Cathy Zielske's Blog, page 237

And the giveaway winners are…

The winner of the love-themed January 2011 kit from Scrapbook Circle is:

The winners of the bundle of 4 ebooks from Ella Publishing are:

Ladies, email me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your good stuff!

And the winner of the iPod + other goodies is…

JoLynn, congrats! Email me at czdesign@comcast.net so you can tell me what color you want, and what you would like engraved on the back of your shiny new little iPod Nano.

I LOVED reading through the comments of how people are planning to Move More this year. There's an awful lot of great ideas and motivation out there. Just keep this in mind: you can do it. I say this, even though I'm on Day 4 of not working out thanks to the worst cold I've had in years. Sigh. But who knows, I think I'll test out the running legs today.

Here's to a fit and move filled 2011. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Sponsor Giveaway: Scrapbook Circle's newest kit and ebook bundles from Ella Publishing

One blog reader will win the love-themed January 2011 kit from Scrapbook Circle.

ABOUT SCRAPBOOK CIRCLE: Scrapbook Circle is a monthly kit club that has been creating kits for almost 5 years and loves getting to share these kits each month. We offer a 2+ month subscription which means that you only commit to receiving two kits and then you can go month to month and quit at any time.

This month in our All You Need is Love Kit, we have combined our favorite products from American Crafts, Glitz, Fancy Pants, Maya Road, Hambly and more to create a unique and love-filled kit.

Be sure to visit the Scrapbook Circle Idea Page and Blog for daily inspiration. You can also join us on Facebook where we do kit giveaways and you can follow us on Twitter too.

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One person will win a bundle of 4 ebooks from Ella Publishing! This group of ebooks covers all the bases for scrapbookers. Ideas of what to scrapbook, sketches, journaling and of course, top notch photography tips.

Also, Ella has an ebook bundle special for my readers. Read on for a message from one of my favorite freelance clients, owner of Ella Publishing, Angie Lucas:

BUNDLE UP AND SAVE WITH ELLA PUBLISHING! Hi Cathy Zielske readers! Angie Lucas here, on behalf of Ella Publishing Co., and I'd like to offer you an exclusive little dealio. Why? Because we like you. And because Cathy designs all our eBooks. And while you're reading them, we just know you'll be saying to yourself, "Wow, this eBook feels so fresh, so inviting, so comfortable...so familiar!" It's because your reading experience has been shaped by the familiar visual stylings of miss CZ.

So, just for you loyal Zielske readers, please enjoy a little Bundle of eBooks for 50 percent off!

A Year in the Life by Write.Click.Scrapbook. Perfect for catching up on 2010 or preparing to make the most of 2011! Includes month-by-month photo taking checklists!

Stretch Your Sketches by Donna Jannuzzi. These sketches and the layouts they inspired are not only gorgeous, they're also rock-solid design wise, and they're bound to inspire dozens of your future layouts!

Journaling That Matters by Angie Lucas and Kelly Jeppson. Try these simple and super meaningful approaches (from two writing professionals) and tell your stories in style.

Picture Perfect by Becky Novacek, Elisha Snow, and Kelly Noel. Three pro photographers share simple tricks to taking better portraits of everyone in your life--from babies to adults to groups.

These four books sell for $24.96 all together, but because you read Cathy's blog, you can get this bundle for just $12.48! Use the code CZBUNDLE at checkout by January 31, 2011.

What if you're not ready to make that big of an eBook commitment quite yet? Or what if you already have some of the eBooks featured above? Instead, you can use the coupon code CZCZCZ to save $3 off of any eBook purchase [link to http://www.ellapublishing.com/catalog...] before January 31, 2011.

Also, one random commenter today will get her/his choice of TEN eBooks (past or future) for free--a value of nearly $60. So, let's hear what you have to say!

p.s. What the heck is an eBook, you ask? It's like a regular old scrapbooking idea book that's so amazing it will change your life forever, with one difference: you download and read it electronically. It's a cinch! Or you can always print it and read it in hard copy if that strikes your fancy. You can do SO much with an eBook, as you can see in this quick article.

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TO ENTER: How are your pronouncing "2011"? Do you say "twenty-eleven" or do you say "two thousand and eleven"? Dan and I were talking about this, and why is it in the 2000s, everyone said, "two thousand"? He feels it's time to stop. No one said "nineteen hundred and sixty six" in the year I was born, right? So tell me, what's your call? I'll draw winners sometimes after noon CST on Saturday

[comments are now closed. check back to see if you're a winner.]

Being sick isn't very much fun

On Monday night I started to feel it, that little tightness in the back of the throat.

It concerned me because I had just gotten over a cold from last week, one that I ran and swam through and generally fought the all-around good fight through. But Tuesday morning? Whole different story. I got into bed and have pretty much tried to stay there ever since.

Being under the weather sucks.

I remember when I worked in a corporate job, and how hard it was to balance sick time for you and for your kids. I remember how stressful it was at times to argue with my spouse about whose work day could better afford to be not attended.

