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It’s here… the 2016 Dreams by Design Planner!

Tuesday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

What an exciting day!! After months of work, we have:

  • A brand new site (if you’re reading via email, click through to check it out – so pretty!)
  • … AND… I’m finally launching my very own product… the 2016 Dreams by Design Planner!

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

If you’re really observant, you may remember me mentioning my Planner way back when I showed you my gold paint-pen study reveal. It’s been months of work in the making, with a few speed-bumps and roadblocks along the way, but I could not be happier with the finished result. The 2016 Dreams by Design Planner is conveniently designed as a printable, so you can download it instantly and get started right away. No waiting around for a product to be shipped to you!

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First things first… all the pretties! Because you know how much I love pretty things. I wanted to give you LOTS of personal choice, so I designed a total of NINE different covers for this planner. Aren’t they gorgeous?!

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

So… why a planner? I will admit that I’m a planner nerd. I’ve used just about every product on the market – sometimes spending literally hundreds of dollars on a single purchase, all in search of the Holy Grail of planner perfection. Well, in all those years, I’ve never found anything that contained all my must-have features. So, I decided to make my own!

When I sat down to do just that, I had no idea what a process I was in for. Phew. Boy-oh-boy. I knew I wanted a professional product that was beautifully designed. I knew exactly what I wanted inside. I had no idea that would involve learning how to use  a whole new publishing software – with a LOT of help (talk about a steep learning curve!), months of tweaking and testing and printing and problem-shooting, plus a whole new site re-design into the bargain (because of the limitations involved in the Blogger platform I was on previously, which make it impossible to sell a product on-site.) So yeah… it’s been a wild ride!

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I honestly feel so proud of the finished result. It’s kind of like giving birth – a long and really uncomfortable pregnancy that goes on for about a month longer than you think is humanly decent, followed by a difficult labour where you want to yell at everyone around you, “Just get this baby out of me!!” but it’s all out of your control and you have to wait it out and breathe and trust that everything’s going to eventually be okay. And then finally the product of your labour is out in the world, and it’s just beautiful, and you want everyone else to love it as much as you do.

The thing I adore about this planner is that it starts with the big picture – your dreams for your life and goals for the coming year – and then funnels down by the month, week and day to help you actually incorporate those goals into your daily life.

Want to take a look inside with me? (Silly question. You know I’m gonna show you anyway!)

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The Yearly Goal-Setting section at the very start of the planner encourages you to dream big and imagine the life you truly desire. In the words of Ben Stein, “The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.” How often do we flounder around aimlessly, because we don’t really know what we want at all? It’s time to get clear on what you want, so you can take the first steps toward achieving it.

I whole-heartedly believe in the truth of these words: “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” — William Arthur Ward

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There’s plenty of space to brainstorm and dream, but then it’s time to get really focussed. The Dreams by Design Planner encourages you to choose three focus goals for this coming year. No more setting lists of New Year’s Resolutions a page long, that you’re going to forget all about in a week’s time.

There is something really powerful about narrowing your focus right down to the most important things, and then throwing all your energy and efforts behind them.

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The Goal Planner will then help you take those big dreams and break them right down into a series of small, simple sub-tasks. Even the most complex and overwhelming of projects can be broken down into bite-sized bits. You’ll find that once you break it down, it suddenly looks a whole lot less daunting. That “pipe-dream” that has always floated somewhere just beyond your reach? It’s now realistic. It’s actually achievable.

And you ARE going to achieve it. This year, in fact.

Wow! Imagine what an incredible feeling it will be when you get to the end of the year and you’ve nailed those goals. I’m excited just thinking about it! I’m so pumped for you to achieve your goals and start living your dreams!

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Flip the page and you’ll come to the Year Overview. This is a really powerful snapshot of your entire year at a glance. There’s big blank spaces to jot down notes and plan out your year. This is where you take those three focus goals and all the various sub-tasks, and see how you’re realistically going to slot them into your year.

