Organizing...

We are on the mend!! Doctor said Heather has a virus and it just has to run its course. Hannah on the other hand has a bacterial infection and so she is now on antibiotics. Already though she is feeling better and really only towards the end of the evening does her cough do summersaults again. As for me...I am hanging in there. Still a little cough, but really I am feeling a-ok.

Bet you cant guess what I have been doing?? ROLLING RIBBON! I have been rolling ribbon for what seems like centuries. I got this GREAT GREAT idea from Nichole Heady's blog and well...I just HAD to do it! But no one warned me that it takes FOREVER! Especially with the trips to the store to buy more dang clothes pins! But doesnt it look fantastic!?



Of course Twinkle has lent her help with the whole organizational part too.


I have one box down and 2 to go. YIPES!!!


Another great organizational thing I did this week was also rearrange my paper. I love being able to FLIP through each sheet to see exactly what I have. But after many many months of looking for the perfect FILING system I finally got the bright idea that maybe I dont have to have ALL of this at my fingertips. I mean really...do I really need 26 sheets of the same shade of pink? So I downsized. I didnt take it anywhere (so--paper hoarders, you can breathe again) but just moved it out of my way.

I got these great holders and Hobby Lobby this week on sale. WOOHOOO!

And this UBER cool serving cart there too. It was on sale too, but even if I get bored with it one day I will move it somewhere else in the house...is it not a gorgeous pc of furniture? And I love the fact that it is on wheels so I can move it all around.

Twink has a doc appointment for the end of the month. There she will get her license to be lazy, eat a lot and become a true cat. OK...maybe not that bad, but she no longer will be a true SHE anymore. I tried to convince R that we needed kittens, but he didnt buy it. Aww shucks!

As most of you know I have been studying the Bible in depth these last few weeks. I love the strength that it has given me through out the rest of my life. Even though what I am reading about today may not pertain to anything in my life (that I notice anyways), my love and longing to learn more from the Bible has blessed me beyond all words. I challenge you...dont just sing the songs, dont just read the words....but live them as your destiny depends on them.

Teach me they way, O LORD, that I may walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. PSALMS 86:11

I tink I cot a code

I got two sickies home today. UGH! But thankfully we called and were able to get in with the doc this afternoon. I am hanging in there. I still FEEL ok other than my throat is scratchy. So I might get to post some cards this evening. I might not. For now I am going to go and try to recover a few hours of sleep that were stolen in the night.

Be blessed-b

PS oh yeah...facts:

12: I love to color pictures.
13: I hate to iron. With a purple passion.
14: I have not had a potato in 28 days. *LOL*

challenges!!!

Angel over at http://angelosity.blogspot.com/ is challenging us to a showdown. Post 100 things about yourself and then do a scrapbook page. YIPES! 100?? OK...well I dont care if you scrap it er not...but definitely--I wanta hear what your 100 things. So over the next few months I will post mine. Scarey thought.

Fact 1: On November 5, 1995 I was born again. Yes. The great thing about this day is that its my actual physical Birthday too. OK, well not the 1995 part...but we wont go there! I LIVE for JESUS.

Fact 2: I am highly allergic to animals. Yes, even cats. The ones that sleep on my pillow and are constantly in my presence. I learned to ignore it a long time ago as my love for animals outlived my allergies. When I was real little I had the inhalers, did the allergy shots twice a week....the whole nine yards.

Fact 3: I have never been outside of the US.

And Lisa at http://blessedalatte.blogspot.com/ wants to know 7 things about me that she might not already know. OK...hmmm...is this in the 100? I am gonna cheat and say yes. So here is 7 more things.

