day 29 &30

Wow.  November has been a really quick month.  I can't believe it's flown by so quickly.  I just wanted to give a big thanks to everyone who joined in, read my posts, left a comment, or did a page using one of my prompts.  It means a lot to be able to share my ideas with you.  I didn't have much time to journal this month.  I should have journaled my prompts, and I intend to, someday.  For now I have the Sketchbook Project to work on, and I want to work on my Christmas journal as well.  As soon as I get my journal pages done, I promise to post them.  :)

Today I am thankful for....
 * pink Christmas trees
* my iPhone4  (I'm in total Heaven)
* clean sheets
* cold filtered water
* Band-Aids & Neosporin
* tampons
* a laid back attitude towards Christmas
* all of my blog readers....YOU!

Prompts-
- do an advent themed page.  Think about fun things or treats you and/or family members can enjoy together in the days counting down to Christmas.  Make a quickie advent calendar by stapling, stitching, or taping together 24 envelopes.  Tuck little notes inside with fun activities like baking cookies or watching holiday movies.  Easy peasy, and you have a bonus mini journal to write stories on and attach photos of you all enjoying your activities together this year!  :)
- draw gingerbread houses.....or make a Christmas cookie page!!!
- write down ways that you can treat yourself well during the holiday season.  Often times we get so wrapped up in thinking about others that we forget to treat ourselves a little.  Could you pick up a coffee drink or a hot chocolate to accompany you on your shopping trip?  Pop in for a mani/pedi?  Pick up a few craft supplies or baking supplies just for fun.  Schedule in a night to make cupcakes and snuggle up with a good book.  Remember to eat healthy and steadily to keep your energy up and moods in check with this crazy season.  And try to get enough sleep!  :)
-write a letter to Santa.  Explain why you have been good and deserve what is on your wishlist (actually write one out!!), or if you've been naughty and deserve coal....reflect on what went wrong and what you can do to redeem yourself and start fresh in the New Year.


I hope you all have had fun with this.....I know I have!  Many thanks for everything good in my life (and yours)!! 

day 28

 Today I am thankful for.....
* my boyfriend buying me an i-phone 4 tomorrow....yay!!
* family thanksgiving
* KC not being sick anymore
* New Years resolutions
* sweet potato crunch!!!

Prompts-
- Do you hate your job?  What can you do to make ends meet?  Could you bet a better, more fulfilling job and still be able to make it?  What are you willing to cut back on?  Are you willing to take a side job?  Open an Etsy shop for extra money?  Stop going to Starbucks?  Make lunches and dinners at home?  Stop going out as much?  Sell your home & move into a place more affordable?  Go back to school?  Relocate?  Think really hard about how you're feeling.  Is it possible to make your current job more bearable?  Think about how your job is affecting your quality of life.  Ultimately, are you helping your family or hurting it?  Do you snap at them, are you frazzled, are you depressed?  Will a different job give you more time with your family?  Do you need something more creative or a fresh change of scenery?  Make a list of the pros/cons of your current job.  Make a list of the sacrifices and risks you are willing to make to be happier at work.  Quitting your job is a pretty serious move....you have to really be prepared for it.  But so is staying in a soul sucking situation, which puts your health at stake.  You can't create change by doing the same thing.  Embrace change, little or big.  It will make you feel so much better!
- Draw out a really outrageous room that you love but wouldn't allow yourself to do in real life.  Make this really fun.  Have you always wanted to paint the walls black?  Put glitter on the ceilings?  Have a pink Hello Kitty room?  Have a retro 70s room complete with wallpaper, wood paneling, and shag carpet??  I could do tons of pages like this.......If I was a rich girl my house would be tackier than Graceland!!!!!

day 27

Wow, November has flown by!  I can't believe there are only 3 more days left until December!!!!

Today I am thankful for....
* clean sheets
* cell phone stores being open on Sundays!
* grocery stores that are open 24 hours
* candles
* furry animals (minus tarantulas!)


