handwriting, green, psychological help.

I get to be the prize sponsor for the Good Grief Blog for the current challenge about preserving handwriting. I had a set of Fiskars' newest release border/corner punches and 3-in-1 corner punches, so the prize (for a random participant) is a box FULL of punches! Just participate in the current Good Grief challenge by Dec 13 at midnight. All the info is here.

I'm going to be sending my computer for some psychological help next week. If I don't get this thing fixed I am going to need some psychological help. Ugh.

Currently I am reading Green by Ted DekKer. It's the 1st (or 4th) book in the Circle series. I really dislike reading books in a series (don't ask why, I can't seem to articulate it), but this one is amazing. I recommend Green be read last...because that's how I did it, I guess, but it is designed to be first OR last.

Okay, I seriously do NOT have time to be blogging.

I love today's verse...

{and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3}

yummy.

This is one of the five yummy holiday gift ideas in a download called "Handcrafted and Edible: Treats for the Holidays" at the Fiskars website. The download includes detailed photos and instructions as well as the recipes for all the treats - and it's free! There will be a total of four December 2009 Downloads with tons of crafty ideas, so make sure you check it out.

quick post.

This card is on the very last page of the November issue of CardMaker...I used My Mind's Eye patterned papers. Don't you think they look so very Thanksgiving-ish?

I just popped in to post this on my way out the door...on my way to a weekend of dancing girls and Jesus music and grapes and friends and hotel ice!

Don't forget to check out the other hoppers' blogs over the next several days because they will be posting new thankful crafty stuff:
Debbie Hodge http://www.debbiehodge.typepad.com

Kelly Purkey http://kellypurkey.typepad.com

Lisa Dickinson http://lisadickinson.typepad.com

May Flaum http://mayflaum.wordpress.com

Patti Milazzo http://pattimilazzo.blogspot.com/

Stacey Kingman http://staceykingman.blogspot.com/

Stephenie Hamen http://cropgirl.wordpress.com

Margot Potter http://margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com/

Lain Ehmann http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/five_things/

Margie Romney-Aslett http://www.margieromney-aslett.typepad.com/

Rhonna Farrer http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com/

Wendy Smedley http://wendysmedley.typepad.com/

Jodie McNally http://jodiemcnally.com/

Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/

Becky Novacek http://www.beckynovacekphotography.com/

Jennifer McGuire http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/

Elizabeth Kartchner http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/

{“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95:1-2}

giving thanks {blog hop}.

A Thanksgiving card...


I made this simple Thanksgiving greeting with the October Afternoon Weathervane collection and Prism cardstock. I'm off to Dallas in the morning, but I will have something new and thankful to post when I return on Monday!

Welcome to the Giving Thanks {Blog Hop} 2009...

Thanks to some very amazing artists, over the next week, you will be able to hop around the web and find some amazing projects celebrating Gratitude and Creativity. We are very excited to be bringing you a cross-section of artisans, sharing their stories, creations, and thanks with all of you. Not everyone will post something everyday, but, there will be something somewhere every day. You will just have to hop around and see what you can find. Each person participating has the full list of attendees posted, so you can hop from each one to another. We hope you find something that inspires you, sparks your creativity, or reminds you to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

From our house to yours, please enjoy your week and our gratitude...

Debbie Hodge http://www.debbiehodge.typepad.com

Kelly Purkey http://kellypurkey.typepad.com

Lisa Dickinson http://lisadickinson.typepad.com

May Flaum http://mayflaum.wordpress.com

Patti Milazzo http://pattimilazzo.blogspot.com/

Stacey Kingman http://staceykingman.blogspot.com/

Stephenie Hamen http://cropgirl.wordpress.com

Margot Potter http://margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com/

Lain Ehmann http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/five_things/

Margie Romney-Aslett http://www.margieromney-aslett.typepad.com/

Rhonna Farrer http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com/

Wendy Smedley http://wendysmedley.typepad.com/

Jodie McNally http://jodiemcnally.com/

Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/

Becky Novacek http://www.beckynovacekphotography.com/

Jennifer McGuire http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/

Elizabeth Kartchner http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/



Have a lovely weekend...

{Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18}

Hello, Monday morning! We had a cold front blow in last night and I have all the windows open to let the fresh, cool gusts of wind cleanse the air in my house. (I wish it could somehow cleanse my boys' bedroom as well because that place is a mess!) I'm going to have to find some door stops, though, because the wind just blew a door shut and I literally jumped out of my chair.

Don't forget to check the Project of the Day at the Fiskars Crafts website. There's something fun and new every single day this month! November's focus is handmade crafts for gift giving, which is such a great resource if you are wanting to make special handmade gifts this year. The projects I have seen so far (and it's only halfway through November!) have been so unique and creative, but definitely do-able.

My project that was featured this weekend is pictured above. Go to fiskarscrafts.com to see more photos and all instructions. Let me know if you try this one. I'd love to see your projects!

