Friday Friday Friday! :-)

Well the week is ending like it started - pretty darn good ~ I am over the worst of my reaction and starting to feel good and healthy again ~ yippeee!!

In fact last night I sat down and did a layout - using the sketch from this weeks sketch challenge on Creative Scrappers ~ love the sketch and think I will be using this one more often. Using one of my favorite subjects of course my niece Carys ~ she has changed so much since these 3 month pictures haha as of course she would.

And on Monday night we had another 1 hour Sketch challenge on Creative Scrappers!!! It was the site's third and my second one ~ I so love the inspiration I am drawing from this group of very talented ladies, and being able to delve into my love of using sketchs while scrapping. Two layouts in one week so far ~ hey that is a record for me in the last while, and I hope to keep on a roll :-) Maybe after a little housecleaning tonight, I will sit and do another (we have a bonus sketch this week as well that I am itching to do) I am feeling so inspired! It's so good to be on the good side of a bad reaction now ~ and up up up and away!!!!!!!

Have a lovely long weekend everyone!

It's crazy the difference a day makes .....

Yesterday I was in a fabulous mood in the morning ~ Tuesday night not only did I finally convince my sister to join the online scrapbooking group Creative Scrappers ~ she needs inspiration very badly ~ she is a tool collector has some really cool things I don't haha ~ but she needs to find her creative outlet and actually USE THEM! So that was a big plus.

And I also reconnected with a friend that night, had an awesome chat that left me feeling great about everything ha ~ I love those kind of chats ~ re-energizes me and makes me motivated to get things done. And I am so happy to say ~ and in large because of all the talented and friendly gals on Creative Scrappers ~ I feel like scrapbooking again!!!!! Course I have to balance it with all the other stuff I let go of late haha like housecleaning but I am feeling inspired. I just wanted to get through the work day and go home and do some balancing hee hee ~ some cleaning and some scrapping ~ it's so good to feel inspired again! Then I got to touch base again in the day and chat with my lovely friend Kelly-Ann ~ she is back on MSN messenger on a more regular basis so I am able to connect with her more often ~ I so so missed her ~ and she confirmed she will be coming up to see me in a couple weeks or so, and I can't wait to see her and spend some quality time with her.

Well that was Wednesday - I was feeling on a high and went home and started some organizing of bookwork I have been ignoring for a few months ~ bad me ~ and got right into it as I was making supper ~ which turned out to be a very good thing that I got something done before I ate. Now here is my vent ~ I started to crash as soon as I ate (telling me that somehow I had contaminated myself with my food, and that I still have a ways to go to make my cooking in MY KITCHEN gluten free). As my body started to slump I got so angry and depressed (it's all part of the reaction though dealing with it isn't getting any easier) and then I further compounded it by eating something that I was unsure of (like that makes sense) because I was trying to ~~~ I don't know ~~~ better my mood? What I did was crash my whole system entirely. I became almost frozen with pain and discomfort and my body felt like it was falling into a drug induced coma ~ it's so hard to explain to people what it means to slip up ~ and I am not sure if the reactions are just worse when I slip up now ~ might be as your body is usually pretty gluten free and it is a shock to your system when you slip up. And I know part of the anger, that I start to feel unreasonably quickly, is because unlike indigestion or a mild stomach upset - I screw up my system for days! I mean I am up and at work like I have to be today, and my stomach pain has eased ~ but the drag on my body (like you are getting the flu) stays with me for days ~ therefore erasing all the wonderful motivation I had just a day before ~ lord it is frustrating. And there is not a thing I can do about it, not a pill I can take, or a way to eat something to offset it ~ I just have to ride out the reaction and try not to screw up too badly in the meantime. Which is frustrating in itself, because of course my lunch today is my supper last night (had no choice as it is all I had made in my fridge) it was either take that or starve today ~ which may end up being the choice in the end. I may have my son bring me some cereal (gluten free of course) for lunch ~ that may help that.

It's a bit overwhelming at times, and of course at the moment my mental health also takes a dip when I have a reaction ~ for it is harder to handle simple stresses in life when you are feeling like a truck hit you ~ but at least now I know I can climb out of this fog and there is a good place to be evenutally ~ I am usually in that good place most of the time now so I am going to try and take this dip and stop being so hard on myself. It does show me though that I have more work to do in my home, after having replaced so many things ~ I still have some research and changing to do. I mean a plus is that I have a whole new set of pots and pans, of bakeware, of cooking utensils ~ that is cool (if expensive) for haven't had new stuff for years and years, kinda fun to have new stuff.

