Wednesday Sponsor Giveaway: Freehand Scraps, Big Picture Scrapbooking, + Paper & Co. Show
First, I want to pass along a thought for today that I came across on my friend Alex's blog about courage & leaps:
What I realized is that there is not just one big moment of courage in
our lives. There are many. These moments come to us in different ways.
At times we are forced into a leap (unexpected pregnancy, when parents
or partners pass away, when we loose our job). At times we are called
into a leap (when someone invites us for a trip of a lifetime, when our
partner wants to move to a new city, when we are offered a chance, when
we take the "money maker" role to support our family). Then there are
also the daily tiny leaps we take for the sake of adventure (when we
try new types of food, music, when we go out on a date, when we talk to
a stranger, when we transition from blogger friends to real life
friends). No matter how small, silly or hard, tiny, dramatic or
forgotten... All leaps are important because little by little, we live
through change, we figure out how to cope, we move forward, we learn
who we are, and we build our confidence for the bigger leaps, the ones
we seek for ourselves.
Maybe someone else out there needed to hear this today too...
And now, three cool midweek sponsor giveaways are on tap for today:
• One person will receive a February Kit from Freehand Scraps.
• Two people will receive passes to Stacy Julian's fantastic online Library of Memories class at Big Picture Scrapbooking. Focused on getting your scrapbook albums in working order and organizing your photos (in a very "you-centered" way), I highly recommend the class and/or Stacy's book Photo Freedom. Class begins February 12th and runs for 16 weeks. This class is only offered once a year.
• One person will receive 4 classes for the Paper & Co. event in Italy on March 27, 28, and 29 (giveaway does not include travel, accommodations, or food for the event). You can check out a list of the classes here. Italy sure sounds good to me right about now :).
To be included in the drawing today please leave a comment below and share your most recent "leap" or act of courage. Comments will be closed at 8pm Pacific tonight with the winners posted shortly after.
I would also like to take a minute to welcome and thank my newest blog sponsors:
Digital Birdhouse : digital scrapbook products
Scarlet Lime : monthly kit club
The Paper Pixie : paper embellishments
The Digital Scrapbook Teacher : photoshop tutorials and classes for hybrid + digital scrapbooking
Lettergirls : delightful hand-created address stamps
For more information on sponsor opportunities send me an email: ali at aliedwardsdesign dot com
My biggest leap was moving away by myself with no family around.
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Recent leap was my husband deciding to make a career change and in this economy. It seems to be working out for the best. Who knew?
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My most recent "leap" is that my husband and I are trying for a baby....it's so exciting. We've been together for almost 6 years and married for almost 3. :)
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My most recent act of courage was during my last pregnancy (the baby is 6 months old now). I found out I have a blood clotting disorder which caused three miscarriages. In order to sustain the pregnancy I had to have shots of a blood thinner, in my stomach no less, twice a day. My husband gave me the shots every day he could. When he was traveling I had to rely on an ER doctor neighbor and a couple of friends who are nurses. They were very painful and left huge bruises with each shot about the size of a silver dollar. My son was born full term and very healthy through a scheduled c-section. All that pain was well worth it. Did I mention I have a terrible needle phobia?? It wasn't the best news to hear I'd have my husband giving me shots twice a day for 9 months plus 6 weeks post partum, but I did it. I took it day by day, shot by shot. I have a beautiful boy to show for it.
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I'm a gradual leaper. I need a nudge (or sometimes a shove) to spur me into risk taking action. Thankfully, my kids and my husband are more than willing to give me the swift kick i need! And i always feel good about myself after the leap, however big or small.
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lately my biggest leap is learning better to adapt - for example, i have always been a huge news junky, but lately it is all doomsday stuff (economy down, housing down, unemployment up, etc.) so i've stopped watching and listening for a while as it just gave me anxiety. Also with adapting i've re-entered the workforce after a 10 y ear absence. Although i have a college degree and great experience (prior to my absence) i had no recent employment record and found it really difficult to get even an unskilled job - so rather than have a pity party i decided to keep at it and get a job so i can have a more recent employment history...it's been over two months and so far so good.
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I really *love* this topic! So far this year has been all about "leaps" and "acts of courage" for me and our family. I truly believe taking leaps and believing in yourself helps you to see who you really are and what you are capable of.
