A day of "I should..."

Happy Saturday, everyone!

I'm off work today (yay!) and I really should be getting lots of things done. But instead, this is what my day has been comprised of:

"I should" be in the pool getting my tan on, but the day looks like this:

(view of the lake over my fence)



"I should" be in my scraproom cleaning...or perhaps scrapbooking?? But it looks like this:

(courtesy of my daughter making covers for her school folders, and me throwing everything random in there)



"I should" be exercising because I'm finally back on my weight loss journey, but my elliptical sits like this:

(notice how sad it looks?!)



"I should" be cleaning...yet here I sit! And no, no pictures of what I should be cleaning. That would be horrendous and CPS might show up at my house after someone calls them...

Have a great day!! :)

A card with Copics

Sort of, lol.

I have several Copic markers. I love them, I think they are purty, and well...I'm a collector. It's what I do. So I thought, hey! Let's try those puppies out!!

The stamp is one that my BFF Sharla sent to me, and I finally busted him out. Isn't he cute?! He doesn't have much room for coloring, so I just used a few of my Copics. But I DID use them, so that counts...right?! I still need lots of practice but for now, it's one on the books.



Thanks for stopping by! :)

I always say, "I never win anything..."

...but today I DID!!

I've been trying to get myself into the digi stamping scene, and trying to use all of these wonderfully yummy Copics I have been buying...yet once again I lose my motivation. So, I'm trying to boost myself by looking at some really talented ladies do their thing with digital stamps!!

I don't have a lot of room for rubber stamps, so digi stamps appeal to me much more, plus I get the whole instant gratification thing when I want to buy one. ;)

So, in browsing around on the blog of one of my FAVORITE stampers/cardmakers...AMY, I see that there are some sneak peaks at the Some Odd Girl blog. So, I check them out and decide to post my comments. I'll be the first to admit...I'm usually too lazy to log in so that I can comment, which is something I need to work on because *I* enjoy comments, so I know everyone else does too. My apologies to my blogging friends...

But I digress...

I log back in to the SOG blog and see that I have won a digi stamp!!! I love it!! He's cute, he's adorable, and he's ROCKIN' KODY!!

So, go here:

and check them out. The stamps are awesome, and the designers are amazing!!

Back with a layout!

It's been ages since I did a blog entry. Since I started working I just can't see to get myself onto a schedule...even though I only work part time. I'm the worst procrastinator EVAH, but I'm finally jumping back in today!

I haven't had any scrapping mojo in a very long time. I've made some cards sporadically, but this time I tried my hand at working a sketch. I searched a bunch of sketch sites and finally found one I could use at Page Maps. They have maps for all kinds of layouts, plus some for cards too.

Well, here is my finished layout! I followed the page map and finally scrapped some older pics of the girls and I. I forgot to put the gem above the "i" in this photo but rest assured I went back and did it. ;)



Thanks for visiting and hanging in with me!

Some organizing projects I've done

A few weeks ago, before I landed my job in the flower shop, I started on an organizing bender in my house. My mom and I had decided to have a yard sale (since postponed) and I wanted to clean out each and every drawer and closet, room and garage, so that we can make it a good one.

I thoroughly enjoy organizing. It makes me feel good, it makes me happy to do, and it makes me enjoy my house just a little bit more. I love having a place for everything and everything in its place...although I haven't recovered from the little tornado called "The Superbowl" that blew through here last weekend.

Here are just a few before and afters I did.

Medicine cabinet before:


Medicine cabinet after:


Everyday dishes cabinets before:


Everyday dishes after:


Cookbooks/recipes cabinet before:


Cookbooks/recipe cabinet after:


Caffeine cupboard before:


Caffeine cupboard after:


Spices cabinet before:


Spices cabinet after:


Pantry before (don't mind the grossness):


Pantry after:


I love having a place or a basket for everything. I also love labeling things. I'd label my kids if they stood still long enough. Labels make me happy. Containers make me happy. Baskets make me happy. These pictures make me happy. :)

Thanks for indulging my inner Martha!

What's new with me?

I got a job!!

We have a flower shop here in town that hires work during busy holidays, for answering phones and helping out in the store. I happened to go in to find out if they were hiring seasonal workers at the time, and they hired me as a customer service person in the store!! I've been working almost daily for the past two weeks, and loving it!! Once the holiday season is over (Valentine's for now), I will go to a few days a week in the store, and more as they need me. Once Mother's Day starts in, I'm back to full time! I enjoy it very much, and love all of the people that work there!

