JulieK | Embrace the Everyday

Happy New Year!

January 2, 2013 By JulieK

I cannot believe that we are starting a new year! Last year flew by so fast!! One of my goals this year is to slow things down… Enjoy the quiet (if I can find some) and find peace this year… Do you make New Year Resolutions? I usually make a few, and actually accomplish some :) Here’s what I’m planning to work on this year (knowing full well that it’s a work in progress)…

1. Go to the gym and lose enough weight that I can wear my wedding/engagement rings. Last year I put on enough weight to make my rings unwearable. I can’t stand the thought that I am going to stay “fat” so I can’t get my rings sized… I just need to get a bit healthier :)

2. My “52 to do project.” My goal is to make 52 scarves (or other warm things) to donate this year, one thing a week. More information on this will be coming soon as I chronicle the things I make!

3. Daily Audio Bible. I love to listen to the Daily Audio Bible, and for the last 2 years, I’ve made it all the way through to July, and then we go away for 2 weeks and I can’t catch up… This year’s goal is to make it all the way to the end of the year!

4. Just say no… I am busy, I have a full time job, a husband and 2 kids… Plus a crafting (crop) business to take care of. I am planning to simplify this year and remove as much stress as I can so that I can enjoy the things I do even more!

5. A Happy Jar… My sister posted this idea on Facebook the other day, and I thought it was brilliant! Find a jar (you know mine will be decorated at some point) and as happy things happen through the year, write them down and put them in the jar. At the end of the year, you’ll have a whole jar of the happy memories!! A brilliant and simple way to add more focus to the good!!

Happy New Year Everyone!! I hope 2013 brings you good health and happiness!!

SHOLDIT Scarf/Wrap Review

December 31, 2012 By JulieK

I was thrilled to be asked to review the SHOLDIT! What a great idea, especially for this time of year. When I’m shopping or traveling during the winter I hate to carry around my heavy purse… No matter which jacket I wear, the purse slips off my shoulder constantly and drives me batty! The SHOLDIT is the perfect solution. It’s a scarf/wrap and can be worn in many different ways, but it also features 2 zippered pockets to carry what you need! If you’re looking for more information on the SHOLDIT, here’s where you can find it… at their WEBSITE, follow them on FACEBOOK or their TWITTER

Here’s a photo of me with the SHOLDIT ready for New Year’s Eve in Boston (we were home WELL before the ball dropped :) but the family events in town were really fun way to spend the afternoon and evening, especially when you didn’t have to carry a purse… the T was so crowded!!

The SHOLDIT that I received was orange, which happens to be my favorite color! I’m loving it and I only wear it as a scarf, but it works fine with my big heavy coat with one less thing to carry along and keep track of at the stores and other random places that we go!

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

Book Review: I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb

December 19, 2012 By JulieK

I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb

When I saw the title of this book, and the beautiful cover, I knew I “needed” to read it. From the description:

One day at a time, one prayer at a time, a busy working mother and playful six-year-old daughter transformed their bedtime prayers. They started rushed and tired. Distracted, “It’s late. Let’s go.”

And then, gradually, something happened. A thank you here. A vulnerable moment there. The perfunctory prayers became . . . opportunities. “What did you do today? What did you learn? Anything else?”

I simply love the idea of spending a few quiet moments before bed to reflect on the day, especially with the hectic and even frantic pace of our everyday lives. We rush from place to place, and event to event, and I believe it’s important to hesitate and pause to reflect on what we’re really doing. This book does just that. The collection itself, of the nightly prayers of a 6 year old (recorded, then transcribed) are sweet and wonderful on their own. I found the added commentary and reflections of the Mom even more poignant. Pausing nightly, whether you actually pray or not, can have a profound effect on the daily hustle and bustle of life. I really enjoyed this sweet book, and would recommend it to anyone who wants a fairly quick read and sweet “story.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Christmas Book is Done!!

December 10, 2012 By JulieK

I am so happy that this year’s Christmas book is done!! We call it the “Christmas Book” but really, it’s my year in review book which I give as a Christmas Gift! (and has no actual Christmas pictures in it!!) The book is 50 pages, and a pictorial overview of many (not all) of the things that we did throughout the year. I use Photoshop Elements and digital kits and elements to create the book, when it’s done I upload it to an online publisher (www.lulu.com) and have it printed for the grandparents and aunts/uncles. This year’s digital kit and pages are by Melissa Bennett from Sweet Shoppe {if you don’t want to see the cover ahead of time… look away now :) }

Everyday Warmth Scarf Project (part 2)

November 28, 2012 By JulieK

I am so very excited about my “Everyday Warmth” scarf project!! Thank you so much to my friends and family for their support to get this project started!! Since I started making the scarves a couple weeks ago, 6 have gone to the church to be distributed, I have a couple listed for sale (with a couple more ready to be listed) a custom order that’s almost ready to be delivered along with the matching donations, plus a few more made!! It has been great so far!! I made up a new website to keep track of all the scarves and also to invite other people to join in!! If you create scarves, hats, mittens, quilts… Anything that you create to donate to various organizations… Please let me know and I will list you on the new site… I would love for it to be a resource for anyone looking to add creating for charity to their crafting!

Check out the new site Everyday Warmth and follow the project on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook, there’s even a button to share!

If you’re looking for this week’s We Share Wednesday Link Party… Don’t worry!! It will get posted later on today… I wanted to share the new website, and I have a class to teach this evening… But I’ll do my best to get it posted today!!