Carrie Stephens

The gym - My thoughts...

It took me a long time to get to this point, It was hard to stop making the excuses and just get there.  I always felt like I had a monkey on my back. (and a big ole hairy one too LOL)

It was something that I not only wanted to do …....albeit deep, DEEP inside..LOL  but, something that I  REALY NEEDED to do.  I put it off and paid for a gym membership for like 9 months before I actually went for the first time!  And even when I did go for the first time, I never went again for months and months....dispute everyone in my family supporting me, A mother who, after working for 8 hours  was willing to come and sit with the kids so my husband and I could go to the gym together...  I felt too guilty and kept putting it off.   BUT, not only that....I was disgusted with myself..  Upset at how after  my first time....30 min's on the elliptical/treadmill I had to leave.  Not to mention i was only walking at a medium pace on the treadmill.....I had given it all I had that day, My legs were wobbly and burning.... My girlfriend was with me and I know she could have spent longer there but, I just couldn’t.

It is amazing what spending 5 years of your life being a mom, stressing over meals, work, dirty house, laundry (I LOATHE putting laundry away) and trying to create an established business can do to ones body!  OIY! And mind.    I don't even want  to go there, its bad.  It really is and I am missing out on things that I want to do just because I am too damn self conscious…I am truly uncomfortable in my own skin.

Today, especially today...  I am really thoroughly disgusted with myself.  Especially after doing so well all week And believe it or not, I am actually having a good day..  I woke up in a good mood, despite my ACHING body..... (does going to the gym cause heart burn??it is something really bothering me, I have only experienced it before when i was pregnant, and i am NOT pregnant..LOL)))   this is actually a good thing. Instead of ignoring how fat I have become... and just being depressed about it.....I am accepting it, admitting it and knowing that it is what it is.

I NEED to do this.  I just want to be healthy and motivated again, that is all I really want.… The only way I can be healthy and motivated is to go to the gym to exercise, watch what I eat and DRINK (still trying to cut back on the diet coke, perhaps eliminating it all together one day)   and just BE HAPPY with whatever little progress I am making. 

I am really trying to not get discouraged because even though i struggled to eat healthy all week and went to the gym 2 times, and exercised at home one day in the week... I did not drop a pound, not one single pound.  I know that we can sometimes be just unrealistic but, come on... just one or 2 measly pounds for all of that effort is all i am asking.  *BIG SIGH*

I am really aiming to go 3 days this week, last week I only went 2.  If i can get past the ACHING body stage, it will be all good.  I have my motivator...  My husband who has been going faithfully 3 days...My body is just so flippin SORE. LOL

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In other news.....

Last weekend we piled everyone in the car, including the dog and drove out to Point Pelee... We had fun, it was SO NICE to get out of the house at last!!!!  Here are a few photos.

 

Snap! A New digital scrapbooking kit!

“Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it.”

 

At last, my love has once again come along!   It brings me so much joy to create, so much satisfaction.  

It feels so good to sit down and just have something that only I can see as a vision, turn into a reality.   This reality is my new digital scrapbooking kit,  SNAP.  I adore it, i am happy with it and i had a blast creating every last piece that went into it. 

It is available in many pieces, Elements, Backgrounds and Solid Backgrounds! HERE @ PrimaHybrid.com

 

Thanks for looking!  If you create a layout or a hybrid project using this kit, i would love to see it!

A little funny!

The story....

I dropped a champagne glass on New Years Eve...  I didn't even think that the shards of glass flew down the  basement  stairs :(   
The next evening....Laine was going down to play in the basement and he started screaming, he had a sliver of glass in his little foot.  man, i think i cried as much as he did.   Couldn't get the glass out of his foot myself so, Scott took my poor baby to the ER.  they were there for 5 hours or more...
He came home all drugged up.  He was being so silly so, i grabbed the camera! I had the display flipped around here so he could see himself.   LOL  Yes, he does actually fall off of the chair at the end...but, i caught him :)    

Computer Virus...

I have a computer virus that is taking over my computer.  OIY!!!   I have tried everything  to get rid of it these past couple days,  It just will NOT go away :( 

Tania, i am sorry.. i did not get your follow up email with a confirmation....  could you please email your reply to scrapcarrie at gmail dot com   Thanks hun, i am SO SORRY.    ifanyone else is  waiting a reply from me about something ...  please forward your email to that address to please!

A lot on my mind - Don't know where to begin!

Lots on my mind, going on in my life but, i don't know where to begin!

Really, this seems like a problem with me these days. for some reason when it comes to all things scrapbooking I simply cannot concentrate!   I like to think of it as a ~FUNK~ and that it will just pass and i will get back to pursuing my love of all things scrapbooking but, deep in that negative part of my brain, the part that i wish would just go away, i fear that i will never be able to pick up where i left off.

