Embellish Life

I am sooo bummed!!!

I usually don't post about normal everyday stuff, but I just had to on this one. Mike told me about a Marriage Seminar in early August sponsored by the Chaplain's office. It was actually titled a "Family Retreat", so you could bring kids. I told him okay, since the kiddos could come. He sent me the registration stuff and I completed the form, sent it back to him - all in the same day! Mike signs the form and forwards it to the correct person on the chain.

Today, 29 days later, Mike gets the form back signed, but never submitted to the correct office. We find out that we are NOT on the list for the retreat and that there is no more space available. My heart sinks into my stomach at this point. Someone else screwed up, leaving the form in limbo for 3 weeks! So what is the end result? Our family gets penalized because someone else didn't care enough to complete the task at hand. Mike had recruited 2 other couples from his section to go as well. They will be attending without us, now.

I feel so terrible and depressed about this. We (the family) were looking forward to this trip so much. It was going to be fun for all of us and now it's a complete disappointment to our summer. This was our fun time together to connect without stresses of home, school and work.

I sent an email to the Chaplain and his wife, but I'm not sure what good it will do. I guess I should have hope that things will work out about this, but I'm doubtful. There's nothing to look forward to now. It makes me sad.

He went back to work!!!

After what seemed like 2 extremely long weeks, Mike finally went back to work. Because Sheri and her family went back to the states, we were unable to plan a trip with them during Mike's leave. So, we ended up staying home the entire time. Now, it wouldn't have been that bad if Mike had done some house chores or maybe had a hobby other than computer games. I don't know exactly why, but the last few days I was literally going crazy with him home. I guess because mostly he would just mope around, lighting candles, read his book a little. I'm like, why don't you clean off the balcony or let's go straighten up the basement. Those ideas were a no go in his eyes.

My nerves are much calmer now, thank goodness. I'm able to clean the house, straighten up to my liking. When everyone is home from school/work, it seems like the house is a total disaster zone. I can't stand it! And I can go back to my routine - check email during coffee, housework, shower and then time to stamp, internet, tv or nap. Maybe I'm a little like Andrew, I prefer to have a routine and when it is disrupted (because Mike was home from work) I go bonkers!

Now, off to do more blogging and time to stamp.

Notebook, Bookmark and Beaded Pen Gift Set

This holiday brought me many ornament and gift exchanges. For the third and last one, I decided to step away from the traditional ornament or bottle of liquor. During the ROSC Bowling holiday party, we were able to pick a gift for the first strike bowled that day.

I thought that decorating a 5 x 5 journal and a beaded pen would be a perfect gift, since most of us are ladies that bowl. The thought of one of the guys picking my gift did cross my mind, but Mike said they could give it to their wives or could exchange with someone else who picked a gift.

I chose the Dashing DP for the album, because it was one of my favorites from the SUp Fall/Winter catalog. The "f" was cut out of Old Olive cardstock using the On Board Simon Lower chipboard as a pattern. I did the the same with the tag, using a chipboard piece as a template. Yes, I am a chipboard hoarder. On the tag, I stamped "Friendship" from the new set Celebrate Everything, in silver encore ink and then embossed with clear embossing powder. The "f" and tag were popped up using dimensionals.

The jumbo paperclip bookmark was made using my Cuttlebug Dies and chipboard coasters. Coasters I picked up at Chili's one night at dinner. The cut out coasters were covered with more Dashing DP.

I covered the pen with Dashing DP first, and then used sticky tape to attach the beads.

All 3 projects were dressed up with various embellishments - clips, eyelets, buttons and ribbon.

The recipient of my gift, Emmy Marcharoni, loved the whole set and said it was just her style.

Another satisfied customer!!!

Mike is still gone...

I was secretly hoping that Mike was going to come home today, but alas, he did not. Must be busy where he is right now. Maybe tomorrow we will see him.