Bella's Birthday Wish

For my Birthday this year I have a pretty simple wish.

I WISH that my friends and family join me on a 40 day challenge to better themselves.
This would be a MIRACLE for me, and many of my loved ones. Pretty much everyone in my family could stand to get healthier. I just wish there was some way I could help them, but sadly I haven't even been able to help myself. So in hopes that I can do both this time around, I'm starting this challenge.

Here is a small list of things I want to work on.

Eating healthier
Working out
Practicing Yoga
Stop yelling
Relaxing in a weekly bath
Meditating
Mommy and Kiddos time
Date nights

These are the things that immediately come to mind. I'll try to work on a couple other things that might bring sanity to my life, and we'll see how it goes.

Most importantly I just NEED to get my body in shape, if even just a start. I NEED to do this for myself more than anything else. I've been NEEDING to do it for many years now, and just haven't.

By this weekend I will post my plan for the following week so that if any of you would like to follow along you can. I would be so grateful for any and all support you give me. If you decide to join along, maybe you can share it with your friends. I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday this year, than knowing I've FINALLY reached a goal I've had for over a decade, and if I can motivate even one other person to do the same I would be so incredibly happy.

Remember this challenge does not have to be about eating, working out, or any of the things I mentioned above. You can customize it be anything that you need in your life right now.

40 days isn't that long, but LONG enough to create a habit. I hope! I've never done anything like this before, so wish me luck. I know that many people have seen the most success in their lives when they put themselves out there, when they make themselves vulnerable. When they are accountable to someone other than themselves. That better be true for me now.

I'm putting myself out there for all of you to see. I will post pictures of myself before, during and of course after. I will be as honest as possible. I will share what my plans are every week, and everyday I will update on how I kept up with them.

It will be hard, it will be super hard. I will make this effort for myself, and for all of you who may benefit from my journey. I know I've been inspired by many others, and can only hope to one day inspire someone myself.

So give it a thought, and see if there is something you would like to work on for the next 40 days. Will you join me in making it happen?

This challenge will start on MONDAY FEB 18th. so get ready!!! Tell me do you think it's possible for a miracle to happen in 40 days?

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NEW blog, NEW business, NEW everything --- coming soon

OMG, I am soooooo excited!

After weeks of searching, I have finally decided on a designer for my blog, new website, and business. I am also giving my cake site - Euro Style Cakes a makeover, combining the blog with it.

I am also FINALLY redoing this blog, and moving everything over to wordpress. I am so nervous about it, because I don't like change very much. Really can't stand website related stuff, and the thought of having to learn everything over again is just daunting. I just think it's the best time to do it, plus TASHA @ MY CUTE LOBSTER assures me it's not so bad, and she will help me through it. Yes, I'm pretty thrilled I found this girl, I so love her already :)

I've taken a much needed break from blogging, and am ready to be back. Ready to get my new business up and running, and ready to move forward. From everything I've read, and researched, there is no better way than to move to wordpress, so thats what I'm doing.

So about my new business.

I've mentioned before that I am working on creating Custom Cake Kits. There is much to work out still, but I am so excited that it is one step closer to becoming a reality.

My website will be up and running soon, thanks to MY CUTE LOBSTER, I'm working on getting my Etsy Shop open, and now I need some help from you.

I've also been working on some kind of logo design, and can't get this image out of my head, what do you think about it? I've numbered the different drawings, can you tell me which you like better? Do you have another suggestion? When you see this does it portray what my business is about?

I hope you didn't laugh at my drawing skills, or my writing skills, I'm not the best, but you know, this is just an idea. I need HELP !!!!

I'm also still deciding on the name, can you help me?
Here are the names I'm struggling with.

Custom Cake Kits

Bella's Custom Cake Kits

Custom Cake Kits by Bella

Can you tell me which one you like better, AND WHY???  I want to know if you were to search for something like this, what would draw your attention better, what sounds better, are they all easy to remember? I want my name in there, because well I'm super PROUD, but should I include my name or not?

Can you tell, I need help?

