Author Archives: Christina

10.08.13

Michaels craft tour...

Posted by Christina // 4 Replies

I don’t think I have ever been as excited as the day that I got an invite to the grand re-opening of our local Michaels store.  The craft store has always been one of my favorites, but I used to always choose a competitor because finding what I needed quickly was not going to happen at Michaels.  Lucky for me…that was their primary focus in the new design.  They simplified the whole shopping experience, and who better to show off the new digs to than crafty bloggers. the-grand-reopening-of-michaels We got to take a tour of the new design and got inside scoop on some of the details they added to make shopping easier.  Things like widening the aisle, reducing clutter, adding high signage, really putting thought into how the departments were organized, and the best part was lowering the aisle displays.  Yes, you can now see the majority of the store from one spot and it is glorious.

My favorite part was stepping onto my dream bus. the-craft-bus We got to craft with Jo Pearson, the creative expert for Michaels and host of TLC’s Craft Wars.  As if spending time with other bloggers isn’t enough they threw in endless supplies of cute paper and a crafting genius.  Pretty much the best day ever.

To top it all off, we got a gift card to shop the new store and I am happy to report that it was so easy to find everything I wanted.  I can’t wait to show you what we got, it was so hard not to go crazy on all the Halloween decor.  Since the Craft Tour, I have stopped back into Michaels to pick up a few little things (I go through modge podge like a maniac) and have been so pleased.  Honestly, I haven’t even been to that other store since…which is crazy since they know me by name.

As I mentioned, Michaels did give us bloggers lots of goodies and a sneak peek….but you all know we only work with brands we use and love.  All the sappy love professions are straight from my heart because I can now find the ribbon aisle lickety split.

What are your store pet-peeves?  Clutter?  Customer service?
Do you have a Michaels by you?
Have you seen Craft Wars?  Obsessed.

Written by Christina and Tim
10.07.13

This Monday’s challenge seems especially appropriate after our announcement last week.  By the by, I just have to thank you all again….seriously amazing.  So much support and love. monday-matters-get-some-exercise Did you know that 50% of adults do not get enough physical activity and 24% are not physically active at all.  Not even a little bit.  Not even a stroll across the living room to change the channel on the boob tube.  That results in 66% of people being overweight.  Hello my name is Christina, and I am lumped into that 66% club.

Even worse is how being overweight affects your health.  One in three adults have high blood pressure, hi that’s me again.  Over 100 million people have high cholesterol levels.  These health conditions can lead to strokes and heart disease, which by the way cause deaths every 36 seconds.

I am no doctor, and I am not telling you to go out and run a marathon tonight.  But maybe take a walk, or just take the stairs.  You could even just park really far away when you stop at Target.  Stop saying, “I don’t have time” and make thirty minutes of sweating a priority.  Drink your water, do some stretching, and set a goal.  Now close this window down and get you some….exercise that is.

Written by Christina and Tim
10.02.13

A hard post to write...

Posted by Christina // 51 Replies

I have debated for the last 20 days if I should share this journey with you.  It is very personal, and though I like to think I have thick skin….it’s the one thing that makes me cry at night.

In the end I obviously decided to share, for two reasons.  1) This blog has always been a way to document our lives and share memories and struggles and projects with our family and friends.  That is its whole purpose, so it’s not fair to leave you out of this.  2)  I need accountability.  Period.

I am changing my life.  It’s why I went missing a week ago.  It’s why I have been so busy.  It’s why sometimes I am cranky (I just want a cheeseburger).  I am done being fat.  I am done yo-yoing.  I refuse to be a mom that can’t play with her kiddos, and I really don’t want to be a porky bride.

Let me back up a bit.  I have always had self-image problems, even 90 lbs ago.  Yes, you read that right….there was a time NINETY pounds ago when I thought I was a whale.  Check it. yesteryear-when-i-thought-i-was-huge If you do in fact think I look chunky in those photos, please just keep that opinion to yourself.  Because now, ninety pounds later….I think I looked fantastic.  I know what your thinking though, if I thought I was chunky then…then how did I pack on ninety pounds.

