Moving... forward

That's it.  My word.  One little word.  I'm in desperate need of getting my life back on track and I think I took the first step this evening.  I've never been a particularly positive person, hanging onto mistakes and silly things for years, replaying small events over and over and wallowing in the inevitable outcomes.  However, having a kid, losing my job, and this recent move have put me in a tailspin I haven't been able to get out of.  From childhood, kids were never in my definition of myself but my career was.  My career never happened.  Instead, I've had a string of jobs that have never amounted to anything and I never cared for but at least they were jobs.  That was all turned on its head last year when I found myself unemployed and a stay-at-home mom.  Soon after I was laid off, I took my son to Panera for lunch and we were surrounded by people who were obviously on their lunch breaks.  I felt so out of place and lost because I felt I should have been one of them, not the mom laughing as her kid ate his first unsliced, unpeeled apple.  I was happy with him but still uncomfortable in the situation.  It took a while but through two playgroups in our neighborhood, I met several other moms with kids the same age as mine, some unemployed, some older and so on.  I got very close with them and we usually spent several days a week together at the neighborhood lake, pool, playgrounds, etc.  Then we decided to move.  I knew it was going to be hard but I've been so depressed since we got here that I have a hard time getting things done and creativity is so far from me it's laughable.  I've been trying to catch up with a local mothers' group but it's just not going anywhere right now.  I'm mentally, physically and desperately emotionally stuck where I am.  I've been trying to convince myself to move but I'm still glued here.  Hopefully, that changes soon.

I've been looking at Brave Girl Camp but while it looks, smells, feels, sounds unbelievably fantastic, it's also a several-day, hundreds of dollars trip and they're sold out for awhile.  That just ain't it.  They're also doing an online 6wk "Soul Restoration" seminar starting in Jan (1/11/11) for $100.  I may be signing up for that.  What I DID sign up for was Ali Edwards' "One Little Word" class.  Big Picture Classes offers quite a few creative classes and Ali's is one of them.  The basic gist is to pick one word that defines what you'd like to do/accomplish/move towards in the new year.  The class is supposed to have monthly communications inspiring, motivating, reminding, etc. you to move toward that goal.  In the end you've spent 12mos. working on it and there's some sort of journal you've created in the process of getting there.  I think the idea of it is brilliant, the monthly "check-in" useful, and the journalling process important.  I chewed on several words: Positive- I simply need to be more positive.  Kinda vague to me.  Peace- I think I need to come to peace and terms with who I am now and lay the past to rest.  However, I think I need to move further than just that.  Direction- I need to come up with a direction for my life.  This may be too much to bite off in one sitting given that I don't have a clue right now.  Focus- I need to find it in my life.  Motivation- I need more but I think this word is almost a negative reminder to myself that I don't have it.  Move/movement- felt kinda weird- am I going to dance?  walk?  SO.  After all of those, I realize that I what I really need to do is simply go forward and it feels like that word covers so much of what I was trying to cover with the others.  I need to move forward, think forward not back, look forward and focus, etc.  So forward it is.  Go forth and prosper, to infinity and beyond, and all that good stuff!  btw.  If you decide to take a Big Picture Class, I'd love it if you use me as your reference: A35A8576.  No, I'm not trying to give you a sales pitch because I really don't know how good the classes are, but if you do, we'll each get a 10% discount on the next class.  Every little counts!

2010's Christmas Cards

I knew I wouldn't be getting anything done creatively in Nov. so I started my Christmas cards at an all-day swap right before we left NJ.  Unfortunately, I was only able to get them about 70% of the way there.  I was hoping to send them out the first of Dec. since many people didn't know we'd moved.  In the end, I was just happy to get them finished and out before Christmas.  I think I made 54 total cards with 4 different designs.  I get bored quickly so I kept the same image but changed the cards up for variety.  They all use SU's Dasher stamp and then a mix of Certainly Celery, Cranberry Crisp, Bravo Burgundy and Kraft (or Crumb Cake as they call it now) paper, DSP and ink.  The glitter is Martha Stewart's.

