Craftaholics Anon Gift Exchange!

This was my first time ever participating in a craft exchange!

 Craftaholics Anonymous put it all together and it was so easy! I signed up, got a name, Melinda T. We emailed a little bit, I made a special gift and mailed it off!

I have a business, Joyful Home Designs, and an Etsy shop, but I wanted to make something special that my new friend hadn't seen yet. : ) So I came up with this sign...

I hope she likes it! And I hope I don't spoil the surprise by posting this, the sign should be delivered tomorrow hopefully.

A nice girl drew my name, and sent me this cool blue flannel rag quilt! I love it! Cozy, blue, and something I've been meaning to make but haven't gotten around to yet. Love.

Go here to see all of the cool presents that were exchanged : 2012 handmade gift exchange
The next exchange is in November. I hope I can sign up again, this was a lot of fun.

I'm gettin' gooooooood

For such a time as this, God started long ago putting the joy of "couponing" in my heart. I 'pay' with coupons instead of cash, that's how I look at it. I'm so grateful he gave me this love for saving money, because now more than ever, we are depending on HIM to provide for our needs. Coupons is one way He does it.

I've become semi "hardcore. It's true. First of the month when new coupons come out is exciting. (Lame? Maybe, but my friends and family stopped joking on me when I started giving them things I'd gotten for free by couponing.) So now it's a game, a challenge to see how well I can do. Going into Publix is fun. I used to hate grocery shopping...not anymore.

For instance, consider my trip last Sunday after church:

PUBLIX

1 carton medium eggs
1 pkg Hormel all natural turkey lunchmeat
4 bottles of Childrens Advil (these alone were 5.99 each!!)
1 carton Philadelphia Cooking Creme
1 carton Philadelphia Indulgences milk chocolate cream cheese
2 boxes of Velveeta Skillets (like hamburger helper)
2 boxes of Pillbury prepared pie crusts
1 tub Land o Lakes butter spread
6 cans of Green Giant peas
2 cans of Green Giant green beans
1 loaf of bread
1 lb bananas
4 bottles of Nature Made Folic Acid (money maker!)

After coupons, my grand total was $13.82. I saved $70.51 AND was able to submit a $10 rebate for the children's Advil. So I'll get a rebate check in the mail for $10. If you take that amount off my total, the out of pocket I spent...

$3.82. And .45 for a stamp. : )

GO COUPONS! Yes, I may be crazy. Obsessed? A little. But you wouldn't believe what I spend each week on groceries. God provides through couponing.

PS Anyone need some folic acid? I have it out the ears...but hey, they PAID me to buy it.

A new "normal"

Not that I've ever been NORMAL, but whatever...y'know.

New year, new jobs, new schedule, new bible study, new friends, new life. New..."normal".

2011 ended with a bang-or should I say, an A-bomb. Lots of change.

I have a new normal now, so a very dear friend keeps reminding me. That friend reminds me that it's good. Sometimes it is very, very, very good. Sometimes it is horrible. Sometimes it just is what it is.

A few lessons learned the past 2 months:

* God is gracious and so very faithful. I can always depend on Him, and sometimes He's ALL I can depend upon.

*When your world turns sideways, most people run in the other direction. (Almost like they are afraid of "catching" something....whew-that visual just makes me laugh. But it's so very true.)

*God provides in little and big ways. All the time, every day, and usually when you least expect it.


*People I thought were my friends, aren't. And conversely, people I didn't think were my friends, are. Funny what God takes away, and what he provides.

* My eyes have opened to people around me that are hurting. This world is full of people in pain. Going through REAL junk.


Some days I'm great. Some days I could crawl up a wall. It is what it is.
But I'm still here. WE are still here, united.

God is showing/has shown us BIG things. Would I change a thing? NO. God uses things to grow you, change you, make you better. The things that HE has done in 2 months have BLOWN MY MIND.

To G O D be the G L O R Y....for the things he has done.

common sense "aint" common

I have a hard time understanding how some people can be SO book smart... and very clearly intelligent...but be lacking in the common sense area.

