CMOM Productions

While You Were Blogging

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

While you were blogging, my blog was sleeping. I'm embarrassed at how long I've neglected to post an update and how sporadic I have been. You all understand how life can drag your attention elsewhere... Instead of reflecting on what should have been, I'm embracing the clean slate of a new year. Happy 2012!

A new project is on the agenda for 2012. This idea got started halfway through 2011 when I had a curious thought. How much time do I spend reading in a year and how many books? I've challenged myself with various reading goals in the past, but this year I am going to keep a record of it all. My reading "journal" will include, book title, author, dates & times read, if the book was borrowed from the library or purchased, and what type: paper, ebook, or audio. I may even make notes on what I loved or disliked about various novels. Think of it as a A Year of Books scrapbook. I'm curious to see what my totals are as we head into 2013.

You may have noticed that my blog focus has slowly gone from writing to crafting. At this time, it will most likely be my main topic. Writing hasn't been the most pressing item on my agenda. I truly believe that it will become more prominent at a later point, but for now I'm content to fit it in when my schedule and family allow. Stay tuned as regular craft posts will begin again soon.

A Blog Discovery

2011-11-16T20:36:00.001-05:00

Thanks to BlogHer, a discovery was made tonight. After I spotted a post on FB, I checked out and fell in love with Biblical Homemaking blog! Mandy's thrifty outfits & design pieces are adorable. Check it out if you have a chance. I'm glad I did.

Yes, it's true. I'm still a blogging slacker these days. I'm currently lost in the world of family activities, holiday preparation, & PTO events. I'm busy, but I'm grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer and enjoy life with my family.

--Congrats to E & J on their new baby boy... little J!--

CMOM Productions: Tshirt Pillow

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

CMOM Productions: T-Shirt Pillow

My youngest son's love of The Beatles has already been documented. While searching for that elusive kid sized tshirt, I came upon some great clearance shirts at Target (previously in the music section). The only problem was that the t's were only in adult sizes. I snagged the only men's medium left and knew I'd find something to do with it.

As you can clearly see by the photo, I turned the men's shirt into a pillow case! It was a simple straight stitch sewing project.

Simple How To:
Turn your t-shirt inside out.

Pin under the band/collar of the shirt opening and continue along in a straight line to mark where you need to stitch.

Close off the arms of the t-shirt by pinning in a straight line up to the point of your previous pins. You should be able to continue your pins to the seams of the shirt (less sewing).

Straight stitch where you have pinned your shirt.

Measure the bottom of your shirt, double the number and add approximately 1 inch. Cut a strip of fabric that length. *The width of this fabric depends on your pillow size and preference.

Roll the edges of your fabric for a clean edge and then stitch it.

Stitch the ends of the fabric together.

Pin the fabric to the bottom of your shirt (remember you want a clean edge on the design side of your t-shirt pillowcase).

Stitch it the pieces together. Trim any hanging threads & be sure to remove all pins.

*Options: Add ribbon or rick-rack.

Turn your new pillowcase right side out and place your pillow inside.

My son loves the he can lay down and look at his Beatles design! If you prefer your design to face a different way, cut it, turn the piece, and add more fabric around the design.

Perfect for a Hard Day's Night!

Blog Neglect

2011-11-03T10:32:00.000-04:00

This year, along with two other moms, I've stepped into a bigger role on our school PTO board. The three of us stay busy as we work together as co-presidents. All of the people involved make such a great team. Our school is full of wonderful staff members and families. It warms my heart to see all of the incredible teamwork & positivity!

Due to the busy schedule, I've been neglecting my blog. It's been on the back burner on the "low" setting. While I have thoughts & craft ideas to share, my hands & mind have been occupied. I wanted to take a moment to let my followers know that I'm still around and all is well. My posts may continue to be random for a while.

I encourage all of my crafting friends to stay creative & enjoy stampin' out each work week! As for everyone else, enjoy each day. Remember to be thankful for the little things this month as we approach Thanksgiving here in America. Don't let those feeling slip away when the holidays end.

Check back tomorrow (Friday, November 4th) for a quick craft idea! It just might be the perfect Christmas gift for someone you love.

SOTWW: With The Very Hungry Caterpillar

2011-10-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Stampin’ Up® with CMOM Productions

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Featuring SU’s 1”x8” Cellophane Bags

Very Hungry Caterpillar

SU! Colors:

Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, & Pacific Point

Materials Needed:

Cardstock (in above colors), Sticky Strip, 1” x 8” Cellophane bags, 1 3/4” Circle Punch, 1/2” Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Crop-a-dile, Hole punch, Brown Pipe Cleaner, Scissors, & your favorite Adhesive

Green Candy Options:

Mini Marshmallows, M&Ms, Jelly Beans/Jelly Bellies, Gumballs, Gum Drops, Soft Mints, small Grapes, Etc

1. Fill your cellophane bag with your selected treat. Leave a little extra space in 3 places for legs and at the top for attaching the head.

2. Seal your cellophane bag (self adhesive).

3. Cut 1 brown pipe cleaner into 3 equal pieces. Bend your 3 pipe cleaner pieces in half and twist them into the small space that you left for legs. Fold the ends a little on the ends to make “feet.” A total of 6 legs (4 in the front, 2 in the back).

4. Punch two Real Red 1 3/4" Circles. Attach back to back (with Sticky Strip) on the front space left for the head.

5. Punch two 1/2” Daffodil Delight Circles for eyes. Use a standard hole punch to make 2 Old Olive pupils. Punch another circle (the larger size), using a crop-a-dile, to make a nose. Adhere to the front side of your caterpillar’s head.

6. Punch out a Pacific Point Word Window. Fold it in half and cut. Trim the ends of each into a tear drop shape. Attach to the front top of the caterpillar head.

CONGRATS! You now have a VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR!

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions/

Feel free to share this craft with your kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews, classroom, teachers, & Eric Carle fans!

Enjoy stampin' out your work/school week!

Still Here

2011-09-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

Pssst... I'm still here! I've been keeping busy since my boys have been back in school. My days always seem to be packed with plenty to do. I'll be back with a new post soon! Until then, enjoy stampin' out your work week(s)!

New CMOM Productions class project

Help! I Need The Beatles!

2011-08-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

My son M is a huge fan of The Beatles. We have been searching for a child sized Beatles shirt without luck. Now that it's back to school time, he just has to have one. He'd love an Abbey Road shirt, due to his love of all things "Herbie" (aka VW Beetles), but we've only seen that in a girly style. We missed out on a (sold out) boys shirt available at The Children's Place. After continuous failed search attempts at finding a reasonably priced t-shirt for M, I came up with an idea!

A Bleaching Technique

Project Needs:
Bleach
Plain cotton blend t-shirt (wash it first)
Vinyl cut letters (use a die cut machine or buy pre-cut)
Rag, Sponge, or Paper towels
*Alternate Method Needs: Spray bottle
*Alternate Idea: Use your vinyl cut image/letters as a stencil outline instead.

A Beatles themed school supplies tag (see below) assisted in my creation.

Step 1: Place vinyl letters (or image) on a clean plain t-shirt. Place something inside the t-shirt to keep the bleach from altering both sides of the shirt. I used a piece of cardboard inside a plastic bag.

Vinyl letters in place with school tag for reference.

Step 2: Dip your rag in bleach and dab over your letters/image. *Or spray with bleach. You will begin to see the reaction from the bleaching technique. Once you are happy with the changes, rinse your shirt in water to stop the reaction.

Step 3: Peel away your letters. Wash & dry your shirt.

Reaction Complete (colors not exact)

Step 4: Touch ups can be made with a fabric or sharpie maker if you desire.

With Touch Ups (colors not exact)

Step 5: Gift or wear your new creation with a smile!

One happy fan of The Beatles!

Just For Me

2011-08-22T16:33:00.000-04:00

During the past week I did somethings that are unthinkable! I did things just for me!!!

On Sunday I met with one of my aunts and a cousin to see "The Help" and get lunch. In a home full of males, girl time is something I rarely see. Not only was the movie wonderful (it actually held close to the book), but the time to talk over lunch was just as lovely.

You can often find me working on projects for various people (mostly my boys). Rarely do I find time to work on creations just for me. I've been way over due. My wedding photos have been awaiting their turn to be scrapbooked, so I finally began that labor of love. I also picked out fabric and made a cute reversible purse that I love!

I feel spoiled. I love this just for me stuff! It just might become a trend around here.

*****

Two more weeks till school begins here in Michigan.

Enjoy the rest of your SUMMER!

*****

CMOMProductions will only be posting on Mondays until further notice. Summer days go too quickly. Once we adjust to the latest school schedules, I'll be back to Mondays & Fridays.

Stamp N Shrink

2011-08-15T07:00:00.002-04:00

Our latest CMOM Productions project is all about tags, charms, and FUN! Just ask my boys. They are anxious to create more. As this is a huge hit with them, I have been contemplating a kids class in the near future.

What do you need? Shrinky Dinks, Stazon ink (101406), a standard size hole punch, some permanent markers, a heating tool (100005) and your favorite stamp (Beary Best Friends 118052). I also used some tweezers, needle nose pliers, a jump ring, and a lanyard hook.

Stamp your image in Stazon permanent ink. Cut it out. Punch a standard size hole near the top center or corner of your tag/charm.

Color in your image with permanent markers! You can even stamp a name or monogram on the front or back.

Heat it up with your heating tool. It will shrivel up and shrink. Use a set of craft tweezers to hold onto your shrinky dink.

Once your creation has been reduced to it's smaller size, attach a jump ring using needle nose pliers. Attach a lanyard hook and hook it to a backpack, keychain, or lunchbox. Skip the lanyard and add your charm to a bracelet or necklace.

Have fun but be forewarned, it's addictive!

Smack Dab in the Labyrinth

2011-08-08T13:53:00.000-04:00

Smack dab in the middle of my brain lies the doorway to my own serenity and organization. I'm lost in the labyrinth today. Hopefully I shall soon reach and unlock the door. If I haven't misplaced the key that is.

I'm unsettled. My boys feel it too. Summer is flapping in the wind and ready to leave us behind as school barrels towards us. If stores would work with us and avoid putting out the school supplies until August actually arrives, maybe we'd feel better about it all. Seasons are too often rushed.

We have bubbles to blow, sidewalks to decorate with chalk, water fights to have, and so much more to do! Do not fade so quickly dear friend known as Summer. Sit, have a glass of lemonade, stay a little while longer.

Sporadic posting may take place as I navigate my way through the labyrinth and enjoy the rest of SUMMER with my family. There is fun to be had! May your dwindling summer days be full of it!

Two For One: Don't Lose Your Marbles

2011-08-01T16:11:00.001-04:00

click to enlarge & check out the chore breakdown

It's two for one today! Two posts rolled into one that is. We have the latest challenge in the life of CMOM Productions and it translates into a simple project. How great is that?

Our struggles of responsibility, attitude, and appreciation hit a breaking point recently. I'm not saying my boys are rude rebellious trouble makers. For the record, they are fairly normal kids. C and I are just a little tired of repeating ourselves so they don't turn into kids (or adults) with the aforementioned problems.

We've had various responsibility systems over the last few years. Once our oldest reached a point of understanding, we began trying several options. From rewards to reprimands, we've worked to determine the best way to teach our children to do what's right with a positive attitude. A quarter a day (with jars for savings, spending, & giving) was one of my favorite ways of encouraging good behavior, so we've used that as our jumping point this time.

When completing our updated responsibility chart, we asked ourselves a few questions:

What do we want our children to learn?
The obvious answer is responsibility, but it's not the only one. We want them to grow to be independent, appreciative, and kind men. Having an ability to broaden their mind and continue improving their skills is also important. Teamwork and attitude cannot be forgotten either. There is also saving, earning what you receive, and giving with a joyful heart.

What can they do without (or with a little) assistance?
As the boys have grown, they are more able to help with various household chores. Taking the time to teach them the proper way to wipe down the table or wipe up the toothpaste from the bathroom sink will turn into one less task for mom and dad. We made a list of daily and weekly chores, as well as a monthly teamwork chore list that both of the boys could complete.

What type of rewards can we offer?
A quarter a day may not seem like a lot to an adult, but to a child it is a fortune. Especially when you have the ability to earn one for good behavior & attitude and another for completing your chores. At the end of the week we offer a "Hassle Free Week" 50 cents bonus! That's a potential (key word here) of $4 a week. Good grades (an A or 1) on a report card also earns 25 cents each. Add in goals achieved, such as learning to tie shoes OR completing a reading challenge, worth an additional 25 cents. If our boys feel the need to earn a little extra, they can ask for an unlisted chore. If that's not enough incentive, our boys each gain 5 minutes of video game time a day (the total amount earned is given at the week's end) when they complete the chore chart with a positive attitude!

