Dedicated

Thank you ladies for all your kind, kind words regarding Friday's post. They meant so much to me. Each one really touched my heart:)

I have so many projects I'm working on this week including...

*My Summer of Color Purple projects (will post these Tuesday)
*My favorite way to Shabby up a page {Tuesday}
*Sanding and painting a dozen wooden blocks for art projects
*My Art Journal page of "Small and Simple Things"
*Soul Restoration 2 Life Journal

This is gonna be one artsy filled week. Love it!!

"The person who makes a success 

of living is the one 

who sees his goal steadily 

and aims for it unswervingly.

That is dedication." 

-Cecil B. DeMille

31 Days Creativity Challenge {in 1 week}

I have been working hard on finding 31 ideas, projects and journaling prompts you can use in your life to boost your creative awareness and help you lead a more inspired life. 


If you've never done the Challenge you may want to click here to see last summers' Challenge.

Sometimes we are afraid to begin something like this because we don't have the time....but honestly, if you want to be an artist, become a better painter, scrap your families' memories, etc...you have to CREATE despite the obstacles.

I promise you there will be ZERO pressure to do every single day. Although, I think I have mixed the challenges up enough that you will be able to finish each one...some taking more effort than others.

Here's how the Challenge works...

1. There will be 6 assignments each week {1 each weekday and 1 on the weekends}

2. Assignments can be anything from creating an Art Journal page, to learning new painting techniques to cleaning out a junk drawer and using what you find creatively. Most of them you'll be able to finish in 30 minutes or less. The weekend assignments are a bit longer.

3. You will need a few items to make your 31 Days more fun. However, remember this isn't about going out and spending a ton of money. Try to use mostly what you already have. I will share a few ideas later in the post.

4.The night before each new Challenge Day I will post the assignment HERE no later than 10 pm. I will also post on the Words of Me Face Book Fan Page at the same time then again the next morning. 
So to be clear...the 31 Days Challenge starts one week from today, March 1st...but the first assignment will be posted the night before by 10 pm HERE and on FB then again March 1st on FB {only}

5.This year I have added a few Blog assignments. If you don't have a blog...that's ok. You can do them in your journals:)

6. Speaking of journals...I LOVE Art Journaling and will be sharing several Art Journal assignments with YOU during this 31 Days.

7. If you want to share your finished assignments in your Blog, please make sure you link back here. I would appreciate it:) Oh, also grab a 31 Days Button on my sidebar so everyone knows you are taking the Challenge {and maybe they will join in, too}

8. Most importantly please remember that this is for FUN! Please don't feel like you have to do each assignment. I know how busy life gets...there are days I just go from one thing to the next!! My goal of the 31 Days Creativity Challenge is to get you to inject ART and CREATIVITY into your life daily. An art teacher friend of mine told me once that to be creative you MUST create everyday!!! So even if you do part of the assignment...that's ok! Just do the rest when your schedule permits!

Here are a few things you might want for your journey...

These are may favorite journals...

You can find these at discount stores for around 9 bucks. There is like 50 pages of watercolor paper in these which makes them perfect for Mod Podging  and painting in!!!

Start gathering your supplies this week. Grab a container and start collecting!!!:)

I love taking words and images out of old books...

One can never have too many bottles of acrylic paint!

And I have fallen in love with Mod Podge...LOL

We will use this stuff for gluing images and words in our Art Journals. If you don't have this or can't find any Elmer's Glue will be fine.

"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it."  -The Buddha

So we have a bit of work to do this week, right? Check out our WORD...thought this would help a bit...

It's time to PREPARE our minds and our hearts for a creative awakening.

I hope you will join me:)

Who Loves Ya' Baby?

 After a solid month of zero and below temps along with several feet of snow, I am happy to report it has been sunny and warm here. Love it!

Speaking of LOVE...I sure felt the LOVE Valentine's Day. Wow, girls do I have a sweetheart for a husband:) Before we left for our Kansas City Day of Shopping Adventure he gave me a beautiful red box.

I was super excited because the word on the box said "fresh". What is "fresh"? Oh, my...it is my VERY FAVORITE fragrance store on the Planet. Seriously. I stumbled upon a "Fresh" store about 6 years ago in Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace. I ended up buying this  yummy fragrance and fell in love... {Bergamot Citrus}

Click here to learn more about Fresh

I made sure to use it sparingly, saving it mostly for special occasions. Oh, how I savored this scent! Then last October my sweetie and I found ourselves in Vegas again...one of my first stops was the "Fresh" store. This time Dave not only replenished my "Bergamot Citrus" but he bought me their latest creation...Brown Sugar.

