"ya think?!"

random thoughts

2008-08-12T14:39:00.002-04:00

I think I'm going to 'quit' this blog. I don't find that much to say these days. Especially not anything very exciting. Not that anything is 'wrong' I'm just busy and happily not spending near the time 'blogging' as I once was.

I am trying to also keep my creative blog more up to date -

www.j-inky.blogspot.com

might be back, might not be soon ;)

camping NIGHTMARE!

2008-08-04T12:18:00.001-04:00

We had a HORRIBLE! camping adventure. My dh is a VERY relaxed, easy-going kinda guy and he even ripped the guy at the camping place!

the run down: -Knights Beach (aka -NIGHTMARE Beach!)
-WAY overpriced ($147 for 2 nights)
- "campsites" = aka -an open free for all FIELD! We were told each picnic table is considered a "site"
-Family camping -NOT! more like Trailer Park boys!!! People were camping on top of people, there was a domestic dispute with VERY colourful language until 4am!!!
-4-wheeler/Atv's riding around ALL HOURS!
-radio's competing with each other LOUD -even until 4am
-guy smoking crack pipe right out in plain view Need I really say more?

then it rained/lightening and thundered. Like Steve said - that was the LEAST of our worries! The last that Steve looked at the time it was 4:45am and I burried my head into my pillow (my back was KILLING me!) and then the rain started to leak through our tent and onto my head! SERIOUSLY! We got up at 6:45am and by 7:30 we were packed up and ready to leave. We complained and got a full refund! (thankfully!) and they have STIFF policy of NO REFUNDS / RAINouts etc. I do NOT recomment this place to ANYoNE! we stayed over at my inlaws Sat. night (they live on the lakeshore of lake Erie) -maybe 20min. drive from the NightMare Beach campground. Then we came home last night ahhhhh!!

new camera shopping

2008-07-28T22:16:00.002-04:00

I'm becoming VERY frustrated. I have been learning and researching for a new digital camera. I want the 'greatness' of an DSLR but there are some features that I want that they don't offer. {sigh} I also don't want the price tag... So have been reading reviews until my eyes hurt. I've felt like I've been wasting SO much time at the computer it makes me sad.

So please spare me and leave a comment about what kind of camera you have/had love it, hate it? why? b/c I'm going CRAZY!

a few that are on my list are:
-Cannon Powershot S5 IS
-Nikon Coolpix P80
-Olympus SP550 or SP560

good? or bad?

2008-07-18T19:08:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure how to take this, but this is what my horoscope said today:

Pisces: You've been complaining about how boring things are, but they are about to get more exciting than you want.

I've been busily working on cards stuff for my next class (next friday) all at the same time while juggling life -- some days have been hairy, but we have our health :D

so... not much is really new. Weather sucks! it's HOT and HUMID. We've been spoiled so far this summer, with VERY low humidity. Until THIS weekend. ugh! it's GROSS.

Not much to talk about... maybe we'll do something fun this weekend? then I'll have something FUN to say! ;) Have a great weekend!!

BUSY!

2008-07-14T16:02:00.002-04:00

what the heck?!?

I've been going crazy. Been busy keeping the kids doing stuff. And then Saturday we went to my mom's for a BBQ (yesterday was her bday) then yesterday Ally and I had a baby shower to attend (for Steve's cousin) ...today we're loafing!

a few things defining me {?}

2008-07-10T13:14:00.002-04:00

YELLOW

You are very perceptive and smart. You are clear and to the point and have a great sense of humor. You are always learning and searching for understanding.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

You Are a Spoon

You are a well rounded, balanced person.
You are friendly and welcoming. You get along with everyone.
You are easy going and laid back. You don't have any hang ups.
Non judgmental and accepting, you are a comfort to people around you.

What Utensil Are You?

Oddly enough both show truth.

Can't believe this!

2008-07-07T11:19:00.004-04:00

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND AM I???? I totally had thought that my BFF's birthday was today and it was {BLUSH} SATURDAY past!!!

Here's to Shannon - HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY!! I hope you had a great day!

{shaking head in disappoint at myself}

yawn

2008-06-25T12:18:00.004-04:00

Man, I'm tired today. I went with a friend to a comedy show last night in Toronto, WHAT A CITY! -wow! on the way home we ended up jammed in traffic. Which seemed really odd for such a late time of day... but I'm thinking it must have had something to do with construction. It was an amatuer sorta gig, 1 guy was AWESOME! Jodi's friend Natasha was pretty funny, 1 guy dragged a homeless guy in off the street -we DIED laughing!! I think partially b/c we just couldn't believe he did that!!! WOW! the other 2 chicks sucked. There was one other really funny guy... and the rest were painfully NOT funny. They were only suppose to get about 5 minutes and trust me, some were the longest 5 minutes of my LIFE! I wanted to put forks in my ears! We sat in "pick on us ally" (front table) And I handed one guy his best laugh. He asked if anyone knew what British Columbia was famous for, so I said "missing feet". (Read the news)

Needless to say, I can't understand why I feel *SO* tired, b/c even when we're just at home I often don't find my way to bed until nearly midnight. But today I'm feeling that -hit by bus- feeling. Maybe I need a coffee?! :sigh: Steve was running late and didn't make a pot this a.m.

The kids and I spent the morning sitting outside (as I usually do WITH my coffee) and the sun shone beautifully for some pics of Ally romping around in a little white cotton slip aka - nightie.

anyway... these ones didn't capture the fabulous sunshine, but I just thought I'd share :)

Can you believe Dawson's last day of senoir Kindergarten is tomorrow?!?!

picture time :)

2008-06-21T15:12:00.006-04:00

Here are a few pictures from yesterday...

above: cousins Dawson (L) Brandon (R) both 6

Below: cousins Ally (2.5+) David (4 days)

saying that Ally loves babies is an UNDERstatement!

Below: David Owen Bruce

4 days old :)

and today is ....

2008-06-19T10:09:00.002-04:00

my OTHER nephew's 6th birthday!!! --Happy Birthday Brandon!!! :D

my newest nephew

2008-06-18T22:25:00.004-04:00

I forgot to bring my camera to the hospital today, so this is from when he was in NICU the day he was born. But he is now happily bunking with my sister and off of the oxygen and I.V. They are hoping to be released tomorrow! :) He's a little bit jaundice, but hopefully that'll pass soon.

I'll post some MUCH cuter pics as soon as I can :) it'll be pretty easy he's ADORABLE! :D

oh ya and my sister's dad, is making a ton of progress. Which is good. Even mean people deserve good things I guess ;) I'm just happy for my sister, she has enough to deal with!

a whirlwind of activity!

2008-06-16T10:22:00.002-04:00

man I've been BUSY! and except for our house being a DISASTAH ....I'm quite happy.

I'm just waiting for some news, my sister is having her 4th and final baby today. We already know that she's having a boy... David Owen :) I have to wait til visiting hours to go see them.

I'll post a pic later ;)

OH and if you are interested check out my stampin/scrap blog here I have a sale going on!!

busy...without pictures!

2008-06-09T10:31:00.002-04:00

eeek!!! We had a crazy busy weekend. Most of it was fun too. The highlight was definitely the water gun fight we had {all 4 of us} and then dragged the neighbour into getting wet too!! SO fun I wish I had pictures but I probably wouldn't be able to capture the height of the excitement. It last over an hour!!! and I'm talking SERIOUS super soaking!!! LOL

Saturday we had Steve's parents over and enjoyed the afternoon together. Well... kinda LOL -- Maggie joined 2 of my friends and I making cards in our diningroom - and Jim, Steve and Ally hung out in the disgusting humidity outside until it was time to go pick Dawson up from a bday party -then they worked on getting the pool opened up! So now it's VERY nearly ready for jumping in. I thought it was ready yesterday but then learned that it's not ~yet!

yesterday we had our minister and his wife over for lunch and we had that marriage-talk sort of a course on "how to make a good marriage even better" --only I didn't really find it that uplifting as I did the first time.

Anyway... today I have a few errands and it's STILL grossly hot/humid outside, but thankfully there's a breeze. Can't wait to get this pool OPEN! :D

time for change...

2008-06-04T10:17:00.007-04:00

I have ~FINALLY!~ gotten around to dividing up my stamping/scrapping stuff off to it's own blog which you can find here --> Where Stamps meet InK

I am going to keep this blog with our family/daily life ongoings --

We went our geocaching last Sunday (June 1st) to the Devil's Punch Bowl. This was a popular place to 'get rid of cars', people use to jam the gas pedal and let them go over! There are guardrails all around at the top now. There is still obvious bits of junk/garbage but it was VERY minimal.

It was tres cool to see in person!! Ally ended up getting bit by something -we aren't sure what. I found a tick on my shoulder --those parts were NOT cool! but the hike and weather were great!

First pic is from the top, we hiked'er all the way to the bottom!!

We look SO little!!

