I heart Birthday's.. especially my own..

Hey!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Yes, I am super vain I like to write blog posts about myself on my own blog on my birthday :) But surely that is the benefit of having your own blog?!

This year has pushed my patience and ability to feel the joy.. We had to say goodbye to our beloved Boscat in January, I have gained a serious amount of weight thanks to an undetected Thyroid issue, I have had a blood pressure issue meaning I can do barely any cardio AND then I broke my foot in May and 4 months later we discovered a deeper fracture that had happened at the same time, so I am back in the boot AND on crutches.

UGH!

These things have been taxing, to say the least, but I have realised that every grey cloud, comes with a sunny one..

We got Clint - he is amazing and we couldn't have dreamed of having such a wonderful, loving, gentle creature. The foot got fixed long enough for me to enjoy the trip to Ibiza for Hubby's 40th (and oh man did we enjoy that trip). The Thyroid issue has been tackled now and the tablets are fixing my blood pressure issue and once I am back on my two feet, I can deal with the journey that is required to shed the excess weight.

The reality of my situation is that I could be in a cast (UGH) and I could actually be waaay heavier, but they found a way to keep me out of my cast AND I found a way to keep going to the gym, despite the fact that I have been gaining weight no matter what I do!
I finally achieved my dream of being a deadlifter and reached my goal weight of 185lbs - YES that is right - me?! I can deadlift 185lbs. Every time I say it and watch the video of me doing it, I smile. I impressed myself.
I mean do you know what it takes to get your body to the point where you can do that? Trust me I did not. It takes a LOT of repetitive exercises that made me want to scream out in frustration and pain!

So remember - negativity doesn't help, maintain your joy at the little things in your life, no matter how hard that might seem sometimes, it's always better than feeling sorry for yourself.

I'm grateful, happy and feeling the joy for the life I have, no matter what the hardships, I still have Hubby, Clint, my family, and my friends and that makes everything A-Ok.

Cx

Less Is More: Sketch...

Hey,

Happy Friday!

This week I am having a lot of fun entering challenges.

I didn't really have the time or the mojo in December, but now everything seems to be aligning and I can play! Yay!

I LOVED the sketch over at Less is More, so many possibilities..

I masked off the x2 triangles and blended some Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick ink into the masked off space. I then ummed and aahed - stencils or stamps over it. So I decided to pause and look for a sentiment to inspire me..

I remembered I had a great set by Unity Stamp Co. 'So Very Grateful' and I chose one of the sentiments from the set.

Then I stamped hearts over the inked panels and then stamped over those hearts with an outline heart stamp (notice my oops..ugh.).

It's so simple, but so impactful. I think I have to save this sketch and use it again.

Hope you have a nice weekend, I am going to the gym at 6am today, then out with my ladies and then tomorrow Hubby and I are heading to the Hudson Valley for a short break.

Cx

Anniversary Week...

Hey,

Happy Sunday to you.

Hope you have had a good weekend so far. I had a seriously hard session in the gym yesterday, it was my first trip up to the secret weight floor and it was hard, but rewarding.

Today I have made Sausage and Cheese & Onion rolls and Hubby and I are drinking mimosas and watching NFL Sunday.

It's our wedding anniversary on Wednesday and Tuesday is the anniversary of our first date :) This year we are celebrating 14 years together and 9 years married..pretty big, I don't know where 14 years have gone.

I have had lots of anniversaries recently, so this week feels like my blog is going to be full of anniversary cards!

Starting with this little Monster cutie I made for friends using a new set from Unity Stamp Co. 'Nicest Place to Be'.

I kept this card super simple and just coloured the stamps and added some hearts. I mounted the panel onto a Lawn Fawn card blank to make it pop.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, I am going to eat more rolls..

Cx

Catch the Bug: Anything Goes...with Coffee..

Hey,

Happy Friday!

So first full week off completed. I have been the vision of housewifery!! Cooking, laundry, meal planning. Honestly this is more exhausting than working!

