Whooo's Your Valentine?

I know Christmas has just ended, but Valentine's Day will be here before you know it. Check out this awesome new kit from Close To My Heart. You can make your own Valentine's treats for classmates, neighbors, and family members for just $10 with a $35 purchase!

Goals for 2013

Are you like me when it comes to New Year's resolutions? Do you start each year with the best of intentions only to forget all about them by mid-January? It's not as if we are intentionally trying to sabotage our success in life; it's just that life sometimes gets in the way. And that's OK.

  As a teacher, I am completely relaxed around New Year's Eve because I am living the high life on vacation. There's no grading, no planning, no middle schoolers whining (oh wait, my son is a middle schooler and he does his fair share of whining); it's pretty much just hanging out with my family and relaxing. I am in a restful state of mind when I am reflecting on the previous calendar year and looking forward to the next one. I am in a very positive place and make grandiose resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, be more upbeat, etc.

  But soon thereafter, reality hits and school starts back up. The pressures of teaching middle school and balancing work and home life strike me with great intensity. Somehow just one more brownie seems justified and sitting on my couch in the evening is necessary because I am so exhausted from the daily grind. My most optimistic resolutions are forgotten because I am too darned stressed and knackered to really change. Now it's three days until New Year's Eve and I know all this stuff ahead of time. Will I just stop making resolutions because I know they are doomed to fail? Should I just give up because I know it will be too hard to fight the good fight?

Maybe. But probably not.

I need to remember to take baby steps. Change in small ways. Accept that things can't change overnight and that life doesn't always travel in a straight path. Oh, and I shouldn't be too hard on myself--I am the best me there is!

Now, what are my immediate resolutions for 2013? Well, aside from the old exercise more and eat better adage, I would like to be more creative and scrapbook more. I have gotten so overwhelmed with all my pastimes and work that I haven't taken hardly any time to do much memory keeping. I have always thought that was an important endeavor and I am really gearing up to do more of it in 2013.

I just perused the new Close To My Heart catalog and I LOVE IT! I am going to take some time this morning to get rid of old scrapbook and stamping supplies so I can make room for all the new fun stuff I plan on getting. I have signed up for a 7-hour crop on Sunday with a friend and fellow teacher, and I hope to get a lot done then. I know I can't scrapbook every single memory we have made or will make; but I want my family enjoy my fun, creative, and indulgent hobby as much as I do!

I promise to post pages and cards and any other projects I make much more often here in 2013. I promise to take life a little less seriously. And I promise to remain upbeat because optimism can take you anywhere!

Happy New Year 2013!

Using sponge daubers for a great effect

Check out this video about using sponge daubers. My fingers are itching to try it!

It's National Stamping Month! Get your own awesome double stamp set for only $5!

New Close To My Heart Idea Book and Cricut cartridge!

It has been so long since I've written on this blog. I have been venturing in other realms such as soapmaking and crochet, plus I've been relaxing all summer. But I wanted to make sure I posted today to let my readers know that there is a new Close To My Heart Idea Book and Cricut cartridge, as well as many other new and groovy items. I will be receiving my CTMH toys next week and I can't wait to start creating with them. More to follow...

National Scrapbooking Month is coming up...

...and we've got something great for you!  Make a purchase of $35 or more beginning April 17 and you can get this Dotty for You paper pack for only $5.00.  That's a nearly $15 savings.  And you'll love the bright, cheery colors and fun designs. 

I've got a workshop coming up so keep Dotty for You in mind if you'd like to participate! 

Here's a video: 

Spring Glorious Spring!

Spring is my absolute favorite season; the trees are green, the flowers are blooming, the weather is fairly mild.  Am I worried that Spring arrived 3-4 weeks earlier than normal?  Sure, but I am not going to let myself think about it.  I am just going to admit the fact that we now have higher temperatures and figure out how to handle that during the hottest part of the summer.  I suppose going to the pool will help.  Amazingly, the pools open a mere seven weeks from now.  Wow, where does the time go?

We planted 19 lavender plants last week, mostly the Provence variety.  We did have some Grosso as well.  We amended the soil with sand and gravel since lavender plants don't like wet feet.  One plant looks a little weak, but it looks like most of them will probably survive.  We still need two more plants and we will add mulch next weekend.  And I need to find a fairly inexpensive bird bath or fountain for the front rose garden.  Then we will feel like our front garden will be pretty much finished. I can't wait to enjoy the lavender flowers in about two months' time.  However, if this warm spell continues, I guess I could have my first blooms later this month.  Wouldn't that be something? 

I will post more pics once we add mulch to our garden.  I hope you are having a sunny, wonderful spirng! 

Thinking about scrapbooking!

I am looking through the wonderful Close to My Heart Sprng and Summer catalog.  I can't wait to get my hands on the beautiful papers and stamps!  I plan on having a workshop in late April.  Care to join me?

Finally, a new soap is ready!

This is an invigoratingly fresh spearmint eucalyptus soap.  I look the subtle scent and the clean feeling of showering with it.  Check out My Etsy Shop .  Thanks!

A delightful lavender soap

Well, I have finally discovered how to swirl colors in soap.  I combined that knowledge with a delectable lavender essential oil from Jardin du Soleil in Sequim.  Put two and two together and voilà:

On the curing rack on January 24. It will be ready around February 21, just in time for my birthday!  Happy soaping!

Happy 2012!!!

I hope 2012 will bring

more happiness than sadness,
more fortune than misfortune,
more hope than despair

for us all.

We made two types of soap this weekend.

English rose was made with rose clay and English rose fragrance oil.  It is on the curing rack so I imagine it will change somewhat when I bring it back out in a few weeks. 

The other soap we made is lilac scented, but it's just been put to bed and is not ready for its debut just yet.  More on that later.

2012 will be the year we go whole hog on our soap business.  We've changed the name of our company to something more pronounceable:  Prairie Sunshine Soaps. 

Look out, soap world, here we come!  :)