Takin' Life One Day At A Time

Yes, Jill, I heard you...

2009-12-10T10:07:00.006-05:00

...and I'm finally updating my blog! LOL! Would you all please tell me I'm not the only one unable to keep up with life? And if you are one of those perfect people who has all your gifts wrapped and under your beautifully decorated tree, your holiday candies made, your dinner parties organized, festive attire awaiting the next holiday celebration, handmade Christmas cards already mailed...well, I admire you and I HATE YOU! LOL! Just kidding! That used to be me...not anymore. Good Lord! I'm so behind. I mentioned in my last post how I have one tree decorated and the other patiently waiting to be "dressed". Well, I have nothing else to report...my poor tree is still waiting for me. I did take time to fluff the branches, adjust the lights and add a few ornaments last night. Here's hoping I finish tonight. I truly hate to complain about being behind. It has been my choice to focus my energy on other things so I have no room to complain. I'm taking time to spend time with those who mean the most to me...pretty good reason to not sweat the unadorned tree, don't you think?

This past weekend was my girl's trip to Boston. What a trip it was!!! Although we had a rocky start, it was a fantastic weekend. You know, I think I sound like a broken record these days...every good event seems to begin with a challenge. This time it involved flight delays. I have never been one to enjoy flying. Makes me very nervous. Thursday was an extremely windy day meaning a very bumpy flight. What better way to ride out the air-born potholes than with a little Goose and Juice under your belt. Barbara shares my dislike of shaky flights so we downed a drink before boarding, thinking it would help. Ummmm, we didn't account for the hour+ delay in boarding as well as the 45 minute wait on the tarmac. Yep, the nice little buzz was long gone. Which is probably a good thing. Once we made the quick 30 minute flight to Atlanta, we had less than 10 minutes to get to the other side of the airport as our next flight was already boarding. We had missed our original connecting flight but the Delta agent had booked us through on the next one. And it appeared we weren't going to make it either.

Not being the wisest traveler, I was wearing clogs, a heavy winter coat, thick scarf and carrying a heavy tote bag. And a 10 minute sprint across the massive Atlanta airport was required. We took off running...at a fast pace...which became a little slower as we went. We finally made it to the tram that would transport us to our gate but had missed it and the next wasn't due to arrive for another 3 minutes. I knew we could run the distance faster than the wait would be. OK, so I thought I knew it. My workouts are serving me well, but I've learned I need to work on increasing speed and endurance. We arrived at the gate huffing, puffing and sweating profusely just as the agent was closing the door and stating the flight was closed out. Darn!!! Unable to muster up the energy to be upset, we just stood at... well, hung over...the counter waiting to see what our options were. Fortunately, she decided to let us board. And we were on our way!

We arrived around 7:30 but our luggage didn't. No worries, a quick trip to Walgreen's to purchase a T-shirt for sleeping and life was good. When we awoke the next morning, our luggage was waiting for us. And we were off to explore the city. Friday was a day to shop til we dropped...literally. Twelve plus hours of roaming the malls and the streets and our bodies had had enough. We were in bed by 9:00. We're such party animals. :-) The weather on Friday was beautiful and spring-like. We even enjoyed lunch outside at a cafe. Saturday was rainy and cold. But that didn't stop us from sight-seeing. We boarded a trolley and went to the North End where we followed the Freedom Trail for a bit and toured Paul Revere's house. The wind and rain eventually got the best of us and we returned to the hotel and mall for more shopping. Sunday we awoke to snow and bitterly cold temperatures. The wind was brutal. Our walk to breakfast was less than comfortable. But we enjoyed it nonetheless as it was our last moments in the city. By 8:00 that night, we were home, sweet home. There is something warm and comforting about coming home after a trip.

I have always loved Boston and my time there only proved to strengthen my love for the city. But the best part was the time with Barbara. Reconnecting with old friends is the greatest!!!

I would say I will be back soon, but I've been a liar of late. So I will leave you with well wishes and cyber hugs. I will be back as soon as I can!!!

Love to all,
L

P.S. I thought I would share another layout from my current Serendipity kit. As I mentioned, there is something special about returning home...and this layout supports that statement. I scrapped my mom's door from a Christmas past with the saying "at the holidays, all roads lead home". This year I'm focusing on home...the "home" found wherever I am surrounded by those I love.

(You can click on the photo for a larger image.)

Is It Wednesday Already???

2009-12-02T18:07:00.005-05:00

Not only is it Wednesday...it is a week and a half since I last posted! How in the heck did that happen??? To quickly catch you up on the comings and goings in my world...Thanksgiving was wonderful! It was probably the best I've ever had. I know you all are aware of the zaniness within my immediate family, ie me and mine...but we had to get it somewhere. Yep, we got it from my side of the family. My mother, brother, sister, spouses, children and friends all came to my house to celebrate. It's the first Thanksgiving I can remember that we all were together on the actual holiday. Laughter was plentiful... food was bountiful...hearts were grateful. Everything the holiday was meant to be.

The weekend was spent attempting to decorate for Christmas..."attempt" being the operative word. My mom came back on Friday night and we finished one tree...my favorite tree. The other tree that is the "main" tree...weeelllll, it is a little lacking...of ornaments. I will get it done. Just not sure when. After the decorating session with my mom, a couple of girlfriends came over and we spent the night doing the "girl" thing until the wee hours of the morning. Saturday consisted of a multitude of chores and errands then Sunday included a trip to Georgia to see my mom's new lake house. She had lunch prepared for Keri and me when we got there. We had a great visit but I then had a 2 hour drive home. After my late night the night before, coffee became my friend.

The lack of sleep hurt come Monday morning. Back to the old grind. But it is a short work week as I leave tomorrow afternoon for Boston with my ex-sister-in-law. We were quite the travel buddies back in the day. This will be the first trip we've shared in a long time. I'm really looking forward to it. There are rumors of snow and what a wonderful time as I'm sure the city will be beautifully decorated for the holiday season.

So there you have it, the reason for my absence. To top it all off I've been a scrapping fool as my Serendipity projects were due as well as a new challenge at These Are a Few of My Favorite Things. The current challenge at Fave Things is our favorite holiday. If you want to get in the holiday spirit...this would be the place to go. Inspiring layouts galore feature several different holidays but many revolve around Christmas. For my layout, I used the December I Deserve It All kit from Serendipity Scrapbooks to show my love of my mother's vintage Christmas. During the holidays, I can spend hours roaming around her house taking in all the ornaments of times gone by wondering about the stories behind them.

I know this is the busiest time of year but I hope you can find the time to play along with us. As always, there is a wonderful prize up for grabs.

Before I go, I will share one more layout from the Serendipity kit.

This kit is filled with gorgeous Webster's Pages papers, fabric tags and ribbons, plus Core'dinations cardstock, Kaiser pearls and rub-ons, Little Yellow Bicycle chipboard shapes and so much more. You will truly love this kit. But you might should hurry as I don't believe they will last long.

So here's an early wish for a happy weekend as my weekend starts early.

