The start.


It's a new week and I for one am going to try to embrace it! We have a very busy week, but it's okay it's normally always busy! LOL.
This week start dress rehearsal for Alyssa's play with CYT. They are doing Annie and of course we are volunteering for that too, doing back stage this time. It will be fun, but busy!

Hopefully my sore throat and feeling icky will go away instantly. I don't have time to be sick.....

I wanted to share new photos of the puppies with you all!

Kira's if I stand here long enough and pretty enough my mom will give me a treat.. I know she will!

I can only take a decent shot mom if you are standing above me and I look at you like the long lost puppy dog that I am... With my ears all perked and ready for the "T" word to come stumbling off of your lips! I will get a treat right mom? Cause surely when you bring out your camera it equals treat...

And I'm beautiful so it doesn't matter if you take my photo or not. I am only standing here drooling because I have learned from the other two that standing still while I hear a clicking sound of the button being pushed on your camera=treat. And I want to a treat!

Ah... The funny things I do to get photos.....

Hope the start of your week is off to a good one!


My heart.


I want to participate in this...
Like many of you, I read Stephanie's blog daily. I have many listed, and some I visit often, but hers is one I visit on a daily basis. For me I enjoy her. I don't know Stephanie from atom but when she shares her life it makes me smile. She's got this monthly "real" blog thing going on... 

It's called Blog Your Heart.
While I don't normally have issues with being transparent on my blog, I feel the freedom in doing this along with the countless of others. To say what I feel and let it out.

My heart right now...

1. I'm 43 and don't know my purpose. While there are things within my life that I know without a doubt of the path and plan the Lord has for me I truly don't know my purpose. I want so desperately to align myself with the Lord and his will on my life that I am lost right now. I get angry at myself because I feel at my age I should have an inkling of the calling the Lord set before me, but I don't. One of my greatest gifts is being a wife and mother but there is a part of Elizabeth, me that yearns to know what other journey the Lord has for me too. It doesn't have to be huge, I just want to make a difference.

2. I admitted today that I like living within a box. I am a pretty fun person, full of life. But my life is contained in a box and its got these little compartments. When a compartment that I feel is crumbling on to the floor my entire world starts to shatter. It isn't that I can't let go or freak out when things go differently than I thought. Its more of when something is out of whacked my entire world becomes whacked. It felt wonderful to get a mental picture. Do ya remember in Harry Potter when Harry and his friends are in the ministry and they are in the department of mysteries looking for Sirius. Remember when the death eaters come? Harry and his friends start running and fighting the death eaters, as they do the orbs all start to fall and crash to the ground. That's how I feel when my little compartments start to fall and crumble. I sometimes wished I wasn't like this, but that is how I was created and I'm okay with that. I just don't enjoy the crashing to the ground of the little compartments.

3. I am seriously re-thinking my major. While I know I am supposed to be in school this class that I am failing is taking me for a ride. It is causing me to realize that it is far more important to do something I love and will be good at, than trying to fit a round hole in a square peg. Its high time I go talk to an adviser at school and see where that leads me and what my options are. I want to use the gifts and talents I have already and have school aide in that. This means I might not be a dental hygienist.

4. Alyssa has a boyfriend. While this isn't shocking or big news its been the hot topic in our home for a bit now. It is the same boy that took her to homecoming. I struggle with allowing her to have a boyfriend in the first place. But it is high time after Dayv and I have been in prayer to let Alyssa walk her life and test waters so that she can make her own choices and decisions. The thing I struggle with the most is, my prayer has always been for a boy who was a Christian to come into her life. This boy isn't a Christian but truth be told he's a wonderful person. We like him. He treats Alyssa with amazing respect. This is where my guilt lies. I feel horribly guilty because of everything we have taught Alyssa and believe in, is the exact opposite of what's going on {no not as if she is rebelling against us, not that kind of opposite}. And worst yet? I have utter peace about them being boyfriend and girlfriend.... It's weird, but I do. I think I am making myself feel guilty because he's not a Christian and even more so because she's 14 and this is new and I am having a hard time because honestly it isn't what I envisioned...

