Christmas tradition that I started last year...

My girls are adventurous.  They love to search for things whether it be in the craft room, the garage, or at a yard sale, they love the challenge.

Last year, I thought I would create some fun things for the girls to do Christmas morning.  I got a bunch of index cards, some envelopes, and sat down with a cup of coffee to create a scavenger hunt for them.  It started under the Christmas tree (Card #1).  When they opened the envelope, they found a clue on where to find Card #2, and so on until they found the final clue (Card #32).  I had them going ALL over the property, bathroom, carport, garage, and bedrooms.  They found their gift cards right under the Christmas tree skirt where Card #1 was.  It sure was fun to see them try to figure out the clues, I didn't make them all easy.  They had to put their 3 beautiful heads together to figure it out.  When they started the hunt, I told them that even if they find a card that is out of order, they need to go in order because they don't know what card will have their gift cards in.  It was a blast.

This year, I told the girls that I am including our neighbors houses for the hunt (I asked them in advance).  One of them even told me that he wanted them to ask them a weird question and he could give them a weird answer on where the next clue would be.  This is going to be soooo much fun.  My oldest daughter is even recruiting her boyfriend in hopes that they can find them all quicker.  I think I'm going to make the hunt longer this year, maybe 50 cards, I'm just not sure how creative I can get. Oh, I have a great idea......In the middle of the hunt, I'm going to have them bake the cinnamon rolls and after we eat them, I will give them the next clue.  Oh, how mean!!!  I love it!!!

Well, I gotta go for now.  I have to start printing out the clues.  I pray that you and your family have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I'm sick and tired....

Oh, and exhausted.  For the last 2 weekends, I participated in the "Homespun Craft Fair".  Wow, exhausting.  Not to mention that it was in a really cold building, yeah so the heater was right above us, but when it turned off, it got cold real quick.  Cement floors, next to a big roll up door, need I say more?  Didn't think so.

All in all, we had fun, sold lots of products, and people watched both weekends.  Some people, lets just say, should consult someone that lives outside of their homes on the attire that they wear in public.  Sure did make us humble with ourselves that's for sure.

Well, now that the show is over, it's time to concentrate on some new craft projects that I have planned.  Stay tuned for my new creations......

   Shauna

Lately....

I've done alot of thinking about some things that I've read and heard lately.  My friend writes and some things that she wrote lately, have really inspired me to "Keep It Real Girl".  Then on a blog that I follow, I read that she is dealing with some cancer issues.  My heart gets so heavy when I read things like that.  I too have some medical issues, here's my story.....


About 2 months ago on a Wednesday, I showed my fingernails to a friend of mine who has been a nurse for 20+ years.  You see, they have horizontal grooves (left to right) in all but 3 of my fingernails.  Normal grooves go from top of the nail bed to the ends.  When I showed them to her, she freaked and told me to contact a Respiratory Specialist ASAP because it usually means that there is a problem with the lungs.  Well, I forgot to call a doctor the next day, but remembered to call one on Friday morning.  My friend didn't personally know of a specialist so I turned to my trusty local phone book.  Come to find out, the 3 lung specialists in my town all work in the same office, how convenient.  Anyways, I called and told them my story.  They were quick to act and got me in there that afternoon for a lung test and an x-ray, then made an appt. with the doctor for that next Monday.

Monday I showed up at the doctors office and met the doctor for the first time.  Very nice man, he was so patient in explaining things to me.  He said he is very concerned at the results of the tests.  The lung test showed that my lungs are actually smaller than they should be, and the xray showed that I have scaring on my right lung and it looks like I might have Lupus.  Wow, I NEVER even thought of Lupus, did you?  I didn't even know what Lupus was.  Did you know there isn't a cure for Lupus only treatment?  Neither did I until I started reading up on it.  My doctor said that he wanted to send me to an Arthritis Specialist and he was a little shocked when I told him that I already see one because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Well, wouldn't you know it, arthritis and Lupus have common denominators.  Aaaahhhhhhh.

Well, the next step was to do some more testing and an MRI.  I scheduled the VQ test (stress test with a dye injection) and the MRI.  The insurance company OK'd the VQ test but decided not to approve the MRI just yet, they say it is too early to get an MRI done.  When the results came in from the VQ test, they confirmed that I have major scarring on the right lung and the best thing to do right now is to exercise to help my lungs expand and hopefully learn to cope.  My doctor firmly believes that I have Lupus but have to wait to do more testing because of the insurance company.  He will continue to appeal the insurance companies decision on the MRI but for now I have a follow up appt in 6 months and an appt with my Arthritis doctor in 5 months, blood work, blech.

Its weird how some people treat you when you MIGHT have a disease or something.  I've had to have talks with my kids and the people I work with to let them know that I still want to be treated like me and not me with a possible disease.  It's important to me to live life to the fullest and as normal (whatever that is) as possible.  God is with me every single second of my life and I know that He will be with me throughout this whole ordeal.  Until then, I will laugh, cry, smile, frown, and love just like I did before.

Thanks for letting me "Keep It Real Girl".
I'll update you when I know more.

God Bless,
    Shauna

You see, I have this thing for candlesticks....

Whenever I go to a yardsale or thrift store, I try to find something to make candle holders out of.  I found the brass bottom at a consignment store, the guy behind the counter thought I was alittle crazy when I said it was perfect.  Well, I took it home and it sat on my table for about a week before I found the plate at a thrift store to put on top.  It's the perfect size for a pillar candle or a votive holder.  Endless possibilities really.

I love the red and black theme.

Craft room chair re-do.....

I picked up these chairs at a yard sale about 3 weeks ago, I thought they would be perfect in my craft room.  Well, they ended up in my living room.  Here is the before and after pictures.....What do you think?

Well, the holidays are coming.....

I've noticed that there is one downfall for having a full time job....when your creative juices start flowing, your stuck at work and NOT in your craft room.  The ideas I'm getting for Christmas presents is making my head hurt.  Oh what to do, what to do.

I've decided something....

I decided that I was going to use this site to tell people about the things that I have learned to either:
1) make my life easier
2) things to organize my life
3) how to make make things for my house
4) how to make gifts for people

I also want to remind people about how important it is to support you local artisans especially during the Christmas season.  They have Unique One-Of-A-Kind gifts that I'm sure the recipent would love to show case and tell others about.

Thanks for joining me.
    Shauna

Day one of my blog....

Not sure how or why I need to do this to follow a blog, but I guess it's all a learning process.

We shall see how this works.

Talk to you tomorrow.
  The Momma