Ooops...it's time to go pick up the kids from piano lessons. Today is my drive, drive, drive day. Just like tomorrow. And Wednesday. I'm just thankful I can come home between their activities and classes so I don't have to be out all day long...

{This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 1 John 5:2}

why it took me two weeks to make a card.

Here's my card for the CPS Blog this week.
It's all October Afternoon...I love the happy polka dots.
Well, of course I used Prism cardstock - in Butter Cream.
And the rub-on is from Melissa Frances.
But the rest of the card is OA.
It took me two weeks to make this card.
No, really.
I started it,
made about 87% of it,
looked at it on my table every day for two weeks as I rushed in and out of my house,
couldn't finish it.
I mean, I could have...
I just didn't feel creative.
Too much stress in my once-creative days.
I'm so tired of feeling like all I do is clean and drive.
Wait.
I'm on the verge of complaining.
Back to my card.
Two weeks later, I had to turn it in,
so the procrastinating/avoiding/dilly-dallying had to end.
I turned it in late.
Story of my life these days.
I'm tired of apologizing for being late
so
I didn't.
Now I'm sorry for not apologizing.

So.
This won't come as a shock to you at this point,
I'm sure.
I stepped down from the CPS Blog design team.
I'm finishing out the year.
I'll miss this little group so much
but I know there is someone who is less busy-
or maybe just better at fitting it all in-
who will do a great job with it.

Aside:
If anyone from my writing class reads this,
please know that this blog is not an example of acceptable writing.
Complete sentences are not optional in my class.
Do what I say
not
what I do.

So I had meant to blog about something else...

It's Thursday again!
How did Thursday come back around so fast?
I feel like Thanksgiving and then December are rushing at me
with the force of a
tsunami.
Run, Stacey!
Hide!
Seek higher ground!
Every day a (sweet, adorable, talented) child
brings me something to add to the calendar in December.
It's full already!
It's over full!
I am so thankful that the powers that be in my homeschool co-op
made us (okay, I had a say in this) start in early-to-mid-August
just so we could have a break between Thanksgiving and the beginning of January.
I am (understatement) so looking forward to this break.
I'm not sure I could face the holiday season if I was still maintaining a normal school schedule...

So.
This weekend Hymn Fest. (Hymns should be filling the air as I type this. Why is no one practicing?)
Next weekend Dance Revolution in Dallas. Three days of girls and moms and fun...
Then Thanksgiving.
I love Thanksgiving.
The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. My friend Angela and I got up at 4am to shop last year and it was FUN.
Somewhere in there, I'll put the Christmas tree up.
There's so much more on my list and it's overwhelming me to think about any more of it...

{Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 5:15-17}

thursday.

I am loving Thursday.

In about five minutes, I'll be in the garage sorting through four years of curriculum. I know it sounds boring and no fun, but I am thrilled to be able to work on my garage without having to leave to drive people around!

I have already done some closet organizing, some cabinet rearranging, and finished the book I've been reading. I ate the last mini Butterfinger from the kids' stash - so glad those are gone! I'll also be planting some onions later this afternoon and overseeing the cleaning out of my car.

Thursday is just the best day of the week!

This morning the boys watched the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. I guess Corey picked up the "sly dog" thing from Peppermint Pattie because she refers to Charlie Brown as a "sly dog" sometimes. So I heard Corey saying, "You sly dog!" and I asked him who he was talking to. He said, "My brain said a bad word, so I called my brain a sly dog!" Silly boy. (Oh, and the bad word? Not so bad, but I didn't tell him.)

{We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 2 Thessalonians 3:11}

mini book.

I made this mini-book-in-a-tin for an article about mini projects at the Fiskar's website. Click on the link to see instructions, lots more photos, and other mini projects from other designers. (I just realized that I already linked this, so just ignore one of the posts.)

I know I promised myself I'd blog every day this week. (I also promised myself I wouldn't eat another Butterfinger before breakfast. Halloween is evil in so many ways.) I have lots to write about, but my life just keeps me going a hundred miles an hour.

Tomorrow is Thursday. Thursday is my best day. I can breathe on Thursday. Thursday is the light at the end of the tunnel for me.

Thursday, I love you, man.

{She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Lead on; don't slow down for me unless I tell you." 2 Kings 4:24}

cards, cards, cards.

This card is one of three I did for an article about holiday card making at the Fiskar's website. Two other designers contributed to the article and there are lots of great ideas!


One of my recent CPS Blog cards...I love this acorn from Gina K. Designs. I used it over and over last month!


Last week's CPS card. All Prism cardstock except the small piece of OA pink polka dots.

{I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. 1 Corinthians 16:21}

peek.

I did this layout for the Good Grief Blog. I have never, ever been a simple scrapper, but so far my Good Grief layouts have been quite simple. It's the only way I can seem to do them. FYI: simple layouts take as long to complete as non-simple ones.