How does it all come together?
Two chore lists, color coordination & indicators, name markers, marbles, marble and money jars, goals chart, video game chart, magnets, cardstock, printer, laminator, & dry erase markers.

We created laminated check lists of daily and weekly chores that can be marked on with a dry erase marker. One list is in yellow and the other in green. Each week, the boys will swap chore lists. Also on each list is "Be A Good Sport! Three strikes, you're out!" That's the behavior section of the chart. No expectations have changed, but they now have a visual reminder and a goal. The warnings have been given and it will be up to them if they want to earn their daily quarter. Eventually this will all become old hat and we won't need to remind them anymore.

Instead of giving them actual quarters every day, they'll receive marbles. Each marble is worth 25cents and collected in a plastic jar with their name on it. At the end of the week, they'll add them up and decide what amount they want to put where. The options are: In the bank (Save), spend on something special (Spend), give to a charity or church (Give), or save to buy Christmas presents for family members (Christmas). Then we will give them the amount of money they earned, or a ticket with the amount written on it, to place in each jar.

We've also created a goal chart for the boys to use with their "Spend" jar. They determine what they want to purchase and how much the item costs. They will need to do a little math to determine the current amount they have saved and what they need before they achieve their goal. Yeah, we are sneaky with the learning aspect.

There is also a laminated "Power Up" 7 star chart. Each hassle free day = 1 colored in star. At the end of the week they will receive 5 minutes of video game time for every colored in star. If all 7 stars are colored in, it also indicates a 50 cents bonus "Hassle Free Week!"

If the boys get in trouble at school, get a bad grade, or go beyond the behavior strikes, they can lose a marble that was previously earned that week. Our marble stash is fondly called the "Marble Bank & Collection Agency."

We created this new systems so C and I don't lose our marbles and since the boys earn marbles, we titled our new system "Don't Lose Your Marbles!" My fingers are crossed that the latest will work out for everyone.

Stampin' Out The Work Week Followers:

*Marina Mist and Pacific Point Cardstock were used to be an indicator of each child.
*Chores lists were made with cardstock from the subtles collection.
*Use what colors suit your scheme or theme!
*Print your personal charts & goals. Use adhesive to adhere to cardstock. Laminate your charts. Local office or shipping stores will laminate items for you. Place adhesive backed magnet strips on the back. Post the charts to the fridge, the inside of your front door, or wherever works best for you!
*Decorate your jars, small buckets, wooden boxes, mugs, or whatever you have for marble storage. Use cardstock, vinyl, stickers, ribbon, or whatever suits your fancy! You can even use one container with dividers for your "banks."
*Don't have kids? Make a daily/weekly/monthly reminder list for yourself... "groceries, laundry, dishes, etc."

Enjoy stampin' out your work week!

Christmas In July: One Sweet Gift

2011-07-29T14:44:00.001-04:00

Not only are we stampin' out the work week, but July as well! It's hard to believe August is just days away already. We are going to have one more day of Christmas in July before the month skips out on us.

This nifty little jar was found at my local hobby/craft store. With a few simple touches -- I added cardstock, ink, ribbon, a couple of punches, stamps, and those melt in your mouth soft mints -- it is one sweet gift! Of course it's just as easy to go from Christmas to teacher appreciation or another fun theme.

What will you create today?

Enjoy stampin' out the work week & July!

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions/

43 Days

2011-07-25T13:53:00.002-04:00

Why do we expect to obtain an instant mellowed out state of mind with the summer season? Our lazy summer days became busier than expected and are fading far too quickly. My "to be accomplished" list tends to have more on it than I'll ever have time to accomplish. Similar to "my eyes are bigger than my stomach" when it comes to delicious foods. Everything seems to be bubbling out of my brain and swimming around in my head. Summer break is not as relaxing as planned.

The school free time with my boys was intended to be full of fun. Except at times they decide not to cooperate. I love my boys dearly and do enjoy extra time with them. Yet, we deal with more sibling squabbles when school is not in session. Any parent knows that won't bring you extra peace.

I'm focusing on the times when my boys do cooperate. We've made some great memories so far and have more yet to come. Some of the greatest accomplishments this summer involve encouraging my boys to continue reading, writing, and even doing some math. I may constantly remind them to make their beds or pick up their toys, but I rarely have to fight to get them to pick up a book.

There is plenty left to be done before summer ends. Time will continue to tick by. My boys won't be princes of perfection. Yet, I wouldn't trade these not-so-lazy summer days for anything. Time with them is precious and before I know it, they'll be grown.

My days become my own in September. I'll have more time to work on that to do list and I'll miss my boys immensely during the school hours. Including today we have 43 days left of school break. Forty-three days is enough time to create some unforgettable summer memories and I intend to do just that.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Christmas In July: Going Red & Green

2011-07-22T15:17:00.001-04:00

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the A.C. is so delightful! We've had a major heat wave in our area this week, so I thought you might enjoy looking towards cooler days. Think Christmas in July as you are stampin' out this work week!

We are going red & green with our first project. It's actually a container originally used for single serve apple packs. After washing it up, I turned it into the perfect package for homemade fudge, candy, or any Christmas goody or gift (edible or non-edible). There is even plenty of room on the top to include a To, From, & a heartfelt note.

Used in this project:

Cardstock

-Cherry Cobbler 119685

-Crumb Cake 120953

1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Cherry Cobbler 125056

Stampin' Up Many Marvelous Markers 119806

-Cherry Cobbler 119681

-Garden Green 100080

Early Espresso Ink 119670

Stampin Sponges 101610

Bells & Boughs Stamp Set 121142 (C) 120831(W)

Clear Mount Blocks 118491

-(also available in individual sizes)

Sticky Strip 104294

Top Note Die 113463

Petals A Plenty Embossing Folder 116824

Big Shot 113439

Crimper 101618

Scissors 108360 108360 108360

Paper Cutter 104152

Kraft Packing Paper (reused Stampin' Up packing paper)

This project easily translates for other holidays, events, & gifts in general.

Switch out the color scheme, stamp set, and you've got a brand new look.

Imagine it as a snazzy "back to school" pack or filled with a mani/pedi kit!

The possibilities are endless!

More Christmas In July Next Week!

Stay cool as you stamp our your work week!

Mother Son Book Reviews: Double Dose of James Patterson

2011-07-18T19:35:00.001-04:00

Outstanding O's Book Reviews

Middle School The Worst Years of My Life

by James Patterson & Christ Tebbetts

Illustrated by Laura Park

Rafe Khatchadorian is a normal kid in middle school with a fantastic story to tell. In the book "Middle School," Rafe deals with Miller the Killer and problems with teachers. He creates a game called Operation R.A.F.E. that is about breaking the rules. My favorite part of the story is when he made a joke in his notebook about Miller the Killer Chicken. The book is a chapter book with pictures that show a lot of expression. I loved "Middle School" and would read it over and over again. Rafe's story made me laugh so hard. I recommend "Middle School" to every kid that loves James Patterson's books and Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Tag your it!

Mom's review of the latest James Patterson novel for adults is next...

A CMOMProductions Book Review

Now You See Her

by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

If I could only use one word to describe this book, it would be INTENSE! I did have some difficulty throughout this story. Putting it down! So as not to ruin the storyline, I'll be staying away from too many details.

Nina, the main character, has secrets that she can't share with anyone. Not even her teenage daughter. When the story begins, we briefly see today's Nina, a successful lawyer and mom, before diving into her past.

A heart break during a college spring break ultimately leads Jeanine to marry a handsome police officer. While sharing a relaxed Key West lifestyle, disaster strikes, a secret is revealed, and she must leave to save herself and her unborn child. In doing so, Jeanine also changes her identity to become Nina Bloom.

Flash forward to present day Nina. When presented with a pro-bono case through her law firm, she discovers an innocent man has been framed for murder. To help him, she has to travel back to Key West, risking the life she has built for herself and daughter.

My mind was racing during this book. As a mystery lover since childhood, it is not often easy to surprise me, but James Patterson pulled it off. I did not see everything coming! If you like suspense, mystery, and unsuspected twists, you will not be disappointed! This story is fast paced and could easily translate into a great movie. Don't miss out on Now You See Her.

I'm a fan of James Patterson and now my oldest son is too! Other books I've read by Mr. Patterson are the 10 books in the Women's Murder Club series and Private. He has many more books that I have yet to discover (of course they are on my to read list). As a parent who believes in raising readers, I'm impressed by his Read Kiddo Read website (also on Facebook). If you have kids, I encourage you to check it out! Evidently Mr. Patterson is more than just a great author too. He is cool enough to be a recurring guest on ABC's Castle. How can I get in on those poker games?

It was O's idea to do a double Mother/Son book review for my blog! This was a fun experience to share, even if we were reading different books. A"one for you, one for your child" double book release was a smart move by James Patterson, or his people. O and I will watch for more opportunities like this one. Don't be surprised to see my fellow eager reader (or maybe both of my boys) giving more reviews in the future. We may even read the same kid friendly book and tell you what we think from a parent's & child's perspective. Stay tuned!

A Time Out And Upcoming Guest Blogger

2011-07-11T07:00:00.020-04:00

If you haven't guessed yet, I'm taking a short break.

Life is busy and the Summer months are too short.

I've been taking some time with my family and "working" on my crafts.

Fear not, I plan to be back next Monday (July 18th) with a special guest blog post!

Possibly even a double fun, mother & son, post.

My oldest son is currently reading "Middle School" by James Patterson and promises to write a review for my blog. He suggested that I read Mr. Patterson's latest adult novel "Now You See Her" and also do a review. Smart kid isn't it? :)

SOTWW 4th of July Edition

2011-07-03T19:52:00.000-04:00

Want to have the perfect spot for journaling on your 4th of July themed scrapbook pages? This is it. I used Whisper White & Not Quite Navy Cardstock, Real Red & Whisper White ink, and the "From the Kitchen Of" stamp set (114964). Next time you look at that recipe themed stamp, think outside of the box!

Speaking of thinking outside the box... You can use your die cut machine for more than just paper crafts! I used my Big Shot (113439) and a Stars die (113461) with felt fabric to create a couple of special patriotic hair accessories. The headband is my own sewing creation and it is reversible so I can have red or blue showing. I pieced the stars together using a hot glue gun, stitching them together would have worked and added a nice detail as well. They were attached to a pin back so I can remove and adjust my stars as desired. The remaining 3 tiny stars were simply adhered to a hair clip! It's all simple, fun, and of course RED, WHITE, & BLUE!

What star spangled creations have you made lately?

I hope you enjoyed stampin' out your work week and that you are enjoying a safe holiday weekend! Happy Independence Day!

Stampin' Out The Work Week: Inspiration

2011-06-24T22:22:00.000-04:00

I'm stampin' out the work week with some inspiration for future projects. Find your own inspiration in places you might not normally look. Take a look at what has caught my eye...

A store front window display:

A Fast Food Cup:

Where do you find inspiration? Will you create any projects from my inspiration photos? Want to share? If so, feel free to link up to your project photos in your comments below. Don't limit yourself to stamps, cards, & paper crafts. Show me whatever you come up with!

Where Did Monday Go?

2011-06-23T13:58:00.000-04:00

Taylor Swift Photo by C. * October 2009 * Sweet Surprise

I admit it! I forgot about Monday. It didn't exist to me. Today is already Thursday. It's just been one of those weeks. You know the kind, the "Wait! How did I get from Sunday to Thursday?" type. My mother-in-law was visiting from out of state for a couple of days, so if that's not a good excuse I don't know what is. I do have plans for a stampin' out the work week post tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Did I mention that my husband and father-in-law made our youngest son's whole year? My husband snagged tickets to a local Taylor Swift concert this Summer! While it had been previously known as a SOLD OUT show, a few tickets were recently released. My youngest son had been devastated when we missed out on the pre-sales and official first round of tickets offered. He was heartbroken that he wouldn't be able to see his absolute favorite singer/performer this Summer, so we kept this new ticket potential on the down low. It's true that SuperDad snagged the tickets, but it is this year's wonderful birthday gift to all 4 of us from my father-in-law. In M's book he is absolutely the BEST GRAMPA EVER!

SOTWW: Handmade Gifts From Teacher To Dad

2011-06-17T23:27:00.000-04:00

...Stampin' Out The Work Week with CMOM Productions...

Farewell My Teacher...

Hello Summer Vacation!

Happy Father's Day Pops!

