Altogether Too Happy

10 Days to Thankful

10 days
No sugar + 30 minutes of heart-pumping exercise + enough sleep = a happier, healthier and more grateful body.

Who's in?

Leave a comment to join me in a totally doable commitment to spend the next ten days preparing for Thanksgiving. Simply put I want to feel lighter and more energetic and more appreciative of the non-material blessings that abound in my life and I think that a short and concentrated effort on my basic physical needs will allow me to find more awareness for my mental, emotional and spiritual conditioning as I head into this busy and blessed holiday season.

no sugar
for me this means not only stop the candy, cookies and yes, even brownies, but also the processed "quick and easy" but not-so-good meal replacement type foods. I'm going to focus on fresh foods that require some preparation and invariably feel more satisfying.

30 minutes
a brisk walk or jog (inside or out) I always struggle as the days grow shorter to get the fresh air I crave. I want to feel my heart pumping and my lungs reaching for air -- I love this feeling.

enough sleep
I'm going to be in bed by ten, so I can be up early and enjoy quiet time that invites reflection and preparation.

Update on Seattle and the WINNER of Kolette's A Life Well Crafted coming later today!

Today ...

1. I ate fresh raspberries on Grape Nuts for breakfast. This is a departure from recent weeks.

2. The sky is gray so I am wearing orange and yellow and these:

3. I am flying to Seattle to hang out with Wendy (cool.)

4. Celebrating fourteen FUN years with Chase.

5. Remembering some very funny scenes from a very fun birthday party ...

blindfolded Jell-o eating contest

mustard speed writing

30 seconds of B-O-L-O-G-N-A

and ... a final wrap-up where one team member wraps the other team members in a full package of plastic wrap.

the pictures are crappy, but the memories are perfect!

cutest sister in the world.

I have. I actually have two cutest sisters in the world. Here is one.

Seriously. Darci is just as adorable on the inside as out. She called me yesterday and said "I have to show you something right NOW!" I said OK. She said go to your computer (already there) and type in good cop, bad cop and I'm thinking, "What?" and then she said ... it's Jessica's new blog -- "Oh, good kopp ..."

So ... take a second and go welcome Jessica Kopp to the world of blogging and look at my super-cute nephews and nice. I've known Jessica for years. She used to have her own product line. She is stellar designer and it looks like she is venturing into the world of photography too. Nice pics Jess!

It's a NO SCHOOL day here, as I'm sure it is most everywhere in the states. My kids and I are going to Costco and then home to prepare for Chase's first boy/girl birthday party (fun.)

Happy Veterans' Day.
Thank YOU to all who have defended and continue to defend freedom across the world! 

p.s. Had a blast this weekend with Allison (thank you so much for coming my friend)

We totally made the brownies together and found them to be ...

a little time-intensive, but quite delicious. 

More Cocoa Daisy!

Two quick things.

1. Look at what Lisa Damrosch created with my  Cocoa Daisy kit.

why are little boys so stickin cute??

I am so going to do this. LOVE the index cards torn from the ring binding. Going to Staples on my way home this evening. Thanks for the fun idea Lisa!!
There's more on her blog.

2. I'm getting packed and excited about Seattle this weekend. I wanted to let everyone who is coming know that I'll be in the Cocoa Daisy booth Friday and Saturday at 10:00am for about 30 to 45 minutes. I'd love to say Hello and show you my kit and projects in person!!!

Win a Ticket to our 2009 Yearlong Event!

If you've ever taken a class (live or at BPS) with Kolette Hall, then I think you'll understand how tickled we are to announce her as our 2009 yearlong instructor. The "Big Picture" in Big Picture Scrapbooking can mean different things to different people depending on the context of the class and the instructor's objectives and perspective ... most often (to me) the big picture is simply the life we celebrate and learn to appreciate and improve through the creative process of scrapbooking. Several months ago, I asked Kolette to think about providing a yearlong experience at BPS and to come back to me with some ideas for a theme or overall message -- she later shared her thoughts and explained that more than anything she wants to help women craft a better life. Hello. How cool is that?

A Life Well Crafted will be twelve months of the insightful instruction you've come to expect from Kolette -- and you'll be able to enjoy her class on so many levels. I hope you'll take some time soon to read through the class descriptions and decide which option is right for you.

As a quick overview and in response to a few general questions we've received ...