Just a peek into blogland this evening...I really miss blogging. If I could blog at red lights or in the parking lot at the various places I am dropping people off, picking them up, or just sitting and waiting for them, I could easily blog daily - several times daily. My life is one big exercise in chaufferism. Driving someone somewhere several times a day...except Thursdays. Please don't ask me to drive anywhere on Thursday. It's my only day with nothing scheduled, well, almost nothing... I love Thursday more than chocolate right now.


Here's a little book I did for the Fiskars website with October Afternoon Weathervane collection patterned papers. You can see lots more photos and instructions here.

I am promising myself that I will blog tomorrow. My blog used to be my source for the journaling on my layouts...I recorded all the cool stuff in our days and I loved to go back and re-read my blog entries! I've really gotten away from that, haven't I?

Does anyone ever read this anymore? I guess it's really okay if the answer is no...

{I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8}

wednesday night.

While I was coughing my head off last month, I missed sharing this card that I made for the Fiskars website. The details and instructions are available here.



This set of tags was also posted in September. You can read the instructions and see more photos and details here.

Tonight, Jolie and I are making chocolate-covered pretzels for a fun project. It's a good thing I don't often need to dip things in chocolate to be crafty because I think I would eat too much of it!

Tomorrow is Thursday. I love Thursday. Happy Thursday to you!

{From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16}

resurfacing.

Business first:
1. Fiskars Official Facebook Page is posting SEVEN Facebook-exclusive floral projects today. This is so exciting because the new floral tools are so amazing and I am one of a few people who has gotten to create with them! Go check out the floral creative goodness. :)

2. I have a card posted at the Prism Blog today. I posted a snippet at the top here, but you can see the entire thing here.

3. I had to skip the most recent layout challenge at the Good Grief blog, but the other contributors came up with some really meaningful, amazing stuff, so go see.

4. The CPS Blog had a fun sponsor last week: Inky Antics. I'm not a great stamper, but their images were fun to play with!

5. Oh, my gosh. October Afternoon has a crazy-cool guest designer this month. Go see what she's done with OA! They'll be posting stuff by her all month, and I really looking forward to the inspiration!

I think that's it for "business."

Here's what I have been doing:
I know. It's been a while. Can you believe I've been sick all these weeks? Let's see...we all came down with a cold in the last part of August. The whole town seemed to have it and I was happy that it was so minor.

Really just not a big deal.

BUT I got a leftover cough from the minor cold that turned into a situation that kept me (and my hubby) awake at night, coughing through the entire day - and nothing would help!

You wouldn't believe all the stuff I was taking. Blech on the Robitussin, for sure.

No other symptoms, just this debilitating cough.

I finally went to the doctor (they made me wear a mask - whole other blog post), and he says I have Reactive Airway Disease, kind of an asthmatic thing from what I understand. He gave me albuterol and steroids. Both of those make me quite jittery (think: Stacey Kingman Bobblehead) and a bit (??!!) more irritable than usual (think: Scary, Scary Mommy). It took a full 15 days for the steroids to work their magic.

So.

Sunday I went to church and didn't have to leave for coughing. That's how recently I am recovered.

And the recovery process is overwhelming. I'm behind on pretty much everything in my life - homeschooling, cleaning, laundry, email, regular scrappy commitments, crafty work assignments, you name it and someone is waiting on something from me. It's enough to make me want to quit everything that isn't family-related, but I really think I can do the damage control, get through the catch-up process, and move forward.

But that'll resume tomorrow ... because I woke up with a headache, sore throat, and a fever this morning.

Sigh.

{A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22}

just rite blog hop day two!

It's Day Two of the Just Rite Mega Font Blog Hop!

There's a fabulous SALE and Blog Candy involved, so be sure to check out the details below...

Here's my card for the hop:



One of my favorite things about the Just Rite stamps is that I can mix font sizes and styles to create cards that say exactly what I want them to!
I used:
Vertical Stamper
Times New Roman Lowercase Font Set
Times New Roman Uppercase Font Set
Special Occasion Uppercase Font Set

JustRite is celebrating their Mega Font Hop (a 2 Day Event with 54 designers)in style with a Super7 Day Font Sale. Take 30% off all JustRite font sets and the Horizontal and Vertical Font Stampers. Sale begins Sept 17th and ends Sept 24th.

There is Mystery Blog Candy being given away during the Two Day Just Rite Font Blog Hop!!! Why is it a Mystery.....well there will be 3 blog candy giveaways on each day and you can only win by leaving a comment on the right blog! The real surprise is you won't know which blog has the candy.....even the designer doesn't know! So as you visit each of the 54 designers over the two day event take time to leave a comment.....who knows, the lucky winner may be you!!!!! You have until Sunday at noon to leave a comment for your chance to win. Then check back at the JR Blog on Sunday evening to find out who won!!!! Enjoy the Hop.

