Creative License

I'm joining this project for the month of March . . . I know I have way more on my plate that I could ever accomplish but that's the problem . . . all of it seems like "work" and not fun although shouldn't we make everything fun or at least try to? Scrapbooking is my hobby not my life or my work and I want to create with my scrapbook stuff almost everyday but it rarely happens anymore. Actually as of lately, it seems not much of anything happens here creatively anymore . . . boring. Makes me feel lazy and frustrated and just tired all the time. This isn't necessarily about doing "projects" as it is taking the everyday ordinary things and putting a creative spin on it and adding fun and energy into your life . . . I need that a lot right now! Stacy Jullian (scrapbooking celeb) turned me on to this. I think it's one of those things that the hard part is getting started but once you get going I think it will easily springboard from one area to another. So I'll start tomorrow and I think we may have a picnic on the living room floor for dinner . . . sure my husband will grumble at first and the kids will spill things but how fun and as I think ahead to it I'm sure I will add more fun to the whole process. So this isn't necessarily about being craft as it's thinking about doing things differently with a spin of fun and new ideas. People look at things I'm doing and say "I wish I was creative like you" and I really don't understand why people think they aren't creative. Creativity is about inventiveness, your ideas, your way, sometimes it turns out and sometimes it doesn't but the process should be enjoyable so all you Negative Nellies stop saying you're not creative and join in on the fun! Let me know if you're joining and be sure to let Lisa (the idea originator for the creativity project) know on her blog.

Scrapbooking Struggles & a Giveaway

Ever since the kids got sick a few weeks ago with those ear infections, I didn't have much of a chance to scrapbook except when they went to bed by then I was too exhausted to do anything but lay in bed and stare at the TV until I was out (about 5 minutes). Then they got better, it was valentines crafts and then I started painting their room again so once they were in bed I was too tired to do any scrapbooking although I wanted to and I thought I had fab ideas but if I did go up there I would just shuffle stuff around not sure what to do and it didn't take long before I was frustrated and felt like I was wasting time. Today I decided I would scrap during Reese's morning nap as a "present" to myself since yesterday I wasn't home much at all and spent most of the day running errands and driving kids places.

Once again, I felt like I was at a loss and I was up there working on my bedroom floor when all of sudden I was like hey! why am I sitting on the floor when I have this nice space I created???? I realized although it's not a total mess I just had some stuff sitting up there that hadn't made it's way back to it's proper place and I need a good amount of table to work (just ask Keely). While I should have probably stopped and cleaned a little I didn't want to give up my me time to organizing/cleaning once again. So I kept on truckin' and got this done. I like it. I still need to do the journaling.

This afternoon I will venture up there and put away all my stuff so I can get back to scrapping when I want without the mess. That's the key to most everything in my life -- I can't create very well in chaos. It bugs me. Now I want that creative bug to get me going.

And if you're feeling like you have the creative bug going on and want to get hold of some new cool stuff, check out Creek Bank Creations Blog. My sister, Keely, works there and is helping out with their blog and they are doing a giveaway right now with some of their own new products.

That tree book is pretty neat. Paint it, cover it in paper, ink it, how cool would it be with some park, spring, or fall photos. Even if you're not a scrapbooker, that tree book would make a cool journal (I'd paint it with acylic paint and write on top of the paint or cover it with notebook paper) or just give it to your kids and see what cool thing they do with it. I know Addison would love to do a "project"(as she calls it) like that. I think they may add more to their giveaway as more people comment so go to it, be sure to mention my name so they know I'm out there promoting them!

Me at 38

I always do age posts about the kids I thought since today is my birthday I'd do one for me!

*I love to cook but hate to make the menu and lists of what to buy. Lately it hasn't been too much of a problem as I am only shopping the store sale fliers and coupons thus we eat what is on sale. We have saved a ton of money in groceries by doing this.

*I love reality shows. American Idol, Biggest Loser, Top Chef, and {I hate to admit} Rock of Love with Brett Michaels are my favorites at the moment. I can't wait for Celebrity Apprentice to begin next week!

