The dropcloths I purchased were exactly the right size for the room…no hemming necessary!  Woo hoo!  Note: Don’t forget to wash and dry your curtains before you get started.  They WILL shrink.

I set up my painting station in the front entryway (it was too cold to be in the garage).  I put down cardboard, then 2 layers of old dropcloths underneath my curtain-drop cloths to absorb any paint that might soak through.

To paint dropcloth curtains, I mixed acrylic paint with textile medium.  I think you could probably just skip this step and use the acrylic paint straight, but using textile medium makes them more color safe for washing.

Next, I taped off the stripe pattern with painter’s tape.  We just wanted a few bold stripes up near the top.  Taping off stripes are always tricky because your eyes play tricks on you with the thickness of the tape lines.  Make sure you press down the edges of the tape as firmly as possible to keep the paint from bleeding.

Then it was time to paint!  I used a foam roller brush.  The dropcloth fabric soaks up paint big time, so it took way more paint than I was expecting.  Also, because of the nubby, irregular nature of the dropcloth fabric, there will be places that just won’t absorb the paint at all.  We actually liked this more “weathered” appearance to the stripes, but if you don’t want that, you may need to pick a different fabric!

This photo was taken at night, so the color is a little off, but we were certainly panicking at this point, thinking that the stripes looked hot pink, and not the deep, tomato red we were hoping for….I actually went to bed after this, thinking that I would need to go buy a different color of paint the following morning.

But, when we woke up the next day and removed the blue tape (which also made it hard to see the “true” color), we were pleased with the way the curtains looked, and left them as is!  No second coat of paint, no different color needed!

At some point, I may add blackout fabric to line the curtains, but they work for now!

Have you ever painted curtains or other fabric before?

I’m sharing this post with…

So, here are some things The Littlest Apple and I did in 2011….

1.  Mardi Gras Sensory Bin-  This was a new sensory bin for us this year, and The Littlest Apple and I BOTH loved it!  The colored rice, the beads, the feathers, and the masks made this one really special.  Can’t wait to break it out again in a few months!

2.  Does It Dissolve? Anything that involves pouring and stirring is usually a hit with The Littlest Apple, and he’s asked for this activity over and over again.  We also used the index card labels to incorporate some letter and word recognition into this activity.

3.  Easter Cross Suncatcher- My favorite of all the suncatchers we’ve made over the last few years.  The black outline on this one really makes the colors pop, and the colors are bright and lovely for spring.

4.  Fizzy Fun- This was probably the biggest hit of the entire year.  We’ve done this many, many times, and since it just requires a few household ingredients (that I usually have on hand), we do this one as a default activity when we’re looking for something to do.

5.  Milk Magic- This experiment is so mesmerizing to watch.  The swirly, bright colors look beautiful on the backdrop of white milk.  We definitely need to revist this one!

6.  Cup Stacking-  The surprise hit of the year.  Who knew that kids liked to play with plastic cups so much?  Note to self: Always have a stack of cups on hand for The Littlest Apple when I need a minute to get something done.

7.  Slime-There are so many neat-o recipes like this floating around on the internet for slime, gak, oobleck, etc.  I plan to try more of these in the future, because it’s a really great sensory experience for The Littlest Apple (as well as a good lesson in following the recipe!).  This slime had a neat texture that was lots of fun to play with.

8.  Autumn Cork Painting-  I LOVED this art project!  I thought it turned out beautifully, and The Littlest Apple even joined in despite his initial rejection.  This was one of YOUR favorite Picky Apple post this year too, judging by all the Pinterest interest it received.

9.  Gumdrop Sculptures- This was another activity that I came up with spur of the moment using things we had on hand (including the several-years-old-yucky-gumdrops).  The Littlest Apple is in a building phase, so this one kept him busy for quite a while.

10.  Gingerbread Playdough- This was a new playdough for us this year, and we played with it all through the month of December.  It smells fantastic, and the rollers and cookie cutters made this extra festive.

11. Salt Dough Ornaments-  The Littlest Apple and I had a blast making these and painting them, then using them as ornaments and gift tags.  Definitely a new annual Christmas tradition for The Picky Apple house.

1.  Monthly Cleaning Calendar-  The first half of the year I was focused on keeping a clean house, and my custom monthly cleaning calendar really worked for me.  A sample calendar still remains in my sidebar, if you’re interested.  Things have gone downhill of late, but I’ve got a new, easier system lined up for the new year that takes in to account the new addition to the family.  We’ll see how it goes.

2.  How to Clean Your Bathroom in 11 Minutes- This year, I found a bathroom cleaning method (and products) that works for me.  This quick and easy routine makes a dreaded task much more bearable.

3.  Dress Up Storage Bin and Puppet Theater- Now HERE’s a real project for you!  My husband did all the building for this and I painted and sewed the curtains (and gathered the costumes and puppets).  This labor of love was auctioned off by The Littlest Apple’s preschool.  I wish we had one for our house too!

4. Rice Heat Therapy Packs-  I loved these so much, I made them for Mother’s Day AND for Christmas.  Such an easy little handmade gift!

5.  It’s a….- BOY!  This has been our biggest project of 2011.  Only a few more days to go before Baby Slingshot is here!

6.  Thankful Banner-  Late this fall, I finally got my crafting mojo back, and eeked out this Thanksgiving Banner just in time for Turkey Day.  This was my first project using burlap.  Love it!

7.  Slingshot’s Nursery- Okay, so I haven’t really shared any updates, but the nursery is mostly finished.  (I’ll share some photos in the next few days)  The walls are finished, the crib, rocker, changing table have all been set up.  A rug has been ordered.  We’re doing some DIY curtains and still need some wall accessories.  All in all, the nursery is turning out just how I’d hoped!  Here’s a pic from a few weeks ago when the board and batten was going up…

8.  Activity Advent Calendar- This was such a fun project, and an important part of our December.  The Littlest Apple LOVED checking the Advent Calendar each morning to see what our activity for the day was.  I think our favorite was the North Pole Breakfast.  Can’t wait to do this again next year!

9.  Going Primal/Paleo-  Going gluten, grain, and sugar free has been such a life-changer for me, and I definitely consider this a “project.”  A year ago, I NEVER would have considered doing something like this, but now I can’t imagine going back.  I feel great (as great as I can for being 36 weeks pregnant), I’ve got more energy than ever and I’m getting sick less often.  I’m looking forward to a Paleo/Primal 2012!

10.  Peppermint and Lemon Foot Soak- I made 10 of these this Christmas (including one for myself!).  It was so easy to throw together, and the smell is divine.  Such a great way to relax after being on your feet all day.

I’ve participated in the Favorite Things Party at 320 Sycamore for the last 3 years, and this year I have lots of new favorites to share with you!

