Customize your own clothespins!

Here is a quick tutorial on how to customize your own clothespins.

(1)

Find some average size clothespins, or smaller ones if you like.

(2)

Cut out strips of paper that are just a touch larger than your clothespin. I used fun colors from Canvas Corp. 

(3)

Glue down your strips of paper to your clothespins, I used Canvas Corp Mixed Media Glue but you can use whatever you have on hand.

(4)

Once your glue is dry enough that the paper doesn't move around, find a stamp that you would like to use and stamp your image onto your clothespin. Since I was working on a party set I chose "It's A Party" and used black ink to make it stand out. 

(5)

Now trim up your paper edges with scissors and then find a file and sand away! I sanded all the sides down and even some of the clothespin itself.

See the difference?

(6)

So at this point you are done, however you could take it one step further and ink your edges with a distressing ink, but I liked them the way they were so I left it. Have fun customizing your own clothespins!

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!!!

About the head out to see family and friends and then to more family in the days to come. I hope all stays calm with the weather but snow is in the forecast!


I am thankful that I got to spend time with my favorite little nephews Ayden and Gage! They are getting so big and I hate that I am missing out on all the new things they are learning.

Update: A new ultrasound on Wednesday morning! Fingers crossed for some awesome news... the Dr says we are in triplet territory so I am hopeful!



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Ramping up!

So we are a few days into a new dosing of clomid. so far so good, though I could do without the vivid nightmares and mood swings and hot flashes! lol

things are going pretty well, I'm nearly done Christmas shopping and plans are laid out to visit with all of the families.

I am excited about car shopping soon though! Just waiting on our settlement check from the insurance and then we will be sporting a new ride. I've been looking at a Santa Fe, I like the look and it has the size
i want. Now to decide on the upgrades!!

but for now, I have the day off and I plan to go eat breakfast and then probably fall asleep on the couch! Even though I love my job, I love days off!! Pin It Now!

less is more

At least when you are talking about drama!

I woke up this morning feeling pretty good! I think it has to do with dropping some drama causing people from our lives! I am loving this feeling of freedom, like a heavy weight lifted from my shoulders!

The holidays are coming and I feel good about them, though I have yet to buy any Christmas gifts for anyone yet. I'll start just as soon as we hear back from our insurance adjuster on who is going to pay for what to get the tracker fixed.

Went and saw Twilight in the theater, such a great movie! And I love my husband who went with me even though he doesn't like the actress who plays Bella, Kristen Stewart. Pin It Now!

Smashed

My hubby was in a four car collision yesterday... He was hit from behind. It could have all been a lot worse but he is safe and no one was hurt too badly. After a trip to the VA ER we were home in the rental car and feeling kinda loopy on the meds.
I am thankful that everyone was ok, I am thankful for good insurance, and I am thankful that this will not hurt us financially because of our persistence in padding our savings account! Pin It Now!

Round and round again...

Tomorrow is our next ultrasound, maybe we will get some good news this time! If we do, we could very likely be doing our next IUI on my 30th birthday. That would be a pretty cool birthday gift huh?


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New drugs

So tomorrow starts a new day of new drugs, we are going with Clomid this time. I really shouldn't say new drugs I guess, I was on clomid back in 2008-2009, and it worked pretty well. But after our first failed IUI I just needed a break from all the drugs. I was more devastated back then than I thought I would be, I just simply thought it would work, we did everything right, everything looked good, I had 3 good eggs... and yet it just didn't... flash forward 3 almost 4 years and I find myself in the same boat with few exceptions. Next ultrasound in 14 days.

If I remember correctly though, I'm going to have a rough week... clomid side affects are nightmares... and I remember having my share of them last time. I'll have to say sorry to Brett in advance.

On a brighter note, I'm looking forward to spending time with my family again, I love my family and it's a wonderful feeling to know that I am loved back. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it's always a fun time for me, except for the drive.

Also, I'm turning thirty in a few weeks... and while my original plan was to get drunk and forget the day was even there, I've decided to have a scrap booking crop with my friends and we will have drinks there instead! Maybe this will get me out of the rut I'm in.




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Election 2012

It's a sad day for our country today, but as Americans I know that we will push through and in four years time we will over come this nightmare of a president. Look for better times! Just keep pushing!! Pin It Now!

one day...

One day I might learn not to get my hopes up... one day.

Now to add collapsing follicles to my list of crappyness.

