More growing up... and more growing up to do...

Hello Friends and Family-
  My best friend is over for the day. We've had some fun, and some tears. That girl can be a little dramatic sometimes. She won't mind that I said that. Probably because she's only 17 months old and can't read. Though she was pretending. She's convincing. Anywho- she's taking a nap and I don't feel like putting my laundry away so I decided to waste some time on Blogger. :) Thanks crafty blogs that I check 5 times a day, for not letting me down.
  Would you like an update on what's going on in my professional life? Sure, ok... The Ohio dental board met last Wednesday- the 9th- (the day my dad turned 56... whoa) so it's just more of this waiting game. Last week I went to Ohio to hand deliver some resumes. I probably put about 200 miles on my car (and A's) just driving around to the different offices!!! The first day was pretty discouraging, since I only got rid of 3 out of 20!! A couple were wrong names, a couple were wrong addresses, and one dentist did his own cleanings- pah! Anyway, the next day was much more successful- I delivered 12 in one day!
  I got my name out there, which is a start. I got put on a couple sub lists, which is nice. AND one office said they might be hiring soon. SCORE! well... not quite yet, but there is HOPE!! Once I get my license- who knows when- I will call them all back, starting with the hiring one, and let them know I'm available immediately!!!! :)
  Of course, 1 out of 20 aren't good odds (isn't good odds?) so I may have to apply in Toledo... Let's cross our fingers for an under an hour commute......
 Hopefully Ohio doesn't let me down and I get that license letter soon.
  So what's a job if you have no place to live??? Well, I'm [hopefully] going to be living in my friend's old apartment. She just moved out last weekend. I didn't actually talk to the landlady yet, but I'm confident it will work out. I'm planning to move mid-April. In some ways I'm super excited- to be living on my own again, to decorate my own place, to have a warmer craft area, and most importantly- TO SEE ANDREW!!!! And in other ways I'm not so excited- mainly because I'm going to miss that best friend that's sleeping upstairs. also her pretty cool momma. and my momma. and just sad that I'll be missing family life at home. I guess that's just a part of what happens when you grow up and move away. Sometimes I just wish so bad that Andrew lived closer, but then I remind myself that we're lucky we're only 5 hours apart, and not the whole country apart... which is just as likely considering where we met.
 Another way to show I'm growing up??? I got a new driver's license.... and it's HORIZONTAL!!! wooot! Hopefully I wasn't unwise in renewing my PA license instead of getting an OH one... since I'll be moving before my old one expires anyway... haha! I still don't know what to do about permanent addresses, taxes, and all that. Part of me feels like I should just move and make it for real by changing my license and all that jazz.... but then another part says why bother now? I'll have to change it all again when I change my name.

boom.

nope.

6 1/2 years. get used to it.

Enough babbling... I think I'm done now... Time to put my laundry away. :)

CRAFTS!

OK kids- Here's the reason I STILL have a blog, even though I rarely post anything worthwhile... I LOVE CRAFTS! I check my blogger dashboard probably a minimum of 5 times a day- sometimes 25. (i'm not exaggerating) I follow about 20 blogs, most of which are crafty blogs. I bookmark AND print out all the ones I like and think I might like to make someday. I have a huge binder I affectionately call my Inspiration Album. Most of these crafts are from said blogs. I thought I'd share them here. If you follow me on FB, I apologize for the redundancy. Below each picture is where I received the inspiration.

http://www.anke-art.de/home/?p=680&lang=en

multiple sites (these are all bookmarks)

 sorry it's sideways!

http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/12/stockings-with-style.html

made from pictures Mom & I took in Vegas this summer. This was her Christmas gift

http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/04/diy-checkbook-cover-part-iii.html

http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/12/felt-gift-bows.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+PrudentBaby+(Prudent+Baby)

made this up for my sister-in-law

made this up... didn't really turn out

http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/09/fat-quarter-apron-tutorial.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+PrudentBaby+(Prudent+Baby)

http://calebdanielle.blogspot.com/2010/10/diy-yarn-wreath-with-felt-flowers.html

http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/2010/09/painted-puzzle-tutorial.html

http://www.allaboutyou.com/craft/sewing-cosy-home-applique-cushion/v1

Have any things you'd like me to make?? Be creative. I'll see what I can round up. :)

Taking Down Christmas

On my list of things to do today was "Take down Christmas." 
How sad. I LOVE to decorate for Christmas. I have done it for my mom for the past... probably 10 years. I blare my Mannheim Steamrollers music...


You should take a listen to one of my favorite songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68j6Ceof8QQ


I bring up all the Christmas decorations at once and unwrap each of them in glee before I figure out where I'm going to put each piece. 


My personal favorite part is decorating the tree. Some people have decorating the tree as a family affair... my family doesn't do affairs, so I just do it in solitaire. I enjoy it just the same. Oh... and I put the angel on first. :)


 Here is this year's tree. Mom took it down the other week when I was away, which made me sad... but luckily after only removing a few items, she took a picture: 

Unfortunately for us, it's not a very good picture. It was much prettier and fancier with the lights on, I promise.

Anyway, so today- since it is now February 1st, I thought that was a good day to change up the decorations, especially since I was supposed to work today but didn't on account of the ice.

Now this is what our house looks like:

 

Isn't life so empty without Jesus??