This is My Life...

Back by Popular Demand...

I am so excited to announce that we are re-running my super awesome (not that I'm biased!) class at Big Picture Scrapbooking. The Challenge of Me is a class designed to get you scrapbooking about YOU and telling your story! This class is full of daily prompts that will get you telling your story in new and fun ways. My album that I completed is my favorite of all albums. I love that I learned a lot about myself when I created it and my friends and family get to know me better as well! Check it out now. We had so much fun last time around that I can't wait to meet all of you in the class! 

 

I'll be showing more sneaks of the class over the next few weeks as well so stay tuned!!

Am I dreaming...

I've had a few days to let it sink in, but I still feel like I'm dreaming. Is this for real?? I sure hope so because I'm super excited. I've been asked to be a part of this amazing design team.

I adore Imaginisce products. I am always drawn to the irresistible cuteness. The textures on the papers and the cute patterns are perfect for me. I am honored to be given an opportunity to design with products I love.

Congrats to all the other amazing designers that were chosen as well. (I've linked them all up on the side...you must check them out...inspiring for sure!)

The cards are done...

Phew...I'm finally ready! Who knew kitting up 310 Christmas cards would take so much time! I'm finally done and ready for the class. I'm teaching Saturday at the Fremont Library. I'm actually quiet excited, but a little bit nervous too! I'm used to teaching either online or to a small group of crafters. 31 people at a library is a new thing to me. I love new things though! I'm making inviting my husband along to be my assistant! Sucker...hehehe!!

Here's a few of the cards they'll get to make!

Deep breath...

WOW! I'm feeling overwhelmed right now, so this post is going to be a totally random things I need to get out of my head!! (so feel free to skip to the pretty picture at the end!)

Life is chaotic right now. Super busy at work 'work'. Super busy with scrapbook 'work'.  Super busy at home.

Tom starts working again in a week and a 1/2. Woohoo!!

Working on designing a Christmas card class for a local(ish) library.  My assignment was to put together a class for 30 people, design 10 cards, spend less than $10 per person and have it be something they can do in 2 hours. Now I just need to put together the instructions for each card, pre cut and kit up 300 cards and get ready to teach this all next Saturday the 7th! WOW!

I've consolidated all of our debt, shopped around for better insurance, taken our Satellite down to just locals, cut off my extra kit subscriptions, etc and have so far saved our family about $800 or so each month. That's awesome!

I'm working on a ton of logistics for work conference in Chicago starting November 9th. My co-workers are terrible at meeting deadlines which makes my job so much harder. Ugh!

I need to make 30 popcorn balls for Noah's Halloween party on Friday. Really sad that Greenville decided not to let the students wear costumes this year. Bummer!

Excited that it's Halloween on Saturday and then we get an extra hour during the weekend! Woohoo!

I have a few deadlines for Big Picture and some stuff I need to work on for future classes.

I really need to make to-do list. I carry all this around in my head and it would be so much easier to make an actual list.

I got the beautiful November kit from the Nook and am working on a mini album class using lots of pretty Lily Bee papers. It's a gratitude mini that's perfect for November and these papers! I'm also mentally working on two other layouts with the kit too!

Michigan is getting hit really hard with the flu right now so I'm doing my best to keep us all healthy! Fingers crossed!

Okay...that's enough...here's a new layout to make this post pretty!

 

Asking for support...

Just a quick post to beg you all for your support!!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile or taken any of my classes you know that I like to promote happiness and inspire others to live a more fulfilling life.

Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

Well, I came across this potential job opportunity which would be absolutely perfect for me (and my family really needs it!!). Only problem is...it's a popularity contest!! Really I don't think that's fair, but oh well, I'm rolling with it. I put in my app and am hoping I can get some votes from my lovely blog readers (and if you feel like spreading the word to help I wouldn't complain ;-)!). Many people have a ton of votes...I don't even know that many people so I am not delusional and thinking I really stand a chance, but I'm still trying.

If you would go vote for me that would be awesome. You can vote once per day!

THANK YOU!!!

Some pretties for you...

I've been scrapping a lot the last couple days! I love the feeling of being in the flow!

Here's a few that I can show you!

 

And this one is for a Quote of the Week challenge we are doing at the Nook. I kicked off the first week with the quote "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all" - unknown. Play along with us here

I made this layout with the a couple of the funny pics I got trying to take our family picture! Every one of them had someone doing something weird in it. Which is funny because it's true to who we are!

This is my life...

