Utterly random and kind of scary

So dh said, "I went to your blog."
And I said, "Cool, what did you think about the grill post."
Dh said, "Uh?"
And I said, "Or the one about house hunting?"
Dh said, "What?"
And I said, "Well, what did you do if you didn't read it?"
Dh said, "I looked at the pictures."
Ladies, don't worry, this college educated West pointer is taken.

Rain Layout

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Hello Sunshine paper pad; plus Black and white cardstock, American Crafts Typo thickers, and Creative Imaginations aqua rhinestones.

Instructions: The paper pad gives you a page with 3 flat sides, and one scalloped side. To get that wavey line, you have to angle the paper to the left about 30-40 degrees. Adhere to white cardstock with preprinted journaling via computer or plain white cardstock to hand journal later. Turn white cardstock over so that the patterned paper shows and cut the excess paper off, leaving only the flat edges of your white cardstock. Turn over and adhere photo, thickers and rhinestones and mat with black cardstock. Clear as mud right? I hope not.

I promised myself that if I did 3 layouts I could start reading Eclipse Wednesday. One more to go! Sad, I have to bribe my own self. Happy Tuesday!

A Sunday Drive

Yesterday was a beautiful afternoon, the sun was shining and the birds were chirping and my dh was pacing, itching to get a grill. Our grill, rest it's soul, was killed in the thunderstorms in TN. The bigger they are, the harder they fall I guess. So, when we moved we let it go.  After moving here, we didn't replace the grill because dh was deployed on and off all last year. But now that he will be here this summer, the grill battle rages on.

I'm not opposed to getting a new grill (so simmer down there Bobby Flay), I'm just kind of in sticker shock I think. Dh wants a good one, one that doesn't have a lot of plastic on the front to break off if it falls over. One that is going to last for a while. This all translates into he wants a really nice grill, $$$. So, I've been making him do his homework in an effort to stall. Which one is better-stainless steel vs. porcelain? Which color, make and model? Which is going to last the longest? Which accessories would he really need? It's all just stalling while I try to wrap my brain around it.

In his research he came across a Weber dealer just around the corner. So, the foodies that we are, we set off on our Sunday drive to find it. We got to the littlest rinky dink hardware store you have ever seen. However, after the maze of fertilizer and rat poison, down the steps and in the basement was an entire showroom dedicated to Weber grills. It was the mecca of grills to be sure, and I considered genuflecting out of respect. However, my two year old did not share my sense of reverence. He instead grabbed a grill brush and tried to best the aliens. 

We left with more questions than answers, and more research to do. So the battle rages on. At least we have the color decided upon, I feel that is a huge step in the right direction. :)

A page from the Baby boy A Kiss on the Chic kit (see previous post for picture/links):

I have a bunch of layouts for 4 months, so I just made a cover page. Hope you had a good weekend. We are headed outside for the remainder of the day. Happy Monday to you!

A couple of pics. . .

Of the new A kiss on the Chic kits:

Teen Girl Kit

Teen Boy Kit

Childhood Girl Kit

Childhood Boy Kit

Baby Boy Kit

Baby Girl Kit

These kits go on sale April 1st at 8 pm PST. Quantities are limited so be sure to let Laura know your interest asap. Later on, a peaceful Sunday to you!

Red dirt

I miss Tennessee, dreadfully today. I have my pictures for comfort, I just never thought I would look at them as much as I do or I would have taken more and better ones. I never thought I would fall in love with TN, I'm not from there, didn't know a soul when I went to live there. I just miss everything about it--our green lawn (all we have is asphalt here), the big blue never ending open sky, the friendly people with a drawl and the red red dirt. The last one was so bizarre that I did actually take a couple of pictures. I miss shopping and eating in Nashville.  I miss working at the base. Today, I just miss everything about it. Maybe it is the rain, the dreary, the urban, the traffic, the crowded, the here. I really want to stop moving and put down some roots, it's just this isn't the place I really wanted to do that. Because I still miss TN, and the red dirt roads.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Lost in Forks. . .

