In the Storm

interesting links | 03

Insightful and inspiring: what is quiet bravery? My definition and your definition would be different I believe; but, no less quiet bravery.

Themed-party hand-water-colored place cards. Beautiful. Great idea for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 4th of July even.

Love Caylee's photography the most (and her scrapbooking talents are so very inspiring), but she recently quoted some words from her mom that struck a real cord.

Increase the shelf life of herbs picked from garden or purchased in the market with this amazing tool. I want!

Tara's photography is amazing! Like, so amazing! I wish I could afford for her to come to Savannah for a photo shoot downtown and here at home. 

Super cool calendar idea.

Love this list of 53 Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down; I've put no less than ten on a list to check out from the library over the coming months. That is if I can put Vince Flynn's series down long enough to read them.

cards that inspire me.

scrapbookgirl

1) Scrapbook Girls simple, yet creative use of stacked letters is strong on inspiration yet absolutely doable for the novice card designer. While I love the embellished letter stamps, I'd be inspired to create an even simpler card, cleaner, with less embellishments. Mostly, because it's how I roll and secondly, because I wouldn't have to purchase anything.

Almost Makes Perfect

2) These last minute water color cards are perfectly perfect. Rather than cover a card in water-coloring use edging techniques and playful peeks of the beautiful water-color. A simple sentiment completes the very scrapliftable card set.

 

artifact uprising

3) These will be made as thank you's for John and Jarrod's Eagle projects. From the companies that gifted materials to the adults and scouts who worked on the projects. Photos of their projects and a thank you. Brilliant idea.

an Etsy store.

4) Beautiful. Simply, beautiful!

Mama Elephant

5) Delightful use of stamps. I think I have those splashes of popped bubbles and the easy sentiment makes this card an inspiring winner in my book. Change up the sentiment and it's a fun child's birthday card. Change the colors and it's a welcome, Summer card.

Banana Fish Studio

6) What is so inspiring is that it is as simple as simple stamping can get. It inspires me to make cards. It says, you can do this one. It says get to work and make that set of cards.

 

pages that inspire me.

big city quiet

1. Besides the simple answer of loving everything about this Project Life page set, I love the white journal cards with centered type and those blocked titles on each with the matching washi tape at the bottom - ah-mazing! But, not just the white cards with journal but what she journals about - the everyday. the right now. the currently happening. her thoughts. her loves. her messes.

 

marmalade moments

2. Photos + words. Lots of words. Marmalade Moments has a 1000+ word+ photo challenge on her blog and I am inspired by the stories behind the photos she, and others, are telling. There is depth and hidden stories within one photograph just waiting to be told and shared. 

aliedwards

3. Seriously, everything Ali Edwards is inspiring from every class she holds, every kit she creates, every story she tells, every guest she invites, every creative team member, even the words on her photos. She is truly gifted and keeps on giving and inspiring people like me.

kelly purkey

4. 6 x 12 scrapbooking and project life and Kelly Purkey's travel scrapbooking. I love the idea of scrapbooking 6 x 12 for just the size. Less embellishments needed (which is so not my strong suit) more photos, cleaner, selective, and faster. I've contemplated picking up Project Life again and heavily considered if I do, I'd probably go with this size album. Life right now leaves me little time for me which means no scrapbooking. Just tons of responsibilities. Not overcommitments just lots of responsibilities. But, Kelly's pages are a breathe of possibilities.

debbie hodge

5. Big titles. While most of the rest of the page is photos which I adore also I love those big titles like this one surrounded by photos, or others where the title takes up the entire breadth of the page. Big titles. So inspiring right now. Of course, it doesn't help that Ali Edwards class, Type, got me hooked.

 

Create Share Love

6. Mini Albums. Whether it is a mini album for A Day in the Life like CreateShareLove made, a Gratitude album, A Week in the life, or any other subject I am so inspired by mini albums right now. The idea seems so doable and the ideas are endless possibilities. I have my eye on a Day in the Life and I've been doing my 52 Gratitudes album this year also. And maybe a collections album of things I love or Summer Manifesto. Like I said, endless possibilities. Plus, I have tons of mini-albums in my stash.

etsy window shopping | june edition

Bedroom

Laundry Room Door.