THESE ARE ALL LINKS TO THE PARTICIPATING BLOGGERS' BLOGS:

JustRite Blog

Debbie Olson

Jerri Kay Jimenez

Taylor Van Bruggen

Holly Simoni

Barb Schram

Terre Frye

Michelle Kovack

Kim Moreno

Catherine Doucette

Kellie Fortin

Kimberly Crawford

Kathy Jones

Michelle Giraud

Angela Barkhouse

Heather Pulvirenti

Tami Mayberry

Jennifer Buck

Keri Lee Sereika

Jami Bova

Laura Davis

Stacey Kingman <---YOU ARE HERE

Bonnie Sharp

Stephanie Severin

Janine Orchard

Debbie Seyer

Margie Higuchi

Lauren Bergold

Anja Curvers

AJ Otto

finish-it friday.

My friend Tami Mayberry is giving away some scrappy stuff. Leave a comment on her blog by Saturday night for a chance to win!

It's rainy. I am loving it. I'm working on my next layout for the Good Grief Blog and making some fun cards for next week's Just Rite Font Mega Blog Hop while listening to the lovely sound of rain...

You should see my to-do list for today. I'm just marking the stuff off left and right! If I'd just move some piles, put some books away, and hang some pictures, I'd really be getting some things off my list! Oh, and the landfill (the garage)...I probably should drag myself out there while it's raining. It's much cooler than usual because of the rain!

No picture today. Have a great weekend! We are wondering if the soccer games will get rained out in the morning.

{I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13}

class winner!

The random number generator gave me number 15:

Connie won!

Connie, email me (or leave a comment here) ASAP so you can get access to the class.

Congratulations!

See you in class!

a friday quote.

"I haven't gotten a band-aid since the last time I got a band-aid."
- Cody, age 7, in a discussion about the new Transformers band-aids and my request that he not make himself a boo-boo just to have an excuse to wear one

If you came to win a spot in Tanis Willis's Scrapbooking with Fabric Class, either scroll down to yesterday's post or click here to leave your comment.


Here's a peek of a card I did for the Prism blog. Our theme this month is "texture" and I added lots of stamped layers and hand stitching to create texture on this little project. You can go here to see the entire card.

free class giveaway!

I have taken three of Tania Willis's classes at Get It Scrapped. She is awesome! Her classes are FULL of beautiful sample projects and templates and detailed instructions. She is active on the board and answers questions throughout the day. She is just a fabulous online instructor!

I am signed up for her next class that starts next Monday:


For three weeks this September, Tania Willis will show you how to use fabric on your scrapbook pages in ways you never thought possible. She’ll have you reaching for fabric instead of patterned paper and adding a new level of texture and dimension to your projects. As with all of Tania’s classes at Get It Scrapped!, Scrapbooking with Fabric is jam-packed with original ideas and detailed how-tos. What’s more, Tania spends a substantial amount of time in the class forums chatting and answering questions, posting tips, resources, and even challenges that come with great prizes. Scrapbooking with Fabric starts September 7th! You can see the full class syllabus by visiting the registration page for Scrapbooking with Fabric!

How to win a free spot in this class: leave a comment! If you post a little something about this giveaway on your own blog, you can enter three more times...just post something on your blog linking to this post and then leave three comments here - more chances to WIN!

I will randomly choose a winner on Sunday, September 6 at 8PM CST.

i missed saturday.

[My Mind's Eye papers and die cuts, Fiskars punches, Doodlebug stickers]

The weekend zoomed by. And it looks like I'll have to be really careful or I'll miss the next two months of weekends! Soccer has started. Saturday games. Thursday practices. In addition to the rest of our crazy, fun life. My calendar is bursting.

I didn't want to complain. I. Am. Not. Complaining. But my dryer is broken. It's been broken for a whole week now. Since last Monday. Apparently, my dryer is special. It didn't break something normal that breaks on everyone else's dryers. It broke something that had to be ordered. Mr. Jim, my appliance repair person, says that Tuesday should be the glorious day for the repair. I'm not holding my breath. You should see the laundry that is piling up!

Off to church. Have a lovely Sunday...don't let it slip away!

good grief, cont.

Today my first contribution to the Good Grief Blog was posted. I was really nervous about it! Here are a couple of snippets...you can see the whole layout here.



I think it's going to be a healing experience...I'm glad I agreed to do this.

{and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3}

more soup, please.

I have found a new favorite soup...

This week, the sponsor for CPS Blog is Jillibean Soup. We got to play with Jillibean papers (Lentil Soup for me), Journaling Sprouts, and Stamps. Oh, what fun and frolic. (smile) I absolutely LOVE this Jillibean soup and can't wait to get some more!

Here are some cards I made with my yummy Jillibean:

I have been hoarding these Karen Foster Thanksgiving Labels for a loooong time! I love how it looks on this cool krafty paper.


