Monday, October 27, 2008

Friendship. What a funny word.

Friendship is such a funny little word. To some, it means the world. To others, it's just a word to throw around without much meaning. It's really difficult when you realize which one you have with someone.

I'm at the age where I do not want to work for my friendships. They should come naturally, easily, and without heartache. What do you do when things come up and the "friendship" changes for you? But...only you know it has changed. The other person is completely unaware of things.

I guess you just go on as usual without making any extra effort as it will be lost anyway. My friends know who they are, and what they mean to me. I guess that's what I'll hang onto.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Bit the bullet.

So, from my previous post, I'm sure you can gather that I am itching to unpack my scrapbooking supplies. Actually, I don't think itching is a strong enough word. I finally bit the bullet and put a small shelving unit in my kitchen. It's not pretty...but here it is:


And another (darker) view:



At a later date, I'll get/make a cover for it so it's not so "in your face." But at least I can scrap!! My only problem is...I still have about four more boxes to unpack!!

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Not a real entry. :)

(I am posting this, seeking for help on a scrapping booking site. Please feel free to ignore!)

Now, we had just moved in a few weeks earlier when I took these, so DON'T look at the mess!!!

Okay, this is the first room you see when you walk into my house. The front door is actually on the right side, and you can see a bit of it through the arch. Door on the left leads to garage/laundry area. I am standing in the dining area, taking the pic. I actually thought of putting a table under that little arch, but then there's the big TV. That window is a front window, so it really can't be blocked. And the length of wall left (with the tv where it is) is not big enough for a table.
.

In this pic, I am actually standing in front of the window in the previous pic. This is the dining room, with the kitchen to the left and the family room to the right (next pic). Front left is a hallway that leads to some of the bedrooms. The room straight through the dining room is an Arizona room (enclosed patio) and changes with the weather, so no scrap supplies are going in there yet. Got a quote to enclose it, but that will come MUCH later. That would be a scraproom in the future.



In this pic, I'm standing in the archway of the previous pic, looking into the family area. To the right is my daughter's room. To the left is our computer table since we lost our office, too. That pic will be next.


And here is the computer desk that is behind the small couch in the previous pic. It has to stay there due to the internet/phone/cable link.



Hope this gives you a few ideas!! Any suggestions would be great!!

Friday, September 19, 2008

I hate death.

Hay's hamster died last night. I was holding him up until the very end because I didn't want him to feel alone. We had a vet appointment for today at 11, but apparently he couldn't hold on that long. We don't know what was wrong with him, just that he started eating less and less and wasn't drinking very much, and then yesterday we noticed he was wobbling a little when he walked. That's when we made the appointment, but we were too late. He went downhill fast.

This was the coolest hamster ever. If you put your finger in his cage, he would "bite" on it and act like he was trying to pull you back down with him. All four of his legs would flail and he would almost roll over on his back, hanging onto your finger the whole time. He was just a sweetie. Now he's gone.

Why am I taking this so hard? I've been crying since last night, and every time I think about him, or Hay, I start crying again. Maybe it's because he did the same things my father did when he passed away? I don't know. But even though it was her hammie, I loved that thing too. I always went into her room when she was sleeping or gone and I would play with him.

*sigh*

Why do things happen the way they do?

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Settle in...it's update time.

Well, I go from no posts to two posts in one day. How's that for dedication?!

Me. What's been going on with me. Where to start??

As I stated a few months back, I lost my dad to pancreatic cancer in May. Horrible, horrible time in my life. I still have moments that I can't breathe, and it's unbelievable how much I miss him.

Since that time, my family and I have relocated to Arizona to be near my mom. The original plan was that someday she would join us in Nevada. But, after thinking long and hard about it, we decided that she had more "roots" in Havasu than we had anywhere else, barring D's work. So, we moved to be closer to her.

The kids had a difficult time handling it, especially my high schooler, although I think *I* was more stressed about it than she was. But they have all adapted so much better than I thought they would, and they are slowly making friends. They are all playing soccer, and loving every minute of it.

D still works in Vegas. He is waiting to transfer to Laughlin and then he will only be an hour away from us. This will make it SO much easier, not only on us, but on the car and the checkbook. ;) It's difficult, and to say that it's a test is understating things, but we are strong, and we are a strong family, and we see the greater good and the end result.

I'm still at home, and I'm ITCHING to scrapbook. All of my scrap stuff is still in boxes. We lost some rooms and some square footage when we moved, but other than that, I LOVE my house. We have a pool, we have a good-sized lot, and D has his "play" garage: a four car garage, separate from my two car garage. Six car garages. Wow. Still unbelievable, lol.

Although I didn't have many, I miss my friends in both Nevada and Utah. They were my scrapping buddies, my lunch buddies, my shopping buddies. But we'll meet again...soon. I've reconnected with my high school best friend, and it's great. I've been gone for 20 years, but it seems like I've been here the whole time. We're both busy, but we're finding time for each other.