And I'm not sure I want to be rescued, so don't send anyone to look for me. I've been so busy the past few days getting ready for company that I haven't been able to spend much time with New Moon. And last night Grey's was new, so you know that just cuts into my doing nothing time. I can see this is going to be a problem, so I've added the last two books to my cart on Amazon. It should take a least a week to get here, that should give me a break to get back to my life.

Next week we finally meet with J's speech therapist. Although his language has blossomed and with that, his behavior is much improved. He isn't as frustrated, and I haven't sent him to his room for hitting anyone or anything in 5 days. The answer for him was apparently a growth spurt and consistency with discipline. But I really believe the growth spurt was the answer. Still, I'm not opposed to seeing what the therapist has to say, any little bit can only help.

There are 6 sneak peeks of the new kits on A Kiss on the Chic blog. The theme is childhood, and the kits are broken into baby girl, baby boy, little boy, little girl, teen boy and teen girl. If you've ever wondered if there was a kit with just boy or just girl stuff for your kid, I believe this is the answer! I'm very excited to work with some boy papers!

Tonight is the Studio Calico April reveal, and I was featured in the member spotlight section of the news letter:

I don't know how much I will be able to be around tonight, but I'll try. Happy Friday everyone!

Rain, Rain

Spent the morning at J's class, and then outside playing in the rain. I figured we wouldn't see rain again for at least a month. I figured that's the kind of draught buying rain gear would buy me, but I was wrong. I think J had fun, I think the boots are a bit heavy on his feet. He did well at his class, still not interested in circle time but he's not the only one. My favorite teacher announced today she was leaving to take another job. I guess I'll have to think about if this is the right activity for him, right now. I'm thinking swim lessons would be fun for the summer but that is still a little bit away.

Been cleaning up for company. Well, in so much as that's possible with a two year old. It will be clean, but not necessary completely picked up. That's just how it is with a little one. Trying to be kind to myself, feeling like lately I'm just running around trying to make other people happy and most of the time it isn't working out. So, I'm trying to let myself off the hook for the little things that I can't change. Having a little kid is hard, they have a lot of needs. I have very rarely seen a Mom who isn't doing the very best she can with her kids at any given moment. So, if you see one today, tell her she is doing a great job. Because she probably doesn't think so.  She only sees the spilt juice boxes and the temper tantrums that she's sure everyone else saw too, even if they didn't. 

One question I have for you. What do you think of watermarking photos? I'm not a professional photographer, just a mom on a mission to have some decent photos of my son. Is there something I should worry about, hence the need to watermark? Until tomorrow.

Happiness is . . .

So, I told you he handed me two models right? One was the boat, and the other was an airplane. He really wanted the airplane!

Lil Man Plane

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Lil Man Patterned paper: Mischievous Max and Silly Sam; Cosmo Cricket Lil Man Ready, set, Chipboard; plus plane model kit, Claudine Hellmuth paint (white and tan), a nail, and Crafters glue by Tattered angels.

Instructions: Also known as what you can do with 2 pieces of Cosmo paper and $1 (it's what the model cost me). I did both these projects, the plane and the boat at night. I wish I had some pictures of the process. But similar to the boat, you sand the wooden pieces, paint the wooden pieces and edges you desire. Then you cut patterned paper with a sharp craft knife in the shape of the wooden pieces you wish to cover. Glue into place, nail in the propeller and embellish with chipboard stickers. Enjoy your happy child. PS Throw away the brushes and paint the model comes with. Get the Claudine Hellmuth paint. Trust me.

My happy child loving his "meen." It means airplane I figured out after several wrong guesses. I wasn't able to finish this Monday night because I had to nail in the propeller. I knew there was a reason I never really caught on to the eyelet craze. I had to get dh to nail it in for me yesterday afternoon. I'm thankful he does these kinds of things for me. He did ask me why I had taken to making my child toys as opposed to buying them from China like everyone else. I assured him and will assure you, this was a freak thing. I'm looking forward to layouts, lots of photos, maybe a mini album. I'm done with altering for a bit. Well, off to read more of New Moon at naptime. Happy Wednesday!

I have things to do. . .

