Typography Basics

Whether you are adding some pizazz to a document, making your mark with a photo, or designing an invitation or flyer of some kind you need to communicate with text. In print, to communicate effectively is to grab your subject's attention. You do this by creating something that is visually appealing. How? One way is by utilizing fonts.

Motivation Monday: Holiday Ready

It's that time... Holiday cards. One option is to print your own cards (whether it be designing some yourself, purchasing digital templates, or ordering through an online site) using your own photo(s). But what photo? Taking beautiful pictures yourself IS possible even without expensive or professional equipment.

How to pick up where you left off

Sometimes writing brings you back to where you use to be and toward where you want to be, all at the same time. Looking back on some of my notes in journals & blog posts... reading what this "lady" has to say (she is unfamiliar because we haven't visited in a while) I must say I relate in many ways and in many ways I see how different we are. I don't say that sadly or gladly... kind of certainly.... almost proudly. I mean, one is suppose to grow right? 

Taking a hiatus (intended or unintended) to grow is a good thing... as long as one returns to the things they use to do, but returns to do them better! 

Just pick up where you left off.

Write down your dreams, goals, & great ideas.. whether you share them or keep them for yourself.

Your voice changes over time, but the message is still the same... encouraging & gently reminding you who you are.

-Priscilla

What's behind that pretty picture- Truth bomb

I am very grateful for my life and share those aspects of it regularly. The purpose is not to attract ooh's and ahh's, but my intention is that it may help others realize the shiny lil treasures in their own that they may be overlooking. I am a stay at home mom. When my coveted "position" comes up in general conversation with fellow moms/women who hold a position outside their homes, I usually receive the general comments such as, "You are so lucky!" or, "You have a dream job." ....HA! *giggle, giggle

My sarcastic, introverted laugh is not to say that I dont enjoy my life or take for granted the arrangement in our family. (Because it is in actuality an "arrangement" that we have chosen in order to create the best, although not always easy, structure that we desire for our family) Rather, I chuckle to myself because of the picture they may imagine. They must think it's all sweet as homemade pie, lounged, kicked up feet, fresh daily batches of cookie makin', empty minded, simple thinkin', leave it to beaver's mama, smooth sailing UP IN HERE! It's not. :)

For these guys it is.

I am not complaining, nor is this a whine. I just want to clarify. Currently,

Saturday

{CLICK TO ENLARGE}
Took these snap shots with my panorama setting on my phone.

Breakfast, Kinect play time, movie surfing, dancing & ring-around-the-rosie with Samson. But Rob got tired of the last part, so the kids took over. We are one kid short this morning. She stayed at grandma's for the night. Continuing, but still not done with spring cleaning as you can see. Crate is in the middle of the living room, because we (I) are running on neutral. Trying to get it into drive so I can finish up and move on about my day. But watching the sideshow going on is slowing traffic ;)

Daily Victories at silly struggles

So I was writing a post that was "of the moment". I was all into it. Usually, it is hard for me to allow myself to be interrupted and walk away. Something I have taken notice of and been working on. However, I just got the opportunity at a spontaneous mini date compliments of Hubs! To be completely honest, as happy as it made me, I had a bit of an internal struggle to step away in my OCD state of mind. In the end, I have made the decision to run a tight ship with my priorities and snapped myself back to the right mindset. So I scrapped my post, jotted this lil rant of my personal victories instead ;) and am eagerly off to enjoy a thoughtful lil date he has planned!........................



I'll post about it later ;)

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6th birthday delights

My lil' growing young lady is such a delight. She wears her sweet little heart on her sleeve and you will never have to question how she feels. We used to think she was shy, but as she has grown, we are discovering that is very much not the case. She knows she is special & likes to be treated that way. This year for her birthday she was really looking forward to sharing her special day with her class & taking full advantage of the recognition among them :) She had it all planned out. Girly cupcakes were to be brought to school, she was to wear her favorite new shirt, she would wear her hear down (because it's very rare that mom allows her to wear it that way to school), and she was to have a magic pointing finger for the day, meaning we had to oblige her every (reasonable) request! After a special day at school we got ice cream & went to the park for none other than a lil mini photo shoot that was all about the birthday girl, duh!

