Monthly Faithbooking Crop :: November 2011

The November Faithbooking Crop is around the corner! Join us at Hosanna! on Saturday, November 12 from 9:00 am-3:00 pm for a fun and productive day of scrapbooking (or whatever sort of crafting floats your boat). As aways, the crops are FREE and include:

•snacks and beverages
•hourly prize drawings
•monthly journaling lesson
•hours to work on your projects

Just click HERE and follow the instructions to reserve your spot! The rest of the year has been mapped out as well, future dates follow:

December 10, 2011
January 14, 2012
February 11, 2012
March 10, 2012
April 14, 2012
May 12, 2012
June 9. 2012
July 14, 2012
August 11, 2012

If you have not been receiving my monthly email reminder and would like to, let me know and I'll add your name to the list! (Just a reminder... please RSVP by Wednesday, November 9th!)

5 Fun Things Friday

1. Single-cup coffee makers and their K-cup counterparts.

My new [FREE] coffee pot! Gotta love credit cards with reward points :)

Not only does it make coffee, cider, tea & cocoa but a variety of iced beverages as well!

2. This lovely bow coffee cozy (click HERE for details).

3. This iPhone power boost key chain.

Source: coolmaterial.com via Keely on Pinterest

4. Costco Travel.

My friend Kathy shared this travel planning gem with us last weekend and I've been pricing out several trips ever since. Seriously, one heck of a deal!!!!

5. I recently rediscovered this Personality Questionnaire for Kids (click HERE). My teen took the Myers-Briggs assessment at school and the Personality Questionnaire featured here was spot on (he came up as the same type on both). It can be a very helpful tool - identifying both personal strengths and weaknesses. We have had a lot of fun with it this week. Once you've identified your personality type, there are all sorts of websites you can check out to learn more about yourself. My favorites are THIS ONE and THIS ONE and THIS ONE and THIS ONE.

Happy Friday!!!

JT | Minnesota Senior Portrait Session

Here are some of my favorites from a recent 2012 senior session:

JT was a natural in front of the camera.

Which made my job VERY easy :)

Thanks again and have a FANASTIC senior year, JT!

DIY holiday project :: 30 days of gratitude

I'm always on the lookout for ways to help cultivate "an attitude of gratitude"; with Thanksgiving around the corner and walls still to fill in our newly finished basement space, this family project seemed an answer to prayer. While mine is still an early work in progress, you'll get a better glimpse of the final result on Becky Higgins' blog HERE.

I went with a slightly smaller frame to fit my space AND a different word for gratitude:

Every day during the month of November, each family member will add one thing [to the white space] they are most thankful for.

The boys are a little nervous about this.

I, on the other hand, couldn't be more excited :)

I especially love the idea of it hanging as a permanent reminder of the gifts we are given each day... especially those everyday things we seem to take most for granted. [I'll be sure to share an image of the final product at the end of the month.]

you've been remade

I was captured by a song this week. The lyrics so in sync with where we're at in our bible study.

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.

A powerful reminder of the redemptive truth that God's grace mercifully rescues us anytime, anyplace, and in any situation. ANY. Whether you've made a series of destructive choices and your life is a mess. Whether you've been keeping secrets, hiding who you really are. Whether you feel that what you have done is simply unforgiveable.

He forgives, wiping the slate clean. All that is required of me, is to:

1) acknowledge the wrong that I have done - no more excuses, minimizing, or rationalizing
2) accept God's discipline - there are natural consequences to my actions, unavoidable fallout; instead of running from it, I need take responsibility by "paying my dues"
3) asking for forgiveness - ask God to forgive me and most importantly, receive that forgiveness by letting go of the shame and guilt
4) act on God's direction - if He is telling me to turn away from something... turn away!

True redemption - anywhere, anyplace, anytime, and in any situation.

5 Fun Things Friday

1. Ben & Jerry's Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream.

2. White Chocolate Candy Corn M&M's.

Super duper tasty.

3. Love, love, LOVE this idea - not only as a scrapbook page...

Source: thejoblingfamily.com via lisaleonard on Pinterest

But it would be lovely displayed on a wall as well.

4. This adorable autumn ring.

Available through Etsy by clicking HERE.

5. Great idea for movie night... this gourmet popcorn spice kit!

With flavors ranging from "beer" to "chocolate caramel" there's bound to be something that will please everyone. Click HERE for purchasing details.

Happy Friday!!!

just a heads-up...