I love living near my mom, and it's so wonderful to be able to pop in for a bit, or take the kiddos to see her. They've even had a sleepover with her...and they loved it. She's my bestest friend, and I'd forgotten what it's like to be so near to her.

So, that's where I've been, and what I've been doing. I hope that fills in a few blanks. ;)

Thanks for reading.
Steph

Check out this awesome scrapper!!

Okay.

So, I'm one of those "look but don't comment" people. That is something that I *really* need to change as I know that people love recognition...because I do too!! But...

I've been following a scrapper at TwoPeas. She does such fantastic work and I love every single card she's made. Another plus is that she's from Holland!! I have family that lives there, and I absolutely love it there. Hopefully I'll be back to visit the country soon.

If you get a chance, check out Nancy at her blog: Scrap This!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A "hello" and a cool product!!

Well, I've been gone for a really long time. I've checked my blog several times (for what, I don't know, lol), but never had the gumpf to update. I'm not doing an update today...but I will soon. I promise. Just a quick hello and...

...check out this cool site: SheetLoads

They have some cool ideas and even cooler product!!

Crossing my fingers!!

Please, keep checking back. I *will* update soon. *Ü*

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Funniest. Video. Evah.

The expressions on this girl's face are hilarious!! Be sure you have the sound on. ;)

http://www.maniacworld.com/strangest-kazoo-performance-ever.html

(thanks Aunt Joyce!!)

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day, Daddy.

I miss you.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Feels like forever.

It feels like forever since I've blogged. My life has been so crazy that it's been difficult to keep my head above the water.

After a 13 month battle with pancreatic cancer, I lost my hero...my father...on May 23rd. Nothing, and I mean nothing, prepares you for when the time comes. I thought I would be so relieved, knowing that he wasn't in pain any longer, but when the time came, I just wanted him back again.

I'm not ready to write about everything that transpired right now, because I'm tearing up even as I write a small update. I just wanted to let you all know what was going on, and that I will be trying to keep my head up. I need to, for my family and for myself. I know my daddy wouldn't want me to be in a state of depression over him.

I'll be back later to write about his battle, his passing, his epic memorial, and his wonderful legacy.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Mother's Day, 2008

Here we are, in all our glory!! *Ü*

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Bento love

I've really enjoyed reading all the posts that used to be on Two Peas regarding Bento lunches/boxes. I purchased some stuff when I was in California in February, and recently purchased some more stuff from ebay. I finally broke it all out a few weeks ago and made them for my kids!!

Here are a few from this week. I only do it a few days of the week because I'm really stumped for ideas. It's hard trying to figure out what will stay warm and what will stay cool.

Haley's lunch. Ham/salami/cream cheese pinwheels, grape skewers, Babybel cheese, goldfish, and Japanese candy:



Cassidy's lunch. Ham rolls, olive picks, grape skewers, Babybel cheese, goldfish, and Japanese candy:



These are really fun to make, but I'm having brainfarts because my picky children stop my ideas in their tracks. But we'll find a happy medium. :)

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Mr. Green Jeans

I've wanted to plant/have a garden for as long as I can remember. I'm not quite sure why I have not ever had a garden, but I figured now is the time to change that.

Somewhere I heard about planting a garden in a child's wading pool, the harder plastic ones. I did a search and came upon this site: Benefits of a Wading Pool Garden.

This is what I'm going to do!! We have such yucky soil in our backyard, and being on an acre, we don't have any sprinklers set up. As a matter of fact, we have *no* landscaping whatsoever...unless you count tumbleweeds as landscaping.

Friday is the day! I'm going to get the pool and the soil and pick out my veggies/herbs!! I'm so stinking excited!!! I'll post pictures as I go!

A week of reckoning.

In case you haven't noticed, I have been absent for the past week or so. Before I was just really busy. This last week I just haven't been myself. It's taken me a week to break out of this and I think I'm just scratching the surface.

So much has happened in my life in the past year and, more specifically, the past few months. My dad has been sick (pancreatic cancer), and he just has not been feeling well. He went for a PET scan last week and tomorrow, Monday, we find out the results...whether he is clean or there are any tumors. Waiting is the hardest part.

I've always prided myself on being an optimist but lately I've turned into this ginormous pessimist and it is affecting every aspect of my life. When I'm down/blue, then I don't want to do anything. My housework suffers, my cooking suffers, my commitments suffer, my exercise and eating habits suffer.

I've only exercised a few times this past week. I took Thursday and Friday off due to illness, and I took today off due to laziness. In my defense, however, I cleaned my bootay off yesterday, so I was exhausted today. I think since I made myself do all this housework yesterday...and I lurve how my house looks when it's clean...I'm ready to break out of this mini-depression episode.

Sorry about the bummer post but I didn't want to go another day without an update from me. Thanks for reading. *Ü*

Sunday, April 06, 2008

The Biggest Loser contest update!

As you may or may not know, our little down does its own version of The Biggest Loser contest. Those entering have the opportunity to win cash and prizes while getting healthy along the way.

