*Family Traditions...One Story At A Time*

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Famous Northpole.com Recipes!

Here are TONS and TONS of holiday favorites!!! Just click on the name of the cookie and BAM....the recipe is there! Enjoy these yummy Christmas treats!!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Confessions of an Ex-Scrapbooker #23

Wikipedia's definition of "Scrapbooking" ~ Scrapbooking is a method for preserving personal and family history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabilia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks. The idea of keeping printed materials of personal interest probably dates to shortly after the invention of printing. This trend is probably similar for photographs. Historically, scrapbooking was a tradition similar to storytelling, but with a visual and tactile, rather than an oral, focus.

Did you see that? Storytelling? Yes, the history of scrapbooking comes from the idea of "telling ones story"....yes, story! Scrapbooking came from the idea of writing story, capturing the essence of the photos in words, and having something to hand down to the next generation. And believe it or not, Mark Twain and Thomas Jefferson were also keepers of scrapbooks. Even back to the Victorian period, the young ladies had a tradition of giving "friendship albums".

The thrill and excitement of the traditional craft has taken it's own course, and I did spend some time there. I loved many things about "traditional" scrapbooking. I loved to BUY the stuff...I'm a shopper. I could spend HOURS in the little shops...and spent 1000's and 1000's of dollars (crap I hope my hubby doesn't read this post). I loved the crop nights with my friends. I loved looking at the pictures and trying to magically fit 19 photos and embellishments on an 8x11 piece of paper. (The competitor in me...sorry...always up for a challenge)

However......that excitement and challenge only lasted for so long. I was overwhelmed with oodles of scrapbooking "things"....paper coming out of the wazoo, pens, embellishments that cost a fortune, bags of stickers, files, carts.....and the list goes on. And spent more and more, made bigger messes, and got farther and farther behind. I was frustrated.

During that time I started reading "Roots" and had this overwhelming feeling of connecting with the past....with more than just pictures and pretty things. Alex Haley, the author of "Roots", introduced the book in the 1970's and a huge interest in genealogy was born. This interest in genealogy led to people wanting to capture their heritage. And that's what I wanted...heritage, story, memories, photos....

Late one night...or actually about 2am in the morning I was trying to get a few pages done in peace and quiet when I decided that something was wrong....this wasn't going the way I wanted it to go.

I asked myself a question, "Tara, why did you start scrapbooking?" I had one vision in my head....I could see myself older (flinch).... sitting down at the holidays or during the summertime with my kids and their kids and sharing these memories, stories, photos, and teaching them about where we all came from, who we are and were, what life was like. That's all I wanted. I realized that's not what I was doing....I wasn't preserving the most important part of my vision...the story.

I still love "Scrapbooking" but in the digital sense, with STORY. I love technology and I love the amazing things it provides memory keepers, storytellers and scrapbookers. I love what digital scrapbooking and technology is providing to people of all ages, all over the world. I love being a part of this movement with Cherish Bound. I love that I can teach people about the importance of story, how to organize, write, and preserve it for the many generations to come. Most of all, I love that we have our kitchen table back. ;o)

Next week's "Ex" post will be all about Digital Scrapbooking with a twist of story. Right now, Jessica Sprague is having the MOST AMAZING class that's guiding people into story....it's perfectly inspired!! It's awesome and I'm so very excited about it. (can you tell...) Hopefully you signed up for it!! It not, you have missed out....seriously!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Wordless Wednesday...I got one...where's the other one?

For more Wordless Wednesday visit www.5minutesformom.com

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Tuesday Tradition #33

Family & Personal Gratitude Journals

November is the prefect time to reflect on Gratitude and showing how thankful we are for our very, very blessed lives. With the thrill of the holidays already here, now is the time to start this personal and/or family tradition.

What is Gratitude? The state of being grateful; warm and friendly feeling toward a benefactor; kindness awakened by a favor received; thankfulness. Pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome; refreshing.

I couldn't have said it better....gratitude is such a deep feeling, but it's free, and it's always available to give. I know as a mother how often I love to hear a simple, but passionate thank you and I'm satisfied beyond measure. The power of gratitude is larger than we can imagine. We need to teach our families about the importance of gratitude, not just in November, but all year long. The rewards and blessings will come even more as we share our gratitude with our families.

A Gratitude Journal can be a simple notebook, a beautiful leather journal, or even a pre-designed "gratitude journal". I keep a personal journal and within that journal I note my personal gratitude. Our family has just started a family journal using Cherish Bound's Gratitude Journal. We have been sitting down as a family and noting our blessings and what we're grateful for. We all add something to the journal multiple times a week. When we first started out the kids would throw out the basic answers like....Grateful I can play soccer, grateful for my new shirt, and so on. Good things to be grateful for, but then they started to have to think...go deeper. Now I'm hearing, grateful for the opportunity to serve a needy families, grateful for the quality time I got to spend alone with my dad, grateful for twins that make me smile every day....we've all slowly moved away from being thankful for material things and are now recognizing life's simple moments and opportunities.

