Thankful Thursday

Yes it's the yearly picture of the purple Crocuses. Crocusi?  ha!  Let's stick with Crocuses.   I mean how can I help myself.  Aren't they beautiful?  I walked by our porch a few days ago and noticed them and thought what a cool picture of God they are.  We planted those bulbs years ago, before we put in the flower beds that now sit on top of where they were planted so they are under several more feet of dirt than originally planned.  Plus, in typical fashion, we never quite got around to getting rid of all the leaves last fall So there are a ton of leaves packed down in this spot.  Then lets add lots of snow this winter, 8" at one time alone.  Let's add COLD temps.  A cold spring so far with winter hanging on tight and snow just this past weekend. Lots of hard times and a lot to go thru for pretty little purple flowers.

But none of that stopped these beautiful blooms from breaking through.  I love the new life in that.  I love God's brilliant burst of color.  No one makes a beautiful purple like God am I right?  It shows me such a lesson of life and how God brings forth beauty out of difficulty.  Isn't that how He works?  We think life would be better if everything was just easy and happy.  But the hard times in my life... the times that left the scars, the bumps, the bruises, the scratches, the pain..... those are the times I grew the most.  Those are the times I learned the most.  Those are the times that make me more like Jesus.  Those are the times he makes beauty for ashes.   So thankful for spring, and God's beauty and the promise of new life.  So awesome. 

Also feeling thankful today for my DR.  At my appointment today I was able to talk with him about all my continuing struggles since well... Monogirl became Monogirl.  I might not have put it quite that way though.  The fatigue, the sore throats, the headaches, the low energy and stamina, not being able to concentrate or focus, not handling stress so well..... Life has been fun ya think?  Well Monogirl got a new diagnosis or two today.  We may need to change her name.  I have now been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Depression.  CFS can be a result of Mono and as far as the symptoms go I can pretty much check off every one.  As far as depression?  I could have called that one.  It's hard to feel this much not yourself for this long and not go the depression route, especially when one has a history with it.  So.... I have some new meds.  I have a new plan of attack, a list of DR's orders and instructions and do's and dont's.  I guess we will travel down this road a bit now and see if there is improvement in sight or at least a turn in the road heading in that direction.  As far as Monogirl goes... do we change her name?  Chronogirl?  Nah... just doesn't have the same ring to it and besides... I've gotten to know Monogirl now and I think I need to embrace her, learn from her and let her become part of the new me I am heading for.  As weird as it might sound I am thankful for a diagnosis and something with a name because Monogirl does better when she knows what she is dealing with and that it's a real thing and not just in her head.  You might have to be in her head to understand but um... you may need a reservation.  It's kind of crowded in there lately. 

And it wouldn't be Thankful Thursday if I didn't also mention feeling thankful for....

• chicken patties.  Yes.  Seriously.  I order chicken patties from the Schwan man and decide yes, I like them and am happy because I don't know what Tyson did to theirs but ewwwww.  Then my Schwan man doesn't show up for 2 visits!  What's up with that.  So what do you do?  You go to the web site and place an order for a different Schwan person to show up at your door. Good plan until you are coming home from the DR and see the truck coming towards you which is away from your house.  Well... like all insane normal people, you follow the man and track him down until you can happily go home with your chicken patties.  Quite a strenous work out for Monogirls but hey... we need our chicken patties. 
• using my new shiny pink Coach purse.  I might have taken a picture.  I might have my next post all planned and it might have something to do with items in that purse....
• somehow managing to get my office work done today.  I needed to work like 6 hours.  I managed to work like 4 for which I am way thankful.  I had an anxiety type Monogirl meltdown before I got in the DR office.  I cried for the Dr.  I cried for my husband.  I almost cried for the receptionist.... I might have almost broke the bell on the Sphygmomanometer.  Remember me telling you how stress wears Monogirl out?  Well I did a good job of that before I ever got to the work that needed to be done.  But thankful for my husband... my chicken pattie..and a hot shower... I finally managed to simmer down and accomplish something.
• my husband.  He went to the DR today with me which if you are unsure if that was a good thing?  See number 3 above. 
• ibuprofen.... the headaches have been numerous
• that I now have DR's orders to scrapbook and read.  SERIOUS.  You can ask my husband.  The DR said it was important for me to do things that relax and calm me and that I like.  He asked what those things were. I mentioned walking, reading, scrapbooking, etc. He asked if I am doing those things and my husband answered for me, not so much.  Yes.  I talk about it a lot.  Yes.  I intend to do them a lot.  I don't seem to do that much though and certainly not like I used to... so now.. yes... Dr's orders.  Would any other scrapbookers out there like my Dr's number?
• date night
• a very understanding husband especially in the midst of bad Monogirl days
• the snoring I can hear.... it means my husband is nearby, home and safe.
•  safety for a loved one that was in an accident.  Thank you Jesus
• Little Debbie.... bless her heart for trying to fill the hole left by Hostess. 
• my Sunday School class
• being a Kids Hope mentor
• new clinique mascara
• bath and body works shower gel... it makes those hot showers more relaxing
• walking again.  I forget how much I like it and need it.
• wearing my sparkly shoes to church last week
• fun shopping last date night
• Kindles
• spring in the air
• open sunroofs.....rooves... roofs... where is spell check when you need it.
• more blog comments!  Thanks Deb and Jean!  You made me smile too!