I appreciate your help, and all your support. I'm so excited, and can't wait to share more with you as it happens. Wish me luck, and I hope to have more good news soon!

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I "almost" sat down to make a TO DO list.......

Yeah, actually I did sit down about 30 minutes ago and started writing one up, and actually put this at the top of my list :

9:10 - 10:00 -- Make my list :)

Can you believe it?????

Here's what I had on there 10 minutes later :

1. Laundry 
2. Make beds
3. Wash dishes
4. Clean kitchen
5. Wash sheets

At the top I put down errands I need to run today :

1. Pick up Kumon
2. Pick up physical form
3. Help mom with a 3-d car cake
4. Pick up lacrosse stuff from store

This is going to be ONE HARD HABIT to break. Even though I didn't technically call it a TO DO LIST, we all know that's exactly what it was. 

Why in the world would I spend almost an hour writing down things that I TOTALLY know I have to do, like not even without a doubt..... know I have to do. Not like I can avoid seeing the dishes from breakfast this morning, or the pile of laundry upstairs. Not like I need a reminder to do those things. 

My errands, yeah I can see how having that up where I can see it would be helpful, and maybe even setting a reminder on my phone so I know when I need to get started on them. 

I bet by the time I finish writing this post, and just START DOING some of the things that need to be done I would have finished at least half of them and started on the rest, and it will be before 10:00.

My point is this. I want to make it a point to STOP procrastinating, to STOP wasting time "thinking" about all that needs to get done, and just FLIPPIN DO IT....

Deep breath, and get moving girl...... you can do it. Yup totally talking to myself!!

Have a great day everyone!!

P.S. Another thing I REALLY NEED TO DO,,,, take down my Christmas decorations, YIKES!!

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Tiny Blog Makeover - for now....

You know when you really want to get a blog makeover, but just can't decide what you want?
That's been me the past week.

Naturally since one of my goals is to blog more, I REALLY wanted to get some kind of new look.
I was just about to lose my mind looking at all the choices out there.

I've found so many amazingly talented blog designers, by the time I narrowed it down, I still had a list of well over 30. Not exactly helpful.
Not to mention, I still had to come up with some kind of idea to tell the designer, and honestly I just have no clue. Did I also mention the cost of a "custom" blog design is just a little more than I can spend right now.

Especially with me trying to save and get my "CUSTOM CAKE" business started on Etsy. I am just a little tooooooooo excited about that.

So last night, I spend long hours updating the look of the blog, "just enough" to satisfy me for now.

What do you think?

I still need to work on a few things, especially the pages (up there) in the right corner. I have some new things I want to focus on this year, and you need to know about it.

Can't wait to share :)

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2013 Say no to "TO DO" lists

Happy New Year everyone!!

Another year, and one more fresh start on getting lots of things done. Nothing seems to get you in the mood to tackle a TO DO LIST better than the start of a new year. I've decided to rename my list this year. Instead of my never ending TO DO list I want to call it my :

"I DID IT" LIST

Maybe this will inspire me to DO MORE, because who wants a list that says you've done NOTHING all year, totally not me, thats who.

Like all of you, I have my list full of things I can't wait to say "I DID".

I'm trying to be realistic in my expectations of getting things done this time around. I always seem to set myself up for failure by expecting too much of myself, or expecting it to get done too fast. This time around I want to be able to take a breath, and relax, even if something isn't done perfectly, or in record time. This time around I want to try and get some family help, instead of trying to put it all on myself. This time around I want to  try harder than ever to reach some goals I've had for YEARS!!

This time around I want to focus on myself more, and my family more, and my TO DO LIST less, even though this post is about getting things on my TO DO list done. Seems weird, but I've spent years, and years of my life, setting goals, and making lists, and stressing myself out about things that need to get done. All of the stress and little to show for it. It's not like I have tons of things crossed of my lists, so I can actually say it was worth it, I did it. Quite the contrary, I've spend countless hours making lists, and re-making the same ones because I never seem to get it done. I've missed out on so much, and neglected myself in the process.