4: I hate tea. All kinds. Sweet, unsweet, hot, cold...ew! It all tastes like tree limbs.
5: I hate the word Naughty. Dont know why. Just a word that erks me.
6: I looove to bake. Cant COOK anything fabulous. But I can bake a mean apple pie.
7: I collect Teddy Bears
8: I love color. I used to love white. Everything white. But now I love everything colored.
9: I love to camp. And I love to fish.
10: I love to go to plays. I love theatre!
11: I can touch my tongue to my nose. *LOL*

And today on the normal morning show on our radio station http://wivk.com/ the question of the day was....if you could write yourself a letter back when you were a teen, what would you say?---This is in honor of Brad Paisley's song---Letter to me. So what would YOU say?

I would tell myself that my parents really are not that stupid. I would tell myself to be careful of the people I hang with...cause it really DOES matter what others think....I would make myself pay more attention in college. And I would spend more time with my family and at home. And I would tell myself that even if I wanted to, my Honda Accord could NOT beat a huge dulley in a drag race. ESPECIALLY not on the main drag of town. I would tell myself that my car really will go all of the way up under that truck that is stopped ahead. Theres certainly a lot of other stuff that I would write about...but not here. *LOL* I was crazy once...NOT AGAIN! But I challenge you...how bout that letter??

And now I also TAG:

1. Debbie
2. Chelsey
3. Lori
4. and everyone else!!!!

Have fun!--B

Rock, Paper, Scissors....

I have decided that ALL of lifes issues can be handled with the simple game of ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS. Everything between two siblings anyways. You can solve the usual WHO'S TURN IS IT...or I DID IT LAST TIME....or I HAD IT FIRST...by simply just making the children do this. Afterall...its impossible to cheat at this game and well...it just is fair.

But ya know...the funny thing is that I think itd work on my husband too. OK...see ya throw the rock in order to knock him down. Then you stab him to death with the scissors and THEN you cover him with the morning paper. Works for me -- how bout you? OK...maybe not. I love my husband more than life its self...but as I have said before---WHAT THE HECK IS HE THINKIN??? This morning...a typical Monday morning. Chaos as usual. Well he proceeded to tell me it was MY fault that he was running late. On a normal day these would have been words for war, but this morning it was seriously hilarious. I mean...really--its MY fault that he didnt get up?? How can that be? After all...my job of getting the girls up and dressed and fed and off to the bus on time had been accomplished.

Oh well...just another day in paradise.

We all have a funky bug hanging around here. Hannah has had the old man cough for awhile now. Going away and then coming back with a vengence. I brought Heather home sick today with a sore throat.

So I made some chicken noodle soup, drugged her and sent her to bed and I am taking a shot of vitamins every chance I get. I am NOT getting sick!!! NOT NOT NOT!

Anyways. I did such a big talk up of the Gina K stamps for a cause and I hadnt even put mine to ink! HA! So here you are. INKY INKY!

Stay well everyone! Be blessed!---B

SUPER Saturday Scrappy Sketch

First of all...forgive my photo editing today. I am too lazy to go make em right. I know you all are dieing for a post. So here you are! I promise to get my stuff together and be back to normal on Monday. OK...I promise!

First of all... Heres another image from Debbie. Isnt this chick hot???
The green pick thing is actually a cupcake pick. Cute huh?? her little tag just says BEAUTIFUL.

This is my Friday Sketch challenge from Chelsey. I know...Im a day late! The sketch is from http://angelosity.blogspot.com/


After working with the sketch, I gotta admit. I didnt like it. Didnt flow at all. But here is my attempt.

It says FRIENDS --- SUCH A LITTLE WORD THAT MEANS SO MUCH!

As you can tell with todays post I havent stamped a single image. Another challenge I put on myself this week (just this week) was to use images that my friends have sent me. So here I am! Digging into another one of my stashes!

And here is this weeks SCS Challenge:

And into my scrap bin I dove. Heres ORANGE

And GREEN

And BLUE:

And BLACK/WHITE/GRAY:

And PINK:

And PURPLE:

And RED: (the inside of this says HELLO SUNSHINE!)

I hope you have a fantabulous weekend! Enjoy yourselves and remember to create something!!

