I've fallen...

off the blogging train, and I can't get up! Well, that isn't true. I'm up...or, obviously, I wouldn't be here. ;0) I've skipped out on the blogging for the last few days because I haven't had anything particularly interesting or creative to share. But, oh my little friends, how that is about to change! I have been up to all sorts of creative *goodness* this weekend. Lots of projects started, some that are almost there, and others that just need that last little finishing touch! But, to spare you all from complete creative overload, I'll parcel out the eye candy throughout the week. I hope to get the ball rolling tomorrow! But, for now, I will just leave you with this little tip. Looking for a wall calendar for 2008? Check it:



This little beauty can be found in the Etsy shop of Magnolia Moonlight. It's gorg, isn't it? *sigh* It so reminds me of Elle's Studio's bright, colorful tags. I had been having no luck finding any sort of calendar that was drool-worthy this year. But, this beauty sure fixed that problem! It's the one thing I've allowed myself to buy for *me* since all the Christmas shopping madness began! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and I'll be back tomorrow with some pretties. :0)

Anybody else...

have a hard time believing that it's already November? I remember this time last year, I was thinking, "Bryan will be gone this time next year." So sad. But, now it's just the opposite. By this time next year, Bryan, God willing, will be home. That's a good feeling. I thought this deployment would drag on forever. I can't believe that 9 months have already passed. At the most, we only have 5 1/2 months to go.

Halloween was great! I took my little ladybug into town to go trick-or-treating.



We made it through one large cul-de-sac, and started to turn onto the main street when, surprisingly, she announced that she was done. Wha? She said that it was cold (it was), and her bag was already full. She wanted to go home. I thought that I was going to have to drag her back to the car kicking and screaming when it was time to go. What a pleasant surprise not to have to go through that ordeal. Luka stayed at home with Nana to hand out candy to all of her 9 trick-or-treaters. It was too cold out to drag him along, and he couldn't care less about the whole process anyway. Maybe next year.

I finally finished the gingerbread house...this morning. *Note to self: Next time, start this project about 5 days prior to when I actually want to have it done. Although this was a kit from Wilton's...don't be fooled, people. Not easy. Not so easy at all. I'm fairly satisfied with how it came out. And, I definitely learned some tricks for the next time I might attempt such a project.



I took the kids to have their haircuts today. By now, Hazel is an old pro at the game. No problems there. Luka, well...that's another story. And, this picture pretty much says it all:



Leslie and I cut his hair only once before (with about the same reaction). But, this was his first time at an actual salon. I get him down from the chair, and Hazel announces, "Brother looks like a baseball." Ummmm...okay. I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean exactly. But, whatever.

So, we're starting to really get ready for the holidays now. Christmas pictures are next week. The shopping is well under way. And, I've already started on several gift projects. Someone asked me today what I wanted for Christmas. After much thought, I decided that I want this. Badly. I have been looking for a good collection of Photoshop actions. And, this one has everything that I want all rolled into one. Although, this isn't really something that one asks for as a "gift". So, rest assured, any money that I receive from relatives at Christmas will go to purchasing this download package. I would just go ahead and order it for myself. But, $125 isn't readily available in my bank account during this time of year.

Well, let's be honest. The money IS there. But, today is Poppy Ink kit day. And, I have set aside enough money to order EVERY SINGLE add-on kit. After all, this month's kits have all the new KI Memories Pop Culture line in it. I have been waiting for what seems like F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to get my hands on this stuff. So, I'm on Poppy Ink like white on rice. To that end, I'm off to relax with some t.v. and count-down the next 4 hours until the kits go up for sale. Happy November everyone!

This is Halloween!

*Sigh* I never did get to see the 3-D version in theatres this year. Perhaps it will be showing again next year when Bryan will be around. But, I might just have to pull out the DVD after the kids are done trick-or-treating and fast asleep. I so love Halloween!

To pass the day, I will be finishing decorating Hazel's Halloween gingerbread house. Not as easy as it looks people...not easy at all. But, at least I got it all stuck together last night. So, the fun part is all that's left...the decorating! I'll post pictures of it when I finish it up later on today.

And, I'll be taking the kids into town tonight to go trick-or-treating. My parents live up on the mountain...out in the boonies. It's too dark up here, and the houses are too far apart. So, I have to drive into town, and take them to collect candy from another neighborhood. It's been pretty chilly outside. But, luckily, we're all starting to feel a little bit better around here. I'm sure to have lots of pictures to post tomorrow!

And, I was tagged by the lovely Helena. It's been a while, so here are 7 randoms...

1. I suffer from TMJ. It has gotten worse in the last year. I am plagued with near constant headaches, and my jaw is almost always clenched. I don't even realize it most of the time. And, since this is considered a "dental disorder" by the military, they don't cover the treatment. So, unless I come into some major money, it won't be getting fixed anytime soon.

2. I got caught smoking in the girls' bathroom when I was a freshman in high school, and had to serve a Saturday detention. Tsk. Tsk.

3. I've met Tori Amos in person. She's such a tiny little thing.

4. My favorite flowers are tulips and stargazer lilies.

5. Seattle is my favorite place that I've ever lived/visited. I miss it so much. Maybe someday, when the military is finally done with us, we can move back there.

6. My dream is to buy an old house from the early 1900's and fix it up. I am fascinated with old homes.

7. My birthday is the day after Christmas, and I've never, in all my 29 years, had a birthday party. At least, not on my birthday. We had them in the summer when I was little. I'll be 30 this year, and I'm sure it will be no different. My mom doesn't do the babysitting thing, so I probably won't even be able to go out with friends. What a shi**y way to spend an already shi**y birthday! I'm not ready to let go of my 20's...even if your 30's are supposed to be "the new 20's."

I think that all the bloggers that I read regularly have recently been tagged, so I'll spare them from being tagged again. But, if you're up to the challenge, go blog 7 randoms and link me back up!

Happy Halloween people!

Queen of the Accomplished

Well, at least I feel like it. Maybe it's just because I'm so freakin' sick, and all I really felt like doing was staying in bed all day. Whatever the cold was that we all started out with...it has now turned into some kind of flu nastiness. Or maybe, we just got sick twice. Either way, I feel like I got hit by a mack truck. So, the fact that I got anything done today is amazing.

Pumpkins carved - check



That skully one...yup, that's mine. The Sponge Bob thing is my step-dad's. And, of course the Lite Brite face is Hazel's. She loves it. Poor little thing was so crushed when I told her that, no, she could not take it to bed to sleep with. She actually helped create it, and is so proud of it!



Laundry completely done - check
Grocery shopping done - check
Swap partners divvied up, and e-mailed - check (Phew! That was more time-consuming than I had thought.)
One LO done - check (Can't show...it's for a contest)
One nap taken - amazingly enough...check
All e-mails and phone calls returned - check (except for you, Kasie...don't think I forgot about you! I'll call tomorrow. Promise, promise.)

And, now...I am off to get caught up on my fave bloggies before some dinner and much-needed rest. Plus, tonight is The Big Bang Theory. Love that show!

REMINDER...

Today is the last day to join my Favorite Things/Secret Santa swap. I already have quite a few people signed up, but I would always welcome more! So, if you're interested, e-mail me at charmedgirlnc@gmail.com by 11:59 pm Alaska time (that's 3:59 am Eastern time). Okay, I'm still sick...back to bed.