Okay so that is part of Celiac Disease and learning to live with it ~ incredible highs and mind numbing lows ~ and I am striving to have more and more highs in my life (and I am well on my way) than lows. So today I am sick and unmotivated and feeling crappy - but in a few days I will be back on top of the world and back at it!!!!!

I promise myself. Hugs to you all ~

Monday Monday Monday .....

to all my friends who have "tagged" me on their sites of late, I will get to the tag never fear, though haha I won't have anyone to tag myself as you are the ones I chat with at all through my blog haha.

Well it was a very nice weekend, I went out by myself and joined my mom and her husband Ron out at the lake for a relaxing weekend. It was so nice and very much needed ~ just to be able to kick back and totally relax because well you have no other choice. Seems as if I missed too much of the summer this year, and will strive not to do the same next summer ~ too much work not enough play makes Sherri a very dull girl haha. I need my weekends back I have decided, and while giving up a second job I really enjoy (people, place) and the money that comes in from it ~ will be very much missed, my whole weekend and peace of mind will be a gain.

I keep waffling as to when, always something to save or pay for ya know ~ but I do know before the snow flies. Camping this weekend was so nice, we took a huge walk around the lake and went and viewed a few (from the outside) lake lots that are for sale, most with pre existing houses on them ~ my mom and Ron thinking of investing in a lake lot. I know it maybe a while coming yet for them to make a decision but it would be a definite plus to have a year round get away. When the world gets to be a bit much to be able to head out and not be too far from the city ~ just far enough to regroup and then get back at it.

I have been missing getting out on a regular basis and seeing my cropping friends, but they have all very busy lives right now and doesn't look like a meet up anytime soon. All fine as I have found a comfortable niche at home, and a great site for inspiration (Creative Scrappers) and I always have other lovely friends out there like Mel and Kelly that are a call away if I need some good ol' friend scrapping time. Fall is coming too and soon most will start back into regular routines, school starting, and while this brings it's own busy time ~ seems as if the scrapping world starts to come alive again.

Touched base with my friend Kelly-Ann this morning, it was good to hear from her ~ little Devlin is going through a bit of a rough spot, has a double hernia that he has been booked for surgery for, precious little one ~ and it will be nice when he is over these hurdles and can get to the business of growing strong and healthy. I am hoping to see her soon, she is going to try to come to Edmonton for a weekend and some good friend time, once the little one is finished his surgery and well onto healing. I can't wait to see her ~ and I hope that all goes very well with his surgery and his recovery and he is feeling tonnes better soon.

It's been a quiet week so far ....

And that is fine by me ~ last night spent a few hours scanning and posting pictures on facebook of our BC vacation - here are a few of my favorites!

Me and my Alex

My sister Barb's precious little bunch

Just proves that no matter how old they get you can't keep them clean haha

Alex and Rob

My two youngest sisters, Barb and Amanda

Little Beach bum

My cousin Bonny

Alex and my sister Belinda

Alex and gf Sarah

Alex and my Grampa and Grampa

Special times, special people!

And Monday starts another week .....

Last week ended up being such a whirl wind ~ wonder what this week will bring haha. Thursday night of last week I ended up going out for supper with my friend Krystal ~ she has been my amazing and wonderful stylist for years, and we have become friends over that time, finally decided it was time we go out and have a good chat ~ and made supper plans. It was great, we get along very well and she is a pretty down earth gal ~ which suits me to a T. :-)

Saturday I was back at my retail job for the day, and truthfully had to drag myself to my sixth day this week ~ missing so much of the summer and starting to drag at the heavy schedule each week. We are going camping with my mom and Ron this coming up weekend ~ so so looking forward to getting away and just chilling. Really need a break ~ it's funny, as I actually had a vacation this year (first get away vacation in the last 4 years), to say that, but that time was so busy and so full of traveling and visiting and traveling and visiting and ...... well you get the picture ~ that this weekend feels like the only true get away time I am going to have this summer. I enjoy my time at my weekend retail ~ I work with great people, get a chance to get back to customer service (which I miss sometimes) and it's not stressful ~ but the six day weeks are starting to catch up with me, not as young as I use to be haha, and I have to start weighing the bit of extra cash against my declining life haha. So I will have to do some re-thinking over the next couple months, and go from there.