As I layed in bed yesterday, watching the first 5 episodes of Big Love Season 4, I was very thankful to be able to simply focus on feeling better and not have to worry about what deadline wasn't being met.

Hopefully today will see even more improvement, and possibly more TV on DVD.

For all of you who are required to be somewhere 40 or more hours a week out in the workforce, I send you a virtual bowl of chicken soup for all those stressful sick days you try and figure out how to manage.

Until then, here are a few snapshots of my family in case you forgot what they looked like.

Dan making breakfast items which I did not eat and wearing a color that coordinates with our kitchen:

Aidan eating breakfast items which I did not make, and also matching nicely with our kitchen:

Coleman in our living room, where after 11 years he realized the piano bench can serve as an art table:

And finally, a few glimpses of part of our remodel. The back room is coming along. New cabinets and a new fireplace (the floors aren't new, but man, they sure look pretty with no furniture in the room):

I hope everyone who is kicking off Moving More and Eating Less this week is keeping the faith! I'm decidedly not Moving More at all. My last workout was Monday. But the anxiousness I'm feeling at getting back at it reminds me how committed I am to the task.

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ENTER TO WIN AN iPOD! There's still time to enter for a chance to win an iPod Nano,  Nike+ Sport Kit and an Original Shoe Pouch. Click here for more details. Content ends tonight at 9 p.m. C.S.T.

Check back tomorrow for the winner, and also for another cool sponsor giveaway.

Move More Eat Less January 2011

Welcome to the first yearly edition of Move More Eat Less! For some of you who are just kicking off your year, this is officially Month 1. For me, it is technically Month 13. Yep. A whole 12 months have come and gone and here I am with a renewed focus and energy for the coming year.

The fact that the holidays are over is bittersweet for two reasons: 1) I really love having my kids home and a loosey goosey schedule, and 2) No more excuses to go overboard on Ye Olde Sugary Fare.

Yes, I put on a little in the middle over the holidays, but this time, unlike past years where a slight bit of failure would send me into a tailspin of gastronomic woe, this time it's just giving me the information I need to make choices and adjustments.

Let's take a look at the first layout of the year, shall we:

(click on layout to see it larger in a new window.)

Ahhh. There she is. The Before Me, and the Present Day Me.

Now, some of you who are just starting out may simply want to do a single photo. Afterall, you need a base photo to document your journey. The template (8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12) for this project has a slot for two pictures, but it's really easy to join the layers and create a space for one photo.

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STEP-BY-STEP: In Photoshop Elements, go to the Layers Palette (Window > Layers, if it's not already showing up) and find the Before Photo and Current Photo layers. Hold down your Shift Key to select both layers by clicking once on each layer. When they are both highlighted, go to Layer > Merge Layers.

Now, you have a space for a single photo. Do a Save As for this version of the template and just proceed with your usual Clipping Mask. Keep in mind that this first shot will be your main Before Photo, so make sure you have enough space around you in the shot so that next month, you can drop it into the vertical space.

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Does the taking a photo part bum some of you out? Here's the deal: it's not brave to take a photo of yourself. I'm sorry for not sounding more loving and comforting about it, but I believe it is simply information. In order to make sound decisions regarding your health and fitness, you need an accurate picture of what you look like today. Right now. Period. A photo is one piece of the information you need.

Another really good plan of action? Get a physical in the next few weeks. Get your numbers all figured out: cholesterol, blood pressure, hormone levels. I did this in December of 2009 before I kicked off my journey last year, just to make sure I was approved to begin kicking fitness ass and taking names.

I know that so many of you are starting this journey out now and I want to tell you this: take it one day at a time.

Everyone begins with such verve and passion, and while this is a good thing, it can also lead to some early crashes and wagon jumping. Just do your best to Move a little More, and Eat a little Less. I'm right there with you, in a non-personal Internet sort of way.

Here's to your first month, or to your continuing journey.

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Want to learn more about Move More Eat Less 2011? Click here to learn more about the concept.

I've also started a flickr group for Move More Eat Less. Feel free to start sharing your pages beginning in January. You will find the group by clicking here.

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ENTER TO WIN AN iPOD! There's still time to enter for a chance to win an iPod Nano,  Nike+ Sport Kit and an Original Shoe Pouch. Click here for more details. Content ends Thursday at 9 p.m. C.S.T.

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LAYOUT SUPPLIES: Move More Eat Less 8.5 x 11 template (Cathy Zielske) • Just Linens No. 1 Paper Pack (Michelle Martin) • a scan of kraft cardstock • Avenir font

 

 

This is one kick ass giveaway to, ahem, get yours in gear

Last year a friend gave me an iPod and a Nike+iPod Sport Kit as a token of her gratitude for something I helped her out with. That gift changed my life.

