Insecurities

This week for Who's That Girl - it was all about our insecurities. It seem that the older that I get the more insecurities I have. There are a lot of things now that I am older that I have noticed that I don't want to do things alone anymore when a few years ago it wouldn't have bothered me to do half of what I won't do now. Make sense?

My biggest insecurity right now is my job or more so money. It seems to be all about the money these days. When I left the last vet clinic that I worked in 8 years ago, I left behind a couple dollars over minimum wage, Tuesdays off, working 8-6 M,W,Th,F and 8-1ish on Saturdays...I averaged 44 hours a week with a couple hours of overtime every week. I left behind puppy breath, kitten "mews" and of course stupid pet owners who did not need to have a pet to take care of for a desk job answering to veterinarians and techs who call in to place orders and ask you to find them a drug. 40 hours a week with Saturday and Sunday off and paid holidays, most of all...I finally had the opportunity to provide insurance for my girls on my own without having to depend on their dads if I didn't want too. I got a substantial pay raise with the pay and the benefits. It was like night and day in my world at that time.

I have been there now 8 years and my branch has achieved Branch of the Year for the last 3 years (and we are waiting to see if we got it again this year) - we as a group were so excited and we were not prepared for a pay cut that was sprung on us right after we found out. None of us suspected that it would happen because we had all been busy and we thought we were growing our business but did not realize that the company as a whole was suffering. Goodbye 4%. I know it could have been worse, much worse but now I bring home less than I was making in the clinic without the overtime for some reason even though there have been enough raises over the years to put me over the 4% that I lost. It sucks.

My layout this week was about my insecurities about money these days because everything is going up, up, up except the money. I printed the photo on a transparency and backed it with white cardstock.



I used a light blue, vanilla and white Bazzill, Scraps from my stash, White Gel Pen, Stickles, Bazzill Just the Edge Stars, Ribbon and Bling. The letters are vinyl Thickers in baby blue.

Monday off!

Today is my first Monday off in a long time. My husband decided that he would join me for the day and we had some alone time together. Sure my girls are older and its easier to get time alone these days but a lot of my time is spent at work or driving, by the time I get home I am ready for sleep.

So after a much debated do nothing or go to the movies, I was thinking go to the beach even though it is rainy and dreary and he suggested going to the butterfly museum...I can't turn down the butterflies. So off we went.

We got there and was told that because it was rainy, they wouldn't be very active because they love sunshine. I was a little disappointed but was very happy to see that they were flying everywhere once we got into the butterfly enclosure.

These are some of my favorites from today:


He is saying "let me out, let me out". He is a Blue Morpho.


This one was my favorite, he was hard to catch even though he is so big. He kept turning so I couldn't get a good photo. He is a Rice Paper Butterfly.


The photo does not do justice! Iridescent blue and bright white. Very pretty/handsome.


This one is a copper color and was just gorgeous! He is a Julia Butterfly.


No, its not a butterfly but we missed him when we were going by. How with it so huge but the guy who worked there pointed him out and man oh man! This moth has some serious camo on. I see snakes on him! He is an Atlas Moth


A shot of the bottom of the waterfall that the butterflies get to enjoy.

We had lunch at Cafe Adobe and then went to pick our daughter from school so she could go to work.

My roses are taking off now and that makes me happy. I love roses :)


My newest bush that I put in last year.


The bush that was my mother-in-laws. When I first brought it home it was budding mini red roses and then last year it was pink. I waited this year to see what I was going to get. I guess when I trimmed it back last year, I cut off the sucker and brought it back to the color it was meant to be.

Right Now

This week for Who's that Girl the prompt was "Right Now" - while the core of who you are doesn't change, I find that my interests and activities tend to evolve from one year to the next. Take a moment to capture the things you are into RIGHT NOW.

