Don’t forget…today’s the last day all the goodies are 35% off in my store. 

This is INCLUDES all the items from the grab bag that was opened up on Friday and all my new items in my store this weekend:

I’m ok.  Been resting and bumming this afternoon and evening, even had a little nap while Eric took took the girls for Alyssa’s cheerleading practice.  Dr. said all looked ok.  It went quickly and pain-free, just like Lisa said it would.  I changed, laid down, they put in the IV, added the drugs and I was out.  Next thing I knew I was with Eric trying to wake up. 

And now..I’m off to bed - I’m still a bit tired and I’ve got to be up in 7 hours.

I have my upper GI (upper endoscopy).  I’m really nervous, wanting to chicken out, but it’s too late, so I guess I’m going through it!    I know I had this done back when I was in grade school (about 2nd grade), but that still doesn’t make me want to do it again.  I truly don’t expect it to really come up with anything, so I’m not worried about that…I’m just not a huge fan of being sedated and having no control of things.

So..anyhow…just thought I’d make a quick update.  I’ve got 15 min left that I’m able to eat or drink anything and my tummy is hungry, so I’m going to get something and get to bed soon.  I’ve been really tired today from my trip to Atlanta over the weekend.

oooh and FYI….here’s a sneak peek to something coming this weekend (in addition to the opening of my grab bag):

My first grab bag ever - hope you all enjoy!!

$19 worth of product for ONLY $3, but hurry it’s only available from Aug 8 - 14.

Includes 7 new products.

and new in my store now, these new fantastic quick pages using my Patriotic kit.

All week we’ve been reorganizing and rearranging our basement to become my studio.  It currently is our office and family room.  In the less than 2 years we’ve lived in this house, the office has always been, but the other half started as a play room, then it was a family room/playroom, then just a family room, and now it will be our family room/my studio.    I HOPE we are just about done with all this re-arranging.  It is looking very nice down here finally.  There has been a lot of crap stored down here that just really needed to be sorted through and put away or thrown away.  A little more to go and we’ll be set. 

So far we have:

• cleaned up the shelves in the family room
• unpacked all but one final tub that was stored in there
• we’ve moved Alyssa’s desk into the office
• moved my sewing cabinet upstairs
• hung the cables for the backdrops
• brought down my florescent/daylight soft boxes that Eric built me

Still to do:

• put in my new soft boxes (they come tomorrow!!!)
• hang all the backdrops
• bring in the props (and figure out where they’re going)
• determine whether the recliner is going and if we will need to move the piano
• remove some final boxes in the office

Once all this is done, I’ll be ready to start getting some photos to build my portfolio.  I’ve got some postcards I’ve started to put out to get some people in to help with that, and I have 2 sittings scheduled and 1 I need to get back with to set a date. 

I need to get a couple articles finished up for the Tid-bytes ezine and head to bed here soon.  Tomorrow is going to be one very crazy day.

8:45 drop Alyssa and neighbor at VBS

9 - 11:15 work

11:30 pick them up

11:45 home, lunch and change

12:30 leave to meet up with my GS troop

1:00 leave for the GS camp 45 min away

2-4 swimming, boating, and activities with the troop at the GS camp

4:00 leave to drive home

5:00 drop girls off with their parents

5:15 hopefully home to change, shower and eat dinner

6:00 leave for the Church for Alyssa’s VBS program

whew!  I hope I survive…it’s going to be a lot of tight transitions

Have a fabulous weekend!

 A week ago, I came across this photo that a friend took of me during convention the week before. 

I was sooo shocked at how wide I looked, that I printed it out, stuck it on my pantry and got serious about my diet/weight loss.  With my upcoming surgery (I’m scheduled now for the laparoscopy on Sept 4) and all the other problems medically I’ve been having, I decided I need to take a break from the stress of worrying about getting pregnant and just focus on me.  I need to lose some serious weight, and I should just focus on that for a couple months at least.  So…when I saw this picture, I really didn’t believe I was THAT wide, and it could be that the photo has some shadows and my black outfit is blending in with them to make me look wider, but none-the-less it was a great photo to prompt me to get back on my diet immediately!

So for the past week I’ve been trying to stay under 1500 calories a day; I wish I could cut it to about 1300 but some days I’ve been really hungry.  There have been some easy days and some really tough days, but all in all it’s not been too bad.  I weighed in this morning and I’ve lost 3 lb so far, so not too bad of a start.  My goal is 20 lb by the end of the year, but even more important is the change of habits. 

