My body had different plans.

But, in order to make the best of it.

I had an idea.

I’m sure it’s not new, or novel, or even original.  (so no need to tell me….)

But I’m loving it, so I thought I’d share.

I started a new Pinboard called “Brown Paper Packages“.  You know.  The kind tied up with string?  So if you notice me pinning weird things…here’s why.

It’s my favorite things.  Things that make me smile.  Things that change my mood.  Things that inspire me.  Things that make me sing.  Things that make me laugh.

It’s like I’m trying to find my smile.  Just like Billy Crystal in “City Slickers”.  Only a lot less Cows are involved.

I don’t care if a single person ever looks at it.  Because, let’s be honest, the things I love are different than the things you love. But I had to share…because the process is proving to be super fun and cathartic.  And I can’t wait to pin things to it all the time.

So if you’re finding yourself a little down, a little Eeyore.  Maybe start a new Pinboard.  One that makes you smile.  Not things you wish you had.  Projects you wish you did. People you wish you looked like…..I’m talking just ALL your faveies in one spot.  It’s kinda working for me!

What’s your day gonna be filled with? I got the kids Valentines ready….last night…by about 5pm. {smooth} I made cookies for a fun luncheon today. I did at least 3/4 of the dishes. I will most likely get dressed. So…..that’s all pretty awesome.

One of the MOST frequently asked questions when I say I write a blog called Less Cake {more frosting} is “so, it’s a cooking blog?”

Ummmm….nope.

I mean, sometimes I cook. Sometimes I post recipes. But it is most DEFINITELY not a cooking blog.

So then comes the inevitable “so what’s it about then?”

For a long time, almost 2 years now, I haven’t been able to really answer that question very eloquently.

But I finally came up with the answer….probably in the shower….because I’m a genius in there….

“Less Cake {more frosting} is a blog about things I love….

including….but not limited to….frosting”

 

I kinda love things.  And people.  And places.  And food….I’m just a rather passionate person, and I don’t mind saying so!  You know I love frosting, and Diet Coke, and Mod Podge, and Mickey Mouse.

But in honor of Valentines Day….I wanna share some super random

• I {love} traditions.  Like the one where we “heart attack” the house on Valentines Eve.   Every year it’s late, and I think “why on earth did I do this to myself?”  And then when the kids wake up squealing…I remember why.

• I {love} quoting TV shows and movies in everyday conversation.  Like today I wanna be like, “this is gonna be the best Valentines Day ever!  I can’t wait to MAKE the presents.  MAKE the presents.”  “I made you a tape of what I think are ALL romantic songs.”

• I {love} an unannounced dance party.  Like when we decide to put on a tune, and we end up dancing for hours.  My Mom used to have spontaneous dancing parties in the kitchen.  And I am so glad we have them too.

• I {love} getting an absolutely super yummy piece of fruit.   Weird?  No way!  Nature’s candy?  It’s awesome.  But it’s kinda a gamble.  You never know if it’s gonna be medium, pretty good, or FREAKIN’ AMAZING!  It’s like….delicious roulette.

• I {love} fonts.  For real.  It’s not a secret.  I just thought I’d try to express how much.  And I kind of can’t.  Except to say…as of today I have 1,093 fonts on my computer, in 35 categories.  And I {love} it!

• I {love} deciding to take a fashion risk.  Something that really scares me, like my leopard boots I got for Christmas.   Or, wearing earrings that touch my shoulders.  In the last few months, it’s been fake eyelashes.  I bought two new pairs today….just to try….

• I {love} random texts.  I didn’t used to “get” texting.  Like, just call me if you need to talk.  But now I know why texting has come into my life.  It’s so I can text my sister with “remember the day when we made up dance routines on the trampoline to the Mulan soundtrack all day long?  And remember how I was over 20 at the time?”  Yep.  God gave us texting so I can giggle about the amazing interpretive dance I can do to “Reflection” while jumping.

• I {love} goofy cartoon tee-shirts.  Yes.  I’m the girl who wore Disney gear to school in High School.  Heck.  College.  I had a denim shirt with a ginormous embroidered Winnie the Pooh on the back.  Don’t hate.  You know you’re jealous.  Hopefully I’ve gotten a TINY bit cooler.  But not much.  I totally rocked a Cookie Monster tee yesterday.

• I {love} it when hysterical things come out of my 4 year old daughter’s mouth.  Like yesterday, “Daddy, do you know why you can’t have a blog?”  “No, why?” “Because people who are bloggies are Mommy’s lady friends.  And they make fancy lady things.  And you’re not that fancy.”

• I {love} things that are so funny that I’ll laugh out loud, when no one’s around.  Like the convo I had via Skype the other day with my dear friend Miss Crap I’ve Made.  About all the funny people we remember from Elementary School.  The kid who peed.  The aide who’s pants kinda tore in the bum when she leaned over to help you read.  The kid who smelled like a moldy swimming pool.  The girl who always had fluffier skirts than you.  The boy who held your hand during Lady Hawk.  BEST. CONVERSATION. OF. ALL. TIME.

For real….I could go on for pages.
All the things to love.
Promise me?
No matter what your “technical” Valentine’s status is today… Promise me that you’ll take a few minutes to focus on the things that you really love.  The people that make you giggle.  The foods that make you grin.

Pretty much an attitude of gratitude.  As cheesy as that sounds.  You’ll realize that you have tons to LOVE!

Valentines Day might usually be about girlfriends and boyfriends and hearts.  But what if it was just about reminding ourselves that there are so many “things to love.”  Life isn’t so bad after all.

So, now it’s your turn.  Just one.  Whatcha lovin’?

L to R: Kari, Emilie, Amy, Mandi, Me

You may know that a year ago, I got a DSLR camera…and named her Rachel Berry.  (You may NOT know that too, that doesn’t make you a bad person in any way.)

For the record, my camera is a Nikon D3100.  It is a very nice camera, but is considered entry level for a DSLR.

I learned lots of little tid-bits but I pretty much loved the lighting portion.  Emilie talked about how photography is very much focused on creating the perfect light for your subject.  My “Oprah type” A-ha moment was during the whole lighting portion.  Particularly the talk about not ELIMINATING shadows, but placing the light in the correct place so that shadows work in your favor.

To create the perfect shadows one needs to pay special attention to the direction and strength of the light.

The least flattering light is light coming from directly above our heads.  Light coming from directly above our heads creates very unflattering shadows.

Like remember Gwen from Seinfeld?  I do.  She’s a two face.

Look how I tried out some “two face” lighting for myself!

Remember: the  least flattering direction of light on our faces is from directly above our heads.  It makes our eyes dark, it make our noses look big and our teeth and smiles dark.  So, essentially, it turns you into a two face.

Oh my gosh!  Genius!  I’m going to travel everywhere with that round, golden, pretty-maker.

Emilie’s workshops include:

• how to shoot in Manual Mode
• more lighting rules
• her go to poses
• easy Photoshop process for editing
• and TONS more

I learned SO MUCH.  And had so much fun.

Emilie is based in Salt Lake City, UT.  But don’t fret if you don’t live here.  She also offers online classes.  Featuring tons of personal 0ne-on-one help.

