Part of cultivating a good life is making love’s labor a part of your everyday.
We live in a world that continues to cause heartache. It just does. Sometimes the heartache is very personal, very private, very close to home. And as we’ve experienced yet again yesterday by what happened at the Boston Marathon, heartache sometimes comes from being affected by community, national, or global tragedies.
Even in these difficult times, there is so so so much good happening. The foundation of all that good (personal, community, global, wherever and whatever) … is LOVE. One of my favorite hymns (below) is a reminder of the significance of ONE. You. Me. One person.
Each one of us has the opportunity, every single day, to do good. “Doing” is oftentimes manifested as we physically lend a helping hand. But let’s not forget that “love’s labor has merit alone”. You can be strong, stand up for the principles you believe in, and not allow others to knock you down … while still having love in your core. It’s so important to extend our our kindness to others – difficult times or not.
And kindness begins at home.
…..
Have I Done Any Good?
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?
[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.
There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.
I was first inspired to complete a mini album when I saw Petra Corcoran’sRoad Trip mini album and I began brewing a plan. This week that plan came into action. I wanted to put together a photo book for our house build photos but I knew I wanted to included load’s of journalling and maybe some bits and pieces if I could so of course the Midnight mini album was perfect!
I also wanted to keep the design pretty simple I have a Midnight Edition on order (via Craft House) but this little project couldn’t wait I wanted to do it as the build happens and I remember how it makes us feel as well as the details of what is happening so I purchased the kit digitally and away I went.
A few other notes from Kelly:
1. We started the process of looking for land and a house mid 2012 but the actual build didn’t start until February of this year so the album and the house are still a work in progress.
2. I haven’t included the front page of the album as i want that to be a photo of the completed house.
3. I love how beautifully this has come together and can’t wait to send it over with my husband when he visits his family in the UK so they too can see our beautiful house.
The week-long celebration continues! Today I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a short video that is less than 5 minutes long … and that has nothing to do with Project Life. Today we’re talking home decor and DIY and I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at our “memory niche” in the kitchen of our home.
A few things to point out that I didn’t really cover in the video:
1. PHOTOS: WHAT’S ROTATING? On a typical day, you’d see everyday family pictures rotating on these TVs in our kitchen. During the holidays we usually have photos of that particular season from past years rotating. And of course for special events, we cater to the occasion. In the video, there were just a few rotating photos of the kids because we just had a combo birthday party for Claire, Crew, and our dog Oreo a few days ago. Just a few weeks ago we had a bunch of silly photos of our friend Allison as we hosted her 30th birthday bash at our house. Last year we hosted a friend’s 40th surprise party and his family dug up all sorts of old photos of him that we displayed. When visitors come to stay with us, we usually try to sneak a few pictures of them in the rotation. We constantly mix it up.
2. WIRES: WHERE DO THEY GO? Well, they plug into the wall. Go figure. We put a power outlet behind the “door” so there were no wires hanging out anywhere. Nice and tidy. The third wire is actually a cable wire – in case David did decide one day to have a game playing in the kitchen. I haven’t caught that vision yet, but I suppose it’s not completely out of the question.
3. JOHN: HOW CAN YOU HIRE HIM? Now obviously I don’t expect most of you to take on a project like this. But … I also know that a few of you will likely be interested in doing something similar in your home. If you happen to live in Arizona and happen to need any woodwork done, John Broderick is the man. He is genius with anything wood and has done a few amazing projects for us. bbfurn@juno.com | 623.566.2232. I’m sharing this with you like I would share a great resource with any friend. Not because John asked me to say anything but because he is just so darn talented.
…..