Prompts-
- What can you do to leave the world a better place?  Brainstorm ideas on how to anonymously brighten someone's day.  Check out Operation Beautiful and like sites to help motivate you.  Could you rake or mow or shovel for a neighbor while they are on vacation?  Put a pot of flowers or homemade cookies on their doorstep while they are out?  Tuck away a $1 bill into your favorite library books???  You could have so much fun with this one!
- Has anyone in your family had or is currently suffering with a major disease?  What are some steps you could do to improve your own health so you can lower your risk.  Genetics are a factor, but I personally believe lifestyle is a much more major factor in weather or not you will get sick.  You have the power to shape your future.  Look at healthy family members vs. non healthy ones.....compare their lifestyles.  Sometimes the simplest things like cutting out processed foods, avoiding harsh chemicals, engaging your brain with books and hobbies instead of tv, enjoying nature more often......could lead you on the path to a long and healthy life.
- Are there things you feel like you really should know but you don't?  Did you learn things in school that you forgot immediately after you took the test?  I have a daughter in the 4th grade.  They were memorizing state capitals.  I only knew about half of them!  Luckily I did remember a catchy song I learned in the first grade that helps me recall the 50 states in alphabetical order.  And in the 8th grade choir we learned how to sing the alphabet backwards....(might help someday in a sobriety test?).  Also, in the 7th grade I think, they taught us how to type without looking at the keys.  That has been a really helpful skill.  Teachers that took the time to care about you actually learning the content, drilling it into you, and also explaining the importance of the information were golden.  I will be thankful forever to the teachers that cared enough to make sure we learned our lesson in whatever fashion we needed.  Like the songs, sung over and over...learned bit by bit until we learned them by heart.  To the teacher that made sure we spelled common misspelled words correctly.  To the teacher that screamed at our class & threw a chair because he found out a lot of kids were making fun of the retarded boy.  To the teacher that called me out in elementary school for plagiarizing The Owl & the Pussycat.  To the elementary teachers that taught "handwriting" and "grammar" as actual subjects with textbooks and everything.  Thank you!!!!!  You know, it's never too late to learn.  There were a lot of stupid high school moments that were passed in class.....sleeping, daydreaming, passing notes, talking.  Don't you wish you would have paid a lot more attention sometimes?  Write a list of the things you think you should know.  I bet it will be a lot more fun this time!

Thanksgiving (+ days 25 & 26)

Well I did it.....I made my first Thanksgiving dinner all by myself!!  And it was easy too.  Nothing burned or undercooked.  Nothing ruined.  I was freaking out for nothing.  It was a lot of work, but really fun.  The day was so relaxing too....it was perfect.  We didn't have the girls, so KC and I stayed home and did our own thing.  Here's what I made........

My First Thanksgiving Dinner

• Turkey.  We went for an organic twelve pound turkey (leftovers!). I made KC pull out the gross stuff inside.  We made a lot of inappropriate jokes about the turkey neck because we didn't know what it was!   The turkey turned out a little dry....I'm not gonna lie.  It still tasted really good though.  After I made the gravy, I poured the rest of the juices back onto it and added a little salt.  Turkey saved.
• Stuffing.  Stovetop.  It was actually the only thing I messed up on!  (Because I wasn't paying attention to the directions).....instead of boiling the water first I added the breadcrumb mix.  Oh well.  It still turned out good.
• Roasted vegetables.  We had organic sweet potatoes and yukon gold potatoes, carrots, green beans,  and I sliced up half an onion for flavor because I decided to listen to my mom and grandma after all.  I also threw in some bay leaves, sea salt, and olive oil.
• Brussels sprouts.  I've been wanting to try them ever since I saw a recipe for them in GQ this summer.  I roasted them in butter, with lime, sea salt, and hot sauce.  They turned out to be KCs favorite out of the whole meal.
• Fresh sugared cranberries.  I didn't cook them.  But added tons of sugar for a great sweet tart flavor.  Aren't they pretty?
• Homemade rolls.  Made from scratch.  These tasted really good, but were a little dense because of the odd recipe.  It had you mixing all your dry ingredients, including yeast, first, then mixing in the rest.  So they didn't rise very much.  KC said they would make a great biscuit.
• Pumpkin pie.  I used a frozen pie crust (homemade would have been better).  I made the Libbys pie...but my grandma said to use half or less of the condensed milk.  I also used pumpkin pie spice instead of the spices, but added more cinnamon.  I kept poking the pie in the center trying to decide if it was done.  It turned out well.  I actually didn't eat a piece until this morning for breakfast because I was so full the night before.  The girls said it was the best pumpkin pie they had ever tasted (they had to have some when they came home!)
• Gravy.  Made from turkey drippings.  It tasted great, but didn't get as thick as I had hoped for.
• White wine.  We drink Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling.