And even when you try to get them to see things the way they are in real life, they still don't get it.
Perhaps they never will.

Sometimes I feel like I am wasting my energy for nothing.

And yet, I still try.

Talking to a wall, much?

Sigh.

God gave naps...

...so that mommas could survive the day.

That's been my day today. Abbie has been "challenging" today. I get to her nap time, and I'm exhausted. There's so much to do, and yet I just want to sit & rest a minute.

I need to de-clutter my craft room. It looks like Hobby Lobby threw up in there. I think I will go make myself a cup of coffee with entirely too much french vanilla creamer, throw a load of laundry in, and try to tackle the mess. Chinese for dinner is enticing. Actually, potato soup & french bread would be better. But more work.

Oh yeah, & it would be nice to get a shower at some point.

Mothers Day

Since 2002 I have dreaded the holiday. In '09 it got a little bit better when I was expecting Abigail, & looking forward to experiencing motherhood myself.

I think Less Cake, More Frosting explains it just about right:

...what I DON'T enjoy is that not everyone loves this holiday.  Nor does it seem like a celebration for some amazing women.

• Some of my dear friends have lost their Mothers (some very prematurely) and Mother's Day is a sad reminder that they don't have that person here with them on this earth. 
• Some of my other friends do not have children of their own.  While some people choose not to become Mother's, these sweet women YEARN to have children.  Every second.  Of every day.  And this holiday seems like it's mocking them.
• Some others have sent their children back to heaven.  And this day makes them aware that their arms are a little bit empty.

Mothers Day is HARD. I love being a mother, but Mothers day is yet another day that makes me ache for what I don't have. A mom. Becoming a mom both eased that ache and amplified it, all at the same time.

On one hand, I can be so thankful that I have a child, and have the huge responsibility of raising her-and that makes me think of all the things I want her to know, want to pass down to her.

On the other hand, I will never have an adult relationship with my mom, looking to her for advice and wisdom--as a sort of peer, as a friend. I didn't the chance to have my mom to stay with me in the first few weeks of having a screaming newborn, reassuring me that I was capable, and that everything would be okay. As time goes by I think about all the important things she has missed. She didn't see me or my brother get married, she didn't get to see any of her 3 grandkids. She's missed high school and college graduations. The list goes on and on. Every milestone, every big event, I think about her.
I wonder how life would've been different if she were still here.

I grieve the fact that Abbie will never know her. I worry that I'm forgetting too much about her. I wonder how in the world I can share her legacy with my family...and hope that I can live up to be the woman she had hoped I'd be, and prayed for.

Happy Mothers Day Momma. We sure do miss you.

I blog...

Or rather, I don't blog. Ha. Well, let me start over...how about this...I RARELY blog. Why do I have a blog? Quite simply, because I like to keep my blogroll handy for all the blogs & places I like to visit. It's easy. So that's why I have a blog. I always say I will do better about blogging, to no avail. It's just not on my list of priorities, & I really don't like disclosing too much about myself up here.

I'm not even sure why I'm trying to justify my lack of blogging...
which is just like me. I have a love/hate relationship with this blog. I'm a contradiction in many ways. Lately I've been feeling like most people just don't "get" me, and that is okay I guess. I started this blog before Abbie in order to keep my far-flung family up to date about her, and to be honest, I'm not sure any of my family has ever read my blog. But that's not even relevant....

And now suddenly, blogging is the hip thing to do. Sharing about any & everything. I don't know, I guess I wish for the days long ago before blogspot, before facebook & myspace, when I had a xanga "blog" page & only my best friend knew about it. Silly. I wanna say that was '05?? I think I actually blogged then. : ) So hmm, maybe I'll pop in every now & then, better than I did before.


