Saturday Random ... List Style

1. Got a nap in.... Felt great.
2. Total lazy day that I will regret tomorrow but absolutely enjoyed today.
3. Going to go see crabby Lil Man play soccer in the rain... Not high on the fun list. (See pic)
4. Day one of the squat challenge ... Done! Now I just need to do 29 more days.
5. Awesome = McHottie getting me a diet fountain Pepsi with a shot of vanilla.
6. Feel discouraged at the lack of houses in my desired area.
7. Craving pizza today.

Work In Progress

I've decided I'm just a work in progress and I am going to be ok with that. There are many things I am working on to improve, some things I am working on accepting, and things to truly let to of. This is my journey .... I'm gonna rock it! (most days).

Hugs,
m

Thankful...

It's easy to get caught up in the 'everything bad is happening to me I should just curl up in bed' thought process. Or at least it is easy for me. I know I've mentioned a time or 10 that I'm naturally a negative person so I really have to work at optimism (like its my 2nd job!).

Sometimes I just need to make a list (snort laugh) of all the things I'm thankful for today....
1. Shawn having a good job and an able body to work in a factory so he can support his fam.
2. Mason for putting in more volunteer hours today than his parents did.
3. Shawn again, for working all day then volunteer to help some family friends after a fire, then driving into Bloomington to help Bai with car problems.
4. A niece who wants to come spend the night at my house.
5. Tara going to Zumba with me AND making a HL run for me.
6. Networking and connecting on FB, in groups and in clubs.
7. Knowing and learning from such kind friends.
8. An able body... flab and all
9. The holes in tomorrows schedule are filled... Whew, missed that bullet because there were a LOT!

What are you thankful for?
Hugs
m

PS These peeps rock my world!

A Big Girls A-Ha Moment

It was seeing a picture of myself in which I first thought.... That CANNOT be how I look! Then realizing I really wouldn't know because I had been hiding from the camera. I did not feel confident, happy, or healthy. Did I have excuses as to why I ballooned? You bet! Did I have excuses to why I couldn't exercise? Absolutely! Did I lose weight and gain it back... again? Sigh, yes.

So this is what I did:
1. I changed my mindset.
2. Tried to get a bunch of girlies to encourage each other through the weight loss/healthy lifestyle change. There is power in numbers, right?
3. Began counting calories in and calories out. (I use the free MyFitnessPal app)
4. I made it a point to exercise above my normal living. Yes, I burn calories walking while on my feet at work and could add that into MFP, but that is what I had been doing and is my normal. To burn this fat I needed/need more. Also, I signed up for things to keep myself in the game... Survivor at HMC, The Warrior Dash, and I have my eye on a 5K.
5. I've tried to stop with the excuses. We all have busy lives, kiddos, jobs, hobbies... I know it's hot/cold out, something good is on TV, food tastes good, or I can start the diet next week. Don't get me wrong, I still try to give myself excuses but am more aware of why i am trying to justify what I am doing that needs an excuse. A buddy who is committed to the same goals can be a life saver!

So my icky pic and my Warrior pic. Which do you like?

Test Test Testing

Found a blogger app and giving it a whirl.

How about a more current picture?

I'm bringing blogging back....yeah!

So my friend Tara is blogging so I thought I'd try this blogging thing again. We shall see how long it lasts :-) Wonder if they make a blogger app. Much easier to blog phone my phone. Gonna check it!

Three in a row!

Yes, THREE POSTS IN A ROW!
I am on a roll :O)
Although tomorrow will be none because I am working a 12 hour shift in the ER.

Around here today:

1. Mason came home from spending the night at a friends house and asked me to stand up (I was reading a book on the couch). I stood up and an gave me the biggest hug and told me "I really, REALLY missed you mom!" He just held on. So totally sweet... especially when he is crossing into the teenage years.

2. Lisa came over this evening for a visit and a bloody mary.

3. I finished a scrapbook page, a couple of cards, an ATC card, and 2 layers on a page in my art journal. Wishing I had a decent scanner to scan stuff in, but I don't. Nor do I have the computer knowledge to deal with a scanner... I am doing good if I can work my laptop without it crashing :-) Until then, I will continue to take pictures and post them. Here is a picture of my scrapbook page. Very simple and sweet.