We created almost all of our teacher gifts this year, with a few exceptions. It's a special way to give from the heart and it can be easy on the budget. My boys helped create each handmade item if they couldn't do it on their own. The best part about these gifts is that they aren't just for teachers. Graduates, librarians, swimming instructors, camp counselors, and just about anyone would be happy to receive such gifts. With a few subtle changes, you can personalize the following items for anyone, from grads to dads!

A few of the special items we made...

We started with: a canvas bag, felt, Heat N' Bond, Island Floral SU!® die,

the Big Shot, buttons, a sewing machine, and some thread.

We filled each bag with a few special items...

Gift items: Monogram pencils, School Spirit Brooch, School Spirit/Personalized double sided charm necklace, Laminated bookmark, Sticky Notes Keychain & mini pen, a magnetic notepad, a well loved book, and a hand sanitizer in a specially made package.

We also made some candy/chocolate coated pretzel rods in school colors:

What are dad's favorite colors?

A few variations of the hand sanitizer gift:

One of the personalized charms (side 1):

A flower pot for one special teacher (from the entire class):

Modge Podge & paper are the basics of this fun project!

Use fabric instead of paper. A special pillowcase or blanket.

Change the pot to a t-shirt, tie, grilling apron, or something else special for dad!

Stick with the pot and plant some tomatoes or one of dad's favorite veggies.

No matter what it is, Dad will love it!

Never underestimate the power of a heartfelt note

(it's extra special when written in a card made by a child)...

...Father's Day...

Our kids have an amazing art teacher. She teaches the kids about many different artists and gives them a chance to try their hand at various artistic styles. One of the favorites is Andy Warhol's pop art. Father's Day may be only a few days away, but you can use Mr. Warhol as an inspiration to create a very special gift for Dad! Don't forget the card. With some patterned paper, a punch, and a "Happy Father's Day" stamp, my sons created some tie-rrific cards for Grampa & Dad!

What to use: Bright cardstock in various colors, 12x12 black cardstock, 12x12 frame, crayons or pastels, chipboard, pin or piercing tool, photo of dad's favorite item or image (truck/car/baseball/lightsaber/etc).

Create a template with the piercing tool & chipboard, trace around it, add detail with a pencil (adults can help if needed), make it "pop" with color, glue it down with adhesive, & frame it!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
I hope you all enjoy stampin' out the work week!

Pinky And The Brain 2011

2011-06-13T21:04:00.000-04:00

Pinky

Wow! It's been two weeks of non-stop go, go, go! Not only did we finish out our school year and celebrate a birthday, but we tackled pink eye (back to back with both boys) and a head injury. While M was hit with 2 pink eyes, O had an issue at school that resulted in a head injury. These circumstances caused us to dub them "Pinky" and "The Brain." During a recent trip to our local library, the boys found the nicknames even more entertaining after spotting a dvd collection of the tv cartoon. Sadly, our "Brain" developed pink eye within a week of his younger brother and we couldn't determine if he was still considered The Brain or another Pinky.

We have found a little humor in the frustrating and scary moments of our past couple of weeks, but the initial impact we felt from the head injury was not in the least bit funny. In fact, it was terrifying and upsetting. When the truth of the matter came to light, we discovered it was not merely an accident. Our son was purposely hurt by another classmate. It's hard to believe that a child under the age of 10 would go out of their way to attack a peer (unprovoked). Yet, it happens.

Believe it or not, my sons aren't averaged sized kids for their age. With a pixie sized mom and a dad of average height, they don't exactly fall into the big & tall category. This fact alone makes it easier to become a bully target. My oldest son has had a tough time when he is sometimes teased for being vertically challenged. I have had 32 years to own my shortness, but it's a whole different ballgame in elementary school... and even more so for a boy. Last year he had a fabulous principal, Mr. F., who helped him through some of the inevitable taunting. I'm grateful for the difference he made to my son. As rough as his small size can be, it wasn't even a factor in the recent incident.

Being everyone's buddy is important to my kind hearted eldest son. He generally treats everyone the way he would want to be treated. With exceptions being made at times for his younger brother. O enjoys playing sports, even if he's not a star athlete, with his friends. His determination often amazes me. When all of his buddies were playing football at school, he wanted to be a part of it. SuperDad tossed the Nerf ball around with him, as he insisted on improving. Eventually, he was catching some pretty good throws. Imagine his excitement when he managed to snag a ball in front of his friends. That's exactly what happened on the day of his not-so-accident take down.

The "friend" who had tossed the football came up to my son, full of excitement from the catch, and let him know that he hadn't intended for the ball to be caught by O. He insisted that the ball was meant for another child. Knowing my son well, I'm certain this hurt him immensely. Yet he didn't have to time react to the words before his legs were grabbed and he was flipped over, landing on his forehead. With no adults in viewing range, he tried his best to get up and shake off his embarrassment. Little did he realize that he'd be dealing with the physical effects approximately 45 minutes later. His teacher was informed that he had been hurt, but didn't know the entire circumstances at the time. O wasn't looking to get anyone into trouble.

The Brain

When I picked my son up from school, I noticed he was acting a little unusual. As we walked out the doors, I asked if something had happened that day. That's when he grabbed his forehead, in tears, and told me he "got flipped" at recess. After our 5 minute drive home, he proceeded to run to the bathroom and throw up. A phone call was placed to our family doctor and I waited and watched my son until his dad came home a short time later. Before long, it was clear that we would be heading to the emergency room. The vomiting continued and my normally talkative and energetic son was struggling to stay awake and not responding in conversations that would normally have him full of excitement. My husband took on his former racing persona as we headed to the hospital. Our fears were well hidden as we continued to do everything possible to keep our O man awake. During this time, I posted to Facebook from my phone and placed some calm phone calls to grandparents. We were not without prayers during this time and for that we are truly grateful. THANK YOU to all who were praying for us, especially O.

As our silent prayers continued, we went through the ER routine of checking in and waiting our turn to be seen. A CT scan was ordered and completed, and O was monitored for some time. His vomiting stopped (thankfully) sometime during the hospital visit. With the diagnosis of a mild concussion, we were cleared to head home. We left with instructions to return if the vomiting came back or other signs presented themselves. I took on the job of monitoring O through the sleepless night, by waking him every 2 hours and being certain he responded. The following day consisted of more watchfulness before allowing him to return to school the day after that. During this time is when I discovered the full story of what I assumed was a "got too rough" recess football injury.

I spoke with my son's teacher after finding out the rest of the story. She made sure that the incident was handled at school. No matter where you go, you'll always find bullies. Having people around that care enough to work toward dealing with and preventing future incidents is important.

The Brain's new gear for school.

Realizing that not everyone is going to be a true friend is a difficult lesson. When you are kind to others, you don't always stop to think that someone else might not have the same intentions. While my son learned a valuable lesson, it hasn't stop him from being a friend. As a mom, I want him to be more guarded, but also wish he didn't have to be.

How do you help your child through situations such as bullying? Have you found any ways to help your child avoid bullies? Has your child ever been bullied or been a bully? What do you feel we can do, as adults, to make a difference?

**FRIDAY: Watch for a "Stampin' Out The Work Week" post all about teacher gifts!**

SOTWW: Let The Wild Rumpus Start

2011-05-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

A happy birthday comes within a week for my youngest son, M. We decided to go with a "Where The Wild Things Are" theme for his upcoming celebration with his 2 best school buddies. There are no shortage of days where wild things come out to play when you live in a household with 2 boys, so it fits perfectly. On top of that, it is one of our favorite stories. We've been to our local library when they had a story time focused on wild things and loved it! M also enjoyed the story with his classmates this year while learning about Caldecott winners. As a lover of books, I'm proud to see both of my boys choosing a birthday theme straight from the written word. If you have kids and haven't shared this book with them, pick it up from your local library and maybe even come up with a few great activities to go along with your reading time.

Inviting two friends over doesn't mean that you need to make invitations, but it sure is a fun way to get into the spirit of things! What can I say? It's what I love to do.

Using My Digital Studio (MDS) from Stampin' Up®, I created the following wild thing invitation...

I'm certain the King of all wild things would approve. I know my birthday boy sure does!

Are you interested in the how-to instructions or want to check out MDS?

Leave me a comment and check out my Stampin' Up® website!

I hope you are having fun stampin' out the work week into this long holiday weekend!

Stay safe!

Two Weeks Later...

2011-05-23T13:55:00.000-04:00

Without notice, I took a 2 week blog break. My loyal blog followers (that would be y'all reading these words) are considered friends or family. Nobody shouted "HEY! Where did you go?" The world didn't end, although some felt it was destined to happen this past weekend. Life went on.

Over this short break, I focused on my family and kept active with various happenings in our lives. Thinking about the time spent away from blog land, the words "when I last left you..." and "two weeks later..." popped into my head. It made me smile and chuckle to myself, as I conjured up comic book style visions.

A single moment can change a life forever, so 2 weeks can surely bring on changes. What changed for me during the past 2 weeks? Let me put it this way...

Two weeks later...

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day arrived on May 8th, and on May 10th I became another year older. My wonderful husband (and boys) picked out a priceless gift... floating paper lanterns! If you haven't watched the movie Tangled, you'll need to see it to fully understand why this is such a beautiful & thoughtful gift. Rain was expected, so my husband presented me with the lanterns and I get to choose the date and location to set them off. I've been caught singing "I See The Light" with a smile on my face since we saw the movie, but the smile is a little bigger now.

My absolute favorite show, Smallville, went out with a super series finale. I'll admit it, I'm a complete sappy nerd. I cried. As a fan from the very beginning (10 years ago), it was bittersweet to watch, but it was brilliantly done. The creators, cast, and all those involved with Smallville have my admiration. I hope the cast & crew find success in whatever they take on next. Thank goodness I can watch them together on dvd, because I'll miss seeing their on screen talent & chemistry all in the same place. I'd list my favorite actors/actresses from the show, but it would end up being a cast list. They all brought their individual WOW factor to each character. Did I mention I'm going to miss this show?

During my hiatus I once again realized that we are in warp speed. At times I feel so rushed and it's difficult to give 100% to everything. My hopes & dreams tend to sit on the back burner more often than I care to admit. Ultimately though, being the best mom I can be right now means so much more. Taking the time to just be near my husband, even if I'm reading and he's working on a project, is more important than accomplishing something the world finds amazing. At the same time, remembering that I set goals for a reason and doing what I love is a part of who I am. The pressure of perfection cannot overtake simple joys.

Nothing life changing occurred, but I enjoyed the chance to just breathe with one less "to do" item on my list.

Do you love it when you get a glimpse at beloved characters "two weeks later," or years later, when a movie, tv show, or story ends? Do you put your own spin on things and use your imagination when no "what happens next" turns up? If a sequel comes out later, do you most often feel disappointed or excited by the portrayals?

Check Out Sara Bareilles song, "Breathe Again," that was used in the Smallville finale!

One of my favorites... the song and the artist!

SOTWW: A Quick & Elegant Gift

2011-05-06T16:19:00.015-04:00

As you stamp out the work week, remember to thank your child's teacher (it's Teacher Appreciation Week) and give your own Mom an extra hug. If you haven't found a perfect present, I may have the handmade gift project you're looking for... an elegant stationary/card set. Wouldn't grandma love to have a set of cards made by her grandchildren? How many teachers would love a set of cards from one of their favorite students?

Tie it up with ribbon & a 3x3 Thank you

I'm very proud to say that my youngest son created the gift set shown for his Nonnie, my husband's mom, almost entirely on his own. She hasn't received this one yet, so if you know her, please keep it on the down low. After I cut and scored the cardstock and gave him a little guidance, he completed the rest of it on his own. He even chose the color scheme based on what he knows his Nonnie likes.

So if you haven't had a chance to nab that "perfect" gift, or made something special with love, consider having your kids help you with this quick, simple, & fun project. It's sure to make any mother, grandmother, or teacher smile.

Another version

What you need (alter colors to change the scheme):
Whisper White cardstock (3 pieces to make a set of 6)
Whisper White envelopes
Medallion Stamp
Sentiment stamps (we used Teeny Tiny Wishes & a sentiment from a hostess set)
Elegant eggplant ink
Garden Green ink
Old Olive ink
Stampin' Sponge (for sponging edges)
Optional: Decorative Label Punch & Old Olive Cardstock

Thoughts For Today

2011-05-02T22:29:00.002-04:00

Today I remember those we have lost in this war... and why it all began. I'm very proud of our military. My heart & prayers are with them and their families. Thank you for your many sacrifices. Today we feel some justice has been served for those lost in the 9/11 attacks and since that horrible day. Even with the heartbreak of losing a friend in this war, I'm not celebrating. Am I glad this terrorist is no longer hurting innocent people? Yes, I am relieved. Yet I think about one thing. When we lost our loved ones, they cheered & celebrated. It makes me sick to think of them celebrating our loved ones deaths.

