Prototype!

I am so thankful for friends that allow me to "practice" on them...

I have had a few ideas for adding to my "crafty" business for quite some time now, but have not had the opportunity to play with my sewing machine long enough to get anything actually created.

This weekend I spent my "down time" (aka: B's nap time) trying some of those ideas out.

A few of them will be making their way onto my business website come March/April (a new spring line-up of products will be making their appearances at that point :)

Here is a prototype that I made for a friend...I've already tweaked a few details and am working on prototype #2. 

This new crafting adventure is totally allowing me to indulge in my love for colour & pattern...oh, how I LOVE fabric :)

On a side note, I am apologizing for my current texture addiction...it seems I am totally unable to publish a photo without one.

Have a great day!

Texture Lovin'

I have to say I'm struggling a bit with the macro...it has totally opened my eyes to just how shaky I am and how poorly lit my house is. I just can't seem to get enough light to shoot in an aperature that will allow the greater depth of field I need to get "the shot"...rather, I am shooting "too wide open" in attempt to get enough light (therefore decrease the influence of camera shake due to faster shutter speeds) and the focus in my pics sucks.  However, with all that being said, taking these shots IS allowing me to play a bit with textures...still not an expert at that, either, but sure having fun!

Here is a blueberry that I stole out of B's b-fast bowl this am and played around with while he ate all the others. 

The texture "recipe" is: All Hell Breaks Loose - in soft light mode, Blueberry - in multiply mode...both at reduced opacity & both with layer masks applied at different opacities to different areas of the photo. Other than the textures, the pic is SOOC - no other edits. Both textures from Shadowhouse Creations.

When it is quiet...

In a household with a 16 month old, quiet is a dangerous thing.
Dangerous as it means a certain someone is in to something that he definitely should NOT be into.

Don't ask me how he managed to get his little paws on this tonight.
Don't ask me why I let the quiet last just a little too long (I know better).

I wasn't really able to get a good picture (the snap below does not even come close to demonstrating just how covered in vaseline he was), as that certain little someone was incredibly disturbed by the fact that what he had just gobbed into his mouth certainly did NOT taste good and it wasn't spitting out very well.  As daddy is speaking sharply to momma about taking said picture, little man is crying and desperately seeking solace in his momma's arms...distracted only for 30 seconds while the dog makes a quick move.  I didn't dare risk a second shot as by then those grease-covered hands would have been all over my camera/lens/shirt/pants/carpet...well - you get the picture.

01.28.2011
This little boy is a tornado. He can spin up a mess in a few seconds flat without blinking an eye.  He is curious beyond belief and can find the most obscure, what-you-thought-were-out-of-reach items to investigate. Tonight the item of choice was the vaseline. Tonight I ignored the quiet for just a few moments too long and as a result had a giant mess to clean up.  I should know better. I do know better. These are the moments that make memories...for messes like these are sure to happen again. This is what growing up is all about - discovery. Even though at some moments, it can be exhausting to try to keep up...I love this little tornado.

Tonight...lesson learned. Don't let it get quiet for even a few seconds :) There will definitely be a consequence!

The Wonderful, Ordinary Everyday

01.26.2011

Just another ordinary day around here...typical sight after the little man has been into a bit of mischief. Yes, that really is an ENTIRE big basket of blueberries all over the floor. Yes, he really did reach them from the back of the countertops, pull open the lid & "spill"/dump all over the place. The armspan of this little guy seems to be growing exponentially, and oh my goodness, do blueberries roll! (from the dining room end of our kitchen until the bathroom door).

This is me...

I think I've said this before...but I seldom take any pictures that include me in them.  I think it is a common thing from those that are the "picture-takers" in their families.  For some reason, I didn't feel the need to take any pictures of my profile in pregnancy #1...and it is one of the things I regret a little.  It is so hard to remember what it feels like once it is over. But, because I am stubborn, I have let myself make the same mistake this go-round.  Hmmm-hmmm, I am a slow learner :) 

My always very thoughtful mom sent me a couple of items of clothes "just for something different" all the way from Texas. This was just the motivation I needed to snap a pic of myself this morning - to show her they fit perfectly.

