a loud yawn and a drawn out stretch.

Life...3459283417_943bc69177
I can't really complain. My weekend was one of the best. Nothing out of the ordinary.
The sun was out, the weather warmer, the sound of geese flying over our home....finally. She's (spring) arrived, fashionably late but here none the less. I had great intentions of getting up bright and early saturday to change my winter tires but after a late night, that was a no go. Staying in bed was a much better option. A treat to myself as I'm always up early to get things done. Why not just lounge? I did feel a tad guilty over my laziness but that later passed.
Love...
Garden planning. Going to the greenhouse on my lunch break to check out all the flowers perfectly lined up, ready to be taken home. Purchased a few knowing that it's still early. Getting so excited about Memorial day weekend which will entail me being knee deep in dirt.
Paper...
I got creative, sneaks peeks of Studio Calico's May goodness will be up later this week. I can't get enough of their exclusive papers this month.

Still trying to catch up on blogs so I apologize if for my impolite blogger behavior.
I'm also in the process of a blog revamp. Guess I'm looking to change my format or the way I blog....I want to take full advantage of my little piece of cyber space. I'm pulling inspiration from certain blogs that I love and am always drawn to. I know I'm a visual person and expressing myself through words isn't always easy. More later this week. Back to coffee sipping.

 

I am currently....

catching up on blogs a la google reader.
about to finish my last sip of ice tea.
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looking at my inbox and prioritizing the day's work load.
wearing my favorite old school Gap jean jacket. perfect worn in.
on the hunt for some new sneaks and wedge heal pumps.
ready to take on the week.
listening to the Weepies.

been out of sorts lately. writing seems hard. so much easier to translate my feelings through photos.
did manage to break out my May Studio Calicokit over the weekend. creativity felt forced but eventually turned into something I enjoyed. helped moving my stuff downstairs so I could watch movies and converse with J while slicing up paper. The sneak is tonight...oh and there is a give-away for the nifty Carter alphabet stamps.

3417038304_a92cdc0913_o 
that's all
t

something out of nothing.

It started here:
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I left work at 5:30am in open-toed sandals because the snow was just about gone. This was what it looked like when I left work. Picking up a bucks for friend I was visiting. I knew I should of just gone home because I later got stuck in her driveway and had to shovel my way out. Good thing it was Friday. It takes a lot for me to lose my cool on a Friday.
Considering my car barely made it up my own driveway, I knew I wasn't going anywhere on Saturday. Being stuck in the house led to the purchase of  this:
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Isn't she beautiful! Can't wait to get out there this summer and explore with this lovely.
Then after a little internet shopping, I caught up on some blogs.
This makes me want to break out my linoleum cutter.
SFgirlbythebay's interview with HulaSeventy.
apartment therapy for some nifty ideas.
After some internet inspo, I decided to catch up on some challenges.
The Art is Found: board books, hosted by Kara.
Dare 91: Typography.

Mosaic2487747

Finally got to play with my RVA kit combined with a little Studio Calico.
So while everyone was working in their yards, camping and enjoying 90 degree weather, I hibernated. Guess my new shorts won't be making their appearance this week.

Happy Monday,
Tina

operation:get out of work early...

is in full effect. 2 hours until freedom and creative time. countdown begins........now.

one last thing. GG was so good last night, thoughts Vee? Jenny is getting to be quite the b*tch.  Hills once again was good in all it's awkwardness glory.

hi's and lo's.

-feeling the usual Monday blues- low
-spilling coffee directly on my crotch-low
-not giving a damn about it-hi
-knowing that time only goes forward-hi
-finding out there's a family of unwanted critters residing in our garage-serious low. We spent a good part of the weekend in operation:kill mice and we're up 2-serious hi.
-having to throw away an altered book from a round robin I did years ago because the pages were used as a nest0-low, very very low.
-having a clean garage-hi
-forgetting my Monday soundtract I burned to get me through my day-lo
-pandora radio to the rescue-hi
-craving the songs on my youth, listening to Aaliyah, 311, Fugees-hi
Mosaic7491745

1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/77346902@N00/349304940/">Bravo's Work Out</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/74526606@N00/425442726/">Healthy Eating</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/19112945@N00/485502452/">#203:  working out</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/7396767@N05/1270625231/">Working out</a>

-realizing how unhappy I am with my weight-hi and lo. If I can quit smoking cold turkey, I can lose this extra 20lbs I've been carrying for the past year. Time to take a bite out of this muffin top. Watching Work Out on Bravo and seeing them run around in tight, white pants and look damn good motivates me-hi
-after eating well my first day of operation:muffin top, I come into work this morning to see the candy bowl has been filled with an obscene amount of chocolate-lo. But, like I mentioned above, if I can turn down a cig, I can turn down chocolate.-hi

Yeah, lot's of missions going on, the big one, operation:get your shit together is a combination of it all. Hi's are great but knowing that the lo's are fixable is even better.
Today, operation:positive monday.
Laters,
Tina

feelin' it.