Entertainment: Favorite TV shows, music, movies, websites
Tastes: Foods and drinks you are into right now, clothing styles, products, brands
Activities: Crafts you are working on, hobbies, interests, new routines or habits

and we teamed up with Sketchy Thursdays this week to inspire us even more! There is a prize this week for those who complete the challange.

Here is the sketch for this week:


and my layout:


I think this weeks layout is the 1st time that I have been way off from what everyone has down. Everyone's layouts are happy and bubbly and here I am...the goth one-dark, sad and depressing. It honestly makes me embarrassed to have it on the site with theirs because I am so different right now.

Journaling around the edge of the photo reads: ...things are crazy for me. my days are never the same and i never know what to expect. this photo says it all...it's dark and stormy. one day the sun will shine again for me -2010.

My 5 things right now:
1. Facebook - even the stupidest games makes it better.
2. McDonald's coffee - a staple to start my day.
3. Alone time - find somewhere to focus on me.
4. Cake websites - they are so pretty!
5. Tired - 12 hour work days are catching up

I used Kraft and Vanilla Bazzill, Graphic 45 Times Nouveau "Hip to the Jive", Ink, Heidi Swapp Ghost Clock, Brad, Bazzill Just the Edge Raven zig zag and a Zig Pen. The letters are The Paper Studio outlined with a copper gel pen. The photo is from DeviantART and it is printed on a transparancy and backed with a glossy white photo paper. It has a depth to it in person - more so than a regular photo

Sunday Sharing

I am still having a hard time scrapping for some reason. I bought a huge stack of PP from a woman on TES and it has all the paper that I have wanted or said that I would love to have and I thought that I would "instantly" become scrappy but...no. I have no idea what is going on with me these days but I need to snap out of it quick.

This week on TES our sketch came from Let's Capture our Memories



{it's here}




These photos came from deviantART and the flowers are by Leeri and QuickSilver. This year more than any other year that I can remember-I am so ready for Spring. I think that because of the snow and the freezing temps that we had for so many days is the reason why I feel this way.

I used Kraft and Yellow Bazzill, scraps from my stash, bling, K&Co stem and chalk. The letters are by MM and AC Thickers in Yellow Vinyl.

Scrappy Shares

Happy Easter! We are relaxing at home today with no real plans except maybe a ride to the lake a bit later.

I have 2 layouts to share this week.

Who's That Girl - Distinguishing Features

Something about us physically or visually that is a "distinguishing feature". Something that is part of your look. I can be a unique birthmark (like me), a great smile, your hair, the way you dress, your glasses, your red toe nails, etc. But little things that are "you". The things that others see, and without it, you would not quite be you.

My story about glasses:




This was not a hard thing for me to come up with something to scrap about. I have worn glasses since I was 5 years old. They are a part of me even though I know in a few years I will go for Lasik because my eyes are getting worse.

I used Kraft, misc. PP from my stash, Ink, Ribbon, an October Afternoons rub-on, Penny Lane Journal spot, Jenni Bowlin Alphas, MM Tiny Alphas and Pink Paislee's Alphas.

This week on The Everyday Scrapper we used a sketch from Creative Scrappers #86 This is a great sketch! I like how easily it can be adapted to a 1-2 photo sketch without losing any of the main elements.



Growing Up






This is my youngest daughter and her spring pictures that were taken at school. This layout is so far out of my scrapping element that it took me 5 hours to finish. Looking at it now, I have no idea what took me so long. I made the flowers out of Victoria Secret tissue paper and you can find the instructions here

I used White, Chili, and Raven Bazzill, 3Bugs in a Rug "Color me Pretty" PP, Bazzill Just the Edge strip, K&Co Frame, Prima Say it in Pearls flourish, Kaiser Craft Pearls, Ink, and pop dots. As mentioned above the flowers are from tissue paper and I sprayed them with Glimmer Mist in Vanilla Breeze. The letters are cut with my Cricut and the font is Opposites Attract (yes, the U for up is the N for growing - I ran it through my Xyron on the wrong side.)