It also helps me meet a goal of having at least one picture of myself per month of my Project Life for 2011. Don't love this picture...don't even really like it all that much.  But - and this is a big but - I am getting over this issue with having myself in a picture in order to record the important memories.  The memories that are so important to me.

This is me @ 30 weeks.
This is me, headless, because I just had a "shower under the tap" and hadn't combed my hair yet (running too late for a full on shower...a typical morning around here).
This is me.
This is my life.

Grapes

A little bit more play time with my camera.  Struggling a little bit with the focusing and lighting required by this lens, but still excited to learn to use it and stretch my skills.

Here are some grapes...only editing is a "vintage tan" (source unknown) texture added in "soft light" mode. It definitely made the tones of the picture more yellow/lime. I'd like to find a good texture that actually adds more "texture" vs. tone...as quite often I am happy with the colour/tone of the picture but want to "rough" it up a bit. Definitely need practice with both this lens & with my editing techniques.  Fun to keep learning!

Mmmm snack time...

It isn't by coincidence that I get most of my fav pics of B eating/sitting at table...it is one of the only ways I can catch him semi-still...and one place he is almost always guaranteed to be happy (see previous post re: loving food).

Almost every day upon arrival home after work/daycare, we sit down to have a snack.  Almost every day it is some variety of fruit, as this is a fav of both little man & momma.

1.25.2011
Today, our snack was grapes (which he has recently graduated to eating whole vs. cut up).  B really enjoyed playing with them (bumping them together, rolling them around on the table & catching them, transfering from one hand to the other, bringing them to his lips as if kissing and then pulling away...and giggling at himself). Hamming it up. Snack time = enjoyment x 2.
(I'm sure there will be a time in the future where playing with food is not nearly as amusing for momma as it is at this stage - thus the importance of recording this memory).

 "funny face"

 "down the hatch"

"blub-blub-bluh-blub"

Snack time is a favourite time in our house...what about yours?

Bottoms Up!

Sometimes, as a mom, it is hard to decide if your little one really needs to see the doc or not. Since B struggles a little bit with a congested chest, it seems that much more difficult for me to make up my mind...but following a 5 day battle with the stomach flu and after a week of a really phlegmy deep cough that wasn't getting better and no appetite (perhaps the most telling sign with this little guy - he loves his food - yes he does), I bit the bullet.  Turns up he had an ear infection and a chest infection - yuck. Glad I decided to take him in.  Back on meds...antibiotics & nebulizer.

After 48 hrs on both, he is definitely feeling better.
1.22.2011
Loving how he takes his medicine like a "big boy", and doesn't mind doing it at all (in fact, likes to tip the medicine spoon really high up so as to get the tiniest little drop).  I like to call this the "bottoms up" position :)

Just for Fun!

Let me start this post by saying I have an expensive hobby. 

Uhh-hmmm...

...okay...

let me rephrase that...

I have several expensive hobbies.

I think I have said before, but I'll say it again.  I have tried to "tone down" my expensive taste.  In some areas, it has worked...but others...well...not so much.

This is one example...a new addition for my camera finally arrived this week. Although I didn't get much time to actually play around with it, I did attach it to my camera and snap exactly 2 shots, neither of which were all that stellar. However, I decided to play around a bit and see what I could "salvage" with them.  I have learned that my bokeh-greedy soul will need a bit of an "adjustment" for true macro photography as a much greater depth of field is required for that "macro sharpness" - ie: no more wide open shooting. I am SO excited by the possibilities that this new toy will give me.  I've always loved things that are sort of abstract, so this is my chance to capture some of that for myself...as well, I think the style lends itself very well to creativity - so that in turn leads to more time to play with textures and overlays (which I am also not very gifted with). I have a list of set-ups/shots to try when time permits in the house and when the weather gets warmer outside.

Here is some of my "play" today -

Pear with canvas texture added - in "overlay" mode.

Pear with "chaos" texture added in "soft light" mode, adjusted for opacity.  I think I like this one the best, although I usually don't like the "harshness" of most of these type of textures...

