A good blogger.......I am not!

I so love reading other blogs and getting ideas! I love the tutorials on how to make things and have used so many of them but alas......I'm just not like those other people! lol I kind of got myself so busy that if I could sit down at the computer I didn't want to have to think about what I'm writing, upload pics, etc. That seemed like work! lol (also, went thru one of the worst years of my life and really didn't want to put that kind of thing on a blog.) Cleaning houses, taking Brooke to school 2 days, homeschooling, spending time with momma, etc. sure didn't help me get "our" house cleaned! :-( So....I have decided that a huge deep cleaning and getting rid of lots of stuff is the answer. I am on my way but soooooooo slowly that it is somewhat maddening. lol 2 weeks and school is out and I think I am almost as happy as my girl!!!!

I have learned so many new things craft-wise and I really want to share. I think I will link to some of the awesome people that I have found online that have taught me so much!!!

Well, Happy National Scrapbooking Day from the girl who hasn't scrapped all day and probably won't. That's ok! I will and got the cards from the card swap I was in and loved them and also made my momma pretty happy. I joined extra groups for her and that was a gift from me to her!

LIFE

You know, as a little girl I dreamed of growing up, getting married, having children, and having a fairy tale life and everything just going great! Well, I wish the rest of the world had gotten the note so it could have happened that way. lol I did get part of my dream, tho! I have a great husband who is a wonderful daddy, 2 awesome kids (most of the time) that I wouldn't trade for anything, a home where everyone loves God and attends church and we love each other. Throw in the fact that my son's girlfriend loves us and enjoys being with us and that makes for some happy times!

But...........sometimes the rest of the world isn't so happy and then our lives are kinda miserable. I wonder why people lie when it's obvious to all around that they are lying. Do they truly think we're that stupid or have they convinced themselves???? I so wish I knew how to help them. It's sad when you love the people but fear being around them because you never know what will be told about you.

Sometimes I think it would be so awesome to move far, far away and take my little family with me and hide out from the world. Then I start to think about how I'd want to take momma, then my sis, and couldn't take her without her hubby and daughter and family, then my besties, then I'd need to take their families..........and the list goes on Why must I love people so much? Why do I care so much when others are hurt? It would be easier if it was aimed at me.

So, I guess I'll just muddle along and keep asking God for wisdom to know how to deal with all that life has thrown me this last year. It has been one of the worst years of my life but yet some of it has been the best, in spite of the bad! In the end, one thing I know.......God is Good!!!

Homemade Magic Shell

Look what I found???? I am so happy! Chris and well, Brooke and I love magic shell. I prefer the Reeses and so does Chris. Brooke likes the Heath. I plan on trying this soon!!! (Well, when we run out of all Chris got for Christmas!
This is the blog I found it on --------->http://showtellshare.blogspot.com/
Homemade Magic Shell
Who does not love Magic Shell? This week I came across a recipe, that is super easy and we already had the 2 ingredients in the cupboard. Coconut oil and chocolate chips. We tried it out tonight. There are many recipes online, some add a dash of sea salt, and the ratio of the coconut oil and chocolate chips are a bit different. We used 1 c coconut oil and about 2 1/2 c chocolate chips. Mix them together over low heat. In a few minutes we had Magic Shell ready to try. It was delicious and hardened just like the real Magic Shell.
And if you feel like being creative, you could try peanut butter chips, vanilla chips or add toffee bits...
I clean for 3 people tomorrow so I'm hoping for a good day! Trying to fight this bug I caught. Friday and Saturday, I get to be home!!!!! Clean house and make cards/craft! That's what I hope to accomplish! Well, along with facebooking, blogging, etc. lol

What a change a few months can make

Life has had so many changes and thrown so many things at me that I've never faced before. 2010 was probably one of the worst years I've faced. In spite of that......there were lots of good things. Momma going to Israel thus fulfilling one of her dreams and her starting college was another. Now.....she is on the honor roll and received a small scholarship! And yes, I am very proud!!!! She'll be 75 next month and walks circles around me. She sure inspires me to do more!!!! If you were to ask her......she wouldn't take the credit, tho! She'll tell you that God has helped her all the way! I am learning to rely more on God than ever since this past year!

