5 Easy Ways to Make your Marriage Zing, Pop, and Sizzle

It's been a while since I offered up some marriage tips. I've been testing them out for myself so I can share with confidence of the results. See for yourself:

1. Send love notes. There are so many ways: text, old fashioned snail mail, window paint on car door, mark it in the snow, notes slipped into pants pockets in his/her drawer etc. Find a way to do something every day to say I love you in a different or special way. If you already do it, be more specific about what you love about your spouse.

2. Before you kiss, think about what message you want to convey: I'll miss you. Glad to see you. Hurry home, I'll be waiting... etc. Kiss your spouse like you mean whatever message. Don't blame me if you are late to work.

3. Plan dates weekly, bi weekly or monthly as time and money permit. Make it special but not over the top. Make special considerations of what your spouse likes. The biggest key: make it consistent.

4. I've said it before and I'll say it again--Say "Thanks" whenever and as often as you can for all the things your spouse does for you (even if its in a roundabout way). Being thankful helps you look past things that you might not be as thankful for. Try it and you'll see.

5. Shower together. Oh no. Don't say ew gross. We are adults here! Its not always convenient but try to throw it in more often and see how it helps throw in an extra pinch of zing, pop, and sizzle! I dare you!

Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Sales

It's that time of year again...Black Friday/Cyber Monday.  I braved some stores this morning (with my 1 year old) in search of some good deals, but now I'm shopping online while reveling in the silence of nap time.  We're making it more enjoyable to shop from your computer by offering some AMAZING sales through December 6th.

EVERYTHING is on sale for 50% off.
Our usual specials still apply
Buy 3 items Get 1 additional item FREE, 

Buy 4 items Get 2 additional items FREE, 

Buy 5 Get 3 additional items FREE, 

Buy 10 items Get 10 additional items FREE, 

Buy 20 Get 21 additional items FREE
FREE items must be of equal or lesser value to the lowest priced item bought.

And best of all our the 
BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY Special Codes

Buy minimum of $15 get an additional 10% off with coupon code: BF201310POFF

Buy minimum of $25 get an additional 20% off with coupon code: BF201320POFF

Buy minimum of $45 get an additional 30% off with coupon code: BF201330POFF
Codes valid through Friday, December 6th!

Here's a few of the most recently added items.  Go see what else you can find. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettifulDesigns

Christmas Nativity-Extended

Tis the Season Owls

Tis the Season 2

Eggnog Clip Art

Christmas is Coming

I know, I know Halloween hasn't happened yet, but we've already started getting ready for the Christmas season.  Dedra has added quite a few Christmas paper packs to the shop recently.  We've also created some new boards on pinterest for all of our Halloween and Christmas items.  We thought it might make it a little easier to see what's new so please follow us!

Also don't forget that EVERYTHING in the shop is 50% OFF through Oct 31st, and the sale can be combined with the specials (Buy 3 Get 1 additional item FREE, Buy 4 Get 2 additional items FREE, Buy 5 Get 3 additional items FREE, Buy 10 Get 10 additional items FREE, Buy 20 Get 21 additional items FREE)

Come take advantage of the Sale before it ends!

Here are some of the most resent additions to the shop

Fall:

Autumn Stroll

Pumpkin Papers

Christmas:

Frosted Cranberry Papers

Eggnog Papers

Christmas Cheer Papers

Wintry Papers

Christmas Baubles Papers

Poppin Christmas Papers

  

New Etsy Shop PD Printables

Just a quick reminder that we're having a 40% off SALE at our Etsy Shop Prettiful Designs


Now on to the real purpose of this post, our new shop!!! We've opened a new shop for holiday and party printables. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PDPrintables  Come take a look at what we have and take advantage of the 40% off SALE now going on!

Here's just on item from the new shop.  It's everything you'd need to decorate for a Halloween Party.  I love throwing parties and this set will make you not only the talk of the neighborhood, but will be a stress reliever! Decorations, food wrappers, party games and photo props are all included so once you print and cut all you need to worry about is the food!

Includes:
1 "Happy Halloween" Banner
8 Cupcake Toppers
11 Photo Props
4 Blank Invitation Templates/Labels Designs
10 Water Bottle Wrapper Designs
4 Cupcake/Straw Flag Designs
5 Favor Bag Tag Designs
4 Food Tent Designs
6 Mini Candy Label Designs
1 Welcome Sign
2 Miscellaneous Signs
1 MIni Cake Banner
10 Bingo Game Cards & Calling Cards
8 Cupcake Wrappers

13 Labels

40% Off SALE and Halloween Items

We recently had our 15,000th sale, so we're celebrating through the end of the month by having a 40% OFF SALE.  Everything in the shop is already marked down 40%.  Sale ends Sept 30th.