Mosaic5071495
1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/67074597@N00/137233639/">insadong stamps Seoul South Korea</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/46973832@N00/2225425251/">time for poems !!</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/46973832@N00/2336631871/">Spring comes!!</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/55049166@N00/2385777035/">flower + toe</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22554961@N00/2385180170/">for the show</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/37451064@N00/2385551750/">the bots</a>
Love those bots! photo taken by Cinnamon, bots created by Lockwasher

I'm know I sound like a broken record when I say this but man.......
I.
Love.
Fridays.
It's doesn't get any better, well, it can but it's very very good. The office witch has taken the day off. My creative energy is at an all time high. I've got a little spending money for some summer clothes. My back feels great thanks to my therapy........the list good list goes on and on. Oh yeah, the sun is shinning and it's supose to get up to the 50's this weekend. That may be a not chilly for you but it's just about t-shirt season for us. The snow is taking it's time melting into the ground but it's going.
I'm also lovin the Yo MTV Raps anniversary stuff they've been playin. J and I were kickin' it old school in the kitchen while listening to the songs we grew up with. Ice Cube's Today Was A Good Day.......yeah, that brings back memories of my b-girl ways as a freshman. That b-girl still exsists within me mixed in with a little metal ala Poison and Lita Ford. It's weird how certain songs fill your head with memories of your youth, good and bad.  Aahh..youth.

Happy Friday,
Tina

simple sunday.

Snow_shoes_3
The recent snow fall is not going to stop me from wearing my new spring flats from Old Navy. It's April and I'm ready to shed off some of this winter bulk. Today I will hopefully be motivated enough to start yoga. I did get an early start this morning, drove the dog to Starbucks to get a little motivation on ice and headed back to tackle laundry, the waffle mess my husband left me and our taxes. Yes, taxes. I have waited till the very last minute to do them. I really don't know why, not that it's really all that difficult. I guess I just look at it like homework. I hated homework then and I hate it now. But I can happily say that they are now done and ready to be mailed off.

leaving off with a listy.....
-downloading new music....currently loving Adele.
-I can't stop listening to the longest Death Cab for Cutie song, Stability. It moves me.
-I had the most exciting Friday night.......scrapping until 2 in the morn'. ;)
-Looking forward to the release of Juno.
-I'm secretly addicted to the Ultimate Fighter show...ssshhh...
-getting ready for the sneak peek premiere over at Studio Calico.
-looking through all the little goodies Vee sent me. Thanks girl!
-so happy the Office, 30 Rock and Scrubs is back!! When the heck is Gray's making a return?
-new Hills tomorrow. J says he can always tell when I'm watching 'cause it gets all quiet.
-posting some SC peeks tomorrow.

laters.
Tina

stating the obvious.

Fortune
Hhm.....it's funny how these little fortune cookies can be so spot on at times but I know it's pretty generic. Not like most everyone's path can be difficult. But it is true. Thinking back at my most difficult times, I've been rewarded greatly from them. Just being alive and well. Owning a home, having a great partner and true friends and family. That's all very rewarding.
Guess I'm just waiting for, what I consider, the ultimate reward for this difficult path J and I have been traveling on for a few years now.  We're now taking the next step which is testing and hopefully a diagnoses and treatment. I've been reading a lot about Clomid and hoping that that will be the answer as all the other options such as in vitro are not covered by our health insurance. It's shocking to see the costs on these procedures. I knew having kids would be expensive but goodness.
And no, this isn't one of my usual pity posts. I'm going to stay hopeful about this. There are a million and one couples that are going through the same thing. One thing I'm not doing is talking to certain "friends" about this. I just can't take the looks that they give me when I'm update them on my situation. The "I'm sorry you can't get preggers as easily as I or my daughter or sister had" looks. I just can't.  But I do want to document this difficult path for my future so you'll read more about this as I go through dr apts and such.
On the brighter side, tomorrow's Friday!
I.
am.
SO.
looking.
forward.
to.
the.
WEEKEND.

Take care!
Tina