{ 3 random testimonials about project life}
If I could describe Project Life in one word it would be SIMPLE. I love the fact that all I have to do is snap a pic, print it out & journal. I will never be one of those people who says “Gosh, I’m so behind on my scrapbooking…” Project Life has allowed me to enjoy the creative aspect of traditional scrapbooking, but with no more stress! -Carolyn Farnsworth
I loved the idea of taking a picture everyday and documenting daily life. I decided to do this as a way to show my husband what the year was like for us while he is deployed. It will be great to have this album as a way for us to look back at what we did while he was away. There is no way I would take on a project like this without the Project Life system. It is so beautiful and makes it so simple. Thank you for such a great product! -Cassandra Wiscarson
I love it!! I love how simple it is. I love how it can be used in a million different ways! I love how my family can get involved… grab a journaling card and add a piece of them! I love how I don’t have to think about making it “look great” because it already does! I love how it makes me think of those little moments to capture… instead of ‘just’ those big events! But most of all… you said it perfectly… it’s my story… my way. I love it!! -Nicole V
I love Fall. I embrace Fall. And yes – I get into the spirit of Fall much before we see cooler temperatures here in the desert where we live. Claire and I “decked the halls” (really it’s just mostly in the kitchen) with whatever Fall items we had stored away from past years. She’s learning how to create a cluster of decorations using random candle sticks, and we bonded over that. Now … if I can just convince Mother Earth to drop those temperatures a bit, I can bust out the long sleeves and fuzzy socks again.
I know these colors don’t necessarily say “Fall” to most people – but this blanket represents warmth and love and comfort to me and I will definitely find myself using it more and more as it cools down this Fall. My mom just crocheted that blanket for me and I’m pretty sure most of those 29,700 stitches were done sitting beside my brother’s side as she has been with him during his battle with cancer. So – this blanket is that much more special to me.
PS – You can find a couple of my Fall DIY projects (as seen in the pictures) in this post and this post. As for where I found most of the Fall decor items? I’ve accumulated them over so many years, it’s probably safe to say most items were either from Home Goods, Michaels, Hobby Lobby … those kind of places.
If you follow my blog regularly, you’ve noticed that I occasionally spotlight a few bits of inspiration from a personal friend in my life. Some recents: Inside the homes of Lisa and Jen, my brother Kevin with his weight loss success story, and even my mom with a great tip for corn on the cob.
Today’s inspiration comes from my friend Tina. We met in Cleveland 10 years ago and she was my very best neighbor there. She was the first one to show up with cookies when we moved in, really motivated me to pick up running again between having babies, she’s just plain fun to be around, and yet – she is so far from being outwardly overzealous. Tina is genuinely kind, selfless, and humble. She is such a rock and probably has no idea just how much she is adored and admired.
Not the greatest quality picture – and not even Tina’s best hair day – but this is us together just last month with another dear friend Sarah sandwiched in the middle. Our family was visiting their families in Colorado Springs.
…..
{ idea no. 1: giant photo wallpaper }
This is the first thing that catches your eye when you walk in Tina’s beautiful home. Um, hello picture lovers. Go ahead and pin this one. She used a favorite photo of their kids and had the mural made at MuralsYourWay.com. Talk about impact.
…..
{ idea no. 2: more photo displays }
She printed some favorites at Costco. Each square is a 12×12 size. The cheapest way to do this, according to Tina, is to put 3 images on a 12×36 canvas (in Photoshop), save that JPG, and print that size (which apparently they do now!). Then cut the 3 pictures apart. She dry-mounted each picture at Hobby Lobby and mounted them to the wall with my own personal favorite – Velcro.
She had these printed at PosterBurner.com and then had them dry-mounted at Hobby Lobby.
…
{ idea no. 3: big-striped panels }
You might be inspired to take on this little DIY project. Tina picked up white canvas panels at WalMart, some red canvas from Hobby Lobby, and just cut out thick red strips of the red to sew onto the panels. So stinking cute.
…
{ idea no. 4: healthy + delish }
Tina eats really well. In fact, their whole family eats really well. I about died watching their 10-year-old snacking on spinach. For real. Not Oreos or Peanut M&M’s. Noooo. Raw spinach. And don’t get me wrong – I love spinach. But my kids still balk at the idea.