Love--B

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

You know the popular kids book IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE? Whether you do or not, its really a quite simple story. Starts out by saying if you give a pancake, shes probly gonna want some syrup to go with it. And then shell get all sticky, need a bath...of course if you give her a bath, she will need a rubber ducky. And so on and so on. That has been my last couple of days.

Yesterday I took a break from the world. I took a nap. I read my books. I did a little of this and a little of that...but I stayed right here at home doing it.

Today...I got up...dressed to the shoes and was ready for the day. My house is clean and well...I decided to run to the city and take care of business. I had some returns to get back, a prescription to pick up and well...you know the story. Since I am gonna do this...I might as well do this...and since I am already doing that...well then it only makes sense to do this. My short jaunt turned into an all day event as I of course had to stop by JoAnns. After all...its right next to Lowes. Well then since I was just a hop skip and a jump from the Scrapbook store...ya know....I NEEDED to stop by there too. Of course and since its right next to BigLots I just HAD to check in there for the latest and greatest. And then since I was on my way back to the interstate and had to pass by Michaels on the way...well I just HAD to stop in there as well. Now mind you with all of this "stopping" I spent a grand total of $13 dollars. *LOL* I didnt buy in most of the places I went in. I didnt even see much that I had to talk myself out of. Is that a sign that I have too much? YIPES!

OK. So I am here! I am just trying to find my tail. I promise to post soon.

Thanks everyone for the emails and comments wondering where on earth I am. I am here. Just hanging in and hanging out!

(hugs to all)--b

Just a quick note.

No creations to post this morning. As I am knee deep in REAL LIFE stuff right now. Nothing bad. Just several weeks of ignoring it --that is all. Ya know...funny thing, bills dont magically get paid all by themselves? Laundry doesnt magically wash itsself and put itsself in closets. And did YOU KNOW that dust bunnies take steroids when you arent looking? Yes, friends I am trying to play catch up.

I have also started re-reading the Bible cover to cover as you all know. Well--of course several weeks into it I decide that I want to make a little outline of the who what and when and where of everyone I read about. A quick reference --I guess is what you can call it. Now I am sure there are already some on the market and I KNOW that there is a reference in the back of my Bible, but I want to actually write it out. Ya know...my brain is small and doesnt hold a whole lot of info and already I am forgetting the who is who of what. Of course now my notes look more like a treasure map as I have arrows pointing this way and that way etching out the family trees all the way from Adam down to Noah and Abraham and Sarah. But wow...even as I RE-READ it again....I am finding more questions. How many times have YOU read Genesis and Exodus? I am willing to bet at least 3 or 4 times. Afterall...that was the beginning. Even my 6 year old knows the story of creation and then the Ark and then the plagues sent on Pharoh...but I ask you....how many times have you really really read it? How many times have you really tried to make sense of the time line? Really put it into context? So this is what my walk with God has been. I am by NO MEANS a Theologian. I have not had the calling to be a priest or any other servant of God, well not in that aspect anyways. But I have been having soooo much fun reading and re-reading and taking notes and actually learning the Bible. Since I didnt grow up in the church a lot of this is new. I mean, I have prayed and read the Bible. But I have always followed a study guide or listened to a sermon that would direct me to a certain passage. I would look up scripture to backup whatever turmoil I was going through and I would of course read psalms and proverbs to give myself peptalks. But never have I read it to depths that I am now. For a Christian thats had this pounded into them since the day they were born my questions seem little, silly or just plain weird. To me...a person who is trying to make SENSE of it all....well..they seem logical. Like the account of Pharoh's cupbearer and baker. Both had offended him. Both were sent to prison. But why did he hang the baker and not the cupbearer?

So I challenge you today. Where you are in your walk with faith. Walk further. Deeper. What questions do YOU have?

I am also veering away from the plan that I was following to read the Bible in a year. I find myself struggling to keep up with the schedule when in actuality some chapters need a bit more studying than others. Right now...my goal is no longer to read the Bible in a "year" but rather to just READ THE BIBLE! So I will update the side bar over there but dont get confused if notice I am going backwards. *LOL*

I also have a lunch date today with one of my good friends. I am excited for that. The kids are back in school (*snoopy dancing on the coffee table*) and dh is off to work. Its actually sposed to be SUNNY here today....and so its going to be a great great day!!!