That is a great question.  My only answer is I love food.  I love beer.  I got complacent a time or two in relationships (poor Tim).  When I run for more than three minutes I start thinking about what would happen if I just stop, and then I do.  Nothing happens.  It is all my fault.  For a long time I blamed everything but myself, but I did this to my body.  Duh.

Maybe one day when I am feeling more brave I will reveal the photo that broke me.  You know the one where you aren’t expecting your fiancé to snap a photo, sitting in your sweats and not sucking in.  It finally showed me what I have been avoiding, what Tim sees.  Wimper, sad face, tear.

I am done feeling bad….it’s time to do something about it.

It helps to have so many inspiring bloggers in my life.  Hi Sadie, Hi Mama Laughlin, Hi Clare, Hi Ashley, Hi Linz….need I go on.  I need them for motivation, but I need you to hold me accountable.  Earlier this year I lost 30 pounds, even bouncing back from our Vegas trip…till that fried Oreo did me in.  While I am busting my hump, I need a cheering section to keep me going when I want to give up.  Honestly, I would love to tell you I am strong enough to hold myself accountable….but I am not sure of that yet.  So stick with me.

I have been working out everyday since September 12th….and I am down 10 pounds so far.  Small victory.  I finally took my before photos, sort of disgusted with myself.  Once I start seeing a difference I promise to post them.  For now I will just be chugging along….every dang day.

Written by Christina and Tim
09.30.13

Tim and I have been hiking on weekends lately, and one of our new favorite things to do is bring a little plastic bag and pick up as much trash as we possibly can.

It all started when Tim picked up one little bottle, now we have started making a game to see who can pick up the most “treasure”.  Today I want to translate our little beautification process to everyday life. pick-up-some-liter-to-make-monday-matter You know how we love our animals, so I find it disturbing that nearly 300 species die from ingesting or getting entangled in marine debris annually.  What a shame, think of the ducks.

If every single person picked up just one piece of litter today, there would be over 3 million fewer pieces of litter.  If everyone picked up 10 pieces, there would be 3 billion fewer pieces.  Even though picking up just one piece seems like it could never make an impact, it could be saving a little life while improving your community.

Confession time:  Are you a litter bug?

Written by Christina and Tim
09.27.13

Inspired....

Posted by Christina // 2 Replies

Often times I use Fridays to showcase all the things that have inspired me all week.

Today will be no different, except that it won’t be personified animals.

Last year I was very involved in the United Way Campaign at my full-time job.  This year, as much as I wanted to be, it didn’t seem feasible with the new position.  So instead I threw out one idea.  A simple idea.  An idea that I wanted in my heart for so long.

Ignite people’s fires.  Give them passion about our brand.  Show them the bigger picture.  Get them invested in the story.  Ok, so technically that’s a couple ideas….but the main idea was allow people to come tour the corporate office.  Introduce them to the “big-wigs” and teach them about our business.  They went for it.

Last night was one of the most inspiring moments I have had in my career.  There was a small turnout, and towards the end of the tour there she was.  The most successful person in our company.  One of only 18 female CEO’s on the Fortune 500 list.  Someone who started at entry-level, and now has the best view in the building.

Then the most amazing thing happened.  She talked to us.  She spent over an hour showing us historical artifacts, storytelling, foreshadowing, and answering our questions.  She gave us a tour of the boardroom, and let us sit on her über comfy sofa.  I am so lucky to work for a company where the CEO will take an hour out of her day to talk to employees she has never met.  Her words were inspiring, and now my only goal in life is to have an office with a shower in it.

So you want to know what inspired me this week?  My company.  My CEO.  My refound ambition.  And a quote that my current manager uses quite often. get-inspired I hope you take that with you.

Do you work in the corporate world?
How do you define success?
Are you old when you get starstruck by a CEO?

Written by Christina and Tim