My monthly ATC (Artist Trading Cards) Swap with my Girlfriends

February 23, 2015 by 4 Comments

january1

I always wanted to participate in a monthly ATC swap but hesitated because I didn’t know if I could commit to it all the time. I liked the idea of challenging myself to work on a small canvas, trying new things and receiving beautiful art in my mail box. This year, one of my goals with my OLW (One Little Word) is to connect with friends more. Last year, we lost one of the places that we met weekly to craft and have girl time so we have had a hard battle staying connected like we would like. I really don’t want to lose what beautiful friendships we have been building so I am always in search of a way I can help bring us together.

So in December, I kicked around the idea of approaching my crafty girlfriends and seeing how they would feel about a monthly ATC Swap. I wanted to create nothing but encouragement and present little obstacles so that I could pull them all in.  So I made up the catergories for each month which always included a few options and didn’t put any creative restrictions.  I also told people they could jump in any month they choose. So about a week before each month, I contact them all via email and find out how many will participate for the next month and then announce the number of ATCs we have to make and due date (which is the last day of the month).

january8The first month is January and this is the gallery of all the participants in our January swap.  I decided January’s theme would be New Years and Stars. Look at all the great interpretations everyone had for this theme. That’s what makes it wonderful. My other goal is to not make this a chore or competitive. I believe each ATC is a unique beauty and I hope the participants continue to feel happy about the process. I know I am so happy I made the leap and asked them.

Belinda

Filed Under: Belinda Tagged With: , ,

Project Life: week three

February 23, 2015 by 2 Comments

projectlifelogo1

week3aThis year, I am really challenging myself to really just try new things. I would never use a 3×4 pocket as the title card for the week. But I saw this little girl and her balloon and I thought a sparkling 3 would look so cute in it. So I took the chance and I have to say I really like it.

week3b

Apollo still doesn’t like going to the barber shop to get his hair cut so Leao cuts his hair at home. I can’t resist peeking in and watching the usual drama unfold. I always hear Leao reminding him to stay still.  Apollo talks non-stop and of course he has to move so lot’s of fussing usually takes place.

I enjoy seeing the boys revisit using the Wii again. Nicholas even let me take a picture of him and his Mii fighter.  Then later in the week I received a book plate from one of my favorite authors, Sujata Massey to put in her new book.  I want the boys to see how important books are to me and that the authors are important to recognize too.

One of my goals for 2015 is to continue on my path to total wellness and exercise is a big part of it. So I like to capture me doing it to keep me motivated (and honest)! I have a girlfriend, Maria, who we check in via text daily with what we eat, what we did for exercise and general happenings. It has made a huge difference and she really motivates me. We share our “cheats” too as well as good smoothie recipes.  If you can find someone willing to do this with you it is a great way to keep motivated.

We inflated the air mattress and had a sleep over in our bedroom.  They loved sleeping in the air mattress. We have never done that before and they were so excited so I wanted to capture the memory for them.

week3d

Apollo loves his bear “Duffy” he got while in Disney World in October. I couldn’t help grabbing my iPhone and taking a picture of the love he was sharing with Duffy.  He still loves his stuffed animals and it’s so cute to watch. I know the days will be limited but it’s an adorable time in his life.

I have a thing about organic foods and smoothies. I have been drinking at least one smoothie a day for over a year now and love it. When I miss a day, I feel it.  So when I shop, I have major requirements. I decided to include a photo of my shopping list of one day I was doing my grocery run. I visit three different stores to get some goodies. I first go to Trader Joes and get much of my groceries and then Whole Foods where I can get all my smoothie add ins and organic meats. Then Hannaford for items they just don’t sell at the other two stores.  It’s exhausting when I do all three the same day but typically I don’t do this all on one day.

week3e

I included a picture of more footprints that the boys and I found outside.  Not sure what animal do you think it is. They were kind of small for a raccoon. I love eating plain avocado and sweet potatoes. Not necessarily together but it’s something I can’t get enough of. So one day, for lunch I was eating some Chicken Samosas and I usually have brown rice and the avocado but on this day, I felt like I wanted to eat the sweet potato at the end for a nice sweet finish to this spicy meal.  My mouth waters when I look at this photo. Don’t judge!

I took the boys  to see Annie at the theater and they can’t get enough of the recliner seats. I think it will make it difficult for us to go to a theater without them now.  I also included the tickets so that we could look back at the price and the fact that we had tickets. Because I know they will eventually do away with them too.  Their tickets were free that day because we joined the theater’s popcorn club. So they get a free ticket and snack for joining. The receive other fun items throughout the year and a little bag and membership card. I used a cool sticker that looks like those old punch labels we had back in the day.

week3f

Overall a great week and much of it captured in the album makes me happy that I am continuing this process. I will be back next week with Week 4.

Happy Crafting!

Belinda

Filed Under: Project Life Tagged With: ,

Belinda’s Book Nook Review: Yes Please by Amy Poehler

February 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment

yesplease

Title: Yes Please
Author: Amy Poehler
Copyright: October 28th 2014
Genre: non-fiction, autobiography
Format: audio book

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book is full of words to live by.

Amy narrates the book along with a large all-star guest narrators: Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Michael Schur, Eileen Poehler, William Poehle, Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner

My Thoughts:

As usual, I seek out audio books that don’t require me to focus too much because I often listen while I work or cook. I had been hearing a lot of people say they liked this book by Amy Poehler. You might remember her from SNL or in Parks and Recreation on television of which is she is also the writer.

