I Resolve in 2013...

...to make no New Year's Resolutions.  2012 resolution-free year worked out 'Fine'! In fact, it was amazing. 

I will keep the following general thoughts in mind to keep me focused.

#1 Eat only when I am hungry. 
      (No more counting calories!)

#2 Moderation in everything.

#3 One day off a week from Technology, To-Do Lists, Have-to's, and Should's.
      (This will be the hardest for me.)

#4 Exercise, Exercise,Exercise...
                       Keep Moving!
     
#3 My priorities are: 

my Etsy Shop, 

Quilting

Blogging

Plaid Pages, a journal, 

Eating In and Out and About,

and Quick Tips and Notes

Collage

Altered Art 

Artist Trading Cards

 and Golf.  

If I do not spend some time weekly 

on any of these priorities, 

it's time to regroup
and evaluate!

#4 Remember: The only thing that goes with me from here to there is relationships with people and knowledge. 

#5 It's okay to do nothing...
                              I am retired after all:)

#2 bears repeating-

Moderation in everything!

Next Blog>>

Every once in a while I will check out "Next Blog>>" on Blogger.  Today was one of those days!  I found about 5 Blogs that were political; 1,economic;1,personal;1,private (I need their permission to read it)! Finally I came to this one! 

Turquoise

I loved the look of it...format and content!

I am now a follower!

Do you ever look at 'Next Blog>>'?  

What have you found that you loved when you did?  If you don't, give it a try you never know when you will find treasure...

Where did my time go?

I can't believe it...I haven't posted since October 12...not one word. I honestly do not know where the time went!  I even keep lists so I know that I have accomplished something from day to day.

Looking back over the 12 days---








I ran a My Memories Suite giveaway.  Which I confess did not prove to be successful except for me.  I did get a free copy of the software for running a Giveaway.  However, there were no takers from my Blog followers or from my Facebook.  Perhaps there weren't any "digital" scrapbookers among them or if there were, they already had the software they needed.

Click here to visit my shop.

I have also been busy stocking my etsy shop.  I now have 45 items in inventory with more to come.  Right now there are vintage aprons, curtains and handkerchiefs.  I am almost ready for the Grand Opening.  I am not sure what that means.  I have already had a few sales without a Grand Opening or any publicity.

Work at the library took up some of the time as did golfing and quilting.  Also,  just day to day chores...cleaning, washing, cooking...reading...watching dvd's...going to the Rep and an Emmanuel concert in Conway!

Now the big question;  Am I really retired?  hmmm....Technically, the answer is "yes".  However, I am as busy as I was when I worked a 40-hour week.  That was when I worked five days and was off two...never enough time.  Now I work three days a week and am off four...still not enough time.

I have always liked what I am doing at the moment and I still do!!!  That is the secret-Like what you do!  If you don't, find something that you do and do it, Now...

Giveaway Kick-Off!

 



 I am so excited to be asked by MMS to collaborate with them in a Giveaway!  It is a first for me and I am having fun doing it.


You can win your own copy of My Memories Suite software.  It is highly rated by Amazon.com reviewers and was given a GoldStar Award by TopTen Reviews.com.


To Enter:  
1. Click on this link:  My Memories Suite.
2. Choose your favorite paper pack or layout.
3.Post a comment on my blog telling me which ones you have chosen.


You will then be entered.  How easy is that?
I will use Random.org to select the winner on Monday, October 10, 2011. Only one entry per person will be entered.


I love this digital scrapbooking software--My Memories Suite!  If you are a scrapbook-er, crafter, photographer, blogger,  you will love My Memories Suite!  Here are some of the things I am doing with the program.

 I used a stock background and added a bow and text from the software...the flower came from my own stash of digital images.

 I am using a stock photo album to make a 2011 Memory book of my own photos.  It is really easy to select the colors and types of pages you want.  I can hardly wait to get started.

I pulled this page from the "Resource Gallery"...it was one of their free ones.  I will probably make a card from it to give to my husband on Valentines' Day 2012.

I want to buy the Embracing Autumn pack next and see what inspires me.  


You can follow My Memories Suite: 
on their blog:  My Memories Blog
On Facebook:  My Memories Suite
On Twitter: My Memories Suite


Good luck in the Giveaway!

I lost a Friend yesterday!

I am saddened to say that today I have one less Friend following my Blog.  Do you other Bloggers feel remorse when you lose one of your followers? 


I obsess.  Have I written something that offended them?  Maybe, my Posts are not what they expected or like. They may be just simply bored! Then, again maybe they have a quota of Blogs they want to follow and  mine hit the "cutting room" floor to make room for a new one.  

Regardless, I am sorry to lose you, whoever you are!  Hope you will come by again for just a short visit to say "hi"!