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I’ve also created a dated year calendar so you can fill in special events, holidays, conferences, and time away. This will help you clarify the time you actually have available each month.

You’ll even find a Birthday calendar and Christmas gift planner so you can get a jump-start on planning gifts for the coming year. Yeah, baby. This is going to be your most organised year ever!

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

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That brings us to the really cool stuff – what you’ll find inside the cover of each month. There’s a gorgeous co-ordinating cover page for each month of the year, as well as a full page monthly calendar. There’s space for budgeting, and plenty of room for notes.

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There’s even space each month to fill out a Master Schedule for your week. This “Master Schedule” will contain all those recurring appointments that don’t regularly change – work times, study hours, school pick-up and drop-off, kids’ extracurricular activities, Bible study group, language class, etc. It will give you a clear visual at a glance of the white spaces in your life, and where you can slot in those “extra things” you want to do to move you in the direction of your dreams. Want to work out? Want to spend some time each day writing, or working on your creative business? Here’s the place to slot those things in. If you schedule it, it’s real.

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Even cooler?! – in fact my very favourite feature of the entire planner? – the Monthly Master list. Why is this so exciting, you ask?

Well, two reasons.

Firstly, if you don’t use some form of Master List already, you are causing yourself a whole lotta extra stress in life. You know how there’s always THAT LIST of stuff to do running through your brain? All those thoughts swirl around and niggle at you, sometimes surfacing, sometimes receding. They’re usually not urgent enough to stick right on your list of things to do that day – and you know you don’t have the time for it right now anyway, so you “file it” in your brain for later.

It might be the “shoulds”… I really should clean out that garage. I should call Grandma and check how she’s going after her surgery. I should check out that new reading program for the kids…  Or the “need to’s”… I need to order those name labels for school sometime soon. I really need to get the business paperwork done in the next couple of weeks. Oh, and I need to remember to change that appointment time… 

Mums are pretty amazing at remembering a whole heap of stuff on a daily basis, but we’re only human after all, and things slip through the cracks all. The. Time. – thus causing needless stress, and that familiar feeling that you’re not quite “on top of things.”

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

Enter the Monthly Master List. It’s designed as a “brain dump”, where you can list out every single thing that’s niggling at your mind at this point in time. There’s four boxes, so you can list tasks by category.

This is also the place where you’ll list out the sub-tasks that need doing this month, to keep you on track with your big-picture goals. No more setting a goal and then falling down on the follow through. Just flip back to your Year Overview, check in on what you’re meant to be covering this month, and jot it down on your Monthly Master List.

But the coolest feature of all?!…

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The entire page is custom designed to fold out. So each week, when you’re planning your week ahead, you can flip back to your Monthly Master List and fold it out, so you have all those need-to-do tasks right there beside you.

You’ll use the Master List as your source when you fill out what needs to be done this week. Then, each day, transfer some of those tasks onto your daily to-do list, and tick them off as you accomplish them.

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This is the feature I’m hands-down most excited about in this planner. It’s a truly unique tool that will enable you to create massive follow-through in your life. It will help you keep your goals and tasks visible and right at your fingertips, every single day this year. 

No more forgetting what needs to be done! No more excuses! No more shelving those goals two weeks into the New Year! Not only have you written down your goals and broken them into manageable, bite-sized pieces, you’ve also set yourself an achievable timeline and made those goals a part of your monthly, weekly and daily routine.

How awesome is that?!

Here’s a look at the Daily Layout you’ll find inside the Dreams by Design Planner. I’ve designed it to be extremely practical and functional. It’s a week to a view, so you can see what’s coming up. There’s a big space to list out your weekly to-do’s and set three priority tasks. There’s also space every day for a daily to-do list, as well as a time-blocked daily schedule. Jot down all those appointments and recurring events for the week, then block out the times you’ll use to accomplish the goals and tasks on your to-do list.

