TAKE A CRAFT CLASS FOR CHARITY

If you haven't taken a Craftsy class yet, Saturday May 18th is your chance to sign up for your first one!

 There is something for everyone from beginner to advanced crafters needing to perfect or learn new tips and tricks in quilting, sewing, knitting, cake decorating, and much much  more. 

Take the time to look at the classes there is literally something for everyone and you will not only get a free class up to a $39.99 value that day but it will benefit DonorsChoose so you'll be doing something good for you and others.

   As a bonus If Craftsy meets their goal of giving away 10,000 classes, Craftsy will donate $5,000 to DonorsChoose to fund arts education in public schools across the US. 

So what are you waiting for? Click here and sign up for a class and tell your friends. Existing members are not eligible for the free course offer, but will still receive a special treat.

 

I'm excited to share with you that for a limited time, Layla Grayce is offering 15% off Designer Handbags with promo code NEWPURSE.  I love these!

Santi Chevron Beaded Clutch

  

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Affair Quilted Mint Bag

Zinc Door!

Simply changing your bedding to keep up with the seasons is the key to keeping your bedroom fresh and stylish. With summer quickly approaching, now is the time to store your winter bedding until next year. Upgrade your room to match your mood with bright colors and fun designs and save money by doing so! Right now, Zinc Door is offering 15% off Trina Turk bedding with promo code 15BED. It’s always a happy hour at home with Trina Turk's fun, whimsical bedding and accents. Don't miss your chance to save on these stylish and modern bed sets. Enjoy! 

Geo Comforter Set

Check out Zulily!

I love finding a great deal and zulily.com is like a breath of fresh air for families! You can find sweet and special brands as well as the well known brands and unique products up to 90% off retail prices.

 Here are the sales that are coming up;

Today, May 16th
Gifts for Dad: MLB Fan Shop, NCAA Fan Shop, Apparel, Accessories, Sunglasses & Watches
Home Decor OshKosh B'gosh & Jambu

Light Blue Real Men Change Diapers

Friday, May 17th
Under the Hooded Towels: Apparel & Accessories
Michael Stars: Up to 40% off women's apparel, maternity, and accessories
Calvin Klein (girls): Up to 60% off

Blue Mermaid Hooded Towel

Saturday, May 18th
Summer Smocking Collection: girls & boys apparel

Only 9.82$

Sunday, May 19th
Corky's Kids & Frankie & Daisy
Summer Fashion: maternity apparel under $20
Ferrari (gear): Strollers and more!

Blue and white Tiny Dot Princess Dress 20.87$

Only members can shop zulily events, but membership is free and signing up is super quick and easy. 

Again I have to mention the synchronicity of the Daily OM; this one was received on the day of my 42nd birthday!

May 2, 2013
Appreciating What Is
Enjoying Your Age
by Madisyn Taylor


Try to enjoy the age you are at now, for each age presents its own unique wisdom to savor.

In each stage of life, there are wonderful experiences one can savor and valuable insights one can absorb. Every new decade and, in fact, every new year brings with it wisdom, transformation, and growth, as well as ends and beginnings. Many people, however, believe that there is one age that eclipses the others. They expend energy trying to reach it and, once it has passed, trying to retain it. But wishing to be younger or older is a denial of the joys that have been and the joys yet to be, as well as the beauty of your life in the present. Holding on to one age can make it difficult to appreciate each new milestone you reach. Taking pleasure in the delights of your age, whether you are in your 20s, 40s, 60s, or 80s, can help you see the magnificence and usefulness of the complex seasons of your life.

Each new year gifted to us by the universe is replete with exciting and unfamiliar experiences. In our 20s, we can embrace the energy of youth and the learning process, knowing its okay to not have all the answers. As we move through our third decade, we grow more self-assured as the confusion of our young adulthood melts away. We can honor these years by putting aside our fears of aging and concentrating instead on solidifying our values and enjoying our growing emotional maturity. In our 40s, we become conscious of the wisdom we have attained through life experience and are blessed with the ability to put it to good use. We are not afraid to explore unfamiliar territory or to change. In our 50s, we tend to have successfully navigated our midlife reevaluations and have prioritized our lives. In the decades beyond, we discover a greater sense of freedom than we have ever known and can truly enjoy the memory of all weve seen and done.

Try to enjoy the age you are at now, for each age presents its own unique wisdom to savor.

May is a month full of celebration

I have a birthday and it's mother's day! If you're wondering what to get me I really love this apron that WILL NOT give me a neck rash!

Jessie Steele Apron Strapless Bows & Roses

 

To help you prepare for all of your upcoming parties or if you want to give a gift to the hostess (like myself)  Layla Grayce is offering 15% off Hostess & Entertainment with promo code SPRING15 valid through 5/16!  Don't miss your chance to shop this amazing sale! Here are a few more gift ideas for your hostess, mom or me.

 

Rosanna Décor Bon Bon Hue Pink Tall Pedestal

Here it is again I am obsessed with this gorgeous Antique Rose Blue Tea Pot

Finally I have been coveting this for a while and even plan to make a quilt based on this tablecloth.

Big Pink Flowers Table Cloth

Sometimes when I have alot to say I get writer's block too.

Right now I'm stuck. I'm working on a series of posts called: "My life is a Jewel Album; Reflections on the parallels to my life on the album Spirit by Jewel Kilcher." I refuse to start publishing a series of posts without completing them all  just in case they turn out to be just stupid and I change my mind. I realized that some most people may not see the parallels I make by the amount of questions they ask me with a confused look on their face but those links make perfect sense to me and a few kindred spirits.

