Letting Go....Getting Ready...

Fair Warning: This may be a bit long!
I am so excited today! It's New Years Eve! Time for reflecting, letting go...getting ready and moving on! As kid, my adult relatives would pick a reasonable hour (any time a bit latter than our "normal" bedtime so we thought we were staying up really late1)--and then do a countdown--we'd stand on an ottoman (anyone out there know what that is besides me? Telling my age/origin here!), and "jump" into the New Year amongst lots of noisemakers and happy shouting. Then we'd go to sleep. Fast forward a lot of years. I chose to marry my late husband on New Year's Eve--simply because it was a time of new beginnings. I adore New Year. The old year-- good, bad and indifferent-- is behind you-and there is a CLEAN SLATE before you. Funny, I can really feel that with the NY but in actuality, for a believer, it's like that anytime we ask forgiveness! He wipes it away. We can start new. Clean. Refreshed. Hmm...
So today...I am doing a few Flylady things-I AM NOT---trying to "catch up" and yes-I am WAY BEHIND! Flylady will help me deal with that bit by bit. I slept late (and I slept well!), and am sitting here enjoying a cup of coffee my darling husband delivered. THAT is something I am thankful for as our marriage was truly failing earlier this year. We've come a long way. I am also making it a habit to start my day with not one but TWO devotional books. The first one is my well-worn copy of AFFIRMATIONS FOR THE INNER CHILD by Rokelle Lerner. Here's today's message from her, appropriately titled Reflection/New Years Eve:

I pause between the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new. My plans for making necessary changes have already been set in motion. Their fulfillment lies ahead.
On this New Year's Eve, I take this moment to rest and reflect. I feel myself moving in perfect balance and harmony. I feel my connection to the earth and the universe. I know now that I am firmly set on my path. Even if I should stray for a moment, I will always find my way back.
I look back on the past year and rejoice in both my mistakes and my achievements. They have taught me well. I look forward to the new year with fresh eyes. I breathe in the stillness before time begins.
Then, from Anne Wilson Schaef's MEDITATIONS FOR WOMEN WHO DO TOO MUCH...
Beauty
Happily may I walk.
May it be beautiful before me.
May it be beautiful behind me.
May it be beautiful below me.
May it be beautiful above me.
May it be beautiful all around me.
In beauty it is finished.
--Navajo prayer

This got me to thinking...I am trying to let go of my "Eeyore" attitudes and thinking, and learn to look to the good, the positive...and this prayer may just help me keep focused! I had the distinct pleasure of talking with Theresa's 83-year old father this past week. He told me I sounded like a happy person (he doesn't know me very well!). He told me to always stay happy. He is a delight and is FULL of sound advice. I wish I could sit at his feet and listen for hours to the wit and wisdom I know he has. In 2011-this is my prayer-for all of us: May we walk it happily. May we leave beauty behind us, below us, above us, around us. May we finish each day with..."it was beautiful" and "well done, my good and faithful servant"(Matt.25:21).

Before I close, I would ask for prayers for some dear friends, Dot and Bill Shuck. I received word last night through our church's prayer chain that Bill is in the last stages of cancer. Hospice has been called in. Please be in prayer for Dot as she walks the path before her, that their end time together on this earth may be filled with the peace, love and presence of Christ.

Celebrate 2010. The good-and the bad. Look forward to 2011. The possibilities-and the promises. Enjoy. Be safe. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

I am WATCHING TV!

Or maybe I should call this post "TIME OUT FOR A COMMERCIAL!" What's so great about that, you ask? Well, unlike most of the households in America today, we do not even have an "operable" tv! Yes, it will work to play dvd's and video's-but we are not "connected" to outside channels. We don't typically watch tv! We read and, since we've gone wireless, I've been bringing the laptop with me when we curl up after dinner. Darling hubby can read, I can blog hop-or post. But TONIGHT-tonight I discovered something even better! Go to http://okistampqueen@myctmh.com and, on the left-hand side, you will see about half way down CTMH TV. Click on that. WOW! On the left is a WHOLE LIST of Art & Soul videos you can watch! Just pick a topic, click on it and then on the "learn how to make this project in this show" link. Easy peasy. Now I do have to say---my video kept stalling-so I had to scroll down to the very bottom where it says in bold type "need help watching CTMH TV". Once I clicked on the "low" bandwidth-then went back up and clicked on the video, it played fine! I am ADDICTED, my friends! Want printed directions for the project? That's there, too! There is a treasure trove of material here! I cannot wait to watch more! Take a few minutes and take a peek-most are about 15 minutes long (excellent and perfect Flylady time break! See one you like? Something you want to try in our group? E-mail me-can do it right from the CTMH site--or at sentbysharon@aol.com. Until next time, this "commercial" is over-and I am back to my now regularly scheduled programming! Happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Tuesday...

