the beginning of the week

We are in the middle of February school vacation right now.  We really didn't have any special plans for the week, just sort of winging it.  I had grand ideas of us all pitching in and cleaning and organizing the house all week, but as I sit here and write this post I have realized that plan just isn't going to happen.


So here is a recap of the week so far in list format because I don't have pics until Wednesday (another post):

Monday -

• hubby was home from work for the day so we took the kids to see Gnomeo & Juliet.  It was a really cute movie (despite me hoping we were out of the cartoon movie stage).  I do have to say though for a G rated movie that the adult humor in it was not very well disguised...my 8 year old picked up on a few things I kind of wish he hadn't.
• we then spent a ridiculous amount of time in Dick's Sporting Goods where Bob dreamed of spending money we don't have on golf equipment he doesn't need.  The kids and I played on the exercise equipment (that counts as working out right?) where I tried to think of creative ways to come up with $1500 so I can buy a treadmill (which by the way I really do need).  In the end, JT walked out with a baseball glove and I got 2 really cute pairs of socks on sale (although I really need a new pair of running sneakers to wear the socks in...and oh yea, the treadmill to run on)
• by this time it was too late to go home and get the kids to Tae Kwan Do (that was their evil plan) so we went to Olive Garden (and I pouted because Bob wouldn't let me go into Raymour & Flannigan to price up new   bedroom furniture or a dining room set...I have evil plans too).  Dinner was yummy but it threw my whole weight loss thing out of whack...note to self: DO NOT go to an Italian resturaunt when on a no carb diet, and really DO NOT feel that since you already blew it then having a slice of heavenly lemon cake is ok....(see now if I had that treadmill...)

Tuesday -

• nothing, zilch, zip, nada...it was an uneventful day.  The kids hung out and watched a movie (afterall I should allow them one day to rot their brains out in front of the tv right?)  and I did laundry, picked up, did the menu/grocery list, balanced the checkbook, and started to clean the craft room (oh how I miss thee).

to be continued...

CTMH Product Spotlight on Color

Welcome to another CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop!  This month we are featuring color...specifically the wide range of colors that Close To My Heart has to offer in cardstock, markers, inks, and embellishments.   If you came from Wendy's blog, welcome.  If you are just starting here, then keep going, your next stop is at the bottom of my post and you will circle back here when you have gone through all the participants this month.

CTMH offers 60 different colors to choose from, each grouped into seasons.  Each of the colors within that season coordinate beautifully with each other...but have you ever mixed and matched your seasons together?  Unlikely color combinations can sometimes lead to that wow! factor you were looking for.  Don't be afraid to play with a little color.

Last year, Jeanette Lynton, the founder of CTMH, featured different color combos each Monday on her blog.  You can check out all the great combos she created here.  I chose one of those color combos to feature today.  The combination of Tulip, Juniper, Cocoa and Desert Sand gave me just the right pop of color I needed for this card:

I love how the colors blend and lend a deep, sophisticated feel to the card.  I hesitated creating this card to share with you only because the stamp sets that I used are all retired.  I decided to use it in the end to make a point that when you see a stamp you love...you need to snatch it up.  These sets are among my most used for pretty much every occassion.  If you have them in your stash...pull them out and give them some love.  I used Cottage Floral, Curly Greetings and the background was created with Magic and Serendipity. 

Your next stop is Corina...head on over and see what wonderful color combos she has to share with you today. 

Thanks for stopping by -

Tracy

Here is the full list of participants in case you get stuck along the way:

Wendy Kessler
Tracy Oleksak
Corina Mitchell 
Laurie Flannery 
nikka geers 
Adeline Brill 
Jill (Scrap Wench) 

Dear blog

Dear blog,

I have not forgotten you.  Really, I haven't.  I have been super busy around here with life.  I could tell you about it, but, then I would get buried even deeper.  So, we will have to catch up real soon.  Promise.

You know me...quality, not quantity (well except if you are talking about the piles of clutter I am digging out of...yep, that sure is quantity over quality because I have come to realize that it is all crap-o-la.  Crap-o-la I need to sort through, but crap-o-la nonetheless.).  I would so much rather share quality stuff with you than a bunch of useless dribble. 

I have some projects started, some crafty stuff in the making and some pics to edit, post and tell you about.  But, life is happening around me too quick, and I need to be there right now.  Things around the house are a bit too out of control for my liking.  I need to catch up on everything I need to do in order to be where I want to be, do what I want to do.  That means letting a few things slide. (side note:  family time is NOT one of those things.  Tons of snow=great skiing=lots of family time=one happy mommy!  more later...promise.)

We are not through though, I couldn't bear to part with you.  I just need to refocus and take things slow.  I promise to visit at least twice a week until I can reach a point where I am at a comfort level with everything I need to do around here. You know, get organized, create a schedule to keep on top of my mommy/wife duties, and still have time to be a mommy/wife.  I am not a nice person when things are so crazy around here, and I really don't like being a not so nice person.  Once I have things a bit more under control,  I can devote a bit more time to you my friend.  If by some miracle there happens to be a few extra hours snuck into the day, or I am not so dead tired at 9pm when I actually get some down time, then things might change quicker.

Please don't miss me too much.  I will be around soon with fun stuff to share....promise.

Me