My sister-in-law's birthday is on September 1, so I made her card with this Journaing Sprout (I think that's what the die cut labels are called) and circled the date.


I could have blinged this one up a bit more and it would have been fun, but I kind of like the spartan look with the fluffy ribbon.


I left this one blank so I can add a sentiment when I need a quick card!

And here's my CPS Blog card for the week:

I'd like to reach right into my screen and fluff that bow a little bit...

More soup, please!

{Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. Ezekial 4:9}

menu plan monday.

[I'm sorry. I have this "thing" about having to have a photo on every post. So here's a photo of one of my favorite cards in the July issue of Scrapbook Trends. It's mostly October afternoon with Fiskars punches, Prism cardstock and Heidi Grace rub-ons.]

I am still working on the discipline of menu planning. The Happy Housewife has Menu Planning 101 on her blog this week and I'm working on the first assignment: come up with a list of 15 meals you can make in a month - then add five more! (I guess she didn't want to overwhelm everyone in step one because the 5 more came in step two.)

So I need to make my list, taking into consideration our interesting schedule and some personal favorites and dislikes of my people. I usually try to make things that Doug and the girls like. Cody seems to eat just about anything I make these days, although his only real favorites seem to be pizza, chicken nuggets, and scrambled eggs. Corey is getting better about eating what I put into his reticent little mouth, although he still really hates beans, eggs, and beef. I have hope for him, though.

So. Anyway.

The list:
1. Cowboy Casserole
2. Popcorn Chicken
3. Lasagna
4. Taco Soup (crock pot)
5. Chicken Enchiladas
7. Baked Potatoes on the Grill
8. Breakfast for Dinner
9. Bean Soup (crock pot)
10.The other Chicken Enchiladas
11.Chicken Tacos (crock pot)
12.Chalupa Casserole
13.PW Chicken Spaghetti
14.Chicken Pot Pie
15.PW Pot Roast
16.Hamburgers
17.Chicken pockets
18.Meatloaf
19.Chicken Tortellini Casserole
20.Mary's Chicken, Broccoli, & Rice Casserole
21.Homemade Pizza

Some non-monthly meals:
1. Honey Ham
2. Spaghetti & Meatballs

The crock-pot meals are necessary on Mondays. I'll probably do three crock-pot Mondays and one cheap pizza night Monday.

Wednesday nights we either eat at the church or take sandwiches to eat between co-op and church, depending on what the meal is that week.

One of my main goal for meals next month is to double or triple the freezable recipes so I can have some things in the freezer during the busy months of November and December. I did that last year (with the help of some sweet friends) and it was so great to have all those frozen meals ready to thaw and cook!

I'd really like to link my list with recipes, so we'll see how long that takes me.

The second part of the challenge is to come up with a list of side dishes, fruits and vegetables my family enjoys. I have to admit, we aren't all that into variety with our sides, but no one ever complains. Well, Corey complains, but you know what I mean.

Side dishes:
1. Spinach salad (usually just spinach and carrots)
2. Steamed broccoli
3. Mashed potatoes
4. Fried potatoes
5. Strawberries
6. Grapes
7. Macaroni and Cheese
8. Green Beans
9. Avocados
10.Steamed Squash
11.Cut-up Apples

Okay, I'm going to have to work on the side dishes. That looks just pitiful!

eternal summer sounds a whole lot better than it is.

I made this card for the Prism blog last week. You can see the whole thing here. Sometimes I'm iffy about things I have made, but I love this one.

I love this quote about eternal summer. It sounds lovely. At first.

And yet...

Eternal summer??

Like over 100 degrees every single day?

No, thanks.

In Central Texas, we are close to a record for the most days of over 100-degree weather in one summer. I think the record is 56 or 58 days and today makes 50 days. Don't quote me on that.

Anyway, it's SO hot.

Eternal summer?

No. Thank. You.

{Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. Revelation 7:16}

blogging every day, except for the last seven...

I cannot believe it has been seven days since I blogged!

This last week has been a blur...we started our homeschool co-op on Monday. We go on Mondays and Wednesdays. For some reason, that sounds like it should make life easier, not harder. And the truth is, it DOES make life easier in the long run. It's just the short-term that gets a bit chaotic there for a bit. My kids take Latin, Spanish, Biology, General Science, History, Algebra, and Writing at co-op. I teach the high school writing class (I can actually write in complete sentences, although I often avoid doing so on my blog.). Many very talented mothers (and two dads!) teach the other classes. I love the concept of sharing the load... But the first week is a really crazy one!



This is a card I made for the Fiskars website card sketch this month. I used lots of punches and that yummy October Afternoon Cherry Hill paper.

