thoughts for today

It seems that as I get older, time just ticks away from me. I have been off of school since the 23rd and have not done anything around the house. I am just enjoying the down time, relaxing, and doing lots of scrapping. I really need to kick myself in gear and get something done! The tree is still up, presents are still under the tree, decorations are still out and the house is dirty. One of these days...

Today I am off to do a few errands, go to my LSS (a girl has put her priorities straight), make spiced pecans (yummy goodness), take a nap, and do some layouts. I want to start my challenges for the New Year's Crop over at Just Scrappin'.

words...

I had such a good and productive weekend at the SB retreat. I completed nine LO's which might be a record for me. The above LO's were word challenges. So fun to use different words for a title.

I have several more LO's to post and will do so in the upcoming days. Right now, I am organizing my Cricut carts and then off to the grocery store. I am hoping to scrap some more this afternoon and take a nap. I am so enjoying my time off of school.

on vacation

Well, I am sorta of on vacation. I am off of school...so I need a mini vacation. I am leaving for a me weekend of scrapbooking. I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas with family and ate lots of good food. Me, I am feeling like an overstuffed turkey!

Gratitude list:
1. a new electric blanket that keeps me warm.
2. a wonderful husband
3. time spent with "my" family
4. this weekend with no responsibilities
5. good food and good times

together

I so miss the two of us alone and together...no worries, no teenagers.

Introducing Mr. Arrogance...

Well, it's Sunday again. I cannot wait for Tuesday at 4:00. Then it's vacation baby! I will have a break until January 5th. It's time to relax, refresh and enjoy.

So anyway, let me introduce the youngest...Mr. Arrogant, but also known as the Prince of Palmyra, or sometimes Julian. He is arrogant, rude, stubborn, disrespectful, irresponsible, sneaky, dishonest and downright mean. Oh, I forgot to mention, he acts that way only towards me, his stepmother. To others he is quite the opposite. I am pretty sure it is because I "call him on the carpet" and am a black and white kind of gal...no grey area with me. He doesn't like that about me and hence, we butt heads all the time. That is OK with me as I do not want to replace his biological mother, just want the respect from him. I am frustrated, to say the least. I will stop there...

My gratitude list:
1. an electric blanket
2. Lighty
3. Chris
4. the ability and means to enjoy things in life
5. scrappy time
6. good friends
7. slippers

What is annoying me RIGHT now:
1. loud, LOUD snoring
2. Julian's bedroom...how can one have dirty underwear all over the floor for days and days?
3. knowing that I won't have a two hour late start

Sunday...again!

I can't believe it. It's already Sunday afternoon. Why do weekends have to pass by so quickly? I wanted to accomplish so much this weekend and didn't. I still have this evening to get some things done. I don't know what it is, but all I feel like doing right now is scrapbooking.

Busy week ahead...appointments, my luncheon I do for my 5th grade math students, a massage (happiness), tutoring, baking, last minute shopping, scrapping, and some more scrapping (I hope).

This LO was inspired from a challenge over at Fiskateers. I love the final results. I am using my Cricut more and more. What a fun machine with endless possibilities.

thank goodness

Tomorrow is Friday. Do you see me doing the happy dance? It's been a long week and I am so glad it has come to an end. I have lots on my plate this weekend; it's all good. I need to start and finish my Christmas wrapping and finish any last minute gift buying. I am so hoping to get started on some baking too. Here's wishing that by Sunday night all my Christmas preparations will be almost finished. Is it too much to wish for some scrappy time too? I have one more mini to complete for a gift for the inlaws.

The LO is an older one but a favorite. I love my Fuji S9000.

weekend is over!

It's hard to believe that the weekend is over. It seems that it takes forever for Friday to arrive and then before one can blink their eyes, it's Sunday night. Laugh.

We got our tree, decorated it, put a few decorations around the house and put the Belschnickels outside. I also did the mantle with my Santa collection. I am starting to get in the festive mood. I guess it's about time as Christmas will be here in seventeen more days.

On Saturday I went to my LSS to an all day crop. It was shortened by about two hours as the weather was starting to get bad. it was lightly snowing but the roads were starting to freeze. If you know me, I just want to be at home when there is bad weather. I hate winter, I hate the cold, I hate the wind and I hate snow. The only good thing is unexpected snow days. I did get two layouts done for challenges at Just Scrappin', finished two more mini albums for gifts, and made some stinkin cute gift holders.

So tomorrow is Monday and it's back to school. I sure hope the week goes fast as I have lots to do this coming weekend. I need to wrap gifts and would like to start my Christmas baking. I sure hope I can fit some scrappy time in this weekend.

And total loathe for the week: Jules comes home for winter break. All I can say is that it's going to be a LONG six weeks. So please, if you have a few minutes, send some positive vibes my way.

Layouts:
#1: challenge (from JS) was to do a LO with lots of layers and the theme "All I Want for Christmas." I took a totally different approach as I do not want anything or need anything for Christmas. All I truly want for Christmas is respect from the young man represented in the photo. There is lots of hidden journalling underneath the photo...emotional and from the heart.

#2: challenge (from JS) was to create a LO using at least one snowflake and some bling.

strength...

love this man!

more scrappy goodness...I just LOVE this photo. It shows so much love that a new mother has for her baby.

it's back to school...

Well, Tuesday morning and I am back to school. I keep telling myself only 22 more days until a long break. I am so wishing I had off today. I enjoyed my five day holiday. I ate lots of food, shopped Black Friday for 14 hours, got my nails done, scrapped A LOT, had fun with my friend Aymee, learned more about this blog thing (thanks, Aymee) and just relaxed. It's been a good long weekend for me; I am refreshed. I sure hope this week goes fast.

getting to know me...

I bet you didn't know (statements in bold refer to ME): 1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4.Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6.Given more than you had to a charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8.Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art form from scratch 15. Adopted a child (DH has and I am helping to raise him...a fine young man) 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelos David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee 100. Read an entire book in one day