My new hairdo!

Haha. . .okay. . .promise not to laugh?? I'll just tell you that my husband's reaction was, "I'm kind of embarrassed."
Me: What are you embarrassed of?
Him: I don't know. . .I can't figure it out, I just feel awkward.
Me: So, you don't like it?
Him: No. . .I definitely like it.
Me: ?????

Methinks that he knows he's in trouble if he likes it better than my real hair and he doesn't want to get stuck with his foot in his mouth maybe? My clever little man. ;-)

Okay. . .here it goes. . .don't wig out! Haha! I kill me. Ohhhh that was bad.


With a hat on here. . .I must say I love it with hats and hairbands. It looks more natural I think.

Years ago before I got married I purchased hair extensions that were $$$. It was real hair and it was from the Philippines so it had to be bleached to match my real hair color at the time. It was dry and never looked very natural. This hair looks and feels and acts more natural and it was so cheap! So fun to change up my look for the cost of highlights. So on date nights, I can wear "Fergie" as we've affectionately dubbed it. ;-) Hubs just wants me to promise him that I won't wear it to church. Or he will be embarrassed? Heh.

Cute hat from etsy found here, Frosting Couture Shop

Wig from here Vogue Wigs

Real hair here:

Pardon the poor photography. . .it's Mr. Mac a.k.a. mac photobooth. =)

Oh yeah. . .mom's reaction? "Hmmm. . .it's very. . . Lolita." Yep. She's worried about nasty old men givin' me eyes. Don't worry. I'll just put a sticker on my shirt that reads, "Mom to 4 kids" That oughtta scare 'em off!

Craft Therapy

While I was sick last week, I was browsing sites and blog hopping which led to this site, One pretty thing which believe it or not, I had never been to. I browsed for awhile and loved finding new etsy artists and craft tutorials. One that caught my eye was this one. The artist, Alisa, makes these "mended" hearts to symbolize relationships and broken hearts. I immediately knew that I wanted to make one of my own, but to symbolize something different. I made one for my mom and wrote and stamped down all of the difficult things she has had to endure over the last few years. . .mostly with regards to her health. I also stamped words like, "Courage", "Faith", "Strength", and so on. I glimmer misted, stamped, stitched and stuffed this heart. The messier the better. Then I reinforced the stitching. . .to symbolize that though she has been through so much, each trial has made her stronger. Do you get it? ;-P When I show these things to my husband, he scratches his head and is like, "Hmmm. . .is it supposed to look like that?" Haha. He does not get my art. This is the end result. . .



The canvas is Claudine Hellmuth's sticky back canvas and I used a typewriter to type the word "Strength" and pinned it on.

I also squeezed in a lo about my oldest dd

I tucked in some journaling in the little maya road envelope (love those!). I goofed on this one and already glued things down and couldn't remove them, but the process is what I enjoy the most. If you put pressure on yourself to create the perfect lo, then it takes all of the fun out of creating in the firstplace. Create for you! I used to create with the idea that others would see it on my online galleries and felt like my lo's had to be perfect, but when I began to let go and create for me - that's when I found my escape. My place to go when the pressures of real life are hitting me hard and getting me down. =)

Something I am looking foward to. . .if you go to the Crazy Daisy blog, you will see that Heidi Swapp is the guest designer AND they are going to have her new glimmer mists in the April kits as well as a House of 3 download!! =) I cannot get enough of glimmer mist, it's been my weakness lately when I go into Archivers. I just wish I could do magic with it like Maggie Holmes does!

Welp. . .off to finish editing pics. Just a sneaky of the cutie whose pics I'm finishing up. . .

Wouldn't you want to get back to work when you get to see that sweet face starin' back at ya? ;-)

PS. . .I should be getting my new wig in the mail tomorrow evening (did I mention I bought one so my mom wouldn't have all the fun?). =) I'll be sure to post pics.

Woot woot!

I am so thrilled to share some news with you that I found out last night. . .
I am on the design team for Craisy Daisy Kits! Yayyyyy! I screamed and ran downstairs and told my husband (who nearly had a heart attack and of course I had to hug him just as he was taking a drink which went down the wrong pipe). He was happy for me though. =) Since I am sick, I had quite the coughing fit afterwards too. Heh heh. . .but I am beaming from the news. My fave part? They have a mini book with each kit. I LOVE minis! So I am very anxious for the March kit. Hurry up March. . .and warm weather and sunshine too. . .and while we're at it NO more snow! ;-)


What a week we've had (what a couple weeks!). Over the weekend, my husband along with my brother and his wife went to Zion (right outside of Chicago) to surprise my mom. She is still at the cancer treatment center and progressing wonderfully. We had a wonderful time with laughs and stayed at a family friend's house who lives nearby. She made our stay very much like a bed and breakfast. She had lots of yummy food for us and was so hospitable! This is what we found on our beds when we arrived. . .