And this isn't one of them. I should be working on doing CMEs, continuing medical eduction. But I got this book for my birthday, and once I picked it up last week, I couldn't put it down. I've moved on to New Moon, and while like a vampire to blood I can smell the plot twists coming from a mile away, there's just something about the way she writes. It's entertaining to read, but I don't think I have any desire at all to see the movie. Since it has been beautiful here the past couple of days, I find myself taking second and third glances at pale people. I have absolutely no reason to exclude myself from the fore mentioned pasty pale group of individuals coming out of hibernation to enjoy the spring weather, but I'm giving them a jaundiced look just the same. Asthma and arthritis articles are really going to have to work harder to hold my attention I guess. I think it's practically illegal for medical text not to be dry and dull. Kind of like this blog post today. :)

I am in the middle of a project, didn't finish it last night for obvious reasons. Hoping to finish at J's nap time. Unless the New Moon saga ensnares me again. Don't tell me anything about the rest of them, K?

I have some news, I'm very excited about it. Over the weekend I was invited to join the A Kiss on the Chic design team. I think that this is really going to push me creatively and I'm really excited for the prospect of that. The team is small, but very talented and I'm honored to be a part of it. I know a lot of you come here via Studio Calico and let me reassure you, I'm not leaving SC and I will still continue to make projects and layouts with my SC kits too. Basically, you will get the best of all worlds I think and lots of projects to look at on my blog. The A Kiss on the Chic kits can be seen and ordered on Laura's blog, I'm going to work on some links when I get chance today or tomorrow. 

J says "Aaap" every time he sees the apple on the cover of the book. He is up to 75 words already, he's a machine! Happy Tuesday!

New Scribble Scrabble

I used the new Scribble Scrabble Carmen line for this layout:

Supplies: Scribble Scrabble Carmen patterned paper in Nimblewill, So much Love, Stop and Smell the Roses, and Paradise found, plus basic grey buttons.

I liked that the strips kind of reminded me of litmus paper for his moods-sometimes frustrated and mad (red); sometimes wild and giggly (the beige pattern); sometimes loving (the hearts); sometimes jealous even (green). The colors are amazing in real life, and the texture of that background paper is like linen or fabric. Loving the B side of these papers.

It's a nice day here, we are on our way outside. Happy Monday to you!

Weekend Update

(photo: I took this at my BFF Lenore's wedding. My sunglasses fell off my head as I leaned back and they got crushed by the crowd coming out of the church. Still I feel like it was worth it, something about it comforts me.)

It's been a bit of a disappointing day. It looks like we should probably wait until the fall to look for a house. Dh's work situation will be more clear, etc. It's so hard to wait, to change course when you have something set in stone in your mind. But, I have faith and I know that everything happens for a reason. The obstacles aren't meant to keep us out, they are there to show us how much we really want something. And sometimes, they are even for the very best, especially when we don't know it. 

So even though I'm sad that the adventure is over before it really began, it will happen. And I really didn't feel like moving right now again anyway, it's only been a 1.5 years since the last time. Thanks military. But since it will happen, I'm going to focus my efforts on clearing out these closets. I don't want to move anything that I don't have to since we will be moving ourselves. (In case you are curious, that means scrap stuff too. Stay tuned for that.) That should keep me busy for a little while anyway. Well, that and researching preschools. 

The day wasn't completely a wash, I had Cold stone ice cream for the first time. Wow! We drove to the nearby park and dh remarked we should get out and walk the trails to burn some calories. I told him that I would have to carry the truck home to make a dent in the caloric intake after the Cold stone. We did walk the trails of a really cool park though. And frog boots and umbrella came, and they are even cuter in person. I'm actually looking forward to the rain! J's phrase of the moment "Aaahhh wight". And it will be all right. Hope you are having a good weekend! 

Friday Random-ness

I'm getting lots done today, hoping to look at houses this weekend. However, we may have hit a snag. Dh's work is potentially moving outside the area, which would be bad bad for us if we bought a house. Even though they might move less than 50 miles away, there is a good possibility our BAH (military speak for housing) would drop. Then owning a house, and trying to sell it and move in a hurry, that's more stress than I need. I don't think they make burritos big enough for that.