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

At the top of the page, you’ll also find a Meals Planner, and a Week at a Glimpse planner / tracker. This is another really powerful little tool that you can totally customise to your needs. I’m a gal who loves having a plan. (Could you tell? Ha!) The Week at a Glimpse enables you to plan or track your week in ONE SPECIFIC AREA of your life, giving you an overall snapshot of your progress.

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Here’s some suggested uses:

  • Write out your exercise plan for the week
  • Track your daily calorie intake
  • Schedule blog posts
  • Keep a daily word count
  • Plan out activities to do with the kids each day
  • Chart your daily Bible reading
  • Write a cleaning plan for the week

The possibilities are as varied as the individuals who will use the Dreams by Design Planner. Make it yours!

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

Last but not least, the Dreams by Design Planner comes in two editions – the Life Edition, which has an inspirational quote each week, and the Faith Edition, which has a weekly Scripture verse. The Faith Edition also has space for you to jot down a prayer list for the week. (In the Life Edition, this becomes a “Don’t Forget!” space to jot important reminders.) In both editions, there’s a weekly prompt where you can write down something you’re grateful for. A grateful life is a happy life!

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

As you can see, the Dreams by Design planner is absolutely jam-packed with carefully thought-out features that will make goal-setting and follow-through a breeze.

Each copy comes with over 100+ pages, NINE gorgeous cover designs (all included with every purchase!), and a printing and assembly guide. Oh, and it’s available in both A4 and U.S. Letter size (8.5″ x 11″).

I had my copy printed at my local office supply store (because printing back-to-back at home makes my head hurt) and spiral bound. I then slipped it into this gorgeous notebook cover, because as you know… I like pretty things.

I’m already loving using mine. It really is everything I’ve ever wanted in a planner, and I know that by using the Dreams by Design system, this year is going to be an awesome one! I can’t wait for you to get started and smash those goals and dreams.

Dreams by Design Planner 2016

If you want to snag yourself an instantly downloadable copy, you can buy one right here.

Buy now button

Or if you want to take a closer look at all the features and what’s included, head on over to the Dreams by Design Planner page. While you’re there, check out my video debut as I chat through the features of this planner.

And before you go, don’t forget to have a browse through my brand new website! It’s not 100% polished-up yet, so there may be wonky bits here or there. But I’m totally loving the clean and colourful new look, mobile responsiveness (finally!) and easier navigation. Yes!!

Thanks for all your support this year, sweet readers. Here’s to 2016 – may it truly be our best year yet!

I link up at these parties!

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Categories: Happiness, Inspire, Organise

« How to make it: A sweet and simple Christmas tree with handmade elements
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Lovely comments

  1. Elise Laney says

    Tuesday at 5:08 pm

    Karen, I LOVE the planner and the new look of A House Full of Sunshine! You never cease to amaze me, friend! 🙂

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Tuesday at 10:56 pm

      Thanks, hon! You’re the sweetest! xo

  2. Mother Daughter Projects says

    Wednesday at 1:38 am

    Do you have an idea what it cost to print at someplace like FedEx/Kinkos?

  3. Mother Daughter Projects says

    Wednesday at 1:38 am

    Do you have a rough idea how much the planner costs
    to print at someplace like FedEx/Kinkos?

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Wednesday at 8:05 am

      Hi there! I’m afraid I can’t give you an estimate, as every printing place varies. I’m in Australia, so our prices will be different from yours. Your best bet would be to ring for a per-page quote for colour printing. There are 200 pages in total (printed duplex on 100 sheets of paper). If printing at home, it usually costs around 5c per page. Hope that helps! xo

  4. Alison says

    Wednesday at 11:38 am

    What a great planner! Do you please have any suggestions of how to bind the planner? Where did you get the planner bound in Australia?

