P. Kelly Smith
Welcome to Freebie Friday! Can you believe there’s only six weeks left in 2009? This realization hit me like a ton of bricks this week. Immediately I began to make a mental list of all things I haven’t done this year. Then I added all the things I still need to do. Sandwich two major holidays in there that each require travel, gift preparation, baking, decorating and, of course, exercising (pie is so not kind to the waistline) and you’ve got one busy schedule.
I enjoyed reading all of your comments from Brandy’s These Are the Days of Our Lives post. Who knew 341 people would have such strong opinions about the “right” time to decorate your home for Christmas? And while there were a few eager beavers out there, most of you said you must first give thanks the proper and traditional way. Once the turkeys have been carved and the last piece of pumpkin pie has been served, then you begin to wrap your heads around Christmas trees, shopping malls, busy airports and Santa’s eight little reindeer.
Can you tell I’m a little bit of a Scrooge? Don’t get me wrong…I love everything about Christmas. The sights, the smells, the hustling and bustling to get every present wrapped, every card signed and mailed. I just don’t want too much Christmas. I want to live in the now and enjoy the “gifts” that are ready to be unwrapped and savored today. Here’s a few of my favorites from a few of my favorite “gals”…
Happy Fall Card by Teri Anderson
November Card by Maren Benedict
Thank You Pumpkin Card by Kim Hughes
Glittered Pumpkin by Kim Kesti
Give Thanks Card by Betsy Veldman
Fall is in the Air Card by Jessica Witty
Aren’t these cards gorgeous? Isn’t it amazing what you stumble across when you’re not even looking? An unexpected gift. Our Paper Crafts Go-to Gals continue to inspire me with their unlimited creativity. If you’d like to learn more about these fall-themed cards, make sure to visit each of their blogs. (You’ll find links under our team blogroll.) To read more about these talented ladies, we just posted their bios and new headshots on our Paper Crafts web site. Click HERE to find out who moonlights as an movie extra, who has hand-illustrated over 50 stamp sets and who used to be a floral designer. I bet some of these gals will surprise you. They continue to surprise us every day.
Ready for today’s giveaway? I swear by my planner, my desk calendar, my little notebook of reminders and lists. They keep me sane (well, at least semi-sane) in an increasingly insane world. I believe organization is the key to enjoying the now and fitting in all the other stuff that can sometimes weigh us down. Leave a comment telling me your secret for juggling a busy life and how you make time to live in the now. I’ll pick two winners to receive Karen Foster Design’s Desktop Flip Calendar Kit AND their Calendar Creations Creative Kit. Why not paper craft and get organized at the same time?! All comments must be received by midnight (MST) on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Two lucky winners will take home this prize package from Karen Foster Design!
Happy Friday!
Kelly
P.S. Here’s another freebie for everyone! This holiday, we invite you to share the inspiration of paper crafting with a friend or relative–at a GREAT DEAL! Subscribe or renew your subscription to Paper Crafts at our special low rate and we’ll give a one-year gift subscription to a friend absolutely FREE! That’s two subscriptions for the price of one! This special holiday offer won’t last long…so click on over today! Offer valid in the U.S. only.
P.P.S. Make sure you stop by Moxie Fab World for the final day of Cath’s blogiversary celebration. She’s sharing some milestone stats, pictures of the team and some inspirational landscape photos that are oh, so moxie fab!
I use Google Calendar! Without it, I would be lost. Also, I take time everyday to just sit. Sometimes I think, sometimes I don’t. The time varies from day to day, but it always ends with thinking about something positive or funny. Huge difference in my mood after a quick break.
Each Sunday evening I make a to-do-list for the upcoming week. I look at it each day and make sure that I have everything scratched off the list before the week’s end. Also, I have everything (people’s birthdays, doctor’s app’ts, & etc.) written down in my day planner.
Calendars! A handwritten one keeps me on track! I have electronic stuff nothing like the one and only handwritten one. I always buy ahead and plan ahead it keeps the everyday tasks at hand. A to do list of must do’s helps for certian days. Well if you get sick it is just “game over!”
Hahahaha! Organized?! You make me LAUGH!
Seriously though, I am a list maker. Really wish I was more organized, but many days it is a matter of seizing the moment!
Hey sometimes things get a little hectic and pile up. Thats when its time to take a little breather and just relax, watch a favorite program,read or play with some new supplies. But I try to keep it together by making lists and writing things down, that helps alot.
Lisa
My Blackberry phone/organizer is my critical tool for keeping my life together. Phone numbers, grocery/shopping lists, even make voice notes for my work mileage. PocketMac software links the Blackberry to the Mac/iCalendar, so I have a backup on my schedule/life. Thanks for a fun comment question. It was fun to read some of the comments above my own.
I am rather addicted to my planner..It has everything in it that tried to keep me straight!
) Other than that, LOTS of sticky notes!
I don’t have to be organized to get everything done. I am retired and have all of the time in the world. lol I do have a clipboard with a planner attached though. Just so I don’t forget those important events.
Don’t worry about tomorrow, today has enough worries of its own!
I live by this scripture because otherwise I’d go nuts thinking about ALL I have to do in the the short time I have to do it! People say, How do you do it ALL. And I always say “by the Grace of God”!
Kim Marie
I use lists and a calendar with alarms to remind me. And I try to go with the flow and NOT stress.
I am organized when I have to have to be really productive. The thing that keeps me on track are To Do Lists.
I try to keep all my appointments on one calendar. If it doesn’t make the calendar, I don’t remember to do it.
my secret is to just let some of it go! That’s the only way to get things off the list! lol
I have recently moved & for the life of me can’t find my calendar – not that I was super organized but right now clueless to next week. Although it does lend itself to living more in the moment.
Life is busy at my house. I use lists for everything now to keep me on track.
I have tried to slow down a little tho and enjoy the moment…. like when I am cooking a new recipe for me family
I live by my calendar, if it’s not written on it, then it doesn’t get planned!
In college, I used to keep a planner to keep everything organized. Now, I use an electronic calendar (Google or Outlook). Works well for managing school deadlines and other commitments.
I have learned to say no when asked to do things that I know I don’t HAVE to or NEED to do. I relax at night by creating things after my daughter has gone to bed.
Well…I think I still struggle with juggling and living in the now! I’m trying to be better at managing my time with my dayplanner. And LISTS! I have 3 ongoing lists: “this week”, “soon”, “eventually”. And I try to create a couple of cards at least once a week…helps me keep on track of b-days & other occasions, too!
Writing things down, and saying no.
lists–i live by lists. it keeps me from forgetting, and keeps my life running smoothly, so i can enjoy whatever is going on at the moment.
I have about five notebooks that I write everything down in (sometimes I duplicate it if the info is really important!)….to live in the now….enjoy each moment:)