I’ve been a terrible friend, blogger, designer, and teacher lately.  I know it.  I’ve found that I’ve really just spread myself too thin over the last few months.  I vowed at the beginning of this year I was going to learn how to say no, and frankly, I’m not too good at it.  I’ve over booked myself, some of which is my own fault, and some not. 

I really wanted to take care of some personal issues and get the house renovations as close to done as possible.  After living in a half way done house for almost 5 years now, I think both Denny and I had had enough.  So a couple weeks ago I found myself needing an appraisal on the house.  I stalled with the appraiser as long as I could to try to get as much done as we could.  It’s been a marathon painting session amongst other things.  Then the other night Denny dropped the toilet in the garage as he was bringing it back it.  Which set us back on time as of course it broke when it hit the floor.

The appraiser comes tomorrow in the late afternoon.  It will get done, at least pretty darn close.  I’m fairly confident.  I’m tired, Denny is tired.  My dinning room table and such are still in the middle of the dining room as of this moment and I don’t expect it to be moved back until tomorrow around lunch.  Down to the wire, really.  I put myself in this position, which I have mixed feelings about.  I think we needed the push to get it done, but I’m wondering if it was too hard of a push.

Last week I started PT for my knee.  I’ve been a few times, and I’m fairly convinced it isn’t going to help.  I’m open to it helping, but even the girl that did the evaluation didn’t seem real confident, nor did the doctor.  Basically it was an effort to help with some of the pain.  If it worked great, if not, at least I tried.  Well, all it seems to be doing so far is making me crabby cuz I’m in pain.  Which in turn makes Denny crabby.  I canceled my appointment for today.  I just don’t want to go out, or suffer through another night with so many more pressing things to do.  I did get a call for a mystery shop that needs to be done tonight, and I should have said no.  But… lol, of course I didn’t.  :p

The kick off for MyCreativeClassroom.com is quickly approaching and I have a lot of things I still want to do and need to do for that.  I’m offering some free classes and I need to have them listed, like yesterday really.  I also have a sample for a class I want to offer at the end of February or March. 

Ethan had four teeth pulled on Friday, and gets two more done next Monday.  The poor kid just doesn’t have room in his mouth for all the teeth.  Major crowding issue he was lucky enough to get from me.  He wanted me to stay in the room with him.  I was hoping to end up in the waiting room cuz no Mom wants to watch that happen to their baby.  Really.  The assistant looked at me and said, “Sometimes it’s hard to be the Mom isn’t it?”

I feel like I’ve been all over town the last few weeks, and I don’t usually book myself that full.  Last week I had to go out everyday.  Yuck.  I’m stressed out, and I’m not my usual self.  I haven’t talked to my friends much, I’ve neglected Pierina and Jeannie, and even Michelle really. 

So to everyone that feels neglected, know that I feel bad.  Consider this my public apology.  Sorry ladies, really.  I need to get through this, and then I’ll be back to my regular multi-tasking expert self again.  I promise.

~j

Classes for the spring semester at My Creative Classroom are up.  I have three up there right now, and I’m working on a couple more.  I had a coupon posted in the newsletter, but in case you aren’t on the mailing list at MCC I’m also offering it here.

Register for my Altered Timepiece class from now to January 16th and get $5.00 off the regular $15.00 class fee.  What a steal that is huh?!?!

I also had some people ask for a class that covers my acrylic mini book that I use to hold all my websites, usernames and passwords.  I need to take a photo of it and get it posted online.  Keep your eye out both here and at MCC for more details.

In other news… we’ve been renovating the house, slowly.  When we bought it I can honestly say it was a real disaster.  I usually can look past things like that and see the potential underneath, but with this house I had a really hard time.  Maybe it was because we had already renovated one and I was just not looking to do it again.  It was only my Dad and Denny that could see what it could be and talked me into it.  We got it for a deal and have been working on it little by little.  Seriously the house was GROSS.  So much so it wasn’t even being shown with the carpet in it… it was down to subfloor when we first looked at it.  Gross may not even begin to cover it.

Anyway, so since we bought it we’ve been working and we are finally near the end.  Denny has been redoing the lower level bathroom and thats almost done.  I think it will be ready next week.  All thats left after that is painting really.  I’m happy about it, really, really happy.  It stinks having a house torn up for so long, but you do what you have to do.  The upside of the doing it slowly is that minor things seem to make a GIANT difference.  You wouldn’t believe what some paint does on something that has sat unpainted for a few years, lol.

I haven’t scrapped in what seems like years at this point.  It’s been crazy here and I’m stressed out.  Not real good for creative flow if you know what I mean.  Maybe I can cut out some time this weekend to get some creating done.  That might make me feel better.  I’m starting the planning for our annual girls retreat for this coming June.  Each year we go someplace.  Last year we rented a house on Harsens Island, and other than the rental guy being a jerk, the house rental thing worked out great.  The view was super helpful to me.  It just left you feeling refreshed and peaceful.  I got a lot of stuff done as a result.