Snowed In....

From my door
Winter Snow 2011

I love to be snowed in...  

Down the hill...Winter 2000

We live on a "big" hill and I don't have an "essential" job that requires me to be at work! 








I have no excuses...except, plain procrastination:)  I will tend to "house" things that have been put on the back burner because the weather was too nice to be indoors! ....like working on my Blogs...oops how did that get on the list?  


I am focusing on my New Year's resolutions today:

1. Another item to throw out
I added No. 9 yesterday...eliminated 3 plastic bins of Christmas Decorations...donated two to Goodwill and one to my branch library to decorate the tree next year.

 2. Working on my "20-year" Quilt...
I'll work on this one while we watch a movie this afternoon.  I checked out "Hairspray" from the library last week when I heard the "snow" forecast.


and 
3. Actively Blog on my two other Blogs:
Tips 'n Good Stuff and Eating In and Out and About.


The good news---Chuck is painting the ceiling of a bedroom while I am "playing"!  Hooray for me!

There Comes a Time...

The Time is Now! --- 


Time to resolve for 2011! --- jumping in "feet first"! 


 Here goes...

No. 1  Actively Blog on my "Tips 'n Good Stuff" Blog...and certainly continue my other two Blogs:
PLAID Pages, a journal and Eating In and Out and About.  I know all my friends label me "Over Achiever".  So, I love to Blog why not do what I love doing?

Work in Progress
for 20 years-2010

Walling Hanging
Vintage Fabrics and
Embellishments
Started 2010

No. 2  Finish my Quilts that are "almost" there and start on some more that are in the drawer waiting for their turn...know in the Quilt World as "UFOs".

See My Post
9-25-10

No. 3  Continue to downsize...My inspiration is "Throw Out Fifty Things" ...In 2010 I got to No. 8.  I am aiming for 17 more in 2011.  That will put me half-way through.  I am adding No. 9 today:  Delivered unused Christmas Decorations to Goodwill and the Library...reducing my 10 boxes to 5.

A Valentine Book
for Chuck...all the Valentines
he sent me over 30 years
into a blank book from
sale table at
Barnes and Noble

No. 4  Arts and Crafts will always be on my list.  I discovered I have done something "crafty" all of my life so why stop now.  I have a list of albums to make using old coffee table books and blank journals instead of "bought" picture albums or scrapbooks.  In the list for 2011 is:  Arizona, California, San Francisco, "Grant" a tribute to my Dad and one for my Mom....and the list goes on and on.  I will do them as I am inspired. 

Love Lost and Found

 I also love altering 
old "paint-by-number" 
pictures picked up over 
the years from flea markets 
and thrift stores.




No. 5  Start an "Art Journal".  For some reason I woke up on New Year's Day 2011 thinking I wanted to see if I could draw.  I like Calligraphy so I want to draw with pen and ink using watercolor wash as a background.  My daughter sent me the perfect book for my Journal...maybe that's what triggered this urge?


No. 6 Lose 10 pounds-always resolved to keep me on the straight and narrow.  I weigh and measure at the beginning of every month and use a combination of "calorie counting" and "limiting my carbohydrates" to maintain and hopefully to lose... admittedly not always successful but maintaining ...like 2010.  Also, Chuck and I swim, do weights, walk on the track or treadmill, and take a Yoga class as least one time a week at the Jim Dailey Fitness Center.


Six is Enough, don't ya think?---

In the words of Porky Pig---


 "Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

Stayed Tuned for Updates

Happy New Year!

CHEERS!

Time for an accounting!  
January, 2010 I was actually brave enough to Blog my New Year's Resolutions.  Thinking that being accountable to the Blogging World would motivate me to actually keep them.   



Now the moment has come for me 
to step up to the plate and see how I did!

Quarterly Publication from
Somerset Studio

No. 1:  Blog...Done!  I didn't blog daily, but I give it a thumbs up.  Wow, how can you ask for a better validation than to be named a "Blogger of Note" for my first effort...September 7 I was so honored.  As a result, a large group of followers found my Blog worthy of their friendship.  

No. 2: Update and my website through Homestead/Intuit-Not Done!  I use this site mainly for family and it serves tochronicle and archive our family pictures.  I just didn't seem to make the time.

No. 3: Finish my Double Wedding Rings quilt: Almost doesn't get it!  I am just a few hours away.  As my husband so thoughtfully said: "This was a self-imposed deadline."   I do have a choice.  Indeed, he is right!  It's just that I am not proud of my choice.

I did start 
and almost finish
 and almost finish

 a Wall Hanging Quilt 
using vintage fabrics 

and embellishments.

Both will go on next year's list....