It's been a challenge trying to figure out how to balance my household stuff and get myself back into the working world. I've been home for a very long time, and it's taking me a little bit to get into the swing of things. Thankfully I have very helpful children and they've helped pick up the slack. ;)

My bff Sharla has been getting into the scrapping challenges, and once I get myself on a groove, so will I!! Check out her blog and be sure to check back with me!! :)

So, yeah.

I have no reason for not blogging for so long, so I will not insult you with excuses, illnesses, family, yadda, yadda, yadda. But I'm here now!!

Shannon, one of my sickening talented friends, linked to a challenge on her Facebook page and I knew I had to participate! The Paper Variety is holding a challenge to create a layout, card, or craft piece based on this piece of inspiration:



When I saw the phrase, I instantly thought about my BFF. We live in different states but she is still as close to me and as dear to my heart as if we were next door neighbors. She's my sister from another mother, and sometimes we are so similar it's VERY scary.

So, here is my take on this phrase. As I was trying to complete this, knowing I wanted to use a photo of Sharla and I, I realized that we do not take as many pictures together as we should!! That will change in a few weeks!!!



Be sure to check out the challenge at The Paper Variety, and if you get a chance, hop on over to Shannon's blog and check out her beautiful work! I've had the honor of seeing it in person and it is fantastic!! Tell her I sent you!! :) Thanks for looking!

Crazy, non-productive weekend!!

Friday and Saturday, our Lady Knights varsity soccer team had a tournament in Kingman. My varsity player of course went, but the coaches also brought Cassidy from JV so that she could record the games on Friday and play in the games on Saturday since they would be short-handed.

It was a bummer of a tourney.

Our poor girls just didn't have it in them. They were short several seasoned varsity players, and they just couldn't pull a win out of a hat.

In the second game on Saturday, we were down to two subs when one of our goalies got injured when a girl from the other team pushed one of our girls into the goalie. Since Haley is goalie also, she had to come off the field and go into the box, which put our subs down to one. After a few more plays, there is a scuffle for the ball almost inside our net and Haley jumps on the ball. Well, one of the girls from the other team didn't stop trying to kick the ball and kicked my daughter in the nose, square between the eyes. She was down on the field for several minutes. When the athletic trainer tried to help her up, she wobbled and could not stand firm. Darrell had to run down there and carry her off the field and they took her to the training room via cart. After that, with 18 minutes left in the game, we had to forfeit. Our girls were beat.

Thankfully, Haley is doing well. She's taking it easy today.

Here are some shots of the girls, playing side by side on the varsity team. :)

We are purple. Hay is on the left upper and Cass is running with her.



My girls. *sigh* I love them



Haley in the box. LOVE her goalie jersey! It has a rib cage and inside of it are cogs and mechanical pieces since she is a MACHINE when she wears it! :)



And, because I cannot forget. Today is my wonderful husband's 43rd birthday! And he has to work. So, since we were gone for the tourney all weekend, we are having his celebration next week when everyone is home!! Happy birthday, honey!!

Some things I've made

I love to craft. But for some reason, I don't do it nearly enough. I have all the supplies, all the goods, all the motivation...but I lack the follow through. Therefore, I have totes and totes full of unfinished projects.

Awhile ago, while visiting my bff, we decided to try a few crafty things with our new-fangled Expressions that we had gotten awhileagorecently. We made a tile with just the word "family" on it from one of the cartridges. I don't have a photo of it because...well, I've been bad about photos lately.

My aunt saw the tile awhile later and wanted a few for Christmas gifts this year. Since my Expression is older now, I've had lots of practice using it. *coughcough* Sorry, something got stuck in my throat...

I dusted off my E, got some vinyl, and got to work. And this is what I came up with!!

(Again, please forgive the cell phone pics. I got a new point and shoot on Black Friday so things will be looking up!)





I love them and I think they turned out fabulous!! I think I'll make a few as gifts from me! If you get one...act surprised. ;)

Sorry for the hiatus!

When the weather cools off...so do I. Hence my hiatus from updating my blog! But my goal is to be better about updating, and actually finding interesting things to update with!!

I thought today's entry would be about weight loss. In particular, my weight loss.

I've struggled with weight in the past few years, bouncing up and down, but mostly bouncing up. I was buying bigger and bigger clothes, and becoming more and more miserable. I tried everything, and failed at every diet. I even failed at Weight Watchers...where you can eat just about anything you want. But then I found THE diet for me.