Sunday it was so hot here in the city ~ and though it seems silly to wish for cooler weather ~ considering what is to come haha ~ I am doing just that. My little place is an oven and therefore not much gets done on a day off where I just don't have the motivation to move haha, so Sunday was a quiet day. I did finish putting together the layout of my niece, below ~ and I was pleased with the end result. Just need some details from her mom, date and location to finish off the journal box. I hope the week cools as promised too, so that I can actually spend some time in my scrapping room and put my newly refound creative mood to work haha.



And we will see what this week brings ~ maybe this week will be the more quiet one and the get a few things done around the house one haha ~ if our weather cooperates and cools a bit. Otherwise maybe I should contact some friends and go sip a marguerita on a patio somewhere in the evenings haha, or go and take my new camera for a spin and get out to see some of the city ~ who knows the week is young ~
I do hope all of you have a fabulous one!!!
cheers
Sherri

Heading on UP! :-)

Well it's Thursday ~ and though I still have Friday and Saturday to work, the week has definitely taken an upward turn ~ as I knew it would haha. I do have to say with this new lease on life, by knowing what was causing alot of my health issues ~ having Celiac Disease ~ and being able to REALLY deal with it, have some control over improving and maintaining ~ and the big ONE to know that when there is a dip or a slip I WILL be able to change it and feel better ~ has me never staying down for long. It's amazing how everything is connected in our bodies ~ how it affects not only how we physically feel ~ but how we mentally feel. I can't ever trully explain how grateful I am to have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease ~ it has trully opened up a new chapter in life, and I am enjoying the challenge. The more I learn the less I slip ~ the better I feel ~ the more I want to learn ~ yada yada haha.

And here I was planning on having a quiet week at home, working on catching up around the house ~ keeping on the down low ~ it's funny how things in life can change so quickly. Along with my health improving this week, (and I feel great today!!!) with it came energy, and then things started getting busy, as they usually do ~ energy attracts action! I even started a layout of one of my beautiful nieces earlier on this week ~ it felt so good to be sitting at my scrapping table and creating some more art. Ran out and met my friend Mel one evening ~ and picked up my Epicure order ~ I love Epicure, it's safe and helps me put some of the spice back in life haha ~ only spice I get lately so better be good hahaha. I stopped in to our local Library on the way home, and got a new Library card!!! My son called me a dork haha, but I was amazed all that is in the Library now ~ I am so itching to spend alot more time in there ~ my new lease on energy has me thinking of researching and learning about new areas in life ~ there is so much knowledge out there and not enough hours in a day, who knows maybe I will find some new answers that will help connect my soul. That same evening I got a call from an old school friend, we hadn't connected for over 20 years really!!! It was great ~ we talked and talked for over an hour ~ I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. The funniest part was that this week he is watching his 14 month old twins, while his lovely wife and young daughter are on a mini holiday ~ his antics of what those two cuties are putting dad through had me in tears ~ reconnecting with a friend does wonders.

My dear cousin Bonny is a bit glum these days - her beautiful daughter Kali is off to college - in Nebraska! Far from their home in Kelowna ~ but Bonny says that she has talked to her and she is happy and excited, and we all know that though it is hard to watch our loved ones follow a dream that takes them away from us - it is very good to the soul to know they are happy spreading their wings.

Last night we went over to my mom's place - had to go over and check out all the amazing yard work that Ron has been doing, he finished laying their new sidewalk in a cobblestone brick design, and then we went over all the new plans for their front landscaping soon to start. Hope to get my son Alex over there to help level the yard with the bobcat, will be a good skill to learn and add to his resume. We also were introduced to the newest member of the family - Little Sara - a beagle ~ she is about a year and a half old, full of life, and a perfect fit for mom and Ron.

And it's only Thursday haha - have more plans tonight now and who knows what the end of the week will bring haha ~~~~~

Hope you are all having a FABULOUS week!
cheers

Monday already ......

I guess I should really blog the bad with the good, if I want to keep an accurate journal for myself ~ then you can always look back and see that there are good and bad times, and life goes on. I have hit a serious low of late ~ and I know I will pull out of it, just a touch of summer blues combined with a few disappointments, a couple worries thrown in there, and a spirit lacking for scrapbooking of late.

I liked this quote I found today:

Milton Berle:
I'd rather be a "could-be', if I cannot be an "are'; because a "could-be" is a "maybe" who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a "has-been" than a "might-have-been', by far; for a "might-have-been" has never "been", but a "has" was once an "are'.

