Happy Anniversary to me!

LOL. Everyone expected me to buy myself some jewelry... surprise! I bought myself a funky occasional chair for my living room, in a lovely charcoal gray. It's been one year of living in a new community, in my OWN HOME, in my new life. Won't you come visit me?

Today is my last day off before I head back to work, and as always, I leave things to the last minute, so I have A LOT of chores to complete. I did start some laundry and unpacking yesterday but also went out and did more shopping. THAT reveal will come up later today!

AM so TOTALLY getting into the CHRISTMAS spirit/mode! Playing the music and dreaming/thinking of how to decorate and idea for the Christmas party. Need to pull out the gifts I have so far and wrap them and get a tally so I know where I am at. Have a few gifts in "the works", if you know what I mean. I used to strongly dislike Christmas before Halloween, but maybe it's because I strongly dislike Halloween now that it's ok? I was disappointed to see little Christmas stuff in the USA but it's flourishing here in all the stores I've been to. Bring It On!

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.- Robert Louis Stevenson

Happiness... consists in giving, and in serving others.- Henry Drummond

For it is in giving that we receive.- St. Francis of Assisi

Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.- Mother Teresa

Below you will find a quick pictorial post about the fun great roadtrip I had with MsCupcake. Sadly Rocketgirl couldn't make it last minute and she was greatly missed. Especially when it came time to read maps! ha! Anyways, I never post pictures of my friends so it may sort of look like I went on the trip by myself, but there really was the two of us and we had so many laughs (hiding in change room stalls so I could show the tragedy of what plus size clothing is all about) and enjoying Christmas music while we drove... even discussing the finer points of Christmas music, like Boney M. Seriously, I know the music, but did they have to call themselves that? Give me the real REAL classics and I'm a happy girl. Oh ok, and one Mariah song. Got lots of shopping done, from Christmas gifts, to bedding for the bedroom that is PERFECT, to scrapbooking stuff and more. Hello OT!!! Had to stop back across the border, where we absolutely feel more comfortable and relaxed, yes, at Home Sense. Thank you beautiful trees, you will look lovely in less than two weeks when you get decorated...........

Thank you MsCupcake for a lovely trip, it was great. I hope the Trifecta will get back on course and plan another trip, even for a day, to go out and shop; at least Canada has Christmas stuff out!

the best Christmas we found

a tree with white owls for rocketgirl

a leopard print tree for me

a cupcake tree for MsCupcake

sassy sparkles and waffles

SHOPPING!!!!

So here we are at the clam place. Yeah, I know, it's Claim Jumpers. WTH does that mean anyways. Clam bake sounds way better. Thank gawd I'm allergic. What a huge big place. The food was so good but soooo filling. Want me to retell you stories of the following several hours in the hotel room? Nah. Me either. I just rolled over. But, we were VERY full and couldn't finish our desserts which was a shame, especially since they call them cheese cream pies! It was a wonderful evening except for the over stuffing symptoms. Great company.

MsCupcake's much awaited for, waffle.



Cinnamon-alicious? Cinnamon toasted, french toasted, caramel sauce, pecans, whipped cream. Served with greasy bacon, potatoes and eggs. I made it through the cinnamon-sation!

This is what the back of the truck looked like. Hard to tell but it's full. Trust me. It's full. The border guards know it. The credit card company knows it. I know it; it's still half full of stuff!

She's here!

For weeks I've been fighting days with sore throats and cough, fevers and then gone again. Well last week the cold came out full force and now my asthma has kicked in and my breathing is so tight. AAAHHH. For obvious reasons, I hate being sick. Hate missing work. Hate being sick. Hate not having anyone to take care of me. But now, with asthma, it is scarey. It's an awful feeling not being able to breathe. Panic. I can't imagine how Pappa felt, with his COPD on top of 66 years of smoking and lung cancer. I've said it many times but I will say it again. I'm so thankful he went peacefully in his sleep, not struggling for his last breaths. I think about him all the time and especially right now since I've started this struggle with my breathing.

I was to work my last shift today, the awful 11-11pm shift. I had to park in the very back of the parking lot and by the time I got inside the doors, I could not take a breath in. I was so scared, I sat on the ledge while people walked by, trying to breath. Went to my unit and talked to my PCC and she could see I was struggling so sent me back home. That long walk back to the truck nearly did me in. My chest so tight and heavy. Came home and propped myself up against pillows. Am so exhausted.

That's it for my whiney post. Sorry.

Here is my beautiful purple dishes I got from Pier One Imports. And I found silver chargers for them, 4 for 12.99. Now I need to find a lovely purple and silver table cloth, and runner. I have visions for the center piece too. Lots of silver and glass. It's a start!



Some beautiful fall colours at the end of the driveway.

Had a good day today despte not sleeping all night. Got three more loads of laundry done, so I'm set for a few weeks.
Did a big Superstore shop which can sometimes be fun but lately it's a drag.
Got my US money for my trip and that was fun, cashing in all those toonies and loonies really adds up!
Checked out a new scrapbooking store in town; some unique papers, nice people and floor design.
Went to Home Sense and picked up some Christmas supplies...three super cute pink trees! They will look so funky in the basement, I think....