I have to go to work today--but that's ok--as I am on my "end of the year get it cleaned up & ready for next year" mode for my office there, too! Others will be out so it should be nice & quiet! http://flylady.com - go there!

I FOUND---the Cricut cartridge I didn't know if I had actually bought or not (if you read yesterday's post this makes more sense!)! GO ME! It has not one but SEVERAL crowns on it so I think I will use that to cut crowns to help label my goodies as well.

Hubby fixed...my paper cutter and it's nothing he did-but it's not cutting right. For whatever reason, I am getting little snippets of paper in the cutting groove and the blade isn't staying seated in it's arm track well at all and cutting all cattywhampus. So---I think I will order the Close to My Heart paper cutter-er, trimmer as they call it-today. Yes, you need the swing arm and guillotine style both. At least I prefer to have both. And my "big cutter" is just fine!

After finishing the bachelor training courses, I also have lots and lots of info and ideas spinning around in my head to do and share and...sigh. I will also be adding to that by starting the masters courses tonight! Headphones make it easy for hubby to read and me to listen to the courses-I used a small stool to hold the laptop but my sciatic nerve still isn't happy with the arrangement. So please say a prayer I can literally work that little kink out!

OH! BUT THE BEST NEWS OF ALL--TODAY IS THE DAY--the NEW CLOSE TO MY HEART CATALOGS COME! I cannot wait! If I didn't LOVE my job I would be sorely tempted to call in sick to sit and wait! I might accidentally tackle the FedEx guy so maybe it's a good idea I don't!

Then I think the BLOG needs an overhaul! Theresa is cringing! It was a nightmare the last time I messed with it! I know enough to get myself into trouble-but not enough to get myself out! But-I have a cousin whose wife does website design and maybe I will tap into the resource if I get in a fix. It just needs some cleaning up and tweaking. While I like the background, it makes the text hard to read. Any suggestions welcome!

Well, I'd better go get ready to go-I've got wild hair today for sure (please pray my hairdresser recovers from his back surgery and comes back SOON! He's awesome and I need a cut and some other things BADLY!) Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. And-if you see the FedEx guy---SEND HIM MY WAY! (Theresa-is Bob working the island today? I have muffins-coffee-even chocolate! I can bribe him! Lol!) Blessings, Sharon

From this...

Ok-Flylady would be PROUD of me! I rounded up all my CTMH stamp pads; put them in order the way I like to see them...then I made sure my name was on the back--my goddaughter asks "Why?" So that--when I am using them while teaching, at a crop, etc.--I KNOW which pads are mine-thinking I will add a crown (for Okistampqueen?!) sticker to the front as well-anyway-first made sure my name was on the back. Then, using Word Perfect (love WP, hate Word!), I made labels with the red, green and blue color codes for each color. You ask "what's that mean?" Well, didjaknow...that you can set your printer colors for fonts, etc. to match your CTMH ink colors? This is great if you are wanting a title or journaling text to match your inks from your paper colors or stamped images! I keep losing my list. No mo'! Now I can just grab my ink pad and it's right there on the back. Plug in the numbers: r=red. g=green and b=blue and presto! Your printed ink

matches! I also added the CTMH color family that each color is in just for the heck of it. So my ink pads are all back on their shelf in their happy little color families and I was THRILLED when I came across a collage of snow pics from Feb. of this year-grabbed paper, a few embellishments, matching ink-and in less than 10 minutes had a layout done-with matching journaling, paper and stamp ink colors! My 2011 "order over $25" customers are gonna be really, really happy with their goodie gift from me! Hint, hint. Visit http://okistampqueen@myctmh.com so you don't miss out! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping.
Blessings, Sharon

So---what are YOU up to?

Good Monday morning! Yes, I can say that because I AM OFF WORK TODAY! Can't say I had a good night's sleep-Poppa Cat was quite restless, hubby was up and down and I finally gave up and got up at 4:30 AM! Since we've gone wireless, I plugged in the laptop, the ear phones and COMPLETED the bachelor training courses through Close to My Heart! Go me! A few good tips to share, some things to put into practice. I am now curled up in the same spot with coffee, a dying laptop, trying to blog hop. (Santa did not bring a new one-or a mini cooper-or a sleep number bed....sigh) Everyone in blog-land seems to be otherwise occupied and MIA. So-I thought I would take a few minutes and share how I am going to spend the next few days. Yes, tomorrow I have to go back to work. But the rest of the time this week is MY TIME. I am:

1. organizing my at-home desk;
2. cleaning the magic (craft room) kingdom (again!)
3. HOPEFULLY preparing NEW CATALOG bags (if Fed Ex ever delivers-I know if they were on Bob's truck (Theresa's hubby!) I would've had them by now!;
4. setting up a Shutterfly account so I can actually order prints as I take photos next year;
5. getting some thank you cards whipped up (stay tuned for that post!);
6. some other goodies for customers who order from me this year; and
7. complete the Masters degree training classes as well.

