Janna Wilson

my three...

Just wanted to share this...a simple project you can whip up in no time...great idea for a Mother's Day gift for a friend or grandmother.  Check out more about it over here at the Fiskars website.

Saturday

I went and picked up my table this morning for my office...it's PERFECT!  I can't wait to show you how this space has come together...I'm really loving coming in here now instead of dreading the site of this room.  The serene blue paint, the practical set up, functional design...it's no showcase home office, but with the budget I had to work with it is so practical for the whole family.  I will finish up this week and get some pics posted!

Made THIS RECIPE this morning for my Mother's birthday lunch and to celebrate my sisters getting into OT school!  This quiche is to die for!  If you like quiche it's so simple.  And, yes, I ate some...it was a special occasion and I'm doing pretty good at practicing self discipline when it comes to portion control.  We had some roasted asparagus and a fruit salad with our quiche...so yummy!

The diet is going well...I'm not down much more this week.  I think it's because of the lack of exercise :(  though I have been more active this week.  Spring Break has me out of my routine and I'm not going to complain too much because 6+ lb was pretty good that first week.  I have been doing good calorie wise though I had a little bobble last night...back on the wagon today, no reason to be alarmed! ;)  Those darn 100 calorie packs!!!  It's a love/hate thing.  I've made some great changes in my thinking and have really done great so far...I will not be deterred from my goal!

Guess what I did yesterday...for the first time ever...

ICE SKATED!  Yes, I did.  Took the kids up to the Jones Center to try it out.  VERY fun...definitely will go back-- we had such fun!

So right now I'm procrastinating...printing some photos for a layout.  Better get back to work--just wanted to share that recipe.  It's really good!

Oh wait!  Let me procrastinate some more...gotta show you the cutest picture ever.  Cash went to work with Papa the other day when Jenny and I were painting...he came back after lunch and was beat...he had been running the backhoe all morning ;)  He LOVED being with Papa...just look at these two!

 

and yes, Cash needs some new overalls but he insisted he must wear his "o'valls" to match Papa. LOL!!

My first weigh in...

Well, I hate to bore you with my diet...but I'm so excited I weighed in 6 1/2 lb. lighter today than last Monday!!!  YAY!!!!

The kids are on spring break this week, so I am going to be taking the rest of the week off and just doing some fun stuff.  Every year I say I am and so many things come up...I really AM this year.  I have some things to turn in and ship today/tonight and then it's home free for the rest of the week.  YAY!

Gotta share...a peek of my office:

You getting the picture?!  LOL!  The kids were playing school --they love this new room! (just a side note: no, this isn't my scrap space...my scrap space is in what is the formal dining room across from this room.  This room is probably meant for an office as it has no closets and it's a smaller space.)  One thing about older houses is that you have lots of closets and nice size rooms...love that. 

Thanks to ALL that made suggestions on the table/desk situation.  I actually found a kitchen/dining table at a local furniture outlet for a great price!  It's black and really simple...it will be the perfect finishing touch...that's pretty much all I'm waiting on and I'm done with the room.  Won't be in till Friday...so we wait!

Hope you have a great week! 

TGIF...almost

Well, it's almost Friday!  I'm four days into my SLIM DOWN.  I am so motivated and super pumped.  I've really enjoyed reading YOUR suggestions, tips and encourage notes!  THANK YOU!!  I can DO THIS!  I'm excited to say that I'm already down 2 1/2 lb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  YAY ME!!!  That in and of itself is very motivating!  I'm weighing in officially (each week) on Mondays and tracking my daily progress on another blog.  I'm journaling a bit about my successes and struggles and logging everything I eat.  That is SO helping!  I'm journaling my journey and sharing with some friends that are rooting me on!  It's great because it's helping me be accountable...if only to a few friends...it HELPS a lot.  Maybe when I'm down quite a bit (poundage-wise) I might make the blog public...I don't know-- it's pretty REAL.  If anyone is REALLY interested in going this with me or is already working on their own slim down...I would be willing to share the blog with you...just email me.  I think it's so great to have a support system.   

