Craft Area

My craft space is an area that I have been working on since I moved into my new house. With less than 1000 square feet in the whole house and only two bedrooms I had to be creative in where I would have my craft space. This is a 10' x 10' space in the family room and it works really well for me. I was so excited when I walked into the space this morning and the desk was cleared off and there were no boxes on the floor.
About a month ago we decided to take down the black drapes and bamboo blinds and put up white blinds. It makes the room much brighters.
When we moved here my old desk basically fell apart. I took the top surface and laid it on top of the white cabinets. I had to get a new, higher desk chair but it is working out fine. You can see I still have work to do in the family room part of the room, DVD's and videos in piles, pictures that need to be hung. You can also see Bailey's latest favorite - Diego. She pronounces his name "yoyeah".
Here is my cube wall fill with some of my supplies. I just got the three drawer organizers and put them under my scraprack. Getting the scraprack filled and organized is my next craft organizing project to do. I still have about five or six tomato boxes fill with scrapbook supplies that aren't in my cube wall.
The space to the right of the colorful drawers is our front door. Before you could hardly get into the house. Since I started using this door I had to clear out a path into the house. We also took out the carpet in this room and will be installing a laminate wood floor.

I hope you enjoyed my before and after photos of my craft area. I am so excited about how neat and tidy the room is I may even scrapbook!

Sunday Scrappin'

Ok, so I don't really have anything to share for Sunday Scrappin' but I tried, really I did. So, I broke down and purchased Project Life. I was going to do it digitally but decided I was tired of doing daily photos digitally so got the paper version. It is a great album and there are all sorts of fun stuff included.
So, I decided I would do this fun little dot pattern around each day's photos along with the day and date. Went and had them printed at Walgreen's and I guess it was a dingbats day to work in the photo center. When I picked up my prints the dates were running off the sides and the dots weren't even. Now, I can print them at home ok so it has got to be the person at Walgreen's. So, now I have to go and complain and see if I can get someone who knows what they are doing to print off my pictures.

So, there are about three photos out of four weeks worth of photos that I can use and there are no full pages done. But, I thought about scrapbooking and I actually made an attempt. Hopefully I'll have been luck next week.

I am thinking about doing Got Sketch 105. I have done each of the other sketch classes and loved them. Don't know if I really have the time to do another class but I thought it might get me out of my rut.

A Long Weekend

I don't think I like the way 2010 has started - as a matter of fact I know I don't! Emergency gall bladder surgery for me, the demise of my relationship with Dave and then my Mom having two cysts and one lumps in her breasts. Not a fun way to start a year.

So, with all that is going on I went to visit my Mom and Dad this past weekend. My Aunt Ruth was visiting from Ohio so I got to visit with her as well. Here is Aunt Ruth reading a book with Bailey.
My Dad took my Aunt to the airport Monday afternoon and Bailey and I took my Mom to her appointment with the breast surgeon. He aspirated one cyst, took a biopsy of the lump and she is to go back Wednesday morning at 10 IF they have the results back. Otherwise she'll know Friday. He will aspirate the other cyst then. Please keep my Mom in your thoughts and prayers as she is pretty much a basket case right now (not that I am much better).

Other than the above crap we had a nice weekend, we went out to dinner at Sonny's and I didn't get sick - I guess the gall bladder surgery was a success! We ate awesome food, had good conversation and it was fun to spend time with the family. We went thrift and dollar store shopping and made a trip to Wally World. My van is full and I am not looking forward to putting everything away but it was a good weekend and I am now glad I am home.

Health Reform

So, in the mail yesterday was the bill for my 36 hour hospital stay. Now this bill is just the hospital, not the ER, not the surgeon, not the anesthesiologist, not the radiologist - just the hospital. My bill was almost $36,000!!!!! One thousand freaking dollars per hour! And people say we don't need health reform? How is an under employed single mother supposed to pay a bill of $36,000?

Debating

I am not working this Saturday so am debating on what I should do. My choices are:

1.) work on getting the house straightened up
2.) head to Ft Lauderdale to a bead show
3.) veg and do basically nothing
4.) something I haven't thought of

So, I am really leaning towards #3 but I have been doing a lot of that lately. I really don't need to be spending any money on beads but it might be a fun get away for a half a day. Decisions, decisions.

Rest and Recuperation

Tuesday I worked a longer day than normal 10-6 and yesterday I worked 10-4. Add to that taking care of an adorable 2 1/2 year makes for a tired and grumpy Nana. Neither Bailey nor I got our naps on Tuesday so last night after stopping at the gas station (two freaking eighty a gallon! WTF!) and making a deposit at the bank we hit Nana's big bed for a nap. I slept two hours and Bailey slept 2 1/2 hours and we both went to bed at regular time. I guess surgery really takes it out of you!