This was after we found our second cache. Note, I have a jacket on - hello??? how on EARTH did I aquire a TICK??? and Ally has jeans on - I know bugs can bite thru' clothes, but geez, it's not like we were SCREAMING "hey bugs, come get us!" {eye roll}

Anyway, we had fun but HATE bugs!

wow!

2008-05-30T19:25:00.002-04:00

time sure flies! Can you believe it's June 1st on Sunday??? MAN ALIVE! feels like it should still be like, March or something??

So the workshops went pretty good. Had 6 in attendance on the Thursday and then 15 on the Tuesday. Seems like a LOT of people are interested in doing the workshops --more so than ordering stuff. Which is fine with me :) I already have a dozen (actually more) signed up for a *one sheet wonder* class... even tho' we've yet to determine a date. LOL

I'm tired today. It actually hit me about mid/late afternoon. weird.

I have swaps and raks to work on and I seriously want to just go crawl into bed! (it's only 7:30pm)

not much doin' this weekend... which is sort of fine with me. Dawson has soccer pictures tomorrow, and there are a few events going on we *might* check out wingfest -we shall see :)

darn dog! and other bits...

2008-05-22T11:03:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was a 'terrible, no good, very bad day' -and to be honest, I seem to have a lot of those!

It started at 1:20am (I had only gotten to sleep around 11:30pm) and then along came Ally {sigh} I was just plum too tired to deal with arguing her back to her bed, so I suffered. Then one thing just lead to another all day and I felt like junk! Of course it makes me mad to feel so mad too.

I tried and tried to get ahead of the anger, I even baked!! :D a delicious pan of raspberry squares. They aren't "pretty looking" but they are yummy! and not too sweet ;) I had a piece, got Dawson out a piece -he didn't like it. Probably b/c it's not a sugar laden thing. Before it was cooled enough to put away... the dog decided SHE was going to have a helping! GRRR.... *fyi -I threw into the compost!

Thankfully this little monster makes me laugh.

Even tho' she is the bulk of my 'issues' -being 2 and all.

Last but certainly not least - I have 2 classes that I'm busily *trying* to prepare for!! One is tonight with about 1/2 dozen or so guests expected (still tons of room!! wanna come?). The next is Tuesday (May 27) wanna come? approx. a dozen guests!! :) I'm excited and nervous. I've been making these cute little candy purses -just a little thanks! **the penny is to give you an idea of their size. Cute???

some pictures of my trip :)

2008-05-18T20:21:00.007-04:00

Here are some pictures of our trip to SanFrancisco -- only a couple... I *had* to write my name on the beach :) with persuasion I touched a jelly-fish.

Jelly Fish -- I touched it, it felt like.... a Jelly fish :P

Alcatraz

back home again.

2008-05-17T23:00:00.003-04:00

So I made it home. I have a story to tell and I'm not sure I can give it the justice it needs as I'm pretty tired.(I will do my best)
Let me just say this: I am going to be letting United Airlines have a piece of my mind on Monday morning! --I seriously kept thinking, "am I dreaming that this is happening?"

our flight out of Sacramento was for 1:30 pm (PST) - as per their request we arrived promtly at noon (90 minutes before flight is scheduled for take off) We paitiently waited as that's what you do...

the flight was full and mom and I were in the same aisle but each in the middle seats opposite sides of the plane -no big deal. WELL... {deep breath} we all got packed in, and then they decided that they had to announce that there were "mechanical" issues GREAT! {eyeroll} like *I* needed to hear that!!! ~i'm a ball of nerves when stuff like that is mentioned.

So they had a mechanic 'fix' the problem, then when he checked it out to make sure that it was indeed fixed, it wasn't and therefore he did whatever all over again. Now, keep in mind... the weather is unusally HOT there this spring. Over 100F we're all sitting on the plane and for whatever the (insert word of choice) he was doing without the airconditioner on. I'm NOT kidding... it was NOT fun. I was milliseconds from asking to get off! We were delayed 2 + 1/2 hours in Sacramento, therefore missing our connecting flight in Chicago. GREAT! {sigh} The flight was horrible, a lot of "turbulance" (do you think that's even real? or something stupid they made up to justify scaring the hell out of everyone?) upon landing we knew we missed our flight to Buffalo it was off the departure screen. We (along with MANY others) stood in line at the customer service desk waiting to figure out what our options were... in the meantime they phoned home here to Steve to tell him of the changes made to my itinerary. *I'll skip the part of the crazy old chick that went all pyscho, for now.

When it was our turn to talk to the agent, he was VERY pleasant - he probably knew he didn't have a prayer otherwise. He gave us a vochure for a FREE stay at the Holiday Inn overnight, and told us where to go to get the shuttle, ok so we're feeling a bit relieved. Once we reached the shuttle area, we found a Holiday Inn shuttle that apparently wasn't the "right" one, and then a second one arrived, also not the "right" one -whatEVER! So I called the one we were booked to stay at and the guy (not speaking english -grrr!) ok -guess what he told us -ready for this one? "We don't have a shuttle service from the airport!" WHAT??? are you KIDDING ME??? How on earth do you propose we get there?? "well, ma'am, you can rent a car" WHAT??? RENT A CAR???? I should add this is all nearing midnight CST -- and we have to return to the airport for 5am. Once he figure we were NOT renting a car, he suggested a taxi --HELLO??? are you out of your head fred? Needless to say, I hung up! We debated for a bit and decided to go find out what the Hilton (a stone's throw from the airport) had to offer... $300 was their cheapest room. HELLO??? I want to rent a room not buy it! {DEEP SIGH} back to the airport... at this point we are out of the security section and security is now closed. GREAT! so we looked up to see how far the hotel was on the touch screen thingy and it wasn't even ON the screen. We went upstairs to see if we could find something to eat... nothing. We found a bench and that's were we sat/laid until security opened at 4:30 am. Horrible. I forgot to grab my jacket out of my suitcase before I checked it (duh) I was cold, STARVING, tired... FUN EH? {not!}
I'm smiling in the picture, mostly because I was SO tired that I couldn't believe I was in this situation!

My time visiting with *my* Shannon, was AWESOME --the only thing that sucked was that it wasn't ENOUGH time :( I think I'll post more tomorrow... I seem to get jet lag pretty bad. My body feels like it's still flying --VERY weird feeling.

the time has come! :D

2008-05-07T21:44:00.002-04:00

wahooo!!! I thought it was NEVER going to get here. Tomorrow my ma and I are heading off to stay at the hotel near the airport so we can rise BRIGHT and early and get the heck outta dodge on Friday! :D

As excited as I am, looking at the BIG picture -- a break away from the kids, getting to hang out with Shannon, meeting Sandy & Karen... and whatever else we do. I am also feeling a bit nervous and sad. I just have to stay focused! I :NEED: this vacation.

so laundry is nearly done and I have YET to pack! talk about a last minute lucy eh? ;)

bloggin'

2008-05-02T10:38:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I get caught up in computer-ville and find myself sometimes jumping from blog to blog... I usually end up saving some that really impress me. The most recent that I've been enjoying is Artfully Ila, her cards are incredible! I found myself challenged to at least ATTEMPT her style. I failed... :P However I *like* the way that my card turned out, but it just didn't resemble her style!

LOL I just read that she has some blog candy to offer... just fyi. ;)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I sinned yesterday! Can you believe that I didn't even come downstairs to the basement at all!? which means I didn't turn the computer on~ LOL

I've actually been finding our basement -aka "family room" a not very inviting place to hang out. I'm hoping that tomorrow Steve and I can find ourselves motivated to work together to get it sorted and cleaned up! Toys are taking over our HOUSE! and it's time they shape up or ship out!

just keep smiling...

2008-04-30T13:10:00.004-04:00

...because in 8 days I will be heading out the door! :D

and I need a break SO badly -I know that every minute that I'm gone I'll miss my family, but I'm hoping to relax while I'm away. I need some serious ME time!

So anyway...

Dawson's next loose tooth came out last night at supper. I {cringe} was the only one that he'd LET give it the slight tug that it needed {gagging just thinking about it}

I'm feeling really unmotivated to do what needs doing around here. Every time I look around I see crap that needs to be done, and yet here I perch! :)

I also have decided to try out having an SU website click here to have a peek!

...as for the SU! workshop, find the cards below that we'll be making. I wanted to keep it somewhat simple, especially as some of the attendee's I'm not sure have ever stamped before.

eeek!!

2008-04-28T17:31:00.002-04:00

LOOK!! Dawson lost his first tooth today!! and the next one will likely be falling out soon too :(
I don't *DEAL* with loose teeth very well... I get that queasy feeling. Thankfully it just fell out -no grossing mommy out.

Not much going on today... we baked cookies, it's a rainy day here. Steve went in to work early and was home early -YAH!!! :D

I'm preparing for a Stampin' Up! workshop for May 26th (6:30pm) at our church basement. I'm nervous - my cousin Melissa and I have invited over 40 people!!! {talk about nail biting}

I hope I can manage without sounding too confusing.

back to the grind ;)

oh and dare I mention I leave for California in 10 days?!?!?!? talk about EXCITMENT!?!?

just a few pics to share :)

2008-04-23T21:36:00.007-04:00

With all this AWESOME weather we've been really utilizing the park!! We go nearly everyday!