Homeopathic HCG.

When I first heard about this program a few years ago, all I knew was that it had to be done with injections. So, since I am deathly afraid of needles, it was a no brainer for me: No thanks. Then, I found out there was a homeopathic version of HCG and decided to try it. The diet itself is VERY restrictive, and I didn't tell anyone that I was doing it (except my bff) because I didn't want anyone telling me I would fail at it.

So I ordered and started.

I didn't have stellar results because in the beginning, I was still working on my self control. I had some slip ups. I had some falls on my face. But my first round I lost 15 pounds and a ton of inches. In my second round, I found it was a LOT easier, and I lost another 15lbs and got down to a comfortable 12 from a tight 14. I also went down to L (some XL) in shirts from 1X.

I am on round three right now and am having a difficult time getting back into the groove after a month long hiatus. But I'm not giving up. I've come too far and am too close to my goal. :)

Here are a few comparison pictures. I usually stay out of the lens so photos of me are hard to come by. But you can get a glimpse...

Before:

(January, 2010)


(July, 2010. Notice all of my skinny cousins?! Do you know how HARD it is to hide behind a skinny cousin?!)


And AFTER/CURRENT pics! I still have about 20-25 pounds to go, but I've come a long way!!

(November, 2010)

I've finally started on my scraproom!!

Yesterday I finally started cleaning out and organizing my scraproom. I spent hours in there moving things around, throwing things out and sorting items. I am SO excited to see the progress so far! I am no where NEAR the end, but at the rate I'm going right now, I could actually do a layout or a card this weekend!!

Now, here's where I hang my head in shame.

I didn't take any (good) before pics. I think my scrapbooking membership card should be revoked. I did, however, snap a few shots with my crappy cell phone camera, so all is not lost. I will post actual pics when I am done with the whole room!

We have measured and measured and now the process of buying cabinets and counter tops begins!!

Here is one view. My table (to the right) is actually a little cleaned off. It was stacked so high before that everything was sliding off onto the floor! So this is not quite a beginning, but not an after just yet. The table in the back, with the green containers on it, will be replaced by the cabinets and countertop. It will run from wall to wall.



And here is a view standing in my scraproom. The bookcase that you see now was in the upper left corner of the previous picture. Shelving will eventually go above the bookcase.




Now, here's something you can all help me with! I have a glass door that leads into my scraproom. I'd like to put something in vinyl on the outside of the door, but I don't want to say "Welcome." What would be good to put on the door? I'm going to hang a curtain on the inside, so the word would be what you see before opening the door to my scraproom. Let's hear your ideas!!

Happy Saturday!!

I love to meal plan...when I do it.

Does anyone else out there like to meal plan? I love to meal plan...when I actually do it. I don't know *why* I don't do it more because when I actually do it, I save money and we eat better and have more time management. When I don't meal plan, it's a free for all.

Today I jotted down a few meals that we haven't had in awhile and also ones that can be easily frozen. I'm all for making extras and freezing them...when I remember to buy extra ingredients. I also take our leftovers and freeze them so hubby has meals during his work week. But today, I actually based all the meals on their ability to be frozen.

I went to Walmart tonight and browsed around and picked up all of the ingredients for my meals. I also picked up some foil baking pans so that they can be frozen and then put right into the oven. I am planning on cooking all day tomorrow and stocking our freezer!

Here's what's on the menu:

Texas Style Spaghetti
Lasagna Soup
Chicken Enchiladas
Lasagna
Roast with gravy
Italian Chicken

I will post recipes as I go if anyone is interested!!

Procrastination doesn't pay.

I've probably posted about my procrastination several times on this blog. I'll have to go back and check. Later. (hahah!!)

I had some items that absolutely had to get out in the mail no later than today. I've known about this project for...oh...a month or more. But could I *be* prepared for once in my life?

Don't bet on it.

When you procrastinate and your deadline looms above you, you begin to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Then, things don't always go your way. Or in this case, MY way. The items I had to get out are Christmas presents that I made for someone else to give. I can't post the pics here because, well, they are gifts. But trust me; they are REALLY cute!!

So, as I'm running around like a maniac, nothing is working right. My Cricut isn't cutting right and is tearing my letters. I find out I'm *thisclose* to running out of black vinyl, which keeps tearing in the aforementioned scenario. I can't get my pics to copy onto a DVD-R which has to be mailed with the gifts. And to top it off, my land line wasn't working.

UGH.