And with that.... Mono... Chronogirl is under orders to observe a regular bed time. So, being the rule follower, list checker offer that I am... I must comply.  Tune in again this weekend for the much anticipated... "What's in Your Purse" post. Ok... it could be Monday. How about coming soon?!  Blessings!

Ten on Tuesday

1) Surprise... I actually showed up.  TWO... count them 1, 2 days in a row.  Impressive isn't it?  BUT do I have ten new and interesting things to say?  Well that remains to be seen. 

2) LOOK what my husband made.  He bought some strawberries from a friend at work that was selling them for some sort of school thing.  Have you ever heard of this? I've heard of apples.  Oranges.  Chocolate.  Every sort of candle... cheese.. summer sausage that you can imagine.  But never strawberries. Look what a good idea that was though.  He cut up strawberries.  He made his mother's One Egg Cake.  He brought his wife this pretty little bowl of goodness for dessert this evening. Good husband.

3)  Currently the cat and the dog are circling each other around the dinning room table.  The cat thinks hey what a great game.  The dog thinks why won't this cat leave me alone and let me go back to my bed in peace....

 

4) I currently am having a total Monogirl headache.... life today is trying to give me a total Monogirl meltdown... but so far I have persevered.  Now if I could learn to do that for 2, 3 days in a row.... perhaps life would be normal again.  I'd even settle for new normal.

5) Last night I was going through my Kids Hope tote bag getting ready for my first Kids Hope session today.  Someone should have told me the thing was booby trapped.  In the bottom was a little red pouch with this flat twisted up red thing inside.  I'm thinking OK... what is this.  As I am examining it, it pops open, sort of like one of those pringles cans full of those spring coiled snakes ready to leap out at you.  Scared me to death..... which was quite entertaining to my husband. Turns out it was a flexible Frisbee that twists and folds up flat.  A cool and fun item... once you are aware its going to jump out of its bag on its own and try to scare you to death.

6) Does it mean I have it bad for my Kindle when I just had to go to Amazon to check to see if any of the four FREE books that were sent to me yesterday happened to already be on my Kindle?  I mean... I could just read the free copy of the book and put my Kindle down for a moment right?

7) I asked for Zumba for Kinnect for Christmas.  My husband got me Zumba for Kinnect for Christmas.  It is now late March and um I haven't "kinnected" a thing.  Perhaps I should start by taking the cellophane off of the package. 

8) On HSN craft day yesterday did you see the Martha Stewart circle punch?  That looks very cool but is it worth $60 to me to be able to do a deco punch in a circle?  Those little 6" circles they did were awful cute... but hey!  I keep forgetting.  I have a Cameo now right?  I can just print my own 6" little doily circle and no cramped hand involved... what a good idea.  I also like this all over quilted daisy punch they showed.  Can I do that with the Cameo?  Must investigate.  

9) I love blog comments.  Did you know?  It's just very fun to hear for sure that someone is reading and actually liking what they read.  So thank you to Roxie for the very nice comment on my last Thankful Thursday post.  You made me smile.   Anyone else want to make me smile?  I am sure that there is high on your priority list. 

10) And now I have actually reached 10.  The headache is still here.  It perhaps is worse.  Monogirl headaches seem to come in extra strength only.  Do they make Monogirl Tylenol?  Perhaps I could submit that idea for tired headachy Monogirls everywhere.  Maybe they'd erect a statue in my honor.  Maybe it would be pink.  What a nice thought to end on. 

Until Thankful Thursday.... blessings!

Monogirl Day

You've heard of sick days.... vacation days... perhaps even mental health days.  Let me introduce you to Monogirl days since I am currently in the midst of one. 

Much like a sick day.... monogirl days would imply one is not functioning well and does not have the energy to drag one's self out of bed.  They generally involve a bad headache and possibly a sore throat.  They are usually preceded by no good horrible terrible very bad days which is code for either Monogirl was exhausted by too many things to do, waaaayyy to much stress.... or both.  Yesterday was one such day. 