Be Inspired Challenge: Spring

Spring is fresh! It is new, but vintage. It's the mark of old things fading and exciting new beginnings. Spring is happy & bright, playful & whimsy, crisp & green. Spring is discovering beauty, character, & stories told within rusted wheelbarrows, wild flowers, and melted ice. Spring is the calm after the storm. Spring is the laughter of a child, the warmth of a mother, the love of a father & the kindness of God. - CurlyHeir

I got inspired to participate in a photography challenge asking, "what does spring mean to you?". I am submitting this recent photo I took of Makaila which I feel perfectly envelopes just what it means to me! On a side note, upon random conversation, we have decided whom everyone in our family would be if they were an animal (I dont know why, we just have)... and ironically Meeka has always been known as the "bunny" among the rest of us. How fitting?! ;)
I got to capture this picture thanks to divine, natural opportunity in our own, overgrown backyard, of all places! Yes, embarrassingly overgrown, however with the right view point it has been able to be used as a backdrop of something completely beautiful... and that makes me proud!
Feel free to check out more inspirations and challenges over at the Jessica Feely Blog!

Warm weather tastes like family sweetness

This week has brought forth some very warm days. While the heat can be uncomfortable at times, I enjoyed taking advantage of the opportunities that warm weather ushers in. The theme this week seemed to be food, family, outdoor activities, and did I mention food? :) It's no secret I am a self proclaimed fan of food. It's not only that I enjoy eating it, but I get inspired by the atmosphere we can create around it.

We spent much more time outside, at the park, & going for strolls than we had in the past few months! These summer-like days gave the husband, kids, & I an appetite for summer food. We had to get some good ol' cherry chip & pistachio ice cream. We took a lil walk and happened to be near a new sandwich shop that had a pretty good special- Kid's eat for a $1 with every adult meal. Deal's always makes things taste that much sweeter! It was a nice change of pace for dinner. The subs were not only flavorful, but generously sized and they even make them with freshly sliced meats!

This week was also my mother in law's birthday. We had a nice lunch at another recently established place. Again, delicious food & great specials. This Mexican restaurant serves lunch specials for only $3.99! Now, I expected a mini version of one of their regular dishes, but to my pleasant surprise, it was not only a very full sized plate, but amazing food! Ok... I'm hungry again :/

For dinner my mother in law specifically requested hot dogs! I think the weather got the best of most of us. So a home cooked dinner it was!

The kid's played outside & went to the park for a little while.

While they waited around for dinner to be done they ate popsicles.

Everyday Reign

It is a new week once again. I am very glad for it! For me, it comes with much excitement. It is a chance for a "fresh start". I never quite get all the things I plan to get done the week before. So the beginning of a new week always seems like the perfect time to catch up and conquer all my goals... both past & present.

"I will get ahead this time!" I always tell myself.

This past week did not go at all as I planned. Just about everyday hardly went as I foreseen. Last minute plans arose, unplanned tasks got taken on, and almost-forgotten appointments had to be squeezed in. Yet, all in all, a new week rolls in and washes out the old. Time waits for no one.

With much trial and error, I am finally learning to welcome the tides instead of being knocked over by them. Many times as a young, married, mom of three children all under the age of seven, I had allowed life to overwhelm me. When rough days, unfinished work, & crushed plans piled up before me I dragged the heap with me.

These days, I am getting better at just letting go. I have figured out that I will forever be the emotional bag lady if I don't. I have come to know that being a stay at home mom is in fact one of the hardest jobs a person can do. It takes much self discipline, self control, and drive that many working people do not possess. There is no stern boss to make you think twice about lagging on your work nor a training department to assist you with new job duties. Yet, the company inventory is priceless. My children will continue to grow no matter how imperfectly or greatly I handle the job. Life goes on regardless of my ups and downs.

As with motherhood, it is becoming more apparent how I must apply this same understanding to all areas of my life. There is too much to strive for, hope for, live for, move toward, to keep getting caught up in the things that do not go my way. Every time I choose to let go of something that I could have weighed myself down with, it is the opportunity to grasp something new and greater that will produce new and greater results in my life. I have realized that I can not control everything that comes along in my life. But what I can gain control of is myself. And as my Pastor put it, "If you can learn to control yourself, you will then be able to take control of everything around you."

The key is a daily walk with God thru Christ Jesus. He created us to reign. He created us to have authority & dominion. We were created to rule. Rule what? Rule ourselves. If we rule ourselves, we will be able to reign in life. Most of the time people get frustrated because they have no control of circumstances in their lives. Most of the time it is circumstances that we have gotten ourselves into because of lack of control of  ourselves. (Mmmhmm, I said it. I know I have been there.) The great thing is that the Bible tells us that we were meant to reign.

Romans 5:17 says, "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."

What rules your days? Days turn to weeks, weeks to years of your life. Do new days come with dread and overwhelming stress or are you able to welcome them?