We couldn't have done it without all of our loyal customers, so this is a big thank you to YOU! Happy Shopping. Prettiful Designs Etsy Shop

Here's a list of our current Halloween items to help you get ready for next month.

Spooks On Theme

Spooks On Paper Pack                                                     Spooks On Frames
 

Spooks On Clip art Set 1                                                 Spooks On Clip art Set 2
  

Spooks On Witche's Clip art

Clip Art

Halloween Clip Art

Paper Packs

Halloween Paper Pack                                                     Trick or Treat Paper Pack

  

Zombie Dance Paper Pack                                               Halloween Night Paper Pack

  

Grave Yard Bash Paper Pack

Buy 3 get 3 Free!

Now until Sept 19th we're having a Buy 3 get 3 FREE Sale at our Etsy Store https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettifulDesigns

There have been a number of new things added lately. Come check it out!

Here are just a few of the new designs:

Itty Bitty Clotheslines perfect for a baby shower.

Hippie Papers!

Florida Clip Art 

Clip Art Charlie

Happy Shopping!!

August Giveaway Winners!

Thanks for everyone that participated in this month's giveaway!  The following four people won $25 gift codes to the shop at prettifuldesigns.com.  Check your email for your code.

Terri B
SidneyEllen M
Caitlin M
Shauna L

For everyone else don't forget about the 50% off sale going on right now at our Etsy Shop
Happy Shopping!

Crisp Fall

Simplest solution for ugly cords--and it was my Husbands idea!

In our move we sold a bunch of stuff and swung a deal on a new (to us) tv--which made the hubby super happy. Only problem was those ugly cords. They were ugly to me and ugly to him. So....he came up with a solution. He asked me if I could wrap it with some fabric. 

 So....I cut (2) 2 foot by 2 inch strip of fabric, quickly sewed them together in like 10 seconds. Tied a knot at the top of the cords and simply wrapped, tucking in my end at the bottom when I was done. Voila. Super simple way to make a dramatic difference. What do you think? Don't forget to pin me on pinterest. :)

xo,

Dedra

August Giveaway!!!

As well as our 50% off sale going right now we are also having an awesome giveaway.  We are giving away FOUR 25% gift codes for the shop.  Just use the Rafflecopter on the sidebar to enter!  The giveaway ends August 20th.

And here's one of our most like items on etsy Digital Scrapbook Kit Beach Party

End of Summer SALE 50% OFF

Can you believe that it's almost the end of summer?  I know that I can't.  It seems like yesterday  was the last day of school, and now the kids start school in less than 3 weeks.

We thought we'd help summer go out with a bang by having an END OF SUMMER SALE.  50% OFF ALL ITEMS through the end of August! www.prettifuldesigns.etsy.com

Don't forget the specials work WITH the 50% off. Prices are already marked down.
Buy 3 Get 1 additional item FREE,
Buy 4 Get 2 additional items FREE,
Buy 5 Get 3 additional items FREE,
Buy 10 Get 10 additional items FREE,
Buy 20 Get 21 additional items FREE
FREE items must be of equal or lesser value to the lowest priced item bought. To get your free items, Copy and Paste ENTIRE TITLE of free product(s) (NOT link) in notes to seller to get your free item(s). Do NOT put free items in cart.

Here are some of the most recent additions to the shop!

Spring Showers- Owl, Bird, Pinwheel, Bunting Clipart

Coordinates with Spring Showers Paper Pack and Spring Showers Circle Clip Art

Baby Thing Paper Pack

Fifties Paper Pack

End of Treatment, New Diet and a Move!

So, I haven't posted because we finally MOVED! Wow. What a long, arduous ordeal. So now that we are settling in I can finish writing up about my treatment.
I forgot to mention in my last post that along with my treatements, I was given a new diet......no sugar and no flour. Yeah, that pretty much eliminates most of my previous diet. I'm now supposed to eat lots of complex carbs and foods rich in amino acids. I eat mostly fruits and veggies, especially mangoes, bananas, berries, avocados, brocolli and meats and beans and some whole grain stuff. I can't tell you all how much better I feel. I feel refreshed and I have so much more energy. My insides feel so much better--I didn't realize how painful they were before. I really enjoy eating this healthy--it just is much more expensive and not many of the items I eat keep for very long. I've tried a few times eating something like a hamburger on white bread or a flour tortilla and I feel pretty miserable after.
So I finished treatments on July 4th and today is July 23rd and I have not had a single dip in my mood. It has been amazing and we are hoping it continues. The treatment center I went to was called Theta Wellness. There are several locations in Utah. It has been life changing for me and my family! They treat other things too like drug/alcohol/pornography addictions, ptsd, anxiety/depression, adhd and are even experimenting with autism patients.
So....now we are onto projects in our new house and yard, meeting our new totally awesome neighbors and enjoying the summer. In the fall we will be taking our oldest to kindergarten and I'm hoping to have playgroups with the littler kids. And of course there is designing and crafting on my list. One can never prepare too earlier for Halloween. :)
Thanks for everyone's love and support!
-Dedra

July Sale

Happy 4th of July!

