Welcome Baby!

NO, not me!!!!!!
I have a friend who has a new baby boy. I wasn't able to attend her shower, but still wanted to do something special for her. I purchased a very cute 6x6 album and then created pages to fill it up so that she can just add pictures and have a completed album/brag book. After that she can give it as a gift or keep for herself, whatever does her the most good :). I really hope she likes it. I am going to try to get it in today's mail so she has soon. There are 40 different pages so these are just a few of them so you get the general idea.

In Honor of Jacob Allcott

I completed assembling and am mailing out this OPH comfortghan to the parents of Army Pfc. Jacob Allcott (21).

Curve ball

So, life has a way of sneaking up on a person when they aren't watching. I dealt with some things yesterday that I fully expected to have to face at some point in my life. Did I expect them yesterday? Heck no!!! These are issues that come with age. When did I get old? I don't mean great grandparent old. I don't mean can't do anything old. I just mean basic life issues and health issues old. I see people my age and think, wow, I don't look that old (meaning no longer 24). I probably do, but the person I see in the mirror doesn't. Where does the time go? I need to learn to slow down and enjoy more of it and stop being so wrapped up in the "have to" and relish the "want to".
I am going to share an exercise I am doing if you want to join me. You have to actually write down the answers, not just think about it :).

1. You go see the Dr. and he says you have one year to live. List 10 things you do in the next year.
2. You go see the Dr. and he says you have one month to live. List the 10 things you do in the next month.
3. You go see the Dr. and he says you have one week to live. List the 10 things you do in the next week.
4. Great news, you see the Dr. and you are fine. What 25 things do you want to do during the rest of your life?

Then, take those lists and turn them into goals with dates and specific ideas of how to achieve them. I have been promised that this exercise will lead you to a more rich and fulfilling life. I can see how that would work.

Remember, no one ever is on their death bed complaining that they should have spent more time at work ;).

Gift Exchange

Here is what I promised to share :). If you remember, I was part of a gift exchange that required a "made" item. For the gift I brought, I altered an Altoid tin and inside is a mini album. It all measures 3 1/2 x 2 /1/4 inches. It was super, super fun to make!!! Now I am wondering why I didn't save all those tins over the years..........................

Additionally, the gift for this exchange in addition to containing a made item was to be "creatively wrapped". Now, there are some very creative women in the group and the variety was amazing. The packaging was very entertaining. My contribution was to alter a show box. It was fun to do and provided for colorful packaging.

Goings on

I have made all sorts of projects in the last few days and I can't share any of them until after Saturday!!! It is making me crazy :). I have a scrapbooking crop on Saturday that has a gift exchange going on and the items I made were soooooooooo fun and I am pretty proud of them, but it is a SECRECT and since I am not sure who reads this and when.......................

Anyway, I hope to share after Saturday :).

Got started, and only started, on another of the 6 hour quilts. Now read started as strips cut and the center one put together, so beginning stages only. I also finished another OPH comfortghan for HMB and need to get it washed and mailed out. I will take a picture before I mail it and share, but I am planning to mail on Monday. Time to get it where it is needed.

I have found that I will have most of Saturday free with no one else home. I am working on what I want to do with this time. I am at a loss. There are so many options, I just don't know how to pick and I don't want to be exhausted at the end of it either. I DO know that going to the gym is on the list. YEAH!!!!!

Well?

What do you think? I am pleased with the results and excited to make more! I have so many different ideas rattling around in my head from this pattern!

6 hours? YES!

I was turned on to this quilt pattern by Kaye Wood. It claims you can make the twin size quilt in 6 hours. I thought, yeah, right. I was told it was super easy and since my knuckles and hands have been giving me such fits making it hard to knit or crochet, I decided to give it a try.

WOW!! Provided you don't count the time I spent selecting fabric :), it probably isn't too far off. Now, this is my first time through the pattern, but the concept is brilliant! I am doing a baby size, not a twin and completed everything yesterday except the binding. Having never done binding before (I always did pillowcase style) I decided not to start the process at 9 pm and saved that for later today. Hopefully it works out as well as the rest of the quilt has. I have LOTS of ideas based on this pattern and am fairly "itchin'" for time to play.

Where have I been?

Pulling wallpaper off the walls in the bathroom! What a JOB! That said, I am soooooooo happy to have those little blue and yellow flowers GONE!! My super wonderful DH took me today to get a new sink so the yellow countertop will be GONE as well once everything is installed. I am so happy. I will no longer have to try to clean around that annoying sink edge. We go a one piece sink and counter top and it is beautiful!!! Although my bathroom is currently in shambles, I am definitely doing the *happy dance* at my house!! :)

Look what I made!!!

