Testing 04/20/2022

Two Weeks - Two Months - Yikes!

So, my last post lamented that it had been two weeks since I have last posted AND now it's been two months.  Time certainly does fly.

I saw this on Facebook and it really spoke to me.  I need to stop waiting to enjoy my life.

  Then I saw this post on Instagram from The Handmade Home.  OMG how this spoke to me.  About taking your home and loving it, living in it, enjoying it, making it your own.  Owning it.  And for me, there is just too much stuff in my home.  I need less stuff.  So, day by day, a little at a time, I am packing up the clutter and giving it a new home.  And eventually I won't have the clutter.  But I am going to love my home and enjoy my home while I am tackling the issues within - because - really, I have no other choice.  There is no other option for me - I need to love my home - it's mine - I spend my days and my nights here and I want, want, want to be happy here.  If something is not working for me in my house I am going to change it.  Like taking the doors off the master bathroom and closet and replacing them with curtains.  It might not be to everyone's taste but for me - it works.  And so I am off to enjoy my home.

Happy Thursday.  ~Chris

Two weeks - really??

It is incomprehensible to me that over two weeks have passed since my last post.  Time really does fly doesn't it?  I spend a weekend in Naples visiting kids and grandkids and celebrating Nicole's birthday. I didn't get to see Brent as he was off to Universal for Grad Night.  Spend the night at Nicole's place.  Brandon brought Bella over and Nana watched the girls while Nicole and Luke celebrated Nicole's birthday.

I love these girlies!!!!  We had such a good time together.  The weekend was awesome and I already have plans to visit again in a couple of weeks.  Happy Friday!  ~Chris

Doctor's Appointment

I am heading to the doctor's office this morning.  Seems the Metformin is what is causing my skin rash.  They are going to evaluate and see what the next step is.  Taking my book with me.  ~Chris

Lazy Sunday

There are a couple of shows that I have started watching this season that I am really enjoying.  I usually DVD shows so that I don't miss them on regular TV and I spent part of today catching up.  I REALLY like the show Believe.

 The other show that I am really enjoying is Private Lives of Nashville Wives. I am usually not into reality TV but I am liking this show.  I love country music so I think that is part of the appeal for me.

I spent some time this morning cleaning off my desk - it is no where near to being done but I made a bit of progress and found a bit of space to do some scrapbooking on.  I also completed my Spanish II homework for Tuesday.

Happy Sunday!  ~Chris

Saving Mr. Banks

Since I have been living in Haines City I rarely cook a meal.  It's only me and I don't want to eat the same thing every night for a week so I buy frozen meals and quick and easy dinner ideas instead of cooking.  Last night I made my Mom's Best Meatloaf, Special Potatoes and french green beans with almonds for a special friend.  It's nice to have a special person or event to cook for.  Dinner was awesome, the company was awesome and I have a refrigerator full of leftovers and a whole peach cobbler pie.  After dinner we rented Saving Mr. Banks.  What a great movie.  I love Disney World and all things Disney and after watching Saving Mr. Banks I want to go and rent (or buy) Mary Poppins.

On another note, I have this itchy, bumpy rash on my hands, arms and chest.  I have no idea what it might be - I haven't changed laundry detergents or soap.  And of course, the more I scratch it the more it itches and then bleeds and hurts.

I need to go to Wal-Mart and the library in a while so I will try and get some medicated, anti-itch cream.  Nothing I have here at the house is helping.

Happy Saturday!  -Chris

I'm back!

After almost a year - I have decided to try and start blogging again.  I can't determine whether I have something to say or if I just want a place to post my craftiness - but I am going to say some stuff and post some stuff.

The older I get the worse my sleeping gets.  I get tired early in the evening and go to read in bed awhile.  It always takes me some time to get to sleep and I feel like I am tossing and turning all night.  So, I did some research and found the Fitbit.  Now amidst all my other stuff to do I am also trying to eat better and exercise, so the Fitbit works for all these things.  It is a wristband that keeps all sorts of data that gets synced to your computer or phone.  Read more about it here.  So, I got my Fitbit yesterday and wore it last night while sleeping and here's my stats:

I was awake 30 times - no the wonder I don't feel rested when I get up in the morning.  I am hoping this Fitbit along with better food choices and some exercise will help me feel more rested.

Happy Friday!  -Chris

Scrapbook LOAD 513

I signed up for LOAD 513 which is Layout A Day May 2013.  Each day for May there will be a new prompt all centered around the game Clue.  It is day 5 and I haven't done one layout that went with a prompt but I did get five layouts done this weekend.  I guess it doesn't matter what gets me scrapbooking.

I get a couple of kits each  month in the mail and one of my favorites is from Scrapbook Generation.  You get enough supplies to make five double page scrapbook layouts including sketches.  I usually buy a few more sheets of patterned paper and some embellishments so that I can make a few more pages.  This is the kit I worked with this weekend.  It is called Down by the Shore and is by Fancy Pants.  I made two double page layouts - the first one is Bailey at the beach.  She went with a friend of her Dad's and it looks like she had a great time.

The second double page layout is of Nicole's end of school year party at Sun n Fun Lagoon.  I think she was in the eighth grade.

I had so many good photos of the girls that I made a third page.  I used Down by the Shore rub-ons with gelatos like Wilna did here.

I am up to ten pages completed this year which is way below my average.  Since my classes are done until August maybe I will get more scrapbooking done.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Use Your Stuff Challenge #78

The challenge this week at Use Your Stuff is to use the color green.  Green is not my favorite color but I thought the green, black and cream came together rather well.

