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

Spoke Too Soon

Bai is home sick with the flu...the bad pukey-achy-fever flu.
PUUULLLEEEZZZ let this bug stop with her and not be passed around.

Happy anniversary to the love of my life.
I can't believe that he has put up with me for 15 years of marriage (18 total of knowing him...can you flippin' believe that????). ;o)
We will celebrate this weekend.
Have I mentioned that I love my man?

Hugs and health.
m

Quick Little Catch Up List

1. I am behind in about everything.

2. As with most everyone I know or know of....we have been sick. Started with Mason and continued through. We all have had something a little bit different but right now we are all on the mend. Thankfully.

3. Winter is starting to honk me off. I know that I don't have it as bad as Leah (sorry Chickie) but YIKES! I am tired of the snow, slush and cold.

4. Mason is getting glasses. He said he was having trouble reading so he and I went in for an eye exam and yepppers he needs glasses. I was due for a new pair and am trying the transitions. Hope they work well. I would hate to be sitting in class with sunglasses on waiting for the transition to occur. LOL!

5. I made it to the dentist. Totally worked myself up over nothing. I have no cavities...YEAH. But I do have a fracture to a tooth way in the back from a childhood filing that I will have to have a crown put on....good times.

6. Just pressed the "easy" button and it made me laugh.

7. Teenager's really do a great job of making you feel like an monster.

8. Shawn bought me a epson picture mate for my anniversary present. AND I made me (yes really because I was going to put them back but I really really really wanted them and thought maybe I would get just one) buy TWO sets of Tim Holtz stamps. I L-O-V-E them. They cause bliss. My man knows me well and I cannot express in words how much I love him.

Gotta go...dog barking, dishes need done, anyone know what's for dinner? ;o)
Hugs and happies.
m

Sunday Sharing

It is rainy and dreary here in central IL. They say there is suposed to be another snow storm on its way ... go figure. High winds, 3-7 inches of snow, ice, the good stuff. BLECK! I am really quite tired of winter however I feel bad for complaining because I choose to live in this icky-winter place

On this Sunday we are all cuddled up in our lounging clothes enjoying a day relaxing and a couple of us are bored. Not me, I am getting quite a few things done...it is more like Shawn and Mason going a little stir crazy. Maybe they will find something to do here SOON!

Sharing some of my life in pictures and words:


My Valentine's gift from Shawn. A sweet card and a cactus. Yes, LOL! a catcus. He knows me OH-SO Well because I usually end up killing off any kind of plant with my non-green thumb (and feeling really bummed about it), and I think that roses are sooo completely over rated. Don't get me wrong they are beautiful and smell fabulous but they just don't make my heart smile. This cactus however, made me grin ear to flippin' ear!
I am not sure how I am getting anything done creatively. By looking at my 'studio', there is only total chaos!
Complete chaos! After I am done blogging, my goal is to spend time sorting, organizing, and finding breathing room in my space. Bet some of you are gasping in horror at this chaos. Am I right?
Like sunlight in a storm there is beauty in my chaos. This lovely girl is my butterfly punch. I have used this beauty many times this week. The sweet butterfly makes me happy....and she only cost me FIVE BUCKS! Gotta love that. AND you know what else is cool?? I can leave this punch on my desk and it LOOKS good because it stands upright with the butterfly showing and is a nice neutral color (when, of course, my 'studio' is organized and clean ;o). A glimpse at the technique tag book the students will be making the first night of the class I am teaching. It is a simple class covering products and techniques. I am not quite done with this so right now I am holding the tags with a binder ring.

For our second night of class we are going to be putting together a few layouts. One of the layouts we will be doing from another layout. We will be learning the art of scraplifting. GASP!!! Yes, I said it....I will be coving scraplifting. I truly believe that most ideas are lifted or inpired by something in one way or another and scraplifting is the PERFECT way to develop techniques, confidence, and style. It is a way to find out what works for you and what doesn't. There are those who believe their idea should be set in gold and never used and they become all worked up at someone 'copying' their ideas...I could never understand that. If scrapbooking was only about originality then there wouldn't be the demand there is for all of the idea books and magazines and classes and the list goes on. Uh-OH, I seemed to have gone on a little tangent. Hehehe sorry about that ;o) Anyhoo my layout is inspired by a layout of Courney Kelly published in Scrapbook Trends.

I cannot get enough of this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a long one - 900 and some pages, but it is worth all of the loss of sleep, un-done house work, and unfinished projects calling my name. If you like midevil stories of good and evil, love and hate, if you wonder what it was like waaaaaaaaaaay back in a barbaric world, if you want to be reminded of how good you have it and how far the human race has come....then read this book.

Thanks for taking the time to glance into my world. I love the connection.

Hugs and happies.

m

The Sickness is In Da House

Mason has been fighting what ever seems to be going around for the past few days but this morning he woke up with a 102 degree temp. Soooo, the poor guy has to stay home today(although he wants to go to school which is so flippin' amazing considering where he was a month and a half ago!). Hopefull with my bleach and lysol I can keep the bad germs away from the other members of this home.

Not much else going on here.

Reading a really great book called Pillars of the Earth. It has me captivated.

Going to go work on some projects for my class next week. Need to wrap up the details ;o)

Hope everyone is doing well.
Hugs and happies.
m