be happy.

Not a soapbox.... I promise!!

I just wanted to share this little story with you... because as I shared it with a few people today, I am finding that many of us are in the same boat. (or car... as my story goes)

We carpool with a few neighborhood kids everyday.  We often watch a movie and all is silent.  However, I really do like the chit-chat and banter of the kids and so I often opt for no movie.  And sometimes we laugh all the way to school... and sometimes... I want to rip my ears off.  Often a thin line between the two. I mean we are talking about 7:15am here.

Anyway... lately I have noticed that we were all (and I sadly put myself in this category) being SO NEGATIVE.  I don't think we (and this time I am mostly talking about the kids) realized that 95% of what was being said was negative, whiny, or just plain annoying.  And finally, I couldn't take it anymore and snapped.  And didn't have a movie in the car.  And told them to remain quiet for the rest of the ride. Seriously.

When I picked them up from school, I apologized for "losing it", but told them we had to make a change and we had a lovely conversation about why. And then I bought them an ice cream cone so I am not the crazy mom that freaks out. (works every time!!)

So today I went to the car with this....

And as I said, I include myself so I also brought this... 

 

Every time something negative was said, they got a check in the negative column and every time something positive was said they got a check in the positive comment.  No consequences for negatives, no rewards for positives... let's just see how we do.

It was hysterical!!  Sophie - who knew we were "rolling out" our new plan greeted everyone with the cheeriest "GOOD MORNING NEIGHBORS" {insert big smile here}.  Then there were mostly contrived compliments that just cracked me up - like when Kaitlyn 1st grade told Anthony 5th grade she liked his hair very much, I thought he might just lose it.  There were many "catches" as they turned a negative into a positive and we laughed almost the whole way to school.

I plan to do this at least a week... I really just want everyone to realize we need to think about what we say. Words are powerful things.

Have a POSITIVE day everyone!!

Introducing ScrappyB SHIRTS!

Happy New Year!!!

As I sit here counting down the hours until 2012, I have FINALLY come up with my word for the year.

Refresh.

2011 has been such a challenging year for me.  It was filled with such sadness... I often felt overwhelmed and felt like around every corner was a road block.  Two steps forward constantly felt followed by three steps backwards.

So these last few weeks, I have felt a little frozen thinking I just have to make it to 2012... i think i can... i think i can... i think i can.

Then this morning... thinking I am finally only a day away... my word for the year came to me.

Refresh.

And I feel relief.

Happy New Year.... here's to 2012!!!!

{feel free to share your word for the year... I could use the motivation!!}

Basic Grey Page of the Month Kits are IN!

Come and get 'em!!

Be Happy. Have Balance.

Happy Holidays!!

Holiday Sweetness

Hi there! Mari here.. just wanted to share a quick and easy holiday gift with you! Who knows? Maybe you're cutting it close (like me!) this year.... but you still have time to make this sweet gift and give some holiday cheer, also known as - Peppermint Bark :)

This is what you will need to make the sweets:

• White chocolate morsels
• Dark chocolate morsels
• Crushed candy canes
• Wax paper
• Baking sheet

And this is all it takes to make them:

• Melt white and dark chocolate morsels in two separate bowls (use your preferred method)
• line baking sheet with wax paper
• spread white chocolate on wax paper
• sprinkle some crushed candy canes
• drizzle dark chocoalte over it
• add some more candy canes!
• let it cool and harden in the fridge

Once the chocolate has harden you are ready to break it into pieces and package it!

This is what you will need to make the pretty (and so very simple) packaging:

• Ziploc baggies
• Paper scraps (I used BG's nordic holiday)
• Border punch (optional)
• Tiny attacher (or stapler)
• Hot glue gun
• Printed sentiment
• More candy canes

Instructions:

• Cut your scraps to fit your bag - I used 6.5"x4" pieces of paper.
• Punch one of the long edges with a border punch
• fold the paper in half
• position over filled ziploc bag and staple it to secure
• add candy cane and sentiment with your hot glue gun!

There you have it! quick and easy.. Everone enjoys a little sweetness around the holidays :)

<3

Mari

Pinning away!

We've been busy pinning... collecting crafty yummies throughout the web for a page filled with inspiration of all different styles and mediums of crafting! Come check us out and click on the "follow" link to start pinnning today...

You can also click on the "Pinterest" button over there ---------------->  :)

(you can't miss it!)

<3,

ScrappyB

Wish List {free download}

Is someone wondering what to get you for the holidays?  Come in and fill out a Wish List and we will send it directly to them.  You can also download it for free.

Not sure what to wish for... How about our 5yr Anniversary Celebration crop happening Feb. 11-12 2012 ???

Happy holiday season!

ScrappyB <3

SMASH Bundles {holiday special}

Check them out in store or online! :) 

Please pardon our dust... <3

Hi lovely ladies! Please pardon our dust. Our website is currently being updated and should be back up and running shortly with a much faster browsing experience! Thank you so much for your patience..

In the meantime, please call us at 407.856.8070 with any questions or e-mail us at contact@scrappyboutique.com 

<3,

ScrappyB