That's me. On the phone- what a surprise! lol I think I'm about 2 here, maybe. Day 18 of the Blog Every Day in May challenge is: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
I guess the memory that really sticks out is a sort of traumatic one. I have lots of fond memories from childhood! I had one of those storybook ones- great parents, awesome siblings, a great life! But when I was around this age, we lived in a family three-decker. My parents and I lived on the third floor and an aunt, uncle, and cousin lived below us. My grandparents were on the first floor. One night I woke up and went looking for my parents for something- a drink, a hug... Only I couldn't find them!!! I remember laying down on the living room floor and crying! When you are two, your parents are your whole world! To find them gone was scary!
Lucky for me, they were just downstairs visiting my aunt and uncle! This was before the days of baby monitors but they heard me crying and came to my rescue!
Sorry this is so short and not very detailed. I am off to a bachelorette party now and I'm late!
Any childhood memories that stand out in your mind?
{hugs}
Regan
Day 17 of the Blog Every Day in May challenge: A favorite photo of yourself and why
There were a couple in the running but this is the one that I love the most besides my "album cover" which I already shared with you on Day 1.
There is actually a funny story behind this photo which involves an impromptu photo session on a pool table, but we'll save that for another day... The reasons I love this one so much are my eyes and my smile. My eyes are hazel and kinda unique- pretty rings of blue and green flecked with gold and you can really see that here. I think my personality shines through in this photo. Plus it was a fun night out with my best friend and every time I see this it makes me smile.
{hugs}
Regan
For today's Blog Every Day in May challenge we are supposed to discuss the following theme: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it
We all have difficulties that we must face in our lives. Some more serious than others. I kept thinking about this post all day and none of my "problems" seemed worthy of blogging. I have no right to complain! Is my life perfect? Of course not! But while others face serious matters like illness, homelessness, hunger... I have things pretty good. I have a healthy, happy son. I have my own health. I'm employed and I can keep a roof over our heads and food on the table all by myself. I struggle financially sometimes, but in this day and current economic conditions I'm certain I'm not the only one. It could always be worse.
No, I'm not where I thought I'd be at almost 40. I envisioned my own version of the American dream. A career I loved, happily married, kids, house, dog, white picket fence. The whole deal. Instead I have loved deeply to be disappointed and worked hard to get by. I'm a single mom who tries hard to give my son the same sense of love and security my parents gave me. All of life's trials have just proven to me that no matter what life throws at me, I am resilient and strong. And no matter how many times I get knocked down, I always seem to manage to get back up again. I don't feel sorry for myself or mourn the loss of that dream. I simply take Joseph Campbell's advice.
What about you and your "lot in life"?
{hugs}
Regan
The theme for today's Blog Every Day in May challenge is: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)
My week days are pretty much the same. NOT a morning person, it's a struggle to get my small man and myself up, ready, and out the door every day! But we manage somehow and off he goes to his dad's or to day care while I head to work. After a pit stop for iced coffee, of course. Once there, I'm immersed in emails and phone calls since I work in customer relations. There's usually lunch at my desk and then shopping errands or coloring during my break. I finish up the day and look forward to seeing my son. Back at home it's a dizzying blur of dinner, dishes, laundry, bath time, story time, bed time before I can even hope for a moment to myself! I either end my day on the couch in a TV induced coma or at my craft desk working on projects.
It's not glamorous but it's all mine and I feel lucky to have all that I do! I'm not a photographer by any stretch, but I attempted to document my day and did a little fun Polaroid style editing for you!
I didn't snap any photos of story or bed time. Wish I had because he's so gosh darn cute! But you get the idea. What is a day in YOUR life like? What is your favorite part?
I'm impressed with myself that I have made it half way through this challenge already! Let's see if I can keep it going! Thanks for stopping by and reading these... I know they aren't cards, but sometimes it's fun to post about life too!
Have a fabulous evening!
{hugs}
Regan
Hi! I'm here to share a few Mother's Day cards that I made. The first is the one I created for my mom. I used Telephone Marci from La-La-Land Crafts paired with a free printable from Epiphany Crafts. It's hard to see in the photos but it says "Keep Calm and Call Mom". Since I talk to my mom almost every day I though it would make for a fun card for her! Marci is colored with Copics and cut with a Spellbinders Labels Sixteen Nestabililities die. I sponged around the image in Baja Breeze and then used a stamp from an Impression Obsession set called Going Postal on one corner. I added seam binding, flowers, flat back pearls, and a metal corner embellishment too. It's hard to see but I also added a little glaze pen to Marci's glasses. Papers are My Mind's Eye - Happy Day. And the sketch is Sketch Saturday (#258).
Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E23, E31, E79, R20, R81, R85, R24, R27, R29, BG10, BG72, N0, N2, N6).
Challenges:
- Creative Inspirations Paint: Mother's Day
- The Squirrel and The Fox: #43-Mother's Day
Next is a Sassy Studio Designs beach babe called Sarong Sassy.
She is colored with Copics and featured on the current Crafting Life's Pieces sketch (#58). Papers are Webster's Pages - Palm Beach. I used a favorite Martha Stewart border punch, added flat back pearls, baker's twine, flowers, a punched sand dollar/star fish, punched branches, and another metal corner embellishment.
Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, R32, R43, B00, B34, E70, E74, E79).
Challenges:
-Cupcake Craft: #242-Lots of Layers
- DigiHaven: Happy Mother's Day/Floral
- Dare To Be Sassy Thursday: #176-April Showers Bring May Flowers
Finally, here is Supermom from Kenny K!