Yesterday I got to do something kind of cool and unexpected. I was sick - alone. Yep, I woke up in the middle of Thursday night feeling horrible and I had a headache, tummy ache, fever, just all that stuff. and Friday morning, my sweet family left for an overnight visit to Grandma's! The sleepover was already planned, so I didn't run them off or anything like that. It was really pretty nice to lay on the couch and read, watch a movie, drink fluids, eat popsicles - all without sharing, getting up to take care of others, mediate disputes, etc. Honestly, it was a little refreshing. And I'm feeling much better today, I think, just a little bit of that icky feeling left and I'll still be alone until sometime after supper.

I think I'll go read a little.

{If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:10}

looking back.

This card was in a recent Cards issue. I've seen it out in the stores, but haven't gotten it back yet. I used the October Afternoon Ducks In A Row Collection, Fiskars punches, and almost-antique Making Memories chipboard flowers...it's one of my favorites cards ever.

A year ago, I posted this entry on my blog (below). I thought it would be fun to post it again since it made me laugh. (If you'd have laughed at me a year ago, I'd have grounded you from your phone because it wasn't funny at all then.)

Anyway, last year's post:

"If wishes could come true, I would have the force right now. And I would have a fortune cookie." (Cody Kingman, man of many quotes, age 6)

The word for the day is Diflucan.

Let's use it in a sentence: How hard could it possibly be to call in a prescription for Diflucan?

Or...let's see, another sentence: Diflucan should be an over-the-counter medication.

I can think of some other sentences, but they involve swearing and threats.

{On the first day remove the yeast from your houses... Exodus 12:15}

good grief.

Well, here's the scoop: I am going to be a contributor to a new blog called Good Grief, a Scrapbooking Journey through Loss and Healing.


Amanda Probst had the great idea and started it. She explains all about her inspiration on the blog, so go read about it there.

I'm really looking forward to being a part of this, even though I know the experience might hurt a little sometimes. Like Amanda told me (paraphrased, so I shouldn't actually be using quotes), "It's not a great club to be in, but it's nice to have people to share it with."

So, please go check out Good Grief...and could you spread the word? Thanks!

{he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces... Isaiah 25:8}

finish-it friday.

So, it's Friday, otherwise known in these parts as "finish-it Friday." I have a LOT to finish. So many projects started but not FINISHED. Where to begin?? Let's just say my first things to finish are fun and crafty and a tiny bit overdue (but only by two hours - so far, but I hate being overdue at all). Then we move on to these started-but-not-finished items:
* fold laundry
* load up all the donations in the garage for the thrift store
* purge old scrap stuff for wonderful girls who adore scrapbooking and don't care about latest-and-greatest
* clean up yard from two intensely windy, garden-wrecking, 5-minute storms this week
* organize coupons for double-up-to-$1-coupon-day at Kroger tomorrow
* move storage items to 300-degree attic
* finish writing syllabus for co-op writing class
* put away new curriculum

Okay, so I'm scaring myself because my list is longer than I thought it was. And this stuff needs to happen! And I'm still ignoring some other stuff...

The card at the top of the post is made with the new October Afternoon Report Card collection and Jenni Bowlin's chipboard bird, in case you might be wondering. Oh, and Prism kraft. Because Prism Kraft is a lot like homemade wheat bread...it's yummy with just about anything.

Oh, and speaking of Prism, it's time for another Guest Designer call! All of the details are on the Prism blog, so check there for official info. The things I know for sure about it is that the people who were guest designers from the first call were a lot of fun and got a lot of paper!

One more thing. Check back tomorrow and I will be able to share with you a wonderful thing! It's a project I've been invited to join that is going be a huge blessing to my heart and to anyone else who wants or needs to participate. You'll see. Tomorrow. (Just so you know...it's not the project I mentioned yesterday. I do seem to have a lot of lovely things going on at the moment, don't I?)

{Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Luke 12:24}

report card and a secret.

I made this card with the amazing new Report Card collection from October Afternoon. I absolutely LOVE these papers! They are sort of vintage with great old-fabric designs and wonderful schoolbook text backgrounds...it has to be my favorite so far! So I made this card and I am looking forward to making some actual layouts with it very soon. Oh, and head on over to the October Afternoon blog to leave a comment and possibly win some OA clear stamps!

I'm kind of in a funk this afternoon and all my blogging vibes have flown out the window. Well, not really...it's way too hot to have any windows open around here! I just literally cannot remember anything I had planned to blog about today.

Oh, here's something. I have a fun project that I'm working on. I don't think I'm supposed to share the details just yet, but I'll give you some clues:
1. It's scrappy.
2. It's faith-focused.
3. It's going to begin sometime in September.
4. It involves some way-cool Jesus-loving girls.
5. You can be a part of it, too!
6. I'll post more as soon as I can!

Hey, that worked wonders! Just sharing the barest of details about my secret has lifted my funk a little...

In the getting-ready-for-school-to-start category, I am expecting the man in brown to bring me some Latin books and flashcards and Becky Fleck's Pagemaps book. I had been wanting Pagemaps, so I had to sneak it into my Latin book order...it's funny, I used to really struggle with sketches, now I love them!