Today we went to visit some friends that we don't get to see often enough. Ally really enjoyed Sophie!! Even this evening at supper she was telling her daddy all about the "big house!" (they have a BIG doll house ;) Did you know that Belle and Jasmine got around on plasma cars? ;)

This was also from the other day at *MY* grandma's house. Ally is a little mother hen. She had to make sure ALL her babies were in the picture and that they were aLL looking at the camera!

Niagara Falls slideshow

2008-04-21T13:37:00.001-04:00

less than 20 days remaining...

2008-04-21T10:53:00.002-04:00

PRAISE GOD! I need a break from my dahlings *SO* stinkin' bad!! :deep loud sigh:

I love my children however I think I'd love them even MORE if they'd both sleep all night in their OWN beds!

ok, rant over :P

So Saturday Steve and I met up with our friends Lynn & Sherri (and her dh Gary) in Niagara Falls, ON. We had great weather... not too hot and not too cold. I have a mitt full of pictures but I'll just share a couple :)
We took the "Journey behind the Falls". I've only done it once before and I get this incredibly difficult to explain feeling in my entire body- {ever lick a 9-volt battery?} that is a comparable feeling of my whole body --WEIRD! Sort of felt implodish!

So then we also went up the cable car incline thingy -and attempted to eat at T.G.I Fridays -this is a more popular place in the US than here, but with location of Niagara Falls being SO close to the border I guess it makes sense for our American friends to come over to CANADA and want to eat the same as they could at 'home'... {yes I'm being sarcastic!} ANYWAY... it was absolutely insanely expensive - the drink menu advertised $15.99. I was like for.....? what? an aquarium size glass I hope! that was just for a cocktail. >GULP!< A hamburger and fries was nearly $15!!! Of course you'd figure Steak to cost a bit more how bout $40!!!! I want a piece of the cow not the whole dang thing~!! wow... needless to say we left :P We wondered down to the casino and found out that the 'all you can eat for $20' was IN the casino :( we had Ally with us and Steve and I couldn't go in. We offered for the others to go ahead and we'd eat at the little cafe/restaraunt in the lobby, they wouldn't so we ALL ate at the Famous. It was REALLY yummy. And wouldn't ya have it we ALL ordered the same thing LoL :D Burger and fries.

We then continued on our way to Cliffton Hill -it's the carnival-like dragstrip of Niagara Falls. In my opinion it really should just be for walking only but it's not. There was a *cRaZy* guy walking behind us for a while... talking away and we thought he was with someone... turned out he wasn't! --Lynn said she was sure that he was threatening her and Sherri... {in MY opinion, if you have issues with crowds/people.... DO NOT go to Niagara FALLs!} d'uh!!!

so once we got to the duty free store we parted ways. Sherri, Gary and Lynn walked over the bridge and so then had to walk back to the US side. We got to see the falls lit up... VERY difficult to capture on camera -but of course I tried.

Ally fell asleep before we even found the highway to come back home. Dawson had spent the day with my dad and wouldn't ya know it wanted to come home! -of course that would happen :eyeRoll: he didn't tho', we didn't get home until 10'ish...

so I'll see about some pictures :D I'll post them seperately I hate the way they get stuck into the top portion of the post...

time for a switch!

2008-04-16T21:13:00.002-04:00

How bout a layout? I kinda "whipped" this one up today. It turned out better than I had imagined so I'm happy with it :)

here's a few more --

2008-04-15T13:55:00.008-04:00

the two above aren't done yet... I can't decide what to do with them ---

but the rest you can comment on --please :D

go ahead -call me crazy!

2008-04-15T09:38:00.004-04:00

but where in heck on here would be the best place to answer questions???

Let's see, I can't even remember who asked what -but here goes!

-the dino paper is Basic Grey and I got it at my LSS - the Memory Keeper, here in Hamilton, ON.

-I didn't do anything to make the vase look like glass, but I'm sure you *could* use glossy accents :)

-And TINA! Let me see what is in the cards around here -Dawson has school on Thursday, but is off tomorrow and Friday. What is the schedule for your girls? I'd LOVE to come out for a visit :D The only thing is if I come on Thursday (without Dawson) I'd still have Ally... actually I'll have Ally no matter what day I come. She'd LOVE to play with the girls I'm sure :D

**not sure if I missed any questions but if I did... I'll address the answers next post ;)
oh and I'm about to utilize the day light for some photo ops - I have a few more cards to share :)

a few more cards :)

2008-04-14T19:36:00.009-04:00

The set of dino cards I made for my friend Laurie - only thing is... I worked at them under pressure and took pictures of them at times before I decided if they were in deed "DONE" so Laurie... if any of these look 'different' that's why! lOl ;) I struggled to determine if some of them were finished or not -- i hated covering up the 'pretty paper' :D

Figured while I'm at it I'll show ya a few more :) I borrowed the start of this idea from a card I saw on SCS (SplitCoastStampers) but I gave it my own spin. ;)

cards!!! here ya go!

2008-04-12T20:19:00.003-04:00

First altho' there is 1 card missing already (already gave it away) this is a set that I made using a "one sheet wonder" pattern and I *CASE'd* the colour scheme from a fellow SplitCoastStampers memeber. It was suppose to be for 10 cards, but there were a couple 'extra' pieces? so I made up a couple gift size cards.

Below are the cards that I made with Nickabella at the BellaGalla. The pictures don't do them justice they are gorgeous in person! :D

So whaddya think? comments please...

made cards...

2008-04-11T09:34:00.002-04:00

I don't have GREAT pictures of them yet, but I *will* post them soon (er or later) ;)

I think I'm needing a "kickinthepants" anyone help me out? :)

I'm losing it

2008-04-06T20:51:00.003-04:00

Not sure that I ever really had *IT* but I'm losing it! :P

I can't seem to keep up with anything lately and it kinda sucks -sometimes it's alright and it doesn't bother me, but then there are other times that it annoys the HECK out of me! :(

I don't really even know WHAT on earth I'm babbling about!

working on it!

2008-04-02T15:36:00.000-04:00

I am slowly but surely working on the "new" blog... time consuming tho'. and it's FINALLY SPRING here so you can imagine how I feel when I look up and out the basement window and see bright blue skies and the suns shining... ahhhhhhh ..... needless to say I've been soaking up some of the weather! ;) -partial blame for my absence.

time in a bottle?

2008-03-31T12:23:00.002-04:00

anyone know where I can find some?

I swear I LOVE to not be sitting around with nothing to do, HOWEVER! this is over the top. I can't find my head!!! crazy I tell ya just CRAZY!

I have a kajabilzillion things I am trying to do and of course ALL at the same time... I doubt I'll be keeping up with blogging, I'm trying but with trying to keep the kids busy (without the constant help of the television) and the weather is teasing me... I sneak outside as much as I can without a jacket!!! wahooo!!!
I had our house at a place that was somewhat orderly and then I blink, and it's over. Ah well... I'm needing to work on some scrappy Stampin' UP! creations but I have been having this inner desire to want to SEW! I'm thinking of bustin' out the machine to get my 'fix' then maybe I'll get back to the paper scissors ink! ;)

might as well be addicted!

2008-03-25T15:48:00.003-04:00

so I had decided to hack my time at the computer and doing stuff that *I* like to do, so that I can keep the house ship shape {quit laughing -some parts look better!} :P and spend time with the kids and blah blah blah... Dawson had school today and is off tomorrow -his birthday. I thought I'd be a "nice" mom and make cupcakes for him to share with his friends, as well as lollipops to share. So after school I mentioned to him before leaving that he needed to get the dishes that we brought the cupcakes in... CUPCAKES!?! uh, ya??? uh... NO! :( WHAT??? they didn't have them :( the "lunch" lady was suppose to share them -I bet Dawson didn't even TELL her he had them! I know he's only 6 but that is the age that they are suppose to ~LOVE~ everything that their mommy does for them no? {sigh} so the cuppa-cakes are still at school, hopefully they'll eat them on Thursday! if not -- dog food! :P

I baked a banana bread with choco chips today, it fell apart when I put it on the cooling rack.

I'm in the midst of making a pork tenderloin for supper - and I have a birthday cake yet to make.

I found some OH SO CUTE pictures on the card that was in my OLD camera - look at my "puppy" ...

I haven't even *thought* about stealing time to work on my Stampin' Up blog yet... I'm hoping that perhaps Thursday since Ally is going home with my mil tomorrow for a couple days. While Dawson is at school on thurs. I might work on it.... maybe! ;) I've been pretty lucky with all the enthusiasm regarding SU! I just need to get it all sorted out and better yet figure out a time table!! ok, time's up!

