Me, Myself, & Michelle

Speaking of fun...

All of a sudden I'm in the mood for a contest!  I know I just finished blogging and I should go home (you know, the whole work/life BALANCE thing.)  But instead, I feel like having a quick bit of FUN!

Here's the contest:  Everyone who places a comment on this blog post between now & Thursday at 6:00pm will be entered into a drawing.  What are we drawing for, you ask?  Oh, just a FREE ACRYLIC ALBUM!!! 

Ready... Set... Go!

Halfway Point

We are now halfway through 2008.  Wow - it's going so extremely fast.  I am very worried that I haven't stopped enough to enjoy the ride.  Lisa Bearson always writes "Find Joy in the Journey."  I totally believe that life is about the journey and not the destination.  My husband and I have always been really good about being spontaneous and making time to have fun... until this past year. 

Moving my family to Charleston to start our scrapbook store has definitely taken my energy and focus into a new direction.  This new path and purpose has allowed me to meet so many awesome people and build real friendships, especially with my mom.  We are discovering new things about ourselves and each other everyday that no other situation could have offered.

I am very thankful to God for his blessings!  I know that I need to do better for my husband and my children, but I wouldn't take back this time with my mom.  The Pink House has been and continues to be a place for us to grow closer everyday.

At the beginning of the year, my word for inspiration and direction was BALANCE.  My goal was to achieve and maintain a healthy work/life balance... getting to work early enough in the day and getting home early enough in the evening, for instance.  I think I did pretty good so far.  I'm not 100% on par, but I'm happy with the job I've done so far at work and at home.

Now that we're halfway thru the year, I feel that I need to re-evaluate, re-prioritize and re-direct.  I plan on spending some valuable time re-organizing.  Once I'm done re-ing, hopefully I'll be even better at achieving the BALANCE I want in my life and for my family.

And to "Find the Joy in the Journey,"  I plan on having more FUN!!!!

Congratulations, Shaina!

SUPER COOL!  One of our Design Team members was just recently published on a blog for Prima!!  Shaina decorated a beautiful Prima acrylic album w/ papers & embellishments from the "Vita Bella" line from LYB.  Congratulations, Shaina!

Here's the blog link to Shaina's published design:   http://fireandicedesigns.blogspot.com

Little Yellow Bicycle:  http://mylyb.com

Prima's website:  http://www.primamarketinginc.com

For a better look at Shaina's album and more of our design team's work, be sure to stop by The Pink House!

Without Internet!!

Oh wow - I didn't realize how addicted to the internet I've become... This weekend we had a serious thunderstorm with lots of lightning.  Some of it hit close enough to The Pink House that it fried our internet cables & our router/modem.  So we've been without internet access at the store for FIVE DAYS!  Oh-the horror!  Our scheduled appointment today with Comcast was from 2-7pm.  Wouldn't you know they didn't show up until after 6:00.  So, it's a quarter to 8, and I'm still here.  But at least I can get on the World Wide Web.   Hallelujah!!

My Poet Laureate

Zophia Lauren is my middle child (#3), and she is incredibly special in so many ways.  Not only is she beautiful from head to toe on the outside, but she is a beautiful human being on the inside.  Phia is so kind and loving, always willing to be the bigger person if ever in an argument... gives hugs and kisses for no reason... stands up for anyone less fortunate (or less "cool" at school)... she doesn't judge and she always seems to know when an impromptu "I love you" is needed.

Just the other day she wrote these 2 poems for me:

"I Love You" by Zophia Lauren Dulaney - age 8

Roses are red

and Violets are blue.

There's no one I love

more than you!

"I Admire You" by Zophia Lauren Dulaney - rising 3rd grader

Poppys are loveable,

Kittens are too.

But there's no one I admire

More than you!

It is so great to be loved!  Zophia - I thank GOD every day for the priviledge of being your mommy.

Wed. Weigh-In

oooops, I forgot to weigh-in this morning.... really, I swear! 

I managed to have a decent start to the week, made some good meal & snack choices.  At one point on the weekend I had shown a 2lb loss, but then a couple days later I showed a 4lb gain!  Guess I shouldn't have eaten those cookies.  :(

Well, this morning I was distracted from the dreaded scale, so I'll have to do the official Wednesday weigh-in on Thursday.  (Hey, it's my diet- I can make up my own rules!)

So, on a more fun note... thought you'd like a sneal peek at what's on it's way to The Pink House:

 

12x12 Decorative Edge Cardstock, Blue VB-134

12x12 Decorative Edge Cardstock, Olive Green VB-135

12x12 Decorative Edge Cardstock, Teal VB-136

12x12 Double-Sided Cardstock

Green Distressed VB-101

Blue Harlequin Metallic Foil VB-102

Light Blue Diamond VB-103

Green and Blue Stripes Metallic Foil VB-104

Dark Blue Medallion VB-105

Feather Scroll VB-106

Frame Metallic Foil VB-107

Green Floral VB-108

Four Petals VB-109

Chartreuse Vintage Floral VB-110

Brown Batik VB-111

Blue Diamond Motif VB-112

Favorite Pieces VB-114

Journaling Pieces VB-115

~~~~~~~ Oh & BTW (by the way),  don't forget we're having a 35% Off Sale thru Friday the 13th!  Everything and anything that's solid black is on sale.  That includes scrapbook albums, rub-ons, chipboard, pens & markers, some stamp sets, inks, paints, cardstock & more! ~~~~~~~

Wednesday Weigh-In Official start

Ugh!  I said I was going to do it, so here it is... my official weigh-in...  156!  (Let's hope my scale isn't off in the wrong direction!!)

I'm only 5' tall which is 60", so I'm at 2.6 lbs/inch.  If I were 5'6" then I would weigh 171.6lbs.  My pre-pregnancy weight was 123lbs, and I had gotten down to 124 the summer after Bella was born.  Unfortunately, I've let myself gain over 30lbs in the past 4 years. 

 

I used to be a cheerleading coach, so I was very active and could pretty much eat whatever I wanted.  Well, when I turned 30, my metabolism basically shut off!  I wasn't doing any more jumps or flips and I was still eating whatever I wanted.  ooops!  So, now the journey begins back to my more healthier self.  I'd love some company along the way, so please let me know if you're making steps to be healthier and how you're progressing, too.  I need all the inspiration I can get.  :)

My Mommy loves me!

In case any of you didn't know... I have the most loving & supportive mom in the world!  She raised me to believe in myself and understand that I could accomplish anything.  She also showered me with love and appreciation, which she still does today.  For instance, recently I was oooohing & aaahing over Shere's extremely cute big fat Pooh Bear coffee mug that's perfect for holding with two hands.  Well, just a couple days later I come into work to see a gift bag from Star Bucks on the table.

Well, wouldn't you know it - Mom bought me a super cool two handed StarBucks coffee mug.  :)  It is so good to be loved!