Choose Your Own Adventure...

Do you remember those books we all used to read growing up?  They were called Choose Your Own Adventure books and allowed you to choose how the story would turn out. I definitely read my fair share of them.

A while ago I won an exciting giveaway from Krista on While He Was Napping.

She has a lovely etsy shop with all kinds of fun things for great prices.

But my giveaway prize happened to be a fully personalized Choose Your Own Adventure Date.

The first thing Krista did was to send me a questionnaire so that she could customize the date for us.  She included questions about prices limits and activities you would enjoy doing.  I had so much fun filling out the questionnaire and wondered how my Adventure book would turn out to be.

This is what I found in my mailbox:

I absolutely LOVED the packaging, and though what's inside is more important, I was instantly impressed with the presentation!

I scoured the book from cover to cover as soon as I opened it.  I was thrilled to say the least.  She had written a perfect story that fit us like a glove.  Since it was a "stay-at-home" date, it was inexpensive and economical.  However, Krista is good at writing pricey dates too.  Like I mentioned before, Krista can customize your date to spend nothing or to spend extravagantly.  She is a gifted writer, as I found upon reading our book.

Plus, there was a bonus.  She threw in vinyl decals to be applied to goblets.  Those were also customizable.  I chose to have our initials.   (She had some other great ideas like "His" and "Hers" or "His Majesty" and "Her Majesty.")

She also included two lover's lotto cards...which are basically darling, handmade scratch cards.

Our evening was completely blissful.  I had so much fun planning our date as a surprise for Patrick.  And it was so easy to do since I already had the date night packaged for me!

Here are some pictures I snapped during the night.

Our Candlelight Dinner

Bowling

Our "Dance Floor"

And after it was over, I cried.  I know I'm silly, but I had such a wonderful night.   It was the best night we had had for such a long time and I was sad to see it end.

But then Patrick reminded me that we can do it again...and choose the other choices! :)

Thank you Krista, for giving us this "adventurous" date night.

You can see Krista's blog by clicking here and here is the link to her etsy shop.

Journals...

Inspired by President Uchtdorf's most recent general conference talk (which is all about slowing down in periods of high stress and busyness and focusing on what matters most), along with "The Water Secret" (by Dr. Howard Murad which is a book I highly highly recommend), I decided to create for myself some regular down time each night before bed.  It's a time to unwind and reflect upon the day by jotting down a few things in one of my 8 journals.  I spent one day last week mod podging beautiful scrapbook paper on the outsides of plain composition notebooks.

Here is what they started out looking like:

And then here they are drying:

These are coordinating bookmarks

Cuddling Quilt {Episode 3}

I'm making progress...I planned on little by little...but it has turned into huge burst by huge burst with lots of time inbetween. :)

The top of my first quilt is finished with only the quilting and binding left.
I just finished the rows of the second one today and have only the small strips and the edge left until it's finished as well.

I didn't think I would have them all finished, but with lots of prayers and a hefty dose of faith, I'm piecing them together!! :)

September Projects

This month I have been busy at work starting and finishing so many creations.  In the two posts below, you can see the progress on my quilts and a fun fireproof date night.

During this month my mind has seemed to be doing a lot of "feeling."  You see, I get these impressions pretty often about a new project I need to start or a new talent to develop.  Last month I made a special Christmas surprise for grandparents...but in case they decide to read this, I won't tell you too many details.  Just know it involves one of my greatest passions--videography.

Then I've been working on Tate's birthday movie...which still has a lot of work left before completion.  I'll probably buckle down and finish that up in November.

I've also been decorating for Fall (see this post for pictures), planning Christmas gifts (definitely the early stages at this point), and working on my newest and most exciting hobby:  photography.

I've decided to pursue this in hopes to create beautiful portraits of my own children every year.  I've been taking a few photography courses and planning all the gear I will need...including a brand new professional amateur camera!  I have a blog all ready to launch with a beautiful banner created by a graphic designer...can you tell I'm excited?

Well, once I've saved up enough for the camera, I will launch my new hobby business and let you know!  While the reason I've taken up photography is to benefit my little family, I am more than happy to offer my services to anyone who would like pictures done...portraits of family, newborn, children, even bridals and engagements.  Let me know if you are interested. 

And now in closing, may I just say this:  

Creating is about finding your inner passions, turning them into talents, and then blessing the lives of others with your good works.

 Just feel first.  Move then to the creating phase.  And the inspiration part will naturally follow.

Happy Creating!

Fireproof Date Night

As I was contemplating what to do for our weekly date night last Tuesday, I had some ideas begin to grow in my mind until they became a reality last Friday night.  This date could be customizable to anyone...it just takes a little creativity.

I decided that we would begin the night with some "Love Tasks" to earn some prizes.
I wrote down a whole bunch of tasks for both of us to complete.  Some of them were silly, some romantic.  If you want the whole list, leave a comment and I'll post again.