I have been designing though, i don't know why i haven't yet posted on my blog.  I am very proud of  the gorgeous things i have  created!   It just lack of motivation these days.  LOL  maybe i need to revisit again Maximum Achievement - e-book by  Brian Tracey.   he is totally motivating.  Perhaps that is just what i need.  And why is it that when i am unmotivated and in a funk i always choose to whine about it on my blog?  ROFL...  oh well.. Its my blog, whine, whine, whine ;)   hehe

I have yet to mention that Although FishScraps.com is closed, you can continue to see and purchase my designs at PRIMAHYBRID.com !!!!!!    I am so honored and totally THRILLED to be leading the way to a new time in this industry.  I am truly humbled to be among so many talented women.  I still think i am dreaming :)

Here are some new products from me! - Take a look at them and drool, haha, i am proud of them and i KNOW you will LOVE them. especially,  if you are one of my wonderful, fabulous and adoring fans :) 

Find them all in my shop at PRIMAHYBRID.com

My new Scanner ROCKS

I have never had a scanner that scanned  in my stuff so quickly and so quietly.  I have been sitting here for the past 30 minutes scanning in a bunch of stuff that i have been meaning to scan in for quite some time.  I always put it off because with my old printer it took awhile to get the finished product looking right.   It was also pretty slow. 

In March last year i got a Kodak Printer.  This had been my only printer for the past many months and i had settled with it.   It was nowhere near the quality that i wished for but, because of the price of the ink and paper....  It worked for me... 

That was until this month when  i got totally spoiled with an Epson RX680.   I should do a test and see if i used a higher quality paper in my Kodak if it would print similar.  I know that right now,  am really enjoying the prints that are coming off of the Epson RX680. add that in with the fast, easy auto scanning feature (it actually decides what kind of document you are scanning and chooses the best possible settings, making it super easy when you have lots to scan in.    Last night when i printed an 8x8 layout i was  shocked.  It just totally POPPED right out at me.

I was printing the 8x8 layout to get a feel for the wall project i was trying to do.  I have always wanted to display my layouts somewhere close to where i sit and do my work.  I wanted a way to be able to change out layouts when i do new ones.  Not only do i think i would LOVE it but, i think that my kids would get a big kick out of it.  I know that Dalyn always loves to see my layouts  :)   

Its been a long while since i have scrapped a layout though so, i haven't showed him anything new lately.   It would also be nice to have it as a conversation piece and something i can point to when asked  "so, what is it that you do again?"  LOL

It is a low budget project... I simply do not hae much of a budget these days.. LOL   So, I am trying to come up with something super creative involing some cheapo 12x12 glass frames i found and perhaps some wooden rulers...   :)  I hope to hae it finished by Monday So, i will post a picture to show you :)

   

Happy Belated Holidays- LOL

The holidays just flew by for me. I can't beliee they came and went as quickly as they did.   The kids were overwhelmed with new toys and lots of junk food.  They were also on Christmas Break from school for 17 days.  ACK.  I am so glad to finally get some normal routine back :)

I lucked out for Christmas.  I admit, Totally spoiled.  I crossed alot of things off of my kaboodle wishlist :)   - Hae i eer told you how much i LOE Kaboodle? 

My new toys include:

Dyson that i hae been longing for.

A puffer flash  and a  cloud  LightShpere  from Garyfong.com

A Pantone HUEY Pro

This just made me realize how much i LOE my Samsung Monitor and HATE, HATE, HATE the dell one i hae.  THe color on that monitor is just SO off.  I can't get it to look right. :(

New Nike Earphones for my Ipod -

Most earphones don't een fit my ears.  I must hae abnormally small ears. LOL  These ones wrap around so, they fit nice. :)

Big Brain Academy for the Wii - totally FUN

Earrings - Gift Certificates -  accessories for my collection of  chrismtas "houses" from the kids, christmas ornaments, a new vegetable peeler that i picked out, lotions etc. 

I also got a Super gift from Santa, a brand new Epson RX680 printer.


YAY.  I have a huge idea for a project i want to do with it.  I haent had time to play with her much just yet, i printed off a couple 4x6 prints and the quality is AMAZING. the Pictures just POP.  I am totally an Epson Photo Paper convert.  I honestly used to just buy whateer was cheapest.   I can't believe the difference that the paper makes.  I love that it has the capability for printing on CD's (a feature that i have wanted for a long time)

Gosh, Thats alot of stuff. LOL

I have new years resolutions that i wanted to talk about but, the kids and hubby will be coming home soon and i have some more work to do before they get home :)   More talk about them later... I really plan on updating this blog on more of a regular basis again.  I enjoy it.  I just fell out of habit.   

 

Not an easy task...LOL

Getting a 65lb stubborn dog into the groomers.  OMGOSH.  LOL   My groomer is about 4 blocks away so, instead of picking her up and putting her in the car, I decided to walk her.  My mom came with me and the 2 of us struggled for 10 minutes to get her in the door. LOL   it just happens that the groomers is in the basement of the veterinarians office.  Lots of smells and lots of fear. 
We pushed and pulled and with my torn muscle I really wanted to avoid picking her up.  She laid back in the snow like a limp teddy bear. LOL Just looking at me with those big brown, very concerned eyes ..  Poor girl. 

