INSPIRATION Wrap-Up

Here it is - the final day of 2015 and my year of INSPIRATION! I summed up my thoughts about my word this year in a layout that will go in our 2015 scrapbook.

Journaling reads: My word for 2015 is INSPIRATION, so this sign naturally caught my eye at the Frisco Mercantile. I have to admit that this word has not been as fun or inspiring as my 2014 word! However, I have enjoyed my monthly blog posts and taking time to think about the INSPIRATION I enjoy and how I tend to find and act on the various INSPIRATION in my life.

Here's a list of my favorites from this year of INSPIRATION:

(1) INSPIRATION notebook - I really enjoyed putting this notebook together and having a place to gather INSPIRATION and record what was happening with my word. (See a video walk-through of my notebook HERE.)

(2) Teaching Bible Journaling Workshops - I feel truly blessed to have been able to act on the INSPIRATION to teach numerous Bible Journaling Workshops and introduce others to this FUN and meaningful new hobby.

(3) INSPIRATION A to Z blog series - I loved the challenge of coming up with words and writing in-depth blog posts about how that word relates to INSPIRATION in our lives! THANK YOU to those of you who took time to read through these longer posts and leave such thoughtful and conversational comments!!  

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)

What was your favorite INSPIRATION this past year?

Did you have a word for 2015? How did it influence your life?

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!

Final 2015 Book Reviews & A Book Giveaway

I read 86 books this year and (with today's post) have reviewed each of them here on my blog. [For the complete list and links to my reviews, check out my Books Read page.]

The Rosie Project is a funny, well-written story that we'll be discussing at the library book club meeting next week. The story is told from the perspective of Professor Tillman, a geneticist who lives his life very scientifically and schedules every minute of each day (94 minutes to clean bathroom each week). He decides to look for a wife and creates a multi-page questionnaire to screen candidates, which leads to hilarious scenarios like the Ice Cream Incident. He also meets Rosie, who he eliminates as a wife candidate immediately because her question to number 1 on the questionnaire (do you smoke) is "yes." Rosie is looking for her biological father and is definitely not a match for the professor, but he decides to help her in her search, which leads to more FUN scenarios. This was an easy read that I highly recommend.

  

 

My final four books for the year are all children's/young adult books. The first three are books that Robbie and I listened to on our recent road trip. We've exhausted all the Nancy Drew Mysteries that our library has on audio, so we started our trip with the first of the Hardy Boys books. We enjoyed The Tower Treasure, but had to laugh at how the boys were able to carry on complete conversations as they road down streets and highways on their motorcycles. I didn't read many of the Hardy Boys books in my youth, so it was FUN to listen to this story of the Hardy Boys solved their first mystery on their own.

I've always enjoyed Beverly Clearly books, and Ribsy is a favorite. Robbie didn't remember it until the story started and is pretty sure it's one of the books his elementary teacher read out loud to the class. We both enjoyed this FUN story of Ribsy trying to find his way back to Henry Huggins after getting lost in a shopping mall.

I first read The Cricket in Times Square several years ago when my niece was reading it for a school assignment.This is a wonderful story about a cricket from Conneticut that gets stuck in a picnic basket and ends up in the Times Square subway station where he meets a mouse and a cat who become his friends. He also meets a young boy and his family who run a newsstand. It's a great story of friendship and music and how fame can change something FUN into an activity that's no longer enjoyed.

Robbie gave me A Long Way From Chicago as a Christmas gift. This little book is a Newbery Honor Book written by Richard Peck. Each chapter tells the story of Joey and Mary Alice as they visit their grandmother each summer for seven years (1929-1935). The stories, told from Joey's point of view, recount their arrival by train and their adventures . . . and often sound like tall tales. It's a FUN book about family and small town life and ends with a beautiful chapter as Joey is on a troop train heading to the war. Robbie inadvertently ordered two of these books from Amazon. He contacted Amazon to return one copy, and the company refunded his money but noted that it was not necessary to return the extra book. So, I have an extra copy that I'd love to share with one of my blog readers! Leave a comment by Thursday, January 7, and let me know that you'd like to be in the drawing for this FUN book. I'll announce the winner here on my blog. Everyone is welcome!