Later!
L

Fun and Games

2009-11-22T21:46:00.006-05:00

This weekend has been THE best. It started out as not-so-good but turned into one of the best I've had in ages. As with every work week, I was anxiously awaiting Friday. Well, my Friday was a bit like a nasty Monday...a nasty Monday on crack. Have you ever started your day by looking at the clock and saying "Oh Sh*t!"? That was my Friday. I overslept. Don't know how it happened but I awoke at the time I should have been leaving. I sprang from the bed...not even sure my feet hit the floor until I was in the bathroom...got ready in 15 minutes...raced to work and hoped like hell I was fully clothed. Remember my gotta-clean-for-the-cleaning-lady Thursday? Yeah, well, it became a much bigger task than anticipated. I had to also clean the game room in the basement as the cleaning lady only does the main 2 floors. It's been a few weeks...ok, a few months...since I cleaned downstairs. We never go down there. But having out-of-town guests will spur you into action...it was time to clean that darned basement. Well, my stinkin' vacuum decided to do nothing more than spit my super-sized dust bunnies back at me. Actually, if I were the vacuum, I would have done the same thing. Some of those dust balls were bigger than me! I would have choked on them...spitting should have been expected. So there I was, on hands and knees, wiping up the dirt and dust with Swiffer wipes. I never knew how large that room is!!! After what seemed to be hours on the floor and a lengthy scrub session to remove the pink and green rings in the toilet of the extra bath, I realized it was well past my bedtime...by 4 hours!!! You think that could have been a contributing factor to me oversleeping???

I get to work late and can't seem to find my focus. The first 2 hours of my work day were spent struggling to get my act together. Then a bomb was dropped. The cleaning lady called to say she couldn't make it. WHAT???? I wanted to be angry but just couldn't as her reason was more than valid. But what the heck was I going to do now. Unmade beds, in great need of clean sheets, dirty floors, ringed toilets and filthy sinks were anxiously awaiting her arrival...not to mention I was too. And my guest was arriving at 5:15...no time to get home and do it myself. To top things off, a nasty migraine paid me a visit. By noon, I was a wreck! lol! But somewhere, somehow, after that, everything began to get better. I ended the day with several work tasks completed. Leah, Taylor's girlfriend, offered to clean the house for me and even did the grocery shopping. And the migraine disappeared with only minimal damage. I made it to the airport in time and all was grand!

A quick recounting of the weekend:

Friday night - Dinner at a local tap room for pizza and beer followed by darts afterward in the bar upstairs. Made several new friends. Talked until 3:00 am

Saturday - Convertible ride around Asheville. Visited the area where I grew up and reminisced about days gone by.

Saturday night - Keri arrived home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Homemade chili, a few cocktails and board games until 2:00 am with my kiddos and several of their friends. Laughed so hard my sides ached.

Sunday - Visit to Grove Park Inn to view the Gingerbread House exhibit. Fun! Fun! Lots of themed Christmas trees and a roaring fire in the great hall left me wishing for a white Christmas!

Sunday night - Blog writing and passing out from exhaustion! :-)

I have always been one to only require minimal sleep...well, I WAS one to only require minimal sleep. Now that I'm an old lady in her mid-forties, I need all the beauty sleep I can get. And I got little to none this weekend. So forgive any and all nonsense in this post. I'm a walking zombie!

Before I go, I wanted to share the last of my Serendipity layouts from my November Just Enough Please kit. Remember you can click on the images to view a larger version.

Wishing you a Happy, Happy Monday!

Hugsnluv,
L

Happy Hump Day!

2009-11-18T15:50:00.010-05:00

Wednesday is here...and almost over! And I feel like it is still Monday. Of course, this is usually a good problem to have. But given I have a butt-load of things needing attention before Friday...ummm, yeah...not so good. I have a friend coming from Texas so there is all the prep work that goes into hosting guests. Things like cleaning, grocery shopping, activity planning, etc. Good thing my once-a-month cleaning lady comes Friday. Yet that means I have to clean before she comes. Yes, I'm one of those people. I have to clean for the cleaning lady. :-0 Actually, I just make sure everything is in it's place so her job is easier. She is only here for a set number of hours and there is no point wasting her time picking up items when she could be doing the things I loathe. Things like cleaning the floors. Honestly, I don't mind any of the household chores. Give me toilets, showers, dusting, laundry, ironing, dishes...I don't mind those at all. I even find them fun...well, rewarding...ummm, OK, so I don't have the right word. lol! Let's just say I will do them with out growling or grumbling. But the floors??? We don't gee and haw...uhhh, that's country-speak for we don't get along. Lol! It takes over 2 hours to do the floors in my house...if done properly. And I could never half do them. So I gladly fork over my hard-earned money to have someone do them for me. Yep, I'm a bit spoiled.

I wanted to share a few layouts with you before the weekend. I fear I won't have the chance to post again before next week so I thought I would leave you with some of my latest. First is my These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things layout. Our challenge this time was to scrap our favorite decade. I seem to always have a hard time deciding on a favorite for each challenge but this one was easy. I love the 1950's. It reminds me of the simpler times of my childhood where the focus was on family and home. Entertainment was found in the front yard with a stick and a sock ball. Dinner was a family event. Although we lived a very simple existence, we never wanted for anything...we were oblivious to what more there was to want. I liken it to a Leave It To Beaver lifestyle. Sooooo, I centered my layout around...yep, you guessed it....Leave It To Beaver.

I hope you will play along with us. There is an awesome gift up for grabs. And you MUST check out the fantastic work from the other DT members as well as our guest member, Michelle. These girls totally rock!

I also thought I would share another Serendipity layout from this month's Just Enough Please kit. When I saw the little chipboard sticker that said "A Little Nutty", I knew exactly which pics I wanted to scrap. Keri and I are, at the very least, a little nutty. We are always taking crazy pictures. We take turns with a word and we quickly snap our reaction to the word. Words like "surprise", "stinky", "angry", "stupid"...get the idea? I have no idea what the words were for these photos but we were having fun.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and the upcoming weekend is fab-U-lous! I'll be back early next week with the remainder of my layouts from the Serendipity kit and all the details from my weekend.

Hugsnlove,
L

A Technique for Sharing

2009-11-12T08:55:00.004-05:00

Hi there! I wanted to pop in to share a technique I posted on the Serendipity Scrapbook forum this week. Every other Tuesday the DT is responsible for sharing a fun little scrapping trick...this week it was my turn. I cannot take full credit for this. I got the idea from a newsletter but I can't remember which one. I hate when I can't give credit where credit is due. Soooo, just know this is not an original concept...I stole it! :-)

The idea is to stitch a circular frame. Start by using a template to lightly draw a circle. Then use a paper piercer or needle to punch holes around the circle.

Stitch around the circle criss-crossing your stitches as you go.

Continue until you have filled every hole. Carefully cut the center from the frame. While you could cut the center prior to stitching, I don't recommend it. The center provides good support while you are stitching. Just use caution when cutting after the fact so as not to cut your stitches.

Once complete, the frame can be very versatile. Use it to frame a picture or a title. Embellish it with letter stickers or fun little embellies such as buttons, stickers, chipboard shapes. You can cut or punch around the outer edge to add interest. I hand-cut a scalloped border to create a flower.

I will admit, this larger one took a little while but I think it was worth it. The worst part is I ran out of thread. I started with the fuchsia colored thread from Making Memories and what I thought was more than enough. But I ran out with only a third complete. A quick run to AC Moore and Michael's yielded major panic as neither carry the Making Memories thread...most likely too old an item. I selected a similar color of DMC floss and headed home to start over. Must have been my lucky day...it was a PERFECT match!!! Just to give you a heads up, I would suggest 2 "skeins" (don't know the correct term) of DMC floss for a frame this size.

I will be making many more of these in a much smaller size. I'm thinking a little flower garden would be cute. I can also see this making an interesting center on a larger flower. If you decide to give this a try, be sure an let me know. I would love to see what you do with it!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week and Hallelujah it's almost the weekend!!!

