Got this Hampton Arts' Butterfly stamp at Michaels with a coupon. I'm just loving butterflies. I'm even harbouring a desire to get a small colourful blue/purple butterfly tattoo somewhere secret. Nah, I won't, probably, too much of a wimp. But I can see my butterfly stamp collection growing. Did stamp out a few of them on to these great thick white pieces of "cardstock" from work. They have them out in the hallways occasionally near sterile processing unit; come in the packaging and then don't get used. Anyways, when they are out, there are stacks and stacks of them and they make for good stamping/card making.

1. I HATE liars. People who deceive. Cheat. Inflict emotional harm on others.
2. ankle just throbbing. bain of my existence.
3. the mother of a especially special patient who died months ago, came to the unit to visit. so good to get a hug from her and hear how they are managing. she even checked my head to see the red. :)
4. giddy delight to come home after "mayhem monday" and see my lovely bed in my beautiful girly bedroom that I so deserve to have. sweet dreams please come to me.

IT's HERE!!!!

After many many many years of pining away for a sleigh bed, it has finally arrived and is all set up in my new lovely bedroom! Excuse the wrinkled linen, all I had on hand that was clean. I am pretty sure when I find the right duvet cover, I will be ironing it so it looks oh so pretty in my girly room. I LOVE IT!!!!

money money money woes...

ugh, I hate going paycheck to paycheck. I hate being in debt. I hate that I'm lousy with money. I get so down thinking about it all, worrying about it all.

wrote myself a list not too long ago to show myself that I have done a lot since moving here and starting my new life, here it is:

1. bought a lazyboy sofa/chaise
2. spent $3000 on painting my bedroom, dd's bedroom and the studio
3. new toliet for the guest bedroom
4. red ikea chair and ottoman
5. ikea coffee table
6. 2 ikea bedside tables
7. ikea bookcase for dd
8. ikea craft table
9. pub style kitchen nook chairs and table
10. swedish tempur pedic mattress
11. cd player
12. freezer
13. art deco lamps
14. and........................a new sleigh bed!!!

paid in cash. pinching pennies and doing overtime and working the second job once in awhile.

I just want our home to be cozy and welcoming and comfortable and happy. That's all.

Eva, CF warrior

died this morning. I've been following her blog for a long time now. I hope she is breathing easy now. I hope people hear her story and register to become organ donors.

• YES, I bought the bed! it's supposed to arrive tomorrow. I am so excited! it's finally coming together!
• yesterday was a busy day. a quick trip up to university town, three hours of driving in regular ole spring weather: snow storm, rain storm, sun and blue skies. slush, ice, and spring time. 10 minutes turn around complete with hug to daughter and then back down again we go. my brother came home with me and unloaded and did so much moving of heavy stuff for me and cleaned out the garage. so thankful.
• after I went to the furniture store, I thought I'd go see if there was anything exciting at Michaels. Came home with a new butterfly stamp, which I'm excited to try this afternoon. over to Future shop and out I come with a few movies, including Nurse Jackie season 1, New Moon and The Blind Side. Top it off with the newest issue of Creating Keepsakes and I'm a happy camper
• slept for three hours this morning on my right side! maybe this tempur pedic mattress does work. I still wake up in the morning hurting everywhere and I certainly don't jump into it thinking it's a bed of heaven. maybe it'll even be better when it's on the new sleigh bed!!!

"'Every body in the world is seeking happiness - and there is one sure way to find it. That is by controlling your thoughts. Happiness doesn't depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions.'
Dale Carnegie"

I think I am going to buy this bed this week-end. I think.

annoyed

meh! that "invisible ghost" volume bar has shown up again which causes all programs to stop working and for me to cold shut down the computer. not impressed.

the computer is back! no virus but apparently I have four different antivirus programs on which was causing some issues. STILL can't email out my pics from PICASA and that doesn't make me happy.... but so far no ghost volume bar....

