2011 goals

Every year I have made a list of goals for the coming year. Kind of like resolutions but a bit broader and in theory easier to keep. For the past couple of years they have pretty much been the same and by April I forget about them until I find the list again in September and restart my efforts. Some I have kept and continue to work on, and this year I am digging out the list again, starting with a fresh approach and a drive to really work on these goals. There are 15 in all...I know seems like alot, but remember these are goals and many of them go hand in hand but it is just easier to break them out and list them seperately. Some are personal, some need to evolve, some need some work, but I think with a little accountability I can accomplish them all for a wonderful 2011 and many more years to come.

2011 Goals (in no particular order)

Loose and keep off the weight

Turn the house into a home

Get organized

Keep a clean(er) house

Get rid of clutter

Continue to pay off debt (goal to be debt free by 2/2013)

Focus on Family

Enjoy every day

be a better mom and wife

breathe...don't yell

be happy with me

let it go....relax!

step away from the drama

Scrapbook more....100 layouts

Complete Project 365 (finally)

See...not too bad. So, why am I sharing this with you? Well, my blog will serve as my accountability for these goals. No, I won't share everything with you but I will share my progress on projects (the long, long list is another post), tips on organization, getting rid of clutter and digging out of debt, scrapbooking and other paper crafting projects and Project 365 (which I have started the past 2 years and don't make it past day 5). Oh, and I can't forget everyday little ramblings and family updates...right? Things won't change too much around here except maybe a little more variety, a little more frequency, hopefully alot more scrapbooking and projects around the home. I have tried schedules, themes, etc., but I just can't stick to them, so now I will post what I can, when I can and try to keep things interesting.

Some of you have been with me from the beginning and I thank you...some of you are new, and I thank you too...but what brought you to my blog and why do you stay? I would love to know what keeps you interested, and what will keep you around for 2011. Please take a moment to leave me a comment and let me know what you like, why you are here, and what you would like to see more of.

The long list of projects to be completed in 2011, my Master To Do List if you will, is coming soon.

a season of enjoyment

Here I sit 2 days before 2011, 5 days after Christmas and realized that I have not shared one blog post about Christmas yet.  Well I will keep this short and sweet. 

It was a good one, actually one of the best in my book.  In fact, all of December was enjoyable.  I didn't stress, I didn't have a melt down, I wasn't up until 4 am Christmas morning (I was actually in bed by 10 pm), I didn't panic, I didn't go over budget, and I didn't expect perfection. 

What did I do?  I embraced the season, I enjoyed celebrating old traditions with my family and created new ones.  I did what I could do and let go of what I could not.  I stuck to my budget.  I did things little by little.  I accepted imperfections and made due with what I had.  I made the time to be, just be.  I loved every minute of December.

Did I accomplish everything I wrote on my To Do List for the month?  Nope.  But you know what?  That is ok with me.

With the year closing out quickly, I feel that my attitude this past month has put me in the right frame of mind for a new year, a new start.  Stay tuned, I will be sharing my 2011 Goals and Project List shortly.  I hope you will continue on the journey with me.

CTMH product spotlight blog hop featuring sparkles & pearls

Welcome to this month's blog hop featuring sparkles and pearls.  CTMH has such a wonderful line of embellishments including 4 choices for sparkles and 3 for pearls.  I just love how these products add a little extra shimmer to a page or the finishing touch to a card.

Today, I want to share a card with you.  It uses the Clear Sparkles ($2.95) which I use all. the. time.  I have just started playing with the pearls and I can say that I am in love with them too...unfortuneatly, the project I am using them on isn't quite in the sharing stages just yet.

Don't those two little sparkles just add a little extra something to the card?  yeah, they do.

I also used the Red, Pink & Purple sparkle pack on my little elf cards that I showed last month.  If you want a second peak, click here.

If you arrived here from Luisa then you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, welcome, next stop is Wendy...so pop on over to see what she has to share.

{Happy Birthday Card}

Clear Sparkles Z1104
Stamp Set: With Love D1284

CS: Crystal Blue, Hollyhock, White Daisy

Ink:  Crystal Blue, Hollyhock, Black, Sweet Leaf

Other:  Just Blooms Summer Poises (ret), DP (unknown), ric rac (from Walmart)

waiting, waiting, waiting and a name change

Shipping things stinks.  In today's modern world..ie., air travel, why oh why do things get shipped all the way across the country via truck...really?  Can't the truck just pick it up at the airport and skip all the waiting in between?  Don't they know that there just might be a very inpatient scrapbooker on the other end waiting for her goodies to arrive?   Not that I have any proof that it didn't actually go by air, but my goodies have been "on their way" since 11/24 and I don't like to wait!

I have been following along with all the wonderfully creative scrapbookers in blog land that are working on their JYC and DDs (Journal Your Christmas & December Daily).  I had been hoping to start mine before December to be ready for the prompts but grrrr...shipping.  I have been working on my journaling and have my photos...I just need my schtuff to get it all put together...it will be a happy crafty weekend here.  I hope to have some pages to share real soon (we might need to play a little catch up).

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If you noticed my header (you did right?) I have decided to change my blog name.   When I first started this blog it was solely to share my crafty creations.  I have since evolved, or at least my blog has, and "Cut it out!" (which by the way was not my idea in the first place, but for lack of a better name, I chose it) just didn't seem to fit where I wanted to go with my blog.  So "Mama Olie's Musings" was born.  Olie is a play on my last name.  My husband's nickname is Olie, J is lil Olie and so I am properly dubbed...Mama Olie.  "Musings", well, not a word I use in normal conversation...but hey, it is what it is....a whole bunch of nothing and a little of something (or vice versa), I thought "musings" covered it all.  The subtitle just sums it up..."reflections on life, loves (scrapbooking, cooking, decorating...you name it) and little lessons.  I hope you will continue along on my journey...there is so much in store.

reclaiming the magic

I have decided that this year I am taking back my December, taking back Christmas and putting the magic back into this holiday season.  I have looked back on past years and realized that while I had always intended to slow down and enjoy the season, I didn't and found myself stressed out, burned out and ready for January to arrive.  Not. This. Year.

K & J are getting bigger every day and while I know for a fact that J still believes, I have reason to believe that K might be catching on to the whole Santa thing.  While I know it is an inevitable fact of growing up, as  a parent I can do my best to keep the magic alive and the excitement in the air.  Yes, I do know that Christmas is not about Santa, but it is a big part of it when you are a kid. 

Me being a bundle of stress and rushing through each day during the holiday season doesn't help my agenda, so I am stepping back.  It helps that most of my shopping is done, a goal I have been striving towards for years now and can finally say I have accomplished...I just need to pick up a few things here and there while I am out.  Taking the rushing around to find the "perfect gift" out of the equation will allow me to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and what I want Christmas to be all about.  My focus this year is not on the commercialism but is on my family and building memories and traditions to last a life time.

I have added in a few special activities to the agenda this year and I will be blogging about them as they happen.  I have also decided that I am going to do a Christmas journal this year to help keep me focused on what really matters...family, friends, traditions and the spirit of the season.  I will be doing a combination of Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas and Ali Edward's December Daily for inspiration and ideas.  Not only am I hoping that this keeps me focused but it will allow me to document our traditions and enjoy the excitement of the season while the kids are still young (enough) for years to come.  It will also enable me to get back into my craft room and start scrapping again, a favorite thing of mine that I have let take a back seat for far too long.   

I will be sharing my pages on a regular basis.  I invite you to stop by often and take a peak.  As for today, December 1st, I leave you with this, as it sums up everything I want to say perfectly: