One Word 2013: I Heart Nap Time

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
January 15, 2013 --5:00 AM

{I love Jamilyn. She is so beautiful and talented. I really need to put her up for a race down the Alpine slide in Park Cityl I think I’ll kick her butt.}

Hello lovely Less Cake {more frosting} readers! I’m Jamielyn from I Heart Nap Time and I am thrilled Lara invited me back to this series. I think it is such a wonderful idea. She is pretty much the most amazing gal I know.

I can’t believe 2013 is already here. I have to admit I am kind of excited for a New Year. A fresh start! I love being able to set new goals and think of all the things I want to accomplish for the New Year.

As I thought about the one word I wanted to focus on for 2013, I reflected back on the past year. Over the past year I have felt so much love from my Savior. He has blessed me and my little family daily. In 2013 I plan on dedicating more time to serving Him. I know there are many people struggling around me and I can’t help but want to help. However, my problem is finding the time. Between a husband in medical school, two toddlers and running a small business my free time is scarce. I have found it is never convenient for someone to drop off their kids last minute… or to make a quick meal for someone who is ill. I’ve found sometimes because of these “inconveniences” I have passed up opportunities to serve the Lord and those in my community. So this year my word for 2013 is SERVE. I plan on dedicated more of my time to serving my Lord.

I really love this capture from Joshua and decided to make a print for my home to remind me of my 2013 word: SERVE. If you’d like a copy you can download the print HERE.

Thanks so much for having me today! Wishing you wonderful things for 2013!

Xo-Jamielyn

Oh my gosh! I almost chose this one this year. I LOVE it and I think it amazing.

Lara

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Filed Under: One Word, print it

Whoa! 2 in a row!

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
January 4, 2013 --11:26 PM

I know….don’t pass out….2 posts in a row for me. Well, it won’t be a habit.

I’m off to Phoenix for 3 weeks and then home to finish recovering. I don’t know how long it will be before we speak again. But here’s a little something to tell you I love you!

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Filed Under: It's a Video!

One Word 2013: Less Cake {more frosting}

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
January 3, 2013 --5:01 PM

Welcome to One Word, One Goal 2013

Last year, I introduced a series I like to call “One Word, One Goal”. (and no……I did not come up with the idea…..I just think it’s great.) I’ve been picking one word goals for 3 years now, and they have been the most uplifting, and challenging, and rewarding resolutions I’ve ever made.

2011 was: BREATHE

2012 was: REFINE

AND 2013 IS GOING TO BE: RISE

I picked rise because it helps me face so many of the things that I am anticipating for 2013….and it challenges me to meet it and rise above it.

arise: I gotta fight to get out of bed. I gotta fight to make my muscles work again. I gotta arise above the feeling that I am picked on. I gotta arise above the depression.

rise up: I gotta rise up and share things that I know to be true with others. Including rising up and speaking about the health situation I face. I never know when I might help someone.

glamor-rise: (okay that one is a stretch….gimmee a break) This one is to remind me that I need to take back my self-esteem. I have gained almost 80 pounds in a year. 80! You guys, it is so much that I can’t even fathom. I feel horrible about myself and I don’t know HOW I’m going to be seen in public for the next year. Nonetheless, I can glamor-rise and try to learn to love me. No matter what size I am.

rise above: I feel like I need to rise above situations that bring me down. People that aren’t 100% on my side. I also need to rise above myself. Rise above pettiness. Rise above grudges. Rise above gossip.

sun rise: And finally, guess what? Every day the sun comes up. And that is something to be grateful for. No matter where we are. No matter if we’re in pain. Alone. Scared. The sun is still there. And it kind of reminds me that someone else is there for me too. No matter what.

*If you are in an RSS reader, you may need to jump over to the blog to see the printable*

As usual PLEASE follow the following rules for Less Cake {more frosting} printables:

LCMF prinatables are for PERSONAL USE only. You may not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
Please do not remove the watermark.
If posting on the internet, you MUST post a link back to this website.
Personalization, color changes, and other customizations are not available on freebie printables. They are offered “as-is”.
The BOX printing service requires Flash technology, therefore, you may not be able to print from some phones, tablets, and other portable devices.

I have struggled for weeks about what word would help me this year. I KNOW that whether my upcoming surgery works or not I am in for a challenging year. But I think I love the idea of rising above the challenge. Rising above the negative reel of thoughts in my head. Rising above myself. And focusing on others. It’s so full of possibility I think it’s perfection.

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Filed Under: One Word

Ring out the old…Printable January ’13 Calendar

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
January 1, 2013 --6:00 AM

Happy 2013 LCMF Readers!