This year we have decided to go the same route.  It didn’t cost us very much to go last year once we all split up the rent.  Each of us took a few meals and we made out really well.  Lucky for me, one of my favorite people was in town from Texas.  She came with us for a few days and made my trip all that much better.  Anyway, I’m looking at a house in Clarkston right now.  Again waterfront with an open floor plan for tables.  We aim for Thursday-Sunday, but at the rate I’m going, I might disappear for a week. :)  Hopefully the lady calls me back soon about pricing and reservations.  It may seem like a long way off, but pulling it all together takes time.  Plus once we know for sure we are going and where we have to start working out in preparation for lugging all out stuff in the house, lol.  Together we all have a lot of, eehh, stuff.

Here is to sweet dreams of a retreat in the future.  Ahhh!

~j

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Yesterday here was a nut house. It was one of those days where I’m cleaning up one mess while one of the kids is making another. Yesterday is was makeup and chili powder. (Eric I hope you liked your Chili cuz now I’m out of Chili powder, lol.)

So as I said before the downstairs bathroom is being renovated… again, so I have to go upstairs to use the “facilities.” As I walk down the hall I see the bathroom door is shut. Odd around here cuz the boys don’t seem to feel a need for privacy and leave it open. I open the door and there is Shelby…

For those of you with kids, you probably have had those safety latches on the inside of your drawers at some point. Well they allow the drawer to open a crack so you can release the latch. Apparently Shelby has mastered wiggling her hand inside and feeling around for what she wants. This day she wanted my make up. So had covered herself, (and my white bathroom), in creamy blush and lipstick. (Really the blush is very subtle when applied properly, lol, not so uhhh, well lets say overpowering for fear of stepping over a not so politically correct boundary.) Anyway, there were hand prints everywhere. As I opened the door and stood there, she looked up and said, “Uh oh, want to pick up?” and started handing me all the stuff she had taken out, and emptied all over her face.

I plopped her in the tub and as I looked at her, and the pink ring she was leaving around the bathtub, I said, “Girl, you are lucky you are so darn cute. If you weren’t, boy would you be in trouble miss.” HA HA, that girl I swear, she is my princess and she knows it. Stinker.

After the tub and new clothes I cleaned up what I could of the bathroom and put the rug and shower curtain in the wash. When I came from the laundry duty upstairs again I see that “someone’, AKA on e of my boys, left the stool out in the kitchen. Well she helped herself and selected a jar of chili powder that was sitting on the counter. At which point she emptied it onto a slice of bread, topping it with another piece of bread, making in essence a chili powder sandwich. Thankfully she had the good sense not to eat her creation. Yet another mess to clean up, and again lucky for her she’s cute.

Another day in paradise. Phew.

In other news, today is Dilly’s birthday. He turned 5 today and seems pretty happy about it. We had his birthday dinner, pizza. Hey his choice, not mine. We did the candle and the singing, which he throughly enjoyed, until he found wax dribble on his pizza, lol. Sunday we are having his party and tomorrow he gets to make a trip to the toy store. Yippee for Dilly.

On another birthday related note, why is it that Dilly gets the presents today?? As I recall, fairly vividly, I was the one who did all the work 5 years ago today, and everyday since for that matter. Dilly’s God Father, (my good friend Joel), called this evening to wish ME a happy birthday. (See I knew there was a reason I love that man.) Sadly he is in Ohio now with his wife and new baby. Boo Hoo for me, I never see him. Come and see me Joel, dammit. How is that for a hint???

The other thing that occurred to me today… I’ve been changing diapers non stop for 8 years come February 4th, (Ethan’s birthday). I was doing the rough math in my head exactly how many diapers that amounted to, when I figured I didn’t really want to know. That and I was never very good in math. *wink*

I had someone, (Hi Becky), ask where she could get the altered 12 photo clock that I used in my Scrapbooking.com article. Truth be told, I have no clue. It was sent to me via the manufacturer. I have to do some hunting and if all else fails I’ll put you in touch with the owner, who should be able to answer that. I’d hope so anyway. Just wanted to let you know I wasn’t ignoring you… just working on it!

That ends my rant for today.

~j

So this is pretty funny… I had submitted a project awhile ago, (an altered 12 photo clock made by Traditions Studios), for a Scrapbooking.com Design Team type of call.  I’m still not sure where I stand with that, BUT, I did find out my project I submitted is in their January issue.  You can see it here.  There is also an image and a link to it right on the issue front page if that link doesn’t work.  Why is this funny??  Uhh, well I didn’t even know it was there, lol.  My Mom is the one that found it. 

Denny went back to work today.  Bummer.  I miss him when he isn’t here.  Ok people, stop it with the sappy face.  :P  It seems I know a lot of people that don’t really like their spouse very much, lol.  I happen to NOT be one of those people.  Sure he can aggravate the crap out of me, but for the most part he really is a great guy.  He keeps me laughing and frankly he isn’t bad to look at either.  *wink*  Anyway, he’s gone, off to be with adults, and I’m here with the kids who are currently fighting over LEGO’s.  Ethan goes back to school tomorrow but Dilly will be home until Monday.  So I have several more days of fighting left to look forward to.  Woo Hoo!!

I’m working on some cards again today… in between laundry and cleaning.  Laundry = my lifes work.

Happy New Year!!

~j