In other news...Jenny and me are making progress on the office RE-DO.  Good thing...because I need to start my taxes and I can't until this is DONE! We painted today and I had to run and get another gallon tonight...of my favorite RALPH LAUREN Faded Seafoam paint that I discovered thanks to one of my MOST stylish and fashionable friends...CANDICE!   (check out this design of hers) We are more than half done with the painting and should finish up tomorrow.  I'm still searching for the perfect desk.  I need something like a writing desk...simple with no underneath and my budget is $150 max.  I found the most perfect beautiful one at Ballard Design...for $700.

 
Talk about blow the budget!  I'll find what I'm looking for...still a few places left to scout out tomorrow.
I do love Ballard Design...great ideas even for us frugal gals!

These framed corkboards are also Ballard...listing at $89-149.  I picked up some similar at Hobby Lobby for $20 (half price sale this week).  YAY!!!  I am using three of these on the large wall to post the kids weekly newsletters, awards, notes from school, artwork, etc.   My plan for the office is for it to function for the kids as much as me. 

Oh enough about that...I suppose I ought to get in bed...my plate is FULL up tomorrow!  Got a ton to do!  Better get some rest! Goodnight all!

cha cha cha cha changes....la alal lala la la!

Things are changing...I feel excited!  I started my SLIM DOWN yesterday.  I'm off to a great start and I've set a few goals for myself.

8 lb loss by April 15th!

50 lb loss by December 9th (that's my wedding anniversary)

4 times a week walking at least 30 min.

Of course I've set some limitations on my caloric intake and I'm really going to try to omit sugar completely unless I feel the need to have a treat.  I haven't felt that need yet...but it's day two. 

I have a great support system and have been so inspired by some big LOSERS!  So awesome.

I'm excited that I have a lot of things going for me right now...like the beautiful spring weather, the farmers market will start soon-- I LOVE the farmers market!  I even hear we are getting one locally in my town!

Jenny and me are doing a DESIGN on a DIME with my office...we've set a small budget (very small) and we are painting, adding some furniture pieces, and totally refreshing...a whole new design!  I'm just so excited!  I'm so into HGTV right now.  She was over today and we worked on it this morning.  It's gonna be awesome!  Right now...it's horrid. :) embarassing, really.  I don't know why I'm posting this picture now.  Keepin' it real, I guess.  LOL!

 

Let me enlighten you just a bit.  This room is 9 x 11 1/2.  Great size for an office.  It's got some blue toned striped wallpaper.  Soothing...not the most terrible...but still, got to go.  It's a catch all --no organization, no storage options...and well, it's pretty much unattractive except for the new hardwood flooring we put in a while back.  NO overhead lighting.  Gotta love the 70's houses :)  crazy.  Our living room didn't have overhead lighting either.  It does now. :)

So, stay tuned and watch this transformation!  It'll be fun. 

Feeling springy!?  Check out this project I did for the Project A Day over at fiskarscrafts.com! 

I'm officially motivated :)

Just got back from my first EVER trip to a gym.  For real.  Yes, I realize that's sad.  I went to the FSAC for a free/try Zumba class courtesy of FortSmithMoms.com.  What a trip!  Some of you know that I{think I} got some moves...now I'm not saying they are GOOD MOVES...I just like to move!  So, I thought I'd enjoy this.  WOW!  They dumbed it down for us newbies MOMS and it was still pretty wild!  I liked it!  I loved it! And it felt SO good to move!  I'm really inspired by THIS SLIMMIN' GIRL.  Teresa is also a big inspiration for getting fit and slimming down, getting healthy.  And of course Miss DD.  WOW!  It makes me think...I can do this.  I know people who have done it.  I know people who live it.  I think I can I think I can I think I can...I know I can if I dedicate myself to it. 