I’m certainly looking forward to 2013 and hoping that it is a better year for me than 2012. Although I don’t feel like 2012 was a “waste” for me. It certainly was hard. But let’s leave that for another post.

Every month in the year 2011 we would start of the first day with a new free printable Calendar. They were actually something that I’ve done in my home for years, and I thought that since I was already designing them for myself….I could share them with my readers.

2012 brought a lot less planning, a lot less organization, and a lot less ability to keep up. Plus….I wasn’t really sure if anyone even really used them.

But I did a quick poll over on the LCMF Facebook Page…and it looks like maybe fans would like to see them come back.

As usual PLEASE follow the following rules for Less Cake {more frosting} printables:

LCMF prinatables are for PERSONAL USE only. You may not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
Please do not remove the watermark.
If posting on the internet, you MUST post a link back to this website.
Personalization, color changes, and other customizations are not available on freebie printables. They are offered “as-is”.
The BOX printing service requires Flash technology, therefore, you may not be able to print from some phones, tablets, and other portable devices.

January often inspires new starts. This January is definitely a new start for me….but in a very different way. I’d LOVE for you to return Thursday the 3rd for the kick off of my 2013 One Word, One Goal series. (that gives everyone time to celebrate, recoup, and get kids back to school)

Last year’s series was absolutely one of the most inspiring times of my entire year and and I go back to read those entries often.

Have a happy New Year’s Day with your friends and family. See you on the 3rd.

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Filed Under: print it

Are you a Debbie Holiday Downer Lady?

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
December 28, 2012 --12:39 AM

So it’s a couple days after Christmas. We had an absolutely smashing day. Mostly for my kids. I felt like quite the failure. There were no gingerbread houses, no sugar cookies, no craft projects.

My husband’s Christmas was….well…pathetic. Granted part of that was because I couldn’t get out of the house. But part was also because when you ask him what he wants he says “a Porsche and a big screen TV.”
Nice Dude.

But, of course, he made amends when he set up all of Christmas, baked our traditional breakfast cassarole, built a dolly bed, set up a gaming system. 3am bedtime, he’s a champ.

But as much as I tried, I was still just so overwhelmed with the feeling of not living up to the “Christmas” I knew I was capable of just watching it happen…was killing me. It reminded me of this amazing song from the Jim Carrey version of the Grinch:

(PS…for the record…I am a purist Grinch lover, and this is pretty much the only part I like. There. I said it)

There’s been several times in my life where this song makes so much sense. Particularly after my Dad passed away. As an 8 year old….and the daughter of a Man who made Christmas larger than life…I didn’t think Christmas could ever be good again. It was though. Good, and great, and amazing and magical. All the things he loved.

But this year it was just so hard for me to find the excitement I normally have. I love to listen to the music, but I couldn’t dance to it. I love to buy the presents, but I couldn’t wrap them extravagantly. I love to look at the tree, but I couldn’t put it up.

The frustration level was so high that it began to make me feel a depression that I didn’t like….AT ALL.
And here’s the spot where I tell you some amazing story of how I over came it and learned a lesson and found joy all over again.

But instead, it’s the spot where I tell you I’m sad, and scared, and if one more person implies that going through a 12 hour surgery in a week and a half means that I’ll magically be better immediately afterward, and should be jumping up and down about it……I’m sorry.
I’m not. I’m scared, and I don’t really want to be in more pain, on more drugs, and be away from my family for 3 weeks. And no matter how you train that dog….it just won’t hunt. (thanks Dr. Phil)

But I pride myself on choosing joy.
I’ve done it for over a year.
I am now in a state of “searching for joy”.

It’s for sure not in food.
Nor is it in ignoring your phone, friends, computer, and family.
Nor is it in taking just one extra pill so you can just sleep it off.

But I swear I will find it. And I’m going to hope that it comes as I choose my “one word for 2013“.

I think about it night and day. And some of my friends are gonna come by and share theirs with you too. Just like last year. It was probably the most uplifting month of blog reading I did all year. I really was inspired.

So send out your prayers that mine will come, and give me some peace. (and no, peace is not it) And start thinking of yours. Because I’m convinced that it’s is the one and ONLY way to set New Years Goals.

I’ll be back on January 2nd with mine. (because the first is a holiday….and hubs is home….and when he’s home…..I sleep ALL DAY!) True. Gosh this is sad. I’m totally a Holiday Debbie Downer. Wah Wah….

Here’s to “searching for joy” instead! Deal?

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Filed Under: 'tis the season, friends n' countrymen, One Word