This Past Week...

I cannot believe it is already August...this year is going by so quickly that I can hardly keep up. August is a super busy month for me and my family: we have the hub's bday, my best friend's sister's bday, my sister's bday, and my best friend's bday...all the while getting ready for school by purchasing ridiculously expensive textbooks and school clothes, not to mention I have to pay out of pocket (no medical insurance) for blood tests, vaccines, and drug tests that must be submitted to the hospital in order to clear me for my internship that begins in September. Anyway, here a few things that happened this week (not necessarily in this order):

Made a few cards...

Organized and de-cluttered my scrapbooking/crafting supplies...ignore the carpet that is desperately in need of a vacuuming. 

Got in some much needed scrapbooking and there is only 1 page left to work on in my scrapbook--so this means it's about time to buy a new one! I've worked on this for the past year or 2.

Also worked on a 21st birthday gift for my sister...with my youngest sister, lol. She's going to love it and I can't wait for her to open it in front of everyone at her party! She's going to be excited, embarrassed, and happy all at one time--it's going to be awesome!



I used tape on my big toes to paint stripes in different colors and I love how it turned out! I will definitely use this trick again in the near future.

Birthday pics coming soon!



Latest Happenings in My Crazy World

Oh my gosh...I'm a terrible blogger. Life has been so crazy this past year--with school especially. It's totally sucked up all of my time and energy. I'm nearing the end (few weeks left) of the first quarter of my MSW program at CSUSB and I'm dying a little bit inside because I wish my life were different.

I'm so tired of being stuck--or feeling stuck. I want my life to start already...I'm probably just being impatient but I don't know if I can mentally handle 2 more years living with family. It's not my family that's driving me insane, it's my own need to have space and to have my own house. I desperately want my own kitchen and the freedom to decorate as I wish. I'm trying so hard not to come across as ungrateful because the invitation to live here has helped me tremendously with school and saving money when I can, especially with the cost of school, my car, and gas. I'm just having a difficult time adjusting to the fact that I can't have a house or live my own life until I'm finished with school (2 yrs. from now) and have an awesome job with benefits. 

Then there are my student loans...

It's never ending. 

And I tell myself that it's not going to be like this forever. It's just for the time-being. But it only numbs the eagerness, despair, and anxiety for a short time. Then once again, I'm beating myself up about choosing to go back to school. But in reality and in the long run, it's the only way I will ever break away from welfare--which my family has lived our entire life on. 

I just want to do everything in my power to do well for my husband and I. And someday, I want to be able to buy a house and to be able to give my family things they have always wanted and could never have. Just little things.

It helps to just get it all out sometimes. 

When I write, I can say everything--without judgement or interruption. I'm sure I'll get out of the slump I'm in soon enough. But it always re-visits me.

Thanks for listening. 

For the time-being...and the next 2 years, I'll continue to spend most of my time on the computer, writing, reading, and working on presentations...as long as I can pay for it. 

Don't even get me started on the issue of student loans and grants that may not be available to grad students in next year or so.  

New Year...New Quarter...

So, classes have begun...and I felt I needed a mini make-over to start off the new quarter.

Things were getting a bit drab over here.

Love this hair color brand by the way...it smells delicious and it's vibrant!

So, this photo doesn't really show the awesome difference the hair color accomplished...cause it was blurry and then I played with it in photobucket and didn't save the original photo. Ooops. But I love my hair now, that's all that matters. :)

Oh! And even though I got a ton of awesome colored nail polish for Christmas, I went ahead and bought another awesome color: lavender...because I have been craving this color FOREVER.

And, I've really got to stop messing with these photos--you can hardly see the color of the NP.

Now, it's back to my homework...this quarter just may be the death of me. There are non-stop reading materials to study, take notes on and discuss...not to mention some pretty time consuming group projects ahead. Did I mention I'm only in the part-time Master's program?

Yeah, I don't even want to think about what it would be like if I were going full-time.

Yikes!

Bad Blogger....and an Update

So...I'm sorry that I'm a bad blogger. School started about a month ago and we are already into mid-terms :( Plus I've had some car issues for the past 2 months but that's all over, thank goodness!! Mama got a new car! Well...new to me anyway. But no more worrying about whether I'm going to make it to and from work, or if I'm going to stranded...and have to pay $200 for a dang tow because my AAA only covers 7 miles! 7 Miles? Where can you go in 7 miles?! Geez...I work 2 jobs, both of which are out of town AND I go to school about an hour and twenty minutes from my house. I cannot be without a car...thank goodness for my sweet mother in law for letting me borrow her car on the days I have school.

So anyway, things are great now. I'm still a bit overwhelmed with not having enough time but this too shall pass. Otherwise, everything is going great.

I have much to share with you, I just have to get ALL of my photos uploaded to photobucket and then I can start sharing them with ya. :)

For now, here are the ones I managed to get up and edit on Sunday:

 Irwin always finds the weirdest, most uncomfortable places and positions to sleep in...

Although, he looks pretty comfy and content here, lol.

Gorgeous flower arrangements for Angie's wedding in September...
a few more pics to come ♥

A small pile of homework the first week of class...now I take up the entire floor!

Mortoise the Tortoise finds his way into places he shouldn't be...this is how I found him when I came home from work one day.

My new car...I love it to death. I wish so badly that I could tell you I won't smash this one up like I did my Del Sol, but I'm a really bad driver. Who knows what could happen.

A recent ATC swap I sent out...I think these are my favorit ATCs so far.

A Desert themed package (including some decos to pass on)for a new swapping friend in Canada. Hope she likes what I've put together for her :)

Bits & Pieces ATC swap...made from "bits & peices" or scraps of paper I had lying around from other swaps. Sorry the color is out of whack. I think I took this pic at night.

There you have it. A few pics of recent happenings in my world.

More to come...Cory and I took a day trip to Big Bear on Sunday and I have yet to upload those gorgeous photos.

Happy Tuesday and Have an awesome week!

Updated Crafting Page!

Just a little FYI--

For anyone interested, I've updated my Crafting page as of this morning.

Actually, I HAD to since somehow, in the middle of adding new crafts, half of the page disappeared!

Keep an eye out for more projects!

*And why I shared this incredibly yucky photo with you is beyond me.