What an evening

Well, I do feel better at this very moment, but it surely was one tough day. I had a friend who prayed for me over the phone. Another whom I talked to on the phone who would've come straight over to just be a support. WHAT a support system today. I felt very blessed..even though my thoughts weren't that great. It was tough. But, it's the end of the day. And my husband cares and loves me dearly. He came home later tonight, after work, with great hugs for me.

The kids are playing around, trying to figure out where they are sleeping. I have a headache (must be the storm) so I'm not thinking quite as clearly as to see how challenged they are in falling asleep tonight.

Yet, in 20 minutes, or less, Lost begins. That is good, except our tv is just toooo tiny to watch it, it hurts the eyes. We need a tv, just don't know what exactly to get!

Forgot to add: I have a little time to myself tomorrow night planned, with my friend Jennifer. I will work on some little creations for my Etsy shop, I hope. I usually bring TONS of stuff when I go over there to scrapbook. I PLAN on not doing that tomorrow, so I have to PLAN on what to take. WHEW. I am a pack rat for sure, for everything..grew up taking a book with me everywhere. Wait. Wrong. TWO books or more everywhere I went (thanks to my dad's example teehee). So, yes, packrat I am and will surely ever be...until I go to Heaven.

What a morning

It's a morning when Mommy is going insane. Ack! I am leaving the house soon, so hopefully my attitude and demeanor will improve.

I was so encouraged by comments of my store. Thank you! Please keep looking/checking back there...i just lowered some kit prices again! It's hard to find the "happy medium" when you start something like this. I appreciate all your well wishes!

Tonight is LOST. I am soo excited. Though, my husband isn't as excited as me. He doesn't watch it like I do. So, hopefully we can DVDR HIS shows (well I like them too)- Apprentice, and I think there's another one, oh ER. if they are new. We watch those religously. Well, off to get ready to leave. YEAH. I just need to pull myself together to get socks and shoes on everybody, including myself. Tonight, Rich works later again, so that's not good. I hate it when it's dark as he comes home. Especially when he needs to take a walk (like he does everyday) and will sometimes do that late at night. That scares me.

Oh, the little house by my parent's street/home is up for sale. We looked at it about 3 years ago. And get this. We could've bought it for 75 grand. It needed a lot of work, but still it looked fine. Now, they are selling it for 120 grand!! Seriously, that is like 20 thousand too much for that area. Although, the area is nice. Columbiana is a sought after little village/school system. Anyways, food for thought. We will not go for it though. That price seems outrageous. I sooo love that house though. SIgh.....

Drum Roll Please!

And the winner of the RAK is



a fellow scrapper



moonlightgrrl (diana)...hey I'll catch you on SC!!!!!!!!!!



Ella drew the name. She was thrilled. I had a hard time before she pulled the name out making sure she had only ONE name LOL!!!!! Thanks to everyone who posted. It was neat to see my post count here skyrocket. I will have another one sometime..not quite the near future, but sometime again!!!

The Little Things

Isn't it the little things that matter most? Really...aren't they the things that carry us on? At least they do me. Big things aren't greener on the other side. That includes "success." Little things matter....saying you care to someone, saying a prayer, hugging your child, putting makeup on for your man...I don't know, just some thoughts. Here are some pages I am working on. Sneaks. LOL. I am not trying to be a design team member here, but here are sneaks anyways LOL. I just thought that was funny...these are actually pages I am not done journaling on, but started them and I like them. Now, I have OTHER pages I DON"T like that I was doing last night, and well, they will not be posted right now. Love that pretty paper punch. It did some nice work on the "cousins" layout.

R.A.K. and POST AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See the box in the below post? Well, I am giving a box just like that away, along with some of the tissue paper, and a simple but elegant piece of jewelry from my "store." It won't be quite as vintage looking, but still very nice. You have until Wednesday evening to post, and then a name will be picked. It's my first RAK (random act of kindness) on this blog and I am anxious to see who wins! LOL! Post away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Yummies on Etsy!!!!

Click here to go to my shoppe!

ohh love these papers PLAN on getting them

Jenni Bowlin

And, Autumn, my friend Katie's little girl. What a smile!

I received a call today

that was the best news of the century.

My friend Katie is NOT moving. I repeat. NOT MOVING.

HOW, you may ask. God working AGAIN in their lives. No wonder their house never sold. I am so excited for them. So is Ella. Ella loves their little girl, Autumn, dearly.

My friend Katie is staying here. What a special blessing that is.