10 Random things :)

1. I have been drinking WAY too much diet coke. It is an addiction for sure. :(

2. My V key is not working on my beloved ergonomic, Microsoft  keyboard  because i spilled some of that nasty pop on it. :(   *SIGH*  It ate away at the circuitry.  we tried to take it apart asap and Scott did a great job cleaning it up EXCEPT... we didn't know that their were 3 layers of plastic for the circuits so, we just cleaned up under the one and didn't know about the others til we took it apart again and looked closer.  What a bummer.    I don't want to put out 60-70 bux for another so, i will just make due for awhile, til i can't stand it anymore.

3. My exclamation key isn't working either, ahhhhhh... i NEED that one... I love my exclamation point too much, WAY too much sometimes...

4. It is 2:30 in the morning and I am currently drugged up on percocet and muscle relaxers because i pulled a muscle  and it is REALLY ouchy.  Today i tried not to take any unless i really needed them but, i gave up once i tried to tidy up my house a bit.  Worked much better once i could actually move LOL.    I am still up at this wee hour because i was at my friends house til 1 and now I am procrastinating going to bed til the ones i just took kick in because, i don't want to wake up my husband with my whimpering.  If they are working when i get in bed, it will be easy to be quiet.  Yeah, i admit it... i am a big suck.

5. I didn't get ANY Christmas baking done this year :(  I wanted to though.  I will still bake cutout cookies with the kids though when they are off school.  Something fun to do. 

6. My Husband and i wrapped a boatload of Christmas presents last night. YAY.

7. I WAS happy to have snow and we sure did get alot but, now that it is wet and icy, i am not so happy anymore.   

8. I called the dog groomer today. My dog goes outside and comes in a BIG snowball.  She needs to be trimmed, I don't want my house to smell. I can't wait til thursday. :)

9. My wonderful mom bought us a DYSON for christmas.  We picked it up at costco, it is white.  She already gave it to us and i really couldn't be happier.  I have coveted this thing for YEARS and it actually works like it should.  I  actually like vacuuming now and the reason is because i can actually SEE the dirt.  It feels so much more rewarding... Weird?  Kinda.. LOL  I NEVER in a million years thought i would be so excited to get a vaccume for Christmas. 

10.  There is less than 2 weeks now til the store at FishScraps closes. 

I was crafty!

Okay now, for those of you who know me well, You will know that i am just not a crafty type gal.

I enjoy thinking about all the crafts i could make and should make and often times you will catch me purchasing the items to make this stuff. well, like i have said before..  I now know better.   If i don't have someone that will force me to finish once i get half way, its just going to stay that way.  I have so many half done projects sitting in my craft cupboard. well i did, i threw alot of them away  *sigh*   The reason i think this happens is:

1. Because i hate the mess
2. Because it ends up getting more expensive than i thought it would be (LOL)
3. Because i get bored and my mind just wanders away to something else.

BUT, I did it!! My craft project is almost complete!

I couldn't find an advent calendar that i liked last year anywhere.   (Although, as soon as i finished this one, i found tons i like... isn't that always the way it works?  LOL)

I talked my girlfriend Tammy into making one for her kids with me, she actually made 2 - one for each of her kiddos.  Me...well, i am not that ambitious....LOL  my kids are going to have to take turns darn it! :)

Looks like the picture turned out a tad blurry but, i already moved all of the ornaments to the back again ready for tomorrow so, this will have to do :)

I know my magnets kinda look squished because some of them are toooooo big AND  it is kinda "loud"  (i tried to tame it down a bit with the addition of the cream color paper.)  No, it didn't work out exactly how i wanted it BUT, For my first crafty creation in a LOOOOOOOOONG time, i am quite proud of it! :)

Most of my magnet items were from the dollar store ;) 

It is with great sadness...

 I announce the closing of my shop at FishScraps.com   It has been my baby for over 2.5 years!   But, after a little hiatus, it will be time for a great change. 

FishScraps will be closing its shop doors for good on December 30th.  LOTS of items will never been seen again.  (probably most)

Good news for you, everything is still on sale, 55% off!!!  scoop up what you have been wanting now!

Make sure you subscribe to my currently, very neglected blog feed for any excieting updates i may post!

Thank you so much!

No more rash :)

I know it has been awhile since i have posted.  I should have came back and given a little update.  Laine is okay :)  Apparently it was eczema?   It sure didn't look like the eczema that Dalyn had when he was a little boy but, the  constant lathering him with aveno lotion and a small amount of cortisone cream helped :)  he no longer has any signs of the rash. 
All has been well here.  Still spending my time doing other things and i have an announcement to make that i will make in a separate post.

Still in "vacation mode"

I am still in my little vacation mode.  If you wrote me an email, i will get to it eventually :)

Its been a rough couple weeks here.   The wonderful *insert sarcasm here*  highlights are:

2 weeks ago.....Laine was sick with a sore throat, then shortly after...... Scott wasn't feeling well, and of course, I came down with a mild case of what scott had.   Okay, that was fine. finally got over that on Saturday.

But,  Then i woke up on Sunday morning and something was pulled in my back :(  no clue what the heck i did :(   I am thinking maybe something was tender in my back from 2 weeks ago when i fell down the top 2 stairs.  I bruised my bottom pretty good!  Maybe i threw something else out of whack and it just caught up with me.  It is a total mystery!