So anyway – one of the things we ate during our visit was this. It’s a recipe she got from her ultra-healthy mother-in-law called Almond Pate (I think it’s spelled this way, and I think it’s pronounced pah-’tay but correct me if I’m wrong). Seriously, I love this and am working on making my first batch at home now. I’ll get it on the Recipes section soon. And I’ll get more recipes from her too.
Tina, me, and David about to embark on a trail run in the mountains by her house. Incredibly refreshing to run through trees since we came from the desert.
Super dear friends Sarah, Katie, and Tina. That’s David and Sarah’s husband Eric too.
The Manitou Incline beckons me every time. This is my third time climbing one mile straight up, on crooked railroad ties. The altitude kicks my behind, my stamina is tested, and my time to the top is laughable – but oh man, how I love the challenge of hiking these stairs and completing the goal of making it without dying. Tina is kind to stay back with me.
Regular exercise is something we all should have in our lives. We know that. But like many of you, this is something that ebbs and flows in my world. Sometimes I’m really good and I’m making something happen on a regular basis. There are other times I could go months without so much as jogging around my neighborhood. This has become my reality of being a busy mom + business owner. Tina’s not my only friend who’s great about working exercise into her routine. But there is just something about being around her that motivates me to make it a priority, no matter what. I love her for that.
In case you don’t recognize this beauty, it’s Lisa Bearnson. She is the Founding Editor of Creating Keepsakes magazine, the premier publication dedicated to memory-keeping. I’ve known her for as long as I’ve been working in this industry – 15 years. She was the one that gave me my “big break” and took a leap of faith in hiring me way-back-when. We worked side-by-side on many projects, wrote a book together, traveled together, developed products together, and … more important than any of that, she is a dear friend to me. The Bearnsons are dear friends to our family.
Flash back: If you’re new-ish to my blog/brand, you might be interested in reading the blog post announcement from nearly 3 years ago when I announced that I was resigning from Creating Keepsakes. It’s a bit of a historical moment in my personal career, and of course Lisa has been an important part of the journey.
When our family was road-tripping a couple weeks ago, we were able to spend a little time with the Bearnsons. So thankful for that. While we were in their beautiful home, I snapped 3 pictures of 3 different home decor ideas that I wanted to share with you – and Lisa is happy to share a little insight on each of these.
…..
{ chairs }
I don’t know anyone else with chairs hanging on the wall. It’s quirky and original, but it’s more than that to Lisa’s family. She shares: “The chairs are a constant reminder of a talk a promiment leader (Ezra Taft Benson) of our church gave several years ago called “No Empty Chairs”. He said: God intended the family to be eternal. With all my soul, I testify to the truth of that declaration. May He bless us to strengthen our homes and lives of each family member so that in due time we can report to our Hevenly Father in His celestial home that we are all there – father, mother, sister, brother. Each chair is filled. We are all back home.“
The chairs hang high on a wall and can be seen from both floors of our home. They represent each member of our family and remind us of two things: 1) A righteous home is within a “whispering distance of heaven”. We all want to be together in the next life having a grand feast together. We want “no empty chairs”. And 2) Dinner starts promptly at 6:00 pm in the Bearnson home and we want “no empty chairs”. If the kids are late, they have to eat sitting on their chair on the wall! (Just kidding.)”
…..
{ clock }
This DIY project is so much fun, isn’t it!?The 12 frames are just old frames Lisa collected from around the house, but a thrift shop is another great way to collect some for a very small cost.
Lisa’s friend makes photo clocks and yes – she is willing to sell the hands to anyone interested. Why do I have the feeling a few of you are interested? It sounds like they’re hard to find. And yes, they work. Her company is ForAllTimeClocks.com and the hands are around 10″ – 17″ in length and come in cream, black, gold, dark brown, and white. Contact angie@foralltimeclocks.com for more information.
…..
{ photo crate }
Lisa found this antique mail holder at a local antique shop. It’s a fun way to showcase current photos and easy to rotate and update.
Many thanks to Lisa for letting me share a few snippets from her home with my readers. She continues to inspire.
