Where Is Mine?!

At midnight the final blow of get out of the military struck me.  I no longer am a ID card holder.  When Jason was kicked out we were giving transitional ID cards for two years.  I guess in that two year time I was suppose to transition into someone I have not been for most of my life.  I feel like this is that final kick in the teeth for me.  My brain has been screaming off and on since it happened "I am not the one that failed!".  I did my job!  I have been a supportive Air Force spouse to two men.  I sat before a commander being told that if the military wanted him to have a family he would be issued one,  been looked down at for being a dependent.  "Oh your a wife" I have been told with a air of being nothing important and a waste.  I have moved and moved and moved.  I have birthed three children in the military and raised all four of them to respect this country and our symbols and our traditions.  Since they could stand they knew to stop and put their hand over their heart when the National Anthem comes on.  I have ironed uniform after uniform and sewed patch and striped onto uniforms.  I dressed appropriately as not to embarrass my husband or the military.  I sent both of my men to war and in fact am a war bride to one.  I waited and waited and waited for phone calls and letters and emails.  I was never first or even second.  I volunteered!  Team Mom, Room Mom, Sunday School Teacher, Chairperson to this committee and that, Cub Scout leader, Youth Bowling leagues.  And only once did I have to call a shirt to ask for my husband home when I was hospitalized after the doctor threatened to send the SP's to pick me up, oh and that did not sit well with my husband.  I tried to handle each avenue of military life with dignity and grace.  I have baked and sent care packages all over this world so my husband and his freinds knew they were loved and appreciated.  Don't get me wrong I am no angel or even a martyr.  I have throw my share of fits and threatened to go to the commander when my husband was told it was in the best interest of another Airmen for him to deploy.  But then I put on my big girl pants and started packing his bags.

When a man retires finally the spouse is recognized.  I have proudly sat and watched freind after freind finally get her certificate of thanks and heard words to express her sacrifice.  Where is mine?!  Did I not do what I was suppose to do?  Korea?  Deployments?  Military stress on the family?  Living pay check to pay check?  Eating Ramen so my child could have the last hot dog in the fridge?  Where did I fail?

Boooo!!!

It is that time of the year.  Time to gear up and get ready for the big holiday rush time.  Each year to start off the rush is the fleece ghost poncho.  I love this and do love making it.  It is my highest seller on etsy and one of the reasons I keep my etsy store open...LOL.

Finally motavated! For now......

Well....here we are almost a month later, one left rotator cuff tear, back spasms and attention to some other parts of the apartment.  I finally walked into my studio/office/guest room with the determination of David ready to slay Goliath!  I have a show in a week and I am no where ready for it so its time to get back to work.  Four hours later this is what we have.

I have found a great site to make collages and love them!

Yes is was still a mess but I love the outcome!  I love when I envision something and it actually works!

Now Day 2.  Nothing to really move furniture wise but allot to do still.  Several hours and here we are.

The futon still needs help but look how much better my work area looks and how cute my collage is.  LOL!  I feel ready to work and now have the space.

Stuck!

I am stuck!  I mean like standing in honey.  Not for real.  That stuff is to expensive to spill!!!  For a couple of months now Jason and I have been sleeping in my studio while our master bedroom was a store house for boxes.  Finally in one huge push and three days of unpacking and not much else we were able to get our bedroom somewhat set up and move in.  With that being said the futon is back against the wall and I am ready to get to work.

Yea about that.  I walk into my studio/office/guest room and this is what greets me. 

Why am I sitting here blogging about this nightmare?  Why am I in the dining room and not doing something about it?  For one the dining room is a bit less cluttered.  And for two this is my way of getting me motivated.  I thought if I could start with the horror that is the beginning and then update as I go it would keep me motivated. 

Anyone have a nightmare like this?

Camera Straps, Pillow Covers and Luggage Tags. Is this a vacation?

Today was a busy day here in Washington.  Yes, Washington!  Puyallup, Washington to be exact.  Isabella and I are once again spending three glorious weeks with The Keaton's, or as Isabella calls them Uncle Mike and Aunt Michelle.

As always Michelle has a project for me.  Most people would not be happy if they put their business on vacation and then sat behind a sewing machine but I am not most people.  Shush you!!  Yes you!! As I was saying, Michelle had a project for me.  She has a very heavy camera and needed a cover for it and something to hold her lens cap also.  Sooooooo google camera strap covers I go and here is what I made. 

We choose minky for the back fabric so it would be more comfortable.  It was my first time sewing on minky and it was slippery and the dots in the fabric weren't very nice to me.  But I am please with the finished product and think I have figured out some of the mistakes.  I know a photog friend that I adore that might just need one of these.  As always a huge shout out to Tiffany Bird of Simply Modern Mom for her tut.  You can get it here.

The next project was making pillow covers for a updated game room.  In the past this room has been patriotic but since Madison is a fan of zebra and her practice dance floor is here Michelle choose to do a Zebra print with some hot pink accents.  Michelle choose a zebra fleece with hot pink hearts and peace signs.  I know fleece would not the be the traditional fabric for pillow covers but oh it is soooo soft.  I haven't gotten a pix of them yet.  They are being used at the moment in another room.

