Multitude Monday: The Best Things from 2012

It's bright and not-so-early on Monday morning. We lost our power during the night, so I took the opportunity to sleep in - you can't do a Christmas clean-up when you don't have any power, can you? :) Today is going to be spent getting caught up on all of the household mess that built up over the holidays. I may even tackle cleaning our fridge and cupboards for a fresh start in 2013. Don't hold me to that, though.

For the final Multitude Monday of 2012, I decided to list the ten things that I'm most thankful for right now. I want to remember this moment and how blessed I was this year - so many amazingly wonderful changes happened in 2012 and I don't ever want to forget them. Feel free to chime in through the comments, your blog, or a journal/diary/piece of paper. Reflecting on the positive is such a fantastic way to appreciate what we have.

Today, as the last day of 2012, I'm thankful for:

611 - a perfect Saviour who died to free me from my sins and the punishment that I rightfully deserve
612 - a wonderful husband and loving family that are happy, healthy, and full of unconditional love
613 - overcoming my fears and driving our standard transmission car daily
614 - taking my first solo flight to visit some very special friends in Thunder Bay
615 - deciding on a career that I want and taking the necessary steps to becoming a graphic designer by going back to school
616 - gaining confidence in facing my strengths and weaknesses and learning to reach out and not face problems alone
617 - realizing that in order to make necessary changes, I need to be less afraid of what others think, and more concerned with what God thinks
618 - being aware of the fact that not everything that I envisioned for my future is "in the cards" and being okay with that
619 - being a strong, healthy individual and beginning to make changes to make myself even healthier
620 - having a blog that serves as an outlet for emotions, creativity, and the need to be heard

I'd love to hear one thing (or several!) that you're most thankful for in 2012. Has this been a positive year for you? Why or why not?

Happy Monday... and Happy New Year!

Best Polka Dot Soup Posts of 2012

Over the weekend, I've compiled a list of some of my favourite blog posts here on Polka Dot Soup. 2012 has been an action-packed, full of surprises sort of year and my blog has really taken a different direction because of that. Reflecting over the year has caused me to realize posts and styles that I've enjoyed, as well as changes that I would like to make in the future. The plans that I have brewing in this old noggin for 2013 on Polka Dot Soup are exciting - I've noticed that my favourite posts are the ones that I took the time to take specific photos for the blog and document my life and interests.

Did you have a favourite blog post this year? Do share! Here are some links to get you a-clickin':

Tips on growing and using fresh herbs from your garden

A how-to on making your own laundry detergent - eco-friendly and economic!

The first documented road trip of the year

How-to on growing easy to care for houseplants

The discovery of our province's best antique shops

My back-to-school announcement

One of my favourite thrift finds of the year

I hope you enjoyed the peek into the past - 2012 was a great year on Polka Dot Soup. Here's to 2013!

Need a Typeface?

Learn about data visualization tools.

So fun! Make sure you enlarge this image to take a closer look. Some fonts you won't agree with, of course, but it's a great visualization. Enjoy!

Multitude Monday

Little bit of Christmas love in our living room

Free parking! Best town council decision ever.

Last drive home from school for 2012. This is my favourite spot in the whole trip.

It's Monday! That means two things: it's one week until Christmas Eve, and it's also Multitude Monday! Each week I like to share ten things that I'm currently thankful for. It helps to get my week off to a positive start and honestly, makes me smile every time I recall all of the things that are going well. Feel free to chime in through the comments, your own blog, or a journal, calendar or notepad. I'd love to have you share in the joy!

Today, I'm thankful for:

601 - rediscovering the vintage perpetual calendar that I bought last year and adding it to my Christmas display. So fun!
602 - finishing all of my projects, assignments, tests and classes for Christmas break. What a relief!
603 - having most of my presents wrapped for Christmas. Dan likes his stocking stuffers wrapped and I even have that done.
604 - trying overnight oats with chia seeds for the first time. Verdict? Pretty yummy! Let me know if you'd like the link to the recipe.
605 - making a trip to a farmers' market on Saturday and getting to spend the whole weekend with my main man.
606 - having my littlest brother over for two nights. We had so much fun!
607 - a cookie exchange coming up this week. Whoever invented that event was a genius!
608 - a planned baking date with two great friends from school. It'll be great to spend non-school time together.
609 - a yummy potluck dinner at our church yesterday. Spending time with friends is the best.
610 - a Christmasy candle from Heidi that I haven't even burned yet, but it's still making our living room smell divine!

Tell me, what are you currently thankful for?

Happy Monday!

Multitude Monday

You may have thought that I forgot all about Multitude Monday. Not so, my friend. It's the last week of school before Christmas break, so you can imagine how hectic my life has been for the past few weeks. I'm dropping in to share the ten things that I'm most thankful for this week. Believe it or not, but today I'm going to hit the 600th item! My, my, how time flies. Seems like yesterday I started this blog series.

Feel free to start a journal or blog post of your own - it's a great way to keep track of all of the things that are going right in your everyday life. It's easy to lose sight of the good. I'd love to hear from you!

Today, I'm thankful for:

591 - beautiful snowflakes falling as I made my way home this afternoon

592 - an Earl Grey tea and gingerbread donut for the road - delish

593 - learning so many new things every. single. day.

594 - being almost 1/4 of the way through my schooling!

595 - tackling projects one at a time until they're all finished

596 - being introduced to iconic artists from years gone by. I can't wait to start collecting some art!

597 - making special friends that, without school, I never would have met otherwise

598 - having pretty twinkle lights in our living room to light up the evenings

599 - my booth at the craft fair this weekend past - got to spend some QT with my mom

600 - the real reason for the season this Christmas, and every Christmas - the birth of the Lord Jesus

Tell me: what are you currently thankful for?

Happy Monday!

Featured on Style Me Pretty

The wedding that I worked on this past summer is up on Style Me Pretty, one of the dreamiest wedding blogs out there! Knowing how much time and effort went into this wedding all the more exciting to see it featured today. Janelle and Colin make a lovely couple, and their wedding reflected that perfectly. Check the post out!

Happy Thursday!

In the thick of things

Candy cane hot chocolate and new tunes for my daily drive to school

I'm not dead, I swear.

I've been a busy bee since I've last blogged. Heck, I'm still busy. I've celebrated my 26th(!) birthday, signed up for a local Christmas craft fair (that's this upcoming weekend), and have done more design assignments than I care to count. Oh, yeah - and I've been out of school for almost a week with sinus and chest infections. I'm down to my final week and a half before school breaks for Christmas, so send up a prayer for me as I battle on.

I can't wait to share my Christmas prep with you!

Happy Wednesday!