New Year, New Focus - One Little Word

Welcome 2018!

Well, here we are, a couple of days into the new year and I am knee-deep in getting my next box out for Dot To Dot Connections. I did most of the work just before the holidays so that I could sit back and just relax with family, but all of the last-minute details have to be taken care of before the box ships out this Friday.

This past year was one filled with grandkids, family and the beginning of my new business.
There were some difficult times, to be sure, but they were overshadowed by the good times, as is often the case.

The last holidays of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, were spent with family, which is pretty much my favorite way to spend any day. Carmelle, Chad and the kids came in for Thanksgiving and instead of squishing everyone into my tiny dining area, the weather cooperated and we had our feast outdoors in the backyard. Jordan fried a turkey for us, and I made all the trimmings.


One of the ladies from my Sunday School class joined us and it was such a nice time to remember all of our many blessings and enjoy each other's company.

For Christmas, all of Ron's kids and families were able to come to our house for the first time ever. I regret that I never got a photo of everyone, but I got a couple of so-so pictures of his kids.

This time it was too chilly to eat outdoors, so we just set up an extra table and enjoyed the meal crowded together.

There was plenty of food eaten, games played, "snowballs" thrown and new toys tested.

The day after Christmas, Ron, Dan and I headed to Georgia to meet up with Jana, Callie and their families for a few days.

We rented a wonderful Airbnb and once again enjoyed exchanging gifts, hiking, train rides and just being together.

The time together is always too short, but I am so grateful for any opportunity to be with family!

January 1st arrived quietly at our house. Along with it came a new focus for me, a new One Little Word to invite into my life this year. This year's word is "Gather". (This wonderful dough bowl was a gift from my dear friend, Debbie.)

In 2018, here are some of the areas I plan to focus on:

• gathering with friends, especially old friends that I have been missing 
• inviting people into my home (I have always felt a bit uncomfortable being the hostess, and it is something I really want to work on.)
• gathering the tools I need to become more organized (even if that means getting rid of things, too)
• gathering the materials for my business (supplies for my Connection Boxes, accounting paperwork, email addresses)
• gathering (and keeping on hand) ingredients for healthier food choices
• gathering flowers from a cutting bed I hope to plant this spring
• gathering and using veggies from my tiny garden

There are so many exciting things ahead and I have a tendency to try to take on more that I can handle sometimes, but most of the things listed above are things that I am already working on or things that I feel like I am really missing and willing to add, even if it means cutting back in another area. While I LOVE photography, I have generally spend so much time editing photos that I never get around to posting them. I've decided for this year, that I will edit only my very favorites and will post photos on here regardless of whether or not they have been edited. I have also decided to discontinue creating new Instagram challenges. I love taking a photo a day and will continue that practice, but I am going to use the prompts designed by Katrina Kennedy over at Capture Your 365. I'd love it if you joined me!

Dot To Dot Connections

I started this blog quite a few years ago. In fact, it is really hard to believe that I have posts dating back to the year 2007!!  Is that crazy or what?!?!  In scrolling back through my posts, it is easy to see that my posts ebbed and flowed along with life in general. If I had a big project underway, or had done some traveling, I posted more regularly. As things got busy in my work or personal life, I backed way off of blogging.  This blog has always been a personal thing--a way to record some of what is happening in my life and to share some of the DIY projects that I always seem to be undertaking.

I plan to keep on blogging occasionally here, but as you know, I have also started another blog related to a small business I am beginning. There, you will find information that is related to the business, as well as ideas for activities to do with kids, product reviews and suggestions, etc.

Today, I am happy to announce that the entire website is now up and running!!  

Along with it, I am introducing my first subscription box---COLOR MAGIC! It is a box full of materials to complete a variety of activities with your child. The directions are all there, with easy-to-follow steps and there is a great book to read as well. Finally (my favorite part), there are journaling cards with question prompts for you to complete with your child. I really love this box of activities, but I'm already working on the next one. I have so many ideas and it is hard to narrow them down!

This whole business thing is kind of a "leap of faith" experience. I have had this dream going on in my head and finally decided to act upon it. I have no idea how it will all turn out---which twists or turns it may take--but, I don't ever want to regret not trying. I hope you will hop over to the website and take a look around and please invite others as well. If you would like a free activity to download for your child, be sure to sign up on the Dot To Dot blog. I promise not to fill you inbox with spam, but I will let you know when new products/boxes are available, as well as future freebies.

Something New In the Works

Two blog posts in one day!! What?!??!  I couldn't help myself. You see, I have been working on something new and exciting and a bit terrifying. I've started a new blog! AND, I'm starting a new business, too.  Whew! Saying it out loud to y'all is really terrifying because who knows how this thing will go. The name of my new business is:  Dot To Dot, as in connecting the dots between adults and children.

Since my retirement last May, I have enjoyed spending more time with my family, taking watercolor lessons, sewing and squeezing in a bit of travel---in the middle of the year, no less! But, in the back of my mind, some ideas have been brewing. Over the past few weeks, I have been working on turning those ideas into a concrete business so that I can make one of my passions come alive: supplying adults with the tools/materials to make connections with the children in their lives easy and meaningful. I created this business with caregivers in mind---busy mamas, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and babysitters, and hope you will find the site useful.  On Dot To Dot, you will find:

• blogging about ideas, activities, resources
• a subscription box service (coming soon)
• the chance to provide materials and training to families in need.

The website is still under construction, but my blog went live today. 

I would really love for you to check it out and sign up for email updates, as well. You can see it here: 

 https://www.dottodotconnections.com/

In addition, I have a created a new Instagram account that will focus on things related to the business. 

My new Instagram account:  dottodotconnections

You will still be able to find me here at Mommy's Treasures and on my personal Instagram account (lsperki), keeping you up to date on the personal happenings in my life from time to time, but hope that you will also enjoy the other site, once it is up and running.