Hope you are having a fun weekend! Make sure you take some time to just relax :)

edit: I'm totally sorry - I forgot to add that I get most of my textures for FREE from the following spot: Shadow House Creations. I pretty sure both textures above come from here.

Monkey!

01.16.2011
Demonstrating another reason for the nicname "Monkey". Favourite snack for this little boy = bananas. Today he insisted on eating like a "big boy" :)

Somedays, I am surprised you do not look like a banana!
Love you, Monkey :)
xoxo
Mommy

The End is in Sight!

This title seems to be fitting in a number of ways today...

- I finally got ALL my digital files finished, uploaded & ordered for my December Daily album (and the first half of January Project Life 2011)...can I please get a big YIPPEE-YI-YAY! (and even better - they should arrive by the end of the week)

- the last week of classes in Semester 1 has arrived, then final exams, then bring on Semester 2!

- Mr. B has surrived 3 days of the stomach flu...hopefully he is on the mend

- only 1 month until our next holiday - February break :)

Sometimes January seems like such a "down" month. The hustle & bustle of the holiday season screeches to a halt, the cold weather seems to settle in and spring seems far, far away. This year, I am finding January to be a great month - I am enjoying it far more than I usually do - and it is speeding on by.  I am attributing this in part to all the projects I have on the go and feel really enthusiastic about, in part to the goal setting I have taken on (and making choices to prioritize things each day). Today, I made a conscious decision to spend and enjoy some quality time with my little boy. Of course, this is always my intention, but I usually have a to-do list of at least 10 items long on any given weekend day that I feel I HAVE to get done...and my frustration levels rise significantly if Mr. B does not feel like cooperating. Today, I let the to-do list take a back seat. I must say the change in perspective that choice gave me made a world of difference to the overall tone of my day. I did not get frustrated or upset at Mr. B once! I did manage to get some laundry done, and some vacuuming done as well. The house is not clean by a long shot, the schoolwork is not done, but today I am not concerned by this. We enjoyed our day together so, so much. Today, I have a happy heart.

So as not to keep you completely in suspense, here are a few more "peeks" at my December Daily album (I don't anticipate having time to completely finish the album before the February break):

As you can see, there is a real "mish-mash" going on...
- the single photos will be attached in a "traditional" manner to the daily, overlay pages
- the collages are 6x8 and will form the 2nd page of a 2-page spread (I did not do collages for every day)
- some journalling I have included digitally as either part of a collage or as an overlay on a photo, some journalling I have done digitally but will print out separately & add to the overlay pages (or collage pages), and some journalling will be done by hand once the album gets assembled
- I did not get hung up on my pictures being of the "best" quality - I had lots of pics where I wasn't completely satisfied by the colour balance, degree of sharpness, composition, etc - but wanted to include them anyways because of the memories they will help us cherish

I had wanted this project to be less time intensive than it has become, but due to the vision of the end product (that I have stuck to the entire duration without wavering in indecision once...kind of a big milestone for me!) I am just plodding along, and am very determined to get it FINIHSED!

The end is in sight...

Sneak Peek!

My little guy has been hit by the stomach bug that has been circling town...so I had a (quietish) afternoon today (after getting called at work to come pick him up from daycare).  While he napped, I took the opportunity to continue work on my December Daily album (yes, I do realize it is already January...but December was extremely busy so I didn't get a chance to work on the album much at all).  I am getting really close to being done all the digital work so that I can send my collages & pictures to be printed - then I will only have the assembly process. I had a definite vision for this project from the beginning and I am excited by the direction it is heading - I can hardly wait to have it all completed!

To keep the process simple for the project, I decided to use some of Ali Edwards' templates vs. creating my own...but I have realized something about myself as I work through this album. 

I am a chronic "tweaker".

I find myself constantly wanting to play with what is already there, to make it more "my own".  Hmmm...all the time I spend doing this kind of defeats the purpose of using premade templates. 