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T21:52:00.002-04:00

today we spent stuffing our faces with chocolate :D it was great fun...

I'm looking forward to getting back to 'normal' tho ;)

So let it be known....

2008-03-21T23:11:00.002-04:00

I am a Christian, this weekend is Easter and as a Christian we celebrate that through God's son we are saved. It's an amazing celebration of how lucky we are. When I reflect on what my saviour did for me... I am amazed! and VERY thankful.

Today my family and I spent the afternoon/evening with my mom, her other half, my sister and her children. We had a great time... it's been a while since I can actually say that we enjoyed ourselves there, I am glad :) Tomorrow we'll spend the day with Steve's family and then Sunday we'll spend the afternoon with my dad at my grandma's house.

I can't WAIT to see more of the snow melt away seeing as how it *IS* spring!!! My crocus bulbs are starting to sprout, there are other things too but I'm not sure if it's the daffodils or tulips...maybe both? I also have seen some the iris poking up and something kinda burgendy?

just enjoying all the little things :)

miss me?

2008-03-20T12:23:00.003-04:00

WHERE on earth did MARCH go?? wow! I thought February flew by (figured it was b/c of it being a shorter month) but man, March has been SO busy it also has nearly flown the coop!!

I hate being behind on blogging b/c then I feel like I have WAY too much to say, and some of it is just boring so I'll try to sum things up around here.

ok, so March 12, I had a birthday (thanks for the wishes everyone) it sure wasn't the GREATEST day evah, but it was in deed another day that I was blessed with.

forward... Steve and I hadn't *exactly* been getting along for a while and some subjects are still touchy but we're getting on with it.

not really as much 'happening' as I thought? there is more but I don't want to depress you all and I am feeling over a lot of the saga and would just rather let dying dogs die -or whatever that saying is :P

SO! I haven't been spending AS much time at the computer lately... just don't ask what or for proof of what I HAVE been doing! LOL

today is the first 'official' day of Spring - and of course we'd wake up to snow flakes in the air {eyeroll} on a happy and inspirational note back in the fall I bought and planted a bunch of bulbs -including daffodils, crocus, tulips and I moved some iris' that were already in the ground but weren't in the "right" place and therefore never bloomed last year -sad eh? I also bought a hydrangea -my new FAVORITE! and I can't WAIT to see everything in bloom!!! There are signs of life starting to sprout up all over the place!! it's awesome :) hmm, I think I might take pictures.

Anyway... 49 days and counting down til I spend a week in the sunny California!!

i gotta blog

2008-03-12T22:46:00.001-04:00

it was my birday today :)

i'll 'ketchup' tomorrow, i have a sleeping kid on me

been tagged

2008-03-11T20:08:00.002-04:00

Ok, here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you – Roni
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself-

-I'm really not feeling "it" right now
-tomorrow is my birthday
-is NOT in a happy place right now with dh
-is doing laundry
-just took the dog for a walk
-I seem to be good at getting myself into crap a lot lately :(

4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs ....sorry guys....I didn't start it ;) I'm going to do you ALL a favor and not tag you --I'm just not feeling "IT"

5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their site.

guess what?!?!

2008-03-11T09:23:00.002-04:00

it's here!!! my kit is here!!! :D I wasn't expecting it until today and voila! it showed up yesterday! yippeee!!! all the goodies are yumalicious!

I really have to spend some time organizing a blog that will be "home" to my SU! projects :)

so now that I'm rolling in goodies I'd better start bustin' a move!

thanks for sharing in my excitement.

been a little preoccupied

2008-03-08T11:44:00.003-05:00

sorry I haven't gotten around to posting the more stamps yet... I am undecided on whether I want to part with my SU sets - I know that I *should* from a business perspective, but I think what if I WANT that ..... some time, I'll regret it if I get rid of it!?! :sigh: just call me missIndecisive!

I think I'll hold off... for now ;)

Stamp sets - not available at this time.

2008-03-05T22:47:00.013-05:00

I'm just going to keep it simple... $10 for each set -shipping will depend on where they're going. Of course I'll combine to save shipping ;) Each set might have seen the light of day but not much by means of the "ink of day" ... please leave me your email addy in the comments and state what you want. thanks!! Maya Rd. journal set -spoken for.

...the following aren't all 'sets' but they are either mounted on EZ mount or acrylic and stored in cd cases...if you see anything that intrigues you, we can figure out a fair deal! :)

the S's are spoken for in this case.

Tractor set -spoken for.

stay tuned!!

2008-03-04T09:53:00.002-05:00

I plan to go thru my pile of rubbah today! -I will be listing stuff that I want to part with...

some are retired SU sets, some are VLV red rubber, some is --other! LOL

it's only 10am but before the day is done check in to see if I have anything that you NEED! ;)

well... guess what?!

2008-03-02T19:45:00.008-05:00

I did it! :D I decided it was time to do something that I love and I took the plunge! I'm a brand spankin' new Stampin Up! demonstrator. WaHoooo!! :D

So what can I get you fixed up with? I have a sleeve full of ideas :D workshops, card classes, going to look into teaching a class at Dawson's school for SR. grades and teacher's if there's interest.

today we went skating -we had a ton FUN! LOL it was the first time that Dawson was on "real" skates, he didn't quite get it at first but then he finally caught on and did alright for his first time! :D Ally LOVED it! she had those skates that you strap on over your boots and she kept telling us that she could do it her SELF! and she did! I think I'm next year we'll get her into skating for sure!

Dawson is signed up for soccer and is VERY excited about it. I'm going to look into swimming for Ally. I'm looking forward to the spring SO much!! I hope that EVERY last morsel of snow is GONE soon. I'm SICK of it!

some pics of us skating today... from top to bottom-Ally, my dad holding Dawson up, Ally and I, Steve zooming Ally around she was GIGGLING!!

and the other segment

2008-02-28T22:24:00.002-05:00

so today I got the vacuuming done and it looks AWESOME! :D

first I got Dawson to school (on time WAHOO!), then Steve dropped Ally and I off at MOPS and it was AWESOME! (thanks again Marci!!) we had a GREAT time!
I even had an 'a ha, it's GOT to be a sign' moment --hey kimbo remember "it's a sign!" ;)

well there was an SU demo that is one of the leaders and she apparently moving on from MOPS... we got to talking. Anyway I'm thinking that I'm not DONE thinking about it yet! ;)

what else... made supper, got groceries, Ally was a dear and helped me put them away. Then I got the kids to bed :)

good day and tomorrow will be even better! :D

I'm it... are you? :D

2008-02-28T21:23:00.004-05:00

10 years ago I was:
well, there were parts of 1998 that I'd rather forget but it was also the start of a new part of my life. Steve and I got engaged that year.

5 things on my to do list for today: *it's nearly bed time how bout tomorrow*
1.) bake with the kids
2.) help them make birthday pressies for mil
3.) make something yummy for our lunch guests
4.) sign up for SU?! ;)
5.) get Dawson's soccer reg. form dropped off

4 things I would do if I became a billionaire:
1.) give a LOT of it away - money is the root of ALL E-ville! :P
2.) but first I'd but a bunch of crap! -new cars, fix our house up buy a cottage
3.) drag my bestest friend evah up here kicking and screaming -b/c she's in Cali and it's freakiN' COLD here!!! :D
4.) make sure all family and close friends were comfortable in life

3 bad habits:
1.) I'm undecisive
2.) pepsi-aholic!
3.) i'm hopelessly addicted to the computer and paper crafts :)

5 jobs I have had:
1.) baker
2.) telemarketer {bleh!}
3.) grocery store bakery counter clerk
4.) MOM
5.) head chef and bottle washer ;)

6 Things most people don’t know about me:
1.) I have a tape/sticker fettish -actually that's not really a 'secret'
2.) I was in karate from 7 yrs. to 14yrs old
3.) I always wanted to train dogs as aids for people that needed them
4.) I want to go to school to BE something -just not sure what?
5.) I am 'fearful' of the ocean -due to a jelly fish sting when I was 5
6.) I LOVE step dancing -wish I could do it! :D

I'm tagging Ann, Marci, and Laurie.
If you get tagged copy and paste this to your own blog, and put in your answers, and then tag 3 other people.

so I was thinking.... uh oh! ;)

2008-02-27T22:33:00.002-05:00

with all the "house duties" that I supposedly am 'expected' to do I'm going to keep a list :)
why not better than to share here -where I might actually keep track of it! :P

today - did 3 loads of wash (including bedding), and shovelled the STUPID sidewalk & driveway AgAIN! -grrr.. I'm so sick of snow! Loaded and unloaded the dishwasher, made supper, took the kids to my mom's for lunch. Gathered up the trash and put it out to the street.

you know all this sounds mundane, but I just want to SEE what all I do. :)

Steve bbq'd our burgers and put 1 load of wash into the dryer. then he brewed a new batch of beer and put the kids to bed... b/c *I* went out for tea with my cousin! :D

keeping up! :)

2008-02-27T09:42:00.003-05:00

so far so good - Ya, I know it's only wednesday... ;)

-I shovelled yesterday *STOOPID SNOW!* even got carried away and shovelled the neighbours walk.