5. I am still struggling in the friend department. I don't have a close bosom friend and I terribly miss that. It makes me yearn so much to leave here and settle where our wonderful friends are. But then I feel horrible because I want to be okay where we are for the time that we are here. I realize the older I get, the harder it is to find a close friend or even friends at all. Sure I know people and they are wonderful, but I am not close to anyone and I ache for that.

6. I stopped going to the gym. I have ever excuse under the sun and I am sure it is due to me being lazy {I normally get lazy this time of year} and the above 1-5 issues... I find it hard to fit it in to my day and quite honestly sleeping in {well sleeping in for me} is very nice.

7. We took family photos recently with her. To say I am giddy about them is an understatement! I have been envisioning them gracing our walls and am so excited sometimes its all I think about. My family is so very important to me and Vanessa took photos that really say who we are as a family. I can't wait to get them in my hot little hands and I love Dayv so much because that was my anniversary present {we've been married 16 years!}. 

8. I am tired of all the profanity that has become the norm in our society. Now mind you, I am not always squeaky clean. As you know I do occasionally say "shit" because well sometimes it just fits.. But what I don't get is how mainstream it is. In movies, books, speakers, etc. A recently went to a theme park with friends and she was sharing about this ride that had a speaker and he cussed the entire time.... She also was reading a book suggested to her by her teacher, I read a few lines in it. On 2 pages that I read the "f" word was listed 6 times... And you know what else? It's weird to say this but when people find out I am a Christian they tend to start cussing more so.... I dunno, but our society has made it so mainstream that we have become desensitized to it and I find it annoying, rude, and out of place.

9. I feel guilty calling myself a vegan a lot of the times because I still struggle with eating dairy or eggs in sweet stuff. It makes me mad the stuff that is so awful for you, tastes so cotton-pickin-good...

I think that about sums up my heart right at the moment. How about you?

Warm colors.


Remember this?


From here? This kit was amazing to work with as I said! I LOVED it! Don't you love the warm colors of this wonderful November kit!!!
Here's what I created:


I enjoyed this kit because of the vast elements and beautiful colors in it allowed for such room to be creative!!!

Hope your Sunday is a great one!

Something quick!


If you are looking for a super fast give giving idea then stop no further!!!
The other day while wondering around Hobby Lobby, I can across these clear ornaments. These babies are genius because they make giving a quick gift VERY easy!!!
So I bought some and brought them home.

This is what I came up with!!!!


Aren't they cute? And easy too!!! I just filled them with paper and then used SRM Stickers Quick Cards #52012 Jolly, Quick Cards #52013 Merry, and Quick Cards #52028 Believe.

Making Christmas easier is a breeze!

Time to talk...


I figured I haven't talked on this ole' blog in a bit... Well maybe that isn't true, but I like to talk. You like to talk? Who doesn't!!! It's Friday. It was an emotional one for me. Quite honestly one of those where I just needed to stay home and not deal with anyone or anything. I need pizza, popcorn, and yes even a soda {which I prolly won't have}. I am an emotional wreck because well... Well because God gave us a monthly cycle and heck, you can better believe that sometime during it, I'll break down. I do always feel better though with the after math!!! LOL. 

It's chilly and I like it. Makes me think of hot cocoa and fires. In fire places of course. We don't have one, cause we opted out of ours with it being an extra 2000. But I can dream. One day I'd like one that's for sure! It's a day where my mood meets chilly weather+pj's and its the best place for me to be. But alas I have a million and one things to do today! LOL.

I am going to vent here. It isn't an notion to make you have pity, or to tell me I'm being too hard on myself, or to even suck it up. It's just venting folks...