Hugs and love,
L

P.S. Almost forgot to mention the new Martha Stewart punch sets that include the border and matching corner punch...they are da BOMB, Baby!!! LOVE 'em! I bought 3 sets while on my "thread" run. Again, the shopping gods were smiling on me as they were on sale! I used the circular one on this layout. Be sure to check 'em out! Later!

Something Is In The Air

2009-11-05T14:53:00.011-05:00

My oh my! There is truly something in the air...other than my hands thrown up in total exasperation. LOL! I cannot keep up with my life these days. It is always a matter of feast or famine and I'm currently in "feast" mode. My social calendar is full to overflowing. So many plans that have been talked about for months...some for years...are finally becoming a reality. Visits from out-of-town friends, a girl's weekend get-away to a neighboring town, another girl's trip to Boston, casual dinners with friends and family, pre-holiday gatherings, actual holiday plans. *sigh* Can you believe the holidays are knocking at our door? So much to do...so exciting!!! Of course, the normal day-to-day chaos continues resulting in a life spinning out of control. I'm one exhausted but happy girl.

I'm sure many of you thought I had totally forgotten to post the winner of my give-away. Yes, my brain suffers the occasional memory lapse, but not this time. I laughed my butt off at a few of the comments on my last post. You guys are the best. So it is high time I post the winner, don't you think? And, ummm, yeah, I have yet to master the art of copying the random number generator so you are stuck with the lame version posted below. This is all I could get to copy. Anyone have any suggestion as to the generator I should use and how I should go about copying it into my post??? I'll take all the help I can get. Before I tell you who won, I want to thank everyone who participated and for the wonderful comments. I was touched by all the stories of how many lives have felt the sting of this disease. My hope is we can all make a commitment to being diligent with our self-exams and our screenings. Early detection is the greatest weapon we have for fighting back.

OK! Time for the good stuff! The winner is:

Generator

Min: 1
Max: 31
Result: 29

The 29th comment was left by Karen at Time Crafted! Please send me your addy so I can get a box of goodies headed your way!

I also need to mention an award I received last week. Three awesome blog friends passed this one to me. A big thank you to Kim, Jocelyn and Jessi! You know I love you girls!!!

Here's the rule: I need to pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know I left this award, and then I need to answer a list of questions in ONE word

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? curly

3. Your mother? mighty

4. Your father? hard-working

5. Your favorite food? healthy

6. Your dream last night? none

7. Your favorite drink? water

8. Your dream/goal? happiness

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? scrapbooking

11. Your fear? death-of-family

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? content

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something that you aren't? bitter

15. Muffins? cranberry

16. Wish list item? happiness-for-my-children

17. Where did you grow up? Leicester

18. Last thing you did? swore

19. What are you wearing? jeans-and-a-turtleneck

20. Your TV? Ti-Vo'ed

21. Your Pets? Yorkie

22. Friends? awesome

23. Your life? full

24. Your mood? happy

25. Missing Someone? not-sure

26. Vehicle? Convertible

27. Something your not wearing? Chip-on-my-shoulder

28. Your favorite store? White House/Black Market

29. Your favorite color? bright

30. When was the last time you laughed? seconds-ago

31. Last time you cried? Monday

32. Your best friend? treasured

33. One place that I go to over and over? work

34. Facebook? rarely

35. Favorite place to eat? home

OK, so I don't follow rules very well. A few of my answers were more than one word. I couldn't help it. And number 30 happened because of number 18. LOL! I normally break the rules when it comes to passing awards on but since I didn't adhere to them when giving my responses, I'll go ahead and abide by them and pass it on to Tara, Chantal, Melonie, Stacy and Amy.

Since this post is already enormously long, I'll only post one of my Serendipity layouts. It is my favorite...I think...from this month's kit. The pic is of Keri and one of her favorite cousins. They only get to see each other on very rare occasions as he lives several hours away but the adoration is mutual.

I thought this was THE cutest paper and wanted to emphasize the cheery sunshine effect. So I machine stitched along each of the sunshine rays. It is more evident in-real-life.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and your weekend is filled with fun!!!

Hugs and love,
L

P.S. Thank you to all who requested the link to my new blog. I've been overwhelmed with the wonderful comments and emails received as a result of the few posts made. Sadly, many can relate to the "hard" part of my story but here's to hoping there is an equal connection to the "happy" part!!! Again, if you are interested in the link, just email me (Lhowards4n@yahoo.com). I would love to have your feedback! xoxo L

I Haven't Forgotten!!!

2009-11-04T13:26:00.002-05:00

I will be back to post the winner of my "Have You Squeezed Your Melons" contest along with an award and my Serendipity layouts. Busy. Busy. Busy. Love you guys!

One Day I Will

2009-10-29T06:00:00.005-04:00

It is time for a new year...a new beginning. Yes, I know it isn't exactly January 1st, nor is it any monumental day that would typically mark a new year...a birthday, anniversary, etc. But I'm choosing to make today MY new year. To make this my new beginning and create a fresh start.

I've recently written of difficult decisions I've been facing and how there seems to be no good solution to any of them. Heartache, frustration and fear played a roll regardless of which solution I chose. I've wrestled with these decisions for months now. Although in my heart of hearts I knew the answers, I didn't want to go there knowing what it would require of me to push through the outcome. But I've been getting there little by little. During the trying times in my life, I've found that if I forge ahead, even when it feels there is no end in sight, eventually, things start to fall into place. And it usually means hitting rock bottom before I can begin the slow and steady climb back "up".

The past few weeks have marked the beginning of the climb. I feel lighter and more at peace with the decisions I've made and I'm looking ahead with optimism and even a little excitement. Today I heard a song that seems to encompass what I've been feeling. It spoke to me in so many ways. The song is "One Day You Will" by Lady Antebellum. Here are some of the lyrics:

You feel like you’re falling backwards
Like you’re slippin’ through the cracks
Like no one would even notice
If you left this town and never came back
You walk outside and all you see is rain
You look inside and all you feel is pain
And you can’t see it now

But down the road the sun is shining
In every cloud there’s a silver lining
Just keep holding on (just keep holding on)
And every heartache makes you stronger
But it won’t be much longer
You’ll find love, you’ll find peace
And the you you’re meant to be
I know right now that’s not the way you feel
But one day you will

I've eluded to the struggles Keith and I have been facing and it appears there is no solution to our problems. As I stated in my last post we are no longer engaged. Letting go is never easy, even if you know it is the right thing. It was a long, hard road coming to the conclusion that things are not meant to be, but I'm coming to terms with it. Due to this and all the health issues of late, I had been feeling as if I was "slippin' through the cracks"...wondering if the disappointments in my life would ever lead me to a brighter tomorrow. Since my divorce I've also felt like an alien in my own hometown. Family and friends that I had always known were no longer accessible in the same way. Having spent the last 3 years commuting to and from Atlanta didn't help my cause. It's difficult to foster friendships when you are not around to do so.

But lately I have been finding my silver lining to the dark clouds that have been hanging overhead. Attending the wedding of my "ex" nephew a few weeks ago opened the door to reconnecting with "ex" family. As you know, family dynamics can get really complicated during a divorce and we held true to the tradition and did not escape those complications. However, when I went to the wedding I was welcomed with open arms. It felt as if I had somehow come home. The family and friends I had known and loved for 20 years were there waiting for me with a true geniune desire to welcome me home. I have tears rolling down my face as I type this because I never knew how much I missed everyone.

I have long since come to terms with the break up of my marriage, but I don't think I ever resolved the feelings of losing my "other" family. Now...I have them back. Although it will never be the same, I have new hope that brighter days are ahead and I don't have to trudge through the dark times alone any more. And as the song says, I believe I will find love, I'll find peace and the me I'm meant to be...one day I will.