I went to my Mom and Dad's for lunch today wearing a green shirt.  I stopped by the office at my park and the gal who works in the office told me how nice I looked in my green shirt. Then my Mom told me how nice I looked in my green shirt. So, I guess I better rethink green!

Chic Tags Challenge Sunday

I really liked the sketch challenge on Chic Tags Challenge Sunday this week and this is my interpretation of it. Sorry the one photo is so dark - it was taken on my phone.

Bella - Companion Page

Here is the companion page to my last layout. Another page about sweet baby Bella.

Use Your Stuff Challenge #76

I came across the blog Use Your Stuff and I love the concept. I used the sketch they provided and made this layout of my sweet granddaughter Bella on New Year's Eve.  I have more photos so will do a companion page later.

Shimelle Inspired Layout

This layout was inspired by a class that Shimelle Laine did for Two Peas in 2011. I love the way she uses full 4x6 photos in her layouts. Photos are of my youngest, he is 17 and a rather nice looking young man.
 

Project Life Weeks 2-4

Project Life Week 1

This is certainly not my first year starting a Project Life project.  I have started it at least five years in a row in some form or another - 2009 I did a digital Project 365 version and actually completed that one.  The next three years I did some form of Project Life but none of them are finished.  And I may or may not finish my 2013 Project Life album but I want to at least give it the old college try.  I am not using a kit this year but am pulling pieces together from the ever growing stash that I have.  I am using Simple Stories Sn@p collection for the color pallet.

Some ideas that I have adapted for my own Project Life - the tile for each week will be shown on The Week of - including a calendar for the month with the week highlighted.  I am also including a currently insert and a week in review insert.  Week 1 is complete and the Title Page is half done - need to print a 6' x 12" photo.

November 2012 Round-Up

Roundup – November 2012

1. What books and/or magazines did I read this month?

Thrilled to Death Jennifer Apodaca

Motif for Murder Laura Childs

Welcome to Temptation Jennifer Crusie

Knocked Up Rebecca Eckler

Over His Dead Body Leslie Glass

Mr. Commitment Mike Gayle

Forever Nora Roberts

The Murder Book Kim Davies

Women’s Lives Gwyn Kirk

Fight Like a Girl Megan Seeley

Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi

People Magazine 7/23/12; 7/30/12; 8/13/12; 8/20/12; 9/17/12; 10/01/12;10/08/12

2. What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month?
3. What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?

We had two fun Daisy Girl Scout meetings and we went to Naples Botanical Gardens. 

  Had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with Mom and Dad and all my kids.

4. What gifts did I give and/or receive?

No major gifts this month.

5. What special or unusual purchases did I make?

No major purchases this month.

6. What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

Had a kidney stone, UTI and bladder infection that put me in bed for nine days.

7. What were my accomplishments this month?

Spent lots of good times with Bailey.

8               8.  What were my disappointments this month? 

Nothing too disappointing this month.

9. How did I do on my goals for the month? (Or any current short or long term goals)

Got a few scrapbook pages done this month.

10. Anything else noteworthy to include?

Nothing too exciting this month.

Roundup – October 2012

1. What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
Bound for Murder Laura Childs
Faking It Jennifer Crusie
Match Me Liz Appel
Lily White Lies Kathy Reinhart
My Ex-Wife’s Wedding Elise Marion
Our Husband Stephanie Bond
Freaks Tess Gerritson
DeClutter Your Life Michelle Stewart
Swim Jennifer Weiner
Remix Lexi Revillian
Off Season Anne Rivers Siddons

2. What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month?
Born into Brothels

 3. What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends? We had two fun Daisy Girl Scout meeting. We took Bailey to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin, we went to a Trunk or Treat event with Girl Scouts, we got pumpkin faced pizza at Papa Murphy’s and Brandon and Sam took Bella and Bailey trick or treating.

4. What gifts did I give and/or receive?
No major gifts this month.
5. What special or unusual purchases did I make?
No major purchases this month.
6. What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
Nothing of any great concern.
7. What were my accomplishments this month?
 Spent lots of good times with Bailey.
8. What were my disappointments this month?
Nothing too disappointing this month.
9. How did I do on my goals for the month? (Or any current short or long term goals)
I lost track of when I completed layouts. I am sure I did some this month but I don’t know how many.
10. Anything else noteworthy to include?  Nothing too exciting this month.

September 2012 Roundup

Roundup – September 2012

1. What books and/or magazines did I read this month?

Last to Die – Tess Gerritsen

Understanding Comics – Scott McCloud

The Happy Introvert – Elizabeth Wagele

MWF seeking BFF: my yearlong search for a new best friend – Rachel Bertsche

10-10-10 – 10 minutes, 10 months, 10 years – a life transforming idea – Suzy Welch

The Gatecrasher – Madeline Wickham

2. What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month?

Iron Jawed Angels

3. What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?

We have been busy with school (Brent, Bailey and I), Daisy Girl Scouts (Bailey and I), work (Dave, Brent and I) and keeping the house (me).

4. What gifts did I give and/or receive?

September 28^th is my birthday and this year it was a BIG one (50).  I got taken out to dinner twice.  I received flowers twice and got some charms to put on my Pandora bracelet.  I really enjoyed both dinners and spending time with my family.

5. What special or unusual purchases did I make?

I purchased a Silhouette Cameo but have not found the time to use it.

6. What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

Nothing of any great concern.

7. What were my accomplishments this month?

Trying to keep up with everything is all I could accomplish this month.

8.     What were my disappointments this month?

I have gotten used to my new responsibilities at work and things are much calmer  now.

9. How did I do on my goals for the month? (Or any current short or long term goals)

I only completed two layouts (both digital) this month.

10. Anything else noteworthy to include?

Nothing too exciting this month.