I just wanted to stop by and let everyone know about our current sale.  Now through July 23rd get 25% OFF ALL PAPER PACKS!

You can always combine it with the other special which is:
Buy 3 Get 1 additional item FREE, 
Buy 4 Get 2 additional items FREE, 
Buy 5 Get 3 additional items FREE, 
Buy 10 Get 10 additional items FREE, 
Buy 20 Get 21 additional items FREE
FREE items must be of equal or lesser value to the lowest priced item bought. To get your free items, Copy and Paste ENTIRE TITLE of free product(s) (NOT link) in notes to seller to get your free item(s). Do NOT put free items in cart. 

Here are some of our patriotic papers and clip art that you could use to commemorate all the festive activities from today!

Red and Navy Paper Pack

4th of July Paper Pack

4th of July Clip Art

4th of July Clip Art

Happy 4th of July! Let Freedom Ring!

Treatment Milestones

Wow! This week has been a whirlwind. We finally closed on a house!!! No, it wasn't the one we waited for for 2 years and no it isn't bigger (ok, a few square feet) but it IS better and the neighborhood seems perfect for our young family. We are renting to the previous owners for a few days while they wait for their new house to open up and then we are going to paint and carpet and maybe some wood floors! And then we can FINALLY move on. Can't wait. I'm still not processing it all. It is exciting and luckily I'm not thinking how sad it is to leave all our friends and neighbors here. We really have had it good and it is really hard to imagine Emily won't be across the street and Lani isn't down the street and Stephanie isn't next door, etc. etc.

As far as treatment, this week has been awesome. Day 13 came around and I reached a total breakthrough. I woke up in hardly any pain and my mind was so clear. All the days following have been the same. It is such an amazing difference! I don't think I have ever been this happy and I really didn't realize how bad my pain has gotten. I now feel closer to my age--not 75 years old! By the end of most days I was hunched over like my grandmother always was. Not good! Depression can cause chronic pain and chronic pain can cause depression--what a vicious cycle!

Today is day 17. Things are still going great and I am excited to see what these last few treatments do. I'm excited to be done--not that treatments have been bad at all but because it would be nice to have those 2 hours back to my day. I have never been away this much from my kids since they were born and it would be  nice to be back. Plus with trying to juggle packing and junk I am feeling pretty darn behind.

But it is all good!!! The Lord is delivering us!

50% OFF SALE ends TOMORROW

We wanted to thank everyone that has helped us celebrate our 10,000 sale!  It has been a great month.

For anyone who hasn't taken advantage of the 50% off sale, you have through the end of the day tomorrow to order. www.prettifuldesigns.etsy.com. Hope you stop on by!

Here's the newest addition to the shop!

50% off Sale, Only 6 Days Left!

We're approaching the end of June, which means our month long 50% OFF SALE is almost over as well!
All month long we've been celebrating our 10,000th sale, and we just want to make sure you get to celebrate with us.

Remember EVERYTHING in the shop http://www.prettifuldesigns.etsy.com is 50% OFF through June 30th!  You can also combine it with the other special which is:

Buy 3 Get 1 additional item FREE
Buy 4 Get 2 additional items FREE
Buy 5 Get 3 additional items FREE
Buy 10 Get 10 additional items FREE
Buy 20 Get 21 additional items FREE
FREE items must be of equal or lesser value to the lowest priced item purchased. To get your free items, Copy and Paste ENTIRE TITLE of free product(s) (not link) in notes to seller to get your free item(s).

Here are some of the most recent additions to the shop:

Boy Clipart

Nothing Says summer more than water and murmaids!

What's your weather like?

Here is to nights out under the stars.