My biology test came back. I failed it like nobody's business too. I am not proud of it, but honestly it made me feel a little better that I wasn't the only one. Seriously there are 27 peeps in my class and only 5 people passed the test. The average was a 52 if that tells you anything. The girl that sits to the right of me got a 66% and was so excited!!! Really? This class actually ticks me off. First my professor talks so above our heads, tells off color jokes, likes to kill animals, and is really strange. Then he doesn't really lecture. He talks to you like you should know the stuff already, then will answer your question but goes off on this tangent so wide, so long, and so weird you don't get your question answered. And people I'm in a biology class but I am learning chemistry. Not mind you, I am not that ignorant enough to know that you need both of those in sciences, but he focuses so much on chemistry that one of the girls in my class that took chemistry said she's learned more in his class than in hers.... Yes, I can take some blame. Although I studied, I did not study until I was dreaming about the materials. However, I did study like the dickens for my lab quiz I took yesterday. Studied hard. Studied long. Studied. Studied. Studied. So much so for one of the first times in school I've felt confident enough to take a test... It's a lab quiz remember.  
IT WAS 8 PAGES LONG OF FILL IN THE BLANK. 8 PAGES. Yes, 8 pages. I am still marveling over it. So he's got these study guides you can print off online right? I printed it off and studied my butt off. He reviews the day prior on each of our labs. Go home and study that too. Feeling great about it all.... Take quiz. But wait, let me back up. I ask him a question this week about the quiz right? Do you know he told me he loves to mess people's minds up by asking the question in a different manner to see if they really know the materials? So I actually said to him, are you serious? Yeah. He's serious. I can't believe it... And he's right. Not only does he ask his questions that are jacked. He makes you doubt what you know. He twists it in such a way that unless you're in his head, you're not going to get it. No matter how much you studied. Honestly the quiz was harder than the test I failed. I. Kid. You. Not. 8 pages... Of fill in the blanks. And has the nerve to tell us that we all should get a 100%. On top of all this, my lab partner went on www.ratemyprofessor.com and realized that over 65% of each of his classes fail the class. They write the worst reviews ever on him too, and the worst part? Everything she told me that everyone said, is true and exactly what we're going through.... Yes, I answered all the questions I could and flubbed the ones that stumped me and made me sit there for 2 hours. So I leave and feel more like a failure than ever. Seriously folks. I am feeling pretty stupid by this point. Especially since everyone around me knew I studied my butt off. Oh I can't wait for the quiz to come back... Yes sir... It's biology. It's a core class that everyone has to take. Every single teacher that teaches it sucks from the site and from word of mouth. 

I am so nervous that I go talk to the VA people about failing a class and having to pay it back. After all, I am not trying to ride a free ride, but paying back a class isn't something I am jumping up and down to do either. I talk to the nicest girl and she tells me that on our college campus the science department is on of the hardest to pass in our state. Ummm. Really? Now I don't expect it all fed to me on a silver platter, but what happened to wanting to see your students succeed? To really teach them something they will learn and remember? what happened to actually seeing light bulbs go off in your students to know that as you succeed, they will too? What. A. Mess. And I'm in the middle of it. Can't drop out, its too late. But I did learn that if I keep attending class and show that I did in fact go, if I do end up failing it the VA won't do anything. I have 3 times to do something like this and then after that I'll have to pay. Trust me when I tell you this that relief flooded over me. Not because I think I have a free ride, and can now just fail the class. I'll still try my hardest, I will. I don't roll like that. But I felt a lot more freer to not stress over it if I actually do. It does set me back a bit, but that is life. I also feel better knowing that while I might still feel stupid, that if each class actually has a 65% rate of failing students that it isn't all me. That this class doesn't have to define whether I can make it through school or not. It's just a class. And its a hard one at that.

So today I'm going to find grateful things to write about concerning school..

1. I was able to quit my job and go back to school.
2. The campus is literally only 10-15 minutes away from our home.
3. I am doing VERY well in my other two classes.
4. I am thankful for the VA to allow D to transfer his GI bill to me so I can be able to use it.
5.  My math teacher is the best teacher ever!
6. I am going to art events that I never thought I would.
7. My school schedule allows me to be able to be there for Alyssa at any moment.
8. My family is my biggest cheerleader with me being in school.
9. There are people in my class who are extremely kind.
10. I love all of the trees on the campus. I am in love with them, every single one!

While I know this post was a downer, I think ending it with being grateful allows me to buck up lil' camper and press on!

Changes.


Hello all, and hello fall! It seems like it hit us all at once! For awhile there nothing was changing here and then BOOM! I literally wake up one day to leaves falling, changing colors, and much cooler temperatures! Aside of the pumpkin patch, crisp air, apple cider, and pulling out our sweaters, fall is also a reminder of family. And you know I love me some family!!!!! LOL. My family means the world to me, they truly do! I am completely and utterly blessed by them on a daily basis. Sure it isn't always rosy, but I can attest that we work at each relationship to make it the best it can be!