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Wednesday at 12:22 pm

      Hi Alison! The A4 version has margins that are custom sized for spiral binding. I had mine bound at Mango 4. You could also go to Officeworks, or any printing place really. The U.S. Letter size is a little shorter and wider, so its margins also allow room to punch it into a 3-ring binder if desired. I happen to like the spiral binding as it’s a more compact option and gives you the ability to slip it into a pretty notebook cover if desired. Hope that helps! xo

  5. Jodie says

    Sunday at 5:27 am

    Love it! Would you consider providing a printed/spiral bound version to post out in Australia? I’m in western qld and you no how far it is to a town with printing facilities!
    New blog looks amazing, don’t know how you do it with 3 little ones and now another on the way!

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Sunday at 11:20 am

      Thanks so much for your sweet words, Jodie! I would love to be able to help, but I’m afraid at this stage I can’t provide a physical product. Do you maybe have friends or family in a more metropolitan area who might be able to print it for you and post it? I hope you can find a solution. I used to live out in the country, so I know what it’s like not to be able to access services. All the best hon! xo

      • Jodie says

        Sunday at 10:46 pm

        Thanks Karen 🙂

  6. Megan Duesterhaus (The Homes I says

    Sunday at 6:14 pm

    Hi Karen! I LOVE your new planner and your new site. Just an FYI, I only came to your sight via Pinterest since your new posts aren’t feeding into Bloglovin anymore. I’ve noticed your site is now httpS and that might have something to do with it (only because I JUST went through this with my own site). I recently got directions from Bloglovin on how to update your feed to a new url. If you want those directions, let me know, I’d be happy to email them to you! Congrats on a gorgeous product!

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Sunday at 7:50 pm

      Ooh, thank you so much for the heads-up, Megan! Yes please, I’d love you to shoot me an email if you have a minute! It’s ahousefullofsunshine ( at ) gmail ( dot ) com. Thanks heaps! xo

  7. Lisa Littlewood says

    Monday at 4:36 pm

    Hi there! I love your planner!! Your mind thinks like mine (; and I answered YES to many of your questions about feeling overwhelmed, etc. I’d love to give it a try! Unfortunately, I called a local print place and color printing here (Buffalo, N.Y.) is .50 per page, which would make it very costly. I’m considering doing it from home, but would like to test print a few pages before making the purchase to see if I like the quality of the product done on our home printer ( I’d like to experiment with some different papers)…any chance you have a sample, maybe 2-3 random pages that could be sent as a pdf for me to trial run on my printer? It is a beautiful product!

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Tuesday at 10:23 am

      Lisa! So sorry, how did I miss this?! Yes, I could do that for you if you are still interested. Could you shoot me a quick email so I have your email addy, and I’ll get some sample pages to you. xo

  8. Vanessa says

    Wednesday at 6:39 pm

    Thank you for linking up at “A Little Bird Told Me” Wednesday link party! You have been featured on Mama’s Happy Hive blog! 🙂

  9. Heliza Payne says

    Tuesday at 9:02 am

    Hi. This is a lovely planner and very well thought through. I would love to know what program you used to produce this.
    Congratulations with the new pregnancy and I’m loving the new look website.

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Tuesday at 10:19 am

      Thanks so much, Heliza! 🙂 I created it using Adobe In-Design. xo

      • Heliza Payne says

        Thursday at 7:27 am

        Thank you. Have heard of it but have never been adventurous enough to give it a go.

        • Karen Schravemade says

          Sunday at 10:54 am

          There’s a steep learning curve for sure!! xo

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A blog by

Karen Schravemade

welcome!

Hi friends! So glad you're here! I'm Karen, Aussie stay-home Mum to four littlies, former teacher of Creative Arts, agented writer and interior decorator. I'm on a journey to bring beauty to my home and enjoy a more creative life with my kids - I'd love for you to join us. (Curious? Read more here!)

