Monday, September 18, 2006

Saturday, September 16, 2006

OK, Seriously...

... I am inspired just looking at this girl's scrap space. Seriously. I don't even have to see her work to be inspired. Although that really gets me going. Extreme talent. If you don't believe me, just check out her blog!

Pure Bliss....

... a Priority Mail envelope filled with stamps from Ma Vinci's Reliquary. YUM!!!

Ma Vinci is having a HUGE sale. I found it the other night & went wild!!! (Well, for me anyway. I spent $60!!!)

I've never owned any of her stamps before. I've just drooled over them. And wished I could own some. Now I do. I'm calling it an early Christmas gift. From me to me. Delicious rubbery goodness. Yeah.

If you want some, HURRY!!! The 50% Off Anniversary sale ends today!

As for me... I'm off to play...

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Quotes...

...that speak to me today.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
~Marianne Williamson



Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'
~Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey



The following quote was found on Kelly Angard's Crafty Girl Blog (So happy to see her back among us again!!)

"all my strength
blown away with a weakening force.
all that i fear i am
is nothing
compared to what i fear
i am not."

© 2006 kelly angard

Neat Stuff....

I have stumbled across quite a few really great sites today.
Why We Journal is a great site for inspiration in creating visual journals.

Women's Creativity gives insight into how a woman's creativity is generated.

Lots of Pictures ofArt Journal
Pages
And Even More Art Journal Pages

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Ever notice...

...how just being around certain people makes you want to be a better person? My friend, Kim does that for me. She doesn't even have to say anything or do anything in particular. It's just something about the way she is that offers hope. She is real. She is transparent. She admits when she makes mistakes. She tries to live better. She makes me want to live better. I'm so thankful that God allowed our paths to cross. I'm glad He chose her to be my friend.
Thanks, Kim... for just being you...

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Catching up...

... long time no bloggie!!!

So here's what I've been up to in no particular order....


... Taylor's birthday.
I managed to get a few little gifties to her throughout the day.

A little card with a dove necklace in it first thing in the morning when she came down to breakfast. She must have liked it because she actually had it on when I came downstairs. (She is SUCH a morning person & ALWAYS wakes up before I do.)

I snuck another little note & a mood ring (she loves mood rings) into her lunchbox for her to find at lunchtime at school.

Then, I had a balloon bouquet delivered as soon as we got home from school. Not allowed to have them delivered to school anymore :(

Made her signature requested birthday dinner. Of all things, she chooses hamburger helper cheeseburger flavor. I can cook. Really. I hardly ever make hamburger helper. So I don't know why this is her favorite meal. Seriously. But she loves it.

Then, we went to the Dairy Queen for Ice Cream Cupcakes. Taylor LOVES Dairy Queen cakes.

I think she had a pretty good day. Not as special as I had hoped I could make it, but still good.

We took her and a friend shopping in Fairview Heights on Sunday. Had an awesome time. We got a good laugh because it's the first time we've gone there that I haven't stopped by the scrapbook stores. (That was soooo hard for me!!!) But this trip was all about Taylor. We shopped at TJ MAXX, Old Time Pottery, and of course, the mall!!! Found some cool clothes & room accessories for Taylor & Madi even got a couple of things. We ate at St. Louis Bread Company - Taylor's choice!

Her party wasn't until September 1. We rented the public pool. It was soooo cold!!!! Temperatures around here have been hovering around 78 during the day and high 50's low 60s at night. Totally out of character for Southern Illinois this time of year. We are usually burning up right now. go figure. BUT, the girls had an absolute blast anyway!!!! They played chicken & some kind of game with a ball & giggled a lot!!! And of all things, we had a Dairy Queen Cake. I would have preferred some chili & hot chocolate, myself. LOL! But, in the end, Taylor said her party was awesome!!! I am so glad they had a good time. They didn't let the cold bother them & made the best of it. Yay!!!


...Last Scrapper Standing. My Round 3 layout didn't move me to the next round. But, that was totally Ok with me. I never expected to move past the first round, let alone go to round 3. I accomplished what I had set out to do. To be motivated to get out of the serious slump I had been in. And in the process, my self-esteem was boosted by about a thousand notches. The girls at 2 Peas are amazing. They were so supportive of everyone. And the Dare girls...well for them to even take a second look at my work, let alone honor me with being in the final 89 entrants out of 400...WHOA! I am just overwhelmed. Thanks for the privilege.


...I entered some pages in the State Fair. Mainly so the girls could see thier faces on the wall when we og. They were always telling me I should have entered, so this year I did. I hear through the grapevine that I got some ribbons. But I've not been to the fair yet, so I don't know which pages or what ribbons. I am excited to be going tomorrow so I can find out!!!

...Still trying to house train Sophie. She is doing OK, I guess, but we're still having some accidents. Some days none at all & other days 8 or 9. And we are taking her out often. Ugh!!! She is only 13 weeks old, though, so I know it's gonna happen.
And YES. We are crate training. I'd hate to think how bad it would be if we weren't.

But, she is a wonderful, loveable puppy & I am so happy that we have her. She is a great addition to the family. I can't believe how fast she is growing, though! I can barely pick her up anymore!!!

Here's a pic from the day she came home with us...

and here's one of her just the other day...



...I am adapting to working full time again. My job itself is great. My time away from home, not so much. I just can't seem to get a handle on the preparing dinner plans in advance & keeping the housework caught up through the week things. Throw in soccer practice 2 nights a week (I am an assistant coach for the girls' team) and I am quite exhausted. But I am thankful for the job. It is not high stress & so far, the teachers & staff are quite pleasant to work with. Here's to more good days ahead!