So make sure, next time you have your photo taken, not to be caught in a “two face”.  We all want to see your BEST SIDE.  (and no….that doesn’t give you permission to moon me….gross!)

And here’s to hopin’ you aren’t still without valentines at your house. Because we TOTALLY are! I ought to remedy that….right? Shoot.

My kids and I have pretty set bedtime routines. Like they brush teeth, say prayers, I get them a glass of water WITH ice. They pick their “music” or “stories”. And then I kiss them goodnight. I tell my son, “I love you” and he says, “I love you more.” Sometimes it goes on to “I love you mostest.”

One night when I was putting my daughter, who was about 2 at the time, to bed I said, “I love you like crazy.”
And she said, “I love you too my crazy.”
I guess she got the “like” part confused or something?
Who knows. But rather than being offended that she pretty much called me crazy…I was like, “that’s pretty much the awesomest and most accurate bedtime greeting of ALL TIME!”

Because, let’s be honest, I am a little CRAZY! And as long as I’m HER “crazy”….all is right with the world.

When I started thinking about a printable Valentine to offer this year, our little routine popped into my head.  I LOVE to tell my true Valentines that their love makes me CRAZY!  (okay, I’m kinda crazy anyway….but still….)

This printable comes with four different color schemes all on one sheet.  (and can I just mention that the colors are kinda CRAZY?  So appropriate!)

I paired my valentines with a darling little glassine bag full of treats.  And a topper of bakery twine.  It literally took me 5 minutes.  And there’s NOTHING crazy about that! Unless it’s crazy AWESOME!

Click on the arrow with a line under it…in the above window. Just press it, and the image file should download right to your computer! Easy Peezy!

You can then print the file anywhere you’d like. This file is sized at 8.5×11. It will not print optimally at a bigger size. (But you can print it at a smaller size if you’d like.)

As usual PLEASE follow the following rules for Less Cake {more frosting} printables:

• LCMF prinatables are for PERSONAL USE only. You may not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
• Please do not remove the watermark.
• If posting on the internet, you MUST post a link back to this website.
• Personalization, color changes, and other customizations are not available on freebie printables. They are offered “as-is”.

I’m excited to give out these little treats to people I’m “crazy” about!  Because I’m pretty aware that my brand of crazy, brings awesome treats.  Crazy and sugar often go hand in hand. Which explains why I have pretty constant sugar gas. (was that TMI? {tee hee})

Linked to:

I am constantly on the look-out for ideas. I adore Pinterest for the plain reason that I often think “that would be fantastic…” but then I forget.

When I saw this idea on Pocket Full of Whimsy I pinned it immediately. It’s pretty much amazing.

It was so much fun taking a spin on this idea. (And even more fun seeing my Mom’s face when I gave it to her!)

•  I started by scanning an old picture of my Mom and her sisters sledding.   It doesn’t need to be a very big picture, because we’re going to want it to look weathered.
• After opening the picture in my editing program (I use Photoshop…but ANY program can do this simple edit) turn up the “contrast” on your picture.   This makes the white’s whiter…and the darks…darker.
• I also threw some “aging” on the picture by brushing a grunge graphic on the top.  Totally optional.

• Next I cut a piece of medium weight canvas fabric to be a 8.5 x 11 size.  Same size as a regular size of paper.

•  Then I cut a piece of freezer paper to the same size.  I talk a lot more in depth about freezer paper on this T-Shirt painting tutorial and also on this one where I painted a sweater.
• After cutting the piece of freezer paper, I ironed it onto the piece of fabric, and set it in my printer. (I have an Epson Artisan 800 Inkjet printer….because I know you’ll ask)
• And then….yep….I sent it right through.  (and yes…I was scared…but it was so easy breezy.  You wouldn’t even believe it!)

After catching my breath, from the sheer FANTASTIC-NESS of the outcome of my experiment…

• I removed the freezer paper and found some fabric to add.

The image was only 8.5 x 11…I wanted a pillow that was larger.  The fantastic part is that you can do it however you want!  I wanted a 2″ border around 3 sides and a 6″ border on the right side.  (to make a nice rectangle pillow)

• Whatever you choose…add up the total and make a back piece to match the total area.  (freak!  Did I just ask you to do math?  My SINCERE apologies.  I HATE math!)

I also decided I wanted to add some fun feminine ruffles…since this is for my super cute Mommy….so I sewed those right onto the front panel.

• Next sew the two pieces (your patched piece with the print, and the back that should be the same size) right sides together, leaving about a 4″ or 5″ hole to turn it inside out.

• Then flip it around…shove a ton of stuffing in there…and hand sew up the opening.

Tah-Dah!!!  A super personalized gift, or fun way to accessorize for different seasons.  And isn’t the vintage-ee feel of the black and white photo SOOOOO amazing?   Almost any photo, no matter the decade it was taken, could be fun and vintage feeling when it’s turned black & white.  I pretty much need 15 of these.  Pronto.  Don’t you?

So why would I want to go?

Let’s jump back to the early 90′s.
I fell in love with Scrapbooking. Like, LOVE! At that time your supplies were severely limited to basic cardstock, skinny Zig pens, and Mrs. Grossmans stickers.

(now I’m about to do something unprecedented…..show you a page from my scrapbooks!  Yep.  Keep the laughing to a dull roar.)

This page documents the VERY FIRST date with my husband.  Because it was a dance, there are lots of pictures.  I was disappointed that I couldn’t find the thing I was picturing, so I just freehanded the house and cut it out.  Those were the wild-west days people.  You had to do what you could to survive!

There was also a gross amount of handwriting.  And even though I spent hours perfecting mine…it never was “just perfect”.  Here you can see that the relationship has progressed from “first date” to “raggedy Ann”  so……that’s pretty serious!  GAH!

Why share this scary display with you?  Well, since that time, I have been OBSESSED with where these products come from, and who makes them.  Enter CHA….which previously I couldn’t go to because you had to be a retailer.  But this year I was able to apply as a member of the “bloggie press”.

If you know me AT ALL you know that going to Anaheim without stopping to see my boyfriend, Mickey, is nearly impossible.  Even IF it’s for a building full of paper and pom-poms.  So our first night, we bought 1/2 day passes to see the mouse.

It was pretty much outstanding to spend even a few hours there.  And with some of my favorite people.  They might not like me anymore after seeing me there though.  I’m a bit “enthusiastic!”

Standing in line for ‘Soarin’  with:

Jen, Steph, Mique, Tauni, Heather and Me

The next day we headed to the convention center for the BIGGEST space of excellence….EVER!

I mean…seriously….a WALL of Mod Podge? The Plaid  booth was one of my ABSOLUTE favorites!

We got to see the new things coming out.  I’m pretty giddy about sparkly Dimensional Magic, and also the Mod Podge sampler, that gives you a little pot of each kind to try.  LOVE!

(not to mention the other side of the display that was FILLED with Martha Stewart excellence)

I could move in to GCD Studios booth!  I LOVE this wall of letters.  It’s pretty much my favorite thing to use paper supplies in ways OTHER than scrapbooking.

