Random Bits and Some Sharing

1. My Cubies have me mad right now. Let's not talk about it....

2. Sharing a piece of art that I 'played' with. I started with a canvas (el cheap-o from Hobby Lobby) and just went to town with different things. There are some jewels, some texture medium, some masking, stamps, scrapbook paper, buttons, paints, gel pen...just a bit of this and that. I will say that it turned out darker than I wanted it to but that is just how things like this go. And I am still working on "getting things wrong" or "messing up" or "ruining the thing". I have found with art that you just DO! Things work themselves out and if you totally hate it Gesso over the whole damned thing and do it over ;o) What do you think of it? First time using this long canvas so spacing was an issue for me. Now what to do with them? I have another one that I need to find a home for.
3. Still working through the "Love and Logic" parenting book. A REALLY REALLY great way to look at parenting. I think that some of the things in the book we already do however on a different scale. For example the book says that it is good to give your children options for them to decide yet make them ones that you can live with....OK, see I already do this. I say Do you want to take the dog for a walk or do you want to be restricted?? Ooops...yeah, this is what I need to work on, giving options that are real options for my children. Really. What child would decide to be grounded. "Love and Logic" encourages giving such options as..."will you please take Booda for a walk? If no I do it and "model" the behavior I want to see. And when they want to perhaps walk to a friends house I kindly remind them that the chose not to walk Booda and therefor cannot walk to a friends house. The theory is that they learn from the consequence. And this is totally what I am getting from the book in my own words....not what the book says. With everything I read, I take inspiration, bits and pieces and try to use them, learn from them or change depending on what feels good for the way we live.

4. This is what my scrap area looks like right now. Things that make me happy and works in progress. I think I need to clean up a bit for some room to actually work. See the Diet Vanilla Pepsi picture? That was a card made for my by a very talented girlie. It was a season friendship but her work still totally makes me smile every time I see it.
5. If anyone has read the book "The Secret" they know about the law of attraction. These stamps came from this law of attraction. Here is how: I was blog stalking at Staci Compher's blog (love the layering in her scrapbook pages) and she said she loved the new Pink Paiselee stamps. I thought they looked pretty cook on her layouts also and thought.....ohhhh would like me some of those too! So I googled them and couldn't find anything about them. Kind of let it go however any time I went to get a alphabet stamp I would think that I needed (OK wanted) that Pink Paiselee set. For the past three weeks I have been obsessing (a little too strong of a word but close enough) about the stamps and yesterday I ended up having an extra two hours of time before my next class so what is a girl to do but to go to the lss. AND guess what was right in the door????? These babies. Woot-hooo!!!!! The law of attraction at work...or maybe just just a coincidence but ya know?? I also just so happened to have a coupon for $15 and the stamps were $13......very nice for a girlie working on her budget!
6. A picture of Mason and I on a field trip. I am having issues with him growing his hair out but this boy totally fills me with just a happiness and joy. Looking at this picture I know what a blessing I have.

7. I am behind on my gratitude scrapbook. Need to go work on that.

Are you still with me?

Kind of a long blog huh?

Told ya I missed it.

LOL!

Later-taters.

Loves and hugs.

m

Checking in...

Just a quick little check in because the day is getting away from me.
Working on finals.
Working on the yard.
Working on some scrap projects...can't wait to share.
Catch you tomorrow.
Loves and hugs.
m

AND Shannon....you totally ROCK MY WORLD! Thanks for the love and yes - GO CUBS GO!

I Am Baaaacckkkk!

I can't do it.

LOL!!!


I miss the connections.


I miss just laying stuff out there.


I miss sharing.


I miss feeling like there is one or two or three people who are interested in my little world.

So.....here I am. Back in blog world.

I have missed you!!!!

This is what I have been doing.....

We took a mini vacation (three days) down to TN with my mom and stepdad. Loved it! We were needing a get away and plan to do it again in August. This time a bit longer, ;)While in TN we actually saw a bald eagle in her/his nest. This picture is a crop of a picture with a zoom lens...but let me tell you - it was MAGNIFICANT! Just to see this nest with branches not twigs and to see this bird perched on this nest was just an awesome moment.

I have been doing some scrappin. Here are a couple layouts. Sorry about the bad pitures, they really do look better in person...or at least I think so. Hehaha!

Going into finals this next week and then I have a three week break from school. Yippeee!

That's it for today. I have to go run and finish up dinner because I have GOT TO watch the Cubs wup the Cards butts! WOOHOOOO! GO CUBIES!

Hugs and happies.

m

Throwing In The Blogging Towel....

Well, I think I am going to do it.
I am throwing in the blogging towel.
It seems that I don't really make it to the computer to sit down and blog....
and since I use my blog as my journal I am finding that I haven't been journaling.
Last week I came across my old journal and it totally made me smile.
Looking back on the good and bad...those funny and sad stories of our lives is so incredible.
I seem to have lost some of those stories because while I can tuck a journal in my bag and journal anywhere... it is not that simple with a computer and a blog.
Any way, that is where I am at this point.
I will have to make more of a point to connect more.
I am lacking in the department of reaching out...something I will be working on.
Hope everyone has a fabulous week with lots of happies!
m

Bad Bad Blogger

1. So it has been about 100 years since I last blogged. So much is happening yet it seems like not much is happening....does that make ANY sense??

