Simple Abundance Update

Wow the time is flying, huh? We are already half way through February and it's time for me to touch base with my journey through Simple Abundance, just in case my SA partner is reading my updates ;)
This month seems to be focusing on keeping in mind that each day is a new 24 hr period in which to experience new adventures, even if they are out of our comfort zone. Many times when we try something different, it opens us up to a creative juice that we would not have found otherwise. This month I have tried listening to different types of music, without complaining :D ...and sharing time with the hubster learning about history, when I really wanted to be chatting in the forums.
There have been a couple of excursions we were challenged to take, that to be honest, I simply did not do because of bad weather. I adapted them to our shut-in situation and completed the task my own way even if it was indoors.
All in all I am still on track and still recording 5 things everyday that I am grateful for.

One of the things I am always thankful for is writing for HandMade News. As of this writing I have 15 of my articles on the 50 Top Articles list. This means that these articles have gotten over 25 votes. I absolutely love featuring shops and sellers! It totally makes my day when I get to send someone the 'Congratulations! You're the Featured Artisan!' message. It makes their day; it makes mine. It's a win win situation.

I would like to share a link with a couple of articles that are only a few votes away from being on that Top Articles list. If you could spare a minute or so, I would really appreciate a green thumb's up vote (located at the bottom of the article, just above the comments section)
http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=3709
and
http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=3473

Til next time,

XOXOXOXOXO,
Cindi

Simple Abundance

Well it has been a month now on my Simple Abundance journey. For those who are new to my blog- I saw a post on FaceBook from one of my fellow Polymer Clay Guild members asking if anyone had the book 'Simple Abundance' and would they willing to go through it this year. It is a type of daily confirmations book with one page for everyday of the year to read and perhaps to do a simple task.
For me, so far it has been about becoming conciously aware of everything in my life that I am grateful/thankful for. We were challenged to begin a gratitude journal. Everyday I write 5 things for which I am thankful for - sometimes it is something as mundane as "I am thankful I got the laundry done" or something exciting as a creative idea hitting me like an epiphany while taking a shower. It seems like the more thankful I am, the more I find to be thankful for. So far I am glad to be on this quest.

With all this talk about thankfullness, I would like to thank two Etsy sellers who I made some special purchases from this month. The first is Rhonda of RoseRidgeCreations who makes these incredible fleece socks.
I've got to tell you we keep our house fairly chilly (62 degrees @ night and 65 during the day) and so I ALWAYS have cold feet. During December I saw Rhonda talking about how warm and toasty her feet were with these socks she was making. and I thought "yeah yeah sure they are." Well after Christmas she had a sale and so I thought 'ok I'll bite' and I bought a couple of pair...and OMG!!! These socks ARE the warmest things I have ever had in MY LIFE! I have tested these socks over and over with all kinds of extremes and everytime they have kept my feet toasty warm. I have worn them when wearing my cheap snow boots that have NO lining or insulation whatsoever...and the result? toasty toes! (And you know I've been shoveling snow for hours this year) I have worn them on my freezing cold cement kitchen floor...warm piggies! I have waited til my feet are so cold they hurt and then put the socks on...within minutes they are warm. I would never have believed that these socks would be so warm, but they are.
So the hubster one night says 'let me try a pair' (yes we have almost the same foot size) and within 5 minutes he says 'these socks are really nice and warm'. So he has me order more for his friend who suffers from cold feet. How many men do you know buy socks for their friends? That has got to tell you something!
If you always have cold feet, your toesies will thank you when you get a pair of these fleece socks. In fact right now she has reduced the price on alot of the different varieties. Here is a link to her sock department. Trust me on this one, you won't be sorry on this purchase. I have not ever pitched a product like I have these socks. Bottom line-they are a superior handmade item.

Next up is Linda of WarmTouchCreations who makes beautiful handmade cards with heartfelt sayings on them. I searched for hours 1 day trying to find the perfect card for a friends' sick mother. And when I happened upon her shop it made the long search so worth it. She seems to have all the right words on just the right card, and because it is handmade ..well so much the better. She has sympathy, wedding, birthday, a card for any occasion you can think of. And if she doesn't, she is happy to make one for you. She has Thinking of You cards that make you WANT to send a card.
If you haven't yet bought your valentine a card, I highly recommend her shop.
I have bought a few cards from her and I have one now waiting to give to the hubster on Valentine's Day. Check out her shop on Etsy. She just seems to have that special card that says exactly what you want to say.

So there you have it- two great products, both handmade and both absolutely superior. I hope you visit their shops and find something for yourself or a loved one.

Til next time....
XOXOXOXOXOX,
Cindi

2010 Update

I meant to get here sooner and update, but no excuses, I just didn't have the right words in me and I am hoping that I have found them now.