If you need a Gratitude Journal, check out Cherish Bound's Gratitude Journal here. It's a beautiful 5x5, purple journal that allows room for everyone to write in. There is an intro to gratitude, ideas for feeling gratitude, ideas for being grateful, how to use the journal, and lots of pages to write on.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough and more.
- Melody Beattie

Monday, November 10, 2008

Stories are EVERYWHERE!

I'm having an big-time story overload! Seriously big! I don't even know where to start this post......

Reason #1: Jessica Sprague's "Stories in Hand" starts today! You have until midnight tonight to register for FREE, yes FREE, class! Click here! This class is going to be amazing! A little crafting, a little story finding...actually, A TON of stories will get organized and sorted...and if you know me...I'm all about getting your stories.....well, "in hand".

I'm working on "day one" right now, and this project will be an amazing gift to ME and to family and friends on my holiday gift list. I'm so going to make a TON of these as gifts! I don't want to spoil the fun! ....you have to go check it out for yourself and get signed up NOW! (clap-clap-clap)

Reason #2: Over the weekend I was helping my mother and aunt, who have a combined age of over 115 years, (yikes!) finish up their Cherish Bound Storybook project. This has a been an ongoing project for the last few months, but I have to say....I'm 100% shocked at how much these two fine ladies have done on their own, 2500 miles away from me.

We've had to communicate via phone and email only...which means, I've walked them through learning how to download pictures, scanning, turning pictures, even EMAILING a picture! Woo-hoo! Yes, it took over an hour to learn how to download a picture, but they got it! I realized I took my simple computer knowledge for granted....huh! Try chatting on the phone with these two for an hour or so....exhausting fun!

The "tech" part of helping them with their first attempt at a Cherish Bound book has been quite the experience. When the project started both could check their email, but that was about it. Seriously. With some coaching, patience, some more coaching, and a lot more patience, they are about 99% complete with their story book.....

Now what book are they doing? What story have they been writing? Together they have written an entire life history of their childhood, and growing up with their brother and other sister. This book was written in their point of view but will be a Christmas gift to my other aunt and uncle. They have capture their memories, stories, big events, simplicity of life, and lessons learned. They added many beautiful pictures with stories beaming from the images.

As I went through and started editing the book for them I was lost in their lives. I was so taken back by the many stories that I had never heard. I was mesmerized by the 100's of lost photos that had been found and made familiar again. I learned about family members that I never knew existed. I was reminded of the beautifully simple lives that people led. I met grandparents and family friends that I'd never met before. I laughed, cried, plugged my ears....yes, there were stories that I may not have wanted to know about ;o) I couldn't believe the stories that sat before me....I couldn't believe I hadn't heard them before.

After I was done editing the book, I called my mom at my aunt's house (taught them how to use speaker phone) and we just laughed! 2500 miles away, we were connected. I realized that they had so much more to them...they were kids, teens, troublemakers at one time. They had actually lived real lives! I learned where I come from. I saw so many of my own characterises and traits in them.

I can't wait for them to submit this book. I've already called a copy of the book! I can't wait to sit down with my kids and husband and share these stories with them. Stories are powerful, they do connect and they will teach.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Bliss?

bliss: [blis] - noun

1. supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment
2. Theology: the joy of heaven
3. heaven; paradise: the road to eternal bliss
4. Archaic. a cause of great joy or happiness

The past few weeks I've been doing some extra soul searching. I've found myself questioning my happiness...but in a good way. All of a sudden I dawned on me that...this is it. This is what I will talk about when I'm 60, 70, 80.....100 years old. These are the days that I'll remember....

I tackled ANOTHER poo-party. It was bad timing, actually when is it ever good timing? But I really didn't want to deal with more laundry...I'm already doing 10 loads a day. My oldest daughter revealed to me that she has found real, true, good BF's...those were her words. "I found the bestest friends that I'll have forever...that are good for me." My other daughter did the happy dance because for weeks she was 1 of 2 kids defending her passionate political views against a room full of 25 others kids and the teacher that had very different views. Knowing she was out-numbered and the likelihood that her candidate may not become president, she did research, asked questions, battled on and stood for what SHE believed....even when her teacher debated and questioned her. She stood strong...but the victory was hers. Her candidate didn't win, but her teacher confessed to her and the class that as she stood in her booth to vote she had flashbacks of her debates with a particular 12-year-old girl....hum....wonder who? And in that moment she realized that she was going to vote for someone that she didn't see eye to eye with. She changed her vote in that split second. My son told me that he wanted to marry me....he didn't want to leave home, ever. But since his dad married me and he can't now that he'll just take care of me. And my hubby, well, you can read "My Husband Rocks" today.....

