Pencil Topper Valentine

headband/Agape Love 

 I am the mom in charge of the Valentine's party in Niamh's class this month. I've been looking for the perfect craft for kids her age...and stumbled upon this *super easy*, super cute pencil topper craft today. You can find the instructions here. It took all of three minutes to put together! So simple. I think this would be especially cute to take the place of traditional valentines for friends!

~~ Thank you to everyone who commented on my new blog design!!  I am kinda loving it!:)  My designer is Don Naylor, and he is obviously pretty amazing at what he does!  You can find his blog here. He is actually working on a second design for my challenge blog, too:).  Can't wait to see it finished!  He really brought this place to life!  Thanks, Don:)!!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!  

xx

Agape Love.

Happy Saturday!!

tee and jeans/ Alloy.  headband and necklace/ Agape Love.

My beautiful friend Maria sent Niamh and I the sweetest headbands this past week. I've seen her wearing them on her blog and always liked how unique and pretty they looked. (And hey, she is gorgeous. I love the way she wears eye make-up. Just had to say it:)...Anyways, Niamh has been rocking her headbands all week at school...and I've worn mine twice this week. I'm hooked! So comfy and pretty!

 Please pop over to Agape Love Designs, Maria's blog and say hello! 

 She is such a sweetie and I love her heart for the Lord! 

And she is hosting a Facebook link-up party...so maybe you can join in the fun!:) 

 Have a great Saturday lovelies! 

 Mucho kisses! 

xx

Free Digi.

Instagrams

I know.  I have THE cleanest, most organized desk around.  ;)

And, do you love my new necklace??  It was a gift from a dear friend.  You can get one, too! Over here.

I'm having a giveaway tomorrow (Saturday)  over here.  There will be a coupon code listed for my Etsy shop...A pretty good discount for you!:)  Just sayin'...You might want to hold off on any purchases through tonight:).

PS!  Don't forget your downloads!! (click the photos)

Love you guys!! mwah!xx

One Little Word. January.

I just completed my January prompts for Ali Edward's One Little Word project. I admit, when I signed up for this, I wondered if the project would really help me make my chosen word a reality. Would I actually feel like my word [PEACE] was tangible and more a part of my heart and thoughts??...just from a scrapbooking project?? After today, I'm encouraged and thrilled that the answer to that question is YES. Just a couple hours working on the January homework, and I already feel like I've learned a little about who I am. And who I want to be. In relation to the word, peace.

We had to take a self photograph for the first page.  (Yes.  I have my dreads back.  I will give you a heads-up, they are crazy and colorful...it's a shame I'm such a subtle person:).  Then, for the second larger page, I filled in the class cards:  the definition of PEACE, synonyms, my invitation, because, and a PEACE quote.  It all made me reflect on why I chose this word for 2012.  And where I hope it takes me.  

It is a splendid project that I'm totally enjoying.  Can't wait till February!  Are any of you doing One Little Word??  Leave me a link to your posts!  I'd love to peek at your own progress!!

**If you are looking to sign up for the free Valentine's Saturated Canary digi, click HERE.  If you have signed up for the newsletter (and are itching to get your sweet, girly digi:), I will be sending them out tomorrow.  Can't wait to see how you all color her...I really tried to give you something special...She is quick becoming one of my favorite characters to date:).  

Thanks for stopping by, friends!!  

Have a lovely day!

"Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace."

Amelia Earhart

Free Digi!

Hello dear friends! 

This is my Valentine to you:). A free digi! 

 In order to receive your new Saturated Canary digi, you 

*must be a follower of my blog* 

and

*be signed up for my newsletter*. 
click here instead

 **If you have already signed up and received my first issue, you need not email me again. You're on the list!:) 

 To be added to the mailing list and receive your free digi later this week, please email me at krista7smith@yahoo.com with the subject line 'NEWSLETTER'. I will be sending out February's letter in a couple days with this cutie attached:)! 

 Don't miss out!!

xx

my Rock.

The other morning I called Phil at work. I knew I'd been disconnected this week.

 Sitting next to him in the evening, but not listening.
 Or even talking.
 Just working away.

 He'd say something and then I'd catch the end of a question...(I always reply 'yup' in those situations and hope for the best;)...But he knows when my eyes glaze over and I'm just saying yup to give the appearance of a listening ear.

 I felt like I hadn't talked-- really talked-- to my best friend all week.
 Was he being distant?

Or was it all me??

 We chalked this week up to being busy and tired (he works 6 out of 7 days this week, 12-hour shifts...I've been working just about that same amount myself.)