That is homemade, not from a mix or the breadmaker with butter (the real stuff) melting on top, bread! And it only required three phone calls to my sister in the process. Well, four if you count the one when I let her know they turned out :). This was really a lot of fun, inexpensive (love bulk bins) and the bread turned out tasting pretty yummy. Will certainly do this again!!!

Summertime

I wanted summer, but this heat is amazing! Not that we have it, but that we have it again this year. I believe that the climate in our area has truly changed and that this multiple days of 100 in July is now normal. Not fun, but normal!
I am looking for additional ideas of activities to do with my kids during the little bit of time we have left. We love the dollar movies and swimming. I also have a trip to the Discovery Center on my short list and some more picnics. Any other ideas?

Motivated Moms

I am so very, very excited! I have a friend who directed me to this site. I LOVE them. I printed out the samples and used them for a few days. I have now decided that they are worth every penny and happily gave them my $4 for the rest of the year. Motivated Moms. What a great name :).

Now I know that for many of you this would seem like a complete waste of $4. Please know that I have tried over and over again to create these on my own and have been completely unsuccessful. I just couldn't get it quite right and was continually starting over. I am very happy to just add a bit or skip a bit with these and they cover the important things :). I still love FlyLady and her concepts, but these lists are a lifesaver (house saver) for me.

Next on my "list" is to delegate some things to my children. I know that I am not doing them any favors by not teaching them how to care for a home and that the responsibilities are shared in the family, but it is also pretty hard for me to let go. Soon, very soon.

Quote for the day

Never give up what you want most for what you want at the moment.


Just think about it :).

Back to it.......

The vacation is finished and the catch up time at home is finished and now it is time to return to your regularly scheduled programming.
It was great that we got to see so many people. We had the opportunity to visit with three different groups of family. They are all wonderful people and were fantastic to spend time with. If would have been nice to spend more time with all of them, but it was just not possible.

I did some self examination and learned a bit while away just because of all the events and surroundings (trust me, this was not planned soul searching :)). Things in life seem to take time or money and occasionally both. There are trade offs for each and I haven't been able to balance them well with the constancy I would like. I also seem to think that I can have both and so haven't made decisions as to which is more important and exactly what that means both day to day and long term. Now I know my "problem" I can get to work on it. Hopefully that will mean resolution on some internal conflicts soon and with that will come peace!

Worry and Stress

So I saw this saying today that struck home-

"Worry is a waste of imagination"

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, makes you think doesn't it? Things have been a tiny bit stressful lately and I am working diligently to let go of what I can. I am very much looking forward to my upcoming vacation. I am disappointed that I need to go into the office the morning before I leave AND that I need to be able to periodically access email AND take my cell phone so I can be reached. I am pretty sure that it won't happen often, but the thought is just sad.
Enough worrying about it though :).

Superman

Can't do it. I know it is not a remake, but a furthering of the story. I know it is meant to be flattery. I can't do it. Superman is and always will be Christopher Reeve and I can't see the new movie. I hope everyone who does enjoys it as much as my friends who have seen it. It is supposed to be wonderful!

Los Angeles

I spent Friday in LA for a conference related to work. It was a quick trip flying down and back the same day and classes the entire time I was there so the only parts of LA I saw were on the shuttle between LAX and the hotel and from the plane. On the way home it was dark and the sight from the plane window was easily one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. After we had been in the air for about 30 minutes I looked out and it was pitch black with the lights below. It looked like someone had dropped a bottle of glitter onto black velvet. AMAZING!!! I spend a good amount of time yesterday trying to recreate the look for a spread in the altered book I am playing with, but I wish you could all see the picture captured in my brain!

Balloons and more balloons

Once a year the "Spirit of Boise" happens. This is a big gathering of hot air balloons and they launch for four mornings (weather conditions allowing) from a park in town. They let the public down in the launch area and it is AMAZING!!! In the past I have gotten the boys up and we have sat by the rim that surrounds the park and watched the balloons go up. This year we went into the park and were right next to the balloons as the inflaited and took off. So very, very cool. It was worth getting up super early and being exhausted now. The colors were breathtaking. I hope some of the pictures turn out. You can view photos from the event on the website. The 50th anniversary Mickey Mouse with the golden ears was there as well as the Energizer Bunny (HUGE!).

More cards!

I had a great time making these cards from a single sheet of double sided paper. I was so happy with how they turned out and the owner of the store where I purchased the paper had asked to see them when they were completed. She was pretty thrilled with how they turned out as well and asked me to create a set for store display. This exact paper was sold out, so we selected something similar and I had a ball playing with that paper as well :). Of course I forgot to take pictures of those as I was so excited to deliver them. She loved them and that did my creative soul good.