I made it to church.  I handled my duties in the sound/video booth.  I handled my duties as Admin. Asst.  I sang in a quartet (which was likely the most fun part of my day - you should have heard my husband hit that high note!).  We had lunch.  We came home.  Sounds normal enough right?  Except that Monogirl had NO patience yesterday.  I am talking even less than Monogirl normal NO patience.  It was if such a thing as patience never existed.  Perhaps for Monogirl it hasn't.  She was tired.  She was the epitome of bad PMS emotional even though PMS was not involved.  Stress, even light stress had her near tears at church.  In tears at lunch and that was a nice lunch at her favorite La Carreta.  She was in tears a minimum of 2 times once she arrived home and this was even after a nap.  Monogirl was having serious trouble functioning yesterday and yes, it has affected Monday as well and caused a Monogirl day.  Tried to get up for work but there was the headache... the throat... the extreme fatigue.  She laid back down and easily slept till 1:00 PM in the afternoon and that was after an 8 hour sleep last night. 

So now inquiring minds are trying to discern what caused this episode of Monogirl meltdown?  She was tired after a short work day and walking around shopping Friday night.  She walked 1-1/2 miles on Thursday and Saturday.  But she doesn't think that was it.  She did have some stress though and she is noticing that stress can make her more exhausted than physical activity.  Was it a combination of the three?  How does she keep working out and try to move forward without Monogirl meltdowns in the meantime?  And um who can completely avoid stress?  Trying to get a Monogirl grip here and figure out what I am supposed to learn about all this and how in the heck I ever get on with my life.....

On that happy note... Did you see the picture?  I needed to post that picture first because I needed that unflattering picture of me from Thursday to move father on down the page.  Don't want to be scaring people as they arrive on the blog.  OK I was scaring and depressing myself.  Second?  Well you needed to see that the accessory shopping has been pronounced successful.  LOVED Versona Accessories.   Very fun and I liked their prices.  I think the cross was $10 and the bracelet $6?  I love it when cute stuff is also kind to my wallet.  LOVED finding the perfect shade of aqua blue and cannot wait to see it all together this Sunday!  How did I match things up so well?  Well I did what all normal people do and carried around one shoe in a shopping bag all night so I could slip it out and confirm that I had located the perfect color.  I also located the perfect tie for my husband at Macy's.  How cool is that?  He will look even more his fabulous handsome self in that tie with his black and white stripe wedding shirt.  Can't wait to snap a photo of that. 

So as I am sitting here blogging several questions/thoughts are going through my head....

1. What am I thinking blogging and telling you all this stuff on Monday as I am quite sure that I will not have 10 new and interesting things to tell you for tomorrow for Ten on Tuesday... I'm using up all my material.  Bwa ha ha ha ha
2. Who is wondering if I planned my Monogirl meltdown to coincide with HSN 24 hour craft day? I promise you that although I am happy I have gotten to see some of it.... it was not planned.  If it were planned I would not have wasted so much of it sleeping and I would have had a stash of all important things like Dove Promises and Peanut M&M's to accompany me on my TV watching and scrapbooking.  Since its a Monogirl day.... sadly... not even up to the scrapbooking part which is an essential part of making any 24 hour craft day more fun. 
3. Not only am I not up to the scrapbooking today... the power cord fell out of my laptop like 1/2 a battery ago and I have not had the desire nor the extreme amount of energy it would take to bend down and pick it up. 
4. I don't know when it happened.  I don't know why it happened but I have seriously gotten a case of Coach obsession.  Their weekly or more frequent outlet sales emails are great for feeding this obsession.  Currently I am focused on a Madison Diagonal Patent Tote which is yes.. .fuchsia.  It started out at $428... it is now $149.80.  How am I not supposed to be totally attracted to that? 
5. HSN Craft Day has been Project Life focused.  I have not used up my initial and supplement purchase of Project Life stuff cause I couldn't keep up last year and it got stressful.  I have plans for those supplies though and want to do the 2 page per month spread this year and am just pretending we aren't noticing that its the end of March and I've yet to get that started. It will be so fun with the Cameo am I right?  So why am I totally attracted to their Today's Special which is a Project Life kit in blush... which is code for PINK. And it also has an auto ship for 3 PL mini albums with the first one being Dear Lizzy in PINK and the second one being Amy Tangerine.  Monogirl loves Lizzy and Amy stuff.  OK. Yes.  I admit it.  I ordered one.  I caved.  I do have a plan though.... the mini album in PINK?  I am going to make a 25th Anniv. Vow Renewal album with that one.  The large Black album in the main kit?  Wedding pictures.  Our wedding was Black and Red and the pics are sitting in a drawer in a stack.  I am thinking one of the other 2 mini albums would be great for the 2nd Honeymoon pics.... Great plan right?  It could actually happen.  Really. 
6. I am now totally picturing that pink mini album full of 2nd Wedding pics sitting on my new coffee table in my newly remodeled living room.  What a nice dream.  Let's hope its more than that.
7. It is SNOWING again like sideways right now and its cold. Yes.  Needing to pee actually forced me out of my chair so I noticed what was happening in the outside world.  I even managed to plug the laptop back in.  I am good.
8. I am also totally obsessed with the idea that I must get the Vera Bradley Large Resort Tote in Very Berry Paisley.  It matches the medium tote I got last year.  It matches my beach towel.  Heck it matches my Kindle case and I totally keep wishing I had bought it last year at Hilton Head when I had it in my hand.  I convinced myself the smaller one was sufficient.  Later I discover it was limited edition and cannot be found now like anywhere other than ebay. I hate when that happens.
9. My IRCA (Inspirational Readers Choice Award) books just arrived.  Yes.  I had to get up again.  Let's be thankful the post office person didn't try to cram the box of books in the mailbox . I guess we reserve that pleasure only for scrapbook paper.  So now I have 4 books to read prior to May 15th.  No pressure right?  I am not supposed to disclose which books I am judging or I'd gladly share a photo with you.  
10. Date night was pretty fun even though Monogirl's husband pretty much had to drag her home at the end.  We had stir frys.  We shopped. Monogirl found 3 cardigans at a good price.  She found jewelry for the palm Sunday and the Easter dress. We had sundaes at Culver's at the end. And we might have even brought a pint or two home from Culver's.  I would pronounce it a success. 