Marci - I looked into MOPS and wouldn't ya know... the church right down our street hosts the program!!! I called and have to call back again later they meet alternating Thurs. but I'm not sure yet if it's this or next (thanks for reminding me about this program!)

Tammy -you are likely 110% right about not really being "ready" to go off the meds... and especially not this time of year, it's depressing as it is! but it's done and I am NOT doing THAT again! ;) I'll be alright, I just need to keep focused!

oops! I hit publish post before I was done ~duh!

So what else - hmm, I had a nice hot bath with the whole family pretty well last night -silly kids!

the dad actually put them to bed!!! (1 pt) Then i was ready for bed too -but decided to stay up a while longer since it *was* only 8pm. I should have just went to bed, since Ally woke around midnight -as ususal :P then Dawson was up at 4am then Ally again at 5am - it's a real party around here ALL NIGHT LONG! :D <-- that is a very cheesey almost crazy smile ;)

Anyway, today is going good so far, Steve made coffee (1/2 pt) I haven't been enjoying coffee lately weird - scary actually :P but today I've had 2 & 1/2 cups and I'm doing GREAT! :D I even have already been out and shovelled (again!)

So today - we're waiting for Steve to come back home b/c the kids and I are going to go visit with my mom for the afternoon :) And this evening we're planning to take them skating with one of my cousins and her dh and dd. I need to charge up the battery -as my kids have never been skating.

I'm feeling GOOD today!

getting on with it

2008-02-26T11:25:00.002-05:00

well I'm ready to spill.. ya, MORE! :P

So as my *loyal* readers know I am now free from taking anti-depressants and wow! what a challenge that was (to get off it I mean) So far nearly everyday I cry. Not for any real reason, and a lot of the times it's when I pause to be reminded of how lucky I am. Sure I have my upsets and you know it's just bound to happen ~ I am human.

I have decided to try and give more of my time to the things I've been putting off and it's just time to take the bull by the horns!

I need to find a group of other moms that are Christians and get myself ON TRACK! As soon as the temperature warms up I also plan to get out running! It just hurts like heck to breathe out there lately :(

I'm thinking of going through my scrappin' stuff and seeing if there isn't a LOT that I really and truly don't need/use/want. Once I figure this out I'll post what I have to offer here before listing it on ebay :)

thanks everyone for your encouraging words and messages...

thank you :)

2008-02-25T22:04:00.002-05:00

just want to say thanks for the hugs and suggestions. you have no idea how much I appreciate reading that I am in fact "normal" to think that I deserve me time.

ok, I'll spill...

2008-02-25T11:48:00.002-05:00

I know that I have baffled at LEAST 2 of my loyal blog readers ;) LOL

I have 2 children - not including my husband... or dog or parrot. Well, they are rather, uhm... demanding! and to be frank annoy the CRAP out of me. It doesn't help that my husband drinks beer.

just for an example I have have been trying to write this for the past - 10 minutes. I have been interrupted 3 times by my kids b/c they think they OWN me and my life. WHAT THE HECK!?

I just get to the point of complete anger and rage especially more so when the husband is sitting and watching tv. I feel like I have absolutely ZERO time for ME! have I mentioned that I don't even get to go "potty" without somebody having a meltdown?? I mean COME ON people, *I* too am human. I too deserve a FREAKING BREAK... no?

anyway, so ya Saturday night was a little problem for me... *I* wanted time to myself - ya imagine that eh? well... let's just say Ally was having a melt down and I tried and tried to just wait it out to see how long it would take before the daddy would step up. He never did... and we ended up in a heated arguement that lead to him taking action towards throwing out all my scrapping supplies and then to me not wanting to EVER scrap again. I was ready to start listing it all for sale.

I still feel aloof about it but I guess I'll keep it for now. I just need to reprioritze my schedule around here. Apparently the children and husband come first - and then me. Sad huh? sad... I guess it's true tho' to a certain extent. One day I will look back and "miss" these days apparently. so in a nutshell I may or may not be keeping up with scrappin' *at least on the weekends ;)

whew! close call...

2008-02-24T22:20:00.005-05:00

We had a really stressful Saturday night here, thanks be to GOD that all has been reconciled.

Let's just say that there is a big black garbage bag sitting in my scraparea that just about got filled -by dh. LONG story that I'm not going into. I just need to reprioritize a bit and put more of my family/housewife duties before myself... makes sense right? {yah, I'm rolling my eyes too!} come on MAY 8th!!!! :P

so anyway, wanna see the 2 layouts I did? and I "altered" a naked magazine holder too :)

scrappage

2008-02-23T10:50:00.001-05:00

I've been "off the horse" for too long! I'm taking part in some scrappage this weekend :D

there's crop going on at Scrapbook Takeout, as well as a preview party as SplitCoastStampers for VSBN -which is next weekend! ;) and I think there is something else that I'm forgetting too...
OH! {blush} it's also a LONG Bella Weekend!!! tons of new goodness being unveiled! :D

not doing it -for now-

2008-02-20T21:16:00.002-05:00

At this point in time I'm just not feeling ready to tackle anything let alone have to "prove" myself to anyone.

the stupid dog scratched my eye today - kinda hurts.

I'm tired.

he confuses me so bad it makes me sad

2008-02-19T21:55:00.003-05:00

hey ya so ...I don't know WHAT to say. I'm pretty well at a loss for words - dh is "talking" with me about SU! only problem he just doesn't have anything logical to say?! seems like he's talking in circles... but going no where. I think I'd feel a lot better with hearing him say look, I don't think it's a good thing because ... and offer me a GOOD reason. So far I've heard, it's not a good time b/c of the cost, (not true - it's the BEST offer going!) I've heard, that he feels I *might* not be able to make it work, I've heard I can't even keep up with all that I have going on as it is... uh? what the eff do I have going on??? I just went off my meds and if it doesn't work out is it going to send me into a depressive state all over again (ya uh, it's not THAT depressing I WILL have new stamps out of the deal!!) ;) and the lowest of lows... "you've never been able to make any of the other businesses work, why would this one be any different?" -which in my opinion is asking why is the sky blue -it just IS! and I will put just as much effort into this venue as I did with the others only thing I can do is hope it works this time. I am having some pretty sad thoughts about our relationship and it isn't anything to do with me taking on an adventure - it's HIM! I'm starting to feel like he just wants me to keep the house, manage the children and I should have pretty much NO time for ANYTHING else. It angers me and it is really not fair.
I have talked to him until I'm blue in the face -I have given him every reason that I can possibly think of that answers his questions and concerns... he claims "he's only thinking of me/us" I say BULL CRAP! I don't know what he is thinking but I have came right out and said, I just don't get it? I don't get why I can try it out and strive to make my money back and if that's all I ever make oh well... but I can't sell if I can't join.
I just don't get it...

serves me right

2008-02-17T01:28:00.005-05:00

I slept in today, and then slept a couple hours this afternoon so yes now it's 1:30am and I'm still up and scrapbooking {thanks Shannon} :D

updated the layout: not sure if you can see the journalling, it reads:

I love that you are so..... genuine, caring and loving.
Dawson you have the biggest loving heart.

Tea Party
June 27, 2006

excuse me while I'm ill

2008-02-16T18:25:00.002-05:00

I went to the walk in clinic last night -dh dropped me off at 5:45pm then drove out to deliver the kiddo's to my mil and collect his aunt. When he returned I had yet to be seen by a dr. He came back after dropping his aunt P off at aunt W's house and I was finally done. -good timing- Just as I had suspected I have pnuemonia AND bronchitis! bleh... I went for chest xrays today I think that is just to 'clarify' that I do indeed have a problem. {not to mention more reason to charge the gov't money to suck the last penny out of tax payers} -yes I live in Ontario.

sigh, so this afternoon I have spent the day loafing around, coughing my brains out, & sleeping.

I wonder if there's anything 'good' on tv tonight? I am such a NON-tv watcher.

Maybe I'll muster up the energy to scrapbook a layout?

I've had MORE than enough!

2008-02-15T10:25:00.004-05:00

I am sick :(

i don't know what the heck is going on but I am not well.

I haven't been diagnosed yet but I'm about 99% it's pneumonia {however you spell it!}

tv shows -he sure can pick'em!

2008-02-13T22:12:00.002-05:00

MY GOODNESS! my dh can find the most DISGUSTING, STUPID and makes NO sense programs on tv. Ever hear or see something called, Breaking Bad? it is absolutely pukey! It gives me the shivers and gaggy feeling. I'll watch TPB ANYDAY over this junk! GAG!

I'm just going to go and make some cookies -- it is late, but well... I already pretty well wore myself out today, might as well end the day off right!

