How I Wake Up Happy!

First let me ask you…

1. Do you wake up at approximately the same time every day?

2.  How do you wake up in the morning?  Does your inner clock awaken you?  Kids/pets/spouse wake you up?  Alarm clock?

3.  Do you get around 7-8 hours of sleep a night?

4.  Are you a glass 1/2 full or glass 1/2 empty person?

5.  Are you a happy person normally?

In thinking up the above questions, there are so many factors which can wreak havoc on your mornings, so many variables that I am not sure I can solve your every morning dilemma!  However perhaps my experiences may benefit you in case you need a bit of help in the mornings.

As a former night owl (before children), I had such a tough time changing my ways to becoming a morning person, but now that I’m there, I love it!  It definitely took some time getting used to and it was a big learning curve ~ I mean, the whole early bird catches the worm thing boggled my mind before kids.  As you may know from experience, kids definitely change you in more ways than one!

My elder son was an early riser and until he hit puberty, before dawn was his wake up time and thus became mine begrudgingly.  Now, the tables have turned and it is I who is wide eyed and happily chirping away at dawn and it is he who is dragging a bit in the early morn!  But he taught me a great lesson because every morning when he’d awaken so early, he’d be happy to wake up and start the day and it is by his example (and my other son who has continued the tradition) that I am grateful to report that I Wake Up Happy!

Perhaps contributing to my happy awakenings is the fact that I am grateful to wake up every morning to see the day dawn!  I’ve spent the past 11 years with my health in turmoil so to me, to awaken everyday with a loving family and pets surrounding me is a great gift.  My routine is to wake up to the alarm clock (if my inner one hasn’t already awakened me) which is set about 10 minutes before I really need to get up.  I hit the snooze and then think about my day before I even put one foot on the floor!

I imagine a marvelous day ahead and if I know I have things to do, I imagine them going smoothly, I see in my mind’s eye  my travels safe and without traffic, I imagine smooth sailing in all business issues and I plan out my day to have a happy ending.  I smile to myself knowing that this is my secret weapon ~ I smile as much as I can throughout the day!  So I begin my morning with a smile before I even pull back the covers of my bed!

For me, a few precious minutes of solitude (well, with the cats of course) accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee is the key to a beautiful day so it’s how I begin!  I look outside at the sky, the yard and notice the beauty of nature around me.  I pet the cats and feel the tranquility which nestles around me when they purr.  I need those few minutes every morning so that when the rest of the family arises, I am cheery and full of optimism and organized.  You know the whole refrain, if Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!  So Momma does her best to be happy!

This morning I will admit, I wasn’t the happiest because I awoke with a migraine which has been plaguing me for a few days.  So I curtailed my imaginings and simply sang this refrain in my head,  as I am known to do when I need a little pick me up in the mornings.  There’s something about this song which just makes me happy.  Do you have a happy song that makes you smile?  If not, you can borrow mine!  Do you know it?  It’s  “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”, the song from Oklahoma!

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day. 

I have a beautiful feeling, everything’s going my way!

Shine On!

Keep Smiling!

xo

Making Special Valentines!

Creating Classic Custom Valentines ~ Reblog from SOC!

Creating custom cards is one of the great things about SendOutCards. While we have an extensive collection of cards for almost any holiday, sometimes a card that you customize all by yourself is the best kind of card.

A lot of the same can be said about creating Valentine’s Day cards, even when you’re creating them in bulk. While cards continue to become more extensive in design and bigger in size, the classic Valentine  (the smaller ones you received as a kid and/or in elementary school) are still some of the best kinds.

So how can you give out these classic cards without limiting yourself to the pre-made cards at the store? How can you add your creative twist to this classic?

We’re glad you asked!

One of the many great hidden treasures in the SendOutCards Photo Store is the Playing Cards Deck. But how can a deck of cards help you create personalized Valentines? An ordinary deck might not get you far, but the Playing Cards Deck from SendOutCards is a different story.

These custom Valentines are perfect for kids to bring to school and they’re also a fun way to create a classic Valentine to give to your friends, family, neighbors or coworkers.

For the sample above, we created a variety of 54 Valentines (including the Joker cards). All the designs you see are in the Artwork and Backgrounds gallery within the SOC Photo Store.

Start creating your own personalized, classic Valentines by  following the steps below!

If you don’t have an account, log onto http://www.sendoutcards.com/126830 and send a card for free ~ when you do, you’ll create a free account.

Then after you’ve made your free account you can begin!  If you already have a SendOutCards account then…

Start, by logging into your SendOutCards Photo Store Account by visiting: http://www.socphotostore.com. After you’ve logged on, you’ll see a wheel of different projects you can create. Click on “Other Gifts” option on the first wheel.

That will open a second wheel, where you’ll need to click on “Playing Card Deck.”

Next, you’ll be taken to the customization page.

Select the “Design Your Own” option and then click “Next Step.”

The cards are separated by suites. However, in the “Design Your Own” option, this isn’t applicable, since there will not be number or suites appearing on your custom cards. Be sure you click through each suite and create a design for each card. There are a total of 54 cards (including the Joker cards).

The SOC Photo Store has hundreds of built-in background and graphics that you can select from. But you can also upload your own graphics and photos in the “My Photos” option. For this example, we’ll be pulling graphics from the SOC Photo Store library.

You can design your cards on a white (default) or a solid color background. There also custom backgrounds, separated by categories. For the cards in our example, we’re using the backgrounds in the “Valentines” folder.

Next, we’re going to add some artwork on top of our background image. Again, we’ll be pulling the graphics from the SOC Photo Store library. You can find an array of different images under the “Artwork” option of your menu. Like the backgrounds, these graphics split into different categories. For example, we’ll be pulling graphics from the “Valentines” folder.

To add graphics, just drag the graphic you want to use onto your card.

Depending on the card you’re working with and the look and feel you’re trying to achieve, you’ll have to adjust the size and position accordingly.  You can do so by using the dark grey menu above.

When you’re finished creating all your cards. Click on the “Back of all cards” option on the left hand side of screen.

The back of the deck will have to be one consistent image and/or text. For our sample, we’ll be creating the “to and from” area.  If you decide to do the same, you have the option of filling-in your name now, or you can leave it blank and personally sign it after you’ve printed them.

Text can be added by selecting the “Text” tab on your menu.  Similar to the background/images, you’ll drag the “ABC” box on to your card and move the box according to where you want your text to be.

Once you’ve decided, you can begin typing your text in the box in the “Text” tab. You can also change your font, size and color in the same menu box. In addition, you can move your text, rotate it and resize accordingly, using the dark grey menu next to your card.

After you’ve added your text, you can also add any additional artwork or graphics.

When you’re done creating all your cards, click on the “Preview” option to view your work. If you’re happy with your cards, click “Add to Cart” to get your cards processed and print!

Daily Giveaway #7 — $50 SOC Photo Store Gift Card

This is just one of the few ways you can take your Valentine’s Day creativity and personalization to next level. Why not explore some of the other great tools in the photo store to surprise your someone special this holiday? Submit some of your creative Valentine’s Day ideas HERE for your chance to win a $50 SOC Photo Store Gift Card — Daily Giveaway #7 — the final giveaway in our February: 7 Days of Giveaways series.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Shine On!

xo