Your Life Planned

I have never been a phone planner kind of person- I will always have have a paper/pencil planner. I love doodling, making lists, color coding plans, and the power of writing things down.  This past year I used the Erin Condren Life Planner and it was amazing!  I loved how I could keep all of my plans, notes, lists, and other items in one organized pretty place.  

As December is right around the corner and this year is almost over (how is that possible?!) I am on the hunt for my next life planner.  I might stick with Erin Condren, but I found this new one that looks really interesting.  It is called Passion Planner.

I love that the creator was a young girl that needed a way to organize her life but also set goals and check in on those goals.  Take a look at the small video explaining how this planner can be used. CLICK HERE

What do you think?  Which planner would you use more?  Do you know of a planner that is amazing that I should check into?  

Craft Day Mania

YAY... Craft Day is here!  Listen, my family LOVES to craft, it is something we have always done since we were little kids.  So it is only natural that we would continue this tradition with a family and friends craft day.  We pick a date, everyone brings a fun dessert or appetizer, I make chili, and we drink a little girly drink while crafting the day away!

I love using large butcher paper to cover my counter tops when hosting for two reasons.  1. It is such easy clean up- roll it up and toss!  2.  It allows me an easy, cute way to write what each food item is.

Now on to the real reason we are here... the crafting!!  We have learned over time that it is best to select one craft that everyone can customize.  This makes it easy for everyone to sit together, use the same supplies, and get a little inspiration.  This year we called on a little help from my step dad with supplies.  No big deal... could you cut down a tree and slice around 100 small circles!!??  HaHa- and the best news... he did!!!  A huge THANKS because craft day may not have happened without him, oh and he supplied the very yummy homemade wine!

We set the table up with all the wood circles, paint, markers, glitter, modge podge, stamps, twine, scrapbook paper, and a few printed Pinterest inspiration pictures.

Let's grab a drink and get crafting!!

We used the supplies to create all sorts of fun things from the wood circles- Christmas gift tags, ornaments, banners, coasters, and more.

We painted some of the wood circles with black paint to look like chalk, and we used white craft markers to write on them.  This really created a whole new look!

On some we used Modge Podge to add a festive family picture!  Great for tree ornaments and gifts for grandparents!

Once we finished creating, we used a drill to add a small hole to string yarn through.

I made one ornament for each of Emersyn's little classmates, thinking about trying to Modge Podge a picture on the back.

Side Note: Emersyn LOVED craft day!!  There were lots of people at the house and a few of my cousins brought their little ones too.  She loved all the company!

Thanks to all of the ladies for coming to craft day!!! SUCH FUN!! Can't wait for next year!!

A Family Fun Weekend

 Two weeks ago my family headed back home for Emersyn's baptism.  We also used this as a fun opportunity to take a few family photos.  My parents live out in the country and the surroundings are just too pretty not to capture.   One thing we learned from this little session... none of us are photographers by any means!!  HAHA- pay a professional!! We have funny lighting issues and they just aren't up to the professional standards.  But oh well- they were fun, free, and just for our use of Christmas cards or a photo to send to grandma!  Here are some of my favorite...

The set up was in front of an old barn with an old family quilt and a few other Christmas touches.

This is literally their backyard!  Love living in Indy but miss this at times!

Someone was obviously not taking this photo session seriously!

My sister Jessica and her husband John.

My brother Aaron and his wife Stefani.

After a little family fun outside, we changed for Emersyn's baptism service.  We were lucky to have my whole family there and Ian's family drove to attend as well.  Emersyn was too funny during the whole thing!  Very unsure of what was happening, pushed Father's hand away as he tried to bless her with the oil, and cried while the water was poured on her head.  It was still a very special day for her and us.

Time with family is really something I cherish and continue to be thankful for each and every day!