*Brad Paisley became a lot hotter when he had kids and I love his music but I'm really digging Gary Allen a lot and he's not to bad to look at either. I do not find Brett Michaels attractive in any way and I think I just watch that show to figure out why all those women want to be his girlfriend. I do not see the enticement of it all.

*Donuts are my crack and Diet Mountain Dew is my alcohol. I decide almost everyday that I am not going to eat donuts anymore. But if I know where they are in a store and I always do. You'll find me there staring at them and I'll buy one and eat it in the store or the van. I don't like to share with the kids.

*I haven't been to the Y since December. We are going back next week.

*I have been in a funk the last few weeks. I think it's cabin fever in addition to the fact that Ethan doesn't take naps there's not much time left for "me" lately. . . that's the way it goes.

*Being a mom is hard, sometimes harder than others. I love it though even the hard times.

*I hate winter . . . I don't remember feeling this strongly about it in the past but it's really on my nerves. Cold, cabin fever, boots, coats, mittens, hats, scarves, snowpants, buckling car seats over all that while freezing my rear end off times 4 -- Uggghhh!

*I haven't been scrapbooking for several weeks and every night I intend to do it and look forward to it but never have the energy. I think I have been sleeping way too much. I do best if I only sleep about 5-6 hours a night lately I've been going to bed at 10 and getting up at 7. That's way too much and makes me feel so sluggish all day long.

*I have been working on being less annoyed with people this year. It's working . . . why get all stirred up about people who I have no control over and aren't going to change anyway?

*I really hate answering the phone so I don't that's what my answering machine is for.

*Flavored Hershey Kisses are another one of my vices -- the Orange Creme ones I just bought today are really good, so are the the NY cheese cake and the raspberry creme and the cherry cordial . . . I need bigger jeans because of them.

*I know my husband spoils me. He does all the dishes, cleans up the supper table every night, bathes the kids, stays home with all the kids (even overnight) any time I ask, and the last two Sundays he's done all the laundry (and there's a lot of laundry here). My neighbor Neal told Aaron to keep me away from his wife so she doesn't get any ideas.

*Aaron bought me these rain boots. I love them and plan on wearing them all the time and you will see me out there splashing in the puddles with the kids -- come on spring!

*I really am considering a tattoo but I have 2 problems what to get and where to put it. I can't think of anything I would love to be on my body forever (except a flat tummy). Like right now I really like owls but do I want an owl on me in 10 years or twenty years . . . and where does one put an owl. When I was in 6th grade I loved Garfield. I hate Garfield now. What if I had gotten a Garfield tattoo when I was 12? Hmmmm . . . No place seems good to put one either . . . I don't want it showing all the time like people who get them on their face and necks but if it's covered all the time what's the point . . . maybe this is the sign I shouldn't get a tattoo.

*I love reading blogs and writing on mine. I am real on mine. I don't move stuff out of the shot before I take a photo, I don't apologize for my mess or lack of decorating. What you see is what you get and lately that's how I handle visitors too. I don't stress or clean up before someone comes -- this is my life and how I live and if you come over here, you get to experience it first hand.

*No matter how much complaining or how tired I am, I would have to say that this is the happiest time of my life. The path I have traveled to get where I am has been rough at times but this is exactly what I wanted and I wouldn't change one thing about my life (except that flat stomach thing).

Happy Birthday to me!

