Win a FREE Jessica Sprague class!

Positive Psychology, Gratitude, Character Strengths (and Winning!)

"If you have some time this weekend, I recommend taking the VIA Character Strengths assessment. It’s a very interesting look at 24 different character strengths that have been identified by researchers in a field called Positive Psychology. The idea is that after you discover your strengths, you can work to improve ones you’re weaker at, but also play to the ones you’re stronger at. It’s been truly enlightening for me to have my top 5 strengths posted at my computer so I see them every day. One of the secrets to happiness - and I really believe this - is finding ways to be able to operate in areas of strength as much as possible.

Here is the link: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

You have to create an account so it will save your assessments. After you make your account, click on the test called “VIA Survey of Character Strengths” to take the test. It’s 240 questions long, but it goes fast, and I promise it’ll be worth it!

After you take the test, please share your strengths with me in the comments. I’ll pick a lucky commenter to win a FREE CLASS from JessicaSprague.com - your choice! I’ll pick the winner on Tuesday night, so you have until 6 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday to take the assessment and post at least one of your top 5 strengths here in the comments. :)"

I took the test myself, and found the questions and results quite intriguing. Make sure you post your results here (on Jessica's blog post) for your chance to win a FREE class. And in case you're interested, here are my results:

1. Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith
2. Zest, enthusiasm, and energy
3. Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty
4. Curiosity and interest in the world
5. Industry, diligence, and perseverance

Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday

Winter ... In Bloom?

"You probably think of Juniper and Tulip as great colors to use for cheery spring projects (and they are!). But they also make for fun and cheery WINTER projects, too, with just a little help and inspiration from great stamps! I’ve added Cocoa and Desert Sand to these two blooming, traditionally-springy colors for warm winter results.

~~~

The snowflake designs are stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in clear for a great resist pattern. Then, using a mix of pearl paint and Juniper reinker misted from a spritz bottle right onto Colonial White cardstock, you’ll get a magical, shimmery result. Beautiful! Where did we get the spritz bottle? You can choose: an emptied Spritz Cleaner bottle works great, and so, too, does our brand-new Spray Pen—it’s coming out in our new Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book, so you don’t have long to wait!"

Jeanette Lynton

PSA - FREE Jessica Sprague class

"Every six months or so, as a way of giving back to the community that has given me so much, I like to offer a FREE CLASS. I've done scrapbooking, photo editing, cards, prompts, holidays. This time I wanted to call ALL CRAFTERS & CREATIVE SOULS to join me on a Journey of Inspiration.

In our 10-day class together, we'll make projects to help us gather and organize inspiration in five different categories. For each of the themes we'll have a project to make, and different crafty techniques to call your creative muse, no matter WHAT kind of art you make!"

Words
Music
Art

Tools
Play

Jessica Sprague

I've registered and will be following along with the class to learn some new techniques and get my inspiration flowing. Anyone joining me?

IKEA 2x2 Expedit

I finally took some photos of my new IKEA 2x2 Expedit bookcase. This has been a long time coming and I'm excited how well it's working in my scroffice. I needed additional lower-surface space to move my base-only Clip-It-Up from the 4x4 Expedit. Now that the CIU is more accessible, I've ordered the top-tier unit to expand my storage. The Cuttlebug lives on the bookcase and visually prompts me to use it more often.

The top 2 cubes hold my growing yarn stash, a few fiber art books and my pattern binder. I moved my set of storage drawers containing embossing supplies, specialty inks, Stickles and glitter, and paints to one bottom cube. The last cube now holds my albums and extra page protectors.

And yes, the box on the left is Becky Higgin's Project 365, released two years ago. Love the kit and the idea behind the inspiration, I've just been too overwhelmed to start a daily photo and journaling project. Maybe 2011 is the year since my scroffice is finally taking shape ;)

Out with the old, in with the new

Black Friday shopping is not for me. At least not in the past 10 years or so. I did partake years ago, when my oldest daughter was very young and my mom and I could shop ... childless. At some point, the crazy hours and mass of people just became more uncomfortable than paying a "really great sale price" over a Black Friday deal.

Instead of spending money shopping, I took an early morning loan closing to earn money (I'm a self-employed signing agent). I stopped in Staples on the way home to recycle some ink cartridges and I just had to take a look around. At 10:30 AM, the store looked normal. No hoards of people, no ridiculous lines and tons of helpful Staples employees just waiting to assist a customer.



Since my 8th-grader has declared our laptop "slow", I decided to search-out the new laptop deals of the day. Granted, our existing Dell laptop was purchased in 2004, but DH has upgraded it over time and it still serves its purpose. But oh my, the new laptops are light-weight, have huge screens and seem lightening fast. And, I admit, I'm not the computer person in our family. I leave that area to my DH. My computer skills are exactly what I need to run a successful closing business, maintain this blog and surf the net for all things fun or necessary. I don't know (and don't want to know) the inner workings of computers or the different processors, memory sizes and hard drive things. I've got enough on my plate.

That said, Ryan (helpful Staples guy) was patient and knowledgeable. And was willing to speak with DH on the phone to determine the best laptop purchase for us. I walked-out with the last Black Friday deal on an HP G72-B66US laptop. No, it's not the latest and greatest, or the fastest, but it is a huge step-up from our older Dell. It's more than what we need and will serve this family well.

And I didn't have to get up early to stand in line with a bunch of crazy shoppers!

Happy Thanksgiving

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

Colossians 3:15-16

Take a minute to watch this "Attitude of Gratitude" video.

Silhoutte Giveaway

Sara and Kate are having another great giveaway over at Our Best Bites. The Silhoutte Giveaway is valued at $299 and includes all of the following: the Silhouette SD machine, software for Windows XP/Vista or Mac, power cable and USB cable, 2 cutting mats (1 for thick media and one for thin media), 1 cutting blade and 1 $10 gift certificate to the Silhouette download store. WOW!

Important contest info:

~ due to customs and shipping, the Silhouette cutter and all the accompanying loot can only be shipped to addresses within the U.S.
~ one entry per person
~ contest will close on Sunday, November 28th, at 8:00 Mountain time
~ winner will be announced on Monday, November 29th

Here's hoping I win!