• sad news. my computer is sick and I took it in to be assessed, treated and hopefully discharged asap. I'm in withdrawls already! they tell me Thursday or Friday???
• saw the specialist last week and was told I have asthma. failed the methacholine breathing test. still just using the inhalers prn. but boy, if someone with perfume or a strong cleaning agent is used do I ever get tight and wheezy. ugh.
• last week we had our monthly Trifecta day and it was a lovely outing down the road to do some antique shopping. my g/f's were absolutely entertaining and enchanted with it all; me...eh, I dunno. We call that stuff back home second hand. one man's trash is another's treasure? so good to get out with these quality ladies and laugh.
• my daughter was home for a brief visit. never long enough. we went out shopping, which was pretty much a big fat waste of time. out for dinner with Rocketgirl and McBabyC and respective hubbys, which was great. dd is just about done year two at university and moving back home for the summer to work. looking forward to having lots more time with her. do stuff, explore my new surroundings, "freshen" up her bathroom... Vegas???
• thinking I will make advantage of being computerless and try to get some sorting out of stamp products in the studio. so enjoyed the cardmaking the other day with Rocketgirl and just would love to get the printer and scanner up and going and SCRAPBOOK!
• Raja is slowly adjusting to his new litter box. I have the lid half on, half off. I thought he was using it but as soon as I tossed the old one, I was having messes every where, all the time. Puke, piss and poo. NOT impressed. he sure is a cuddler though. lonely I guess when I'm at work. practically ignored dd when she came last week! oy.
• money has been especially tight. something is always coming up and I can't seem to make it ahead. I told myself I was not allowed to buy any magazines in the month of March except for Creating Keepsakes and I have managed so far! it's hard to resist them, but wow, I am saving some money. so much of it is online. it's payday this week, thank goodness. next on the list is the bed, the a/c and shelves for the studio. then holidays with my girl. will continue to keep taking ot when I can and working the ER at least once a month. balance is key.
• I think it's been nearly a week of sleeping on the tempur pedic. so far I'm not convinced. I might be able to sleep on my right side for a short amount of time. but I certainly don't fall into and think omg I've gone to heaven and sleep like a dream!
• have decided to cut my hair off and go short. can't wait for the change!

finally, I make a card!

ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

LOL. Pre embossed card by DCWV. Amy Butler paper. Unknown pepples. SU Butterflies. Hero Art Birthday Sentiment. Basic Gray cupcake stamp. SU ink.

me. lots of gray, so much so I couldn't keep the picture in technicolour. say goodbye to those menopause curls....

some progress IS happening...

If Ali Edwards can post a picture of her messy crowded workspace, so can I! Please note the new Ikea scrapbooking table that faces my workspace. That big ole oak desk was my father's and I love it! I plan to get two more of those Ikea tables so that I can have a few friends over to crop!

Well I got the Swedish Thempur Pedic on the floor. Not point buying a cheap ole metal frame as it must be on wooden slats. So I'm saving up the $$$ for my dream of a black sleigh bed. My friends tell me it won't go with my new antigue French Provincial vanity and chest, but I dont' care. I just want my room to be girly and glamorous and a beautiful retreat for me.Things will really start to move along when I get the dresser to put some of my clothes in and the closet gets fixed and I can hang up all my clothes.

wishing me sweet dreams......

Happy St Patrick's Day

in honour of my daughter's Irish heritage; a picture of a fantastic place we visited in 2001. The Giant's Causeway Northern Ireland.

• worked five shifts. that was the plan all along, but I unfortunately had to cancel my night shift at my old ER as OT came calling at my main job. shifts went ok. made some connections with a few patients and that is always satisfying. supremely exhausted.
• starting all over, is so expensive. I can't keep up with bills, expenses, responsibilities, saving, "needs/wants". thinking of applying for a second job at a place I was offered a job a couple years ago. my heart still is back in the ER. I know I can't work there full time, physically or mentally. I *love* my new job, the people I work with are a dream and the type of work I get to do, professionally satisfying. But, it doesn't pay like the old job. *sigh*
• my daughter is coming for a visit in a few days and I'm so looking forward to that. any time with her is so precious.
• my g/f helped me finish off the scrapbooking table. it was a fun time! I so wish I could get some expedit shelves and then I could start unpacking and putting things away. I miss creating so much. I know it would help with my stresses. Need to set up my printer so I can print off pictures and scrapbook some recent things. That would be so lovely.

Wouldn't this be gorgeous in my home?

Our natural state of being is joy, and it takes so much energy to think negative thoughts, to speak negative words, and to feel miserable. The easy path is good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Take the easy path.

two favorite things.... lovely Las Vegas hotel with Eiffel tower and the Bellagio fountains!

dead. tired.

how cute is this umbrella????

Well. Here's the deal. I don't like used things, furniture or clothes or pretty much anything else. I don't like garage sales, second hand shops or shopping for antiques.

I hang out with McBabyC and Rocketgirl and what do I find myself doing last week? Purusing through the lists on Craigslist! And then, I find a website from there and find a lady who buys rescued furniture, some vintage and refinishes them!

Fast forward to yesterday when Rocketgirl and I go on a big adventure. We met at the lady's home, which was 40 miles away from us. Turns out all her items are in her "barn". I thought we were going to drive another 40 miles. But it was so worth it. A cute red barn out in farm land is opened to reveal 120 pieces of absolute delight.