No matter how innocent or evil, is it okay to celebrate a death?

I'll leave you with a powerful quote that has been floating around Facebook this evening...

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
-- Full Quote from Unknown Source, portions taken from MLK's "Where Do We Go From Here" speech.

SOTWW: Crafty Quotes

2011-04-29T19:30:00.000-04:00

A messy craft room is a happy craft room, and my craft room is delirious!

Stampin' with CMOM Productions #1 recipe:

Inked with kindness... stamped with fun.... and adhered with a heap of love!

Creating isn't about perfection, it's about the heart!

Happy Friday! Enjoy stampin' out your work week!

Quote-able Monday

2011-04-25T10:13:00.000-04:00

“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.”

~Gandhi

SOTWW: Old Rugged Cross

2011-04-22T18:16:00.000-04:00

I found inspiration for today's SOTWW through one of my favorite hymns, The Old Rugged Cross. I'm a big fan of Brad Paisley's version, as well as his interpretation of In the Garden. If you have never heard either song, take a moment to listen today.

This simple piece can be used as a decor element or a card front. It would look lovely matted on a slightly larger piece of Early Espresso cardstock. Add a rays of sunshine or embossed clouds (mine are sponged on). Frame it. Scrapbook it to go along with your Easter Sunday photos. I love the simpleness and meaning of this Old Rugged Cross.

Looking for a last minute non-religious card or decor piece? I have a solution. Get the kids involved in this one. Cut or punch out a large oval (think big Easter egg). Use ribbon and rick rack. Grab your scraps and border punches (I love the eyelet border). Various bright or subtle colored circles are always fun. Don't forget your stamps, ink, and glitter to decorate your cardstock Easter egg. If you only have white cardstock, grab a brayer and some ink. Roll on your favorite color before you begin decorating, or give it a rainbow effect with multiple colors. Make more than one, add them to a card, turn them into place cards for Easter dinner, or hang them from ribbon for a special banner. When you finish, you'll have a beautiful and unique creation to be proud of! The best part... it'll be fun!!!

Unseen Details: Whisper White ink was used to sponge clouds.

SOTWW: Old Rugged Cross

SU!® Products Used:
*Dimensionals (104430)
*Tombow Adhesive (110755)
*Sticky Strip (104294)
*Whisper White Craft Ink (101731)
*Chocolate Chip Ink (100908)
*Versamark Ink (102283)
*Stampin' Sponges (101610)
*Early Espresso Cardstock (119686)
*Bashful Blue Cardstock (105120)
*Old Olive Cardstock (100702)
*Woodgrain Background Stamp (117100)
Other: *Purple Ribbon

Questions on how to put it all together? Leave me a comment. I'd be happy to give you a more details step by step. How do you celebrate Easter? What craft projects do you create at this time of year?

Enjoy stampin' out your work week & Happy Easter!!!

The Heart of CMOM Productions

2011-04-18T08:00:00.002-04:00

What is CMOM Productions? Since this blog began, I've been learning the ropes and finding my niche. My blogging description has always been:

CMOM Productions is all about my thoughts, experiences, and other randomness in my life that are currently in production. From my struggles and triumphs as a wife and mom of 2 boys, to my own personal goals and dreams, and everything frontwards, backwards, sideways, and in between! Welcome to my blog, my name is Melinda Marie.

While it's not set in stone, Mondays are geared towards writing about experiences in this life. Do I write for a fan base? Ummm, no. Many of my readers are considered friends (such as fellow bloggers) and family, not fans. On Monday, CMOM Productions is more of an outlet for my reflective focus.

When Friday rolls around I showcase another side to my personality. My crafty sense is revealed via Stampin' Out The Work Week. I'm a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, but I'm more than that (actually Stampin' Up is much more than stamps too). "I'm a Craft-a-holic" should be stamped on my sleeve. Don't be surprised if you find out that glitter and acid free adhesive flow through my veins.

CMOM Productions is more than just a blog name to me. It's my family. In fact, our initials (in age order) are C M O M. From our crafting, to our crazy adventures, to our everyday life, our productions are what makes this blog. My family is the heart of CMOM Productions.

It is with great joy that I share our latest moments...
On Sunday, August, 17, 2011, my two boys asked Jesus into their hearts!

When another explanation of communion was requested after church, I didn't expect that my boys would understand it all at that moment. After communicating our remembrance and reflection of Jesus' suffering and acceptance of it and God's gift to us, some of the most precious words were spoken. My youngest, with the joy shown only by a child, piped up with the words "I want Jesus in my heart forever!" My oldest son responded with the same, while his eyes showed that he was deeply pondering the sacrifice by Jesus. His thoughtfulness was not hesitation though, but of understanding. The reality of what our Savior did for us seemed to sit on his heart. Knowledge of Easter's miracle quickly followed his statement. While my boys have heard this story from the time they were babies, the amazement in their expressions is nothing short of heart warming. After both boys explained their understanding of what being a Christian meant, both said a special prayer.

My heart is filled with such joy and gratefulness. A mother's prayers for her children are unending. Yet, God answered two very special prayers of mine that began as soon as I knew I was expecting each child.

"Tonight I'll count my blessings,
I'm thankful for each one.
Then close my eyes and go to sleep,
Until tomorrow comes."
-From "Thank You, God" by Holly Bea

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

The Land of Esty... Etc.

2011-04-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

CMOM Productions recently entered the land of Etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cmomproductions?ref=pr_shop

My Esty shop is currently stocked with brooches, washer charm necklaces, laminated bookmarks, and notepads. I plan to add more options and various other homemade items in the near future. If you see something you like, but want a different color scheme, let me know. Looking for something not listed? Just say the word and I'll see what I can do.

With all of the changes happening, I felt it was time to update my blog. You may see a few changes to the look of this page in the near future. Currently, the biggest alterations are at the top & bottom of the screen. I created these fun pieces with a digital program by Stampin' Up called My Digital Studio (MDS).

In the SOTWW: MDS Iron On post you learned how easy it is to use MDS to create an iron on design.

Today's Stampin' Out The Work Week Friday showcase piece is a finished product....

Here are the Stampin' Princess onsies, that I recently gave as a gift!

Congrats again to my stampin' mentor & dear friend, A, on her new baby girl!

What will you create this weekend?

Enjoy stampin' out your work week & HAPPY Friday!

Time Warp

2011-04-11T07:00:00.002-04:00

My birthday is one month away. While many hit a "certain age" and decide that celebrating a higher number isn't their favorite activity in the world, I still look forward to it. The getting older part isn't exactly anyone's cup of tea, but I'm lucky enough to regain a fairly youthful appearance. It's even been suggested that I should be involved in the sting operation of a "to catch a predator" type of show. Regardless, the approaching annual milestone left me pondering what I would do if I could go back in time and guide my younger self.

Am I the only one to ponder this travel back in time idea? Absolutely not. I'm certain there must be a book or movie about this kind of thing. Back to the Future does show a few alterations in Marty McFly's life after his adventures, but it's not quite the same. Brad Paisley's country tune Letter To Me certainly has the right feel for my train of thought.

Can you picture it in your own head? Time warping back to those youthful years and passing along a letter, watching a familiar teen from a distance, or having a face to face conversation with your you of yesteryear? Are you reflecting with a smile or a little sadness? What would you say? Would you do anything at all? Would you want to change the person you have become today?

While there are "things" I would be grateful to change about my younger years, I realize just how those ups, downs, highs, & lows have molded me into... me. I kind of like who I am today, flaws and all. I have two amazing children and a husband I wouldn't trade. Life isn't mean to be perfect and even if you alter the past, it doesn't automatically ensure "perfection." Different maybe, but perfection? Nope.

I've learned a great many things in my almost 32 years, but I certainly do not know it all. Hopefully my growth will continue for a great many more years. Experiencing life is worth celebrating. Each and every year is precious. When I'm a feisty little old lady in my 60's, I wonder if I will look back, smile, and ponder the same...

Would you go back in time? Write a letter to your teenage self?

What would you say?

Can you think of any great books or movies that follow these theme?

Enjoy Monday with a little Brad Paisley....

SOTWW: Just Believe

2011-04-08T17:56:00.001-04:00

My sons gave me an adorable Tinkerbell figurine for a past birthday and she's stood in a special place admiring our living room ever since. Recently, I hoped to give her a new place of honor on my craft room wall... aka CMOM Productions Headquarters!

Today's Stampin' Out The Work Week Showcase Project is all about believing & pixies.

What was used?
1. A simple wooden frame (117599)
2. White paint
3. Old Olive cardstock (100702)
*use another coordinating color if you choose
4. Dazzling Diamonds glitter (102023)
5. White Embossing powder (109132)
6. VersaMark Ink (102283)
7. Heat Tool (100005)
8. Glue dots (103683)
9. 2-Way Glue Pen (100425)
10. Just Believe SU!® Stamp set (116948)
11. Mini Tinkerbell Figure or your favorite pixie

Step by Step:
1. Paint your frame, set it aside, let it dry.
2. Cut your cardstock to fit into the frame
3. Ink/stamp images & then sentiment
4. Add embossing powder to your sentiment and at the tips of some flowers/plants as desired
5. Use your heating tool on the entire image to emboss it and reveal the darkened "watermark."
6. Highlight portions of your flowers & plants with 2-Way Glue and sprinkle with Dazzling Diamonds to create "pixie dust"
7. After your pieces are dry, insert the artwork you have created into the frame
8. Adhere your favorite pixie (Tink) to stand/lean on the inside edges of your frame. Once you have your fairy in position, secure her with glue dots. Now, she will not be able to fly away. ;)
9. Hang your creation in your favorite child's room or other designated space (such as a magical creative craft room).

Enjoy Stampin' Out Your Work Week! Happy Friday!

Before you go...

STOP BY the CMOMProductions Facebook page for a great giveaway!
Go to the Giveaways! photo album for your chance to win! It's simple!

GIVEAWAY! One random winner will win a current Idea Book & Catalog (worth $9.95).

How you ask?
Step1. Like CMOMProductions on Facebook
Step2. Like the photo in the Giveaways! photo album
Step3. Leave a comment!

What is your favorite craft project to make?
Favorite color combination?
What do you like about Stampin' Up?
New to stamping?

Giveaway Drawing Extended:
The winner will be posted April 15, 2011!

Could Be Better. Could Be Worse.

2011-04-04T12:44:00.000-04:00

"Could be better. Could be worse, though, too."

- Noah Calhoun, The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

A quote from one of Nicholas Sparks' most loved characters has been on my mind for months. I've been doing my best to look on the bright side and see the glass half full through all of the bumps in the road. Occasionally the glass gets jostled and the clouds cover some of that sunshine, but all in all I put my focus on the positive.

You see, we've dealt with one sickness after the next in our house for the entire winter season. Now that Spring has sprung, or so says the calendar even if mother nature isn't in complete agreement yet, we are still battling fevers, sinus issues, and random other unhealthy symptoms. My physical exhaustion may or may not be noticeable at this time. I won't lie, it's been rough and it feels never ending. This is where Noah Calhoun comes in.

Our family good health rating could most definitely be better. How very true that is. However, it could be much worse. Nobody likes to "let it work it's way out of your system" when sick, but it's generally easier than taking prescriptions and medicines non stop. We aren't in the hospital. Thank you Heavenly Father for that. We aren't facing a life threatening illness. Immense thank you's to God on this one as well. Currently we are on Spring Break from school, so my oldest son can rest without worrying that he's missing something important in the classroom this week. Amen!

I can honestly say that I'd rather be healthy than sick. Yes. It could be better. Could be worse, though, too. Count your blessings through the good times and bad... positive lesson learned. We are blessed even when we aren't feeling our best. Although, that doesn't mean I will give up our continued prayers for good health throughout the rest of the year.

Put it in perspective, stay positive, & have faith.

Where in your life do you need to put things in perspective, lean towards the positive, & keep the faith?

Spring Break Has Arrived

2011-04-01T20:23:00.000-04:00

I took today off to enjoy the first day of Spring Break with my boys!

A new Stampin' Out The Work Week post will be coming soon!

Happy Friday!

The Stampin' Up® Occasions Mini Catalog lasts through April 30th, so get your orders in soon!

Beautiful Blue Morpho

2011-03-28T19:24:00.000-04:00

Today's blog post has been interrupted by a field trip full of butterflies and a well child doctor visit.

Instead of an abundance of words, I give you something beautiful to look at...

What you see at first...

may be just a glimpse at the hidden beauty within!

Don't judge a book by it's cover, and don't judge a Blue Morpho Butterfly by it's outer wings alone.
Open your wings this week and let your Blue Morpho colors show!