It was a really filling meal.  I was proud.  KC said, "babe I think we did pretty good for our first time", and I said, "WE?! did pretty good?"......excuse me?  :)  Afterwords we settled in for Netflix.  We found this movie, and had to watch it!

It was hilarious at first, but after a while it got really stupid (and not stupid funny like it was for the first 15 minutes).  KC turned it off as I fell asleep (turkey coma).

Today I had my favorite day after thanksgiving sandwich meal........
-turkey sandwich made with white wonder bread & miracle whip
-lays classic potato chips with chip n dip
-sweet gherkins
-chips a hoy cookies
-santa coke
.....I actually cried when KC suggested healthier alternatives to my sandwich meal.  Maybe because it's so sentimental.  Maybe because I'm on my period.  But he was right.  I consumed the meal I had been craving for months (more than Thanksgiving dinner), and was disappointed.  I'm not that big on all the processed foods that I once loved so much.  This is good.

Today, Yesterday, and Always I am Thankful for......

• Lilly
• Daisy
• KC
• Scarlet
• Pumpkin
• Tripper

 I love my little family so much!  I also love my extended family and my friends!!  You guys are the best!

Prompt........
....reflect on what you are most thankful for this Thanksgiving.  Make seperate pages for each if you like.  I am a big fan of writing a personal letter to each person who has influenced your life in a positive way.  The people who are closest to you deserve to know you love them.  You can say so much in a letter that you might not say in person.  You don't actually have to send it, but getting it out is good.  Oh, and I know some of the things we are most thankful for aren't family.  Health, safety, creativity, whatever......everything you are thankful for deserves it's own recognition this time of year!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

day 24

Today I am thankful for:
* blog awards
* Lilly straightening up the share room all on her own without being asked
* Daisy being cute still
* having all the food we need to do Thanksgiving on our own....thanks KC!!!

Prompts-
- write down cute things that your kids say.....now, before you forget!!
- prep journal pages with cute boarders
- practice a new font
- do you have too many journals (me)?  designate one for thoughts, for pen only....the others can be art journals.  i am going to put my pen journal in my bedside table and use it for easy nightly entries.  i will also designate one to stay in my purse so i always have one with me.....for rough notes mainly.  my actual art journals won't get used as much, but i will love them the most. 

Tell me, how do you organize all your journals?   I can't stick to one at a time!  Happy Thanksgiving Eve friends!! xoxo

day 23

Today I am thankful for:
* sparkly frost
* better moods
* caffeine
* organic whole milk
* dark chocolate

prompts-
- use magazine pages as inspiration...they can inspire a color scheme, a mood, you could write right on the page, cut out pictures-words-trims....
- splurge.  buy those supplies you've been eying.  really think about your spending habbits.....do you really want those new jeans, or would that journaling class or instax camera be a more meaningful investment?  if you don't have any money, like me.....re-think journal supplies.  I am looking around everywhere for them.  I see receipts, tickets, packaging, old books, nail polish as art supplies now.  I use my old paints and the stacks of paper I already have.  Have fun.....stop waiting.......just create!
- write your new years resolutions
- write a list of the things you want to accomplish in the new year
- imagine 2012.....what if something crazy actually happens??  are you living your life in the most meaningful way possible?  journal about what makes your life fulfilling.  are you truly happy?  do you have hobbies, are you kind to people, are you producing quality, helping, inspiring, loving???  list some simple changes that you can do to make you look back on this time in your life with no regrets.
- how well do you know your town?  take a few minutes to list some restaurants, shops, and other places you haven't been to but would like to visit.  plan a staycation in your hometown!!!

21 & 22

 There is never enough time is there?  It is quite the challenge to blog the same sort of thing every single day.  I am really loving sharing my thanks and prompts with you though.  I am committed to the end of this fun Thanks A Lot class.  I love that I might inspire some of you creative souls out there....it is such an awesome feeling!  So thanks for doing this with me....you all rock!

