PROJECT LIFE | Boys' October 2013 pages

A quick post tonight to share the boys' monthly page.

As you may know, I have a family album where I have all the photos for the family, and then each month, the boys have a single page in their album where I include photos, stories and quotes pertaining to them.

So, back to the boys' individual albums. This is where I include photos of their drawings from school, or a screen shot of their favourite computer game, or their favourite food or toy.

Here's the page for my eldest.

I have used the Jade kit and the Favourite Mini Stamp Set from Kellie Stamps was perfect for this page. I can see this set being well used in the boys' individual pages.

I like being able to include the screen shot of my son's Club Penguin character in his album. It's a good memory to capture because it is one of his favourite games right now.

Here's a few close up photos.

Kellie Stamps: Favourite Mini

Kellie Stamps: Favourite Mini, Monday-Friday

This calendar card from Paislee Press features in every monthly page for the boys so far. I love it. However, I have altered it again by replacing the "O" with the OCT stamp from the Monday-Friday stamp set.

That's it from me this evening. And that completes my October 2013 pages! 

I am working backwards from the end of 2013 and am now half way through August so I really feel like I am getting somewhere! 

Enjoy the rest of your week. We have a short working week so only 2 more days until the long weekend! xx

ON MY MIND | Bad Day?

Having a bad day? Bad week? Could a different perspective and change of attitude help put new light on a situation? 

What started me thinking about this was when I had a few set backs that were seemingly out of my control over the past few weeks. And then a few more set backs rolled in. And I got a little bit cranky lol...but I wasn't that keen to put it down to just bad luck.  

Let's face it. Sh*t happens. Illness, financial difficulties, grief, disappointment, career challenges, unrequited love....you know what I'm talking about. 

I want to share a little about how my little boys react when they think their entire world is crashing down. And as adults, we react similarly, but in a more grown up way of course!

As an example, my youngest comes to me, stomps his feet with tears welling in those big brown eyes and says "Mummy, today is the worst day ever! It really really is!!" 

I tell him, "Today is not the worst day ever. Today ***insert a 6 year old's idea of disaster here*** happened. Anything happen today that was really really good?"

My little man had just experienced disappointment. Someone or something has built a wall between him and his dream. 

When he comes to me in utter devastation, I ask him:

- do you have mummy and daddy for cuddles?
- do you have food to eat? 

- do you have a house to live in?

- do you have a bed to sleep in?

- do you have toys to play with and books to read?

- are you healthy and well?

- do you have clothes to wear?

- so...is it really that bad?

I do my best to put things into perspective for him and highlight the things he has to be grateful for. More often than not, he snaps out of it quickly. 

When someone or something stands between us and our dreams, or stops us from our ideal way of living or being, it is a normal reaction to blame it on that mysterious thing known as "bad luck". But isn't it disempowering to leave our happiness up to chance?

We have a choice. Every single time. We have the CHOICE to accept a situation and be at peace with it, OR we have the CHOICE to look for ways to change the situation. And sometimes, we need to do both. How awesome to be in control of our own happiness again!?!

My eldest son took a different approach when he was younger. 

He would throw monster tantrums. I'm not talking about "terrible two's" tantrums. These were major 5 year old tantrums. In between tears and screaming, he would say, "Arghhhh! It's all your fault! You made me **insert any of the following: angry...smudge my drawing...break my toy...drop my apple..etc etc**!!!"

Not good, right? We wanted him to learn not to give his power away so easily. What I mean is, when he says it's our fault he is angry, he has given away his ability to control his own emotions to someone else...to us. 

Not only that, he renounced responsibility for his own actions and feelings i.e. blame.

When we take responsibility for our lives, we reclaim the power to make our lives what we want it to be. We reclaim the power to make dreams into reality. We reclaim the power to be at peace and happy!   

From an outsiders point of view, other people's lives may "appear" better or easier than our own. But what we don't know is the people whom we work with, walk with, wait with, may have just lost a loved one, is fighting for wellness, is desperate to conceive a child, left an abusive relationship, or has just been turned down for yet another job.

We all have our own unique story and our future is yet to be written. We cannot compare hardships. Nor can we compare successes. 

Perhaps the way we perceive a situation, our attitude towards it, and how we choose to react and feel is the key to how much we enjoy the life we have been gifted with. 

Here are two of my favourite quotes that I have made into 3x4 printables, free for you to download. Enjoy. xx

Download.

Download.

Download.

Download.

