It’s the Papertrey Ink Release tonight!! Will you be there? I will.
I’m coming back to the top of this post, after typing to say I have NO IDEA why I am so chatty today!!! Sorry-skip the banter if you want! LOL! I do have samples.
I don’t think I am EVER done, ever caught up, or as much as I sometimes feel “ahead”, I really am never that either! LOL! When I do have extra time (does that really ever exist??) then I usually agree to do something else to quickly fill that gap. I know, especially as a parent I am not the only one who does this!
Anyway, I am super happy to report Amber had a great day (even though Alexa wasn’t there. She stayed at her fathers :C Its OK cause we are going to have an actual party in Sept), and my exercising is going awesome. I already notice a difference. I know, you think HOW??? Well my jeans slid up quite nicely, and I have been doing an hour of cardio a day. I BETTER see some difference! LOL! Hey, even if its in my head, I’m OK with that.
Amber’s birthday yesterday I resisted any cake, we went to Friendly’s and I gave up my fries, no “happy ending” sundae for me. Jay made egg sandwiches for breakfast and I had shredded wheat (yes it is the sugar coated, but give me a break!!). Instead of drive thru on our way out for the day I packed a whole wheat pasta salad I made with all fresh veggies, and a granola bar, and I am drinking lots of water, to replace that 3 cups of coffee, and diet soda I normally drink.
As doctor Phil would say “Don’t say you have to lose X pounds, say I have to lose 1lb.”Each day is new and I am not looking at the big picture. ONE STEP. Just like my bracelet says “The journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step” Hey I think I need to find a way to add that to my blog permanently. Its like my life motto 😀
Anyway. Always a bunch going on here. Counting down the days till school starts! LOL! Noah & Amber will start soccer soon, Amber will also begin another year of dance classes, Alexa will be in Girl Scouts, and Alexa is enrolled in Cheer-leading! I know. Weird. At first I thought NO WAY!!
Alexa’s father’s wife teaches it at a school. So she enrolled Alexa. I was kind of put off at that thinking it wasn’t for her. Well Alexa goes to the practices and does love it. When I mentioned my thoughts of it to Jay he said “I think its a great idea! She loves to dance. You always say you hate when people limit her, so why are YOU doing it?”
WOW! Did that ever shut me up!! I guess I didn’t see it as limiting her, but I really was. If she enjoys it, then I guess that is all that matters!! What was I thinking, not wanting her to do something she may like? I guess I want her to be able to keep up with all the other girls her age, and I get scared when I think she may not be “as good”. That is so wrong!!! Who cares? All that matters is that she is HAPPY and likes what she is doing. She may even surprise me! She often does. I can’t believe ME of all people, was about to do the one thing I hate other people doing. But I acknowledged that (thanks to my honest husband) and will hope to be more concious of that in the future.
Why am I blabbering about this? I’m not sure. I guess so many of you have taken this journey with me of having a child with special needs, that I feel OK sharing my good and bad parenting moments. The important thing is to learn by them, and don’t be a hypocrite! I was doing something without even realizing it. So there you have it. Alexa WILL be in cheer-leading as long as SHE wants to be.
OK so you would never believe my main post was suppose to be about short on time and deadlines! LOL!
I got this Sweet and Sassy Kit from Katie at3 Little DReaMs. The kits is available for Pre-order until August 15th.
She asked if I’d try them out, and give my thoughts! Well I am just sliding in under the deadline! LOL! I have to say I have NEVER gotten any kit, ever, so I had no idea what to expect.
I did make 3 samples so far. Unfortunately this just arrived the other day, and my time was quite limited!! I can tell you I made all 3 cards I am sharing today, early this morning, using only items from the kit (well minus my sewing machine, and a piece a vellum -don’t shoot me! LOL!), and was done in 1 1/2 hours, including photographing/editing.
(The card is placed on a angle onto a piece of chocolate card-stock to photograph)
This one was my favorite, and my first one. Its all asymmetrical, yet balanced I feel, and I just love.
I used some of the paper for a tab. Lots of distressing, and some sewing on this. The flowers, ribbon and brads, all part of the kit.
Next up is card #2
I actually colored the bird with some shimmery paints and its really so soft and pretty in person. The papers are distressed, so I distressed most of this too. It has a real nature feel. Again, remember I don’t do real nature well. I am certain you could get someone else to work with this set and it would rock your world! LOL! I just loved the little bird image and wanted to step out of that comfort zone!
Lastly card 3
(not bad for a mornings work eh?)
More layering and distressing. I didn’t want to use the entire bird. I think its cute. Not my best card, but not too bad. I do love the papers she chose in the kit though. They are super cute.
I can see WHY people enjoy the whole Kit thing. I know my Kits have done really well too (thanks to all of you!! ).
Depending on the kit you choose, you get a stamp or stamp set with all the matching cardstock, and patterned paper to make some projects.Then there are add-on choices. No brainer!! I like that. Especially when you LOVE happy mail, and need some incentive to get stamping, I think these are great. Many people seem to like things put together for them.
I think you get more than enough paper/cardstock to create several cards, then have some leftover.
So the Sweet & Sassy kit I got to use was $28.00. She dropped the shipping this month too, to $5.50, which is really good too.
Katie has a Yahoo! Group, and starting September 1st will have a rewards program. It will benefit new members, and anyone who spreads the word, and those who subscribe. She’ll post that info soon. I think its great when any company rewards stuff like that, that helps get them business. After-all its all word of mouth!!
The consumers can make or break a new company. I know I take my fellow stampers word over an advertisement any day.
So I IF you are still with me WOW! You must be really bored today to read my ramblings! LOL!!! I wish I were a tad more interesting but I a stamp crazed SAHM, with not much of a life these days.
Tomorrow I will share ALL my PTI release peeks, so I hope you come back!
