blog moved!

I've moved my blog here...at least for the time being to see if I like this format better! Thanks for reading:)

keeping my hand on the wheel

Fishermen's Memorial: Gloucester, MA

Wow. Life has been hectic these past weeks. I'm trying desperately to stay afloat at my new job. Intakes. Intakes. Paperwork. Intakes. More hours than I counted on. Trying to learn the ropes. It is challenging. I'm hoping that once I finish this pile of intakes, schedule appointments, and start seeing the kids I will fall into a routine. It's just that I have to build up my caseload all at once it is overwhelming.

My goal is to fall into a routine and take out some time for me. I had a little bit of time today when I got home before my husband and baby girl did. I had a wicked sinus headache though. I've been battling a cold and cough for the past week. Definately making things more challenging. After some tylenol though I got some motivation to do some weeding and cleaning up in our little patch of earth in front of our condo. I have been looking forward to that so much.

I have a pile of half finished layouts on my desk. I would like to say I'll get to do some work on them this weekend but I'm not certain. It is also the end of the semester and I have a stack of papers to grade for my college job. Ugh. Students think they have it rough this time of year! They. have. no. idea.

Hope everyone has a Happy Friday!

busy. busy. busy.

What a busy week it has been. I started my new job and it has been a whirlwind! It is so overwhelming. Good. But overwhelming. I haven't had much of a chance to do anything for myself this week. Just now I worked on a layout. But I'm tired an in a bit of a funk so I'm not real happy with it. But the journaling was meaningful.

Anyhow...here are a few other layouts I don't think I've posted that I made over the past few weeks. Hopefully when I figure out my new routine I'll have time to do even one layout a week.

Christmas Day & Eve: Two page spread

Halloween: This was before I added the journaling.

1st Birthday: This page was difficult. I couldn't make any decisions and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Still need to add journaling. My goal is to do that while it's fresh in my mind!

Guard Christmas: This photo was also taken before I did the journaling.

Thanks for reading. Hoping to catch up on others blogs this weekend!

be in the moment

Spring 2012

Don’t look further for answers: be the solution. You were born with everything you need to know. Make a promise to stop getting in the way of the blessing that you are. Take a deep breath, remember to have fun, and begin. -Jonathan H. Ellerby
  
Taking a deep breath today. Tomorrow is a fresh start for me. As some of you know, I worked in the same art therapy position for 9 years up until being laid off this February. I had been wanting to make a change for so, so long. But so many things stopped me. Namely myself. But being "forced" to make a change may have been a blessing. 

I'm nervous. Excited. Uncertain. Relieved. Happy. I have a million questions running through my mind. I hate the unknown. I wish I could fast forward a few months when I am in the swing of things and don't feel like I'm "new." I am the sort of person that wants to answers right away. And that just doesn't happen when you start something new. 

I'm ready though. 

I'm also ready for Spring. The picture above is from almost this time last year. In a few more weeks it might look like that around here. I can't wait. I'm in a place of wanting to freeze time and speed it up simultaneously. I need to just be in the moment.

Take a breath and be in the moment.

Happy Sunday!

my little patient

my little patient...wearing her new hat.

This little lady is still under the weather. I took her to the Doctor today. No ear infection. No red throat. No other symptoms except a very little bit of congestion. Her breathing was fast so they sent her for a chest x-ray. No pneumonia thank goodness. But no answers either. This a.m. her temp was 103'! Once it goes down she's playing and just a little grouchy. They said she still has a fever on saturday to bring her in again. Her regular PCP is on vacation so we had another Dr. who I didn't like as much. Oh well. My husband was able to get coverage for his shift tomorrow because I can't cancel my two classes tomorrow.

Today was also my last day of unemployment. Not a great last week that's for sure with a sick sweetpea. Monday I start my new job. So nervous.

But meantime I finished the funny hat baby girl is wearing in the picture. Literally the fastest knit ever. Finished the hat itself in a few hours. Did the pom poms today...I had never made any so that took a bit of figuring. The pattern was made my the owner of my LYS...which sadly is closing in April. Not cool.

Last night after a worry meltdown I finished up this layout...

I took some of my favorite pictures ever that weekend. They have a tall ship parade on Labor Day weekend. We spent the weekend as tourists in our own town...though unfortunately my husband had to work the entire time. But it was a good memory anyhow. I kept it simple...didn't add to many extras. I love the Uncharted Waters line of paper by Glitz.

Well...off to continue taking care of the patient!

up and down

This little cutie is not feeling well. I hate when she's sick. She's had high fevers since yesterday afternoon when my daycare provider called me. But she's still playing and eating when the fever subsides so that is a good sign. No other symptoms which is odd - but I'll take it. We had a nice weekend visiting with my parent's for the holiday. But now that makes me so nervous. My dad had his 4th chemo treatment yesterday. She brightens his spirits and I hate worrying that she is now sick and was with him on the weekend. Sometimes I wish I could escape with my family to Disney world and forget all of it.

Needless to say I haven't had much of a chance to scrapbook these past few days. I have several unfinished layouts from the crop I went to last Wednesday night. I just wasn't feeling it that night and couldn't make any decisions and get in a groove. Depending on how she is doing I may/may not go tomorrow night. Next week I go back to work full-time so I'd like to while I feel I have the energy.

Here's the two layouts I did finish last week...both from Christmas. I have trouble getting into anything Christmas related after the holidays. Come to think of it...that may have been what through me and my motivation off last week!

Christmas Eve...and Day: Two page spread

Guard Christmas

I just need to add the journaling on these layouts. I kept them very simple and less "busy" than I've been leaning toward lately. I mainly wanted to show the pictures with little other distraction. This Christmas was so special I didn't want to have to eliminate photos so I had room for embellishments.

Well...hopefully tomorrow is a better day all around for everyone. I feel blessed but also heavy at the same time. Can anyone relate?

week & St. Patrick's weekend

Our City Hall through the trees

 It's been a good Spring Break week and weekend. Got to take a long walk with my dad, sister, and sweetpea earlier this week. This weekend I went to the bi-annual giant consignment sale and bought the baby a pile of clothes for her next size up. Such a good deal. Several pieces still had the tags on them. Took some time organizing a pile of hand-me-downs too. I love space bags! They are amazing for tasks/storage like this.

Also went to two yarn stores during our area's yearly "Yarn Crawl." I was responsible and only bought 3 skeins to add to my large stash. I have plans to make this owlet sweater for sweetpea with the pretty rich blue I have here... and some fingerless mitts for my good friend and daycare provider with this....

I was into blue that day it seems.

Also baked up two loafs of my Irish Freckle Bread...I started this tradition about 6 years ago or so. It is a recipe I found online. We used to have my Nana's recipe but it literally disintegrated it was so old and worn. This recipe is delicious. Would be happy to share if you'd like!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!