Wednesday Sponsor Giveaway: Freehand Scraps, Big Picture Scrapbooking, + Paper & Co. Show

I know it probably sounds silly, as many of the PP are pretty big decisions people have made lately!
My leap of courage is doing my best to speak frankly, but with heart. Too often I say what I know people want to hear because I really don't like confrontation. In the past, when I do say what's on my mind it comes off as mean or arrogant. Then I shy away from speaking up. I need to practice saying what I think, but I believe it can be done without attacking people or something similar.

My biggest leap of late is becoming a vegetarian. I am a picky eater anyways, but it was really important to me to make this change in my eating habits. So it was a challenge for me to do it in the first place. But now I find myself summoning the courage on an almost daily basis to try new vegetables and new foods that I always assumed I did not like. I am so happy to be expanding my horizons and hopefully improving my diet.

Hi. I had to make a very hard leap just before the holidays. And am still thinking about today, everyday. I had to end a relationship with a person whom I thought was a really great friend. Over the course of the year prior things became very difficult and confusing to me. I was often left feeling full of self-doubt and bad about myself being myself when we had spent time together. It is not so much the friend I lost but we both have kids that really loved spending time together. Now that it has been few weeks I am amazed that I have changed so much. How much better I feel with out the extra drama etc. It was hard, I didnt want to make her sad but I just couldnt be the friend she needed me to be.

My biggest leap was leaving my job so I could focus on starting a family and all the doctor's appointments that infertility brings. A smaller and more recent leap is really taking charge of working out and eating better and doing it to be healthy not to be thin (though if thinner comes with it I won't complain!hehe)

My most recent leap I was pushed into...it is dealing with a pay cut at work due to the bad economy. It's tough but I know I will get through it and learn in the process. That means no extra spending, and no more big picture scrapbooking classes, after I loved my first one. Makes me sad, but it made me happy to see you are giving away passes to the Library of Memories class, which looks amazing - I need better organization and focus in my scrapbooking. And I'd love the kit as well. (Don't count me in on the Italy one...hopefully someone who can make the trip will win that.) Thanks!

Thank you Ali. The giveaways would be great, but the real prize for me here today was that quote. Perfect timing. We have been living in the US for two weeks today. I had just returned, teary eyed, from dropping my teary eyed son at his new school. His third day. He is so scared and nervous. I feel so mean. But then I saw this. little leaps to make the big leap. Just what I needed (and more tears too!) Today is going to be a much better day. Thanks again.

We sent our girls to traditional school this year. We homeschooled for four years. We knew when we took the leap it would most likely be permanent since we didn't want them to continually change schools. So our leap involved the big decision to change type of educating and the leap to the particular school they attend (which was a little farther out of our area). Thanks for the chance to win.

Hi Ali. My most recent leap has been returning to college at the age of 37 to get a degree in education. I've been working in a pretty high paying, high stress job for several years- making good money but not a good life. I thought about teaching for years and finally decided to just go for it. My next leap will be trusting that everything will be ok when I start living off a teacher's salary. :)

My most recent leap is a big one for me: I finally told a toxic friend how I really felt about her.

I haven't made any big leaps lately. I guess the last big one was deciding to have my second child (he turned 5 yesterday)
My most recent leaps have been small. A forced leap- everyone at my office had to cut hours (and salary) to save some jobs. I'm going to use this extra time for "met time" which I so desperately need. Also, I have a tiny leap - I decided to start submitting my layouts to magazines and submitted one just this past friday.

My recent leap was asking my boss to let me work from home 2 days a week and he said yes!

We sent our girls to traditional school this year. We homeschooled for four years. We knew when we took the leap it would most likely be permanent since we didn't want them to continually change schools. So our leap involved the big decision to change type of educating and the leap to the particular school they attend (which was a little farther out of our area). Thanks for the chance to win.

My biggest leap of courage....well have you ever been in a car with a teenage boy learning to drive!!!! Ahhh! Totally a leap of faith that you are all going to make it back home in one piece :) Lol!

I'm demonstrating stamping projects at a large group meeting on Saturday. I'm stressing over what I'm going to do and demonstrating for demonstrators! ACK!

My leap is having my two boys by myself -some days I think I am crazy, but mostly I love it. Barbara

My leap is a healthier lifestyle. I have been exercising daily since Oct., I am trying new meatless receipes and have lost 10 lbs to help keep me motivated. Jill S

What fun giveaways!
The biggest leap my family & I took was for me to quit my job last august. I was running a small in home daycare and my kids were about to enter public school. It terrified me! We took the leap and have been doing FABULOUS even in such trying times as our country is in. The ability to be able to work in my kids' classrooms, know their teachers & their friends, go on field trips etc. is my dream come true and something I feel is SO necessary for our family. It was terrifying, still is, but so so worth it!

Man, I have made a ton of jumps, deciding on some things like, going into the air force, breaking up with the boyfriend who is holding me back.
Also, I got to design for my local Craft Warehouse! That was a really big jump for me... Its awesome! Now they want me to design MORE! :D Its SO super exciting! :D
***Just want to add. If, i doubt it, but IF I get picked for the Italy thing. Please put my name back in and pick another winner!! I cant afford to go to Italy!! LOL

I've started a scrapbook club and got prepared for my first class, that will be tomorrow. That counts, doesn't it?

Great stuff today Ali! One recent leap of courage that I took was reaching out to contact 2 friends that I had through jr. high & high school that were my world growing up. We had a very painful parting of hearts about ten years ago and sending a hello, congrats, & you look great to both of them has opened doors of communication that have been closed for some time. It's a leap that I hope gives good healing & restoring in the time to come. (Reach is also my word for 2009!)

My most recent leap was actually a year ago when I started a second (part time) job. I finally decided that I wanted (needed) to get out of debt and I took action to start to make that happen. It's been a huge huge change, I work 2-3 nights during the week and at least an 8 hour shift on Saturday. Many nights I get home around midnight and then can't fall asleep until after 1....then I have to get up in the morning and go to my regular job.
But. I did it...I am doing it...and it will be worth it in the end. And, I've met some pretty great people at this job. That was an unexpected bonus.

So cool Ali-I have goosebumps right now because "courage" is my word for 2009 and I had just posted earlier this a.m. on my blog some lyrics to the song, "Courage is..." Thanks for sharing.
xoxo
Cristina

My recent leap was expressing my condolances to a grieving person and attending the funeral (this is a leap for me as I tend to avoid these things because it is too scary/emotional/unknown.)

My recent leap has been making some personal changes for my family which are very hard but good. They require lots of work and attention. I believe the outcome will be well worth the outcome.

I guess my leap of faith would be letting go of something really difficult for me and putting it in God's hands.