Thank Heaven for Fridays

So in the grand scheme of things, Fridays have always been my favorite day of the week. When I was a child, it was no school, as a teenager and young adult, it meant going out and having fun and no school, and as an adult-adult, it means no work for 2 1/2 days. Yes my friend, 2 1/2 days. I count the moment that I get out of work until 10pm on Sunday night as my weekend.

Now, granted in the last 20 years, I have worked on and off on weekends as nurses usually do, and in the past 1 1/2 years, I have worked weekends again. As this is my official weekend off, and have to work Saturday (to fill in for missing home nurse), I am putting a lot on this friday. I put a lot on every friday.

Friday night is my favorite. No work in the morning. Sometimes, I will stay up unusually late (2-3 am) scrapping or reading or watching tv and go to bed and pop up on Saturday am feeling great! I try not to cook on Fridays. I usually call it a "make-your-own" night or if I am feeling incredibly generous, I will spring for FF and make my lean and green for myself. Sometimes hubby and I will take an after work nap and that is usally relaxing too--that usually is for about 1 hour and the kids are playing, reading, being with friends, so it feels good to relax after work.

Hubby will do his own thing into the evening and I get my time. Uninterrupted and mine, all MINE. I usually do not schedule housework, homework, working out at the gym or work late on fridays. Occasionally, I end up running kids around, but am trying to reserve that time for myself on a regular basis. Like those fridays. Love them!

Tonight I have plans to clean up my scrap room,, reorganize my clipitup and perhaps make a layout or two or three. I also need to make some cards for at work. I need to make welcome, best wishes and more birthday cards. They love those at work and I like to have them on hand for my coworkers. I hope to set up a card box for all to use as needed. I do not want to charge anyone for the cards, but will take donations--only cause I do not make the envelopes and they usually cost. I think it is nice and goodwill-promoting hting to do here so I will keep it up!

Got to work the job now. Hope the day is a Fabulous Friday for everyone! Love and hugs.

Back on a even keel

Ok, traveling out of the way, one set of parents (visiting) out of the way, clean house, back at work (feels like I never left), and just here. Time to get down to business. On with it.

I did not get any scrapping done this week. Felt not so good in Virginia. Mustv'e been something I ate. Better now though. Feeling great to be exact!

Going to scrap tonight though. Need to create. I got this cool mag last week at Barnes and Noble, by Scrapbooks, etc. about page sketches/plans and I am inspired to try some things out so up to the desk I go.

MIL was here and she saw my clipitup and she wants one so I told her about how I got it at Archiver's. Love that thing. Talk about organization at it's best. Hope she gets one and likes it. It keeps things out in the open and moderately organized, however, I admit that I tend to be hurried to get to the next project and just put things back in any old place on it. Going to have to take it down and reorganize again, gives me a chance to fondle my products and if I revisit them, I think I use more, cause I have viewed them more recently. I must tell you, I have used more things since I had it than when I did not! It is worth the $$ to buy it.

Have a great day! Love and hugs!

updates and birthday

Ok, so I should just sign in more often and get my things out in the open. A lot has happened since last week. First of all, last week I did not get the Nursing Excellence Award but found out on Wednesday that I tied for first and they had to send the nominations off to the head of the VISN to make the official decision. So needless to say, I got notification that I got a $$ award on my next check. Cool. $$ is always nice.

Well, then, I also turned 39 yesterday. Yeah I know. I was was treated by my hubby and kids to a GC from Joann's and some cool new DVD's of the 80's music videos of songs I love. How cool is that?! I cannot wait to watch them. It will be a hoot. I was actually trying to do the safety dance (by Men at Work) for my family last night, and they actually thought I had lost it. What?! WHAT?!!! What is wrong with that?! Just kidding.

Then my family took me out for Mexican at Ol' Mexico (Bet you saw that coming...). We had a nice meal, played TV trivia, had a great time as a family. And then we went home and played ROCKBAND (just got hta tfor the kids on the weekend). What a blast. I have determined that I can only sing (and not very well but surely better than the guitar or the drums, for heavens sake). A good time was had by all as they say. All in all, turning 39 was just like any other day but for the special times with my family. That made it great!

