2013 Mantra

You may notice a new page at the top of my blog. If not look up there. There's a new tab called "13 in '13" which has a my list of goals for the new year. 

These are tangible things I want to work on this year. I will start tomorrow posting about each one individually. I hope to also give an update each month on how I'm doing on each goal.

Today, I want to share with you something I've adopted as my mantra for 2013.

"Give grace." 

It's that simple. 

Charis is the Greek word for grace. It means "undeserved gift." When you give someone grace, you are giving something they don't deserve.

God gave us a gift we didn't deserve when he sent His son to be the sacrifice for our sin. He also gives us grace every day by giving us forgiveness for our daily sins.

God gives me grace, yet I'm so often unwilling to give it to others. People are going to disappoint me. People are going to hurt me. People are going to make mistakes. They're human! 

I make mistakes too. I want people to give me grace, but I'm often unwilling to give it to others.

I also don't know everyone's situation. I don't know what people are going through or have been through. I don't want to be so quick to pass judgment on others. I don't walk in their shoes. 

This year, I want to work on giving grace rather than remaining angry, bitter, and unforgiving. I also want to give grace rather than making judgments or speaking cruelly of others.

Do you have a mantra for the new year? 

**Some of my bloggy friends want to share their 2013 mantras as well.**

Blog//Twitter//Facebook

" I know as typical as it sounds, I would like to get healthy in 2013. I am such a yo-yo dieter and I'm ready to lose the weight and keep it off."

Blog//Twitter//Facebook

"I know it may sound cheesy and to avoid saying lose weight I  am going with "Don't Worry ....Be Happy"  {hum seems like I have a thing for song titles, LOL} But in all seriousness I have got to stop worrying so much!  I worry about EVERYTHING!!  and I also want to work on really loving myself  through losing the weight, getting healthy again, and just simply being happy.  I will find something good in everything!"

Blog//Twitter//Facebook

"I have quite a few important things that I want to really work on this year to better myself. But I'd had to say that my 2013 mantra is going to be all about balance. To become that better person, wife, and mother, I need to balance all areas of my life. Most importantly how much time I spend on the internet, phone, and blogging. I absolutely love the blog world and keeping up with my blog on a daily basis, but lately I've found myself on the computer way more than I should be during the day and in the evening when I should be spending quality time with my husband and daughter. My goal is to set daily time limits and not be near a computer or phone during family time, such as meals and when we're watching shows or movies together. This also includes me working in my time management when it comes to the minutes I DO spend plugged in. Prioritize my list of to-do's and only work on those things. And do what needs to get done first! I hope to master this balancing act so I feel better about my job as a wife and more importantly as a mama to my little girl. Wish me luck!"

 

Moonlight Shimmer {Giveaway}

I am very excited to be expanding my blog to reach out and help more people as I grow. 

One way that I've begun doing that is offering cheap sponsorships. I want to keep my prices low so that they're accessible to more people. Then, I want to give you the ultimate sponsoring experience. I want to do whatever I can to promote your blog or business. 

Interested in sponsoring JASTG? Check out my sponsor page found at the top of the blog.

***

Today, I want to introduce you to my one of my business sponsors: Moonlight Shimmer. 

 

 Check out some of the things you can find at this shop:

This is just a small taste. There is so much to choose from. I also have to point out that I love how this shop is arranged by the color of the jewelry. So, you can see pieces in similar colors all together while you're shopping. 

Julie tells us more about Moonlight Shimmer:

Why did you start Moonlight Shimmer?

I originally started making jewelry for fun and just made things for myself and for gifts. My stash of beads kept growing, and even though I had more than enough jewelry for myself, I kept wanting to make new pieces. I started Moonlight Shimmer on Etsy to give myself a way to fund the hobby. After I started selling, I loved the business aspects as well. The best part is hearing positive feedback from customers.

What kind of merchandise do you offer?

