How to accomplish your goals

I know I always think I have plenty of time to get the things done that I really want to. I will craft more, I will send more time with my family, I will plan and cook healthier meals. Well the reality is life is busy, crazy some days and most of the time, weeks, months fly by and before we know it its another new year and we are making resolutions we won't keep. Why don't we keep them? Because we don't make a plan.

I always have great plans & ideas in my head & all those things I want to make that I saw on pinterest! But then & all too often, after some time goes by and life gets busy, I forget all the things I wanted to do. I realized I never really made a plan to do the things I wanted to do, needed to do in order to grow!

So this year I was serious about making a plan. I was not just going to think about what I wanted to do with my business and hope it would happen. I had to make a plan!

The first thing I did, I bought a planner and a notebook. I use this strictly for my business goals. 

The second thing I did, I opened them up and I wrote in them! 

I know how easy it is to have great intentions, you are motivated & full of ideas so you run out to the store and buy the cutest darn planner ever bring it home and watch it collect dust. 

I have done that more than once. Not this year. I am making some changes! 

So I decided that on my lunch hour at work I would work on me, and my business. 

I leave the office and site at a little shake shop, drink my healthy lunch and work on my plan! 

Step 1-Identify your goals

Create a realistic list of what you really want to accomplish. 

Keep it to 4-6 things

Step 2. Make a plan

How are you going to accomplish those goals? 

Break it down and really think about what it will take to get you where you want to be!

Goals that are too big become overwhelming, start small and get bigger.

Step 3. Write it on the calendar, schedule it!

Make sure you schedule things for when you can realistically work on them.

I know my lunch hour is a great time to GSD (get shit done)

But before I get to the lunch hour, I already know what I will work on, because I created a plan! 

I write down exactly what I am going to do and how much time I am allowing myself. If you give yourself 20 minutes, stick to it. If you find that it was not enough, simply adjust for the next time. 

You are much more likely to accomplish your goals if you write them down! 

I can't tell you enough how good it feels to look at the list all crossed off once its complete! 

This is so true! There is something to this that makes your goals feel more like a commitment! 

Step 4. Use the planner every day!

It takes 28 days to create a habit, I find that even after a week it is easier. Change takes time and success doesn't happen overnight. Don't be too tough on yourself. You will slip up, you will forget and something will always get in the way. But just get back to it the next day and before you know you won't know what you did before! I never used to keep a planner and now I am lost without it.

If ever I find myself feeling so overwhelmed I can't get a thing done (which can be often) I stop and make a list. It makes me feel better almost immediately! 

I am so excited about 2015 and what is to come but  know that I will never be where I hope to be without a plan. The first week is the toughest. Be true to who you are and where you want to go! 

I would LOVE to hear your goals, planning ideas and success stories! Please share! 

Industrial boys bedroom

Nicholas room was in a need of a redo pretty badly in my option. He didn't seem to care! That's an 11 yr old boy for ya! He's not into sports or any characters so I found some things we boy liked on Pinterest and went from there. My only requirement was the brick wall my husband and I hand painted years ago had to stay! 

We picked out paint, bedding and lots of great room decor from Hobby Lobby! They really have some amazing pieces! 

He wanted blue and gray on the other walls. His bedding is from Target. He liked the blue and red and I was able to use the extra pieces to make some pillows and a cushion. 

Next was the industrial shelving! We saw some great examples on Pinterest, so my hubby designed this set. We went to Home Depot and bought all the pipe! 

I love how it turned out. I stained all the wood while hubby put the shelving together. I used Minwax gel stain in hickory. I also sanded down his bed and dresser and re finished them so all the wood matches. 

My little helper was hard at work with the palm sander! 

Here's the room all together!! It was so fun to do and now that's it's done, Nicholas loves it! 

I wonder how long he'll keep it clean! 

New for 2015

I have been wanting to update EVERYTHING for some time now! The blog, etsy, pinterest, etc. Well I decided today was the day. This was not my first choice, however since I am on day 3 of being sick I decided I had to do something while laying on the couch. I have no ambition for anything else! Coffee doesn't even taste good, thats always a sign that something is not right!

We are also literally right in the middle of my sons new bed room re-model and I am hoping that tomorrow is the day that gets done! My house is in shambles!

So back to the re design! I knew I wanted fresh, clean and simple. I looked into having a blog designer do it but I really didn't want to spend that kind of money, bedroom re model took a big chunk!
So I put my google search engine to work and taught myself how to do everything I needed!

My Header was created in PSE using some digital papers. I cleaned things up & removed what was no longer relevant then added the things I knew I needed to have (long ago)! Who knew it was that easy to add a hovering PIN IT button! Google it! Step by step instructions!

The one blog I have to give  huge shout out to is Greatfun4kids she has not only a tutorial on installing social media icons, she also has a variety of free icons you can use and seriously the easiest install instructions out there!