The I Love to Create booth had some of my favorite things as well.  I just fall apart when I see a wall of colors.  It’s like the part when Dorothy lands out of the tornado.  Simply magical!

And yes, move over Kelly.  Donna and I are BFF now.  (I’m sorry, but this was a totally out of body experience.  Because I may have had a closet covered in a giant 90210 poster.  And I took a knife down the hinges….so the bi-folds would still open, and then the gang came together when it closed. )

What was Tori Spelling doing at a craft show?  Well…..shhhh…she’s a closet crafter!  Yep.  Now we are FOR SURE buddies.  She was debuting her new line of DIY jewelery through Darice.  And it’s SUPER cute and chunky.  Totally up my alley!

After 3 days walking….and walking….and walking….I decided I needed more Mickey.  So Heather and I took a trip to Downtown Disney.

I pretty much MUST take dorky hat pictures in Disneyland.  It’s a tradish!

And we MAY have gone to Sprinkles Cupcakes on the way to the airport and picked up a treat.  I would show you a picture.  But….OH.MY.GOSH…..they were gone before I could even think of it.  Seriously the BEST cupcakes I’ve ever eaten.

Overall, a trip to a gigantic building full of crafts?  TOTALLY as awesome as I’d imagined.  And I have to resist taking those completely dorky scrapbook pages apart and dolling them up with some Basic Grey….because let’s face it, they’re ugly.  But something tells me they should stay the way they are.  Because the hokey-ness is kind of awesome at this point.

Before all that though…I need to get some rest, and see my family.

I loved hearing that my cute husband took my daughter to dance class 45 minutes early while he was in charge. She kept telling him that the lady there wasn’t her teacher. And once they finally confirmed that indeed, it was the wrong class..she said “My Mom’s not here and my Daddy is confused!”

Today is February first.  For real?  I can’t believe how fast time flies.  I’ve had so much fun getting out my Valentine’s day decor and making a few new things.  I’m excited to share them.

Valentines Day is pretty much WAY more fun now that I’m married.  I wasn’t exactly a “love machine” as a kid.
Okay, let’s get real here.
I never had a boyfriend.
I never went to prom.
I must have been fairly dorky. Like big time.

I would sit and hope that SOMEONE would acknowledge me on Valentines Day….never happened.

Until I met my hubby. He took super good care of me. Including sending me a teddy bear on our first Valentines Day with a note that says “If I’d have known you in High School…I would have sent you lots of Valentines.”

Ummmm….hello?

Now you know why I married that one!

Oddly, Valentines Day still kind of brings up some of those old feelings of “doesn’t anyone wanna “Be Mine“?

That got me thinking about writing dorky notes. You know…the ones that would get you an answer about your love?

I mean, as a younger girl (like 12 or so) I did get assigned a boyfriend. And we were assigned a “song” too.

After all the “cool kids” were paired off….I was left with “I Want Action” by Poison.
Yep.
Not kidding.
I had no idea what it meant.

I had lots of crushes. LOTS.
Lots of dramatic broken hearts. LOTS.
Lots of things that didn’t even matter. LOTS.

Now, sometimes, I want to send notes to the hubs, just to get the right “box” checked.

Do you want to hang a dorky note in your Valentine decor?

Click on the arrow with a line under it…in the above window. Just press it, and the image file should download right to your computer! Easy Peezy!

You can then print the file anywhere you’d like. This file is sized at 16×20. It will not print optimally at a bigger size. (But you can print it at a smaller size if you’d like.)

As usual PLEASE follow the following rules for Less Cake {more frosting} printables:

• LCMF prinatables are for PERSONAL USE only. You may not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
• Please do not remove the watermark.
• If posting on the internet, you MUST post a link back to this website.
• Personalization, color changes, and other customizations are not available on freebie printables. They are offered “as-is”.

No matter how old we get….we still need a little “do you love me?” reassurance every now and then. Right?

Linked to:

C’mon, 70% off!?!
Who can seriously pass that up? Those little red and white stickers over the original price that squeal “hello! I’m on sale. Don’t you want me?” (the answer is usually “yes!”)

And then I bring it home and my husband says, “do you mistake the word “sale” to mean “free”? Because they’re not the same.”

Whatever.

Regardless, the end of January and first of February are FANTASTIC times to stock up. I love to buy clothes one size too big for the kiddos. And use them next year.

And I LOVE to buy gifts.
Yep.

If you get a gift from me, and you think “my goodness you shouldn’t have. This is expensive!”
Guaranteed it wasn’t.

See, if I have a small stash of gifts on hand, I can give them out whenever I choose. And you don’t know any better. (shhh…..)

Another awesome thing you can do with clearance items is find something with a good “base”.
This little jacket is completely darling. And I needed it for my super cute niece. But I also wanted to give something that was more personal than “here’s a fleece jacket.”

It’s one of my favorite things to do for gifts.  Take something basic…make it personal.  (and possibly awesome!)

Once upon a time…when LCMF was a brand new baby….I showed you how I LOVE to customize little baby carriers.  If you saw that one….you are  LOYAL fan!

I know it’s a tried and true option, but nothing is as awesome as some mix-n-match flowers.  And they’re SO EASY.

• Start with a thin strip of material.  (keep in mind this one was for a 6 month old baby jacket, so these strips were maybe 1.5″)
• Tie a knot in one end and then start to wrap the material around that knot….while twisting the fabric just a bit.

I don’t recommend using hot glue for something that’s going to be worn.  Particularly by kids.  In fact I sewed up this bloom with upholstery thread.  It’s not BUDGING!

As you twist just sew through a few layers here and there.  So it stays in place.  There’s really no rules.  Just do it ’til you like it.

Don’t cut the thread when you’re done sewing….just sew it directly onto the garment.

Now that clearance jacket, is a one-of-a-kind gift.  And although my niece is ALREADY the cutest baby on the planet…..now she’ll be even cuter.

And don’t blame me if you go to Target for pickles and come out with amazingness at awesome prices.  You’ve been warned.

(for the record…Claussen sliced dills….in the refrigerated section….you’re welcome!)

The time has come to wrap up the FANTASTIC “One Word, One Goal” series for 2012.
Please tell me you were as COMPLETELY inspired by it as I was!!!

Every single day made me think about things in my life that I want to work on.  But I never felt guilt.  Just inspiration.  And it is quite possibly the MOST uplifting month of blogging I’ve ever had.

shout-out and THANK YOU to all of the fantastic bloggie ladies that agreed to share their words with all of us.
I hope they know that by sharing, they influenced a TON of people!

(I meant to make this all fancy and clickable…but I didn’t…because I’m “refining” what is important there you go!)

MAKE SURE these blogs are on your “must read” lists.

Whipperberry

UCreate

House of Smiths

Funky, Vintage, Lovely

Brassy Apple

30 Days

Somewhat Simple

Blue Cricket

KoJo Designs

SNAP! Conference

The Crafting Chicks

Crap I’ve Made

Eighteen25

The Idea Room

Vintage Revivals

I have been so inspired that I will be super sad to see it all go…..but I do have to admit that I’m EXCITED to get back to “blogging as normal”, and sharing some fun Valentine Tutorials as well as a Holiday Printable or two.

