Use Your Stash Challenge #3

This is for Scrapperie's Use Your Stash Challenge #3
RIBBON!
I had some lush soft green ribbon, both in in satin and grosgrain.
The new Basic Grey Origins papers and embelishments went perfectly with
my old pictures of my 1st birthday eons ago!

Use Your Stash Challenge: Use 15 items

Wow... this was HARD!!!
I have several things on there, but not quite 15. But goodness... it's a loaded little card box!
I used a box that I kept from a perfume that my husband had brought back from when he deployed.
Then I used some old Chatterbox Walls (seriously, I think I must have OD'd on that paper)
Ribbon
Ric rack
chipboard letters
diecut shape
fiber
flower
bling
glitter
stickles
glossy accents
ModPodge (glossy)
and some old Basic Grey magnets to keep the hinge tab together.

Leftovers: Weekly Gratitude #3

"Weekly Gratitude" is an ongoing project to express things which we are grateful for. Click the blinkie/badge on the right for more information and to go to the home page for the project. My Weekly Gratitudes are numbered since I don't do them weekly, but I do try to do them when I think of them, be it weekly, daily, or occasionally.

I should be VERY grateful for leftovers. Which, in reality, I am.

But the fact is: no one in my family will EAT leftovers. I will even go so far to make a grab-n-go meal for DH of a particular "hit" meal for him to take to work the next day. Does he ever eat it? Nope. Even though he said he would. *sigh* So I either eat it myself or end up having to toss it.

So why am I thankful for LEFTOVERS?

Because. While we Americans may complain about the financial state of our economy, it really isn't THAT BAD. We have a roof over our head, be it renting an apartment or buying a smaller house than we would like, but one we can afford. We have hot and cold water. We have a car that runs, although it's not brand new, it RUNS. We have plenty of food in the fridge and in the pantry.

So, if I make leftovers... it's still a blessing. That I made enough for my family to be full and there still to be enough left over for another meal, if we wanted. Because I know that somewhere else, in another country... things aren't as plentiful as they are here. Even though I might not have exactly what I want, the big spendy stuff or even the small things... I still have plenty. To others in other countries... even our poorest of our poor in America: are still considered VERY wealthy in other parts of the world.

So, leftovers are pretty darned awesome. Even if my family doesn't eat them all the time, the fact that I have leftovers reminds me that I am indeed... very, very blessed in my life.

Weekly Gratitude #2

I need to catch up! :-)



Work... I'm so thankful that I don't have to have the J-O-B. But this new life gives me a whole new set of challenges.



I'm thankful for my husband's job. He is in the Air Force and flies in the B-1B. I don't think I could be more proud to be married to someone like him. Like most military, he does deploy from time to time. Sure, it's hard when he goes. But I have learned to take that situation and turn it into a positive.



I try not to focus on the fact that he's just not HERE. I don't dwell on it. Why? Because he's fighting for freedom. Fighting the BAD guys before they can come over here and hurt us. He's doing a great job and what he does.... just ROCKS MY WORLD. I love that he is able to fly in one of the most beautiful jets ever created.

My husband not only has a great job, but the people that he works with are incredible. Many of them I honestly adore (some... well, like any job... I don't care for, lol). But there are so many that I think the world of. Their families are almost... almost extensions of my own. Because we are all in the same "family" of military communities, we take care of each other. My best friend here, Amie, is part of the B-1 community (her husband works on the B-1). Her sons are my sons' best friends.

I can list so many people that make my life incredible, just by the simple fact that the B-1 brought them into my life.
Amie, Rebecca, Dawn, Tonya, Susan, Jen, Camille, Casey, Lori, Kristi, Andi, Patty, Monica, Marlina, Val, Resa, Cindi... oh gosh, I'm overwhelmed. I can go on and on and that paltry list is only a handful of the amazing people that I have come to know. seriously, I might have to make a blog post for each person just to do them justice! :-)

So, work: with the B-1. My husband's job/work... has given me greater blessings than I could have ever dreamed possible.

Scrapperie Use Your Stash Challenge

Here's what I did for this week's challenge : BLING!
I had a ton!
Tried inking up the orange HS bling ring frames, but in retrospect, alcohol inks would have worked better and not bled off.
Made a folded paper fan as a background 3-D embellishment.
The paper? OLD Chatterbox Walls that I lovvveeee.
Wove some ribbon through the lace and gathered it, topping with a pink row of bling.
Edged the paper fan with part of the bling ring.