As I do with my "Project 365" - I kept a running daily journal on my computer, in spreadsheet format. I listed by date the pictures I took, brief summary of events of the day, and thoughts of the season. This has allowed me to work through creating the album in a non-sequential order, which I've really liked. Some days I focus on the "everyday" - ala Project Life, some days I focus more on specific holiday season details. I love that combination.

Today, I worked on my favourite day...December 25th.  Because so much happens for us that day, I have decided to do a 4-page spread. This is one of my fav collage pages so far and is fitting as it captures a bit of the magic of my little man when he is feeling more himself :) He loved everything about Christmas morning this year - which made all the adults around him enjoy it more,too.  As I look at this collage of photos, I have so many sharp memories of the day...exactly what I was hoping to capture doing a project such as this.

Along with these digital collages, I am using more traditional scrapbooking - making this mini album truly hybrid. I have finally realized that this is who I am.  A little bit digital, a little bit paper, pretties & glue :)

Hope you enjoy this sneak peek at my December Daily album 2010...I can't wait to share the finished product!

Goal #1 update...

I'll keep this brief - but just wanted to say I really found making the effort to get to school for a few concentrated hours on the weekend and early for the first two days of the school week has me feeling much more on "top" of all the schoolwork for the week.

I was mostly successful at getting out of the house by 7:25 & to DC(daycare) by 7:30 (and would have been totally successful but for getting STUCK in my own driveway one morning - I totally wish I would have zipped inside to get my camera & record it...but have to admit my blood pressure was soaring a little too high for clear thinking like that). Definitely going to take the time to write about the incident, though...as it makes a good memory and is funny now that I think about it (definitely NOT funny as it was happening, lol).

And...
because a post is always better with a picture...
01.08.2011
Strongly believe in community involvement/volunteering. Working @ curling club.
(no, your eyes do not deceive, we are extremely "greasy" after slinging fries & burgers for several hours!)

Hope you are all having a great week!  I have a few things to share later this week - just doing some finishing touches...so keep tuned in :)

2011: Goal #1

Hello :)

Welcome to my goal-setting chronicles for 2011. Instead of making a lengthy list of resolutions for the year to start January off, I have chosen this year to create periodic goals (more short term?) as the year progresses.

My goal for January?
GOAL #1: Build more time into my week for SCHOOL related work (ie: the kind of work that pays the bills). 
I have been really struggling with this as of late.  I consider school to be a bit like farming in that you are never really fully caught up or "done" - there is always something else to do. We are only 2 days into the 2011 school year, so I can't honestly say that I have made great progress...but I do have a sitter lined up for a couple of hours tomorrow and I have planned on dropping B off at daycare by 7:30 for the 1st two days of the week.  Collectively that will give me at least 3 more hours than normal. I'd love to be able to add these hours at the end of the day or in the evening, but with the stage we are at right now it is simply not feasible...and every time I try to organize that for myself, I fall flat on my face.

I'll keep you posted on how successful this was for me, but I'm hoping it makes me feel just a little bit more sane :)

I also have news about an impulse buy made today - but I'm keeping the wraps on that for tonight!

Later, gators...

2011: Week 1

Although I am not committing to the picture a day format for my 2011 version of Project Life...so far I have managed a representative snap each day thus far.  Here are a couple of my favs:

01.01.2011
"Christmas" at the in-laws. Loving the bold colours on the tree. Loving the bokeh. Loving holidays & family time. 

01.04.201
Eating leftover mac & cheese for lunch. New mealtime essential - fork.

01.05.2011
Belated xmas present from shipment that didn't make it in time for the holidays. Monkey slippers...for the little monkey.

01.06.2011
Sawing logs. Standard sleeping location for hubby...most likely to avoid my tossing, turning, insomniac self.

01.07.2011
Celebrating Friday. Making mini muffins together after school. Love how he insists on standing on stool to be a helper. Love the belly. Making memories. So fun :)

One of the things I love so, so much about tackling a project such as this is that it gets me taking pictures. Snapshots that I would normally not bother to print as not deemed "worthy". Snapshots that totally capture our everyday life. Amazing memories and documentation of the moments. Absolutely priceless! I am so GRATEFUL for my life :)

Now to decide whether I should be purchasing a macro lens that I've pondered since purchasing my camera two years ago...

