Swap

Love the colors and the theme, hearts.

Sleep

I really hate it when I wake up in the night and cannot go back to sleep, because I know the next day I am going to be tired, and there are so many things I want to get done in a day, and I am not a person who can function on a few hours sleep. Caitlin came home late Thursday night after finishing her last final. She thinks she did well, earning all A's and B's. I am very proud of her, school is not easy. Unfortunately she was in a car accident yesterday, she rear ended a brand new BMW. At least she goes for the expensive cars. The lady only has had the car six weeks, not really sure of the details, but of course it was Caitlin's fault, it scares you when you get a call from your daughter crying that she has just been in a car accident, as long as she is o.k. that is the main thing. That is why we have insurance. Her car is still drivable, we will take it Monday to see about getting it fixed. Poor thing what a way to start your winter vacation.

Box

Here are couple of views of the box that she came in, How awesome are these drawings?

Dog

This is a custom order that Jill Penney did of our dog. I took her a couple of pictures of her, and she made her into a monster, well actually she already is a monster, but this stuffed version is so well done. I love the toe nails that she sports. I was going to send it to my daughter in college to give her something to remind her of her dog but I decided not as I like it myself way to much. (Sorry Honey)

Shaq

You never can tell who you may run into. My daughter and I were going to Fashion Square today, and look who we passed Shaq O"O'Neil. He certainly is a big man. Caitlin who always has her cell phone in hand snapped a picture. This is a purse I ordered from Etsy, too cute, and some other things I have been working on.

day of the dead purse

day of the dead purse
Originally uploaded by flamingobreeze

Love this little purse, I am trying to put it on etsy, yet the file is to big so I am going to have to figure out how to shrink it to down load it.

Spend the weekend in Flagstaff with my daughter as it was parents weekend, came home Sunday just in time to do grocery shopping and fix dinner. Today the little one and I ripped the carpet up off of the stairs. Tomorrow we will clean them, and maybe paint them. I really would like to cover them in wood like the floor, not sure I know how to do that.

Two Weeks

I was on a short roll writing every Sunday, and then my husband went fishing for four days last weekend, and left me with the two ADHD boys. What a weekend we had, by the end of the weekend I was ready to take their drugs instead of them. But we did make it, and I did get a chance to do some sewing and crafting, without a husband at home you can make a much bigger mess, and not have to worry about cleaning it up. This weekend my daughter came home from college. I love her dearly, and this little guys misses her terribly, but it was time for her to go back. It is just not the same when she comes to visit as it is when she lives here. I think that is why I was so depressed and cried so much when she was leaving for the first time, as I new it would never again be the same. It is now like she is a guest when she comes home, and we don't really get the best of her. She is tired, wants to run around and spend our money, which we did, socks, pants. power bars, sports drinks and UGGS because it is cold where she is at. We can't afford for her to come home to often. I pray for her to have a safe trip home, as it is a dangerous drive.

Sewing

I have been rather busy this week sewing after work, as much as I can, sometimes it is just total therapy for me. Right now my embroidery machine is busily sewing in the background as I type. I am still so amazed by that machine. I still have a lot to learn and get really frustrated with it sometimes but I absolutely love it. I just wish I had more time to play. I have been at Home Depot looking at scroll saws, think I will go to Harbor Freight and see if they are cheaper there. That will be my next purchase. I have a ton of things I would like to be cutting out and my jig saw is just to rough.

One Week Down

We made it through the week barely with only the boys and myself. Day one Cayden was very sick so Doug had to turn around and come home from work, after he drove an hour to get there. Sure could have used my daughter to have kept on eye on him, of course she is now on her own adventure, the next day I was very sick yet went to work, and then the Doctor. Could have used Caitlin again just to help. How dependent I had become on her. Well we made it and she is having her chance to grow. I did manage to do some sewing this weekend, I think that is part of the reason I was sick, no create outlet for a couple of weeks. I made hair ties to take to First Friday and I finished the blocks I had started for Caydens room several months ago. I made a few more Hello Kitty bracelets for Etsy and I will take them with me to First Friday. This will be the first time I will be doing that event without Caitlin as well. She is a help and setting up and taking down and having someone to hang out with during the event.

