Cocoa Daisy July

I survived J's first day of school. I wish I could adopt the motto that new/different/change isn't bad, and that every new situation has just as much potential for good as it does for bad. But I guess I'm of a fixed quality, change is hard for me. I have to prove to myself that if I put a foot off the ledge I will indeed feel the ground before I'll believe that I won't be a splat on the pavement. He did great, had the best time. Can't wait to do it again. Today was definitely harder on Mom. :)

Nothing has gone according to plan these last few days. This is a good and a bad thing. It's good because it's opened my eyes to so many things, and yet it's bad because I feel like I'm rushing around instead of relaxing and enjoying. I'll get there again. Got some great recipes to try on the grill this weekend. Can't wait for the 4th!

Here are some pages I made with the Cocoa Daisy July kit. Let me first say that I was kind of worried when I saw the colors, I'm not the biggest "orange" person out there. But I learned something with this kit, I really love color, in any form. I gravitate toward neutrals because I feel like they are safe, but then I like to get all anti-establishment with color.

One I made with the main kit and Tunnel of love add-on:

This one uses only the main kit, I love that exclusive Cocoa Daisy stamp! This one also uses American crafts pigment ink in Clay and I love, love the chestnut brown cardstock AC puts out, it's the most perfect shade of brown.
I thought these colors reminded me of Fall, after I had done my Summer layout. Is that weird to have made a summer and a fall layout with this kit?
And lastly, this is my attempt at whimsy. I think I failed miserably, but I tried. I wanted it to be light and airy, dream-like, which is sooo not my scrapbooking style. But I tried. :) Lil dude is way too happy in mornings. Must get that from my dh. Hmpf, not me. :)
Happy Tuesday to you! Until tomorrow.

Introspection

Enjoying our last few days of freedom before J starts school and I start work.

It's funny how the end makes you think of the beginning. I once read that having a child is like throwing a grenade into the middle of a marriage. I disagree with that. I think that having a child is like throwing a grenade into the middle of your life (if you are the Mom). I felt so happy to have my little guy and yet so lost that I didn't get up and go work with adults all day. I missed having someone to talk to who could talk back, although I am kind of used to one-sided conversations with my dog but still. It was the best of times mostly, and the worst of times some days. But I adjusted, changed, compromised, and in the end thrived in my new environment. Thrived as a Mom.

And now, well, it feels like a second grenade. A second explosion, leaving me feeling much the same way. Who am I now? What is expected of me? I know that work and school is what is good for both of us at the juncture and yet I still feel scared to death. I'm still a Mom, and a physician assistant but I'm not the same person I was before I had a baby. Change is so hard. Feeling the need to seek out much guacamole. :)

And it's not really the end, it's a new beginning. A new chapter. Sorry for the introspection. Here are some sneaks, still working with the kit:

Happy weekend to you! Until tomorrow. :)

July Calendar page

This page is a follow up to the June page for the calendar I created for the American crafts blog. I'm up to July, woohoo! The frame on this is just a digital black frame, because I still have my June page in the frame. June isn't over yet and I didn't want to risk damaging it to get it out just to take a picture. It's kind of fun to keep the same design, and yet I sort of want to change it up. But after I take July out, who would know? Ok, you, blog readers would know. But shhh! Don't say anything! We'll see, dh is shocked that I'm continuing on with this. He said, "I thought for sure you would have caved by now and bought a calendar." Normally he is right. :)
I'm busy busy. Finishing up an assignment for the AC blog, getting together sneaks for Cocoa Daisy. I plan on posting them tomorrow. Happy Wednesday to you! Until tomorrow then.

PS If you love American crafts, they are having a design team call now. :)

At the moment

I am:

Mimicking: This whole blog idea from other blogs I've seen.

Listening: To Lady Gaga's Alejandro. I heard it on the radio and wanted to see the video. Mistake, horrible awful mistake. It's Satanic, but gosh the girl can dance.

Eating: Chicken that dh made on the grill. He got home late last night from his most recent trip.

Drinking: Water, lots of water.

Wearing: My second pair of khaki shorts today, and a pink top. We went to see Toy Story 3 like everyone else in the US, and 5 mins into the movie, even though we took him to the potty twice, J had an accident. While sitting on my lap. Now, I've been a parent for 3.5 years now, and I'm not one to let a little unexpected bodily fluids ruin my good time. So, I changed him and enjoyed the show. :) It was my first movie going experience since having a baby.

Reading: Too many CMEs to count! 4.5 more hours to go. That will make 100.

Feeling: Anxious, worried about all the changes happening. Wanting to feel differently though.

Wanting: To enjoy the weekend. Trying not to stress.

Needing: Clothes for work, but my weight keeps changing. Not sure what size to buy?

Thinking: About my horoscope for the day. I always read it from Jonathan Cainer. It's really cryptic today.

Enjoying: Having my dh home again. :)

Wondering: About a medical mystery I am researching.

Scrapping: With the Cocoa Daisy July kit and American crafts Ink:

and

Happy weekend to you! Sneaks very soon. Until tomorrow.

Home Again

Just got home from vacation at the beach (which for me is my parents house). Not that it makes up for the lack of blogging or blog reading, but it was a much needed break before we go on to the next phase of our lives.

I've really been working on my photography lately, not because I will ever be a professional photographer or anything like that. I hate the business side of things. I just enjoy taking photos of my family, it's a hobby for me. So, been working hard at that and I was thrilled with a few that came out of the camera, as is, no photoshop/touch up.

These were taken about a mile from my parent's house, insane! :) I love it there, would give anything to live in that little town again. I didn't know how good I had it. Now I fight with traffic everyday of my life. :(

Busy filling out paperwork for work and J's school and doing CME's at present. But I did contribute this project to the American Crafts blog today. Happy Wednesday to you! Until tomorrow.

Randomness

1. Home improvement sucks. Here's why: collateral damage. We got a new AC/furnace last week, but the thermostat box is way smaller than the old one. Which means that to hang it properly on the wall, you have to paint over the areas where the old one was. I hate that. And this lead to me painting and repairing other walls, which lead to dh having to paint one entire wall, and on and on it went. It's over now, but my gosh!

2. I am down right chilly now, despite the fact that the AC is approaching 74 degrees. There really is no middle ground. :)

3. My flowers look good, the whole yard does actually. See:

3. I've been busy lately, I recently accepted a position as a physician assistant with an doctor's office here in town. They have been remarkably accommodating of my schedule with J and I feel really lucky in this economy to find something that I am excited about doing.

4. Not sure how best to juggle everything, specifically-family, working and scrapping. I feel like time will tell. I've tried hard to limit my DT commitments to only those companies that I really love, and I hope to continue with them at present, but again time will tell. I know that I will always scrapbook in some form or fashion, I love it, it's fun to me.

5. I have been taking a ridiculous number of photos. Some things never change it seems. :)

Happy Thursday to you. Until tomorrow.

Mini me

I bought this set for J last christmas. I offered a choice between this outfit and a police officer's uniform, and he chose this. Lately he is in it a lot.

Today his Max doll came in with arm pain.

And Max was treated with a shot/injection.

Orthopedic surgeons are such cowboys. :)

I can't wait to scrap these photos. Happy Thursday, until tomorrow.