So here's to new beginnings...to brighter days ahead...to the beautiful silver lining in every dark cloud.

Much love,
L

P.S. I've started my new blog. Anyone interested in reading please email me for the link. (lhowards4n@yahoo.com) Be warned...it is raw, honest, and not for everyone. It is nothing more than my journey as a single girl...a narrative of what it's like on this side of the fence.

Scrapping With A Sketch & Honest Facts

2009-10-25T21:00:00.003-04:00

Kim and I have completed another challenge. This time Kim chose this gorgeous sketch from Sweeties Sketches.

I just discovered either this link doesn't work or the blog is no longer in existance but I wanted to give credit where credit is due. Here is my take on the sketch.

Instead of using circular paper, I chose to use a template to pierce the design on my Core'dinations cardstock and lightly sanded it to further enhance the core color. I then machine stitched the inner circle using brown thread. I used another Serendipity kit...September's I Deserve It All kit. Like the broken record I am, I must say this kit is awesome...tons of gorgeous products.

Here is Kim's take on the sketch.

I always love Kim's work. She has a way of using just the right colors... just the right pics... just the right titles... to draw you in. I love the clean and simple beauty of this one.

As always, I seem to be behind in most areas of my life so it is only fitting I am behind in posting a tag/award I received from three very special ladies.

The award is the Honest Scrap Award.

Here is how it works....

*Say thank you and give a link to the presenter of the award
*Share “10 Honest Things” about myself
*Present the award to 9 other bloggers whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design or to those who have encouraged me
*Be sure to tell the 9 bloggers chosen that you are giving them the Honest Scrap award and provide the guidelines for them

The first one I want to thank is Julie, a new friend from Serendipity. I've had a blast getting to know her through the message board and she is a scrapping queen. I love her style and she is a wonderful photographer. The second special lady kind enough to honor me with the award is, Chris, aka Chrispea. She is also an extremely talented scrapper with mad, mad photography skills. Chris is also a true inspiration to me. She is currently battling breast cancer and her willingness to share her story and her positive attitude touch my heart deeply. Last, but certainly not least is Julie, my "boss" at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things. I have mentioned time and time again how much Julie amazes me. Now that I know she completes most of her layouts in 30 minutes or less... let's just say she is my hero! LOL!

Here goes with my Honest Facts:

1. Although I was initially shell-shocked when I became an empty-nester last year, I've come to realize I LOVE this phase of life. It is the first time I've taken the time to focus on what I want and what makes me happy.

2. I am no longer engaged. There...I've said it. I know I've eluded to it over the past few months but I have yet to say it out right. Time to be totally honest, huh?

3. With regard to #2, I am secretly (well, now not so secretly) afraid of never finding THE one. A failed marriage and a broken engagement makes you stop and think.

4. Building on #3. I am an eternal optimist so despite my fears of being alone, I'm not really worried. I'm a firm believer in what is meant to be will be.

5. Since my divorce 5 years ago, I have "sown my wild oats" so to speak. Nothing like being in your 40's and finally cutting loose...not that I'm loose! LOL!

6. I don't know how to snow ski. I've always wanted to learn. The only time I tried, it was really too warm to ski. I did fairly well considering I was navigating mud puddles. This winter I plan to take lessons. Now, cross your fingers and say a prayer that I don't break something! :)

7. I hate to sit in my kitchen or family room at night. These rooms have lots and lots of windows and I feel as if someone is always watching me. This fear comes from the peeping Tom that was a permanent fixture at my house during my teen years. While we would catch him at the windows peeking in, we could never actually "catch" him. I still feel "eyes are watching me" to this very day. ***shiver***

8. Growing up in a small community, everyone knew everyone else's business...or thought they did. When my parents divorced 15 years ago, many rumors were started as to why. The whole "affair" involved our church. Believe it or not, I was drug into the middle of it all. I actually received "hate" mail. It was an anonymous letter quoting scripture complete with all the words being cut from various magazines. I still have it... it's always good for a laugh. It serves as a reminder that things aren't always what they seem.

9. Lately I'm missing my grandparent's more than ever. They were a big part of my life. We always have our family reunion in October and this would be the first one without my grandmother.

10. The most honest fact of all...I love my life. It isn't perfect, but it makes me perfectly happy!!!

There you have it, my list of 10 honest facts. When selecting who to pass awards on to, I am never able to narrow my list to a select few. So, as always, I want to pass this to anyone who leaves a comment. Additionally, I want to offer it to my blogging pals from Serendipity. Let me know if you choose to snag the award. I don't want to miss your honest facts.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. I hope to be back mid-week with more scrappy stuff. I've been working my can off so I must share.

Hugs and love,
L

P.S. There is still time to get your name in for my "Squeeze Your Melons" give-away. Go HERE.

Lovin' Fall & Expectations of Others

2009-10-20T13:16:00.009-04:00

Well, I did it again. I opened this big ol' mouth of mine and proclaimed a life void of wackiness. You know EXACTLY what that means. Craziness of every kind has found me! LOL! I'm not sure I had fully released the "Publish Post" button when I became surround my nuttiness. All good but wacked out nonetheless. Tons of deadlines at work ...a major crop at Serendipity ...computer issues of the worst kind ...that would be only a smidge of what has enveloped me. Isn't it just like a computer to act up when you need it to behave the most??? Kind of like a little child, huh? But you can't bribe a computer with a new toy or piece of candy...not that I ever did that with my kids. LOL!

Lots of changes have occurred in my world over the past 3 months. I haven't written about them yet, but I plan to soon. You will have to stay tuned. Lots of drama. My life could be a prime time soap opera complete with all the requisite heartaches, back stabbing, cat fights, sex (well, maybe not), hot sexy men (yep, that's right), fantastic gal pals and an exciting wardrobe (I treated myself to more retail therapy). I will admit to having debated starting a new blog...under an assumed name...where I can write about my antics. The life of a single girl over 40 kinda requires some anonymity if you disclose everything...LOL!

OK, so that wasn't what this post was supposed to be about but it's my blog and I can write what I want. LOL! I really wanted to post a few layouts I've done lately.

First is my Fave Things layout. This time it's all about our favorite season. Mine is unquestionably Fall. Everything about it makes me happy! So much so, I couldn't encompass it all in a single layout. So I made a mini album. I used products from this month's Serendipity Altered kit.

I hope you will participate in our challenge. You have until the 31st before the next challenge is posted.

The next few layouts were also done with my October Serendipity Altered kit. This is a gorgeous kit full of Pink Paislee's Amber Road and Scrap Within Reach products. I completed the mini (included in the kit) and 3 other layouts with so much product left over. The full altered kit has sold out, but you can get a mini version.

This first layout is a tribute to my dad. He is the hardest working person I know. Even at 64 he is still going strong. Although his up-bringing makes it hard for him to express his love in words, he has always worked hard to make my life easier.

I had fun with the next one. It was fun (not exactly...haha) making the half circle border. If you have anal tendencies and a strong need for perfection, I suggest you NEVER give this a try. LOL! It looks simple but my quirky personality flaws got in the way. I eventually took a deep breath and just let it go. I think it turned out OK. Funny thing, I have more crooked titles and tilted photos than I care to count. I try to turn a blind eye to them and just enjoy the process rather than seek perfection. But those little circles got the best of me, I tell ya! LOL!

My last layout from the kit is a hodge-podge of all the items in the kit. My kids have an incredible relationship with their cousins. While they don't get to see them as often as they would like, they are as much friends as they are family.