But don't hold your breath. ; )

quote

In a perfect world we might have perfect choices, in the real world we had real choices, and we made them, and we measured the losses against what might have been the gains…There was no doubt certain things happened we might have wished hadn’t happened. There was no doubt we were dealing with forces that might or might not include unpredictable elements. Elements beyond our control. — The Last Thing He Wanted

2010

2010 was hard.
Make no mistake, it has also been full of blessings and God's provision, but it has been a hard year nonetheless. I could list the good and bad...but would rather not.

I have been frustrated. Disappointed. Helpless.
I have been affirmed. Mimicked. Adored.

I have put off conversations I need to have because it would be hard, and because I know the content would be both eye-opening & potentially hurtful.

I have allowed myself to be taken advantage of, but I also stood up for myself.

I pushed myself this year. Started a business. Made new things. Changed diapers, wiped tears, cuddled, and said "No, ma'am!" a LOT.

I didn't keep in touch with old friends like I wanted to.
I made a new friend or two. Lost friends I thought I had. Such is life.
I made great progress in my family relationships. Had some good talks. Mended some fences and cleared up some misunderstandings, and relationships are stronger than ever. It's been a long hard journey but I am so glad things are better there.

I'm getting a nephew in February.
I'm praying HARD for a sibling for my sweet niece as well.

I've seen God do things I didn't think he would do, and some I am still waiting on Him about.  I don't know how we would have made it through this year without Him.

I am so grateful for the amazing man he gave me for my husband, and for the silly/sweet/challenging/way-too-smart-for-her-own-good daughter. I am blessed.

Pillsbury Crescents "Holiday Entertaining" Party

 A few weeks ago, I had the chance to host a party for Pillsbury.

They sent me a box off goodies...gift card to buy ingredients, coupons for free crescent rolls, a baking pan, a serving spatula, and a cute oven mitt! All they wanted me to do was have a party! So I invited all of the gals in my Sunday school class and had a great time...I made baked brie, piggies in a blanket, layer bars, and bacon cheddar pinwheels. I used jalapeno cheddar mini dogs for the piggies in a blanket instead of the "normal" mini dogs, and they were amazing! The bacon cheddar pinwheels were SO simple and great, too. I gave out recipe cards for the things I made, gave away the coupons for crescent rolls that Pillsbury sent, and some fun prizes. I'd love to do this again, it was great! Pillsbury has a "dough sheet" product now, instead of opening a can of rolls and have them break apart at the perforated edges, I got the dough sheet and just unrolled it in the pan for the bacon cheddar pinwheels and layer bars. SUPER easy. Simple idea but wow, this makes an easy recipe even better!

 

Shutterfly’s 50 free holiday card promotion

I have yet to order Christmas cards from Shutterfly. I have ordered prints, photo coasters (which were really cute) and even two notebooks with pictures of Abbie on them. I made one for me and one for Jonathan. But I’ve never done Christmas cards. I have looked at the holiday ones I received in the mail in the past from friends, & thought “Wow, these are really cute”! 

But this year, Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards to bloggers who post about their products! So here I go….

Probably my favorite thing is the Christmas PHOTO cards. There are so many designs to pick from, and they are all great-Click here for regular Christmas cards to find a design that you love. I love photo cards because we live far away from out family & so they don’t get to see us on a regular basis. It’s a great way to let them see how big Abbie is getting! They start out at .32, and have hundreds of designs to pick from! The hardest part is going to be picking out a design. I’ve already seen tons I love. 

Of course, if a family picture is not something that you want to bother with, you can pick a regular Christmas card, with no attempting to get a picture with everyone looking in the right direction. Click here to see photo Christmas cards.

 

Of course, Shutterfly doesn’t just do cards. They have Calendars   (Click here to see calendars) & canvas wall art and ALL sorts of other gifts, from photo jewelry to mugs to magnets to stickers. 

 Want to get in on this deal?

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… SIGN UP HERE! 

So thanks to Shutterfly for offering this deal to bloggers. I can't wait to make my cards!

wreaths, wreaths and more wreaths.