The picture: back from 2006 Spring. When S was a itty bitty baby. Still had some baby weight on, but I love the shot.

4 Year BLOGOVERSARY!

WOW.

I will get together a giveaway/blog candy for this AMAZING event.

Four years, blogging. (I had another that I'd had for about 2 years before that...)

Still.... FOUR YEARS.

Stay tuned. Goodies to come tomorrow or this weekend.

You really don't wanna look.

My "scrap area"... I just got a table FINALLY.
So, now I'm in the middle of a massive, massive purge of supplies.

It's ugly in there...

but, this is BEFORE. I'll take pictures after.

I've already started cleaning, tossing, sorting... etc.
*shudder*
And, I can see the floor again, so don't worry...

I made the Scrapperie DT!!!

On a whim, I submitted to the new, revamped, GINORMOUS, Design Team over at Scrapperie. I haven't done one in a while, but I've stalked Scrapperie for a while. I LOVE Sandi's kits and her style. Last month was her last month as a kit club, but she revamped everything into a huge, all-encompassing CHALLENGE FORUM. She set up teams for every type of technique, style, challenge idea possible.... and the one I'm now on (is soooo perfect for me):

USE YOUR STASH TEAM

Sandi's not putting out kits, but there is so much that she's going to be able to do now and I'm SO excited. There are some really amazing ladies on this set of teams... I'm seriously humbled.

So, if you can, check out SCRAPPERIE (http://scrapperie.com/). I hope it will be your new "go-to" place to get great ideas and challenge inspiration.

Weekly Gratitude #1

Work.

That is the "theme" topic that the WG ladies have selected for this month. Here are my thoughts... on just one of the many "work" related things I do.

I'll start with the obvious: I'm a Stay At Home Mom. This primary "job" allows me to do so much more than I ever dreamed possible. For many years, from the DAY I turned 16, I worked. My first job was at Godfather's Pizza. I also held jobs as a bank teller (my least favorite and most hated job), Target (one of my favorites), to teaching band, playing professional trumpet gigs all around NW Florida, and my MOST favorite: working in Public Radio (WUWF 881.FM in Pensacola).

How did I go from all that to being a SAHM? Well, honestly: it was a slow transition. And a very HARD one. I'm still transitioning, 8 1/2 years after I left the modern-day workforce (aka: getting a paycheck).

Before I married my husband, I was still the typical working girl. I had one little boy, because of whom I had the fierce drive to try and provide for (his father/my 1st husband wasn't exactly going out of his way to provide monetarily or insurance, so it was up to me). I was working as many spare jobs as I could, all the while going to school full-time to get my degree. I was VERY focused. Not to mention, I had *great* parents who helped watch my baby boy while I was going in 3000 directions to help make ends meet.

Then I meet my husband, Steve. For the first time in my life, I knew he was the kind of guy I could count on to help raise a good son and be a good father and husband. I still loved working, but I knew that if I wanted to... I could choose to stay home. Which, eventually I did.

I taught band up until the week before I had my 2nd son. That was in 2001. Not going back was the HARDEST decision I'd made, professionally. I knew I'd miss it. I still do. BUT...

The first year after I left the workforce was my most difficult. I'm a social butterfly and a precocious chatterbox by nature. I love being around people. Just connecting and interacting... socializing. I love all that. Even though I'd prepared financially and had everything ready for the baby, I was NOT ready for the lack of interaction. I was lost.

Slowly, I found other ways to connect and be social. The OSC and squadron spouses groups/coffees really helped. I was active in church with other areas (AWANAS, Bible Study, children's choir...). Eventually I found ways to fill that social void. I still struggle with my constant need to be around other people, but now I'm more self sufficient. The worst thing I do is after not going somewhere for a few days... I literally POUNCE on the first friend I meet. So sad, lol.

But why am I grateful for this HUGE change in lifestyle?

Easy: my boys.
I get to redecorate my house (I've painted the walls a few times... and the cabinets).
I get to volunteer with WRNT helping stray weimeraners or those who have been surrendered or are in a bad situation.
I get to meet my husband for lunch whenever I want.
I can make doctor's appointments and not have to worry about missing work.
I can sleep in. :-)

Granted, this life as a stay at home mom is more work than working your typical job or any of my prior jobs. I'm busier than ever in my life.

But the fact I am home with my boys and I get to watch them grow up....

I'm grateful for that. Having a job that allows me to be a MOM every day, every moment is worth every penny I'm not making in the workforce. ;-)