New Years Resolutions, & a gift card giveaway!!

Hello ladies!  As I have laid sick in bed these last couple days, (with not much to do but stare at the ceiling, lol) I have been thinking of all the things I would like to do better this year.  I am not really one for making "formal" New Years Resolutions, per se, but I love the opportunity to start over fresh and new and try a little harder at some things.  I love making lists, and I have a list of goals I am going to really work on. 

One of those is pacing myself at designing so I spend more time with my boys.  I LOVE designing, it is such a passion to me, and has brought about many opportunities in my life I would have never imagined.  I have turned down a few of those opportunities mainly because I know I can't do the time commitments, with four little guys to raise at the same time.  It has been such a hard thing for me to turn down such amazing opportunities - and has left me with so many mixed emotions.  Once I set out to do something, I put my ALL into it.  And it is so easy to get caught up in the big digital rat race and want to keep up with everyone and everything.  I now realize I need to take a little step back and pace myself better.  I love designing, and do it because it is an amazing creative outlet for me, and I need to keep it at that.  It is so easy to get carried away in deadlines, the excitement of progressing in this business, and all the busy things associated with a competitive career.

I do this because it brings me joy and makes me happy, and I love seeing what I create with my hands and heart.  I also love seeing the amazing layouts and creations you all make with my designs.  I want to keep this something I enjoy and love.  And I feel that is best accomplished by finding balance between work and family, and so that is my main goal for me this year.  These little guys will not stay small for long, and I don't want to miss any of it!  So, with more balance, I hope to have the best of both worlds!!   :) 

Sorry about the novel, but it is something I have been thinking about and am excited for the new year to start fresh and new with my goals!  I have so many ideas bursting from my head for kits and other things, and have so many fun things ready to share with you all soon!!  Our new venture is going to be great, but again, I have got to pace myself!  I want to do so much, I could seriously design 24-7, but I ALSO want to go on nature walks, read books, and play games with these little guys before they grow up and leave home and go on with their own busy lives.

Just to celebrate the new year, and the fun new things we will be releasing soon, I am going to randomly pick THREE commenters to this post who tell me one of their goals for the New Year (or if you prefer, a New Year resolution) to give out $10 gift certificates to!  I will leave this blog challenge up until the evening of the 1st, when our store goes off sale, and then 3 lucky winners will have a little fun money to buy the NEW stuff we put out soon!!!

I hope you all have a wonderfully fun and safe New Year, and I can't wait to hear your comments! hugs!

Comments

[Brooke - in Oregon]

My goals, well I should say to loose weight but ummm I am NOT going there! hee hee

I think my goal for 2008 is to take a step back and try to slow down a bit.

I am always trying to do more than I can possible accomplish and then I get all frustrated at myself for not getting all 100 things done, only 90! lol

I want to enjoy what I do and have time to just watch my grandaughter grow :)

Now to just make myself 'listen' hee hee

[Sarah]

That's a wonderful goal for sure. I am not a designer, but I have a hard enough time balancing my family and scrapping, and I know it'd be even harder if I was designing.

One of my goals is make better use of my time. A lot of times, I browse forums and galleries a little too long and could be scrapping, or working on my other hobbies, or playing with the girls... so, I'd like to be better at that!

[Scrap Evangel]

1. Spend more time in Word and Prayer
2. Excercize 3 times per week
3. Increase ministry through scrapbooking

[Paola*Péia aka ScubaPaola]

well I hope in 2008 I manage to take more care of myself..... I mean I don't want to abbandon anyone, I just want to pay more attention to my needs, and every here and there put them in front of all the other needs of the peolpe I care about... this means in 2008 I plan to say NO a couple of times at least, and I'll have minimum 2 mornings a week to dedicate to my personal needs... and of course scrap a bit more!!!!

HappyNew Year and tons of inspiration to all of you!!!!

[Lynn]

My primary goal for 2008 - Keep It Straight - in otherwords, get organized, have better control/plan for tackling the household tasks, get rid of more clutter...

I think, like everyone else out there, I'd like to lose a few pounds, I'd like to quit smoking, but realistically, those aren't things I want to pressure myself about.

Sounds like you've got a plan in mind for obtaining your goals! Go, Girl!!

[Teresa P]

Totally the same thing... keeping our precious children first! Can't believe how fast they are growing up. :)

[Teresa]

Well....I can completely relate to everything you've talked about! :) You're so articulate! My main goal this year is to finally finish my Ph.D studies...I gave up designing to dedicate more time to this, so "know my boundaries" would be another good one! :) Best wishes to you in 2008!

[sarah vrolyk]

Good for you for realizing that you need to enjoy them while they are little. I, too, have young ones (three boys) and have cut back on some excess in my life this past year (including giving up my blog, which was really hard to do!). I also stepped away from my place in the stamping world ... resigned from all my design teams there ... and took up digital scrapbooking. I am now on a couple teams, but I love that what I create now is a blessing to my family. They love to see my pages and read the journaling. HOWEVER, it is hard to find a balance. Just like you could design 24-7. I, too, could easily sit at my computer for hours and hours and hours and create layouts ... but I can't! One of my goals for 2008 is to be more structured with my time. To have scheduled time for Bible study, prayer, exercise, homeschooling, cleaning, food prep, etc. I think life will be a little easier for everyone that way! Happy New Year! :)

[Mandy]

Enjoy your time with your boys. I've got 5 weeks before I return to full-time work for the first time since having my 6yo so I'm making every last moment count.

