LOVE...in a big white box

Sometimes, there is a day...actually there were two days last week...when I really wish this would happen to me -

I would love to have this big white box in my back yard every time I have a rough day...or just needed a big ole' pick-me-up.  I would especially love to be in the middle of that heart sandwich : )  

Celebrate LOVE...today...and every day!

(video via SoulPancake)

Pay It Forward #8: Love note journals...a great way to start the day

Do you ever have one of those days that you wish you could re-do? One of those days, where your voice is raised a bit more than you would have liked...and you sighed dramatically a few more times than normal...you "counted down" more times than you can count...and at the end of the day, you were exhausted, and ultimately disappointed because this day was not one you want your kids to remember you for.  

I have had a few of those lately : (  At the end of those days, I find myself in the girls' rooms, speaking softly as they sleep...saying everything to them I had wanted to say that day.  It made me realize that we can not determine what kind of day we will we have, and sometimes, we will not be the moms we want to be, but we can make sure the day starts off right.  

I decided to make love note journals for the girls...and one for Jason too.  I write in them nightly and then leave them on their pillows, so they can read my note as soon as they wake up. My hope is that no matter how the day goes, they already know how much I love them. 

I found these kraft paper journals in sets of three at Wal-Mart for $2.99.  Using some Martha Stewart eyelet note-cards, I printed a cover using a different font for each of their individual personalities- simple and clean for Jason, dramatic and artsy for Ava and quick and messy for my little tornado, Isabella. 

I then super-glued them down and started writing.  Isabella's came together quickly. 

She is 5 and reading well, but I make my notes to her short with lots of drawings.  She likes to write me back with drawings of people with enormous heads and of course her name on every page : )

Ava is a different story.  My notes to her began as a daily affirmation of how much I loved her, but then they quickly turned into imaginative stories incorporating her as the heroine of course : )

And in these stories, I am sure to point out all of the wonderful attributes God has given her.  Affirmations that can never come too early for a little girl. 

These love note journals have been a great way to start the day in our house.  Not only for the girls, but also for my hubby : )

Keep sharing the love : )

Pay It Forward #7: Make time for the people that matter most to you

This is the den I spent much of my childhood in.  It is in my grandparents' home.  I have so many memories in this room and each Thursday, I have the opportunity to make even more.  Every week, the girls and I drive 45 minutes and visit two of my favorite people in the world - Walter and Clyde, my maternal grandparents.  I am lucky enough to have all four of my grandparents still alive...a gift that becomes more special with each passing year. 

I have learned some of the most important lessons in life from these two people.  For the seven years we lived in Kansas City, I rarely got to see them, but five years ago, we moved back home and I was within an hour of where they live.  Relief is what I felt...I was not going to miss any more special occasions and I could see them whenever I wanted.  I forgot that life tends to get in the way of our best intentions.  About two years ago, I realized that I might as well have lived a couple states away for the amount of time I was spending with them.  I felt panicked by how much time I had wasted.  So I resolved to do better.  Each week, I sit with them in this room, that is as familiar to me as it is to them, and we talk...about everything.  I have learned more about the lives my grandparents' have led in the past two years, than I ever knew before. 

Grandpa Walt and Grandma Clyde are 95 years old now and have been married 72 years.  They are beautiful people.  And I have given myself a gift in spending more time with them.  And I have given my girls a gift by giving them the opportunity to make their own memories in this wonderful and familiar place.  My hope is that they learn some of the same lessons from them as I did and their memories of Grandma and Grandpa are as long-lasting as mine have been.  

Keep sharing the love...it's so worth it : )

Pay It Forward #6: Show love through food

I just realized the other day, I have not posted a "Pay it Forward" in a while.  It's not that I have forgotten about my Pay It Forward campaign.  In fact, I have thought a lot about it.  My previous Pay it Forward posts have been geared towards anonymous gifts...and I LOVE doing that. But as I have gone through the past weeks, I have been a bit bummed about not finding the time to coordinate a Pay it Forward.  And then I remembered that a Pay it Forward does not have to be anonymous.  Helping the people you know and the people you love is a wonderful way to remind them that you are keeping them close to your heart.  The purposeful things that we do, the actions we take, can change the direction our day and theirs can go. 

Sometimes, one of the best and easiest ways to show you care, is to make food for someone.  Ava asked me not too long ago why we were taking a meal to a friend, and I explained how cooking is not only about feeding someone as much as showing that you care for them.  We cook for people for many different reasons- because they are sick, they are super busy, they need a pick-me-up, or we just want to pass along a "Love You" reminder. 

There are a few things you can do to make taking a meal to someone extra special-

• Consider their favorite foods when deciding what to cook.  Keep everything as separated as possible so everyone can make their meal according to their preferences.  

