Post-it Cra Cra!!

I love Post-its!!!  You can stick them to any surface and they make them is such cute styles and colors these days.  I love finding them in the Dollar Tree.  The other day while lost in the land of printables I found someone who shared my love, Mayi Carles from heartmade.    On her site I found this great way to organize my notes and to do list. 

Right now it is hanging on the mirrored sliding door from the closet in my studio/office.  Like a post it I am sure I will move it.  I love that I can move the notes around as my crazy life deems necessary.

Do you like the posts its?  Got them from her site too!

All you do is down load the template and print it then attach blank postits to the sheet and print it again.  Cute huh?

Find the daily Post-It prioritizer here and the Post-It here.  Check out her whole blog.  It is full of amazing things.

Missing my Maggie

Recently I responded to a request to make a pillow for someone.  Their very loved dog had passed and her little boy was having a tough time and she wanted a pillow made with her picture on it.  I took on the project.  I purchased a product new to me, June Taylor's Sew-In Computer Printer Fabric, and was excited to work with it.  My photo placement and editing skills need some help but I think I did okay.  Once I started the project tho I felt a sense of sadness come over me.  It wasn't till I was at the end did I finally realize that I had not fully grieved for Maggie.  Maggie was my loved Cocker Spaniel.  She was born in South Carolina and was purchased by my good friend Michelle and her husband Mike for Mike's mother shortly before thier move to Arizon.  I had an input of her name and felt she needed to have a Southern name so her Southern heritage would always be with her.  Lucky for me it didn't work out for Maggie and Mike's mom and after I moved to Las Vegas she became mine.  Maggie was loved by me, the boys, Jason and Isabella.  Sadly old age took their toll on her and due to many health issues we made the decision to set her free of her pain.  During this time we were going thru the turmoil of Jason's separation from the Air Force and I have never been able to sit and grieve.  Isabella still asks me why Maggie has to live with the angels and has even asked if the angels will give her back.  Many times I have comforted her but never have taken the time to grieve.  Tonight I am going to finally have my time and grieve for my Maggie and when I finally get the boxes unpacked and find her collar I will put it in a shadow box so she is always in our home.  I love and miss you Maggie!

Discovering the World of Printables

For over a year I have been resisting Pintrest.  I knew that if I got started I would spend hours and hours pinning things and never get anything done.  Sadly I have fallen into something worse.  Printables!!!  I don't remember how or exactly when.  But Easter did me in.  I found some cute printables for Isabella to help me out with and hand out to her home-school group.

Today I started writing out my usual to do list and thought there much be a cuter one in the printable world.  So off to google I went and 4 hours later I narrow it down and downloaded the "perfect" one and alot more for the next holiday, party, get together or whatever caught my eye.  So here is my list and now a time to go!!

.  Click here for the ToDo list

Saying Goodbye To Our Slide Puzzle Apartment

Much has happened since last I blogged.  Jason and I have had to face allot of challenges these last few months.  We have faced unemployment, food stamps, a new job and most of all dealing with all the emotions from his being kicked out of the Air Force and his hiding it from me.  Its been a long road but I feel we are finally better as a couple. 

One of our biggest changes was moving into a apartment.  We were asked to move out of our friends house we had moved to.  I can never ever thank that friend enough for being our safe haven for a time.  The rest is history and best left to history.  July 9th we moved into a small one bedroom apartment in a building called Renaissance Apartment.  This building is run by H.E.L.P. USA and its goal is to help at risk Vets.  This place is our stepping stone in our lives as Vets.  It is here we have breathed a air of relief as we rebuilt our marriage and family.  Here we learned to live on alot less.  Not only monetarily but with less physical items.  Here we learned not to be ashamed of what our life has become.  Here we learned who our friends were and who we were.  But with all things it is now time to move on.  The dogs have been living with our wonderful friends Alyana and Derric Wilson since dogs are not allowed.  We are moving to a apartment building that once I would not have been caught dead in.  LOL!  I think if anything this whole experience has taught me to be flexible and life will turn on a dime and not always in the way you thought it would. 

Goodbye tiny apartment!!!  You will be missed!!!

What did I learn from my Mom?

Today is Mother's Day and I have been reminded all day of the blessings of being a Mom.  Because of being a Mom I have a beautiful daughter who served me See's Candy in bed this morning while her Dad carried a big cup of milk.  Because of being a Mom I went to the Nellis 300 Lanes and started the Summer Fun League.  I started volunteering in bowling cause of my sons.  Because of being a Mom I had dinner at Steak N Shake with my middle son Christopher and his girl friend Trisha.  Because of being a Mom we were joined by the Keaton's who I would never had met if Michelle and I had not been room Mom's at Christopher, Matthew and Megan's 2nd grade class.  And because of our freindships our families are forever entwined. 

So to nite I can't but help but think of my own Mom and what she has taught me.  We have not always had a close relationship but I have learned alot from my Mom.  She has taught me that even tho she doesn't show love and concern the way I expect her to she loves me and is still concerned  and cares.  And that people don't always show their emotions but have huge hearts.  She has taught me to hang onto valuable friends.  She taught me to fight for your children. She taught me thru her example of how to be a great partner to my husband. And she has taught me to face my RA with strength and humor.  My mother has just finished 12 rounds of chemo theraphy because of Colon Cancer and yet she never had a set back and even laughed.  We had a hour long conversation about losing hair and wigs and laughed thru most of it.  My mother is a strong women and from her I hope I have learned to be one also.  And I plan to teach my daughter to be strong just like us.

And so Mom just for you.  I will wear your goofy Georgia Tech hat you made to keep my head warm since I shaved off my hair to show my support for you while you face cancer in true Marie fashion.  I love you Mom!

Lets talk organization!

Thought I would take a minute and talk about organization.  Those of you that know me must think my CDO is kicking.  hehehehe  I am the queen of containers and drawers but there are simple things around the house that can help you get organized you might not of thought about. 

I needed a trash can for my studio.  Plastic cans are ugly and sure I can paint it or Modge Podge it but I have the time?  Walking thru the garage I came upon a basket.  Its perfect.  Its pretty and the color of my studio and it has handles!!

I have backstock of supplies but limited space so what to do with them?  TADA!!  A shoe orginer from Kmart!  I choose the one with clear pockets so I can see what I need and it usually hangs on the back of the door so no one has to look at it.

My last one.  Need a small trash can for your desk, table or bedside.  How about a empty tissue box.  I like the square ones and you can even get them in cute colors or designs.

Now look around your house, your garage or even the trash and think outside the box.  HAPPY ORGANIZING!!!

Its been a long time since I blogged last.  To say all is good would be a lie.  Some good things have happened.  We are settled in at Angie's. Most days I have a routine but most I still find it hard to get out of bed.  Having Isabella defiantly keeps me going.  I can't help but smile when she comes into the room and asks me if I had a good quiet time.  What we call her naps.  The volunteer appreciation event was awesome and I had a great time with the bowlers, volunteers and coaches at the Nevada Youth State Tournament in Reno.  As usual the drive with Kipp was fun and got videos.  On a side note this summer we will be pulling our bank account with Armed Forces Bank for freezing our debit card and leaving us stranded for a hour. 

Jason needs a job!!!  He has applied at all the contractors and now moved onto K-mart, Lowe's and such.  Not that I am saying that these are beneath him or us.  We found out that the contractors that normally would hire him with UAV experience are renogationating their contracts and are not hiring till August.  UGH!!!