It just occurred to me that I've been using Twitter and Facebook as a blog. Why do that when I have an actual blog? I've enjoyed going back and reading previous posts so I really need to make an effort to post more often. Even if it's just for me. 

It's been two months since my last post. I have to say that I am feeling so much better. Do I have bad days? Of course. I miss Matt. But for the most part, I'm doing pretty darn good. I've managed to keep myself busy and that has been a life-saver. 

What has kept me so busy you ask? Being a teacher and arts and crafts. I've thrown myself into my work trying to be a better teacher. And I think my class really benefited from this. We are as close as a teacher and class can be. 18 peas in a pod (17 kids and me). Then my re-commitment to crafting. It makes me so happy so why not do it more consistently?

It's not a bad thing either that I'm extremely focused on the Spurs and their NBA Playoffs efforts. GO SPURS GO. I noticed my mood wasn't as pleasant since they were resting for over a week waiting for their next opponent. Yes, sports affects me that much. It's a great feeling actually.

As to the current status of my empty room...well today my BIL brought an old exercise bike for me. It's actually the one my parents had when I was growing up. It's made its rounds to various homes and now came to live with me. Hopefully, I can start slowly and get healthy. For reals this time. "Slow and steady wins the race", right?

As I end my post I want to wish all the mamas the Happiest of Mother's Days. And someone tweeted that for mothers struggling with infertility it's the hardest day of the year. So a prayer to all the mamas to be and women hoping to be mamas. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Til next time! Happy upcoming week to all!!!!

Side Business...Possibly

I'm thinking of putting my arts and craft talent skills attempts to good use. Back at my old school I used to make jewelry and sell it. I did pretty good. I made cute, inexpensive bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Sometimes people requested things, and sometimes they bought from my stash. I've thought about expanding and using more expensive and finer beads to create more elegant pieces.

Then there is also my second business endeavor of making greeting cards and invitations. I love, love, love to do this. I love to see people's faces when I make them a card. I love to sit and plan with people on the specifics of their invitations. I love color schemes and patterns and...ribbon, glitter, buttons, stickers. I love all of it. I will admit that I have yet to actually be paid for making invitations, but I have gotten paid for making a baby shower card.

In seriously considering this I run into a few dilemmas. When I make jewelry and cards I let the piece take me where it wants. I have to be inspired. And typically I'm making it with someone in mind so it sort of takes a shape of it's own. Making random pieces and cards will not come easy for me. Then the other problem is charging friends for things I made. I know that I need not to devalue the hard work I put into this but I don't want to seem money hungry. Yet, I am interested in making some profit. And it's quite time consuming to make a card and jewelry.

So...for any of you out there who may have already been there and done that I would appreciate your guidance, advice and tips tremendously. Or perhaps you can point me in the direction of someone. If you prefer to email me let me know and I will gladly correspond like that.

OMG, I Found Someone Like Me!!!!!!

I have a new follower. Her name is Teresa and her blog is Teresa's Treasures. I am so excited that she found me because I finally found someone that is as passionate about Christmas decorating as me. Well, I think Teresa is more passionate but I'm a near second. Instead of writing about my first day of school I feel the need to give her a shout out.

First I want to thank Teresa for the compliment on my blog design. However, the genius behind it is my good friend Jen. She has her own blog design blog with many helpful tips that I'm always too scared to try so Jen helps me.

Currently, Teresa is having a giveaway on her blog. Although it would be awesome to win I wanted to direct y'all to her blog because she shares the same obsession love for Christmas decorating. Just to give you a small summary of my obsession love I'll share a few things.

• If I could live in "Christmas Town" forever I would.
• When I lived in San Antonio I would put my decor up early November because we had the entire week off for Thanksgiving and I went home for that. I HAD to have my tree up when I got back because that's traditionally when you put it up.
  
• The decor came back down mid January. My birthday is on the 17th and I always had parties so I HAD to take it down.
• At one point I thought about leaving it up year round and decorate it according to the current holiday.
• Every time I moved or last May when I was looking for a house to buy I can only get a place with a "Christmas tree window".
• I have 3 different dressings for my tree. I must have a theme every year.

Well those are just a few. I could keep going. And if I could do Teresa's job I so would. Although I'd totally be a beginner.

So please hop on over and check out Teresa's blog.

You Be The Judge

Ok guys, here are the pictures of my centerpieces for my cousin's wedding. Be gentle. Remember it's my first time. But...according to her I may be getting some calls for flowers. She seems to think it may be a good side business which is exactly why I bought a house with a room I could convert into my craft room. Why not make a little money for doing the arts and crafts I love?


I ended up making all 12 vases. I started at about 6:00 and finished at about 1:30 in the morning. Now I see why florists charge so much. Not that I have a right to call myself a florist.

So Back

This is my first full week back at work. I'm already so tired. This morning I didn't set my alarm right so I woke up at 7 got reading in 15 and was on my way on my 45 minute drive to work. Now I have the amazing task of setting up my classroom. I'll tell you all more about my day tonight as well as post pictures of my flowers from the wedding.

I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!!! Sort Of...

This Saturday marks my second summer wedding in three weeks. The first was fun. It was out of town and my family and I had a blast. The second wedding will be here in town and a very small affair. My cousin will be marrying her husband through the church and after she will have a small reception.

I suppose this is the part where I rave and rant about myself and how I am so crafty. I make my own jewelry, invitations (sometimes for other people), cards, scrapbooks, baking and now you can add florist. Yes that's right! Some how I went from providing input on what kind of flowers my cousin should have at her wedding as centerpieces to MAKING the centerpieces. And the thing that gets me is that she never asked me. It was all insinuated. I wouldn't have minded doing it at all. But she never really officially asked me.

As a result, I've created a fictitious wedding between Nina Garcia and Gino Emanuel over at the Knot.com. (I apologize if you are reading this and are an employee of The Knot. I love your website but thought it was unfair that you can only join if you are getting married.) How did I come up with those names? Nina is the nickname in Spanish for godmother and Garcia is my last name. Gino is for MANU GINOBILI and Emanuel is Manu's real name. (Manu is a nickname for Emanuel.) Note: I am obsessed with the San Antonio Spurs and in love with Manu Ginobili in case you didn't know. So there you have it...a fake bride and groom. I did it to get inspiration on how to approach my cousin's centerpieces. I have a general idea and started on prototypes yesterday. Well just the vases. Not the actual flowers because those are fresh flowers and I won't get them till Friday.

I've had a small panicking voice in my head since then. My cousin is very...particular and I fear her opinion on this. I mean come on...it's her wedding and I don't want to ruin it. She's been sweet telling me she has complete confidence in my judgement. In fact yesterday she used the words "creative genius". O.M.G. what pressure!!!! So I will do my best. No, I will try 150% because I want her to be happy. I'll take pictures for sure and post them. Y'all will be the judge.

YET, I can't help but wonder (paging Carrie Bradshaw...), if I do pull this off I guess I'll have something else to add to my creative portfolio. Flowers by Patty. Nah...it'll have to be more creative than that!