just helen

I Shouldn't Be Surprised

I try...I really try.  I have been trying since I came back from CHA to get back to business of blogging.  It's not that I don't have ample material that is inspirational.  I was fully loaded and ready to go last Wednesday, the last day of the trade show.  The product was fun, I experimented with new techniques and developed a frame of mind that will lead me to styles I can add to my repertoire...I even revisited some of the supplies that I already have in my stash.  I had a great time and now I want to play.  But I added something new to my schedule...a very short-term, seasonal job. 

Let me just give a brief description: call-center and Valentine's Day.  Need I say more?  It has been a serious brain-drain!  Don't take this wrong - I'm grateful for the work, the schedule is flexible, it's super close to home and it's a great company to work for.  But it is a completely new type of job, doing something I have never done before, and  I started the day after the show - need I say more?

 It should come as no shock that it is difficult to be creative when you are tired, harder still when you are truly exhausted.  Changing one's sleeping pattern can result in serious creative block and I am there...blocked.  Learning the skills needed for my new, very short-term, seasonal job has been a brain drain - the computer system, applying the policies and talking over the phone has used up all the spare gray matter available.  It will only take up another 10 - 14 days, but until I'm done with this job, it will be really hard to blog.  But I have high hopes that after a good night's sleep, I will be able to clear enough of my brain space to actually create something.  Unlike tonight, when the best laid plans...went, essentially, awry.

We had 2 leftover gingerbread house kits from Christmas.  We had purchased them on sale, but never got around to making them up.  I don't like to waste things, but I wasn't sure how well it would last until next year.  Then I had an  idea - how about making a "love shack" for Valentine's Day?  Sounds like a cute idea, don't you think?  Well, I still think it's a cute idea.  But let me just say that I'm glad we have 2 gingerbread house kits, because the first one is just all wrong!  I used the frosting in the kit and it just didn't dry right.  So, in the morning (if I can talk Megan into it) I will try, try again.  If it works, I will share both versions.  If it doesn't, it will have to be one of those ideas I hang on to for another time.  But for tonight, I will share a layout I did recently for a Graphic 45 project.

I really love the Tropical Travelogue Collection.  The colors are rich and vibrant and the graphics are wildly exotic.  I look forward to making some more projects with it...a little travel would be nice, too.  It is simply gorgeous!

So wish me well and sweet dreams...hopefully tonight I sleep peacefully and get up ready to face the new day.

Back To The Dark Ages

Our household is in an uproar! Are we without power? No. The water stopped running from the faucet? No...and our toilets are still flushing. Have we started hunting for our food? Nope - we still drive a car all of the 3 minute distance to the grocery store where the food is nicely packaged and refrigerated (if necessary) and there is an abundance available on the store shelves...if we don't already have it in stock at home. So what is the big deal?

It's the microwave...it isn't working. One would think that we had taken the kids to live out in the desert or up in the mountains with no more than the clothes on their backs, a pocket knife  and a bow and arrow...or maybe arrows. The most frequently asked question used to be "what's for dinner"...now it's "when is the microwave getting fixed?"

I will admit that I feel slightly handicapped without one.  A microwave in my kitchen is more important to me than almost any other appliance - okay, not more important than my stove or refrigerator, and I wouldn't want to give up my Kitchenaid, but definitely more important than my dishwasher, which doesn't work anyway, and is used to store my plastic storage containers.  (Secretly I like washing dishes - I like to get my hands in the hot, soapy suds!) 

Scott surprised me and bought me a microwave during our first year of marriage...almost 34 years ago.  It was this huge, extremely heavy, boxy thing that took up a large portion of my limited counter space. It wasn't pretty, but it was pretty wonderful and I was one of the first lucky ladies in the neighborhood to get one.

It's hard to remember how we used to manage in the kitchen before the invention of microwave ovens.  Before microwaves, if you wanted a hot dinner, you sat down to eat when the meal was prepared.  That was the way families did it.  Be home on time for dinner.  If someone was going to be late, the food would be put on a glass or stoneware plate and left on a low temp in the oven...or you ate a cold dinner.  That was great incentive to be home on time.

Not any more!  I cook a lot of meals, at least 4 or 5 a week...okay, Naylor kids...usually!  Sometimes I cook what the gang is in the mood for, so being able to act last minute is key.  I also like to make a big meal with leftovers in mind and then the food can be re-heated in a matter of minutes.  We also have lots of convenience foods at our house for those "fend for yourself" nights.  You know the kind: add water and microwave 5 minutes...or poke 4 holes in the bag, place on microwave-safe place and nuke for 3 minutes, turn and nuke for 2 more...or remove from packaging, tuck inside sleeve and microwave for 2 minutes.  