Bedroom wall above our bed.

our bathroom.

Living room...or my bedroom...or both.

kitchen.

Bedroom...over my red chair.

kitchen, pantry, garage.

I haven't went Etsy window shopping in quite some time. It is a favorite past time. I've even purchased a few items and not just window shopped. I especially want a large indigo painting to hang over our bed between the bedposts...with some indigo throws, and a pendant lampshade over my read chair.

right now

right now I'm in a really good place relationally, emotionally, and spiritually and a bad place physically, but not a really bad place. I am thriving, not just surviving. While I am rarely pain free, I also rarely have debilitation these days. And that is a good thing. I'm walkin' on sunshine, albeit turtle slow with tiny steps. It is when I stretch my stride that pain increases rapidly. Jeff and I have had some difficult discussions that I'm taking action steps from and this has moved me into a better place relationally and emotionally. Spiritually is where I think I am thriving the most. From serving more, to studying more, to celebrating Jesus more, to reaching up to Him more; still much work to be done - but, good.

right now we are on the back stretch of John and Jarrod's Eagle projects slash packet slash boards slash two Eagle scouts. So close but feeling like we're so far. The projects are done. Check. One packet is just about complete. The other should go so much smoother with Jarrod because we faced the difficult hurtles with John and Jarrod learned from John's mistakes. Not always bad to have made mistakes when someone comes behind and learns what not to do. And then there is a party to plan. Ok, I mean ceremony - but man, two Eagle scouts who have been in scouting from Tiger Cub.

right now I am loving everything about the day shift...as long as I get to bed at a decent hour. The 8 hour shifts versus 10 hour shifts fly by. I'm drinking less coffee. I have dinner with my family every night. The boys have me cooking dinner again. I feel like I have more time to get things done. I get to run a weather office, which I've already had to push through some difficult things and it's all good. The best result is seeing Jeff every night and we get to go to bed together.

right now I have found the pool again. Over the long summer days and season the Hunter indoor pool will be closed when I would be able to go swim (afternoons after work) so I had to reach out to the local aquatic center and swim in their Olympic size pool. This last swim I had to swim in the 50m lane, brace up against the psychological battle for my mind, talk myself into succeeding and won! I swam 900 meters, improving my distance from the previous week. 

right now I have a plan to get busy and get to work on the 'big photo project' of putting my MIL photos in Project Life-like albums using photos + journaling + Project Life cards and my Teal We Are Memory Keepers albums. I just need to get to work. Maybe, it will be my first big planned project using my Get To Work Book, which begins in July. Life just seems to get in the way.

right now I have 11th grade textbooks and binders and worksheets and grades to put up and put away. It will literally clear off some shelves. What is done is Community Service record, Reading Log 9th-12th grade, Transcripts, and plan for next year.

right now I am reading the Love Dare. It's getting interesting...and it's only Day 1.

june 2015 menu plan

The boys are going to be at church camp the end of the month. We will have our Friday night dates, a couple nights we'll eat out - just because. And, I'm going to try a couple recipes. Now that I'm responsible for most of the cooking again, new recipes are no-brainers.

A Philly Cheesesteak Stromboli that I'm already eyeballing substitutions to the recipes (i.e. fresh mushrooms over canned/jarred)

Breakfast Bake with Hashbrown Crust for Elevate Sunday morning breakfast.

Farmstand One Pot Wonder - gotta love those One Pot dishes.

Lastly, a Knock Your Socks off Slow Cooker Chicken and Sausage

Now that I work dayshifts and get home in plenty of time to cook dinner, with maybe some prep work from John and Jarrod, I don't hesitate to put the more 'difficult' menu choices on during the week.

We have some old friends coming over in June for Tacos - their request! But, really looking forward to the time with them. And one of my meals in early June I'll double it to take to the a family in our small group since she is in the hospital. I'm really looking forward to the Tacos de Carnitas with Tomatilla salsa - yum!

 

52 Gratitudes 2015 | 24