't make you SMILE. Happy Friday (and have a wonderful weekend!)

accomplish something everyday.

I'm often asked how I "do it all" and how I find balance amidst the chaos of life with children, home and work. My daily to-do lists are wholly unrealistic and I think because I have had such long lists for such a long time, I've learned that there are certain things I won't skip or neglect or push back until ... (insert whatever project or deadline is pending.) In other words, I've learned out of necessity to prioritize, so that I can sustain long term my sanity and my health. I just finished a scrapbook layout (last night) that highlights my TOP FIVE to dos. I really enjoyed honoring these priorities in this way. For as long as I've been scrapbooking and as many layouts as I have, it's curious some of the very important, even essential things that I have NOT yet scrapbooked.

Anyway, point of this post.

I want you to think about your TOP to dos. What are they?

What things, accomplished everyday keep you centered and focused? Even when the life serves up interruption after interruption with a side of distraction; What are the must dos that keep you breathing and balanced?

No matter what else I don't get done. I'm OK when ...

ONE. Start with stillness. Pray + study scriptures. Then plan.

TWO. Get some exercise. Jog, walk with a friend or do yoga.

THREE. Be creative. Sprinkle my home with happiness.

FOUR. Document life. Capture the everyday stuff.

FIVE. Slow down. Notice the beauty + perfection in nature.

Once you've made your list, I want to see! So, post it to your blog or make a scrapbook page or document it in some other way and share it with me. You could even write it BIG on your fridge and send me a pic.

Another recent email asked about the to-do list pictured in my blog banner. I love and use the mini binders and filler paper from Russel + Hazel (www.russellandhazel.com)

 

Start with a mini binder and a pad of paper and then if you want, add tabs and planner sheets and adhesive notes, etc... If you happen to live in or near Minneapolis you could make me extremely jealous and just visit the R+H flagship store.