Sewing Bug

I'm done painting the kids' walls and trim . . . then I ran out of paint for the ceiling. The part I can't wait to start is making quilts for all of them. There's the fabrics I have so far for the girls and I plan on getting a few more too . . . you can never have too much fabric. I have a couple things for the boys so far but it's definitely harder to find fabrics I like for them. My resources are limited too since I'm trying to save money and using coupons at JoAnn's and they have a lot of fabrics but there is so much more out there . . . I've been browsing on-line something I shouldn't do . . . cute, cute, cute stuff but I'm not paying $13 or more a yard for fabric! I just can't wait to start sewing but really I should have all my fabrics before I start. It's hard to wait though, we all know how I love to START a new project that's all that is probably. I have been wanting to sew lately. I read a lot of crafty blogs where people are making the cutest clothes for their kids and themselves. Then I was at JoAnn's on Friday and at the checkout, the cashier talked me into buying this Fashion magazine for a couple bucks because it had all these coupons on the back. She said "I know you don't want this for the fashions" maybe it was my stained t-shirt or my too tight jeans giving me the ever so attractive muffin top or my Goodwill green coat (that I love) that made her say that, I don't know but when I came home I looked through it and saw it said fashions inspired by Project Runway (I loved that show!) however I would never fit into anything they stick on those stick models but the key word was inspired. I tore out several pages of things I might try to make. I would love to make some tops and skirts. I have trouble finding clothes that fit me right so maybe making my own would be better. For some reason they just don't make clothes for "mummy tummy". Anyway I might give it a go, I see a lot of sewers find a pattern they love and make it several times in different fabrics and it looks like a different top or skirt every time. I've never been big into making clothes but lately I'm feeling all Little House on the Prairie like -- I need to be Mindy Homemaker or something. Why not make all our clothes? I need more going on don't I?

So back to the kid's room, I'm almost done except I need to paint their bunk bed and the 4 (yes, four!) doors in their room but they have to all be primed too so that's a warm weather project to do outside which may never happen since I don't think it will ever be warm here again -- we just got some more snow last night. I need to order some things I have in mind for their walls too and paint the closets add the accessories I have to paint for closets. And do something to the front of their dresser . . . and sew the four quilts . . . then I'm done. I hope you're not holding your breath waiting for the reveal as that may be a few years down the road!

and don't forget I have to make two sets of curtains too . . .

It's a Process

A few weeks ago we brought down Addison's dollhouse from the upstairs play closet. I put in on a chest so Reese wouldn't eat the small pieces and "mess up" Addison's house. Addison couldn't reach the third and fourth floors very easily so she brought out the bench to the vanity Cathi gave us last year. When we clean up I put it back. Reesey is so smart that she goes and gets the bench and carries all the way from the playroom so she can use it to reach the dollhouse. She hasn't eaten anything so far. She likes to put the baby in the bed and say "nigh nigh baby" then "shhh . . . shhh" The second I put that bench back here she comes carrying it back out again. She'll do it tens time a day if she has too.

Today she found me to show me that she put her hat on all by herself. I can't believe all the things she can do.

Me too!

Reese must do everything the older kids do -- if they have popcorn then she better get some too or she'll let you know. Good thing I remembered to buy the "baby" kind (corn pops or whatever they are called). I got them plastic popcorn boxes at the Target Dollar Spot -- I had three in hand and then remembered Reese will want one too, so I picked up another or that would have been another protest.

No school today for President's Day --- I haven't done a lot except a second coat of brown paint in their room during Reese's nap (now I have 3 walls and the ceiling to go) and bathed them all. Other than that they are destroying the house and running and screaming and I think I will prepare dinner now and we will eat the minute Aaron comes home then I think I will exit upstairs to do some scrapbooking which is long overdue and hopefully make me feel a little more energized. I must remember this for summer since they don't nap anymore . . . I need to have the day more planned out with projects and activities especially on days we stay home all day: structure is the key to my sanity or what's left of it. It will be easier in the summer when we can go outside . . . I hope!

S+H: A New Beginning

My cousin, Scott, got married yesterday. Aaron's mom had a slumber party for her 6 grandkids so we got to go. It was a really nice wedding and we had a lot of fun at the reception. We stayed until they kicked us out which was only 9 but still it's unusual for us. I think I've been to one other wedding since I got married and Aaron's been to two. We just don't get out much!

I took some photos. I have a lot to learn about photography and my camera but I think I got some nice shots of them. I remember back to my wedding some of my favorite photos are the candids that guests took of us . . . we could have skipped paying a photography I think . . . but 8 years ago, wedding photography was a bit different. I really like the fun shots that I've seen recently. Anyway here are some of the moments I captured:

Congrats, Scott and Heather!