You Might Be Wondering...

What's going on around here? Well, if you guessed that I'm moving, you are correct. After nearly three years here at Working Title, I have decided to move on. I have a new home! So consider this your invitation to come on over to Gina G Smith dot com. You're welcome any time.

Don't worry....all the content is there and you should be able to find what you're looking for more easily and quickly. So, pay me a visit, and say hello, will ya?

Fellas! Hear This.

Bringing daisies to your girl…

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…will NEVER be frowned upon.

Also, come back tomorrow for some big news. It involves a real name and change you can believe in.

Valentine Goodies

Lots of valentine crafts out there to choose from. It's not too late to craft something lovely for someone you love...

The Crafty Crow always has something to get those creative juices flowing.

Pictured above are salt dough hearts, from The Long Thread. The snow has prevented us from delivering them as of yet, but they're at the ready. It was an easy and fun project.

Sew Mama Sew also has a compilation of some great tutorials.

Weekend Sewing

My hubs got this book for me this Christmas. It's full of projects I'd like to try. I just have to pace myself, as evidenced by the hours I spent on this project a couple of weekends ago. (I wonder if the author, Heather Ross has kids present during her weekend sewing marathons...)

I'm definitely learning to sew in stages. I think one of the reasons I haven't done as much sewing and reading in the past few years is because I'm an "all or nothing" kind of person. Typically, I want to finish the WHOLE project or the ENTIRE book in one sitting, as opposed to stretching it out. This just isn't practical in my situation, so having kiddos around sort of forces me to sew in stages. Not a bad development, to be sure.

After doing all my cutting one weekday evening, I was able to finish this project in a reasonable amount of time a couple of Saturdays ago. It is called the everything tote--a fitting name, as it is huge and holds a LOT. The fabric is an old tablecloth, lined with a sheet I found at a yardsale.

I'm pretty happy with the results!

It's Not Hard to Find Good Help These Days.

Especially on laundry day.

Are You Needy?

How many times do we seek wisdom, comfort, approval or provision from our men when we would be much better served by finding our souls' help from above?

...I am not saying that men do not meet any needs of their wives. Of course they do! But when women look to fallen men to give them purpose and meaning in life, they are looking in the wrong place. It is asking of a finite creature what only the Almighty can do. He created us with all these needs, and only He can really satisfy our soul’s desires. A husband is a source of tremendous comfort, strength, protection, love, and companionship. But our souls need supernatural comfort, strength, protection, love, and companionship. A mere man cannot even comprehend the needs of a woman. In fact, I don’t think women even understand their own hearts and needs...

Nancy nails it again Something I'm still learning, after nearly ten years of marriage. It's always easier to seek comfort from flesh and blood, someone who is right there with you, someone you can see. But that's a lot of pressure to put on a husband, don't you think?

Cuppa Somethin'

There are many times when I find myself feeling irritated and snappish toward my children, without a specific reason. Perhaps there is a lot on the proverbial plate these days, and the more I go and go and fail to stop and rest, the more frequently I tend to get a failing grade in this department. Not an excuse, just a reality. I've tried to take notice when signs of these sorts of meltdowns take place. That's why I really appreciated Amy's post at the end of last week. She's having a cup of sanity....perhaps I'll have one as well. Here's an excerpt in her own words, although if you have time to read it all, I feel sure you'll relate.

...instead of whining and complaining or getting into one of those husband/wife conversations about who is more tired, I thought I would just make a plan to take care of myself...

...Times of retreat are so necessary and needed. And not once in a great while or when we are completely fried and burned-out, but as a way of life. We cannot effectively take care of those we love if we aren't consistently being filled up in all areas...

Usually, all it takes for me is a little time to be creative, take a drive, listen to some music, or whatever else I wouldn't normally get to do on my own without an audience or an interruption. It's amazing how just a little time to think (or NOT think!) can do wonders for my outlook and refresh my inner being. We can make jokes about "me" time, but seriously...it's necessary for survival sometimes. Don't you think? When you have an opportunity to refresh, what's first on your 'to do' list? What's in your cup of sanity?