Junk Binder

This is what I have been up to and finished up this weekend.  Well except for the little things I see when I look through it.  You know the little things, a bit more ink here, an emblishment there.  One of my favorite things to do is to look through the finished project.  Such gratification!

This one is for Baby Edward (Mia's name for him and I see him at 18 still being called Baby Edward by him).  He is the son of Chris and Sherry. Chris and Allan are old friends and like a son to me.  I wanted to do something special and different so here you go.  I got the pictures off Facebook so I left quite a few pages empty for Mom and Dad to put their favs in and of course the journaling.

First up is the cover.  I was bit stumped at first because I honestly wanted a title relating to the subject, which is his first birthday or at least related to the baby.  So I decided to play...I took silver plummer's tape and ran it up the spine and then used gesso over that.  Then I went about the norm with paper and such and then my plan was to Mod Podge and seal it with gloss medium gel.  I ended up really liking the Mod Podge so I saved a step.  Down at the bottom are his initials which I loved as the idea of his being the author so to speak.  I had the trinkets and it just came together really well.  You can really see the title in the picture but says "IN A FLASH".  His invites were made by Mom and the theme is a year in a flash.

 I ended up with quite a few pages.  More than the original but they fit nicely.

 This is the very back of the book.  I love this poem by Shel Silverstein so I included it at the last minute.  I have used it before in Mia's book.

 Just a sample page.  I really loved the vintage look to the book and went that route because that is what they like and his room is vintagey (is that a word?)

 Another page.  I left room for another picture or journal throughtout the book.  There is actually a transparency on top on the right side.  Just something fun.

 I love how this came out so much I actually did two of them with different pictures.  The picture is actually printed on a transparency and when you flip it you still see the picture but with a different background.  I really love how it looks.

Won't let me add anymore pictures so I may try to post some more later.  It was really fun to do and I may try to knock out a couple more for a surprise for something coming up. 
I am now working on Shutterfly doing a recipe book.  UGH having a time figuring it all out but I have done 3 pages (1 is the cover) and I am loving it.  It is going to make a fabulous gift and I can't wait.  Now the learning curve...not loving it so much but hopefully when I am done with the first, the second should be snap.
It is going to be a very busy week. I am getting ready to get slammed at work (knew it was coming so no big surprise) and Saturday a friend is coming to town that I get to see for lunch, matter of fact several from the cruise.  It is almost like a mini cruise reunion.  Fun times.  Sunday I am planning a home cooking and Shutterfly day.  So there you have it and I am off.

PS I love that my TreyBaby knows just when to be extra calm and take care of my baby.  You did good yesterday TreyBaby and while I am disappointed too, you guys will find the right one at the right time.  I just know it!!!  Love you.

Acupuncture

Who would have thought?  Certainly not little old me.  I hardly felt a thing.  It felt like when you flick your finger on yourself.  There really was no pain at all.  I don't know how many she used (might have to count next time) but she did my neck, lower back, and upper leg on the right side.  Took 30 minutes and the charge was 60.00.  She recommended I have it 2 a week for 3 weeks.  I actually feel a bit better.  Does it still hurt?  I would have to say yes but I see improvement.  Might be small but I will take what I get.  I think I may go again tomorrow at lunch or Saturday.  Just goint to see how it goes.  At least I feel like I doing something instead of sitting around and getting worse.  Might even see about a Chiropractor next.  Who knows what I will do next.  Before she started she did a consultation where she took my pulse and told me all about my body.  Things like I go to the bathroom all the time, I need to drink more water (something I had been thinking about the last week), I was very stressed out, I have a weak kidney (the meds I take effect kidney, liver etc), I have a good heart (glad to hear that), I haven't been sleeping well (which was true).  Interesting, very interesting.  I slept last night like I haven't slept in months.  If I got up to go to the bathroom (something I have been doing forever at least 2 during the night) I don't remember it and I can't tell you how long that has been.  I found that amazing in itself.  It was a very positive experience for me.
I didn't get much accomplished last night but I am hopeful for tonight.  I want to get Baby B's calendar finished up so I can put them in the mail.  I did finish Baby A's so I just have a couple months left to do.  Hopefully it will be ready to go very soon.
Now back to work I go.

