Reusable Snack Bag Give Away!! Ends Dec 8, 2012

I am having my first give away for Calia's Cottage.
Follow the link and leave a comment and I will enter you to win 1 of 2 sets of these 3 reusable baggies!

Enter here, here, here, or here!

Here are the rules:
 Comment on any one of these pictures or the post and you will be entered to win! There are 2 sets of 3 reusable baggies each up for grabs. 1 sandwich and 2 snack size in each. The giveaway ends on Sat Dec 8, 2012. Just in time for a Christmas present perhaps? My husband and I have been using them for the past 4 months and we love them!

And you can buy them on etsy too!  

Set of 3 reusable baggies give away. Ends Sat Dec 8th 2012

Month of Thankful's reflections

If I have learned anything  over the past weeks of November leading up to Thanksgiving, it is this. I have so much more to be thankful then just what I wrote down. Although there are so many big things, it is the little things that make me the happiest. The little moments in life where you stop to watch a sunrise, smell a flower, or just spend time with friends. Those are my favorite moments that are hard to capture. I also learned how hard it is to blog every day. I definitely forgot 2 of the 3 Saturdays, which thrills me because it means that I am living life, not spending time on the computer! All in all, I love how much I have to be thankful for in life.

Thankful's (in a nutshell)

1.       Thomas

2.       Parents

3.       Siblings

4.       Children

5.       A beautiful home 
6.    Colored Leaves

7.       Physical health

8.       Good food and Cooking 
9.    Laughter - Healing Joy

10.   Marriage

11.   My Country

12.   A wonderful job/Co-workers

13.   Friends

14.   Technology

15.   Sunrises and sunsets

16.   Creativity

17.   Joy

18.   Photography

19.   Traveling

20.   Flowers

21.   My Business – Calia’s Cottage

22.   My Faith

Day 22 - My Faith

Day 22 - My Faith – last but not least, I love who I am created to be because of who I believe in. Although I can be a crappy person at times, my Jesus is not. He has created me in His perfect sweet image and although I fail on an hourly basis, I am thankful for the forgiveness to start over and over again.

And with my final thankful's post...

Day 21 - Calia's Cottage

Day 21 - My Business – Calia’s Cottage has checked so many different things off of my bucket list. So awesome to create something that others can enjoy. Every time is get a little message that something else was purchased, it makes me grin inside (outside too most of the time). I love that I get to bless so many people with useful crafts.Visit me!

Day 20 - Flowers

Day 20 - Flowers – I love everything about them. The colors. The beauty. The smell. I love them in every color shape and size. They make me happy. So thankful for the beauty all around.

Day 19 - Traveling

Germany 2011

Day 19 - Traveling – I love that I can get to any place in the world in a matter of days. I love to see and experience new places and people. I love the adventure of exploring new cultures and foods. I love going back to places I have been to explore the little cafes and places you did not necessarily find the first time around, but my favorite things is to go explore new places I have never been. And I love exploring with people who have been living or visiting for an extended period so they can show you the best little places. I love travel. Everything about it.

Switzerland 2010

Germany 2010

Ireland 2012

The Blarney Stone Ireland 2012

Day 18 - Photography

Day 18 - Photography – I love the beauty that is created all around me that I can capture on film. Not only the memories, but also the simple beauty that I can portray throughout life. I love how many people love and appreciate photography. On top of that is the memories, family, friends, beauty, and the simple process of capturing the moment. Because life is the memories you make on a daily basis. Beauty and memories through photography. So thankful.

Day 17 - Joy

Day 17 - Joy – the deep deep presence of joy in my life that takes in all the negative and turns it into something to smile about. For that I am thankful.

Day 16 - Creativity

Day 16 - Creativity – I love that I can make so many different things. Some of them are necessary and some of them are not. Through pinterest, life has become so much more creative. And I have even been able to create a business out of it. I love that I can see something and go out and make it. I love being creative and crafty and able to make 95% of what I see out there on my own. Don't get me wrong, I m by no means someone to attempt to come up with my own ideas. I am the queen of copy and paste. I put my little flair into everything I make, but I am always copying the idea from some where. And I am 100% ok with that. 

I mean really? REALLY? I made baby shoes! How cool is that? So thankful for the creative gene.

Day 15 - Sunrises and sunsets

Day 15 - I absolutely love the beauty of sunrises and sunsets. Every time I catch a glimpse of one, it makes me smile. I mean what is not to love about these?

 

I have seen (and taken everyone of these pictures) every one of these sunrises and sunsets and they still make my heart happy looking at the pictures. God really out did himself when He created them.

I am thankful for the eyes to see and the heart to enjoy every sunrise and sunset.