“The friend who holds your hand and says the wrong thing is made of dearer stuff than the one who stays away.”
Barbara Kingsolver (born 1955);author, poet, essayist

This super cute little box is made with my Stampin' Up! BIG SHOT and a Sizzix die. Can't you just imagine the possibilities of what little goodies you could tuck here and give as a gift? Kiwi Kiss is the colour of the cardstock and I used an old fall stamp set with Versamark ink.




I am really falling in love with these owls, which you can make with the super easy Owl Punch from Stampin' Up!. One punch and all the pieces are there for you. Use two pieces of coordinating papers for a fun look. Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush are the colours I went with and Stampin' Up! DSP for the owls. Stamp is from a retired set.

Made this square card with some Razzle Dazzle Bazzill Birthstone Cardstock, not sure of the colour but it has a pretty shimmer. Rest of papers are from Stampin' Up! Notice the embossed detail at the bottom edge of the card? That's from the new borders from Cuttlebug. The onesie, I confess, is from Michaels.

quiz result on "what's holding you back?"

FEAR OF LOSING CONTROL
You feel overwhelmed by the prospect of change, and worry that if you follow your heart, you will risk everything—your financial security, your future, even your relationships. When faced with a decision, "catastrophizers," as psychologists call them, tend to jump to the worst-case outcome. For example, when you think about changing jobs, you quickly come to a vision of yourself living on the street after failing miserably. Karen Reivich, PhD, codirector of the University of Pennsylvania's Resiliency Program, has a useful technique for easing that anxiety. When you feel your negative thoughts spiraling out of control, try forcing them in the opposite direction by imagining an equally improbable best-case scenario. For example, you are so amazing at your new job that you get promoted five times in the first year and appear on the cover of Forbes. This positive picture broadens your outlook, and makes it easier for you to envision a realistic scenario between the two extremes. You will likely struggle a bit as you transition into the new job, but you will gradually become more successful—and feel much happier and more satisfied.

• I broke down and bought two magazines! What poor restraint I have. One is a cool one for potlucks and the other was the newest home decor magazine I enjoy so much. One of the ladies at work has a son who is doing a magazine fundraiser, so I signed up for two magazines, for a huge savings.
• my g/f "L" came up on my days off and we talked/scrapbooked for 9 hours! So lovely. Made another date for next month and am looking forward to that. I got a layout done, some cards made, finished the mini album I'm giving at Christmas and played with the Big Shot. She also brought my Scrapbook Express order and I'm looking forward to putting together this BoBunny scalloped edge album that I had found pretty purple themed papers for, some of them die cut for the pages. Would make a great Mother's Day gift I think. I need to get a move on the daytimers and start Christmas cards!
• my personal sadness issue continues; got worse over the Thanksgiving holidays and is breaking my heart.
• work has been really busy and heavy lately. For some reason I am starting to have real issues with people not taking their breaks. It really irks me. For that person, they are working for free, not managing their time and holding back other people who want to have their breaks. I am quite determined I am taking all my breaks, all the time. I know once in a while it's impossible with a crisis, but we can always be busy and heavy but still need our rest time to eat and decompress.
• I have a friend who had a jewelry party and I ordered a few pieces; they came today and I just love them. One is a gift and I hope it goes over well. I'm even wearing a pair of the earrings at work right now!
• Speaking of wearing, I am wearing purple today as part of a facebook movement to speak out against bullying towards gay/lesbian/transgendered. WEAR PURPLE!
• I think I have decided to try to grow my hair out a bit. It really needs the gray covered bad, but I'm going to hold off until the end of November. My hairdresser won't be happy and I certainly won't like the stripe I have, but then it will be nice for Christmas. Who knows....maybe by then I'll be going back to short short.
• Only have three days off this set and I plan to do nothing outside of the home but stay in pjs and do as little chores as possible and hopefully spend some time in the studio!

Couldn't last three weeks. Bought two magazines today. *sigh*

from The Secret

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Do not worry at all about negative thoughts, and do not try to control them. All you have to do is begin to think good thoughts each day. Plant as many good thoughts as you can in each day. As you begin to think good thoughts you will attract more and more good thoughts, and eventually the good thoughts will wipe out the negative thoughts altogether.

May the joy be with you.

I lasted two weeks and one day. Today I HAD to have a serious coffee. And that was only happening at Starbucks. Yes, I failed. I broke down and went and got myself a Grande Non Fat Mocha. And it's 100% heaven. the end.

Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.- Lao Tzu
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.- Confucius

• having the HARDEST time turning around, two nights of tossing and turning and being awake...ugh I feel like a wreck. Today I have a g/f coming over and I'm not very prepared; still will have a good time and hope I can get some stamina to keep up with her. Saturday will be a lazy chore day.
• put the upstairs fireplace on this morning!!!
• heart is so heavy
• did some online Christmas shopping yesterday and am very excited about it
• the vivid crazy dreams continue; must be the new medication
• had a work meeting and it went fairly well. still need a few more months...ugh.
• ankle and knees aching so much; is it the change in the cold weather?

my new blue glasses

POTD

my dresser on a good day

this too shall pass

That's a hard one to remember and believe some times. Some personal things I don't like to share on my blog; you never know who is reading. I have a situation going on right now that is literally breaking my heart and I don't know what to do about it except give it time. But life is so short and I worry that it will be taken from me before this gets resolved. Certainly having a negative impact on my health; my nerves are near shot.

On my last nightshift and oy am I ever tired. Long nights. Good patients but long nights. I don't do well sitting with nothing to do. I forget the most simple tasks. I'd rather not have idle hands. Once in awhile is nice but all the time gets to be a bit much. Searching the online job bank doesn't reveal anything too terribly exciting. Waiting to hear from the ER again; wonder if they will call me back for more OT. As always, missing my old stomping grounds.

Seriously looking forward to my little mini vacay in a few weeks. Plan to get the most of my Christmas shopping done. Wouldn't that be something. The boys are always the hardest, especially my brother. I know exactly what I'm doing for my daughter and mother.

Been browsing "petfinder" looking for the perfect dog. *sigh* how I miss my Gunnar boy.

• I got the most lovely purple dishes from Pier One; perfect for fall!
• Am anxiously awaiting my Stampin' Up! parcel to be delivered; all the goodies from the Clearance Rack. Did you get anything good?
• My g/f "L" is coming on my next set of days off for a scrapbooking date; really looking forward to that. Hope she can spend the night and we can really go wild! I think I will be doing some cards, some projects and some pages.
• Work is going ok so far. Yes, just "ok". Spoiled my patients tonight with Dilly Bars. yes I did.
• Knees are aching lots. I know why. I need to get back on program.
• Really disappointed in missing Thanksgiving. Felt pretty pathetic eating Stove Top stuffing and instant mashed potatoes. :(
• getting new tires for the truck next week and getting it detailed so it's all ready for the big trip to the US of A!
• did I mention we have DILLY BARS at work tonight?

10/10/10

Thankful for family.

Thanksgiving Delights
On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for

Our blessings all year through,

For family we dearly love,

For good friends, old and new.
For sun to light and warm our days,

For stars that glow at night,

For trees of green and skies of blue,

And puffy clouds of white.
We’re grateful for our eyes that see

The beauty all around,

For arms to hug, and legs to walk,

And ears to hear each sound.
The list of all we’re grateful for

Would fill a great big book;

Our thankful hearts find new delights

Everywhere we look!

got to cuddle with this lovely, sweetheart today at a wonderful babyshower for a co-worker.

It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.

Dale Carnegie

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect.It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

Anonymous

Three things...

that I am giving up for October

1. Starbucks
2. magazines, except for PaperCrafts and Creating Keepsakes
3. clothes shopping

can I do it??? Yes, I sure can, it's been a week already!

“All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days . . .nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.”
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963);35th US President

miss my girl so much

Today's happiness is:

• getting a pedicure, heaven! Colour: Ms Can't Be Wrong. YOU KNOW IT!
• October Creating Keepsakes magazine!
• getting all my returns done
• finding gorgeous purple dishes at Pier One
• Breaking down and getting the new OTT light for my studio (the light is SO poor down there) and Home Office for the computer!

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
Mitch Albom (born 1958);

Author, screenwriter, musician

• I was really excited to wake up yesterday morning to find out that Stampin' Up! had added 200 items into the clearance rack, up to 80% off. I quickly signed up and stocked up on ribbons, buttons, punches, and even some sizzix dies. What a deal/steal! woo hoo
• had two appointments yesterday, both similar for intent but opposite in result. ugh
• going for a lovely pedicure today, my feet need some stat pampering. heels are bleeding. ouch! miss all those foot rubs from years gone past.
• awake early this am after a vivid dream. WIDE awake. had a lovely call into the office with MsCupcake then went downstairs and printed up 5x7 black'n'white prints for a project I have planned for my bedroom and puttered with a few projects I have on the go. I actually have about six projects on the go, actually, and in my head. All for Christmas, except what I did this morning with the prints. I am going to get glass cut for my dressers and place the prints under neath for added interest and, to hide the marks, etc
• saw a sweetie puppy online on petfinder.........am I ready for a dog?

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/randikelley/

EXCITING NEWS

STAMPIN' UP! has added over 200 new items to the clearance rack, hurry to get the best deals while they last at my online store: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/randikelley/

Here are the three cards I did on WCMD at work on my break. Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze cardstock, last year's Christmas paper, Stampin' up! buttons and die cuts. Stamps are Hero Arts and dew drops from Robin's Nest.

Colour Challenge

I decided in the middle of the night that I wanted to do a colour challenge; find inspiring pictures with great colours and then decide on making a card for inspiration! Want to join me? Pick a picture that inspires you, make a card and then send me the image with the details! I will share with you what I come up with on my days off....enjoy!