So, I just had this major ephiphany! But sadly, I have this same one about every 6 months and I do nothing about it.

I'm sitting at work. At a job that I hate. Doing work I care nothing about. Driving 2 hours each day. Spending way to many hours away from my family...from my life. Wasting my life away just to earn a paycheck. Stuck here because I have to earn a paycheck and unfortunately no one has offered to let me earn a living being crafty and creative.

Then I start thinking "What am i waiting for? What do I need to have change in order to live a life I love? What is it I want? Why do I keep saying...someday...in the future things will be better". Why can't it be now? Why am I not actively trying to pursue a life I love?"

I read a quote the other day that Dr. Wayne Dyer had on his twitter feed and it said "There are people who live 70 years, and there are those that live the same year 70 times." Those words spoke to me. They had more meaning that I really wanted to think about. I knew it was powerful and very true, yet I just let it be a thought and did nothing about it.

I know this is my life and I am in control, yet I sit here waiting for someone to change it for me. It is in my control. I can do this. I have no idea how. I just know I need to. Life was meant to be lived. Life was meant to be enjoyed.

I found this image above when I did a quick search on something to capture what I was feeling...and those words were it. What am I waiting for...

Okay...now that you've had a glimpse inside the ramblings of my brain...you can now go about your day...hopefully doing something you love...and if not...hopefully with a different persepective to help you get to that life!

Beautiful...

It is so beautiful here right now! It's also very cold, but I'm trying not to think about that! Well, if you really must force me to talk about it...it was in the 30's and 40's this weekend and there's a chance of snow tonight! Eeep!

Now on to the beautiful part!

 

 

Oh how I love fall!! October is a beautiful month for sure!

I've also been playing with the beautiful October Nook Kit!

I made this layout!

 

And this journal, which was inspired by Ali Edwards BPS class Yesterday and Today. (I am loving her class. It's really helping me get back to what it is I love about scrapbooking. But, that requires a whole post on it's own...later this week!)

Okay, that's all I have to share with you all tonight! Peace!

My past...

I'm going through two big boxes full of stuff from my family's past. It's so exciting going through it all and finding little treasures. I can't believe the stories and pictures I've come across. I know it's only exciting to me but check these out.

I have a lock of my grandpa's hair!

I have pictures of great grandparents. (I think I might actually have some of great great grandparents!)

This awesome marriage certificate for my Great Great Grandparents! From what I can tell, it's original and really old! It's engraved on wood (I think anyway!). I'd love to know how they did this back then! I blurred out the names and I know the date is too blurry, but it's from 1889. 

 

The more I uncover my roots the more I'm learning about myself. It's really fascinating! This is just a couple of the things in the two big boxes of stuff. Imagine how much fun this is to go through! I want to learn more! I didn't even know I was really interested in all this, but I find myself still up at 2am going through this stuff and just connecting with my ancestors. This is just on my fathers side of the family. Hopefully someday I can come across this kind of information on my mom's side!

Who wants to listen to me complain?

Oh you do? Cool!!

First, before I jump right into being all whinny check out the new cut!

I was trying to grow it out for awhile due to Tom's request, but I just couldn't do it anymore! When it gets long enough to put into a ponytail that's how it ends up every day and that's just not attractive or professional for work. And then when it's down it just sort of hangs there like a limp noodle, but worse! This is my normal cut, so it's not new or anything, but it always makes me happy and it's easy to do. Plus the back is super stacked and bouncy and cute!!

Ok, so now the complaining part! I've been pretty grumpy the last few days. And one thing that bugs me even more is when people point out that I'm grumpy. Why do they do that anyway? Do they think it's gonna help? And then even worse is when Tom says "I can tell someone's PMSing". Ugh, pushing my buttons for sure!

The reason I am grumpy is because Tom hasn't been working. Not by his choice, but because the economy in Michigan blows and there's just not enough work. It's really starting to wear on us, but I know we'll get through it. We always do, but it's never easy or fun. We've been down this road more times than I'd like to admit.

And then because we are watching our money I won't turn on the heat in the house. Most people have had their heat on for a couple weeks now. We have propane and it's freakin' expensive! Like $400 a month in the winter expensive! So the house is currently 63 and my fingers are almost numb just typing this! (oh and by the way...yes a haircut is way higher on the list than warm toes and fingers...we have gloves and hats for that right...well not hats for me because that would mess up my cute hair!)

I could continue complaining but I must go beat Tom AGAIN in a game of Yahtzee!

Peace! See you tomorrow!