I really enjoyed her narrating her own book. She was really witty and her all-star guest voice talents were a pleasure to listen to as well. It was really  sweet listening to her and Seth  Meyers banter and reminiscing of their time on SNL.  It was a real treat hearing Patrick Stewarts voice, of course I kept thinking of Star Trek or X-Men when I hear him.

She told her story and it was nice to hear a story of an ordinary person that found her way to success. She is originally from Burlington, Massachusetts  which also made it fun to hear her talk about local places. She also had a lot of “local” jokes that made me laugh.

I think she had some nice messages to share and also was honest about her own personal struggles while working in the business.  I didn’t realize how much more she has accomplished beyond comedy and it is great to hear about another successful female writer and producer. I am more familiar more with Tina Fey’s success and very pleased to see how successful  they have become.

I am not sure how the book would be. I enjoyed the voices and can’t imagine the book is identical to the audio book. I would be curious.

Overall, I thought it was a fun audio book to listen to. She kept it moving and the guests were funny too.

I think I would give this 3 butterflies.

Happy reading!

Belinda

3rating

Filed Under: Belinda's Book Nook Tagged With: , , ,

Belinda’s Book Nook: Book Giveaway and My Top Ten Book Related Problems I Have

February 17, 2015 by 5 Comments

toptentuesday1Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers.

At the bottom of this list I have included information about my first book giveaway.

The Top Ten Book Related Problems I Have:

  1. Buckling Bookshelves – Too many books, no place to put them. I even set up a space in my craft room to put books and now they are outgrowing that shelf. Can I get a collective sigh? hmmm…
  2. Book piles – All around my house I have little piles of books. I start reading some or pull a few I plan to read and then they end up left at that spot in a pile.
  3. Reading all that I have purchased/Too Many book hauls – Growing up, I used the library most of the time and as I began making my own money, I started buying more than one book at a time. It’s not like the books are going to sell out but let’s face it, a box delivered to my doorstep full of books is the happiest time ever for me.  But I read entirely too slow for my book buying habits.
  4. GoodReads TBR overload – I love GoodReads and always tell people about it. It’s a great idea – a place to share your love of books with others, join online bookclubs, find great reads by reading the reviews, and the best part, a place to keep track of what I have read and what I would like to read. Well I didn’t have a system when I started using Goodreads so I would put all books I was interested in on my TBR and the list grew. I now have learned that you really need to filter yourself and don’t let impulse push you to add books that you most likely won’t read. So now I have started to rethink and am slowly going through the list to remove books I really won’t read. This will take away some of the guilt from my TBR. –
  5. Stingy with sharing – I hate to admit it but I am one of those people who doesn’t like to lend out books. I like to think I am nice and that I like sharing. But I fear that my book won’t come back to me in the condition they are lent out or that I will have to manage the return of my book.  So I rarely lend out my books.
  6. Nightstand tower – I can’t help it but I always have a “tower” of books on my nightstand.  Sometimes, ridiculously high and close to toppling over. Many I “intend” on reading and only a few that I actually might be reading.  In contrast to my neat husband that has only one book at a time on his nightstand, I am a mess. It’s something about having my books close to me, that is a comfort before I go to bed. I know that doesn’t make sense. Don’t judge.
  7. Cover Love – I am so guilty of falling in love with a cover and buying it based more on it’s beauty than it’s content. What? I know, what am I thinking? But let’s face it, the covers of books help sell them. They catch your eye and then you read the back. I also have started collecting Susanna Kearsley books because not only the covers are amazing, but the spines match and are so lovely. I can imagine them all on my shelf one day.
  8. Hard to say goodbye – Purging old books by donating them is difficult for me even after I have read the book and know I will not be reading it again.
  9. Goodwill Binging – I love going to used bookstores and finding new and old books at great prices. The problem is it is a total binge. I buy way too many.  I justify the low prices into reason to buy many.
  10. Guilty reading – Sometimes there are books that “everyone” says you absolutely have to read. Somehow I convince myself they are right and sometimes I even go as far as buying the book only to find I never read them or I do and don’t care for them at all. The beauty of reading is the variety and I am also feeling more and more comfortable with my choices. I enjoy pleasure reads that I don’t learn anything, I just go for the ride. I also enjoy books that I learn while I go for the ride, particularly historical fictions and non-fictions. But I don’t and won’t just read one genre of books. I want the variety and know I don’t have to answer to anyone.

That’s my list. What’s your book related problems?

Book Give away!!!

fairest-3I also wanted to share with you an opportunity to win a book on my first book giveaway.

I pre-ordered the latest book from Marissa Meyer, called “Fairest” which is a more in-depth look at Queen Levana from the Lunar Chronicles.  I have an extra copy to give away to a lucky winner. I have to limit this to the US only since mailing elsewhere will be a bit too much.

fairest2So if you would like a chance to win, leave a comment below and let me know who your two favorite characters is in The Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlet, or Cress)? I will put all the entries in a bowl and let my son pick a random name out. On Tuesday, February 24th  I will announce a winner and then we can exchange mailing info so I can mail you this beautiful book.

Happy Reading!

Belinda

Filed Under: Belinda's Book Nook Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: