Sneak Peek & To Do List

You can see the rest of the project over at the Creative Charms blog. :-)

My To Do List:

• Take the car in for repairs after a tree branch fell on it
• Study for my two tests this week, and three next week
• Write a speech that's due Friday
• Go to the grocery store
• Pay Daycare
• Pay Lawn care
• Make an appointment for the groomers
• Get caught up on my design team & publication projects
• Make appointment for the carpets to be cleaned
• Go to tax office for the -umpteenth time (someone used my SSN to file their taxes)
• Buy a booster seat for Ethan, because he's outgrowing his car seat
• Download, edit, & file the backlogged photos on my camera
• Post Ethan's 9 month entry
• Clean out Ethan's clothes that don't fit
• Get immunizations for nursing school
• Get a physical for nursing school
• Go to the pharmacy
• Buy nursing school books
• Buy nursing school uniforms
• Sew patches on uniforms
• Apply for financial aide
• Apply for vocational rehab
• Mail Vince's care packages
• Update Project Life pictures & journaling
• Go through mountain of mail that's been collecting
• Buy baby food, diapers, & wipes
• Buy dog food
• Finish Firefighter continuing education hours
• Submit renewal for Fire Fighter certification
• Fold the three piles of laundry on my bed
• Wash two piles of laundry on the floor
• List the rest of my old scrapbook tools and supplies on eBay
• Load pictures on to digital photo frame for Vince
• Ship Etsy orders
• Make final dental appointment
• Final-out from Army finance office
• Buy a wedding gift
• Get wedding clothes for Ethan & me
• Order graduation cap & gown
• Make graduation announcements
• Make Ethan's birthday invites
• Make a wedding card for Chelsea (cousin) & Parker
• Make birthday cards for Dad, Vince, Ethan, Ella (my sister), Aunt Lisa, Chelsea, Debbie (BFF), & Amber (neighbor)
• Change phone/TV/Internet plan (too expensive)
• Take my phone in for repairs
• Order a background check for nursing school
• Get the oil changed in both cars
• Pay school tuition owed
• Apply for delayed payment option for school until the G.I. Bill comes in

Hmmm... I have a slight feeling that I'm forgetting something...

Farewell

Tomorrow I get my clearing papers and start my 10 (working) days of clearing the Army before setting off on using up those 50+ days of terminal leave that I have saved up from the past eight years of service. Oh, man does this make me feel so weird. I don't see where I shared this layout with you, so I am here now. I made this featuring my coworkers. I'm not really much of a scrapbooker (or Blogger guru if you noticed the blooper), so don't be too hard on me! :-)

Optometry

We've been in such stormy weather lately. It's really making my pictures crummy. I guess that just shows you what a crummy photographer I am! :-) I cannot adapt to anything other than perfect variations of sweet sunny skies for picture taking. Ugh! Anyway, today I start my Veteran's Affairs medical appointments. First up: Optometry!

P.S. So weird! I just noticed that the Trigger Tuesday challenge over on the Moxie Fab blog just happens to have the same color palate and shabby country vibe that my card does. Even the scallops on my card look kinda like the mirror frame. So... why not play along?! Here's the provided inspiration photo:

And the 100 Google Readers Celebration candy goes to....

1. Teri
2. Ash
3. Deborah
4. Smita
5. Sharla
6. Valentina
7. Kate
8. Manis
9. Joanne
10. Bonnie
11. Jen
12. Khristen
13. Jennifer
14. Get Scrappy
15. Redlinda
16. Dee
17. Mrs. Bann
18. Danielle
19. Silvana
20. Lisa
21. Antoinette
22. Katf
23. Ujjwal
24. Tejal
25. Aimee

You know, when I made the guidelines for the blog candy last week asking you to tell me why you follow my blog I really didn't expect what I ended up recieving. Some of you really sent me through a gammot of emotions.  Here are some of my favorite exerpts:

Khristen made me laugh: "Well, let's see...I came here because you are a fellow DT over at XOXO, and I follow because I just love your work :) Congrats on getting hubby to follow you! I asked my hubs to check my blog out and he was like "um, but why? You show me all you make. I don't need to see it again." Pssssh. Whatev."

I reflected with Joanne: "Laura, I found you on an old friend's blog quite some time ago. You were in A...I followed you through the street markets with your friends, watched the four of you eat...was it ice cream?, and saw your 'room' all the while praying for you and your return safely to the US. Have cried for you, laughed with you, and watched Ethan grow into the wonderful little man that he can be at 6 months. the entire time have admired you and your cards...I even remember Vince making one in Afghanistan. And they say my memory is fading!!! I love to check my emails every morning to see if you have something posted. Seeing your fabulous cards is uplifting first thing in the am. So bright and full of wonder. Yes, girl you hooked me some time ago!!! "

And Get Scrappy brought back some emotions along with a few tears too: "I found your blog after reading a comment you left on a Becky Higgins blog post. I was caught by the pictures of your tour over seas. Hit close to home with my brother-in-law being there at the same time. It was interesting to think that he was seeing the same type of things. Then when I read the post on New Years on why you joined in the first place you brought tears to my eyes. It was the most selfless thing you could have done. You are an inspiration both in life and in creative express." (She's talking about THIS POST.)

So, as you can see EVERYONE who left a comment for the blog candy is a winner. Please send me your mailing addresses so I can get your yummies to you as soon as possible. Thank you so much for sharing your time with me. It means way more to me than you know!

Project Life Update II

Here's a little update since my first Project Life entry...

 11Feb9: Mail Pile Vase

11Feb12: Where's the Snow Plow?

