My husband sent this to me to cheer me up! Not sure what is funnier, each “class” or the fact that I should take most of them if it weren’t a joke! LOL!

MEN!

SO I hope you get a giggle.

PS I WILL be posting the coffee house cookie recipe today or tomorrow

Right now Im CLEARING out my stamp room to prepare for a HUGE sale here

HUGE! Priced to GO!!!

————————————————— 

Spring Classes for Women at 
THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
by Tuesday,  June 20, 2009

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.

Class 1
Up in Winter, Down in Summer – How to Adjust a Thermostat Step by Step, with Slide Presentation..
Meets 4 wks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hrs beginning at 7:00 PM..  

Class 2
Which Takes More Energy – Putting the Toilet Seat Down, or Yelling About It for 3 Hours?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours. 

   Class 3
Is It Possible To Drive Past a Wal-Mart Without Stopping?–Group Debate.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.   

Class 4 
Fundamental Differences Between a Purse and a Suitcase–Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

 Class 5
Curling Irons–Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Bathroom Cabinet?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
at 7:00 PM  

Class 6
How to Ask Questions During Commercials and Be Quiet During the Program
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7
Can a Bath Be Taken Without 14 Different Kinds of Soaps and Shampoos?
Open Forum.
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8
Health Watch–They Make Medicine for PMS – USE IT!
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours. 

  Class 9
I Was Wrong and He Was Right!–Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined .  

 Class 10
How to  Parallel Park In Less Than 20 Minutes Without an Insurance Claim.
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday’s noon, 2 hours.

Class 11
Learning to Live–How to Apply Brakes Without Throwing Passengers Through the Windshield.
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

 Class 12
How to Shop by Yourself.
Meets 4 wks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM. 

Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy–Remembering To Take a List To The Store, Avoiding Separate Trips for Each Item Needed.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14
The Stove/Oven–What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.  

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

 This adorable little boy is Ethan Weiman

Welcomed into the world August 5th 2004-Welcomed into Heaven June 12th, 2009 

Heaven has gained an AMAZING little boy! Such a precious life. His smile contagious. His courage was amazing. A true little cowboy!

Please read his mother’s post—> CARING BRIDGE SITE 

Today Ethan’s family will say goodbye in a ceremony from 4-7 at Duker and Haugh in Quincy, IL. They will fill the room with balloons, in a tribute to him.

Please put them in your prayers today, if you can for ask strength and peace during that time.

You can also view his mother-Alicia’s blog with many posts full of photos and memories of Ethan (TISSUE ALERT!)

I have no eloquent words. I sit here typing in tears, not even knowing what to say.

I have a very heavy heart, and so many tears pouring out for them, over the last 2 days, since learning of his passing. I don’t even want to imagine the pain in their hearts right now.

I don’t know where to begin, to express how much I feel for this family that I have come to know over the last year or so. I have become so emotionally involved with this family, I have never met! Yet, I feel like I lost a part of my own family.

My own daughter has fought this scary battle. Not everyone wins. To lose such a life, so young. I want to scream that it’s not fair.

I’m trying to keep Faith that there is a purpose in everything. Sometimes Faith is hard. Sometimes we don’t see the rainbow after the storm. Sometimes we never feel like we get an answer.

I want to just reach out to this family, that I have come to love. I feel helpless, knowing I cannot ease the pain and burden in their hearts.

I have a few things I NEED to work on, so I don’t feel helpless. I am going to do what I can to help them in ANY way, to honor the life and memory of their sweet little Ethan.

If you want to help them in any way, we have set up a donation fund for them here

http://tinyurl.com/WeimanFamilyDonation

No amount is too small. A little bit from a lot of people, adds up quick.

There are many medical bills left unpaid, as well as other expenses.

If you want to send a card-please email me.

Kristen wrote a beautiful post, that I only wish I had the strength to write! View that —> HERE

You will learn more about what I am doing later.

In the meantime I just ordered 25 balloons to help fill the ceremony-asking for a special Mylar horse balloon for little Ethan.

My children and I are sending his little sister Ava-a pony from Build a Bear called Pawsome Pony (he isn’t being released til the 26th! UGH!). So we will buy him un-stuffed.

We will let her fill it and put a prayer and kiss on a heart to stuff inside for Ethan. We are also sending hearts from our family and for his mom and dad to put in too. My kids each said a prayer and signed their own little heart for him.

Explaining what we were doing, and why was extremely difficult. They seemed to really understand, and were eager to par-take. They will spend the afternoon making cards for Ava. I don’t know HOW I am going to make a card.