And there you have all the Monday news, plus a random 10 thrown in for good measure... I will so be in trouble to think of 10 new things for tomorrow.  You'll have to tune in tomorrow to see if I am up for the challenge.  I'll be back.  Maybe.  Now its back to my chair and HSN craft day.  A good entertainment of choice for Monogirl Days. 

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

OK just in case the pink hat and scarf and ipod didn't give me away... this is me and not like my Dad... which it does sort of look like with the hat and glasses.  Although seeing my Dad in a pink hat?  Likely never going to happen. Nope.  It's me.  I confess.  And trust me when I tell you it takes guts to admit that cause um NOT the most flattering picture.  Perhaps big hair and make-up should be required before working out.  But unflattering picture and all I wanted actual proof that I did manage to drag Monogirl out of the house today and go for a walk.  OK first.. it was stinkin cold!  It is spring now right?  Just checking.  NOT flip flop weather yet apparently.  And I have not been doing too well getting my walks in.  BUT I sooooo still want to.  I have not given up on this quest.  This weight loss, new Deanna quest.  This Mono stuff arrived in my life a year ago January and has knocked me down and done its best to keep me there.  It's discouraging.  It's depressing.  It is HARD to know how much to do on a good day so that I am not wiped out and having 3 bad days after that.  I don't care.  I am going to keep trying.  I didn't get anywhere on Deanna power before.  I got there on Jesus power because all things are possible with God.  All things.  So for today I am thankful that I chose to be new Deanna today.  Not Monogirl.  Maybe Monogirl is part of my new normal.  Maybe she will finally leave me.  Maybe new Deanna will have to become like some mutant monogirl/new Deanna/Old Deanna creation.... Isn't that a lovely mental image.  I bet she's wearing pink and platform shoes.  ha!!  I am just thankful that the desire and even the will is still in me here somewhere.  I am thankful that today I feel hopeful.  I am thankful for all this Mono stuff even,  because I serve a God who can use all things for good and the Bible says He has good plans for me.  Plans to prosper me and not to harm me.  And for today I am thankful for the hope and the ability to still believe that even though this past year for me has been so hard and a huge detour from where I thought I was headed..... I can still learn from this, grow from this and move forward. 

I am thankful that after that walk and the hills it entailed... I did not come home and pass out.  I even managed to get in a a little scrapping time.  Yes.  The silhouette was involved. Isn't that required now that I own one?  I thought so.  Working on a Resurrection Sunday layout with photos from last year.  I found these cute little Easter egg die cuts and I love that pink flowered one on the top.  My machine did have a little trouble with the intricacy of that one.  It tore the cardstock in a few places cutting out the petals.  Now I am trying to figure out does that mean I had the blade set for too high (it was on 5 because it was textured cardstock and that was where the software said to set it) or should I have slowed the speed down?  Monogirl does not know and the more she uses the machine the more she is aware she still has a lot to learn.  At least I am having fun in the meantime.  Perhaps Monogirl should invest some time reading the class info. from her BFF or watch some more youtube videos.