But before we let all this fantastic inspiration go…I have ONE MORE PROJECT.  I have received SO many lovely comments and E-Mails about your personal “One Word, One Goal” posts for this year.  I WISH I could feature each of these posts individually.  But instead, I thought I’d make a place where we can gather them all together.

In lieu of a tradish “linky party” to share our “One Word” goals.  I’ve created a “One Word, One Goal” board on the fab-oo PINTEREST SITE.

If you have a “One Word, One Goal” post sharing your personal word for 2012, please leave a link here in the LCMF comments.  (or shoot me an e-mail) and I’d LOVE to “Pin It” to our inspirational board.  How fun will it be to have a BUNCH of inspirational posts all within one click?

I’ve already got all the LCMF One Word 2012 posts up and ready to go.  And I can’t WAIT to add yours!

Well, the time has come. Today’s “One Word, One Goal 2012″ guest will be very last. (what’s that thing? Last the best of all the game? Or…I could break out into a sultry rendition of Vanessa Williams “Save the Best for Last.” –why are 90′s songs so freakin’ awesome?–

Anyway. I LOVE the last contributor for this series!

Mandi from Vintage Revivals

I think I first met Mandi on Twitter.  And MAN she cracked me up.  Plus it was probably about 4 tweets in before she told me she “loved my guts.”    And I was pretty much smitten after that.  She has SINGLE HANDEDLY defined my design tastes over the last year.  Yep.  She’s gotten me to re-embrace gold.  And she and I even named a paper-mache Rhino together. (pretty sure it was that shout-out on TV that cemented my love for Mandi for all-times!)

If you want to get into a groove with decor….check out Mandi’s blog!

And on a completely serious note….which I rarely do…Miss Mandi has inspired thousands of people with her “real life story“.  It reads like a novel, and ends with the most glorious family ever.  I am not only in love with Mandi’s style, but I am in love with her courage.  Courage to walk through whatever is handed to her.  And courage to share with others.  That’s the kind of friends I need.  People that inspire me to be better.

Mandi, you make me wanna be a better woman, sista!

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So I know that every single amazing blogger that has gone before me has professed their love for Miss Ellie G.

BUT I love her more than anyone else does.  I just need to say that.  Moving on.

My one word for 2012 is Choose.

I am a busy lady, there are tons and tons of things that I feel my life up with.  Stupid things, great things, important things, things that should not be important.  You feel me right?  I cant tell you how many times I look up from my computer and its 2:30 and time to pick my daughter up from school and I have not done a DANG thing all day (cue the Mom, Wife, friend guilt).

I get so frustrated with myself because of the things that I let take my time.  Things that aren’t  important.  Like Facebook.  Or the Kardashians.

So this year I am going to CHOOSE (like as in make a conscious decision) about what I am going to do.  I am going to play with my girls more, I am going to be the kind of wife that my husband deserves.  But the most important choice is the one that is inspired by this quote by Ezra Taft Benson:

“May we be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, CHOOSE to follow Him, be changed for Him, captained by Him, consumed in Him, and born again”

Life is made up of small choices.  Sometimes the choices that seem the smallest are the most important in the long run because those small choices make up our days, weeks, months and years.
Yay Mandi!  See why I love her so?  And for the record, I love the Kardashians.  Khloe and I are gonna be besties one day.  You just wait!

I actually LOVE the word “choose”.  It’s just so freeing.  It says “I’m driving this ship!”

Like: “I can choose to be pleasant today or I can choose to be a hag.”
“I can choose to eat this entire bag of chocolate Twizzlers or I can choose to eat some grapes.”
“I can choose to skip showering today or I can choose to smell like a foot.”

It’s all up to me. So stinkin’ empowering!

If you aren’t already…get on the stick and head over to Mandi’s blog! Tell her Ellie G sent you, and mention that I love her guts!

PS….be sure to check in tomorrow for a wrap-up of the “One Word” series, and a way for you to share your very own “One Word”

Today’s One Word guest…well…I might be at a loss for words to describe how much I love her. Not in a huggie way. ‘Cause she hates that. But probably in a “I feel kind of sad-ish on days I don’t talk to you” way.

Char from Crap I’ve Made

Char and I bond over being in the “Our Dad’s Died” club.  We both have an affinity for pom-poms.  She is a bright color girl.  And she put “Crap” in the title of her blog.  Which pretty much made me like her from the get go.  She is kind.  Even though she jokes a lot and will tell you differently…..she is KIND!

She is seriously the BEST MOM!  Her kids are hysterical. And my daughter MAY one to marry one of her sons.

She’s the first one to admit that she’s bought 2 Diet Cokes in the McDonald’s drive-thru.  And they were both for her.  And immediately I thought “why the HECK didn’t I think of that??”

She just had her Valentine’s Day mantel featured on Better Homes & Gardens website. (yay Char!)

And I support her 100% in her recent announcement that she’s “quitting the BUSINESS of blogging“.  As long as she still checks in with me everyday.  I don’t need a pillow made for me, Char.  But a little off color humor is ALWAYS appreciated.

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Hey there! Char here from Crap I’ve Made. SUPER glad to be here on account of my undying love and devotion for Lara and also on account of the fact that I NEEDED to come up with a word this year. I usually do some sort of resolving/goals/setting myself up for failure, but this year I wanted to do better. I wanted to do more.

I’ve had this word selected for a couple of weeks, even before I posted yesterday about quitting the business of blogging. In fact, this word may have been what drove me to it….

mend

1. to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing.

2. to remove or correct defects or errors in.

3. to set right; make better;

Mend also has a sew-y connotation for me, which I love (I’m a sewing dork at heart). I like the idea that mending is not “replacing with bigger and better and flashier”, it’s fixing what you’ve got and making it whole, sound, and usable again. It’s admitting that what you have and who you are is good enough. It’s a process of improvement and correction.

And so, I’m beginning to mend.

I’m beginning to mend relationships.

I’m beginning to mend habits.

I’m beginning to mend life.

If we’re keeping it real (‘cause that’s the only way I know how to be), we ALL have something that needs mending…something we want to “make better”, right? Maybe you handled something badly with your kids or your spouse. Maybe you haven’t called a friend you really should have. Maybe you said something unkind. Maybe you thought about doing a good deed and didn’t.

Now’s your chance.

Mend something.

For reals.  It’s like she goes from comedian to wise advisor in a split second!  Now you can see why I love this girl so much!  That, and the fact that she tells me to “shut it” in the most LOVING way.  She’s hysterical!

We will all be checking out Crap I’ve Made whenever Char feels like checking in.  Because she’s only blogging for herself now.  And I pretty much think that’s absolute genius!

Today’s “One Word” guest is another of my bloggie idols and real-life friends.  I pretty much talk to Amy online everyday.  And when I don’t….I feel sad.  That’s because she makes me feel so HAPPY!

