It's that time of the year when we look ahead to a brand new year and a fresh new start. . .A CLEAN SLATE, as we refer to it. I'm putting together my list of resolutions and goals during these last few days of 2007. I write them in a Goal Journal that I started several years ago. It is fun to look back and see what I wrote in past years and which goals I achieved and which ones I am still working on. The key is to LOOK at them often throughout the year. Better yet, post the list on your inspiration board or refrigerator or tape it to your desk so you see the list EVERYDAY. I'm looking forward with anticipation to whatever excitement 2008 has in store for me. The possibilities are endless and all we have to do is set our sights in that direction.I received a newsletter the other day from Sandra Magsamen, author of "Living An Artful Life," in which she talked about making "conscience choices for conscious living." Sandra focused on the word BE as she looks toward the new year. BE You
BElieve in Yourself
BE Passionate
BElong to Something You Believe In
BEgin Today
BEcome What You Dream To BE
BEdazzle With Your Smile and Laughter
BEhave Like It's Your Last Day on the Planet
Sandra also included this great inspirational quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:"I believe, with all my heart, that we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes."
As I was blog-hopping today, I ran across some wonderful SARK-inspired goal sheets that Lia from ArtJunk Girl designed and posted on her Flickr Page. These are a fun way for you to list your goals. You can check them out here.
Whatever goals and/or resolutions you decide upon, AIM HIGH and don't sell yourself short. With each other's support, I know we WILL achieve them!
~ GO FIGHTING ILLINI ~
UPDATE: USC Creamed Illinois 49-17 (Boo-Hoo!)
Ta-da! I have reached the end of Rhonna's 21 Day Challenge and my journal is finished. I am proud that I stuck with it till the end and hopefully my goal of thinking positively will continue on into the future. Reading A New Earth in conjunction with writing this journal has definitely been the added boost I needed to reaching my goal.
It feels good to have accomplished this, especially in the midst of working on swaps, special orders and Easter preparations. It's important to make time to do something for ourselves once in a while. As wives, mothers, daughters, friends, employees, etc. we tend to give and give to other people all the time. But what is left to give, unless we take a break to refill the well every now and then.
My journal is complete. My pages are finished and have been added to the binding. I always love the way a completed journal looks in the end. It's the same feeling I got when I finished a big project back when I was in school. (Back in the dark ages, as I tell my daughter!) If you'd like to see the entire journal, click here.
This is the fourth 21 Day Challenge that I have completed and I feel I have grown as a person with each and every page. It's exciting to look back at these journals to see just how far I have come. 
Today is Day 10 of our Hippity Hop Easter Swap and this gift is from Beth. She wrapped her present in this lovely swatch of ivory lace with a hint of what's inside peeking out of the top.
And look! It's a tube full of SPRING topped off with the most darling pale yellow chick (he looks vintage to me) donning a royal crown made from a page right out of an old book. Of course there is glass glitter and vintage posies too. I adore it! Thank you Beth!!! :) In case you forgot, there are 4 other groups exchanging gifts in this swap and you can see pics of all of them by clicking here. 
