Mail Call!

Gotta love getting fun stuff in the mail- and this bottle chock full of stuff is no exception!

What a wonderful surprise! In this day and age of electronic correspondence, I think we've all forgotten how fun it is to get REAL mail.

This wonderful treasure came from my blogger friend Terri Kahrs, from Pringle Hill Studio. I have long admired her work, and we became friends via tons of emails, texts, and phone calls. This is a woman I need to meet in person!!

THANK YOU Terri, for sending my such a wonderful pick-me-up! Now, let's meet up in New Hope and get some ART on!

What cool thing have you received in the mail??

Hugs, Lee

Some Things Are Free

A few weeks ago, I received an email asking me to review a medical scrub top. At first I ignored it, but when the company emailed me again, I agreed.

I chose a navy blue, 3 pocket v-neck tunic-style scrub top, from Adar Medical Uniforms.

We construct our medical uniform garments of superior poplin fabric that is substantially hefty, yet incredibly lightweight to wear. A 65% polyester/35% cotton blend ensures that our uniforms do not easily crease or stain but continue to look fresh after hours of wear.

I like this kind of nurses scrub top, due to the large pockets. Nurses carry all sorts of stuff, like syringes, alcohol wipes, scissors and lots more! This particular top also has a breast pocket, which is a great spot to hang your ID from.

The scrub top was neatly folded and packaged in plastic when I got. It was kind of stiff from the sizing, but it didn't have that chemical smell that they sometimes due when they are fresh out of the package.

I ordered a medium, and it is a bit large. It is not a universal scrub top, so I have to say that it runs a bit big. I don't like my tops too tight across the shoulders or underarms, but this is a bit boxy. I would probably try a small too.

I  washed the scrub top, and it held it's shape nicely. It doesn't look like it shrunk at all. The stitching is nice and tight. The only drawback to this top is that is comes out of the dryer a bit wrinkled. Now, I have to admit, I never iron my scrubs. Usually I take them out of hot dryer and they are fine. This time, the dryer had started to cool down a bit. so that may be the culprit.

I'd definitely by a shirt of this quality! They are offering a 15% discount on all merchandise, using this coupon code for this blog is: "trueblue" which is 15% off until July 31st 2013.

The scrub top is mine to keep, and I will happily wear it. I was not given any other compensation for this review. You can check the company out in these places:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniformedscrubs

The Ada blog: http://uniformedscrubs.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @UniformedScrubs Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/uniformedscrubs/

Happy Saturday

It's been a busy week! Jason had a riding lesson Monday. I worked Tuesday. Wednesday I was off, and headed for a much-needed doctor's appointment. Thursday and Friday were crazy at work!

My parents and sister are at a show this weekend in NY, so we've been getting ready all week too. We didn't go, for many reasons. I had to work, for starters. I also not sure that Jason is really ready to show, so why go and spend the money? So, I'm farm sitting on this beautiful Saturday!

Last night was Adam's Spring Concert. He and Jason both attend a charter school, so the concert was held at the local high school (in a brand new auditorium, I might add). I think the first graders do the same show every year, because each of the six groups has costumes, and the music is pre-recorded.

Adam was an Army ant! There were butterflies, lady bugs, grasshoppers, and a few others. Each group not only sang along with the music, but they each danced too!! The staff at Avon Grove Charter School did an amazing job!

All in all, it only lasted 45 minutes, but it really was entertaining. And seeing Adam up in stage just made me smile!

Enjoy Captain Toothless!

Giddy-up!

Last weekend was our first show of the season. It was a small, cut-down-the-costs, show-off-the-trailer, no ribbons kind of show. It was amazingly sunny out- and just as COLD!! We spent the full day outside- due to some verrrrrrry slow judges- and came home sunburned and windburned!

The first show is always kind of tough. Both the ponies and the kids were jittery. Jason rodes his cousin Matthew's pony Judge in the walk class. Jusge wasn't exactly cooperative, and Jason came out very frustrated, and quickly burst into tears. It was tough to see his heart break.

What he didn't unterstand is, as green as he is, he did a really good job with Judge. He received high praises from all of us, including one of his riding intructors. He got lots of hugs and kisses too.

I know how he felt. I used to have the same kind of temperament- type A all the way. I would get very upset if my ride wasn't perfect.

It is a hard lesson to teach anyone, especially kids. I wanted him to understand that he tried hard and did well- and that's the important part. Ribbons are not the end goal.

I'm not sure he beleived me, but I hope to keep working on that lesson. Try hard. Laugh at the bad days. And keep going!

Hugs,Lee

Vanishing Time

I was blog hopping, and realized that I haven't blogged in a long time! Well, I have written posts in my head, but not gotten to the part where I type and publish. Do you do that? I have these long, eloquent posts (at least in my own mind) that never get typed.

There are lots of things that contribute to this, I think.

• Living in tight quarters.
• Not really having a space of my own (boy, was I blessed having a studio at the Maine house). 
• Working 4 days a week, in a row (I have been working shift work since graduating with my BSN in 2000, which means having streteches of days off)
• Getting caught up in day to day stuff and not really paying attention to my own creativity. This is a biggie- living with my parents means that I can't leave stuff out willy-nilly. I get caught up in the combination of my families needs and the needs of my parents. I may have a day planned in my head, but then end up doing something else. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but as you all know, creativity takes space and time. Somehow, the time just vanishes.

There are tons of online classes out there. I just can't seem to commit myself to any! Any of you taking a good one?

I won classes from Jeanne Oliver (Creatively Made) and Melody and Kathy over at Brave Girls (Soul Restoration), and ran out of steam. I finished all but one part of Jeanne's, and made a book from Brave Girls, but haven't filled it in yet (part of that is that I lack any pictures of myself). I wouldn't say I'm the kind of gal that never finishes anything- because that couldn't be farther from the truth- but I found that once I tried certain techniques, I was done with them. Has this happened to you?

I have also notices in this creative lull, that my tastes are changing. I see some art out there that I used to be attracted to, that I used to do, that I can't stand anymore. I look at some pieces and think "ugh" or "this is messy" or "I don't like this anymore". Any of you out there like that? I'd be interested in how you are evolving. I am interested in painting, like big abstract canvases. Check out my Pintrest folder. I feel like I don't have the know-how, but sometimes you just have to wing it!! I bought some heavy bodied paints, now I just have to use them!!

In the meantime, I'm going to try to actually post the things I compose in my head. That's a start, anyway. Then I'm going to nap, because to day is my only day off, and I'm still recovering from a pony show yesterday!

Tell me what you're up to!

Stalled Out...

That's exactly how I feel. I found out this week, from three different brokers, that we cannot qualify for a mortgage! To say I'm shocked would be an understatement.

We have owned two homes. We have sold both. We were never late on a payment, our mortgage wasn't underwater, we didn't default. We ended up with a small profit from our last home, mainly because we put such a large down payment on it. We lost thousands of dollars, but we got it sold.

We don't have any car payments. No grossly huge credit card bills. We BOTH work- BUT- and here's the rub: I am part-time (32 hrs a week), and my husband is basically a subcontractor. Although he has been working consistently, because there may be breaks in between the jobs, we cannot show a consistent pay check each week. And me? I make good money, more than a lot of people out there, but the paycheck isn't what gets your qualified- it the full-time vs. part-time. For real.

So, now what? We have to wait until the fall, if you go buy Chris' graduation date (which isn't when he rstarted working, really, but hey, I'll go with that). Or, in my case, until Jan. 2015 (I went part-time this past January) to buy a house. Now, if one of goes full-time, then it changes everything. So, what do I do? Maybe I should take some random job, at less than half of what I make now, and work full-time? Apparently, that's what if boils down to.

Oh, the other suggestions- get a co-signer. And I quote "Someone with good credit, but more importantly, strong income. A relative would be best." Oh right, 'cause our parents are retired and on fixed incomes- sure thing.

The moral of the story, the mortgage debacle hurts everyone. Even us, and we can afford a house, we just can't buy one. Go figure.

Late Valentine Hearts

I mentioned in a post or two ago that I was making hearts for a Valentine's swap, and I would show you a picture of them (if I had one- oops). I was in such a rush to get them down that I completely forget to take a picture of the finished product!

When I received my box in the mail, I opened it, but then quickly put it away. Have you ever done that? It's kind of like getting a new, fab magazine- you look through it a bit and save the rest for another time.

I don't have much alone time these days, and saving these treats was like a little gift to myself. I waited about a week, then pulled them out one night, while the kids were asleep and the house was quiet. Each one was unique! The best part about a swap with a theme is seeing how each artist interprets it.

I didn't actually get a chance to hang all of them up, which was a shame. I wanted to string them like a banner, with tiny clothespins, but that stuff is all packed away. So, I'll put them away, to be hung in our new home.

Enjoy:

From swap hostess Tammy:

A gorgeous card, and a sweet ruffled heart.

 

From Jeanne over at Dream, Create, Inspire:

Lots of layers and red!

 

From Carla:

 

 This really cool envelope is made from a dress pattern, with the inside reinforced with fusible web, so it is really thick and durable.

 

 From Vivian over at Viv's Whimsy:

This little girl on a swing is so sweet!

From Sandy over at Sandy's Creations:

I lvo the 3D pop of the heart, and who can resist red glitter!

 

From Tammy's mom, Ruth, who does the most amazing crocheting and tatting:

My favorite color!

From Grace over at Pink In the City, a bag full of goodies:

I love the 'stache, and this amazing heart with wings and a Charlotte head!!

 

From Natalea ofver at Kandeland:

I love the three girls- reminds me of me and my sisters.

Thank you Tammy, for hosting this swap!