2. This is what I am back to on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Spring break was waaaay to short and uneventful. In between classes I have about an hour. I sit in the atrium with my books and eat my lunch. Sometimes this is my zen time. 3. Totally missed posting a blog about my baby's 9th birthday!!! On the 22nd of March, Mason turned 9 years old. I can hardly believe that! Makes me a bit sad to tell you the truth. We had some of our dysfunctional family over for some cake and ice cream (it ended up just being my Mom and stepdad and Shawn's mom and step dad). He gets to have a birthday party with his friends next week. And no....he really isn't a demon child - I just didn't get around to fixing the red eye but I loved this pic of Mase cuddling with Booda.
4. Going back to Weight Watchers. The never ending drama of my weight issue. That is all I will say about that for now.

5. FINALLY was accepted into a nursing program. I don't really think that I could have jumped through another hoop. I am exhausted with it all. Now I just have to find the money to pay for it all.

6. Had an almost TWO HOUR conversation with a sister who I only spoke with twice all of last year. Did I mention dysfunctional? I wish I could say that everything is hunky doorey after the phone call but some things will really never change because the bottom line is - you cannot help a person who doesn't want help.

7. I am totally happy that spring is at last on it's way. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta go run Mason over to a friends house for a play date.
Hugs and happies.
m

...Just Saying.

1. Bailey informed me her catch phrase was "just saying" (said at the end of what was just said) and I exaggerated the other saying. Maybe I did, but regardless she is something else...just saying.

2. I really like to blog in list format...just saying.

3. Thanks to all for the sweet comments on my blogs and in emails. Totally makes me smile...just saying.

4. Finished my last scrapbooking class last night for this session yesterday. It was a great learning experience. I have a whole list of things to do better or not to do at all and the must do's. I enjoyed meeting new people and I am thrilled of the request for more...just saying. (LOL, might be getting old for you but it is cracking me up!)

5. Not posting any pics today and feel like my blog is missing something...just saying.

6. I have a new saying when I am hungry. WWBD. (What Would Bob Do). We watch The Biggest Loser and I L-O-V-E Bob Harper. Someone said that on the last episode and it made me laugh. WWBD....just saying.

7. Have more to say but I need to go pick up Mase from school. Wanted to get a post in for the day before it was next week...just saying.

8. One more thing.....it is a BEAUTIFUL DAY! today!!!!! Hello spring, let me give you a great big hug!....just saying.

Hugs and Happies.
m

"And I am Not Even Kidding"

1. That is the catch phrase, as of late, for Bailey and her BFF. It is kind of contagious. For today...this time getting away from me is totally kicking my butt and I am not even kidding! ;o)

2. Mason and I with our new glasses. These are his first pair of glasses. It is funny for me to watch him look at things with his 'new eyes'. I still remember the first time I put on my new glasses and I was SHOCKED you could actually see the leaves on the trees - they were just blobs of trees. LOL!
3. Shawn after our date. I love this man.

4. Finished "Pillars of the Earth"...sigh. Such a good book. Then found out there was a sequel and now I am working through 1029 pages of "World Without End". Another great book.

5. Tomorrow night I will be teaching my last scrapbooking class for this session. It has been a great learning experience. I love sharing the little bit that I know and seeing what is created from that. There is one girl in particular in my class that soaks up the info. Scrapbooking and creating is in her blood. ;o)

6. This week I am on spring break however it doesn't quite feel like it. The kids have school and I have so much to catch up on.

7. After 15 years of marriage Shawn and I got matching tattoos. May sound kind of strange to some, and I will admit that initially I said NO WAY! See, after my last 2 1/2 hour tattoo with Sara I said no more! And really meant it. But in the end Shawn got me. We had little 3's put on our foot. Shawn actually drew the 3 on my foot and the tattoo artist went from there. Why three?

Because:

The three most important words for us are I LOVE YOU. We say (and mean them) all the time. Those words ground us and sooth us. Bailey was born on the 30th of December. Mason was born in March - the 3rd month of the year. When Shawn and I were dating and he would drop me off I would flip on and off the light switch 3 times (I love you). While Shawn was in Bosnia and we had reached $600 phone bills and couldn't afford any more he would stand in line and let the phone ring three times (I love you). For as long as I can remember he and I will squeeze each others hands three times (I love you)......the 3 list goes on and on. Sounds like a perfect scrapbook page!

8. According to Mason this is my 'biggest layout EVER!" I was the poster I did for my sociology class. I agree with Shawn - I totally went overboard....and I am not even kidding! LMBO! This poster was only worth 25 points and yes I received all 25.

9. Speaking of the Cubs...they are playing in Meza, AZ right now for spring training. First game is March 31st (look at those two beautiful 3's-hehehehe).

10. Bailey was a rocking volleyball manager! I was proud she went through the season with her head up.

Ending with 10 today.
Hugs and happies.
m