No. 4: Lose 10 pounds-Darn!  All I can say is that I maintained. "Does that count?" (Does everyone put dieting* on their annual list?) *I prefer to say I am changing my eating habits.  Ha!  No matter what I want to call it-I did not lost 10 pounds! ARGGGG! I feel like I am carrying around a 10 pound bowling ball...there's always next year :)

Display cabinet at Library

No. 5: Collage photo albums: Done!  I have to admit I chose different ones that the ones listed, but I finished my projects...resulting in a much complimented six-week display in the foyer of my branch library.

Album of all Valentine's my husband
has given me over the last 30 years!

No. 6: Add watercolor and calligraphy to my collage work:  Not Done!  No excuses...just didn't seem to be inspired for my projects.

I "heart" you all!

I will let this settle for a few days.
Then, I will be brave again and post my Resolutions for 2011. . .
"Your opinion counts."  You keep me focused.  I appreciate your comments and the time you take to tell a fellow Blogger what you like and sometimes what you don't.  I speak for myself, but I suspect for all Bloggers, a thoughtful comment is a special reward and  keeps us posting again and again...and besides I just love it!


"Thank you" doesn't seem to say enough, but "Thank You"! 

2010-My Favorite Web Sites

1.  Amazon  (see Sidebar)
I buy books for my crafts at a fraction of the price...the shipping is always the same unless my books qualify for Free Shipping.

2.  goodreads  (see Sidebar) 
I found goodreads this year and immediately started posting my books that I am reading.  I am also adding my  book history.  Five years ago I started keeping a spreadsheet of the books I read.  I have to...I read too many books.  I even make a note about the story.  When I get a new book in a series, I go to my notes to refresh my memory before I start reading.  Some people I know wait until all books in the series have been published...not me...no patience!

3. Paperback Swap  
This is a wonderful site for all readers and purchasers of  books.  I have been a member for two years.  It is not limited to paperbacks, but that is all I want to swap.  The only cost to you is the postage to mail books when they are requested.    You inventory the books that you would like to trade.  When you have a request, you mail the book and get a credit.  You can then spend that credit to request a book.  The person accepting your request then pays to send it to you. Very easy and use friendly.

4. ATCS for All  




A website for creators and traders of Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)...of whom I am one.  
ATCs are little pieces of art...2 1/2" by 3 1/2".  I saw an article and then coincidently my branch library started a program for those interested in making and trading ATCs.  I had no idea...just when you think you had heard it all!  The leader of the group has been involved for ten years.  On-line you can trade ATC's, postcards, inchie's, twinchie's, 4x4's....just about anything on which you can create art.  You can paint, draw, stamp or collage.  There are swap challenges or you can trade one on one.  Take a look...who knows...try it; you may like it :D

5.  Snapfish.com  
I love Snapfish and have for five years.  I upload my photos to share with my friends and family.  I order prints for pennies and they are mailed to me within days.  I use Snapfish when I want a lot of prints...it saves on my ink and paper.  I also compose and order books/albums of my photos...mainly, to document a special trip and once a year an album of my year in photos by month.

6. Picasa 
Just started using Picasa this year in connection with my blog.  I can now place a slideshow of my pictures or art on my blog.  It is also easy for my to share my latest photos with my friends and family.  You were probably already using Picasa-weren't you? :)  

7.  Facebook
I can't leave out Facebook.  I check it out at least three times a day.  I connect with some of my friends and family.  I also  connect with my favorite authors, websites, TV stations and places I shop. I get coupons, notices of sales and new books coming out.  I resolved in January to participate and I have.
Mark one resolution: "Done".


I saved the best to last:
8.  Blogger (You are reading this so I guess I don't need a "Link")
What can I say?  I made a New Year's resolution this year to learn more about blogging...and I did!  I love it.  Not only did  I get hooked, but I got to be a "Blogger of Note" on September 7, 2010.  What an honor!!!  I don't know how to actually thank the mysterious panel that picks the noteworthy bloggers...but THANKS.  I am really honored. I now have many followers from all over the globe...thank you followers, too!  I love it when you comment.  Although I may not post every day, I check my blog every day to read my comments.   I love them all! 
Mark another resolution: Done!

Counting Down

I have been hesitating about getting my blog out there.  I have read a few personal accounts about bloggers and their hesitations/doubts/fears.  Most advice says "GO FOR IT"....and that's what I am going to do.  I am committing to "publishing" on May 16, 2010. 

Me and Mine are going to Chicago to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary.  It won't actually happen until August, but this works!

Also, I will be celebrating "50 States in 50 Years".  I have been in/to/through 49 states.  On this trip to Chicago we are going to take the train to....you guessed it "Wisconsin"!  The train goes from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin and that will do it. 

So be prepared (or not),

Esmee Lynne