Day 24

A little over a week ago, I blogged about putting out my Valentine's Day decorations.  And, I've already shared one of them with you, one of my Precious Moments. 

Here is another favorite that I know I did not share last year...my LOVE blocks.  I have these blocks from Terry's Village for almost all occasions, and so of course I have them for Valentine's Day too.

A cute little bear, with heart shaped balloons sitting atop the stair step blocks...ahhh...LOVE!

Day 23

Zzzzzz....yep, look closely, he's asleep.  I was just finishing up a few things around the house tonight, and Rob went to bed ahead of me to read (on his iPhone).  Kind of looks like he's reading, right?

But, by the time I got to bed he was already sawing logs, but all the while still holding on to his phone...pretty good muscle control hubby!

Day 22

Alright, I'm in.  In my new office that is.  I'm not exactly settled, and Grant is currently my roomie for a few more days, but nonetheless, I'm in.

Yesterday everyone except for Richland Fire had the day off for MLK, Jr. Day.  I had planned to take the day off but went in to get a couple things done.  None of which I accomplished because Grant had some pretty big ideas about moving.  We got my desk in place yesterday.  And then today I got some more stuff brought in, along with my bookshelf and some odds and ends.

Still a ways to go...but look at my desk...in a new office...with windows!!  More to come once everything is in place.

Day 21

I'm keeping up with my scrapbooking theme for another day.  On Saturday I mentioned that I worked on a mini album, along with the two layouts from my bridal shower.  Here is that mini album.

I was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest. I took a small chipboard album and covered each page in a different Christmas paper from a My Mind's Eye pack I had. Then I took each of the photo collage   Christmas cards Rob and I had received this year (aren't you always wondering what to do with those??), and cut apart the photos and the sentiments and attached them to each page - creating a 2012 Christmas Keepsake Album.

It was probably a little more work than I had anticipated, mostly because of the shape of the chipboard album...cutting down and then sanding all those little 'petals' was quite a chore.  But I like the idea of it so much that I may go back a do a few other years...just in a square or rectangle shape instead!

Day 20

I posted the bridal shower layouts yesterday, and it dawned on me that I had never posted the wedding layouts that I completed at the Scrapbooking Retreat back in November.  Instead I posted photos of Trina and I out to dinner, and the great shot of the deer I got.  Go figure!

So in an effort to stay fired up, I thought I would share my three wedding layouts.  I have to say, I thought these turned out very nice as well.  With having very few good photos of us, I did the best with what I had.  I tried to stick to the color palette of our wedding...pinks and greens with touches of grey and silver.  Thanks to a few embellishments I had picked up here and there, and a DCWV wedding paper pack Mom gave me for my birthday, I had all the touches I needed to work some magic.

And now, with the shower and the wedding completed, I just have our 'mini-honeymoon' beach trip photos to scrap, and our wedding album should be all wrapped up!

Day 19

It has been too long!  The original purpose of starting this blog, and I haven't posted a scrapbook layout since...well I can't remember!  Not that I mind that it has evolved a bit, but it's good to get back to my roots, so to speak.

Today, Trina and I made a date to scrapbook at the fire station for a few hours. We are always saying we are going to do it, but with busy lives, just never seem to manage to connect.  We had originally planned to get together on Monday, because it is MLK, Jr. Day, but switched it to today at the last minute.  And boy am I glad we did. I worked on a mini album, and then these two layouts from my bridal shower.  The photographs don't really do them justice, because I think they turned out quite nice.  And the best part is - I was able to incorporate an actual napkin from the shower, and two of the tags from the Skittles tubes.  I also used left over paper from my Thank You notes.

I had such a good day, now I'm all fired up.  I sure hope I stay that way, because I have lots of projects in the hopper!

Day 18

Today was cleaning day in Grant's Office.  But, boy what a mess.  I guess it has to get worse, before it can get better.

We are in the process of moving at work.  We are not moving out, just swapping offices.  Grant, Bre and I are all doing a switcharoo.  It seems like a lot of work for little benefit, but there really is a method to our madness.  Grant is having to move first, and is taking full advantage by mucking out his entire office...files, drawers, binders...you name it, he chucked it.  Even filled the recycle bin...to the brim!

Next will be my turn in the hopper, as I work my way into Grant's office, so Bre can work her way into mine.  So stay tuned as the move progresses, I'm sure there will be more photos to follow.

Day 17

Today's Photo Challenge prompt was Favorite Toy.  I remember getting that prompt last year, and photographing a stuffed animal then too.  I guess at my age, we don't have a lot of actual toys...stuffed toys are as good as it gets.