We got the pony a cowboy hat, boots, vest and jeans just like Ethan! We hope this little pony will make Ava always feel close to Ethan, when she misses him. She can just give him a big hug, when she misses him.

I have a few things to work out for his mom & dad. I want to do something special.

In the meantime, please pray for them. Alicia is expecting a new baby in November, and this has to be very hard on her body. I pray her and Dave will lean on each-other, and are able to get through this day.

Everyday will be hard.

I just ask God for his peace, comfort, strength and mercy.

Again, I’m sorry I have no eloquent words. I just can’t today.

Thank you for reading and caring.

Well I am working feverishly to finish up my projects, teacher gifts, and preparing for the big Papertrey Ink Release tonight!

Im VERY excited about this months release, and the 2 newest My Timeless Templates I really enjoyed each peek day more & more. Your feedback really keeps me going too.

I have another peek for you using my Pack a Picnic template! I was straight out busy yesterday, and I have 2 cookouts to go to today, so I’m really hoping to get my other sample using Card Couture done before the release! LOL! Ill post that later today if all goes well.

In the mean time I hope this ties you over.

Scented Summer Gift set

This is for Alexa’s one to one aid who I LOVE to death! She has been my saving grace being in the classroom with Alexa.

I cannot say enough nice things about this woman! Seriously, I could go on and on! But I will spare you.

I am having SOOOO much fun using the large and small versions of this template to make “sets”. This is another one!

We will do this again with future templates, where we see fit. Not ALL the templates make good large/small versions. In this case-DEFINITELY YES!!!

I love the SUMMER “sorbet” sort of colors this has! Summer Sunset & Berry Sorbet

I adore the handles being put on this way too, as oppose to over the top of the template.

I was inspired to make this because of what my gift was: Bath & Body Works Butterfly Flower bath set!

I went all out and got her the large sizes of a loofa, body lotion, body spray, lavender bath stuff, some hand cream, foot cream and a pedicure set. Not all shown in photo!

This is the Body Lotion, and the Body Spray.

I also included some Lavender Bath stuff. This went into a large bag all together.

In the mini basket will go some Orange Marmalade!

(used Fruitful (new release) for the jam jar )

Its the perfect size for the mini Pack a Picnic basket!

I think this is a very pretty summer fun gift basket set, to hold all sorts of bath & beauty products! I hope her aid likes it.

Supplies:

My Timeless Template: Pack a Picnic

Stamps: Spring tags 2008, Fruitful

Cardstock: Summer Sunset, Berry Sorbet, white, friends til the end paper

Ink: White, berry sorbet, black

Ribbon: Saddle stitched grosgrain in berry sorbet

Prima Flowers, flower brads, adhesive pearls, Martha Stewart border punches

Well that does it today for me!

There is one day left of peeks! So be sure to hop on over to Nichole’s, Lisa, and Becky’s blog for more!

Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully Ill be back later

Hold onto your seats everyone! I have a LOT to share, and as usual am also long winded!

Sorry, but when I get excited I “talk” a lot. Imagine me in person! LOL! I don’t shut up ) I can admit it.

For today’s post, I’m very excited, as we have a group project, using the NEW! stamp set inspired my Mish, called Vintage Picnic.

I cannot say enough about this set. I fell in LOVE with it when I saw it! So much so that I ran down to my craft room, to design one of this months releases Pack a Picnic! 

I can’t begin to tell you just how much I LOVE Vintage Picnic set. Especially used WITH my Pack a Picnic template. I found there to be SO many possibilities with this set, that I actually had to put the stamp set away so I could get my other projects done!

I kid you not!! I will be using this a TON in the future

So I did 2 projects for today’s post-each using my newest template releases Pack a Picnic, and Card Couture. I also think it would ROCK using Basket Basics

I hope you like them ) I fashioned them both to be alike/similar.

Strawberry Jam Basket

What better way to give a simple gift of jam, than to really dress it up, in my Pack a Picnic Basket?

When I saw this stamp set I was SO taken with the tiny strawberry image in the set, that I had to use it as my design focus.

 I then commissioned the mother of my BFF Paulette, to make me some Strawberry Jam, to package as teacher gifts this year.( No! I don’t make my own jam! I’d rather buy it! LOL!-But its STILL homemade )

OH! BOY! I opened a jar for me, and I have been eatting it like crazy! NOT a good thing! Boy is it yummy.

Anyway I don’t need 16 jars, so they are being given as gifts.

Here is a better view of the basket front.

I used an acrylic frame from Making Memories, on the front of my basket.

I used the Trademarks stamp set from the new release as my center on the basket top!