Have a lovely day!

{Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Romans 4:7}

favorite treetops.

This week's sponsor for the CPS Blog is Susan Tomaino, Independent Close To My Heart consultant. I loved the stamps and papers and inks I got from her so much that I made several cards! Here they are:















And then there's the one I made with this week's CPS Blog sketch:


I think I've found a very favorite stamp set. I love these trees...

Changing the subject:

We're about to start school. It's freaking me out. That sounds spiritually mature, doesn't it? I'm just not ready. We are not ready. It will be my first year to have all four kids doing actual schoolwork. My boys won't want to work much. They like their freedom. I'm sure I'll have more on this later...

What is it about the new school year that makes me want to have everything in my environment in order? Since we homeschool, this translates to "entire house clean and organized." It means having my garage cleaned out, my menus planned, my coupons organized, closets purged, kids' bathroom painted, meals in the freezer...this list goes on. Actually, all of those things are ongoing projects that I am either a.) currently working on, b.) procrastinating, or c.)fantasizing about doing.

My garage especially has been an ongoing project. I was planning to have one LAST garage sale because there's so much out there. My hubby isn't all that supportive ("You're not having a garage sale!"), especially after the neighbors had one a few weeks ago and one of their customers defecated in front of our mailbox. (Yes, eeew.) So, anyway, I am having trouble giving myself permission to just donate these boxes of potential garage-sale stuff. (Anyone local having a garage sale soon?)

My kids say the word "thingie way too much." It goes on the end of pretty much any statement that isn't 100% confident: "Can I have one of those frozen fruit-thingies?" "Did someone lock the barn-thingie?" "Mom, where's my Star Wars Lego Clone Trooper-thingie?" I guess it could be worse.

I'm going to blog again tomorrow. I miss blogging.

{And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. Genesis 2:9}

CHA and the garage.

I'm not going to CHA this time. I'm missing the excitement and seeing all the new, fun releases. But I'm glad I'm home with my family, too! CHA should always be 10 minutes from home. That would be ideal, I think.

I made this card for the Prism Papers booth. They have such lovely cardstock. It always makes me think of ice cream that doesn't melt...yummy.

I've been working in my garage. I call it "the landfill." Soon I will be hoping to call it "the place where I park my car." Yesterday, my sweet hubby and my two older children hung the bikes in the garage. Wow! What a huge difference it makes to have all those bikes hanging from the ceiling rather than parked all over the floor. Then my sweetie got the "hanging stuff" bug and hung up some fishing poles, too. I can't say it made much of a difference space-wise, but it's nice to see people wanting to get organized!

last week's email.

I sent this email to a few of my close homeschool-mom friends last week. They understand. The email:

I have to share this.

Today I've been working on my "need to buy" list for the upcoming school year.

It's a spreadsheet.

It's not a huge list, but it's a lot of $$.

I was so excited this evening because I was working on my "landfill management" (a.k.a. digging through the huge pile in my garage).

I found all of my Abeka 7th grade stuff.

So I pulled it all out and hauled it into the living room and dropped it on the floor by my sweet Jolie.

And I'm so excited and smiling and happy.

And excited.

And she's looking at me strangely.

I say, "Here's your school stuff for next year!"

I say, "I just need to order workbooks!"

Did I mention I'm excited?

She looks through it and doesn't look excited with me.

I say, "What?"

She says, "I'm not going into the 7th grade."

Dang.

So.

365 days from now, we're good.

(I'm hoping the Abeka 6th grade stuff is in a tub in the attic. I vaguely remember putting something like that up there.)

That was the email. Since then, after some searching, I've been informed that 6th grade was the year we tried Switched-on Schoolhouse.

So.

I still have to buy all the Abeka 6th grade stuff.

menu plan monday.

I forgot to share last week menu, oops. I also didn't follow my menu plan very well last week...think there's a correlation? Don't share, don't follow...hmm.

Actually, I think it was just all the birthdays.

Anyway, this week:
Monday - Cheap Pizza Night
Tuesday - Taco Ring
Wednesday - Sandwiches
Thursday - Pioneer Woman's Pot Roast
Friday - Breakfast for Dinner
Saturday - Hamburgers on the Grill and Fries

If I'm going to stick to my plan, I'll definitely need to go to the grocery store!

I'm planning to try a new ranch dressing recipe I found yesterday on Sherelle Christensen's blog. It looks heavenly.

Wouldn't it be lovely to have an arctic cold front on Thursday morning so I could cook the pot roast in the oven? I'll have to do it in the crock pot. Hopefully it will come out the same...it's my favorite pot roast ever.