What I'm doing today: cleaning the bedrooms, paying bills, and waiting for the following to arrive:

This for J for Easter, I thought he would love the dog. He is into little house like things right now:


I saw these on my friend Nicole S. blog, she takes such cute pics of her boys in them. I wanted the firefighter set, but J wanted these:



This is also for his Easter basket and I got him a Curious George Board book that helps with bedtime routines:


I'll leave you with 5 random things about me:

1. I love pickles. Almost as much as I love guacamole. I recognize this isn't helping my case from earlier, but I'm still not pregnant.
2. I'm on the epic quest for the perfect shade of lipstick, one they don't discontinue after I fall in love.
3. I'm a recovering soda-aholic. I've been clean now for 48 hours, but I'm jones-ing.
4. My sister has Crohn's disease, my father has Ulcerative colitis. It's rare to have both in one family, Duke wants to do a study on us. Joy.
5. I have a photographic memory. Great for academia, not so great for directions. It's like laying a photograph on top of a photograph to get somewhere. Aggravating.

Have a great weekend. I just got a neat email from Cosmo about some really fun things that are going to be happening in the next week or two. I wanted to give my regulars a heads up, don't want you to get lost in the hustle. Also, I have a guest design team thing coming up, with a company that you probably would never put my style with. It's going to be so much fun! Happy Friday guys!

Because I love him. . .

On that very strange Friday that we went to Michael's where I bought the push pins (see Tuesday's post) and the green shirt (see Wednesday's layout), I also got something else. After walking around for 15 mins and being good in the cart, J wanted to get out. I can't say I blame him, I would think it torture not to be able to touch all the bits and baubles in there too. 

So, I made him our standard deal. He could get down and walk around as long as he stayed with me. If I had to chase after him, the deal was off and he would go back in the cart. He agreed and we set off in the direction of the wood aisle. After fondling several things, thinking I neither possess the ability or the dexterity to do that to paper, I was happily looking at stickers. J, who was still in compliance with his end of the bargain, came to me with something he wanted. From his eyes I could tell this was nonnegotiable. I looked at his offering.

He had brought me two wooden model sets. Things that are in tiny pieces, that have to be assembled. And that are for ages 5 and up. "No honey. . ." was all I got out before his eyes turned fierce. So I looked them over again, and checked the price. $1 a piece for each kit. In my mind I knew what I was thinking, and for a buck it seemed worth the risk. Really, what could happen. I tried one more time to convince him, appealing to his intellect and good nature. "Honey, Mommy is more like a doctor than an engineer. Really, this isn't my kind of thing. . ." For a little guy, his look was fierce. So I lost that round. Welcome to the SS Cosmo:

Snorkel Boat

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Snorkel Patterned paper Umbrellas (front and back); Cosmo Cricket Snorkel Ready, set Chipboard; Cosmo Cricket Snorkel Rub-ons; plus Black Cat's Eye Ink and Studio Calico Red and white twine.

Instructions: Oh this is going to be good. Also known as what you can do with $1 and one piece of Cosmo paper if you have time. First you will need to get a wooden boat kit. Then trace the wooden pieces you want to cover in the front side of patterned paper. Cut out paper and adhere with memory mount glue. Paint remaining pieces desired color (white). Assemble the boat with wood glue. Bravely throw away the tissue "sails" that came with the package. Create new "sails" with the back side of patterned paper. Attach twine to the top and sides of the wooden support beams, and using the twine as an anchor for adhesive, glue ever so carefully. Apply rub-ons. It would be best if you inked the sails before adhering them, but as I learned that's optional. Apply chipboard sticker last.

Now, the biggest problem I have is that giving this to a two year old would mean certain and complete destruction in 3.5 seconds. And while it took less than an hour and a half to do, I'm emotionally invested at this point. So, I have made J a new deal. I showed him the boat and he was very pleased and said "Booooat! Booooat!" That was so worth it, all of it for me. I told him that we will put it on the shelf in his bathroom to admire. He doesn't have any theme for his bathroom yet, so maybe this is a step in the right direction. Think Cosmo makes shower curtains? 

