Accessorizing

I spent part of yesterday finally taking the time to go through my new Thirty-One catalog. I love the new patterns. There are some new items that caught my fancy and some of my favorites are showing up in new patterns. This year, I am all about accessorizing matching "stuff". I love the Inside Out tote that is reversible. This new Bold Bloom with the Swiss Dot is perfect for me. 

I would accessorize it with the Swiss Dot mini zipper pouch.

And the Every Wear Wallet

And the Lunch Break Thermal

I also like the set they put together to keep you organized at your desk or for an office on the go. 

I would love to decorate my home office with the new Citrus Medallion office items. 

I like the Inside Out Bag so much that I would also like to have it in the softer pink shades in the Citrus Medallion. 

And the matching medium thermal zipper pouch would be perfect to hold all those loose items I have in my purse.

How adorable is the new Soft Glasses Case?

The new Zip Top Organizing Utility Tote is the perfect bag when you need to take stuff with you. With the zipper across the top and the 7 pockets, it has a multitude of uses. 

I need a new craft bag for my plastic canvas projects. This Sweet Tweets Keep It Caddy is ideal for my projects. It is roomy enough to carry whatever I'm currently working on, but yet small enough not to be bulky. Not to mention I am in love with the little birdies. 

Of course, if I get it, I will need the Sweet Tweets mini zipper pouch to carry my scissors, seam ripper, thimble, etc. 

And this little Chick icon coin purse would be great to just drop in my bag with some cash or change for when we are traveling and we stop for a snack.

Another pattern that is popular this year is the Navy Wave. This large zipper pouch is perfect for going tossing in your beach bag. 

This pattern goes great with the new Paradise Pop shown here in the mini zipper pouch. 

This is my favorite style wallet. The Retro Metro. It is the perfect size for cards, cash and your check book all in one place. and it is super soft. I just love it. 

There is a cute matching sunglasses case to go with the Paradise Pop and Navy Wave patterns. 

No matter which of the new patterns are your favorites, you are bound to find matching items to help you accessorize in style in 2014. 

A New Beginning

I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve. As for hubby and me, we stayed in and played our annual Monopoly game. We have three different sets. We played the 70th anniversary edition last night because I like the clear sparkly dice. 

I started the year off by sleeping till 7:00. For somebody who gets up at 5:00 everyday of their life, it felt like I really got to sleep in. I woke up all motivated to make plans for 2014. I have been searching for printable fun planners to have for the new year. I did find a cute blog planner at http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2013/10/2014-monthly-blog-planner-free.html.

I'm just not sure I need an entire planner to blog. I usually wing it and write about what happened the day before, what is on my mind or what I'm thinking about doing. I really need a planner that can hold my "Don't forget to do" list and my "Places to go and things to do" list. Not to mention a section for my "honey do" list. Surely there is something out there somewhere that will fits my many needs.

I am already starting to track my sales goals for my Thirty-One business. They are making it easier than ever to earn conference bucks to help pay for attending the National Conference in July. I do believe I will go this year. I have wanted to the last two years, but just couldn't decide for sure. This may be the year I make it.

Thirty-One teaches us that if we believe in ourselves we can achieve whatever goals we set for ourselves. This past year they presented us with many opportunities to Believe and Achieve. My blog Sunday was a song I Believe by Brooks and Dunn. I did that song as a kick off to announcing my word for 2014. I have been accumulating signs and posters and pictures to use for my inspiration since October. I know 2014 holds great things for us. There is a friend of mine who saw my song post Sunday and was telling me that BELIEVE was her word for 2014. I think it is cool when God puts the same thoughts in two different minds. 

I'm going to spend the rest of the day getting organized to kick off the New Year. Hope you have a great day!

A year in review....

Some of my favorite photos from my blog over the past year. I like going back and doing "my year in reviews" by looking at my blog and remembering how blessed I am. My very first blessing and perhaps one of my favorite photos of the year, was at the ball field when Garret had a ball game. I got all 5 of the grandbabies in one pic....even if they were making their funny faces.

I got to see Garret's first football game as a freshman. It was the first year he has played football and I was thrilled to get to see his game.

Caleb was very illusive in pictures this past year. He just doesn't like having his picture made. But I did catch a few of him when he wasn't looking. 

I got to go watch Alexis perform in her school Christmas program. 

And went to see Shelby do her dance performance at Boo at the Zoo.

Colby had his birthday party when he turned 3 and he was beyond thrilled with what his Mommy and Daddy bought him. We could barely get him to finish opening presents. 

I did a lot of reorganizing this year. I loved when I found the idea of putting my purses on shower curtain hooks to organize the closet. 

And the wonderful idea of using a shoe organizer inside my craft closet for all those supplies needed to craft.

I rearranged my office/craft room and loved the results...even though I have bought new curtains since then. 

I spent a lot of time going through old pictures and found quiet a few of me with my parents and siblings from back in the day. 

Found some awesome Pyrex finds this past year. Like these "new in box" coffee mugs.

And some gorgeous material for my projects.

Got a lot of decorating ideas from Pinterest and made some egg wreaths that were adorable for Easter. 

Fell in love with the McDonald's commercial that said "Fishy, Fishy." Even downloaded an app on my phone that I could do it like the lady on TV. It was really neat and I had a lot of fun out of it.

Found a really old picture of my daddy and my cousin. I was only about 1 or 2 when this was taken. Miss him everyday. He has been gone 14 years.

Found some cute fabric and made an Easter table runner.

Finally redecorated my bathroom and used the beach theme I wanted. I have been happy with how it turned out. 

A dear friend gave me a day bed and I had a quilt that fit it perfectly. So I got to totally redo the grandkids' room and it didn't cost me a penny.

I made several trips to McKay's to trade in my old books for new ones. This is just one of the many hauls I got that didn't cost me anything because of the trades I took in. 

I finally found a Hazel Atlas mug and it was at a roadside yard sale for .75 cents. I made a lot of cookies this past year, too.

I went to so many yard sales I couldn't count them. I was always looking for the unique and different. This little penquin pill box sure fit that description. One of my favorite finds for just .25 cents. 

Finally cleaned out some of my nail polish that was old. But it left me with over 50 bottles of nail polish that are still usable. 

I was obsessed with homemade sausage pizza bread this year. I fixed it at least once a week for awhile.

We took our first beach vacation in three years. It was so relaxing. We stayed 7 days and I spend some time every single day just sitting in my chair reading. 

I made a lost of coasters in plastic canvas. Somehow I have given most of them away. I need to make some more. They only take about an hour and are really fun to make. 

Had some wonderful times with my Pre-K Sunday School class. In September, they graduated to the next class up so we had them a little ceremony. I made hats from construction paper and red Solo bowls and yarn. They were just too adorable. 

I had quiet a few open houses for my Thirty-One business. But my favorite one was when I was able to use a lot of my Pyrex to serve in. It was awesome.

We got our first real tree in over 15 years. I loved it. It was so big and beautiful. May do it again next year. 

I got a mini donut maker for Christmas and made a batch of cinnamon sugar one that were delicious. 

We have had a cold winter so far and a little snow flurries, but the best snow of 2013 was actually back in March. It was unexpected because we had been having some really nice weather. It was pretty though. 

And my favorite moment of the year was getting a pic with me, Papaw and all our grandkids. Some of the faces just cracked me up. But with 5 of them trying to sit still, you take what you get. 

Hope you can look back over your year with happiness and wishing you the best in 2014. Have a safe and Happy New Year.