Day 14

Holy Scrapbook Mess Batman!!  This room (or side of the room at least) is IN-SANE! My poor scrapbook space.  It has been neglected for far too long - and become a dumping ground of sorts.  I came in tonight to get started on the overhaul...just in time to pack it all up in a couple weeks and head off to scrapbook camp!  Tonight, I only managed to download some photos though...funny how once you start looking at pictures, time disappears.  This project might take awhile...but I promise to post the tidy results when finished!

Day 13

Today, I decided to check out the Capture Your 365 photo prompt for the day.  It said, An Encouraging Word.  I guess this can be anything you make it to be.  For me, as I was sitting on the edge of my bed, the first thing I thought of was my prayer card for Saint Veronica.

I chose Saint Veronica, or rather she chose me, before being baptized and confirmed.  Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), she is not one of the more popular saints, so things with her image or likeness are not all that common to find.

Thankfully, Rob found this prayer card with a medal for me for Christmas.  I keep the medal on my necklace, and the prayer card on my nightstand.  Her Prayer to the Holy Face on the back side of the card is An Encouraging Word!

Day 12

Today was a bit of a continuation of yesterday. Rob and I went to Mass this morning, then I made an early dinner and sent him off to work.  After he left, I continued with trying to put the house back together...pictures back on the walls, knick knacks back on their shelves, furniture back where it belongs, etc., etc.  I did take a little break and attempted some Rice Krispie treats...unfortunately my marshmallows were old, and that didn't work out. So on to Plan B.

I've had these Cherry Chip Cookies before and I remember them being oh, so tasty.  All you do is take a cake mix, one egg, 1/2 stick of butter, 1 bar of cream cheese, and a splash of vanilla...voila, cookies.  I decided to add a little almond icing drizzle, just to dress them up and for a little extra flavor.  They aren't bad...but just not like I remember.  I think I've been wanting to make them for so long, I may have built them up in my mind.

I do have to admit, these cake mix cookies are pretty quick and easy though.  Might have to try a different flavor next time.

Day 11

I have spent nearly all day tearing down Christmas, and trying to get our house put back together again.  (I have never had my Christmas tree up until January 11th!!)  And this right here - this is my 'helper'.  She's like a mole stuck to my side - but since I haven't sat down much today, she doesn't have anyone to snuggle with.  Baylee could care less - she's off lying in her little doggie bed Santa brought her for Christmas.  But not Princess Lucy...she has to be in the thick of things.  And who wants to catch a few zzzz's in their new doggie bed anyway? Not her...not when you can make a perfectly fine bed out of a sofa pillow that has fallen to the floor!  All she needs is the crown.

Day 10

It's been one of those weeks.  Not a bad week, just kind of a crazy week.  With the first full week back to work after the holidays, and rolling into a new year, things were a bit crazy there.  And with me not feeling tip top just yet between my lingering cold and the infection in my leg and swollen ankle and foot, it was just...well...a crazy week.

But, near the end of the day, one of the Battalion Chiefs - who knew it had been a bit of a trying week for me at the office - came in and gave me a very unexpected Thank You...an Olive Garden gift card.  Well, it just so happens that Rob was asked to trade shifts today, and worked the morning and had tonight off.  I texted him and asked if he wanted to pick me up from work, and head across the street to the Olive Garden, and of course he did.

We had a great meal, I had this lovely cocktail...and although the place was packed and it was hard to hear each other talk, it was nice to spend an evening out together.

Thanks Curt for the gift card!  We put it to good use immediately!!

Day 9

Just me...with some new highlights and curls.

I got my hair done today, and when I was finished I got into the car and thought...why not?  Take a picture and capture the new do!  Traci does such a good job - I just pretty much tell her what I'm thinking, and she makes my hair look lovely.  Thanks Traci, for giving me a bit of a fresh look for the new year.

Day 8

Congratulations Rob!  This may be a short but sweet little email, but it has certainly has been a long time coming.

For about 5 months now Rob has been trying to become an Independent Contractor with the State of Washington.  To get this done, he has had to jump through hoop after hoop...resume, application, interview, reference checks, background check, etc.  And each time there is a lull in the momentum, it feels a little discouraging.  But on Monday, December 23rd, we received a Christmas Blessing...his contract came in the mail...his contract for services effective December 31, 2013 through June 30, 2015!

Today's email is just the icing on the cake - a note from the State saying they too had signed the contract, Rob's copy is in the mail, and notification is being made to local case managers that he is ready for clients!  Yay!!

Day 7

Look!  A quick stop at Hobby Lobby after work proved to be fruitful.

