LIFEtotheFULL

A Fun Indie Artist

I love finding kid stuff that encompasses great design and a beautiful way of seeing the world. I think humor is something that adds a lot of beauty. Check out this artist, John W. Golden on etsy.com who sells the digital prints that are just so so fun! Pass it along to the families in your world...they might really enjoy a tounge and cheek approach to these often repeated statements.

Tote bags

It's fall. 

I love fall. New beginnings, a fresh start.

And of course all things pumpkin. 

I have to share a new idea I had which has worked well. I purchased Land's End Canvas Tote bags and had the age groups of each Sunday School class embroidered on them "K-1, 2-3, Preschool 1, etc..."

Each week I fill these bags with a folder including roll sheets, an extra copy of the curriculum (just in case they forgot it),  prayer journals and any supplies that teachers will need to teach their sunday school lesson.  It's worked very well, I must say. 

You can order them in just about every color combo. I chose white with turquoise straps and embroidery...but that's just me.

Atmosphere counts

While everyone's left over furniture is charitable, if you're going to work every day in a garage sale of mismatched furniture and left over craft supplies...I can't imagine you're loving it.

Now, don't hear me wrong...hand me down furniture is fine. Just be okay saying "no" and resist the temptation for people to "feel good" by dumping off their random assortment of school supplies and arm chairs. 

I went onto craigslist.com after the fire and surfed the furniture section for a couple of weeks. I finally found this amazing vintage white desk with awesome knobs. It was totally my style, and it only cost $100! It turned out, when I took a friend of mine and the church van down to Venice to retrieve it, she was a Bel Air Pres member. I love my desk. It's functional and stylish...and it was cheap! Yea! I feel happy every day when I walk in my office. Think of it, you spend at least half of your life at work...express yourself in your office! (but be professional)...it's fun!

The other thing I picked up was a couple of fun bulletin boards at Homegoods. If you haven't discovered Homegoods...you really must. I get many things there for the church...great quality and prices.  I covered the back of these bulletin boards with some pretty fabric I found on EBay by designer Amy Butler.

Organize your office space

I really think that good organization is key to keeping your ministry functioning in a healthy way. I work hard weekly to keep my spaces clean, organized, and clear so that I can work without hinderances. Organization isn't something we should do once or twice a year. It's something you have to stay on top of and keep on your to-do list. 

Here is a bookshelf I bought from IKEA that I use to keep things in my little tiny office. (my office burned down last fall...so I'm starting from scratch now) I like the baskets that you can get with this bookcase because they hide things well. I sort supplies for upcoming events in these baskets so that I know where things are and yet, don't have to look at 40 bottles of glue all week as I try to think clearly and well about my job. 

It's coming soon!

We are excited to launch www.lifetothefull.net soon! Be excited about a fresh approach to Sunday School or any gathering of children who are learning about the Bible and who Jesus Christ is.

In the meantime, this blog will be place where we'll share stories, ideas, conferences, and other things you should know about as you move forward loving Jesus and loving the kids and families he's trusted you with!