A few more positive things.....Brooke is homeschooling 3 days a week and goes to school 2. I like it and so does she! :-) I am doing better physically and now clean houses 2 days a week! Who would've thought that OCD me would be cleaning other people's houses. lol

I've been doing a lot more crafting and have accomplished a lot on momma's Israel scrapbook that I'm making her. Altering boxes/containers has become one of my new favorite things to do! I need to post some of the new things that I've learned......just in case someone might happen upon my blog and find it of interest. I think I mostly do this blog for me. It's an outlet! Just a way to get things out without someone having to listen to me ramble on and on. :-)

So..........I decided to focus on the good things instead of posting the bad. Things are getting better in some areas, worse in others! In spite of it all........I find I am very blessed and have a lot to thank God for! Perhaps I'll end on that note and blog more when I'm not so tired and feeling lousy from whatever bug I have picked up!

Link for making gift bags from newspaper

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-make-gift-bags-from-newspaper.html
I haven't tried this since I just found it tonight but I think I'd like to! Maybe I will and put pics up. Don't hold your breath, just in case! :-)

Crafts, Thoughts, and whatever else I come up with

I found an idea for making a paper flower and can't remember where. When I find out, I'll try to give credit. Anyway, I took some pics with my cell phone to show it. You basically start out by cutting a circle and then cutting it into a spiral. You can zig zag your sisscors or just cut regular.

Then you get the outside end with tweezers and roll it up as follows........

This one is with two layers of paper. You know me, gotta try something different!

The finished product! The center round part winds up as the bottom and I used sticky dots

to adhere it together.

I've actually been working on momma's Israel scrapbook and I'm liking it! :-) It's not always easy to scrapbook something when I wasn't there. At least, for me! I'll try to take some pics of it and get them on here.

I have been Spring Cleaning!!!!!! For months! lol Momma and I have been trading off helping each other and it's so much easier to get things done! I still have a couple closets, totes, buffet, and china cabinet to go! We won't talk about the garage and attic! lol I'm getting there and getting rid of sooooo much junk! It's much easier to keep house this way! Momma had me help her clean her garage cabinets and I kid you not, her cabinets looked almost as good as my cabinets in the kitchen BEFORE we cleaned them! :-)

I've done some painting and decorating and now it's put me in the mood to do more but alas, work calls for the next few days so the fun will have to wait.

Ah, and now........Life! Change! I don't do well with change! My aunt is dying.........just waiting......she's off of life support and it's just the waiting game now. A dear friend is in the hospital and was improving so much and has now regressed so badly. People who aren't faithful to those that love them, those that drugs have gotten such a hold on! Sometimes, I almost wish I didn't care about people so much! Just almost, tho! My son's new job has him working nights and I tend to be a worry wart! And........I won't bore you with the rest!

One good change........Brooke is going to Salem Park Academy this year. Homeschool for 3 days and go to school 2 days a week. I'm excited about that.

Perhaps, since we won't be running as much when school starts I can actually have a real blog and not wait months in between!

Night, for now!

Random thoughts and ramblings

I've been thinking lately about how blessed I am and how fortunate I am to have had the parents I have/had! No, life wasn't perfect and we weren't the richest family on the block, but there was love! Lots of love and I was taught to love others, be merciful and compassionate, and not judgmental! I'm learning more and more to be thankful for that! I see so many people so concerned about others and the way that they are living that those same people forget to worry about themselves and live a double standard life! I so hope I'm instilling those same qualities in my children!

I keep saying "When I grow up I wanna be organized like momma and Lisa!" Well, I think 41 is grown up enough and I'm working on it. I'm finding the key is to get rid of as much as possible! Large school projects.......I'm taking pictures of them and then they get thrown away! I'll scrapbook the pictures and still have the memory and story to go with it! Ah, to actually have things always in order so that it wouldn't bother me to open my door to company at anytime! Will I ever get there????? (Perhaps, since I'll have the help of my awesome momma! :-)

http://orgjunkie.com/

Above is a great organizing blog!

After my organizing...................................I have so many things I want to do!

Scrapbooking! Always lots of pictures to do and I love it!

Sewing! Things to repair and so many that I want to make!

Tole painting! A ton of wood and other projects that I want to paint!

Crocheting! I am currently working on pen and tablet holders for my aunt, a shawl, and not sure what else.

Cross Stitch! I have large picture with the words and music to Amazing Grace started for momma.

Cardmaking! I have some started and many ideas I want to try.

Cake Decorating! Graduation cakes due the end of July and I'd love to find somewhere to take more classes.

Piano playing! I'd like to take more lessons.

Now to start getting some of those things accomplished! :-)

Well, I was gonna share some pics but since it's after 4am and I'm still feeling puny from whatever bug I have, I think I'll wait!

Night/Mornin'