Quality Time is Priceless

I believe family time is so important.
My vision for this year has been to build a stronger home life for my husband and children. All my decisions have revolved around how to help that happen. It's been a lesson in patience and humility.

My choice to change jobs was one of the best things I've done in years.
I am a happier person. My marriage has never been stronger. My kids now "hang out" with us and we spend time laughing together.
Even the teens.
Especially the teens. They need parental guidance as they learn to be responsible for themselves.
Money was always the main reason I'd stayed on the night shift. But I felt miserable and trapped.
So I took a leap of faith. I decided to trust in God that we'd somehow manage despite our ever challenged financial situation.
I've found a few ways to bridge the pay cut.
I've become a self taught extreme couponer, and cut our food and household costs by close to 50 percent. My kids have jumped on the bandwagon and ask to come food shopping with me.  They run out to the car to help me unpack. It's a way for us to be together and get things we might not get otherwise.

Now, I've discovered Premier Designs Jewelry and am getting ready for my home training show this weekend.
So excited for this opportunity!!
After having a home show where I earned over $400 in free jewelry, I couldn't stop thinking about beconing a Premier Designs Jewelry Lady. Why? It's beautiful jewelry that I want to wear. It offers me yet another way to provide for my family. I get to socialize with amazing women. Helping them get a product they might not have been willing or able to splurge on. (Because we moms always put ourselves last, right?) Helping ladies shop for pieces to fit their personal style in a fun atmosphere. Being able to do this around my full time job and family is the best part.
It's was an easy decision for me. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to know more.
I'm well on my way to meeting my goal of 6 shows in 45 days.
Stay tuned for updates!

Tech Talk Tuesday

I came across these pics of a Punky Sprout mini I had made right before I took a break from scrapping, just about a year ago. I don't think I ever blogged this mixed media mini album, which really challenged me. I misted, masked, painted, inked, distressed. I just love getting artsy fartsy, don't you?

The cover is cardboard, which I ripped up a bit, painting and inking the edges.

The tag pages are chipboard, covered with patterned paper.

The bird on the branch is a flocked Prima rub-on, which adds great texture

Liquid pearls pretty up a paper doily:

Gaffer tape and Fabrips add more pattern on fabric:

The doily from the cover was used to mask the canvas:

I love how you get a glimpse of upcoming pages through acrylic:

It looks like I never took a photo of the back cover - not sure why? I think I want to get my hands on a few more of these albums so I can try a few other things. I have ideas for stitching and stamping on the canvas pages. Hope you enjoyed my technique project post!

Happy Easter

Sitting here thinking about this evening's events.

It appears the magic of childhood believing has died an untimely death here at our house.

It all began with me. I procrastinated a bit getting ready for the holiday.
I didn't consider that I'd get sick and spend two days in bed.
Thanks to some kid named Jack, a doubt had been placed in my son's ears.
And a husband who "thought" he had hidden the candy he'd helped to buy.
Then there's the older child who didn't think to try to preserve the myth when little brother noticed the bag in Mom's closet.
Who offhandedly mentions that the jig is up as they head to bed.

Desperate to salvage the situation, I concocted a semiplausible story.
My little guy doubtfully went along with my tale, after asking enough pointed questions to show me how smart he is.

After I tucked him in, I cried and drowned my sorrows in jelly beans and malted milk eggs.
I remembered that Easter is really not about bunnies and eggs.
It is not about my need to have my baby stay little.

It is about forgiveness.
Happy Easter.

Providence

I spent the end of this past week feeling bummed about having to work at the hospital Saturday night.
I fretted about how I was going to get enough sleep before and after the 12 hour shift and stewed about giving up a day with the kids.
I felt guilty for secretly hoping I'd be cancelled, knowing the extra money would be great, especially after putting new brakes in our car.

So I decided to reframe my thinking.
I thanked God for my second job, and that I had the ability to work more to provide for my family. I prayed for a positive attitude.
I slept well before going in, and didn't struggle to stay awake. I worked with a great group of coworkers and enjoyed catching up with everyone.
While there, I was offered several shifts for the next time schedule.
Perfect, since it's time to start paying for camps and other activities.
I brought home Sunday morning donuts, like I've done for years.
I slept well today and had a great evening with the kids.

It was a great weekend.

Blog Mission Statement

I've started at least a dozen different blog posts the past few months.
I'd felt silly, since I doubt anyone ever reads my sparse posts. So I saved them as drafts.
Which got me questioning my motives for blogging?
It was once a venue for me to share my projects with the internet scrapbooking community. When I took a scrapbooking hiatus though, blogging became awkward.
But I do like going back and reading through my past posts. It is much like flipping through the pages of a scrapbook.
So now, my plan is simply to journal my days.
This is a place to periodically deposit a variety of my thoughts and disoveries.
I hope that if anyone reads my blog, they will walk away feeling entertained, or inspired to try something new, whether it be in the kitchen or the scraproom.
I am simply going to let my light shine, be myself, and share the lessons I'm learning along the way. Stay tuned.