 I design and make beaded jewelry. Some of my pieces are sparkly, some use chunky stone beads, and some are crocheted with wire.

What inspires your designs?

It’s all about the supplies. Most of the time when I buy beads, I have no specific plans for how to use them. I just buy beads that I think are beautiful and then figure out which ones will look good together when I’m in the mood to create. I also love learning new techniques, so sometimes my designs are an attempt to try something new that I just learned.

In the spirit of New Year's, what are 3 things you want to work on doing better in the new year?

·         Improve my craft show display. I just started doing craft fairs in the fall and I’d like to participate in some of the larger shows in my area this spring.·         Take better photos of jewelry on a model. On Etsy, I have photos of my necklaces being worn so customers can get a better idea of the length and how the necklaces hang. Photographing a person has been harder for me than photographing an object in a light box.
·         Develop a consistent brand message.

 

You can also follow along with Moonlight Shimmer on Twitter and Facebook.

Today, Julie would like ONE lucky reader to win these beautiful earrings:

*Please read the rules carefully before entering.*

 Rules:

1. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.

2. Must be 18 or older to enter.

3.  The first 2 entries are MANDATORY to win. All entries will be verified. If the winner chosen did not complete the first 2 entries plus the winning entry, a new winner will be chosen.

4. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner will be chosen. Winners will be contacted through email. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Throwback Thursday {link up}: Senior Year Resume

Welcome to the first Throwback Thursday link up. 

What is Throwback Thursday?

Throwback Thursdays will be a day for you to link up anything from your past. It can be old pictures, old songs, old TV shows, old movies, your childhood crush, what was popular, your favorites, older fashion. Anything goes! Throwback Thursdays will be the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. 

<div align="center"> <a href="http://justasmalltowngirlsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Throwback%20Thursdays" title="Throwback Thursday"><img src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q580/mdhall88/ThrowbackThursday2_zps72b59f4e.jpg" alt="Throwback Thursday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Rules:

In this link up, we simply ask that you visit your host and guest host. If you like what you see, we'd love to have you follow along. It will also make it easier for you to participate every time if you follow your host.

We also ask that you link back to Just a Small Town Girl in your TT post.

Meet our guest host:

I am very excited to have Kera from Nugget on a Budget guest hosting Throwback Thursday for the month of January. Kera hosts a great link up every Tuesday called On My Mind where you can link up anything that has been on your mind lately. She also co-hosts the Super Sunday Sync blog hop every Sunday. She's super sweet and is always real and honest in her posts. You won't regret following along.

Throwback:

Today, we're not going to be traveling too far back. I'm going to take you back to my senior year of high school.

I keep my school yearbooks at home, so when I went home over Christmas I had fun looking through these.

Today, I'll share with you some of my senior year resume.

I am my senior class president which means I am responsible for organizing future class reunions.

I was also editor of the school yearbook. I loved being involved with the yearbook. We made some great memories in yearbook class.

I was co-captain of the colorguard. Band was a major part of my life in high school. During my senior year we turned into a colorguard/dance line and did a little of both. It was a lot of fun.

I was also involved in various clubs. Including being an officer in a few of them.

At my high school every year, the teachers chose 10 students from the class to be Teacher's Choice. I don't know what their criteria was for choosing. It didn't have to be the best students academically. I think they chose based on what kind of student you were, how you worked, how you behaved in class, etc.

This last one is my proudest achievement from high school. When I first started high school, I set my sights on being valedictorian.

Another girl and myself had GPAs that were so close we were declared co-valedictorians (although mine was higher by just a little). 

As a senior, you also have the option of buying a page towards the back of the yearbook where you can include your own personal pictures and your family can include a message. I had two pages. My family bought one to include pictures of me through the years and I bought one to include pictures of me with my friends through the years. I love pictures.

 

So that's some of the things I was up to my senior year. What activities were you involved in in high school?

Link up your own Throwback post. This link up will be open for a week, so you can squeeze in a fun throwback post when you're ready.