So now...GO! Have a blessed day!---B

Ooops. I goofed.

I have changed the date on the previous post to say today. I had forgotten that I uploaded the pics yesterday so it gave it yesterdays date even after I updated it this morning.

Anyways. I am sharing with you my "cozy spot" . Monkey Giggles is having a cute little sharing contest of what does YOUR cozy spot look like?? Heres mine. Nothing too glamorous and it doesnt always look this cozy, as when my husband is home it is also his perch. But this is where I sit usually in the middle of the day, when no one is home and the house is completely quiet. I looove to read then.

This is my other hang out away from my craft table anyways. Its in a corner in our livingroom. I looove this old rocker. We got it at an auction for $25 --and I have loved it since the day I bid on it. Right now its sitting right in front of the big glass door so that I can look out and watch for the bus, I can watch the kids on the trampoline or I can just sit and relax. No one sits there but me...I guess that makes it a true MAMA'S CHAIR.

Anyways. Go check out MONKEY GIGGLES. Its a fun little site and sooooo inspiring!

OK...off again! Have a good afternoon!

A mini icestorm hit!

The news reporters were saying how the storm missed us. No snow. No ice. Nothing. But then at about 6:30 am it went from dry roads to solid ice. They said since 6pm the night before 2 car accidents had been reported up until then. In a matter of 10 minutes over 69 had taken place and more were happening every minute. Schools started out on a 2 hour delay and quickly changed to closed all together. They said as the day progressed it would warm up enough to melt the ice and everything would be back to normal. R did go to work, though it was later on. The kids quickly did their happy dances and enthrolled themselves into their games. I, of course did what EVERY mom does or at least WANTS to do when there is no school....I went back to bed!!! Hmm... I wonder--when it gets cold again tonight after it has rained all day...will we be back in the same predicament tomorrow morning? It was bad enough that they were closing the courts and banks were puting out notices for their employees. Even the ambulances were being involved in wrecks. YIKES!

So....the girls have a friend coming over to play for the afternoon and I am hoping to dive into my crafting. I have kind of taken a break for a couple of days. A good break-- but now I am feeling the mojo boiling again. I am ready to play with paper again!





I got all of today's images from Debbie over at: The Shoe Closet . I had commented on one of her cards, saying that I absolutely LOOOVED her images. I asked if I could get some from her and she sent me a big ole package! I have been coloring my guts out! Having a blast! THANK GOD FOR STAMPIN FRIENDS!!!

Arent these ladies a hoot?? I swear I can hear that gossip they are saying. The inside of it says HAVE A "TEA"RRIFIC DAY!

The inside of this one says: ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.

And finally. The outside of this one says: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY! DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING.

Then when you pull it out you can see the rest of the Birthday Party. This image is sooooooooo versitile. I mean I could have hightlited the man...or the cake or whatever. The sky is the limit! These old foagies crack me up!

As for now...Go friends. Find something creative to do. Much love--b

Dang! Darn!

ITS COLD OUTSIDE!!!! BRRRR....its cold enough that I let the poor baby boy in the house today. He of course doesnt get to come in often so rather than a medium sized dog he acts more like a St. Bernard. He is finally relaxing a bit though and has nestled himself in a ball in front of the heater. Funny thing--do you know what smells worse than WET DOG? HOT DOG! UGH!

I apologize for not posting for the Saturday Scrappy Sketch. Ya know that whole thing about GETTING A LIFE? Well I spent some much needed time this weekend with my family.

Anyways--here is the sketch.



And here is a card that I made for my husband. Just CAUSE. A friend of his is out west trapping and was nice enough to send me porcupine quills!!! Arent they fantastic?? Anyways. I was only expecting a FEW. But he sent me oooooodles. So I am racking my brain looking for uses. Id love to hear from you if you have ANY ideas!