Happy Monday!

SOTWW: MDS Iron On

2011-03-25T16:56:00.000-04:00

Stampin' Out The Work Week:

My Digital Studio Iron-On

This is a fun and easy project that allows you to take a step outside of the paper crafting world.

I created a simple project in MDS to show you how easy it is to make your very own iron on design! I chose the word "cherish" in honor of my 12 year wedding anniversary.

The Simple Step by Step:

1. Create your design in MDS using digital stamps, punches, embellishments, and even your own photos.

2. Mirror your images! Select your stamp, words/letters, photos, etc. and click the "Mirror" button in your Design Center.

3. Use iron-on paper to print the altered design.

4. Follow your iron-on instructions to adhere your design to shirts, pillowcases, or whatever you wish!

*Printable canvas fabric is available if you want to use fabric, but not an iron on. Not mirroring required.

Enjoy stampin' out the work week & your new creation! TGIF!

Wish to purchase MDS or another Stampin' Up® product?

Check out my website: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions/

The Stampin' Up® Sale-A-Bration promotion ends soon!

Place your orders in by March 31st to get your free product(s)!

Meeting Arthur's Author

2011-03-21T19:16:00.000-04:00

This evening we had the opportunity to meet the author of the beloved Arthur series, Marc Brown. An area library held the event and we couldn't pass it up. How often do you get a chance to meet a writer of a beloved children's series? While we were a few minutes late to the program (getting out of school/work and getting where we need to be takes time), we were still able to learn some interesting things about Marc Brown and his characters. What a neat experience for our family to catch a glimpse at the people who inspired DW, Buster, and the rest of the gang. By listening to this famous author speak, my boys discovered how the people, places, and activities around you can become part of a great story.

After Mr. Brown finished speaking, he generously offered to autograph books and take photos with everyone at the event. The line was long, but we've waiting in line for Toy Story Mania, so this was a piece of cake. Super dad (aka my wonderful husband) bought an Arthur book for each of our boys as we didn't bring any with us. My kids showed great patience as we waited our turn. Their reward was a kind comment in regards to their waiting skills from Marc Brown, 2 autographed books, a photo opportunity, and a special memory to last through their years.

Thank you Mr. Brown for taking the time to meet all of the children and their parents & grandparents. Your kindness, patience, sharing, & gift of writing is greatly admired and appreciated!

My boys are greatly impressed!

A Wimpy Kid Birthday

2011-03-18T16:13:00.000-04:00

Stampin' Out The Work Week has a fun theme this week. In honor of my oldest son's birthday and reading month, I present to you... A Wimpy Kid Birthday.

My son wanted to do something special for his birthday, so we gave him permission to invite two friends over for a Wimpy Kid themed afternoon this coming weekend. Invitations were kept simple. We printed the information on a piece of blue paper with the "stick figure" style image that you find on the first book cover. From there we decided to keep it going.

Our birthday party fun will include a game of Wimpy Kid Scrabble before the pizza arrives. Then we'll jump into some Wii games & just having fun in general. The final event will be popcorn and a movie... The Diary of A Wimpy Kid of course

For the birthday treat at school, we made brownie cookies and topped them with the "cheese touch." It was nothing more than a flattened vanilla tootsie roll with golden yellow and green food/icing coloring added to accomplish that aged cheese look.

A very simple button was worn to school declaring that my son was indeed the "Birthday Kid." I printed this from our home computer and added a little color by hand.

His brother and I continued the theme with our homemade birthday cards.

Decorating for the weekend party goes beyond balloons, yet it's not too involved either. Foam versions of our main character and a paper birthday banner add just enough of a wimpy birthday kid touch to make the day festive.

When our son's buddies go home, they'll have one of a kind thank you bags to take with them. A quick straight stitched bag with a small piece of canvas on the front, adorned by the wimpy kid, will hold all the goodies. Candy bars with a simple paper wrapper, "cheese touch" popcorn, a decorate your own button kit, bookmarks (what book themed party doesn't have bookmarks), "Diary of" journals that we created (an in progress rough draft sample shown), and of course a pencil for all the writing and drawing that will go inside the journal.

I love it when a theme comes together!

Enjoy the wimpy photos. Feel free to comment with any questions you have on the projects shown. As always, enjoy stampin' out your work week!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Continue scrolling for more photos.

Celebrating March

2011-03-14T09:40:00.000-04:00

CELEBRATE MARCH!!!

We are celebrating the month of March with reading, crafts, birthdays, & an anniversary!

March is National Craft Month & Reading Month.

We celebrate our first son's birthday on March 15th and our wedding anniversary on March 23rd.

There are so many friends celebrating special days at this time of year, I've lost count!

Happy birthday to my O man!

My life has been forever changed for the better with you in it!

I love you!

Do you have any special days to celebrate in March? Are you celebrating National Craft Month and/or Reading Month? Need a reason to celebrate? Have a slice of cake or a delicious cookie tomorrow to celebrate a very special birthday with us! Happy Monday!

Simply Adorned Lucky Charm

2011-03-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

Stampin' Out The Work Week: Simply Adorned Lucky Charm

My second Stampin' Up with CMOM Productions "how to" video is here for your viewing pleasure...

I hope you enjoy my LUCKY charm as much as I do!

Enjoy stampin' out your work week and happy Friday!

Is It Spring Yet?

2011-03-07T16:55:00.000-05:00

Desperately awaiting the Springtime and fresh air, I ponder what lies in store during this upcoming season of growth and starting anew. Spring break, the final months of school, and birthdays all come to mind. As does a sense of relief that comes with not feeling trapped indoors the majority of the time.

When winter begins, there is the excitement of holidays, and playing in the snow for the kids of Michigan and other northern states. Yet as the season drags on, even the children are ready to see the green grass and blooming flowers. They tire of snow pants and boots just as much as mom and dad do. Tossing off the winter coats, hats, gloves, and all other winter gear, encompasses a sense of freedom.

Breaking away from the cold, I long for the sweet smell of a light spring rainfall. In my mind I can picture umbrellas up, rain boots on, and two young boys singing, dancing, and splashing in the rain. With the sunshine comes soccer games, bike rides, displays of sidewalk chalk art, and just running around in the open space. The warmth of the outdoors tends to warm our hearts as well.

Please hurry Spring!

What are you looking forward to this Spring? Do you have any special plans? What is your favorite part about Spring? Will you splash in the rain puddles?

Stampin' Out The Sickies

2011-03-04T15:19:00.000-05:00

Stampin' Out The Sickies... I Mean Work Week: Hero Button

As one child took his last dose of antibiotics, the other started his, and before the week was stamped out, I finished my last does as well. Oh the sickies we have dealt with for the past 1 1/2 months! With both boys having finally returned to school, I am calling this bout of the sickies STAMPED OUT!

Pretty please let it be true!

A much needed escape from the germs and "Mom! Mooom! Mom! Mom! Mom!" was given to me when my husband arrived home from work this week. In the process getting some me time, I completed a few simple projects. Check out my CMOMProductions Facebook page to see some of the simple stamping technique projects created.

Today's stamping out the work week featured project (see above) actually doesn't involve any stamping. It was inspired by a bus driver & student who were recognized as heroes for helping a choking child.

Hero Button How To:

Supplies Used:

*Suggested Stampin' Up® Cardstock Colors - Pacific Point (blue), Daffodil Delight (yellow), & Real Red (red). *Brights Collection cardstock pack (118706) or available individually

*Die cut machine

*SU!® Vellum

*Printer

*Make Your Own Button (found at craft stores)

Putting It All Together:

1. Determine size of button. Cut or punch out a Pacific Point cs circle to fit.

2. Cut or punch out a diamond shape from Daffodil Delight cs

3. Cut or punch out a smaller diamond shape from Real Red cs and then punch or cut out a smaller diamond shape in the center (so the DD cs shows through).

4. Cut out, stamp, or print an "H" or the initial of your own "hero" in Pacific Point.

*A Real Red shadow was added to letter on the Hero Button shown.

5. Print your quote "You don't need a cape and super powers to be a.... HERO!" on Stampin' Up Vellum (101839) and cut/punch it out as a circle to fit the button size.

6. Adhere your layered pieces together. Adhere your vellum piece on top. Use SU!® Snail Adhesive (104332) behind the HERO letters (where it shows the least).

7. Place your crafty creation into the button front, line up & snap the back piece into place.

8. Salute your special hero by sharing this pin with him/her.

HAPPY FRIDAY & Enjoy Stampin' Out Your Work Week!

Another Week of Winter

2011-02-28T09:56:00.000-05:00

Another week of winter brings...

Two sick kids,

Two on antibiotics (one of them me),

Another doctor appointment (the 2nd in less than a week),

One full weekend day of household sanitizing mode,

Following the "24 hours fever free before going back to school" rule,

and a lot of frustrations for this mentally exhausted mom.

Bring on the Spring!

My intentions are to bring you a thought invoking post about life in general on this day. Instead, I give you a brief summary of what seems to have overtaken our lives this winter season. I'm so over it. How many of you are facing the sickies right now or have had your share this winter? Do you have any tricks for keeping the germs at bay? Are flu shots a must in your home (we all had them)? Any tips for keeping my sanity until this never ending 'bout of illness has passed (it's been over a month already)?

Stampin' Out The Work Week with DIY Word Art

2011-02-25T12:41:00.000-05:00

Do you love those framed phrases that you see in stores, but want something more personal? Maybe the color isn't exactly right or the message you want to spotlight can't be found? Could you be prevented from purchasing due to a large price tag or possibly the size just isn't quite what you need? If any of these reasons have caused you to walk away, it's time to consider a DIY version.

The opportunity to tackle this DIY project recently presented itself when I accepted a request to create 4 framed phrases. After wall color and desired lettering hue were discussed, a selection of phrases were chosen, and I was given the frames that would house the complete projects. I was then on my way to begin a new challenge.

Stampin' Out The Work Week with DIY Word Art

Pieces I selected for this project:

1. Art paper (acid free archival safe) from my local art supply store. Two large vanilla colored sheets were measured and cut to project size with a straight edge and scissors. There was enough paper for all 4 frames (with some left over).

*12"x12" paper was too small for this project. If your project measures 12"x12" or less, Stampin' Up® Cardstock or Designer Series Paper would be my first choice.

2. Stampin' Up Ink in Crumb Cake (item# 121030)

Brayer available through SU!®

3. Brayer (item# 102395)

4. Vinyl in the requested burgundy color.

*SU!® raw materials vinyl comes in various colors. SU!® Definitely Decorative line also offers various pre designed phrases and images.

5. Homemade Stencil (made with a die cut machine and a piece of scrap card stock)

*SU!® Definitely Decorative line also offers various stencils.

6. Die Cutting Machine (such as the Big Shot - item# 113439) and alphabet die or font cartridge.

How to:

1. I started with my stencil. I measured (eye ball it if you wish) to determine the center of my paper and taped the stencil in place with masking tape. After inking my brayer in Crumb Cake, I rolled it over the open spaces of my stencil. You will continue to ink your brayer as needed. I wanted to come away with an "aged" look, so I wasn't concerned about it being even throughout. When I finished the first side, I turned my stencil to mirror it and repeated the process.

2. For this project, I wanted to create a simple border. Using masking tape, I taped off the ends first. Moving on to the length next, I created a thinner appearance when taping off the portion to be inked. Using the brayer again, I created the desired look.

3. Vinyl lettering was then cut with my die cut machine before adhering the phrase over the previously inked image.

4. Place the finished pieces in your frames and beautifully decorate your home, business, office, or give your creation as a gift.

Explore your creativity and...

Enjoy Stampin' Out Your Work Week!

*All current Stampin' Up Catalogs are available to view at the following link: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions/catalogs.

Terrifical Books and a Movie

2011-02-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever read a book in the Beezus & Ramona series? Beverly Cleary captured the bond of sisters, friends, and family in such a way that the stories are timeless. You are charmed and smiling (and of course laughing), whether you fancy yourself to be more like Beezus, Ramona, or Henry Huggins. If you aren't a fan already, just trust the generations of Beverly Cleary fans on that fact.

This past Summer I re-read the original Beezus & Ramona book to my sons. We hold true to a rule in our home that states, "you must read the book before seeing the movie." After we laughed at the written version of silly Ramona, we scheduled our date to catch the film starring Selena Gomez as Beezus & Joey King as Ramona. A number of actors and actresses beautifully portray the other heartwarming Cleary characters. I must say the that theatrical performance was simply terrifical! Sharing the beloved creations, that began in the 1950's, with my boys was even better than terrifical... it was fantastical!