Be-lated St. Patricks day

Happy late St. Pat's day! I'm surprised to find that like me so many of you love the push pins, but have no idea what to do with them. I'd love to see a layout with them, if you have any. I tried to use them on this layout, yeah, not so much. I love the color green, just love it. I love all colors, but especially green. I always have too. And I'll take any excuse to use Cosmo's Hello Sunshine paper:

Lucky Layout

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Hello Sunshine Patterned paper: Clover; Cosmo Cricket Just your Type Cardstock stickers: Nursery Palette; plus Black and white Bazzil cardstock, American crafts thickers, and K&Co butterfly embellishment.

Instructions: Print photo, print text via computer. Add thickers, sticker label and butterfly embellishment. Assemble as shown. Super easy!

I had to leave the edges on the layout otherwise I'd chop off the butterfly. J said butterfly today when he looked at it. I'm so excited, he is talking so much! Off to do some laundry. I have something kind of special to show you tomorrow. Until then, happy wednesday!

Like a crow to shiny objects

Well, it appears from the congratulations I got on that layout from yesterday that I have some explaining to do. One more time for the record, I'm not pregnant. However, now even I am freaked out about it. :P

I've been feeling so tired because J wakes up after midnight and does not go back to sleep. This has been going on for a week. He is not sick that I am aware of. I think if anything his language has exploded and he wakes up jabbering on about everything--balls, woody, gee (the dog, as in doggee). And while I'm grateful that one fire appears to have been put out, the lack of sleep is killing me.  I used some new tricks at bedtime last night, and they appear to be working. Ha ha! I'm so thankful sometimes for the Internet, it's like having a group of a million moms in your living room who are going through exactly the same thing give you advice. A modern miracle is what it is.

I hope to get some green pictures today. I know, I'm such a slacker not staging my photos. I did get J a green shirt for $3 at Michael's last week. And I got these for me:

I can't really explain my fascination with the push pins. I can't. I don't understand it. And I'm not the person who should be fascinated by them, I'm entirely too clumsy (yep, I still have my surgery degree hanging on the wall, mocking me). I've stick myself more times than I can count now with the Maya Road pearl ones. They are in a bag and the ends stick out every which way and get me every time I haphazardly move that thing around my space. My goal is now to use 6 of these pins, so that I can put the pearl ones in their spots on the circle. The javelins need to be confined to the circle for the safety of everyone in my household. (I'm not the only one who has picked up the bag wrong, dh is none to happy about my masochistic obsession either. I shouldn't have left them on the counter.) But they are pretty uh? Until tomorrow.

Monday, monday

I'm moving slow this morning, but I feel compelled to say this is an old picture from April 2006. I'm not pregnant now, this is part of J's book.

Happyness Layout

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Patterned paper: Sunday; Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Ready, Set Chipboard; American Crafts Rockabye thickers, Black and white Bazzil Cardstock, and Tia Bennet stitches 2 peas. (Studio Calico March Kit)

Instructions: Digitally add stitches, and print photo, and mount on black paper. Add journaling text via computer on white cardstock. Add chipboard title and thickers. Add embellishments.

Too tired to blog right now, I'll do better tomorrow I hope. Happy Monday!

Let them eat cake

Drive-by posting:

Cupcake Card

Inside says: Happy Birthday!

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Chemistry Patterned paper: Forget me not ; Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste Rub-ons; plus black pen, American crafts cupcake embellishment and white Bazzil cardstock.

Instructions: Cut out white elliptical shape with french curves. Draw line around the "plate" with black pen. Apply rub-ons individually around the circle (the hardest part but worth it). Add cupcake embellishment. Apply word rub-ons. Adhere to front side and then backside of patterned paper frame.

Happy weekend to you!

Pages turning

Today is Friday the 13th, and that's got me feeling a bit anxious. We have had snow come and go today, weird already.

I started off the day right by finishing the rest of the Dr. Pepper for breakfast. (When I fall off the wagon, I normally turn the thing over on myself.) We have been up all night with J several nights this week, not sure if we need a change in our current routine, or if this is just a blip on the radar screen to be endured. How do you ever know?

A quick card for St. Patrick's Day, can you believe that is later this week? I'm looking for a green outfit for J.

Blessed and Lucky Card

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Tuesday Patterned paper; Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Ready, Set, Chipboard flower stem; plus white Bazzil cardstock, Martha Stewart heart punch black pen, and digital stitches Tia Bennett 2 peas.