A Prayer of Thanks.

Thank you, Lord, for Dad's scan results today.
Thank you for leading him to Sloan Kettering Hospital, because I now believe he is getting the best treatment available.
Thank you for giving him a few more months to feel strong enough to do the things he enjoys.
Thank you for the gift of time to spend together, because I now understand how fleeting it can be.

Happy New Year 2012

I'd planned a few posts leading into the new year, but another bout with bronchitis kept me on the couch and off the computer. Before time gets away from me, I wanted to publish these so I can refer back to them.

Resolutions:

This year I will...

1. Get real glasses. No more drugstore readers. Really, it's time.

2. Make time to be creative each week.

3. Blog more.

4. Finish organizing my coupons

5. Read during my lunch hours.

6. Finish helping the kids get their rooms organized.

7. Smile often, and look for ways to lift others up.

8. Take more pictures while learning more about photography.

9. Continue planning meals in advance.

10. Budget, budget, budget!

Best Moments of 2011:

1. Dad's clean scan results before the holidays
2. the power coming back on after the blizzard
3. camping over the summer
4. Going to church with my family
5. Landing my new job
6. Colin's graduation from SAS
7. Jimmy's First Communion

Wishing you a blessed and healthy 2012!

From Tween to Teen

Today is Brenna's 13th birthday. How can she be a teenager already?
Growing up before my eyes.
She looks more like a woman than a little girl.
She rolls her eyes and says,"whatever."
She has a boyfriend and went to her first dance last week.
She's into trendy clothes and wants to wear mascara.
Can be seen texting from any location.
She finds it "awkward" to have me take her picture, especially in front of her friends.
She's such a great kid.
Love you Miss B!

A Day on the Road

To Manhattan with Dad today.
Traffic was sketchy in the morning, but we made it in plenty of time and were called in to seethe doctor ahead of our appointment time.
The cycle of liver pump infusions is over for now - he was able to complete 3 of the 6. One more systemic chemo, and he will be officially "OFF" chemo for the first time since his diagnosis four and a half years ago. Dad was very excited about a break. He admitted today that he is really feel worn down lately, and the years of chemo have had a cummulative effect. He's looking forward to his hair growing back a bit, time to golf, and maybe even a getaway with Mom. I'm so happy for him.
Still, there is a quiet worry in my brain that maybe no chemo is a bad thing. After all, he's still here, beating the odds.
I decide to bury that worry and choose to embrace this moment of victory.
After all, happiness is a choice. Why not see the glass half full more often?

Letter to my Kids (Soundcheck #1)

Dear Kids,

Tap, tap, tap- is this thing on???
Some days I feel like I'm the person on a stage who is trying to get the crowd's attention, but my mike is cutting out and squealing.

When it feels like I'm crabbing at you, there's probably a lesson or value I hope you'll learn. Little things that will improve your life in the real world, when you venture away from home.

Tonight's lesson...

While I know you heard, "Blah, blah, this is why you should put your belt/shoes/papers/laundry away...yadda yadda, more mom mumbo-jumbo...", here is what I meant:

Being considerate, organized, and following routines are all things that are important to me.

Why?
It minimizes your stress and mine.
It shows the world you are capable and responsible,(this can open many doors for you!)
It shows you respect other people's time.

Just like you like to have time to chill out or play when you get home, so do I.

I don't like searching through your messy room to find socks to wash.
Spending an hour on my night off looking for missing belts and shoes isn't my idea of fun.
Telling you three times to just step away from the TV and video controllers gets old.

I know that you just want to kill one more zombie.
Or that this is the newest episode of Spongebob.

I'm so thankful to have you all in my lives. I prefer spending my time home with you doing things that are fun, such as, playing games, talking, and being silly.

Please try a little harder.
Thanks, Love Mom.

Still here...

Not too long ago, I read a quote that said, "Taking time to live life will only inspire your work." Not sure who said it, but I believe it to be true.
My computer had issues yet again, so I found other ways to fill random moments that I would have otherwise spent sitting at the keyboard. Lots of reorganizing and purging on my days off. My scrap studio is slowly shaping up, although I haven't done much creating.
Summer simply slipped away under my feet this year. Just as I was in the throes of enjoying it, it ended. We closed out summer with a weekend camping trip. It was so much fun, I wish it could have been longer.