As a family movie, I haven't seen anything better come along in countless years. Bringing treasured characters to life, such as Beezus & Ramona, is a tall order, but it was certainly pulled off. I recommend that everyone take the opportunity to watch it. The film is available on dvd & blu ray, so pick up a copy or check out your local redbox. Don't forget to read the books too!

What did I learn (as a somewhat grown adult -- often mistaken for a teen) from the stories?

#1 If you don't have an aunt like Aunt Bea, you are missing out! Lucky for me, I was blessed with a couple of aunts who compare. Love ya!

#2 Sisters are supposed to grow up at some point and realize they have an instant best friend... if only they take the time to realize & appreciate it.

#3 Families have ups and downs. It's how we treat each other in the good times and bad times that determine if we'll be the kind of family that we want to claim when the day (or year or experience) is done.

#4 Don't be afraid to color outside of the lines. Be yourself. Enjoy who you are, even if it means that you are classified as "different."

#5 If something doesn't go your way, it is acceptable to use one bad word... "GUTS!"

#6 Aunt Bea is lucky have Hobart in the form of Josh Duhamel. Oh. Ooops. I guess that one is my own personal learning experience. ;)

Are you a Beverly Cleary fan? Have you read the Ramona series or some of her other great stories? If you could choose a Cleary character to define yourself, who would he/she be? Have you seen the latest movie? What did you think? Are you inspired to re-read the series or pick up the film?

For the writers: Do you feel that your stories are worthy of a "timeless tale" genre nod? Would you rather fit into a best selling trendy mold or hit the "classic favorites" list?

------

I apologize for missing Friday's stampin' out blog post.

Look for a new post this coming Friday (2/25/11),

I Missed Monday...

2011-02-15T18:00:00.000-05:00

While yesterday was my typical writing blog day, I completely missed it! Actually, I was quite busy with classroom Valentine's Day parties, spending a little time with my Mom, typical family stuff, and an early bedtime after watching the latest Pretty Little Liars episode. I didn't even make it to Castle or read a single chapter of a book before I was OUT for the night. My close friends and family are generally stunned by this early to bed attitude from me. The night owl gene was passed down to me from my Mom and it's always suited me well. After the weeks of illness, and continued cough and/or sinus issues that have plagued me since, it finally caught up with me. Such is life.

I'd like to tell you that I focused on my writing today, but it would be a lie. Instead, I focused on me. My last visit to a mom message board full of friends was around the time the germs hit our home and I felt the need to catch up. A few to do items and projects came up as well (which does count as "me" time because I LOVE what I do). Honestly, I wanted to crack open a dvd or blu-ray case, pop in one or two of my favorite chick flicks, and spend a couple of hours soaking up some girly time. That is on my "me time" list in the near future. The good news is that I'm sticking with my #5 resolution for the year... Take care of myself physically, mentally, & emotionally. I see this schedule "bump" as a win rather than a failure, because I remembered that it's okay to say "I need a day off" once in a while.

What keeps you busy? How do you do it all? Do you take enough time for you?

Colorful Creations

2011-02-11T17:24:00.001-05:00

Today's stampin' out the work week post is direct from my SU! demonstrator website blog...

Stampin' Up with CMOM Productions:

Colorful Creations Project Blog Post

Please take a moment to check it out.

Enjoy stampin' out the work week! TGIF!!!

From Couch Growth to Defining Individuality

2011-02-07T17:58:00.000-05:00

After spending a week as a couch growth, my ability to sit still and do "nothing" in particular is even less than it was before. When my energy started coming back, I knew I had to take it slow. Yet, there was (and still is) laundry to be done, cleaning to do, and projects calling my name. My health isn't back to 100% yet, so I remind myself not to over do it while tackling my tasks. I'm happy to report that I've accomplished quite a lot and still remember to take care of myself.

Putting this mentality into other tasks and goals may be something to consider. We need to balance the various areas of our life to make a whole person. Focusing on one action or responsibility may cause us to lose our depth, while spreading ourselves too thin also hurts our well being. Finding time to rest and rejuvenate is equally important.

Personally, I need time to create with my hands, mind, and heart. If I threw all of my efforts into writing and neglected my crafts or the music that I love, it would not be beneficial to the person that I am. Does it mean I'm not dedicated to any or all of these things? Not by any means. It just means that my path is full of different wonders than that of others.

Definitions of who we should be or how we should do things, don't always fit the individual. I've come to admire and appreciate many who have a strong focus in certain areas of their lives that I may not have. Each person has their own set of responsibilities (kids, deadlines, home) and pleasures (a long walk out side, reading a book, sleeping). This being the case, not everyone is meant to live their life exactly like the next person.

Dream your dreams. Live your life. Enjoy all the world has to offer. Don't put yourself in a peg hole (or let anyone else do so) just because you aren't climbing the same set of stairs. Realizing that your journey is not identical to the next person is one of the keys to success.

Enjoy your journey & happy Monday!

Stampin' Out the Sickies

2011-02-04T10:27:00.002-05:00

I'm stampin' out the work week & the sickies in good company this Friday! My youngest son and I have been suffering from a bug that my oldest son dealt with last week. He didn't get the worst of it, but my husband also picked up a bit of it toward the end of last week. A roller coaster fever, exhaustion, congestion, and cough are the major players of this unimpressive illness. I'm praying that a normal temperature sticks with my little "sick buddy" and me all day. Hopefully these germs will be busted and not grace our presence again. It put me out of commission for 5 days! During that time however, I did think of a fun and quick project to share with all of you. M & I plan to create a My Digital Studio scrapbook page to share with all of you. Check back Saturday morning for the final project.

*Updated 2/4/11 @ 8:30pm with two My Digital Studio pages... "Surviving The Sickies"
These pages were created in a couple of hours using MDS. No extra downloads, just MDS as it comes in the box & the free download upgrades. It's that simple! Interested in digital scrapbooking yet?

Click on the images to enlarge.

Enjoy stampin' out the work week!!! TGIF!

Woman Down

2011-01-31T12:34:00.000-05:00

After what seems like endless bouts of illness in our home, it's finally hit me hard enough to take me down. I'm resting on the couch and hoping to be fever free & healthy before the week is out.

Wish you all a HEALTHY week!

Mahalo Means Thank You

2011-01-28T08:00:00.030-05:00

Stampin' Out the Work Week with CMOM Productions:

In Hawaii, "mahalo" means thank you.

This week, I created my first ever how-to crafting/stamping YouTube video for the Late Night Luau participants! I wanted to teach the ladies who attended how to turn their name tags into a simple keepsake bookmark. It may not have been a perfect display of my filming skills (ignore that the project wasn't completely in the camera line a few times), but it was a fun learning experience. As time goes by I plan to showcase various other projects. Enjoy my debut crafting YouTube video as you stamp out the work week. TGIF!

To all who attended, volunteered, or worked on this wonderful event... Mahalo!!! ALOHA!!!

I Can't Wait To Grow Up...

2011-01-24T11:03:00.000-05:00

On Friday, a second grader told me that he couldn't wait to be an adult. My reply was the typical response of most adults. "Oh you don't want to grow up too fast. You'll miss out on so much! You'll have to get a job and have all kinds of responsibilities. Enjoy being a kid while you can." I remember those days myself. Of course there were many reasons I couldn't wait to grow up and get out of the house.

Dealing with the bittersweetness of my own children growing at warp speed and moving into my 30's in recent years brings forth a lot of thoughts & feelings regarding age. As kids we can't wait to grow up, but when we become adults, we don't want to grow old.

What is seen in the future that is so shiny and beautiful that we would wish childhood to be rushed? The mysterious "freedom" that we assume will be acquired when we reach that magical age of 18? Is it being taller (or in some cases not so much) or maybe the excitement of eventually driving a car?

Why do we fear or avoid growing older? Is it just the gray hair, wrinkles, and body changes that make us wish we could freeze time? Could it be the fact that we just feel older as our children grow? Are we affected by the goals left unaccomplished and worry that we won't ever achieve them?

Take a deep breath. Look around you and take note of where you have been and where you are in life. Think of all the people who have affected you and the ones you have affected. What makes you happy? What makes you lucky? Take a look in the mirror. Do you see those eyes looking back at you? What have they seen so far in this life? What have they yet to see? What happened in your years to give those eyes depth and sparkle? Smile and appreciate how much you have grown as a person and how much you have yet to grow. Life is too short to worry about rushing it or slowing it down. Take the time to enjoy the moment you are in.

Did you wish your childhood would rush by so you could be a grown up? Do you feel apprehension about growing older? Do you feel content at where you are in life?

Pretend It's Friday

2011-01-22T16:47:00.001-05:00

ALOHA!!! Was your week full of wonderful moments or just a bit hum drum? While this past week was incredibly busy for me, it was also a lot of fun! Today I am pretending it's Friday as I share how I was Stampin' Out the Work Week...

Luau goodies were stacked up in my craft area for the past few weeks. My tasks for this first annual Women's Night Out Late Night Luau were to create name tags for a local tv personality (our hostess with the mostest), committee, volunteers, workers, vendors, and all of the ticket holders who attended. Comment boxes for attendees and vendors were also on my list. For that fun project, I used stamps, cardstock, adhesive, and a couple of simple boxes with lids. An amazing group of women came together to make this event a huge success. One of the hot spots of the evening was where all of the spa treatments took place. The cost of a massage, manicure, foot scrub, or any of the many options offered... $5 each! What a great deal, right?!? For this fabulous portion of the evening, I used My Digital Studio (by Stampin' Up) to design 50 spa vouchers. With the inexpensive quality printing service provided by SU!, it was such an easy project. Want to take a look at some of these things? Wait no longer...

My work was not over when the Late Night Luau projects were complete however. Amongst the leis, I was busy stampin' and crafting to represent my Stampin' Up with CMOM Productions vendor booth. Take a look below to see a few of the items I had for sale. Watch for a future announcement regarding an Etsy shop opening up where you can purchase items like these.

Notepads

Felt Flowers pins & Double-sided Necklaces

From The Heart Bookmarks

School Spirit Bookmarks

Watch for an announcement regarding an Etsy shop opening up where you can purchase similar items.

A small selection of my display for the evening

I hope you had fun stampin' out your work week. Enjoy your weekend!

A Time For Reading

2011-01-17T07:00:00.002-05:00

Valentine's Are A Hoot Winner's Kit!

I am currently working on projects for our exciting Women's Night Out PTO event that takes place on Friday. It's going to be fun & entertaining for all of the ladies who attend. The women who have put this luau themed evening together deserve a huge round of applause. What an incredible group they are! They have truly proven that you can accomplish more as a team... and make something better than anyone ever expected!

Busy times are ahead this week, so I plan to use a few of my breaks to hop into the blog-o-sphere and catch up with many of my blogger friends! I'm looking forward to reading and leaving comments on your blogs this week.

Have a wonderful week and check back on Friday to see a sneak peek of a few items that will be for sale at my vendor booth during the Women's Night Out Luau!

Don't forget to check out Diane Estrella's blog today where the giveaway winners will be announced!

A Giveaway And A Charming Class

2011-01-14T14:35:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Stampin' Out The Work Week!

If you missed Tuesday's post, you may want to check it out. Today is the last day for Diane Estrella's giveaway week and you don't want to miss it! You can even win a CMOM Productions Valentine's Are A Hoot At Home Kit. Good luck!

Now on to today's feature...

CMOM Productions Presents: A Charming Class (featuring Simply Adorned)

For this class, ladies will create 12 charming inserts for a 1x1 or 1x1 1/4" Simply Adorned Charm (will be included in class cost). Charm chains are also available through Stampin' Up, and can be added to the class cost upon request. The Simply Adorned charm is double sided for those that wish to decorate both sides. Inserts can be changed as often as you like. It's a great way to personalize your look.

Each insert was created to represent a month out of the year. Request the class as an early Valentine's Day gift or give yourself something special this year! At home kits are not available for this class as many stamp sets are used.

More details can be found on my website: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions

Enjoy stampin' out your work week! TGIF!!!!

Don't Miss Out!

2011-01-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

Today is the day...

Check out Diane Estrella's Blog for a chance to win a giveaway created by me!

It's also where you can see debut photos for my upcoming February 12th CMOM Kids Craft Time class project, Valentines Are A Hoot!

A True Short Story

2011-01-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

Today I bring you a true short story.

I hope it makes you smile and warms your heart, as it did mine the day it occurred.