How many books did you read this year? Did they include any of the ones I've reviewed here today?

INSPIRATION A to Z (Z - Zzzzzs)

This post is the twenty-sixth in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

Z is for Zzzzzs

Zzzzzs is defined by the Urban Dictionary as "a way to show sleeping or tiredness in a comic book or cartoon." For this post, I'll be using Zzzzzs to represent "sleep" or "a time of resting."

Adequate Zzzzzs are an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, affecting our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Getting plenty of sleep and taking time to rest help us maintain a balanced and healthy life, and thus Zzzzzs are an important factor in our ability to act on INSPIRATION. 

Robbie and I decided to take some time for Zzzzzs this holiday season. We took a FUN vacation to Tennessee and enjoyed lots of relaxation in a luxury cabin as we celebrated Christmas.

Robbie got me a selfie stick for Christmas, which was the perfect INSPIRATION for capturing photos of ourselves.

We had a wonderful time and are so glad we took some time for Zzzzzs as the year comes to an end. We're planning a quiet, relaxing New Year's Eve at home, enjoying more Zzzzzs as we welcome 2016. 

In summary, getting plenty of  Zzzzzs is important for a healthy life and having the energy to act on INSPIRATION.

How do you insure you get enough Zzzzzs? Please share your thoughts on Zzzzzs and INSPIRATION in the comments. 

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)

INSPIRATION A to Z (Y - Yuletide)

This post is the twenty-fifth in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

Y is for Yuletide

Yuletide is defined as "the Christmas season." This season is also referred to as the festive season, the holiday season, or the season of giving. It's a favorite season for many of us. During the Yuletide, there's an abundance of INSPIRATION for decorations, gifts, get-togethers, handmade crafts, holiday meals, etc.

One of my favorite Yuletide crafts is creating Christmas cards. This year I used several pieces of patterned paper as the INSPIRATION and starting point for my cards. The papers were either designed to cut apart into 3x4 cards or had square & rectangular Yuletide graphics that were easy to cut apart. I gathered card bases, some washi tape, and lots of scraps to complete the cards.

Each card is simply layers of papers beneath the focal sentiment or picture.

Even though I had duplicates of some of the pictures and 3x4 cards, each Christmas card is unique because I was using scraps to complete them.

The colors in some of the pictures provided INSPIRATION for using non-traditional colors for some of the cards.

Of course, it's always exciting to receive Christmas cards, too! Our first ones arrived early in the season, and more have continued to come in each day.

I also took time to do some Bible Journaling during this Yuletide. During one of the classes I taught earlier this month, I read the picture storybook The Tale of Three Trees and used that story as INSPIRATION for my journaling page.

In the midst of all this INSPIRATION, I hope we'll all take time to pause and remember the real reason for the season - the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I gave each of my December Bible Journaling class participants a stamped image, and I love how they used them in their Bibles to commemorate this blessed event.

In summary, Yuletide is filled with INSPIRATION for activities and celebrations, but the real INSPIRATION for celebrating Yuletide is the birth of Jesus!

What is your favorite Yuletide activity? Please share your thoughts on Yuletide and INSPIRATION in the comments. 

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)

 Merry Christmas Y'all!

INSPIRATION A to Z (X - Xciting)

This post is the twenty-fourth in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

X is for Xciting

(Yes, I do realize this is a little bit of a "cheat"
since exciting doesn't actually start with X!)

Xciting is defined as "causing feelings of interest and enthusiasm." If something is Xciting, it is stimulating, inspiring, exhilarating, or interesting. Xciting things stir us emotionally and cause feelings of happiness and enthusiasm. In his forward to Spark (which I reviewed HERE), Kurt Anderson stated that "the prerequisite for doing Xciting work is to be excited about it yourself."

It is often an upcoming Xciting event that provides INSPIRATION for me to prepare or create. This time of year is particularly Xciting as there are lots of get-togethers to enjoy. I was excited to participate in two ornament exchanges earlier this month, which was just the INSPIRATION I needed to create a couple of chipboard covered Christmas tree ornaments.

I had FUN creating these ornaments and adding bits & pieces to make them sparkly and dimensional.