I have two main goals for the new year. The first is to get healthier (sounds easier than losing weight I think). The second is to become confident in my work. I'm starting a new job in February as an RN in paediatric intensive care and at the moment I am terrified. I hope by the end of the year (really, by mid year) I feel confident enough to take, and manage, my own patient load with minimal assistance.

Have a wonderful 2008!

[Shopica]

Same as always.....

LOSE WEIGHT!!!!

also, mellow out, do more yoga, and have more FUN with my daughter! :)

[Joyce]

Good for you on finding a happy medium! Good luck to you with that~ As for me, I met last year's goal of wgt loss- I lost 40+ lbs!! I can't say it was difficult though, at least not in the 'work out/will-power' way. While recoving from major surgery I had in fall '06, the wgt just sorta came off. Mostly because of better eating habits, but partly because of being sick too. But- the wgt is off, now to keep it off & get more fit! That's my goal this year: to get in better physical condition! Walk more, exercise more in general and do something active/physical 5 days a week! I've already signed up for a pilates class, and after the holiday party this weekend dh is moving the nordictrak upstairs so I have no excuses anymore (aside from plain ole' ignoring it while it's sitting under my nose lol)

[Angi Smith]

One of my goals is to reflect more upon what happens to me - things like savoring the moment, how does this affect my overall balance.

[denali]

I resolve to make a serious effort to get some decent sleep on a regular basis. I suspect that will be my most effective weapon in this fight to get healthy :)

[Kate]

I have many things I'd like to achieve next year.. practice yoga more is one, join the homebirth coffee group and volunteer with Meals on Wheels (I miss my old people!!)
Glad your back is a bit better!

[tajicat]

I don't normally really do things as a resolution, but going to try to get myself more organized this coming year. I make a long list of too many things to do and seem to get little down, but going to pick the most important, which includes family. And to get back to more exercising too! :)

[tajicat]

I don't normally really do things as a resolution, but going to try to get myself more organized this coming year. I make a long list of too many things to do and seem to get little down, but going to pick the most important, which includes family. And to get back to more exercising too! :)

[Droopette]

My rsolution for this year:
1. stop smoking
2. make more and more layouts lol
3. take more time for me and my family

And before the time, I would wish you a Happy New year

[Rona]

some TOP goals of mine:

1. lose weight
2. exercise more (should go in hand with #1 eh?)
3. cut down on CTs I'm on to spend more time with the kids

[Lynn]

It sounds to me like you have the right perspective on life.

I want that too, I want to spend more time with my family, to go out with the children more (not that they are all children now, with the two eldest being 18 and 22, but I still have my 16 year old and 10 year old babies!), take lots and lots of photos and spend more time scrapping. But since I am the breadwinner for our family, this means being totally organised, something I only ever aspire to but never seem to achieve. I work from home in our converted garage so my main aim is to get myself, and my office, organised, to actually implement and use those procedures I have in place, rather than just think about them, and to do the work as soon as it comes in, rather than have it sit in a pile in the corner of the office for days/weeks or even longer. Then I will have the time to spend with hubbie and the children, I will be able to go out more (instead of being chained to my computer!), I will have the freedom to take more photos and the time to do some scrapping and maybe, just maybe, some designing too!

[szilvia]

my New Year's resolutions are quite simple:

- spend a lot more time with my family
- finish my college (I've one more year to complete it but I wouldn't like to elongate it anymore)
- learn Gaelic and Spanish (been planning it for years now, this will be the year to really start it)

+1: definitely will do more scrapping :)

I wish everyone a Happy New Year and strength to fulfill your resolutions! :)

[shell]

My new year's resolutions are to step back from Photoshop & spend more quality with family & just enjoying life, stop hiding behind my camera & get in some of the photos, & go back to school. May everyone find the strength to follow through with their resolutions.

[Melissa]

Hiya hun! I hope you're havin fun with your boys this weekend now that you're feelin a little better :)I could come up with so many goals for 2008, quit smoking, lose weight blah blah. But I think my goal for 2008 will be to do more things with my kids outside of the house. We don't have a vehicle and live in the city so there isn't much to do but I want to try and give my kids the best experiences. We just moved here so I didn't know what was here, I want to take them to the Crayola Factory, and take them to the zoo. My goal for this year is give the kids a better year then they've ever had before. To give them memories that they will always remember.

[shelly]

Spend more time with family, not to procrastinate, go to bed before midnight and be more organized ;)

[greeneyedgirl47]

Oh.....I know what you mean about going full guns when you find something you just love to do. Also, I had two little boys and I know how fast they grow and become men that I am very proud of. They are now 30 and 31 and I have 4 beautiful grandchildren that I love to scrap.
Somethings I hope to achieve in 2008:
Become a better photographer
Worry and strss alot less.....I REALLY need to work on this one.
LOVE my little grandchildren before they are grown and gone also.

[Leslie]

Goal: To create a daily "life" lo in less than 30 minutes! Even though I'm a digi scrapper, it takes me a lot longer!

Leslie