I took my exercising to a much more focused place, tracking my runs, my time, and my distance. I felt inspired by the idea that I was not just trying to shed some pounds, but that I was honing my athletic skills and keeping track of them, even if it was only at 11- to 12-minutes per mile.

It gave me a renewed inspiration every time I laced up and headed out.

I payed this inspiration forward last year with an iPod giveaway and the winner of that prize took the goods and ran with them. Literally.

As we kick off 2011, I want to share this inspiration once again with one more of you.

I'm giving away one 8G iPod Nano, one Nike+ Sport Kit and one Original Shoe Pouch (to use with non-Nike shoes) to one blog reader.

TO ENTER: All you have to do is tell me one way you plan to Move More in 2011. I will close comments on Thursday night at 9 p.m. C.S.T. and draw a winner at random shortly thereafter.

I'm continuing to Move More and Eat Less in 2011. This is a continual process and challenge for me. It's not simple and it's not without conscious effort and focus. But I know that it's definitely one of the keys to living a healthier life, and it will remain at the top of my priority list for the coming year.

I want to encourage all of you to join me in 2011 towards a healthier life. You know I'm not perfect and I'll continue sharing the ups and downs and inbetweens of this story with you.

Until then, enter to win a cool little chunk of fitness motivation!

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Want to learn more about my new Move More and Eat Less Journal Project and goals for 2011? Click here.

The winner of the class from Simplify 101 is…

The winner of a spot in simplify 101's upcoming online workshop How to Achieve Your Goals and Create a Life You Love is:

Colleen, email me at czdesign@comcast.net and I'll get you set up with the details!

A year of Moving More and Eating Less in scrapbook pages

In January of of last year, I was done whining. I weighed 180.9 pounds and got winded going up the stairs to put away laundry. I decided to More More and Eat Less and of course, to scrapbook the whole kit and kaboodle.

Without further adieu I present the fitness year in review (click on each layout to see it larger in a new window):

The journey continues.

One thing I'm learning is this: being thinner will not guarantee happiness. Anyone who believes that it will just might need to hear those words.

However, it will make you feel better mentally and physically.

It will help your body to function at a much more optimal level.

It will give you more energy and a clearer mind.

And what the hell…it will quite possibly put you into a smaller size pair of jeans.

I close this year with a lot of pride and enthusiasm for 2011. I hope that anyone out there who thinks they can't possibly imagine getting into shape will take heart and know that this isn't wizardry or brain surgery.

It's simply the result of Moving More and Eating Less.

And it makes for some dang good scrapbookin', don't it?

I chose the word 'give' as my One Little Word for 2011. While I intend for it to have numerous extensions in my life for this year, giving to myself by caring for my body is definitely one of the top ways I will strive to truly live this word on a daily basis.

Happy New Year to all and thank you so very much for all of the support and comments and stories that you have shared with me this year.

with much love and gratitude,

 

 

p.s. see ya next year.

Sponsor Giveaway: Achieve your goals in 2011 with Simplify 101!

One of my blog readers will win a spot in simplify 101's upcoming online workshop How to Achieve Your Goals and Create a Life You Love. This workshop is taught by professional organizer Aby Garvey, co-author of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker. Whether you routinely set goals and love the process, or goals are a new and possibly uncomfortable thing for you—if you want to make change in your home and life in 2011, this workshop is for you! The workshop gives you the foundation, ideas and inspiration you need to dream about a life you love and take steps to make it happen!

In this four-lesson, five-week workshop you will learn how to…

dream and free yourself from anything that's holding you back from dreaming BIG.
turn your dreams into goals.
turn your goals into simple action steps and begin taking action on your goals during the workshop.
track your progress and celebrate your achievements.

Aby only runs this workshop once a year and the 2011 session begins Thursday, January 6, 2011. One lucky winner gets in on this once-a-year opportunity! 

simplify 101 is offering my readers 15% off enrollment through Tuesday, January 4 2011! To take advantage of this offer, enter CZGOALS during checkout. This coupon is good through January 4, 2011 and may not be combined with any other offers.

ABOUT SIMPLIFY 101: Our mission is to make getting organized fun! Get a taste of simplify 101—and the organized life—with our FREE, simple-to-follow guide How to Create a Command Central Binder. You'll put together a home reference binder that will help you get organized, save time, and minimize paper clutter and the stress that comes along with it! Visit simplify 101 to sign up for our monthly organizing newsletter or take a tour of our online workshop system.

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TO ENTER: Leave me a comment today and tell me one organizational goal you have for 2011. I'll draw a winner on New Year's Day, sometime after noon C.S.T.

Winner of the spot in Ali Edwards' workshop is…

The winner of a seat in  Ali Edwards' online workshop, Yesterday & Today is:

Sammie, email me at czdesign@comcast.net and I'll get you hooked up with your spot in the workshop!

Remember, you can get 10% off the "Yesterday + Today" class price by using the following code at checkout: yesterdaytoday.

Check back tomorrow for another great workshop giveaway from Simplify 101!