Hair powder: I’ve mentioned before that I’ve got LOTS of hair.  Super thick, super straight.  It doesn’t lend itself well to air-drying, so washing and drying it on a regular basis is a huge ordeal.  My hair is also on the dry side, so I tend to go 3-4 days without washing it (sometimes longer, if I’m being honest).  To keep it looking fresh, I use hair powder (AKA dry shampoo!).  Couldn’t live without it!  Two of my favorites are TIGI Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo and Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Hair Shampoo, but just about any of them will do! MAC Lipglass: Must have!  I wear this every day.  It has great shine, stays on longer that most lipglosses, doesn’t feel sticky, and comes in tons of great colors.  My current favorite is Viva Glam V. Green and Black’s Organic  85% Dark Chocolate: This is the chocolate I go to when I’m craving chocolate.  It’s dark.  It’s smooth and creamy.  It’s not full of sugar.  One tiny little square should satisfy your chocolate cravings.  (Runner up=Lindt) Le Creuset Stoneware Butter Crock: We eat real butter here, primarily Kerrrygold Butter which is made in Ireland from grass-fed cows.  But keeping real butter in the fridge means that your butter isn’t spreadable.  Enter the butter crock!  You keep this handy device on your counter, and it keeps your butter nice and fresh and soft for spreading.  Don’t know how we managed without it.     I got a white one, but I love the Caribbean color, pictured below. MomAgenda: I’ve been using the MomAgenda Desktop Planner for three years to keep myself organized.  These planners come in several different sizes, great colors (including zebra print!), and include lots of space for planning your day, your children’s activities, dinner, and your daily and weekly to do’s.  There’s also an App for iPad now. Slugs and Bugs Music: We discovered the music of Randall Goodgame and Andrew Peterson in September of 2010 after they performed at my son’s preschool.  We own Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies as well as A Slugs & Bugs Christmas.  Both CDs are full of silliness, clever lyrics, as well as truths about God.  Some of our favorite songs are “Tractor Tractor,” “God Made Me,” “The Camel Song” (the silliest Christmas song ever, which includes a Star Wars reference) and “Christmas Around The World.”  Our whole family enjoys listening to these CDS (over and over and over) and my son, husband, and I are frequently singing their music throughout the day.

Amazon Kindle: As an avid book reader, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about using an e-reader.  But after receiving a Kindle from my husband last year for Christmas, I have been 100% happy with it.  I’ve read more books this year than ever before!  I love how light it is (especially since I tend to like the novels that are 500-1000 pages).  The e-ink makes the screen super easy to read, and I’ve been taking full advantage of the free books available for download.  I have the Kindle Keyboard pictured below.  In the last year, they’ve switched to touch screen and full color technology in the Kindle Fire.  If you love to read, you won’t regret owning a Kindle!

Parks and Recreation: Every year, I share my favorite TV show, and this year, I’m loving Parks and Recreation on NBC.  It’s funny and clever and heartwarming all at once.  I love Amy Poehler and her character Leslie Knope, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford and all the rest.  Last season, Rob Lowe and Adam Scott joined the cast, and they are both just perfect!  If you haven’t watched this show yet, I encourage you to tune in!

Gap Maternity Jeans: I have 2 pairs of maternity jeans.  They’re both from Gap, and I love, love, LOVE them!  Maternity jeans have come a long way since I was pregnant 4 years ago.  These are amazingly well made, fit great, and are super comfortable with a full belly panel.  I have a pair of Long and Leans hemmed to wear with flats and a pair of Sexy Boot Jeans to wear with heels and boots.  Both styles are available in sizes 00-18 and in Ankle, Regular, and Long lengths.  If I had to pick just one, I’d probably choose the Long and Leans.

Merona Women’s Ruffle Neck Dress:  This is NOT a maternity dress, but I took the risk in ordering it from Target.com, and it is my favorite maternity dress (and favorite dresses I own, period!).  I hope to be able to wear it post-pregnancy too.  The teal color is gorgeous, the ruffles and the fit are flattering and forgiving.  It’s versatile for summer and winter, work and play.  I’ve gotten so many compliments every time I wear it.  I also have it in red (my Christmas Eve dress!), which I love as well.  The best part?  It costs $25!  In addition to teal and red, this dress also comes in Army Green, Brown, and Violet.

Disclaimer: This post contains several Amazon Affiliate links.  That means if you click through and purchase something from Amazon, I earn a few pennies.

So I waited patiently until now.  And yes, Christmas is right around the corner.  Cookies.  Christmas parties.  Alcohol.  Decadent appetizers.  Christmas morning cinnamon rolls.  And general gluttony.

But there’s something I need to tell you….

I’ve been keeping a secret from you for about a month now.

About a month ago, I gave up sugar.

And gluten.

And grains.

And legumes.

I went Primal.

(Some people also call this Paleo, I’ll explain more about both of those terms in a minute).

I shared a link on Facebook a few weeks ago to a new Paleo cookbook I purchased, and several of you started asking questions, so maybe this isn’t news.  But I know I have some explaining to do….