So now, I am heading out for Virginia tomorrow for a Transplant conference. 2 days away from home. Kind of fun. Will miss the family. I will get to see people that I connect with on a daily basis over the phone and email in VA transplant stuff so that will be nice. The people that I know do not know that I have lost a bunch (60+lbs) of pounds so I will be sharing things about that. I sure wish that I could be gracious. I have been stuck on the plateau for about 3 months, and not been losing anymore weight, so when people come up to me, instead of graciously saying "thank you", I find myself going off on a tirade/tirant about how I am stuck, still need to lose 20 lbs, etc. I just need to practice "Thank you, I have been working at it" or just "thank you". Yeah, got to practice that.

I have to finish work and get home to pack. I wasn't packed last night cause I was playing with my family. Now I need to get it going tonight but it should not be so hard since I only have to take 2 days worth of suits. I plan on taking some Studio Calico kit along for something to do. I was kind of thinking that a little kit work would be good for the soul. I have never taken any scrap supplies on these trips before and packing for it may be a challenge but it might be worth it.

Got to get back to work. Have good ones. Love and hugs, Lara

All is well in the world today!

I just had the best time with my family. We enjoyed a nice evening out at Red Lobster and Target where we almost got asked to leave for having too much fun. No, seriously, we were just having fun at Target.

The award ceromony was today at work. I did not get either award. Yeah, I did get nominated for the Excellence in Nursing Award and the Preceptor of the Year. But someone more deserving got the awards. I saw the list of the people nominated and I felt honored to stand up next to them. There were some greats on that list.

I also did not get the DT spot that I tried out for. I am ok with that. I saw the entries of the people that got those spots and they had some pretty neat stuff. I am happy for them.

So one would think that today was a downer but it wasn't. Greatness isn't always about being recognized, sometimes it is about trying your hardest and feeling like you have accomplished what you thought you could do. I am fine with that. I can go to my hospital tomorrow and hold my head up high. I can continue doing the job that I have been doing and bask in the thought the nominations, and in the knowledge that someone besides myself, recognizes my hard work and dedication to my patients. That is enough.

As for DT, going to try again. GOing to try for whatever I want. I want to use my creative hobby for the best from myself and what better way to shoot for the stars than to submit again. It is good practice to push myself to put my work up to the next level.

And one final note, I am a winner with my family and that in itself is enough. They all love me and are proud of me and believe in me and my ability to be the best at whatever I do. WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE!

Besides, I got Studio Calico goodness in the mail today and it was like an early birthday present! How awesome is that. The kits are the best!Love and Hugs, Lara

Monday

I just got done doing a quiz on my kitty Sadie. Who would have thought she was like Gwen Stefani. I guess I can kind of see it. She is my little princess. Sure glad it was not Paris or something, I just dislike her so much.

Well, waiting patiently for the announcement for the design team spot today. I hope I get it. I am so excited to work with this site. They are the best. Please see the last post in which I posted the works I did for a the scrap challenges this weekend for National Scrapbook day. IT was a lot of fun! Got to work today. Perhaps will pop in later. Love and hugs, Lara

National Scrapbook Day was a success!

Ok, so I admit, I am stuck on scrapping. I love it. I spent the first part of the morning yesterday going to local SS stores and buying some small goodies. Then had to take DD to Festival of Nations. Gone til about 6 pm and then home.

The family knew not to bug me after that. I did two new layouts. I did 2 for a challenges on the ScrapAttack website. It was fun. I also played with my camera and my kitty and some Prima flowers. I will post the results. It was pretty fun. Worked on things until about 1 am and then called it a night. I am back at it today after some pesky little housework. Yuck. Why can't I scrap all day?

This is the week that I love. I have NSD, National Nurse's week, Mother's Day and my birthday. NOt to mention, they are going to announce the ScrapAttack Guest Designer this week. Now I am sure that there are a lot of talented people entered, and I can't wait to see who is picked. I will be very happy for who the winner is. Yes, I would like it to be me, but I want the best entry to get picked. IF that is not mine, it wasn't meant to be and I really want to see who gets it.

I have spent a little time scrapping and the results will be posted. I love doing it. It relaxes me and centers me. It is in my being to use creativity to express myself and steer my life. I will need to put back together my scrap room though. It is getting a little messy from my busy work this weekend. Everything in it's place will allow me to move into the next layout. Going to do that now.

Have a beautiful Sunday! Love and hugs, Lara