Now, to decide what pictures to trade out for the Trading Faces Swap. I am having a very hard time deciding which to either let someone do or ask for help with. Think anyone else wants to do some of my 47,000 Christmas photos? LOL!
Hmmmmmmmm, must decide soon, the deadline is looming!!!

Father's Day

This is a tough one for me. I am married to a wonderful man who is a fantastic father to our boys. I am so grateful for this and words can't express how blessed I feel. I try to make certain he knows this as well not just today, but everyday.
I also miss my own father a ton. April was 8 years since his death which was very sudden and unexpected. I am glad it was fast and there was no suffering involved. I do hate that I never got to say good-bye. I have many wonderful memories and I am in the process of trying to document some of them to share with my children and others, but it is a long and at times painful process.
So, today I combine my love of both my father and my children's father and try to make certain my husband knows how truly special he is.

"Fathering is the most masculine thing a man can do." Frank Pittman

gowns

These are two burial outfits that I mailed out to TLC today. It has taken me months to get them completed due to some pain issues in my wrist and joints as well as just how crazy life has been in general. I am excited to have them finally done and mailed. :)

ATC

I joined an ATC swap and the theme was birthstones. Basically, just use the color of your own birthstone. This was super fun!!! If you have any interest, I suggest giving ATCs a try. Remember, the only rule is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches and not so lumpy bumpy so that it wouldn't fit into a trading card holder (but dimension is fine). They also can not be sold, but only given away or traded. Pretty cool :).

Be nice to the crazy lady

For those of you that scrapbook, have you ever had a layout that you worked on for days? You wanted it to be just right and it took some time getting there? This one is mine. I spent almost all of last week working on it in bits and pieces. I would leave it on the table and look at it as I went by. As an idea hit me, I would give it a try and then accept or reject (mostly reject) it. I am very happy with my final product. I was shoving it in everyone's face at the crop on Saturday and just telling them to tell me they liked it :). Thank you ISers for your patience!!!

Bird Intelligence

There is this bird couple at my house and I can not decide if they are really stupid, super smart or just plain lucky. I have hanging baskets of flowers that hang from the covered area of the walkway to my front door. Every year I fill them with flowers, attempt to remember to water them and hope they look as good in real life as I hoped when the project began. The last two years this bird couple has built a nest and raised a family in one of the baskets. Since they are high up, the first year I didn't know this until the babies started making noise. I had been watering not only the flowers, but the nest, the eggs and the babies! Year two I knew what was going on and was more careful, but something scared them away from the nest when the babies were just hatched and so no baby birds :(.
To this year-I got lazy and decided I wanted the baskets to look good and less stress so when Michael's placed their silk baskets on sale, I bought some. I have beautiful flowers and if someone has a problem with them being fake, turn around and walk away from my door. The birds are back. I thought for certain the would pick another place for their nest after last year. Nope! And, they are better off than ever because I won't water them and there is this great fake moss stuff in place to start the nest building.
So what do you think, stupid, smart or lucky? My vote is a little of all three!

Recent Comforghans

These were sent out last week. They should be comforting someone by now:).
Thank you square donators! These contain not only squares from members of HMB, but also members of CrochetList and readers of The Crochet Dude.

Completed LO

I have completed two more LayOuts to sell at the Charity Crop. I don't yet know what Charity, but I do know myself well enough that I would do it regardless and that I better make them when I have the time/inspiration!
This does bring up the point of photo quality, however. It is pretty sad when a scrapbooker can't post decent pictures on her BLOG. That digital camera is moving up the priority chain very quickly. Summer vacations are playing a part in that as well. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I do know that whatever I get, it must have a bunch of optical zoom. That is the one thing I don't love about my film camera. The zoom is almost negligible and since I keep the same camera forever I intend to fix that issue the next time around.

Doesn't get better than this

I know that tomorrow is Mother's Day, but today was really a fantastic day! It didn't start out that way and it was about 3:00 before I could move much without feeling sick. Once I felt better though, I was all better and the weather was fabulous! It got to mid 80's, Woooooooooo Hoooooooooo!!!
We went to the garden store as a family, that was nice!, and got what I wanted to get the garden in. Then my youngest actually helped me get it done! So, the garden (not a big one, but still) is in and I got to spend the day outside! GREAT DAY!!!