I've got one of those really motivational pivotal turning point pictures (that I'm just not ready to share) that you're like...THAT'S ME?  No way.  Sadness sets in...you want to grab a couple pints of Haagen Daaz and pull the covers over your head and stay there for a few days and cry a little or a lot.  Now, this Mama don't have time to do that exactly, but I definitely make a point of sabotaging my body furthermore as a result of my weight.  It's no good.

So...what shall I do?  Sixty pounds I need to shed...yes, unfortunately I said [TYPED] the word sixty.  Let's just get real...that is totally overwhelming.  Baby steps...one day at a time.  No more swimming in ice cream to releive stress or juggling whoppers out of boredom.  Time to get serious.  Seriously.

Hmmm...well, I'm seriously considering joining the gym.  I thought maybe if I work out first...then the eating right will follow.  Just today after the workout I was starving (of course I skipped breakfast in leiu of coffee) but I craved a salad and some protein.  I wanted something good (for me) that I knew I wouldn't be able to find at a restaurant especially fast food.  We don't eat out a lot anyways.  So I dropped in the grocery store in my (not so attractive) work out attire (sleeping boy in tow) and picked up some lettuces, tomatoes, chicken, yogurt and few other items needed.  So what do you think of my mentality...work out first-->be motivated to eat better?  After all when you work out or excercise you're thinking-- I'm not going to eat that insert sweet sugary fatty foodstuff here or else it will all be in vain!

I'd love to be motivated some more if you've got a story to share.  My own best success was with Weight Watchers about eight years ago.  I lost 25 lb. and it was so great.   I just can't seem to be successful with WW again?  Why is that.  I know it works.

Oh and here's a picture of my yummy lunch...steaming broiled chicken on a bed of greens with tomatoes and a low fat italian dressing!  mmmmMMM  MMm!  Talk about YUM!

Please share if you have words of wisdom from your own slim down...thanks for listening (reading;)
jw

 

Sweet Tweets!

Hi all! 
Just wanted to share a pattern with you for the sweet little bird that adorns this SPRINGY GARLAND I designed this month for Scarlet Lime.  The project kit sold out but Christy is so great to post the instructions for anyone who would like to create the project with their own stash.  Isn't that cool!  You can go over and check out the instructions and download them for later!  OR you could use this little birdy for cards or scrapbook pages...even decor projects.  He's a cutie!  

Hope you enjoy!
Download Tweety Bird pattern

Here's my other Scarlet Lime projects for March:







I LOVED this month...it was such a dream to work with this stuff!  YUM!

Sprucing up around here...

Last week through the beginning of this week has just been SUPER BUSY.  As of today...I'm feeling like a ton of bricks has been lifted off me.  The girls were in the little local pageant here in town over the weekend (they've both won the crown before, they just like to dress up!) and we were busy with that Friday and Saturday. I didn't even purchase their dresses until Friday!  YIKES!!!

Scott's birthday was Friday.  39!  He doesn't look it...

 

I fixed a taco pizza and my newest variety, cheeseburger pizza (his fave), and a little birthday cake (he wanted yellow cake with chocolate frosting).  We had his birthday dinner after church on Sunday.  He got a pretty awesome fishing trip for his birthday...so I just got him some truffles (his favorite chocolate) for a birthday present. 

Speaking of birthdays...here's a peek of something I was working on this week.  LOVE this pic of Cash on his birthday.

 

The book is a clear tabbed Bind it All book by Teresa.  It is super cool! I'll show you more later ;)

GS103 is a wrap (though of course you can still sign up if you wish), been getting things done, shipped, loose ends tied up...you know what I mean?  That is a GOOD feeling.  I've been in the mood to do some major SPRING CLEANING!  I got a bit started last night...Scott even helped me!  We started in our storage room--purging junk and boxes and organizing.  Man it feels good!  I want to really get things cleaned up around here to enjoy spring.  Have I ever mentioned that my 1973 house has 14 closets...yep.  I lived here over a month before I actually stumbled on to #14 --hee hee!  It's easy to accumulate a lot of unnecessary stuff with 14 closets!  LOL!  (sidenote:  the people that built the house had teenage daughters, I think that explains the closet situation)

Speaking of spring cleaning...I gave the blog a little face lift... I know, I know-- it's bold, more like summery than springy --but I'm really lovin' me some orange lately.  I like it.  And the best part...my blog header FITS my blog :) LOL!