Mid-Month

I have thought often of coming on here and blogging but then I have nothing good to say so I change my mind.  Things are not really much better.  I could deal with the symptoms of this disease (the gas, the going 3-4 times a day and knowing when you gotta go, you better be near the john) but it is the pain and fatigue that I am just at a loss with.  I am getting ready to take some off the wall steps.  The next on my list is Acupuncture.  Yes needles and me and as a friend recently said to me "It is just a little prick".  Of course my response was little pricks are the story of my life.  LOL  At least I have not lost my sense of humor.  Enough said.
This past weekend was full.  Saturday was in fact a very full day.  Started off at the beauty shop, then lunch with a couple of gals from Big D (which was a lot of fun) and then a hot date with Little Miss.  We went to see Beauty and The Beast in 3D and it was fabulous as was she.  Spending time with her is really time well spent.  We got a late start so when Mom and Dad picked her up at 10:30 she was not ready at all to leave.  I find it so funny how her mood changes at a drop of a hat, especially when the hat is not what she wants.  To funny.
I had finished her album up.  I actually took it back after her birthday party so I could actually add some birthday picture layouts.  Glad I thought about it.  Now on to 2012.  I do one every year for her and I have to say one of my very favorite things is to watch her as she looks through the whole album.  Most kids would be ready to move on to the next gift but Mia wants to look at each and evey page when she gets it.  I love that. I am pretty cool with the fact she likes to scrap a page when she comes to my house too!  Memories in the making.  I hope she will always remember our times together and how special they are.
Sunday found me laying low.  I have to admit I was just pooped after a full day on Saturday.  I got an early start on Sunday and did some grocery shopping and a little cooking.  I tried to pace myself but am still trying to get back to square one.  This is the part I have a really hard time dealing with and am getting ready for a discussion with the dr.  I am considering changing doctors as well but I am getting sidetracked....  Back to scrapping I went.  I am finishing up the girls' calendars for their birthday.  Their 18th birthday I might add.  I really don't know how that happen but wow here they are.  Such beautiful young ladies.  Makes me sad and happy all at the same time.  Sad cause time just seemed to fly by but really happy to be an active part of their lives from the beginning.  Love those girls!
I am off to work now.

January 2, 2012

I have started back on the plan that seems to work for me.  WW has always worked in the past and while I am making some changes some things are just the same.  Cooking, less portion size and weighing on my usual days.  Monday is one of those days.  Yikes 7 pounds last month.  I am almost up to the heaviest I have ever been and it is not good.  But it is what it is so now the time has come to work on it.  I also have noticed I am not drinking water like I should and for me that is very bad since I am supposed to be drinking even more than normal cause of some medication I am taking. I need to work on that.
I am planning on putting in the Zumba CD I ordered a while back and see how far I can get.  My legs actually feel a bit better so I am going to give it a try and see what happens.  I got a few more pictures printed last night so I hope to get those in the calendar.  I guess I am about halfway done so I am feeling good with that.  Here is hoping to do some of that tonight as well.
Got a bunch of odds and ends for the year end and beginning new done here this morning.  The whole world is off so the drive and traffic was almost none.  I like that we were off on Friday instead of today.  The only thing better would have been to have two days off.  Tried to convince him of that but no luck.  Sort of like Martin King day.....ain't happening. 
So back to work I go.

FAITH

My word for 2012.  I really gave it a lot of thought and while "accept" kept coming up for whatI needed, it just was not "it".  Then I saw the word FAITH and realized that sums it all up and feels good and right.  I have faith in myself that I will accept what I have to.  I have FAITH that 2012 will be a good year.  I have FAITH in G-D and something else I want to expore and accept.  I have FAITH I can endure all that life gives me and I have FAITH things are just going to work out.  That sums up what I was thinking last night and so my word is FAITH and I have to say that, it did in fact, choose me this year.

I accomplished a good amount yesterday.  I did those small persky things one does when starting fresh.  I bathed my make-up brushes, changed the head on my toothbrush, ate all the junk food I could think of (ok not all but enough), worked on calendars and happy with where I am on them.  Matter of fact, I have decided I am not going out, not getting dressed and spending the first day of the year gettting ready for the coming year.  There is a blog I heard about I want to check out for a project, there are calendars I want to work on and in between that fun stuff, I have cooking and chopping to do.  I just watched a great movie and am hoping to find others.  My day is turning into a great one to kick of the new year.  I even have taken a couple of picutres around here to start the process.

So the first day is coming to a close and so far we getting to know each other but looks like 2012 and I are starting off on the right foot.  I reallly accomplished things I was hoping to and made a good dent on teh To Do List.  REally happy about that.  Going to lay low this week and next weekend, Ihave plans and so it begings.  I have faith that I will find a good balance between it all.