How about a cute little project to work on this weekend? It's so easy…I promise!
I'm sharing this super adorable FREE printable "Kiss Me" banner over on SNAP! today!
I designed it to work for St. Patty's Day and beyond…(think engagement photo shoot and anniversary celebrations too!)

I really think you'll love the versatility of it along with the simple ideas I'm sharing for adding pops of color to go with your specific celebration!

Hop on over there to download it and you'll be on your way to creating something fun this weekend!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I've been working on the same blog post for about 3 days now.
I'm not even kidding.
It's a post about what an average day of mine looks like…in timeline format.
Working on it has really opened my eyes to just how little my "work window" is every day.
I knew it was small but I didn't realize how very small. It's no wonder I'm not getting anything done around here! Ha!
You really should be following my Instagram feed in order to see what I've got going on behind the scenes…since I obviously can't find the time to post more details here on the blog! *blushing*

TREAT | Work Inspired™ Compendium Giveaway

Hello November!!

This is one of my absolute favorite holiday seasons...

an entire month giving us the opportunity to focus specifically on gratitude and thanks!

That being said...

Today's blog post is dedicated to YOU!

My blog is where it's at today...

in large part because of YOU!

Over the last couple of years now...

you all have...

encouraged...

supported...

inspired...

befriended...

reached out to...

and absolutely uplifted me!

The engaging comments you leave...

the euphoric response to giveaways...

and your enthusiastic feedback...

continue to be a large part of the source of energy that keeps this blog alive and well.

This blog directly impacts all areas of my business..

and because of your daily dedication...

and your genuine interest about what I have going on here...

business. is. good.

I am deeply grateful to each of you...

even those of you who quietly lurk... *wink*

your presence is felt and sincerely appreciated.

With that said...

I wanted to start the month off with a FANTASTiC giveaway...

A giveaway centered completely on my gratitude for each of you...

a celebration of sorts to all of you who have helped contribute to the growth of my blog...

and ultimately to my business.

My passionate love for Compendium, Inc. products has given way to a wonderful opportunity.

I'm now a brand ambassador for them...

which means I have the opportunity to share more of their inspirational products with you.

The Compendium, Inc. philosophy and motto "Live Inspired"

has now given way to a new line of home office products:

WORK INSPiRED

A beautiful collection of coordinating home office products

to help keep you organized, productive...and ultimately as with all Compendium products...INSPiRED!!

WHAT'S THE PRIZE FOR ENTERING?

The lucky winner will receive these FREE products:

• 6 File Folders

• Padfolio

• 3 Mini Notepads

• Thought for the Day (a year of inspiration)

• Sticky Note Set (3 Assorted Designs)

• Lined Notepad

AND...because this giveaway is all about my gratitude for each of you

I'm throwing in the gorgeous "Thanks a Bunch" book filled with inspirational quotes

I hope you are as genuinely excited about these stunning items as I am.

Who doesn't love to add some "pretty" to their work space.

And hey...

Just because you may not work from home...

We all pay bills...

make lists...

file stuff away...

and need a little daily inspiration.

As the winner...

you could even share your prize by giving some of the items as gifts this holiday season?

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER

Use the Rafflecopter app below to enter the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest starts today: Friday, November 2nd

Contest ends: Thursday, November 8th.

Winner announced:  Friday, November 9th.

Good luck everyone!

Thank you Compendium, Inc. for providing ongoing inspiration through your beautiful product line!!

"Thanks A Bunch"!! - for your amazing support, friendship and blog-love everyone!

It means the world to me!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Trust me when I say...

it's very hard for me to part ways with these gorgeous, inspiring items.

Just so you know...

As a brand ambassador for Compendium, Inc...

I'm able to choose what I want to do with the products that are sent to me.

I could totally choose to photograph the items to share with you visually...

and then opt to keep the items for personal use if I wanted to.

However...

You KNOW I love to share...

and I will do so every chance I get...

'cause I adore you all! *wink*

Pssst...it's my birthday tomorrow!!

working from home | periods of reevaluation

I'm grateful for Mondays...

Mondays are "BAKING DAY" at my house...

Ella and I made Molasses Crinkles yesterday...

(one of my very favorite cookies, thanks to Grandma Ambs)

BAKING DAY works out perfectly with the fact that
Monday nights are our designated "Family Night"

(and I LOVE to have a treat for everyone afterwards)

In my quest to achieve balance...
mostly between being the mother I NEED to be and the successful business owner I WANT to be
I'd reached another period of reevaluation.
I decided it was time to revise my work day a little bit.

Well actually...

A LOT of bit...*wink*

AND...

I've rededicated myself to making sure we have Family Night every Monday again.

Our focus last night was on this project completely stolen from Becky Higgins...