My final layout is for the current prompt at Forward Progress. The prompt asks us to explore the expectations of others and how we handle them. Do we allow them to effect our decisions? My journaling was very simple this time. This topic was a major source of struggle in my life when I was younger. I was so caught up in meeting other's expectations, or at least what I thought was their expectiations. But they say with age comes wisdom and I find that to be true with this subject. Once I let go of the expectations of others, life became so much simpler...easier.

Try to overlook the poor picture quality. The little "perfection" demon is having a hey day with me today. I'm not happy with anything I've posted today...just a barrel of complaints:).

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my ramblings. I will be around soon to say hello.

Hugs and love,
L

Don't forget to comment on THIS post to be eligible for my current give-away!!!

Wacky Wednesday

2009-10-14T11:08:00.004-04:00

***Go HERE for my current give-away***

Poppin' in to post about the wackiness in my life. I posed a blog challenge to the ladies at Serendipity Scrapbooks, asking them to do a Wacky Wednesday post. Weeelllll, I didn't consider that I would need to do the same. LOL! Actually, I did. I assumed it would be an easy one as there is ALWAYS something wacky going on in my world. But as luck would have it, not one crazy, zany, wacked out thing has happened this week! Huh? Yep, my life is a total snore. LOL! Sooooo, my wacky fact is my life is totally void of wackiness!!!!

(Lame...I know. But what's a girl to do????)

Hugs to everyone!!!!!
L

Have You Sqeezed Your Melons Give-away

2009-10-12T14:05:00.004-04:00

Time for a give-away! Anybody up for one??? As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While I am very fortunate and have not had to suffer the horror of this disease I have experienced the fear of being called back for a more thorough "look". The results have been favorable but the suspect areas are being closely monitored each year. Every year, I have diagnostic mammograms rather than routine screenings. On Wednesday, I will be going for my annual exam. While no one likes to get their jugs squashed, I cannot stress the importance of having this done. I admit, I hate going. Hate it with a passion. And for whatever reason, it has nothing to do with the discomfort of the exam...I'm one of the lucky ones and have never found it to cause much discomfort. My problem is I sometimes like to live in denial. I subscribe to the old adage "what I don't know can't hurt me". But ladies, this is one time where what you don't know can kill you!!! In addition to mammograms, it is so important to perform self-exams. Knowing your own body is the quickest way to ensure early detection of irregularities. I will not lie to you, I'm not the most diligent with this. But times are a changin' and I'm now making it a priority.

As with any give-away, there is usually something asked of you. This is no different. Here are the details:

1. Perform a self breast exam. That's right...sqeeze your own melons so to speak. HERE is a link explaining how to do this in 5 simple steps.

2. Leave me a comment saying "I've squeezed my melons".

That's it. Rather simple. I would also like to encourage you to continue with your self-exams and if you are of the age, be sure and schedule your mammogram. I would also love it if you would please pass the message on. I'm not requiring it for the give-away, just making a kind request. You have until the 31st to leave a comment then I will randomly select a winner on November 1st. I'll be back later with a photo of what's up for grabs. I can promise you it will be worth the effort of a little squeeze!

Hugs,
L

My Favorite Time of Day Equals Hope

2009-10-09T22:30:00.002-04:00

Is there a specific time of day you find special? A time of day that stands out to you? A time you look forward to? If so, you need to document that time of day in some scrappy manner...THEN...you need to get yourself over to These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things and enter it in our current challenge. And it doesn't have to be a "morning, noon or night" time of day either. Maybe it is your early-morning-cup-of-coffee-time. Or how about family-dinner-time. It may be time in the shower. LOL! I laugh now, but there was a time in my life when my kiddos were small that I lived for my shower time...it was the only time I seemed to have to myself. I was never able to find solitude when sitting on the porcelain throne, but shower time brought blissful silence...if only for a few minutes. Makes you wonder why they would want to interrupt mommy's "potty" time??? Go figure. LOL!

As with most of our challenges, I find it hard to narrow the subject down to a single favorite. But once I give it more thought, it never fails that something begins to stand out. You wouldn't believe the choices I mulled over for this one. Quitting time at work, nap time, workout time, scrap time. As I was trying ever so unsuccessfully to narrow it down to one, I came across this photo. It is the view outside my kitchen window just as the sun is rising above the trees. I had totally forgotten I had snapped this picture...it's several years old. I knew then what I wanted to document.

The reason this holds such special meaning for me is wrapped up in when and why I took the photo. When I was first separated from my ex-husband, there were many dark days. In fact, most days were dark days. It was the only time in my life where I saw total darkness when I tried to envision my future. But one morning, just as I was getting ready to send the kids off to school, I looked outside my window and there it was....hope. From that day forward, I would take a few minutes to stand at that window and tell myself there was hope in every sunrise. At first, I wasn't sure I believed what I was saying. But as they say, if you repeat something to yourself enough, you eventually begin to believe it. I took this photo to carry with me as a constant reminder that a new day will come.

My journaling reads: This is the view from my kitchen window...early morning just as the sun is coming up. So many times I catch myself standing at that window contemplating all the new day will bring.

Funny how it took me stumbling upon this photo to remember this point. Don't get me wrong, I still frequently stand at that window and welcome a new day. But I no longer have the desparate need to convince myself hope exists. Hope is a part of my life...a huge part of my life. Something I pray to never lose sight of again.

Can I Show You My Bra?

2009-10-06T20:54:00.005-04:00

Time to expose my bra in public...my mini Jogger Bra album that is. A few posts back I shared the super cute bra albums currently available at Serendipity Scrapbooks. As you will remember, 50% of the sales of these bras between Sept 24th - Oct 31st will go to the National Breast Cancer Organization. I was given the chance to play with the Jogger Bra album. I knew immediately that I wanted to create a mini about Keri's college pals. She has made some wonderful friends...the kind that will last a lifetime. Keri and her friends are definitely feminine girls but not "girly" girls, if you know what I mean. So the Jogger Bra was a good choice. I wanted to bling it up, but too much bling wouldn't really "fit". So here is my compromise:

Even though it is simple, it is soooo "them". I hope you will also remember to mark your calendars for our Pimp My Bra Crop next weekend. Pre-crop challenges start this Friday. I would love to see you there.

xoxo
L

A Howard Hoedown

2009-10-04T21:22:00.011-04:00

This weekend was amazing with a capital "A". I was honored to be invited to my "ex"-nephew's wedding. I very reluctantly use the term "ex" as my neices and nephews will always be such in my eyes...divorce or not. And to think my oldest nephew is old enough to be getting married certainly helped me realize my current state of...well..."old". LOL! The ceremony was absolutely gorgeous...a wonderful outdoor celebration which more resembled a worship service than a wedding. I felt touched in ways one never expects from a wedding. The tears were plentiful from the moment Josh stepped up to the alter. All I kept seeing was the sweet little boy who was in my wedding so many years ago. Of course, I also had to suppress my chuckles over the memory of him disrupting our wedding ceremony because he was holding himself and very loudly proclaiming his need "to pee". LOL! He has grown into a strong and amazingly handsome young man. And least we not forget the bride...she was absolutely gorgeous! They make a BEAUTIFUL couple.

While the ceremony was light, yet reverent, the reception was done in true Howard tradition, i.e....it was a "pah-tay"! Set outside under a massive white tent, the atmosphere was one of down-home elegance. It was finely catered but in keeping with the character of the bride and groom. Ribs, chicken and sliced pork with garlic potatoes, sauteed vegetables and field greens were served buffet style. Gorgeous wood carvings, lanterns and seasonal dried flowers adorned the white clothed tables. And the bar was open and happenin'. Add in a fantastic band and a partying group of people and you had the makings of a night to remember.

