So Sew Organized

Happy Monday, friends! I can't wait to hear what you've been up to this week. Everyone ready for this new week ahead of us? I just love looking into a big, empty week...just waiting to be filled! As I was spending some time in prayer last night, I asked the Lord to give me a God-honoring, productive week, both spiritually and physically. I realize that is going to depend largely on the things I put into this week...which is why I set goals! My goals from last week were: Finish " Eric Liddell " Start " Intercessory Prayer " Write one letter Finish Christmas thank you cards Memorize 3 verses Write one post for another site Sort through paper clutter, and create a better system for paper organization - who was I kidding...I thought I was going to get that done in one week? I worked on it...but didn't get it done!   My goals for this week are: Write one letter Memorize 3 verses Continue to organize paper clutter/create better system Complete new shop graphi...

It is no secret that I use Swagbucks , a search engine that gives you rewards for using their site. I've talked about the system in detail here and again here, so I'll not rehash everything for you. I just wanted to share how I am proactively using Swagbucks this year to help out in my gift giving throughout the year! Normally, I am not too diligent about using Swagbucks throughout the year. I am unable to use the toolbar, because my computer is too old and can't support it. :( Boo dinosaur computers! However, I can still easily go to their site and do my searches from there and still be awarded Swagbucks. I just have to do it...and normally I get out of the habit after a few weeks. I realized just before Christmas {when I was diligently using Swagbucks so I could get those gift cards to help with buying presents!} just how fast the bucks add up when you are using the system consistently. I don't even have or take the time to use all the other features of Swagbuck...

It's high time - ok, past time - for a little "who-got-what" as far as Christmas presents go. Namely, what I made for gifts, and what I received from family! I mentioned several times before Christmas that I was making some handmade items as gifts, as I usually do. Handmade gifts are so, so fun to give! Each year 3 cousins and I exchange gifts, and each year I enjoy thinking of some new item to make them. { Here we are exchanging gifts last year .} This year, I had a blast gifting them these new aprons: All the same black and white print, with a different accent color. {they are reversible, too!} So far it sounds like they've enjoyed them and put them to use...score! {Heads up: you may see more of these in the future! [wink!]} Keeping with a sort of "kitchen" theme, I put together these recipe binders for them as well, using my free printables from here : I made a quick matching cover sheet as well as a little piece for the binder...I just love the more fini...

As I normally do when I take a trip to Maine, I made a stop at Mardens, a hodge-podge type store with a fabulous fabric selection! You'll be seeing these fabrics pop up soon in my shop , but in the mean time I thought I'd give you a peek at what I picked up! Shopping for fabric is pretty much the best past time..too bad it requires a bank account to match the addiction, ha! I spend lots of time - I mean lots {right Grampie??} - picking out selections I know I will use and love. I usually take my Grammie with me, because I need her expert opinion, and my sister to help hold the dozens of bolts of fabric that I'm trying to match. :) I kid you not. It was my Grammie's idea to pick up this fun one-way print. I'm excited to use this and see how I like it! that purple floral in the middle is pretty much one of my favourites, too. I love bright and colorful. These are going to be beautiful together! I also picked up some discount Christmas prints {perks of going after the...

Hard to believe that 2012 is over! I'm a little late with this post, but before 2013 gets ahead of us, I want to recap what December was like at our house! Our December was a whirlwind of busy-ness. How is it that no matter how hard we try to keep things simple, it still ends up being a crazy-busy season? A ton of work went into our church’s Christmas program, which ended up going well. We were a few stressful ladies for a while, but its all over now, thankgoodness. We had over 100 people present, and at least half of those were not regular attenders at our church. What a blessing! Our last week of December {and the first of January} was spent with family in Maine. My 3 youngest siblings had the chicken pox, and we all managed to get a bad cold that our family so graciously “shared” with us. :) Because of that, we just stayed put most of the time we were there. Long days spent visiting with family, playing with cousins, and long hours of card games….it doesn’t get much better than ...