Of course, Xciting events also call for hostess gifts, so I created some altered composition books. I especially enjoyed creating this one for my friend Ellyn who will most likely use it to jot down or adhere INSPIRATION and ideas for her numerous sewing and quilting projects and classes.

Did y'all notice that I even found the INSPIRATION to sew on the front of the book? (It might not be perfect, but it's proof that I can use a needle and thread! LOL) I covered the back in matching sewing pattern papers, and also covered the insides of the front and back covers.

Xciting gifts, of course, require FUN gift tags! Ever since that first tag I created using a 3x4 card (based on INSPIRATION from Jennifer Grace), I have enjoyed making them for gifts throughout the year!

It's definitely been an Xciting month around here . . .

. . . other than that major surgery Mama had earlier this month, which was obviously Xhausting for both Mama AND Daddy!

In summary, Xciting things and events can provide INSPIRATION, and INSPIRATION can be Xciting.

What Xciting things have you done lately? Please share your thoughts on Xciting and INSPIRATION in the comments. 

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)

A Christmas Carol

This year I finally read the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol!

    

I'm not sure how I've gone all these years and never actually read the book, yet I know and love the story and have seen numerous movie and theater versions of it. However, when I received my latest free (in exchange for an honest review) book from Booklook Bloggers, it occurred to me that I should start by reading A Christmas Carol.

I found our copy of this delightful book on the paperback bookshelf and thoroughly enjoyed the read. Robbie and I also watched the 1938 movie version of A Christmas Carol, which we have in our DVD collection but had never watched. It's a wonderful version! 

Did y'all know there have been 20 different movie versions based on this book? [One FUN piece of trivia that I learned from the book I'm reviewing today is that Lionel Barrymore, known for his portrayal of Old Man Potter in the 1946 version of It's a Wonderful Life, was originally cast as Scrooge for the movie version that we watched this year, however he gave way to Reginald Owen for health reasons.]

After reading the book and watching the movie, I was able to give my full attention to 52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol by Bob Welch. This book is the third (I believe) in a series of 52 Lessons books that share Bible-based lessons from popular books and movies. This small book is very well written as it works through the story of A Christmas Carol sharing lessons like "Everyone Has Value" and "Don't Give Expecting To Receive." The author follows the novel's story line and also brings in additional scenes or quotes from the various movie versions.

I enjoyed the book, although it was somewhat choppy reading, I think partly due to the idea of choosing 52 lessons. Quite a few of the lessons overlapped and (in my opinion) the book would have been an easier read if there had been more in-depth lessons (and thus less chapters) rather than it all broken out into lessons that sometimes only covered one or two pages. Obviously as this is a series of books, the author was working within the requirement of finding the larger number of lessons.

I have to admit that many of the lessons were quite thought-provoking. In the chapter on the lesson "Dying Lonely Is The Result Of Living Lonely," the author points out that despite (or because of) all the social media connections we have today, more people report being chronically lonely then they did a decade ago. Near the end of the book on the lesson "It Is Never Too Late To Change," the author lists the choices Scrooge makes after his visits from the ghosts: (1) He chooses generosity over selfishness. (2) He chooses people and relationships over money and materialism. (3) He chooses joy over bitterness. Great reminders that we make choices that affect our lives every day.

Have you read this Christmas classic? Do you have a favorite movie version?

INSPIRATION A to Z (W - Work)

This post is the twenty-third in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

W is for Work

Work is defined as "an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or specific result" or "a job or activity that you do regularly, especially in order to earn money." Work is what helps us accomplish the things we want to achieve.

The word Work often has a  negative connotation because we associate it with things we don't want to do or that are difficult. However, Work can be easy or hard, fun or boring, simple or complex. When I do the Work to bake a pecan pie, I have FUN and enjoy the process. Knowing that I'll get to enjoy eating and sharing the pie provides additional INSPIRATION for the Work required to follow Grandma's recipe and "cook it 'til it's done."

When I do the Work to mow the yard, I expend a lot more physical energy (and sweat!) and do not enjoy the process as much, however I feel a great deal of satisfaction once the Work is completed. My healthy living goals and desire to have a nicely manicured lawn are the INSPIRATION for doing the necessary Work.