11Feb13: I love cupcakes

 11Feb15: Ron White's Salute to the Troops Taping at the Opry

11Feb18: View from the Front Door 

 11Feb20: Sappy Stick-Dropping Front Yard Trees

 11Feb21: Homemade Pizza

 

SHeDAISY - Come Home Soon

I miss my Vince...

WZTV FOX 17

Recognize a little dude in this news clip from last night?

WZTV FOX 17 :: Newsroom - Top Stories - Soldiers Talk about Bush's Return to Fort Campbell

One Year Ago....

I can't believe how much my life has changed since I came home from Afghanistan. It's gone by way too quickly!

ACAP

Well, I've officially started the ACAP (Army Career & Alumni Program) process. You can start it as soon as a year out from the end of your service term. Mine is next August, but as you know I've spent that past two months practicing my new mommy skills. The first day I went was just registration and orientation to the services available throughout the process. The first workshop I signed up for was a three-day seminar about going back into the workforce. It focused on interviews, job skills, pay scales, interviews, and resumes. I don't feel like I've been out of the "real" world that long, but I guess it has been about 8 years now. Sheesh! The guy giving the course started off making me feel optimistic and excited about everything, but as the next two days passed I now feel scared and super worried about what's out there. I just feel like I'm worth anything or prepared for the outside world. He also stressed how bad the job market was. Have you ever seen the movie The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith? If you haven't you really should, and you have you should really watch it again. It really expresses how this course made me feel. Below is the movie trailer.

Memorial Day

I'm so thankful I was able to spend the holiday with my two favorite veterans: my grandfather and my husband! I love you both! xoxo

Day 348: I'm HOME!!!

(Photo courtesy of Jake Lowary & The Leaf-Chronicle)

Day 333: That JUST HAPPENED!

Yes, "shake n bake!" Another earthquake just happened!

Day 328: Pottery

Yesterday Vince and I decided it might be our last chance to hit the bazaar together, so we headed down there for a couple hours. I've been wanting some pottery since I first laid my eyes on the cute little venue, so I finally picked up a couple pieces. I'll have to take a picture of the ones I bought when we get home. Aren't they all so pretty?

Day 327: Earthquake

It happened again! Last year we had a huge earthquake in the middle of the night that freaked me out. We hadn't had any rocket attacks yet, so that's what I thought it was. My whole room shook like crazy and everything fell off the walls. The same thing happened this time just over in the Hindu Kush mountains. I thought it was a helicopter taking off, but the vibrating got stronger and stronger and wouldn't go away for what seemed like the longest time. About an hour afterwards I saw reports on the CNN news from Kabul. The guys said he's from California and has never felt anything like it. I just imagine those pictures of California where houses fall into giant pits and slide off hillsides and start huge fires. Luckily we don't have any mansions to fall into holes, but I do have a little shack that might disappear if a whole did open up! EEK!

Day 311: Long Time No Blog

Okay, so I'm sure you've guessed by now that I'm back in Afghanistan. Since coming back over here it's been a whirlwind of getting things ready to ship home. I also left my camera back there at home, so I don't have any pictures to share. I mailed three big trunks home yesterday too. Two of those were my scrappin' supplies. I feel totally lost without all my crafty things around me. I have just four days left to move out of my room and into the tents on the other side of the base. I'm really not looking forward to that. The buses only run once an hour at night, so it's really going to be annoying having to plan my day around a sparse bus route. I'm already working 12-14 hours a day. I'm exhausted, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Day 264: I'm Pooped

I feel like I'm time traveling when I go through so many time zones. It really makes me so sleepy. I hear it takes one full day to adjust for every hour difference you change. If that's the case I'll spend my entire R&R sleeping. I'm so glad I have this world clock feature on my iPod. I feel like I don't even know what day it is any more. I'm POOPED!

Day 263: Kuwait to Germany

Ugh! It was so hot and humid in Kuwait this morning. Between the super cold tents we slept in (for three hours) and the hot wet air outside I just couldn't stop wheezing. It made me a little nervous, but I had my inhaler on hand. The aid station isn't manned 24/7, so I really had no choice anyhow. We all had to meet back up in the morning to get information on our flights and the customs process. After the meeting I went to Subway for something to take along with me including these ketchup flavored chips.

During the meeting they asked for volunteers. Of course no one wanted to, so stuck my hand up and made my way to the sign in sheet. I found out that I'd volunteered for "push duty". That meant that I was directing traffic in the customs area and on the air plane. That's not too bad. I thought it might be for something more awful. They rewarded the volunteers with first class seating on the plane later, so it was well worth it. It was during my customs inspection that I discovered all the little notes that Vince had hidden among all of my things. After customs we made our way through a long maze where they kept us in confinement for hours until it was time to load the buses headed for the plane. The bus ride was super long and cramped with no bathroom, but once we got on the plane I quickly fell asleep. In no time we were in Germany where we all got off for a couple of hours while the plane refueled, changed crews and restocked. I also refueled with a semi-yummy "hot dog".

Next stop.... U.S.A.!

Day 262: Afghanistan to Kuwait

Well, I just made it to Kuwait. I've only completed the first leg of my trip back home for R&R, but I'm already sick of traveling. At least we can unload our heavy and bulky body armor here. They even have a McDonald's, KFC, Subway, Pizza Hut and donut shop. I haven't eaten at McD's in YEARS. I just never was at the top of my list, but I was drawn straight to it here.

P.S. It was 135 degrees here today!

Day 258: Hello Card

Cardstock: Bazzill; Pattered Paper: Scenic Route; Ribbon: American Crafts; Button: Creative Cafe; Floss: Karen Foster; Cardstock Sticker Strip: Scenic Route; Alpha Stickers: Paper Trunk; Border Punch: Fiskar's

Day 257: Scrap Strip A2

And one more made with scrap strips....