A little abstract picture with some oil pastels. Those things are amazing! Love, love, love how they blend and the bold colors. This picture really does not do the color justice. I will work on my photography skills also :O)Here are some cards that I have been working on. I splurged on the new Donna Downey 'SHE' stamps and love them out loud!! I must admit for some reason I am a bit timid about creating. There isn't one thing in particular that I can put my fingers on but I have been very timid with my creative play. Maybe too much product, too many things to work with, too many mediums... maybe I am stifled?

4. Shawn is on vacation this week. Love that he is around but hate that he is 'bored'. It isn't like there isn't anything to do because, believe me, I have a long list :O) I do hope this vacation rejuvenates him. Third shift has been rough on him and the family.

5. My favorite THREE.....

6. Storms keep blowing in around here. It seriously feels like it should be spring. I though spring was supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. Why is it that summer is feeling like spring? Weird.

7. Mason got his junior high class schedule yesterday. OMGoh!! Seriously, is my BABY going into junior high?? Shouldn't that make me old? I don't feel old... just shocked that I my lil' guy will no longer be in elementary school. Sigh.

Heading to bed, 5:30AM comes very early for this night owl.

Hugs and Happies.

m

Epic Fail, LOL!

Epic failure on the two blogs posts in one day.

I had good intentions.

But I always have a bucket full of good intentions.

My reasons for not making the double post were good... 1. Took Shawn to the Dr (he is having back issues and being the manly-man he is, waited until the pain is nice and bad  2. I had to work last night, so I am not even sure why I thought I would have enough time to get back on the computer to blog.... but I was on an inspiration high :-D

However, I am redeeming myself with a TWO DAYS IN A ROW POST!

Woot Woot!

Today.....

1. I worked late this morning and was up for a visitation with about 2 hours of sleep.

2. Had an awesome dinner with my McHottie. There is something so overwhelming to me that Shawn and I are so good together. We truly LIKE being together. Coming from such dysfunctional families... this is 20 years of love and togetherness is an incredible feat.

3. Stopped by Hobby Lobby and was giddy with picking up some stuff on sale. I picked up "The Artistic Mother", a large wood grain stamp, and bling letter stickers ... all for 40% off. (Fist pump dance!!)

4.I have an empty house right now. Mason is at a sleep over and Bai n Shawn are out fishing.

5. We also have a mouse that has decided to make our home his home. This freaks me out! I don't particularly mind mice, but I hate the scurrying... again, FREAKS ME OUT! So i am on paranoia level 5 :O)

6. Have been playing with oil pastels. Tomorrow I am going to crack out some ATC playing with oil pastels and water colors.

7. And because a blog just isn't a blog without a picture.... let me share with you Bai's new car. Make sure you look at the back of her car and you will see the blurr of our pug, Booda, as he takes off running away from Shawn. He is not a dog who runs off so you can kind of see the look of shock on Shawn's face in the back ground. Seeing Booda running in mid air makes me laugh out loud!

Tomorrow I am making time to explore my creative soul. Will post pics too... without another epic fail :-D

Hugs and Happies.

m

Today I Have Goals...

Today I have goals!

I will blog TWICE in one day sharing pictures of my life today... love looking back on those.

I will make sure my McHottie (see pic to the right, LOL) knows I love him out loud <3

I am going to try to get into an ATC swap because this girlie (Glenda T)  freakin' inspires me to get out my water colors and PLAY! What better canvas is there to pay on than an ATC and I cannot even begin to tell you how cool they are to collect from different artist!

Off to get started .... will be back later this evening!
Hugs and Happies.
m

Going to try the blog thing again...

The pictures are kind of posting funny but I am going to go with it and make it work :-DHaving a hard time with my baby growing up. He is getting to the point where he is crossing into the preteen, easily embarrassed, gotta be cool stage. I am struggling with that. This other picture is one from my pinning ceremony. I am not sure what I am doing or thinking and I know I look funny. My cousin said I she could put the caption "hmmmmmm" on the picture and it would fit. I will have to go through my graduation pictures and post them.

Now that nursing school is over I am going to try the blogging thing again. In theory I love blogging but I don't seem to be consistent..... really a reflection of a big area of my life. My intentions are always good but lack some follow through.

This is the first week I have had a free calender. I have been so lazy!!! Really should have used my time better but I have no motivation. I have gotten in the 'studio' and made some cards and have done a minimal amount of housework..... so not a complete waste of time. But I do have a list starting to add up.

