Getting Crafty

Last night I got to work on something I have needed to do for a while. It was my first attempt at a homemade card. Well, my first unassisted attempt. I have made cards before...but it's usually at One Scrappy Chick when they give you everything you need plus a pattern. This time it was all me...and I'm not sure that was a good thing! I got to use my new Cuttlebug...which is a whole different story. Sometimes I think things out ahead of time...and then fail to carry them out. A perfect example of this would be that I was only going to emboss half of the cardstock...but when I got the Cuttlebug out I totally forgot that and embossed the whole thing. Now imagine me trying to write over the embossing!

Just a note to the recipient...yes, my handwriting is always bad...but the embossing made it worse, so if you can't read it, I won't be surprised. I hope you like my effort anyway!

Then I tried something I saw on Creating Keepsakes. Using beads to create a shape on your project. I recently found some beads that I had in high school...I'm supposing I made Jewelry with them, but I honestly don't remember. I was quickly reminded that with such beads it is important to have a very thin needle otherwise they won't fit over the eye...I had forgotten that I ran into that problem before!

Anyway, it turned out ok...not the spectacular vision I had (partially because most of the colored beads were too small) but all in all I think it was a good first attempt. I'll post a picture of the card after I'm sure the recipient has gotten it!

I have to say though, I had a lot of fun making it, and I think I'm going to make it a regular practice from now on. I have my scrapbook supplies, and I'm going to have to build up a card making supply of paper as well! :)

This years bragging rights!

I don't know how I forgot to write a post about bragging rights...especially after my Tigers pulled out the win. I have always thought a blowout was more painful for the losing team than losing by 2 or 3 points, but this weekend Anthony posed a different perspective which really made me think.

I am definitely a fan of a blowout...like Clemson's 63-17 victory over USC several years ago, but the truth is, Anthony is right! I'm sure it was much more painful for Carolina fans Saturday as their hopes of a win were dashed as the kick was up and good as time expired. Just as we danced around the den excited about our win. It was suspensful, and much more exciting than a 63-17 victory. I have always said a win is a win...whether it's by 1 point or 100, but I have changed my mind and I really think a 1 point victory is definitely more painful than 100!

So, Clemson has once again reclaimed the bragging rights for the year, and I'm super glad they did! I will always bleed orange, regardless of the outcome, but victory certainly is sweet! :) The Carolina fans in my office are awfully quiet today...hehehe...and I'm going to leave it at that. There is no need to rub it in, they are well aware of the final score!

All I can say is GO TIGERS!! It wasn't your best game ever, but it's still a W on the schedule, and ultimately that's all that matters!

And the Winner is...

ALEXA!!!

Over the past week or so, Alexa has developed a rash on her chin...I'm not exactly sure what caused it, but I'm fairly certain that her paci has exacerbated the situation because the area is constantly wet. So, yesterday Pop suggested that we try and keep paci away from her in hopes that it would help the rash dry up.

We are officially 24 hours paci free!!! I can't tell you how excited I am. Yesterday she didn't even act like she missed paci, but I was still a little bit worried about it. I wasn't sure how we were going to get through the night without it.

At bedtime we simply went about our routine just like we always do, and she went down without a problem. It was really cute because after 15 or 20 minutes we could hear her in the other room talking and singing to herself. She never offered to cry though! I decided that I would put her paci in my room in case she woke up so I could take it with me and potentially soothe her back to sleep with it, man was I shocked when I awoke to the sound of my alarm and not the sound on Alexa!

I am SO SO SO proud of her...it's a really big deal to give up her paci without a fight. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we have won this battle yet, but we are definitely well on our way! She didn't even fuss in the car on the way to daycare this morning...once again, she surprised me!

I told her teacher at daycare that her backup was still in her bag, but that we wanted to try and not give it to her! We will see how she does today, but regardless I am still proud that she has now gone over 24 hours without her paci. My baby is growing up way too fast!

Conjunctivitis

Yesterday after spending some time with Anthony and his family I went with mama to Greenville to get her hair done. We had a great time visiting with Matt! On our way home my eye really started bothering me.

Earlier in the day Gabe (the cat) jumped up in my lap, and typically if I touch him it makes my allergies flare up. I try to be really careful and if I do touch him I wash my hands immediately. I honestly can't remember if I did yesterday or not...but I digress.

I really thought my eye was bothering me because of the cat so I didn't think much of it. After we got back from Greenville Anthony and I went to Spartanburg to take the camera back and to buy a Cuttlebug. Michael's had a 50% off coupon and with my gift card that meant it wasn't going to cost me much so I decided to get one. We went to Best Buy first, and then to Michael's. Due to the fact that I went through so many sale papers on Thursday night to figure out what our game plan was going to be, I didn't realize the 50% off coupon wasn't good until noon today.

