Friday Randoms...

1. I mentioned earlier this week that my boss approached me about working more hours in 2012.  Well this afternoon she called me to offer me more hours starting next Monday.  So of course I said yes.  I will be working 28-32 hours a week beginning Monday.  This couldn't have come at a better time.  I really do enjoy my job.

2. Last night I made "homemade" pizza.  I used a technique my blogger friend, Brandy discussed on her blog and the pizza turned out amazing.  I preheated the oven, then I put the pizza stone in until it was hot.  Then I placed my rolled out dough on the hot stone, added sauce, cheese, and toppings, and then baked it for about 16 minutes at 450 degrees.  It was so good.  The bottom was crispy (unlike when I usually make it).  I will be definitely making my pizzas this way from now on.  Thanks Brandy.  Next week I need to try her bbq chicken pizza.

3. I feel better physically.  My energy is back.  Those crazy painful pains have ceased.  I go to the doctor today for a follow-up apppointment.  Since I have to go... I will be taking a trip to Target and treating myself to lunch at Panera beforehand. I did have a little meltdown yesterday... but I think that is to be expected.

4. I am working on a fun hand painted sign.  It will say "Today I Will Choose Joy".  I definitely think it is a good reminder for every day.   I used a technique I pinned on Pinterest to transfer the letters to the painted wood.  Here is a little sneak peak. 

5. I really need to get a move on with my Christmas shopping.  I have purchased 3 items for Madison.  That is it.  I am going to place an Amazon order soon which will knock out most of my list.

6. I downloaded a free app for my phone the other day.  Now I can not only read my blogs in Google Reader from my phone, but I downloaded a Blogger app where I can blog from my phone.  This is what it looks like if you are interested -

Christmas Countdown Printables {Free}

I made this first one a few weeks ago and had it printed at Walgreens for FREE. 

Then I made this one... which I love even more.

Which one do you like best?

They print best as 8x10's.  Go ahead and download one (or both), get it printed, frame it, and use an Expo marker to keep your countdown to Christmas.

Download below for free.

Green Dots or Aqua & Red

Really??

I am pretty certain I unsubscribed from these weekly emails last week... But then this ended up in my email today... Ugh...

Invitation Christmas Ornaments - DIY Tutorial

Earlier in the week I discussed how I had a goal to make at least 3 things from my Pinterest boards...and well tonight I made my first thing.

This was so easy to make.  I made this one for a cousin who is getting married this weekend.  As soon as I find my stash of leftover wedding invitations... I will be making one for ME!!

These are selling on Etsy for $10-$20.  Craziness!!

I suggest making your own.

I bought a 4 pack of clear glass ornaments from Michaels.  They were regularly $4.99 are are 50% off through Saturday.

I took the wedding invitation and used my paper cutter (you could use scissors) and cut it into thin strips making sure to leave all relevant information (names, dates, etc..) in tact.

Next I used a pen to curl the strips.

Then I opened the top of the ornament and stuffed in the paper pieces.

You could also make them using shower invitations.  So if you have a leftover invitation, this would be an easy ornament for you to make for your tree this year.

I WAS Doing So Well... {and wedding cookie favors}

Yesterday I worked from 9-4.  After our Monday morning meeting my boss kept me on and asked me if I would be interested in more hours in 2012 (like TWELVE more) and of course I said yes.  Then I proceeded to tell her she most likely saved me from being forced by my husband to go back to work full-time. I am really enjoying my job...and even more so because I get to stay home.  I feel so fortunate to have this job.

Around 11 AM I felt like I was on labor while sitting at the kitchen table working.  No lie.  Contraction like pains...and lots of pressure.  It was BAD.  The physical pain of the miscarriage hasn't been that painful since early Friday morning of last week.  I loaded up on some prescription strength Tylenol and finished my work shift.

I worked on a cookie job yesterday as well for my cousin's wedding that is this weekend.  The cookies are going in the out of town guests bags.  I had labels designed from the great Etsy shop, The Preppy Ladybug. I had to run out last night to get bags for the packaging... I had three sizes which I thought would work... one was way too big and the other two were too small.  Luckily I got in and out of the store quickly with the right sized bags.  I loved the way they turned out and I hope the bride and groom enjoy them... I packed some extras for them.  I sent them off overnight from the post office this morning.

Chris, Madison, and I were invited to the wedding but decided not to attend as of yesterday...which I feel TERRIBLE about.  However, I still feel pretty wrecked both emotionally and physically.  This morning when I woke up I was in the kitchen making breakfast  I froze and became hunched over the counter and couldn't move.  The pains from yesterday were back and oh so bad.  After being able to move to a chair, some orange juice, and some more tylenol...they have remained fairly scarce and mild the rest of the day.