Aren’t the strawberries from the set just so cute? All alone-perfect!

I added a making memories page pebble over the image as well for more WOW!

I think it looks really cool.

I also love the basket handle holders! They are SU! brads. I think they are a nice touch.

The paper round the edge is from the NEW! Release too. Really loving it.

Now we go onto the jar of jam

Here I used the strawberry image, stamped 3 X’s to fill my basket with strawberries!

The basket is simply stamped on Kraft cardstock, cut out, and on dimensionals.

I then stamped, colored and cut the napkin image from the set, and layered it onto my basket. The coloring was inspired by my fabric cover, which is tied with Scarlet ribbon.

I had some fabric leftover from my sewing days It was PERFECT for my jam jar, and actually inspired the entire project! I love how you start with ONE thing, and it has a domino effect!

The wrap was stamped with Text Style bkgd. It had a nice Americana kind of country feel to it. Just that little something extra!

Now for my jar top! I LOVE this idea

I used ANOTHER image from the Trademarks set, and placed it on the jar lid Im totally loving these possibilities for this set with ANY/ALL My Timeless Templates!!!

Added the strawberry image, with the making memories page pebble.

This project went to the Principal of our school (I heard he went to bat for me at a meeting-so he is on my good side where Alexa is concerned!) I also included a package of Pound Cake from Tastefully Simple.

Jam in basket

The Principal was in shock that I remembered to give him and end of year gift! This was his first year as our Principal and I have to say he is doing a great job Hopefully he remembers this next time I have a problem with the school! LOL! Which I am HOPING not too!

Supplies:

My Timeless Template: Pack a Picnic

Stamps: Vintage Picnic, Trademarks, Text Style bkgs

Cardstock: Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, White

Ink:Ripe Avocado, Black & Copic markers

Ribbon: Satin avocado, Bitty Dot Scarlet

Other: Making Memories page pebbles & Acrylic Frame, SU! Brads, nestabilities, fabric, Strawberry Jam

Next up! My other project using Card Couture ©

From the Kitchen of:

Well as you may have guessed it, this template is PERFECT for recipe’s!!!!

How can you not LOVE the idea of this? It is like the PERFECT presentation for a recipe card holder!

Plus its pretty simple! Love that when making a ton of gifts.

YOUR COST to make : $1.90! Includes cost of recipe cards!

Now for this one, I stamped my food border (which I totally LOVE all the border ideas ) onto the white cardstock.

I stamped the PLAIN Vintage Picnic basket onto scrap paper.

Then stamped the same mini strawberry image (told you I LOVE it) in the basket center.

I colored my basket with my marker, THEN…………(sadly you cannot SEE it well) I stamped the plaid basket over the colored image in spring moss cardstock, so it has a faint pattern on it!

Then I cut it out, and layered it on the food circle, using a dimensional.

Seriously-LOVE this set. AND the basket takes NO time to cut out either. I don’t enjoy lots of intricate cutting. so Im over the moon about that.

Here is my side view-I used the same patterned paper as my set above, for the side panels

Now I put my ribbon around my template prior to adhering my template flap closure.

In the flap I hammered 2 slots for my ribbon to insert into!

You just untie it, and then Voila…….

It opens to reveal a box full of recipe cards! 30 cards total-6 in each partition

I love that you can easily see and grab each item in my design.

This template is seriously so fun, and PURTY (my word for pretty).

I got these at Michaels the $1 spot. Trimmed them down a bit (I wanted to cut off the nasty looking tomato in the lower rigth corner ANYWAY!) and was done. They match perfectly!

This was given to Alexa’s 2nd Grade Teacher, who I just LOVED this year, and will miss greatly. She loved Alexa (actually requested to have her!) and truly made a huge difference for her this year. Alexa has grown in leaps and bounds this year, especially socially!

Supplies:

My Timeless Template: Card Couture

Stamps: Vintage Picnic

Cardstock: White, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Pure Poppy

Ink: Black, ripe avocado, Copic markers

Ribbon: Saddle stitched grosgrain in pure poppy

recipe cards, nestabilties, making memories slot tool

So there you have 2 templates, both using same stamp set, and colors, and both are super gift ideas! Gotta love that.

I could have made so many variations with these 2 templates and ONE stamp set! I’m just in LOVE!!!!

Make sure you hop around to see just what the other team members have done using Vintage Picnic too!

Thanks again for stopping by! Oh and ALL your super duper sweet comment over my templates

PLEASE Check out Kristen’s Blog for the Saturday Challenge!

Here is a peek at what the girls are all doing-Ill try to play this week.