I had gone initially for a teal vanity, that is French Provincial in style. I'd like it painted a glossy black. I don't know what I need it for, but it will be amazing in my new girly bedroom. And then there's a matching 9 drawer dresser. Ok, that's mine now too. And oh I see a bit of a unique round table that will possibly be quite great for the big tv D&D gave me a few months ago. So she's going to refinish it all for me. I would like to find matching bedside tables and a tall lingerie chest.

Good thing I have two jobs!

how cute is this new release from Tim Holtz/Sizzix? It's a sizzlet! looooove it! I am starting to have a real thing for butterflies.

"'A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.'
George Bernard Shaw"

"“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.”
Zig Ziglar"

a sneak peek......

just a little peek at two of three pieces of furniture I bought today.... I guess I'm becoming an antique girl! Met a lovely lady who refinishes old furniture into new beauties! These two French Provincials are going to be transformed for me in a new colour and new hardware. Keep checking back for pictures of the new furniture. Love the vanity, not sure what I will be using it for and then there is the 9 drawer chest of drawers, so much room! I also got a round tv stand. So excited!

Blogthings - You Are Most at Home in the Bedroom

Blogthings - You Are Most at Home in the Bedroom: "You Are Most at Home in the Bedroom
You're the type of person who finds sanctuary in your home. Your home is your private space.
While you may be a social person outside the home, it's very rare that you invite people into your home.

There's nothing like spending time alone in your bedroom - relaxing and reflecting about your day.
You truly treasure your time by yourself. You need to be able to recharge every so often in order to thrive."

more from The Secret

You do not have to erase negative thoughts you have had. All you have to do is feel good and think good thoughts right now, and you will shift yourself to a completely different frequency where no negativity exists. No matter what you have thought in the past, whether ten years ago or one minute ago, NOW is where all your power is. Right NOW you can use your power and shift yourself. When you know this, you can move through your life without fear or regrets, because you can always think good thoughts NOW.

some flowers from work....

from The Secret

When we are feeling happy on the inside, law of attraction is matching up the inside of us, and bringing unlimited happiness to us. Law of attraction says, “Like attracts like”. We have to be the exact state on the inside of what we want to bring on the outside. You can’t complain and be miserable and expect your life to change. In that state you are attracting more misery to yourself. You have to be the ‘like’ that you want to attract.

If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.

Elbert Hubbard

and then this one from Target. How fun! love it!

Also like these fun glasses, but can't remember where I saw them?

Really really like this glass; it's a famous Finnish design. A bit pricey, but I should would love to have a set!

• I've had a really rough few days. This morning I woke up at 0445 and feel different. better. calmer. less achey. clearer. Not going to get in to it but I feel like I have too much on my plate and it's my age old story, how do I deal with it all???
• I bought on the week-end, a covered litter box, threw in some litter and put it in the bathroom downstairs at the other end of the room. A few days later I checked and YES, he has used it! Now, to go buy more litter. I think it's going to work well; less mess, let smell, more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
• the mattress arrived yesterday and I don't know what I was thinking but I have no frame. A friend told me I can get them cheap 2nd hand so I will have to hunt that out on my days off. It is VERY hard when you lay on it but it quickly starts to mold to your body. I see potential. I hope so.
• Slowly working on putting together the scrapbooking table for the studio. Not a very good instruction reader, so I've had to do and undo a few steps, which of course makes me frustrated and I walk away. Basically I have three legs to put on it and tighten it all up. Next will be the bedside table for my bedroom. I can do these things, I can!
• Going to see if my gf's hubby can come and fix my toliet in the master bath, on my next set of days off. It would be so nice to have two working toliets, at the same time, for once!
• Got a call at the hospital from a specialist's office to make an appt. Guess that meas that I didn't pass that methacholine breathing test. Asthma? Wouldn't that be freaking fantastic. It's in my mom's family history.
• Thought if I could go play in the studio yesterday that might help boost me, but it's so overwhelming with open boxes everywhere and can't find anything. But I found a little project of glass coasters that you can slide pictures into for the decoration. I decided just to use some spring floral paper and did that. Might have helped a smidge. The sun was coming in through the blinds and it's going to be such a wonderful space when it's done.

2 oz Vanilla Vodkla

2 oz Amaretto

2 oz Creme de Cacao

Mix with lots of ice. You know what to do with it afterwards.

Today would have been their 53rd wedding anniversary.

my word being "possibilities" !!!

from Ali Edward's website