I'm not just living a happy life...I'm in total bliss. These little REAL LIFE moments are indeed LIFE! There's no "waiting" for something else....this is IT! This the ride I signed up for.... Who'd a thought cleaning up another poo-party would feel like bliss....(sighhh - smile) a teen that found GOOD friends, a daughter that defended her beliefs, and son that is in total love with me....this is BLISS!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Wordless Wednesday....Don't ask...Because I have No Idea!

Don't forget to visit my giveaways!

For more Wordless Wednesday visit www.5minutesformom.com

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Tuesday Tradition #32 - Thanksgiving & A GIVEAWAY!

There are only 4 Tuesdays, counting today, before Thanksgiving 2009 is here. This favorite holiday is known for the many blessings and celebrated through traditions. I'm going to share some of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions and ideas each Tuesday for the next 4 weeks.

One of my favorite things to do is listen to the members of our family tell stories. Many stories are being told and heard for the very first time. Some are repeats, with a slightly different twist and a little exaggeration, but most are just personal history, exciting events from the past year, past Thanksgivings, favorite memories and so on and so on.

Sometimes it can be hard to get the family talking or at least get them heading in the right direction. I like to avoid conflict, so for the past few years whether it's with all of our extended family or just my own husband and children, we have a tradition of sharing stories at the table. I get some help with this of course. I put a place card holder at each table setting. I don't put "name cards". I put one of Cherish Bound's Family Gathering Chat Cards at each person's place setting. Then around the house I take the cute little metal picture holders like the ones shown below and add chat cards to those. As people come to the table they can't help but take the card and read the story-inspiring question on the back. Throughout the house you can hear story swapping and tales being told as curious minds take the chat cards and begin asking questions. You never know what wisdom will be shared, what tall tale will be told, but through story our family comes together and connects on levels we never knew were possible.

I'd love to share these amazing Family Gathering Chat Cards with you all.....So I'm giving away a deck! All you need to do is comment and/or post about your Thanksgiving Family Traditions on your blog and link back here so we can all see and share our traditions. US residence only. Giveaway ends on Monday, November 17 @ 11:59 pm EST. I'll post the winner on my next Tuesday Traditions.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Dinner Blessings #4

November has arrived, which means the holidays are officially underway! Days are getting shorter, nights a little cooler, and dinner options are endless!! I love warm comfort food and I love to "cook" or bake in the cooler months. Hotter summer months for BBQ'ing, thank you to my sweet hubby. For Dinner Blessings this week I'm sharing a family favorite: "Homemade Chicken Pot Pie". One of my best friends passed it off to me awhile back and now we have it at least 2 times a month. Everyone will love this!

2 Cans Cream of Potato Soup (or leftover Potato Soup)
1 Can Veg-All (16 oz) Or any veggies that you may have, just cook them first
2 Cups Cooked Chicken
1/2 Cup of Milk
1/2 tsp Thyme
1/2 tsp Pepper

Mix together and put in an unbaked pie shell. Top with a second shell and make air slots. Bake at 375 for about 45 min!

Please use Mr. Linky and post your favorite Homemade or Semi-homemade recipe today! Link back so we can share our favorites!!

This is also my post for Homemaker Monday. I'm trying to cook as "homemade" as I can on Mondays so I can start the week off on the right foot! To see lots more Homemaker Monday ideas visit 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Bloggy Giveaway Winners!!!

Thank all for sweet comments and stories!! I wish so glad that I could EVERYONE publishing and all of you a Love Dare book! But what I am going to offer is something special all of you who commented on my giveaways even if you didn't win!!! I was so touched by the comments you all left about the stories that you would love to share...every single one of them deserves to be in a book for all your family to have....so I'm going to extend an offer exclusively to you!!

From now until November 10th, anyone who commented on either one of my giveaways will receive 25% off any publishing you'd like to do through Cherish Bound! Just email me at tarabrown@cherishbound.com and I'll tell you how to get started! (You do not have to finish your book by the 10th....just start your project!) If you'd like to publish for the holidays or just start with your own family's library of story, please contact me and I will help you get started!!

So the winners are...............................

Congrats to Lovelyn at Moments with Love! She's the winner of the Cherish Bound Story/Photo Book and Cherish Bound Story Starter Giveaway!!

And Congrats to Staci at Mommas Gone Over the Wall! She's the winner of the Fireproof - Love Dare book!

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