I've been searching the web looking for folks who post their Project Life layouts, and I've found some pretty good blogs to follow.  One of the things I've seen repeatedly has been a date stamp...yep, just the old fashioned kind you can roll up and down and stamp the date.  I like the way it looks, so I went hunting for one. I found a Dear Lizzy, and luckily all stamps were 50% off...score!

Also, I discovered that HL carries some of the Project Life stuff...not much, but a few things.  I found some themed cards for dogs.  Well...we all know there were probably be quite a few pup pictures throughout this year, so I grabbed those as well.  And, since it's been so very long since I've purchased product, I have yet to get into this whole Washi Tape business...so I grabbed a black and white chevron patterned one of those as well - to match my kit.  And, I just happened past a sticker sheet that I liked, all about faith, so I picked it up at 50% as well.

And did I mention I had a gift card...and only used about 1/2 of it...what a good shopper I am!  Just keeping the excitement and the momentum going...

Day 6

It came, it came!  I was so very excited to get a text from Rob this afternoon telling me a box from Amazon had arrived.  It was my Project Life order.  Just like any scrapper, new items cause near euphoria, but this...well this is a whole new world for me, so I couldn't wait to tear into that box and get EVERYTHING out to have a looksie. Now, to get busy putting it all together for 2014...Project Life Style!

Stay tuned for finished layouts, as I work my way through them, week by week.

Day 5

My cuddle bugs!!  Oh, what poor little Lucy will endure for the sake of a cuddle!  She just wants to be curled up on, or alongside someone...even Baylee.  And Baylee likes to have a leg up - either on the side of her bed, on your leg, or like now, even over the top of Lucy's neck.

I guess it's a match made in heaven?!?

Day 4

Lucy has found a new best friend.  She just LOVES Emilee.  She lays near her, next to her, or even on her.  Maybe because Em gives her some much love and attention.

Tonight she was even trying to help Em play with the Flashpad...I think her little paws on the board were were anything but helpful!

Day 3

Better late than never, as the saying goes.  January 3rd and our gingerbread house is finally finished.  I managed to get the house erected fairly early on, but then between Rob and I both being sick, the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and I guess just a lack of interest...that's where it stayed.

Well, Jenn, Tyler and Emilee came to visit for the weekend, so after dinner tonight Tyler took on the task of finishing the house.  I think he did a darn good job if you ask me.  Thanks Tyler.

Day 2

Ouch!  Yep, another one.  This whole staph infection thing is for the birds...and getting quite old!  Since my first occurrence that ended up with a hospital stay and surgery, I have battled reoccurring infections.  Some small and manageable, others not so much.  This is the first one I've had on my lower leg.  I felt a little bump at church on Sunday, and it has worked it's way up to this.  The new part though is all this swelling.  It's hard to really see in the picture, but my ankle and top of my foot are really puffy tonight!  I started antibiotics last night, so hopefully I'll see some healing soon.

Day 1

Today, on this 8th day of Christmas, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  On this Holy Day of Obligation we honor her divine motherhood to Jesus Christ.

This is a photo of our church's beautiful Nativity. Unfortunately, I was too sick to attend mass on Christmas Day so I missed its first day.  Not that I didn't see it last year (in fact I posted a photo of it!), it's just that there's the waiting and anticipating, the excitement of its placement to carry us through the 12 days of Christmas!

Happy New Year!

It's a brand new year and here I am...trying my hand at Project 365 one more time.  In 2012, I made it somewhere deep into November I believe.  But 2013 was not just a failure...it was an epic failure.

Not to be defeated, I'm trying again but with some changes - live and learn I guess.  I want to take much of the pressure off of myself by thinking I have to have some original, and beautifully composed shot each day...you know, photography at it's finest - NOT!  Those shots are rare, which is what makes them great.  This is just supposed to capture everyday life.  So, being that my iPhone is my friend and is with me always, usually right in my hand or pocket, I vow to be alright with using it - even all 365 days if that's how it turns out.

And, the other change - that I am most excited about - is that I'm not just going to blog them, but I'm going to scrap them.  I will still blog a bit, but the descriptions may be short and sweet just to explain the photo, and keep those that are still interested in what the Auchmoody's are doing up to speed.  The exciting part (if you're a scrapper, you'll understand - otherwise insert yawn here) is that I ordered Becky Higgins' Project Life kit from Amazon yesterday.  Those kits came out in 2009, and I've toyed with the idea of doing one ever since, but just couldn't commit.  Well, I texted Rob yesterday and told him I wanted to do it, and he said go for it...order placed and on it's way!

So Happy New Year one and all.  2013 had some ups, but it had a lot of downs too.  I'm going to chalk it up to the 13 in 2013, and look forward to an AWESOME 2014!!  Bring it on world, I'm ready for it, and to document it all!!