Today (and yesterday) I am thankful for.....
*  friendly get togethers
*  sweet boyfriends
*  blog followers
*  holiday spirit
*  hot showers
* support & love

prompts-
( I've noticed my prompts, while fun, have strayed from the deeper more thoughtful prompts I had wanted to put out there for you.  Right now, at 2:30 am in my dark bedroom is not the time to share the lengthy prompts I have written in my current journal with you, but I promise to put some heavier prompts out there for you before the end of the month!!!) for now....
- do you know your state very well?  Remember in school where we would do a map of our state, fill it with the major cities, learn the state capitol and the state flower and the state bird and the state tree??  I think it would be fun to brush up on that knowledge again.  I think state maps done in colored pencils are so pretty.  It would make a really beautiful and fun journal in and of itself if you did all the states you have been to, and even all 50!
- make a list of all the little things that work for you to boost your mood.  Reach for a coffee, tea, or glass of wine?  Get out your craft supplies?  Put in that happy movie?  Get a pedicure?  It is good to have a list like this to go to when you feel sad.
- think about your wardrobe.  Do you love it, like it, or hate it?  Go through your closet.  Write down what you love about it, and what could use improvement.  Think really hard about your lifestyle.  Where do you spend most of your time?  Sometimes, sadly, we need to have more work clothes because we spend most of our time there.  Write a list of how you could re-arrange and maybe re-shop to fit your life better.  Sometimes it is better to have more of what you need and less of what you want.  It is going to make me sad to retire a lot of my dresses, but I'll feel better on those 5 days of the week if I have more pants.  Besides, I hardly ever go out.  It's ok to buy a new dress and heels every time you go out when you only go out a few times a year right???
- make a list of Christmas cookies to make this year.....or just list your faves.  :)
- what are your Christmas tree memories?  We have fake trees now, but as a kid one of my favorite things to do was go to a cut your own Christmas tree farm with my family.  We would bundle up, my dad would bring his saw, and we would trek through the snowy forest of pines to find the perfect one.  The trip would end with hot chocolate and a candy cane, and all the way home I would feel so happy.  Trimming the tree was prickly and messy and fragrant and perfect.
 - journal your favorite snowy memories.  Did you catch snowflakes on your tongue? Make snow angels, igloos, go sledding, have snowball fights?
- my mom forwarded me an email about a lady who played a trick on her family.  Her daughter was cooking a turkey for the first time.  When the lady came over to her daughters house, she started helping her prepare Thanksgiving food.  At some point in the day the lady had sent out her daughter for something at the store.  While she was away, she took the turkey out of the oven.....pulled out the stuffing, put in a little Cornish hen, and put the stuffing back in.  When the daughter went to scoop out the stuffing that evening her spoon wouldn't go in very far.  She reached in the turkey and pulled out the hen.  The lady said to her daughter, "oh no....you've cooked a pregnant turkey!".  Her gullible daughter totally fell for the joke, and the family still laughs about it years later.  Do you have any quirky traditions or hilarious memories of Thanksgiving?  Journal them.

day 20

Today I am thankful for...
* bagel, egg and cheese sandwiches from steak n shake
* staying up late with friends & family
* pumpkin bread with chocolate chips
* cute cat drawings

prompts.......

-daisy (my 7 year old) says, journal about bunnies, deers, flowers, dogs & cats, slushies, movies, and paint....
- do you have a favorite article of clothing?  mine is socks.  i'm gonna make a journal page about socks.
- are the holidays a particularly hard time for you?  i used to hate being single around the holidays.  i hated walking through the mall and seeing couples hold hands.  i hated that i wasn't being all cutesy with my love.  what could you do to make the holidays more bearable?  drink wine? eat chocolate? stay in and watch cheesy movies?......
- brainstorm ornament ideas that you could make with objects you have around the house.  i just recently made a christmas tree out of a starbucks sleeve.  you could turn your instax mini prints into ornaments.  no doubt you have craft supplies on hand.  this is a fun one!

18 & 19...

So sorry I missed yesterdays thanks a lot post.  Sometimes life gets in the way of your good intentions....you know how it is.  So here we go....