She will be taking my place as Hostess this week! The end of school and the release has really kept me over the top busy!! SORRY! I just couldn’t squeeze out ONE more thing!

I WILL be posting my Coffee House Cookie Recipe-most likely tomorrow. I have a bit to finish first, and it didn’t really FIT in with my UBER long post! LOL!!!!

Today was the Pink Cat Studio Release, and my Papertrey Ink countdown project!

Don’t miss any of the projects-SCROLL DOWN!

I have 2 posts today!
Scroll down please so you don’t miss anything

OK its loaded!

here you go

OK we have 2 posts again today. Im just one busy girl these days.

My video for the technique is taking its SWEET time loading to YouTube. Ill be back in a bit to post it.

Sorry for the delay

I am SOOOO long winded today. Don’t know WHY!

I just have so many thoughts going though my head about my life and juggling it all.

Before I do that, let me share my card-and then you can totally skip the needless banter that is what I call my blog-therapy! LOL! Cheaper than a shrink listening to be babble about my imperfections

OK So today I am peeking AmyR’s Thank You sentiments. This will be released June 1st

I also decided to ink up a yet to be used set I had: Bug A Boo’s. Available NOW!

I LOVE the butterfly (of course! ) and had to use her finally.

I used purple and black-Im so into purple these days-its ridiculous! LOL! I love the colors and layout on this-I was quite happy for my mojo to return. I am sad that today is RAINY RAINY RAINY! Nothing like the day this was taken which is pure Spring and sunny.

The sentiment got me thinking about today, my life and the gift or Motherhood. The up and downs! All of it. Im so thankful I have my children. When I was 17 they told me I wouldn’t be able to have kids! I had severe ovarian cycts and endometroisis. REALLY BAD. On top of a tipped uterus. Obviously they were (THANKFULLY) very wrong! It actually got better after having my children too.

I am coming to the realization as my kids grow that being a mom is a WAY tougher job than I ever imagined. Makes nme really appreciate my own mom who raised us on her own.

Can you imagine the Ad that would be in the newspaper for the job of a mother?

WANTED:

 Job title: Mom

 No experience necessary. On the job training. Must be a selfless, loving person who is willing to give 200% of them-self at all times. This is a full time position. Must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No holidays, no vacations or sick time. Must be able to tolerate the handling of any/all bodily fluids. Drivers License is required. You must be able to work on little sleep at times. Must be able to provide minimum of 3 meals , and 2 snacks daily. Job requirements also include cooking, cleaning, laundering, teaching, refereeing, and some nursing skills.  You must be able to count to 10 and recognize when YOU require a time out. When you do something wrong you are required to wear a virtual GUILTY sign on your back for a minimum of 2 days.

Payment comes in form of  love, happiness, heartwarming moments, and memories, along with hugs, kisses, and I love yous. Also included but not limited to: worry, heartache, headaches, and amazement.

Benefits included and provided after 18 years of service and dedication in the form of a hopeful THANK YOU MOM! I love you.

Now that is some job title.

We all learn as we go right? And I think we can all agree its worth every second.

My biggest fear is realizing I did it ALL WRONG! LOL!! I’m sure Im not alone.

One thing I am (proudly) is organized. NOT all the time but for the most part. I do my best to keep track of everything, keep my house in order (not spotless as I would like-like my mom’s house) but clean all the same, and I do everything I promise I will. I even somehow manage some sort of one on one time with my kids daily-and make arts and crafts a daily part of our lives.

I have the ever going “to do list”.

One thing I’m far from- is perfect! It is easy to confuse the two, or think they go hand in hand!

Organization is the ILLUSION of perfection. In my opinion.

More time that passes the more I realize I don’t have that Wonder Woman cape that I thought was trailing behind me! I think I lost it somewhere! LOL!

That being said you all know I have 3 kids. I don’t know HOW they became such busy little people. They don’t tell you that when you have them! Now I know there are by far larger families out there, and my point to this is HOW do you do it? I just don’t know.

I am fortunate enough to be able to be home with them. They are my PRIMARY “job”. By that I mean everything they are involved in, I am involved in, to the fullest extent of my being.

That means if there is a field trip I am chaperoning, a class party I am there, with some sort of goodie (not home-made! I gave that pressure up a long time ago, and I think my kids will survive. They won’t (hopefully) remember that I BOUGHT the cupcakes! Just that I was there and I brought them!!) I go to every appointment, stay on top of their education (and fight with doctors and schools endlessly!) and then of course there are the extra circular activities that happen. When you have THREE kids it seems there is something DAILY. Then there is the taking on MORE kids (aka my children’s friends) for play dates, and adopting a few kids whose parents can’t be/aren’t home for them-ever. That to me is what being a SAHM is all about. Doing every thing I can while home with my kids. Lord knows in a few years I will turn into a virtual TAXI cab, and my kids won’t even know I’m alive, until its time to pick them up from X, or I say NO to something the NEED/WANT!