Instructions: Open a 4 x 6 layout in PSE. Open stitches and change color. Drag to open layout. Add text and green background color. Print. Punch patterned paper in 4 heart shapes. Outline in black pen. Add chipboard flower stem and hearts to card. (Note: this was a very simplistic explanation of the digital/hybrid part, if you would like more info please leave a comment and I will create a tutorial.)

Have a great weekend! I suspect we will be chasing housing leads. Happy Friday!

Carbonation-induced Clarity

It's been a very interesting week, and it isn't even over yet. Friday just can't come soon enough.

 

I've fallen off the wagon, after 6 months of being soda free. I jonesed hard this afternoon for a Dr. Pepper and I just couldn't talk myself out of it. I wanted it, needed it, and kind of felt like I deserved one. Only now I have the sh, the sh, the shaaaakes from the caffeine. Wow, that's not a good idea before bed now is it? I guess nothing will be glued down straight with the scrapping tonight. :P

I'll spare you the play by play with the speech evaluation. Something that was supposed to take 1.5 hours ended up taking 3.5 hours, and not due to anything J did. I'm so grateful that dh could take off work when I asked him and that we went together with J to the eval, I just needed him there for moral support I think. He was great at keeping J occupied while I filled out forms, sat in the meetings. I don't know how I ever would have managed alone.

There was a lot of positive that came from the eval. J is a very smart and bright kid. He is well disciplined even if his behavior speaks to the contrary at times. He knows limits, he understands consequences. The group doing the evaluation could not stress enough how well he is being handled with love and patience by his mom and dad. He has a lot going for him, he really does. He just needs to learn how to focus his intensity in a positive manner. He was found to be slightly speech delayed, less than 5 months behind his peers though, so not as bad as we were fearing. He is  socially delayed though, but we are working on that in his play class twice a week. The evaluation recommended a therapist come and work with him once a week, to help not only with his speech, but also to help with his constant need to move around. I'm optimistic they are going to give us the tools to help him so that when he starts pre-school he can be successful in a classroom situation. Because we all know that no matter how bright you are, that if you can't sit in your seat when asked, you are going to be labeled a trouble maker. J isn't carrying any medical diagnosis at this point, and for that I am grateful. Everyone who evaluated him believed that he will eventually out grow these present difficulties. 

I asked dh a question in the car on the way home, J was immediately sleeping from all the excitement. I asked how all this was different from other 2 year olds, and we agreed that J is more. More intense, more stubborn, more active, more driven. And then I asked the dreaded question, how much is normal? And dh gave me the most hopeful explanation of the day. He turned to me and said, "Think about the best teacher you ever had, your favorite doctor to work with. They aren't normal, they are more. They have learned to take something that is considered a liability and turn it into an asset. Their weakness in time becomes their genius."  I cling to the hope that the traits J displays as a child, while they are not easy to parent, are exactly what he will need as an adult. And I feel like it is all going to be ok in time.

Thank you all for your support and concern. I felt lifted up by your comments and your prayers. I do have some projects, but we are expecting snow. I'm hoping the light will be better tomorrow. TGIF soon!

Waiting on go

Today is a big day for us, getting J evaluated for his speech today. I do think he is talking more, imitating more, trying to communicate more, but he is struggling with pronunciation. I think that is what they are going to find anyway, we'll see I guess. I think the way he talks is very cute, but I'm the only one who seems to understand him.

So, since this is essentially a drive by posting, let's get to it. More with the March Studio Calico Kit:

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Patterned paper: Saturday and Tuesday; plus Bazzil Vanilla Cardstock and American crafts thickers-Rockabye, Patchwork Fabric and Lullabye (all from Studio Calico March Garment District Kit).

Instructions: Cut ledger patterned paper to 8.5 x 11, and print text, title, journaling. Then trim to add to layout, on top of striped patterned paper. Adhere photos, and thickers. 

So, if I used vanilla cardstock, that counts toward my detox from white cardstock, right? Maybe not. Until tomorrow.

Stuck in the middle

Last weekend we were shoveling half a foot of snow. This past weekend we spent outside, in short sleeve shirts and shorts. Why is there nothing in between? What happened to spring?