Today (and yesterday) I am thankful for...
* evenings with my family
* the massive amount of inspiration and creativity out there on the web
* recipe swaps
* cute boys that wear plaid flannel & dark denim
* homemade caramel
* christmas decorating that is coming soon!!!

journal prompts---
1. write a list of your favorite holiday movies
2. create a christmas playlist that doesn't suck
3. try to draw or paint your pets
4. create the best thanksgiving menu ever
5. create a page around your favorite board or card game....either as a child or now.
6. journal the messy progress of craft projects in the works.  document the difficult parts and the fun ones too.

day 17...

 Today I am thankful for.....
* walking in to my daughters room to find my kittie cat Scarlet sleeping like that!! so cute.
* animal crackers & chocolate milk
* having the impulse to cut my hair last night......i have bangs again & i love them!
*  chapstick medicated.  it's the best.

goodnight & goodmorning....day 15 & 16.

So sorry that I forgot to do my daily thankful post.  Tonight I went shoe shopping for a descent pair of winter work shoes.  First of all, I hate shopping.  Especially wardrobe shopping.  I drug my girls around to probably 6 different shoe stores, trying on all the reasonable pairs.  None of them fit that perfect match I was looking for.  They have to have a certain look to them that will pass dress code.  Then they have to be comfortable enough to stand 8 hours a day in.  And, if I shell out over $60 on a pair of shoes, they better be cute and made really well with quality materials like real leather.  I felt so picky and exhausted, but you know what?  I'm tired of making good enough choices and not being satisfied.  From now on, if I'm going to spend my hard earned cash on anything, it better be a great choice!  Ok, now that I've allowed my little rant, here's the post you've been patiently waiting for.....


Today I am thankful for:
* pulling back my covers and discovering a good night note from Lilly
* holding out for great choices
* pizza rolls
* getting to do a little journaling, or journal prep rather
* awesome things coming to us in the mailbox


Prompts.....
-ever wanted to visit another country?  Get out a map and draw freehand, or print out a blank map (school learning sites may have these), or trace a map of your favorite country.  Remember doing this in school?  I always loved artistic homework!  Get out your colored pencils, and label major cities, and the places you want to visit, perhaps adding cute pictures and side notes.  It would be neat to add in some foreign language on your page also...maybe some fun phrases.  This would be the perfect insert to a travel journal!
- write a list of fun family activities to do this winter
- have you written out idea lists for gifts??? now is the time!
- plan a color scheme for your tree.  draw, paint, or scrap a tree on your page.  decorate it in this years color scheme!!
- do a journal page about your holiday crafts you're working on
- this is the best season to stay in and be cozy.  Write a list of your favorite stay home activities.  Mine are knitting, movie watching, journaling, baking, petting my animals, wearing jammies as a house uniform, sipping hot drinks, reading, and sitting by an open window to get a blast of icy air & magically daydreaming.
- write a list of the books you want to read this winter
- write a list of the recipes you want to try out this season
- create a good holiday music playlist.  radio music can sometimes grate on your nerves.  it's always good to have a fresh alternative on hand.  i don't have much time to devote to finding indie bands, but it's easy to check blogs and friends musical selections on their facebook pages to listen to the playlists and videos they list.


Well, this is about all I can muster tonight guys.  It's 2:35 am, and I actually have to go into work early tomorrow.  Thank goodness for falling asleep on the couch tonight....I'm sure that catnap will help.  Otherwise I'd be in trouble.  4 hours of sleep?  Why do I do this to myself?!

Have a wonderful Tuesday, blog friends.

day 14...

Today I am thankful for...
* getting to go on my rooftop to keep my boyfriend company while he cleaned out the gutters...so fun!
* the boyfriend making dinner again.  What has gotten into him?!
* making journals.  Starting to anyway.
* peach pie & milk for breakfast.
* the day off!