"what I did today" :by Jen Hoover

picked up and sorted the laundry off our bedroom floor and then also did the kids room
started the laundry
shovelled the sidewalk, front step and a 'pathway' from the house to the sidewalk
did more laundry
made a KRAFTY lunch
washed the kitchen floor
washed walls
more laundry
vacuumed the livingroom tidied up the diningroom and swept the floor
made roast beef, mashed potato's, gravy and corn -YUM! :D
cleaned up after supper
got ally bathed
went out and got groceries
put the kids to bed

-the end. Well, not really, now I'm going to bake cookies :D

I am SO looking forward to the weekend -the kids are going away... ahhhhhhh.....

ya so I'm ok :)

2008-02-12T19:23:00.000-05:00

I guess I was just being WAY too stubborn last night to listen ~ even tho' I still say that he was WAY out of line to just say "no!"

I'm going to give myself until Feb 29th to find 10 people that are willing to commit to a monthly purchase. I have tons of idea's and am FULL of excitement about this. however...

a bit of backgroung and where Steve is coming from:
-a while back I joined cock-a-doodle designs now known as TLC, when I joined I felt left in the dark over a LOAD of stuff and did NOT find myself enjoying the products and therefore found it more and more difficult to promote
-not long after Ally was born I joined CTMH and jumped in and was EXTREMELY pumped about it and knew that *I* could make it work. Well, I had I believe one phone call from my 'random generator' upline person and absolutely nobody in my VERY rural area was remotely interested in scrapbooking/stamping ~nothing! I ended up just giving up bothering to try any more.
-Still looking for a way to get other people interested in learning how to get started with scrapbooking and card making, I actually stumbled upon A.C Bailey Designs and it was and is a good company to find supplies -worked out especially good for me living in a VERY rural area, to get stuff shipped direct too!

Once we moved to the city I now find that I am more happy with INSTANT gratification and just go to my LSS when I need/want something...

HOWEVER! I still find this urge to want to show/teach others about the fun techniques and other details of scrapbooking and card making etc. Stampin' UP has an AWESOME hostess plan and seems to really have things all together for helping demonstrators.

ANYWAY - this is where I'm at with my decision. Live near me? interested in joining a stampers club? or hostessing a night out to play with ink? Please email me and let me know!!

...the rest of the story.

2008-02-11T18:22:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm mad! that pretty much sums it up.

I'm mad that I have busted my butt trying to stay focused and keep on top of a lot of stuff going on.

you know, I just don't even want to blog about it :sigh: ~no worries, overall I'm fine but I hate it, and I mean I HATE IT when Steve treats me like an imbecile! I wanted to bring up the idea of joining Stampin' Up! but I wanted it to be a discussion not just me saying- "I want to talk to you about something..." and then having him say "NO! I don't think it's a good idea -since it's never worked for you before." and that was pretty much the end of the discussion. He makes me feel like I'm 5 and it really pisses me off!

have more to say... but for now -

2008-02-11T15:13:00.000-05:00

I should have blogged earlier! I am pooped out from being at the computer for HOURS now... anyway, I'll have to post more later -but until then here are a couple more cards :) the first is a close up of the wing of the first card -I used flocking on it to make it "look" feathery.

think i can? NO! I KNOW I CAN!

2008-02-10T11:56:00.000-05:00

well, today I have improved by LEAPS and bounds -

Viewing the computer monitor still makes me feel loopy, so I'll just keep that to a minimum for now. It's weird as I'm fine if I concentrate at one area but as soon as I move my head away to look at something else, or even to the next line -WOAH, who moved the room! ;)

so let's get back to some FUN stuff!!! :D

I taught a card class to a few ladies from our church and they had never even laid a hand on a stamp before!! can you believe that? I was astounded... I also think 2 of the 3 of them would LOVE to get more of their own stuff -which leaves me to think about whether it would be worth my while to join Stampin Up! it really baffles me that here in Canada (during sellabration) I can join for $209 (CAD) but in the USA I could join for $159 (USD) with our soaring dollar I just can't fathom that there is THAT much difference in price! -not to mention the stuff IN the catalog ... very crummy.

I've made a couple cards lately the designs that I 'whipped up' for the ladies was extremely simple. Thought I'd not scare them off on their first card making adventure ;) here are the cards we made: I was VERY pleased with the creativity of the others once they got a hang of it... they're cards varied from the sample.

getting there

2008-02-09T18:26:00.000-05:00

miss me? -I have been taking MUCH needed time to just rest the past couple days and it has been paying off. I hope to be back at it soon as possible!

putting it altogether!

2008-02-07T14:19:00.000-05:00

wondering what on earth is going with me, I decided to turn to google.ca to find out any possible information. Here's what I found:

and these are just a FEW of the sites... man I'm glad I'm getting off of this stuff -but WOAH what a ride and I do NOT like it!

a couple more creations

2008-02-06T23:55:00.000-05:00

not up to much still feeling lousy...

but I did do 2 layouts today :) both of Dawson for a change...

did a duplicate of that

horse card too, but it's a

little different.

It's NOT the flu!!!

2008-02-03T11:58:00.000-05:00

...and no I'm not pg... I have been decreasing my meds over the past couple months and I'm down to the last dose before being OFF of it! :D Dh & I think that THAT is what's causing me to feel so crappy. It's one of those meds that make you feel like you have the flu if you miss a dose. So I'm sure that is what the problem is. I have gone from 40 mg and now I'm down to 10mg's and I'm sure that is the reason. {whew}

I'm on my way out the door here shortly, it was one of my neice's birthday yesterday and we're having celebration today. She is 7!!! I still can't believe Dawson will be 6 next month!!! big deal that I'll be 32 but my son will be 6!!!! ~where did the time go?

He made dh and I, as well as his sister and himself breakfast this morning -cereal :) what a sweetie.

So happy superbowl day to all you fooseball fans ;)

oh man! :(

2008-02-02T15:38:00.001-05:00

I am *NOT* feeling good yet :( I HATE, and I mean HATE! throwing up, and I'm seriously thinking of inducing myself! I thought it had passed and I felt fine when I got up this a.m until I ate a banana. Then it hit me. :(

I've been loafing ALL day - sigh... I really need to wash our bedding.

whew! feeling a little better

2008-02-02T01:03:00.001-05:00

I'm sure glad *THAT* yucky feeling is passing.

here's some more cards :D -the bella card is paper pieced, the brown birdie card was a "lift"... and the other birdie card was just another card- that I'm not overly pleased with, but want to keep track of all that I'm working on :)

gRRRR...

2008-02-01T11:55:00.000-05:00

It hit me. Like an icy wall. the flu bug ~bleh!

I started feeling lousy yesterday and just didn't feel the energy to do anything. then last night I went to bed around 11 (I had already napped on the couch from 5-7) so I went to bed and do you think I could get warm? so I got up around 2am after laying there shivering - bundled up in layers of clothing went downstairs to the couch (it seems warmest on our main floor) bundled up under 2 blankets and finally warmed up enough to sleep. BLEH! I HATE being sick, it really SUCKS! The thing that frustrates me is that I feel 'ok' then I feel like absolute CRAP all within minutes.

We also woke up to a snow fall, enough that cancelled school -and thankfully Steve's meeting was also cancelled due to weather and he took a "flex" day. So we're all cozied up in our house and I do reckeon that my card class is going to be postponed :(

anyway... tomorrow's Ground Hog day. I'm REALLy hoping to feel better b/c I REALLY want to take the kids tobogganing!!!

I had no idea?! -old news?

2008-01-31T10:15:00.000-05:00

ok, I knew that this one cousin in particular of mine is a "runner". I had no idea he was SO good! man, I can't wait til this cold front lifts so I can get my game on! it's incredibly encouraging... I know that this is "old" news but I don't see him very often.

more...MoRe....MORE!!!

2008-01-30T23:27:00.000-05:00

yup I've been a busy chick! but hey, when you got it... GO WITH IT!! :D

so here are some of my creations from today ~

~the blue giddy up card is way fUN! :D

The Bella's were 2 of the 3 challenges at the pyjama party they had on splitcoaststampers this evening...

oh what a day

2008-01-29T19:46:00.000-05:00

what a USELESS day! so help me if dh is sick tomorrow I'm taking the kids and getting the heck out of here for the day! ~he's annoying! :P

so I made another card and did a layout. I'm not thrilled with the layout, I was trying for this 'style' that I can't wrap my brain around. It's ok, but not GREAT!

the snow is melting the snow is melting!!!

2008-01-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

wahoo... sure sign of the next season right? -- dh says "WRONG!"

So apparently we're suppose to be starting out tomorrow as GREAT as today I think is is +5C {cold wind tho} then by noon it's going to be -9C with EXTREME cold and fast winds~ bleh! I have always *loved* winter, but now lately... I must be getting old :P

I'm getting prepped to scrap the day away. There are a few other things on my agenda but Steve is home sick and I'm going to just loaf and enjoy NOT watching cartoons!!

what, I say... what can I say?!

