Happy Half Birthday to Me!!

It's really going to feel like a new year with the changes going on in my life too.

Monday I start full time at work! I'm excited, but also know it's going to be a big change. Because of this change I'm putting my Etsy shop on vacation for a while. I'm hoping after school starts to open it back up. I know that it's going to be an adjustment and then once school starts again, that will require adjusting again. My plan is to get started again the middle of September in time for the holidays. My shop will at that time have mostly holiday cards and tags and things like that, I don't know that I will be doing custom orders at that time.

I will be updating my 35 before 36 on Monday. Because of the change in my schedule there are changes in my goals and I'm okay with it. Hard to believe we are half way through 2012!

In other news, MIZZOU is officially a member of the SEC! Excited to see what the new conference will bring. I imagine the weekend Alabama is in town for the football game this city is going to be INSANE!

Hope everyone is staying cool. Our temps have been CRAZY HOT! A few more days of 100+ temps and then we get a relief at 93 degrees. But then we are back up in the 100+.

401...

This is my 401st post. I meant to do a post for 400, but missed it. This one also comes with some news...I have decided to close my Etsy shop for a while. I go full time at work the first of July and just need some time to adjust to new hours. I am also really looking forward to creating for myself again. I can't remember the last time I created just for me.

I hope to keep blogging, hopefully since I won't be putting pressure on myself to keep my Etsy shop fresh and new I will feel more like blogging. I will be posting things I make and more about family. I have been struggling with this decision for a while and based on some things that have happened recently I decided I needed the break and now I feel much more at peace.

She turned 7 on Saturday and FINALLY got her McKenna doll! She was so excited she jumped for joy!

Around here....

I'm on the hunt for a new purse. I want something bigger than what I have, something that will hold lots of crap, and have a pocket for my phone so I can find it all the time.

I'm also on the hunt for a new planner. I'm so picky about my planner. I want paper, I want something with the entire month on a spread and also spots to write daily stuff. I want space to add things like stamps and random notes. I want it to lay flat when open, like a spiral! I know I'm picky.

I'm missing my kiddos, but enjoying the quiet time.

I had a breakdown today. Ugly crying, unable to breath, etc. I feel much better now. It wasn't pretty, but it was needed.

I really want a maxi skirt. A plain black one!

I'm watching Hot in Cleveland. Love Betty White. Love this show! Love Netflix for having old shows.

I'm waiting on the 2nd book in the 50 Shades series to come in at the library. I'll be honest, I'm thinking I might download it on my Kindle App soon.

I'm enjoying a Cadbury Egg that I found hidden! LOVE!!

Wordless Wednesday

Ideas needed

I have a friend from high school who in November discovered she had breast cancer. She started chemo shortly after discovering and went through HELL and back during treatment. We all prayed daily that the chemo was doing it's job and she would get the cancer free diagnosis she wanted when it came time for her scans. She was sick most of the time and achy and sore. She has 2 gorgeous daughters and is an AMAZING teacher. She was even voted Teacher of the Year in her district for the year, despite all she went through. The end of May she was done with chemo and had her scans done and went for her scans result appointment. Her prayer warriors were praying hard all day. She did not get the results she wanted and in fact they were worse. Not just "you need some more chemo to get all of it" but instead "the cancer has spread."

She went through the normal phases depressed, pissed off, and is now ready to FIGHT!! She is now looking into going to MD Anderson in Houston, TX. As we all know teachers' incomes are no where near what they should be(my mom is a teacher and is in the room next to this friend) so people are coming together to help her. The fundraising has begun and there is a car wash/bake sale/craft sale scheduled for later this month. Here's where I need ideas. My mom and I want to set up a booth of something to sell. We need something easy to mass produce that people will buy. It needs to be low cost to make too. I'm thinking some simple Christmas cards and/or tags. Others will have jewelry so that is covered, besides we are not jewelry makers. What do you think about Christmas cards/tags? I know December is still a ways away, but lets face it, it will be here before we know it and it's something that would get used. I may do some "generic" cards as well. They need to be easy to do, simple and something that people would buy. Any other ideas?

35 before 36 update!

I Statements...

I was writing this post a month ago. Forgot I had it saved.

I am learning to balance work and family and play and creative time.


I think music, pictures, and words all together can be some of the most amazing ways to say what you feel.


I wonder what's on the horizon?


I wish growing up was easier on kids today. I think back to my childhood and what I thought was so hard was nothing compared to what kids deal with now. I miss the playing outside until dark and not being worried.


I save lots of scraps of paper lately. Fun to add to Project Life and mini books.


I always am a sucker when my kids want a book. Thankfully they are big library checker outers(totally made up that word).


I can't imagine not having books to read in the house. We may not buy many, but we do visit the library weekly.


I believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy! :)


I promise to try hard everyday to be patient and try my best!


I love pictures! Mark asks often why I don't do more with videos instead of taking pictures. I love video, don't get me wrong, but for me when I look at pictures and remember it comes from my heart, while watching a video, my head remembers, but I don't feel that pull in my heart.


I scrap nothing lately, but hoping since I figured out a way to do Project Life that will fit me better I can scrap more.

I got the idea for this from Becky Higgins blog post found here.