I've also managed a fair amount of gym time and yesterday Wendel decided to torture me by making me do Bulgarian split squats WHILST I was doing rope slams. There were tears.

Bulgarian Split Squat

I am just posting this in time, so I can play along with the first Bugaboo challenge of 2018, it is Anything Goes. I thought it would be only fitting to play along as JT gave me the awesome stamp on my card by Bugaboo as part of our annual $20 challenge.

Unusually for me, I used the sentiment that came with the stamp, it is too perfect to replace and why don't real coffee cups come in this size?

As you can see I kept my card simple, just coloured the stamp using Promarkers and die-cut the panel out. I decided that the sentiment needed a little border to make it pop a bit. The backing paper is ancient, I have had it for about 7 years, it is the last piece (sob) and it worked so well here.

Have a great weekend. I'll be having a cooking break (I'm all housewifed out) and watching NFL.

Cx

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Hey,

Yes, I am vain enough to write a post about myself ON my birthday.

I'm 44 today - yay!

I can be a bit funny about 'odd' years and this year has thrown me some stuff to deal with, but I am over that.

Being down about the whole complication this was dragging me down and so I focused.

I sorted out what I wanted from work and I am so happy I did, I spent more time just chilling with Hubby and less time rushing around, I've got a really happy life..but something was a bit off.

Before my op, I was doing a lot of yoga and I was getting good at it and in shape, but I was SO weak after the op, I couldn't do that.

I joined a gym to get fit and strong and boom met the best PT ever, the amazing Wendel.

Wendel has helped me work my arse off, even when I was useless and wanted to give up. He really helped me focus and that flows into all aspects of my life.

So now I am for the first time ever fit and strong, my body can do things I didn't think were possible and it motivates me. A handy by-product is the loss of a lot of weight.

I took the photo today last week. This is the moment that I realised my body has changed - I was all 'woah..that's me' Finally I'm accepting what all this hard work gives me.

I am super grateful that in a rather strange world (right now) that I have so very much because of the people in my life.

So the lesson learnt at 43, be grateful, be happy, be strong, be healthy.

And I am.

Time to celebrate with a ton of margaritas!!

Cx

P.s Happy Birthday Jadey.

Quick Anniversary..

Hey,

So last day of my 43rd year today!!

I started it with a 6am gym session (ugh).

Yesterday was my SIL's wedding anniversary. I was a bit behind so wanted to make a quick card (and not miss Monday Night Football).

Fortunately I had the Concord & 9th heartstrings die already die-cut and ready to go!

I made the sentiment using my mini labeler (note the missing part of the 'H'), I really need to use him more.

And voila! instant card.

Sadly this won't have arrived in time, but it is the thought that counts right?

Cx

Belated Happy Birthday Momma Bear...

Hey,

Happy Friday.

This is the 2nd Friday in a row that I have been to the gym at stupid o' clock!! I think it was easier to do that when I was on vacay last week!!

Last Friday I showed you Lucy's birthday card that I made using parts of a Stampin' Up cardkit, I used the same kit to make my Ma's birthday card.

Here is what the card looks like when it is in the kraft sleeve -

Ma has been busy losing weight (super proud of her) so to keep her motivated I gave her one of my older fitbit's and made this bag to put the card and the fitbit in.

This is something I do a lot - basic plain muslin bags and then stamp onto them. The recipients are ALWAYS impressed.

Have a great weekend.

Cx

Leopard Heart..

Hey,

Hubby left for London yesterday and I took an extra day of today (no work until Tues for me..).

So after the gym last night, I tried to get back to my desk.

It actually felt really good to immerse myself in pretty things, just like working has focused my mind.

I needed to make a couple of Anniversary cards.

I made the one in the main photo for a particular couple who are a bit funky, I thought stamping a leopard print heart would be fun and a bit different.

It's a bit different, maybe a bit too pink? But not too smushy - right?!

Cx