National Scrapbooking Day

First- My final is FINISHED!!! I am soooooooooo excited. I was so sure I was going to have this on my shoulders and giving my guilt all weekend, but it is DONE!!!!
Since I finished it, I took some time in honor of National Scrapbooking Day and worked on some pages. I have another layout completed for the charity crop (once I get some repositionable adhesive that is) and one finished for my family. It was great fun! I hope you are taking time to play with some paper :).

Final

I am working on my final for my American Sign Language IV class. It is all video taped. We have been given a list of assignments ie: described your first car and your car now and compare them, etc. and then we videotape ourselves doing the assignments. There are 16'ish items. I am about half way through and taking a breather. My forehead hurts!!! For any of you that know ASL you understand what I am talking about. If you don't, then even if I explain it will still seem strange so just trust me on this one :). Wish me luck on this final. I really, really, really would love to get an "A" this semester. I know that whatever I get is what I earned, but I have been doing my darndest so I hope I am earning an "A"!!!

Eye candy

My copy of Altered Arts arrived yesterday. Now, I should be doing a million things but what I WANT to do is look at this. I always find some amazing things to ooooooooh and aaaaaaaaaaaaah over. The articles are nice and short, but full of information. The adds always have neat project ideas and things to look at.

I didn't always like this particular style. The collage style seemed a bit "odd" to me. Over time, I have come to really like it. It seems to hold so much of a person's soul in the work. I even enjoy pieces that are not done in colors or styles I am particularly fond of (the item on this month's cover is a perfect example). I still appreciate the work and the creativity and the vision in the item. I want to create things like this. I am just so intimidated. It all seems like something I should make in a studio with paint splatters on the walls and shelves lined with all sorts of goodies and since I don't have a studio.................

I need to just get brave and start a project. I know if I began one, I would do great things (for me anyway). Sometimes the getting started is what is intimidating. Know what I mean?

Another completed comfortghan

This is the one I just completed and it is heading out to provide comfort to a person in need. Many thanks to those who contributed squares. This contains squares from members of HMB, members of Crochetlist and also those who answered The Crochet Dude's call.

Thank you all!!!

Playing with paper

Last night was a crop with the local group. I had so much fun!!! I knew I needed to play with paper, but I had no idea how much! Thank you to the group for a wonderful time and to Mare for letting us play in her store! She has soooooooooo many new things and they are beautiful. Her store, World Class Scappers, is amazing. I was good and refrained from purchasing much in the way of unneeded (although it was no unwanted) supplies. There certainly is some pretty paper out there. Since I have two boys, it is a good thing I have nieces to scrap and cards to make!! :)
Look at this pretty stuff by Paper Adventures. There is sparkle on most of it which you can't, unfortunately, appreciate on-line, but trust me, it is gorgeous!

Anyone Home?

So, have you given up on me? Guilt is a funny thing. I was feeling guilty that I hadn't posted in a while. So what did I do? Not post! The next day, same thing. Well today, I procrastinate and avoid no more~!!! Nothing witty or adventurous, just letting you know I am still alive.

Oh yeah, I found my stamps!!!!

Most recently completed

comfortghans. These are the two that I have completed most recently. The yellow one contains some squares that were sent in during The Crochet Dude's call for squares. Thank you to everyone who made squares to help make these possible!!

ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance. The word is defined as follows:

acceptance

n 1: the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true; "he gave credence to the gossip"; "acceptance of Newtonian mechanics was unquestioned for 200 years" [syn: credence] 2: the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; "its adoption by society"; "the proposal found wide acceptance" [syn: adoption, acceptation, espousal] 3: the state of being acceptable and accepted; "torn jeans received no acceptance at the country club" [ant: rejection] 4: (contract law) words signifying consent to the terms of an offer (thereby creating a contract) 5: banking: a time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank [syn: banker's acceptance] 6: a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations; "all people should practice toleration and live together in peace" [syn: toleration, sufferance] 7: the act of taking something that is offered; "her acceptance of the gift encouraged him"; "he anticipated their acceptance of his offer"

#6 seems to be where I am right now. I have accepted and resigned myself to working again. Now, I know I am fortunate because I truly love my job. I love what I do everyday and work with and for some wonderful people. I really don't like what I feel I am missing. I had just started to feel like I was beginning to schedule more effectively, make some real progress with my home and housekeeping, spending more time with each of my children on an individual level including time at their schools, and starting to spend some time on myself (I know, I can hear you all gasping now). I have watched all of this disappear. Some of it gradually and some of it immediately. I don't like that, but after 5 months I believe I have now accepted it. The anger and resentment is less than it was even a few weeks ago. This is an improvement. It was only Monday that it dawned on me that I had reached this point. Perhaps I will advance to the next step (whatever it may be) and perhaps I won't. Not being angry all the time is nice.