Oh goodness...I made a really fun project recently that I'm in love with-- I came across the pix :) It was for Simply Handmade magazine.  It's very cool!  Here's a little sneaky peeky...I think you'll be seeing some more projects like this on Got Crafts? soon so stay tuned! 

OH.
MY.
DOSH.
(in the words of Cash)

Well, I had to get some supplies today for a project and decided to go check out the brand spankin' NEW Michaels that is near me (about 20 minutes).  Whoa!  This store is a scrapbookers dream.  The WHOLE entire middle of it is SCRAPBOOKING!  I was having one of those angels and trumpets moments...I didn't want to leave!  I WANTED TO BREAK OUT A CREDIT CARD AND CHARGE IT BABY!!!!!!!!!!  But, I restrained myself.  I was proud...I purchased only what I needed and left...sad, I know. LOL!!  But seriously, It was a really nice store.  Impressive.  Closest thing to a retail CHA I've seen! 

Guess what I got in the mail today!?  Scrapbooks etc. APRIL issue!  Guess who did the cover? :)  (little squeal LOL!!)

yep, it was ME!  I'm so addicted to those puffy THICKERS!  LOVE LOVE LOVE them!  Lots of Fiskars love on this layout...can you say Scallop Border Punch? 

What else...well, the girls are both playing softball so that kicked off this last week--> lots of running in my future. 

Lately...I'm so addicted to HGTV.  Most of y'all know I rarely watch any t.v. --but I'm so loving all those design shows on HGTV!  I can SO relate!  I think my favorite is Dear Genevieve.  Cool.  I've been getting in bed and staying up WAYYYY too late watching!  I even watched one today while Cash & me had lunch...I'm getting sucked in to the boob tube!!! ahhhhhh!

Goodness...I'm swimming in ideas and in the HUGE mess that is in my crafty space.  Its SO stifling!  Tomorrow...I clean.  Then a fresh start for creating! 

Here's to a fresh start and a perky new blog!
jw

goings on

Well, this morning the final sketch for Got Sketch 103 went live though that doesn't mean it's over yet!  There are a still several fun goodies to come!  ...another Tip Sheet, MORE prizes, Sketches2Go cards and our final chat is tonight (8 p.m. Central).  This go around Val and I produced two videos for the class and it was pretty fun!  Each video was a great project tutorial and I think they turned out pretty nice for our first time!  I think it added a lot to the class experience.  I hope all of you class members liked it too!  I would love to work in some more videos especially for Got Crafts?  --I love the hands on viewpoint that viewers have with this format though it's true what they say...the camera did add 5 lbs. to EACH of my hands :) LOL!! Here's a peek at my sample layout from today's sketch from 103:

It's all about layers, texture but most importantly...building on a great foundation and starting with a great plan!  If you're needing a kick in the tale, need some motivation and want to really get some scrappin' done-- definitely consider one of the Got Sketch class series workshops to get your scrappy groove on!  There are now FOUR classes to choose from.

Well, a few days ago it was snowing and now its feeling like early summer!  That's Arkansas for you!  Cash is running around in underwear and we are attempting the potty training game!  He likes the underwear and he likes TREATS (for going on the potty).  I've decided no Pull Ups, no potty chair (yuck), I'm just going to see how it goes.  I figure if we ease into it now, maybe he'll embrace it by summer.

Lots of things to check off my list by today's end...but between the summer-like weather and spring fever, all I want to do is some SPRING CLEANING and start some new projects around the house.  Painting my room, fixing & purging in my office...I wish one of those HGTV shows would show up on my doorstep :)  Better quit dreaming and get busy!

Have a wonderful weekend!
jw