Once upon a time there were two young brothers. These smart young grade schoolers were enjoying a day at the Magic Kingdom with their mom and dad. While strolling through the many shops on Main Street U.S.A., they came along a plastic Mickey Mouse gift card that had seemingly lost it's owner. Spotting this tiny treasure, worth an undetermined amount of money, these youthful gentleman were instantly animated. While many other may have pocketed such an item, the lads did nothing of the sort. Their exclamations were for one purpose only... returning this prize to the person who would most certainly be upset to find it missing. With nobody in the vicinity visibly searching for what had been misplaced, they turned the gift card in to the nearest WDW cast member. After a sincere thank you and compliment about being, "such good thoughtful boys," the family was on it's way once more. As the parents glanced towards each other, they knew without an exchange of words, that they had two amazing young boys to be proud of. Not once did these children think greedily. Instead, their actions showed great maturity and honor... especially for the ages of 5 and 7. May they always carry this kindness and responsibility with them.

Have your children (or any child) ever inspired you? Have they done something that absolutely knocked your socks off? Do you have a heart warming story to share on this Monday?

Don't forget to check out Diane Estrella's blog all week for great giveaways! Tomorrow Diane will be featuring me, so check it out! Happy Monday!

Occasions Mini, Promotions, and Giveaways Oh My

2011-01-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

Today I'm stampin' out the work week with the new Occasions Mini Catalog! Just glancing at the cover shows you that it's not just a guide to the latest featured products, but an idea booklet as well. Just like our annual Stampin' Up® Idea Book & Catalog, the Occasions mini is full of fabulous sample projects! Some of my favorite new items feature chocolate & sewing, but that's not everything! I love it all! You won't want to miss it, so check out the Occasions Mini for yourself.

That's not all I want to share today. Stampin' Up® is running a great promotion through January 24, 2011! It's Filled With Love and you can find out more about it through my website.

Don't miss Diane Estrella's giveaways on her blog next week! Great prizes will be up for grabs all week long and I will be featured on Tuesday, January 11, 2010! Isn't Diane awesome? I sure think so!!!

Check back next week for new ways to stamp out the work week. Projects are in the works! TGIF!

Check out all of our Stampin' Up catalogs here on my website.

Usher In 2011

2011-01-03T07:00:00.025-05:00

As we usher in each new year, we often make a list of personal (and professional) resolutions. While many toss these tasks out the window early on (*cough* diet & exercise), some items on the yearly agenda actually do stick. Last year I made a resolution NOT to make a resolution, simply because I found humor in the irony. Seriously. What really is the success rate of those annual new year's resolutions? Regardless, I'm actually putting forth an effort and making a list of goals to accomplish in 2011.

My 2011 Resolutions

1. Blogging: Stick with a writing post on Monday & Stampin' Out The Work Week crafty post Fridays.

2. Stampin' Up: Enjoy the creativity as always and make a profit in 2011.

3. Etsy: Create on Etsy shop for CMOM Productions items!

4. Write: Get back to that book I began pouring my heart into. Complete by 2012! I have to be realistic with this one.

5. Personal: Take care of myself physically, mentally, & emotionally. Eat right & exercise, dates with the hubby, quiet reading/writing/crafting time to myself, and whatever else fits in this category. Embrace the fact that I am human and don't beat myself up if I'm not 100% all the time.

6. Most important resolution in 2011: Appreciate, admire, be thankful, dream, smile, take time, love, & live! Remember all of the beautiful things in life. Be grateful for friends, family, & loved ones every day. I will not let the bad days get me down! Keep moving forward! Repeat but important: Embrace the fact that I am human and don't beat myself up if I'm not 100% all the time. Flair & amazing surprises can sometimes be found in the imperfections.

What are some of your past resolutions that did not survive? Did you have success with any former resolutions? How did you pull it off? What are your resolutions for 2011?

A Week of Calm... I Hope

2010-12-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

I hate to say this again... but I'm taking the week off of blogging. It's my sons' last week of vacation in 2010 before school starts again. Last week we were overtaken by illness & Christmas chaos (busy busy busy), so I'm hoping to make the most of this week with my little men.

Enjoy your last week of 2010 everyone and I'll see you in 2011!

Any New Year's resolutions in 2011? Share yours with me next week! I'll be sharing mine!

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T14:59:00.001-05:00

created by CMOM Productions using My Digital Studio by Stampin' Up®
*click image to image

For The Love of Disney: One Man's Dream

2010-12-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World (Florida), don't overlook the attraction known as One Man's Dream. While running to your Toy Story Mania destination to grab your Fastpass, take note of OMD's location, grab your golden ticket, and then turn around to experience one of the best attractions in Hollywood Studios.

One Man's Dream has more to offer than you might think at first glance. Entering through the doors, you begin wandering through a selection of Walt Disney's historic pieces. Among the Disney paraphernalia, you will find the desk Walt used in 2nd grade. My sons loved seeing that the man who created "the mouse," had to sit in school at one time as well. An antique Tinkerbell, a diorama built by Disney, Walt's office, costumes from Zorro, the Rocketeer's jet pack, and Big Bunny from Honey I Blew Up The Kid are just a few of the unique items found in this treasure trove.

When you complete your tour of the display, a video awaits. Here is where you will learn more details in the story of our beloved Walt Disney as narrated by Julie Andrews. As it states within the film, "Walt always said, 'it all started with a mouse,' however it really began with a man." What an inspiration that man really is. I was grateful to have shared Walt's story with my children.

Much can be said about the man who created one of our favorite characters of all time. Discovering that he held a close relationship with his brother, a true love found with his wife, and proof that he was truly a devoted father was icing on the cake. Walt began his life as part of a family who struggled financially. He never let that stop him. Walt pursued dreams and never gave up, even when he had an almost crushing professional blow. He regrouped and before long created a character that danced into our hearts... Mickey Mouse. This is the point where Walt claims it all began, but I (along with others) believe differently. The man that created the mouse, truly started it all.

Endless family friendly movies and characters followed Mickey. Disneyland and Walt Disney World were created due to the love of a devoted father who wanted to share experiences with his children. Would we enjoy these animated pleasures in life if it hadn't been for the man who drew up a squeaky mouse with a positive attitude? Where did that mouse get his spunk? I believe it came from Walt himself.

One of my favorite quotes by Mr. Disney says a lot about him. "Get a good idea, and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done, and done right." Walt Disney is a positive inspiration to many. My own two children came away from this theme park attraction with an understanding that it doesn't matter where you come from, how much money you have, or if you fail along the way. If you truly believe in something, have a dream, work hard, and never give up... anything is possible!

Thank you Mr. Disney for dreaming, following all of those dreams, and encouraging others to dream! Another big thank you for creating a place where I found my own true love and can now share with our children.

Sick Day

2010-12-20T13:54:00.000-05:00

SICK DAY!

Today's blog post will be postponed until Tuesday or Wednesday due to illness.

I'm feeling okay, but I am taking care of my 3 sick men, 1 big & 2 little.

My Walt Disney World Vacation

2010-12-13T12:55:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving day brings travel for many families, but for mine it was an extra special road trip. While others were making turkey, pie, and all the fixings that accompany a glorious meal, we loaded up the car and headed to Walt Disney World, Florida! Our travel adventures took two days, with an overnight stay in Tennessee. The long days were worth it when we pulled onto Disney property and our vacation officially began.

After unloading the car, we headed to Downtown Disney. While the entire admission free area is split into three sections (The Marketplace, Pleasure Island, & The West Side), our favorite spot to roam is The Marketplace. It's full of shops and restaurants with Disney flair. A giant Lego store, with huge Lego creations outside, is one of my boys' favorite stops. This night, we bypassed many of our favorite shops in favor of our dinner destination. Delicious meals from Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney's Marketplace will always be on my favorite foods list. The penne alfredo, that was calling my name before we left Michigan, did not disappoint my taste buds.

The Magic Kingdom was our destination for the first full day of Disney. When we arrived, we were thrilled to find ourselves going from one ride to the next without a big wait. Crowds were not overwhelming as they have been in the past when we've visited. Christmas atmosphere seeped into every area of the park, even Cinderella's castle lit up with gorgeous lights when the sun when down. It was simply beautiful.

As we skipped from one attraction to the next, I began to notice a growing trend. In fact, I caught my husband and myself participating in this a number of times as well. While waiting in a line or sitting at a meal, cell phones were front and center. Thankfully, I picked up on this fairly early into our first day and when I had time to talk to my husband quietly, I mentioned my concerns. Many parents were spending those free moments exploring their gadgets instead of interacting with their children. As we didn't want to fall into the technology trap, we agreed to limit our time on phones during our vacation.

Throughout the remainder of our trip, we gained so much. Our family had true quality time with very little interruption. We used wait times to learn about things around us, practice lines, do "homework," and discuss our experiences. Our goal was to absorb everything possible. Had I attached myself to my cell phone's apps, I would have missed out on many special moments with my husband and boys. Instead, I saw through the eyes of my children and felt my heart warm on countless occasions.

My husband and I both felt our eyes were opened to various new and different thoughts and feelings during repeat experiences on this trip. New perspectives were gained because we have grown and are at different stages in life than we were before. We are excited for what our children gained with their new and repeat experiences well.

Walt Disney went away on trips to come home renewed, refreshed, & "a new man." When we headed home on December 2, 2010, I completely understood that feeling. I had not been so relaxed in a very long time. Over the next few weeks, I hope to share more of what I learned while on my Walt Disney World vacation.

*****

A very special memory to be cherished for years to come was created on this Disney vacation. We met up with my father-in-law and his girlfriend, P, at Hollywood Studios on Monday, November 29, 2010. Unbeknown to P, a surprise had been in the works for some time. Our family enjoyed the Beauty & the Beast stage show from VIP seats. After the show, we were given the privilege of meeting Belle & the Prince "backstage." During this extraordinary meet & greet, my father-in-law proposed to P. We were honored to be a part of the surprise & celebration! I couldn't ask for a better step-mom-in-law!

Congrats on your engagement M & P!!!

*****

Upcoming Monday Posts

For the Love of Disney: One Man's Dream

Class In A Theme Park: A Learning Experience

If The Jeans Fit... Buy Them

Upcoming Friday Posts

Getting Crafty for Christmas

Winter Crafting Time

Blog Vacation Time Apology

2010-12-06T14:45:00.000-05:00

I apologize for not posting sooner! I was on vacation last week and forgot to inform my readers of my vacation time. While I was away, I gained some new perspective, relaxed, had quality time with my family, and now I have so much to share. I have a busy week ahead, so I'll see you back here next Monday! You'll find some new Stampin' Up projects next week as well!

I promise it'll be worth the wait!

My Digital Studio is Fabulous

2010-11-22T07:00:00.003-05:00

On Monday I am typically focusing on my writing mode, but today I wanted to tap into my Stampin' Up side.

Did you know that SU! offers a digital program? They absolutely do! It includes a wide range of embellishments, digital stamps, designer and photo templates, punches, Designer Series Paper, cardstock and more! The regular price is $79.95 (US), but this week you can get it for 50% off that price! If you are interested in purchasing, please visit my demonstrator website to order.

Let me tell you a bit more about why I've been waiting to get my hands on this fabulous program for some time.

#1 Great reviews: A dear friend of mine owns MDS and raves about it! She creates the most beautiful layouts and I'm slightly jealous that I don't own it yet. :)

#2 Easy: I could get caught up on my scrapbooking in no time! I have 2 boys and often I create a similar page for each of their books. With MDS, when I need a duplicate page, I don't have to recreate it from scratch.

#3 More than Scrappin': It's not just for scrapbooking. This program will create cards, slideshows (one of my favorite things to do), make calendars, create unique blog headers, fancy flyers, and more. You can even email & share your projects online. I always say this about Stampin' Up, but again... The possibilities are endless!

#4 Upgrade!: SU! offers updates. New downloads are available through the Stampin' Up website (again- see my demonstrator site), so you can upgrade your program with many new digital items!

#5 Printing & Prices: Stampin' Up offers printing services that give your creations true color. I've compared prices and from what I've seen SU! wins for their reasonable pricing & quality.

#6 I {Heart} Digital: I love creating with paper, ribbons, inks, stamps, and all of the beautiful items Stampin' Up offers, but I also love my computer! We live in a digital world these days, so why not make it fabulous with MDS?

As you can see, I believe MDS should stand for Mindy's Digital Studio.

Feel free to replace "My" with your name too!

*****

Many other great SU! online deals are happening this week!
Check them out here:
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions/

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-15T15:46:00.000-05:00

With family visiting from Maine, we have chosen to observe Thanksgiving today.

Happy Thanksgiving... a little bit early.

What are you thankful for this year?

Stampin' Out The Work Week #3

2010-11-12T16:18:00.000-05:00

Stampin' out the work week isn't just for us adults. Those kids work hard on their school work all week long too! That's why I offer "Mom & Me" classes geared towards kids. It's special time for mom & child to create fun projects and memories! My next class will be scheduled for December. If you can't make it to a class, I'm happy to create At Home Kits for you to enjoy with your kids!