What does it mean to be Primal?

Well, it means different things to different people, but essentially it means that I’m following the lifestyle explained in The Primal Blueprint, by Mark Sisson.

In a nutshell, my diet is centered around quality sources of protein and fat.  My diet consists of meat, fish, eggs, nuts, roots, fruits and vegetation. Grains, gluten, refined sugar, trans fats, and hydrogenated fats are to be avoided. This is a low-carb diet focused on the way we ate before the agricultural era….the way we ate when we were “hunters and gatherers” (Mark Sisson lovingly refers to the hunter -gatherer caveman guy as “Grok”).  I try to eat as much free range and organic food as possible, grocery budget permitting.

For exercise, you’re supposed move frequently at a slow pace (because Grok didn’t have a car…), lift heavy things, and sprint once in a while.  And make time to play.  Frisbee golf.  Kayaking.  Hiking.  Whatever things are fun to you that get you moving.

How is this different from Paleo?

“Paleo” is another term floating around out there that you may have heard more than “Primal.”  They are essentially the same thing.  Paleo is a little more strict, in my opinion.  The Primal Blueprint way of eating allows for some leeway with some types of dairy  and has fewer restrictions on saturated fat intake.  True Paleo means no dairy.  But they are essentially the same thing, and I may use “Primal” and “Paleo”  interchangeably on this blog.

Why did you decide to go Primal?

It’s something I’ve been reading about for close to a year now.  The concept of cutting out sugar and eating fewer grains isn’t new to me, but I just didn’t think I had the willpower to do it.  And did I really want to give up baked goods and pasta?  I was already limiting processed foods (somewhat). But after reading about this lifestyle in detail on Mark’s Daily Apple, I decided to give it a try for a few weeks and see whether a not it made a difference.

It absolutely did. (More on the benefits below…)

So what CAN you eat?

Here’s the Primal Blueprint Food Pyramid (click to enlarge):

Wait a minute!  Aren’t you pregnant?  Is it a good idea be doing this while you’re pregnant?!

I’ve got 5 weeks to go until Baby Slingshot arrives.  And that’s part of the reason I wanted to give this a go.  I spoke with my doctors about this new way of eating, and they were totally on board.  And really, what’s so bad about cutting out processed food, sugar, white flour, and eating more fruits, veggies and good fats?

I have no plans to cut out dairy anytime soon.  Not only do I love my cheese and yogurt, but I figured I was cutting out enough as it was.  I plan to breastfeed for as long as possible (a year is my goal at the moment).  Maybe once I’m through breastfeeding I’ll experiment with cutting back my dairy intake (like a true Paleo).  Or not.  We’ll see how I feel about it in a year.

What is a typical menu like each day?

Breakfast:  1 or 2 scrambled eggs (with cheese), 2 links of Applegate Farms Natural Chicken and Maple Breakfast Sausage, with Sweet Potato Hash or an orange.

If I get tired of eggs (which happens every 4th day or so), I have plain Greek yogurt with berries, slivered almonds and unsweetened coconut flakes.

Snack: Apple and Macadamia Nuts

Lunch: A BIG salad with romaine, spinach, grilled chicken, feta or goat cheese, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, homemade Greek dressing.  I’ve been experimenting with all kinds of salads.  Turns out salads are pretty awesome.  I’ll share some of those soon.  Or leftovers from dinner are another option.

Snack: Raw cheddar cheese and grapes

Dinner: Here are 2 recent dinners….Roast Chicken, Butternut Squash, Asparagus.  OR Pork Kebabs with Acorn Squash and a Spinach and Strawberry Salad.

Dessert: a little square of 85% dark chocolate OR a cup full of berries with cream and honey.  Or both.  :)

Favorite Primal foods?