Here are a few of the random shots I captured with my point-and-shoot camera. I would love to show you pics of the bride and groom, but *sigh* I didn't get any. These are the most random, crazy shots...I guess that's what you get when you've had one vodka and cranberry too many. LOL!

A few Howard cousins:

Girlfriends:

Me and the mother of the groom, my ex-sister-in-law and good friend, Barbara:

Crazy boys:

A cutie groomsman (Colleen, this one's for you!):

The bouquet/garter catching couple:

It was one of the best nights I've had in a very long time. It was a homecoming of sorts. A time of reconnecting and re-establishing lost family ties and friendships. I hope your weekend brought you as much joy as mine did me.

xoxo
L

Can you say "Pimp Your Bra"!!!

2009-09-28T12:50:00.007-04:00

That's right ladies! Serendipity Scrapbooks is gearing up for a super-duper October! Awesome kits, great contests and a crop you don't want to miss! Most of you are aware that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In support of this, Twisted Cherry Designs, a unique company to Serendipity Scrapbooks, has made these EXCLUSIVE albums for us!

Jogger Bra

Racerback Bra

Full Cup Bra

50% of the sales from each bra album from Sept. 24th-Oct. 31st will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Organization. And don't forget to mark your calendars for the Crop on October 16-18th. We will be showing off our altered bras and raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness! Plus the team has been hard at work getting TONS of sponsors which means TONS of give-aways! As with all of our crops, there will be a Queen of the Crop crowned and she will receive a past kit of her choice!!! This is slated to be the biggest event of the year so be there or be square...just kidding!

I thought I would offer a little sneak peek from the October kit I got to work with. They will go live on October first and as always, they are awesome. I am VERY partial to my kit...it has to be my most favorite kit EVER!!! And coming from a total kit junkie like me, that's saying alot! LOL!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday! Mine is busy, busy, busy! Catch ya later!

Hugs & love,
L

I'm Here! I'm Here!

2009-09-24T21:48:00.006-04:00

Yes, my friends, I am here! LOL!I have not fallen into the vast unknown of cyber space. I am not a victim of a coronary from my bad luck of late. None of the above. I am actually doing much better. That is if you don't count my run-in with the flu the past few days. LOL! I have been out of work most of the week trying to recuperate and I can say I am finally feeling better. And my nasty little neck issue...that is getting better also. You see, the flu was actually a blessing in disguise. Because I spent 3 days in bed, my neck has had that much more time to heal. Hey, you gotta find the silver lining wherever you can! Right?

Tonight's post is going to have to be a quickie but I had to stop in and wish you all a happy weekend. So do tell...what does the weekend hold for you? Mine will be a scrappy weekend. My friend Pam is coming over bright and early Saturday morning and we will scrap all day...can't wait!

Speaking of scrapping, I have a few things to share. I know I've mentioned how much I love the kits at Serendipity Scrapbooks. Even before I made the DT, I purchased several of their kits! They are fun and filled with yummy goodies. Here are 2 layouts I made from the August Just Enough Please kit.

I have to admit, I stole the idea for the baking cup flowers from Meg. I saw this on her blog a while back and made a mental note to give it a try. I think they are so fun and add a bit of the unexpected to the page.

The next layout is one of my favorites. Do you ever make a page and you KNOW it is a favorite but you can't put your finger on the reason why? I'm not sure what it is, but I really like this one. I think it is the bright colors...hmmmm, I think?!?!? LOL! I did lots of fussy cutting on this one.

Before I go, I have to mention a wonderful bit of happy mail that graced my mailbox a few days ago. I think all of you know Julie, my wonderful "boss" at These Are a Few of My Favorite Things. Well, Julie being the kind and giving person that she is, sent each of the DT members a little present. She made sure to personalize the gifts in that she tailored her choice to each of our styles. And look at what I got:

Adorable journaling cards!!!! Aren't they awesome...and soooo me! Don't you think? Thank you so, so much Julie! I can't wait to use them.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Do something fun and create a few laugh lines while you are at it! xoxo L

Forward Progress...Impact

2009-09-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

A new prompt has been posted at Forward Progress and this one is wonderful! Ellen is a fantastic "boss lady" in that she gives us lots of notice on upcoming prompts. Never have I been more glad for the extra time than this month. Here is the prompt:

This month's prompt is about touching people's lives...it's not who you touch but how...

i have always felt that me, as a person and as intense as i am, left an immediate and definitive mark on where i have been and whom i have met. but do i? am i profound? am i in my lines? or do i blur them?

I found this one to be powerful...thought provoking...and life changing. When I stopped to think about how I touch people's lives, flashbacks of meaningful moments came rushing in. Many I could recall with a feeling of happiness...others I relived with shame and regret. Those are the ones I wish I could call for a do-over as I feel certain I wasn't the positive influence I desire to be.

Here is my layout:

I chose the title "impact" and a subtitle "how do I impact my world?". Once I completed my layout, I tried to create to-the-point journaling, but couldn't quite say what I wanted to say in a concise manner. So I chose to include all my thoughts on the back of the LO.

This is how the journaling reads:

"We all have them. Those times that forever leave a mark on our hearts...our souls...our being. Be it a good or bad time, it shapes and molds the person we become. Much of the impact it has on us is defined by how we approach that moment and the choices we make regarding it. I've had many such moments. Big, huge, earth moving moments. Marriage, children, divorced parents...a divorced me. Children moving away and then returning. The death of someone very dear. Some of these were cause for celebration and others were the cause of much pain. But through them all, I learned more about me and became stronger and hopefully wiser as a result.

But not all defining moments are as enormous in size. There are also the little things that can affect us. Little chance moments such as an encounter with another person that leave us with a life lesson all because we crossed paths. There can be inspiring moments of awe and wonder. And there can be misunderstandings or misguided intentions that leave us in a position to choose how we will move forward and whether or not we will allow it to cause harm or good to a relationship.

Lately I have been facing many defining moments. Times that are testing my character and my strength. I'm facing decisions that are almost impossible to make as there is really no good answer. Some days I feel victorious in these situations and other days leave me struggling to not feel defeat. But I am most thankful for these trying times. I know that even on the down days, I am building strength. God has given me the ability to rise above by trusting in Him. And I'm learning with each test and working harder to be a more positive influence."

I would love for you all to join us this month. And we are so grateful for the super showing we had for last month's prompt. The winner of last month's give-away will be posted tomorrow so be sure to stop by and see who won. We have another great gift up for grabs this month as well. Our sponsor is Genuinely Jane Studios and here is a sneak peek of this month's prize.

I hope you will play along with us this month and explore the impact you are having on your world!

Hugs and love,
L

My Favorite Room

2009-09-15T11:45:00.000-04:00

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things is live with a new challenge today. This time we were asked to scrap our favorite room in our house.

I have always believed the old saying "the kitchen is the heart of the home". So much of our lives in this family was played out in this room. My journaling reads "we eat. we gather. we play. we live."

I hope you will join us and show us your favorite room!!!

Before I go, I have to remind you that a new prompt is going up at Forward Progress today! We have another wonderful sponsor this month! Be sure and check it out! And tune into the blog on Friday to see who won last month's prize!!!!

xoxo,
L

Another Challenge With Kim & An Award

2009-09-13T17:23:00.009-04:00

Today is the day! Kim and I have finished our challenges for this month and I wanted to share. As a little reminder, we decided a few months ago to become challenge buddies in order to encourage each other to scrap more and in ways we may not have considered. We have been taking turns choosing the challenges and this time it was my turn. Here is the challenge I came up with:

Create a layout of your choice using a minimum of 3 patterned papers. Also include at least one handmade embellishment and incorporate some "cut work" into the layout. You have until the 15th of September to complete the layout.