Will there be projects? Yep. beautiful, meaningful and FUN monthly projects to support each month's principle, as well as a layout of the month, inspired by a song and designed to become a unique album at year's end.

Will there be inspirational voice messages? Uh-huh. from both Kolette and her husband, Jason (an amazing motivational speaker)

I love the quotes Kolette has shared in her classes. Will there be more quotes? Absolutely. In fact, Kolette has designated the 2nd week of each month as Quote Week and will share daily emails with links to exclusive downloadable quotes that can be collected and used in a variety of ways.

There will be all this and so much more and for the first time ever there will be a version of this class for your "non-crafty" friends and relatives. The "audio only" version of this class would make a wonderful gift for a friend, sister, mother -- anyone that wants to experience the inspiration without the expectation of creating something.

So ... let's get on with the give away shall we?

Tell me one thing you love about Mondays and you'll automatically be entered in a random drawing for a ticket, valued at $170, to A Life Well Crafted in 2009.

Comments will be open for one whole week -- I'll announce a winner next Monday, November 17th at 12:00 noon, PST.

the light in her eyes ...

is to me an ever present reminder of a disadvantaged woman and her choice to honor the sanctity of life.

A post earlier this week may have caused some confusion as to where I stand on a very important moral issue. I absolutely respect others opinions and perspectives and I am absolutely OK being judged and misunderstood on most issues, but not this one.

If you are interested you can read this article that is both clear and eloquent.

it is what I believe.

Oh my and fun Ali memories

my, oh my ... fabric covered push pins, hair clips and magnets. Adorable.
more here.

and ... even cooler?

The fact that Big Picture Scrapbooking is unveiling our first-ever class with Ali Edwards.
You asked for it and it's finally happening!

In celebration, some pics from my digital files ...

this is me totally absorbed in a live class with Ali, here in Spokane a couple of years ago.

I created a super-cool theme album, titled Perspectives. If you've ever taken a class with Ali you know that her projects are both visually interesting and personally meaningful -- that is NOT an easy thing to achieve.

Ali stayed at my house that weekend ...

Did a spot on the local news morning show that we recorded and watched later that evening.

FUN memories.

The cool thing about Ali (among other things) is that you will sense her genuine spirit even when you're not in the same room with her -- I invite you to see what I mean ... check out Ali's Family Gratitude Spinner here.

may I always ...

be at the bottom of Taft's checklist ...

life is seriously good with seven year-old boys.

Have a wonderful Thursday! I'm picking up my friend Allison at the airport. We have a fun weekend of creating and reconnecting planned.

on brownies

look what I got in the mail ...

can you believe it? all tied up in a BIG YELLOW ribbon -- that and the Making Memories box gave the sender away (thanks Margie.)

love this (from the book)

"Brownies are both unpretentious and decadent. They are quick and easy to put together, yet immensely rich and satisfying. So what makes a chocolate brownie different from cake? The texture is crucial. A good brownie should be soft, with a close, moist, fudgy quality completely unlike the crumbly, open, and light texture of a pound cake."

ahhhh, it's killing me, and now I totally have brownies are on my mind (what's new?) and here's what I'm thinking ...

1. The banner on my blog is going away soon (I can't wait to show you) and I've had LOTS of questions about that particular brownie and whether or not I have the recipe. I took that photo a year or more ago in Birmingham, Alabama. It was an excellent brownie, but I do NOT have the recipe.

2. I do have a favorite brownie recipe (lower in fat even) that I make when I have time. I often give out this recipe to students at live events. Otherwise, I'm a big Costco brownie mix girl and Chase can whip up a double batch in less than an hour (including baking time.) 

3. I am going to make the first recipe  "Classic Fudge Brownies" in my new book, tonight and document the experience. I will report back.

4. Also more than a year ago, I received some amazing brownies in the mail. I can't remember if I blogged about them or not -- so, if you need a really cool mail-order brownie, visit simplydivinebrownies.com

this is their fruit and nut filled breakfast brownie. Yes, I could totally do that -- maybe not every morning, but often. There are some that can do cold pizza (not me) but a brownie, bring it on.

life is good. So, find or make a brownie today and celebrate the fact that you've made it half way through another week in your good life.

While it is still November 4th, 2008 ...

I want to go on the record and say that I am incredibly proud to be an American and witness this historic  day.

I may not agree with all of Senator Obama's stated positions, but I am absolutely struck by his vision, his passion and his obvious good heart. Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama and his entire campaign.

WOW.