First up is a Simple Abundance update-for me the messages in the first two weeks have been all about finding happiness within and being thankful for what I already have. This has been an easy task for me, since we live so simply, me and the hubster. We have never lived beyond our means-and that means no credit cards, no loan payments, no credit period. So happiness for me has always come from enjoying life's little pleasures-whether it's watching the snow fall or hearing the purr of my kitty as we play beauty parlor or smelling the wet soil as we plant the garden. Our challenge a couple of days ago was to obtain a journal and to write down 5 things we are thankful for everyday, and this has so far been simple for me. I think acknowledging and being thankful for what we already have is the first step in finding true innner happiness.

Second update is on the hubster-He has now been off all the drugs the Dr ordered and is feeling much better. We went to a rhuematoid arthritus specialist and found he does NOT have RA. Apparently the drug (Cytoxan) was causing all the problems with joint pain, bladder pain, skin darkenings. He still has his bad days, but he had those when he was on the horrible meds too. So for the most part, things are status quo with him. The extreme arctic weather we have been having has made it tough for him to go outdoors, as the cold temps burn his lungs.

Looking back over the last month or so, I guess I never blogged about losing my job at the trucking company. I was being lied to about a couple of important things-like my position and why I wasn't being hired (I was still employed through the temp agency). To make a long story short, I was instantly fired when I questioned the lies...and to be honest, I am glad. There were shady goings on with the financials and I certainly didn't want to be held responsible for whatever was about to happen. It is the first time in my life I have ever been fired, and I went home and we went out to diner and celebrated. It was a blessing in disguise!
Within a week of me being fired, I was offered a part/part time job at the Post Office. When 1 door closes another one opens. Not sure how soon before I start-I've done the background check and took the drug test yesterday. Just waiting for results now.

I think this has brought everything up to date. I am still looking for people to interview for HandMade News. If you make handmade items and sell online I would love to give you a feature. Check up there in the right hand corner where you can send me an email and I will send you an interview to fill out.

Til next time...be thankful for what you have; it's probably more than you think!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Cindi

2010 ~ It's Time For Simple Abundance!

Here's to a Happy New Year and the beginning of a new decade! I have not made any New Year's resolutions this year and already I feel more freer and less stressed. I have chosen to live my life this year with a motto of 'Abundance'.

And what better way to support this motto, but to start my journey through Simple Abundance? Simple Abundance is a Daybook of Comfort & Joy with a 366 short essays that contain exercises and/or lessons to help one become a more authentic woman. What does that mean? I am not sure, but I am hoping to find out little by little throughout this year.

So here's to a new journey through a new year. I will be posting my progress each week and let you know how it goes.

Blessings of abundance to everyone :)

XOXOXXOXOXXOXO
Cindi

New Years Resolutions Dilemna-Pt 1 & 2

It's getting to be that time of year when alot of us are considering making New Year's Resolutions (or not) , and today I found a couple of perfect ways to deal with this dilemna:

Pt.1 ~ So I was scrolling through all the recent posts on FaceBook and I came across a post from one of my FB friends that asked " Does anyone have the book 'Simple Abundance' by Sarah Ban Breathnach & would you be interested in working thru it together for 2010?" I jumped up and ran to the bookshelf to make sure I still had the book; I bought it nearly 15 years ago, and have never once read it, much less practiced the lessons...see how good I am at procrastinating????

I quickly posted back that I indeed had the book and would love to go through it with her.

Then came Pt. 2 ~ Still scrolling the posts on FB, I came across this post that read: If New Year's Resolutions aren't your thing, try this idea from Aimee of Shake Your Bon Bons-- choose your WORD for the year; and then there was a link to justshakinmybonbons.blogspot.com

It's well worth the read, especially if you're fed up with the New Year's Resolutions that always go by the wayside within a matter of days or weeks. Please click over to her blog and read her post AND the original one that inspired her. She is also offering a random prize for one lucky person just for posting your WORD and your email addy(in case you are the winner)

Needless to say before I even got done reading her post, I had chosen my word for the year as ABUNDANCE. It just seemed to be the perfect word after just committing to a year of Simple Abundance, and surprisingly (and confirming for me) it was on the list of suggested words. I can't tell you how light hearted and happy this started out my day yesterday.

Now I am trying to pass the happiness on. The link on Simple Abundance (above) will take you to Amazon where the book can be had for as little as 1 penny + shipping. You can read the first week's worth of days right there on the Amazon site, as well as many reviews from people who bought the book.
If you have the book, or are ordering it and would be interested in working your way through it this year with myself and Dawn, please leave me a comment. We are hoping to find more interested women to share the experience with.

It's going to be a fantastic year ahead. I can just feel it!

Until next time,
XOXOXOXOXO
Cindi