But,  because i could hardly walk....I had to miss out on going  to the pumpkin patch with our friends.  Scott and the kids just went. 

Today my back is still achy but, thankfully  i can move again, as long as it is sloooowly.  No sudden turns or lots of bending down for me!    Laundry is calling me though....LOL

Later on Sunday evening i had Scott take laine to the  ER.   I got really worried about the nasty bites on his leg... they had gotten really large and red.. not like your typical bug bite...  The dr there said that they were not infected and they look like flea bites?   Now we are putting the cortisone cream on them  but, they just keep getting more red
I just took a picture of it.  There are more of these on the other side of his leg, and his tummy. 

Laine went to school this morning but, i got a call shortly after he got there that he needed to be picked up.  He was sick :(   He has another sore throat.  I wanted to make him another drs appointment anyway because of his leg.  SO, i guess it is a good thing we are going at 3 to see the dr.  Since getting a new dr, it has been so much easier to get in the same day!  SO nice!  Loving that!   No more waiting for 3 or more days to get an appointment,  AND the best thing is... when you get there, you don't have to wait for over an hour to even get to sit in one of those little rooms to wait another 30 mins for the dr to come in and see you.   It is pretty quick now!!  in and out in under 45 mins!!    I don't have to take my kids to the yucky walk in clinics either! YAY! 

Scott and i are supposed to take a little trip this weekend, just him and I. Its been quite awhile since the 2 of us have went anywhere together and we totally need it.      We are supposed to be  Leaving tomorrow morning,  If we cancel our reservations....  we will have to pay anyway since we missed the 48 hour cancellation.   I really was looking forward to it but, now i just feel guilty for leaving my sick child.    We are going to go anyway, I am sure that hte grandparents will handle it fine but, it still doesn't mean i wont feel guilty :(

Well, thats it from me, going to go make this poor little sweetie some chicken noodle soup for lunch and maybe get some laundry done and a couple other little things. 

HUGE SALE!!

Save at FishScraps and my studio at Scrapbookgraphics!

Songbird Avenue - Last Chance!

This is your last chance to pick up this amazing kit for a wonderful cause! It will soon be retired and never available again!  Get it now!

The girls at Songbird Avenue would like to present “Faded Sapphire”! Carrie Stephens (yup, that's me!!!!!!!  :)) is  guest Designer for September and have we got an amazing kit for you! This month, Songbird Avenue is sponsoring Love Without Boundaries, an amazing charity full of volunteers who spend their free time and their own money to help orphaned children in China receive vital surgeries. Please take a look at their website and hear their amazing stories! They also have a blog and you can stay up to date on the children’s lives and the awesome people who help them.

The kit is only $8 and it is only available for the month of September! We’d love for you to check out the store and the inspiration gallery!  The Song Bird Avenue - creative team has created some amazing layouts! And don’t forget, Janet Phillips has contributed a beautiful 12×12 template which is also included in the kit!

Freeing myself

Okay so, last night after i crawled into bed, i still could not sleep!  I just stayed there though and did a lot of thinking.  I really focused on something that i have been thinking about for a long while now.....Taking a break! 

To create with no pressure....  ahhh, that would be totally blissful!   So, I am taking a creative hiatus.   I am going to work on getting things done that i have been putting off for a very long time.    I am going to get my house in total order again, my routines,  I need to start cooking again and making real food for my family instead of crappy stuff. I want to start baking my kids cookies and making their granola bars...  I know this might seem silly to some of you but, this is something that i have always desired to do.  I want to have a routine again so my house stays tidier... i feel SO MUCH BETTER when it is.  It makes me feel happy....  Perhaps i don't need any drugs to make me feel better, i just need to do the things that are important to me so the disappointment i have in myself for not doing them, stops weighing me down.   

I am going to still be creative but, have no pressure.  Although.... In order to do that, i still need to have income coming in and to accomplish all of those things that i would like to accomplish, i need to keep laine in daycare 2 days a week :)   So, i have decided that FishScraps.com  and my Studio @ Scrapbookgraphics.com will be on sale.  a great BIG sale.   :)  Not everything (not my grab bags)  But, ALMOST everything!   Now is your time to stock up because  some stuff will be permanently removed, some stuff will be refreshed and put back in the store.   

P.S ......When i made it sound last night that i was dreading turning 30....  I have nothing against turning 30... I have been told that your 30s can be some of the best years of your life,  I am just disappointed in myself that i am turning 30 and i am not where i told myself i would be.   It seems like a mark of failure, a symbol of stuff that i didn't do.   That is what i want to turn around.. now i am TRYING to make myself realize that it can be a fulfilling decade.... i am not just going to sit back and let this one slip through the cracks. 

I can't sleep.

So, I was up in bed tossing and turning tonight and i realized that it would be better if i just got out of bed until I felt tired enough to sleep.  It is weird because usually when I go to bed, i can fall asleep within 10 min's.    I should be tired as it is 1:00am but,  My brain won't stop racing a mile a minute.