I loved these My Mind's Eye - Happy Day papers with her! They have such a vintage 1950s housewife feel to them! Supermom is colored with my Copics and fussy cut. The sketch is Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #183. I missed linking up for the challenge, but what a fabulous layout it is! Another Martha Stewart border punch was used as well as my Fishtail Banners Die-namics from My Favorite Things. I added flowers and flat back pearls.
Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, R81, R85, BG10, BG72, Y04, Y11, Y23, Y32, Y35, Y38).
Challenges:
- Wild Orchid Crafts Challenge: #76-Three or More Different Flowers
- 2 Sisters Challenge Blog: #143-Mother's Day
And last but not least, the whole wonderful reason I get to celebrate Mother's Day is this sweet, charming, adorable small man! Look at that face! I love him so much my heart just might burst with happiness!
And speaking of happiness.... That is the theme of today's Blog Every Day in May challenge:
Ten things that make you really happy.
1) My son, Kayne (see above).
2) Spending time with the people I love. Whether it's friends - new or old - or family, I am a very social creature and I thrive in the company of others.
3) Paper crafting. It is my only creative outlet besides writing and one I resisted at first. But I found it's actually therapeutic and gives me an excuse to indulge in another thing that makes me happy (see #4)
4) Shopping. Clothes. Shoes, Purses. Crafty goodness. My newest addiction- Alex and Ani bracelets. Gifts. I have a passion for retail and I'm good at it! I should have lived in a big city and gotten a job as some gajillionaire's personal shopper!
5) The ocean. The sights. The sounds. The smells. They reach into my very soul and give me a sense of serenity like nothing else does.
6) Halloween. I. Love. It. Everything about it! The costumes, the decorations, the candy, the FUN!
7) Lilacs. There is something about these beautiful and fragrant yet fleeting blooms that sets my heart alight with joy!
8) Music. There is nothing in the world like belting out your favorite tune at the top of your lungs in the car. Or attending a live concert. The pulse of the music and the crowd is something I can never get enough of!
9) Sleeping in and/or naps. Both are rarities these days since having my son, but that just makes them all the more special when they do happen!
10) Iced Coffee. I have one every day and I don't drink it any other way. Even in the dead of a New England winter.
This list is not all inclusive, by any means, but you get a sense of where my bliss is! What about you? What makes you happy?
{hugs}
Regan
Today's Blog Every Day in May challenge theme: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
It's been a long day and I'm down to the wire on this one, but I would like to apologize to all my brilliant, talented, sweet crafty blogger friends whose fabulous work I never seem to find the time to get around to commenting on! There are only so many hours in a day and when you work full-time and have a wee one in the house, things can get pretty hectic! I spend my "free" time creating and blogging, but I seem to forget how important it is to give some love to you, my blogging friends as well! I know how wonderful it feels to receive genuine, heartfelt comments on the things we blog! This is a no-brainer! Why aren't I taking the time to do this with all of the amazing crafters I follow? Only so much one gal can do, even if she did earn the nickname of Wonder Woman. So please know that even if I don't always comment I do always think you guys are awesome!
What about you? What would you issue a public apology for?
{hugs}
Regan
Happy Mother's Day to all you maternal type people out there! I will be celebrating later at a family cookout, but for now I have a new Corrosive Challenge, a new sponsor, and a new card to share with you! This fortnight our sponsor is none other than the sensational queen of sentiments: Cheri of Graphicat Designs! She specializes in sass and snark, but there are plenty of options to choose from in her online store! She has generously offered a $10 gift voucher for our winner this fortnight! She has also provided each DT member with a sentiment to use for our new challenge: My Sentiments Exactly! Simply use a sentiment on the outside of your project to qualify. Since I am on the DT for her sketch challenge I simply chose a sentiment from my collection. This one is actually one of four freebies currently offered HERE on the Graphicat Sketches blog! I paired it with my All That Scraps image which was supposed to be used for the previous Corrosive Challenge. She was all colored up, but I was so busy that she never made it to a card. I figured better late than never since she is a beauty. This is Butterfly Willow from The Tickled Pink Lil Lads and Lolitas line at All That Scraps.
Willow is colored with Copics. I distressed the edges of my layers with a pair of scissors and add a few stamped elements (from Stampin' Up) to my image panel. Add flowers, bling, hat pins, and a punched butterfly from my stash to finish. The papers are My Minds Eye The Sweetest Thing - Tangerine. I used the current sketch from Sketch N Stash (#113) for my layout. I like these as they are very basic and leave all the additional embellishments up to you!
I hope you'll head over to the Corrosive Challenge blog to see what the rest of the team has created to inspire you!
Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, R24, R27, R29, E23, E27, E79, BG10, BG70, BG72, YG93, YG95, Y38, YR15, YR18).
And since I'm here I might as well take care of today's Blog Every Day in May theme as well. Today's theme: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)
Thinking about this one I couldn't settle on one thing that I miss... I miss my two black cats, Loki and Poe who both have passed on - one from old age, one from illness. I miss the care-free days of my youth. I miss the 80s and all that went with it - cheesy movies, hair bands, big hair, and the totally awesome fashion. I miss living in California where I would wake up to the sound of sea lions barking. And I miss having someone special in my life. I'm okay with being a single mom 99% of the time. But every once in a while I get the crazy idea in my head that I should start dating again... Maybe one of these days I'll actually be brave enough to do it! What about you? What do YOU miss?
Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy your day!
Challenges:
- A Gem of a Challenge: #79-Things with Wings
- My Sheri Crafts: #110-Flower Power
- My Time To Craft: #221-Show Us The Inside
- Brown Sugar Challenge Blog: #41-Angels & Fairies
- Creative Corner Challenges: #18-Things with Wings
- Jelly Park Challenges: Girly Girl
- Left of Center Creative Challenges: #5-Use a Digi
- Card Makin' Mamas: CMM69-Punches
{hugs}
Regan