prompts---
- close your eyes.  Slow your breathing.  Listen to what is going on around you.  Notice the noise level.  Don't let your mind drift, ....just experience the moment.  Make as many observations as you can.  Now journal your experience.
- they say that if you spend enough time thinking about what you want to dream about that you'll have a good chance of actually dreaming what you wish.  What do you want to dream about?  Think about a lovely dream....journal it.  Make it pretty of course.  Then meditate about it maybe while focusing on your page before you go to bed.  See what happens!!
- Set aside time before you journal to cut scraps of paper down to size.  Make your embellishments and borders ahead of time.  Think about the colors you want to use and set them aside.  Dig out your materials now.  Prep your page(s) with gesso and/or paint.  Now all you have to do when you actually sit down to journal is journal.  How refreshing.  I also like to keep a paper grocery bag nearby for scraps and trash.  I like it because you can just toss the whole thing in the trash when you are done.  Journal cleanup is such a drag.  It's also nice to work on something spread out (a trash bag, or newspapers, or an old quilt) ....just shake it in the trash and toss it or wash it when you're done.  I know this one isn't really a prompt, but these are useful tips right??
- What was your favorite childhood cartoon?  Do you have a picture of yourself watching it as a child (even a pic of you watching tv while young will work).  Use the color scheme of the show in your page.  Love the smurfs? Think blue and white.....mushrooms.  Had a thing for Strawberry Shortcake?  Red, pink, and a lot of strawberries.  You get the idea.  Can you find stickers of your favorite retro show?  Think about what drew you in to watching it.....was it the colors, the songs, the stories?  If you watched the show today would you still like it?  I think this is a really fun prompt....I loved all my favorite childhood shows!!

I'm gonna go check out some gingerbread houses for my next post.....exciting!  Thanks to everyone who posted a comment on my Chronicle Books post.  If you haven't, scroll down for details on your chance to win $500 worth of books!!

day 13...

Today I am thankful for:
* Milton and Arianne
* cute puppies ( I'm still in love)
* sweet potato fries
* Gabriel Iglesias
* "monster high coffin" in google search/ blogs brings up my blog as the #6 listing!!

prompts....
- grab a random notebook.  Write 3 pages of whatever pops into your thoughts.  Anything.  Everything.  Don't think about it.......just write.  Now, read what you wrote.  Does anything stand out to you?  Journal it.
- base your page around a photo.  Pull your color choices from colors you see in the picture.
- Write down everything that you are thankful for regarding yourself.  Do you have strong legs? A great smile?  Perfect vision?  Shiny hair?  Cute toes?  Hopefully this page will make you feel better about yourself.  We are surrounded constantly with negative thoughts.  I usually feel so down on myself thinking about what I can improve.  I think we should flip it.  Loving yourself feels so much better!

Nite nite pals.

day 12...

Good morning bloggers!!
Here I am bright eyed and bushy tailed to bring you fresh ideas!!

First, I wanted to share a page I did in my sketchbook project journal.  You can find out more about this project in the link over in the sidebar.  Oh I love this page so much!  Here it is:

Isn't it just the cutest thing?!

Today I am thankful for:
* my hair getting longer
* my daughters getting converse (thanks mom!)
* all the homemade Christmas tutorials, recipes, and inspiration I am sure to find in blogland
* vanilla candle scent that wafts over to me even when unlit

Prompts....
1. If you could own your own shop what kind of shop would it be?  A cupcake shop, candy store, diner, bakery, coffee shop, yarn shop, scrapbook store, vintage shop?? Plan out the name, the goods, the color scheme, uniforms.  Have fun planning and dreaming.  It might even get so complex that you start thinking about making it a reality!
2. Plan out your dream wedding.  I am always daydreaming about these things.  Like all. The. Time.  It's such a fun little fantasy.  Buy a bridal magazine, and check out hip wedding blogs & sites.  One of my favorites is OnceWed.com!
3. Do you long after a little collection? Vintage dresses or Blythe dolls perhaps??  Plan out what you are in the market for.  What colors do you want?  Plan outfits out & think about names.  Clear a special place in your home for your future collection.  Draw out your detailed fantasy collection.
4. Dedicate a page to your favorite & future tattoos (or hypothetical ones).

By the way....can you believe we're already almost half way through November????!  I feel like Halloween just happened yesterday!

day 11.

Thank you!!!

Thanks to all of you who gave me feedback....it's good to hear you are liking the prompts!!  Sorry it seems like I haven't been able to post until late late at night on the day of.  Such a slacker!  I'll do 2 posts in a row so you can wake up in the morning with fresh ideas....how does that sound?

