Do I have to clean this one too?

It's a dreary day here, I was hoping for snow but our temperature is staying at 33 degrees. So, just the coldest rain possible without being snow. J and I are playing with his kitchen that he got for christmas. It's not the largest or the nicest one out there, I got it from Walmart for $75 on sale before Christmas. But it is so neat. I would have given anything to have a kitchen like this as a kid. When you put a pot or a skillet on it makes noise like it's boiling or frying something. My mom got all the food. But now I realize I have one more kitchen to clean up. I really should talk to dh about a raise, this seems above and beyond. ;)

I've seen peaks of the new Cosmo and you know what a reserved person I am. Well, jumping up and down excited here! I can't wait for you to see. Some of my very favorite stuff so far. I think everyone is going to love it. Keep stalking the Cosmo blog. I'm working on getting my ideas out of my head and printing photos. There's something else I'm working on as well. Busy, busy. I know you all are too.  I just wish it was a little warmer, a little more sun would also be nice. My fingers are like ice.  

I think my word of 2009 will be focus. Focus on the big picture, not the details. Focus on everything that is going right and not the 1 or 2 things that I can't get together. Focus on family, above everything else. Focus on faith, not doubt. Focus on what is actually a priority. Focus on what is in front of me that I can do instead of worrying about all the things I can't control. Just focus. It could work, right? Happy Wednesday!

FYI

You guys might want to check out the Cosmo blog. It's a good time. ;) Have a great day!

Yesterday

Yesterday was a great day. I worked on CME's in the morning while dh entertained J. I had completed enough to be able to renew my NC license, so I did that while J was napping. I also completed so many of the things on my to-do list during that nap that I was energized! What a great feeling. Now I only have to maintain the house, and work on pages this month. Really, getting all that stuff done for my license takes the weight of the world off my shoulders.

Yesterday would have been perfect had J not completely lost it in the haircutting place. Little dude's hair grows entirely too much and too fast for that kind of melt down every time we go. He screamed bloody murder. He was better when he was 1 year old (like in the photo). He was so freaked out that a stranger was so close to him, touching him. I was very embarrassed, it was crowded in the barber shop and he was so loud. My cheeks were hot enough to fry eggs.

Then we went to Chipotle for dinner, and I guess nothing is recession proof as they have increased their prices by 50 cents across the board where we live. Not like it would stop me from going there, but it was kind of sad to see none the less. Still, I enjoyed it. It put me into a euphoric bliss for the next few hours. So, all things considered, it was a great day.

We put together J's kitchen this past weekend in anticipation of bad weather. The sky looks kind of weird, but no snow here yet this winter so we will see. I can tell this is going to be a strange month as far as sharing my work on the blog is concerned. I have lots I'm working on, nothing yet that I can share just yet. Happy Monday everyone!

Happy New Year/Scraproom

Welcome to my scraproom. Which is also my guest room. It's a tiny room, but it does everything I need it to do. Here is what you see after you walk in the room:

There is the computer, external harddrive, photo printer, and my scraps are in the basket. I have the pug blanket for moral support I guess. I don't know. I have since filled up the spice rack with tiny embellishments. The paper in the frame is so old! I can't even remember who makes it, but I liked it.

I know this picture doesn't look like much, but the spot between the  drawers and the closet is where I like to sit on the floor. The door is to the right in this photo.

Since this is also my guest room, the sofa is actually a futon. And it is pretty comfortable. The cover comes off and reveals the mattress and all the bedding is stored underneath. I hope you can see how I've labeled the bins so that you know what is in them. (You can click on the photos to make them bigger.)

Lastly, the most important part of the room is my closet storage. I try to only use half the closet, but I would love to spread out. I have rigged plastic ($6 for 6) bins from the floor to the top. To pull this off you have to have something heavy (cardstock) at the top to anchor it all. Plus I have used jewelry wire I received from a publication a long time ago to wire it to the shelf. 

As long as I go through things pretty regularly, they get used up or gotten rid off. I really like to see everything, I think that is key. But I can't have my room looking like a scrapbook store, because my company has to hang out here too. And I never leave it a mess, it's just not in my nature. 

I know I should update my self portrait with the new year, but I hate doing that! We will see. Have a great weekend everyone!