• Berries, especially with cream and honey
• Unsweetened shredded coconut
• Spaghetti squash
• Spinach
• Kerrygold Butter
• Macadamia nuts
• 85% dark chocolate (I’ve always loved dark chocolate, but I had to work my way up to the 85%….just a tiny bite will definitely satisfy your chocolate cravings.)
• Frozen bananas
• Bacon!!

Are your husband and son eating Primal too?

Heck no, but it hasn’t made things too much more difficult than normal.  For instance, when I cook Spaghetti and Meatballs,  The Picky Apple has his meatballs with spaghetti noodles, I have mine with spaghetti squash, and The Littlest Apple has plain noodles with butter.  Since The Picky Apple is trying to be a bit more health conscious, it hasn’t been a big deal when I don’t serve garlic bread too.  We’ll have a salad instead.

I’m not sure if they’ve noticed or not, but I’ve been buying less junky snacks for them too.

How did you handle Thanksgiving?  How are you going to handle Christmas?

I’m adhering to the 80/20 Rule.  I eat Primally 80% of the time, and save the other 20% for times when I want to indulge or when I attend events where there just aren’t many Primal choices available.

For Thanksgiving, I enjoyed my favorites in moderation (which include my mom’s cornbread dressing).  I ate tiny slices of pie and cheesecake for dessert.  We attended 2 Thanksgiving dinners.  I felt a little bit sick after the first dinner (probably because I went back for more dressing and ate a particularly rich slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake).

As for Christmas….well, The Littlest Apple and I will still be baking some cookies together for the holidays, and I will enjoy an occasional treat.  For instance, I usually make Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas morning.  I can’t imagine Christmas without them, so instead of skipping them or trying to “Primalize” the recipe, I”m just going to eat a little and savor every bite.

I don’t ever want anyone to feel like they need to change what they are serving just because I’m coming over to visit.  That’s what the 20% is for.

What benefits have you seen from your new Primal lifestyle?

Overall, I feel fantastic (or as fantastic as I can feel for being 32 weeks pregnant)

• More energy-I have more energy than I’ve had my entire pregnancy.  Maybe even more energy that I had before I was pregnant.  I’ve been going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week (also something I didn’t do before I was pregnant).
• I’m sleeping better at night (something that’s notoriously difficult during pregnancy), and I’m taking fewer naps.
• Less illness-I haven’t had sinus pain, allergies, or any kind of cold in over a month.  For someone who is ALWAYS sick or suffering from sinus pain, this has been a welcome relief.
• I’ve managed to keep my pregnancy weight gain in check.  With 5 weeks to go, I would still need to gain another 15 pounds to be at the weight I was when I delivered The Littlest Apple.  I lost a couple of pounds when I first went Primal, and I didn’t gain any weight over Thanksgiving.  I’m measuring right on track for my pregnancy.

What foods were hardest to give up?  What foods do you miss the most?

I thought I would miss bread and pasta, but it has been surprisingly easy to pass them up.

Potatoes are technically a no-no on the Primal diet.  I LOVE potatoes and would eat them every day if I could.  Now I enjoy them once every 7 to 10 days OR substitute sweet potatoes instead.  I love sweet potatoes, so that’s an easy substitute.

As for sweets, when I crave ice cream, I eat a frozen banana (whipped up to a custardy texture in my food processor) topped with walnuts and unsweetened coconut flakes.

And when I crave chocolate, I eat…chocolate.  The really dark stuff.  85% or 90% cacao.  It definitely satisfies my chocolate craving.

I’m a coffee drinker, so I’m still enjoying a cup of decaf every day.  I used to be quite addicted to flavored creamers.  I still have creamer in my coffee, but I either make my own flavored creamer or use La Creme Creamer which is made with real cream and milk instead of hydrogenated oil and other yucky stuff.  It has a little bit of sugar, but I’m not using that much.

How will this affect your blog, especially all of those yummy recipes you post?