We went house hunting with our new budget in mind. And everything is either a million dollar Mcmansion or a shack in the hood. No middle ground. But we continue to search. Unfortunately, some one's foreclosure could be our gain.

Something that's not average? This amazing Studio Calico kit with lots of Cosmo Girl Friday! I have more layouts coming this week with it:

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Patterned paper; plus white and black bazzil cardstock and American Crafts thickers craft fair and lullaby (all from the Studio calico Garment District March kit.

The cure for average? Guacamole suave. Have a great Monday!

Random things on my mind

I've had some trouble updating my blog this week, I walk around thinking "I should blog about this, not this, or this." But then I get indecisive and I just don't blog. So, here are some of the things on my mind tonight:

1. Thinking about houses, the local real estate market. Talked to a mortgage lender, seems like they are still pushing people to take loans they really can't afford. Shining a spot light on our finances, trying to figure out in reality what we can afford, (and if you do that too long you'll go blind, I'm convinced!)

2. Thinking about appointments. Next week is full of appts. J finally has his speech evaluation next week that we have waited 2 months for. I'm still trying to get the audiologist to call me back so that I can make that appt. I know they will find he needs help with pronunciation, but otherwise he is talking more. I know what he is trying to say and I think that helps fill in the gaps. The rental people are coming to fix a plumbing problem next week too. There's an appt everyday, it's crazy.

3. Thinking about scrapping. Got my Studio Calico kit today, excited about that, good stuff in there. I'm just feeling a little lost I guess. I can't seem to find what I want to say, and that always gives me pause. I thought if I cleaned out my brain here it might help. 

4. Thinking about J's class. Knowing I did the right thing. We went to his makeup class on Thursday and had a great time! Really! I met another mom with a little boy just like mine and we totally hit it off. We talked like sisters. J sat through the beginning circle time, nothing short of a miracle. There were tantrums, not waiting to wait for a turn, but it was so loud and so many wonderful active and spirit kids, including many little boys that it didn't even matter. I felt like everyone was either very easy going or too busy with their own kid to care. Much less judgemental and uptight than the Monday morning class. And J really connected with one of the new teachers in this class, so we switched. And to think I almost didn't go to the makeup class (from the snow). I would have missed the progress, and the amazing feeling of hope that I have. J is having a much better week this week. He has had a little growth spurt and I think that has helped his behavior so much. 

5. Thinking about something I learned this week. And there were too many things that added up and merged to bring me to this point to type here. But after praying and praying for the obstacles in front of me to be removed, I finally got frustrated and realized that God either can't or won't change them. So I asked him to change me instead, to just change me so that I can handle it. And I think that has been a huge turning point. 

I hope you have a good weekend!

Wednesday

Well, the sun is shining and for that I am thankful. It's been a little while since we enjoyed the sun. The roads have been plowed, so today J and I can run some errands. I have my car loaded up with stuff to give to charity and local schools, so I am thankful the roads are clear. I'm ready to get rid of some of this stuff. I still have some baby stuff left, still searching for the person who needs it. But for now it is in a box in the corner of the garage, waiting patiently until I can find it's next owner.

I've been trying to detox from the white cardstock, and I'm unsuccessful. The stuff is seriously addictive, but I want to use my patterned paper so I'm trying. This layout has some patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Jack's World that you may not have seen:

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Jack's World Patterned paper: Big Sister; Cosmo Cricket Jack's world Patterned paper Strip Tease; Cosmo Cricket's Jack's World Rub-ons white "VROOM"; plus white Bazzil cardstock, Maya Road chipboard heart, 2peas Tia Bennett stitches and 7 Gypsies stickers.

J loves Thomas the train. He was very good yesterday. I don't think he went to his room one time, and he was really good in the food store. So grateful for days like that. Have a wonderful Wednesday! 

PS (FYI) I picked up Pink Paislee's Fetching, and the Maya road pins here this weekend; and now they have Jill Bean soup in the store too. Arrgh! Not looking, not looking.

Blizzard

Well, the snow keeps on falling. Here are some pics: 

I guess we won't be going to J's class today. We will be heading outside for some winter fun though. Here is one more layout with Studio Calico's Feb Fortune Cookie Kit:

It is March right? Hope you have a great Monday!