I am thankful for

• fresh pink gel manicures .. .and yes... its sparkly
• quality time with my husband this evening.  He is so stinkin' cute....
• my ipod
• chocolate pudding.... I had a craving.
• that I have been in a scrapping mood again.  Good... Cause I have LOTS of supplies.
• that there is a pair of new flip flops sitting in my dinning room just waiting for a warm enough spring day. What?  Doesn't everyone keep their flip flops in the dinning room?
• my new highlights.  Loving them.
• planning to wear my sequin Jessica shoes to church Sunday.  Hopefully.  There is a possible forecast for snow... a possible 8+ inches of snow.  Maybe its an early April fools joke? 
• getting ready to get our living room and dinning room remodeled..... see I am focusing on the positive and not thinking of the packing and hauling and dust and construction clutter....
• date night
• a lovely out of the ordinary dinner out with my husband last night.  We ate here.  It was so good. 
• singing in a quartet this week
• my bed with the wonderful down comforter and feather bed.  Everyone should have a feather bed. 
• watching our shows together
• fresh strawberries.  My husband bought some from a friend from work.  Good stuff.
• thin mints although... I am thinking they are also evil
• a text from my sister telling me about a great new accessory store I plan to check out for Easter accessories. She also mentioned this place which I plan to check out next time we head towards Indy.
• heated seats - possibly the best invention ever.  Maybe we should invent portable heated seats so all seats could be heated.  Oh wait.  I think they call that a heating pad. 
• my pink sparkly fossil watch
• sore muscles from walking
• not giving up
• God being a God of second chances... well ok 4900th chances... or more
• Saturday pancakes
• Sunday naps which are an important staple of the week for Monogirls everywhere
• My Mom, just thought of her and it made me smile
• the drive in opening soon
• a husband that still wants to have date nights with me
• Starbucks hot chocolate
• birthday lunch with our Pastor
• books and reading

I am also thankful that it is now bedtime.... and the house is chilly and how wonderful it will feel to snuggle up. I am thankful for YOU too and that you visit my blog.  You make me smile. 

Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) What you have here is a Pastor, wearing a sombrero, eating fried ice cream on his 60th birthday.  I am thinking there is something you don't see every day am I right?  Monday was our Pastor's 60th birthday.  Since he is also my boss... and a pretty great guy... the rest of the staff and I decided we definitely needed a birthday lunch.  We headed out to La Fiesta, not to be confused with La Carreta.  Lucky for me he is also a fan of Mexican food. Cause hey.. might as well have been my birthday if we get Mexican food for lunch.  But then I guess I would have been the one who had to wear the fabulous birthday sombrero... and no one needs to see that. 

2) Date night last week was a double date with my parents!  Now that Dad is cancer free and able to eat almost normally again we decided we needed to meet up at the little diner that has the great milk shakes.  Who doesn't love a yummy, hand dipped, mixed in the silver cup like they did in the 50's milk shake?  So good and the burgers were pretty good too.  The best part?  The company.  We had a nice visit with my parents.  I just love them.

3) Finally finished reading Blue Hole Back Home.  Not a bad book but I did have a little trouble with the writing style which means it slowed down my reading speed cause I had to keep re-reading things since Monogirl had to keep asking herself "what did that just say?"  It got better as I got into the book and it did have a "almost brought me to tears" part so I'll give it 1-1/2 thumbs up.  Is that possible.  What does a 1/2 thumb look like?  Never mind.  I don't want to know.  How about 3-1/2 stars out of 5.  Better.  I am now currently reading Firefly Lane because several of my Goodreads friends marked it as excellent.  You know that of course means I had to check it out. 

4) I guess I am now a student of the Silhouette.  So far I have watched one how to video on youtube and I did actually learn a thing or two.  I am also quite blessed because my BFF has taught some Silhouette classes so how nice to have a pro in my corner.  However lately my most important question regarding the Silhouette is do I or don't I need the pretty teal dust cover.  Bwa ha ha ha ha... and no apparently it doesn't come in PINK because then, there would be no question.

5) We are beginning to realize what it will truly mean to have to move out of two rooms of our house.  It will mean unloading and packing up a hutch full of dishes.  It will mean unloading and packing up a curio cabinet full of Precious Moments.  It will mean packing up books... a computer armoire.... and moving the TV, DVD, DVR... etc.  Can I hire the packers and moving company I worked for once upon a time?  Someone remind me again why we are wanting to do this?  It will be a good thing.  We will survive.  It will be fun.  We will love our new rooms.  Are you convinced?  Me either.

6) Did I mention I applied for a short term design team spot?  Well I did.. I haven't done DT work in ages, but was feeling like giving it a try again.  Deadline was March 10th.  I haven't seen an announcement yet.  Is this a good thing?  A bad thing?  A hard to tell good from bad for non patient people thing?  You be the judge.  Well... OK.. it's only been a week and 1/2 or so.. maybe its just a Monogirl thing.  Show of hands if you agree. 