I want to share Kim's layout first. Her layout is gorgeous.

I totally must try her hand-made embellishment. The purple hearts are hand-made...she used wet toilet paper over a stamp, let it dry and added glimmer mist. Is that not THE coolest idea! She hand cut the flower and actually used five patterned papers instead of three. I was so impressed with this one!

Now for mine. I took a completely different approach. While Kim's is elegant and beautiful, I went for a fun, cute approach.

I came across this photo of Taylor from many years ago. I couldn't believe I hadn't scrapped it yet.

My kiddos have always been extremely active...AND extremely accident prone. As you can see, Taylor is sporting a cast in this photo. Sadly enough, I can't remember why...there could have been a multitude of reasons as he had several casts over the years. Anyway, I have no idea what possessed him to cover himself in band-aids...who can ever guess why kids do the things they do...but this is how I found him one afternoon. He stayed like this for hours. LOL! The journaling reads: "funny how a cast can bring about the need to bandage EVERYTHING!"

Like Kim, I used 5 patterned papers. (Great minds must truly think alike. Ha!) I cut out the little dinosaurs/monsters and my accordion embellishment accounts for the hand-made item.

I look so forward to my challenges with Kim. No pressure...just pure scrapping fun. Can't wait to see what she has for us this month!!!

Before I go, I want to mention a lovely little award I received from a new blog pal, Brenda. I am not only honored, but humbled that she would think of me.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and here's hoping your Monday is a good one!

xoxo
L

TGIF!!!

2009-09-11T12:43:00.005-04:00

Another week has come and gone and the only thing I can say is YAY!!! Despite the short work week it was a long week. I'm more than ready for another weekend. How about you guys...any big plans for the weekend? I have many DT projects to finish up, a bridal shower/recipe brunch to attend and a few football games to watch. Other than that, I only have plans for rest and relaxation. Ahhhh!

Just wanted to send a big "Happy Weekend" out to everyone and post a few more Serendipity projects. First is a very simple LO of Keri and Princess. Sometimes simple is the only way to go.

Next is simple card.

I had the most fun playing with fun papers and embellies in my kit. I mentioned Kristen really loads her kits with product. Look at how much is in this kit:

If you are a kit junkie like me, be sure to check out the kits this month. I worked with the September Just Enough Please Kit but I couldn't resist the other 2 kits.

September I Deserve It All Kit:

September Altered Kit:

After seeing what the other team members did with these kits, I had to have them. They showed up on my doorstep this week along with my kit for October...and it is Fab-U-lous!!! If kits aren't your thing, the store is teeming with new product you don't want to miss.

Enjoy your weekend and I'll catch ya on Monday!

hugs & love,
L

Sex & The City (Without the City...and well...Without the Sex)

2009-09-07T13:00:00.002-04:00

I fell victim to the HBO craze several seasons in and immediately became hooked. I own the entire series on DVD...which I've viewed time and time again. And I always get sucked right back in whenever I stumble upon an airing of the syndicated series. I even saw the movie on opening night. Yes, it is raw and irreverent. And I must admit I cringe ever so slightly when I think of how much I adore this show. Always good for laughs, and equally good for making me blush, I find myself wanting to be like these women...living life on the edge,secure in the strength of the friendships they share, living, loving and learning along the way. And who wouldn't want the wardrobes, the purses and the shoes...oh, the wonderful, insanely expensive, to die for shoes!!!

A few nights ago, I lay in bed watching a few episodes and I began thinking about how much I enjoy the show and I began to ponder why. First thing that came to mind is my LOVE for NY City. Something about this place resonates to the depths of my soul. Each time I visit, I feel I'm visiting a long lost friend. A friend who intrigues me, whose personality is loud and exciting, someone eager to share all she has to offer. Walking on the streets of the city gives me a rush of adrenaline and an urgency to explore. I feel as if I've stepped into another world, a place that has a life of its own. A place different from any other where no excuses are made. While it is too late in life to pursue this dream, I've always secretly wanted to experience a few years as a city girl. While watching this show, for 30 glorious minutes, I can live that dream vicariously through Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.

I also realized one other reason for being a passionate fan of the show. I see a bit of myself in each of the characters. I possess Miranda's Type A personality and her drive and ambition. Charlotte's love for what marriage and family represents is a love I share. I also share her naive tendencies and more conservative ways and her never ending hope for a fairy tale ending. Samantha...at first glance, I would be afraid to say we share anything! LOL! But she is passionate about all she does be it love or friendship. Never one to be swayed by others, she speaks her mind and has a strong voice. Passionate is the one word used to describe me time and time again. And I often see the vulnerabilities lying beneath her strong exterior...those things which make her fierce and a force to be reckoned with. Using that strength to hide her fears and propel herself forward.

Finally, I am probably most like Carrie. Always searching in love and life. Often thinking she's found the answer only to learn she was mistaken. Enduring heartbreak and yet being open to love yet again. I suppose the fact that she is a writer who questions the truth of relationships is also something I connect with. And in the end, she gets her man...which gives me hope that I too may one day have mine.

So tell me, do you ever see yourself in TV/movie characters? Although they are fictional, they are designed to be relate-able. Just wondering if I'm the only one to find myself in such make believe.

"Just Enough" Serendipity & An Update

2009-09-01T23:25:00.007-04:00

It's here! My official first day as a Serendipity Scrapbooks DT member. I am so excited...a little overwhelmed...but thrilled nonetheless. I was fortunate to get to work with the Just Enough kit this time. It is full of Pebbles Inc "Skipping Along" papers and stickers, American Crafts papers, A/C Thickers, Bo Bunny flowers and Basic Grey bling and rub-ons! Lots of yummy goodies in this kit. I completed 4 layouts and 1 card wih the kit and there is plenty of product left fot several more projects. And believe it or not, I completed the layouts and cards using mainly kit items!

This layout is one of my favorites...mostly because this picture is soooo Keri. Despite her over the top personality, she is a true sweetie with a heart of gold.

The flowers were all made by layering stickers and hand cut pieces from various papers in the kit. I also want to add a little bit of pizazz so I hand stitched the swirls.

This next layout includes silly pictures of Morgan and her friends. I thought the pics went perfectly with the vibrant, carefree colors and patterns in this kit.

If you are interested in how to make the pinwheel flower, I've included directions at the bottom of the post.

So I heard from the doc about my MRI...no surgery needed!!!!! YAY!!!!! I do have a protruding disc but nothing surgery will correct. As a result, I will be spending quite a few hours in physical therapy. I have my first appointment tomorrow. I've been through the ropes before...it's just been several years. So keep your fingers crossed that this old body recovers as quickly as possible. LOL!

Before I go, I must tell you how much I appreciate all the well wishes. You guys are awesome. I'm trying to make my way around to visit but I'm still limited on my computer time. Work and postings for design teams is taking what little computer time I have right now. But like I promised last time...I will be lurking around your blogs again very soon!!!

Love always,
L

To create pinwheel flower:

Cut desired size square (4" used here) from double-sided paper.
Mark center point of square with a pencil.
Starting at one corner, use a ruler to create a straight diagonal line.
Cut along diagonal line toward center, stopping within 1/4" of center point.
Cut remaining three corners, creating 4 triangles.
Fold one corner of a triangle toward center & adhere.
Continue with remaining 3 triangles being certain to fold in same direction each time.
Decorate center of finished pinwheel with buttons, flowers, bling, etc.