The other night i was talking with a friend and  it really hit me.  I am 6 months away from turning 30 years old.  I cannot believe how FAST my 20s flew by. I simply cannot believe that i will be turning 30 in 6 months   ALOT of  BIG stuff happened in those 9.5 years!  I flew the nest and moved out of my own, I had 2 gorgeous boys, I got married,  I saw some gorgeous tropical islands, I got cats, a dog, Started my own business, freelanced for great companies.....  Life should be wonderful! 

 Except,  most of the time, i can't see it.  :(   Deep inside,  I know that am blessed.   But, at the moment I am really struggling with EVERYTHING.  Its like I am living in a great big fog or a really DEEP hole of sadness.    Just thinking about it i get a great big lump in my throat and start to tear up.  I seriously feel so ungrateful and spoiled. 

I recently visited my Dr and started on some antidepressants.  But, after wanting to do nothing but sleep for a month and a half, I went back and the Dr suggested that i try half of the already low dose i was taking.  WELL, I lost the really tired and dragging feeling but, I don't feel like they are helping with my moods and sadness as much as they were before so, I am stumped. I don't know what to do.  I hate feeling so down all the time yet, I don't want to sleep my life away.

I also have one other BIG issue actually, its HUGE.....  I need to loose weight.   I cant believe how much I have gained.  I always said that i would not enter my 30s fat and unhealthy.  I just want to be healthy but,  I am disappointed with myself, I just cant seem to stay on track with anything.  I have tried a couple of things and nothing seems to work.  I AM the ULTIMATE at failing diets. LOL     I have some serious attention span issues so, after a couple months,....  those things get boring to me and then i just stop and then I feel even worse about myself for being a big ole quitter.   

I was recently thinking about joining weight watchers and trying their program and I was really kind of excited about it. It was My Dr that had suggested it to me But.......... that was until someone laughed at me and said it would just be something else that I would quit.  It stung.........I was kind of hurt  but, only because it was very true.  I don't stick to anything.   Heck, i have a membership to a new gym that opened and i have been paying for it for many months now and I am just too flipping scared to take the first step and go in there.  I  keep saying that i am going to go and really, i do want to.. so badly. BUT, every time i get ready to go.... i find an excuse....  i get physically sick to my stomach and one time worried myself so much that i threw up.  I must sound totally dumb.  I cant even really believe that i am blogging this.  This is me being pretty open, i usually don't blog about such personal things but, I guess i figure since i haven't been around much, no one will be visiting my blog to even read it. LOL  That and, I just need someone to talk to...... even if no one answers back........ 

With all of THAT crappy  stuff constantly on my mind, how can I be creative?  It certainly doesn't happen much anymore.  For this whole week I have been so wrapped up in being angry and  disappointed in myself....  I have been snippy with everyone.  Not to mention the lack of sleep I have been getting....  (My little Laine is sick with a sore throat and stuffy nose) 

When it comes to "business"   I haven't updated fishscraps in a very long time.  I haven't made a kit in quite awhile, I haven't emailed my creative team and I have emails sitting in my inbox that have been sitting in there WAY too long.   I hate that I am doing this to myself and to something that i once worked so flipping hard at.   I just wish someone could come along and smack my head on strait.  I need focus and direction in my life.  I keep thinking maybe I just need change. Maybe I need to try something different for awhile... Maybe that would renew my spirit but, that would mean I would have to pull Laine out of Montessori daycare and I don't think I can handle that either right now. 

Well if you have gotten through this blabbering, whiney and maybe a little confusing blog post (because i am kinda feeling tired now...LOL)  Thanks for listening :)  

Here is a  recent photo - We went apple picking the other day.  Look at that handsome face :)   Dalyn is growing so much lately.  He is even insisting that he grow his hair longer.  *SIGH*  I love it when it is short and neatly trimmed and smelling clean.  *BIG SIGH*  I can no longer just do what i want. 

 He is also getting an appliance next month to possibly prepare for getting braces.  oiy!  But, strait teeth are a good thing :) 

 

Oh and to all of my Facebook Friends.....  I *heart*  you all.  I am coming back, i just haven't been motivated to log in there for weeks.   Expect some sheepies to be flung your way soon in the near future!  :)

I need to write down an idea that i had while i was laying there in bed and then i need to get back up there now that i have written a novel and it is 2am!

A new layout!

 

Shocking, yes?   LOL  I was inspired to scrap using that awesome Songbird Avenue kit ;)  I also use a frame from my spunkalicious kit.

Laine's first day of school!

 But, I wasn't able to take him.  :(  Last night I went to bed early @ 10:30 to prepare too!

I am normally not a morning person but, I wanted to put fourth my best morning face and  be there to cheer him on when I dropped him off in the classroom at school.  

