CARDS Magazine - December 2011

I was so honored to be the designer of the month for CARDS Magazine this past month! When the editor asked to feature me in the spot back in March I was just giddy, and here I am just as excited nearly a year later. This really has been a whirlwind of a year. With my hubs deploying last January, I decided that my new years resolution was to focus on a few of the things I love (along with loosing weight as usual). One of the main things on my list was to be consistent with submitting for publications. I'd say I was pretty successful with meeting my resolution (at least this one). I have been published at least once a month during his deployment, but more often than not three to five times, and finally this month I hit my record of eight. I guess that really does represent the culmination of my year without him. I'm ready for him to come home and resume husband and daddy duties. I think it might be time for a little break here in the near future. Our family needs it, and I'm ready to take it on 100%. I hope you'll stick around, but in the mean time here are my publication releases from last month...

He has his daddy's feet

Ethan's First Haircut

I was dreading Ethan's first haircut, but it needed to be done. He was starting to look a little vagabond-ish. You know, Vince and I are in the military, so we don't do the Bieber look. I'll never give my Ethan a buzz cut, but he'll never look like he belongs in a band from any era. It gives me the jeebies! Haha!

While we were in Texas visiting our family last week, we stopped by a children's salon for the special occasion.

He didn't like the water squirted on him from the spray bottle very much, but he didn't make a peep.

He did so well letting the lady cut his hair. His only real issue was that he wanted to watch what the other kids were doing in the play area, so he sat backwards in his seat most of the time.

After the stylist cut the back and over the ears I thought he was done, but then she asked about the top. I wasn't so sure, but Vince said to cut it. I was afraid of loosing my baby curls, but his natural curls made for the perfect little up-front do that his daddy sports. It's so cute.

After we were done we headed for the cashier's desk where Ethan got to get a prize. It was a little dinosaur that he absolutely loved for the entire duration of the car ride. After that... I have no idea where that thing is. :-)

And that's the story of Ethan's first haircut.

Busy Busy

I've been so busy getting ready for Vince to come home in addition to my to-do list that doesn't seem to ever dwindle down. I just wanted you to know that I'm still alive, but I may be in and out over the next couple of months. While I process out of the military and start nursing school full time. It's a crazy time right now. I hope I survive! :-)

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...

#1 Dad Card

Some snapshots of my favorite fathers...

Me & My Dad

My Dad, Ethan, & Vince

Vince & Ethan

Ethan & My Dad

My Grandpa & Me

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Vinny!

To: Vince

From: Vince

Isn't that sweet? He made me a card put together from bits of other cards he had over there. He also made me the coolest self-self locking trinket box. He's so crafty! I love him!!! xoxo

This song reminds me of how Vince and I met.

Michael Buble is super cute, but it just reminds me that my hubs is super hot. Love him!

I love this man...

100 Blog Followers

Hee! Hee! Did you see who my 100th Blog Follower is? My sweet hubs! :-) LOVE HIM!!!

I think this calls for another blog candy....

Here are the details:

Just leave a comment here on this post for a chance to win. Let's try to make it interesting for me to read rather than the typical "pick me!" comments. So... tell me how you originally came to my blog and why you've decided to stick around. Also, since this celebration is especially for Blog Followers you must be a follower to receive the candy this time around. Oh, and there will be several winners. Like I said a couple days ago, I have a HUGE stash to dish out. I'll pick the random winners on Monday.

P.S. I'm still having the blog candy for the scraplifter of the month this weekend as well. It's candy-palooza!

SHeDAISY - Come Home Soon

I miss my Vince...

Christmas Time

This is our first real Christmas together and in our own home. Last year we had just gotten back from Afghanistan, so we drove back and forth half way across the country to see our families. This year we decided we'd stay in our own home. It was even more special being that it's Ethan's first Christmas.

Last year we started a tradition, like many families, to collect a yearly ornament for our tree. This year we decided this little rattle represented our year perfectly.

Here's another little ornament I picked up this year. I usually wait until after the holidays when things go on sale to restock my wrapping paper supply or add ornaments to the collection, but this one was just a dollar, so I couldn't resist.

We also started collecting Department 56 Christmas in the City village pieces last year too. The pieces we choose represent our lives as well, like the newly wed couple in the carriage, and the new dad passing out cigars.  This year we are adding a fire station (I am a firefighter), radio station (Vince is a spectrum manager), and antique store that looks EXACTLY like one we visited on our trip to Pennsylvania. I'm hoping to also find one that depicts a nurse pushing a wheelchair with a mother holding her newborn. I'm pretty sure it's a retired piece though. Anyway, Vince and I both LOVE putting the little village scenes together. Vince even built a little snowy platform for them to nestle in this year complete with an asphalt road and cobblestone sidewalk. He used a bit of card stock rolled through the Cuttlebug with an embossing plate. It looks so cute!

Our collection outgrew the sofa table, so we had to make a second section up on top of the armoire.

I think next year I'll end up putting our village in the china cabinet though since little Ethan will surely be walking around by then. I'll be sure to start replacing all of our beautiful glass balls with plastic ones before the tree goes up again next year though. I'm sure we'll be able to pull them back out again someday!

Merry Christmas!

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!

Pumpkin Patch

Well, we went to the pumpkin patch yesterday. It was a disappointment really. It was a true testament to great advertising. They got our money, but the place was really just a big dust bowl. I didn't capture too many photos, but here are a few...

Four Days in Vegas...

Day 265: Flowers

Vince sent me flowers today in every shade of PINK! Isn't he the sweetest? I miss him so much it makes me feel sick.

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.!