I’m trying to follow my friend Shayna’s lead and not stress out when something comes up and I can’t stick to 1500 calories or when I’m just really extra hungry.  I am trying to take it one day at a time and instead of beating myself up if I got a bit over my 1500 goal, or that I can’t stay closer to 1300 right now, I’m trying to focus more on the choice of what I select to munch on when I am hungry and need a little more. 

I’ve also been trying to follow another friend’s family rule of one desert a day.  My kids REALLY need to learn this rule, and what better way to teach it than to follow it myself.  I had some days in the recent past I would eat way too many junk food snacks in a single day - it was truly gross.  It’s taken the girls (esp Alyssa) all week to get the hang of making better snack choices too, but the complaints have gotten fewer and fewer over they week, and I don’t think I heard one at all today! 

So I continue on my journey and hope I can stick to it for a lifetime of change….

Ok this has taken me forever tonight (don’t know why my computer is sooo slow tonight) just to get a handful of photos from our trip to Redrocks and our ATTEMPT to head up to Rocky Mountain National Park (we never did get the chance to make it all the way up there)…  I’m just going to post a few for now and then I’ll have to write more about it later so I can get to bed.  I’m up way way way too late!!

Busy busy last few days….

Thursday we hit the zoo in a nearby town with some friends, Friday Alyssa had a friend over for the night and we all went to the water park that evening, Saturday Eric took the girls and Alyssa’s friend to Lowe’s for their build & grow building activity and later that evening we went out to dinner and shopping for plants for the new retaining wall Eric has built in the past week.  Finally today we went to the family day at one of the GS camps - swimming in the lake, boating, crafts, cook-out lunch and water games (water balloons and slip & slide with shaving cream! LOL).  We’re pooped, but we’ve had a wonderful weekend.

Monday brings VBS for Alyssa and hopefully some productive working days for me.  I’m heading off to bed needing some serious sleep to make it through this coming week.

from back on July 8 when I was getting ready to leave for convention and forgot to do it…

Lisa had tagged me back at the beginning of the month and in my crazed days leading up to my departure for my convention, I totally forgot about it.  So here’s this for now, and then soooon some pictures from convention and a real update. 

The Rules: Answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? nightstand
2. Your significant other? work
3. Your hair? messy
4. Your mother? friend
5. Your father? respected
6. Your favorite thing? camera
7. Your dream last night? funny
8 Your favorite drink? sprite
9. Your dream/goal? kid #3
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your hobby? scrapping
12. Your fear? surgery
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? successful
14. What you’re not? awake
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? monitor
17. Where you grew up? army brat
18. The last thing you did? slept
19. What are you wearing? pjs
20. Favorite gadget? Wacom
21. Your pets? dogs
22. Your computer? loved
23. Your mood? happy
24. Missing someone? yea
25. Your car? Honda
26. Something you’re not wearing? socks
27. Favorite store? Joann’s
28. Like someone? yep
29. Your favorite color? purple
30. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? unsure

I tag: Lisa B, Amy C, Robin and Amanada

This will be a quickie summary:

• Ordered new softboxes for my “studio,” in addition to my new camera.   

• Created and ordered postcards to have a model call for my marketing materials and updated photo portfolio.

• Eric and I are working on a plan to set up a studio in the house.

• Saw the OB and had my sonogram - I have a new cyst (fluid filled this time) on my right ovary, and my late June CA 125 level jumped to about double what it was in late May. The doctor is fairly certain the increasing levels are from endometriosis reoccurring, so has suggested laparoscopic surgery. I am scheduled for another follow-up CA 125 test and sonogram in Aug. if I elect to hold off on the surgery for now. I’m fairly certain I’ll be calling Monday to figure out when to schedule it though, as with how things have gone over the last couple of months, it’s inevitable, and would be better for me and my fertility options to take care of it sooner than later. I just have to figure out how the heck we’re going to pay for the darn surgery. UGH…what a year we’re having in terms of medical expenses.

• I’ve been getting ready for my convention next week for Omega Phi Alpha. I’ll be traveling to Denver next week for all that, and Eric will be taking off those days from work for a little staycation. He’s going to be spending the time with the girls, transporting them to all their activities (just swimming and tumbling I think, so not too bad), and putting in a retaining wall in our front yard! fuuun!! lol

• This week we’ve also been doing swimming lessons again (I did take a few new pics the other day with my p&s, will have to upload those so I can share any good ones), tumbling classes, our library trip, we had a playdate and swimming time with some friends, a bit of shopping, we went to the build and grow workshop at Lowes this morning (I’ve got a couple pictures from that too), and we’ve had some fun mommy and girl lunches. We’ve had a full and busy week.

I’m off to bed..have a wonderful remainder of your weekend!