Today I am thankful for:
* me not being lazy & figuring my flickr problem out
* happy thoughts---my sketchbook project theme. can't wait to do more pages!
* the brady bunch
* inspiring photos on flickr

prompts......
1. Make several recipe pages.  Then get a customized family cookbook made.  You can do this with Snapfish.com  or I think maybe at a copy shop like Kinkos.  These would make the best holiday gifts ever!!!
2. Do you have unfinished business with someone?  Are you no longer in contact with or are personal situations too difficult to speak with them?  Write them a letter. Get out absolutely everything you need to say to them.  If it will make you feel better, send it.  Just writing it though should lift some weight off your shoulders.  It's therapeutic to get it off your chest.  You could find an anonymous open letter type of website to share it with others.  Or you could simply tuck it away in your journal.  If you want to get rid of the note- burn it.  It might help to burn other items that are connected to this as well.  Let it go.
3.  Do you love a funky retro print?  Get the perfect retro colors & try your hand at filling your page with the lovely print.  I myself love vintage 70s flower prints, and diagonal stripes in colors like orange- light blue- and brown.  Also, plants & vines would look great!

day 10.

Today I am thankful for:
* the joy painting cute things brings
* boyfriends that make crouqe monsieurs for dinner.  yum!
* daisy not really being as sick as she thought she was.

prompts--
1. Dedicate a page to your most favorite family holiday traditions.
2. Doodle on your page.  This page shouldn't be pretty.  Copy cute fonts.  Practice for a real page.  Try out the embroidery or machine sewing.  Try out layers of paint and gesso.  Test your glue, pens, markers.  Practice drawing.  Sharpen your skills.  You can always rip it out.  Or do it in a practice journal.  Or layer over it and start again.
3.  What is something you're saving up for?  What is that precious dream?  It could be anything from new shoes to a new house.  Draw it......paste a picture of it.  Add a little note or caption.  Just capture your current dream.
4.  Think about images and things that just make you smile.  Then draw a bunch of them on your page.   Make them as cute as possible.  Draw coffee cups with smiles on them.  These cute things could be anything from rainbows, to stars, to toast, to milk cartons.....cameras, clouds, raindrops, etc.  Make your page really colorful and cute.
5.  Do you have a tiny space or want one all your own?  A place where you can make as tacky or kitchy as you want?  A serene place in nature that is "your" spot.  A retreat to use for creating, reading, or simply to steal a few moments for yourself.  Journal this magical place.  Is it a teepee, an airstream trailer, a cozy nook, a tree house?  If you do this prompt please please please send me links....I would love to see them!!

How have you all crafty foxes been enjoying the class so far?  Do you like the prompts or are they not working for you?  Have any suggestions?  I'd love to hear your input!!

day 9

Today I am thankful for...
* etsy
* hardwood floors
* things that make us smell good.  like soap.  and deodorant.
* old cartoons

prompts---
1. draw a really really tall ice cream cone.  like 10 scoops.  have fun coloring the different flavors.  name them if you wish.
2. write down as many things as you can think of that make you happy.
3. what recipes do you want to try out this holiday season?
4. write a list of mantras or quotes. later you can reference this list and make a mini journal out of them!
5. make a journal page dedicated to the books you've read this year.  or cool new music you've found. or movies you've watched.
6. draw something cute. like milk. or teeth.

day 8...

 Today I am thankful for:
* clean clothes (love that laundry smell.......we use all small & mighty "fresh rain")
* caramel apples (this time I dipped them in dark chocolate also, and added Snickers sprinkles!!)
*  the girls going to bed on their own without any issues
*  Olay Ribbons body wash