2008-01-28T23:09:00.000-05:00

I forgot to post my card making progress :)

So far this year I have accomplished 6 layouts and 7 cards. My goal is to reach 20 of each before my trip to California! :D and to remain NOT buying anything b/c I have GOBS and I mean *GOBS* of supplies!

Without further ado -here's my next layout and cards! :D

the set of 3 cards are from a class I took at my LSS -it was a Tombow night.

And last but not least... my creation this evening - is known as a "Criss Cross card" I have never made one before and it turned out kinda neat! :) I will definitely make more of these, even tho they use more paper! I have yet to decide if this card is "finished" sometimes I like to leave cards a bit 'unwordy' so that they can be multi-purpose at the moment! :)

--I'm thinking that they might also be a good class to show the ladies from church?!

FogHorn LegHorn

2008-01-28T12:03:00.000-05:00

that's the name of the big rooster on Looney Tunes - I couldn't, I say, I couldn't remember his name ah...

So ya I've been scrapping! :D yippee... yes the rest of the house is potentially going to either NEVER get cleaned/organized or once it does get done it should stay that way!! Especially since the basement is now our *AWESOME* family room!!! I have MY 1/3, the kids & Steve share the other 2/3 :D I LOVE IT! and although I do have pics they show how messy it is, so I'm not sharing.

I will share the layouts that I have done recently...
Steve's cousin's wedding. 2003

Out for an evening walk.

this layout *in my opinion* does not look "finished" but this is what it looks like for now. In July of 2006 I was blessed with the opportunity to go on a scrapbooking retreat...to met IN PERSON the awesome friends that I have made over the internet. I brought some Ketchup chips since many of my American friends had never been lucky enough to try them... they're one of my favorites! :D

need an update

2008-01-27T21:33:00.000-05:00

thought I updated the other day - guess I was imagining!?!

anyway, nothing much going on... been moving stuff, scrapbooking and hangin' out :D kids both are feeling better -yah!!!

belly bugs...ew!

2008-01-24T18:48:00.000-05:00

Fun times around here...Dawson was up all night with the barfs on tuesday night... Then Ally started with it this afternoon (Dawson is totally better) and dh and I are feeling rather -ill.

hopefully it passes through the rest of us as quickly as it did for Dawson!

sigh...

I put a couple more bears up on etsy ;)

have you heard of ETSY ?

2008-01-23T21:27:00.000-05:00

On and off I spent the day working on getting my stuff together to start up a space on Etsy.com here's my little corner :)

if you know of anyone that is interested in collectable miniature bears... that are designed and hand sewn by "moi" please feel free to pass along my contact info.

I want to get a few more up on there over the next few days... so bookmark my etsy and drop by often! :D

can you spell EXCITED?

2008-01-22T09:40:00.000-05:00

C A L I F O R N I A!

{happy dancing}

and now it's SUNday

2008-01-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

and it's freeZING outside! like super cold, the thermometer says it's only -11C but it feels like -20C brrr...

So I looked further into the modeling place we went to and I don't think we'll get involved at this point in time. If I could find out how to go about submitting directly to places that would be ideal :)

today our house is upside down... what else is new?

my wire is poking out of my bra -how annoying! hmmm, shopping!! :D

another day...

2008-01-19T16:46:00.000-05:00

today has been "just another day" around here. We went to the modelling agency and it seemed to be somewhat positive. The lady was impressed with both the kids -their looks and behaviour. I was happy to hear that! The lady explained that they are like a "head hunting agency" for commercials, modelling, magazines, and something else I can't remember... but they are pretty much the middle-man, hooking up the companies -some she listed are pretty good/big names, and they will let her know who they want (via pictures that we have provided them with) then we get the call to go for the work. They charge $175 for a yearly fee for their services, and then also take 20% off the top of all money made. We'll be hearing back next week sometime if they decide that they are interested in Ally. We are skeptical on the entire money thing... of course. I'll keep you all posted.

As for the rest of our day it pretty well went to hell in a handbasket, but what did I expect? Steve *did* call around about the furniture -he wants futon, I want a sectional and we've compromised on 2 futons b/c of costs. So it's been decided that we are getting the futons and we now know where.

I have a headache and I'm drained! sigh...

surprised I'm not bald!

2008-01-18T21:20:00.000-05:00

you know if you were a fly on the wall in my house, you'd wonder how on earth I'm not bald! and this hasn't much to do with my genes either... it's my family. I love them DEARLY! but man are they wild... tonight I was planning to *attempt* to work on some cards -HA! DREAM ON!

so tomorrow I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we find and PURCHASE possibly even BRING HOME some furniture for our basement!?! ya think?

And I'm intrigued to hear what the "modelling" place has to say about Ally.

so here I sit with a 2 year old on my lap, drawing pictures and my nearly 6 year old standing beside me "helping" his sister, and the dog is now climbing the door... my que to go!

Happy friday! :D

you're KILLING me!!

2008-01-16T12:17:00.000-05:00

homemade chicken nuggets {easy peasy!}

melt butter in microwave -aprox. 1/4 c.
chop up chicken breast into "nugget size" pieces
combine bread crumbs; for this I use, corn flake crumbs, ritz crackers, some dried breadcrumbs...
with seasonings; oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper
I use a ziploc bag and shake it up.

With a fork, dip pieces of chicken in melted butter, then coat with crumb mixutre. Bake at 400* for 15-20 minutes.

There is an awesome homemade bbq sauce that we make too... but I didn't make it last night and I don't have the time or paitience to fetch it right now.

so what else...

I just sat downstair on our ~gorgeous~ new floor and sorted out all my stickers for my scrap-crap. There were only a few sheets that I plan to get rid of. And all in all I don't really have *that* many {thank goodness!} I need to get my stamps sorted next and hopefully I can find a system that works WAY better that what I have going on right now. I do NOT plan to unmount them, I know it would only cause me grief... I don't have "lack of space" just need to figure out how to better utilize the space I have.

hmm... what else is going on, not much! :D

I'm going to take a class tonight at my lss. Mainly to get out and do something that I enjoy, and I have a gift certificate to use.

Oh! one more thing, I'm taking Ally in to be "judged" for modelling. Not *REAL* modelling, but just for fashion, I think like Sears magazines... More or less for the fun of it, any possible money will just get dumped into her bank account. I'll keep you posted :)

great day!

2008-01-15T19:03:00.000-05:00

Ally and I walked today... I even kicked it up a notch and 'ran' 2 blocks! we walked the rest ;) 10 in total. It was a bit chilly out and snowed the whole way home ... I was starting to sweat and was glad once we got home. Then the little monkey wanted to keep going! So... I did! :D we hiked'er over to the pet store, bargain shop and grocery store. After that we stopped off at the school picked up Dawson and then home. We had a rather impromtu visit from Steve's aunt which was a pleasant surprise.

For supper I cranked out a 4 cheese spinach dip that is super yummy! As well as homemade chicken nuggets and Steve made homemade french fries that were also delish! :D

The flooring is done. I have to take pictures still, but it's mostly done... just a few bits to finish.
Tonight he's bottling home brew... it's a "cervasa" or similar to corona.

I can't WAIT to get the basement in "order" so we can all function again! the kids have no place really to play without feeling out of their place. ~not to mention I WANT A SITTING livingroom SANS large television! ;)

feeling better... knocking on wood!

2008-01-14T14:04:00.000-05:00

So the headache has disapated and the snow is falling :D

anyway... the floor

it's about 1/2 done.

ow! the pressure...

2008-01-13T16:58:00.000-05:00

Man, I got a WHAMMY of a headache. It started yesterday, I medicated right away had a siesta for nearly 2 hours, woke up and felt ok. So I went on with the evening... then it started again. I medicated and went to bed shortly after. Woke up this morning and wanted to cut my head off it hurt *so* bad! :sigh: I HATE pressure changes. I should have been a weather forecaster I guess...

so dh is working on the floor -VERY S...L...O...W...L...Y- but it's getting there. I think it's a hoot that it's suppose to be "done in an afternoon" sort of job and it's taking him FOREVER! I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that he's an engineer and ~nothing~ is EVER easy. {eye roll} or if it has to do with something else.

I'm just DYIN' to scrapbook and have my livingroom -sans television- hopefully by the end of this week it'll all be in place!!! I have to get the 2 futons ordered and picked up. You'd think the place would cut us a delivery deal or something for ordering 2... they even want $35 to deliver, sheesh! So I'm thinking that one day I'm just going to get fil in here and we're going to go get them even if it's while Steve (dh) is at work!

s'pose I should quit my bitchin' and go make supper :P

the flooring is started

2008-01-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

There was a section of the floor that had to be leveled out, that's what the dh is working on. I am SO SUPER anxious to get back to my scrapbooking!! ::sigh::

nothing much going on

2008-01-11T19:32:00.000-05:00

...that's why I haven't posted. :)

I think we are both hoping that the flooring at *least* gets started this weekend.

ok, ok... photo's already!

