aren't these simpley lovely! my dearest friends at TLC made this for our friends.......

• my brother came down the other morning and took away all my recyling and boxes from the move. the garage looks like a different space and I can visualize my daughter's car in there beside the truck.
• have I mentioned recently how delightful it is to have an 8 minute commute from work to home? Wow, I just can't believe all that driving I did before. It makes me feel ill.
• Work is busy, heavy, lots of psychosocial stuff. I'm starting to learn and read about Compassionate Fatigue. Also my BMF wrote a chapter for a nursing book, so I've started to read that. It's called: " 101 Global Leadership Lessons for Nurses, by Nancy Rollins Gantz".
• determined to go out and pick out my mattress this set of shifts off. lots of plan for my time off; lots of chores to do. and man, I hope I can get some sleep. solid sleep. please!

sneak peek of "before"

Here's that custom built bar in my scrapbooking studio. Apparently it cost a lot of money to have put in and therefore I was strongly discouraged not to remove it. So I've decided to make it my cutting, diecutting and possibly stamping station. TONS of storage which is
really lovely. Oh yes and there is the sink to wash the paint brushes and a nice little bar fridge for cool ones. I said to my g/f that I may need to have a little beverage section and a second Tassimo for coffee and teas!

Stay turned... to see the "after" shot.... could be weeks or a few months. Now that my g/f has come and we've chatted about layout and design and colour, I am even more anxious to get going on it.

What do you think of the green? It's super lovely, cheery, with a creative feel.

yes, Roy loves me!

I think this Ikea frame could be stunning in my new bedroom, as a mirror and paint
it with a silver metallic finish. Loverly!

so pleased to have two new "art deco" lamps for my new bedroom

• Did I mention how much I enjoy my 8 minute commute from work to home? I know I'm on days off but just thinking about not having to drive an hour each way makes me smile. I can't believe I did it for that long.
• sleeping is brutal. not as many night sweats (maybe all the B vits are doing something?) but nightmares and uncomfortable aches and pains keep waking me and I can't resettle. ugh.
• my girlfriend is coming today and we're going to do a bit of set up in the studio and then play, opening boxes along the way. I MISS scrapbooking and stamping so much. Spent most of yesterday afternoon looking at people's studio pictures online, trying to get an idea and vision of what I want in my space.

does this INGO table from Ikea deserve to join me in my scrapbooking studio?

Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate

first stop once the plane lands in New York??? A girl can dream.................

just sayin

Blogthings - You Are a Lemon Cupcake

Blogthings - You Are a Lemon Cupcake: "You Are a Lemon Cupcake
You are spirited and spunky. You embrace life and have a sunny outlook.
You're drawn to all sorts of people. You can find something to like about almost anyone.

You are like a cupcake because you're cute and happy. You can turn anyone's day around.
You love to laugh and have a wickedly funny sense of humor. You enjoy teasing and joking around."

• am dreaming of New York...... could it be in my near future?
• plan to buy a bed for my bedroom in the next few days off.... slowly but surely, I'm going to be in the bedroom of my dreams. still loving the colour. can't wait to decorate.
• why on earth am I watching Cake Boss and looking at cupcake blogs online?
• got new spring pjs today, can't handle flannel sheets or pjs anymore... too many hot flashes and night sweats. so exhausting. AND I so hate the increase in laundry it is creating. yeah yeah, I've heard it from many medical professionals, "you're too young to start menopause"..... yeah, well my body sure is telling me something different. apparently the average menopause lasts 8.3 years! holy hell. no wonder they joke about menopausal women going crazy.
• my g/f "L" is coming this weekend and we're going to visit, start to set up the scrapbooking studio, visit, and hopefully stamp, create, scrapbook and visit more!
• got a couple new Pandora charms for my lovely bracelet that Rocketgirl gifted me at Christmas. so excited about building this piece of jewelry!
• had a short but sweet visit with my DD last weekend. Getting so grown, yet still my girl. She even came and got to meet some of the people I work with, which was nice, seeing as they hear me talk about her so much.
• have slowly started adding to my 2010/new chapter Joy journal. it's a lovely purple with the Eiffel tower on it. really need to get my printer set up so I can print off pictures. went to London Drugs last week to get some prints and it was long, painful and not satisfying. I like to be able to tweak my pictures.
• tomorrow is the first TRIFECTA meeting..... so exciting!