Without a working microwave, you have to re-think meals and do some advanced planning. Frozen meat needs to come out of the freezer the night before and put it in the refrigerator for about 24 hours  to defrost - you know you're not supposed to leave it out on the counter or thaw it in hot water anymore, right?  But I'm okay with thinking ahead a little.  If I don't remember, I can always cook something without meat or run to the grocery store to get what I need.  I can adjust, I can adapt...I can deal with it.  Scott is pretty tough - he's even fine with eating leftovers cold...he says he doesn't need to waste electricity!  It's the kids that have the problem!

It brings a new light to an old complaint...there's nothing to eat!  I have made it my business to fill my shelves with loads of good food, even though it might require a little preparation.  What they really mean is that there's nothing quick, or quickly delicious, or worth their time and efforts to make.  If I thought the kids were a little on the lazy side before, my worries are now confirmed.  Maybe it's  that I have made things too easy for everyone.  Now might be a good time to delay fixing that microwave, to teach everyone to be a little more self-reliant.  The only problem is that without a microwave, I won't have as much free time to play, rather, play with paper.  I mean, what if I wanted to do this... 

 
or this...

 
 
or even something different, like this?

 
Decisions, decisions...what's a mom to do?  A saying comes to mind - "Let them eat cake!"  Wait, wait...I better think this through...and not lose my head!

 

 

Scanner Troubles

What a bother!  Last week I went to scan some cards for a project and my scanner was dead!  Drat!  I love modern conveniences, but just when you think you can depend on them, and you have grown to NEED them, kaput...they stop being useful. 

Yes, I checked the plugs.  I checked the connections.  I went on-line to see if the manufacturer's website had any suggestions.  Nothing that I attempted worked.  I was hoping that the next time I needed one, that the price on the larger format (I think 12" X 18" size) would have come down in price, but they seem to have gotten more expensive.  So for now, I will have to take photos, which works for me...just not for publication.

That said, I did a few projects with Graphic 45 Once Upon A Springtime collection a while ago, and I was waiting for Spring to arrive...and it has, so here they are!

 
 
 
 

 
 
And some cards...can't not do cards!

 
 
 
 
And the last...

 
 
I think I must be stuck in a rut with my flowers.  I do love flowers so.  But I think that I may just have to restrict my using flowers on every single project I make...I must be going through a phase...for the past few years:)  I hope that Spring is here to stay because I would like to tell Winter...so long for now! 

Recovering From Sunday's Crisis

I have somewhat come to grips with my situation after Sunday's mild melt-down.  It hadn't been accompanied with any "back of the hand to the forehead" dramatics, but it was definitely a moment of throwing up my hands in the air.  As a mom of teenage boys, I understand the energy that goes into a full day of battle, but that event was on Saturday and I was struggling with the air-soft weaponry all over the living room floor.  It wouldn't be so bad except that said living room is already littered with the scrapbook stuff that I have pulled to sell and/or get rid of and there is a whole lot of my mess - no room for anyone else's!

This is all in an effort to slim down the pile.  I have good intentions, but as Saint Bernard of Clairvaux once stated, "Hell is full of good intentions or desires", and right now, my office is hellish, as are my living room and kitchen, so I must turn those good intentions into actions and let my bounty become someone else's good deal.   So out with the old!  I would like to say avoid the new, but I am a realist.

In the spirit of renewed organizational determination, I have once again turned to "Confessions of an Organized Housewife" by Deniece Schofield to inspire me with words of wisdom.  In Chapter One, she explains the importance of thinking through things logically before you act.  If we simply attack the task, we may find ourselves doing things inefficiently.  Here is one example:

"Without realizing it, most of us are probably guilty of the same malady [acting before thinking], and I am no exception.  So many times I tell myself that there is a better way, yet I stumble along falling prey to my old, comfortable habits.  For example, when I'm baking something, I know I should start with a sink full of hot sudsy water.  But, sometime I say to myself, 'Don't waste time doing that - just get busy.'  When baking time is over, I am faced with a counter full of dirty dishes and little energy to do them.  Had I spent two minutes filling the sink, the dishes would have almost done themselves."

How true!  If I followed my daughter Liz's example, the dish would never rest at the sink...it would be washed and in the drainer!  Another tidbit of advice I couldn't resist.  In the same chapter, the author says:

"You may know certain people who spend hours doing a particular job.  Yet, another might be able to do the same job just as well, but much faster.  How is this possible?  Efficient people are motion minded.  While they are working, they are conscious of how they are working.