Turmoil Means Change

If that is what they say that turmoil creates change, not sure who the they is, then this household is about to experince many changes. We just had our first one and in my case a very major one. Caitlin left for NAU on Friday. Doug drove her up on Friday, moved her in and set up all her electronics. The boys and and droe up after we all got home from school. By the time we got there she was goin to the NAU ASU soccer game, so I did not see her until the next day. (Glad that she is socializing) We went to the bookstore picked up her books, brought her breakfast, walked the campus a little, which is a pepsi only campus, going to be a problem for mom who is a coke only person. Just have to bring my own. Then Doug took the boys and came home. I never saw Canyon cry so hard, as mean as he has been to his sister, her admitted that he would miss her, as she has always watched his back. Cayden was not sure exactlly what was going on, he just did not understand that sissy was not coming home. After they left her and I went out to the Mall. I bought her a new pair of Havianna flip flops as the old navy ones she was wearing just are not as nice as these. Then we went to Old Navy where they were having an an awesome sale. All jeans were 12.00. One day only so I bought five pairs as I want to make some skirts out of them. ( will post pictures of those some day) Caitlin picked out some shirts shorts and sports bras. Then we went to Micaels and picked up some cork board for her wall and some tape as her walls in her dorm room are cement. Then it was time for the inevitable, for me to leave her and come home. I cried all the way home, a 2 hour drive. This is a very hard transition for me. Her and I have such an amazing friendship, I know it will only grow, but in the meantime she is not down the hall, and she is not at the table, and she is not bringing her funny humor into this family on a daily basis which is so what we need and what I miss. At the grocery store last night, there were so many things I did not put in the cart, that I usually buy for her, energy bars, power drinks etc. Rather sad.

The pictures above are the house I made in Lisa Kaus's class. What a very nice and giving person she is, and that is the laptop cover and memory stick holder I made for Caitlin to take with her.

California

For a person who does not like to travel (me) I certainly have been doing a lot of it this summer. We left for San Diego Friday, and came back today. I barely had the time to get my bags unpacked and washed and repacked as well as everyone else. We spent one day at Lego land, quite a place not really for adults but my two Lego fiend boys had a great time, the little one only wanted to ride while Canyon only wanted to build Lego's. Which was fine, as they had plenty of stops to do that. Caitlin on the other hand was a real champ as she went on a lot of the rides with the little guy. As the day there was not real exciting for her, however she did manage to get shopping in as we went to the outlet malls. We spent one day on the beach, and we all got sunburned. You would think living in Phoenix we would be more careful, but when it is overcast and you don't feel the intense heat you don;t think of getting sunburned. Pictures to come plus pictures of the projects I did in Lisa classes, very happy with the way they turned out.

Oregon

I am leaving on Thursday to go to Salem and stay with my parents for four days. I will be taking two classes from Lisa Kaus .http://LisaKaus.com. This is going to be so much fun, I am excited. I am going to have a hard time leaving the Cayden, as he is pretty attached to me right now, as we have been home together for the past 6 weeks, while school has been out. Canyon's birthday falls on the Sunday that I return, his big 13. So we will celebrate it on that Monday. I believe he is going indoor rock climbing with his dad and a friend. For those of you who have never done that, that is such a fun thing to do. It is great exercise, and you feel good when you are done. I finished my picture that I painted with DJ Pettit http://DLPettit.com when she was here at the Paper Studio. Will post later, I am looking forward to taking another class with her at Artunraveled, in August.

I am starting to get very frustrated with this blog as I am trying to make the pictures and font smaller no matter what buttons I click on nothing seems to be happening. Guess I need to walk away and get my daughter to help me, when she wakes up.

Most Popular Cakes » Pink Cake Box Wedding Cakes & more

Most Popular Cakes » Pink Cake Box Wedding Cakes & more

Summer

We are already almost done with week four of summer vacation. Where does the time go, it flies. I kids are really doing good about keeping themselves busy. Cayden is just happy to be home with everyone. He hates it when someone leaves, all he is worried about is when will they be coming home. Canyon has moments when he becomes grouchy as he has nothing to do, but for the most part he has kept busy. He is loving his Gaming Camp that he is attending. I am hoping I can get him to take golf lessons, as I think he would really enjoy it. Caitlin is having a hard time finding a job, yet she is a great help here, so I know she needs a job but it is still nice having her around, as her days are numbered. We go to Flagstaff on Monday and Tuesday for orientation, and then she goes to School on the 22 of August. To soon. I can always keep busy, I have to many ideas swimming in my head to get it all done.