And now, a picture (a few) of my barn-kitty-turned-royalty, Hannah. She likes to be the most important thing in my life, but only sometimes. Other times, she ignores me. But when she is loving me, she plops right down on my keyboard or my book or the card I'm making and shows me where she'd like to be scratched, petted, or rubbed. This particular day, she got up with a big bunch of Kaiser Self-Adhesive Rhinestones stuck to her furry bum. (Click the image if you want to see every detail of her...)

tiny recap and free stuff.

Do you love the October Afternoon Wild Cards? I think they are so cute! I made a card on my my last post with the Ducks in a Row Wild Cards... Anyway, go to the October Afternoon Blog RIGHT THIS MINUTE and leave a comment for a chance to win a package of those cutie Wild Cards!

I think I forgot to post who won the spot in Tania Willis's Cards: Beautifully Handmade class. Java Diva won (I did email her). I hope she enjoys the class - I know I am! It's not too late to register if you still want to jump in and take it.

We have finished a week of birthdays in our house, whew! Lots of cake, presents, smiles, doughnuts, flip-flops, and legos. I'm behind on everything, but I'll be caught up soon - just give me a day or two!

I have a big red blister on the inside of my wrist from hot oil I splashed on myself last night. It hurt like heck when I did it, but now it's fine unless I bump it or get hot water on it. The weird thing about it is that my dad had the same exact scar on his wrist in the same place - his was at least three times bigger than mine and it stayed there for years and years. I was about four when it happened, so it was 38 years ago. I don't know, it just made me feel connected to him in a strange way. I wish I could have showed him and talked about it.

My world is a mess, but I did get that silly dry-erase board hung. We start school in a month. Where has the summer gone? I am so not ready. The beginning of the school year means order and neatness and new charts and clean closets...something about homeschooling makes me feel like I need to have every little thing in order when we start back again... My Finish It Friday list is looking pitifully unattended at the moment. Oh, well, there's always next Friday!

I've been working on the insomnia. A couple of things have helped. (A melatonin supplement did NOT help. It gave me a two-day-long headache.) I have turned the A/C down at night, decluttered my bedroom (it feels so peaceful), turned the lights down in the evening, and made the kids get to bed earlier so I get some quiet time before I feel like I am "supposed to" go to sleep. I have also tried to relax and not pressure myself so much about trying to fall asleep. Thinking about last night's inability to fall asleep really makes me tense when it's time to go to sleep the next night. I'm still struggling a little, but I'm trying to "go with it" rather than fight it, and I think this is helping a lot. I think keeping the lights down all over the house in the evening helps quite a bit. And the temperature of the house. Oh, and I read a little before bed, but not IN the bed. Thanks for the suggestions!

Don't forget to leave a comment at the October Afternoon blog!

{And He will be their peace. Micah 5:5}

finish it friday.

If you are here to win the spot in Tania's Cards: Beautifully Handmade Class, scroll down to the next blog!

Here's a card I made recently because every post needs a photo:


[Patterned Paper, Wild Card - October Afternoon, Chipboard - Maya Road, Corner Punch - Fiskars, Cardstock - Prism (Intense Pink)]

My friend Dayna told me I had to do this. I'm scared of her, so I did it, no questions asked.

Actually, I got tingles of excitement, expectation, and plain old organizational happy thoughts as soon as I started reading. I love lists and I love organizing and I love being motivated.

Why is it that I have to be motivated to do things I love to do?

Anywhoo, I made my list of things that I have recently left hanging. I also added some things that have the obvious potential to be procrastinated. And I've crossed off a few things!

Here's my list:
Finish It Friday

1. Hang other dry erase board.
2. Remove small pile of things that need to be put away in MBR.
3. Finish MBR closet clean-out.
4. Purge old scrap collections.
5. Landfill management (garage).
6. Report publications.
7. Move frames from LR to entry.
8. Ebay Feedback
9. Pay bills
10. Curriculum from Alice
11. Co-op Writing Class requirements email
12. Make school books list for 2009-2010
13. Supervise cleaning boys room (delegate)
14. Finish mowing backyard (delegate)
15. RETURN COAT RACKS - put in suburban on Sunday (delegate)
16. Move photos from memory card to hard drive
17. Back up hard drive photos
18. Submit Card
19. Bank Deposit
20. Set date for birthday party
21. CPS card

I only had to complete one thing to not get beat up by my friend complete the requirement, but it's so fun to get things done!

The one thing that is bugging me is the "hang other dry erase board." It's a 5-minute task - at most! Why does this have to go on a list?? I don't know, but I still haven't done it.

A couple of random things before I go...
1. My neighbors had a garage sale this morning. You WOULD NOT BELIEVE what someone did right out in the street some time during the morning! A person, not a pet, did this. Blech.
2. The heat is making me crazy. Crazy, I tell you.
3. We are in "birthday week" here at the Kingman house. Cody's was Wednesday. Mine is Sunday. Corey's is next Wednesday. Cake, anyone?
4. I am working on my insomnia issues. Any suggestions?

{Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11}