Meet Me on Monday

1. What are your New Year's Eve plans?
Getting ready for New Year's Day mostly.  We have friends from NJ who will be down visiting her parents (who happen to live in the same town we do now) so we're having the whole clan over Sat.


2. How tall are you?
5'6", give or take.  Since the hubby is 6'6", I wish I had a few more inches to my name (NOT around the middle though!)

3. What is your favorite pudding flavor?
Tapioca or chocolate depending on the day.  A REALLY good rice pudding (hold the raisins please) is a good thing too.

4. What room of the house do you blog the most in?
Probably my craft room.  Hard to say.  This is only the 2nd time I've blogged in this house but I imagine this will be the place.

5. What is your best physical feature?
Probably the curl in my hair.  While it's got a nice % of white hairs, it does have nice natural curl most of the time.  I can actually get a Bo-Peep curl on occasion.

Been a bit longer...

but I'm still alive.  The munchkin is in school.  I'm still trying to find a circle of new friends to even come near to the group of ones I've left behind and desperately miss on a daily basis.  I know it takes a while but ouch.  We survived Christmas.  We were going to host but MIL couldn't take any time off this year so we went to visit again.  DS is 3 1/2, this was his 4th Christmas and we still haven't had one at home with him.  Next year, we stay.

In any case, the real reason I FINALLY got back to this is that I just HAVE to share something with you.  Last Monday night, I decided I needed to order myself a Sally Jean necklace.  If you haven't seen these, take a half hour or so and dig around her site.  Great, fun, snarky things there that I love.  I actually stumbled onto the site a few years ago when doing some packaging research for MyM&M's and have checked back in every once and a while to see what's going on.  For some reason, last week I was looking at Sally Jean's and decided that I needed to get some of her things for personal inspiration, AKA a kick in the pants.  While the site said it would be 2-3wks to ship, the two pieces I ordered actually shipped a day or two later and were here waiting for me today when we got back from our trip.  They could have been here Fri. for all I know.   However, the thing that really got me was the packaging.  The outer mailer was your typical small padded envelope bag.  But get a load of what I found inside:

I just had to share.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and your New Year is bright!

I know it's been a while but...

So around the beginning of Sept. we found out we were going to put our house on the market and move to NC ASAP.  In the 10wks after that, we put it on the market, countered and accepted a bid, ebayed/freecycled/yard saled/gave away more than I thought possible, packed up, lived in 3 hotels/houses for a bit over a week, moved into the new digs almost a week ago, cleaned up, had all of the necessities installed, had our stuff delivered (unexpectedly a day earlier than we thought) and have partially unpacked.  I DESPERATELY need to find pre-school/daycare for the Beast because he's becoming truly beastly without a schedule and no one to play with.  We also haven't had a break from each other since before Halloween so we could BOTH use it.  I think I'm off to get a YMCA membership tomorrow morning- I can check him in there for a few hours while I come back to the house and unpack and he get to meet to kids and wear out a bit (there's been a serious lack of naps recently which isn't helping anyone!)  Basically, it's a daycare/pre-school set up without officially being either one.  Maybe I'll even treat myself to a yoga class tomorrow... but probably not.  Maybe next week when more boxes are behind me.

Meet Me on Monday

Wow!  Check me out!  Not only am I posting it, I'm getting it in early.  Of course, if I didn't do it now, it wouldn't get done but that's beside the point!!




1. What is the best dish you can make?
I wouldn't say it's my best (there's the chili that a TX friend of mine scoffed at because I put beans in it.  Then she tried it and changed her mind) but I had the grand champion 4H cake at the county fair when I was a senior in high school.  It was a coconut cake and sold for $2000.  If you're wondering, I only got $10- that's what the GC prize was in any category.

2. How often do you change your sheets?
Usually twice a week, once if we just don't get to it.

3. What is the longest car trip you have ever taken?
A one-way 24hr drive between TX and MD.  We made that trip 4x when I lived in TX.  Once going down, round one year for a Christmas, and back when we moved back to MD after I finished school.