**Note to anyone interested in my shop, I reduced almost everything as my VDAY sale. GO LOOK NOW!

I have more to list tomorrow- but that includes beautiful Martha Stewart tissue paper and wrapping paper and some ribbons lot that I mixed up to give variety...oh , and the cutest, vibrant boxes for gift giving. Actually, these lots will be perfect for your gift giving.

Last year's spring...

Last year's snow...

I never did anything til now with these photos. Not sure why! Trying to keep my mind of some things, so I decided to play around a bit with photos of my beautiful children.

Sale on Non Jewelry Items

in my Etsy store. Hope someone will snatch them up! Thanks!

Real Life Kids

Snotty Nose.

Real Life Kids.

Pancake stuff all over.

Goofy Faces.

Real Life Kids.

Good Times.

Real Life Kids.

Not looking at camera.

Real life kids.

Ain't she purty?

A little bit hard

It's a little bit hard to try to act happy. When you are feeling blue and depressed, basically. Very challenging. It's important for your children. At least I think so. But, it's been a struggle lately, quite honestly.

Today a little sun helped. And a little bit of a nice vintage find at Vivians today. A teeny bit of artsy inspiration going through your mind and fingers helps. And, friends and wonderful cheery hellos and comments helped too.

Tomorrow, I'll have some time to myself, and will be visiting my friend, Katie and her little one year old darling girl, Autumn. They are moving February 16th, so that's not, well, good for me..good for them as they have had to go w/o daddy during the week for almost 5 months. So hard for them. I've known Katie since junior high, and she is just a blessing. I will miss her right here. At least we have the phone.

***Update tonight on my etsy store..look for more items tomorrow, including several more necklaces and one purely vintage bracelet. Also, two more types of kits that include some major goodies!

Really quick post...

about Philip and dinner yesterday.

So I made something with noodles and chicken (all prepackaged, just add water, whatever) and put together for a casserole.

Anywhoo...he ate his plate of it and the next thing you know he's taken the rest of it (all in a big bowl) off the kitchen counter, and is standing up and is eating it very very quickly with the big spoon I left in it. It was FUNNY. Just funny, and totally a Philip thing to do. Well, at least he liked it!

Special at Bethink

Go to my Bethink Blog (link to right!)

Tonight it's time for the kids

I feel badly today. As I spent all day with my own projects, I had to basically ignore the "playing" needs of my children. That upsets me and tonight, if I can clean up (yet another thing to get in the way) I want to just relax and hunker down with Ella and Philip. It snowed SO MUCh here in NE Ohio, and it was not easy to go on the few errands I had on my list b/c of the snow, yuckiness, my own coughing, and cold. Now, off to pick up Ella from preschool. Rich works late again...all last week he did, too, but yesterday was a day off for him. And it was a wonderful day off.

*I have to update with the news of a young and very good and promising actor, my age, that was found dead today. I am sooo disheartened by this. It is so sad. Creates several thoughts in my head. But enough for another day....

I feel blessed because...

1. My favorite things FLEW out of my store. BUT, now I have to get to work again so there's more inventory.
2. I am excited about packing up and mailing these first purchases. Sweet!
3. I love to know that within 2 weeks more scrapbook goodness will arrive here!
4. We had a nice day just as a family, mostly home.
5. When I wasn't home, I grocery shopped and this is what occured. I saved a LOT, basically, and just payed $24 for $67 worth of wonderful goodies are family needed, including 7 boxes of Cheerios that ended up being .50/ea.
6. We are having Orange Roughy tonight, a blessing b/c without this job I have as a major over the top (TEEHEE) couponer, I don't know how we could afford it, really. At least not the FRESH fish.
7. I had wonderful conversations today with family and friends.
8. Grandpa (my dad) took my kids outside to play for awhile.
9. My mom thought of me and sent over some Diet Pepsi for me.
10. I created a neat look photo hanging project that you can see here.
11. I feel blessed with FRIENDS..many new ones at that, and continued refreshing relationships with the "old."
12. I feel like I have reached the goal as an artist- finally- and with only that being through God's help.
13. Blogs are beautiful. And so liberating.

Teeny update: I have several more listings to post TOMORROW, (Tuesday), 5 to be exact, with one an actual set!!! Think more of a "theme" than unique, individual one of a kind pieces. I mean, well, they are still one of a kind, but have a certain style. THUS, I am NAMING them, b/c more pieces with their style will probably make their way into the store!