Your Hidden Talent

Your natural talent is interpersonal relations and dealing with people. You communicate well and are able to bring disparate groups together. Your calming presence helps everything go more smoothly. People crave your praise and complements.

What's" Your Hidden Talent?

Where O Where have my little stamps gone?

Where O Where can they be?

Seriously! I have two different little alphabet stamp sets. The ones that are perfect for stamping on ribbon or just little generals "things" on scrapbook pages and cards. I have two because they are different fonts. One is pretty generic and one is a bit curly. Well, I can only find the generic one! I wanted to move the storage of the curly one into a bullet holder (yes, a bullet holder) because they are the perfect size. Originally I only had one of these and it currently holds the generic alpha set. This weekend I was given (THANK YOU!!!) a second one and I have spent the last three days looking for the alpha set! I swear I knew exactly where it was, but now, I have searched everywhere I can think of and no alpha so I have this poor lonely bullet box :(.

Here alpha, alpha!!

Cards

I was shopping for items specific to a theme scrapbook I am doing for DH's class reunions when I saw a paper by Wild Asparagus that just screamed "CARD". So, I bought one sheet so I could honor the request and this is what I created. I am so glad I listened :).

Spring Break = Spring Cleaning

I have never been one for much of the whole "Spring Cleaning" thing. Honestly, I have never been much into the cleaning thing at any level, LOL. Seriously though, I have gotten into it a bit this year. Since returning to work I have been feeling like my house is coming down around me and that I just can't keep it the way I like so I decided to take advantage of some of the time I have at home with the boys during Spring Break. In addition to the regular stuff I have managed to do the following so far this week:
clean the oven, wash the fronts of the kitchen cabinets, entirely empty out, sort and replace all the items in my clothes closet.
Now, I know this doesn't really sound like much, but these are projects that just don't get done as part of the day to day. I am most happy with the closet. I tried a new to me technique that was discussed as part of the HGTV Spring Organize/Clean segment. It talks about not being a clotheshorse and gives ideas. Give it a read, some great ideas!!!

Organization

So, I believe this is a skill a person is born with, or born without. I was born without! I try and try and try and it still seems like I am chasing my tail. It is not so much the "where do I put things" organization, although that is an issue too, that gets me. It is the how do I get everything done in the time I have? organization that makes me crazy. I have lists. They DO help, but I really would like to be able to cross everything off just once! Then, I also have those lists that are daily, weekly, just for today, etc. How do you all handle that? I once read that a person should only have one to do list and one calendar. Combine work and home otherwise things go over the top of each other or you forget to look at the other one. This makes sense and is sort of working, but those infrequent but recurring activities are getting to me. ACK!! Please tell me I am not the only one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Marie

A full layette set in addition to so many other beautiful items! Thank you so much Marie. Everyone has been so very generous and I can't decide if I should smile or be brought to tears :). Thank you all!!!

We have an answer..............

and I did not make the design team :(. I am not super surprised, but still kind of bummed. In the message (yes I was dumped on an answering machine, LOL!!) the store owner did say she was impressed with my submissions and encouraged me to submit again in 6 months when they put out the call again. Now, this may be the standard "let them down easy", but I am going to go with genuine and a compliment. It does feel good not to be wondering anymore :).

Thank you Phyllis!!

Phyllis really outdid herself. Not only did she send so many handmade items, but included two diaper bags as well!! Thank you so much for being so generous Phyllis!!!

Thank you Gracie!

She said she was sending five things, this doesn't look like five to me! :). You are a wonderful person Gracie!! Thank you so much!

Thank you Sylvia!

The detail on the little dress with matching diaper cover and booties is super. These are a great contribution

Thank you Leslie!

These are tiny and just adorable! The matching hats are a wonderful touch.

Thank you Valerie!

Beautiful! I believe the caps are made with one of the round knitting looms.

In Honor of Ivan V. Alarcon

This OPH comfortghan was assembled in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Ivan V. Alarcon

Thank you to all the contributors that assist in this project.

More for Stitches From the Heart

More items from the wonderful members of Crochetlist arrived today as donations for Stitches From the Heat. Thank you so much for the beautiful things you are sending. I know that a little one will be blessed by your efforts.

Thank you Anne!

Anne has been emailing me to assist in my being able to make this sweater. Having seen hers, mine doesn't look quite as nice as I was thinking, LOL! Beautiful outfit Anne!

Thank you Melanie!

What an adorable outfit and I just love matching hats and booties :)

Thank you Joan!

Isn't this sweater just cute as can be?