Amy from The Idea Room

The first time I ever met Amy…she came up and introduced herself to me.  TO ME!!!  She’s all “I have a blog called The Idea Room.”
Ummmm….HELLO?  YOU ARE FAMOUS!
But you would never know that. She was so nice to me. I almost fainted. But that’s just how Amy is. She is amazingly awesome, and sweet, and hilarious. And she is so stinkin’ supportive. She’s one of my best underwires. (please tell me you read the post about bras…otherwise this reference sounds so weird!)

Plus, put aside how nice and awesome she is…her blog is ROCKSTAR!

She’s remodeling right now and sharing a BUNCH of the projects.  I think she’s building me a guest room so I can come stay.  Thanks, Amy!

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I am so excited to be a part of Lara’s one word series. Lara is one of my very favorite people because she is so real. She has an amazing way of expressing herself through words. Thanks Lara for including me in this fun series.

I spent a lot of time thinking about words and their respective meanings. I wanted to find the perfect word that would ring true for me and my thoughts as we transition into a new year.

I am not very good about setting New Years Resolutions because every year I seem to choose similar goals to the year before. Hmm …something about that feels very wrong! Right? Then I realize another year has come and gone without any real resolution. Can anyone relate? (please say yes?!)

But I like the idea of having a word…one word. A word that I can reflect on throughout the year…and word that will help me choose to see things as they really are. A word to help me keep my perspective as to the events and everyday moments in my life. The word is have chosen is…

 
Clarity. Clearness. Freedom from ambiguity. The older I get the more I realize how important it is to be able to view a situation in life for what it really is.

Most will never be rescued by a handsome prince.

Most of our kids are not going to be perfect.

Sometimes things get broken.

Sometimes things get misunderstood.

Sometimes people are mean.

Sometimes we may lose a loved one.

Some of our dreams may never come true.

Sometimes we get the short end of the stick.

Let’s face it…sometimes life is messy.

 
But I believe that if we choose to see things as they really are, we can be happy with what really matters.
 
I have chosen the word Clarity because there are a few areas in my life that are of the upmost of importance to me. I want to be sure that they will not fall to the wayside as I get caught up in all the “other trappings” that compete for my time and attention. What is important is having the…

to determine just exactly what they are!

For me…the list is short…

my Religion

my Marriage

my Children

my Health

my Individuality

my Authenticity

I realize that when I am focusing my energy 100% towards my children…I can’t possibly focus on my other equally important roles…and vice versa. We can’t possibly be 100% in everything all the time. It just isn’t possible…for anyone!

But…when I get a chance to spend some one on one time with my husband…I can focus on him 100%. Or when I have a quiet moment with one of my children, I can choose to be be 100% present in that moment. It may not be possible to have several of these “moments of clarity” in one day. But as long as we are looking and seeking for these moments of clarity and taking advantage of them while we can…I think I will be on the right track to living a life filled with clarity for the things that matter most.

 
This year I want I to remember to not let my life be muddled with too many extras…extras that can “muddy” up my clarity and ability to determine what is truly important.
 
 
Yep. Amy. First…that Strawberry picture is the most marvie pic I’ve seen in….ever. Secondly, I think I RARELY have clarity. RARELY. And maybe that’s why I feel so frantic all the time. I will still drink my drinks without clarity. Because, let’s face it…crystal Pepsi was nasty. But in my THINKING and LIFE I will strive for more clarity.
 
 
I KNOW you already love Amy’s blog. But if not. (shh…I’ll keep it a secret between just you and me…) Head over to The Idea Room and see what she’s got going on today!
 
 
 
(ps…I’ve had a lot of people share their One Word posts with me via comments or e-mail. I wish I could feature them all! But, I promise at the end of the event we’re gonna have a place for EVERYONE to share! Deal?)

Today’s one word guest is one of my very first blog crushes.  Like BIG TIME!  I think I’ve written them embarrassing fan letters.  And they’re still nice to me!

The Girls from Eighteen25

I have loved getting to know these girls (mostly Jen, because she e-mails me) over the last year or so.  The first time she e-mailed me I almost passed out.  It was like the Eighteen25 effect.   Everything they touch turns to actual blog gold.  I’m always so inspired when I go there.

Which is why I wasn’t the least bit surprised to get their contribution for this series…and was totally blown away!  I know I say this all the time.  But I NEVER would have thought of this word.  And I love it!  Wait till you read it…you’ll love it too.

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See?  Isn’t that amazing!  It does remind me of that old SNL skit with Stewart Smalley.  “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dogonne it….PEOPLE LIKE ME!”  And as much as that makes me laugh….mostly because that dude now is on Capitol Hill.   It really is an awesome way to start your day!

Head over to Eighteen25 and join the fan club.  Whoever gets their autograph first….wins!

(ps…I’ve had a lot of people share their One Word posts with me via comments or e-mail. I wish I could feature them all! But, I promise at the end of the event we’re gonna have a place for EVERYONE to share! Deal?)

Oh my gosh!  Does this inspiration have to end?  I’ve loved every single day of this series.  NO worries quite yet though, there are still some amazing guests to wrap up the series.  And today is no exception.

Today’s guest is from the amazing blog The Crafting Chicks.   A blog of 5 friends (some of them related) that shares every kind of creativity under the sun.

Kirsten; The Crafting Chicks

I love each one of the “chicks”.  But I’ve spent some super fun time getting to know Kirsten.  She is a CRACK UP!  And she enjoys sugar as much as I do.  Which is saying something.  It’s somehow bonding to find out that a person doesn’t find you wacky when they learn that you want to be Queen Candy or Princess Lollipop.

Besides her love of all things sugary sweet, she’s oozing with talent.  And she shares it with everyone.  Which is pretty stinkin’ generous!  Let’s find out what Kirsten is focusing on this year…..

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I’m so excited to be here with Lara and all of you at her awesome blog, Less Cake More Frosting!  I love Lara, she is absolutely amazing.  I first got to know her love of others when she would leave the most encouraging and sweet comments on our blog day after day.  When I met her in person at EVO Conference last year, she was just as wonderful in person.  She is as genuine as they come.  REALLY.

The first time we talked on the phone, it was a good 2-3 hours and I LOVE her story and the pieces that make Lara, she’s freakin’ awesome.

I am here on behalf of all five us, CRAFTING CHICKS and I know I speak for them when I say that I have la la la LOVED all these posts from each of these bloggers!  It makes me so proud to be here with them to share the word I have carefully picked.  After each post, I just want to call the author of the post and shout “HOORAY” with them about their word and cheer them on.

I love people, their stories, and what makes them go.  So cheers to all of you and expect a hug and excited shriek next time I see you!

I have been thinking about this for a while now, and I’m not going to lie, I picked a couple different words and as they sat in my heart for a couple weeks each, I would move a litter further…dug a little deeper…searched a little more diligently…prayed to know what my focus should be this year.  It went like this:

COURAGE…..

It started here.  Courage to always do what I know I should do, courage to stand and to leap, and to have faith, courage to believe in all my wild and crazy ideas and adventures…but courage didn’t seem to wrap all my desires into one.