I think I need to look a bit into me more and find out what keeps me ticking and then build on that ~ get things back on track. I think part of the reason I am off is because I screwed up my eating early last week, which put me off for a good part of the week last week, and I just haven't climbed back up. Combined with the heat wave, and some stress ~ I am a bit of a physical mess right now, but I know I can improve that just need to figure out what I am continuing to eat that is hurting me, and try and let some of this stress go.

My dear employer ~ which some of you know has been battling with cancer, and was just shown to be cancer free early this year, like February ~ is once again ill and back on chemo ~ this has made my heart so very heavy. Their family has gone through so much, and it is so hard to watch loved ones go through this ~ as I know many of my friends can attest too ~ which also makes me very sad.

A friend of mine just told me of this quote she heard:
Olympist:
"Don't worry about things that you can't catch your breath, remember the things that take your breath away."

This is what I am striving for, more "take your breath away" moments ~

I am missing my sisters ~ though visiting is always hard when you don't have your own space and stuff around you ~ it really made me realize how very far away they all are, and not knowing when I will see them all again ~ just breaks my heart. I am fortunate to have relationships with all my sisters, I have friends that have none ~ and I have found over the years as we have gotten older, our relationships mature, change, and sometimes for the best sometimes they need a break. But the end line is ~ when we need each other ~ there is a sister there. I have been watching Charmed lately, haha so maybe this is even strengthening the missing the sisters thing ~ I knew having the last sister (my youngest) to move to BC was going to be hard, but I really wasn't as prepared to feel so lonely and so very far away from all of them. Course this was the first trip (my vacation) to see them in 4 years, and the reconnecting time also I am sure is adding to that. I just miss them all dearly.

I am glad today is cooler weather, it actually feels a bit chilly ~ but I would rather this than the horrid heat of last week. I find that the heat, once I walk out of work, just zaps any energy from me ~ I honestly don't get anything done at home or in life. So this week is going to be catch up week, as I see forcasted for the weekend back to the heat and all next week ~ so I am hoping to kick out some of these summer blues with some good ol' roll up your sleeves and get at it work ~ and blow the mood, the bad stomach and the feeling of despair ~ right out of the water haha.

And I wish for all of you ~ a fabulous week!
hugs

YYYIIIPPPPEEEEEEEE .......

Little Devlin at home for the first time since being born on May 18th ~ snug as a bug in his new bed

Sweet little Devlin went home from the hospital today!!!

Way to grow little one, keep it up ~

So precious :-)

A great big thanks ....

Goes out to my fabulous friend Kristine - from Creative Scrappers.com ~ she is amazingly talented and created this new blog header for me, which I so love ~ and also posted great instructions so I could actually get it on here :-) ~ SHE ROCKS!!!!

yippee .....

We have a long weekend here in Alberta ~ and I am so thankful for it!!! Ha ha for me that means two whole days for myself and my home, and to relax or work in my space. Though for the most part I have gotten into a routine of working the six days a week again ~ I sure do enjoy my time off more, and cherish being able to just be at home, or having the energy to go out and do whatever shopping or errands that the full week of work zaps. I do have tonnes to do in my home, but today I think I need a day just for me ~ to catch up on things that I need to keep me even steven so to speak.

Need to catch up on some computer surfing time, get over to my friend Mike's blog and see how his trip is progressing ~ though from the heading showing up on my sideline I think he may have had another set back, that sucks ~ I know he wants to get on the road and continue his ride home. My thoughts and heart go out to him.

I love checking into my friend Sean's facebook site ~ he keeps us all updated on how my dear friend Kelly-Ann and little Devlin are doing, I do believe that precious little one is soon to come home ~ amazing little journey starting out, and soon home with his family. I can't wait to be able to get down to see him, and maybe even give him a bit of a cuddle soon!

Have emails to return, friends and family to keep in contact with ~ and have some "me" time to get to. I haven't scrapbooked in ages, and I can feel the tilt of life being a little off ~ scrapbooking for me is a calming and relaxing therapy to life, and I have been missing it dearly. My friend Kristine had the most awesome Sketchfest this past weekend, and though I missed participating at the actual time, I have so much inspiration to gaze at and get my mojo kick started again.

I think for the most part I have fallen into a bit of a summer funk - but I have every faith in myself that I will blow it away soon ~ life is good and full and as my health gets better and better ~ I can feel the energy and motivation returning, I have a bit of catching up to do all around me, but I have the faith in myself that I will get things done, and that now is really the beginning of the next phase of my life, and I only see bright and beautiful things from here on out!

I do hope that you all have a peaceful and beautiful day, whatever and whomever you spend it with - till next update ~
cheers