I've neglected my family too, maybe not physically, but emotionally. I've been cranky and tired, and frustrated and upset more times than I care to admit, and usually it had nothing to do with my family, but they were the ones to suffer my bad mood.

I'm going to try to make a very SERIOUS effort to not waste so much time on "PLANNING" or "PINNING" things I'd like to do ONE DAY, and just DO IT, you know what I mean. Seriously, I have thousands of things pinned, and ideas in my head, but nothing seems to be happening as a result. I don't want to waste that precious time anymore. I want to spend my time more wisely.

Don't get me wrong, I love PINTEREST so much, and am pinning something almost daily, but I'm going to make it TOP priority to actually start creating and doing some of these wonderful things I've found on there.

Taking baby steps is fine by me, I refuse to let myself get worked up if something doesn't get done, I refuse to let those kinds of things get me down anymore. History has proven to me it just doesn't matter, the only one who loses is ME. Instead I will accept things as they come, as they happen, and if it goes according to plan, YAY, and if not, I'll try to understand, life isn't fair, and even though we think we are in charge and make the plans, we have no control in the end, and thats something I know we can all agree on.

Did I mention I need to be truly more grateful everyday as well, yeah that kind of goes along with the whole I'm not in control of things, and I have no choice but to accept that, and be thankful anyway that I'm still alive, my family and friends and I are healthy, we have a roof over our head, food to eat, and live in a country that I think is pretty great. We are truly blessed, and compared to what other people have to worry about everyday, I'd say that if the laundry room doesn't get a pretty makeover like right now, the world isn't going to end.

So there you have it, my thoughts for today. Life is GOOD!!!

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Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Printable

Tomorrow I will be preparing the famous CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING FEAST for my daughters second grade class.

They get to watch the cartoon, and snack on the goodies Snoopy is cooking up.

I created a simple printable to give to each of the children.

If you would like to download a copy for your family, or even for you kids at school feel free.

This is my first time sharing a PDF and using Scribd.
Hopefully it downloads properly, and you can edit the wording in the speech cloud.

I'll post pictures of the big FEAST later.

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Sheet1


Have a wonderful day friends.

P.S. If you know of a better or easier way to share files, please let me know.
I am also looking for the EASIEST way to share printable RECIPES on my blog.

Thanks guys :)

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Proud to be an AMERICAN

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share a quick update I posted on my personal facebook page this morning, and I wanted to get your thoughts on it too. Many of my friends had some very strong feelings about the election, and while I'm not very political at all, I had to share my thoughts about the election last night.

I've kept quite and smiled when people would give me their rant about their political point of view. I tried to listen, and get everyones side as much as possible.  I always tried to put myself in their shoes and see where they were coming from. It was enough to make me go crazy!!! You know why, because you can never make EVERYONE happy.

I refuse to call myself red or blue, democrat or republican, liberal or whatever else there is out there. I just can't do it. I can't say that I'm 100% anything. The only thing I know for sure is despite it all, this country still stands for OPPORTUNITY for so many. We have freedoms that others can't even dream of, and my father came to this country for a better life as did so many others. They can't all be wrong, we have something special going on in this country. The sooner we realize how lucky we truly are, and start appreciating all we have, the faster we can say GOD BLESS THE USA!!!


Here's what I had to say on my update this morning:

I am proud to be an American! I feel sad that some people don't feel the same way "anymore".... Since when do we all get what we want all the time?? It's impossible to please everyone, and having said that I for one am very pleased with our reelected PRESIDENT OBAMA. I hope that we can accept it (quickly) and carry on with living in this great country full of opportunity! It still is the land of 

opportunity our forefathers envisioned, and if we work together and work hard and stop being so SELFISH, and try to bring up each other rather than knocking others down, I know this country and all it's people will make us proud!!!!

I also hope that despite our differences we can show the world that we are truly ONE NATION under GOD, indivisible, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE FOR ALL!!!!

I sure hope you all have a wonderful day, and try not to forget how lucky you are to live in this amazing country of ours.

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