Then it was HOPE…..

hope in the future, hope in my parenting skills, hope that I can be the woman I know I can be if I trust in the Lord, hope that I will be able to see “not awesome” situations as awesome , hope that I can HAVE courage….but this too didn’t seem to satisfy.

Then it was REVERENCE….

to find the calm in the storm, to give quiet and humble glory to God, to be still, to ponder, to “PAUSE”, to be grateful.

Then it was CHARITY.

CHARITY.

I have heard the word charity all my life, I have never quite known or appreciated it before. It has always sounded cliche to me.  I’ve always heard phrases like, “charity suffereth long and is kind,” and never really quite understood exactly what it meant.  I can’t wait to have a better understanding as this year develops. This was the word that encompassed ALL the words, and I kind of like it…a lot.

CHARITY.

DICTIONARY DEFINITION:  Benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity, generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also : aid given to those in need, an institution engaged in relief of the poor, public provision for the relief of the needy, lenient judgment of others
BIBLE’S DEFINITION: 1 Corinthians 13:7 is says, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things… “Charity never faileth.”

Silvia Allred’s definition of charity:

“When we have charity, we are willing to serve and help others when it is inconvenient and with no thought of recognition or reciprocation. We don’t wait to be assigned to help, because it becomes our very nature. As we choose to be kind, caring, generous, patient, accepting, forgiving, inclusive, and selfless, we discover we are abounding in charity.”

Charity makes this all possible all at once.

What CHARITY means to me this year:

• Thinking of others before self:  taking the time to not just play with my kids, but really engage, with my kids when I am in the middle of a project.
• Taking the time to shut my computer {we bloggers are NEVER on our computers…nope} and give my hubs a snuggle or a foot rub.
• Serve when it may not be the most convenient time…give a phone call to cheer up a friend, put off a deadline to snuggle my kids, put away the vacuum to play the piano and have Quincie sing along
• Always walk in a room of strangers ready to hear someone else’s story and LOVE IT, taking time to seek out the lost or afraid and let them know that they are not alone
• Never get offended when something may not be fair and assume the best about their intentions
• ADORE others in their weaknesses and inspire change
• When I feel sad or let down, go and serve another
• Be a able to endure and thrive in life like a warrior always knowing that the love of others and reverence to God gives me ALL my strength.

My favorite quote on charity that sums it all up:

Joseph B. Worthlin said,

“Without charity-or the pure love of Christ-whatever else we accomplish matters little.  With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive.”

I’m looking forward to a year the will be so VIBRANT & ALIVE because of CHARITY……my challenge to you too will choose to have a year that is VIBRANT & ALIVE through CHARITY!

xoxo, KIRSTEN

& Thanks for this opportunity Lara my dear

 
 
So, that was BEAUTIFUL!  I’ve always been kind of perplexed by that word, Charity.  Is it love?  Is it service?  What exactly is it?  And guess what, Kirsten….now I know EXACTLY what it is. It’s “walk in a room of strangers ready to hear someone else’s story and LOVE IT.“  That might possibly be the best challenge I’ve heard all month!  For real!
 

Make sure you head over to The Crafting Chicks.  Not kidding.  They’re all super cool.  And cute.  And talented.  Why don’t I dislike them?  Well…because if you hang out with them, some of it might rub off on you!  That’s why!
 
 
 
(ps…I’ve had a lot of people share their One Word posts with me via comments or e-mail. I wish I could feature them all! But, I promise at the end of the event we’re gonna have a place for EVERYONE to share! Deal?)

Today’s one word guest is a super dear friend of mine.  And is an AMAZING PERSON!   If you haven’t met Tauni…..you’re missing out!

Tauni: founder of SNAP!

The Creative Conference

Tauni is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.  She is nurturing and sweet.  She makes you feel smart, and valued.  It’s pretty much the greatest feeling ever.  No wonder people flock to be by her side!  And this year Tauni is undertaking the very first SNAP! Conference.

Geared toward anyone with a creative mind,  SNAP! will feature speakers from every aspect of the creative community.  From parties, to handmade, to crafting, to DIY.  It’s all gonna be there at SNAP!

I seriously can’t wait until April!

Let’s let the busy and awesome Miss Tauni share her word with us for 2012…..

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When Lara asked if I would participate in her one word resolution series I was supremely flattered and  jumped at the chance.

Fast forward several weeks later and that jump? Well, it’s required me to cover a lot more ground than I had initially bargained on.

I have never set a one word resolution…This shouldn’t shock anyone who knows me considering I am the type of girl who always uses 10 words when five would probably do!

Needless to say, this post very nearly became 101 Beautiful Words. 

After a lot of reflection, a little narrowing down and a bit of hesitation, my 2012 One Word Resolution is:

To say that I’ve got a lot going on right now, would be putting it mildly. This year promises to be filled with big events. Events, that depending on how I handle them, could emerge as my life’s greatest successes or striking failure.

It’s the fear of that failure that terrifies me. It is distracting. It can be paralyzing.

It’s why you’ll occasionally find me watching reality television instead of responding to important emails or playing with my dog instead of the boys that will soon be mine.

This year, I will have the courage to put it all on the line. This year, I will have the courage to become a wife AND a parent. This year, I will have the courage to stand up and speak, but also sit down and listen. This year, I will have the courage to make my dreams come true.

 
(ps…I’ve had a lot of people share their One Word posts with me via comments or e-mail. I wish I could feature them all! But, I promise at the end of the event we’re gonna have a place for EVERYONE to share! Deal?)

Welcome back to our very last full week of “One Word, One Goal-2012″.  I can’t believe it’s almost over!  Seems like lots of blogs have moved on past the whole New Year thing right on to Valentines.    But I have a very specific reason for keeping this up throughout January.  It’s because…well….most of the New Year’s resolutions are already broken.
Yep.  I ate chocolate for breakfast.
I’m sorry.
It’s that time.
It was an emergency.

I want you to think about an ONGOING goal. An ongoing inspiration. Not something that’s just gonna let you down in a week. Deal?

So let’s move into one more week of REAL personal reflection….shall we?

Today’s guest is from one of my very favorite places to get visual inspiration.  Every single image on the amazing KOJO Designs is beautiful.

And imagine my absolute delight to find out that dear Kirstin (1/2 their design team) is a freakin’ sweetie-pie-pants?  Seriously?  How awesome is it when you find out that someone oozing with talent is hysterically awesome at the same time?  (well, it’s awesome once you decide not to hate them for being amazing!)

I mean…are you kidding me with this window sitch?  Whew!  It’s straight from the pages of a magazine….right?

 

I have LOVED chatting with Kirstin online and I can’t WAIT to meet her in person.  Maybe some of her awesomeness will rub-off on me.

 

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Hey less cake {more frosting} friends! I am Kirstin, half of the sister team that blogs over at kojodesigns. I absolutely adore Lara and am thrilled to be here, sharing my Word of 2012.