Today, it's off to work and then Managerial Accounting tonight. Might sneak a 30 minute power nap in if I'm lucky.

My Baby's Birthday!

Today is my baby's birthday! Brent turns 14 today. Happy Birthday Brento! He is at his dad's this week so we will celebrate next week. He wants a fun day - bagels, movies and lunch. Sounds like as much fun for me as for him!

Flowers, Life and Being Grateful

I love receiving flowers as much as the next gal, BUT, I don't want to have emergency gall bladder surgery as the reason to get them. If you read my blog you know I was going out for ribs Wednesday night...well very early Thursday morning I was in the ER with pain. First I was told I had a bladder and a kidney infection. I have had bladder infections before and I knew this pain was not a bladder infection type pain. Then they came back and said I had Pancreatitis. I am thinking, ok, don't know what that is, that might be what is wrong. Then they send me off for a CAT scan and guess what they find? A gall bladder full of gall stones and it's off to emergency surgery I go. I got to the hospital at 2:30 a.m. and was in surgery by 8:30 a.m. And my Mom and Dad sent me these beautiful flowers to cheer me up.
So, now I am home and feeling much better, not lifting another heavier than the remote control. My Mom came and took good care of me over the weekend, feeding me and doing my laundry. My sister, niece, her friend and brother and Brent were all here yesterday making me feel loved. Got some really cute cards and well wishes. Oh, and the former youth director came to the hospital to see me. I thought that was really nice and well beyond what was expected. Thanks Carol!

Dave and I went to the college this morning and got my books for this semester. Fortunately, I found out that even though I haven't gotten my financial aid, it did pay for my books. Good thing, one of the books was $199! Yikes!

Bailey is back staying with us. Nicole has had her share of housing issues this year and now is without a place to stay again. We have come up with a temporary solution if she needs it. She starts her new job next Monday so hopefully she will make some money and be able to get her own place soon.

I need to quite jabbering and get my desk cleaned off so I can get started working on my three online classes. I really don't want to get too far behind.

I am feeling grateful for family and friends. I am feeling grateful that I have a roof over my head and food in my refrigerator. I am feeling grateful that I have a job to go to tomorrow. I am grateful.

Sunday Scrappin'

My Sunday Scrappin' post is a day late again. Here is what I accomplished this week. These four pages were on my to-do list from last week. I have finished another Christmas house but haven't glued them together so can't share them this week. I have also gotten current with my Project 365.

For my to-do's this week
1. This was on my list last week but I need to get my desk/office area cleaned up and organized. School has started and I need to have room to study and work.
2. I have three Christmas houses done and they need to be glued together.
3. Need to gather up supplies to make a goody bag for Sunday Scrappin'.
4. I am doing Project 365 again this year. I want to stay current with it and work on posting my pics for last year. After the move I wasn't posting but was still taking the pictures.

Hungry for Ribs

Baby, it's cold outside and has been for days and will be until next Tuesday. This is the longest cold snap that we have had in years. I am actually enjoying the cooler weather and like being able to wear clothes that haven't been worn in ages.

Tonight we are going to dinner at Rib City. I am hungry for ribs! YUM!

Back to the Real World

Well, I am back to the store today with Bailey in tow. Not sure how we will accomplish the nap thing today but we'll work it out!

School starts in two days! I have over $100 worth of books that I need to get as soon as my credit shows up on my card. It's funny how the money goes out of the credit card immediately but takes up to three days to be put back on!

Holidays in Hand

Here are my last four Holidays in Hand layouts. I loved doing this album and plan on doing something similar next year.

Sunday Scrappin'

I have quite a bit to share this week for Sunday Scrappin'. School starts back on Thursday so I may not be so prolific again for awhile. First, although it's not scrapbooking, it's crafty, I put together a large rug for Brent's room. Here and here are two posts showing my Holidays in Hand layouts. And a slide show of the rest of the safety pin bracelets that I finished.

For my to-do's this week
1. I want to finish up the four last pages of my Holiday in Hand album.
2. I also want to do some cleaning up and organizing of my desk/office area. It is the only area in the house that I still have a few boxes left to empty.
3. I finished all the pieces for another house in my Christmas village and need to glue it together.
4. Need to gather up supplies to make a goody bag for Sunday Scrappin'.
5. I am doing Project 365 again this year. I want to stay current with it and work on posting my pics for last year. After the move I wasn't posting but was still taking the pictures.

Holidays in Hand

Here is another slideshow featuring my Holidays in Hand layouts through December 27th. I only have four more layouts to complete and this album with be finished. Hopefully I will get to them in the next few days before my life (store, school, kids) starts up again on Tuesday.