4. What is your favorite fruit?
You KNEW I couldn't get through 5 questions without saying there's more than one answer!  Watermelon is probably my top one but then there are red raspberries to throw a wrench into it.  And grapes.  And blackberries.  And mulberries.

5. Would you rather have breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?
That's easy.  Breakfast for dinner.  LOVE it.  We used to do that occasionally when I was a kid- pudding (the meat kind) and blueberry pancakes for dinner.  YUM.  We don't do it often now but I'd like to think we'll start to more often.

Quick and Dirty Birthday Cards

I realized last night that I owe two little girls birthday cards this and next weekend so before I pack away all of my stamps, I should do them. 

The first is done to the CPS Sketch #186

The second is very similar but done to Card Patterns #83

Both cards were stamped with SU's Birthday Whimsy and embossed with a shimmery EP.  The cakes were stamped with Positively Pink, the balloons just with Versa Mark, and the sentiments with silver ink.  The papers were from Michaels.  The stitching is faux and completed with a silver pen.

Meet Me on Monday

I imagine there will be a week when I again post a "Meet Me on Monday" on Monday, I just don't know when.

1. What is your favorite all time movie?
You should know me well enough by now to know there's no ONE answer to a question like this.  There's the Harry Potter series, the Lord of the Ring trilogy, Love Actually, Beautiful Girls, The Nightmare Before Christmas...


2. How often do you go over the speed limit?
If I'm highway driving, daily.  If I'm just on the backstreets and in the neighborhood, pretty much not at all.

3. What really gives you the creeps?
Worms.  I hate worms.  I don't know why, I know they're ultra-valuable and life would pretty much end if they weren't around but I hate worms.  They creep me out to no end and one day, I'm sure I'm going have to talk to a little boy about why he can't wave or throw worms at mommy.

4. What is your favorite snack?
I'm just not picky.  Anything sweet, many things salty, occasional healthy items.

5. Would you rather be a dog named Killer or a cat named Fluffy?
Fluffy sounds pampered and taken care of in a soft life.  Killer sounds like he was raised to be intimidating and spends a lot of time outside in the rain.  What do you think?

Meet Me on Monday

Sorry not to have posted this for a week or two but it's been a bit hectic around here.  We went from thinking that we might be selling our house and hopefully moving to NC in 6+ months to putting our house on the market, scrambling to make it showable, taking an out-of-state vacation with our parents and accepting a bid on the house in the past 2 weeks.  Needless to say that brings a lot of baggage with it and I think the insanity is JUST starting.  ugh.  ANYWAY!  Meet me on Monday.

1. What is your favorite pasta dish?
I'm actually not a huge fan of Italian.  I don't mind making some at home but I have a hard time going out and paying a lot for tomato sauce and boiled pasta.  That said, I LOVE the Penne Rustica at Macaroni Grill.  I have a knock-off recipe for it that I HAVE to try one day after I get over the fact that it takes about 12 gallons of heavy cream and contains a bazillion calories in one serving.  It's easy to not think about those things when you get it in a restaurant but you slapped with it when you make your own.  Of course, a good pumpkin ravioli is a good thing too...

2. What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
Turn out the light.  ;)  Seriously.  I'm probably on the computer surfing or working on something or working on a puzzle in a GAMES magazine which nearly always lulls me to sleep.

3. How many nights a week do you go out to eat?
1 or 2.  Usually I fix a meal for the week on Sunday and we'll eat it through the week.  By Wed or Thur, we're generally bloody sick of it so go out for a change of scenery and/or flavor.  Sometimes I'll fix something different mid-week but we still want the change in scenery.

4. Are you an avid book reader?
Sometimes.  I used to practically eat books but I don't tend to read much these days.  My spare time in the evening is spent on the computer or those GAMES magazines.