So, after brainstorming with my BFF, I change the blade on my Cricut. Magic. It worked. I was able to squeak out the last of my craft with the black vinyl I had left. I found some CD-Rs to copy my pics to...and I got my land line working again.

The package is in the mail, and I'm spent.

It doesn't pay to procrastinate. But apparently I never learn my lesson.

And here's another vacation picture I uploaded today. Boy, did I wish I was back on that ship today!!

Why do vacations go so fast?

Last week, my mom treated my family to a cruise as our family Christmas present this year. She went with us, as did my aunt and uncle. We left Long Beach and went to Catalina and Ensenada. When we got to Catalina, I told everyone to turn off their cell phones because I wasn't sure when the International calls/texts would go into effect since we cross international waters at some point and then when we hit Mexico.

Little did we know that about the same time we hit Catalina on our ship, another Carnival ship, the Splendor, had a fire in their engine room and lost all water and electricity. Our friends had no way of getting a hold of us, and we didn't even know about the other ship until the next day. It even turns out that we had passed the Splendor but no one knew we did (passengers) because the ship was blacked out!

When we finally got back into the LB port and turned on our phones, the texts/messages/FB alerts started coming in like crazy!! Our friends were so worried about us!! We really felt bad for not updating anyone. :(

Here are two family pictures from the cruise. I will post the rest in a little while! Still have lots of scanning to do!!

Catalina:




Ensenada:

And now for a second post! Enter this giveaway!!

And that's an order!

Now, don't get used to TWO posts in one day from me, but I had to post and let you know about this giveaway on Tatertots & Jello!! I love the puff quilts, and one of these days I'm going to try the tutorial that Honeybear Lane has posted on her blog!!

So, head on over, start drooling, and start entering!!

It is now noon...

...and I am finally getting around to writing today's entry.

I think I will call it: "An Entry About Nothing." Hey, that's kind of catchy. Wonder if I could make a show out of it...

Woke up with a migraine today. I think migraines are absolutely fitting for Monday's, don't you? I actually went to bed with it last night and didn't take any meds, thinking I could just sleep it off. I try not to take meds unless I'm absolutely dying. But, I woke up with same said headache this morning so I knew I had to take something. Some Advil Cold & Sinus, some more sleep, and I can actually function now. Still achy but much better.

Today all the kiddos went back to school. They are going to have one HECK of a week because not only did they miss last week due to the cruise, the girls begin high school soccer practice and my senior practices from 4pm to 7pm. So, she wakes up for her 7AM class, she gets out of school at 12:30, tutors two days a week, comes home and does online Spanish, goes to after school clubs twice a week, and will have soccer practice every day. I'm exhausted typing that all out. We don't know what team my freshman daughter will make yet (senior is guaranteed varsity, which is good but a little strange, IMO), but I will announce it when we find out!!

I'm already one day behind on my zone for the week. Story of my life, hahah. The good news is that I don't sleep much when hubby isn't home so I can stay up all night and work on organizing the recipes while the kiddos are sleeping. ;)

Happy Monday!!

I really do Wanna be Martha!

I've decided to get back into the organizational groove. With the holidays coming up, it's time to purge, reorganize, and prepare for a stress-free holiday season!

I think I am going to take a "zone" at a time and take a week to do each one. I know I won't get much done before Thanksgiving, but if I get ahead of myself (a girl can dream), then I will push on.

My first zone will be kitchen/dining room/hutch area.

I will empty cupboards, discard/donate unused items and get everything in working order...so that I can mess it up when I start baking. hahah.

A big part of the kitchen organization, apart from the cupboards, will be organizing my cookbook/recipes cupboard. Yes. CUPBOARD. I need to streamline it and make it easier. I'm tired of having to sort through piles and piles of papers when I want to make something. Do you know how difficult that is when you want to make SOMETHING but have no idea what you want to make?! I think I will get a binder and take some page protectors, and sort out the recipes by type. Hopefully that will make meal planning more fun...and easier.

Will post updates later! I know you will all be on pins and needles... ;P

I'm back, yet again!!

And this time I brought a giveaway!!

You HAVE to go and check out this site: http://www.foralltimeclocks.com/view-samples. These are some of the prettiest clocks I've seen in a long time! I have many ideas for them as we just got back from a cruise and took a lot of family photos!

After you check out the gorgeous samples, you HAVE to go to Tatertots&Jello and enter to win one of those gorgeous clocks!! There are several ways to enter and several chances for multiple entries, so be sure to read through and do them all!!

Now get busy!! :)