I consider one of my greatest blessings that of having amazing friends. Sure, I have just a few I would consider my besties – but I’m also fortunate to be surrounded by countless amazing people who aren’t necessarily my closest chums, but their examples really have an impact on my life. I’ll come back to that in a minute.
One of my dearest friends is Jen. Everyone needs a friend like Jen. She lights up the room. She’s hilarious. She’s genuine and as real as they come. She honors her role as wife and mother. Her heart is made of gold. And she’s rocking some new bangs.
So part of our road trip last week was spent with Jen and her family. There were a few things around her home that I wanted to share with you – because who doesn’t love fun ideas?
…..
{ idea no. 1: best flip flops }
I asked Jen what must-have flip flops I should check out for Summer. She’s my fashion-go-to friend. She recommended the Sanuk Yoga Mat Flip Flops. I ordered these in orange, received them from Amazon this week, and I’m in love. For sure they’re the most comfortable flip flops I’ve ever had, next to my beat-up Reefs that I’ve been wearing for like 8 years and can’t find them in red online anymore. And by the way, they have these for guys too. David just ordered these for himself.
…..
{ idea no. 2: instagram memory display }
When Jen and I first met 10 years ago while our families lived near Cleveland, Ohio, Photoshop was becoming a huge part of our personal photography and documentation of life. Fast-forward to her most recent Photoshop project: This display of recent favorite instagram shots. She didn’t use any sort of template for this, but rather created a 16×20 canvas, reduced the size of each image to 2″ and manually placed each one on the digital canvas. She saved the final draft as a .jpg, uploaded to Costco.com and had the 16×20 printed for $6. The frame is from Hobby Lobby. I’ll also mention that Persnickity Prints is an awesome online photo printing service and if I ever get around to making a print like this again (I did a similar project a couple years ago – remember Doors of Tallinn?) – I would try Persnickety for sure.
…..
{ idea no. 3: lockers }
I have mud room envy. Okay – so I don’t really have envy because I don’t believe anyone should be envious of anyone or anything. Right? But – if I were to be envious of a mud room (we don’t have one and I just don’t understand why they’re not including these in most homes) – it would be Jen’s. Cubbies and lockers? Dreamy.
This is her system: Whenever she finds something that belongs to one of the kids (she has 5), she throws it in their locker. Every Saturday the kids are responsible to clean out their lockers and put stuff away. In case someone is sooo going to do this, I think some garage cabinet companies and closet companies offer them. Sometimes High Schools might even be getting rid of old lockers. You and Google can research that together. ; )
…..
{ idea no. 4: family photo grid }
You know I’m a sucker for grids. So between the grid format and the gorgeousness of these photos (taken by Collin Kartchner) and the fact that these are people that we adore … I could stare at this display all day long. Jen had them made at whcc.com and they’re called “stand-outs” or something like that.
…..
{ idea no. 5: counter top quote }
This little chalkboard is cool; Jen picked it up at One Kings Lane. So much fun potential for keeping a favorite quote, a note between family members, what’s for dinner, or whatever you want.
Plus – I firmly believe with what Oprah said. I don’t necessarily agree with everything she thinks and says – but she absolutely nailed this one on the head. Life is too short to spend precious time with those who bring you down. You are better than that. I attribute much of my happiness to being very intentional about who I spend my time with. I aim to surround myself with people who uplift, inspire, encourage, and set a positive example. I am so grateful for my dearest friends. I am also so grateful for awesome people in my larger circle, my community, and those that aren’t physically nearby but have a lasting impact on me and my family.
Part of cultivating a good life is surrounding yourself with people who are going to lift you higher. Thanks for that one, Oprah.
Displaying photographs – in our homes, or photo albums, or office cubicles, or anywhere … is a way to recognize our blessings.
This month, Texas-based photographer Kristen Duke is focused on this very topic every single day. She has a whole lineup of others who are sharing inspiration (check out the schedule) and today – it’s me! A special hello to those who are here on my site for the first time. Happy Browsing. : )
I do love having photos – specifically family photos – all around our home. This invokes a feeling of togetherness, reminds us of our commitment to each other, increases our children’s self-worth, helps us focus on our blessings, and of course brings back fond memories that we love to remember. Here are some of my favorite photo-focused spots in our home.