Soon I hope to feel better and start working on my new home line for 2015 and some great new valentine projects!! I can't wait to share them with you! For now I leave you with some images that are inspiring me here on my couch!

I am not sure if pinterest is good or bad for when you are sick. Good because I get great new ideas. Bad because I am too miserable to do any of it! Here's to a better tomorrow!

DIY burlap wine gift bag!

Do You Need a quick and easy last minute gift? Make a burlap wine bottle gift bag! 

It's really easy and you only need some scraps of fabric and some ribbon! 

Cut a piece of burlap large enough to fit around the bottle, then add 2-3 inches deepening on how roomy you want it. 7x15 should be good for most bottles. 

I used my Sizzix to cut some snowflakes that I will appliqué onto the bag using heat n bond. This snowflake is by Tim Holtz! His stuff is amazing! 

Using a needle, weave some ribbon through the burlap to use as a tie at the top of the bag. I placed this about 3 inches from the top. 

 

Cut a 1 inch square out of the bottom corners. This will give you a more flat bottom bag. 

See down the side and across the bottom. 

Now line up the bag side and bottom seams at the cut corners, sew the small corners together. 

Trim excess burlap to clean up edges and turn bag. 

That's it!! Insert bottle and you have an instant gift! 

I made some tags to add too! Such a fun and quick project! 

Now if you have more time, you can make adorable reinderr out of the left over wine corks! 

I love making these! They are so easy and my kids love to help!! 

Happy Tuesday! 

Missy

DIY Christmas Pennant Banner

Now that its December, Christmas decorating is in full swing!!

Today I'm going to show you how to make a super easy Christmas banner! 

You will need: 

Burlap triangles (hand cut or store bought)

Paint

Stencil brushes

Round stencil sponges 

Twine

Frog tape- straight and chevron shape tape

Let's get started! 

First if you made your own burlap triangles you'll want to sew along the edge to keep them from unraveling!! You can buy these ready to decorate at almost any craft supply store. I have seen them at Hobby Lobby!

Next, lay the triangles in a protected work surface. For the stripe and the chevron you'll want I add tape where you don't want the paint. 

Next, use your pushes to carefully apply paint. Let dry, this usually only takes about 30-40 min. 

Let's the chevron and stripes begin to dry. For the polka dots I free hand them using a round sponge stencil tool. 

I believe these are from Michaels. Add as many polka dots as you like! I wanted 2 different sizes so I used a small and large sponge!

Once dry and you have removed the tape you are ready to add them to the twine. I like to leave about 3' on each end for hanging. 

I attach mine using a zig zag stitch to ensure they stay in place! Also a piping foot is great to help keep the twine in pace while sewing! Simply sew along the top edge until all the pennants are in place! 

That's it! Your done! 

Super easy and fun to make! It's a great project for the kids to help out with! 

Have fun! I would love to see your creations! Find me in Instagram and tag the little green bean to show me your work! 

Missy

Tutorial time! How to really use your ruffler foot

There are some great tutorials out there on how to use your ruffler foot, but what I learned yesterday was mind blowing! You can use it to make ruffles and attached them to your item as you make them! All in one step! How did I not know this?

Because most rufflers do not come with any instructions! 

My ruffler broke and I had to get a new one. I actually read the info that came with it and so wish I would have know years ago about this little trick! 

Let me show you how to do it! 

First you need to attach the ruffler to your machine. 

Simply remove the existing foot. 

Place the fork arm over the needle clamp hub. Place the other arm over the pressed bar and use the screw to attach to the machine. Make sure it's righted with the screwdriver. 

Make sure your needle clears the hole in the ruffler. 

Now that it's attached you need to set it for the size ruffles you want. You will see a 1, 6, 12 and *. 1 will ruffle every stitch,6 is every 6 stitches and 12 is every 12 stitches. The star is a simple straight stitch. This allows you to sew a straight line without having to remove the foot.

I often use the 6 option. Next set the stitch  length in the machine. The smaller the number the deeper the ruffle. 

There is also a depth adjuster in the foot itself. You will need to play on some scrap fabric to get the desire ruffle depth.

Screw the depth adjuster clockwise for deeper ruffles.

Once you have decided how you want your ruffle you are ready to sew! 

Place the fabric to be ruffled under the ruffling blade first. 

Next place the fabric that you are attaching the ruffle to under the foot and lower the presser foot. 

I make sure that there is a slight overhang of the fabric the ruffle is attaching too so that I know it hasn't slipped to the side. You are ready to ruffle! Make sure you do not back stich. And that you use a straight stitch.

 Sew the entire ruffle in place. Once your done you may want to tack it on each end. That's it! You have just ruffled fabric and attached it to your item! 

Turn ruffle over and top stitch to finish! 

Beautiful ruffles and all in one easy step! 

You can buy a ruffler foot at most fabric stores or easily find them online!

Happy sewing!

~Missy