Quick hello

It's saturday morning and I only have a few minutes right now. My husband and I are cleaning the house becuase my grandpa is coming over today to see our house for the first time. It'll be a short visit over lunch, and then the rest of the day we can relax. I'll create some cards with new stamps I have (I have the perfect one in mind for a friend who just may be reading this. . .)and get them on this blog asap!! Right now I need to finish my coffee and get going. Thanks for reading~~be back soon!

My work

I haven't taken the time yet to explain the work I do at home.

One of my best friends, Beth, works for a man that was looking for someone to put scrapbooks together for him and his wife. Beth told him she had a friend that scraps. (That's be me :) After showing the couple a few of my scrapbooks, they were excited to have me put their pictures in albums. I started with their trip to Italy. It turned out very nice, and "A" was glad to have me start on her son's album. That was nearly 3 years ago, and i've been scrapping her son and daughter's albums non stop. "A"'s sister, "K" has a daughter and asked if I'd be interested in doing her album, as well. I was thrilled and honored!

The ladies pay for all the supplies, and I charge $12 per page. I bring the finished albums to them, ask for feedback on the work, and take notes on what they want and like. I am very thankful and blessed to be able to make money doing what I love, and on top of all of that, I get to do it at home when it works into my schedule. As a matter of fact, I brought the newest pictures they gave me on this trip in case I had an afternoon to crop and layout some pictures.

"A" and "K" like their pages to be a bit more embellished and colorful than I typically do my pages, so my style as evolved for them. My albums tend to be a bit more simple with lots of journaling, and their pages are full of Jolee's, bling, buttons and sparkle. I'm adding more of these elements to my pages now and then, but I tend to not stray too much from my original style. Once I have a few of their pages completed, I'll post some of 'theirs' and 'mine'. (Post its over the pictures, to protect the innocent ;)

Stay cool, enjoy from fruit or an iced tea, and I'll be back friday afternoon :)

Summer activities

Hi everyone! It's been too long since I posted. The kids and I aren't home, actually. We've been out of town for a few days, and won't be home until friday afternoon. We're at my inlaws for a family reunion. The weather is HOT and humid--luckily, my in laws have the air on, and we're all comfortable.

Tuesday evening my mother in law and I walked to the park with the kids. We walked there and back, and it was probably 2 miles total. Wednesday the kids and I went to Super Target for a few things, and I walked the parimeter of the store, but aside from that, no real exersice. I hung out with two friends that evening, the kids playing with their cousins at my brother inlaw's house. Today we're moving slowly, but I am feeling the itch to MOVE. I really am feeling addicted to walking. That's a good thing. Maybe today I'll work on strength training a bit, rather than cardio. My plantar fasicia is hurting, and pumping a little iron will keep my metabolism going, while giving my feet a rest.

My father in laws' sisters will be here today, and my brother in law and his family. My husband will be here after work. The kids and I are going home tomorrow after breakfast. My mother in law will be sad to see us go, and it's been very nice visiting with her, but I have laundry to catch up on now, and scrapping and stamping to get to!! (I got some new Bella stamps in the mail the day we left! I can't wait to show all of you how CUTE they are!)

Friday, and I'm on the run!

I have a list of things I need to do today, and I don't know if I'll get to all of it! First, I wanted to share this card I made for a friend. I like the colors, but I don't like how the tea cup looks like a bumble bee. It's plum mist and buttercup, but it sure looks like a BEE.

Cardstock and ink---ctmh

stamps---hero arts

My husband will be home this evening after a three day stay at his parents' townhouse. This weekend we'll just be hanging at home and chillin' out. He'll probably stay up in Tinley next week about the same amount of time; three days. It really saves on gas.

Off to run a million errands. Check in later!

A day at a time

At the advice of my SUPER FABULOUS cousin, I am taking my workouts day by day. Last night I walked to the video store to return some movies, picked out a new one, and walked back. I will 'measure' the distance with the car today, but I'd guess I walked close to 2 miles. I still had trouble falling asleep last night; last time I looked at the clock it was 12:50. I woke up easily, though, at 8am today and wasn't tired! So I think I'm making progress! :)


So HOW CUTE IS THIS!!? I love the red hair, eh? I made a couple of these for my online buddies :-D

Paper: CTMH "Let's get together"
Ink, brads and markers: CTMH
Stamp and sentiment: Stampingbella

"You can't control the winds, but you can adjust your sails" --I don't know the author.

Back in the swing of things

I'm back! I feel like I"ve been gone a hundred years.

Here's a cute happy birthday card I made with some new hero arts acrylic stamps and ctmh paper, inks and markers. Oh, the sentiment is also ctmh.

WEIGHTY ISSUES

Ok. I've read all kinds of advice and whatnot about staying on plan and not being discouraged if you fall off plan. One great line I remember is "Lean into it". .. meaning the new plan. That's a good visual for me. I've been making some bad food choices. *sigh* I have a few excuses, but it comes down to stress eating, really. I hope that just by acknowledging it I'm able to start to switch out that habit for another.

I walked outside today for close to 20 minutes. It felt a lot longer than that, though! I drove the route with my car and it's a mile. I'm tempted to make it a longer route so I am walking for a longer period of time, but I think what I'll do instead is keep at that length and pace for this week. My heart rate was DEFINITLY up there. I'm thinking about doing that mile TWICE each day. Do you think that's too much too soon? I feel that 'all or nothing' feeling coming on. I'm thinking I should do it TWICE everyday. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Ok, I'll do it twice a day, but if I only do it three days this week we'll call it ok, yes? Please let me know what you think.

I'm going to make grilled chicken, a salad and au grautin potatoes (I'm not eating the potatoes. They're for my husband.). I am not going to eat anything after dinner. I won't die, and I won't be hungry becuase I plan on going to bed by 10:30, and we'll be eating at 7. (I hate to eat so late, but Ken won't be home until about 6:45 or 7.) I've been going to bed late for the past two weeks, and I need to STOP IT becuase then I'm SOOOO tired in the morning and lay around (and even fall back to sleep) until 11am! Thus, my body thinks it's morning when it's really afternoon, and I don't feel tired when it's 10pm and I should be going to bed. I'm sure walking everyday will help me to be tired in the evening.

Please give me feed back on my plan! Tell me what you think.

Just me and the kids for the weekend

Ken went on the annual guys camping trip today with his brother, cousin, and a few friends. It's warm here today, and although the breeze is nice, it's too humid. I put the air on this morning. The kids and I went to Sam's this afternoon and I spent 2 hours in the kitchen putting things away and reorganizing the cabinets. Then I cut up fruit and now I'm ready to settle in at my scrap desk for the next 48 hours!! (Ok, I'll throw a load or two of laundry in at some point.) We rented videos and games last night, so we are set. I have my portable dvd player for my scrap desk and 5 discs of Oprah's 20th Anniversary---I'll be inspired, crying, laughing, and better off for watching it, I know. I love Oprah.

This morning I lifted weights and did squats and lunges. I guess that's what got my blood pumping and lit a fire under my duff to straighten the house, balance the checkbook, and go to Sams. I feel great!

Enjoy your weekend. I didn't post many pics this week--I'll pick it up next week! I'm off to enjoy scrappin', Oprah, and wine. Mmmmm. . .

Happy Moments -- Praise God
Difficult Moments -- Seek God
Quiet Moments -- Worship God
Painful Moments -- Trust God
EVERY Moment -- Thank God.