I'm back!

Tiny respite, back to write some more.
The pool is finally open with the key card box working properly.  Prior to today it would either be padlocked shut, or the card reader wasn't functioning properly, which required someone to let you in.  Now I can finally go swimming at 6am in peace.
A few days ago, we saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  Pretty good, better than Temple of Doom, not quite as good as the others.  Was disappointed at the ending.  Today we saw the second installment of Narnia.  Again, pretty good, not as good as the first.  I was not as emotionally involved in Price Caspian as I was in Lion, Witch & Wardrobe.  Meh.  Didn't pull at the heartstrings as much.  Maybe that's just the way the book is, I don't know, I've never read them.
Last week's Weekend Creative is finished, waiting to be mailed (mom and dad, don't follow that link quite yet), and the current Weekend Creative is a fantastic idea...just not one I'm going to be able to execute very soon.  I'd like to accumulate more photos of the family we will have in the future.  In order to accumulate said photos, one must have said family in the first place.  :)
I'm almost done with the finishing touches to stage our house for a sale this summer, God willing.  The sale, I mean, not finishing the staging.
I've also been working on a small, ring-bound notebook of sorts to house all my scrapbook sketches that I refer to when I need a bit of inspiration.  I'm almost finished with that project too, and will share photos upon completion.  So far, I'm guessing I'll need three 2" binder rings to hold them all.
The other day as I walked out to my car upon completion of grocery shopping, a grandmotherly type lady walked up to me, and we had a brief conversation:
Her:  Well, aren't you a smart somebody. (half comment, half question.)
Me: Oh?
Her:  For bringing your own bags to use.
Me: Oh, yes, I suppose so. (Duh. Didn't know what to say.)
Her:  Did you make them?
Me:  (Recovering from the shock of someone acknowledging my reusable, super cute, cloth bags,) No, I purchased them online from this company, b. happybags.  It's still handmade, but you could make it really easily though, it's just a box pattern with strong handle straps.  I love it, they sit nicely in your car and don't tip over, I can fill up my (Texas sized HEB) cart and it'll fit in these six bags.  They can get a little heavy though (as I struggle to get the bag filled with OJ, milk, apple juice, buttermilk, pomegranate juice and a full quart of yogurt into the trunk.)  But I love them!
Her:  Well I don't really sew.  Online you say?
Me:  Yep, there are others that make these market bags too.  I just really liked b.happybags' products.  And I always feel good about myself walking out of the store without the extra waste of plastic.
Her:  Huh, well you're a smart someone.  Have a nice day!  (As she walks off.)
Me:  Thanks, you too!  (As I get into my car smiling.)

I love my bags!  (Ignore the double chin and lack of makeup.)  The styles I purchased are Victoria and Lucy (three each) and one John (for Pete, so he could have a "manly" bag, not a frilly frou frou fussy pretty bag to shop with - not pictured.)

Have you ever been kicked out of a store?

I almost was.

I was at a wholesale grocery/we-sell-everything store, making notes of products and prices. Which, by the way, I've been doing for 3 days now, in bits and pieces. I made sure to stay out of the way of people who were shopping and employees who were stocking. More people than I expected asked me what I was doing these last few days, with some questions being, "Oh, doing inventory, huh?" "Do you work here?" (both customers) "Do you need any help? (No thank you, just checking prices and nutrition facts *smile*) "Oh ok, thought you were from [Other Wholesale Store Name]" "Do you need help finding something?" "Are you doing a project?" And then the one that just about got me ejected - "You are not allowed to do pricing here...you need to stop or leave."

I told this employee that I was almost done and would go when I was finished - she left me alone after that but was the one checking receipts at the door. Sigh. It makes me a little upset that they "don't allow pricing" - because I want to be a well-informed consumer. This "rule" (if it is indeed a policy) just reaffirms to me that warehouse wholesale prices may not indeed be the lowest around. When the quantities are so much larger, it's a little tougher to compare accurately. They do place the unit price on the signs, but this doesn't mean much if you don't pay attention to that in the grocery stores. (Especially when the grocery store unit price tag is printed about 2 mm high. To make sure that I purchase the best deal, I want to price foods I usually buy. Ugh. I guess it was my fault for going on a weekend when there are more employees around.

