a lil bit crafty.

last week i got a lil bit crafty.
i woke up early, got on the treadmill
then decided to get ready for work right away
so i could play with ink, paper and glue
then go straight to work.

it is such a lil thing,
and this pic is a bit blurry
but you get the gist.



i found a stack of those lil white envelopes
collecting dust but they are ready for a purpose!
so i am thinking i need to make a book.



i want to make a bunch of these "pages"
and then throw random bits of ephemera
in the bags.
things like movie tickets
roller derby ticket stubs
and all sorts of other fun stuff.
because you know i collect a bunch of junk!!
(i am working on this bad habit, though!!)

i haven't decided how i want to bind them together.
i am a fan of the rings.
but i am thinking stuff may slide out.
so i may make covers out of chipboard covered in paint
or a cute patterned paper.

i'm thinking polks dots!!

new delish.

God loves me.



here's the proof:




don't let the 100 calorie label fool you.
it's not a smaller drink than the regular mocha frap in a bottle
nor is it a smaller taste!
this is the yummy-est treat i have found
next to my keebler right bites fudge grahams and banana combo.
and you know how picky i am about my starbucks lovin.
just thought i'd share. : )

p.s. the iced VIA is yummy too!!

summer is the heat.

after lunch with friends i took the girl to visit her
grandma.
swimming is not my thing.
but sitting poolside with a camera in hand is. : )
speaking of my favorite fourteen year old:



i am so jealous i can't dye mine too!!
damn you corporate america!!!!!

on being a mom to teenagers.

i am struggling lately.
i am trying to find a balance between
working 40+ hrs a week
and being a mom.
but because i have to do things *my* way
i can't just be a mom
i have to be the *best* mom.
holy heck am i tired.
and guilty.
and so very anxious.
i mean, because:

the girl one starts high school this fall.
next month, actually.
we are trying to get an assignment overseas
but with J being in the reserves and a civilian
it's a lil bit tougher.
a few more hoops to jump through, but i digress.

so she's a freshman.
and fragile in so many ways.
she loves art and anime and her friends.
none of whom will be going to her school.
she loves books about vampires and dragons and mythical creatures.
and girls are mean.
so very mean.
especially to those girls that are different.
like my girl.
so i am super nervous for her.
and nervous for me, because i don't know how
i'll handle it if her little heart is broken



and this one.
this one is going to be a freshman at ASU.
i am so not sure about how i feel about that.
i am sure i am excited for him
but i am also unsure of how he will do.
he is so much like me.
often times moody, but more often looking to find the light.
i worry he will be discouraged,
or worse; lose his light. his passion for what he is going to school for.

on not complaining.

oh geez i miss this guy.
i have gotten so used to having him here
every day- no deployments, no TDYs
since he got out of the USAF...
apparently as a reservist, he has the same commitment.
at least it's just a two week separation.... i know it could have been
that 6 month deployment to afghanistan. i know this.
so i'll quietly miss him, without complaint,
for the next two weeks.

on my part.

i usually brew at home.
but some mornings, when i have to be at work
at ohhh, SEVEN A.M.- i stop for my fave drink.
venti non fat caramel misto with 2 splenda.
just typing that made my mouth water.

for the past 3 1/2 months i have been taking my re-useable mug
to my girls at the bucks. and i have been so happy with the little steps
i am taking to make sure i am creating less waste.
it started when we were in NYC during this event.
(i took pics, but they are on the mac daddy, and i am on the babymac at the moment)
i wondered how many cups i was responsible for,
and what the impact could be if i just took one of my plethora of travel mugs with me each day.

i am happy to say that i have stuck to my resolution thus far
and i am now thinking about what more i can do.
like: if i take a reuseable cup to chick-fil-a, and paid for a medium but
had them use my cup instead of wasting one of their styrofoam ones,
would they let me?
i think its worth a try.

more later. gots to get to work!!

xo