Relax

Not you, me. The new year always stresses me out. So much to do, so much to see, we have to get on with it! I've been thinking about resolutions and I'm having a hard time honestly. Here is a list:

1. Healthy living: I already eat pretty healthy, and I am at a healthy weight. I miss the cookies and cake (and cupcakes, coffee cakes, and anything with a cake-like consistency). I could exercise formally more, but I do get exercise. We run around the playground, block and when the weather is bad the house everyday. Plus we walk the dog several times a day. And I go up and down 3 flights of steps for almost every chore you can imagine (vacuuming sucks). But, I would like an exercise program so that I can get better at something, and have fun.

2. House: Now that the garage is in order, there isn't that much to do. There is always more I could do. I plan to get some bags and store the baby clothes in space bags in a container to get lots in there. Then there will be only one container in J's closet instead of 3. Even the scrap space is in order, I should show pics. I just don't think my space is that great compared to the amazing spaces I see out there. But it's mine, it works for me, and it's organized. I should get something to hold the wrapping paper though, that would be good.

3. Money: I thought I had it under control until I read today in the WSJ that college is expected to cost 1/2 million dollars in 20 years (worst case scenario-private). Anyone else see a tuition bubble? What the heck? You would have to save $800 a month per child to have half of that in 20 years with no return (interest etc.) Community college is looking better and better.

4. Scrapbooking: I'd love to be and continue to be involved with great companies that I feel passionate about working for. And I'd like to do as many pages as I did last year. And I want to buy some more albums.

5. Mental: To continue to learn to stand in the eye of life's storms calmly. I have made enormous strides in the patience department since having children.

6. Parenting: Less talk, more action. Make my words count. Consistency. I'm pretty much in shock that he is two. Here's another layout about that:


Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Jack's World Patterned paper Playtime and Wake up (front and back); Cosmo Cricket Jack's World Blackboard Vintage number 2 and Jack's World Train with diecut sticker; plus Basic Grey Buttons, Bazzil white cardstock, and May arts black Ric Rak ribbon.

Instructions: Create photo collage in photoshop, add text and lines. Print out and mat with green patterned paper. Adhere on top of patterned paper strips. Add text to white cardstock, and then add patterned paper on top. Add Blackboard embellishments, dressing train with diecut sticker. Add buttons. Note: Studio Calico's Jan add-on Footnotes has most of the supplies seen here.

That's pretty much it. Nothing earth shattering, or exciting. Just me doing the best I can. Happy New Year everyone! Any exciting plans?

A drive-by posting

You know the deal, I'm in a hurry. The garage however, is clean. I pulled from my stash what you can get this month at Studio Calico in the Index and Footnotes add-ons:


Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Get Happy Patterned paper; plus Scenic Route Rub-ons, Basic Grey buttons, Maya Road Chipboard heart, black and white Bazzil Cardstock and Studio Calico Nadiya stamps with Black Staz-on Ink.

Instructions: Print text on white background. Layer black cardstock and patterned paper. Add photos. Last, stamp title and apply rub-ons as seen. **Note: the last step will probably give you heart palpitations as the layout is nearly finished and here you go with the messy stuff. Hang in there. I hold my breath until I nearly pass out. Whatever works for you. :)

My first birthday layout! Carry-on my friends, carry-on.

Overwhelmed a little

It's hard not being home for the holidays, you walk back in and it just feels chaotic. I have a mountain of laundry I am working through, tons of toys to find new homes for, and lots of stuff that just needs be cleared out I think. I will probably leave the tree up through Wed, as it will give me time to find some new storage containers for the Christmas stuff.

We had a great holiday, Santa was good to us as always. I am the proud new owner of a Mac laptop, I'm learning Leopard. I'm a little freaked out that we are now exclusively a Mac family with no PCs. Techno barbie (that's me) will probably still attempt a repair at the million yr old PC, but I'm not very hopeful. I doubt it was a software problem, probably hardware on a computer so old.

I was asked before I left to participate in a 4 product challenge for the Studio Calico blog:



I used bits of several different kits. And I fell asleep on reveal night, so that was anticlimactic. I think January is all about evaluating priorities and I think I really need to focus on that. We were lucky to have dh home with us for the holidays and he will be home now for at least 4.5 mons. It has been a long year with him gone so much, and I am so grateful that we can be a family for a little while. Like all good families, we have plans to clean out the garage today. (Ick)

Happy Monday all who stop by!