The Day Before.........

Tomorrow I go back to work.... I LOVE my job, but LOVE being home.  Today was a day of cleaning and a craft!  Paul worked last night and instead of going to bed he stayed up.

We were able to get a lot done and because of that we ran some fun errands.  Mom and Dad introduced us to the world of Big Lots.  I, truthfully, never had good thoughts about that place and stayed away from there.  They kept telling us about these fabulous deals they would get and unfortunately for me they were from BIG LOTS!! As a result, I am a Big Lots fan!

Well, while cleaning today I started making a list of things we needed and realized that these products could probably be purchased at Big Lots cheaper then anywhere else.  So, that was the first stop.

One thing that I want to do more of this year is explore my inner craftiness.  Cakes and I headed to Hobby Lobby while the boys went to Sam's Club.  We spent lots of time money  there and came home with lots of goodies.

Our first project was to make some button earrings. We bought  a couple different packages of material squares. Here is our first pair:

Then her new FURREAL annoying cute little animals she got for Christmas needed little collars. I busted out the old sewing machine, that I don't know how to use all that well, and we were SO excited to start sewing.

Unfortunately,I don't really know how to sew.  I don't even know how to cut a straight line. I have all kinds of cool tools that would help me cut a straight line. I have a rotary thingy, different types of scissors, etc.  I have sewn a few things.  I warn those who look at the finished product not to look closely.

Our fun project turned into a HOT MESS!!! Something happened with the under the foot thing and there was a whole lotta thread wasted, but hey LIFE IS ABOUT EXPERIENCES and we were experiencing thread!

 Every time we would try to sew, whatever we were sewing would bunch up and the thread would pile up!

Then out of NO WHERE!! BAM!!! The needle fell off and we  pulled the material out, pulled every thing apart and put the sewing machine away! 

HEAT n BOND!! Now this stuff is pretty cool 

and just perfect for these cute and cuddly animals! 

Such a great day, spent together as a family. This is what life is about. 

Happy New Year- Happy New Blog!!!

As I was getting the behind the scenes info completed for my new blog I ran into a SERIOUS problem!! I had LOST all of my Christmas Eve and Day pictures.  I went into complete  XANAX panic mode and called my mom in hopes that she had a copy of them.  She didn't and tried to help me through this serious situation. My stomach was in knots and I just couldn't bear the thought of not having any pictures of Christmas.  Luckily the pictures were found..... on our laptop.... I was on the desktop!!! Mom and I said our good nights, I grabbed a handful  piece of dove chocolate and I am now on my way!!

For those of you who followed my other blog you are well aware of the serious neglect it has received- no new post since May of 2010- I think. Well a lot has happened since then!!

2011 was a year of change for me. I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about people. I learned a lot about life. The most important thing I learned was from my dad.  Last June, 2011, the kids and I spent the entire month with mom and dad in SC.  Dad said multiple times that LIFE IS ABOUT EXPERIENCES.  I have really taken that to heart and my life is now centered around not only experiences, but CHOICES.

Throughout my 34 years of life I have, obviously, made a lot of choices.  I have made BAD choices. I have made GOOD choices. I have made some EXCELLENT choices.  I have also had the same type of EXPERIENCES in my life.  The experiences in my life have been because of the choices I have made.

December 19,2011 was my 11 year anniversary.  Paul and I spent our anniversary at Chili's Restaurant with our kids.  NOT AT ALL our first choice!  We didn't have a sitter.  The kids didn't want what we wanted. I was exhausted from work and we settled.  Of course there was a wait.  It really didn't seem to matter though.  Much of our life is spent being frustrated and tired these days- I know this is a choice.

A couple of weeks before our anniversary we decided to put our house on the market.  FSBO! We don't have a plan. Life is About Experiences.