Comfort Food & A Pain In The Neck

2009-08-30T20:49:00.005-04:00

It's Monday again and I have no idea how that happened. Seems only yesterday I wrote my last post and yet an entire week as flown right on by. I had an unusual week last week and that could be the reason I have lost sight of the fact that 7 days have come and gone. I suppose a minor medical emergency, missed work days and several DT deadlines would make most people lose track of time. Consider me most people. LOL!

As of Tuesday, my first DT projects for Serendipity Scrapbooks will "go live". I must admit, I'm a little giddy over the debut. I'm also excited about my responsibilities on the forum. Having never participated in an online forum at this level, I am eager to do my best to follow the tradition of the site and keep things fun and interesting. Being behind the scenes, I'm privy to some of the upcoming events and you surely want to be there. Lots and lots of fun times ahead.

Speaking of DT work, it's time for another challenge at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things. There were so many wonderful entries for favorite movie...I had a tough time voting. In fact, that is the only negative to being on this team. I can never, ever narrow it down to one. *sigh* Our challenge this time is to create a project focusing on our favorite food. Talk about having a hard time narrowing it to one! I LOVE food, people! No doubt about it...and I have the hips to prove it! LOL! So I cheated just a little and scrapped my favorite food group.

Ummm, yeah, so comfort food isn't really a food group. But where I come from...it totally counts! LOL! Funny how comfort food includes so many starches.

I hope you get the chance to play along. An awesome prize is up for grabs. Our guest DT member, Jessi, has donated a wonderful little stash of goodies for the winner.

Earlier I mentioned a minor medical emergency occurring this past week. As I was clearing the dinner table Tuesday night I was talking on the phone, holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder. Suddenly, my back locked...then began to spasm. Not a tiny little twitch...massive spasms...the kind that totally took my breath. Taylor's girlfriend, Leah, is studying to be a massage therapist so she worked on it for almost an hour. But I found no relief. After an agonizing night of no sleep, I went to the chiropractor the following morning. Two hours of tests and procedures later and I was diagnosed with a bulging disc in my neck. An eight year old neck injury had come back to haunt me. I spent all of Wednesday in the bed icing my neck, trying to watch TV and sucking down ibuprofen. All I can say is thank you, thank you to the inventors of TiVo.

Thursday I returned to work for a few hours. Technically, I was told to not drive or use the computer for any length of time as it would strain my neck. But work can only wait so long. Once at work, Mr. Boss Man, who likes to play big brother, insisted I go to a neurologist for a second opinion. Fearing surgery would be their recommendation, I really...really...really didn't want to go. Besides, neurologists have at least a 6 month waiting list and that is with a doctor's recommendation...something I didn't have. Well, I guess the old saying is true. It's not WHAT you know but WHO you know. With one phone call Dear Mr. Boss Man had scheduled an appointment with Asheville's leading neurologist for that afternoon.

I was already anxious about seeing this doctor, but when I realized I would most likely need an MRI, I began to become overly so. I am slightly claustrophobic so I wasn't sure I could handle it. Turns out, I'm more that slightly claustrophobic... I'm REALLY claustrophobic. LOL! Thick pads were packed around my head to keep it from moving. That in and of itself was enough to bring on the feelings of suffocation. I closed my eyes and began talking to myself as a reminder to just breathe in and breathe out. The technician then handed me the panic button. One serious point to be made here...the mere mention of the word "panic" did nothing but embed the thought in my mind that I would most certainly PANIC. Why not call it a "call button". I'm just sayin'. Once inside the tunnel, I made one critical mistake. I opened my eyes. Seeing that the top of the tunnel was only millimeters from the tip of my nose unleashed that major panic attack that was already lurking just beneath the surface. I began to yell and tried to claw my way out.

OK, it wasn't funny then, but the mental image I just had is actually quite funny now. Anyway, drugs...wonderful drugs...were offered to me and I eagerly accepted. Then...the entire process became pleasant. I willing climbed aboard the table, helped pack my head in tight and welcomed the serenity offered from the cocoon that awaited me. Once inside my cozy little nest, the humming of the machine lulled me to sleep. Funny how a little tiny pill can totally change your outlook! LOL!

I'm still awaiting the results of the MRI. The doctor feels certain there is a compromised nerve due to numbness and tingling in my arms and hands as well as hyper sensitive reflexes. Just what is causing the problem...well, lets just hope my MRI encounter gives us some answers.

I'm still not suppose to be spending much time on the computer. As you can see, I'm not the best patient. LOL! I haven't been and I won't be making my usual rounds for a few more days. I hate that I am unable to visit and leave you guys some love. What computer time I do have I must dedicate to work. But no worries, I'm hoping to be back to my old self within a few days and I will be stalking you all again! LOL!!! Hope you have a wonderful week!!!

Hugs & Love,
L

Monday Blues

2009-08-24T11:53:00.004-04:00

So I have the Monday blues. Can't think of a darn thing to write. I haven't blogged since last Wednesday so I thought I should at least try to translate a few random thoughts into words.

I had an easy-does-it weekend. Time spent with Taylor and Leah...lots of time spent in the scrap cave. I have my first MAJOR deadline tomorrow for Serendipity Scrapbooks. Looks like I'll make it by the skin of my teeth. For whatever reason, I was thinking the 25th was Friday. Oops...NOT! It is tomorrow. Good thing I was really close to being finished with my projects. I have just one little bugger of an issue with the final one and then I'm ready to submit my work. Being my first ever kit club DT projects, I was a little obsessive and wanted perfection. And we all know that spells disaster. But once I dug into the kit it was easy to let go and just have a good time creating! Kristen's kits are F-U-N! If you enjoy crafting with co-ordinated kits, be sure to check these out. She offers lots of purchase options and no sign up requirements.

Now for a kiddo update. Taylor is working hard on getting his housing project started. I am so proud of him. He is abundantly mature and focused to only be 22-years-old. He has his finances mapped out and is co-ordinating the construction process himself. We spent time scrutinizing his plans before the final draft is submitted to the framers. You can feel his excitement...and a teeny bit of nervousness...when he talks about his new house. It's always a great thing to see your children making their own way...especially when they seem to be headed in the right direction.

Keri update - she's ecstatic! Totally loving apartment living. Still searching for a job but apprehensive about the amount of time it will require. She is just like me (poor dear) in that she likes to keep her plate full, but wanting to do the best she can at all she has to do. I can totally relate to how she's feeling. Stressed, but wouldn't have it any other way. Otherwise, all is grand in her world as well.

Well, I've hesitated writing about this but I think I will go ahead and throw it out there. A few of you are friends on Facebook and you may be wondering what is up with my "status change". Keith and I are experiencing a few snags. As you can imagine, long distance, court cases and day-to-day living can be challenging. And it seems to be taking its toll on us. Add step-parenting and the problem of defining boundaries as well as where will we live, etc and it gets to be a nightmare at times. Please send good thoughts our way as we try to figure out what's best. My biggest wish is to create a loving, supportive home for us as well as all our kiddos. And I know Keith wants the same. But finding the right way to do that is eluding us at the moment. As soon as we think we have an answer to one issue, another one pops up, then circumstances surrounding the first issue changes and we have to rethink it. I think we are both just exhausted. My heart is a little broken right now because we can't seem to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Please forgive my glum mood of late. I'm really OK...just floundering around a bit while I try to regain my footing. I hope everyone is enjoying those last few carefree days before school starts. If you are anything like I was, you sadly bid goodbye to those simple days but welcome the routine that school days bring. Sending you all hugs, love and well wishes!!!

xoxo
L