Sunday morning.....

AHHHHH Sunday Morning . . . . .

The Day of Rest!

I need it after a busy day helping my son and his new wife move . . . .

So on to today.

I will be surfing the blogisphere, the internet and loads of other places for future

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

blog posts.

I sure could use your help tho . . . . .

Let me know what you are loving right now.

Is it a color, a fabric style, a particular handcrafted trend?

Is it tips for organizing, low cost decorating, or a decorating trend?

I WANNA KNOW!!!!

Then maybe your idea will be featured in an upcoming Wednesday post.

And GET THIS . . .

If I pick your idea and use it in the upcoming weeks, I will have a free gift for you.

What is it??? 

You just have to wait and see . . . .

. . . so leave your ideas here in the comments  . . .

One idea, two ideas?

As many as you want . . .

. . . . this also increases your chance of winning a little gift from

A Creative Spirit.

Off to church.

Be blessed. 

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

I have decided to start a new blog tradition here on A Creative Spirit.

I LOVE searching the net, surfing new sites, finding GREAT interiors I love, GREAT handmade items I love, GREAT cake or cupcake ideas.

It got me thinking that I should share some of these GREAT ideas with all of you.

To start this new series off, I thought I would share one of my Pinterest pages.

Take a look. . .

Do you notice a theme on this board?

Blues, aquas????

I just can't help myself.

If you are new to Pinterest and need an invite, let me know and I will send one off to you. . .

Music Monday.....

Mean

Taylor Swift

OK, OK, I know... you just can't believe some of the songs I like right?????

And I know a lot of radio folks have said they don't get this song. . .

But I do. . .

Were you ever bullied? Were you ever made fun of?

If so, then this song probably resonates with you.

What about me?

OH YEA, I faced the mean girls in high school.

As a middle of the road, not in the popular group kinda gal. . .

I got along with everyone.

But along comes a popular guy who wants to date

lil' ole me and that all changes . . .

That opened the flood gates of mean girl behavior.

Snide, mean, nasty comments. . .

Things written about me in the bathroom stalls . . .

(are you kidding me?)

Lots more to the story but suffice it to say that this song DOES bring back memories.

I am no where NEAR as popular as Taylor Swift (I wish)

but I did get outta the small town, went to college, moved to a big city (well big compared to my hometown), and have a wonderful job that I love.

So take a listen and think back to a time YOU might have felt the sting of the mean crowd.

Until next time. . .

More Bloggy Tips....

I previously posted a few tips and suggestions that I have learned in the last year of blogging.

Well, it is time for a few more.

And as before, here is my DISCLAIMER!!!

Please understand that the following thoughts and comments are just MY ramblings, and not the thoughts of anyone else in particular. I LOVE LOVE LOVE ALL blogs that I follow and would not consider UN-following for any of these reasons. I just wanted to share a few more thoughts and tips I have learned along the way from MUCH more seasoned bloggers than myself.

1. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE add your email address to your Blogger profile. I LOVE to reply to everyone that leaves me comments, but without an email on your profile, I cannot answer you by email. It is much more time consuming to go back to your blog to reply to your comment. I am usually there every couple of days visiting you anyway, but I like to reply as quickly as possible to let you know I appreciate you. :o)
2. Please reply to those that comment on your blog. It makes them know you read their comment and that you appreciate them stopping by.
3. LEAVE comments. You know how much you love them on your own blog, so leave comments when reading a blog post if you have something to say. Did it make you laugh? Have you had the same experience? Do you LOVE the project shown on the blog post? Did the blog author ask a question you have an answer to?
4. Hit the blog hops. Love em? Hate em? Personally I love them as it is the best way to find new blogs that interest you. It is a great way to up readership on your own blog too. Some follow just to follow, but others become friends and faithful followers.
5. Choose to use the 'pop-up window' option for your comments. For SOME weird reason, if blogger is acting up and won't let your followers post in their Google Account the usual way, this will correct that. I got this tip from LeAnn at Living Waters.

   Comment Form Placement	Full page Pop-up window Embedded below post The embedded comment form can not be used if you have Post Pages disabled.

Well that is all I have today, but stay tuned... It seems I learn something new EVERY day from all you wonderful bloggers out there......

Until next time....

Come Hop Along

And the winner of the Cake Pop kit is.......