Comfort Women

Do you know that during WWII between 1932 and 1945 thousands of women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Military? These women are still fighting for an apology. They are between the ages of 70 and 90 years old and are dying off. They deserve justice before there are none of them left to speak. To let this atrocity go unpunished sets an appalling precedent especially in light of all the military conflict in the world at this time. Please, learn more and join their fight for justice.

If this makes you uncomfortable, it is your conscience telling you how wrong what happened is. Ignoring it will not make it go away. It will not make it less horrifying and it will not help women around the world have a voice and be heard. Have the strength to be uncomfortable and stand up for what is right.

Comfort-Women.org
The Comfort Women Project
V-Day 2006

Nothing

No news is good news, right? Nothing yet on the design team, but I have not given up hope. I know I will hear one way or another, but the waiting is getting to me!!! I do have other things to worry about and guess I should get on with those!!

Little Nervous Here

I am going to fess up and tell you that I submitted both layouts and cards for consideration for a position on a local scrapbook store's Design Team. I submitted these a week or so ago and have been anxious, but ok. Right now, I am just anxious. The decisions are to be made and notifications in the next couple of days.
I have a few things running through my head. First and foremost WHAT WAS I THINKING!?! Beyond that are things such as just wanting to know so I can quit thinking about it :). I could use the peace, Ha Ha! Anyway, cat is out of the bag and now you all know so I guess I will have to let you know if I am selected to participate. You will know as soon as I do ;).

Thank you!

I am part of aYahoo group called Crochetlist. It is composed of many wonderful men and women. We all have a love of crochet in common. It is a very friendly and helpful group and I can't begin to list all that I have learned from them.
One thing the group does is ten times a year they have what they call a Crochet-A-Thon (CAT). For each CAT there are different designated charities if someone chooses to make an item or so to contribute. The month of February, one of the charities is Stitches From the Heart. Many people have pledged items to donate and I am very grateful. The first donation arrived today from Linda and I am overwhelmed with her generosity. Thank you so much Linda! Aren't these items just amazing?

"W"ild

I am participating in a swap that is all about monograms. I am part of a group of 5 that was themed around boys. I selected to do the letter "W" for the word wild. I figure that with my boys it is one I know I will use in the scrapbooks at some point, LOL! This one really was fun to make. The stripes are actual strips of cardstock adhered to the background cardstock. I did not have a letter stencil that was the correct style for the smaller letters so I printed a set out from Word at something like 130 font size and then cut them out, traced around them and then cut out the cardstock versions. The colors are very bright yellow, red and a deep royal blue.

Mascara anyone?

So, is there a mascara out there that DOESN'T leave dark rings under a person's eyes at the end of the day? If so, please, please tell me what it is!! I know I have oily skin (knew it by the time I was 10 years old) and I know that when I am 85 years old and my skin is not as wrinkled as the lady next to me who had dry skin I will be glad. However, as a teenager, I was not glad. As a person trying to present a professional and groomed image with dark circles from slipping makeup, I am not glad. Fighting wrinkles and acne at the same time, does not make me glad. So, I guess that when I am 80 and no longer give a rats *** what anyone thinks or the image I present, then I can be glad.

New Toys

I received my order from Stamp Diva. This store is AWESOME! I would highly recommend them to anyone. The items available are great and the service is fantastic! I am super excited to play with her. Isn't she beautiful? I have so many plans for her! In fact, everything they have from this line is pretty amazing. I so hope I get time to create soon. Right now I am rather buried in homework. Tonight I have a presentation that I am not happy with how it is, but time is up so I must go with what I have. It is not my usual procrastination this time. It seriously has been had to get it pulled together in a manner with which I am happy. This is 10% of my grade so I hope the instructor likes it better than I do (doubtful!). Wish me luck!!

Another Completed Comfortghan

This one is going to a gentleman located in Canada. I hope it finds the way quickly so it can provide him comfort. Thank you to all those who sent squares. These projects would never happen without your help!!!