7) Trying to decide on a new Bible Study for our Sunday School class.  Thinking of doing this one called Stuck.  Has anyone done that one?  What did you think? 

8) Who's ready for sandals, Capri pants, open sun roofs, and pretty pink pedicures?  Yes please count me in on that list.  First day of spring here we come... but then WHY are they predicting possible winter storms this weekend and well below average temps over the next two weeks? That is so not encouraging for summer shoe plans...

9) I am needing to make a dessert for Resurrection Sunday dinner.  This is currently at the top of my list. Chocolate is always a good plan don't you think?

10) Speaking of chocolate... what is the deal with Thin Mints?  How is it that you open up that silver sleeve and pop one or two in your mouth and continue on with what you are doing and um the next thing you know... there are like only one or two left?  Where did they go?  Good thing there is that clause about zero calories in GS cookies since they only come around once a year. 

And now the Thin Mints have disappeared, the diet Pepsi glass is empty, the blogging is done... and so is Monogirl.  Blessings!

All Silhouette... all the time.

So I thought I could tell you that I was sorry I disappeared from blogdom but I brought a note from my Mother.  But... since my Mom facebooked me the other day and said OK... why haven't you updated your blog all week... I am thinking that cancels that idea.  Last week was a nonstop ride that I am happy to finally be off of.  There was an all day conference.  There were 3 meetings. There were rehearsals... choir... and work.  There was grocery day.  There was picking up a car.  There was regular life mixed in there.... and Monogirl barely survived and sadly... she didn't do it gracefully.  Please don't ask my husband about my no good horrible terrible very bad mood by the end of a few of those days.  Apparently exhaustion does that to Monogirl but she wasn't proud of it. Very good thing she has a very sweet extra patient and understanding husband. 

To prove how tired and endless the days were?  THIS.. yes... my Silhouette Cameo arrived and I of course ripped it open and tried it out immediately left it sitting in the middle of the living room for like four days. Finally... on Thursday when the ride was almost over I got it out of the box.  I read the instructions.  Honest.  I carried it to my craft room.  I hooked it up.  I laid a piece of cardstock on the sticky mat and yes... I cut something.  It was very fun.  This was my first amazing creation. 

It was very complicated.  I picked out a design.  I clicked on send to Silhouette.  I clicked on cut.  Viola'.  I was very excited and was ready to put it to use very soon on a layout.  That is until Miss Sophie found it today and thought it would make a fabulous toy.  Mangled die cut covered in cat slobbers... not the best embellishment unless perhaps you are doing a layout on things your cat destroyed.  I also whipped up a banner for our Pastor's 60th birthday. 
















Very fun.  I love that cupcake die cut in the middle.  Next best thing to the real thing... am I right?  Of course actual chocolate and the all important frosting... always better.

And although I've made a banner and cut out a heart I still have lots of Silhouette learning to do.  I have many questions.  How do I do layered stuff?  I cut out my letters separate here but is there a way to do that if I had laid the letters right on the banner?  How soon will I need a new mat?  Or blade?  Is there a difference between the Silhouette Studio that I downloaded from their site and the one I see sold like on Amazon called "designer edition"???  How do I make my own cut files.  How do I cut other people's stuff that isn't in the Silhouette store like Ali E's stuff, or others I've seen.  And... my list goes on.  But I need to watch the instructional video that came in the box and I've heard there are lots of good videos on youtube.  I have also been reading the Silhouette blog.  Seems like already with everything I've read, I come across 3 new things to try.  Like this cool watercolor technique.

What else has happened since you saw me last?  Um... let's see...

• we tried a new Mexican place that we really liked!  Chavas Mexican Grill in Vincennes.  Good stuff.  Reminded me of a place called Burrito King that we used to go to in Joliet.  And yes... of course we need 2 favorite Mexican places. 
• Thin Mints have finally entered or home... well entered and exiting quickly.  We had a discussion on facebook on what constituted a serving and have come to a basic agreement that you can eat the whole box and no calories are involved because they only come around once a year.   Good to know. 
• we sat down at LaCarreta today and without saying a word they brought us 2 diet Pepsi's, queso, and jalapenos.  Apparently we've eaten there a time or two. 
• Miss Sophie has taught herself how to play fetch.  She is very smart like that.  Not to mention cute.
• Resurrection Sunday is now less than 2 weeks away and I am still in need of the proper color jewelry and a nice neutral color cardi.  Date night shopping may be on the agenda this week. 
• We may be related to the Robertson's on Duck Dynasty.  Uncle Si? He always has a Tupperware cup of iced tea and he washes it with um... bleach.  My Mamaw?  She thought nothing was clean till you had washed it with bleach and I have the faded spots in my carpet to prove it and my Dad?  Seldom without his glass of iced tea.  I am thinking that is better proof than a DNA test right there. 
• the drive in is opening soon.  March 29th!  I am sure we will be making a visit soon!
• We are on the verge of beginning.... gasp... yet another home remodeling project.  Yes.  It's true.  The living room and dinning room.  This will mean living in the bedroom and kitchen basically.  We plan to finish in two months or less so that divorce... pestilence and famine do not follow....
• I announced to facebook that it had forever ruined my being able to eat an Oreo in peace... Saw one picture of a spider smashed in the Oreo cream and um... here I sat unscrewing Oreos to insure they were spider free. 
• Coach outlet had this VERY cute Fuchsia colorblock purse and I did not buy it.  You can pick yourself back up off the floor now. 
• It's almost time to switch into my shiny pink purse that I bought and said I was going to hold onto and not use till Easter.  Yes.  I actually waited.  Cause I'm good at stuff like that.  Waiting.  Or Whatever. 