If you remember here, I had a fun little giveaway for a Cake Pop kit!!!!

I LOVE CAKE POPS

and I wanted to share that love with one of you.....

WOO HOO!!

Sooooo, I used the Random.org widget to pick a winner and the winner is

Christine of Why We Love Green

APPLAUSE!!!! CONFETTI!!!!! HOOTS AND HOLLERS

Congrats Christine, please email me with your address and I will get it right out to you!!!!

And STAY TUNED because I am well on the way to 300 followers and there will be another giveaway when I reach that number.

Until next time.....

Music Monday....

I just can't get enough of Jeremy Camp's new song...

THE WAY

A MAAA ZING

It is getting a lot of airplay here in Ohio on 104.9 The River and I thought I would share it with you on this Music Monday!!!

Until next time......

Do you wanna make money with Blogging?

If so.....

Here is a GREAT challenge for all of us.

It comes from Renee at Renee's Joy Journey.

It is a 3 month challenge so scoot on over to check out ALL the details.

BUT, for now, here are some of the steps to take during week 1.

Week 1- Action Steps
#1 Link-up to the Challenge .
#2 Blog about the challenge.  .
#3 Get your Site Reader Worthy: Mission Statement.
#4 Get your Site Reader Worthy: Title.
#5 Get your Site Reader Worthy: Welcome.
#6 Get your Site Reader Worthy: Connect. 
#7 Get your Site Reader Worthy: Organize. 

Don't walk......

RUN

over to see the full details with MORE info on how to carry out each of the action steps.

Until next time....

More on Fearlessness....

If you remember on Monday, I was a little confused on what it meant....
Fearless that is....
"Fearlessness is seeing an opportunity even tho things are not broken."

XEROX CEO Ursula M. Burns
Now this is more like it.....
This one I understand.....
I tend to live my live fearlessly!
At least I THINK I do!
(except when it comes to roller coasters)
What about you?
Are YOU fearless?

I'd love to hear how you are fearless!!!
Leave a comment and let me know....
Don't forget to enter the giveaway.....
And join me on the HOP.

Until NEXT time.....

I'M KEEPIN' COMPANY

at Keepin Company Thursdays  Blog Hop.

I am featured in the #3

spot on the hop this week.

WOO HOO!!!

I'm hangin' with Terra and Traci and the gang,

so come and do some hoppin' with us!!!

What else do you have to do on a Thursday???

Until next time.....

Project # 1

Yes, I know, I know......

I promised projects quite a while ago.....

AND some of them are finally coming together....

On to Project # 1

(project # 1 - imagine a deep voiced echo)

It started as a pale yellow $5 garage sale find......

 

Then with a little primer (forgot to take pic)

and the first coat of THIS.....

my little beauty looked like this...

And now.........

TA DA

It really looks a little more aqua in person

but the bright and wonderful Ohio day we were having

did not cooperate.

HMMMM that is another reason I need to invest in photography classes.

And YES, I mean for it to be outside.

WEIRD you say?

Maybe... but it just looks sooooo cute out there.

Next week you will see it in all it's glory in my newly planted

Almost Secret Garden.

So there you have my first project.

There are many more in the works and I hope to show you 1 or 2 of them every week.

Stop by here and enter my giveaway....it ends at midnight on July 17th.....you better hurry.

Check out the Addicts (not so) Anonymous Link Party.

Until next time....

Music Monday.....Fearless Love

While watching reruns of Oprah's Final Season, I caught some video messages that Oprah's celebrity friends and past guests taped as a gift to her.

Melissa Etheridge wished her FEARLESS LOVE!!!

WOW!!!

I have heard of Endless Love.

I have heard of Unrequited Love.

But Fearless Love?

I wanted to know where she got that phrase.

I found that Meliessa Etheridge has a song with that name.

OK, now I get it!!!

Well, sort of....

SO I decided to take a listen to see if I could figure out what Fearless Love is.

Unfortunately I don't think that I really figured it out, because my idea and Melissa's idea appear to be somewhat different.

The lyrics made me kinda sad as it appears to be a song of loss, where I was expecting a song of hope, of joy!!!

I was thinking Fearless Love was something more happy.

Something to hope for.

To love our family, and friends with NO reservations. Love them where they are, as they are, instead of being afraid they are not our idea of 'perfect'.