As nervous as I am to say it

My Etsy shop is open! AGHHHH! Click here to see Bethink. I have so many more ideas, and more products to come, but here are my first designs up for sale. I think I like this so much more than Ebay. Etsy is so friendly, and beautiful, and a wonderful innovative creative eye candy shoppe! Here are a few sneak peaks.

To Sherwood Forest she goes!

Not really, just couldn't resist another post with a scrapbook kit name! LOL! But, Ella does look truly happy being somewhere, or just playing, doesn't she? Pure Bliss. That's for sure.

TOMORROW is the DAY that I will FINALLY open my ETSY shop (Bethink)!!! It will probably be later in the day, as I want to take natural light pics for the items. I worked on 5 items to list tomorrow- altered vintage jewelry pieces (meaning, vintage jewelry I altered to create pieces that are wearable. I've had this plan for MONTHS. MONTHS. MONTHS. I've collected quite a supply, too! Also, there will be my embellished fabric bracelets (eventually). I do have a journal and one photograph to be listed tomorrow. YEAH! I am thankful for everyone (who did) that prayed for this. It is just not an easy thing for me. Whether it be dealing with depression and fibromyalgia, or whatever. I cannot make things that are from my scrapbook supplies, generally. I can't part with that stuff! I told my sister in law, creating other works of art is so much simpler. I don't like even parting with a scrap. Nope. Nada. Need to keep it for the family record keeping here at the Russell household!

Well, off to get something to stop this nagging cough, and help my little guy get to bed. He inherited the nightowlness from the Russell side, you know. Plus, this was his first day back to his normal getting into and chattering storytelling self. That's my boy! Then, I need to make sure Rich plays his banjo.

That's a joke. He always is playing that..and that is why he is SOOOO DARN GOOD at it!!!! :-)

A young Maid Marian perhaps?

I love rediscovering photos..this one is from last year, in the summer. Sometimes, I get inspired differently, as far as post processing. Anyways, Philip is better. His fever broke. As far as a creativity spark, I seem to have lost it a bit these past few days, with Philip being sick, but hope to complete some goals of mine. I sometimes feel like a failure because I can't live up to my own expectations. I have to realize that the day is what we're given and there are things that are given to me to do that are actually, or can be, more important- my children, husband, and friends. I need to trust that God will allow whatever else in the plans in His timing, and His timing alone. That is my prayer. And for patience.

Lighthouse Everything Skit

This is not for the faint at heart. It's raw. It is very heart-striking. Moved me to tears. Reminded me of what Jesus did for me.

Whilst she was sleeping

Ella dreamed that her cousin Abigail "sleeped over." And, in that dream, as well, Ella had a piano that glowed in her room.

Then, she had a camera that glowed.

And finally, a "scrapbook book" that glowed.

Teehee. That is so cute. Mommy has a piano in her room (though, I don't think it glows), a camera, and a "scrapbook book." I love how sweetly she told me her dream, and how sweetly she reminds me, well...of me.

On a different note, Philip is sick, with high fever, runny nose, and chills. I feel so bad. It was a rough night for him. The poor buddy. He needs some thoughts and prayers.

from Blessthischick.com

one from me to a friend (s) LOL! Thought they'd get a kick out of it! and then one made by Ella

Savings today...

Well, I went to Pat Catan's to pick up some goodies that my SIL Lisa wanted. Then, I found just a few things, including these handmade paper journals that are ready to embellish (they are plain)...my total there $13, total saved......$56!!!



Unbelievable.



Then, off to Giant Eagle, where I spent $28, and saved $36. I am so excited. All the hard work of couponing is paying off. I even got milk, chicken packs, eggs, boxes of tea, lots of snacks, big things of fruit, blueberries (they aren't cheap, either), and more!!!!! I am at a good stockpiling time, I think. Just need some more frozen veggies and pasta. And, can't wait until more cereal at rock bottom prices come up.

Some more layouts! from this week....

Embellishment kits to snatch up

Snatch away here at my sister in law, Lisa's, Etsy shoppe!!! She has beautiful things there! GO LOOK NOW!

I think this is my new favorite scrapbooker!

A Bit East.... Her style is similar to some things I do, and I think that is really inspiring to me.

What happens in the morning

Early morning, when you forget that your husband still STILL puts up the little gate for the kids (who are almost 3 and 5?!?!?).....you fall. On your face. Totally flat. And then deal with stomach muscles that hurt, the next few days. I tell you, that happened so fast and it wasn't really nice. I think I am throwing that gate away!!!!!