This is me.

Like most people that like to take pictures...I hate to be in front of the camera. As in detest. Like many others, I am my own worst critic and almost always find something to pick at. But this is a year of growth, of change and of self-improvement...so I'm going to try my darndest (aka: strive) to get past this little glitch with self.

I needed a recent picture of me for my One Little Word online class...so I begged & pleaded my good friend to take a quick snap today while visiting. Thanks :)

This is me - snapping a pick of my little man painting. Textured up a bit...

Of course, you can see I have my new faithful sidekick, Belle, along for the ride.

What do YOU need to improve about yourself this year?

Yippee Skippee!

I am a happy, happy person today :)

I got to go on a errand/shopping day sans kiddo...AND...I got to pick up some parcels I was anxiously awaiting (that had been sitting in my US post office box)!

This is what I like to call my "tower of happiness".

Of all the parcels, however, this is what I was most excited about...

The packaging is ah.maz.ing. I {heart} how the style name is stamped in the colour of the purse. Could it get any cuter?

A personalized, hand-addressed envelope awaits upon opening. Wow.

Love this sticker. It definitely gets cuter.

The details are stunning.

Here she is...in all her glory (shoulder strap not yet attached).

And yet another little detail - quote cards in the zipped pocket. Lime green interior. Perfect.



Be still my heart. Seriously. The attention to detail with this item is incredible.

The colour is a little more muted than I anticipated (I love bright colours) but this is not a bad thing as it makes the purse more classy (in my opinion)...oh and sidenote - please disregard the terrible pinkish/yellowish hue to these photos as simply could not wait until tomorrow & natural light to take the pics :)

I am a little worried the bag will be a little bulky (widthwise), but when I reorganized the dividers & added all my gear in a way that I would normally carry it and slung it over my shoulder, I really liked the way it sat on my hip. It definitely fits what I want it to (big enough but not too big overall) and I love that I can sit my camera w/ zoom lens attached flat into the purse - makes it easy to pull out & put back away...so that will make the width worth it (hopefully?). I can't wait to use it & get a better idea of just how functional it will be.

In the meantime, it gets a full star rating for style. It is just SO me - I might have to change her name from Belle to Jana, lol. (ok - that is just weird - never mind)

I'm off to unpack parcel number two :)

More on this Ephiphanie camera purse later!

STRIVE!

My word for 2011 is STRIVE!

As I was trying to find one word that could direct and focus me in 2011, I kept coming back to balance. It is the one thing I struggled most with in 2010 - especially the last half of 2010 as I returned to work after my maternity leave.  A little secret about me: I tend to overcommit myself to things. This just left me feeling generally run ragged, drained and that I wasn't doing a very good job of anything on my plate...never mind feeling fulfilled, content and happy.  Don't get me wrong - I still was and remain very grateful for my life, but trying to find adequate time for my job, my business, my community, my students, my husband, my child, my home and myself became almost impossible.  So - you might be thinking...why did I not choose balance as my word in 2011?
It is a good question.  For some reason, I couldn't quite get the word to "settle" within me. I wasn't feeling inspired by the word. Thus, I did a ton of reflecting.  It was essentially what I was seeking, so why wouldn't it work as my word of the year?

Here is my reasoning. I believe "balance" is an ideal - something that we all want, we all work towards, but never truly achieve - at least not in a continual, sustained manner. Balance is more relative, a continuum or pendulum (in my opinion).  I think what bothered me the most was the re-occuring thought that I would somehow fail if balance was my word - it wasn't concrete enough...and I'm not about to set myself up for failure on purpose. However, I still want to work towards the ideal...actively.

It was then that the word strive came to me.

As defined by the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, strive means: to make great and tenacious effort; endeavour.

This meaning was perfect for me. I could strive for balance!

With strive as my word, it would not be an option to sit back and hope things change for the better...rather I would need to WORK HARD to make it happen. Take control and actively seek a "better life".