I have been CRANKIN' out some wreaths lately! They might be coming out of my ears. : ) I'm really learning as I go along and make new designs. I tried the tulle bow on two of the last ones I've done and it's really my favorite. Only downside is that color choices are limited. But at least Hobby Lobby is open again! Whooooo!

I'm about to cut off orders, as I am not going to be a crazy woman this Christmas, running around....
I'm also working on Abbie's halloween costume-I'm really excited about it. She's going to be cookie monster, of course. I used a halloween bucket from a McD's happy meal for her candy pail-turned it into a cookie. So excited about it, even though it's frou frou to the MAX, and I've never considered myself that kind of gal. Maybe I'm going to the dark side....

I'm linking to "Get Your Craft on" at Today's Creative Blog
And also the weekend wrap up party at Tatertots & Jello!





 

beadboard wreaths

It kinda looks like santa's workshop at my house...LOVE IT! I can't wait til Christmas. But I digress-

 How did this start? My friend Eron asked me to make her one...which she posted on Facebook...and it really took off from there. Jonathan cut the rest of the beadboard today, and I got busy sanding away. Already finished a few...but so many more to make! The pics really don't do them justice.

Next, I'm making a Christmas one, and a Georgia Bulldogs one. (Go Dawgs!) Excited to see how they turn out. Can't wait to post pics when I finish.

I'm about ready for it to be fall...that's one thing about Georgia that I don't love. It's been in the 90s. YUCK. I need coffee & sweaters already. It's time. (And Abbie is about to grow out of her summer clothes.) School's in, football is on tv. The weather just needs to catch up so that I can go to Starbucks and get a mocha. Mmmmmm....

I'm so excited to link up to Jen's weekend wrapup party at Tatertots & Jello...AMAZING blog...go see all the beautiful things!!!!Go here: tatertotsandjello

For some reason her cute little badge won't show up when I copy/paste. Oh well. Go visit...be prepared to drool over her cute stuff.


  PS Shameless plug-get on facebook & find me! Joyful Home Designs

a busy last week for JHD

My little business (Joyful Home Designs) is keeping me busy. JHD is on Facebook now, even. So go like me if you want to! : ) 

And I had some orders to fill. So, I made a sign or two.... $35 for the "Est." signs

And $25 for the smaller sign

Sewing machine got busy too.... an infant car seat tent/cover for a sweet baby Molly, coming in Sept. I love making these, I think they will end up being my go-to baby gift. I had someone tell me to monogram "Keep germy hands off" on the blue part! Haha. I thought she might just want to the baby's name, or monogram on it, which is why I made it blue. (The lining is also that same blue.) One mom told me I should hang a sample in the pediatricians' office along with my business card, because people always ask her where she got it. Which makes my heart happy. : )

I made some things last week. Like this easy sign...go here to get yours...in all different colors! : )

I just printed it out and stuck it in a frame I had, on top of some scrapbook paper I already had. Easy. It makes me happy. So that's what I made for myself this week.

I'm linking up to the crafty goodness at Skip To My Lou for Made by you Monday...

 

This took an hour...

I realize that all too soon, I won't be running after her and cleaning up her messes. I spend so much time each day, chasing after her. She is a busybody, a whirlwind of activity and curiosity. The other day I thought...if I don't take pictures of this, one day I will forget how it used to be. And I don't ever want to forget. Because one day in the future, I will have all the time in the world to keep a spotless house. 

We start off pushing the chair all over the kitchen.

And then the destruction begins

Done with those!

Enough fruits & veggies...

Papers!!!!

The stuff under the tv? Boring...

I'll tear out all the tissues in the box, that sounds fun.

Ahhhhhh. The Wii basket is a favorite thing I'm not supposed to get.

But the best might be the cabinets....

CAUGHT!

Uh oh, Momma sees me.

So I use my secret weapon~HOW can she resist this face?

See, I'm so cute! You don't see me messing with dishes...

Is it working? Are you under my spell?

Ok, I'll play in the tupperware cabinet since momma says its okay.