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I got inspired today to start a few crafts that have been bumping around in my head. I have a lot of those – these days. All of these involve a huge paper mat stack that was purchased for some wedding crafts and I’m now using the leftovers. Oh what fun!

Today I took some paper and made my grocery clip board, and then decided to decoupage an old tray, and make some candle sleeves. I’m loving how they turned out.

I’m here at a SoundSide Group Technology Event, called Your Ideas, Our Solutions – (hashtag #YIOS2010)

There are many great solutions and suggestions being offered up today at the event in Rocky Mount, NC.

Customers are saving money and are learning about new technologies that will help efficiency and productivity.(I, too, am learning quite a bit.)

I got to work on the Marketing for this event. Here are some of the mailers we sent throughout November and December (click on the thumbnail to see the image larger).

Pictures from the event to come soon!

It’s hard to make grocery listing and planning fun, I think. Although it is necessary and can give you a sense of success when saving lots of money happens. (Speaking of, super doubles at Harris Teeter this week!) I found this cutest ever idea to make a grocery list with matching clip board and pen box accessories! If it’s too much for you to do the clip board idea, the lists are cute and useful, too.

Download the lists here:

-grocery list
-menu grocery list
-grocery list items

Enjoy! Happy listing and saving!

It has been a fantastic year. 2009. There was the famous snow of 09, lots of baby showers, lots of wedding showers, trips here there and everywhere, wedding planning, and of course much, much more. I figure it’s best lived through the pictures that made it what it was. There are a lot of things to be said for whats to come, but I think even more to remember what was. To reminisce and delight in the good, bad, and not-so-great moments. But for a bit, let’s just focus on the great moments, the things that made 2009 what it was. A beautiful collection of photos, lived backwards.

In my small group we’re discussing two articles from Relevant Magazine’s December issue

I had to share a quote from an article titled, “Stealing Christmas” written by Jason Boyett, because I think it explains so beautifully the traditions of Christmas merged with the cause of Christ.

Jason Boyett explains that he loves Christmas even after explaining that many of it’s traditions are rooted in paganism, he states,

“No. Despite my humbuggery, I love Christmas. I love evergreen trees and kissing and presents. What I don’t love is the assumption that, as Christians, we own this stuff. What I don’t love is the attitude that cries foul the minute someone removes the cross from the top of the department -store Christmas tree, or that gets upset at the “Happy Holidays” banner outside Wal-Mart.

We call it Christmas and have named it after our Savior, but let’s not be so arrogant as to suggest the holiday is exclusively ours. A better perspective is to admit we have co-opted the season, along with many of its traditions, for the purpose of pointing toward Bethlehem.

Christmas is the story of the incarnation- of the insertion of Christ into the dust of humanity, of the infusion of grace into something worldly and pagan. In the process, mankind was redeemed. If so, then our theft of these solstice traditions is no crime against history. Instead, it’s yet another picture-a beautiful, generous peaceful, evergreen metaphor – of redemption. -Jason Boyett

So before you go join your “let’s put Christ back in Christmas” facebook groups (of which there are many) read this article, and gain a little perspective.

This is so cool. I found this after reading a blog one day, and was so excited to see that help portrait is alive and well in Wilmington, NC!

Help portrait is a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate this holiday season.

Here’s a video that tells more, if you’d like to volunteer, they need help!

When I saw, December 6th – was best conference or seminar of 2009, I was shocked to notice after recapping the year, that I did not go to a SINGLE conference the entire year, sure here at where I work, they brought in a few speakers a couples of times and did different things, but not a single one? That’s shocking to a Crusade-gal, even if she’s off staff. I’m hoping to change this in 2010 and hopefully go to conferences that aren’t just to build into my life as a believer, but also to develop other skills and things that I’m interested in.

Here’s to 2010 – and to a great conference, or 2, or 3, and here’s to continuing education and making the most out the life we’ve been given!

My best night out of 2009, would have to be – March 13th, 2009.

Twas was the night Jeremy and I got engaged. It was a cool March night, I was unsuspecting, and it was just so fun. We went to Indochine (a favorite restaurant in town), took our sentimental walk around the block – and he proposed!, had Port City Java – and enjoyed each other’s company. The full story is here.

Yep, I can say, with gumption, that was the best night out of 2009. (this picture was taken the day after we got engaged)

Best book of 2009:

Donald Miller,

Year after year you make my best-of list. In 2007-2008 I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of your books. This year with the release of  “A Million Miles” and I made a promise to myself not to buy it, until I was done reading the book I was currently wafting through. Months passed, I finished the other book (with motivation of what was to come). Picked up your book and finished it in a week, could have been less time if sleep wasn’t necessary to human existence. Thank you for writing books that are captivating and life -changing.

Sincerely,

me.

So, what was it that captivated me?

Maybe it’s the candid way he lets you into his own life and heart. There aren’t too many of us that would be approached by movie producers and realize that our lives had resulted in nothingness, most of us would be too proud to see past that. His humility led him onward to do greater things than he was doing. He’s leveraged his influence as a writer to help build wells in africa, mentor the fatherless, and challenge the average reader.

I’m average. I don’t do anything spectacular on day in and day out. No one – isn’t dying because of me. I guess that’s enough to make a girl think about where she is and where she’d like to be. And if I’m not using the gifts that God gave me what does that mean?

Donald Miller captures “going through the motions” as a crime to our lives, devestating in the long run, but he does it without making you feel bad, it’s as if we’re in this together, and why not start today?

I loved the book, I’d recomend it to anyone – infact my copy is out right now on loan, but I’d love to give out a few more copies before the year ends.

I’m still going with the “best of 2009’s” but I’m a few days behind. So here is my attempt to catch up!

Best restuarant moment; Would have to be any time I go to Osteria Chicetti, I mean, this place is incredible. The atmosphere, the food is sensational, and the price isn’t so bad either! The italian salad is to die for, the Parma pizza is a delicious combination of flavors, and my friends and I swoon over their white bean dip.

Best Article: Pretty much, I’ve searched and I’ve looked and I guess the conclusion is that I didn’t keep track of articles very well. I did love this article. An article about “how to be happy in business” the venn diagram shows off where I am and where I’d like to be – I like the article for delivering practical perspective. [Dear Kelly in 2010, please keep track of articles better.]