Hot Pink and Lime Green Sleepless Papers

Day 10 of Treatment

Today was day 10. The last few days have been a little disheartening. I think we pinpointed which neurotransmitter is off and they suggested a new diet to help--a diet that is leaving me feeling weak and sick. My physical pain the last few days has been through the roof. Playing around with my brain chemistry has maybe messed up my brains abilities to release endorphins and it is a struggle doing anything because the pain is so intense. I was talking to someone last night and I couldn't even come up with anything else to say because the pain was getting so bad...that is huge for me if you all know how much I talk.
I think I have always had excessive pain. I remember having back pain ALL my life--even when I was really little like 3-5 years old. I've just put up with it forever thinking that is how it is for everyone but as I've talked to  people I've realized that there are some people who rarely feel pain. What would that be like? I'm not even 30 yet and I am in so much pain!
I had to do another colon cleanse/detox yesterday and this morning was awful.
2 nights ago my depression hit and it was vicious. It had all been going so good. Its doing better again but relapses like that scare me.
Here is hoping we get everything balanced out soon. Here's to the next 11 days of treatment.

Leading up to Treatment

I recently started an intensive treatment program for my depression. I guess I've always had some sort of depression throughout my life. I didn't really notice it then--I just didn't understand how other people could be so happy. I just never got it. The day we brought our first baby home though I was hit with a level of depression that I had never experienced before. The thoughts that my baby and husband would be better off without me were so strong and believable. I asked people for help in taking care of my baby. I was in a really low place but everyone I asked told me "no." What the? I didn't know I had to say I was suicidal to get help?!?!?!

I did everything I could to work on the depression myself. I learned some things that really helped me to be happy as well as coping mechanisms....for a while.

My depression would come and go in its severity. My whole pregnancy with my 3rd child was pretty awful. I started becoming open about my depression about a year after I had my third. As soon as I did people started coming out of the woodwork telling me I needed to take meds. I felt like some have practically tried forcing it down my throat. Then there have been others that have no idea about depression that have told me I just need to pray more or be more righteous or choose to be happy. Everyone who has had clinical depression know those answers are a bunch of crock. I AM choosing to be happy. I do pray - A LOT. I keep trying to improve my righteousness but my brain is broken and it won't allow me to be happy.

Recently I found that no matter what I did to try and help  my depression nothing was helping at all anymore. We knew I needed help but we have constantly felt that medicine was not the right choice for me. We looked into electroshock therapy and I started acupuncture...but then I nose dived again and I started to look for a rehab facility.

This place called Theta Wellness popped up while looking for a rehab facility. I went in the next day and they started me immediately. They put you through a few processes that help restore neurotransmitters to their correct functioning without the use of meds. They use technology derived from Nasa, a transcranial magnetic therapy device, and an infrared bed. The program lasts 21 days and takes about 2 hours a day. It is a huge commitment but we were out of options. During my first treatment my cloud started to lift and I am now on day 7 and it hasn't returned. There has been no pain involved, no memory loss. The only bad part was a protein shake they make you drink each day but now they don't bother me at all.

We are hoping for some permanent improvement. Time will tell how well it works in the long run. At least now I can think clearly, thoughts of ending my life have ceased and I have much more energy.

For those struggling with depression, know that its not your fault. You're not a bad person because you have depression--even though the world seems to insinuate this. Depression can strike the strongest, most intelligent minds.If you have a broken leg you get it fixed. You're not a bad person if your bone gets broken. If your brain gets broken, you get it fixed--you're not a bad person!

Join me in my fight to stop the social stigma.

~xo,
Dedra

my ongoing personal saga

where to begin? where to end? our story took us near the freeway today in only one town where we could afford a decent home to raise our kids. 1400 sq feet less than we were expecting. the list in my head of all the things i will have to sell/get rid of is making me nauseous--well, I've been nauseous over this all for so long. so many ideas/dreams/plans just keep getting shattered. the idea of being stuck where we didn't want to be forever because I can't go through this again is filling me with some looming thoughts. and to think maybe there are weeks and months ahead to start the loan process all over again. 3 bedrooms and no room to grow doesn't sound enticing to have more kids--i did want more. after all that we've endured there still are no apparent blessings---even though somehow this probably is a blessing. I'm just ready for some not in disguise.
xo,
dedra

10,000th sale SALE

This last month I reached my 10,000th sale, so we're going to be celebrating all month long with 50% OFF EVERYTHING in the shop http://www.prettifuldesigns.etsy.com.  This is a great time to stock up!  

AND you can use it with my specials:  

Buy 3 Get 1 additional item FREE
Buy 4 Get 2 additional items FREE
Buy 5 Get 3 additional items FREE
Buy 10 Get 10 additional items FREE
Buy 20 Get 21 additional items FREE
FREE items must be of equal or lesser value to the lowest priced item purchased. To get your free items, Copy and Paste ENTIRE TITLE of free product(s) (not link) in notes to seller to get your free item(s).


Here are some of the items in the shop:

Come celebrate with me!