Totally Random Thursday

From 7:35 am to 9:27 am I put 12.5 miles on my vehicle and I didn't really go anywhere.

I also expect to add at least 20 more miles on that number today...WOW!!! 

I know I know many of you are saying - ha that's nothing. 

BUT I do not work at one of the mines and I do not live in a big city...

so it seems CRAZY how many miles I travel each week. 

Moving on...I washed my car today for the first time in I don't even know how long...

and when I say I

well I really mean that big machine.

Yes it did and I sat and texted in my car - tough work I tell ya. 

Anywho...by the time I got home you would NEVER know I made a visit to the car wash. 

So tell me again why we wash vehicles?  (Steve and Dad pretend you didn't read that last statement)

I am hopelessly and shamelessly ADDICTED to Pretty Little Liars. 

Thanks a lot Macey.  No but really I am. 

I have watched 12 episodes in the past 2 days while scrapbooking. 

Stacey + Ezra = TRUE LOVE 4EVER. 

Ok I sometimes have the mind of a 14 year old. 

And I might have replayed his make out session 427 times,  but probably not.  

 HOT!!!

I have scrapbooked 18 pages in the past 24 days!  And that's the real number!!

I am so super excited about this because I didn't even scrapbook that many pages

in the entire year of 2011.  Yay ME!!!

I started marathon training on Monday.  Crazy I know. 

It will be my first and I am actually REALLY excited. 

I will be running the Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon on June 3rd,

along with my really hot hubby.  Well I won't really be running along side him or anything. 

By the time I finish the marathon he will have finished his marathon, showered,

had a couple of meals, drank a few beers and lots of other stuff.

I have never been to interested in speed...finishing is my goal. 

With this being my first marathon my goal is to finish before the 7 hour cut off time. 

If it takes me 419 minutes and 60 seconds I will be so super thrilled that I accomplished that!!! 

And another member of our family will enter the world of running.

Xander has taken an interest in running.  He has been "training" for about three weeks now.

He is really excited about it.  He will run at least 25 miles over the next few months

and then finish the final 2k of the marathon at the Mickelson Trail the day before Steve and I run.  AWESOME!!  So proud of him!

I LIVE in yoga and running clothes - 96.4% of the time and that number may be low.

The old gear wasn't looking too pretty so I may or may not have purchased $8641.23

worth of new gear from Sierra Trading Post.  I didn't say I spent that much but it was worth

at least that much!  Seriosuly do you all shop here???  If not your CRAZY - CRAZY I tell ya.

The bargains are unbelievable.  (They are offering an addition 20% off orders over $100.00. 

Coupon code: SITETHUR112)  My new gear consists of Columbia, Mountain Hardware,

Royal Robbins, SmartWool, J-41.  And not one thing was over $40.00!

In fact $40.00 was the most expensive item and I cringed a little...most things were 12 - $30.00!

Even then shoes!  Score.  Now I am comfortable but at least I look somewhat put together! 

Hey I said somewhat.  And now I am even a runner again so I have an excuse - right??? 

Now I just need to work on getting back into Yoga.  Which reminds me....

Dear Gillette,

Please offer mid-morning yoga classes for people like me.  I do not like Zumba...well let me re-phrase...my body can't move like is required in Zumba.  And I am not looking for spinning

or cardio fit right now.  So please a 9:00 am yoga class would be awesome!!!  And I'm not a senior or a kid - so those don't qualify.  Thank you.

Sincerely, Desperately Seeking Yoga Classes 

Hmmmm...what else can I bore you to numbness with....let's see here...

Totally in love with:

The Civil Wars

Andrew Belle

 And I CANNOT wait (Thanks Jamie for the heads-up) to see this:

Love me some Channing!

OK that's it!! That is all I've got...gotta get back to watching some Pretty Little Liars

and perhaps drool over Ezra!!!  And scrapbook, of course!!  Have a BEAUTIFUL Thursday!

New Outlook...

I have been scrappin away these days!  LOVE it!!

Decided to have a go at the My Mind's Eye Blog Challenge #31.

I LOVE how this one turned out!!!  But boy did I have a hard time getting here.  The sketch had three circles - and boy did they have me STUCK.  So I decided to check out what the other participants were doing - sometimes you need just a little extra inspiration. 

I came across a fantastic layout by Wendy Smith - just love her take on the sketch.  It reminded me to think outside the box when it comes to sketches.  So with that I decided to move away from the circles and used the rectangles...love it!!

Everything (except for the ink) on the layout is My Mind's Eye - from very old cardstock from a paper pad that I have had FOREVER to the more recent Lost & Found line.  Oh I did use dies from Stampin Up to cut out the heart, brackets and rectangles - but using My Mind's Eye paper of course!!

My Petals - Thanks Lee

I am pretty sure I have mentioned my friend Lee about a dozen or so times on my blog - her blog is such a bright spot!!!  And she shares the most wonderful or projects, ideas, inspirations....LOVE it all!!  I take many ideas from Lee and run with them.  (I do give credit though - so that makes it OK right???)  You really must add her to your blog roll!  She won't disappoint!  Not one little bit!