It's important to note that after the INSPIRATION comes the Work. For example, we can find lots of INSPIRATION for creating scrapbook layouts, however the only way we'll ever have completed layouts in our albums is to do the Work of creating them. This year I have collected quite a bit of layout INSPIRATION in my INSPIRATION notebook, unfortunately I have not taken as much time as I had hoped to complete the Work of creating layouts. However, my goal of completing my Top Five layouts each month was the INSPIRATION for creating the layout below.

The INSPIRATION for the design of this layout came from a Simple Scrapper digital template, which simplified the Work needed to complete this digital layout.

In summary, Work can be easy or difficult, and INSPIRATION often leads to Work.

What's your favorite kind of Work? Please share your thoughts on Work and INSPIRATION in the comments. 

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)

INSPIRATION A to Z (V - Vacation)

This post is the twenty-second in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

V is for Vacation

Vacation is defined as "an extended period of recreation, especially one spent away from home or traveling" or "a respite from something (like work or school)." For us, Vacation typically occurs when Robbie's off work and we are either traveling or hosting family and friends here at our home. I love times of Vacation and always find lots of INSPIRATION!

As I mentioned in a previous post, an upcoming Vacation is often the INSPIRATION for learning or studying something new. After reading and watching a movie about the Battle of Gettysburg, I had a much greater understanding and appreciation of what happened on the battlefield that we visited this past fall.

Visiting historic sites during a Vacation also provides INSPIRATION for remembering and learning from our past.

Or even for capturing the last rays of sunshine!

Vacation offers opportunities to act on INSPIRATION from blogland. I used INSPIRATION from Rinda's Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt to capture photos during our weekend trip to San Antonio and again when LeAnne and her boys came here for a July Vacation visit. Helena's Pairs meme provided the INSPIRATION for capturing these zoom out/zoom in shots on our San Antonio Vacation.

Vacation offers INSPIRATION for strengthening relationships as we gather and spend time with family and friends.

There are also lots of opportunity to photograph color INSPIRATION . . . in nature . . .

. . . and sunsets

 . . . and even in hotel hall carpeting!

 In summary, Vacation offers lots of  INSPIRATION!

What's your favorite type of Vacation INSPIRATION? Please share your thoughts on Vacation and INSPIRATION in the comments. 

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)

INSPIRATION A to Z - (U - Upcycle)

This post is the twenty-first in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

U is for Upcycle

Upcycle is defined as "reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original" or "to process (used goods or waste material) so as to produce something that is often better than the original." When we Upcycle an item, we're basically refashioning that item into something new, which is normally better or at least of the same quality as the original.

It's amazing how much INSPIRATION is available for ideas for using old materials to create something new - a recent search for Upcycle projects on Pinterest makes it clear this is a popular topic.

While the term Upcycle has become a common term in the past few years, upcycling has actually been around for a long time. For example, feed sacks were turned into dresses and linens during the first half of the twentieth century. I've recently subscribed to Uppercase magazine and am currently enjoying Issue 24, which actually has a piece of original feed bag material on the front cover. (See it there - the little blue square on the right.)

(As an aside, this magazine is filled with INSPIRATION for a variety of creative pursuits. Each issue has a theme - so far I've enjoyed the issues on weaving & quilting, stamp collecting & perforations, and calligraphy & lettering. The subscription is a little bit expensive [approximately $58 for 4 issues], but it is definitely a quality publication. However, you can sign up for free content through the editor's weekly email.)

I've completed several Upcycle projects over the past few years, including a sweater wreath using INSPIRATION from a magazine article, a folded Christmas tree inspired by a class at our local library, and a travel journal from an old Moby Dick book using INSPIRATION from an online class. Earlier this month I attended the Santa's Workshop DIY class at our local library and enjoyed another Upcycle project - turning old socks into a cute snowman!

I also completed an Upcycle project of my own by turning junk mail catalogs and old maps into envelopes that I'll be using for happy mail in the coming year!

In summary, there are many opportunities to Upcycle and lots of INSPIRATION and ideas for projects and ways to Upcycle.

Have you completed any Upcycle projects recently? Please share your thoughts on Upcycle and INSPIRATION in the comments.

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)