This month I have the pleasure of being a GDT at Birds Of A Feather!
I am honored to be their guest design team member and let me share with you that this kit is AMAZING! No joke, this kit is packed to the brim with exciting warm colors that speak family!
Here's a peek at their November kit!


I also ordered the kit extras and got embellishment #1, #2, and extra Bazzill too!
Be on the look out soon for my creations using this amazing kit!!!!!




Monster Mania!!!


I don't know about you, but Halloween is right around the corner and its fun creating things for it isn't it? For me though I am a sucker for the "cuter" side of Halloween and these lil' cuties fit the bill!
Doodlebug Designs  have just such things and this week the DT has been featuring just what they are creating using Monster Mania, so go check it out!


Told ya they were cute huh? I really think so!!!!
Here's what I created using these lil' cuties!!!


I created this for a girl in one of my classes that's been helping me out with our math! I wanted her to have something fun she could use again and again with her small children!

Hoping that your finding yourself Halloween-y excited!!!




Peppermints and woozles..

I don't know about you but I love being inspired! Especially when colors, textures, and candy go together!!! LOL!
I recently created a Christmas tin for Pebbles Inc.
Go check it out, its a full tutorial!

 Supplies:
Welcome Christmas Santa’s Workshop (751176)
Welcome Christmas Christmas Gift (751173)
Welcome Christmas dimensional stickers (732071)
Welcome Christmas layered embellishments (747145)
Welcome Christmas fabric brads (744267)
Other supplies: Twine, candies.

I really love creating Christmas gifts. But they have to be easy and cute all rolled into one! I don't have tons of time in my life to make something that requires a lot of time. So these tins are the perfect solution! I always make our 3 neighbors something for the holidays to tell them how much I appreciate them being our neighbors. This tin is the perfect gift to give and it doesn't take a long time, but looks really cute!!!!

If you are ever in the need of something quick, easy, and cute try creating one of these tins too!

Using cards....

As of late I really have been enjoying cards! I am starting to really like making them which is saying a lot for me! Recently though I had my first assignment with Doodlebug Designs using cards! 
But this time I wanted to think outside the box using the Create-A-Card.


This is what I created! Instead of using it for cards, I created this cute family door hanging for our den!


Supplies: Doodlebug Create-A-Card square grid assortment, Doodlebug Jack&Jill cardstock stickers, Doodlebug Jack&Jill beetle black alphabet rub-ons, Doodlebug doodle-pops Sweetheart, Doodlebug doodle twine Halloween assortment, Doodlebug fancy frills classic cardstock stickers,  Doodlebug petite prints cupcake dot-grid papers, doodlebug petite prints grasshopper dot-grid papers, Doodlebug icons classic cardstock stickers, Doodlebug boutique brads ladybug assortment, Doodlebug boutique brads limeade assortment, Doodlebug boutique brads beetle black assortment.

Other supplies: Pop dots, black Sharpie.
Hope your day is oodles of fun!

Reveal!


Hello Friday and Hello Friends!
It's here. I LOVE this day! Only one class, the start of the weekend... It's truly pure bliss!
Since we're gearin' up for the weekend I thought I'd show you my reveal for 

Supplies: American Crafts Night Fall Starry Night papers, Bella Blvd. Finally Fall Bliss papers, American Crafts cardstock, Bella Blvd. Finally Fall Miniatures, Studio Calico crafty embellishments stickers, Pop Dots, Brown Sharpie, pounce wheel, Zig black writer.


Supplies: American Crafts cardstock, Studio Calico Autumn Press Frolic papers, Studio Calico crafty embellishments stickers, Bella Blvd. Finally Fall Bliss papers, Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup Bite Size Bits papers, Coluzzle heart cutter, American Crafts Remarks Accents & Phrases Autumn, Pop dots, twine. 
Supplies: American Crafts cardstock, Bella Blvd. Finally Fall Bliss papers, Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup Bite Size Bits papers, Bella Blvd. Finally Fall Miniatures, Kaiser Craft Rhinestone, Twine, flower from kit.
Supplies: American Crafts cardstock, Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup Green Peppercorns papers, Bella Blvd. Finally Fall Leaf Pile papers, Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup Bite Size Bits papers, Fancy Pants Summer’s End design embellishments, American Craft ribbons, Twine.

supplies: American Crafts cardstock, Fiskars punch, American Crafts Thickers, Jillibean Soup, Bella Blvd. Glimmer Mist, Computer font Dotum Che.