So, we left there and went to Wild Wing and ate...the whole time my eye kept getting worse and worse. By the time we got in the car to come home it was really swollen and irritated. We came home and I took some benadryl and ibuprofen and went to sleep...hoping it would be all better in the morning. No such luck!

This morning my eye was matted and swollen shut. It also looked awful. I got to spend my morning at Doctor's Care getting a prescription. The doctor said it's the worse case of pink eye he has ever seen! He gave me drops, ointment, and pills. I really do look AWFUL! Hopefully it will be much better in the morning, but who knows.

It certainly wasn't my ideal Saturday...but I can be thankful that it wasn't any worse and that overall I'm in good health.

Fun Filled Holiday

We had a great day yesterday. In the morning Alexa and I went to Wal-Mart to get some extra stuff for supper, and then we went to visit her Aunt Tamara and cousin Eno who just got into town for the weekend. After we spent some time playing with them we came back home and started cooking. We made a broccoli casserole and a ham...both turned out super yummy! Mama and Daddy were at the church for the Thanksgiving Feast there...they were over the food part of it this year, so we helped by getting our food ready.

We went to my Aunt Marian's around 5, and the whole family was there. All of my aunts and uncles and cousins with their kids, it was a huge group and lots of fun. We had a great meal and then just hung out for a while catching up on everybody. It was so nice to see everybody, I can't remember the last time we saw Michael or Matt.

After supper we came home and visited with Josh and Brenda a bit more before they went home. Then Anthony and I spent a little while looking at sales papers to find a deal on a digital camera. We bought one last weekend, and so far I have not been impressed. We decided to get another one and give it a try. After much looking we decided to try an Olympus. Mama has had two different ones and liked both of them. She still has the original digital camera she bought, and it takes great pictures, so I'm looking forward to trying it out. I'll let you know how it goes.

Anthony was super sweet and was at Radio Shack at 6am this morning to make sure I got the camera I wanted at the best price. Who could ask for more??

Here are some picture I took last night after dinner while everyone was sitting around talking. I hope you all had a great holiday and got to relax and enjoy spending time with family like we did. Enjoy this great weather God has given us! I know I am super thankful for all of the blessings He has given me!

Our gracious hostess and host...my Aunt Marian and Uncle Phil

Daddy, Mama, and Uncle Jerry

Grace, Grandpa, and Anthony

Dean and Uncle JT

Aunt Marian and Lexa

Davis and Alexa

Courtney and her mom

Brad, Jodi, Josh and Peanut (Josh and Brenda's new dog) and Christine

Walker and Alexa playing with a compass...the strangest things attract children!

It's Official

Last night I was looking at Alexa's mouth, and you can definitely see both of her top front teeth coming in. The right one has actually broken through her gum, but the left one hasn't yet. I would post a picture except it's impossible to get her to show them to you. I had to hold her mouth open last night so mama could look. LOL! Any other time she will open her mouth so wide, but if I want to look at her teeth then she shuts it! I hope they hurry up and come in, she's been kind of under the weather and irritable because of it. I'm excited though, and I will post a picture when they come through a bit more and you can really see them!!

Happy Thanksgiving all!

New Scrapbook Pages

My three most recent scrapbook pages...I've been so busy lately that I have all these great pictures and no time to get them on paper. I finally got back in business last weekend and these are the results. Linds let me know what you think. You should be super proud of me that my book is coming along so nicely...in fact it's almost full!! :) Can't wait to start the next one!!

This is the pumpkin patch spread...all of the pictures were taken at Niven's Apple Farm. I know we will be going back next year, it was a blast! Both of the big pumpkins were cut with the cricut, as well as the stacked pumpkin man which is one piece 10" long, and then "Punkins" spelled out on top of the pumpkin. There are little circle letters on top of the pumpkin man...but those were punch outs. All in all I was very pleased with how it turned out.

This two page layout is of Alexa and Uncle Jerry. I'm not sure which one loves the other one more...but you can tell by the look on both of their faces when the other walks in the room. They just light up! It's so sweet! The cricut did all of the hearts, and tags on this page along with the letters. Then on the second page the different circle, the heart, and the balloons. The present was also done on the cricut...using two different layers of it, I have a bunch more presents and balloons cut out for her birthday spread! I hope I'm going to get to work on that this weekend. Let me know what you think!