The Liebster Award: And the nominees are...

In a recent post, I shared that I was very chuffed to be one of the 10 blogs nominated by Kellie from Give a Girl a Blog for a Liebster Award.

I was curious about how the Liebster Award began. From what I could find, in the early days of the Liebster Award, the idea was to nominate blogs with less than 3000 readers, and nominees would share 11 random facts about themselves, and then nominate 3-5 other blogs to do the same.

The Liebster Award is an Honorary Award which means it is symbolic and once nominated, you do not have to pass it on. It is completely up to you!

I love the idea of sharing 10 blogs I follow, so you can appreciate them as well.

Without further ado, here are the 10 blogs I am nominating..in no particular order. 

The Drawing Board - by Tanyalee 

Chantelle's Creative Space - by Chantelle

Through the Eyes of Moonie - by Lisa

atelier B - by Jina

Simply Bella - by Kylie

Tealily Photography - by Trish

Geekgalz - by Evelyn Py

Karyn's Crafting Obsession - by Karyn

A Place in my Dreams - by Agnus

This and That - by Annette

If you choose to play along, here's what to do:

1. Answer the 11 questions below
2. Nominate 10 bloggers with less than 200 bloglovin' followers, and provide them with a new set of 11 questions
3. Contact your nominees and let them of how it works

Here are my 11 questions to the bloggers I have nominated:

1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

2. What is your favourite breakfast?

3. Describe your dream garden, if time, space, climate and money were not an issue.

4. Who is your dream celebrity to have dinner with? (past or present)

5. Name something you wished you had learnt but haven't yet.

6. Name one of your all-time favourite movies that you have watched so many times you know all the lines?

7. What is your favourite fruit?

8. If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

9. Lipstick, lip gloss or lip balm?

10. Describe what "you-time" means to you?

11. If you could choose 2 super powers, what would they be and why? (ie. invisibility, self healing, speed, strength etc)

Question #11 was "borrowed" from my boys. They are always asking us and vice versa. I love hearing their answers which change every time we play. 

Even if you choose not to nominate any further blogs, i would still love to read your answers to my questions!! xx

Discover new blogs with the Liebstar Award.

I am very honoured and happy to have been one of the 10 blogs nominated by Kellie from Give a Girl a Blog for The Liebster Award.

I was curious about where the Liebster Award originated from. I have learnt that "liebster" means dearest in German and the idea behind the award is to nominate blogs that you hold dear (i.e. love reading!) and give them with the recognition they deserve by links to them with your own readers.

Once nominated, the nominee may choose to play along by answering 11 questions provided by the nominating blogger, and then nominate and notify another 10 bloggers and provide them with a new set of questions to answer.

I loved Kellie's questions! The last one I found to be the trickiest. Here are my answers: 

1. Favourite flower/plant? Tulips and/or Lilies. 

Lilies from mum's garden. 

2. If you could have one thing, that you don't have right now, what would it be (can be person/object etc)? 

My Grandparents. My Grandma did not meet my boys and I know that she would have adored them. Grandma and Grandad are a package deal so I would like both of them.

3. Favourite day of the week? I have Fridays off work, so my favourite day is Thursday!

4. Something you cherish? My family and friends. I would be lost without them. 

5. A food you couldn't live without?

Rice! haha, sounds boring but I am gluten intolerant so i need something to fill my hungry belly! I went grain free last year but I was too hungry to stick with it. 

6. Song that gets you moving?

Right now, Happy by Pharrell Williams. My 6 year old LOOOOVES this song so we put it on repeat and we get to dance around like a couple of crazy kids.

7. When you are not blogging you are...? a crafting-snap-happy working mum and household "manager".

8. Drink of choice? I love a hot cup of tea, anytime of day. 

9. Reason you started your blog?

I started my blog after I joined Stampin' Up as a hobby demonstrator to showcase products in use. But I soon gave that up to focus on memory keeping and discovered the wonderful world of Project Life. Now I blog about that :) 

10. Favourite craft? Paper crafting. Specifically, pocket page scrapbooking. 

11. Person you most admire?

I admire different qualities in many people, including family, friends, my children, and friends I have never met in person.

If I had to choose only one, I would say my mother. She was a young single mother, abandoned by my father whilst pregnant with my brother, she sacrifices for us, and lives with an open heart and loves unconditionally. She's amazing.

Thanks Kellie for nominating my humble little blog.

I'll be back soon to share my nominees for the Liebster Award, along with my 11 questions.