• Even though I love a pretty presentation, sometimes convenience is a better gift than pretty dishes.    

• It's a meal, but that doesn't mean you can't add a little flair : )  A hand written note with instructions and a little bit of color from flowers can make your meal seem even warmer. 

Keep sharing the love : )

Pay It Forward #5: A chance for luck on St. Patrick's Day

I have been looking forward to this week's Pay It Forward ever since I saw this idea on Shaken Together. Combining St. Patrick's Day with PIF seems like a match made in heaven.  I LOVED the idea of possibly giving away a gift that could change someone's life.  The chances are slim, but what better time to take a chance on luck than on St. Patrick's Day?

I started by buying five lotto tickets...I was looking for one that was green, but I was excited to find ones that had four leaf clovers on them instead. 

I cut white card stock into strips that were a little wider than the tickets.  I then cut the strips to be twice the length of the ticket plus 1/2 inch.  I then scored and folded the paper at the 1/2" mark and then at the halfway mark.

I drew a four leaf clover on the backside of the cover and then...

...I cut around the lines with a exacto blade so the clover would stand up on the front side.  

 Using letterpress stamps, I stamped "feeling lucky?" onto the paper. 

I then folded the paper at the 1/2" mark and...

 ...stapled it to create a "matchbook" effect. 

I outlined the clover with a green marker to make it stand out more.

I put a ticket into the book and closed the cover...and then it was done.

Now...I just have to pick out five lucky people to give them to. 

Keep sharing the love...and the luck : )

Pay It Forward #4: Share how you feel...completely

This video by SoulPancake got me thinking...I can not remember when I last told someone ...truly told them what they mean to me.  I give compliments...freely.  I share my feelings... regularly.  But, sharing with someone how their presence in my life has changed me forever...maybe not as often...or ever.

So this is my challenge...and my pay it forward this week.  I will share...truly share...with three people in my life, how they have changed my life forever.   So, I may not have a sound booth and a huge pair of headphones, but I do have a pen and a few pieces of paper.

As I got started with this week's PIF, I realized the reason why I have never done this before.  It is HARD.  One-liner compliments are easy...almost as easy as texting...but thinking about and acknowledging the reasons why you love someone, and telling them is much harder.

...But it is SOOOOOOO worth it.  

I don't know about you, but a blank page completely intimidates me.  I started off by drawing  " i love you..." on the paper.  This simple thing made it easier to start writing. 

I then just wrote...and wrote...and wrote. Maybe not as eloquently as I had hoped, but putting all of my feelings down on paper, made me remember why these people have been so important to me and my life. 

And just as I did while watching this video...I got quite emotional while writing these letters.  Thankfully, Jason has been out of town for work- I was able to write in peace with no one to witness my embarrassing display of emotion : )

Keep sharing the love.

Pay It Forward #3: Valentines in the city

It just so happens that my Pay It Forward this week fell on Valentine's Day. It is sometimes hard to separate Valentine's Day from sweet treats, so I thought I would embrace it instead.  

I started out by printing this free Valentine's Day printable, from Twig and Thistle onto some small white paper bags - 75 in total. 

I then had one of my very own valentines help me whip up a few batches of these cookies and these macaroons. 

After they had all properly cooled, I cut out some parchment paper and lined the bags, and then stuffed them with the cookies. 

Jason met Isabella and me down town, and walked with us as she gave valentines to policemen, landscapers, servicemen, street musicians, the homeless...everyone she thought needed a little love.  It ended up being a great day with a lot of tasty treats shared. 

We returned home with just a few bags left over which Isabella said she deserves to keep since she worked so hard : ) We'll have to see about that.

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day! 

Keep sharing the love : )

Pay It Forward #2: Message in a bottle

Sometimes...inspiration and encouragement can come from the most unexpected places.  That was the idea behind this week's "pay it forward".  Short and sweet words of encouragement can change a person's day...and maybe even their direction.

It started with some of my favorite quotes...ones I have collected throughout the years...ones I look to on days that are harder than most.  I printed the quotes on some pretty paper...

...and cut them into strips. 

I put a small drop of super glue on the end of the paper strip and placed the end of a 3" piece on string into the glue and folded the paper over.

I then rolled the quotation tightly around a toothpick.  

I bought some small corked bottles at a craft store.  These are Tim Holtz brand and can be found at many craft stores. 

I dropped each quote into one of the bottles and then...

...attached a "pay it forward" tag.

When the string is pulled, the message comes uncoiled and can be pulled out of the bottle.

I left some of the bottles as they were, and I tied jute string around a few so that I could hang them, as well as set them on different surfaces.  

Just like last week's "pay it forward", I left these cute message bottles everywhere I went today...with the hope that they find someone who will be just as inspired as I was by the contents inside of them.  

How did you Pay It Forward this week?  

Keep sharing the love : )