And now you are pretty much current on the life and times of Monogirl.  Fascinating stuff...  

Until next time... Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Did Monogirl seriously just post a picture of herself sans makeup on the Internet?  What is she thinking?  Doesn't she know there was a time when Deanna didn't leave the house without skirt... makeup... big hair.. and heels?  Apparently she has lightened up about herself a bit over the years.  I am thinking this is a good thing... and definitely something to be thankful for. 

Yes, had the hair appt. today.  This was my first time for highlights AND the all important lowlights.  I was in the chair for nearly 3 hours.  Yes... thank goodness for my Kindle Fire and a weak wireless signal that was coming from somewhere.  My impatient self does much better with long waiting situations when she can be entertained.  I've highlighted my hair before, but never with the foil and never with the lowlights.  Does this mean I am now officially a modern girl?  I thought so.  I thought my highlights were going to be a bit chunkier than they are?  But I think my hairdresser was trying not to scare me on this first time out.  I did not know I couldn't wash my hair for 48 hours....Is this common knowledge?  I have a conference to go to Saturday morning people.. must have clean freshly coiffed hair.  Perhaps I shouldn't complain.  When I was a kid and used to get perms alllll the time and they'd tell me to wait 4-5+ days before washing.  NOT fun, especially since I always managed to get the stupid roller marks down the middle of my head.  Very attractive.  A great look and self esteem booster for a young girl already feeling awkward and ugly and dealing with puberty.  On a better note, thankful for freshly colored and trimmed hair. 

Also feeling pretty thankful that..

• I got a few nice comments on my layout on 2 peas. 
• I had to be up early to get my hair done and it's 2:45 PM and I have not yet collapsed in a fatigued heap. 
• Kindles
• naps
• Easter dresses that fit and that I like
• pink stuff
• long hair
• soft, warm blankets
• this gel manicure stuff.  I'm on day 16 of one manicure and it seems to make my nails stronger and therefore longer
• journaling
• date night
• singing at church on Sunday
• diet Pepsi
• pizza...aren't you surprised I didn't say Mexican food?  You know you are.
• yellow cake donuts with chocolate frosting... especially when my husband brings them to me as a surprise.
• scrapbooking stuff
• the things God is teaching me thru Focus 40 (lent)
• danskos
• dove promises ... is it OK to mention food again? 
• crossing things off of my to do list
• Miss Sophie
• my husband
• amazon prime videos
• going to a marriage conference this week
• that my husband knows how to fix things
• my pink princess tervis glass... I own many tervis glasses, but 2 that are pink princess.  Do I use the clean ones when those are dirty?  Um no... I seem to have a need to stand there and wash the pink princess glass so I can use it again. 
• that its later afternoon on Thursday and I have actually finished blogging for Thursday.  A new record don't ya think?

And on that happy note.. I will bid you good bye for now.  May be back on Saturday with some wisdom from the marriage conference.  :) Who'd want to miss that?  Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) So it's late... I almost skipped the blogging... but yet here I am.  How come if its blogging and its on my to do list I just can't help myself... on the other hand if its like clean the bathroom on my to do list... well that can wait till tomorrow.  Right?  Apparently blogging is much more fun than cleaning bathrooms... or cleaning anything else for that matter.

2) Yes, a weekend miracle did occur and Monogirl actually completed a scrapbook layout!  Look.. I even have proof.  Be VERY impressed.  Remember this pic of Miss Sophie hiding under the blanket with only her little pink nose peeking out?  Well that soooo made me think that it was like Where's Waldo... so then I totally needed to make my page look like a book... you know... cause Where's Waldo is in a book... You didn't need me to explain that did you.  Sorry.  Anyway... I found this clip art image of the open book in a google image search.  I placed it on my 12x12 page in MS Publisher and then printed it right onto my Bazzil with my Epson 12x12 printer.  I don't use that printer near enough.. but its comes in quite handy when you need it.  I also decided to add the piece of ribbon to look like a bookmark....although if I just had to explain it to you than I didn't do a very good job of portraying a bookmark...  So what do we think?  Should I continue on in my motivation for Monogirl to become a scrapbooker once again? 