Goals:
1. Reconnect with people who have been lost in the chaos of my nursing school journey.
2. Find my creative soul and apply it not just dream and think about all the things I want to create.
3. Dust off my camera and REALLY learn photography.
4. Organize and manage my time so my family can be calm and peaceful knowing what is needed and where to be (we have spent the last year not knowing if we were coming or going).
5. Drop the 30 extra pounds I have been carrying around. Not just the 6 pounds I have gained and lost for the last 2 years.... ALL 30 POUNDS!

Today was a good good day!

No picture.... I really feel the need to post one because I am such a visual person. But I am going to let that go and just blog :-D

Today I am happy.
Today I CHOOSE to be happy.

This morning I was able to sleep in because Shawn was home and got up with the kiddos.... great way to start off a day.

The sun was shining.... warmed and soothed my soul.

I went to the book store and found a couple of books on clearance that totally made me stop and think. Love those kind of books when you not only read the book but say .... yessssss!

Shawn cooked dinner..... there is something about my hubby cooking dinner that makes me feel so dang lucky. Probably because he doesn't do it often :O)

Had a job interview that went very well..... cannot wait for my path to become clearer.

I can see the light at the end of the nursing school tunnel.... nine weeks left of classes. ROCK ON!!

Picked up some copic markers.... love using those things in my art journal.

From the book It's Never Too Late... by Patrick Lindsay:

It's never too late.....

to find balance

It's a bit like class:

hard to define but you know it when you see it.

You'll know balance when you feel it.

Seek it in your work.

Your relationships.

Your family.

Your diet.

Your passions.

Enjoy the glow.

these words that speak to me.

I hope your day has been happy and if not I hope you CHOOSE to make tomorrow the happy day.

In fact, I challenge you to have THE BEST Saturday EVER!

Hugs and happies.

m

New and Old

New:

A 'newer' picture of me. Although there is a big shadow of my hand and the camera across the picture making it look funny.... it is the most recent one of me. I haven't had my camera out much which is case in point of how choatic my world has been with this nursing school.

For our anniverseray Shawn got me in ipod touch. LOVE it! I know that I would totally love an iphone, but since AT&T sucks in our area and we have a different phone contract we are in.... the ipod touch will do. Must point out the thankfulness I have for a tax return which is why the splurge came in at this time when money is snug. Must also point out that I acknowledge and am a smidge bothered by spending money on something so unnecessary..... but oh the happiness! :O)

Survivor started last night and I LOVE IT! I have always been a Survivor fan and it is an especially good season because the best of the best and worst of the worst are all together to create great TV drama. Oh, and Colby.....sigh, love that Colby.

While speaking of TV.... a mention must be made of Modern Family. This show and the above mentioned Survivor are my therapy. I cannot tell you how much Modern Family made me laugh out loud, literally. It is a must see if you need some laughter therapy.

While driving in the car the other day I had a book on CD playing. When Mason got in the car he said "Mom, so you mean to tell me when you aren't reading, you listen to someone reading to you?!" I laughed and said, "I guess so" to which he replied "that is a bit much". Not sure why this little converstation made me smile but totally makes me S.M.I.L.E! Probably because I really do <3 reading so much that when I am not reading myself, I listen to someone read to me :-D

OLD:

Finished some school work today. Tired, completley tired of school work. If I never have to write another paper it will be waaaaaaay to soon!

Winter, winter go away.... you are getting so old. You make me sad and cold. Go away now, I will see you next year.

Need a maid. An old maid would work but any will do. Tired of the constant cleaning and clutter in our home. Too tired to do it myself, I would rather be blogging :O)

I still love LIME GREEN! Makes me happy.

Hugs and Happies

m

She's Hot and She's Cold

For some reason this blogger thing isn't letting me go to the right or left. Just staying centered.... maybe it is a sign. A way to help me center myself :-D

Here is some Random of me....

I haven't blogged in a while. It seems I am hot and cold, yes and no, in and out..... LOL! Can't think of the name of that song, but everytime I hear it I think 'YES! Exactly.'

Love this picture of me and Shawn! Totally and completely love that after almost 17 years we are still laughing. I love laughing with that man. I love that he makes me laugh (especially since he can make me so angry too). I love this picture captures that laughter.

Today I woke up with bad heartburn. Think it might be stress? Need to work on decreasing that stress.

I graduate from nursing school in May and I cannot wait to have my life back. It sounds so crazy that I have lost myself in nursing school, but that is exactly what happened. The nursing school programs are so very consuming, exhausting, over the top... that I have lost my balance with life. Just trying to survive and cannot even begin to express the grattitude of those in my world who stick with me through this chaos.