To illustrate this at the moment I believe that my plateau in weight loss = writer's block.

 To clarify you did not wander on to the wrong blog. This is definitely not a weight loss blog not that I don't like them. If you're interested in them I actually strongly recommend "A Neurotic Glamour Girl's Weight Watcher's Experience and Fitness Adventures." she is so inspiring (I love you Sheryl). I love to be fit and move but I abhor anything that isn't pretty so most dorky fitness clothes and running shoes DO NOT make the cut. When I saw this retro style glamour girl writing posts about her fitness journey and taking self portraits of herself riding her pink bike all over New York city in full make up and heels I was an instant fan! 

But I digress what I meant to say was that everybody who reads my blog...Does anyone read my blog? (cloud bubble inserted here) must know my passion is design, arts, crafts and the underdog okay okay I know I'm rambling bear with me.

Now back to the point I was trying to make. Since I joined Weight Watchers last fall I have had a more or less steady weight loss. I never felt discouraged not really I mean you have those weeks you go up a bit just to get the big numbers later and everything worked for me without too much difficulty. It was very empowering to realize I wasn't actually a PIG (I'm sorry to anyone that may offend but I have this problem where I am really hard on myself) I just made some bad choices and with a few adjustments I lost weight fairly easily.  

You just know there is a but coming... BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT I have been hovering within 2lbs of a 20lbs loss which has become unattainable to me at the moment.  I started to question myself; "Am I eating enough fruits and vegetables?" and ate fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch. "Am I really tracking everything I eat??" I paid close attention and was relieved to know that yes I was. I spoke to my leader who advised me to get more active which turned out well because it spring in Montreal and I have a membership for BIXI and can hardly pass by a bike without taking one. So...I did and I still maintained this hovering position. 

When I got weighed the next week I spoke to my leader again who is so lovely and not judging me and trusting me and really there for me and not to mention beautiful, awesome, helpful, inspiring,  so cute, stylish and interesting advised that I drink my water which means at least 6 cups a day and I did even though it has me running to the bathroom peeing about five times more often to the washroom which is a feat in itself because I work in customer service on the phone where everything is timed even bathroom breaks but I still gained 0.4 lbs. 

Unfortunately for me all those paralyzing messages I used to hear have come flooding back: "You're fat, you're a loser, what is wrong with you..." the list goes on but you get the picture. These messages are draining me, getting me down, affecting my mood, my relationships, how I feel about myself, my health, my body well essentially affecting everything. I don't want to play guitar, prepare food, and finally I am getting to the point: WRITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Taking my cue from Lena Dunham (my hero) to be brave and a my younger self who once had a writing project that made me so nervous that I decided to write about just that and had the teacher read it in class saying how brilliant it was. I decided to write about what was stopping me from writing and suddenly out came this post and hopefully several more will flood out of me now. 

The time for beating myself up is OVER. This is a time for ACTION. Until now this steady weight loss has opened up a whole new side of me. One that is in control of my life, my choices, my finances, one who feels like anything is possible. It's the reason I picked up the guitar, am going to Ireland this summer, started making time for my friends again and planning many more exciting things because there has been a switch in my brain. A new record is playing and it says you are worthy, you are creative, you are talented, you are fun, people love you and love to be around you.  

 SO STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP! YOU BULLY!

 Phew! *Deep Breathes* Moral of the story here is...

Even when you have writer's block you have a lot to say.

(Just a little tidbit. I wrote this the day before yesterday in the commuter train on the way home from my regular full time job. Being stuck in a train that isn't moving with no gadgets or book can inspire you (hmmm that should be another series) but yesterday I read my Daily Om (which is addictive) and it was about creative blocks. I have to say find these daily OM's uncannily ominous with their synchronicity. There must be magic in the world. If you subscribe to the Daily Om will you let me know if you find them oddly synchronized with your life PLEASE? Or am I just making crazy parallels again)

You have to try one of the next FREE Craftsy mini-courses!

The next two I'm going to take are: 

• Sewing Machine 911: Give your sewing machine some TLC with the help of this free course. Learn to clean and maintain your sewing machine with tips and tricks taught in this class.
• QuiltCon Lecture Series 2013: Not able to make it to Austin for the Modern Quilt Guild's inaugural QuiltCon? Watch some of our favorite lectures from the event, given by Heather Jones, Angela Walters, David and Amy Butler, Jacquie Gering, and Mary Fons.

Check out all of the other free Craftsy mini-courses by clicking here. 

These are the next ones on my list:

Jewelry Making with a blow torch!

 

 I love modern quilts!

 

 Which one will you take?

Layla Grace Mother's day sale

Mother's Day is quickly approaching and now is the time to find that stylish and unique gift that shows how much your mom means to you! This year, Layla Grayce has posted a Mother's Day blog post suggesting the top ten gift ideas and essentials for mom and is offering 15% off these gifts with code 4URMOM valid through 5/1. Below are my favorite gift ideas.

 

Drops of Jupiter Earl Grey Gold Earrings

Hot Rocks Vermeil Bangle Green Onyx

Zinc Door is having a sale!





Do you know someone who is moving soon? Now is the time to stock up on stylish and unique gifts for the home. Since Zinc Door is having a sale. 

Don't you love Tina Turk's bold new bedding!

  Until May 15th Zinc Door is offering 10% off Regina Andrew Decor with promo code RA10




  

Peacock  Blue Gem Lamp



 & 15% off Capel Rugs with code RUGSALE! 

Capel Insignia Yellow Wool Rug

Hope you like these!