Here's to hoping that your Friday is great too!


Sneeky Peeky!


You know how much I love showing you the up and coming kits each month from Scrapbook Circle?????
SO much!!! So here is November's peek!


I can't wait to show you what I created with it!!
Stay tuned!

Why....

Hello there friends!

It's the start of a new week and I am determined to make it a good one!
What's up in your world? 

Well for me I can attest I am glad its finally here. I didn't have a very positive week last week.
I had this bio. test Thursday and it was looming over my head... I studied, what I thought was the right stuff, only to realize that his tests are very hard. And I had an epic fail. I don't even need to see my grade, I can tell you that I failed it... So I was pretty down about that to say the least. But I found myself as well being really glad it was over. I didn't care in the end that I was going to fail it, I just wanted to be done with it. Not a really great attitude, I know. But there it was. And I'm not too sure about this class, but I'll continue to try my best. Now that I know how the professors tests work it might help. 

I also felt a little pressured this week. While I normally have it all under control and organized in my life, there are times where I do not. This week was one of those. I felt smothered and bombarded with everything going on. I realized in the end, it was due to my lack of making and creating a list. Sometimes the process is outweighed by my emotions and I forget to stop and ensure that I have my steps in order. So once I made the list I did feel much better and things didn't seem so looming. I followed the list and realized its one of those moments where I made mountains out of mole hills... I do that sometimes.

Which is why I am thankful it's a new week, a new Monday!!!!

Grateful list:

1. Even in the mist of feeling like my world is falling apart, the one stability is knowing the God isn't.
2. Alyssa and her willingness to share her life.
3. Being foolish to think that just because I'm older that school would be easier. Mind you, I am in a better place than I was back in the day with school. But all that is expected of me is to try my best, not be perfect.
4. Serious happy mail! I received 3 big boxes of scrappy goodness and 2 boxes of kits. I feel blessed!
5. New clothes. Finally went out and got some starter stuff for the colder weather.
6. Praying with Alyssa.
7. Friends.
8. Lists. Seriously why do I think I can function without them?
9. Working together with Dayv.
10. Fresh new starts.

As you start your week off, I truly hope its a joyful one with much grace and tons of laughter too!







Boy Crazy!


I recently did a project for GCD Studios which you can check out here!

Here is what I created:

 

This project is a very fast and an easy one, which works well for anyone needing a quick turn around project as a gift! I was super excited to make this for little DJ's nursery as well as create a shadow box, something I've never done!

GCD products:

Other products:
Pink Paislee letters, Generic buttons, Floss, Generic pop dots, Coluzzle circle and heart cutter, shadow box, American Crafts cardstock.

If you are ever in need of a cute and fast project, pick this one up!!!!

Pretty In Pink



When I was choosing this color inspiration for GCD Studios the very first thing I thought about was pretty in pink! I used to dislike pink a lot, but in my transformation I have learned to love it! It is one of my favorite colors today!


My girlie inspiration:


{A layout of myself and my dear friend Melissa who I am very thankful is in my life and has helped me along my journey}

GCD Studio products:

Other products:
American Crafts cardstock, Fiskars punch, American Crafts Thickers, Michael's generic felt paper, computer font Arial.

So answer me this... Do you feel feminine and tell me what it means to you!!!!



Firsts.



I am sure you remember "firsts" that you did. Whether it be as a child, teenager, or adult. I remember a lot of my firsts too! Today I wanted to share with you one of Alyssa's firsts.

The first is Alyssa went to her very first homecoming dance, ever!


And she went with a boy!
Aren't they cute!


And it was SO much fun getting her ready, feeling her nervousness, taking a lot of photos, and then hearing about how the dance went! What a magical night for her and her date!

Do you remember your first date too? Share with me! I remember mine!!!!
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