This is the card that I am sending to Marty to thank him for going through the trouble to send em to me!! Dont you love this background? Thats just cuttlebugged and then using a brayer go over the top with darker ink. WAY neato look and sooo easy.

Go...be blessed today!--b

And the winner IS!!!!!

OK girls...THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for stopping by this week to put your name in the hat! I have soooo enjoyed seeing new blogs, meeting new people and of course hearing all of your comments. I also loves my friends. THANK YOU!

WOW! 98 entries! That is sooo fabulous!!! THANK YOU AGAIN!!

*DRUM ROLL* Are you ready?????????

OK.....

*pulling name out of hat*






Did you get that?? Nelda D in Jackson!!! YOU ARE THE WINNER!!! Wooohooooo!




Once again I thank each of you for stopping by.

I apologize for not posting more today--I promise to be back with bells on real soon--

Have a great rest of the weekend!!!!

(HUG)---B

Worthy

Chelsey and I have decided to challenge each other to a weekly sketch challenge. Each week the sketch will be posted on both of our blogs and if you wish to participate link to your card in the comments thread.

This week's sketch credits go to:
Cindy Smith and her card in card creations (primedia publications) #5.

Here is my first card.

And here is my 2nd. Reverse matting. Shadowbox. COOL HUH! But now after looking at Chelsey's I gotta try it again.

OK...now after talking with a friend this morning on the phone. She gave me this tidbit...

Made me really stop and ponder life a bit.

Do not hold anyone accountable for something that is not Biblical. Which of course also means...DO hold accountable that which is.

WOW! What a statement. So how much of that OTHER stuff is soooo not worthy of our worry and time?? WOW!

Dont forget to post here for BLOG CANDY!!!

Go now...enjoy the day!--B

*gasp!* CHOKE! ~sputter~ I CANT BREATHE!!

I think Photobucket is down..and *gasp* it has taken all my bling with it. Please pray for its safe return.

But also look over there on the side bar. I have added my FUR here!

BUNNIES!

OK, to say that we didnt get the storm would be a lie...cause we did. We got a lot of sleet / freezing rain / snow. But it turned warmer over night and so everything turned to rain and melted it all away. The kids are in school. R is at work and all is handy dandy!

Remember the challenge I had yesterday to start using some embellishments...well I only have one thing to show you but arent these ribbon brads THE COOLEST?? This is a Hopper stamp that I am borrowing from Janet. They are SOOO cool! Colored again with Zigs & Copics.

And this card here is one that we made the other day at Marilyns house. She got this cool snowman cube that we just HAD to try. I also got to play with her Cricut. OH MY GOSH--that toy is so much fun!!

Then I leave you with this. I borrowed it from Pams site Stamping with {Serendipity}. It is soooo true. So today I am off to actually do SOMETHING besides sit here and waste away. ROFLOL...ok...itd take a few years of me sitting here with no food for that to ACTUALLY happen, but in any case I do need to get up and get moving.

So go post for BLOG CANDY and then get up and move today. --b

Hey friends...

I know...its still Wednesday...not time to post for Thursday. But we are under a winter storm warning for the rest of tonight and into tomorrow morning. This is a cool thing. I am good on food and dont have to go anywhere tomorrow. The kids may be home...but no big. I am writing now to tell you though that our Satelite doesnt like cold nor does it like snow...so I may not have connection tomorrow. Its already started sleeting here. And the news stations are all saying accumilation (I will believe it when I see it). Anyways. Keep on posting and Happy Thursday!

Oh my gosh...I fergot to give you a close up of the ornament. GEESH!

All of the supplies are from Hobby Lobby. Cept for the little heart shaped bell. I ummm rescued it from one of Hannah's broken necklaces. I dont think Hannah was quite certain how to take me being excited that it had broken. *smile* I cut the paper into strips and then decopauged it on to a paper mache heart. Added the ribbon and whala!