New Bracelet

Mini Mouse bracelet has been added to Etsy.

Shoes

These shoes have definitely been a labor of love. Saw them in a store here and they were 800.00 I decided I could do them myself, which I did, but I certainly see why they were so much money. By the end I was ready to pay that much myself. They really did turn out nice.

Header

Time for a little color and a new header, that one seems to take up most of the page. I have a few months of for summer break so that will definately be one of the things I will be working on.

Caitlins graduation is only two days away. They are so right when they say time flies. I can remember when she was born, and I was not ready to be a parent. It takes so much to do the job, and you are always wondering if you are doing it right.

More Bracelets

Ideas

Spring Break has come and gone first for me and then for the kids. Canyon had his tonsils and adenoids removed during this time. Major drama for a 12 year old. He seems to be sleeping better and not nearly as much snorting around as he used to. So maybe with better sleep at night he might just be a little happier kid.

So many ideas floating around in my head of things I would like to make, just no time right now. I guess that is why it is important to write these things down. Caitlin brought the book Tuesdays with Maury home as an English reading assignment, I finished that book in a day as it was rather easy reading and very interesting. It kind of makes you rethink how you think things and what you put value on. We are working on getting the rest of Caitlin's paperwork square so she can attend Northern Arizona University this fall. That seems to be her choice, so she can use their exchange program her junior year to go to Oregon State which is where she really want to go, but her first year away from home, I think she should stay somewhat close to see how she likes it. It will be a major change that is really needs.

Bracelets

These are some new bracelets made from some of the kids toys that are available on etsy. Just click on the link on the side. They are 25.00 each. Very fun.

Give Away

Check out her blog for a chance to win an awesome free book, and read how to make beer margaritas. They sound delicious. http://viechaotique.blogspot.com/

Lap top

Starting to look for a Laptop to purchase. I would really like to have one to put my sewing program on yet at the same time Caitlin is graduating in a couple of months and she really needs one for college more than I do. I am sure she would like to have one like this.

CHA for the first time

What an experience. This was my first and probably only time attending CHA in Anaheim. I felt rather guilty leaving my family at home while I went to the city that has Disneyland. It would have been great if we all could have gone and gone to Disneyland, but just toooooo expensive. There is just so much stuff to see and so many vendors I can see why you have to go several days if you are placing orders. I just went to experience it and play. There were plenty of things to do, all kinds of make and takes. I made a book with Traci Bautista who has papers and collage glues coming out this year. I painted a bag with the Crafty Chica's new line of glues and glitters. Go Hometown Girl. I don't know how she has time to write for our local paper here. F and W publishing was there giving away tons of books and different authors there every half hour to sign. It was a tiring experience as I crammed it all in one day and flew home the same day.

These are the paperdolls I made for the swap Tammie Moore is hosting.

http://www.myartsoulwings.typepad.com/

Working

It seems all there is to do is chores, you really do have to just say the hell with it and do somethings that you want or there really is no time. With a three day weekend, it seemed I was able to get a lot done and still have time to sew, so I think we should just make a four day work week. I am going to CHA winter for the first time. I am only going for the day to Anaheim, to see what most people see in four days. But if I take anytime off from work I loose money and I cannot afford to do that. I think one day will be plenty to see what the new products are that are coming out. And besides that I think after a day of looking at all that stuff, you kind of get burned out. It will be fun to see just what all is out there, and what it can do. I really wish I could afford for all of us to go and spend time at Disneyland, and make a full trip out of it. Who knows maybe this summer we can do that.

Another Day

The kids vacation is fast coming to a close, which means I too will be returning to work. It is always nice to be home. I love staying home with the children. We all kind of fall into our own groove and the days seems to fly by. We have managed to make it to the dentist and doctor. Well not my daughter she had to go to urgent care and wait 5 hours for them to see her and tell her what her father and I did, that her wrist was sprang ed and to take aspirin every few hours, but hey we are just parents what do we know, when we could spend fifty dollars to get the same advice from a doctor.
The bathroom is about to be done finally, all Doug has left to do is nail in the baseboards, and I am off today today to find some shelves to put in there.
The computer is up and running again after being at Best Buy with the Geek squad for days trying to deal with all the viruses. So I guess instead of us being sick this vacation ii was the computer that was sick.