Trying again next month. Pin It Now!

The waiting game...

Our ultrasound showed that it wasn't time yet for another iui. We will try again on Monday. On new meds now to increase the lining of my uterus, which was too thin.
I didn't cry so much this time.
We'll see what happens. Pin It Now!

Third times a charm...

The time has arrived finally... we have an ultrasound scheduled for thursday to see if we are ready to move forward with our third IUI.
I'm not not excited but I've not gotten my hopes up either... I feel like I've been here done that and I didn't get my reward so why should I believe I would get it now?
This is our last attempt for the year... I'm tired... we are tired...

I often find myself wondering how much more I can take? Maybe we just aren't supposed to have a baby... but the thought of it angers me more... I don't want to adopt, I want my own or none... I know it's selfish, but unless you are in my shoes you have no right to tell me otherwise. Lots of people live lives wanting what they can't have.

but even with all that being said and all the mixed up feelings I have... I hope it works this time. Pin It Now!

Halloween fans

Here's a quick and easy craft project that makes a fun impact! Halloween fans!
These fans were made using paper from canvas corp and cuts from the cricut cart wild card and paper doll dress up.
Start by cutting paper into 3inx12in strips, I like to mix the paper up but you can use all one color too.
Accordion fold all of your strips, glue the ends together and flatten into a circle. Glue onto a back piece of paper and the let dry.
Decorate with pumpkins, bats and spiders and you're done!
Stick them on a stick from poking into planters or string them up to hang in a tree!
Happy Halloween!

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Taken away...

Ever have so much pain that it takes your breath away? I'm so there. Pin It Now!

And so it begins...

Today we start CD 1... I'm less than joyed. Pin It Now!

Gobble gobble!

I've been folding a lot of fans at work and when I saw this at a scrapbook store I was visiting I knew I had recreate it!
I folded the fans and sprayed them with tattered angels glimmer mist. I then cut the turkey out of the speaking of fall cricut cart. Added some glaze and glam and done! A perfect centerpiece item for under $5.00

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Living by Cycle Days

As much as I hate it I have found that I no longer live by calendar days, now I live my cycle days. Currently on CD26 and my anxiety is revving up for DC 31... will AF come or will it not? Part of me wants it to just get here so I can get through it and start the process on our third IUI... but another part of me still hopes that maybe we did it this time...
I feel like AF is going to come though, every stupid country song on the radio has me weeping like a baby, I'm sore everywhere and almost always tired. I've been trying to keep myself busy with holiday decorating and organizing my scrapbook areas, but I still find myself deep in thought over if we will ever get pregnant and if we will ever have a baby.
Found out recently that the newest baby to be in the family will be a girl, I'm excited, I will love this new niece of mine, but it's also so heartbreaking that she will make number 10 born into the family since we have been trying for one of our own. I can't help the feelings of being cheated somehow, of things just not being fair. I hate feeling so empty all the time.
With all that being said, I will continue on just like I always do. Waiting for my turn.

Michael Buble
Haven't Met You Yet lyrics

I'm not surprised.
Not everything lasts.
I've broken my heart so many times I stopped keeping track.
Talk myself in.
I talk myself out.
I get all worked up, then I let myself down.

I tried so very hard not to lose it.
I came up with a million excuses.
I thought I thought of every possibility.

And I know someday that it'll all turn out.
You'll make me work so we can work to work it out.
And promise you, kid, that I'll give so much more than I get.
I just haven't met you yet.

Mmmm... 

I might have to wait.
I'll never give up.
I guess it's half timing,
And the other half's luck.
Wherever you are.
Whenever it's right.
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life.

And I know that we can be so amazing.
And baby your love is gonna change me.
And now I can see every possibility.

Mmmm... 
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But somehow I know that it'll all turn out.
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out.
And I promise you, kid, I'll give so much more than I get.
I just haven't met you yet.

They say all's fair.
In love and war.
But I won't need to fight it.
We'll get it right and, 
We'll be united.

And I know that we can be so amazing.
And being in your life is gonna change me.
And now I can see every single possibility, mmmm.

And someday I know it'll all turn out.
And I'll work to work it out.
Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get, 
Than I get, than I get, than I get.

Ohhh! 

You know it'll all turn out.
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out.
And I promise you, kid, to give so much more than I get.
I just haven't met you yet.

I just haven't met you yet.
Ohh, promise you, kid, to give so much than I get.