You have to see this picture a little closer – it’s one of my favorite shots of Claire, taken by Natalie Norton.
You may notice I’m fond of linear arrangements and grids. For step-by-step tips on hanging a grid of frames with precision, check out THIS blog post. I also share my secret weapon for hanging frames on walls, regardless of the arrangement.
You’ll also notice that I have a splash of older pictures here and there. A few faces from our family history of course, but also pictures of David and I as kiddos. I absolutely recommend to anyone to incorporate a couple pictures from your own childhood into your home. It’s a daily reminder of that innocent youth, and your own kids will remember that you were once in their shoes. You haven’t been an adult your whole life, even though in their young minds it seems like you have been. : )
First of all – real quick. Notice the new navigation bar at the top? If not, refresh. Ahh, there we go. Much better now. : )
…..
Paint? Yes – we’re having a paint giveaway. I don’t know about you, but I have a few pieces of furniture that are ready for a little update. I’m actually planning to embark on a little painting project sometime during the Christmas break … I hope. That darn “spare time” keeps running away from me but the ideas are so in my head. : )
The product I’m planning to use is the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It looks amazing. And that’s what we’re giving away! A randomly selected winner will receive a huge Holiday Gift Basket of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint! This includes 2 quarts of paint (your choice of colors), Clear Wax, Dark Wax, Creating the French Look (book by Annie Sloan), 2” Chip Brush, 3” Chip Brush, 20 count roll of cheesecloth, and a Sample Deck of all the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors.
Retail value = $198
Um, yeah. Pretty sweet. You know what’s even sweeter? Annie Sloan’s North America tour has just been announced. Annie will be coming to America in March, and the lucky winner will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $350 gift certificate! This gift certificate can be used to purchase more Chalk Paint or for registration for Annie’s workshop. So, the total retail value of this giveaway is now up to $548! That grand prize winner will be announced on Annie’s Blog on January 10, 2012.
…..
Giveaway: Leave a comment with your first name, city, state (U.S. only for this giveaway) … and tell us if you have a specific project in mind, just for fun. Also, be sure to visit ShadesofAmber.net to scope out the colors. Be sure to mention which 2 colors you think you’ll want if you win. If you are entering for a chance to win, please be sure to check back here tomorrow so you don’t miss the announcement.
About Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: Painters, DIYers, crafters, and bloggers are buzzing about this new furniture paint because it goes over just about anything and there is absolutely no prep work involved. No sanding, no stripping, no priming, no kidding! With Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, you can transform your worn or outdated furniture into high end pieces with a gorgeous patina and luscious soft finish.
About Shades of Amber: They are an independent retailer of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Check out their website + blog. Please visit anniesloanunfolded.com for a full list of retailers.
I’m really glad we turned this into a video contest this year because if we hadn’t, I would likely never seen this video. And oh, how I love this video.
Kris Murray of Three Hills, Alberta, Canada nailed it. She totally captured the whole day-in-the-life theme. She makes me want to take all those family video clips that I’ve been collecting and put them to music and make some family movies, which is something I would love to spend more time doing. I absolutely adore this look into her daily routine – her real life – which is something that I know a lot of us can relate to with kids + housework. Even if that’s not your life at all, hopefully you will be inspired to document your everyday.
Kris used a Panasonic Lumix FZ35 to film, and edited the video with iMovie on her Mac computer.
Her comments: I’m always searching the Internet for fun, catchy songs that I can use along with my home videos and I was ecstatic when I came across Joy Williams! I’ve never heard tell of her but fell in love with her quirky, upbeat, real-life lyrics and have actually put together a few videos using her songs.