Click here to learn more about Fresh

It was fabulous, too. And so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that red box!! I opened it carefully...

Look at the beautiful silver paper. I wonder what's inside?

Oh my goodness! I love it! Three bars of Brown Sugar soap wrapped in beautiful patterned kraft paper. The smell coming out of that box was amazing!! Soooo lemony and fresh!

Honny, I LOVE it!!!

We spent the entire day together. It was bliss. I honestly have the BEST husband. Thanks again, Dave!!!

I wasn't the only one lucky enough to get something from their sweetie. Look what Jackson's girlfriend Sarah gave him...absolutely darling!

Cute poster Sarah gave Jacks.

So with all this LOVE flying around yesterday I decided that their was only ONE choice for our WORD this week. Can you guess it??!

Word for 2/15-2/21

Think of all their is to love in this world of ours....

Our family
Our friends
Our Lord and Savior
Books
Blogging
Art Supplies
Sunny Days
Creating
Our homes
Our jobs
Cupcakes
Long walks

The list is endless!!

So this week I want us to focus on LOVE. Try to think positive. Get all the negative out of your life. LOVE your days...the moment your in. LOVE!!

Who and What do you love?

My "Do it Anyway" List

So this week we are talking about doing it ANYWAY. I have been doing quite a bit of thinking of what I have already done anyway. Let me tell you, girls. I should do this exercise more often...especially when I'm feeling down. Through the years I have been pretty good at "doing it anyway"!

Here is my list along with one of my favorite photos...it's me, taken at Mile17 during the "Mayor's Midnight Sun" Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska...June 1999.

Leslie's List of "She Did It Anyway"

1. I had never ran a mile in my life-ever. I ran TWO marathons anway.

2. I was scared to death of water and didn't know how to swim I finished a TRIATHLON anyway.

3. I was made fun of relentlessly in grade school. I played the lead in every school play in High School anyway.

4. I made many, many mistakes in college and was hurt so bad. I graduated from college anyway and landed my dream job anyway.

5. I had never written for the newspaper and was told over and over again I needed a degree for that. I wrote a weekly column in our local paper for 5 years anyway.

6. I was told I was worthless and not pretty enough and not skinny enough. I met my Prince Charming, got married and had a beautiful family anyway.

7. I was told it's a waste of time and silly to have a blog. I have met some of my best friends because of my blog and have over 200 Followers anyway.

8. I was told I wasn't creative and never would be. I paint, doodle and create daily anyway.

"To perservere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage in a man. The coward despairs."  -Euripides

I encourage you to make your own "She Did It Anyway" list. When you see all it is you have done "anyway"...it is empowering!!

Tell me one thing you do ANYWAY!!

What do you do Anyway?

Before I share the Word this week I wanted to say THANK YOU for all your sweet and kind comments regarding my prayer canvas. Each one of them made me smile.:)

Also a HUGE thank you to my friend Leanne who designed my brand new blog header for me. She was soooo patient with me and created something that is 100% me. Thank you, Leanne!!!

Last week I promised to show you what the Word TRY inspired me to do...here are  few photos to share.  Since we had the entire week off from school last week due to snow my daughter Em and her friend Maddie volunteered to help me TRY my hand at bread making. Take a peek!

Maddie & Em all ready to TRY something new!

 

 

Mixing the dough. We chose to make it whole wheat.

The fun part...kneading!

There it is resting in the bowl. Looking good!

After we punched it down and formed into loaves. I can't believe this is working.

Can you believe it?! Golden brown, all warm from the oven. YUM!

This was our first attempt at making bread and we did it!! The best part? Now I know we can do it!! We can make delicious home baked bread with very little effort. Awesome!

Here is a page from my Art Journal...

This is my Art Journal I began the first of January....it's smaller than my Soul Restoration one. Here is what the journaling says...

"TRY...
my best
to be me always
to be a better person
always trying to be something 
I am learning, striving
I like the word TRY. It means I am striving. I am working. I am creating. I am learning. I am growing.
TRY is good.:)"

I know I can't stop talking about my Soul Restoration class. It has permeated my life and is working miracles. One of the lessons we learned last week is the importance of "doing it anyway".