 

not my purse! image via

 

I know that we just met, me and you, but can I tell you something?
I’m a bit of a perfectionist.
I love having all my ducks in a row. I’d love it if every day I were perfectly put together (and wearing heels- I love heels but rarely wear them anymore), my kiddos were well behaved and brilliant and dressed in J Crew-y goodness (or better, something handmade and boutique-y), my entire house stayed in a state of pristine clean, my purse was organized and full of organic snacks, the blog always had a new-and-perfectly-executed-and-photographed project on it, we ate gourmet meals every night (prepared on a budget, of course), and I were an excellent wife and friend.

But that little paragraph makes me tired just typing it. Mostly because I know that, I couldn’t ever achieve such a state. Even if I didn’t sleep.

 

And so, instead of continually chasing “perfect,” 2012 is the year of letting some things go in order to pursue the things that matter most. To be a great mama and keep up with the budget and check in with my husband and friends and attempt to create beautiful things, I need to let go of things that are good in order to really chase the things that are BEST.

 

With all of that being said, my word for this year is “Balance.”

Trite and overused as it may seem, it is the thing that my family and I need most this year.

Specifically, I have three ways that I am going to strive for balance this year (I’d love it if you’d join me in any of these that are a good fit for you!)-

1- Lower my productivity. I am a planner (you probably got that from the ‘perfectionist’ paragraph). I am also a big fan of self-imposed deadlines. However, last year I took on too many projects and I was too much of a stickler about my self-imposed-deadlines. This year, I am going to be less productive (but more balanced!).

 

my mama/running partner

2- Prioritize sleep and exercise. These things are the first things to go when life gets crazy. And then I get grouchy and easily irritated and just generally not that fun to be around. Simply put, I like myself and my life better when I make sleep and exercise a priority.

 

the little bookworms themselves

3- Play. I have a three year old and a one year old. Besides my husband, I think they’re the most precious treasure I’ve been entrusted with. I have big plans this year for more Candyland, more snow angels (or even better- pool days!), more snuggling up to read (they both LOVE books), more treks around the Denver Zoo, more legos. I am pretty sure I won’t ever look back and say, “Gosh I should’ve updated facebook more often instead of reading so many books to Burke and Piper Jane.” And I’m really excited about taking more time to Play this year.

 

Cheers to 2012, friends! In the case that your 2011 was more chaotic than you’d hoped or if you are a perfectionist like me that needs to knock a few things off of the “Good Things” list, won’t you join me in the pursuit of balance this year?

(ps…I’ve had a lot of people share their One Word posts with me via comments or e-mail. I wish I could feature them all! But, I promise at the end of the event we’re gonna have a place for EVERYONE to share! Deal?)

I’ve had tons of people say “I’m so jealous that you live by so many extraordinary women bloggers.”
And my first reaction is to try and apologize.
I mean….I’m so sorry that everyone doesn’t have that opportunity.
But on the other hand….FREAK!  It really is amazing.  And I AM super lucky.

Today’s guest is another that I’ve had the pleasure of stalking following online, but also staying up and giggling into the wee hours of the morning with.

Shelley from The House of Smiths

Shelley is obviously a rockstar among the blogging world.  And her pantry?  Well it might be as famous as she is!  (ps….I just want a pantry….let alone one that is cuter than 90% of the rooms in my home)

But I think, even more than her CRAZY talents in decor and DIY….people adore Shelley because of how she just says it like she feels it.  And isn’t afraid to be herself.  People really love that.  And she is AMAZING at making us say “hey, me too!”

You’re gonna love Shelley’s word today.  Rather than inspiring me to think….this one makes me want to DO SOMETHING.  Like, actually get off my rear.
Which is quite a feat.
Because I adore sitting on my rear!

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Until last year, I had never worn bright lipstick. Seems trivial I know. But whenever I tried to walk out of the house wearing it, I would stop myself and think…
 “What if someone thinks I look like a clown???”… “What if it’s too bright? What if I get it on my teeth and don’t know it!?”
 
I REALLY liked the look of  ”sassy bold lips” on others, but I could never convince myself to actually follow through, for the fear of looking ridiculous. Well… a few weeks ago I finally got the courage, bought myself a tube of Mac’s Full Fuchsia lipstick and wore those pretty pink lips IN PUBLIC, for the very first time.

 

 

And Guess what? Besides an eyebrow raise from my husband (who thought hot-pink lips were just an ulterior motive for something else)… nobody really said anything! The lipstick police didn’t pull me over, and not even one person assumed I had rode in on a unicycle.

I quickly realized that I was my own worst critic. The only person who held me back from doing things that I thought I couldn’t… was ME.  So I pose this question…

 

 
 
My word for 2012 is:

 

 

 
The great thing about taking risks in life, is that there are only two possible outcomes:

1. You realize your risk was TOTALLY worth it, you forget about your feelings of inadequacy and become wildly successful and happy…

or

2. You fail, and have to go through the full gamut of emotions, from embarrassed to sad, hurt or silly.

 

 

I love the quote by Fredrick Wilcox…

Progress always involves risk; you can’t expect to steal second base, and still keep your foot on first.
 
 

When I started blogging I never even dreamed that it would take me to where I am today. An opportunity to experience new things, meet fabulous new people, make amazing new friends and have a full time job doing something I truly love. But in order for me to get to where I am today, I’ve had to take some pretty big risks. Until this last year, I also realized how many of those “risks” I also shy away from for fear of failing or looking stupid. It wasn’t until I found this quote about a month ago, that I really started finding the courage to change all that.

 

 

My older brother once said to me… “Nobody happy and successful got that way by playing it safe.” It was like a light bulb went off in my brain, and I realized that even in the few times in my life that I HAVE taken risks and they’ve turned out like outcome #2, where I feel totally silly or embarrassed afterwards, I’ve also walked away with something else…

 
Life experience and the overall great feeling of knowing that

I TRIED.
 
 

When I’m old, wrinkly and grey, I want to be able to look back at my life and know that I did everything that I wanted to do. And even if I didn’t succeed… I sure as heck tried my hardest.

 

So my challenge to YOU this year, is to take some RISKS. Start small if you have to.

 
* Wear a trendy hair accessory or try sporting skinny jeans with a pair of killer boots, for the first time.

* Call that neighbor who you feel like you could possibly be friends with, and ask her if she wants to meet up for dinner or shopping.

* Stop looking for the ‘perfect swatch color’ and just paint that DAMN WALL ALREADY!

 
Quit being a roadblock for yourself. Get out of your own way, and start living a fuller life.

Just simply making the decision to start taking more risks…

is half the battle.

 

Of course Miss Shelley just says it in a way….a Shelley way!  I love it!

And PS I totally rocked some red lips this summer, Shelley.  I couldn’t have felt more self-conscious if my naked bum was flapping in the wind for all to see.  But it was pretty freeing.  (the lips…NOT the rear)  And now I like to sport them every now and then.  Just to prove a point to myself.  She’s right.  You should RISK it!!!!

I’m sure you already do follow all of Shelley’s genius over at The House of Smiths.  But just in case you don’t…run, don’t walk.  To a daily dose of inspiration.

(ps…I’ve had a lot of people share their One Word posts with me via comments or e-mail. I wish I could feature them all! But, I promise at the end of the event we’re gonna have a place for EVERYONE to share! Deal?)

