Sparkle and Fizz

As I reflect back on 2018, I have realized just how God-driven my year really was.  I learned so many things, I made some exciting changes, I traveled down new paths, I made new friends, I embarked on new journies.  2018 will be coming to a close soon and I feel that I have been called to make 2019 another very purposeful, very Christ-centric year.  2018 was a year for self-discovery and I believe in my heart that 2019 is a year for others and to live out my own personal mission statement. As many of you know, I became a distributor for SeneGence International.  I decided to become a distributor for one reason—I loved the products and I wanted to share them with the world.  Over this last year, I reflected back on why I loved the products and the answer was very simple: they made me  feel confident .  Friends, this was truly the first time in my whole life  where I truly felt comfortable in my own skin.  This was the first time in my w...

J and I have been talking about "family" vacations since before Lexi was even conceived, so you can imagine our excitement when we made the decision to take our very first  Beccard Family Trip this year---overnight (more than one) in a hotel !  You may also imagine the picture perfect Family Vacation with a three and a four year-old...yeah.  That picture you're imagining is probably nothing  like what we experienced! Now that we've done this...I have learned three very  important lessons: 1)  Look at a darn map when planning. 2)  Lower the sleep expectations. 3)  Do a tiny  bit more research ahead of time. The beginning of our Big Adventure!  The kids were super excited and so was I.  I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into...  Good thing they're cute... Ha! The whole basis for our trip was to go to the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Show.  Since we don't have anything quite like that in our area, I tho...

It's time I got back into the papercrafting mood!  After hitting the gym last night (because, the holiday weight is REAL, ya'll!) I had an itching to make a quick card, but I was hitting a creative block.  I was scrolling through Facebook (because that's what I do...) and I saw this series of photos of women from the 50's/60's and their Christmas trees and I loved it!  I then thought about turning a vintage card into a card for today!  So...Pinterest to the rescue! I searched for vintage Christmas cards and I found the perfect card for my inspiration: Just look at this pretty card!  I saw the tree beautifully decorated in some vintage colors and I instantly grabbed my Ready For Christmas Photopolymer Stamp Set  and the coordinating Christmas Staircase Framelits Dies !  Here's my creation: So, it's definitely similar, but also quite different!  And I incorporated colors and elements I didn't even think about!  I used my Softly Fa...

So, I’m a planner by nature.  I have calendars, Family Hubs, lists, and even lists for my lists!  It’s almost “planning to a fault.”  And that’s what I just learned yesterday. It was my plan  to post a Tip Tuesday blog post yesterday.  I knew precisely what I was going to write about, I had a free printable available for all you lovelies—it was all set!  But I just could never find time to write my post.  The kids have been borderline little terrorists for, what seems like the past week, I’m battling a minor, albeit annoying, cold, and I feel like I’m stuck in neutral, just trying to spin my wheels and not going anywhere among the piles of laundry, dishes, dusting, meal planning and prep, etc., etc. etc. Yesterday was my internal “deadline” to get this blog post written— I mean, it was Tuesday !  I just had  to get it done!  That was my plan !  But guess what, Friends?  Who cares about my plan?  God had a different ...

Today is a very  special day.  Today is my Mama's Birthday.  This lady is a lady who tried to tell me when I was younger "I've been around the block a time or two..." to which I would just shake my head and think "Whatever!" and I now I know --- my Mama was always  right.  Her infinite wisdom, never-ending hugs, gentle firmness, and constant encouragement shaped me into who I am today and I am so proud, blessed, and honored to celebrate her  today. My Mama with my Daddy and my Grandma on my Adoption Day! Most everyone thinks their Mom is special, but I have truly grown to know  that my mom is extremely special.  From being the selfless woman who did everything she could do to become a mom, including welcoming a tiny little baby from Korea into her heart and her home over 30 years ago, to now becoming the loving, nurturing grandma to my two Minis; she really is remarkable.  In another life, my Mom was a nurse.  A natural caregiver...

If you subscribe to my monthly newsletter, then this isn't "new" news to you!  But, if you don't (and I don't know why you don't!  Sign up for it now!) then here's what's going down this month for the Sparkle & Fizz December Challenge: 100% of my profits for the month will be donated to the Goodfellows World-Herald Goodfellows Charity.  When I was 10, I begged and begged my parents to let me have a newspaper route (I really don't know why---I guess I thought it would be "fun") and they finally agreed to let me give it a go.  The first couple days I loved  it.  Then, after day three, I loathed it.  It was hot, the newspapers would stick together, I had to walk  the route (uphill both ways!), and I was DONE.  But, my parents reminded me that this was my idea and that I wanted it.  So I had to stick it out.  Perseverance.  Commitment.  Tenacity.  Those were super hard life lessons learned at a young age.  A...

Well, so instead of a Top 10, I'm changing it to a Top 12!  Because I love The Twelve Days of Christmas and I love Christmas movies and why not combine both together to make it 12 Days of Christmas Movies!?  I suppose we each all have our own opinions as to what Christmas Movies are *must-haves* on our Watch List, but I would like to think there are some that just generally required, by public agreement.  So, here's my Top 12 Days of Christmas Movies List, complete with a FREE Printable so you can make this a Holiday Bucket List Item, if you'd like!  I'd love to hear if your favorite movie made the cut or not! OH---and one more thing---these movies are certainly not listed in an specific order, they are more in the order in which I may or may not have already watched them... (#SorryNotSorry!) 12.  The Santa Clause (1994) When this movie first came out, I was totally entranced by the interpretation of the North Pole, courtesy of Disney Magic, that I al...

It's December 1st and I would love to be one of the first to wish you a "Merry Christmas"!  This month is probably full of a whirlwind of activity for you---and if you're like me, your calendar has been jam-packed since October and your head has already started spinning!  Ha!  But, I just wanted to remind you (and myself!) to take a few moments every day to sit back, relax, and enjoy  this time of the year! The holidays are always a little bittersweet as we spend yet another year without my Daddy, but as our family grows older, we begin new traditions and make new memories.  This year I have many exciting things planned---Elf on the Shelf (with a spin), Christmas Activities, fun events, personal reflection, and more!  I invite you to join me and catch a glimpse of the Beccard Family Christmas, the Sparkle & Fizz Way, as well as share some of your own family traditions and activities this month with me on Facebook or on Instagram !  And if...