I just hope that this doesn't happen at the other two places I need to price too.

Today...

we meet with the Realtor.  Finally getting this on the right path.

Beautiful Pink

In an effort to cheer myself up, I am sharing some favorite pink photos from various flickr members:

If you check out my flickr page, my favorites should have links to all of these wonderful photos!

Yeeaaaaaah.

Mmmm yeeaaaah... missed the boat on that one.

Grand total of photos taken yesterday: 6.

Total pounds lost: 1.

Completed things from last weekend's "to do" list: 2 (but all of them started).

Creative projects in the "to work on" pile: 8.

Completed things off of today's "to do" list: 4 (an improvement)

What is it about following through that I have such a hard time with? I don't remember having this problem in college.. I did very well, completed most things ahead of schedule. Is it that I don't have any teachers setting deadlines for me? Why can't I stick to a deadline I've made for myself?

It is in this question that I find the hinting of failure as an adult. When there are no longer parents or teachers setting guidelines, time lines and deadlines, it is up to oneself to set these things. Self regulation. This is a large component of maturity and discipline. Both of which I've always thought I had lots of... and was even ahead of the game when I was younger. But now, I'm not really exuding those values. Is it a question of motivation? Initiative? Commitment? I don't know. I think follow-through involves all of those things.

Am I the only one who has a hard time with this? Did I just get distracted by something shiny and sparkly along the way, while everyone else I was ahead of passed me by, now full swing into adulthood and succeeding by leaps and bounds? Is this an ongoing character flaw/struggle? Or.. is this problem solved once kids come along? Do you magically get better at doing things because the tiny bundle of cuteness has a bazillion needs and you're the only one that can fulfill them, so you just HAVE to do whatever it is you had planned on doing? There is no question of do I really feel like it, you just do it? If that's the case, I guess I'll just have to keep on muddling through until whenever we start having the babies.

Advice? Criticism? Suggestions? Opinions? Similar story to share? Anyone? Bueller?

P.S. I don't mean to complain and whine... just trying to understand and work things out.

P.P.S. Happy Memorial Day!

Scrap Your Day/Well Now We Know/Weekend Creative/Splash

Today is the 25th of the month, and I promptly forgot it was Scrap Your Day. So I had to change my clock to say what time I got up... kind of cheating.. but I forgot. :( I'll post the day's pictures tonight.

I've been slowly getting back into the swing of things now that we are back home. Welcome back, it's 97 degrees. We stupidly drove straight through, 19 hours... straight. In one day. Well.. we got back home at 3:45am. I was so overtired I was getting carsick. It was a really weird feeling. I'll never do that again. My life's motto applies to this situation: Well, now we know. The house was fine, despite my daily worry while gone. It even smelled clean and new. Not always the case when you come back to a closed up house after 12 days. Poor Pete has to work 4 days in a row; Welcome back, here's a ton of work, jump right in!

I have been working on this Friday's Weekend Creative, but am unable to share any detailed information or photos as it is a gift. I don't want to spoil the surprise until the recipients receive it. So, once they get it, I'll post photos.

Amazingly, the community pool FINALLY opened (either yesterday or today); I walked over to check it out and happily, there were people swimming! Later I swung by again and it was quickly becoming packed. This just reassures me that I'll have to go swimming in the morning when the place opens at 6 if I want to avoid swimming over a small child or getting jumped on by a fat kid or beaned in the head with a ball. Ah well, it's what I expected would have to happen. It'll be good for me right? Getting up at 5:30? Right....?

We've Arrived Safely

Our 19 hour journey via car with cat in tow is complete. Not something I ever want to do again. Wasn't horrible... wasn't fun. Seeing how the landscape changes along the way is pretty cool, but after several hours in Iowa... I'm done. I love how fresh and clean and green and hilly it is here. I certainly miss it!

Happy Mother's Day!

I just got back some of the layouts I did for the store I use to work at. This one includes a school themed line that no one knew what to do with. So, for the record, I wouldn't normally put these colors and papers together. I'm planning on redoing this page with paper I like. But, colors and designs aside, it's the story that I want to share. I wrote a letter to my mom and dad, and they haven't seen it yet. So, this is for both my parents, but I thought I'd post it for Mother's Day.