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INSTAFEED

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5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
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My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
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It feels incredibly vulnerable, but for the first time, I'm sharing my raw and honest story about how I became addicted to social media, and the exact steps I took to break free. ⁠⠀
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I've gone from wasting hours on a mindless distraction that only ever made me feel worse about myself, to falling in love with God's Word and finding true rest + peace in his presence.⁠⠀
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I'm a speaker at the 2020 Christian Women's Self Care Conference, and the topic of my session is "Stop the Scroll and Feed your Soul - how to break social media addiction and find rest in God's presence."⁠⠀
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There are 55+ speakers in total, speaking on a wide range of topics relating to self care. Registration is FREE, but only for a couple more days until conference starts on November 9th! ⁠⠀
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If you want to hold your seat, just tap the link in my bio and select "Self Care Conference", which will take you to the registration page.⁠⠀
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I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
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Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
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PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
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I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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#selfcare #christianwomen #christianlife #socialmediaaddiction #phoneaddiction #selfcaresistersociety
If there's one word to describe how many women hav If there's one word to describe how many women have been feeling this year... it would be "depleted."⁠⠀
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I mean, for real. Who would've guessed back at the start of this year that we'd be dealing with a global pandemic, homeschooling our kids, financial uncertainty, and a total lockdown on many of our most comforting routines?⁠⠀
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Ladies, it's time to refill those emptied-out tanks before this year is out. I'm so excited to share that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Christian Women's Self-Care Conference, alongside 55 other bloggers, authors and speakers. ⁠⠀
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It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
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Even better, registration is FREE until the conference begins on November 7th, so make sure you hold your seat today! Just click the link in my bio and choose "SELF CARE CONFERENCE".⁠⠀
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Hope to see you there!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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P.S. Swipe - do you recognise one of those Day One speakers...? More on what I'll be speaking about, very soon! It's a goody!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
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#selfcare #selfcaresistersociety #2020⁠⠀
It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right now my heart is so heavy with the injustice in the world that I’m struggling to even find the words.

Knowing that I’m inherently complicit in that injustice because of my privilege is sobering. At times I’ve been silent when I should have spoken and at other times I've spoken when I should’ve shut up and listened to the only voices in this narrative that really matter - the voices of those who’ve experienced this sort of prejudice from inside their own skin.

Racial injustice has always grieved my heart, but there’s a difference between empathy and kindness. Having empathy is important, but it’s not enough. Kindness speaks and acts. And right now I don’t really know what to say but somehow I feel it’s important to say something anyway, however imperfectly. Because there is nothing as deafening as silence in the face of systemic suffering.

I don’t know a lot. But I do know that Jesus was always on the side of the oppressed and marginalised. And the Bible tells us that one day, the last will be first and the first will be last. To me that means that in God’s new restored kingdom, these corrupt systems of the world will be turned on their head. In that day, those who’ve benefited from a system of white supremacy (myself included) will be the least. Those who’ve been oppressed and mistreated in this life will be honoured and elevated with the nobility they deserve. What a day that will be!! 🙌

But it’s not enough to know that someday it will all be made right. I hope to see heaven come to earth. I hope to see more black leaders, politicians, policy makers, authors, artists, influencers, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, bank managers, lawyers, judges, scientists and professors. The system is unfairly stacked and our privilege is self-perpetuating. I pray for it all to be turned upside down within our lifetime.