Wouldn't you feel so pampered? =)
Here is a card I left her

Mom has had some tough days. Yesterday she had her head shaved, but she did get a hot new wig and she looks gorgeous in it! I am so anxious for her to come home. We see each other every day normally, so this has been tough to be apart like this. Thank goodness for skype!

In the meantime, my whole family is sick. . .again!! This has been the worst winter with sickness for us all. My daughter has a double ear infection and I have sinusitis. I have asthma, so basically I do breathing treatments all day and lay around locked in my room with the kiddos watching dvd's. So since I have been laid up in bed for a few days. . .I have had some time to do some online "window" shopping. Wanna see what I found?
I love the ruffles and the "flowiness" of the fabric on this one. . .


I love the cinched waist and teal is my fave color. . .


This one. . .swoooon! Love the vintageness


Of course I'd need some chic cropped pants as a summer staple. . .


and who am I kidding, I LIVE in sweats, so I'd have to have these purty ones for when someone comes a callin'


All from the lovely Anthro. Cute right? That was just one place. . .I was all over, but I'll spare you. =)

I continue to be astounded at the generosity of others. . .particularly with people that they have never even met or do not know. I was the recipient of such a person this week.



I met this sweet sweet person because of what has transpired with my mom. My mom is a Christian fiction author and this girl is also an author. Little did I know, she is a scrapbook author as well! We hit it off immediately and emailed back and forth. She was such a source of encouragement to me and asked if she could send some scrapbook goodies since she saw from my blog that I liked scrapbooking (ummm. . .YES PLEASE!). ;-) I could not believe how generous she was and she sent such happy cheerful goodies. She also threw in two of her books that she wrote!


I told her I was starstruck by her scrapbooking celeb status, but she was so humble about it and thought it hilarious that someone thinks she is famous. ;-) You can find her humerous blog and her amazing work here (Courtney Walsh).

I hope I didn't embarrass her too terribly, but I am so delighted that people like this exist in the world. I am so happy to have met her through this yucky time. So good can come from bad. There you have it. Proof. You can find her books here and here. Thank you again, Miss Courtney, for allowing the Lord to use you!

In keeping with my normal postings, I wanted to share with you a blog that knocks my socks off with inspiration. It's photography related, but there are some ideas for us crafty gals too. . .It is Design Aglow. I have spent mucho time there today drooling over all of the products they carry and all of the ideas people submit using their products. Here are a few of my faves:


The cameras. . .swooooon!!



I want to share this with you too. It is special to me because it showcases the kind of relationship my parents share. . .


PS. . .My mom is having her surgery tomorrow! I would love prayers on her behalf! Thanks to all who read and to those who take the time to comment too. . .it means so much to me and I have loved getting to know my online friends!
xo

Renewed and Refreshed

Whew! What a whirlwind few weeks. You all amaze me. The support, encouragement, the meals dropped off, little treats from people I know and people I do not, the emails. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! We have hope. My mom is going to a cancer treatment center near Chicago. It is a very good place and she will have her surgery sometime next week. We went wig shopping already, and I must say. . .I want one too! How fun to buy a long hot blonde wig and be someone different for a date night. Too much info?? ;-)

Well, when I am stressed I create. I think I may have mentioned that, but srsly. . .I pumped out like 9 pages and some cards and working on a shadow box art and mini album. It's good to stay busy and mentally be free. I also had some retail therapy and hit up my local scrapbook place for some new goodies. If you have an Archivers, they have these hero arts doily stamps in stock!

Also can be found here.

Also, with all of the scrapping I've accomplished, I needed a new scrapbook. I love this American Crafts one that I also purchased at Archivers.

Can also be found here.

Then of course, I had to get an etsy print to hang in my new little corner of the room. =)

Here are a few of my recent faves. . .


Dramamine Dream. My two girlies zonked out after taking some dramamine on a roadtrip. It was quite nice. Heh. ;-) Used a Kenner Road kit here - I think Dec's kit?


Used bits from the girl Noel Mignon kit and the buttons stamp is Kenner Road.


Three of my faves here. . .my kids, Sassafrass Lass and Glimmer mist. =)

One more thing. . .

Isn't that the coolest?? I love it and want to make one like it, which she has instructions on her blog somewhere of how to. You need to check out her site. Love her and she always has fun tutorials and amazing pics. Found the "how to" right here!
If you made it this far. . .you are a jewel.
xo