Anywho...todays post was awesome!!!  Moved me to get busy right away I tell ya!!!  She was inspired by Hope Wallace Karney's Pen and Paper: Living Between the Lines post on A Beautiful Ripple Effect's blog.  WOW!!!  Did ya get all that???  Hover over each and click on the links I provided!  All wonderful!

So like I said I get busy RIGHT away!  I was just so excited to do something a little pretty, a little creative and document where I am at right now!  As a scrapbooker I take a lot of time documenting those big moments in our lives and the fun little moments in the kids lives but I forget to include me specific projects.  This year that is changing - One Little Word and Project Life are both giving me the opportunity to document where I am at today - to share a little more of me with those who will want to know some day.  And also for me to look back and see how I've changed/grown/blossomed?!?!?!

The petals of me...my petals are all things that I am!!!  They really are - but some need more attention than others.  They are things that I have really been working towards and want to continue working on - they are essential for me to be a whole me...which is what I really want most.

Hope posted a list of questions/prompts to get a little more out of this fun little exercise.  This totally works for me - I need specific guidance...
I added each question to a 2.5" x 3.5" card and then wrote down my answers/thoughts.  I really love how it turned out - very simple - not all crazy embellished up - but it is exactly what is on my mind lately.  Good to document it.

It will be interesting to look back and maybe do this again in a month or two like she encourages.  Or how about in a year.  Here's to hoping that I make strides towards achieving/incorporating more of all of these! 

Hello Monday...

Hello nice lazy Monday - no school for the boys means sleeping in and taking it easy.

Hello time to scrapbook.

Hello day 5 of my beautiful Shellac'd nails!  LOVE!!!

Hello beads - what shall I send Marie Jane Dodd for the 5th Bead Soup???

Hello little bowl of dark chocolate chips - my excuse?  It's good for my health.

Hello treadmill and elliptical...love having you at home.

Hello sweet little birdies - oh how I love seeing you.

Think I might try to make some friends for you this week!!!

Hello new snow.

Hello gorgeous roses!  You make me happy and still look beautiful on day 5.

Hello Battleship with my favorite 11 year old!!

Hello yummy Banana Bread baking in our over!  Smells delish!

How's your Monday looking??? 

Thanks to Lisa Leonard for this fun idea of Hello Monday!!!

A Little Fun...

A little blog post about my studio - over at Where People Create!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE looking at other peoples creative spaces!  Such awesome ideas out there!  Many of the ideas I have incorporated into my own studio have been "things" I have spotted in other peoples spaces!!

Ann has some great spaces featured!!! So go over and check it out - comment if you'd like!  And be sure to check out all the other spaces Ann has featured.  Very cool stuff!!! 

Hey and if YOU have a fun creative spaces - email her - she is looking for spaces to share!!  You might just inspire some organization for another creative soul!  :)

New studio....

So I did it!!

I moved the studio up from the dungeon!!! 

All by myself.  OK not entirely true...

Connor helped me with the three big pieces of furniture.

Just couldn't drag them up those darn stairs without help. 

If I could have I would have.  I promise. 

 Now it sits prettily upstairs

(P.S. Want a pair of these wings?  Contact Shelley and see if she's game!!)

SOOOO much better!  I am so lucky I had two spaces to pick from.

The ONLY draw back is that there is no over head light so I need to

invest in some good task lighting so I can see what I'm working on 

when it's gloomy out and at night!  But that's easy! 

Love it!

Oh and what's really cool is that since it is connected to the

dining room if I ever have friends/family over to craft or scrap

we can use the dining room table to spread out and won't have

to run up and down the stairs to get supplies!!!  Nope!

This also means there will be plenty of room for X-Man 

to work on homework, puzzles, drawing, or other projects he's working on.

All close by!  Just in case he wants to visit or he needs my help.

Yay!!!

From this:

(which was very nice)

to this:

(which is just plain awesome)

So much happier.

Only thing left to do is hang up all my fun art work and shelves!!  

Steve??  I need your help on that one.

Now no excuse to not make lots of creative lovelies.

My Girls Crafty...

Check this out!!!

She's crafty!

And she's good!!  :)

The kids have always been interested in craft projects around

the holidays but I didn't think it went beyond that.

I did craft with them throughout the years - little projects here and there 

but sometimes looking back I worry I might have been too stingy 

about my craft time...not really wanting to share that time 

as much as I should have.  Maybe I would have been surprised sooner.

And maybe I started the fire just enough so it would come out at just the right time.

Anywho...

Miss has all these great craft projects she would love to do...

I'm impressed!

Now on to her wreath.  

She made this for her "Big" (her words not mine).

The fun of sorority life.

She used her sorority colors - aqua and grey 

(and we added the black since we couldn't find grey tulle)

She used almost 3 full rolls (at least 2 1/2) in the aqua and black color.

6" spools from Michael's Celebrate It brand.

1 spool of glittery silver/grey ribbon. 