Aside from the physical issues... I am trying to be more upbeat, positive, and to get stuff done around our house.  I was having a great day today... I worked from 10-2...then I logged onto Facebook.  I have a cousin... who I love dearly...who is EXACTLY one week ahead of where we should be in our pregnancy.  She is 12 weeks today.  I should be 12 weeks a week from today.  Today she posted her first trimester had ended and she got to here her baby's heartbeat...and well I lost it.  Absolutely lost it. Now I have a headache...feel like crap...and want to get in bed.

I am sort of thankful I don't have to go to this wedding this weekend and see her.  Or hear about her baby to be.  I hid her posts on Facebook took.  I feel like a big bitch.  Oh well.  I know in time it will get easier and I will be able to be happy for other people who have what I should have, but right now, in this very instant I cannot be.

I am going back to the doctor's on Friday for a follow-up.  Sitting in an office with new babies and pregnant women should be a fun way to spend my Friday afternoon.

I WAS doing so well...

Stop PINning... Start Doing...

If you are anything like me you probably PIN a ton of stuff... but never get around to making any of it yourself.  I have decided this week will be different.

I will be making two of these ornaments - one using OUR wedding invitation and one using my cousin's wedding invitation (she is getting married this weekend).  Isn't this a fun and easy idea?

Source: christyrobbins.blogspot.com via Daphne on Pinterest

Next I have high hopes to make this canvas for my bedroom.

Source: annabellea.com via Melissa on Pinterest

And maybe if I am feeling motivated I may even whip up a batch of these three ingredient peanut butter cookies.

Source: jamhands.net via Melissa on Pinterest

If you are a constant pinner like me... who has way more pins to do than pins you have done, I encourage you to challenge yourself to choose two pins to work on this week.  Then make a board called Things Pinterest Inspired Me to Make like I did... and you can move those pins over there.

I've Stopped...

I've stopped...

making great dinners,

taking photos,

putting effort into my baking,

painting,

reading good books,

caring what I look like when I go out (hello...pink shirt I wear all of the time and eyebrows who haven't been waxed in forever),

taking my time with the things I do,

putting forth much effort in connecting with family and friends,

volunteering at Madison's school, and

being interested in doing anything social.

Some of these things stopped with the move from hell this summer... some stopped as the months passed where we weren't conceiving, some stopped when I was pregnant and just too tired for anything, and some stopped once I knew our baby was no more...

I want my life back.

I want all of those things back in it.

I want it to be better than if ever was before.

2011 has sucked.  I refuse to let the last month of it continue to suck. 

There are some changes to be made.

~FREE~ Square Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays Printables

These print BEST as 12x12 square prints or smaller.  Choose one or choose all 4.  They are available for FREE to download below.  If you download one, just leave a quick comment to let me know... just because I am curious.  Keep your eye out for other winter holiday printables coming soon. 

Green Dots - Merry Christmas

Trees Stars Merry Christmas

Green Dots Happy Holidays

Stripes Happy Holidays

I am Thankful For...

Happy Thanksgiving.  We are off to my aunt's house in Massachusetts for Thanksgiving dinner.   Today I will share some things (in no particular order) that I am thankful for this year...

Source: google.com via Kristin on Pinterest

{1} I am thankful after many months of trying to conceive we finally got pregnant...and even though it didn't end up with the outcome we hoped and dreamed of I am thankful that my body allowed me to conceive... as I know others are not as fortunate.

{2} I am thankful for the awesome 12 year old daughter we do have who brings us so much joy and happiness.

{3} I am thankful for a roof over our heads, our jobs, a warm home, two cars that work, a great school for our daughter, food in our kitchen, clothes on our backs, and our friends and family.  Have we struggled this year? Of course.  We went from 2 incomes to 1 income + 1/4 income.  But our basic needs are met.

{4} I am thankful for the Internet... which allows me to work from home, shop from home, connect with friends and family, blog, and look up just about anything I need to know.

{5} I am thankful for my husband who gets up every morning and heads to work without complaining most mornings to make sure we have the things we need.

{6} I am thankful for all of the silly little things that bring me joy like reality TV shows, trips to Target, lunches at Panera, baking, making crafts, painting, and reading magazines.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Such Sadness {Not About Me}

One of the blogs I follow through Google Reader and Facebook shared a friend's blog post today about the loss of her sweet baby girl who was born just 1 days shy of 26 weeks. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

If you want to read her blog - go {here} but please be forewarned she shares some photographs in her recent posts that may be hard for some people to view... they are sweet photos of her baby girl... but they may be hard to look at.  So please read/view at your own risk. 

My heart aches for this family... that I do not know... that I have never met... for the loss of their baby girl.  So if you are pregnant... embrace it.  If you have a newborn baby... hold it a little bit closer tonight.  If you have an older child... give it an extra hug tonight.  Whatever your situation is... be thankful... because not everyone is as lucky as you are.