I’m certainly aware that most readers of this blog have no interest in the Primal lifestyle, and that many of you come here for the recipes! Don’t worry! There will still be plenty of delicious recipes. For starters, I’ve got a backlog of recipes from the past few years that I’ve yet to share. (Did you know I’ve been blogging for almost 4 years now?!) I was off my game earlier this year, when I was having awful morning sickness, so I’ve got lots of catching up to do. You’d also be surprised at how many delicious recipes are actually Primal/Paleo friendly already (example: chicken kebabs, salads, side dishes, frittatas). I may share new recipes and include notes for Primal modifications. Lastly, if I’m going to indulge in something non-Primal, it’s gonna be something good….and you’d better believe I’ll share the recipe! (I’m still pinning all kinds of baked goodies on Pinterest!) So there will certainly be some recipes for Christmas treats coming your way soon.

How does exercise factor in?  What kinds of exercise is part of the Primal lifestyle?

I mentioned toward the top of this post that exercise should include moving frequently at a slow pace, lifting heavy things, and sprinting occasionally.

The idea is to avoid chronic cardio-where you just do the same thing at the gym over and over 5-7 days a week.

Many of those following the Primal/Paleo lifestyle do CrossFit.  (Or maybe it’s the other way around…lots of Crossfitters are Paleo/Primal).  Crossfit is a strength and conditioning program that combines weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, powerlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics, rowing, and more.  There are modifications available for every fitness level.   My husband heard about Crossfit online somewhere, joined our local Crossfit affiliate over a month ago, and he’s loving it.  I was reading about it at the same time through all of my Primal and Paleo resources, and if I wasn’t third trimester, I would have joined too.  As soon as I’m cleared by my doctor for exercise post C-section, I’m going to try it.

For now I do 35-45 minutes on the elliptical 3 times a week.  Sometimes I lift weights at the gym too.  On the 4th day I do squats, jackknife presses, pushups and planks (all modified for my growing baby bump) as outlined in the Primal Blueprint Fitness Plan.

I’m intrigued!  Where can I find out more info?

Here are some great resources about the Primal/Paleo lifestyle:

• Mark’s Daily Apple-This was my number one source for info on going Primal.  I spent hours/days/weeks looking through this site, and I still check out the forums almost daily.  Check out the Primal Blueprint 101 for lots of links with everything you need to know to get started.
• The Primal Blueprint and The Primal Blueprint 21 Day Total Body Transformation by Mark Sisson.  Read the 21 Day Transformation if you want to get started quickly (and need some step by step instructions).  The Primal Blueprint contains lots more detail about the science behind why this way of eating and exercising is so effective.
• Robb Wolf- great Paleo info.  I’ve learned tons from listening to his podcasts each week.
• EverydayPaleo-Sarah Fragoso’s blog: a busy mom of 3 with family friendly paleo recipes and tips.  I’ve got her cookbook on my wishlist.

Alrighty, who has questions?  If so, I’ll try to answer them in the comments!  :)

The randomly selected winner IS….

Nanook166: Our son is in Afghanistan for the next year. Every day I am thankful that he is safe.

Congrats!  I’ll be contacting you vial email shortly!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, many of you will be reflecting on all you have to be thankful for.  I’ll be doing that too.  But I’d encourage you to keep up with those reflections all year round!  Not just on this one special day, or only in the month of November, but the whole year ’round!  In case you read my posts in RSS feed or are new to my blog (and there are a lot of you lately!), I have a Gratitude Journal in my sidebar that I update frequently with things I’m thankful for.  I also keep a Gratitude Journal on my nightstand that I write in each (okay, most) nights.

My Gratitude Journal is just one of the ways I celebrate Thankfulness throughout the year.  It’s easy to Give Thanks and Be Grateful when surrounded by family and friends and when everything is going right in your life.  But remembering to be thankful even when life hits some speed bumps can be a little more challenging and that’s what this post is all about……

(the following post, Developing An Attitude of Gratitude was originally published on May 27, 2010)

Developing An Attitude of Gratitude

I’m a pessimist.  A worrier.  A whiner.  I tend to see the glass as half empty.  And lately, it seems like a big black cloud has been hovering over my head.   Sometimes I feel like life’s just not FAIR. (That’s me pouting and stomping my foot like a 2 year old, having a little pity party, in case you couldn’t tell).