Colored my hair again out of a box. Don't like the red tint but it is what I have to live with until our incoming $ increases. And it is better than the grey mess it was in. It still makes me laugh though to see all the grey. Most people take it for blonde because they mistakenly take me for my late 20's. HA! Seriously, I do get mistaken for younger. Probably because I act like I am in 8th grade half the time :-D

Working on a new kind of journal. Me, Myself, & I. I am using Elizabeth Gilbert's idea and mixing in a little of me. Will share soon.... well maybe not soon but I will share. Lately I have been (when I make the time to get into my creative work space!) loving spray inks, masking, and stamps.

Working tonight so I should go get some rest in before.

Loves and hugs.

m

New Year...2010. Hollaaa!!!

I sent a post via email on Christmas but obviously it didn't work.

I am glad the holidays are over.

I cannot even begin to tell you how strange it is having my baby girl 16!!! and driving!!

My one little word for 2010 is AWARE.

Picked up the new Art Journaling and Somerset Life today and cannot wait to see the inspiration in those pages.

I am on book 4 of the Harry Potter series and am REALLY enjoying them. It started out that I would read them with Mason but he bailed on me because he couldn't read book number 2 for his AR goal at school.

Shawn and I have both started a new healthy lifestyle. We are sick of our chub and being sooo out of shape. Let me just say.... it is so much easier to make healthier choices and stay committed when Shawn is there beside me.

I am not looking forward to going to the dentist on Monday.... BLECK!

Need to get some organizing done this week.

Not to wish time away (because it goes fast enough) but I totally hope these next 16 weeks go by fast!

Off to enjoy my family.
Hugs and happies.
m

Random Thoughts

A picture.....

A blog with a picture. For some reason that feels right. I love getting a glimpse into other people's world through their blogs and pictures. So I share a bit of my world in picture and words too. This picture is of Shawn and our yearly Christmas tree (Ina). We went the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The day was beautiful, sunny, and warm. The hunt for the perfect tree was interesting. And we found this perfect, shaggy, fat tree. She looks beautiful all dolled up in our ornaments and lights.

Acknowledgement....

During most holidays we end up with oodles of extended family drama in one form or another. This year is no different. We have a double whammy this year because there is drama on both sides of our extended families. It seems the when you get to the bottom line, we live a different lifesyle than most of our family members. They feel insecure next to this lifestlye at times and then point the finger at everyone but themselves and their insecurities. Usually I am knowing and accept how my side of the family is and Shawn doesn't want to deal with that drama so he opts out. This year with the drama on his side of the family I am suposed to go into the lions cave and deal with it because 'it is Christmas". This year when I pointed out his double standard he acknowledged it...... wow. Sometimes the acknowledgment is all that is needed. It isn't about who is right and who is wrong. It isn't about changing things you cannot control. It is about acknowledging the person speaking to you without patronizing them.

Merry Christmas....

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope that people will be able to realize the spirit of Christmas is inside of them and that things will only be as good or as bad as they make them. I personally will be making mine a good one. We work too hard to have the holidays ruined by jealousy, insucurities, or .... drama.

Hug and happies.

m

Ahhhh..... finding beauty.

Isn't it really about just opening up your mind to find the beauty?

I've worked the past few days and am kind of tired.

Usually when I am tired, I am crabby, and when I am crabby it is oh-so easy to find the BLECK in life.

However, all a person needs to do is open up their mind to find the beauty.

Also having an incredible support system (my created family) helps.

In scrapbooking news....

Tim Holtz is releasing some new distress inks. Yummy!!

I am addicted to watching artsy how-to videos.

They cuddle my creative soul with happiness and inspires me to create.

I actually finished (might have said this earlier) a few pages that have been on my desk forever and started a few more.

I am finding i work best in the 'kitchen sink' style. And I am working on letting go of perfection because it just isn't going to happen the way I think it should and that is perfectly OK!

In my head.....

I was walking into work Saturday night and I saw the signs for the ER physicians had been changed to say ED Physicians... with a marker!! The R had been written over with a black marker to make a D. This made me think A.) tacky!! B.) how I am seeing a change in culture. Back in the day is was Emergency Room because it literally was one room. Now the name is evolving into Emergency Department because it has become a catch all in the medical world. No longer is an emergency room a one room place... it is a melding pot of every imaginable medical issue ever known to man (and then some). I think though that the ED-ER change will take a while. Who would seriously know I was going to work in the emergency room if I write "ED here I come" or "a night of work in the ED" - not counting the peeps who actually KNOW I work in the emergency room.