In the (paraphrased) words of MLK, let’s not prefer a negative peace which is an absence of tension (aka passivity, complacency, complicity, silence), over a positive peace, which is the presence of justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. Sc We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. School closures will last at least five weeks. I will not lie, I was anxious about how I would cope. But we are slowly finding our rhythm and perhaps one day in the distant future I’ll even have time to start scheduling posts to Instagram again. For now, this is a random mid week check-in to say, how are you surviving, friends? I’m thinking of you! Wishing you an oasis of calm in the midst of everything, whether it means getting up half an hour earlier than the kids for a morning walk alone, or locking yourself in the bedroom at night with a good book while hubby puts the kids to bed. #doneboth #wewillsurvive 💗
Easter iso style - camping on our land! When so ma Easter iso style - camping on our land!
When so many are feeling hopeless right now, we are thankful for the hope Jesus brings. 💚🧡 Happy Easter, friends!
There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠ There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠
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I've felt led to share some hope and peace with you this week. That doesn't mean you need to put any extra pressure on yourself if you are struggling to tap into peacefulness right now.⁠
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I'm an Enneagram 4, so I am well accustomed to getting trapped inside my own feelings. For the feelers, the weight of the world's problems can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming.⁠
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I was on the beach the other day, praying for a "4" friend who is struggling with this exact thing. And all of a sudden, all of these butterflies started flying from the sand dunes toward the sea, and out over the waves.⁠
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It was a windy day and they were being buffeted around. But I was so intrigued that despite their fragility, they stayed on course, flying directly into that strong wind to get to where they were headed. It started with one, then two, then dozens upon dozens of them. None of them were blown into the water or whipped out of sight. They just flew straight on, above the waves.⁠
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And it made me think of the sensitive souls of this world. Our "butterflies", who bring so much beauty with their creativity, perception, and deep compassion for others. ⁠
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Our butterflies are being extra buffeted right now by the winds of change and pain. That doesn't make them weak. In fact they have within them a surprising strength, to stay the course and to fly above the waves.⁠
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The thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be strong. You don't have to be something you're not. Your sensitivity is not a weakness - it's designed into your DNA by God. With so many people hurting and afraid at the moment, we need your compassion more than ever.⁠
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If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to not be okay. Just trust that even if you feel buffeted by the winds, you are lifted by his grace above the waves, and you will not be drowned.⁠
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And even if you feel like you're flailing around out there, you never know, someone else might just be watching you, admiring your beauty and your grace. 🦋
I was reading a random little story the other day I was reading a random little story the other day from the book of Numbers, in the Bible. ⁠
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A king was scared of the Israelites and so he paid a prophet to curse them. Except every time they tried it, the guy spoke blessings instead. This is what he said:⁠
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"God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king." (Numbers 23:20-21)⁠
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Even the curses of the enemy will be turned into blessings for the people of God. ⁠
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He has given us an inheritance that cannot be shaken. ⁠
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💜 What blessing are you thankful for today? ⁠
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I'm thankful for the leadership of my local church, who continue to minister to peoples' needs both spiritual and physical. Our pastors have their own families and needs, yet they consistently look outward to care for their flock. ⁠
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Let me know yours below! Let's name as many BLESSINGS as we can!⁠
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xo Karen
Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠ ⁠ For famil Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠
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For family and a home and a table to gather around with our loved ones.⁠
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Thank you that when so much else is changing, you remain the same.⁠
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Thank you that you are for us and not against us. That your heart is toward us. That in you is all we need, now and always.⁠
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We pray for those who are lonely and isolated and anxious and unwell. For those whose jobs and livelihoods are lost or threatened. Give us creative ways to reach out with kindness, that we can be salt and light in a dark world. ⁠
⁠
Let kindness for others not feel like a drain on our limited resources, but a natural outflowing of your continuous, abundant supply. ⁠
⁠
Shelves may be bare, but you always have more than enough.⁠