But things could be much worse, and I need to work on my attitude.  “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”  Attitude is (almost) everything, apparently.  And my attitude needs some serious improving.  It’s so easy to get caught up in every little daily irritation, every loss, every complication, every event that doesn’t turn out as expected or planned.  I don’t want to dwell on the negative anymore.  I don’t want to become  that person (or have I already?) that always has a list of complaints to share with you whenever you ask how they are doing.

When you get caught up in all that is wrong, you fail to see all of the things that are right and good about life.  I’m making an effort now to have an attitude of gratitude.  But how exactly do you develop an attitude of gratitude? (This is just a little guide and some reminders for myself as much as everyone else.)

Count your blessings. I don’t necessarily mean counting them literally, although I suppose keeping a numbered running list of things to be grateful for could be helpful.  I mean that you need to somehow document all of your blessings.  I choose to do this via a Gratitude Journal where I record 3-5 things to be thankful for each day.  For a peek at mine, check out this Gratitude Journal post.  You could also draw them or create a collage.  On the good days, this will be an amazingly easy task.  On the bad days, coming up with 3-5 things to be grateful for might be a little trickier.  Perhaps your list will include things like: “I didn’t yell today.  I got dinner on the table for my family.  So thankful to have a car to run errands!”  Sometimes we take some of the basics (food, shelter, clothing) for granted.  If you’re looking for inspiration for your gratitude journal, check out 14,000 Things to be Happy About, by Barbara Ann Kipfer.  I’ve had this book for about 15 years (now there’s even an updated version with 14,000 new things), and I can always find something here to be thankful for!

Give thanks. When was the last time you let your family and friends know just how much they mean to you?  It is so easy to take them for granted.  I’m definitely guilty of this.  Maybe it’s time to send them a note, an email, or give them a phone call.  Or let them know in person.  Isn’t it odd how we are more likely to say thank you to a stranger at the grocery store than we are to our own family members?  It’s time to make sure those closest to you know just how much you appreciate all that they do.

Help others. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve volunteered my time (unless you count being a room mom), but I used to volunteer several times a month at both Dress for Success and the Houston SPCA.  Those afternoons of helping women pick out a suit that would make them feel confident for that much-needed job interview and  those mornings spent caring for and loving on those dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes were some of the most fulfilling moments before I became a mother.  I know I don’t have that kind of time to commit in this season of my life, but I need to do something to help others.  I’ve really enjoyed sharing my passion for art with the kids and mommies in our Art Playgroup, perhaps I could run with that somehow.  I’ve also been thinking about volunteering as a patient advocate after our less-than-pleasant experience.  Think about what you can do to help others and take the first step to make it happen.

Keep things in perspective. It’s so easy to forget the big picture and to get wrapped up in the little irritations of day-to-day living.  Cranky because you had to wait for an hour at the dentist’s office?  Be thankful that we have such wonderful dental and health care available, the advances in medical technology, and that you have health insurance.  Frustrated because the summer camp you really wanted to send your child to is already full?  Be thankful for your wonderful neighborhood parks and pools, local libraries and other free and inexpensive forms of entertainment nearby.  I read somewhere that if your family income is $10,000 a year, you are wealthier than 84% of the world.  If your family income is $50,000 or more a year, you make more than 99% of the world. Wow!  That makes me feel so fortunate for the opportunities available to me and mine.  Time to stop complaining about what I don’t have.

Be aware when you compare. I’m tempted to say “Don’t make comparisons at all“, but I think remembering the statistic above and realizing how much better off you have it than many people (a roof over your head?  clean water?) can be helpful in developing your attitude of gratitude.  It can also be useful to seek inspiration in the lives of others, particularly those who have similar values to your own.  But there will always be someone who has a bigger house, more money, a nicer car, a better body, or a “perfect” marriage that you long for.  Those types of comparisons can lead to stress, envy, and feelings of inferiority and insecurity (For more on insecurity, check out Beth Moore’s new book, So Long Insecurity).