After that, frantic shopping for back to school ensued, and suddenly I was preparing to send C off to high school. New sneakers, clothes and backpacks filled the house.
Then Hurricaine Irene came along. I worked through the weekend, and slept at the hospital to be sure I could work. Mike weathered the storm at home with the kids. Our roof leaked where the front porch roof meets the foyer, and we were without power for about 36 hours. I have an ugly brown stain on my ceiling to remind me of Irene. We're waiting to hear from our homeowner's insurance. It could have been much worse.
The kids started school after the storm pushed back the first day. We're all still getting used to the new schedules. R has football three or more evenings a week. B, R, J and T have begun soccer. The business can be hectic at times, but the return of routines is welcome.

I'm planning to return to scrapping soon, and hope the time I've spent the past several weeks will only inspire my work.

Time Keeps on Slippin'

slippin', slippin', into the future... (Remember that Steve Miller Band song?)
That's kinda how July was here.

Last week we celebrated my Dad's 68th birthday. It was a great day, with sunshine, blueberry cookies and smiles. I wish I would have taken more pictures on this day, but I had fun helping my mom get the food ready. I think Dad had a good day.

What else did we do?
The big kids stayed a week in Ohio with my in laws. They had a great time. The rest of us back home had fun together , going to a Rock Cats game and building forts in the living room. We were happy once we all were back together, but that was only for a few days.


Then C, R & J went to their respective scout camps, and Mike volunteered a few days.

I made a trip to NYC with Dad. Things are going well for him in the chemo department. I just have to figure out a way to get down to Manhattan without sitting in traffic for hours.

I began the process of organizing and redoing my scrap space. Too chaotic to share yet, but I'm plodding along. I'm trying to do it on a limited budget, so I'm buying odds and ends each week and repurposing things I have around the house. Stay tuned for pictures.

I've made a few projects here and there, but I am really trying to finish up my room before I get too crafty. Here is one layout I did for a July HMITM challenge. I brought some scrap stuff on vacation with me. Love Echo Park.

A Welcome Pause

Finally catching a moment to breathe after a whirlwind month of June. Summer has arrived amid a month filled with...

baseball games:

Brenna's dance recital:


school functions, like Kindergarten Step Up and Colin's Class Night





a graduation:


Father's Day

Lots of opportunities to take pictures. I've taken hundreds this month. Wow!

I've started to step back into scrapping after spending weeks rethinking how I want to store my supplies. I've been organizing away, and still have a long way to go. This is the first layout I created in my new space, and it was for challenge 174 at How Much Is Too Much?

Talk about a challenge! It requires you to use light colors with yellow, 1 circle, 7 kinds of flowers, 7 stamped images and 24 other items.

Here is my interpretation:

I misted over the background, then layered Thickers on top of washi tape. The rest of the title was stamped with my favorite Studio Calico alphabet stamps. I outlined the letters with a black Signo pen.

I used some October Afternoon Ducks in a Row papers as well Making Memories. Both were perfect to evoke some of the nostalgia I felt when looking at this ten year old picture. Time flies!

So that's what I've been up to. Looking forward to sharing some more inspiration soon.

A Clean Slate

Hello! Welcome to my new blog.

If you found your way here via my old blog, Silver Pool of Light, thank you. You rock!
If you're visiting for the first time, let me know you were here. I love reading comments. You can also find me on Facebook , Pinterest, 2 Peas & Scrapbook.com.

I'd been wanting to get a customized blog for a while. My old blog's name didn't appeal to me anymore, and I hadn't posted in so very long.
Since I am all about getting my life and home organized and uncluttered these days, I thought it might be fun to start fresh. So I asked Mike for money to fund a new blog as my Mother's Day Gift. After all, if I sunk money into a blog, I'd be more motivated to keep writing in it!

Then the frugal thinker in me decided it might make sense to find a less costly way to get a blog facelift. So off I went sufing.

I found this template on Smitten Blog Design. I love the cottage fresh feel, the lacey border and the sweet bird.

The best part? Five bucks. So the rest of my gift money went toward organizing my scrap room.
But that's a post for another day...

Challenge 173 went live at How Much Is Too Much challenge blog. We were to create a layout that had six circles placed together to create a bigger circle, use 6 patterned papers and embellish with 6's of like items. Here is my offering:

I busted out the very first Studio Calico kit I purchased. I just adore October Afternoon papers. To create the background, I dipped a stiff bristled paintbrush in some water thinned black acrylic paint. I ran my finger across the top and let the splatters land on my paper. Messy, but oh so fun. LOL.

Titlework is Sassafrass stickers, the green were outlined with a black pen. I scattered six star stickers and six pieces of green bling around. I used a ruler and pen to add the journaling lines over and around the embellishments. I really enjoy creating pages with an artsy feel, and this one was a blast.

So there you have it. I'm back and ready to be better than ever.