(I said love, love, love, love...)
I just haven't met you yet

I just haven't met you yet.

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so much lost...

I can't believe it's been a full month since my last post!
A lot has changed in my life this month... We went from overjoyed with happiness to the very bottom of despair.
Death is a hard thing for some people to understand, how can someone you love and that you've know for so long just be gone? I worked as an activity director in a nursing home for nearly 3 years, and I can tell you now that you never get used to it, you never get used to playing games with someone on Monday afternoon and come in to find out that they are gone Tuesday morning. But you must learn to cope with it, and you must learn to move on from it. After three years, I wasn't able to cope after I lost 3 of my favorite guys back to back, two within hours of each other. I had to quit, I was done, I was no longer me and my heart had been tainted with death for far too long. But I did learn to accept death was part of life, and so when we lost Grandma this past week, it was easier for me than for others. I love her and i will miss her, but I know she is not gone, and I know that she is not in pain anymore. And that is what makes it easier.
I suppose the most upsetting part of losing grandma was how everyone in the family behaved, at such a tragic time in they showed their true colors and personalities, those who were usually sweet and kind became sneaky and rude, they became drunks who hid behind txt messages, and drama causers. In her last few hours she heard her family fight and fall apart and i'm sure it broke her heart. There are family members who are no long my family because of their actions and they should feel guilty for what they've done, I hope they always feel guilty for the way they behaved in her last few hours and in the days after her passing.

 She wouldn't have wanted that.

We also had our own tragedy, my husband and I... We finally got pregnant, and then miscarried. It was nearly a week before I let myself grieve for my loss... I just focused on grandma's funeral and tried to block it out. The day after her funeral I just cried all day long, my heart hurt. My mom and my MIL reassured me that there is a silver lining to all of this... I got pregnant, and WE did it on our own! No IUI, no medication, nothing but he and I. The doctors gave up on those 6 little eggs but we didn't, and even though it was only for a little while, one of them took, one of them gave us hope!
I've read a lot, and what I keep finding is that a woman who has a miscarriage, even one who goes on to have more children, never forgets the one she lost... I can understand that, but at the same time, I refuse to dwell on what i lost, I refused to let this loss rule my life, I will go on, and I will get pregnant again. I may never forget, but I'm sure with time the emptiness will be filled again.


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Found this big guy in the yard today while we were mowing, I made a deal with it: it wouldn't try to kill me and I would move it to a safer tree we weren't going to mow down.

 :-)  we both kept our end of the bargain!

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My Garden

I love spending early morning time in my garden! 

Rose of Sharon Trees

My happy little hummingbird

My Guardian Lilies

Ahhhh Peace!

My baby Hibiscus 

I need a coffee refill and quiet time with my feathered and petaled friends!

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Regimen ... Again...

We restocked on hubby's sperm count boosting super team today! L-arginine, vitamin C, pumpkin seeds, and a hope and a prayer.

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Just Breathe

Source: imgfave.com via Angela on Pinterest

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DIY: Ribbon Bag

I have a ton of ribbon laying around my craft room so I need a place to store it. 

Here's what I came up with!

Last year I bought one of the specials from my local BBW and though the bag is cute, I couldn't see using it in my everyday life... 

Until now.

Get out your hammer and eyelet setter and hammer some holes through the plastic bag in any order that you like. 

Don't forget to use your cutting mat under your bag or you'll end up with notches in your table!

 Once you're done, poke your ribbon through the holes and whaaalaa!

 You have your own ribbon bag!

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Ultrasound... Ultra-dissappointment...

We had another ultrasound today, it was supposed to be routine: check to make sure follicles are ready to go, get shot in the butt, come back in 36 hours for iui. It didn't turn out that way for us today, the Tech found 6 follicles but none that were dominate and ready to go, so no shot, no iui... I'm sure she meant well when she said that she knows it's frustrating for me but she sees this all the time... really? how often do you meet couples who have been having their hearts broken over and over and over again for the last 5 years? We were told to wait for the dr to call us back on what to do.
I think we might have done the ultrasound too early this time and I feel like they might be writing this month off as a loss, to start over next month and I am already grieving the loss of this potential pregnancy.
 My heart is so broken. Pin It Now!

First post

Here's a toast to my first blog post! A place for my day, my crafts, my garden, my Grief and frustrations, my pugs, my husband and my life.

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