On to other things..much more pleasant. My Ella girl has such a joy-ful nature. This morning she woke up with such a sweet and uplifting spirit. God knows that I need to see that personality, and in her!

Last night, we all ate my first time ever Chicken Dumpling soup, that I made from scratch, and no receipe. I tell no lie....everyone ate it and everyone liked it, or LOVED it. That makes Momma so very very happy!!!! Hope to share with others someday!

If I had traveling time and money!

I'd go right here! These items, the button collections, and vintage collections, well..just about everything, I love. I have two of the owner's books. LOVE THEM. So inspiring. My favorites are the Notion Kits. And, then the decorating boxes. And, then...you get the picture!!! French General has beautiful finds. My favorite new limited edition kit is the Frosted Camelia- absolutely gorgeous!

"I'm Invisible" from some anonymous email out there...

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the wayone of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to betaken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the phone?’Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping thefloor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me atall. I’m invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more:Can you fix this? Can youtie this? Can you open this?Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer, ‘What number is the Disney Channel?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right around5:30, please.’I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude – but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going,she’s going, she’s gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and shewas going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, lookingaround at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare andfeel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the onlything I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clipand I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package,and said, ‘I brought you this.’ It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.

I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription:‘To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are buildingwhen no one sees.’In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a workthey would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came tovisit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving atiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, ‘Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered bythe roof? No one will ever see it.’And the workman replied, ‘Because Godsees.’I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’vedone, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.’

At times, my invisibility feels like anaffliction . But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong,stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a greatbuilder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never seefinished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime, because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’sbringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes home made pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours andpresses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d built a shrine or a monument to myself.I just want him to want to come home.

And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, ‘You’re gonna love itthere.’As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women."

The New Week

I confess: I am tired. I am tired a lot. So, hopefully I can plan an earlier bed time now, for myself, and that will help. Today, I played for a dear lady's funeral service. Now that we are all home, I am glad to be home, and will probably bail out of going to a girl's night out though I hate to miss it, really. I just am so tired. Sunday, I had a lot of anxiety- got to church, then turned around and left almost as soon as I got in the door. I don't know why, it just happened. Rich and the kids had driven separate for their day long after church visit with his grandparents. They really enjoyed themselves. I got some dedecorating done, and laundry, and grocery shopping! The pull ups and free wipes that came with them rocked this week, as did free deodorant! yipee!

I hope to get some layouts posted soon, but it takes so long from my camera to get loaded on to the computer, I am trying to do even MORE pages so it's worth my time. i have 6 done that have not been shown. Now, I am trying to figure out if there's a few I can submit somewhere, and if so, do they want ones unseen? Hmmm... I am planning on submitting some more photos somewhere, so I have journaling worked on for those, and I need to finalize that. Anyways, some projects for me. I am having fun with those projects, though.

A friend gave me tea today. That was so sweet...blueberry and pomegranant triangle tea bags from Lipton, and they come in this great looking box that will work great for embellishing with scrapbooking materials so I can reuse the box for something else!

Nature

Circus

Awhile back (like a year!) we were blessed with a chance to go see the circus for free. It was fantastic. The kids loved it!

Today is a busy day. Laundry, friend visit (with one that is moving really soon...I am so sad), and more scrapbooking....hey...I have an idea. I think I'll skip the laundry and do some important documentation using photographs and pretty supplies. Yes..sounds good to me!

I made a turkey last night. It's huge. Huge. Don't know what I am going to do with it all! Luckily, the freezer has been slowly emptying out of my stockpile. Time to stockpile again...I love doing that so no problem there!

The past few day I have had this headache problem. I know it's the weather change..also, pain has been quite present. My body is a great weather channel, I tell you. I hope it just starts snowing. JUST START SNOWING so I can feel better again! LOL!

Last night I had a girls night out with my friend Jennifer. Olive Garden twice in like a week! WOW! We had a nice time!

This weekend is a busy one. My neice's bday party is tomorrow morning, then Rich and I have to go finish the cd recording for our praise band FINALLY. There were some songs that I guess everyone wanted to redo, so hopefully this one session will finish. But, you never know. I can't wait for the final product. We've been waiting for a long time!

BTW, the project that my dad and I are working on is coming along. It's a secret. So, I can't tell, but I personally have completed 1/5 of my share. And, that's a good share, as far as this project goes. We are so excited!