I also wanted to take a picture or 2...   Instead grandma had to go run back home and get dressed to take him to school.  *SIGH*  He cried and was very upset and I was upset that I could not be there.    I was simply unable to get out of bed and  I knew that it just wasn't going to happen when i went to call for my mom and instead vomited all over my bed :(  (sorry, i know that is probably more info than you really wanted...LOL)  

 I was burning up and my eyes were going back and fourth at a rapid rate, Insane!  every time i tried to open my eyes the room was shaking back and fourth like crazy!  I have never had anything happen like that before!  could it have been because of the fever?  but, why the heck did i have the fever in the first place?   Anyway... i did make it out of bed to clean up, i had to crawl there.. i just turned on the shower and dunked my head under!   My mom torn all the bedding off for me and stuck it in the wash. ugh.  i felt so helpless! 

 I ended up laying on the floor in my bedroom for awhile (because i didn't want to throw up again on the bed with no mattress protector on it. )   I woke up at 10 and decided that it wasn't time yet,  I still felt woozy!  SO, 11....nope.. still wasn't feeling that great!  at 12:00 I was able to open my eyes and just lay there for a little bit, eventually getting up at 12:30.  my stomach was still in knots but,  I was okay.   I was just relieved my eyes were functioning normally!  that was the most horrible feeling ever! the room was seriously spinning and shaking!

Scott had to come home early today - 20 min's and run to get Laine off the bus.  (he did get a pic of Laine walking off the bus but, i am too lazy right now to upload just one picture! lol)  Then Dalyn and Scott  had to quickly leave again to go see a baseball game - The Detroit Tigers.  

SO, it was just me and Laine for the evening.  He was such a good boy, he told me about school (as much as a 4yr old can remember..LOL)  and was just in such wonderful spirits!  that makes me SO happy because, that means he had an awesome day!  He talked about his teacher and something about a choochoo line and standing behind the yellow line and just a bunch of other little random things :)

Gracie was just being rammy tonight, i know, it was my fault.. me not feeling well means that she doesn't get to play that much :(  she ended up going outside with laine and the neighbor boy and getting into a whole ton of BURRS! ugh.. i don't know where she is getting into them... probably in my overgrown garden :(  It seriously needs some help, next year it is being torn out and a much easier, lower maintenance garden will be going in.  maybe some nice grasses, some shrubs etc instead of the "butterfly"  garden that i have been trying to work with that was here when we moved in.  At the right time of year that garden looks very pretty but, when you have 2 kids and a dog that just do not listen to your constant nagging about staying out of the garden, it is SO FRUSTRATING!  I cant even talk about what the 2 of them (Laine and Gracie)  did to it this year :(  everything SMUSHED flat. 

Well, enough of my rambling and whining.. hehe i feel better now.  I am going to go to bed earlier again tonight (before midnight)  Scott and Dalyn just walked in the door. 

I will leave you with a photo, it is just a random summer photo of Dalyn happily playing on the blow up waterslide! Oh and one of both of the kids together! :) You know how much i love those sappy photos of them sitting nicely together..LOL 

Sing a song for songbird!

I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunity that I had!  It was an honor to work with such talented and generous designers  - Meredith Fenwick and Jan Crowley!  on this kit below - Faded Sapphire.  It is a totally gorgeous kit!!!  Read more about it and the sponsored charity below! 

P.s.....  I will update my blog soon!  I have been a busy girl!  The kids are back in school babes so, its time to get rockin and rollin again... back to normal! LOL

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The girls at Songbird Avenue would like to present “Faded Sapphire”! Carrie Stephens (yup, that's me!!!!!!!  :)) is  guest Designer for September and have we got an amazing kit for you! This month, Songbird Avenue is sponsoring Love Without Boundaries, an amazing charity full of volunteers who spend their free time and their own money to help orphaned children in China receive vital surgeries. Please take a look at their website and hear their amazing stories! They also have a blog and you can stay up to date on the children’s lives and the awesome people who help them.

The kit is only $8 and it is only available for the month of September! We’d love for you to check out the store and the inspiration gallery!  The Song Bird Avenue - creative team has created some amazing layouts! And don’t forget, Janet Phillips has contributed a beautiful 12×12 template which is also included in the kit!

Keeping cool in the pool!

I cannot keep this dog out of the water!  she loves water, even a puddle! (Especially MUD puddles!! LOL)   As soon as we get out the little pool, she hops right in, in anticipation! :)   The only bad thing about it is... She smells when she is wet like a big ole wet dog! ewww! LOL not only that but, you would think her getting in the pool would clean her off..... UHM, NOPE!  we have to be sneaky and try to catch her before she takes her CRAZY RUN through the garden! 

I made this little collection of photos thismorning,   I love the one of Laine and his friend playing with the trucks.  and Gracie looks like she is saying, okay..... where is mine?  LOL

I have to admit, the puppy has been alot of work this summer.  She is a smart dog though, it is easy for her to learn.  At times though, she can be stubborn and not listen! Just like a kid I suppose :)  I have really slacked on the training.  I would really like to get a professional trainer. We were talking about having one come to the house but, haven't looked into it further than that :(

I am counting down the days till the kids go back to school!  September 06 is the big day for dalyn and Laine will not go until a week or so later.    This will be Laine's first year of Junior Kindergarten!  He will still go to Montessori school on the days when he is not in "the big school" But, he is ready to learn!  he has grown so much over this summer and has gotten much easier for me to handle.  He used to stress me out so much, i never knew what to do with him, he frustrated me with his crying and he was so easily frustrated himself!  But, this summer it is getting much easier to talk to him, to reason with him and to PLAY with him.   YAY!!   