3) The Easter dresses have arrived.  As you recall I ordered two.  How cute is this one?  I love the stripe.  I LOVE the bottom flowy ruffles.  I love the ruffly neckline.  It fits... its pretty cute... and it looks pretty stinkin' cute with my Jessica Waleo's in a bright Turquoise color.  I am now just in need of a turquoise/aqua kind of color necklace.  Sounds like there will be a date night shopping trip to the mall in my near future.  Then I also ordered this one.  OK... I love it too.  Um first off.. its PINK.  And... it totally looks great with these Jessicas, and that wrap style is a good look for me.  The dilemma?  I like them both.... I was supposed to send one back... and IF I keep them both... I can't decide which one to wear for Resurrection Sunday.  I am supposed to sing in a quartet on Palm Sunday... I probably need a cute dress for that too right?  I knew you'd be on my side.

4) SNOW... yes... again.  One minute it was raining today and the next this thick white slushy stuff was falling from the sky.  It was so not helping me feel like spring is around the corner.  I am thinking my Daffodils that are starting to come up probably didn't enjoy it either... Guess we are lucky though.. we only have an inch or so with maybe another 2 by morning.  Northern IN?  Currently I hear they are getting 1-2" per hour.... I knew I liked living in the south.

5) I have a question.   If I must be plagued with the gray hairs showing up WHY must they also be completely unruly and stick straight out from my head?  There is no need for them to announce themselves... I am VERY aware they are there. Will highlights and lowlights tame my grays?  I am hoping so... since I have an appt. on Thursday.  Couldn't hurt right?  Maybe they will at least just blend in a little better...

 

6) My Silhouette Cameo has not yet arrived BUT I already have ideas for two... count them 2.. layouts.  Let's hope I can figure out how to use the thing quickly... I am not one to sit and read every direction carefully.  My plan is usually to dive in and see what I can figure out and then do the Evelyn Wood's speed reading version of the directions when and if needed... Do we all remember Evelyn from back in the day or am I like totally showing my age?  She used to have commercials on like channel 32... was that UHF?  Or VHF? You know when you had to turn the other dial on the TV.  Yes.. once upon a time you actually had to touch the TV to change the channel.  Shocker isn't it.  Anyway.. Evelyn always had her commercials on when we were like watching Magilla Gorlla and the Brady Bunch.  I am good.. from Silhouettes to Evelyn to the Brady Bunch all in one paragraph that I am sure made total sense.  Or whatever.

7) My husband needed a "subject" for his photography lighting assignment.  Since Monogirl was just not up to it he drafted our 2 nieces to be models for him.This one is totally my favorite.... I am not sure if Lauryn is looking at Lindsay like girl.. you are  nuts or like um I can't believe you did that.  You be the judge.  They are pretty cute though am I right?  I need to ask them why they were dressed like the Bobbsey Twins but of course I am sure they would look at me and say Bobbsey who? 

8) Have you ever heard of putting salted peanuts in your Coca Cola?  I am reading this book which is set in 1979 North Carolina and the teens in the book all love to put peanuts in their coke. I have so never heard of that.. and um sorry.. not sounding tasty.  I just had to google it though and see if this was a real thing.. and apparently I am missing out.  Does this sound good to you?  I guess its supposed to be one of those sweet/salty kind of things? 

9) So I have the pink purse.  I have the pink wallet.  Last week I ordered the pink Vera business card case.  Well I am sorry but now the old leather... not loving it anymore eyeglasses case in my purse just does not go.  Well we can't have that.... so then I am thinking its a good thing I spotted this on ebay.  My purse will be much happier now.  I know.. it was quite the crisis. 

10) Date Night Report.  A good time was had by all. There was dinner at Cracker Barrel... it was OK, but we hadn't eaten there in ages and it wasn't as good as we remembered.  Was wishing we'd went with our first idea to go to 5 Guys Burgers.  Then there was a movie - the new Die Hard one.  We recently bought the previous Die Hard movies DVD set and it came with a free movie ticket to the new one.. so off we went to the theatre.  Wasn't bad.  The pretzel and popcorn helped make up for the disappointing dinner.  After the movie Baskin Robbins was still open so we had to visit there right?  Finished with a stop at Target and headed home.  All in all a successful date night... I'd give it 2 thumbs up. 

Now... I can cross the blogging off my to do list and go to bed a happy girl.  I am very aware I have issues.  I am sure I couldn't be nearly as entertaining without them so you are welcome. 

Blessings!