Stampin' Up's Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set (clear mount 121187, wood mount 120857), found in our Holiday Mini catalog, is perfect for many kid friendly Christmas projects. In fact, I plan to use it during my upcoming Mom & Me class. One of my favorite projects is not only perfect to create with your child, but it will continue to be enjoyable long after class is over. It's a 24 card matching game!

Using 12 of the images from Jolly Bingo Bits, the Ornament Punch, a 1" Circle Punch, Whisper White & Real Red cardstock, various colored SU! Inks, & a little bit of adhesive, you have a fabulous game to enjoy! I laminated my project so it would hold up over the years. With a handmade box to match, it also makes a perfect gift or stocking stuffer.

*****

Check out my website to place an order or find out about upcoming events & classes!

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions

The Saga of a Short Girl's Search for Jeans

2010-11-08T07:00:00.002-05:00

My heart is in my stomach. While my stomach has dropped to my knees. Prep work, mostly consisting of online searches, has been completed. Now it's time for the pep talk... if I can find any pep at all. Mentally, I'm already convinced it'll become another epic fail in the search for a fabulous pair of jeans. Sigh! Here I go...

As I pull up to the first store on my list, I debate on even going in for another attempt at denim comfort. Should I give up before I even begin today? My eyes roam to the neighboring stores and linger at a nearby craft haven and even an office supply store. I'd much rather be going in search of a cute little notebook.

Be prepared, I'm about to share a deep dark secret that many women would never speak of. I HATE shopping for clothes! Yes, you read that right. Don't mistake clothes with boots however. Boots I can mostly certainly count on for a smile and contented sigh. As for pants of any kind, I give up! Maybe it's the fact that it's so difficult for me to find a pair that doesn't accent my butt crack and post pregnancy stomach stretch marks. I'm tiny, but I'm not a teenager!

How many people can simply point, click, and pay for an online clothing item without a thought that it might not fit? Sure, there are some. For me it's nearly impossible. Especially when it comes to a good pair of pants. Most extraordinary petite people can't walk into a store, pull jeans from a shelf, and have an instant favorite piece to their ensemble. We must try it on. It's the way our world works. With this fact staring me in the face, I find it unbearably frustrating to find most stores choose to sell their "short" or "petite" items online only. For those stores that actually do carry short and petite styles, please stop putting the smallest sizes on the top shelves! Give this short girl a break!

Shelf after shelf, rack after rack, failure after failure. I search through petite, women, and junior sections in a desperate hope of finding one brand's style of jeans that was made for little ole' me. Snagging the solo pair found that seems like it may be a reasonable fit, I head to the dressing room. Quickly trying the pair on, and even more rapidly deciding they are not mean to for me, I change back into my current favorite pair. I look sadly at the comfortable denim that has begun the ventilation process and wish the brand continued to produce the same style and fit that I have worn out over the years. Then I hold my head high, okay slightly drooping, and determine that today will yet again be another epic fail in the saga of this short girl's search for jeans.

Next stop (for another day- one can only take so much torture): A petite store with potential... and a larger price tag than I'm used to.

*****

Keeping up is not my forte lately. While the items on my to do list are piling up, I continue to have a hard time following & commenting on blogs. Contact with my message board mom friends is sporadic at best. I'm fearful it will only get worse as the holidays continue their approach. Alas, I do my best.

Apologies to those I haven't been keeping up with.

Speak Now... Mean

2010-11-02T11:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I neglected to post my blog. *GASP* In an effort to juggle an extra ball or 2, I simply forgot. I promise to keep today's post short & sweet, to the best of my ability. Just know that the tastiest morsel is not at the beginning, it's at the end.

I think it's clear that my household is full of Taylor Swift fans. My youngest son blushes when you mention her name, song, or any Taylor Swift related topic. Is it any surprise that we rushed to get the Target exclusive version of her latest cd, Speak Now, on it's release day? Of course it's not.

One of the extra features from Target's special cd includes the music video "Mine," as well as behind the scenes and on the set of the shoot. Beautiful picturesque Kennebunkport, Maine is the backdrop for this fabulous musical vision. What's not to love about that? Nothing. Especially since we have family members who were actually working nearby while filming was taking place.

Now, I should get to the short & sweet part of today's post rather than fill you up with endless facts about this amazing new album by Miss Swift. However, I must add that it's full of FABULOUS music. She never ceases to impress me with her lyrics and musical talents.

As I listened to Taylor's 6th musical selection, "Mean," I heard something more to the lyrics than she implies. Imagine yourself as a child growing up in an abusive home and hearing the words of this song...

"Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me, and all you're ever gonna be is mean, why ya gotta be so mean... I bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold, but the cycle ends right now, cause you can't lead me down that road..."

Now picture yourself as that same child now grown into an adult... Can you feel the emotion and power in those words? I most certainly can.

If you hear me singing this song at the top of my lungs on various occasions and notice a little extra heart to it or see a little extra depth in my eyes, you'll know where my mind is. Gratitude pours from my heart to know that I have a husband who loves and protects me. As a father, he's incredible. I've seen the flip side of the coin and I will tell you every day just how very lucky I am. The chain can be broken. That's why I choose to speak... or as Taylor Swift's latest album says... speak now.

If you or someone you know needs help please take a moment to view this website:

http://www.domesticviolence.org/

If you feel unsafe while viewing the site, you will find a quick exit on the upper right side by clicking on the words "leave this site quickly."

Stampin' Out The Work Week #2

2010-10-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today I'm stampin' out the work week with a few different projects. We'll start by showcasing my sons' halloween creations for their classes and finish with one of my latest crafty pieces. You won't want to miss out. This one has extreme Christmas gift potential!

Each of the halloween projects you see features a stamp set that I'm just batty about... It's the "Batty For You" stamp set. My oldest son created bookmarks for each of his classmates, as well as a special pin for his teacher. My youngest son decided that his class would enjoy a matching game. Check out my website to learn about my upcoming Mom & Me class, when we'll be making a Christmas Memory Game. I created a simple box for the game while my son designed a halloween pin for his teacher.

Before you peruse a few of our showcased photos, I'd like to tell you about that special piece with Christmas gift potential... Here is one version of my two sided charm necklace. The possibilities are endless with this jewelry!

See more project photos below!

click to enlarge

and

Information on products used on the featured Halloween crafts!

More Showcased CMOMProductions Photos...

SU! products used in the halloween projects shown:

Stamp Sets: Batty For You, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Punches: 1 3/4" scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle, bitty bat, Scallop Oval XL, Curly Label

Cardstock Colors & Inks: Basic Black, Old Olive, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Elegant Eggplant

Embossing Folder (with Big Shot): Spider Web (from the holiday mini).

Misc Items: Laminator, pins, glitter, hot glue gun

Taking A Sick Day

2010-10-25T10:50:00.001-04:00

Hello blogger friends...

Today I'm taking a "sick day." My mind is in a sinus head cold induced fog and I'm juggling motherhood responsibilities, a PTO event (not solo I promise), and my upcoming Stampin' Up event as well. Something has to give today, or my sanity surely will. *chuckling* We all have limits and have to know when to take a break. That's life.

Have a great Monday and hopefully I'll have a new Stampin' Out Fridays post for you at the end of the week!

Stampin' Out The Work Week On Fridays

2010-10-22T07:00:00.025-04:00

As a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I get to share what I love... getting creative & crafty. With that in mind, I thought it was time to start posting some of my projects. On Fridays, I'll be stampin' out the work week here on my blog!

With Christmas quickly approaching, I'll start by posting Christmas cards and great gift ideas. If you fall in love with one of my creations, I'd be happy to teach you how to make your own and guide you as you purchase materials for your project. Want something that you see, but not interested in making your own? Let me know and I'll create something just for you.

Traditional Christmas Dasher

Today, I present to you the fabulous Christmas cards that I created for my upcoming Stamp-A-Stack class on November 13, 2010. My attendees will make 10 of each card design and will go home with 20 complete Christmas cards, 20 envelopes, card making instructions, and the Dasher stamp. Also included are snacks, prizes, Christmas music, & fun!

Snow & Ice Dasher

Dasher is easily one of my favorite stamps. When I created these two cards, it began in my head, transformed into sketches, and from there came the actual finished product. A sample of rich earthy tones and a touch of ribbon were used on the first card. While I love the traditional Christmas feel, the appeal of a winter wonderland and Dasher in Whisper White pulled me to create the second card. A little bling had to be added for effect. The truth is, I couldn't decide which one was my favorite!

I look forward to sharing many more of my fun projects with you!

Check back next Friday as we stamp out the work week together!

Want more information?

You can check out my classes, events, and do some shopping here on my Stampin' Up Website:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/cmomproductions

Ain't Love Grand

2010-10-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

How many husbands would mute a sports program so their wife can read without interruption? Personally, I don't know many who would even stop to think about it. Yet that's exactly what my husband did for me on Saturday as I finished reading (or should I say devouring) "The Preacher's Bride" by Jody Hedlund. I paused to reflect on his sweet thoughtfulness and came back with one word "blessed."

My husband and I can't afford grand expensive gestures, but even if we could, I can't imagine any flashy gift that would mean more to me. If I receive a gift from the man I love, I don't expect jewelry or bouquets of roses. Often times when my husband is looking to surprise me, it'll be with a cd or book because he knows me well. That alone is a special gift. It's the simple acts of love that put a smile on my face and warm my heart.

I pray that my boys grow to be men like their father and that their future wives will appreciate the simple loving gestures as much as I do. While I want a great many blessings for my children, this one is towards the top of the list.... True compassionate considerate and whole hearted love to be given and shared with one special person.

If the money is gone, when the wrinkles and gray hair have appeared, or when life hands you more lemons than you can hold... what do you have? Do you have love? Real love? A kind considerate heart by your side? A faithful hand to hold? If you do, count yourself blessed. Are your heart, eyes, and mouth smiling because someone loves you and you love them back? Tell them or show them today with a simple loving gesture. Ain't love grand?

“A life without love is no life at all.”

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more; that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.”

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

Encouragement Teamwork and Awareness

2010-10-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

What a weekend! My guys and I enjoyed a wonderful family outing on Saturday. You may be jealous when I tell you that it all began with a round of injections. Ah yes, the family that gets flu shots together... Well, hopefully we'll be the family that doesn't get sick this year.

My boys were very brave. O was actually a bit frightened and has the typical needle phobia, but he got through it like a champ. M hopped up in the chair with a smile on his face... It crumpled slightly when the needle came out. Absolutely no tears were shed this year. After my little men were finished, I went 3rd. You'd never believe how terrified I used to be of needles if you had seen me relaxed and without hesitation. My poor husband went last and was almost as unafraid as our sons. What a bunch of troopers we were!

Running errands and working on a halloween costume for M took up the rest of our Saturday. As we flipped between the NASCAR race and UofM vs M State game, I felt very content. Activities of Autumn have a calming affect on me.

Sunday brought organized chaos in our home. Resorting and cleaning of the boys' playroom took more time that I'd care to admit. It did however leave us with fewer toys and more space. Everyone in the family pitched in and many hands did make light work. The boys agreed to put their toys away in their designated places from now on. Laughing to myself here. What an amazing job my boys did this weekend!

It's awesome how much can be accomplished when working together as a team. Without the help of my 3 men (big & small), it would have taken countless hours to achieve today's goal. Encouragement and a desired reward can also go a long way. If you are faced with a challenge, put a little carrot out in front of yourself. Marmaduke the movie, a treat, & root beer worked for our little guys. My reward, besides a little less work on my own plate, was "Date Night" with my husband. Laughter and smiles all around!

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Many of you already know how important domestic violence awareness is to me. The month of October is not only Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but Domestic Violence Awareness Month as well. If you know of anyone who needs help, please encourage and direct them to:

Common Ground Sanctuary

Toll Free

248.456.0909

800.231.1127

HAVEN

Toll Free

248.334.1274

877.922.1274

http://www.domesticviolence.org/

If you are in danger,call 911, your local hotline, or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at:

1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Trust me when I say that it's not always cut and dry. Living with abuse takes a toll on the souls of the abused and those who witness it. It's never as simple as walking away. Have compassion and refrain from judging those who live with abuse.

"Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks (fiction) showcases a domestic abuse situation within the novel. While every abuse victim's story is different, Nicholas Sparks was able to capture the guilt, strength, compassion, fear, and many other emotions abusers often go through. I admired the fictional portrait that Mr. Sparks painted, but also how the reality of actual situations was woven into the canvas. It's an amazing book to read and I encourage everyone to pick it up.