I'm now taking reservations for the Spring Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat that will take place the weekend of Friday, March 23-Sunday, March 25, 2012. There is a $50 non-refundable fee required to hold a spot (with the remaining balance due February 1, 2012). Refunds of the remaining balance will only be issued if the spot is filled by someone else. I am required to pay *the entire balance* well in advance of the hosted retreat and am unable to otherwise cover the hefty expense with last-minute cancellations. The cost for the Spring Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat is $145 (you can SUPERSIZE IT by adding Thursday, March 22) for an additional $30. All meals and beverages are included except for one food item that will be assigned to share. There are NINE FIVE SPOTS currently available at the spring retreat.

There are still THREE SPOTS available at December Winter Weekend Retreat (you'll find details by clicking HERE). You do not need to be a customer to attend (other crafters and scrapbooking consultants are also welcome :) If you have any questions about either retreat, let me know.

a day in the life of a cowgirl | Minnesota Lifestyle Photographer

While my title may not be entirely accurate, I was able to spend a couple of hours with Amy and her four-legged friend, Ernie. While working on her images, I was mentally composing a mosaic much like the one hanging in my own home below:

I'm such a detail-oriented person that I find it difficult to truly capture the heart of something with only one image.

Especially when each is so different.

Thanks again for inviting me over, Amy :)

You can learn more about Amy and Ernie on her blog [Teachings from the Trail] by clicking HERE.

the days we are given are gifts from above

I'd forgotten how much I love this song.

We Live by Superchick. The lyrics are below:

There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost her son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be the last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
(so she could say she loved him one last time)
And hold him tight
But with life we never know when we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

There's a man who waits for the tests to
See if the cancer had spread yet
And now he asks why did I wait to live 'til it was time to die
If I could have the time back, how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well, this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we were meant to do

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day
Is a gift somehow, someway
And get our heads up out of this darkness
And spark this new mindset and start on with life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy's a reminder to take off the blinders and wake up
(to live the life)
We're supposed to take up
(moving forward)
With all our heads up
Cuz life is worth living

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

Winter Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat :: December 2011

Of the two scrapbooking retreats I host each year, the winter weekend is MY FAVORITE. Nothing beats that bit of quiet time at the start of the holiday season... and the Egg Nog Chai Lattes... and the Christmas tunes... and the touch of snow. (For those of you who have attended either retreat - winter or spring - I'd love to hear your favorites... be it winter or spring retreat, favorite food or drink item had at the retreat, or just favorite retreat-thing in general. For those of you former-retreat-goers who add a comment to this post, there will be a prize drawing for a lovely little treat.)

Well, it's THAT TIME again and there are still FOUR ONE OPEN SPOTS for the Winter Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat in December. Details are below:

Where: Memory Lane Retreat, North Branch

When: Friday, December 2-Sunday, December 4, 2011

Cost: $145 for Friday-Sunday (for only $30 more, you can add Thursday, December 1!!)

Details: The fee includes all meals and beverages except for one food item which is assigned. Everyone has their own bed and work table. There are prize drawings throughout the weekend and a treat bag upon arrival. Memory Lane is located close to the Tanger Outlet Center, only 55 minutes north of the Twin Cities.

You will find a virtual tour HERE and a host of other links to click on below:

http://tinavega.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-all-about-egg-nog-chai-lattes.html

http://tinavega.blogspot.com/2009/12/tales-from-retreat.html

http://tinavega.blogspot.com/2009/12/vroom-vroom.html

If you have any questions, let me know!

the four of us :: october 2011

* one family photo * MY family * each month * for an entire year *

Dropped the ball last month, though I did manage to share a little of what went on HERE. This October has been more manageable than last, partly because I've been I've been more intentional about the way I spend my time. I have about half the workload than usual for fall, enough to keep me busy but not so much that it creeps into every inch of my personal life. I've even took this weekend off, making time to play with my family and snap lots of images for myself :)

I hope you are making the most of this beautiful season as well.

5 Fun Things Friday

1. This yummy Enchilada Pie.

Especially when doctored up with my sister's homemade salsa...

The recipe is below:

1.5-2 lbs. ground turkey
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 envelope taco seasoning mix (I simply used the taco seasoned ground turkey)
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 small can sliced black olives
4-6 large flour tortillas
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Brown turkey meat. Combine tomatoes, seasonings (if not using seasoned meat), onions, olives, and meat. Layer sauce, tortilla, sauce and cheese - 3 to 6 times - in a pie plate. End with cheese on top. Cook uncovered at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.

2. Love the look of this sweater dress.

You can find more information about it HERE.

3.This new Border Making System by Creative Memories.

You will find it HERE.

4. Spicy Sweet Caramel Corn.

The recipe is HERE.

5. Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze.

Details are HERE.

Happy Friday!!!