Oh and LOOK what just rolled in!!!!!!

Funky Train!!!!!!

For 1 month only it is on sale for an AMAZING price!!! all this for only $9.99 ... It is seriously a HUGE kit!

New at

ScrapbookGraphics!

You better make sure you have your "reservations" to get on board the Funky Train ‘Cruz we’re heading down to Scranton, and you don’t want to miss all the fun and funk of this C-R-A-Z-Y ride! Eleven Studio Girls are gonad knock your socks off with this GI-normous collection! Funky Train includes: 4 templates, 1 alpha, 56 backgrounds, 3 quick pages and 179 elements including flowers, sequins, doodles, frames, paper scraps, paint strokes, folded ribbon, buttons and bling. PLUS, your own create-a-frame system from Michelle Godin. 546 MB of the coolest scrapbooking supplies EVER!
Studio Girls that participated in this funky collaboration are Bree Clarkson, Berna Datema, Carrie Stephens, Dana Frantz, Jen Caputo, Jessica Bolton, Krista Mettler, Michelle Godin, Sausan Designs, Traci Reed and Traci Sims. Truly, something for everyone in this one-of-a-kind collection!

 

And  TA-DA!!!!!!!!  I even SCRAPPED a LAYOUT with it!!!!!!!!!!!   YAY!!!!

Best Buddies

This picture is not the greatest, I had the wrong lens on the camera but, wanted to get outside and take some pictures of Laine and Gracie playing in the little pool together :) I had to hurry!

LOL, nooooo i don't leave my child to play in the pool himself.   Scott was watching them while I worked but, I took a break to take the picture ;)

It is kind of gross though eh?   He would not stop drinking from the pool..LOL I could be worse i suppose ;)

Amazing DigiScrapRace Challenge

It is time for the

Amazing DigiScrapRace Challenge!

 

This post is for the teams participating in the Amazing DigiScrapRace2!

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Hi ADSR2 Participants!! ;) Welcome to Challenge #10!!!

I hope that you enjoy!!

 

ROADBLOCK!!!!

*Important* -This is a project challenge for the participant who did NOT do the August 2^nd Challenge!

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Your Challenge: Your challenge is to scrap about your favorite place to go/visit and the emotions that you feel when you are there. Why you adore that place so much? How does it make you feel? What does it smell like? What do you do when you are there?

Ie: Your favorite place could be grandma’s house, a park, museum, your old school, etc. etc. etc!

-Use the word “ Satisfaction ” SOMEWHERE in your layout.

-Use several alphas on your layout to create an oversize title.

You may do either a one or two page layout.

The Prize: $5.00 coupon code to FishScraps.com!!!

Have fun and good luck!!

 

PS.  If you are not a ADSR participant and wish to do this challenge, go right ahead!  Post the link here when you are done! :)   

Clutsy!

Oh man, my little guy is constantly getting cut, scrapped or bruised up! 

He is so unlike my oldest who at the sight of blood used to have a panic attack at that age! 

I know it was my fault.  Its funny to think how differently we treat our second child compared to the first! LOL  I was sooooooo much more overprotective with Dalyn than i am with laine! BUT,  I have found a trick to console laine.  Now even though he is a pretty tough little fella he still likes getting loved on when he hurts himself.  LOL  I can't blame him but,  you can tell that sometimes he is trying a bit too hard to "fake"  :) 

Solarcaine!  Originally I had purchased it for a WICKED sunburn I had on the back of my neck.   It works MIRACLES!! LOL  Not only on sunburns either.  I was so thankful for this stuff,  I don't think I would have slept for nights without it.  I swear i learned my lesson, I will NEVER go for a day trip out in the sun without putting sunblock on the back of my neck!  I put it on my face but, skipped the tops of my arms and back of my neck :(    I burned so bad my skin bubbled eeeeek that cannot be good :(

It really doesn't matter what kind of boo-boo... sunburn, a scrape, a small cut, even just a "spot"   It instantly stops the hurt and tears for adults and children alike :)   We have the aerosol spray.  I just spray it on and VOILA!  Instant fix! :)  Laine asks for the spray now....LOL  it really does fix everything!! :) 

I just make sure i keep it up out of reach.. he isn't one to get into things but, i could totally see him spraying this all over. 

Yard Sale day!

