Happy Halloween!

From this:

To This:

Happy Halloween!

Things I Know Today

*written as I waited in line at the middle school to pick up J.*

• I want to write in my Journal more


• I miss sleeping past 4am


• I really need to exercise more


• I like blogging and writing and miss it when I don't do it


• I like taking pictures


• I want to find something I can make and sell on etsy unique enough to be mine and something that people will buy that I can make quickly enough to be worth it


• I'm happy in my marriage


• I'd like to be a better student of the gospel


• I can't remember much of my New Year's resolutions/goals


• I still want to write my novel


• lately I feel like a lazy person who would rather vege than do much else. Maybe it has somthing to do with not sleeping past 4am


• we need to prepare better for the future

Just random thoughts that were swimming through my head as I waited that day. I had the urge to write them down so grabbed my journal as I went out the door. For some backstory: I started writing a Young Adult novel last year about this time. I really love this story, and there are times that it consumes me. Yet I am having the trouble making the time to write it out. It's still important to me though, and I'd really like to finish it. The 4am stuff? It's my new job. I've been tutoring Korean children over the phone. They are in Korea, I'm in Oregon. They read assigned newspaper articles and basically I quiz them on it. They give me a summary, we discuss it, we have vocabulary words. 10 minute lessons in all. I've been enjoying working with the students, and find it crazy that when it's 4:30 am my time, it's 8:30 pm the same day in Korea. I work for about four hours, so by the end of my shift, it's after midnight for them. Crazy!

I've been thinking a lot about preparing for the future. Buying one or two food storage items when I go shopping each time. Trying to think of what we can do without. Planning a homemade Christmas as much as possible. I'm really grateful that for once, my hubby did what we've been talking about and had a small portion of each paycheck put into savings this year so that we actually have a small fund for Cmas purchases already set aside. I'm also grateful that my kids don't have a huge sense of entitlement. That helps.

So what's on your mind today? Write it down, make a list, or blog about it. If you blog about it, leave a comment and a link so we can all support each other.

Tell us what you know today.

Some Good Advice from Glenn Beck

I found this on the'net and thought it was too good to keep to myself. Some really great advice about a situation we are ALL facing right now.

Glenn Beck: "Get Ready..."

I don't talk about politics very often here, but as I said, we are all going to be dealing with this. Let's get ready and meet things head on.

Updated my Playlist!

Scroll down to hear my playlist. It won't start automatically--that always freaks me out on other blogs.

I know that I've promised you more "I Carry Your Heart" entries. I've been super busy with my new job. I will get to it soon. I have lists of things for Handmade Christmas ideas. Lists! Lists I must share!

Enjoy!

My Six Secrets

Jill tagged me and challenged me to share Six Secrets on my blog. I've shared through blog memes in the past, but maybe now I have different readers so it would be worth sharing again. Who knows?!?

Here goes:

1. I've moved over 50 times. Once I hit 50, I stopped counting. Mostly small moves within the same city, but still...that's a lot. We've lived in our current house now for 5 and half years. That's the longest I've had one address my entire life.
2. I was on the fencing team in Junior College. At the one tournament we had (it was a small school) I beat all the other female fencers. And a lot of the guys. I wish I'd been able to keep it up. I liked it a lot.
3. I started singing when I was 3 years old. I still sing every week. It's one of my favorite things to do.
4. I was a contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire in it's heyday in the year 2000. I met Regis. I didn't win anything. We had a carryover contestant that took the bulk of the taping time. I totally got gypped. Usually they have 4 "fastest finger" round per episode. When I taped, there was only two. The only guy who beat me in the practice rounds was in the chair when we finished taping. Statistically, I would have been next. At least, that's what I tell myself. Either way it was a fun experience! (and no, I've not scrapbooked the pictures yet. I was trying to figure out the best way to showcase them).
5. I can't stand pickles or ketchup. I don't even like the smell of ketchup. Blech! I buy it for my family--who love it. That's how selfless I am. I even wash their ketchup-y dishes.
6. It's not really a secret, especially among those that know me well, but I LOVE bargain hunting at thrift stores and the like. It really makes my day to find something wonderful for just pennies on the dollar. Like a few weeks ago, I picked up a brand new piece of Pampered Chef stoneware for $5. I love the thrill of the hunt!

That's all I could think of for now. I'll tag Allanna and Satina, Cate (who deserves a shout-out anyway for being a loyal blog reader!) and anyone else who wants to play. Just leave a comment here so we can follow you to your blog!

Go-See! Halloween Miniature!

I am IN LOOOVVVE with this super-cute Halloween Minature. Makes me want to run to JoAnn's and get a fake pumpkin. If you scroll down a bit, her fall tree paintings (a project you can do with your kids) is pretty awesome as well. Heck, the whole thing is bursting with interesting, kid-friendly, fall crafty projects. Take a look around while you are there; I know I'll be hovering for a bit.

I Carry Your Heart Part One Half

First, you need to print out the copy of the poem. I'd print it out on a cream colored cardstock. This is an important part of the faux handwriting technique that I'll explain later.

I'll post pictures tomorrow. The first thing you want to do is notice that I've put a link to the .pdf of the handout I used when I taught this class at Stampin'Cat on the side of my blog. There's a .pdf there for the previous class I taught on this blog, "A Little Bit Me" (tag: ALBM). Those will help you as well. I still plan to post step-by-step pictures, but haven't quite gotten my act together yet. I wanted to get you started, however.

So: First Steps. Ink one side and the edges of your coaster with your Distress Inks (or other inkpad). I used the Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Vintage Photo. We don't want any white edges to show. If your coasters are another color, you might want to skip this step. Just choose coordinating patterned paper.

I'll tag these blog class posts with this tag: ICYH. That way, you can go to the "labels" section and see all the posts at on time if you need to. Questions? Leave a comment.

Enjoy!