"The motion-minded person uses both hands effectively.  During the next week, notice how many times one hand is busy while one is idle.  As an example, what is your left hand doing while your right hand is brushing your teeth?  You can easily be sticking things away in a bathroom drawer or medicine chest.  Shoulder rests place on telephones will free both hands for activity during phone calls.  Become more aware of your hands."

Okay...granted, shoulder rests are no longer the norm - its the bluetooth that frees up your hands.  Now darn it - if only I could make my brain do two things at once!  I just noticed that my brain is proof reading, while my left hand is resting on the keypad and my right hand scrolls with the mouse.  Maybe I could figure out how to never make a grammatical or spelling error or change my train of thought, then I wouldn't have to proof read and could save that additional time.  Which reminds me of that song in "The Pajama Game"...

Think of the Time I'll Save

Hinesy:
I'm a time study man, and a time study man can't waste time.
For a time study man to waste time, is a crime.
So I'm ruled by the tick tick tock.
And I live my life by the clock.
I live my life by the tick tick tock of the clock.

When I go to sleep, I don't undress.
That's right, I sleep in all my clothes.
I must confess.
Sure it's a strange way to behave.
And I will admit that the suit gets mussed and it gathers lint and it picks up dust,
But think of the time I save.

Girls:
Think of the time he saves.

Hines:
The alarm clock rings, it's 6 AM.
And then right there in bed I shave.
That's what I said. While I am still in bed, I shave.
And the lather drips and the bed gets wet and oh what a lousy shave I get,
But think of the time I save.

Girls:
Think of the time he saves.

Hines:
At breakfast time, I grab a bowl.
And in the bowl I drop an egg, and add some juice.
A poor excuse for what I crave.
And then I add some oatmeal too and it comes out tasting just like glue,
But think of the time I save.

Girls:
Think of the time he saves.
Tick tock, tick tock, tempus fugit.
Tick tock, tick tock time goes by.

Hines:
I'll be sitting counting seconds til the day I die.

And when I do, I have a plan.
Before I'm dead, I'll dig my grave.
That's what I said. Before I'm dead I'll dig my grave.
'Cuz when St. Peter calls my name,
I know I'll get there just the same but think of the time I'll save.

Girls:
Think of the time he'll save.

Phew!  All this time saving is enough to make me need a nap!  But since I've been working on my room, I had to reward myself - it's like a doggie treat for obeying a command.  I can only stand to clean for so long.  So I made a couple of cards with that fun Graphic 45 Le Cirque paper.

 
 
I love to dimensionalize an element or two on cards. 

 
 
 
I am actually getting ahead of assignments I will have in the near future, so the effort isn't totally without purpose.  I really love this paper.  It is bright, playful and makes me remember when I wanted to join the circus.  It gets to stay in my stash for a really long time!

The Envelope Please...

...and the winner is: Shannan Davies!  Congratulations!  Please send me a private message via Facebook with your address and I will get the package on its way to you!

Speaking of envelopes...I have to admit it - I didn't watch the Academy Awards this year...at all.  I usually don't tune in until the very end of the show most years anyway, but this year I TOTALLY blew it off.  It is rare that I have ever even seen half the movies.  This time, I had actually gone to the theater for two - Toy Story 3 and Inception (both of which I loved, for very different reasons) and Megan got The Social Network from Netflix, so I watched it before she sent it back...I liked it okay.  Time is in too high demand to spend it (and the exorbitant price of a ticket) watching a movie that I will very likely be disappointed in.  I was anxious for Toy Story 3 and resistant to Inception (I don't always like DiCaprio) but forced myself to go on a date - I am sure that it was at the bargain matinee ticket price - and I was pleasantly surprised at how it kept me guessing.  To me, one criteria for "good movie" status comes if there can be animated conversation about it afterwards.  Regardless, the Academy Awards hasn't held my attention for quite some time.

So...speaking of envelopes.  I made a card a few days ago...

 
Love that Graphic 45 Le Cirque paper that I took pictures of at CHAW...

 
...it is very dimensional...

 
...and colorful.  It seems a shame to send such a busy card off in a plain white envelope, don't you think?  So when ever you run into this kind of a circumstance...

 
...a coordinated envelope is just the thing to make.  Easy peasy!

 
Especially handy if you need to make it just a little bigger to allow for the extra dimension.

This is my kind of envelope!  Congrats again to Shannan!  Hope you enjoy all that fun, colorful, hand-dyed seam binding.  Now I'm off to watch my son play in a church basketball game - that's a whole 'nuther "colorful" kind of competition!