To see the journaling better, you can click on the photo to see it larger, or just read it here:

Dear Mom & Dad,

You always told me to do my best. You never gave up on me. You kept me going. All because of what you taught me. Your decision to homeschool me for 3 years was one of the best choices you could have made. Angry at the world, resentful of teachers and hating school, you knew something must be done or who knows where I'd end up. Labeled a problem child by the school, you knew better. I just didn't lean the way they taught: Hurry up and put everything away, we're moving on to Math. Now we're doing History. C'mon hurry up. We're done with that now. No, you need to help this group of students because you already understand. Not everyone gets it, we need to wait and spend more time on this. (The movie Office Space comes to mind - "Now Milton, don't be greedy, pass it along until EVERYONE gets a piece." Not that I had seen that movie..I don't think it was even out at age 10.) By teaching me at home, you opened many doors for me; let me open a few myself even. I re-learned that valuable thing called respect. And maybe how to learn and that it was cool and fun...and that I was really good at it.. If not for these 3 years, 6th, 7th & 8th grade would have done me in. Because of you and the phrase, "Study Hard," I wanted to be a good student. Top 15 in my graduating class, National Honor Society, and a long list of accomplishments. That was because of you. Marquette University. Not possible without my college prep highschool learning to back me up. 3.2 GPA in 3.5 years at MU. I've learned how to learn, how to study, how to think critically and creatively because of you two. So, I guess what I'm trying to say, is thank you. {heart} always, Jill

A Save

When I flipped over my Autumn Leaves Designing With Daily Calender to today's page, the inspiration/subject was to decorate a multi-paned frame. I thought to myself, "Hey, I've got one of those.." It was in the pile of stuff to sell on eBay. Yoink. Saved out of the pile and onto my desk.

It is a little beat up along the edges, but that's OK. There are four panes of glass, and is meant for 5x7's. You can see the varying depths better when viewed in person. I ordered a kit from the Dozen's Artist Kits the other day, and received it yesterday. Some of the materials are from the kit, some from my stash o' stuff. The wings, rub-ons and flowers are from my previous collection, while the epoxy stickers, buttons, paper and poufy bee are from the Dozen's kit. I'm really glad I made this, as it has reminded me to look at everything I have and see if I can re-purpose it in a way that makes it better or cuter. Life is too short to not have cute things!

Mixed Up Mini

On a creative note, I finished assembling the Mixed Up Mini album from the last Weekend Creative. I'm not going to put any pictures or memorabilia in it yet, but having it done makes it easier to grab and start decorating. I think I need to do this more often. Pre-assemble some mini albums, I mean. Here are some photos of the various pages.

It's National Scrapbooking Day!

How are you celebrating? I'm spending my time working on the Weekend Creative project, Mixed Up Mini. The concept is to use up the left over pieces from other mini albums you've made, combining them into one big mish mash of an album. It's a fabulous idea. The only problem for me is that I don't have any left overs from mini album kits. So, I decided to make my own pages and add them all together into a little book. I'll post some photos a little later, once it's all done.

On a different note, we caught a matinee today on the digital screen, Iron Man. I have to say, this movie was outstanding! The special effects and CGI weren't distracting at all, looking extremely realistic. Never having read the Iron Man comics, my only exposure to Iron Man has been the PS2 game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. (Sad, yes, I know.) So I wasn't too familiar with the plot before seeing the movie. There was a tiny bit of romance (just enough, not too much), plenty of suspense, and fantastic action scenes. Excellent movie.

Let's Begin A New Journey

Earlier this year, I tried a weight loss program that really worked... as long as I stuck with it. When I started falling off the wagon, I didn't do much to stop it... and gained all of the weight back. It's kind of embarrassing telling this to the world... but I've already found that if more people know about something you're trying to accomplish, they help keep you on track, just by the simple action of getting it out in the open. Even though it may seem more comforting to keep something like weight loss to yourself and would have a bigger "wow" factor when people see you after a period of time, at this point I don't care. If talking about a weekly process on my blog makes me stick with eating well and exercising, then woohoo, let's go! I don't think I'll go quite so far as to tell you all what I'm starting at... maybe when I get to where I'm going.

The program I tried before and am beginning today was found from an infomercial: Michael Thurmond's Six Week Body Makeover. We'll see how it goes the second time around!