(we had glitter coming out our ears - just ask the boys of the house - they were not amused)

I am not sure of the exact size of the wreath because I have already boxed it up, 

but I think it was a 12" foam wreath form - also from Michael's.

We followed these basic directions.

It's huge!!!  From end of tulle to end of tulle it is about 27".

I Love It.

Now I want to find an online supplier of fun colors of tulle

so she can make me one for:

Valentine's Day

and one for Easter

and one for Birthday months

and one for Halloween

and I think you get the picture!!  :)

Oh and for gifts!  What an awesome gift this would/will make!

My One Little Word...

When I started seeing people talking about picking their words for 2012 

I felt a bug PULL towards really commiting this year.  

I have picked words before but really had to think hard about the word.

It was more or less just a word.  

They didn't have as much meaning to me.

And I didn't do too much to make it a part of my life.  

This time around two words came to mind immediately - without much thought.

Those words were:

TRUTH and REAL

Both completely related.

As I have mentioned in many a blog posts

us moving has brought a lot of changes

it has sent me reeling a bit. 

My ego is getting the best of me…

I tend to make assumptions about situations, people, etc…

and what I am realizing is that they are not factual, 

not necessarily real or the truth.

And sometimes I am not realistic about

what I need to do to achieve desired outcomes.

I make excuses about why things might not be happening.

It's time to get real.

I really want to focus on what is true.

So my word will be...

  re·al, real/ˈrē(ə)l/, /rāˈäl/

1.  true; not merely ostensible, nominal, or apparent.

2.  existing or occurring as fact; actual rather than imaginary, ideal, or fictitious.

3.  being an actual thing; having objective existence; not imaginary.

4.being actually such; not merely so-called.

5.  genuine; not counterfeit, artificial, or imitation; authentic.

How perfect is that?

That is exactly what I'm talkin bout!!! 

To see what is REAL about all situations.

To be REAL about what is needed for a desired outcome.

To be REAL with where I'm at.

To be REAL with my intentions.

To be REAL towards others.  

To show the REAL me.

To be the REAL me.

Be REAL.  See what's REAL.  Feel what's REAL.

Hello Monday...

Hello first Monday in this exciting new year of 2012.  

Looking forward to all that is to come!  

Think it's going to be a good one!

 Hello pain from yesterdays fun day of skiing at a beautiful Meadowlark!

Hello empty girls room.
We are missing our Macey now that she's back in Omaha.

Hello last day of  Christmas break.  

We loved the sleeping in, 

especially after said day of skiing!  :)

Hello messy piles of "stuff" all over my house.  

Thinks it's time for a deep cleaning/organizing of the house!!

Hello nice little surprise on Ali Edwards blog.

I am one of the winner's of a  

Lisa Leonard's Word of the year Necklace!!  

Lucky Lucky Me!!!  I am soooo stinking excited!!!

Hello tasty easy faux Italian sodas.

 Hello Inspired to Scrap sketch class.

 Hello Kung Fu panda and cozied little boy.

Hello One Little Word.

Hello hockey.

Sorry we missed a few practices.

We're back now!

It's that time of year...

...for goals!!!  

I really need to get me straightened out.  Too much to be happy about!!

I think I might be a little cranky these days.  Oh how silly silly silly that is!!

Time for change - time to kick that ego to the curb.

Here are a few things I am thinking about:

Working towards living a life I love. 

As I think I have mentioned before this move has left me rather topsy turvy and stuck. 

Not doing nearly as much as I can to feel good about me and life.

And that's just plum silly - too much too feel good about!!

Create more often!

I want to paint and get messy!! 

I want to sew!  

I want to play with clay!

Get my business up and running full steam ahead.

Will my labels ever be finished?  Oh yes and they will be gorgeous.  

The bath and body product will be perfected and I promise you will love it.  

Because I love it!

And of course lots more jewelry - really want to work more with silver.  

Judge less - love more.

Kick my ego to the curb.

It really get's in the way and trys to hold one down.  

No thanks!!  I've had enough.

(thanks Oprah and Eckhart Tolle)

Keep working through Oprah's Lifeclass

Get real - see the truth - be true. 

Make friends.

Yoga, running, walking, lifting or elliptical every single day of the week!!!

Run a marathon.

Yell less.

Be happy, smile and laugh and sing and dance!! ALOT!!!

Scrapbook.

Thinking

Week in the Life

One Little Word

and

Project Life.

Dream big and work hard to achieve.

Blog.

Wish me luck!  :)  

How about you?  

What do you want to happen this wonderful 2012?

My New Year's Wish for You...

 Comfort on difficult days,
Smiles when sadness intrudes,
Rainbows to follow the clouds,
Laughter to kiss your lips,
Sunsets to warm your heart,
Hugs when spirits sag,
Beauty for your eyes to see,
Friendships to brighten your being,
Faith so that you can believe,
Confidence when you doubt,
Courage to know yourself,
Patience to accept the truth,
Love to complete your life.
-Anonymous

My friend Shelley Kinnison posted this wonderful poem...

I thought it was too perfect no to share.