Journal Prompts--
1. create a page around your favorite childhood book.  What about it made it so great?  Did it have a good message, was it soothing, or did you just love the illustrations?
2.  Journal about a lesson you've recently learned.  Sometimes we need a reminder again and again.  Other times the thing we learn is such a big one that we will never forget it.  Either way, journaling lessons is a great way to preserve that feeling.
3.  Write down a list of the things you could do to make your life a little brighter.  It could be having a girlie sleepover, going to see a movie, visiting a zoo, eating your favorite meal, reading an old favorite, ....anything that would make your troubled days better.
4.  Do you ever find yourself engaging in negative self talk, only to sit down and people watch and realize that you would never trade lives with any of the people you see walk by?  This happens to me all the time.  I challenge you to sit down and people watch sometime soon.  It will surprise you what kind of people you see walking around.  It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round.  And it will really make you appreciate being you.  Make a page dedicated to the beautiful and unique you.
5.  Write a list of the things you want to learn but haven't had the time or money for.  Write them all down, small or major.  Then pick the easiest one and start crossing things off your list!  Sometimes half the battle is knowing what to do.  With all the stresses of work and kids and pets and life, at the end of the day we are so exhausted that all we can do is walk around like a zombie and stare at a screen for a while just to unwind.  But who wants to be a zombie?! Reach for your list and go actually DO something!  TV is fun and all, but hobbies actually make you feel like you have a life.  So much more fun!!

Happy Monday pals!!

day 7...

Today I am thankful for...
* beautiful weather ( though I wish it were cooler, you can't really complain about a sunny 70 degree day)
* puppy chew toys (my favorite are the all natural ones....carrots and apples!)
* knowing how to knit
* a body that gets me where I want to go
* tennis shoes & ponytails

2 long prompts--
1. List the people that you are jealous of.  Review your list.  What qualities to they posses that has gotten them what you want?  Befriend these people.  Get them to tell you their secrets for success.  Try to turn jealousy into admiration.  Realize that these people have problems too ( maybe even more than you have).  Do they make sacrifices in their lives that you aren't willing to?  Maybe they make a lot of money, but they are never home with their family.  Maybe their health suffers because they work so hard that they forget to take care of themselves.  Maybe they go to all the cool events & shows, but never deeply connect with any of their friends.  Think really hard about it.  Do you really want what they have?  Is it worth it?  If it is, start copying their habits; if not, pat yourself on the back for getting over negative feelings.  It really does feel better to look at the whole picture.  You don't have to feel bad every time you're around that person.  It feels so much better to release those feelings and move on.  Carrying around those feelings just leads to poor self esteem, depression, and a slew of health problems, failed relationships, etc.  Stop keeping up with the Jonses!
2. Be a kid for a day.  Remember how it feels to have fun without worry.  How it feels to dream, and how much you want to play & learn & do.  How you get so excited you don't want to sleep because you can't stand the thought of missing out on anything.  What kinds of fun things did you do as a kid that you don't do anymore?  Go to the park, watch cartoons, eat grilled cheese, drink chocolate milk, take a bubble bath & play with bath crayons, play in the sandbox....It's fall....Rake a big pile of leaves & jump in!  Roll down a big hill.  Race your friends, tickle & wrestle someone, play a practical joke,  take a nap in the middle of the day, go down a water slide, swing, go bowling or roller skating, play a video game, make friendship bracelets, take off your shoes and walk barefoot, lay on the ground and watch the clouds or stars, jump on a trampoline.....PLAY.

journal prompts...

It is day 6 of my little online class.  I am so happy that a few of you are actually doing this with me!!

Today I am thankful for....
* new holiday scented candles
* hot showers
* air & water heaters
* appliances that work
* socks
* the weekend

Prompts.......
1. What colors & textures draw you in?  Do you find yourself pulled towards certain colors over and over again?  Go to your local hardware store and collect paint chips in colors that speak to you.  Do they look good together?  Figure out a color scheme that works for you based on your favorite colors (and textures...check out fabric too).  Think about the mood you want to evoke.  Then go dress and decorate and create in "your" colors.  It will make you so happy.
2. Do you have a favorite product that is really nostalgic of a great time in your life?  Something small.  Like how chapstick medicated got me through school in the wintertime.  And how Noxema reminds me of junior high Summers.  Ivory soap & Johnson's pink baby lotion remind me of childhood.  Go buy that product right now.  Simply for the olfactory memory.  Dedicate a journal page to your old fave.
3. Create a working "good meals" page.  Do you find it hard to decide what to do for dinner?  It is such a chore for me to make that dang decision!  It really is something I dread.  Every time your family (or just you!) eats a great meal that you all love, & you feel good about, write it down in your journal.  Write down the details & the ingredients, the price, mark it as healthy or indulgent.  Then refer back to your list when you don't know what to eat.

Nite Nite everyone.