It seems whenever I've struggled this week I keep telling myself the same thing..."I did it anyway." This is the perfect sentence to keep me on track with where I'm going in life!

So this week's WORD is ANYWAY. 


–adverb

1.

in any case; anyhow; nonetheless; regardless: Whether you like it or not, I'm going anyway.

 

This week focus on doing it anyway. 

 

create anyway

workout anyway

make a decision anyway

go for your dreams anyway

apply for that job anyway

 

What one thing do you do "anyway"? Please share with us!!

Still Snowed In

With all the snow and cold weather we have been cooped up in the house...I am going a bit stir-crazy!!!

Today, however is a new day. I woke up early, hopped in the car and headed to the gym for a much needed sweat session on the elliptical. Man, I love that thing:) Later today Miss Em gets a new 'do then Sonic drinks {i am drinking diet pop every now and then} and Wal-Mart. Looking forward to being OUT!

I have spent the last 3 days painting, creating and working on our 31 Days Creativity Challenge which starts Tuesday, March 1st. Really looking forward to all the FUN we are gonna have!! Sure hope you'll join me on the journey. Be sure and grab one of the buttons on the right side of my blog.

Oh, and speaking of my Blog...my crazy, talented friend Leanne is creating a whole new look for me. I am beyond excited!! Thank you, Leanne!!! {if you don't read her please start today. she is amazing. truly.}

Our WORD this week is TRY. I am trying all sorts of things...including writing differently. I have been in a rut lately...need to change it up a bit. Change can be very, very good.

I will leave you with this today....

Wish I was here;)

Art Journal Cover and Word

I am in Week 4 of my "Soul Restoration" journey. What an amazing trip it is so far!!! The course is all about sharing ourselves, our weak selves and our strong selves, our good memories and our bad ones through art. By creating and putting these thoughts {some unpleasant ones} into our art we can heal in ways maybe not possible before. It is working wonders for me!!! Today I wanted to share the cover of my Art Journal with you. This, by far, is my favorite part of the course!! LOVE it!!!!!!!!

Art Journal cover

Here are a few close-ups...

Inside of my journal is filled with journaling prompts Melody has provided throughout the class. These are helping me with all aspects of my life. I have always believed in the power of the written word.

Because of this course I now believe when you mix pictures and paint and glue with words...WOW! That's when the miracles happen. I know that sounds kind of crazy...but it is soooo TRUE!

A page in progress

A letter I wrote to my "Weak Self"

During our "31 Days Creativity" challenge you can expect lots of Art Journaling. It is addicting!!!

Speaking of that...one of my January goals was to Art Journal daily. Not only did I succeed but have now made that one of my goals for the year!! 

Okay...let's get to our WORD of the Week.

This week I am kicking the

Word of the Week up a notch. Not only will we focus

on trying

our best to live the WORD but I challenge

you to create something using the WORD!! 

You can use artist trading cards, Art Journals,

scrapbook pages, anything you can think up!!

I will be posting my WORD of the Week projects 

by the following Monday. 

I hope you'll play along!!!

Oh and NO pressure! Don't feel like you have to do this every week. Just play along when a WORD really "speaks" to you!!!! Here is our WORD this week!!

Got that? TRY.

As in
TRY to be enough
TRY something new
TRY to do your best
TRY a new food
TRY not to be so hard on yourself
TRY:)


What do you think about Art Journals? Do you use them? Do you want to TRY one?

Word of the Week/Scrappy Layout

I have spent the past hour and a half reading through a few of my favorite blogs. Just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate your honesty, your ideas and your talents. Aren't we blessed to have the internet??? Be sure and check out my Facebook Fan page for a few of my favorite posts from today. Not a fan yet? Click here.

First of all you just gotta see these...

My sweet, amazing husband brought a dozen of these home to me last Friday!! He is the BEST:) I love him dearly and appreciate how thoughtful he is. Just gotta tell ya', too that Dave is literally melting right in front of me. He has just 15 pounds to go till he reaches his goal weight. So proud of him!!!