WHEW! I need a nap thinking about it! No, not really. I will spread it out over the week and I am PSYCHED-it's my get it cleaned up and ready for the new year second wind. It's SO NICE to be home this year (instead of stuck in VA) to do this. It's good for me mentally and emotionally. I am also going to get my FLYLADY CONTROL JOURNAL out and start following my routines and her zone plan to declutter, organize and keep it that way! Check out http://flylady.com for more details. IT WORKS! I've done it-miss it-am going back to it! You will have more time for stamping and scrapping! Which brings me to...check out my Close to My Heart site at http://okistampqueen@myctmh.com! You can order on-line anytime! You can view the catalog (sorry-the 2011 catty isn't up yet but you can still view the 2010 idea book!); e-mail me and check out ideas. Got a question? Something you want to learn? Let me know! I am interested in doing more workshops and posting more ideas--but I want to do and focus on what YOU want and need! So--what are YOU doing between now and 2011? Leave a comment below and let me know! Would you also share my site(s) with others? My blog address http://okistampqueen@blogspot.com as well as my CTMH site http://okistampqueen@myctmh.com? Please? Thanks! There might even be some goodies involved for you if a new visitor to either site mentions "Oh, So-and-So sent me..."-so be SURE to let them know they need to mention that! One other NEW THING before I go---I only made 6 Christmas cards this year. I ran out of time. I was tired. I was stressed. I was so not in the mood. I will be posting my progress on 2011 Christmas cards beginning in Jan.! They WILL be done LONG before Christmas next year--so, if you are interested in helpful tips, stay tuned for those as well! For now, it's on to the craft room...my motivation? I can't remember if I actually bought a Cricut cartridge I looked at-or just looked?! Time to go unearth the treasures I know I have forgotten! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Merry CHRISTmas...

I hope everyone had a wonderful, quiet, restful and blessed CHRISTmas day! We went to church last evening for a wonderful candlelight communion service which helped me significantly to refocus. It's not about the stuff, or the food, or the presents, or the decorations...or whose here and who's not...it's about the Babe in the Manger. It doesn't get any simpler than that. My card says it all (see previous post).

Yesterday...I played with my new Cricut (thanks, Theresa-I love it! And you didn't have to post it to ebay! ; ) )--and I made these awesome cupcake holders. On www.thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com --at least that's what I THINK her site is (blogger won't let me cut and paste!)---she took socks, rolled them, put them in a cupcake holder and put a pom pom on top! Too cute! She also has one that looks like an ice cream sundae! So this is how I wrapped the socks the gals got to go with their bath salts that, I think-are out of this world! I met the maker at a craft show earlier this year-a very nice young couple. Not only did he give me a price break, pay my shipping, but he also put each jar into a decorative gift bag! I did nothing but add a gift tag! So if you want a real treat--deal with Island Skin Sations Salt Scrub-Mr. Jeff Lamb-910.228.1351. They don't have a website that I know of but I hope that's up and coming for them. I fear I will lose his card--I tend to put things in SAFE PLACES and forget where that safe place is! Oh well! It's something I won't be without from here on out, that's for sure!

This is what the "ELVES" were up to yesterday as I was running around like a crazy woman trying to get things finished...note darling hubby's feet behind Poppa Cat here...and, even though it's hard to see, Inky (below) has his little paw over his eyes! Today it was my turn! After our step-son made it safe and sound, we ate, opened presents, and napped for at least an hour and one-half! We'll have leftover turkey and trimmings for supper, watch Prarie Home Companion Live (my new dvd-we are Garrison Keillor fans!), and go to sleep. Tomorrow-who knows. Maybe a trip to town for a few bargains? Or I will start cleaning the magic (craftroom) kingdom! I am so excited to finally have time to do that!!! And I like to get things in order before the new year sets in--won't get it all done-but can get a good start and then just follow Flylady for the rest. REST-that sounds good, too! THANK YOU, for stopping by. Lots of new things coming for 2011--so stay tuned and invite your friends to check me out. More creative posts, ideas, freebie projects...maybe even some blog candy! Until then, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon