Saturday, December 30, 2017

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve

and we will say goodbye to 2017. I don't know many who would describe 2017 as a particulary good year, but maybe I just know the wrong people. Tomorrow evening we will go out for Chinese food, a New Year's tradition of ours, with Sissy & John E. Last few days I've been thinking and wondering how many people still make up New Year's Resolutions and how successful they have been. Too often the ones I've heard and ones I've written too were doomed to failure. Many were hasty reactions to the questions of others, What's your New Year's Resolution? Or else well intended but not well thought out. I think one of the problems is that we sometimes think in terms of the whole year and feel like whatever we write down or vocalize should be something big, something major, befitting a span of 365 days. I've learned that to have a chance at success, resolutions should be framed as goals and must be: specific, measurable, realistic. We need to prioritize goals, have a plan to reach them, and evaluate our progress from time to time. Adding in some small rewards for reaching set points along the way can be helpful too.

For instance, two of the top resolutions you will hear is to lose weight in the new year and stop smoking. What's wrong with that? It's vague. How much do you want to lose? 100 pounds?? in 12 months? Not realistic. 40 pounds over 6 months - possible. Which is more important? Giving up smoking or losing weight? Let's say you decide losing weight is the top priority. Okay, how will you do it? Have a plan, like learning about proper meal proportions and sticking to them, exercising 3 times a week for 30 minutes, and drinking more water to help you feel full. Tell a close friend or family member your goal to help you feel more responsible to it and also to have someone support your efforts. How will you evaluate your progress? Have set points and weigh yourself once a week. It's not unreasonable to lose 8-10 pounds the first month, so make 8 pounds your set point. If you reach that goal by end of the month or before, how will you reward yourself so you will be enthusiastic about the next month? Maybe your reward will be a new CD you can listen to while you work out? But let's say you fall short of your set point, what then? Experts suggest making your set point a little higher next time. Not a lot, just a little. So perhaps you lost 7 pounds the first month and had planned to lose 7 next month. Change the second month's set point to 8.

You could, of course, be trying to reach the goal of non-smoking at the same time as you work on the top priority, but be realistic as both goals tend to be tough ones. Maybe put off the smoking for a month or two and work on an easier secondary goal, something you have a good chance of succeeding with, because that feeling of success will spill over to your work on weight reduction. This idea of combining a tough goal with a lesser goal is part of my thought that it's more efficient to set monthly goals rather than over arching yearly goals. With monthly goals you might choose 3 goals, a top priority goal, or piece thereof, and two lesser, but still important goals with better projected success. For instance, for January, your top priority is to lose weight. You'd like to lose 40 pounds by year's end, so you write you will lose 8-10 pounds in January, towards an ultimate goal of 40 pounds less. You make a plan to do that, then you note that you want to clean out your bedroom closet. What does that mean in terms of a plan? Take everything out, decide what to keep, what to donate, what to discard. Sweep the closet out and organize clothing you are keeping by type. Rule of thumb - if you haven't worn it in over a year, out it goes. Once you've got the closet in shape, have delivered the donations, and put out the discards, It is time for a small reward. Maybe throw a bath bomb in the tub and settle in for a long soak. And so on.

Of course, all of this is easier said than done as we all know. Still, I know people who have had success with the monthly goal setting - myself included. And it is sweet to be able to look back over the goal sheets and see what you have accomplished. Since I was making some sheets for myself this year, I decided I would share them with you. I realized last year's sets were too colorful and took too much ink (I like to print mine). Also the colored backgrounds made it more difficult to read text. And a larger size might be better. This time, pages are 8.5" x 11" with primarily white backgrounds. I've also included a New Year's Resolution sheet for those who want to do that. If you are hosting a New Year's Eve party, you could print out copies for your guests to fill in and maybe, you could later discuss how those resolutions are working out?


Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gbquirtyef333n5/ws_goalsets2018.zip?dl=0

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Holiday Hiatus

How was your Christmas? As expected, ours was very quiet. But not as stressful as I'd imagined. We visited Dad at the nursing home for a couple hours. Don't think he knew what day it was. He seems to be wasting away and some times feels present, at others absent. Still, it wasn't as heartwrenching as I thought it would be. I managed to stay positive the whole time we were with him but when we left after his lunch arrived, I was a little upset and tried to hide it from my husband who had been disturbed to see Dad as he is. I somehow missed the edge of a ramp we were parked next to and nearly fell, managing to twist my spine a little. Not too good since Christmas Eve I'd decided to pamper myself with a long soak in the bath with a rose scented bath bomb. It was nice until I tried to get out of the tub. I've got safety bars and had grabbed one to help me stand and get out but somehow my foot slipped in the tub. If not for the safety bar, I think I'd have gone sprawling over the tub edge onto the floor. As it was, I managed to splash back down in the tub with one foot sort of under me. Got a twisting of right side. So with my two little mishaps, I wasn't in great shape for catering to company anyway. Before our dinner, we fixed up a dinner plate, dessert plate, soda and utensils etc and went down the street to wait at a bus stop for the driver on our route. Turned out to be someone my husband knew and she was so delighted he'd come out in the cold to bring her a Christmas dinner. Talked to my son and learned he is sick with some kind of virus and his mother-in-law is in the hospital at UVA in Charlottesville. DIL left Friday after work to drive down and see her mother. Haven't heard anything more yet but know MIL is in very bad shape. Jeremey told me she was not accepted for lung transplant list after all. The doctors wanted her to lose 30 pounds and exercise more. Pretty hard to do when you can barely breath and are on oxygen. Doesn't look good.

On the second day of Christmas, a migraine came to me. Luckily, it wasn't too bad when grandson came by so I was able to be with him for several hours. But he'd no sooner left than I had to go to bed. And that is why no post yesterday. I know I'd said I would start posting Snow Queen yesterday but I've decided I need some down time. So I'm going to laze about for the rest of the 12 days of Christmas and rejoin you on Ephiphany/3 Kings Day/Little Christmas (whichever you may call 1/6). In my tradition that is the day we take down the Christmas Tree. When I was young, my parents always took down the tree on 1/1 which also happened to be my paternal grandmother's birthday (1/1/1900) but it seemed sad to me. So when I had my own family, I decided we would take the tree down on Ephiphany and I always left a small gift for each family member to be opened once the tree came down. Often it was something like movie tickets, but it could be another small gift. No tree to take down here this year and we did next to nothing for Christmas gifts. So I'm thinking what I might do is make a King Cake for 1/6 and plan a special meal.

Starting 1/6 then we will have a Snow Queen kit and it might run longer than 6 days. Not sure what will follow that.

Stay well and be happy.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Last day of Christmas Princess freebie

Here's the princess:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/isg4u063m0s2enz/ws_ChristmasPrincess_6.zip?dl=0
Hope you have enjoyed your Christmas kits. I'll be back on Tuesday with a new, winter themed kit, Snow Queen.

Have a healthy & happy holiday. Merry Christmas!

***Sorry link didn't work first time. Fixed now.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Another day of Christmas Princess freebie

Went to nursing home yesterday. Brought two trays of snacks for the nurses on Dad's wing - one veggies and one fruit (I suspected they might get lots of cookies and sweets this time of year). There was a country music group performing in the main dining room which was filled with patients, but Dad wasn't there. He was in his room, asleep in bed. I couldn't rouse him but he was breathing well and looked comfortable. Sat with him about an hour. Hope he was having happy dreams. I was doing fine until I left the room and then started to break down, thinking about how he has no quality of life any more and seems to sink down into sleep more and more often. I'm aware he is leaving us but this slow descent towards death feels so unkind. Hurried to get out of there but one of the night nurses and the billing manager saw I was upset and hurried over to give me hugs. Two things help in regards to my Dad: I know he is in no pain and he is surrounded by a very caring group of people.

Came home to the delicious smell of a baked macaroni dish. My husband is such a good cook and helps everywhere he can - another blessing I am grateful for. Poor man is still in pain with kidney stones that seem to be moving but are taking their time leaving. Today while he watches Star War movies on TV and drinks all the water I can give him, I'm going to do some serious cleaning up. Hard to even know where to begin as there is so much to do.

Thank you all for your kind comments; they are a bright spot in these dreary days. I'm glad you are enjoying the kits. Today is zip 4 of Christmas Princess:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8wklxln8h5srv18/ws_ChristmasPrincess_4.zip?dl=0

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Midweek and more Christmas Princess freebie

My doctor was delighted with the fruitcake gift yesterday. He is such a kind hearted person, I was happy to make him smile. Did a couple quick errands then came home to get hubby and off we went to Star Wars. He really enjoyed the movie. I thought it was okay but a little strange and I think I understand what some reviewers have said about it being less like the book series and more a fandom thing. Still, good entertainment. Sat through about 30 minutes of previews though and none looked like something I'd want to see. But on to the free kit.

Today we have zip 3:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/tsbgnh32hp821v2/ws_ChristmasPrincess_3.zip?dl=0

Thanks for kind comments on this month's kits!

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Star Wars? & Christmas Princess freebie

I'll be delivering a fruit cake today to one of my doctors and after the visit, my husband wants to go see the new Star Wars movie. I've been seeing and hearing reports that suggest it isn't so good but he really wants to see it so we will go. Tomorrow a friend is due in from North Carolina and I hope to catch up with her and Mary and go to lunch. It would be a welcome change of pace.

Today we have zip two of Christmas Princess:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xsx0dtj5sdhdvjj/ws_ChristmasPrincess_2.zip?dl=0
Bright traditional colors with some Victorian scrap thrown in. Hope you are enjoying it. With Christmas on Monday next week, I will not be posting on Sunday (Christmas Eve) or Christmas Day. I'm sure you will be busy with your families and holiday celebrations anyway.

Check out this new store:
http://danceintherainscraps.co.uk/
Lots of the sexy tubes taggers love but cute stuff too. they ae doing a 24 days of Christmas and have about 71 freebies in store right now. Many are cute Christmas items.

Monday, December 18, 2017

A week before Christmas and Christmas Princess freebie begins

Last night we joined my husband's sister, Paula, her husband, and two of their daughters to celebrate the 5th year anniversary of Paula's battle with breast cancer. Today she has been free of cancer for five years! Dinner at Outback was delicious and I enjoyed sitting next to my God-daughter, Rachel, and talking with her. She will graduate from Old Dominion University this coming May with a B.S. in Biology - marine sciences and currently is on the volunteer marine rescue team for the Virginia Beach Aquarium. Most recently she assisted in rescuing a sea turtle which she reports is now doing well. She has been fascinated with marine life since about the age of five when she would sit and intently watch a weekly Discovery Channel program about ocean life. She is particularly interested in sharks for reasons that escape me.

And today we begin the third week of Christmas/winter kits. This week it's Christmas Princess and here is your first zip:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3mykf4u2bisxa7f/ws_ChristmasPrincess_1.zip?dl=0

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Saturday news & freebie

Went to see Dad today. He was asleep and didn't want to wake up. Noticed he has a bad bruise on his left hand and more bruises on forearm. Looked like maybe a blood draw so I went to ask nurse if anything was going on or just routine testing. She said last blood work was in November and came to look at his hand. He opened his eyes a little as she checked but went back to sleep. Next spoke with other nurses and went over his chart. Nothing about bruising. Notified the doc on call and was told to do a full body assessment. We think he probably banged his hand trying to pull himself up in the bed. He doesn't remember how it happened. They are going to put padded covers on the bed rails. Stayed over an hour and he was only awake for a few minutes of that. Came home and my son called to thank me for birthday gift. He was still working and moving on his birthday so didn't have time to get back to me until now. He has been sufering from bad neck pain for days now and at same time his wife is suffering from hip pain. He is getting x-rays etc done. She probably pulled something during the move. They are not putting a tree up this Christmas either. Still have boxes to be unpacked. Also DIL's sister called to say their mother's oxygen has been doubled. She is on transplant list now but it is unlikely she will receive transplant in time. Sister thinks the mother is giving up which is hard news for my DIL. December isn't ending too well but there is hope for the new year, right?

Today we finish up Mistletoe Miss:
Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/afgx50hikvrgm4x/ws_MistletoeMiss_6.zip?dl=0

Friday, December 15, 2017

Had an interesting occurence yesterday and more of Mistletoe Miss

Yesterday, near mid day, I was lying down to rest and hubby was on the computer. All of a sudden there was a terrible racket. He thought I was in the shower so didn't move at first. I jumped up to see where the noise was coming from. Know what we found? Water shooting straight up in the air from the toilet bowls in both bathrooms! And the rumble continued. He shut off the water while we started cleaning up the mess. Fortunately, just water. He called BIL who is a contractor to ask him what on earth could be going on. BIL had never heard of this but suggested the city must be doing something with the sewer lines. So hubby went down the street and found a city work truck. Yes, they were working on the sewer lines and had blasted air through them. Said it wasn't supposed to affect the nearby houses but it sure did. Offered to send someone over to clean up the mess but we'd already done that. After learning how much longer the workers expected to be, hubby came home and we left the water off to the bathrooms until we knew it was safe to turn it back on. Just lovely! Put a damper on day's plans, I an tell you. But imagine the surprise of other people who might have been at work, if they returned home to find water every where!

After doing one more load of wet towels, I'm going to try to kick into high gear and get some things done.

And here is today's Mistletoe Miss:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yc0i9fq3c3cnsmp/ws_MistletoeMiss_5.zip?dl=0

Thursday, December 14, 2017

The best gift and a freebie

Today is the 40th anniversary of the best gift I ever recieved, my son Jeremy Ryan Schupp. Hard to believe my baby turns 40 today! Ever since Jeremy's birth, being with him on Christmas makes the holiday for me. This year he and his wife, Berkeley, will be working at Patient First and I will miss them sorely. But Pennsylvania is a long drive away and I do understand that the days of my Baby J hitting the road to be with me during holidays are a thing of the past. This year he and B will have a quiet Christmas all their own - oh except for the company of their 4 cats: Pippen, Bilbo, Wynnie, and Kiki. It will hard for B's mother this year too because her lungs as now so bad she has qualified for the transplant list. I'm sure she is wondering how many holidays she has left and wishing the children were coming for a visit. However, her oldest daughter is with her so that should help. But I'm going to focus on the reason for the season and let the merriment come another year. We will watch Midnight Mass, have a feast to celebrate Christ's birth and chat with family and friends by phone. It will be okay.

I have another zip of Mistletoe Miss for you today:
I left that green ornament very large because I think it would be cute to do a cut out of a sitting child and perch the child on the ornament. Of course, you can always reduce it.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xn0z2pwu80rfyzj/ws_MistletoeMiss_4.zip?dl=0

Did you know that Digital Scrapbooking Studio is doing an advent calendar freebie? The colors are very similar to Mistletoe Miss so if you collect those pieces too you will have a lot to mix and match.
Check it out here:
https://www.digitalscrapbookingstudio.com/collections/event-collections/advent-calendar-2017/

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Mid week freebie time

Temps are dropping here today with possibility of snow. Or so they said last night. Saw Dad yesterday. He's about the same. Now claiming the nursing home doesn't provide dinner on Sundays. I know they do. I suspect food services delivers dinner, finds him aslepp and leaves the tray. Staff is almost all in dining room with the other patients so could be no one wakes him up and then food services returns, he's still asleep and they take tray assuming he's eaten. Or he could be having trouble keeping track of time and when meals arrive. Hard to say. He refuses to understand it's not a restaurant and kitchen isn't open at all hours with orders to do things his way. Hearing aid still not found. Also the durable medical eqipment company that supplied his hospital bed when he was at the assisted living place called yesterday. They say I owe about $800 because Medicare has informed them Dad is now in a skilled nursing facility and his hospital bed wasn't returned. The assisted living place was supposed to have returned it when he left there in May. Called assisted living and could only get voice mail for the nursing director. Left word to call me about the matter but she hasn't yet. Went to Suffolk yesterday too to turn in a bunch of papers to the lawyer. My husband had planned to go with me but was in terrible pain on his right side. I think he may have kidney stones again. Made him drink lots of water since he refused to let me take him to ER. He says if it gets bad enough, he will go by ambulance. And here I thought Tuesday was going to be a good day.

All that aside, here is next zip of Mistletoe Miss:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vgj9g91nd3jijdf/ws_MistletoeMiss_3.zip?dl=0

Oops - a little early on post.


PS. Thanks for the info on capital gains, Kristy. As for my baby hat, it was a French style bonnet in organdy that my Mom made. She could make anything!

A few minutes into Tuesday & freebie

I've had a few stressful days lately. No particular cause, that is, nothing new and notable in a negative way. Mostly it's been over thinking and worrying about things over which I have no control. On an intellectual basis, I know better but sometimes my emotional intelligence slips. Days like that are so tiring. Husband is dealing with the blues due to the season and notions of how things should be as opposed to how things really are. Reality isn't always pretty and in regards to relationships, one can feel battered. You know you can't control other's behavior and shouldn't let them affect your happiness but it happens. He's hurting and it bothers me. But we muddle on. After some little accomplishments Sunday, yesterday was a loss. Pain wouldn't let me sleep Sunday night so ended up crashing in the middle of the day. But that's okay. Today will be better. Heading off to bed as soon as I post and have intentions to accomplish much when I get up and feel good about it. Waivering on whether I'll do some decorating but so much else needs doing, I don't want to work myself into a major fibro flare-up or outbreak of shingles. No - going to become healthier and stronger every day. Writing some positive affirmations for myself and have been browsing inspiring quotations. Hope your holiday preparations are going well and you aren't letting all the hustle and bustle wear you out. Be sure to take some time out to pamper yourself a little. You deserve it.

Today's zip:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vpmfk6bynneze8l/ws_MistletoeMiss_2.zip?dl=0

Monday, December 11, 2017

New Week _ new freebie -- Mistletoe Miss begins

What are you reading now? Curious minds want to know. Over the weekend I've been reading The Code Of The Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani
https://www.amazon.com/Code-Extraordinary-Mind-Unconventional-Redefine-ebook/dp/B0182SMOBE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512953197&sr=1-1&keywords=code+of+the+extraordinary+mind
I also cleared out more papers from my father's house and prepared a folder to give to whoever buys it. My parents saved information on every improvement they made such as new windows, fireplace, siding, new furnace and air conditioner and so on. Useful information should the new owners need repairs or want to update any of those things. Managed to get a few boxes out of the living room and cleaned out and re-organized the pantry. The freezer is next. Tomorrow the primary task is to get this stack of papers over to the lawyer's office as back up for the Medicaid application. One important thing I've taken away from Lakhiani's book is to focus on End Goals rather than Means Goals. As he explains, a Means Goal almost always includes the word "so." Such as Having a goal to finish a college education so you will be able to get a good job. Ask yourself why getting a good job is important and you are likely to say something like So I can afford a nice lifestyle. And why do you want that? What's your End Goal? Maybe it is to wake up each morning free of anxiety over how you will pay the rent and eat. End Goal: anxiety free. That's a poor explanation on my part but I hope you get the idea. One of my End Goals right now is peace of mind in regard to my father. Focusing on that End Goal, I can see steps I need to take to get there such as provide back up for his Medicaid application, schedule a quarterly treatment plan with his caregivers, and so on.

But enough about me. Today we start the next Christmas kit, Mistletoe Miss.
Here is your first link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ih86kg3s8mbcw6/ws_MistletoeMiss_1.zip?dl=0

Friday, December 8, 2017

5th zip of Holly Maiden freebie

It's cold and wet. Raining with snow or sleet mixed in now Nasty weather to be out. Good night to settle in with hot tea and a good book.

Today's zip:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j7ul6h8gkn9ir9s/ws_HollyMaiden_5.zip?dl=0

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

More Holly Maiden freebie

Yesterday we drove down to Nags Head NC to have lunch with Sissy and John. My husband was looking forward to those oysters. I had shrimp. Took my Benedryl just in case. Haven't been sleeping well lately and when that Benedryl kicked in, I got whoozy. Benedryl almost never makes me sleepy but yesterday was an exception. When we dropped Sissy and John off, I climbed into the back seat. Couldn't fight the fatigue. Slept most of the way home, came in and went to bed. Just as well we had decided against staying over in NC since I was no company. Despite all that sleep, still tired today. That's CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Disorder Syndrome) for you. Only I think it's got another name now. But we're here for more of Holly Maiden, right?

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fc440ondv0fdx0i/ws_HollyMaiden_3.zip?dl=0

Monday, December 4, 2017

It's Monday & I have a plan - - new freebie

As I mentioned last month, I was planning to make a mini kit for each of four weeks in December using some kit starters I made some time ago. To me, a mini kit is 6 papers and 12 elements - or less. Instead I find that I have made a full size kit for this week. I'm calling it Holly Maiden and you are going to see a ton of holly! The nice thing is that the next two kits are in compatible colors so you will be able to mix and match. The fourth week moves toward winter colors as opposed to the brights of holiday season. Since I managed to put together and pack up all six zips for this week (with the usual zip preview), I also threw together some overall previews to show you what to expect this week.

Today we have:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pxm9elf0ramrtfy/ws_HollyMaiden_1.zip?dl=0

Hope you like.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Last of Fall In Love freebie

Better day. Caught up on some sleep and went to see Dad. He looked pretty good and woke up for me; stayed awake whole visit. Hearing aid has not been found so it's difficult. He often responds to what he thinks you are saying, except it's totally different.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pnsnw59lqnruk08/ws_FallInLove_15.zip?dl=0

Next week will be a little holiday mini kit called Holly Maiden in these colors:

Friday, December 1, 2017

Having one of those days and more Fall In Love freebie

It's the first day of December; maybe that's it. My house is a mess, doesn't look the least like holidays around here, I've been copying loads of checks copies - both deposited checks and ones written for expenses (Dad's stuff), doing some basic chores like laundry and had planned to go visit Dad. I need to visit Dad as I haven't been over there since early in the week. Have been to attorney's office, and to Dad's house to clear more stuff and take photos of sale sign for application etc. etc. Was sitting at computer earlier, playing a little solitare to relax and my husband started playing some of his Bluegrass music. I don't care for much of the music and didn't think I was listening but there was a song about losing a father and wanting one more day. I lost it. Which upset my husband. Thought I got it under control and did some paperwork. A bit later there was a song about Just A Name On A Door - old folks in nursing homes. Had to leave the room. He wasn't intentionally playing songs that would upset me. He was editing a CD he had recorded to listen to in his truck. Anyway, haven't been able to get it together today since. Have the blues so bad, most anything will set off the tears. Postponed visit to Dad until tomorrow. And that's my whine for today.

Have another zip of autumn stuff for you:
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bl17ibmnd4pm1xt/ws_FallInLove_14.zip?dl=0