I glued them onto some random sheets of scrapbook paper and laminated them...this would be a super fun group date night!

Then I put the four prizes under some towels:

And I let my sweetie pick a prize for every three tasks completed well.
(For your info: two of the towels are hiding new shirts for Patrick, one of the towels had a box of bakery donuts, and the last towel was holding the movie Fireproof, which we ended our date night watching.) {I would highly recommend this movie.  It is about stengthening our marriages through the Lord.}

As part of our tasks, we had to commit to doing something from each of the Five Love Languages (a book we love by Gary Chapman).  I cut out 5 pairs of scrapbook squares and we wrote our commitments on them.  We didn't let each other see them.  Every month for the next 5 months, we will choose one, read it, and perform our commitment for each other.  I'm really excited for this!!

The last task wasn't a part of the task cards.  This one was a spouses scavenger hunt I created:

If you can't read the items, here they are:
Find something they love
Something they like
Something they just tolerate
and something they dislike
Find something they made
Something they bought
Something they found
And something they got...from you as a gift.

We each had ten minutes to locate everything on the list and put it in a grocery sack for sharing.

Here are some of my favorites:

Something we loved.

Things we made (I chose the boys for Patrick and Patrick chose the ribbon to represent making our house into a home...)
The picture of us represents what Patrick found....ME!

And this is Scarftot. (Yes, Easton named him).  He lost him for a long long time and was quite sad.  But earlier this particular morning I had found him in the dryer! Patrick chose him to represent something I had found. :)

And last, but not least, something we gave each other.

Ironically, we both chose the wedding present we had purchased for each each other.  It was kind of a precious moment when we realized that.

Cuddling Quilt {Episode 2}

Time to pull out my scrumptious sewing machine given me by my mother for my college graduation.

I began today the fun part.  (And the long tedious never-ending part).

It's time to sew!!

Here are my completed 4 nine square blocks completed all by myself!  Only 56 more to go!!

These quilts are going to be beautiful!!

Cuddling Quilt {Episode 1}

I have been wanting to make my boys quilts for some time now.

My decision to began came when I found beautiful, high-quality fabric on sale at Wal-mart for $1 a yard.

And so the patchwork began...

Here is some of my fabric in the process of being cut into strips.

I'll keep you updated as this quilt unfolds. ;)

Easton's Movie--the first

Last week I completed Easton's movie for his upcoming birthday....It's a year late.  Let me explain...

I decided a few years ago that instead of scrapbooking {which I don't particularly enjoy} (but, which I must add is a wonderful and very meaningful way to create and preserve memories) I would make my children a movie each birthday that captures their previous year in photos and home video.

Therefore, after watching all the tutorials at least twice and practicing on several other movies and slideshows over the past few years (which I will post about at a future date), I decided to undertake Easton's first movie.  

Let me first say that this project was the most rewarding gift I have ever made for him (in his short three years of life with us).  There really isn't anything like watching and rewatching video as you try to edit it into a special memory.  There are not adequate words to describe it.  Nostalgia?  Saudade?  Yearning?  Bittersweet, sorrowful-joy?  Maybe the word that best sums it up is motherhood.

And so with love for Easton kindling in my heart {did I mention he was visiting grandparents during this whole endeavor...which made the yearning all the brighter} I completed the 49 minute movie and burned it to a DVD.  

It's entitled Easton's First Year.

Though I am a year behind, maybe next year I will have the energy and time to make him two...(I guess we'll see.  I still have to make Tate's by December).

I think I am a better person because of this project...hopefully a better mother.  I feel so much more love for Easton than I ever thought would be possible.  Maybe that's what creating is all about. 

Creating for someone...

Learning to love in a deeper way because of the creation...

Drawing closer to God and to your loved one...

Developing the pure love of Christ--even the unfailing gift of charity.

Look to Him to create...

The other day my mother walked outside in the morning and took these pictures:

Can you guess what they are?  Take a look at this picture and then you'll probably be able to guess:

They are pictures from my little sister's back car window.  Now isn't that amazing?

This is the epitome of beauty...But how could it not be?  It is Heavenly Father's art.  When I look to Him, I always seem to be able to create with greater purpose, focus, and imagination.  For the Holy Spirit enlightens our minds and enlarges our understanding.  If we will look to our Father and keep His commandments, He will bless us with ideas, materials, and ways to create in a manner that will bless all around us.

Look to God...and create...

Create.

The first thing I'd like to say is that to create is part of our heritage--it's a divine quality instilled within us from deity.  This blog is devoted to my creations and I hope that in some way, you will be able to find your own creative niche.  The video below is one of my most favorite videos to watch.  It inspires me to create.  For more information on this topic, click the links below:

A post on creating
Elder Uchtdorf's wonderful talk