OH MY GOSH!!  Who knew that having a yard sale on a very sunny/very warm day would be SO energy draining?  I didn't do a whole lot, sat on my butt a lot. Just waiting while people browsed but man....  i am WHOOOPED!!!!   
I ended up making Only around 30 bux and all of that went to my neighbor and fellow yard saler.  LOL  (plus 30 more)   She is moving and was selling a great bench for outside and little tables along with an awesome set of 3 rather large stackable trunks! (great for storage!!)   I snatched those as soon as she put a price on them!  I am thrilled! LOL

Tonight scott had a get together with his coworkers....  Gee, i figured it would be no problem to come home and make supper for myself and the kids when i got home from sitting around all day but, UGH.... i am physically and mentally EXHAUSTED.   I dont feel like eating, thinking or moving at more than a sloth like pace....  BUT, my poor kids gotta eat and i am even too lazy to go get in the car and get takeout! ROFL.  Right now I am waiting for the mac and cheese to finish cooking, stuck some baby carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes on a plate with some dip and a  turkey pepperoni stick and orange juice as well.   a quick and easy dinner... YAY for that.  They are always happy to have mac and cheese but, they probably would have complained if i made them eat peanut butter! LOL   ;)

If i hear  "you are mean and i don't like you"  one more time from Laine i am totally going to tell him to make the mac and cheese himself.  LOL  (joking of course but, i wish! LOL)  Its his *THING*  right now i guess ;)

i REALLY wish that i didn't have to put laine in the tub tonight but, MAN.... he is SO DIRTY!  every day this child is dirty! LOL  he is a dirt monger!  His toes are practically black!

Well, i haven't blogged in awhile, it isn't because i don't want to, i do but....  i have just been feeling a bit overwhelmed still. Just out of the whole creating mode and just managing to squeeze in a little time here and there.  Between doing summer things, cleaning, kid things and social things..  It seems like it is always something..LOL

SO, my time is up.... kids are chomping at the bit and the timer on the stove is ringing and telling me that it is time to drain that mac and cheese and get everything ready.   Blah!  LOL  THank goodness grandma will be here in 35 minutes!!    She will save me and let me be a sloth for at least 20 mins while the kids jump all over her and fight over where they are going to sit on her lap! LOL    

Chat with me!

Chat with me tonight at 10pm EST!!!   @ digishoptalk.com

Happy Tuesday!

I was looking through my photos the other day and i forgot that i captured this one.  How sweet is THIS?
Nothing makes me happier than seeing my 2 boys get along and love eachother.  Having children so far apart in age proven to be difficult sometimes and, Sometimes i wish that i would have had them closer together so they could have shared more of a bond.  Right now, Laine is just the annoying toddler to Dalyn.  But, then its moments like these that i just love.   The times when they are actually being nice to each other!  I hope that they will still share moments like these when the gap is even further apart. Ie: when Dalyn is 17 and Laine is 11.   I really doubt it but, a mom can always have hope! hah  At least i have proof that once it actually happened ;)

Dalyn has really been impressing me lately.  He has taken well to the chore/reward system that I have put in place for the summer and because i have been being consistent with it, something that is a HUGE feat for me.... I think he is actually really enjoying helping me and  I REALLY enjoy the help!  He has been making his bed, brushing his teeth and feeding the cats every morning without me NAGGING at him! YAY!   it was always such a battle to get this child to brush his teeth.   He is also doing optional chores for stars!  After so many stars a week he gets a $3.00 allowance that he really looks forward to ;)
He has also been taking more and more pictures with our old digital camera, i hope he finds and keeps a love of photography, i will always be supportive of that and encourage him. ;)   I am going to need lots of photos of my future grandchilden *HOPEFULLY LOL*  to digiscrap!! :)  hehe
   

Design Starts Sample

To get the Sample below of my DESIGN STARTS series CLICK HERE!

Dont forget that all of my design starts are on special right now for only 8.99!!!!!   @ Fishscraps & ScrapbookGraphics!

New Design Starts!

I bring to you - Lots of new design starts!  Their are now 16 total in this collection!   They are great for designers or scrappers alike!  you can use these design starts in your commercial projects, they are great for making papers or embellishments!   Check them out!!  Great Inspiration tools! :)  You can find them all (including sets 1-8)  at Fishscraps AND Scrapbookgraphics!!

  

Our Night Out!

It has certainly been awhile since Scott and I have gotten to take a night out sans children.  Boy, was it NICE!   Here we are, looking out the window in our hotel room @ the Hilton Hotel.   Boy my husband is HOT! ;)

When this was taken, we actually had just got back to the room after watching our friends get married!!     We had a couple hours to kill before the reception so we just lounged around in the room. Watched tv and looked out the window overlooking the Detroit River.    The silence of it all was so nice :)

The wedding itself was awesome!  I had a great time! I didn't get any good pics :(  sad about that!   BUT, the food was great, The music was good and  I even let loose and had several more drinks than my typical one or 2 :)

We didn't get to bed (our room at the hotel)   until 3:30...  didn't wake up until 10:45am! hehe  it was AWESOME!

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In the morning we got ready, checked out and then we headed to Casino Windsor! 

We don't go there often because well, we are just NOT lucky!  We end up walking in and loosing our money within 10 minutes!

WELL, after eating an INCREDIBLE brunch buffet, we headed to the slot machines!   Decided to try our luck and although we didn't loose our money   in 10 minutes this time.. we still lost it...LOL  it just took about an hour!  Gosh, just once it would be so nice to WIN!!!  I think the most we were up was $8.00 and then it went all downhill from there!

It was just so nice to get out and do something as a couple :) 

Geesh, i dont know why the heck i would still be up at 3:15am!!  what am i thinking?  i am going to be SO TIRED tomorrow!