I joined this year, and the contest ended on April 2nd. We had a live showing, and it was pretty exciting. They showed our before picture and then we walked out as our "after," then we got weighed. They had taken our measurements previously, and all was entered into their computer. The winners were announced...and I had won second place in ladies! My total weight loss was 21.7 pounds and I lost a total of 14.25 inches. Not too shabby!

Well, a day or so later, I get a phone call from the people running the contest. Apparently there was a computer "glitch" and I did not get second place. As of right now, I can't even tell you what place I got because they keep talking in circles around me and I don't understand. They told me I could keep the prizes, though. Yay. I kind of liked bragging rights better. Oh well.

D says it doesn't matter what place I came in during the contest. The important thing is that I lost weight...the right way...and I am now in a better place as far as eating and exercise. I know he's right, it's just a bit of a let down.

Friday, March 28, 2008

I cut it all off!!

(more info to come later!!)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

It's good to be home.

I had forgotten just how much I enjoy being in my home. I love the feel of accomplishing things that need to be done, and I love to be able to prepare food in a timely manner instead of having to throw things together and call it a meal.

Today I was cleaning the counters in the kitchen and I happened upon a bunch of ripe bananas. These were prime candidates for banana bread! So, I whipped up a couple of batches and they are baking in the oven as I type. I think it will be a nice surprise for hubby and the kiddos when they get home from school/work.

Tonight's meal is going to be Texas Style Spaghetti. My aunt gave me the recipe many years ago, and it has become a family favorite...for all of us!! I will post the recipe later.

Things are getting clean. Laundry is getting done. Things are getting sorted. I need about a month or so and my home will be running smoothly again. *Ü*

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Remember me?

Wow. Almost a month since my last entry. Not that I have any readers or anything, haha. This is mostly therapy for me, and the fact that I enjoy doing it, so no worries.

A lot has happened since my last entry. One of the major ones being that I have closed my store. Business was slowly going downhill due to the rising cost of, oh, just about everything else. So, sales suffered. It's almost like a blessing in disguise. So much heartache and let down in that store, and now I have time to go visit with my dad and spend more time with my kiddos.

I'm home now, and I've been bitten by the spring/summer cleaning bug. I've been doing laundry for two (yes, that's right, two) days, and I'm nearing the end. Cleaning out clothes as I put new, summer clothes in the closets. Next will be drawers. They need a good purging.

On a good note, I have been doing The Biggest Loser contest in my town, and I am hovering right at around 20 pounds gone!! I've gone from a tight 14 to a comfortable 12 in three months. I would have had better results, but I did a *ton* of traveling during this contest, which made my eating and my exercising suffer. This is the last week, and weigh in is on Tuesday, so check back!!

Along the same lines, I received my Turbo Jam DVDs yesterday, and I'm in love!! They are really fun, once you get over some of the awkwardness of some of the moves. I danced for 14 years, and I felt like I was a fish out of water. But, day two and it's getting easier. I plan on doing my DVD in the morning and walking my five miles in the evening. The pounds and inches should MELT off, right?!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Sun Chips...you had me at "hello."




Where have you been all my life?


I just discovered this humble bag of multigrain goodness today at the store. Honestly, the thought of "grainy Sun Chips" just never appealed to me before now. Since I am on a quest to eat healthier, I took a look their way.


Oh. My. Goodness.


These "chips" are just the right combo of grains and flavor without making you feel like you're eating pressed wood.


If you haven't tried these beauties out, go. Now.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Well, it's been a long time.

A really long time since I've updated. So much going on, business and personal, that I've gotten a case of the LAs (lazy azzes).

I'm in the mood to organize. And to scrap. And that means that I need to organize my scrap space! I've accumulated so much stuff lately that my creativeness is hitting a roadblock. So, this weekend I am working on getting things together!!

First off will be my scrap table. I barely have space to make a card in so it's time to take it all off and put back what needs to be easily accessible. Then, the stuff that does not need to be on top of my table will need to find homes. After that, I can tackle the paper holders that are overflowing, and the rubons that need some sort of organization.

Once that is all done, then I can create!!

Friday, January 04, 2008

Any New Year's resolutions out there?

I did not make any resolutions this year. So far, I've never been able to keep one of them, so why set myself up for failure again? But, this year is the year of me and the year of responsibility. Time to get me back in order and time to get responsible about other things, which, unfortunately, I cannot discuss on here. So, if I have a hiatus between posts, it just means that I got caught up in life.

Currently, I have also decided that my house needs a cleaning overhaul. I've started by doing one room at a time, top to bottom. So far, my front room has been cleaned/dusted/vacuumed/mopped, and then put in its final order. Also, I finished my office yesterday, which was pretty big. My desk was unrecognizable, and that is nice and clean now. I have a few things to dust (that I discovered while sitting here blogging about cleaning), and then it is complete!!

In order to keep up on the cleanliness of the clean rooms, I will "go over" each room a few times a week, leaving the deeper cleaning for one day a week. This sounds like a do-able plan, and so far so good!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! I'll post more on my holidays once I'm in a better mood.

Smooches!
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