"Dwell in possibility"

Emily Dickinson

hope this is in my future, in a few months

Let me leave you with one thought. . We are all dying. From the moment we are born, we begin the process of dying. Be grateful for each day you have with your loved ones; bite your tongue and swallow your pride; cherish each moment and be generous with your love. And you will have much love and no regrets.

"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice"

"What we think, we become. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.
- The Buddha"

oooooooh, I can't wait for these to be available!

Donna Downey and Unity Stamp Company

"Happiness likes in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."

Franklin D Roosevelt

Happy Sunday

one of the many pictures I took of a lovely orchid plant a family gave us last week.... I think Pappa would have liked this one.

1. Happy news that makes the heart burst & 2. my darling daughter is coming home for a visit!

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy."

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch."

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree."

from Photo Express....

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile"

Blogthings - You Are Balanced and Wise: "You Are Balanced and Wise
You are a big fan of all things in moderation. You avoid extremes.
You are a colorful and fun person, but you always make sure not to go too wild.

You are bold and carefree, but you also have a more sensitive side to you.
You are more fragile than you look. You may be outgoing and outrageous, but you're just as breakable as everyone else."

Another new sneak peek from Spellbinder's blogs. I like this label, oldfashioned looking but I saw a beautiful example card I'd love to try. Have to say, for the most part, I was a bit disappointed with the new releases, too cutesy/themey for me.

I have what I think is a good system for storing my Nestabilities. Using an older QK magnetic book system, they're really great, compact. I just need to lable them. AND! I need to be down there scrapbooking with them!

My g/f is coming next weekend and we're going to be visiting, designing and decorating, and scrapbooking!!!

"'You CAN have it all. You just can't have it all at once."
Oprah

"'I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time."
Anna Freud

"“After all these years, I am still involved in the process of self-discovery. It's better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”
Sophia Loren"

"Most of the successful people I've known are the ones who do more listening than talking.'
Bernard M. Baruch

Blogthings - You Are Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate: "You Are Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate
When you do anything, you do it big. You live large, and you don't hold back.
You either love or hate things with a passion. And since you love hot chocolate, of course you want to double down.

You're the type of person most likely to make your own hot chocolate. Only you can make it as decadent as you like it.
And you're also likely to go for the good stuff - real chocolate. No wimpy cocoa packets for you!"

The planet lost a young fighter tonight. Heaven gets an angel. RIP

some new things in my life....

So, I've decided to change some things. Slowly. Make new habits? I think they say something about it takes 6 solid weeks to make a new habit. Anyways, one of the things I'm going to start doing is take vitamins. Got the planner set up for the next week. Holy hell, why do some of them have to be so gigantic? Absolutely will have to take on a full stomach. So here's a little info on one of them I've added to my life.

B 12:

Overview:Vitamin B-12, otherwise known as cyanocobalamin, performs as a coenzyme for the creation of DNA material. It also promotes growth and cell development and is important to fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism. Although vitamin B-12 is not found in plant foods, good sources of this supplement include meats, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

How This Vitamin Works in Your Body:Growth and development of nerve, skin, hair, and blood cells Produces genetic material Metabolizes amino and fatty acids Works to release food energy Helps treat Alzheimer’s disease May help sufferers of nervous disorders Could improve immune system May see increase in energy and memory

Oh, and the awesome Lululemon water glass? Darling daughter gave it to me for Christmas. Love the inspirational quotes on it. Going to bump up my water intake and hopefully cut down on caffeine intake.

one of many new CHA pre releases, by Spellbinder! whoo hooooo

up date....