 While I knew it was mostly me, those weird marriage weeks always leave me feeling jipped. Like, hellooooooo. Do you see how hard I work? Do you want to say anthinggggg????? (insert: you are the most lovely, hard working, perfectly amazing, organized (okay. went a little far with that one) wife ever. ever. ever.)

 But all I got was silence (and the occasional tale-end of a question).
 And that's pretty much all that was coming from me, too.

While I was driving the kiddies to school the other morning, we were listing to Tenth Avenue North. Funny how God puts in your ear just exactly what you need to hear sometimes. Yeah-- He definitely finds ways to speak very clearly to us. If we listen. The song I'd heard a hundred times before, but there was my answer to Generic Marriage Week. I hadn't taken very much time to spend with Him. I mean, I pray all the time with the kids...and we talk about the Lord constantly. But my time with Him was unaccounted for. Like. Zero.

 How can I expect others who are having a tiring week to fill the voids that God should be filling in my heart? If I take delight in the fact the I'm living my hour.day.week. to His glory and praise, then I shouldn't feel 'jipped' when I don't get noticed by my zonked-out hubs on the couch. Only God can be everything that I need. And when I make time for Him, I can be more of what others need. Like, a listening, loving wife. A patient mama. A peaceful person. Here I am, barely paying attention to my favorite person in the world, wondering why he isn't paying attention to me. Kinda crazy:).

 I remember hearing this example one time. Fill a jar half full of sand. Then try to fit a bunch of big rocks inside. Chances are, you won't get it all in. But. If you put the rocks in first, then dump the sand in...let it filter into all the tiny cracks...you won't have an overflow. That's exactly how life is. Put God first, and everything else will fall into place. You'll get it all in. Because your priorities are right. And built on The Rock.

He Made My Night.

skirt, FreePeople/ thermal, Target/ jewelry, have no idea:)

Thank you, all, for the lovely birthday wishes! I had such a great day!

 Phil surprised me with my favorite donuts for breakfast (buttercream...mmmm!! I ate exactly three that day.  Which = my total weekly allowance of fat and calories:) and we all just hung out, played games, and had a lazy sort of day. My family threw a little party at my sister's house. We played Pictionary and shook our booties to JustDance3 (not simultaneously...although that could be a pretty awesome twist for the next party:). I am now the proud owner of a totally awesome sandwich maker (it was what I wanted. so bad!), gift cards to the craft store and salon/spa...a new perfume (my favorite as a teenager, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea), and a few other goodies to top it off. Oh. And we had delicious cherry crumb pie.

 I have the best family in the whole world. I think my nephew made the night, though. He is six, just like Philly. Took me into his bedroom and told me, " You are not old, Krista. You are still so young!" I had to look away. Just felt my eyes instantly start stinging with tears. He's just the sweetest.

 So 32.
 You're lookin' not so bad:).
 And apparently, you're pretty darn young.

 At least that is what the six year olds are telling me!:)
 xo

Sneakers and To Do Lists. Happy Girl!

Well. He almost made it to my birthday:). Phil walked in from work tonight and made a bee-line to the bedroom. Brought me out my pressie:). I like waiting for gifts...it's the anticipation that makes it fun, but I didn't put up a fight. This is a record for him!! He has had it hidden for weeks. I'm actually really proud of the guy! And he knows how to make my day! Let me be honest-- sneakers are like diamonds to me. I LOVE getting a new pair of running shoes. I think Phil has bought me a new pair once a year since we've been married:). I get so excited when I see that shoe-shaped box in wrapping paper! New sneaks just put a spring in my step...get my butt movie' a bit faster on the treadmill! He also bought me my favorite running gear! I practically live half my life in Under Armour. I love it:). I'm one happy girl...and it isn't even my birthday yet!

 Earlier in the day, I was running errands and discovered the craft store had put out loads of Valentines-themed embellishments, papers, and goodies. I couldn't stop grabbing things from the shelves. I really love making things for Valentines Day. I feel like every project really is filled with love!! (PS...peek at the new Valentine's stamp coming out tomorrow girlies!!...)

After bringing home all those new embellishments, I just had to play for a while! Sometimes on a super busy week, it is nice to take a crafting break and make something you just can't wait to try! Right? It's kinda refreshing:). Last night I wrote down my "To Do" list at my desk. I realized that I don't think in lists. I think in blocks. Sounds really funny, huh!?! (Phil looked at me cross-eyed when I tried to explain this to him tonight.)  I group all my like things together in my mind...my to-do's are very categorized, as opposed to listed. Blocks.  Maybe that is the meaning behind the word "blockhead."  Yeah.  I could definitely qualify as one of those:).