Welcome back to day 8 of “One Word, One Goal-2012″. I don’t know about you, but I look forward to it every day!

(ps…I’ve had a lot of people share their One Word posts with me via comments or e-mail. I wish I could feature them all! But, I promise at the end of the event we’re gonna have a place for EVERYONE to share! Deal?)

Today’s guest is the author of one of the VERY FIRST blogs I started following. Something about her blog name made it so I KNEW I would love her blog from very first glance. I LOVE simplicity.

Steph from Somewhat Simple

Now, I’ve had the fantastic opportunity of getting to know Steph in-real-life as well as online. And I get to go hang out with her in a couple weeks in California. (so excited!)

Somewhat Simple is one of those blogs where you can get inspiration for ALL KINDS of things. From decor, to creativity, to being a Mom and woman.

(I SERIOUSLY needed this little guy last night when I started bagging up toys and threatening to take them to the thrift store where they could be given to “little children who would take care of them!”)

And mostly, I just have to say that Steph is hysterical, and super kind. I’ve outed her before on this, but one time I totally forgot about getting a guest post to her, and she bailed me out. I was seriously bawling, I felt so bad. And she was so kind. After that, I loved her forever.

So let’s see what Steph has for our series today…..

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Perhaps my greatest blessing in life is the chance I have to be a mom to these 4 darling kids. I adore each of them and I’d like to think the feeling is mutual! I love being a mom and I wouldn’t trade this job of mine for anything in the world. But as with anything in life, I know I can do better, which is why this year, my efforts in becoming a better mom are summed up with the word

EMBRACE.

Kids grow up way too fast, and I want to embrace every single second of this time that I have with them. I don’t want to look back and wish I had taken the time to play longer, to laugh harder, to teach better, and to hug tighter. I don’t want their childhoods to slip through my fingertips.

I want to hold them tightly and tickle them with kisses ‘til their sweet belly-laughs fill my ears and are impossible to forget.

I want to find joy in the little things.

I want to be the kind of mom who can put down whatever she is doing to play Candy Land with her kids.

I want to bake and cook in the kitchen with at least 1 kid standing on a kitchen chair next to me- {perhaps in a matching apron!}

I want to be the kind of mom who takes pictures- lots and lots of pictures- of the types of things you don’t set up a backdrop for; the everyday moments that make you both happy, and frustrated. The details you never want to forget- the smiles, the scowls, the messy faces and dirty feet.

I want to be the kind of mom that lets the phone go unanswered and turns the TV and computer off because her child is yelling, “Mom, watch this” from the backyard.

I want to embrace motherhood in its entirety- to appreciate the fun parts, and learn to laugh at the hard parts.

I want to focus on embracing the blessings that make my life fabulous!

I made the following printable for my home that I will keep framed next to my bed. Feel free to download it is you’d like to!

Embrace Printable

I hope this will be the reminder I need to stop for just a second longer and embrace those precious kids of mine. They grow so fast, and I don’t want to miss a single second of the time we have to spend together! Cheers!

You’re right Steph.  Embracing all those moments is SOOOO important.  In my own life, having lost my Dad at a very young age, I can totally attest to the need to “embrace” every moment.  You never know. 

Plus….embrace makes me think about hugs.  And they are one of my favorite things in the whole wide world!

Go over and visit Steph at Somewhat Simple.  You will not be disappointed!

Today’s “One Word, One Goal-2012″ series guest is one of my favies.  (do I say that EVERY day?  Well I mean it every day!)  I have stayed up into the night talking to her.  And laughing with her.  Only weird thing…..WE’VE NEVER MET!

I know! Right?  That’s the funny thing about online.
But when we finally do meet, (crossing my fingers for…maybe the end of the month) we’re gonna know each other already. Like, she knows more about me than some of my closest friends. And that’s why it’s AWESOME!

Mique from 30 Days.

PS…that’s Mique (said like Mickey) which my children think is the bestest name they’ve EVER HEARD!

Oh did I also mention that she’s another uber talented lady? She makes the cutest gifts with free printables.  I LOVED this one the first moment I saw it.  What a great way to welcome a new person into the neighborhood.

I can’t wait for you to hear what Mique has for you today!

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Can I just say how excited I am to be here? Not only do I love Less Cake, More Frosting but I adore Lara. She’s hilarious, real and uber talented. Thank you thank you Miss Lara for inviting me to be a part of this series.

SO…when Lara asked me to be a part of this, I started thinking about what my one word would be. I would think about it while I was running errands, looking at blog posts, doing the dishes, you name it. I thought for sure it would come to me in the car because that is where all my best ideas happen.

But no. I was stumped.

I wanted to have a word that nobody else would choose and that would stand out to me so that when I saw it, I would be excited and motivated. Time passed. Still nothin’. Finally the other day I decided to search dance terms.
Alright – stop, collaborate and listen…..

Let me just say – I am NOT a dancer. My kids could attest to that. But a few months ago when I was trying to get back into shape I took a zumba class with my friend. From the first step I was hooked. I fully admit that I got zero latin moves handed down from my ancestors and that I look like a grade A nerd every single time. BUT I adore it.
What on earth does this have to do with my word? Taking that class made me nervous and anxious. But I pushed through, went and am now LOVE it. Had I stayed on my couch I would’ve never known the true joy that I get from shaking my booty zumba. That is just like life- I am often afraid of what could go wrong or how dumb I will feel. It is so limiting. When I make the effort to push through something tough (even if it is as silly as a zumba class)- I am always the better for it.

Make a fool of myself? Learn how NOT to do something. Fall flat on my face? Learn how to get back up even when it’s hard.

This year I am determined to…

LEAP. (<—–that is my one word)

There are some changes on my horizon. Some big ones. I will not let fear rule me.

Images via Sweet William and Torbein

Other dance words that put a smile on my face: twirl, sway, frolic, whirl.
So I made i gigantic poster to remind myself:

After I (finally) picked my word and showed Josh the poster I made. His comment:
“Oh I thought it was because it was leap year.” Ummmm ok. Sure. That too.

Here’s to building my own wings….

Well Mique…this is just awesome.  I love this word.  You know, I’ve always wished that I could dance.  I MAY have tried to teach dances to the neighborhood children.  I MAY have taken my ghetto blaster in the backyard to coreograph routines.  I MAY NOT be very good at it.  But man……I WISH I WERE!  I should just take the “leap” and let my butt fall where it may!

Put Mique and 30 Days on your everyday reading list.  You won’t be disappointed!

Today’s “One Word, One Goal-2012″ series guest is a fabulous blogger and a a very successful designer and business owner. Plus she totally photoshopped a pic of she and I onto the sisters during the feather dance in White Christmas. I mean, truly. That says something about a person right there. .

Megan from Brassy Apple

I’m serious.  If you want to make me your Best Friend forever, photoshop my face onto something I adore.  Megan figured that one out…and now she’s stuck with me.

“In all living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.”

- Gordon B. Hinckley

 

It’s small enough to fit into my purse as a constant reminder and it still has room to journal about the adventures that come my way this year that aren’t even on my list.

As they say in the movie UP -