It's Tuesday and that can mean one thing here at Words of Me...our WORD for the Week. Instead of my choosing a WORD I want you to focus on your WORD of the Year. It's nearly February so why  not check in with yourself and make sure you are on track with your WORD for 2011. Be sure and ask yourself what you need to be doing to living your WORD.

Don't have a WORD? That's okay. Choose something you want to focus on this week and do that. Maybe you want to cook all your meals at home or get a few scrapbook pages done. You could use the WORD Create or Creative to think about this week to help you reach your goals.

Speaking of scrapbook pages here's one from November....

I rarely use animal prints in any of my layouts but this paper seemed to fit. The photos are of Dave and I at my 5 year class reunion back in 1990.

I use flowers and butterflies in nearly everything I create. They just add so much!!

I couldn't resist those cute pink felt lips from Fancy Pants. Too fun!!:)

Today is Week 3's assignment for my "Soul Restoration" class I am taking with Melody Ross. Looking forward to what she has in store for us this week. Remember if you weren't able to take her class this time she is offering it again in April! 

What is your WORD of the year? Do you need to work on it? How are you doing with your 2011 goals? Please share...I love to know what you're up to!!!

SMILE!

Since our WORD this week is SMILE...thought I'd share some really great smile quotes. Use these in your Art Journals...your scrapbooks...on a notecard....or just keep them in a notebook to brighten your day!:)

A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home.  ~Author 
Unknown

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.  ~Charles Gordy 


I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.  ~Author Unknown 

Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.
~Author Unknown



If you don't start out the day with a smile, it's not too late to start practicing for tomorrow.  ~Author Unknown



I have a tickle in my brain.  And it keeps making the corners of my mouth point toward the heavens.  ~Jeb Dickerson



No matter how grouchy you're feeling,
You'll find the smile more or less healing.
It grows in a wreath
All around the front teeth -
Thus preserving the face from congealing.
~Anthony Euwer


Every day you spend without a smile, is a lost day.  ~Author Unknown


And my favorite smile quote....

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.  ~Mother Teresa     

First WORD of the new year

"You only live once....but if you work it right, once is enough." -Joe E. Lewis

With the New Year underway it's time to take our goals and run with them!!

Come on...we CAN do this!!:)

Our WORD this week is....


RESOLVE
 /rɪˈzɒlv/ Show Spelled [ri-zolv] Show IPA verb, -solved, -solv·ing, noun
–verb (used with object)

1.

to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something): I have resolved that I shall live to the full.

 

I resolve to reach my goals this week which include...

 

Stretch yourself!

 **Art Journaling everyday in January. I found this site one night while surfing the net and fell in love!! Love all her bright ideas.

 

**Working out at the gym 5 days a week 

 

**Continue on my path of NO Diet Soda {going on day 9!}

 

**Finishing my canvas and sharing with you

 

**Ordering my camera charger so I can begin taking photos and sharing here again 

 

 

 

A few blogs I am loving at the moment...

 

Inspiration Everywhere  

 

Wish Studio

My Pure Joy

 

 

What do you RESOLVE to do this week?

A Peek into My Life

Thought I would share a little peek into my life these few days. Enjoy!!

Jacks and Sarah Hop night. Aren't they cute!!

Jacks and his friends Hop night. It was canceled because of the weather:( They sure look GOOD!

The Ackman Annual Baking Bash with Grams:)

Dave with one of our creations.

Our Missionaries on Christmas Eve with their stockings from us.

Dave surprised us with a Shuffleboard!! This is Christmas Eve.

This is a blast!

Me on Christmas morning frying up some bacon.

Santa brought us a Wii this year!

Even Gizzy got in on the action.

Jacksy got an electric razor from Dad.

I bought Em boots and so did Dave!! LOL!

At Sarah's house. Christmas is also her Birthday!! She made Jacks this blanket.

At Mom's Christmas late afternoon.

Jackson turned 16 December 27th!!

At La Bonita! Happy Birthday in Spanish:)

I sure do love my family!!

That's Alex, Jacks and Sarah lighting his Birthday cake last night.

May all your wishes come true, Son!

I have been blessed with a WONDERFUL Holiday Season!! How was yours?

Our WORD for this last week of 2010 is....

ANALYZE

to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of: to analyze a poem.

to examine carefully and in detail so as to identify causes, key factors, possible results, etc.

 

Take time this week to map out your 2011. Stay tuned for my Goals and my WORD of the year coming up later in the week!!