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Every blessing comes from your hand and we are grateful.⁠
⁠
Amen
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind an “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27⁠
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There is truly nothing like God's peace.⁠
⁠
The world can offer mindfulness and yoga and candles and calming diffused oils and self-help. Nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact they can be beautiful tools - I use all of them. ⁠
⁠
But I can say from genuine experience that the peace God gives is not like the peace the world gives. It's on a whole new level. ⁠
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It's the peace that he gives when you're in the middle of a storm and the world is turning to crap all around you and you're at the very end of yourself and self-help has begun feeling like trying to drag yourself from a pit via a rope around your waist that you're tugging on with your own two hands. ⁠
⁠
We can't always lift ourselves out of anxiety or fear. So drop the rope. Stop striving. And ask God for HIS peace. He has an abundant well of supply for you to draw from. ⁠
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Fear is trying to hold tight to control in a situation we can't control. ⁠
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Faith asks us to let go, to repent of our fearfulness and surrender it all to God.⁠
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How do you find this miracle of peace? In the letting go.⁠
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We were never meant to carry this burden anyway. ⁠
⁠
How are you doing today? Let me know how I can pray for you. ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me th I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me that it's time to make a transition. Instead of being a person who looks for support from others in times of stress or uncertainty, he wants me to offer support TO others. ⁠
⁠
I've often felt like I don't quite have it together. I'm sensitive, I feel things deeply, I tend to get trapped in my own head and in negative thought spirals.⁠
⁠
But I felt like he was saying that I have something to offer, anyway. Just because I've always been a person who views myself as needy or weak does not mean God views me that way. He can see the strength that is in all of us and he delights in calling it forth. I love how when Gideon was hiding in fear in a winepress, God's angel greeted him by saying "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."⁠
⁠
He was the furthest thing from a mighty warrior at that point. But God knew the battles he WOULD win in his future. He saw what did not yet exist and spoke about it as if it was already a reality. He saw Gideon's true identity and spoke directly to that buried and hidden place within him.⁠
⁠
So. Maybe all I need is a shift in perspective. From looking inward at my own lack, to looking up at him. HE is the source of any hope and help I can offer. And if he wants me to share that, it would be my privilege to obey.⁠
⁠
So let me know... is there anything you're particularly struggling with right now? If you're feeling anxious or burdened, I would love to support you in prayer. 🙏⁠
⁠
xo Karen
We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but I know many of my American friends are stuck at home right now. Either way - sounds like a good chance to do "one thing for the home."⠀
⠀
If you're feeling anxious, it can really help to get out of your head for a little while and do something practical. We can't control anything in the outside world right now, but we CAN complete one concrete task to make our immediate environment feel calmer and function better. And sometimes just having that one little win is all we need to break us out of a negative thought-spiral and restore some equilibrium. ⠀
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If you're feeling a bit helpless and panicky, I hope this helps. It's one thing you CAN control. And doing something with your hands will give your mind a much-needed break. ⠀
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🌟THIS MONTH'S PRIZE: A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD! 🌟⠀
⠀
Here's a reminder of how to play:⠀
⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun!
I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux or stress my tendency is to withdraw and process. (I’ve learned this is very Enneagram 4 of me.) I also feel major reticence about adding to the current noise. I feel there are enough voices talking loudly all at once about the same thing and you don’t need one more.
So I give you instead a prayer for peace. If you are feeling anxious, let this be your exhale today. 💙
Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... 😉⁠
⁠
What are you up to this weekend, friends?⁠
⁠
xo Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⁠⠀
⁠⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythingandeverythinginitsplace
We are getting closer on the home build front... a We are getting closer on the home build front... after two years of sketching dozens upon dozens of floor layout ideas and ultimately trashing all of them, I finally have a plan I LOVE!! ⁠
⁠
It ended up being a highly collaborative effort between our architect and myself - he came up with a general concept and gave me external parameters to suit the contours of the block, and I then designed the internal layouts to fit. ⁠
⁠
Turns out that is exactly what I needed - some guidelines! Amazing how much better our creativity flourishes within constraints. It was way too open-ended before our architect came on board, and I was flailing around in all that freedom like a tadpole in the ocean. Within a day or two of having a blank footprint to work within, I actually had a decent plan. We've tweaked it a little since then, but it's virtually the same.⁠
⁠
I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
⁠
Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
⁠
One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
⁠
P.S. Let me know if you'd like to see a sneak peek of our plan in stories!!
So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on f So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on from yesterday's chat! This is just off the top of my head, so please take it with a grain of salt - there is SO MUCH more to each type than what I can sum up in a sentence.⁠
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Here are the 9 types:⁠
⁠
1 - The Moral Perfectionist: self-critical, organised, driven by the desire to make things right and good⁠
2 - The Helper: relationally driven, people focussed, places others' needs ahead of their own⁠
3 - The Achiever: success driven and ambitious, gets things done, image conscious⁠
4 - The Romantic Individualist: creative, driven by the desire for uniqueness, feels things deeply⁠
5 - The Investigative Thinker: introverted and analytical,  detached from emotion⁠
6 - The Loyalist: community minded, a team player, driven by the need for security and anxiety about the future⁠
7 - The Entertaining Optimist: positive, energetic and playful, driven to squeeze as much fun out of life as possible⁠
8 - The Protective Challenger: a natural leader, confrontational, confident and determined⁠
9 - The Peaceful Mediator: conflict-avoidant, gentle and steady, driven to seek inner peace⁠
⁠
I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
⁠
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
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Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
⁠
I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
⁠
If you're not familiar with it, it's a personality typing system.  I've always been interested in personality differences and human behaviour - that's probably the novelist in me. But none of the other systems I've come across have resonated with me as deeply as the Enneagram.⁠
⁠
It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
⁠
Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
⁠
I'm an Enneagram 4. That's the "Romantic Individualist". It's an artistic temperament driven by creativity, love of beauty, a desire for uniqueness, introspection, and authenticity.⁠
⁠
I guess it's no surprise that when I had to ask my friends and readers to sum up my strengths for an assignment I was given, the two words that came up most frequently were "creativity" and "honesty".⁠
⁠
Enneagram 4's feel deeply and are very connected to our emotions. We'd  much rather have a meaningful conversation about deep feelings than make small talk about trivial things. ⁠
⁠
Each type can pull a little more to one or other of the numbers beside them, giving a different flavour. I'm a wing 5 (the "Investigative Thinker") which means I tend to be less temperamental/ moody, and more steady, reserved and analytical. ⁠
⁠
I'm also daydreamy, a big-picture thinker, and despise administrative details. My "fatal flaw" (each type has one) is comparison and envy. Ohhhhh yep, that certainly rings true. Because while we want to stand out and be special, which can be prideful, we also struggle hard with insecurity and feeling like we never quite measure up.⁠
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Yes, yes and YES.⁠
⁠
If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
⁠
If you know your type, what number are you? xo
So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I f So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I feel less like a whiner - if I get sick I usually shake it within a couple of days, so I was starting to feel irritated with myself for still being crook after three weeks!⁠
⁠
Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
⁠
This buffet in our living room holds a changing arrangement of mostly-white vases, with a bit of blue glass and green foliage thrown in for good measure. ⁠
⁠
Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
⁠
To be honest, I've always been a "get it exactly how I want it then leave it like that forever" type of girl, but I've been loosening up and playing around more with my décor this past year, and it struck me that my buffet has gone through several style shifts now. I actually like it a little bit better every time I make a change! ⁠
⁠
Hope this new week will be an awesome one for you, friends!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
⁠
Let's talk kitchens! Our house build is on my mind, and even though we're only at the plan stage, I'm trying to nail down my ideas in a general creative direction. ⁠
⁠
The last three kitchens I've designed have been all white, with accents of grey. I really want to use black in my next kitchen. I love the drama of it (as we already established, I like a bit of drama. Ha.) I keep veering back and forth between all black, or some combination of black and white. ⁠
⁠
I'm interested to know... what would you choose? My guess is that white-on-white is still gonna be the most popular choice, and black will probably be controversial, but I could be wrong! ⁠
⁠
So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
⁠
1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
⁠
🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⠀
⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⠀
⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⠀
⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⠀
⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⠀
⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⠀
⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⠀
⠀
xo Karen⠀
⠀
P.S. You can decorate, declutter or organise anything you like. No task is too small! Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or a storage tub. Do that niggly little job you've been meaning to get to. Hang that picture. Paint that stool. Sort through the kids clothes. We’ve all got that “one thing” - let us know yours! xo⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythinga
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