Like so many people who are feeling the effects of the ecomony and with my husband being in construction as well as renewable energy (wind energy farms), we are taking a really BIG leap and moving from Oregon and to Austin, TX in just a few weeks! This has been a dream of ours for a year now, but now this is something we need to do in order to survive. It's scary, exciting, and we are looking forward to taking this big "leap" in Austin!! Thanks so much for your great giveaways!!
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I haven't really had any "leaps" lately. Just making it through life right now! But I will be on the look out for opportunities! Thanks for the great quote!
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my big leap is that my husband and I have decided to start trying to have children!
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I just recently took the leap and accepted a volunteer position (with the American Cancer Society) to be the Event Chair of a Relay For Life event in my neighboring town that needed more help than my own Relay needed. I KNEW there was a reason I was being asked to help and I honestly haven't felt this excited about helping out as a volunteer in years...It's GOOD to give back and I'm glad I took the leap! ;-)
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I definately needed to read that quote. Thank you. I feel like at this time I'm experiencing couragageous leaps almost daily as I take over two preschool classes fully and strive to become a better after school care leader. Also, my sister and I just made the decision to move at the end of this year and that definately requires courage as well.
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My biggest leap was a couple years ago, when me and my hubby moved from our home town to the capital... uncertain future, uncertain job...everything was so fluid and uncertain. So far so good though!
P.S. I'm "dying" for the Stacy Julian class!!!
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Big leap for me would be starting my de-cluttering/organizing. Seeing my things leaving the house was pretty hard, but then we are enjoying the space we are starting to get back for things we really want to keep & need, or just space for us to enjoy.
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My biggest leap recently was getting married! I love it.
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I am going to be a counselor at winter camp this weekend - it feels like a big leap to me because I haven't done something like this for 10 years.
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We just took a leap and bought a second home at the lake. A big commitment to spend time there. I can't wait!!!!
Love the giveaways!!! Not sure about Italy though, no extra cash on hand (see above).
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My biggest leap is taking on a volunteer leadership role for a group of kids and also being a driver for another set of kids. This is in addition that I work full-time and running around when I get home to take my children to their extra curriculm activities. Its is all good and I'm enjoying it. It is a matter of balance. I even have time to work out which is very very early in the morning.....
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My most recent leap is trying to find the courage to help family members who are sick with cancer. It is so hard and you have to find a way to deal but you do. You kinda go numb for a while and then it is like all of a sudden it hits you in the face and your really really awake now. You want your family to fight for their life but they decide to enjoy what time they have left without spending it in hospitals and Dr.s offices. What can you do but respect their wishes. Thanks for the giveaway and the blog quote. I was one of those that needed that right now!
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I hope this can be classed as a leap of courage, i have found this pregnancy hard to cope with expecially with my DD going through terrible 2's and DH constantly at work so my leap of courage is on a daily basis where my hormones are taking over and i feel im at breaking point and cant cope i pull through to repeat it the next day trying my hardest to cope.. i tell myself there are women out there who are worse of but prenatal depression is hard to deal with and my way of dealing with it takes alot of courage as i feel im in it alone at times ....
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It's a small leap - but I tried a new recipe last night and took it to my Book Club. I don't think I'd make it again, but I love trying new recipes. :)
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We got a new puppy -- which is "waaayy" outside my comfort zone because I'm kind of a clean freak!
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My recent leap was to quit a job I knew was taking me nowhere & was more fun than anything. More important to be home spending time with my family.
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We got a new puppy -- which is "waaayy" outside my comfort zone because I'm kind of a clean freak!
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A lot of us are having to find courage to move forward (or just doggie-paddle) in this economy. My husband heads an engineering firm, and when clients don't pay, we don't get paid. We are currently 8 weeks behind on paychecks! It's hard as a parent to keep saying "no" and to have to cut back on their activities, but we are trying to find more free things to do as a family, so maybe it will be good in the long run. 8 months ago, I would have signed up for Stacy's class without thinking twice, now it's just not in the cards. Luckily, it will take a LONG time to deplete my scrapbooking stash!
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My recent leap is the realization that I have to make some small changes in my life in order to stay sane. I need to weed out the stuff that isn't working and keep only the stuff that brings me peace. TV is a distraction that I don't need. I want to carve out more time for creative outlets, such as scrapbooking and photography.
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