I can't wait to see this completely filled with things our family is grateful for...
(I made mine with a cheap poster frame, a roll of poster paper cut to size and some 2" black vinyl letters.

The plexiglass that came with the frame was placed behind the white poster paper 

to provide us with a hard surface for writing/adding the things we are grateful for).

The point is...
It is necessary to re-evaluate things in your life on a regular basis.
I found myself feeling extremely guilty at the end of most days...
feeling I had worked way too much...
and wishing I had spent more quality time with Ella.
(definitely red flags for a reevaluation)

So...
I had to come up with a solution.
And I did.
I've set "firm" work hours for myself.
I've even got an alarm on my phone that rings (crows like a rooster actually)
and Ella knows that it's time for mommy to get off of the computer...
and it's PLAY TIME!

I took things a step farther too.
I implemented something I used to do with my two older daughters when they were toddlers.
I've assigned a specific "focus" to each day of the week:
MONDAY : BAKING DAY
TUESDAY: SCIENCE DAY
WEDNESDAY: ELLA'S DAY WITH GRANDMA
THURSDAY: CRAFT DAY
FRIDAY: FREE DAY


At the end of our play time...
a sweet lullaby alarm on my phone reminds Ella and I both
that it's her naptime...


As silly as it all may sound.
I NEEDED this.
And so did Ella.
We have a focus.
I have a plan.
And we both have something to look forward to.

I feel more productive.
I feel more connected.
which means I FEEL more...
more of the things that are most important.

And I LOVE that feeling.
Perhaps you are struggling with some of the same things?
Maybe some of these ideas are something you can implement in your day/schedule.

With all of that said...
I'm GRATEFUL...
Grateful for my family.
Grateful for this time of year.
Grateful for the pies I'll be making on Wednesday.
Grateful my cousin and her family are coming for Thanksgiving.
Grateful for my mom that comes every Wednesday to spend time with Ella
(and provides me the opportunity to get a lot of work done)
Grateful for my life and the opportunities I've been given.
Grateful for my children and the fact that they make me a better person.
And today...
I'm especially grateful for
periods of reevaluation!

The rooster is crowing...
I'd better get going! *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL

The Molasses Crinkles...

I still have yet to perfect this recipe.

They still turn out harder than Grandma Ambs and hers are always perfectly soft. *grumbling*

To top it off... J made this comment lastnight as he was sampling one of the cookies...

"They remind me of when I had my impacted wisdom teeth removed because of the ground cloves included in the recipe. 

(I guess I know what to bake now if I want to torture him). *wink*

The Grateful Wall Art...

You've no idea how much I can't stand having a cheap poster frame hanging on the wall. ($7.99 from Target)

BUT...

it made NO sense to invest in an extravagant frame that I would be fretting over everyone breaking

every time they added something to the Grateful Wall Art.

And thank goodness those Vinyl letters are forgiving...

I had to reposition them several times to get them straight and centered.

I actually added the three dots to help center it within the frame...*wink*

And now you know...

working from home | time management

Working from home has got to be one of the most challenging things a woman/mother can do.
(It is for me anyway)...


You've heard me mention the word "balance" many times...(here, here and here)
and how the word seems so "elusive" when you are trying to juggle so many different things.


Juggle...
Such a funny little word to use when referring to life...
isn't it?
What exactly does it mean?  
Here's a great definition I found from Jane S. Gould:

"to handle or deal with usually several things (as obligations) at one time so as to satisfy often competing requirements"


What stood out to me about that definition?
"so as to satisfy often competing requirements"....


Those "competing requirements" for me are all of the things I feel I should be doing as a mom...
as a daughter....
as a sister....
as a spouse...
as a friend...
as a business owner...
and as an individual...trying to maintain her sense of identity in the midst of it all.


I know there are many others of you out there who struggle with it as well.
The guilt felt when you think you've dropped a couple of the balls...
(and we know EVERY ball is important...otherwise we wouldn't include it)...
Right?
Or would we?
It's important to step back (often)...
and re-evaluate what's REALLY important.
(and the answers will be different for each of us).


Today...
I want to share with you a list I found recently from Becky Higgins...
(a long-time inspiration for me from WAY back in the day when scrapbooking was merely a concept vs. a way of life)
These are notes she took from Julie Morgenstern regarding time management tips..
Tips I believe will help me (and maybe you), re-evaluate...

There are several things on this list that really spoke to me.
Perhaps there are some things that will lift and inspire you as well...
While you too are juggling the things in your own life...




KEEPiNG iT REAL
As I'm trying to finish this post...
Ella, (my almost 3 year old)...
sleepily wanders into my studio...
holding her blanket...
in a grumpy mood, mind you...
a bit whiny and needy...
and so my day begins...*wink*