When I heard “One Of Those Days”, I immediately thought of the craziness that is piled into a 24-hour time period in the Murray household and knew what had to be done. So, I committed to carrying around my camera for the WHOLE day and record EVERYTHING, from my family waking up on the wrong side of the bed, to morning coffee, tantrums, play/crafts, nap time, lunch/supper, laundry, right up until bedtime when my son conveniently falls out his bed. The day I chose to record our life couldn’t have been more fitting for the song.
Kris, you have utterly inspired me. Thank you for sharing!
The following are notes from individuals and families who have generously donated to my brother's family. There are many others who donated beyond the notes you see below and the ads you see on my blog. We can not thank you enough for your kindness and generosity during this very difficult time. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Jonathan -- May god give you strength and courage in the coming months. Enjoy your family. Love you wife and hug your kids. Lean on Him. He can handle it. God Bless.
- Tricia Shelton
May you be surrounded by love, friendship and family in this difficult time.
- The Gourlay Family
Dear Jonathan, Tina and family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Although we have never met, we felt compelled to reach out to you. We hope that through these well wishes you feel loved and cared for. Life is about our families, communities and sharing love with each other. Through Becky's blog, I know that you have a wonderful family. We hope you know that through Becky's web community, you now have many new friends thinking of you. May you find strength in God and from all the prayers said on your behalf.
- anonymous
I wish you all love, peace, courage, and strength for the days ahead. I'll be praying. Be blessed!
- Sandra
You and your family are in our prayers. God Bless!
- Angie Murray
Thank you, Jonathan, for being there to support Becky while she shared her gifts and talents with me through the years, albeit remotely. This small gift is the least I can do to say thank you. God bless you and your family.
- With loving thoughts, Terri C
Although I've never met Jonathan, I have been following Becky's articles, books, and blog for years—even met her once at CKU Orlando. Like so many that Becky has touched, I've always admired the love, unity, and values of your large and beautiful family. I wish you all love, peace, courage, and strength for the days ahead. I'll be praying. Be blessed!
- anonymous
All I can say is that I believe God has heard your call because He certainly placed it on my heart to respond. It was loud and clear. And when He's involved, great things far beyond what you and I can comprehend will occur and I pray that gives you peace today and the days to come.
- Peggy Krantz
May you continue to find peace and comfort knowing you are surrounded by loving family and friends.
- anonymous
My heart is filled with love and pain and gratitude for eternal families as I have read about the challenge your family faces. Please accept my donation as a small token to help ease the significant, and often devastating, monetary burdens that come with this challenge. Thank you for a fine example of strength during the darkest times we face in life - an example that gives courage to others struggling with trials in their lives.
- anonymous
To Jonathan and family - I am keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.
- God bless all of you, Leslie Schmitt
"Praying for you and your family." 1 Peter 5:7
- Kristina Proffitt
I'm praying for you throughout each day and asking God to give each of you the strength, comfort, and peace to get through this enormous trial. May God bless all of you in ways you never could've imagined and may His mighty and healing hand be especially upon you Jonathan.
- Much love, Lisa in Florida
May you continue to find peace and comfort knowing you are surrounded by loving family and friends.
- anonymous
Dear Jonathan and family, Our heartfelt prayers are with you and your family. May you know in your hearts that there will always be someone, whether here or above, who will always be with each one of you.
- Maria
Jonathan, his family, friends, and coworkers are all in my prayers during this difficult time. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us- it's very inspiring to see Jonathan's strength through this battle.
- Kristen
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is that small voice at the end of the day that says 'I will try again tomorrow' " - Mary Anne Radmacher - The last year has been really difficult for me, but this quote always seems to help. I hope it helps you and your family, as well. Don't forget, miracles really do happen. Hang in there and keep your chin up.
- Love and prayers from NM, Stephanie Taylor
To Jonathan, Tina and your entire family: I wish there were more that I could do to help you. Becky's books have been my favorites since I first read them. Because she shared family photos and stories, I feel like you are all old friends. Good luck and I am sending happy thoughts and sparkly wishes your way!
- Jacki Samolsky
Big hugs and lots of prayers of healing and peace to your whole family.