This little guy was a Christmas purchase.  When Rob and I were in Spokane we bought because it was a purchase for a good cause - the proceeds go to St. Jude Children's Hospital.  I thought I may give him away as a gift, but as I carried him through the mall, he was just so cute and so soft I kind of got attached.

Once I decided that I was going to keep him, I checked to see if he had a name, and he is called Lil' Paw.  I just loved him even more right then.  As of late, he has been sitting on my nightstand...not that there's room for him there...with the bear Rob gave me last year.

Day 16

I did not take today's photo, but it comes to us courtesy Mom.  She is getting used to her iPhone, and being able to text, and take photos and share them.  She's really coming along pretty quickly, considering she upgraded from an old dinosaur with no features to speak of!

This morning she texted this photo to me to let me see Lucy, toasting herself in front of the fireplace. 

Ahhh...the life of a pup at Grammy's house.  Baylee and Lucy have it so 'ruff' there!

Day 15

Do you see that?  It's a great big ol' bowl of candy.  And someone set it down RIGHT in front of me!  How rude!

I was at a meeting with Grant this afternoon...actually one quick meeting followed by one very long meeting with the city manager and a city council subcommittee.  During the second meeting they brought in bottles of water and two dishes filled with candy, and set one of them right in front of me.

Since starting our diet, I have yet to eat any 'junk' food...no cookies, no ice cream, no candy...and I didn't fold today either.  Even though there were those little flavored Tootsie Rolls in there...Twisties...and I just love those darn things.  But no way, I didn't partake.

Day 14

Today's Photo Challenge prompt is In Low Light.  I decided to take a picture of one of my Valentine decorations I put out yesterday...which is on top of the TV, in the armoire.  Not a lot of light going on in there.  I did run the photo through Instagram though, so she has a soft, almost nostalgic glow.

This little Precious Moments is one of three I put out, all adorned with a heart in some way.  She is a Collector's Club figurine from many years ago - in fact I think she was my very first member figurine - and she's called You're The Sweetest Cookie In The Batch.  I think she came with a heart shaped cookie cuter.  It's a sweet little token of a time quite some time ago.

Day 13

Today is officially the last day of the Christmas Season.  It is a feast day, celebrating the Baptism of Our Lord - the day Christ himself was baptized.

For us, that meant after church the final Christmas decorations - the Christmas tree, the outdoor decorations and the Nativity - all came down, putting an end to Christmas Season 2012 at our house. 

And since it is now only one month away, it also meant the Valentine's Day decorations could come out...Yay!  I just love the pinks, the reds, the hearts...love, love, love!

Day 12

It's kind of crazy title (yes...pun intended), but it's actually a pretty good book.  I bought this book several years back and read a good portion of it, then put it on the shelf. 

It really isn't so much about anxiety - as in panic attacks, or phobias - as in deathly afraid of heights or spiders.  It's more about what makes us tick, our unconscious thought patterns, our negative self-talk, our self-esteem and self-image.  All these things are tied up in what makes us afraid, angry, anxious, stressed, etc.

After a bit of a rough day, I thought it was a good idea to retrieve it, and take another look at it.  So far I've read a couple chapters, and now I'm headed to bed to read a little more.  Reading things like this usually have a two-fold result for me...I often feel bad at first, and think, WOW, I do that, I have that, I'm that way.  But then I think, well, now I can try to change that...so it gives me a bit of hope too.  So here's to a little self-discovery...

Day 11

Look...snow!  I know we are only technically a few weeks into winter, but this certainly was a surprise, and wasn't in the forecast for today!

Bre texted this morning on her way into the office and said it was snowing.  I thought she was pulling my leg, because there had been no sign of snow when I arrived.  But I checked the window, and sure enough it was really coming down outside.  Within a matter of minutes, the parking lot, streets and cars were covered.  It snowed for about an hour or more, giving everything a coat of sparkling white.  Then the sun came out, melted it all, and it was like it never happened!

Day 10

Today's Photo Challenge prompt was just titled Real Life.  I love how Katrina just puts a word or two as the prompt and you can draw from it what you will.

For me, my real life is chock-full of emotions, always bubbling just below the surface.  I tend to wear them on my sleeve, hard as I try not to.  And, more often than not, my real life emotions overflow as tears.  I find that I am in need of tissue more than I would like to admit.  And today was certainly no exception.  It was one of those days where it was everything, yet nothing at all.  I tried to explain it to Rob, but could only articulate that I've had a heavy heart today.  And at bedtime, my heavy heart overflowed, as did the tears, and I was in need of much tissue.