The Gift of Giving

I'm patiently waiting to create the most extraordinary crafting space in my new home. I have the whole vision in my head. A closet full of containers and papers, glues, glitter, recycled cool things, stickers and more! A long 6 foot table, all for me to play and make paper messes! Photos on the wall and lots of inspiration! *bliss*

Since that area has not been established (waiting for carpet install on the 14th!) ~ I have been fitting in a bit of crafting fun on the kitchen table. I had a few 'thanks yous' that needed to be sent last week and so I broke out the supplies!

The first one (above) was for my friend Jess. I had picked up a pack of cards from the dollar store and redecorated them. For this card I used a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of cardstock and glued it to a page of old phone book paper from my new home town. I added a sweet fabric sticker atop and viola! Neat huh? and easy, it was so cute!



Next was one for my little buddies Layn and Garrett. The sent me a pic and a singing file to my phone for my birthday! I adored my special gift (it's still on my phone!). So I made them this little thank you card. Same concept as the previous card but this time I printed out the pic and attached to the cards using these sweet little brads that I had in my stash. I added the music note stickers to represent them singing. It was SO cute!! I sure hope they like it ~ their smiles really brighten my day!

So, that's my little crafting fix! I hope both recipients enjoy having a special surprise in their mailbox. I think snail mail can be so much more fulfilling for both parties. The best gift you can give yourself is the gift of giving :o)

Recommit or Quit

Recommit or Quit! Twice a year, every 6 months, in June on my birthday and January on New Years, I take inventory and start fresh. I look at the things that consume my time, my life, my energies and I re-evaluate their importance to me.

This allows me to contemplate how I spend my time on this earth. I have dedicated my time to, as Oprah would say, 'Live My Best Life' and the things that are no longer enticing or education or bringing me great joy are omitted from my time and are replaced with delight directed activities.

This Birthday ~ I have quit sailing and a lifestyle of living aboard and abroad. It was no longer giving me joy but causing great strains on important relationships. So, I quit. I don't miss it either. This was a huge omission and freed up an unbelievable amount of energy and time! :o)

I have committed myself first of all to nurturing my relationships with people I love. It brings me indescribable joy to love my partner Tad, My children Cody & Lindsay and to reach out to long time friends and special family members. I want to try to go back to some old fashioned snail mail correspondence and dabble in my art & photography. I want to learn about the plants here at my new home and do some gardening, recycling and landscaping. I want to cook and bake and do some canning. So for now I am rededicating myself to my family, friends, art and homemaking skills as we prepare our beautiful new home to bring in our loved ones and make new memories.