5. Would you rather have x-ray vision or bionic hearing?
X-ray vision.  Heck.  I'd be happy with 20/20.  HECK.  Even 20/100.  I have 20/750 and 20/900 when I don't have my contacts in or glasses on.  Anything would be better.

Card Patterns Sketch Challenge 80

Hey all!  Happy Labor Day!  I hope you're all having a good, and hopefully extended, weekend!

I just finished making this card for my cousin.  I was supposed to go to her baby shower this coming Sat. but due to complications she was having last week, Ian was brought to meet his adoring fans about 2mos. early.  Apparently he's doing well and was breathing on his own from the start.  In fact, he was doing so well that I heard that even though he was only 2lbs 1oz., he was taken to meet his father before being taken to what I'm guessing is NICU.  In any case, rumor has it that the shower is still on?!?! but we won't be going since 1. we suspect it will be postponed and 2. with the house on the market, we'd like to be here to keep an eye on things rather than travelling down to VA.  At some point though, I think I'll be getting a shower gift to Katie and here's the card.

Meet Me on Monday

Ok.  So I missed last week's MMoM post.  Sorry!  Been a bit crazy around here...

1. What is your favorite kind of potato chip?
Lays probably.  I'm not usually too picky about potato chips.  I do like Pringles on occasion but they're just kinda weird.

2. Do you make your bed everyday?
Since I was laid off, yep.  When we were scrambling to get the three of us out of the house before 7am and trying to make in home by 6pm, it just wasn't a big deal.  Now, it's not a big deal to straighten the sheet and comforter in the morning.

3. How often do you go to the hair salon?
hahahahaha!  I usually get a haircut about 3wks after it starts to bug me which means every 2-3mos.  I can't color my hair because I had a wicked reaction to the chemicals last time it was colored (if you're familiar with Two-Face from Batman, that was me for about a week back in November last year.  I'm not messing with it again!)  I am looking forward to trying henna this fall (once we stop going to the pool- I don't imagine henna gets along well with chlorine and I don't really want to test that theory!) which may increase those visits to once every month or two.

4. What do you dip your French fries in?
Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  As long as they have a bit of salt on them, it's all good.

5 Do you shop with coupons?
As frequently as possible.  Enough that I annoy myself actually.

Cross-stitch book giveaway at Jilly Beanz Thingz

A good friend of mine is giving away 3 cross-stitch books over at her blog, Jilly Beanz Thingz. Go check it out! And if you enter, leave a comment here and you'll get an extra entry!  I told you she's a good friend! Didn't you believe me?! :)

What Mike the Mailman delivered today

Mike made my day a bit sunnier today.  I received my

• Fruitzio from Momma Told Me
• Gooseberry Patch's "101 Autumn Recipes" book from completing a GP survey
• Photo jewelry blanks from The DIY Showoff (I spent about $10 to add another bracelet to my win)
• Fairy stamp set from the Paper Pretties grand reopening blog hop

To top it off, I also received a Starbucks card I ordered for my husband using some of my MyPoints.
Thanks Mike!!

Meet Me on Monday

OK, OK.  It's Tuesday.  You'll have this.



1. What is your favorite dessert?
Once again, there's no one right answer.  There are lots of different cakes.  There's fruit pizza (Rice Krispie treats crust, cream cheese "sauce", lots of sliced fruits, all covered with a lemon glaze!).  There are more pies than I'll mention (though the fluffy, frozen strawberry one SHOULD be mentioned!)  I could go on.  Really.  I could!


2. What do you wear to bed?
Usually, a pair of my husband's retired shorts and a tshirt.  Occasionally a pair of real pajama pants.  Occasionally.

3. Do you get regular manicures/pedicures?
hahahaha.  I've had one manicure in my life.  I can't justify the cost when I'm going to chip the polish off in a day or two.

4. Did you play any sports in high school?
I was rather anti-sports since I'm far from athletic.

5. Do you have an iPod?
I wouldn't have bought one but I won my first one at my old job.  Now, the day it dies, I'm off to the Apple store to get a new one.  LOVE it!