Create a Pessimism Prevention Plan to refer to in case of “emotional emergency.” When something goes wrong, whether it is big or little, you need to have an emotional plan of action in place.  This is your Pessimism Prevention Plan.  For the bigger things, like the loss of a loved one or divorce, it’s natural to be upset.  It’s okay to grieve.  But when little things go wrong (even if those little things don’t seem little), this is when those of us who are natural pessimists or worriers need to have a strategy in place to prevent a downward spiral of negative thinking.  A Pessimism Prevention Plan, if you will.  This might include referring back to previous entries in your gratitude journal (or maybe carrying around some of your favorite blessings in your wallet),  re-reading this blog post, signing up for some additional hours at the animal shelter, or a phone call or coffee with a particularly optimistic  and uplifting family member or friend.

Live in the present. It’s hard to enjoy all of the blessings of today if you’re reliving the past or worrying about the future.  Try to focus on right now.

printable from Craftily Ever After

Do you have any additional tips for developing an attitude of gratitude?  How do you stay positive?

I thought today would be a good day for a giveaway!

Why?

Because I’ve been meaning to do one for a long time now.

Because I’m tired of looking at this giveaway stuff sitting in my dining room.

Because the holidays are approaching.

Because I’m feeling thankful.

Because it rained here today.

Because your comments make my day, even though I don’t always have time to respond to them.

Because my Pumpkin Crunch Cake post is blowing up on Pinterest and that really tickles me.

Just because!

So what’s up for grabs?

The giveaway includes:

• Organizing Utility Tote from Thirty One
• Get Clean Household Mini Kit from Shaklee
• Organized Simplicity, by Tsh Oxenreider
• Simple Food for Busy Families, by Jeannette Bessinger and Tracee Yablon-Brenner
• 14.5 oz. Pumpkin Patch Scented Candle from Slatkin & Co
• Glee Presents The Warblers CD

That’s over $130 of goodies, just for you!  My biggest giveaway ever!

These are just a few of my favorite things, and I wanted to share them with you.  Just so we’re clear, this is NOT a sponsored giveaway.  This stuff was all selected and purchased by me over the last few months to give to you.

Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

No jumping through hoops.  One entry per person.   Just leave a comment answering the following question:  What are you thankful for?

That’s it!

The winner will be announced on November 20th.

Good luck and thanks for reading The Picky Apple!

I’ve known about Pinterest for a while, but just as I did with Facebook, I resisted it for the longest time.  One more time- sucker I didn’t need.  But then last week, I begged a friend for an invite, and now I’m hooked!

Not only have I found lots of great new ideas, but I LOVE having all of my ideas saved in an orderly and visually appealing way.  It took me a little while to get the hang of pinning things, but now that I have, there’s no stopping me!  I’m even going back through all of my old Google Bookmarks (and i have TONS) and transferring them to Pinterest for easy searching.

Here are a few of my boards, if you’re interested:

You can follow me on Pinterest HERE.  (And hopefully I’ll have a new little blog button for that soon!)  If you’d like a Pinterest invitation, just let me know and I’ll send you one.  (You can also request an invite directly from Pinterest, but I had trouble with that.)

The winner of the 3 Yards Riley Blake Gingham in Red Double Fold Bias Tape is Ashley (ashy_lu05….)!

The winner of the 3 Yards Michael Miller Ta Dot in Minnie Quilting Tape is Heathery (myheehaw…)!

Congrats to both of you!

Thanks again to everyone who entered the giveaway, and thanks to The Picky Apple’s newest sponsor, Slightly Biased.  If you didn’t win, head on over to Jennifer’s shop to get handmade bias tape of your own!

Stay tuned for another giveaway next week!