Super Mom

This Super Mom thing is really overrated. I have reached a point where I no longer believe that any one person can truly "have it all". There are choices to be made and priorities to put in line. There is no real life Martha Stewart. Anyone who pays attention knows she has a ton of people who do the real work. She doesn't personally take out all her spring bulbs each fall and replant then in January as she is telling us to do. She may wander around as someone she has paid is doing it and perhaps handle a few, but really, she is too busy running her business and being in front of the camera reminding all of us about our own deficiencies to even begin to do the behind the camera work. Please do not misunderstand me. There are many, many people who are able to juggle a career, family and personal time and I am not in any way trying to say they don't or to even put down Martha Stewart (she is just an example people).
I believe that the problem arises when we no longer set our own standards of success and begin to measure ourselves by someone else's standards. That is a ridciculous thing to do. We are each different. We have different talents, abilities, dreams, priorities, family demands, work demands and allocations of time and interests. What is relaxing for me may not be relaxing for you. What I struggle with daily, may be a breeze for someone else. This is why it is so very important to only work to improve against your own measure.
How do you create this measure and are you already struggling? Well, if you are struggling, then perhaps the bar is set to high. I know mine is on a fairly regular basis and I often have to step back and look at it. Not that you will never reach the high bar, but for now, bring it down a bit and have a success or two to celebrate. As people, especially women and mothers, we really do put too much on ourselves. There are only so many hours in the day. I can NOT get everything done that I want to. I am fortunate on the days that I complete everything I NEED to. I work toward an ever changing goal and have only recently realized how much I had cut myself and my own needs out of the equation. It is difficult to include myself without guilt or feeling selfish. I am working on it though and it is now part of my own personal measure of success.
Just remember, you may never know what goes on "behind the camera" so don't judge yourself against what you are able to see of another's life.

Not so easy

This finish 5 goal is not so easy to meet! It isn't that I don't have enough things, especially since I have decided to include procrastinated items, but that many of them are not quick to finish. That said, I am pleased when I at least plug away at them since progress is progress~!

Finished item

As part of my finish things I've started I have gotten the pictures of the most recent comfortghan and the denim quilt I made my DS for Christmas off the video camera and onto the computer. I am now doing the next step and posting here as originally planned. The denim quilt finished size is 66 x 100. Yes, that is HUGE! I made it big enough to hang over the side on a twin bed and long enough to hang over the end if the twin happens to be dorm length. Guess I have big plans both for my son and the quilt, LOL!
Now, can I count this as two items?

THIS I can do!

I recently read the New Year Resolution musing on another BLOG and I am REALLY liking this idea. The basics are that the only resolution is to finish 5 things every day that you started earlier in your lifetime. Sounds pretty easy doesn't it? Well guess what? IT ISN'T!!! So, as a form of self motivation and accountability I will occasionally post my list here.

Today
1. Cards for swap - group 1
2. Cards for swap - group 2 (I know this might be stretching the count, but give me a break people!)
3. Got my crochet bookmark exchange (the bookmark has been finished since mid December) packaged and by my purse to drop at the Post Office on the way to work tomorrow.
4. Can't think of any more

See what I mean? I did quite a bit today, but as far as finishing things that were stared before today, it is a little more difficult. It is not that I am lacking for things to finish. In fact, I could never start anything new and still have things for this resolution for years to come. The problem is in the completion. This is the reason I think this challenge is absolutely perfect for me! Thank you so much Rockster for putting it out there were I was able to read it!

Craziness

So, things have been pretty insane here. After the craziness of visiting my Mom's and then New Years here with company (although WONDERFUL company) there was a slight thought of a couple days of normal routine. On Thursday my youngest sister and Mother were in town for some various doctor appointments. I was disappointed to not get the opportunity to see them due to work, but had resigned myself to such and figured it would be an early night of diner, cleaning the house in preparation for my brother and his family. Well, WRONG! My sister, poor thing, broke, we think, her foot while she was in town. What this means is that my Mom and sister headed to the emergency room at about 3:30 and at approx. 9 pm they arrived at my house. It was too late after a very long day to start an 1 1/2 hour drive home. This wasn't the end of the evening though as my sister needed some medication that she didn't have with her, no plan to stay overnight, and the phone calls to doctors and pharmacies began. Everything worked out well in the end, but the night was not a restful or uneventful one for any involved!

The next day my brother and his family arrived to spend the next couple of days with us. I am sooooooooooooo glad to have them here. My niece is BEAUTIFUL and my brother and his wife are great fun to have around. I will be sad to see them go tomorrow, but I am pretty sure that they are really looking forward to being in their own home. They have been traveling around between different family for 4 weeks. ACK! I would want my own home!

So, as you can tell, it has been both exciting and eventful in my house. Now, off to fill the chocolate twinkies we are making with the twinkie baking set my boys received for Christmas.

Happy New Year!

Perhaps one of my New Year's intentions, as opposed to resolutions, is to better schedule and prioritize the use of my time. I know that if I just got a bit more organized and motivated to actually do the things I want and need to there really are plenty of hours in the day. Guess posting here should be on the top of that list :).