2008-01-08T20:16:00.000-05:00

sheesh, give a lazy gal a break! LOL :D

So let's see, if I can figure out which ones are which again...

~ first is Steve (left) and his dad putting the *crappy* panelling back up around the "new" door way. It use to be a LOT smaller. You can see the tiles to the left of Jim's hand that are cut/missing -that and to the right of him WAS the doorway. It is SO much better now. It really opened up the space and introduced a bit more lighting.

~yes, we *LET* the kids help ...but only the primer coat ;) They had a blast! I just hope it doesn't backfire, I don't forsee graffiti artists being a great paying job.

~here is the first coat, and the current state that it is at. I really should be down there applying the 2nd coat... but after making a really yummy supper {bbq steak with sauted onions and mushrooms, boiled beef cube potato's, beans and salad... then I cleaned the kitchen, played cards with the kids, Steve and my dad... went to the grocery store, prepared the 'guts' for Egg Rolls for marinating overnight to make for supper tomorrow. I think I'm nearly done for today.

so the green....? gross eh? :D I LOVE IT! :D

more like flourescent dill pickles

2008-01-07T14:32:00.000-05:00

... our "family" room {the reno. room/basement} looks sort of like flourescent green dill pickles in the light - Steve was totally skeptical looking at it while it was wet. Wondering ~WHAT have we done?!~ LOL it dried a lot darker, thank goodness. It definitely needs more coats, maybe 1 possibly 2. I think it's going to be really cool, especially after the flooring is laid.
I have some fun pictures as we had the kids helping with the primer coat.

I'm feeling really worn out, tired and straight up LAZY today. Dawson and I are both still in our monday-clothes {ahem, pj's} :)

going well...

2008-01-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

If the start of 2008 is the taste of how GREAT this year is going to be, BRING IT BABY!!! :D
we've been totally rockin' our renovations!!! I'm debating here at just minutes past 10pm if I have it in me to bust out the paint and see what I can do before bed -especially since the kids are in bed!

Dawson went to a birthday party today his best buddy Tristan just turned 6. They went bowling, and it was Dawson's first time... I think it's something we're definitely going to attempt to do sometime as a family :)

Steve mentioned playing poker tonight, but I think he's probably changed his mind ~ sounds like something *LOUD* is on tv.

later gators... I'll post painting pics -we chose Avacado {green}

twenty-oh-eight

2008-01-03T19:10:00.000-05:00

whoops! guess I'm a little behind. I got a new computer and have been having fun digital scrapping!!! It's "fun", it's "addicitive" and it's something I do NOT want to spend money on.
I'm posting the layouts that I made using freebies that I have found by various artists online. I am using Adobe's Photoshop Elements 6 {and yes I know that there is a spelling error in my journalling}. If there is any "paper or element" in my work that you like and would like to know where I found it please let me know and I'll dig that info up for you. I found most of them via *DiGi FREE*. Although some are from other places...

I'm not positive but I think you might be able to click on them to view them bigger.

Well, that's all the time I have...

day ....4?

2007-12-26T11:35:00.000-05:00

ok, I've had enough of this shananigans! we have been ~doing~ Christmas now since dec. 23... is it over YET?

After a delicious eggs benedict breakfast, we had a buffet array of 'junky' type foods with Steve's family on the 23rd, then again at my mom's on the 24th, on the 25th, we prepared eggs benedict again here at our abode. It's been a Hoover family tradition that I intend to keep up, the only difference is that as Steve was growing up they were only allowed to open their stockings before breakfast... then had to wait to eat to open up all their gifts. *OUR* kids... Ha! I'd be begging for mental institution lock up before the freakin' back bacon was cooked! So we ate AFTER gifts were opened up. The kids got lots of loot {good thing I unloaded 5-6 big garbage bags about a month ago}

Steve decided {apparently I agreed at the time} that we weren't going to exchange gifts this year b/c he bought a motorcycle and I got my african grey parrot... well, of course I went ahead and got him a couple things (new shoes, cologne and a little ornament thing) ...he had some plans to get us a new computer! I had a sneaky suspiscion that he was up to something but I didn't know what. So today, he set the alarm for 5am and was out there in the boxing day kerfuffle looking to score the best deal. He came home around 7am and had no luck, so he got online and found a deal. It should *hopefully* be here by next week... wahooooooooo!!! He said I will be able to try out digital scrapping, however, I need to learn more about how and what program I need etc.

gotta run along now... :sigh: I have decided to STAY HOME today! there is yet ANOTHER potluck at Steve's parents today ~I'm done!

OH! Steve's parents got us the flooring for the basement!! We are going to clean and paint the panelling I think we have agreed on green, but the paint isn't picked/bought yet...

daunt...daunt...daunt....

2007-12-20T22:41:00.001-05:00

another one bites the dust! -don't ask, just had that in my head :D

So... no dog food is not SO amazingly delicious that I am going to eat it on a regular basis ;) I did have some yummy McRaunchy's for supper. I honestly can't remember the last time I ate there! it's a fun ~treat~ especially when you go b/c you WANT to and not b/c the kids are whining to go.

Ally is at my inlaws for a *possible* multi-night sleepover, of course we'll just take it one day at a time, as her daddy misses her and the dog is just beside herself b/c somebody is missing. *I* on the otherhand spent the evening out shopping in the crazily-yet fun, busy mall :D ...get this, ALONE! wahoooo.... then I came home and Dawson and I made those chocolatey-poop cookies, you know the kind you don't have to bake? {sugar, butter, milk + cocoa, vanilla, coconut, oatmeal, salt} they're so addicitive and I didn't have enough ingredients to make enough for us to keep, I'll HAVE to make more tomorrow.

I have TOTALLY been loving Christmas this year! It's completely different than years past, not exactly sure why... but I'm going with it! :) I've been baking, cooking, shopping, wrapping, decorating... weird eh?

well, now I have a headache... yes, I licked the spoon.

toasted praline peanuts VS. dog food

2007-12-18T16:27:00.000-05:00

any guesses? -- go ahead, and swallow whatever you have in your mouth, otherwise you will *could choke*

So it's the snacking season... I LOVE peanuts. I found bags of "toasted praline peanuts" at Walmart for less than $2 for 450 g. They are sorta like beer-nuts... same idea anyway. The kids are sharing some with me, Dawson helps himself while I hand Ally 3-4 at a time (otherwise she'd just feed them all to the dog!) so anyway, while walking away with her "me-mutts" she dropped one and it's a golden rule in our house to NOT eat whatever hits the floor... TRUST ME! ;) So doing as she knows best, she hands over the dropped nut and continues on her merrily way... I noticed that she bent down and picked up something {I went ahead and ASSuMEd} that it was another dropped nut she then brought it to me as well... Without looking at what she put in my hand, I did the UNthinkable! I blew on them and popped them into my mouth! you can only imagine *MY* surprise when that nut had a VERY distinct unpleasurable texture... forget the TASTE! it was a piece of dry dog food.

ok, so while you are finishing up laughing AT me... {don't worry, I laughed at myself too} ;)

not really up to much, I need to get my son's teacher gift figured out!!

10 days to go!!

2007-12-15T12:38:00.000-05:00

Christmas could be tomorrow - I've just decided that this year, I'm not going to get stressed out, worked up or whatever, because it's just not worth it! :D I keep saying my shopping is done, and in actuality it is ~done~ however, it's just human nature, well at least in MY nature to keep buying stuff. Altho' I've been doing REALLY good -yah me!! :D

so today my kiddo's have a birthday party to go to (just across the street) they've invited us to either drop the kids off and/or stay. At first of course I was all for staying too -now I just want to ditch them! :P Only thing is I like like our neighbours and really enjoy their company ;)

I'm babbly today... I woke up feeling a bit lightheaded/dizzy, sore throat and ears... bleh! Now that I'm up and have eaten I feel a little better, this time of year sucks in regard to germs being spread :P
The weather forecast is calling for a winter snowy BLAST! -can't wait ;) supposedly we're expecting a foot. I'll believe it when it lands.

well... I best be running along :) have a great weekeknd!

posting nonsense...

2007-12-11T23:46:00.000-05:00

I just read this, and a LOT of it rang true! kinda creepy!! :)

PISCES - The Partner for Life, Caring and kind. Smart. Center of attention. Messy at times and irresponsible! Smart but lazy. High appeal. Has the last word. Good to find, hard to keep. Passionate, wonderful lovers. Fun to be around. Too trusting at times and gets hurt easily. Lover of animals. VERY caring, make wonderful nurses or doctors. They always try to do the right thing sometimes get the short end of the stick. They sometimes et used by others and hurt because of their trusting. Extremely weird but in a good way. Good Sense of Humor!!! Thoughtful. Always gets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet. Good friend to other but need to be choosy on who they allow their friends to be.

roflol -LOVE it!

oops! forgot something

2007-12-11T19:06:00.000-05:00

I totally forgot to share *my* gingerbread house! -it's actually Dawson's and the kids will likely be the ones eating it, but *I* assembled it!