On the border

Jake is on the border of innocence and mayhem.

This little guy has stolen my heart from day 1 and it's hard to watch him grow.  I mean, don't get me wrong.  I love this stage he's at.  He's playing ball.  He loves being chased.  He's just fun to be around.  But my baby is becoming not so baby anymore!
However, i'm starting to see the tantrums rearing their ugly heads...so I'm just waiting for the "fun" years to begin...and end.
But regardless of what he does, he's still stinkin' cute and I love him.  And I guess that's what matters most.

Love Card

I've got one more month as a Craftwell DT member.  We get to play with Teresa Collins "Save the Date" line.  Really love it. Here's a card I did with it this week:

Details on the Craftwell BLOG!

Starburst Valentines.

Are you sick of Valentine's Day yet?

Well i've got one more project I did for the Craftwell DT.

I kept the girls valentine's simple this year, with the exception of embossing, which is really easy anyways!

Details over on the BLOG.

Yummiest Sugar Cookie Frosting Ever

What wouldn't be Valentine's Day without sugar cookies?
Well, this would be the go-to recipe for the frosting.  I have another one for the cookies.  But today, it's all about the frosting.

Your taste buds will love you but your butt will hate you.

Nursery Song Cards

Head on over to the Craftwell Blog to learn more about the Nursery Song cards I made this past weekend!

Have you noticed I like to stay busy?

Life Binder

I started doing a "life binder" back in 2012, right before Jake was born.  I knew crap was going to hit the fan as soon as Jake was born, so I wanted to try to get on top of things.  It's pretty basic.  I have a section for Finances, Kids, Church, Calender, Cleaning & Daily to-do.

So this year, I wanted to revamp it a bit.  I used the items from the Craftwell Design Team to make a new cover for my folder.

So here's a  view of the folder.  For the complete look, head over to the Craftwell blog, as i'm on there showing this off!

What does and doesn't help.

I wanted to make a list of things that I have done in the past that does & doesn't help me feel better.

Found at http://www.cleanmama.net/free-printables

Let's start with what doesn't help, shall we?

-staying up late
-sleeping in
-being on the computer
-being on my phone
-not cleaning the house
-staying home from activities

Okay, so pretty much being lazy & immature
moving on....

Things that help:
-talking with spouse for support
-writing down a to-do list
-sticking to a routine
-making goals, having a purpose
-picking up the house
-reading my scriptures
-going to bed early
-waking up and getting ready for the day earlier than later
-showering
-talking with empathetic friends

These two kind of go hand in hand as opposites.  If i'm not doing one thing, I end up doing the other.  It's kind of the 2 extremes for me.  But when I write out my day, plan ahead and just stick with something, i'm much better off than having nothing planned at all.  The balance of it is that the things I plan need to be small and manageable.  It needs to be something that won't interfere with my #1 priority, my family.

I think that's what been hard for me, finding the balance between these two extremes.  I like being part of things and productive.  But if it overshadows the most important role that I have as a wife or mom, then I feel guilty and ashamed that I am not being a "good wife" or "good mom"  So then I stop planning.  But then I become like  "dust in the wind".  And sadly being a wife or mom didn't have the biggest purpose for  me.  I felt it was just what I had to do.  It was hard finding joy in it.

BUT

I am understanding that it's okay to have things on the side.  It's okay to find joy elsewhere.  For me, just as long as there is a balance between the two.
I am also learning & loving what is right in front of me.  It's hard to see it sometimes when things get crazy and chaotic.  But if you slow down and really live in the present moment, if you really look at your child and REALLY listen while they talk to you, it changes your perspective.

So, this has been an interesting journey, the journey of myself.  It's hard and difficult.  You have to face things you don't want to.  But in order to grow and change, you kind of have to.

So here's to me trying this out...