Finally a little something for me.  I meant to do this before I left but time got away from me.  I needed some luggage tags.  Printables here we come!!  I found these really cute ones from Amy Locurto at Living Locurto and printed them out, put my name and phone number on the back and then laminated them.  I just need to punch a hole in them and put them on my luggage.  I did two sets, one for the outside of the luggage so I can see which black suitcase is mine and one for the inside cause I once heard that the reason luggage gets lost is the outside tag gets ripped off and there is nothing inside to tell who the person is.  Nice run on sentence!  Want them....tough they are not yours as the tag says!  Oh wait they technically are not mine either so here you go... luggage tags

This more than likely will be the last of my vacation projects since tomorrow we go see the Mariners play baseball and then back to the Vegas heat the next day.

Kitchen Labels

This is how my days have been lately.  Open box, unwrap each item, roll my eyes at something, put packing paper back in box, take box to patio for someone to pick up, now figure out what to do with what I just unpacked.  UGH! 

Right now I am unpacking the kitchen.  I thought I could get away with just shoving stuff in the cabinets and deal with it later but my CDO will not allow that!  Sooo lets organize a bit.  I am transfering all the baking items into similar containers, no more random containers.  Of course I HAVE to label them so I know what is in each. Usually I would get out of my trusty label maker, but OH WAIT!!  Printables!!! So off to the laptop I run to look thru the hundreds of printables I have downloaded and TADA!  Print, cut out and stick.  What do you think?

I have blank ones too.  Those will have to wait till I get a white pen.

If you like these you can find them here. 

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!!!

Why Am I Sitting At This Computer?

So the day has finally come.  Today is the final day in the base house at 5A McCarran Blvd, Nellis AFB.  And here I sit.  On the computer.  I just loaded my farm cause I need to see if my neighbors sent me stuff to finish my much needed bunny hutch.  (Anyone catching the sarcasim?)  As usual there is so much to do.  Is anyone ever ready when the movers walk in the door?  Anyone?  Say yes and I am gonna throw my imaginary bunny hutch at you.  I guess the purpose of this blog is just to admit I am being lazy and also in some denial.  If I just sit here and farm all day will tomorrow really happen?  By law if we don't pay housing "rent" they have to wait 30 days before they can kick us out. 

Okay time for denial to be over.  ooooo I am over half way to finishing my bunny hutch.  I think I will be in denial for a little while longer.  After all don't I have that right?

A New Journey

Originally I started this blog site to promote my business.  Kinda just like every other women out there hawking their bows.  I will still be promoting my business here but today my life has changed so much I thought blogging about what is going on in my life would help me make sense of what is going on and maybe even help someone in my similar situation. 

What started this change?  February 20th did.  The day began awesome enough.  Spent an entire day of shopping and girl time with my Christy's.  Christy Bourgeois and Christy Davison will be featured allot because they are two of the few women in my life I can be me.  I know clique little saying but they have seen me at my absolute worse and my best and yet still keep showing up.  Without them and my BFF Michelle Keaton, and my high school BFF's Brenda and Beth, and other women who will make it in this blog I would not be able to make it thru this life and what it holds.  I know detour from the story but get use to it, I do it alot.  Sooo after this most excellent day and so many laughs, explosions and money spent we make it back home.  At 1st it seemed like any other nite in the Robinson home.  But then little things started catching my eye.  1st my hubby of almost 13 years was dressed on a day off.  This is not normal.  Second Christy D was now following me into the house after announcing she HAD to get home to her hubby and kids.  After praising my hubby for FINALLY hanging up the antique fruit and veggis scale in the kitchen.  In his oh so dramatic way, I need you to calm, come sit, blah blah blah, he told me that he had failed his fit test in November and had been lying to me all this time and was being kicked out of the Air Force.  We have been thru him failing his fit test for 5 years.  I have done just about everything to help him.  Diet, exercise, sexual favors, yelling, I even threatened to leave him.  But the military is downsizing and they are looking for excuses to kick people out and my hubby gave them one.  So not only was I dealing with the shock, fear, but he lied to me for months and he was being kicked out two days later!!!!   Right now we are in the middle of a move.  Stuff is going over to a wonderful person who I refer to as my sister in Angel Angie's house and the rest in storage.  The movers come in two days to pack and then pick it up the next. 

The final decision to start blogging is we had to put to sleep my beloved dog Magnolia Mae.  Maggie was 13 in December and was deaf and had hip issues.  Last nite she had lost the ability to stand up and began throwing up and couldn't make it outside to pee.  So this morning we decided to send her to God.  I am hoping this will help me heal.

So follow me along if you will.  Warning there will be cussing.  There will be moments of pure bi-polar thoughts and there will be rants.  So good luck if you decide to stick it out.  Those of you that know me there will also be laughter and many many dur moments too.

Mannequins

I finally have my two mannequins.  Those of you that know me know I have a goofy personality and will not be shocked that I want to name them.  Soo with that said I thought I would get all of you involved.  I am having a contest!!  Submit your suggestions on what to name these things.  Oh and look its my 1st contest!!!  WooHoo!!  I will pick two winners, one for each mannequin.  The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate.  Let the hilarity begin!!!

Welcome

Welcome to my 1st blog.  I have gotten some great ideas from others bloggers on this site from cooking to decorating.  Not sure what I will be blogging about on my page but thought after one of my products was featured on two different blogs I would dive in.  Soooooooo here goes!