Honestly now that they are getting OLDER I feel LESS organized, and like I’m always running in 5 different directions. I am thankful THEY remember everywhere “I” am suppose to be these days! LOL! It just seems like each day melts into the other, and time is flying by. I mean really-its ALMOST June and I’m still feeling like its April! LOL!

I don’t know how working mom’s balance it all. I envy that they can, because I am HOME and barely keep up. Granted if my daily “plan” plays out step by step I’m all good, but good grief if anything unexpected and not in my “plan” pops up, its all shot up.

Just today Noah reminded me that it is his Authors Tea, and I need to be there by 10am! He was to dress up, and bring in a stuffed animal. OK got it!

WHEW! Thank GOODNESS he reminded me! Even though it was on the calendar I would have forgotten. I have like 6 other things to do today, but that immediately jumped to NUMERO UNO!

OK so maybe Im not even organized anymore, let along close to a shred of perfect! LOL!

I totally spaced it on his class Thanksgiving party this year! I thought it was on one day, and they had it on a odd day- the day before I thought it was. I am the ROOM MOTHER! How did I space that? I put my GUILTY mommy sign on when I picked him up the minute I heard a little girl in his class “claim” to me they had a party today.

 I sat there and “argued” with the 5 yo saying. No sweetie that party is tomorrow.

Nuh UH! We had it today.

I continued to tell her NO! Its tomorrow. I’m bringing in brownies. Your must have had something else.

She said “Well Miss Lauren (she is SO cute she always calls me that)I’m sorry to tell you, but you missed it because we didn’t have brownies at our party, and we had on our Pilgrim and Indian hats”

WHAT!! No WAY! I MISSED it!?! REALLY!? SERIOUSLY!? OH! NO!!!!!!!!!

So Noah comes around the corner, to tell me I missed the party! Where was I? I can’t believe you didn’t come to my party. You always come!

Um at home. Thinking it was TOMORROW! The day it usually is for the past 5 years!!

Do you think he ever lets me “forget” anything now? NOPE! I try to forgive myself and get over it, but I can’t! LOL!

Even when I go to ALL  the parties now he says” Hey mom remember at Thanksgiving when you forgot to come to my party? Do you think he’d forget-NOPE!!! He really does remind me of that.

Anyway, Im not sure what my point to this post is. I guess I just don’t know how I can squeeze everything into each day. These days I feel like Im not cutting it. I’m always running and not getting it all done. How or when did that happen?!

I want to make sure when its all said and done that I did my best. No regrets. I don’t think there is a mom alive who doesn’t regret something right?

Why do I feel like I need that Cape?!

I guess I have to embrace the fact that I CAN’T do everything. Life isn’t one big planned out event. I should know this having had Alexa get Cancer! You NEVER know what is around the corner. Maybe that is why I try so hard to squeeze every ounce I can out of each day? Live to fullest.

Bottom line I guess is, do what we can. Try our best. Be there for our kids, and at the end of the day-if they know you love them, (even if you missed a party (even if they NEVER forget) in the end they will remember that you did your best. They will remember the majority of the good stuff.

My hope, my wish, my goal-despite all I can, can’t did or didn’t do, that they will be self sufficient, caring, loving and happy people who contribute their best to society. That’s all we can hope for in the end.

OK Im off of my blah blah blah! Yikes!
SORRY you had to endure that. I feel better about my inadequacies now though

As for the Wii advice-thanks to all.

I do pretty crazy workouts so Im going to look into some other options I think.

Ill keep you posted. You all helped me get invigorated again-so thank you!!

Tomorrow I have a CHALLENGE for you all-so come back then

Till tomorrow

Hi all!

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend.

We purchased a swing set for the kids, and today I have a dental “emergency” for Noah so Im off and running like a chicken with her head cut off! LOTS to wrap up this week.

In the meantime…….

 Don’t forget this week has ALL the fun for Stamp Out Alzheimers! All you need to do to enter in the fun is make a mere $5 donation that all proceeds benefit this great organization

My Timeless Templates is part of the daily giveaway today—CHECK IT OUT!!

Have fun while supporting a great cause!

OK Im off and running-thanks for stopping by. In case you were busy I have some great stuff posted over this last week-so check it out too!