Joy Leanne

As I have shared on here before, one of my main goals with this blog, and my life in general, is to record my families memories. I've been attempting to do this more on paper as well so that my kids have hard copies of these memories and not just words on a screen. I have been trying VERY unsuccessfully to do Project life this year. I have pretty much given up on daily or even weekly but I have been capturing certain moments on paper in my own, very messy, way of scrapbooking. (Really I just like an excuse to buy pretty paper and tape!).  My favorite place to work on this is on the sofa, by the fire, so I have come up with my little mobile scrap-book center!     I LOVE 31 products. Though, as you can, see I don't always use them planned. This is the make up bag above and bellow is the note pad keeper that I use to hold my stationary.     Not only are 31 products great for keeping your organized while keeping memories they are great for MAKING memories! And, sinc...

SO! I have been pretty quiet on here since last week and there is a very good, though very long, explication for all of that. I promise to share later. However, some times when things get crazy you just have to step back and focus on some fun simple things. So today I want to share some pretty inspiration with you. I am sure that you all are familiar with Pick Your Plum! (If for some reason you aren't familiar with them they are a "deal" site that offers ONE craft/creative item daily at a really big discount.) My sister-in-law Marge got me hooked on them forever ago and I adore them! I have gotten amazing elastic, bakers twine, stamps, washi tape, hair pins kits, earring kits, and fabric from them. Well last night I got a sneak peak at what today's "Plum" is...... Valentin's Day Washi Tape!!!!!   I am so excited! I was up last night thinking of all the ways I can use this. Doesn't matter that I already have some, I can always use more! It's one ...

So I have a few friends who post Gratituesday posts. Liz over at Sincerely Liz Inc and Erin over at Better Than Doing Laundry .   (Though I think Erin shares hers more on her facebook then blog, but it's still a great blog to check out.) Any ways, I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and join in. * I'm grateful my mother got to go back west and see her family. It was under sad circumstance yes, but it sounds like it was a time of reconnecting and telling old and new stories. I'm so thankful she had the chance to do that and I look forward to hearing some of the stories of where she came from. * I'm grateful for the Starbucks gift card in my stocking that covered Maddie and I's Monday morning treat and had a little left over to bless the girl in line behind us. * I'm grateful for the gifts of pretty paper and a tank of gas one of my favorite ladies bestowed on me yesterday. * I'm grateful for the chance to break bread and fellowship with some amazing la...

  I was planning on writing a Menu Monday post today. Then, I sat down at my computer and pulled up my e-mail. I get the She Reads Truth devotional sent to my e-mail box every day. Normally I read it off of their site, but if I don't have that reminder in my inbox that it needs to be done I tend to forget. I'm attempting to make first thing first so, before I opened up WordPress I clicked over to She Reads Truth. WOW!!!! " This is where Redemption’s work is done. Right here, in our fear and helplessness. Right here, among the broken and weary. " The reading today was Exodus 14. It was about some tired, discouraged, confused, broken Israelite who in their fatigue told Moses they would have been better of dying in Egypt.  And right there in the middle of it all.... God worked.... A friend who is doing the study with me posted this on her facebook wall today. "The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still." Exodus 14:14 Ouch! Still is the last place I...

  With 2012 now nearly 24 hours in the past and 2013  upon us, it would seem the thing to do is take a look back on 2012. However, I feel like I have done quite a bit of that this past year. With so much having happened this year I feel like I have already one a good bit of reflection. If you would like to read those posts you can here and here. At this point in time I am ready to look forward. I am ready for a new adventure. I am ready to dream, plan, set goals, and draft a map. I'm ready for change. I'm not entirely sure what exactly I want these goals and plans to look like. I know I will be taking some time off for my shop and drastically reducing my custom spots when I do. I want to focus more on creating as the mood strikes, sewing for my girls, sewing for friends, making what makes me happy, finish the huge pile of WIPs. I want to focus more on my writing. For The Clutch Guide for The Motherhood Collective for my own blog, and journaling. I want to make a point of bei...