After that Ah-Ha moment;), I decided to try and make a to-do list that fit me better. Helped me visualize everything in my day better than a bunch of lines on a pad of paper stuck to the fridge. Here is what I came up with...And I used my Zutter bind-it machine to keep all my sheets together in a cute, little handmade book. I really like it:)! Here is my list for tomorrow...

I thought maybe there are more girls like me who could make good use of my To-Do Project, so if you want to print out sheets of your own, click here...

Coffee

if you popped in to visit with us, (and yes, i'd totally love to have each of you over for coffee:)...you might find...

the four of us impressing each other with our lack of dance skillzzzzz, *party rocking* to JustDance3 in the living room

Niamh's pet elephant, 'Peanut', and manatee, 'Boone,' taking up the entire couch in our bedroom (they are real, my friends, and need to be "comfortable." the elephant alone is 5 feet long.:)

 Phil and Philly having a catch in the living room

 a mess. or two. or 25.

 dishes in the sink. you know, i've never EVER owned a dishwasher. not once in my whole life!

 bottles of water everywhere. it's like we are stuck in the movie Signs. at least if an alien ever breaks into our house, we will be prepared for him.

 Phil would definitely ask if you wanted a cup of tea or coffee from his new coffee-maker. he is in love with this machine.

 candles. i love lighting candles. my kids love to blow them out when i walk out of the room:).

 i might invite you to a girls movie night over at my sister's house around the corner. during last night's movie I ate two HUGE pieces of carrot cake. kinda wish she wouldn't bake at all when i go over...because i cannot pass up her goodies!! must have gained 7 pounds over night!

 i'd tell you that i am trying to feel peaceful. my word for the year. but it is hard for me. i'm glad i have an entire year to work on this.

 Niamh would say something funny. because she is just hysterical. intentionally hysterical. i.e., today she told us her new line, "you just scared the hiccups out of me." pretty good, huh?!

 Philly would say something funny, too. but he wouldn't mean to:). he is just so by-accident-funny:). i.e., tonight I put him in long-johns for bed. he told me, "i call them 'long' cause they are so long on me. and 'johns'...cuz...they look like johns!!" (what does that even mean?? he is so cute!)

 you might find Storage Wars on TV (like. this moment:). or re-runs of Modern Family. or a Knicks game.  oh, or Good Luck Charlie.  (i admit it.  sometimes i put that show on and i'm the only person awake in the house.)

 Philly is probably somewhere attached to my body. he is such a snuggler.

 Niamh will be with her dad if Philly is with me. she likes to make sure everyone feels loved.

 i'd tell you that i turn 32 on Saturday (eep!) and that, for the first time EVER, Phil has NOT given me my present early:). (the guy cannot stand to wait until the special day. but, so far so good.)

 i'd tell you that i am a total hypochondriac^2. my doctor just laughed at me today. told me to get out of her office and go enjoy the sunshine:). (i am Elaine in the Seinfeld episode where she is THAT patient!) 

my kids would pop out of the bedroom at least once after i put them to bed. either to go potty. get one more drink of water. or one more hug. the last one is my favorite reason:).

 i'd tell you that I'm working hard to be better at friendships. i'm really terrible at returning phone calls and making the time to do things with others. but i am working on it. little by little:).

 Phil would make you feel at home. he is good at chit chat. i tell him he is charming;). that's why all the ladies love him. specially this one:).

 oh. and you'd see how excited i am about going out to lunch with him tomorrow. he's taking me because i reached 1000 followers this week! he's that on top of things, girlfriends!:)

 And i hope you'd feel like you had spent time with a true friend. and her family.  even if the house is a little messy and the kids a little loud and my hair a little very crazy... we'd still be so glad to just get to know you, too!  It really does sound fun!

you'll have to take us up on it sometime:).
Phil really does make a mean cup of Jo:).

****Winner of Casey's Sponsorship Giveaway****

Natasha Hanson

congrats girlie.  i will email you shortly.

Week.End.

I'm hopefully going to have a new look over here soon! I can't wait to give this blog another face lift:). I found a really awesome blog designer and gave a lot of thought about what changes I wanted to make. I'm so excited to see what he comes up with:)! Stay tuned...I'd love to hear your thoughts when it is installed, hopefully later this week:).

 dress, Modcloth

 jeans (not available now), UO 

shoes, Target 

turtleneck, Target