My New Years this year was absolutely wonderful!! I had the unexpected opportunity to catch up with a cousin of mine that I have not seen in 10 years. This is the cousin that I am closest to in age and one who's company I have always greatly enjoyed. We all stayed up past midnight, but would have done that regardless of the day because we were enjoying visiting so very much. What a great way to ring in the new year!!

Post Office after the holidays

I certainly hope the Post Office is less crazy after the holidays than before. I have several things I need to mail and I really don't want a 45 minute line, nor do my kids :). One of the things I have ready to send is another completed comfortghan for HMB. This is for a request that came via the website. We got absolutely flooded with requests this month. The only reason we can figure out is that it all happened at the same time the Better Homes & Gardens Simply Creative Crochet hit the stands and there is a reference to HMB on page 8. We received over 100 requests in less than 2 weeks time. I am so very impressed with the members of HMB. They have really rallied around and taken on assembly assignments and been making and mailing squares like crazy. WTG!!!

Tickled PINK!!

I recently had a birthday and I must share what DH got for me. He got me the new Pink Squeeze from Quickutz and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it~!!! It also has an alpha, Olivia, with it that is wonderful. I was, and still am, super surprised. I had no idea my hubby even knew what Quickutz is let alone how fantastic a present this would be!!

A great big THANK YOU to my DH!!

SNOW!

Finally, some snow that might stick around. Lately it has just been cold. Really cold, like the 13 degrees at 9 am with a daily high of 21 cold. Yesterday it warmed up a bit and then last night the snow came. It even snowed off and on all morning and the ground was covered in white. I am not holding my breathe for a white Christmas though since it is getting even warmer and things are turning to slush. At least it is pretty right now!

My baby is seven

Yesterday my "baby" turned seven years old. What a day. This is a super fun age for birthdays and holidays. They enjoy everything about them and just let the day be all about themselves and their happiness without being at all selfish. Many adults, myself included, could certainly learn something from this.

RENT!!

Went to the movie RENT last night. My MIL took myself and my SIL, who both have Dec birthdays, to dinner and the movie for our birthday present. Usually we go to a live production of some sort, but there wasn't much playing that interested us this year. Since a couple of years ago we had gone to the traveling production of RENT we decided it would be interesting to see what happened to it in movie form.

WOW! I was pleasantly surprised. I had forgotten how much I love the music in RENT. I can't stop humming this morning. There is nothing like a live production, but the movie was well done and I enjoyed it. It certainly gets five stars from me!

This story is one that really touches me. Primarily because I know that there are those for whom this is a portrait of reality and daily life. I am reminded how blessed I am and how, had the circumstances of my birth been different, it could also be my daily life. I am also reminded how important friendship and family are in a person's life and that family takes many different forms.

DONE!!! - for now

I have officially finished my ASL 3 class. I took the final last night and the instructor graded them on the spot and provided us with our semester grade if we wanted. I wanted! "B" No surprise, it is what I expected going into the final. Now, the overacheiver part of me is upset it is not an "A". The other side of me that sat in that class, did the homework and projects, and knows that I gave it my best is pretty darn proud of that "B" because I know I earned every bit of it!! The instructor is an excellent teacher and is very fair, but he doesn't give you any slack. So, now I can enjoy the craziness of the holidays and the 47 thousand December birthdays in my family then prepare for ASL 4 to start in January.

Comfortghan mailed

I have mailed this comfortghan today to a lady who's Father has passed away. This one is pretty special as my Father died almost 8 years ago. There are times that it is harder than others and the holidays is often one of those times because of all the good memories.

Breeding Yarn

I have been working diligently to use up the yarn I have on hand. I do not have tons and tons, but I do have several boxes (think the size paper comes in). I am only purchasing yarn when I need a specific color for the assembly of comfortghans, mostly white for OPH. The rest of the things I am only allowing myself to use what I have. Goodness knows that I have enough sock yarn to keep me busy for a while. I also decided that the colors I have available for squares are just going to have to do and when they match a request they do and if not, then they don't. This has an awful lot to do with the full shelf set of boxes in my garage. Now, not all of that is yarn, there are also several boxes of thread. I know, that will take my lifetime to use up one bookmark at a time, but at least I am trying!

So, yesterday my DH is helping me to get down the Christmas decorations and he says "Do you want me to get these other boxes of yarn so you can consolidate?" I don't even remember that I have TWO MORE boxes of yarn. So, which is worse 1. that he knows about the boxes and I don't or 2. that I have been working on my existing stash to make room for several months, but I still have to tell him there is no room to consolidate?

I swear, this yarn must really be angora instead of acrylic because it is "breeding like rabbits"!!!

In Honor of Nathan Clemons

This OPH comfortghan was assembler in honor of Marine PFC Nathan Clemons.