Therefore, this is what I vow for 2011:
I vow to strive towards a balanced life - profession, entrepreneurial endeavours, creative outlets, mother, wife, friend, daughter, community member, volunteer...
I vow to recognize that "balance" will look different in my life at different stages.

I will do this by:
- striving for positivity (in all things).
- striving to nurture & cherish my family.
- striving to be a better communicator.
- striving to set and follow priorities (even if this means introducing the word "no" into my vocabulary).
- striving to limit procrastination.
- striving to grow my business.
- striving to set periodic goals & meet them.
- striving to be open to new possibilities.
- striving to learn.
- striving to create.
- striving to be the best ME I can be.

So there. Thanks for allowing me another lengthy & wordy post. I've been thinking of my word of 2011 for around two months now and it feels great to finally have "spoken" aloud.

What about you? Any of you out there in blogland have a word for your 2011? Or did you make resolution(s)? What will the new year have in store for you? I'd love to hear! Share one, share all :)

2011 :)

The start of a new decade.
Wow.
Life goes SO fast.
2011 will bring change to our lives.
Many things to look forward to...
New challenges...

I am starting the year off by focusing on tangible things (aka: projects) I can do to live life to the fullest, maximum potential.
Why?
1. It is important to me.  I am the kind of person that can dwell on the negative aspects of life too easily when great things are happening all around me.  I believe in the power of being grateful.  I believe in living consciously, with intention. I believe in trying to be the best me I can be. Sometimes I simply forget these fundamental beliefs, and allow myself to be carried along with the chaos - enter what I call "survival mode". And while every now and then this is essential, and part of life, I need to remind myself of the "great things" on a continuing basis.
2. I want to lead a full, and fulfilled life. I think the only way to get there is by actively doing so. This is one action I can take.
3. It lets me tell my story. I am an ordinary person leading an ordinary life, but I want to leave a legacy to those people of the future that may wish to know more about what made me "me" in the year 2011. 

So, here are the "how".  The projects I plan to tackle this year, and my approach to each:
1. Project Life
Last year was my first year with this project.  I attempted it as a "Project 365/Picture of the day". Although I didn't take exactly a picture a day, I did take many more pictures that helped represent our everyday life than I ever would have otherwise. I also kept what could loosely be called a "daily diary". I already love looking back through the album. I'm not sure I would call the project a complete success as it lacked focus. I did not keep up with it as well as I would have liked, and found that once I returned to school I felt it a "burden" and something that hovered over my head.

This year, I purchased two kits. (I know, I know...at this point your mind is giving you a ?? - one of the main reasons I chose to go with two is that I am chronically indecisive and couldn't decide which design I liked best, lol...so I just decided to "go with it")
Here is how I plan to approach the project this year. I have some pretty specific goals.
First kit(turquoise edition): A documentation of our daily FAMILY life (somewhat similar to last year's) by:
   - organizing by month (vs. daily)
   - taking pictures of everyday life (must include: at least ONE picture of EACH individual person of our family per month - including me!, at least ONE picture of food we have eaten, at least ONE picture of an experience we have had, at least ONE picture of an item important to us in that month, at least ONE "group" family picture per month) - I am not setting a limit to how few or how many pictures need to be taken in the month outside of these requirements...but I want the pictures taken to be representative of life that month, collectively
   - keeping a daily journal/diary - including tasks, schedules, thoughts, things to remember, etc. (for help with this task I am choosing to use Log Your Memory)

   - including some of the everyday "stuff" of life (receipts, appointment slips, artwork, etc)
   - asking other members of the family (aka hubby, parents, etc) to contribute to the project in different ways throughout the year
   - taking time to summarize and "complete" each month at the end of that month/start of the next

Second kit (amber edition): A documentation of our child(ren):
   - one of my favourite parts of the 2010 album is watching how B changed throughout the year; I intend to make an album of his first year...but it is so hard and time-consuming to sort through all the pictures, upload, compile, etc...I want this to be a more informal way of doing just that for next year - think of it as a "first cut" of possible pictures, moments, etc.
  - I also plan to try to keep up with this one monthly, but set aside time in the middle of each month to do so
  - I thought of doing one album per child (eek!)...but for me this year, it will be more manageable a task and more meaningful to make it more of a sibling journey
  - the focus is entirely on the child(ren) and their impact in my life
  - journalling will include entries that summarize things about them, milestones they reach, as well as some addressed to each of them