Love life where we are right now, instead of being fearful of how our past is shaping our lives now or being fearful of the future.
Take a listen and see if you agree?

FEARLESS LOVE by Melissa Etheridge

What do you think Fearless Love is????

I love comments, and I love hearing your thoughts!

Until next time....
Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!!!

It's Time for a GIVEAWAY!!!!

I hinted at a giveaway here.

Well I have reached 200 followers.

YES 200.

I know to some that is not a huge number of followers for some....

.....but for my little blog, it is a big deal!!!

In order to celebrate that little milestone....

I decided to give away some of my favorite things......

Everything you need to create your very own

CAKE POPS!

The prize includes:

Wilton Pops-a how to book by Wilton

Pops Decorating Stand

Pops Display Stand

Pops Wraps

Pops Fun Pix

Cookie Sticks

Pops Favor Bags

Grosgrain Ribbon to tie favor bags

The only thing missing is cake and icing.....but you are on your own there. :o)

Wanna enter the giveaway??

C'mon, you KNOW you do......

It's easy to do and you have 3 chances to win!!!

 To throw your entry in the hat: 

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment! If you are already a follower, just let me know by leaving a comment. 
2. Follow me on Facebook and leave a comment below.
3. Follow me on Twitter at @1creativespirit and leave a comment below.

The giveaway is open until Sunday July 17th, so get your entries in and cross your fingers!!!
I will announce the winner on Wednesday the 20th so be sure to check back then.

Remember I will need your email address in order to contact you if you win.

Stylish Blogger Award......

I love when my followers enjoy my posts, relate to my stories,

comment on my thoughts that day.......

and when they think of me when time to pass on a blog award!!!!!

Jill at Sweet Diva sent this lovely award to me.

THANKS JILL

In accepting this lovely bloggy award from her

I am asked to tell you 7 things about me......

OK, so this won't be as wonderful as the

7 Wonders of the World

or the

7 Basic Plots

to ALL stories ever written

or the

7 Deadly Sins

or even the

7 Dwarfs

but here goes......

1. I love God, my family, and my friends.
2. I love my job - now how many people can say THAT?
3. I am a Libra (at least under the old astrological chart)
4. I am going to Brave Girl Camp in October 2012 (reservation is in).
5. I love my "space" and love lotsa ME time!
6. I am not a big fan of shopping.
7. I always try to look at the positive in people, experiences, and life.

AND NOW, I have the pleasure of passing on to some of my fave people and places by passing the blog award on to them....

And without further delay.... Some of MY favorite stops in blog world.....

It was hard to stop at the 15 that are required!!!!
But here you go....
Can't wait to learn more about all these gals when they all tell us 7 things about THEM.

Living Waters
A Crafty Kind of Truffle
ArtMuseDog
Ma Cherie Creations
Beauty Brite
Bees With Honey
Celebrate Creativity in All its Forms
Chef in Training
Confessions From a Southern Socialite
Cookin' For My Captain
CHAMBANACHIC
Finding My Life In Faith
Frugal in WV
I Design
Jessicakes

So there you go. PLEASE stop by some of them and tell them Congrats and tell them that you were stopping by from
A CREATIVE SPIRIT.

Until next time....

Music Monday!!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

OK, I know what you are saying.....

a Miley Cyrus Song??? 

REALLY???? 

YES! YES! YES!

Because it IS the 4th of July after all,

and it is time to  

PARTY IN THE USA!!! 

Click on the link and take a listen.... 

It might just put you in the party mood. 

Have a safe and HAPPY 4th.

Sunday morning......

With all the whirlwind going on in life lately and with weekends full of things to do, I am enjoying a wonderful relaxing weekend with family and friends!

Be Blessed on this holiday weekend!

BBQ Cupcakes

What can you do with a few candies like....

Mike and Ike's

Hot Tamale's

Caramels

.....and a little icing?????

Well, I'm glad you asked!!!

LOOK AT THESE CUPCAKES!!!

HOW DANG ADORABLE ARE THEY?????

They were made by the talented Carolyn at Cookin' for my Captain, but she wanted everyone to know that she originally found the idea at Family Fun. Stop by to see Carolyn for the full tutorial.

I don't know about you but I plan on creating these 'grate' BBQ cupcakes soon.

Until next time....