• I've had a few relaxing days. Last night was one of the best sleep nights I've had in awhile. Only woke up twice but resettled quickly, and didn't have to change the sheets once! Other nights man, I am changing laundry again and again and again and I think I'm giving up on sleepwear.
• Have decided to get myself a Wii and the Wii Fit Plus system. Have been reading online and talking to quite a few people and it sounds like something that might work for me. With my ankle, I'm so limited with the type of cardio I can do. And I'm embarrassed with my size, so I'm not keen on getting to the gym. I have joined so many gyms over the years and it never worked. Right now it will have to be set up in my master bedroom but once I get a bigger tv for the studio, it'll be downstairs. I'm quite sedentary except for when I work, so even doing video game work will be a step in the right direction.
• Also really want and need to work on my stress. It's showing itself in my health, especially my bloodpressure. I want to find a relaxation yoga class that is only 30 minutes. I have some DVDs but it would be nice to get out and learn proper prosture and such and then maybe I can do it at home.
• Another health plan I have is to start taking regular vitamins and supplements. I do not eat a proper diet, very far from it! That'll be another task, to start changing what I eat. But I can do only so much.
• Had big plans to pack up all the Christmas stuff but that's not going so great. Tomorrow is my last kick at that. Did get a few housecleaning things done so that was a nice feeling. My g/f and her hubby are coming up tomorrow night to help me put up closet rods in the master bedroom. Right now, I have clothes stacked everywhere and it works as a deterrent for me to clean and unpack further boxes. So that will be nice to get my clothes back hanging up on a closet.
• When I get paid from working those shifts at my old ER, I am going to go get myself a new mattress for my bedroom. Can't wait to move in there. The colour is so beautiful. Then save up for bedroom furniture! It's going to be a beautiful haven for me. Cause, you might not know this, I do like to stay in bed and nap, play with the laptop, watch movies, etc....
• so excited, got my Epic 6! Lots of new QK dies to play with on it. Super cute 6x6 mini albums. I'm thinking..... Mother's day.... I have so many idea percolating in my brain, can't wait to get the room up and going so I can play. It's going to be such a happy place. My g/f will be a great help in setting it up. I really need to get the printer hooked up and figure out how to use it with my laptop. Want to do my Christmas layouts first. Oh, and I started on my new "joy journal", for the new chapter in my life!

*grin*

A gorgeous new stamp set I got the other day, can't wait to play with it. Love
the quote!

Blogthings - Your Lucky Underwear is Blue

Blogthings - Your Lucky Underwear is Blue: "Your Lucky Underwear is Blue
You are caring and extroverted. You've made relationships your number one focus, and your lucky blue underwear can bring some balance to them.
You thrive in one-on-one situations. You are a good listener and a natural born therapist.

Sometimes you let the concerns of others become too important in your life, leading to stress and worry.
If you want more balance, put on your blue underpants. They'll help you take care of yourself first."

"possibility - The quality of being possible; A thing possible; that which may take place or come into being; An option or choice, usually used in context with future events"

A friend gave this to me some time ago, because she knew how much
I was missing my boy. I bought a new frame for it and am looking for
a special place to put it in my new home.

two years divorced

I wish it could say different, but it's a sad day for me. Being a divorced single mother is such an embarrasment for me.

19th Birthday girl

Family birthday celebration for my daughter's 19th; complete with Disney Princess. That's my girl: 100% Princess! Love her
more than anything. She's amazing.

• have one more week left of my three week vacation and have worked three shifts in the ER at my home hospital. Got my ER fix so I'm good for awhile. Good to go "home to my roots", lots of laughs with old friends.
• My daughter turned 19 the other day and we went out for a casual lunch and then had a mini Disney Princess party for her, complete with Disney Princess goodie bag fun stuff. I think she was pretty pleased, and everyone loved the cupcakes from my girlfriends: http://tastylittleconfections.blogspot.com/ so that was great. Then off she went to work a mini shift and then to celebrate with her friends at a local pub. Judging by the pictures she had a good time.
• My ankle has been really throbbing. Scares me. I wasn't supposed to be working full time for the last 10-15 years of my career. Funny how things change.
• Goal for my last week off: look for a new bedroom set, buy a new mattress for my bedroom, get stuff from Ikea and start seriously setting up my scrapbooking studio AND actually doing a layout before I go back to work! That means I have to set up the printer as well and get some pics printed off. Can't wait.
• had DD and her boyfriend and my BMFs over for dinner the other night. I actually cooked! Turned out not too bad, considering I tried a new recipe!
• met up again with my BMF the next day and we did a bit of shopping and had a nice lunch. I think he's going to take me out for lunch again this week-end. Sweet!
• Was nice to work some extra shifts in the ER, two of which were stats, so double the pay. Means I can probably get more furniture for my lovely new home. Would love to move into my new bedroom now that it's so beautifully painted! *sigh*
• Have very low opinion of parents who aren't there for there children: emotionally, physically, financially. Losers.

Word for the year is....

Possibilities!!!

I will add more in the next day or day after that, why I chose that. What word do you plan to live by this year of 2010?