So...
there may be some repetition through both albums. I'm ok with that, expecting it even. The albums may evolve into something different as the year progresses. I'm ok with that, too. My main goal with both is to have documentation of what life was collectively about in 2011...what was important and what was the everyday. I'm excited to get started! (As I type the kits are waiting at my US post office box for pick-up).

2. Word of the Year
Inspired by Ali Edwards, I have chosen ONE word to live my 2011 by. Of course, being me (that chronically indecisive me), I will also endeavour to periodically give focus to some of the other words that were "runners-up" for 2011 - maybe a different word each month?
I will either start or finish each month of my 2011 project life by dedicating a journal entry to my word (as well as create a blog post). I am considering joining the online class Ali is leading in order to give this project justice...but not quite ready to commit at this point...giving myself until Jan. 15th to make a choice on this :) A post is coming soon sharing my word!

3. Setting goals
I would like to make and stick to a set of resolutions...but the honest truth of the matter is that a few months into the year, I always lose steam. By the end of the year, the resolutions have little to no meaning, or I feel like a desperate failure.  This year, I thought it would be more realistic to set periodic goals throughout the year. It will hopefully allow a bit of flexibility in what is priority at different parts of the year and allow me to retain focus and feel more successful as the year progresses! I am narrowing down some goals for the start of the year right now and will share in the near future.

Thanks for bearing with me on this lengthy post! I hope by sharing my ideas on how to document and make 2011 a great year, I will help:
1. inspire you to think about how to make your 2011 the best it can be
2. make me stick to my ideas and goals

Welcome, 2011!
Can't wait to see what the year brings :)

Farewell 2010 :)

All in all, 2010 was a great year!

I chose cherish as my word of 2010 and truly did have opportunity to cherish becoming a mother & spending time with my little boy :) I cherish so many of the people in my life...which brings me to my second "word".

My "secret" word for 2010 was gratitude - something that I also thought about on a regular basis.  Although life can get stressful, chaotic and I can drift to the negative thoughts all too easily, I really believe that I should be grateful to be leading the life I lead.  It really is a good one, full of so many positives...sometimes I think it is just so easy to dwell on the negatives that they seem to take the focus away from the more positive ones.

I would like to reflect on 2010 by offering these "gratitude" thoughts:

My dear husband - Although I get frustrated with you too easily (you are the person whom I am most likely to take my bad moods out on), I love you to pieces.  Thank you for working so hard to provide for our family.  Thank you for loving our son, and being a great father.  Thank you for sharing in this ride we call parenthood. Most importantly, thank you for our son - for you are "half" of what allowed me to become a mom - and it is a gift that I am just so very thankful to have had experienced, and to get to experience. You are my foundation.

My little man - Thank you for teaching me to be a better person. A more patient person. A more openly loving person. Thank you for bringing so much joy, so many giggles, smiles and tugs at the heartstrings. I love you so very, very much. You are the light of my life.

My parents - Thank you for continuing to provide unconditional love and support.  Thank you both for being strong people and amazing role models. Becoming a mother has made me so much more thankful to have you as my parents. I value and appreciate all that you have done for me through the years. Watching you become grandparents has been an immeasurable treasure for me. I love watching the joy in your hearts speak through the glimmer in your eyes, the tenderness in your actions. I am so proud to have given you your first grandchild. You are amazing.

My friends - There are several of you whose friendship means the world to me. I hope you know who you are (I'm not sure what I would do without you).  Thank you for listening, putting up with the negative days, for making me laugh, allowing me to cry and being my "voice of reason" when needed. Thank you for your company and your presence in my life. You are my sanity.

Thank you to all that have crossed my path in 2010. For all that you have done for me, I am grateful.

So long, 2010! Thanks for all that you brought to me. Hello 2011 :)