Rainy days and Magic Bags

    So I'm home from work today with a throat/ear infection. I really feel as though I am swallowing razor blades when I swallow and my ears feel like they're going to explode!! It's also pouring rain (which is only adding to my "down" mood). I hate being sick, but more then that, I hate sitting (or laying) around at home...I have a very hard time sitting still. That is why I think I will take today to do some organizing, or at least as much as my feverish, sore body will allow me to do! I will just wrap my new best friend the "Magic Bag" ( if you don't know what that is..it's on of those bean bag type things that go in the microwave to get warmed up...feels great!!) around my neck, pop my meds and off I'll go!!!
     I think I'll start with my craft area first!! It really looks like a bomb went off in there!! I can't figure out why I just can't seem to keep that area clean!!! I get in such a frenzy sometimes that I forget to pick up after each craft and the mess just keeps getting bigger!! (thank God I'm not like that in the rest of the house!) So...event though I'm totally embarassed to show you this, I am going to let you see just what I'm talking about.....but I will also show you just how organized I really can be!! (seriously...I am anal about organization...hehe). So here it is....the MESS!!!!                                                                                                                    

     It's BAD, isn't it??!! Well, just wait till I show you how organized I CAN be!!! haha!! The Hubs has promised to build me a much bigger, brighter, nicer craft room one day, but for now the green walls and orange floor will have to do!!! Here's hoping that I'm not alone when it comes to having Chaos in the Craftroom!!!!
                                                              
                                                               

                                                                       
     SOOOOO much better!!! Maybe I'll get some more stuff done now that I don't have to dig through piles of stuff to find things!!!

Paper, Paper, Paper.....

    So I have a slight obsession with paper.......paper crafting that is!! It is my therapy...what truly relaxes me and gives me time to think and clear my head!! I was up at 7 a.m. this morning finishing off my step-daughter's invitations for her BIG 10TH BIRTHDAY party.....She's having a sleepover and is totally excited!!! I can't wait to see the pictures..(it's at her mom and step-dads house as she doesn't live with us). I'd be lying if I didn't say that I wish I could be there to share in the excitement....but I know there'll be lot's of picture taking, so that will be just as exciting!! I love sitting and planning out what they will look like..and l love seeing the excitement on her face as they near finishing.....it makes me sooooo happy to see her so happy!!!!!

     I always have alot of projects on the go.....sometimes some of them even get buried...but I usually find them later on and it gives me something to re-focus on!! I also love sharing ideas, especially with the Fam. as my Mom and Sister are also both paper crafters!!!! We all have this fantastic little machine called a Silouhette...(only the BEST invention EVER......except for the other day when I was ready to throw it out the back door.....) Anyways...you can do almost ANYTHING with it!!!! I'm obsessed!!!! I can't imagine life without it..(is that sad???!!!) I wanted to share some of my crafts with you (and hopefully I have figured out how to put these pics. up!!!) Hope you like!!!!

Turning over a new Leaf......

     So I've finally decided that enough is enough.....its time for me to get my old body back and set some goals!! I've joined a "Running Clinic", (just a group of people that go for runs and motivate one another..). I am so pumped for this.....I've been waiting to do this for a loooooong time and I've finally signed up!!!!
     I'm setting some goals of course, the first being to get my old body back, and the second...to run in a marathon!!! I know....they don't sound like very "big" goals, but to me they are going to be HUGE!!!! I've totally let myself go(some of which was due to health issues) and that feeling of hating yourself when you look in the mirror just isn't cutting it anymore!!!! I want my husband to look at me and think "wow...look how hard she worked to get back in shape"...though I have to say, he tells me everyday that I'm beautiful.....but more than anything, I want to do this for me...to prove to myself that I can!! So wish me Luck in my new endevour and I'll keep you posted!!!

The joys of (step)motherhood..

    You definetly won't see any blogs on here about pregnancy, childbirth or child rearing(o.k....I may have some advice..) as I have no expertise in these areas. I am however a PRO at step-parenting!! That sounds kind of funny, doesn't it?! But let me tell you, it's been the best thing to ever happen to me....well, aside from marrying the man of my dreams!! :)
     I've been asked an asortment of questions over the years such as, "Is it hard to love someone else's child?", "Are you guys close?"(meaning my step-daughter and I),"Do you get along with her mom?", etc. It's funny to me that people always assume that things have to be hard, and like I said before.. why does it have to be that way??!! Things for me have been pretty smoothe...a few little bumps, but nothing major, just my own little worries and fears!! :)      We connected from the first day we met, no questions asked!! I waited awhile to meet her, as both my husband and I wanted to be sure that I was going to be around, which was something we both felt strongly about.....kids need stability, not someone coming in and out of their lives!!! Anyhow...she was just the cutest thing!! Sitting up there on the swing(which, by the way, her daddy bought for me b/c he know how much I loved them!!).  She was a spitting image of daddy....just perfect!!! I walked up onto the deck and sat down with her (I felt very nervous....of a little girl...silly!!), and we just started talking!! Next thing I knew we were playing together and laughing.......my heart was hers from that first day!!!!       As time went on, I knew that the inevitable day was coming when I was going to meet her mom. I actually felt nervous, I think because you just know that they are going to hate you at first!! What parent wouldn't, right??? You're the "new" person entering their childs life, and you know what? If it was me, my guard would be up also!! I won't drag this out to be a looooooong story, but we did finally meet, and guess what??!!! Not a horrible meeting at all!!!! Phew....that was the big hurdle over with!!As for the question (that I am sure is asked of me weekly, even to this day)of do I get along with her mom??!! why yes I do, and why shouldn't we??!! I'd like to think that she knows how much I love and cherish that little girl! I'd give my life for her and will always be here for her. She is essentially the child that I never got to have, and I'm so thankful for having her in my life.        I've been waiting and waiting for that moment to come when she looks at me and says those heart breaking words "You're not my mom!!"...but you know what?! they've never come!! (thank God!!). I think my heart would break a million times over to hear those words. I'm hoping I'll never hear them and I have faith that I never will! We have an awesome relationship, are so very close (this is what I imagine it feels like to be a mom and love your child). I can't imagine us not having that bond, EVER!! She is the light of my life (aside from the Hubs, of course). My life has only gotten better with her in it!! I'm a super proud (step)mom who brags about her to anyone who will listen, who tries my very best to be at all of her events and life moments.......I don't want to miss a minute of it....you can never get these precious moments back again and I want to be there for all of it!!!!!

Ups, Downs and then some.......

So....I've finally decided to join the world of blogging. Why?! Because I love to talk, give my opinion, share the ups and downs of life and share in everyone else's life moments.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't sit here and think about what my first blog would be about, and then I thought, why not just get to the point.....lay it on the line....let people know about me....so here it is!!
I'm 32 (though some days I feel about 50)...I am married to the greatest guy who spoils me like crazy and we have a beautiful daughter (well, she is my step-daughter, but in my eyes, she's my daughter)who will be turning 10 soon. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that she will be entering the "double digits". She is the greatest kid ever and I love her more than life itself!! (that's her and I up to the right!!) 
So that brings us to the question of will I be having any little ones of my own??! Well, no, but not because I don't want them, but because I can't have them. Yes..I've shed many a tear over that, and still do. Sometimes life has some ups and sometimes some real downs!! (This was one of the biggest downs of my life). But I believe that there is a reason for everything and that's what gets me through some of those dark days.
Aside from that....life is great!!!!! I can't wait to share more of my life with you.....just had to get through the first blog (haha)...there will be more to come!!