Have you ever come across a sign or a quote that made you stop and think? I was reading a magazine the other day and there was a sign in the publication that said something about "doing good.' I thought having a quote like that on the wall would be a great encouragement to help me think about caring for others and not being so much about myself. Shortly thereafter, I saw this quote by Thoreau - Be not simply good - be good for something. Many of us belong to the Good Girls' Club. We follow the rules, keep our rooms clean, say "please" and "thank you" and even do … [Read more...]
We live in a shaky world. It seems there isn't much we can count on. ONE thing we can depend on is GOD and his never ending loving kindness. The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end; I will keep forever my promise of peace.” So says the Lord who loves you. Isaiah 54:10 Think about the past week. Not to dwell on the negative... but were there people who let you down? And no doubt you let someone else down, too. Some of it may have been purposeful... generally, we try yet we fail, we care yet we're selfish. Though relationships and nations may appear … [Read more...]
Have you ever had one of those days? My day challenged me on several levels. Maybe because I'm the queen of self-doubt. How about you? Do you second guess yourself, too? I came across this quote from Benjamin Spock, the famed parenting/baby doctor: Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do. This sage advice was aimed at parents who thought they didn't know anything about parenting. Yet, it's pretty good advice for most of us. It's easy to think someone else will know more or might have more experience when really, you already are well prepared. You … [Read more...]
Most of us don't like confrontation. It is something I try to avoid if at all possible. But, there's something else that recently has made me feel even more uncomfortable... observing friends being shut down for interjecting thoughts or ideas that may be contrary to the listener. Open communication and a free exchange of ideas are so important to me. A respectful, kind, and friendly discussion is one where we actually listen and then speak and generally it's a rather enjoyable experience. I am terribly uncomfortable when people think their ideas are the only ideas and … [Read more...]
Here it is, almost a week before Valentine's Day! So often we focus on the romantic side of Valentine's Day and yet we all are not in a place where romance is a part of our lives. BUT... we all need love. We need to love and be loved. We need people. We can't walk this journey alone, can we? The best way I know to be loved is to love others. Maybe if we focus on others and loving others well, when we get to the end of our lives we'll be like the velveteen rabbit. And what could be better? Let's do our best to remember this... “Keep love in your heart.” To … [Read more...]
Do you have a friend who's going through a tough time? Have you ever thought that YOU could be her bright spot? That you could be the one to shine a warm sunny light into the shadows of her life? We really do have the power to brighten someone's day. Make a point this week to carry the sun around with you and SHINE for all you're worth. Then just maybe your friend will say... “When it was dark, you always carried the sun in your hand for me.” Seán O'Casey To encourage you in this sunny endeavor... I created this FREE printable art quote for you. Download and print out … [Read more...]
I wonder how many times I've quit or given up while standing upon the precipice of a big breakthrough? It's easy to become overwhelmed and weary in the midst of life's challenges. At the risk of sounding trite, I want to encourage you to... Hang in there. Push yourself one more time. Trust God to help you. Believe it can be done. Don't give up. "Keep the faith. The most amazing things in life tend to happen right at the moment you’re about to give up hope." If you need this encouragement or know someone who does, please take the time to … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! Have you noticed? There seems to be so much angst in the world these days. So on this day when we honor the memory and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., I thought it appropriate to create a printable, quoting his words... "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." LOVE is caring, forgiving, and stands up for what's right. LOVE is what disarms people and opens up conversation. And in the end... LOVE will have a bigger impact on the world than anything else. If you would appreciate this reminder in the form of a … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! I started the year off by setting new goals and working to improve my skills in several areas. So often I struggle because everything isn't perfect. I want all my ducks in a row... but you know... sometimes the conditions are not perfect. Am I alone? I'm guessing not. That why this Alan Cohen quote, "Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect." really hit home for me. If you're like me... you just might appreciate having this quote in front of you. I created a FREE 8x10 printable art quote for … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! It's 2017! How many times have you had to check yourself when writing down the year today? Are you struggling with any of your resolutions on Day 2? Hopefully not. But, you and I both know that sometimes we just plain struggle to do the things we know we ought to do. The things we need to do. Even the things we've dreamed of doing. If you need a nudge to quit making excuses and get on with whatever your goal or dream is, then I hope you'll download this FREE printable to help you do it! This quote from Barbara Sher, "You don’t need endless time … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! Here we are, quickly sliding out of 2016 and into a fresh new year! Are you excited for the new year? I'm in the process of re-evaluating a lot of what I do and how I do it. And because I'm a doer... this thought process doesn't exactly turn my crank. It would if I were doing it with a team that I led, but as a solopreneur, it's more of a necessary task. To that end... I discovered this quote from Teddy Roosevelt: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. And it's providing me with some framework in which to do some dreaming and goal … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas! Are you in the Christmas spirit? This can either be an incredibly busy few days leading up to Christmas, or it can be a time of celebration, family, friends, and many memories in the making. I hope that there is more of the later for you. This year it's a much more relaxing pace than ever before. As a final Christmas "present" I wanted to create one more Christmas printable for you. If you'd like to make an easy gift or create a little something extra for your Christmas decor, then I hope you'll take advantage of this Christmas art printable I created for you. Download it by … [Read more...]
The Countdown to Christmas has Begun! It's time to finish up the shopping, creating, decorating, and start wrapping and baking. And just to make it super easy for you, I created these sweet candy cane Christmas gift tags for you. There are 12 on an 8x10 sheet to make gift giving even sweeter. I think these would be especially perfect for those food gifts you'll be making. They are my gift to you!! Download these Free 8×10 sheet of 12 Merry Christmas Gift Tags for personal use HERE! If you missed stopping by since last week, I shared some extraordinary goodness on the … [Read more...]
It's officially the Christmas season! Why do I say that on the 5th of December? Because last night it snowed! Two whole inches! And it was gorgeous and wintry and Christmasy and beautiful. And I'm not even a fan of snow!! How are you coming along with your Christmas decorating? Today I used fresh greens and rose hips to make two wreaths for my windows... inside. The aroma is delightful, too! If you're like me and would like to add a little extra something that speaks to the meaning of Christmas... I've created another FREE 8x10 art print for you to frame and set in a vignette for the holidays. … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! Have you started decorating for Christmas? I LOVE having word art prints framed and set in a vignette for the holidays. So with that in mind, I created this lovely print with this Christmas verse... "Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." by Norman Vincent Peale. I hope you'll download it, pin it up or display it somewhere special. Or... place it in a frame and give as an early Christmas or hostess gift. Download this Free 8×10 Christmas Quote Art Print for personal use HERE! If … [Read more...]
What are you hoping for? A good test result? An interview? A mended relationship? Hope is a funny word. To me, it's kind of a nebulous word for a nebulous idea or feeling. How many times do we say, "Oh, I hope so!" To your spouse or child, you might say, "I hope you have a good day." or "I hope you have a great time!" It's kind of like a wish. Other times it's an expectation for something to happen or for someone to make something happen. We often put our hope in things, in people, in events. Recently, a lot of people placed their hope in a … [Read more...]
Hello, friends! Thanks for coming by! Have you started thawing your turkey? This is the first time I've ever had a frozen turkey. Until now, I have only roasted fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving. My mom was a good cook, but she never roasted a turkey... we went to my aunt's for Thanksgiving on the rare years that my nurse mom didn't work. So, if you have any tips for using a frozen turkey... please spill. Besides turkey, I look forward to a piece of pumpkin pie. What's your favorite? After the pie is eaten, the guests have left, and the dishes are washed and put away... It's time to decorate for … [Read more...]