Win some awesome blog candy!!

Brenda at Rose Blossom Legacies is giving away a fab box of goodies just for the sake of it!

 

• Cosmo Cricket Jack's World - sticker sheet, 2 journaling sheets, 2 journal tags, and 9 pieces of matching printed paper  
• CTMH Clover Meadow - 12 sheets  
• Fancy Pants Mixed Media 8x8 album  
• Rolodex for altering  
• Inkadinkado School stamp set  
• Me & My Big Ideas Smile chipboard sticker  
• Colorbok Cute chipboard letters  
• Creative Imaginations school rub-ons  
• K & Company Rough and Tumble grand adhesions  
• Slick Writer pen  
• Primary colored safety pins
• CTMH chipboard - swirls, brackets, square frames, round frames
• 4 yards red ribbon
• Bag of diecuts from the Slice Fall/Back to School card
• Big bag of brads, eyelets (couple hundred or so various colors and sizes), bookplates, and buttons

Michelle at Michelle's Scrapbooking and More, is giving away a paper pad and punch of choice, a stamp and 3 Copic markers!  Nice!

Patty, over at Scrapbook Patty, is giving away a box full of yumminess!

Win a fabulous crafting workspace!!

 For a few days, you have a chance to win this Limited Edition Workbox!  You can see it and other Scrapboxes at "The Original Scrapbox" website.

Visit Obsessed with Scrapbooking for more info!

Meet Me on Monday

1. Do you watch any Soap Operas?
Thankfully, no.  I caught onto one a bit years ago because my best friend was hooked but I never really got into it and any interest waned in a month or three.  Actually, the only thing I watch regularly right now is "Royal Pains."

2. What appliance is used the most in your house?
Washer/Dryer and microwave.  There's at least one load every other day and three on Wednesdays.  The nuker is a daily tool, which is bad considering it died Friday and we haven't yet gotten out to replace it!  (Nope, that's not my washer and nope, I don't use affresh.)

3. Do you wear make-up every day?
Generally, no.  That's a joy of being an unemployed SAHM- I no longer have to wear makeup everyday.  There are some days when I just want to feel a little more pulled together or less "bland" but since I spend an hour or two at the pool or on the lake beach almost every day trying to wear the boy out for nap time, the last thing I want is makeup on while I'm sweating in the sun.  Most of the rest of the time, still no.  I've never been much into makeup and have never "outgrown" that.  :)

4. What is your worst pet-peeve?
People who are rude.  More importantly, people who are rude, know it, and revel in it.  Case in point, driving home this evening from the Sussex County Fair.  The road was backed up for miles, mostly because it was one lane.  Occasionally it would open to two and then drop back to one.  The number of #&@*$ who get out of line in the lane being merged into, get into the lane going away so they can get 10 cars ahead and then merge back in astounded me.  Excuse me you frickin' #(%&@!!!!  You're a large part of the reason we're backed up.  If everyone would merge when they can rather than forcing in at the last minute and making everyone else slam brakes, we wouldn't be here!  So many New Jerseyians seem to roll around in the bad rep the state has for being rude- it's like it gives them an excuse and they want it.  I just hate it when people think/act they're more entitled than the rest of us!  Grrrr!  I guess you can tell after this little soapbox that I REALLY dislike intentionally rude people!

5. What is your favorite lunch meat?
Hard salami.

Finally, new cards, pages and stuff

I'm finally getting around to posting some cards, pages and other stuff I've finally made!

A "magic card."  The image is b/w when you look at the card but colored when you pull it out by the tab.  This will be dad's bday card this year.

A bday card I banged out this morning for a 3rd birthday party we went to this afternoon. 

Another bday card for another 3rd bday.

Alphabet/Shapes/Numbers cards I made for The Boy.  While he knows his alphabet, I wanted to work on words that start with the letters.

A layout of pix from our recent trip to Six Flags.  I have to do the journalling but it can wait.