I really REALLY do not want to go to the dentist.

What I have been doing....

Reading Eat Pray Love and Harry Potter (book 1).

Made my first set of prayer beads.

Working in the ED (hehehehe).

Spending too much money for Christmas and trying really hard to find the meaning but failing miserably.

Now I am off to go do.

Hugs and happies.

m

Random List

1. A Moore jump photo. This is how we are most days... together, full of life, and happy. I am totally going to have to do a page with the jump photos through the years.
2. I am currently reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is a book I have had for quite a while because I heard it was really good but never quite got around to reading it. I have been missing out! Also on my reading list is the Harry Potter series. Is that strange? I am reading them with Mason. That is my reasoning but I really just want to see what happens to Mr. Harry Potter.
3. Will be making THE dentist appointment tomorrow and already anxiety tightens my chest. I wonder why this happens? Why I wait so long, even when I know it isn't good?? Sigh.......
4. Work the weekend. Friday. Saturday. Sunday. Looking forward to the paycheck but not the time away from the family.
5.  Am so totally bummed that I will be missing the season finale of Survivior because I am covering someones shift for them. Dangit! Just hoping Russel gets the BIG BOOT!!!
6. My creative soul has been used again..... feels so good. When I finish this whole nursing thing I will totally be teaching artsy/scrapbooking stuff again. There is just something about art (in ANY form) that does a spirit good.

Speaking of creative spirit..... I am off to do something artsy!

Hugs and happies.

m

Why Worry?

By nature I am a worrier.
I wish I was a warrior.
Even when I try not to worry,
it is there.
Sometimes it is soothing.
Sometimes it steals my breath.
Sometimes the worry is there to remind me
to be cautious,
to appreciate that which is important.

As my journey gets chaotic I must make an effort to lessen the worry and to have faith.
Faith in that which I cannot control and faith in my loved ones who are always be my side...even when I don't see them.

So I am blogging my worries and then sending them into cyberspace.
Kind of like writing them on a piece of paper and ripping it up to let them go... but in a new age way.

1. Bai and the doctor's apt.
2. My mom and her broken leg.
3. My hubby and his unseeing family.
4. Time management.
5. Money.
6. Finding the right dentist.
7. Extended family drama.

Rip Rip.... RIP.
m

Been Thinking

I haven't been around in, oh.... over SIX MONTHS!
Well, I have been around but just not balancing life well.
Almost done with nursing school.
Needing to connect with people because I feel like I am missing.
Wondering if there is anyone out there feeling the same.
Thinking I must be the change I want to see.....
Hugs and Happies.
m

Holy Heck.....

It has been almost 2 months since my last blog.
Holy Heck!
I keep going back and forth about continuing my blog.
For now I am just going to leave it and see how things work out.
To catch up a bit, here is what has been and is going on in my little world.... in list form :O)

1. I finished my first year of nursing school. It really kicked my butt. Let me tell you nursing school around these parts are not for the weak!

2. Currently I am on a mini break until Monday when my 8 week summer class starts....uggghhh! I keep on pushing through. Two semesters after the summer and I will have my RN.... WHOOO HOOO!

3. Shawn is growing out his goatee again.... BLECK! I really don't like it on him at all but he insists. Sigh. It's a good thing I love this guy! 4. Baily is in her last week of being a freshman. Both her and Mason are totally ready for summer. Actually (with the exception of my 8 week class) we all are ready for the lazy days of summer. Yesterday we had a torrential down pour and Bai went out in the rain. You should have seen her dancing out there....She is such an amazing girl.

5. My intense little man...... Things keep changing for him, for us. He pulled through this school year but sometimes I just worry so much about him. He is such a sensitive guy and so intense. I will admit that alot of the time it is just exhausting! But he is my sunshine and totally is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears. He makes a good monkey face too, right?!

6. I am a week and one day into the new and improved me. This September I have my first dress fitting for a wedding I will be in and I have just reached a point where I am done being frumpy. I know, I've said it before and have tried to lose those pesky pounds before....heck I have lost and gained the same 5-8 pounds for almost 2 years now. But this time I am dropping the weight...not losing it (because I don't want to find it!) and I am doing what my body needs the most.....exercise! Yep, that is was makes me feel good and looks good.....too bad it is so much work, LOL!

Gotta go get Little Man.

Hugs and Happies!
m