Later-
19 Responses for "EEEK!!! Deadlines, Dealines, Deadlines-DONE?"
Wow, that was an eye opener! But like you said, what really matters is that Alexa is happy. Besides, you’ll have an excuse to make some cheerleading cards… 😉 LOL! As always, your cards are awsome!
I actually like your rambling… just so you know! And I am happy for Alexa, my 13 yo is actually thinking of cheerleading this fall. her bff is one, so we will see. Cute cards, is the price worth it, tho? Anyways, have a great day! Oh, congrats on your self control!!!Thats huge, especially at a party with CAKE! Losing weight is hard, but I did it too. 75 lbs last year after I had my baby. Excercise is key. I di cardio every other day, and weight training actually took my weight off faster. Kris
Very interesting. TFS your mommy woes. We all have them and it is good to hear that we all have the same issues. We may not all have the exact same problems but they all seem to run into each other. So, share on!!! 😉
Beautiful cards, great for a mornings work. So much better I could do with such little time. They are all beautiful and I love them all. I would have a hard time picking a favorite from them.
Great that Alexa is doing something out of the comfort zone! It’s hard when you have a special need kid to encourage them without being overprotective! I am an horrible overprotective mother, I’m fighting it but it is hard, LOL! 😉
My kids are back to school this coming monday and I am completely frenzied! :-S
Ohh, she will be a wonderful cheerleader, Don’t worry, every MOM has trouble letting the butterfly “fly”. Your a good mom, and always know that your children are perfect gifts from above!
I am sooo glad to hear that you are letting her try the cheerleading. I coached cheerleading for 13 years and had a couple special needs girls on my squads through the years. From a coaching aspect – they are usually the most wonderful girls to work with. They try harder and really put their heart into it!!! It can really work wonders on helping their confidence and the feels of being “different”. Just from what I’ve learned about ALexa through here, I think she will be great at this and have alot of fun!!! I wish I’d have had her on my one of my squads. I think she’d be such an inspiration to the other girls!!! Tell her I think she will be a fantastic cheerleader!!!!
Lauren, I read your blog every single day, and I adore you and your amazing talent.
I don’t think I’ve left any comments before, but I had to this time and tell you something about cheerleading and Alexa.
When my youngest daughter cheered for Pop-Warner (8 yrs ago), there was a squad across town that had a down’s girl on their squad who was AMAZING! I loved to watch her and her determination to be the best cheerleader she could, and you know what? SHE WAS! She was so energenic, spunky and spirited that the coach would place her in their lineup to accentuate that.
No she wasn’t able to hoist a girl up in the air, or fly off the floor with her toe touch, but I bet my bottom dollar that she gave all, and enjoyed herself 110% because it showed! And when they would come to our side of the field to cheer during 1/2 time, we would give this squad (our rivals) a roaring applause – because quite frankly they all deserved it!
I love your ramblings!! 🙂 (This could possibly be because I am a rambler myself… but, it gives me such a real perspective of you. I love the fact that you share you with us… that you’re not above anybody. And while you are a stamping goddess, you certainly don’t have that attitude. I totally *heart* that about you!)
I totally understand where you were coming from about Alexa… I could totally hear myself saying the same thing. And hey, there are times when I need someone to say… “Kendra, let some control go. Your students need some room to explore…”
Anyways… enough of my rambling!!! I love your cards, as always!
~Kendra
Great job on the cards!! I love them…you did an awesome job on the kits!
And the rambling has to come with everything else right? Gotta vent somewhere!
Thanks Lauren!
I think it rocks that Alexa is going out for cheering. I think she will let you know if it is not right for her. And I think she will be awesome, after all she has had the best cheerleader of all cheering for her the past few years… YOU! All Great cards BTW. Those kits look fantastic. -Molly B
Lauren,
All that matters is that Alexa loves what she is doing. It also gives other children a chance for acceptance and usually they do it quicker than adults. My daughter, as you might remember, is in a wheelchair and one year she took
rythmics. I did not get it, but she was loving it. When they did a routine during an assembly the teacher had made it so that Venesa fit in with the moving around perfectly. I sat there with tears flowing down my face. It will be a memory I will never forget.
Lorri
You are too funny, girl 🙂 I’m glad Amber had a great day yesterday, and that Alexa has found herself a great new activity…I bet she’s a GREAT cheerleader…hope maybe someday you can post a smilebox video of her doing a cheer….ooooor, I just may have to make a trip up to NH, eh? 😉
Oh, I just love your cards! I have been struggling with that bird and just knew I should crop it in a circle…just a great job!
Never bored listening to you Lauren. Love your cards as always!
Omigosh! You have been uber busy! VERY COOL stuff!
Wordy? No I don’t think so! I enjoy reading all of your posts! They’re inspirational and motivational! I think it’s great that your daughter is doing cheerleading! She is capable of doing lots of things! All kids surprise us in many ways! My first 3 years of being a girl scout leader I had a girl with downs. Her Mom called to see if it was okay that she join and I didn’t see why not despite not having dealt with any one like that before. I never looked back nor regretted that decision! She was just as great as all the other kids and, with just a smidge more help then others, did everything they did! Kudos to you for not holding her back!
That wasn’t THAT long of a post! I enjoy hearing about your family and other goings on in your life. It’s so enjoyable to hear that I’m not the only one with a life stuffed to the brim with things to do and places to go 🙂
I’m glad to hear that Alexa is enjoying her Cheerleading! It’s so wonderful for her to be involved in activities like this with “regular” kids. Kudos to you for realizing that you were “limiting” her and moving beyond it! That is a true moment of growth!
Take care and keep up the awesome work!
I love to hear your rambling!!!!! It does make us feel closer to you. you sure will be busy. I have been there………try to take time for yourself!
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