 

Day 14 - Technology

Day 14 - Technology – I love being able to keep in contact with so many amazing people. Between email and facebook it is so easy! I love that if I have a question, I can google an answer immediately. So many questions in life have been answered! I love that when I am working on a shutterfly book on my laptop and it is taking too long to download, I can be on pinterest perusing all the fabulous things I want to make in life. (Stay tune, I think my new years resolution has to do with pinterest. I love photography and how much it has changed since digital cameras have come into play. Instant gratification with seeing pictures is awesome! I know that my generation is all about instant gratification, but in the case of photography, I love it. :) I truly love technology. I may not be up with all the latest and greatest, but I truly love the perks of what I have.

I love being able to capture images like these.

Lavender fields in Squim WA

Beach at Cook Islands

Sunset at Pt Loma, CA

Day 13 - Friends

Day 13 - Friends – The people you choose to be in your life. I love that my friends come in all shapes and sizes. That some are call every day friends and some are catch up every few years friend. I love that my family are my friends. I love that a have friends from growing up, from high school, from college, and now from life after college. I love that I have friends that are decades older then me and years younger then me. I love that no matter where I go I make friends. I love that friends each have a job in your life and each have a moment in your life. I love that each person I count as a friend has impacted my life and made me better. I am thankful that people want to be my friend and love me inspire of me. Those are the dearest friends.

Day 12 - A wonderful job/Co-workers

Day 12 - A wonderful job/Co-workers – the place I spend the most time at. With awesome co-workers that I love spending time with. And I get to work in an airplane company. I mean really... Great people and airplanes? Life is good! So thankful for having a job at the Boeing company that I enjoy, especially in this economy too!

Truly Blessed. 

Day 11 - My Country

Day 11 - My Country – So thankful to live in a country where I am safe. So thankful for all the Soldiers who have put their lives on the line to give me the freedom and safety to live how I do. Thankful for Thomas, my Dad, Keith, and all four of our grandfathers, who fought for the freedom of their country. I love that we have a day to be thankful for and remember our soldiers who fight so that we can be free. 

Thankful.

Thomas 09-10 Tour

Thomas 09-10 Tour

Day 10 - Marriage

Day 10 - Marriage – I love being married. There is nothing better then the beauty of the permanent sleep over with your best friend. I love that no matter what, I have someone who loves me and is committed to sticking with me through thick or thin. Sticking with me no matter how cranky or delightful I am to be around. In yesterday's thankfulness of laughter, I said it was one of the top three things you need in marriage. Laughter as well as commitment and Christ-likeness (selflessness) are the 3 things that will keep you together. Marriage is hard work. It can be a struggle, but it also is one of the best things in life. The joy of waking up to my best friend every moment for the past (almost) 6 years is priceless.

Day 9 - Laughter - healing joy

Day 9 - Laughter – I absolutely love laughter. The thing I notice most about people is not only their laugh, but their ability to laugh. I believe that laughter is incredibly healing. It brings such joy to life. It is one of the 3 elements that I believe make a great lasting marriage. It also makes a great family. The families that I admire the most, are filled with laughter. Sweet joy. If you can learn to laugh at yourself, that is the greatest gift you will ever give yourself because it takes all the expectation and embarrassment out of every situation. Laughter is such a healing joy and I am so thankful for how much easier it has made every lesson that I have learned.

Day 8 - Good Food and Cooking

Day 8 - Good food and Cooking – These are both things I love. I often feel like doing what my nephew Kai is doing below when I find good food. Nothing stops me from devouring it! FOOD!!!

 I love the ability to cook, eat, and share life with people through food. Although I was a little leery of learning to cook before Thomas and I were married, I learned quickly that following a recipe is not that hard. I also learned quickly that the best way to gather recipes you love was to try a dish some place (like a pot luck or a friends house) and then ask for the recipe. I have gathered quite a delicious collection!

My favorite part about food however is how often Thomas and I are able to have friends over for dinner. I love using food to invite the laughter and joy of amazing people into our home.

Again, food it one of my all time favorite things. A great meal with great people it the best place to be on earth.



Day 7 - Physical Health

 Day 7 - Physical health – I love that I have the ability to take ballet lessons. I love that I have the ability to stretch every single morning with Thomas. I love that I have great health at the moment. I have seen so many people I know struggle and I understand how truly blessed I am to be healthy at this moment in my life.

Day 6 - Colored Leaves

Day 6 - Colored leaves – the beauty of God’s creation. I love fall. It is absolutely my favorite time of the year. I mean the summer is always amazing and a little short, but with the fall comes the holidays, a calmer life (for those of us without school and kids), and beautiful colored leaves. I just love the change of seasons. The anticipation of spring does not negate the beauty of fall at all in my eyes.