Valentines treats

As promised. I have returned. Not with anything from the challenge--but lots of Valentiney stuff!!! This frame I got at the dollar store yesterday. I havent put a pic in it yet as I want to get a good one of the girls together. This of course is hopper. He was holding the little bunny. I had to kidnap another little bunny from a different housemouse. I think he fit in nicely huh?? It says: HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS. Thats another $1 stamp too. WOOHOO! Gotta love those $1 bins!

I bought these boxes (the Wilton isle) in hopes to duplicate the template. I did that. But my folds werent as neat and tidy so MY box looks a little nutzoid. I decided to altar this one instead. I colored little wooden hearts red, punched holes in them with my Cropadile...then tied those on with beads to the white ribbon. Then I cuddlebugged the little heart tag...added an eyelet and stamped once again with a dollar bin find. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY. I filled it with Sour Cherries.

A simple card using my bucket from BUCKET FULL OF FUN (Su!) and the hearts from LOADS OF LOVE. I colored them with my Copics...then popdotted the punchies on.

Same stamps....different colors.

And finally I leave you with Twink. ITS SO HARD ALWAYS BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE. Or maybe what she is TRULY saying is: LADY, GET THIS THING OFF OF ME...YOU JUST WAIT--I WILL CLAW YOUR EYES OUT IN YOUR SLEEP!

Have a blessed night--B

Its HUMP DAY!

Good Morning CANDY seekers! Were half way thru the week. WOOHOO! Unfortunately I dont have any pics to post just yet this morning (BUT I WILL THIS AFTERNOON--I PROMISE). I did, however want to come on and say hello. Tell ya what I am doing today. First of all...I am working backwards today. Rather than picking my stamp and then searching for the proper embellishment --I am going to pick my embellishment and then look for a stamp to go with it. As I was organizing my stuff last night --- no I am NOT an organized person I just like change and didnt like how I was storing stuff--- I came across sooo many things that 1) I didnt know I even had or 2) I had completely forgot about. I KNOW many of you can relate so I am challenging you today to do the same. Dig through those buttons, brads, charms and eyelets. Pull em out and start from them. Ya know...those fancy shaped eyelets that you havent used yet cause --theyre just so cute and using them would mean they werent in your collection anymore....and *gasp* that would be so awful!!! (Thats as logical as those candles that you wont ever lite that are melting in your attic--because they are just too pretty!) I would love to see your cards or sb layouts that you come up with. You can email em to me, or send me a link to your gallery.


And I have one other thing to share with you. I was recently told to change my diet. My blood work came back in a little less than perfect shape. So I have cut out all refined sugars and all whites, meaning flour, potatoes, corn, enriched wheat flour and all of those fabulously wonderful things that I love and live on. Anyways....No matter how much FRUIT I eat it does not satisfy my cravings for a COOKIE. The taste, the texture...the everything. Then I found these cookies at the dollar store. Figured...what the hey--Id try em.

I bought one of every kind they had there and of course....being so excited I opened every single bag up on the car...preparing myself for my "official" taste test. The first...almond. They were ok. Kinda bland. The second...Chocolate Chip...um---not my favorite. Hard to make non chocolate taste like chocolate to a true chocoholic. OK...so 1 out of 4...not bad. Then I tried Oatmeal. They are actually pretty good too. But then oh my gosh...I tried coconut and am T-Totally addicted to them! They are soooooooooooooo good.

Now let me tell you, no I do NOT work for Joseph's, I do NOT get paid to advertise and to be honest I know very little about the company all together. But what I do know--is if you are struggling without your cookies...this is a good switch. And I love to know when REAL people like something....so I thought Id share with you too.

Now...I also got to tell you...dont go eating a bag of Chips Ahoy and then break open a bag of these thinking they are going to be fabulous. They wont be. But when you havent had a cookie in 6 days (yes--I AM counting) they were a huge success for my taste buds.

OK...so one more time...remember to post for blog candy! GO CREATE! And if you can, check back this evening, I promise to have posted a few pics for you to see!