Spring Break Goals

It's the middle of Spring Break and I really have not done much of anything, well, nothing of what I intended.  My first order of  business was to just take it easy and minimize the driving, since I do a whole lot of that during the work week - this mission was accomplished!  Second, I intended to work on getting my scrapbooking business off of the ground - this task has been a complete dud.  Lastly, I needed to get some scrapbooking done.  I purchased the Cricut Explore Air and have been working on an Easter layout for over a week.  I am the most indecisive person I know...size...color...cut...I need to learn to commit.

Each year my mom plans an Easter egg hunt for my nephew.  He just turned 13 and is completely into it.  How?  Fill the eggs with a mixture of chocolate and money and it works like a charm. Although he is a teen, I think there is a part of him that participates for the thrill of the search.

As my return to work approaches my anxiety has increased.  I am thankful that I am employed and it allows me to have a roof over my head and food in the refrigerator.  It's just that it does not bring me joy.  I listen to many successful folks who proclaim that there job is not a job for them because it is what they love to do each day.  I must keep in mind that I do have a plan to one day make that proclamation as well.

In the interim, I leave you with a picture of the cutest pug ever...my fur-baby GiGi.

Happy scrappin',
Ivy

What to do after two failed IUIs?

Start a scrapbooking business called JuGi Paper Crafts LLC (not yet up and running) and cook, cook and cook some more.  Yup, so that's what I have been up to.  I wish this blog could detail my travels around the world as a reason for being MIA for all of this time, but in fact, sadness and disappointment took a strong hold.  So much so that I don't think I have crafted since my last post in June, nearly a year ago.  I don't want this post to sound like a pity party - just wanted an opportunity to talk.  I plan to one day share my experiences with infertility.  In the meantime, I am hoping to make a career out of scrapbooking/crafting because it is truly my passion.  Today is a new day and  I decided I would return to what brings me great joy - paper crafting.  

This has been a very tough winter and with the snow surrounding every inch of my home I feel as though I am contained in a freezer.  My precious puggy GiGi has been keeping me busy because she is unable to get out much due to the snow and salt covering the streets (burns paws).  It made it up to 40 degrees today and we decided to take advantage of the warmth by turning on the grill for the first time in 2015.  Hello grilled chicken wings!!!

I am looking forward to a healthy, happy and prosperous 2015 and look forward to spending it with anyone willing to accompany me on this journey.

Happy scrappin',

Ivy

Update on life...

Life has such a funny way of passing me by.  In April I turned the BIG 40!  As momentous as I had imagined it would be...it was quite uneventful.  In fact, I will just go ahead and say that it was just another day in the calendar.  Perhaps, this was because I spent most of the day in lower Manhattan traffic picking up my brother from the hospital where he had just had shoulder surgery for injuries sustained in an accident.  He was working on the FDR highway loading a disabled vehicle onto his tow truck last summer when he was struck by a drunk driver.  Lucky to be alive is an understatement.  He is OK now, but continues to recover from his injuries and emotional deal with unemployment, which for a 38 year old man who has worked since the age 16 can be quite difficult.


I am looking forward to the summer because it just seems that my love and passion for crafting takes a back seat to work.  During the year I try to get some scrapbooking and take as many pictures as I can for Project Life.  Naturally. the majority of my pictures document the life of my puppy GiGi.  Here are just a couple....

The dog park is now a staple in my life.  There are so many moments that make me laugh I have to say that I am incredibly blessed.

I am looking forward to getting my Project Life layouts together and sharing them with my readers.

Happy Scrappin',

Ivy

What a week!!!!!!!

This week was a commuter's nightmare.  First, it took me 3 hours to drive home Tuesday evening during the snow storm (my commute is usually 1 hour and 15 minutes).  Then, on Thursday morning it took me 3 hours to drive to work because there was a 12 car pile-up on the Major Deegan expressway and I was caught about 3 miles behind the accident.  Luckily, there were only minor injuries.  I am never, ever late to work and I usually arrive to work an hour earlier than my start time.  The lateness completely through me off. I am hoping this will be less eventful.

Working on .....

Just thought I would share a couple of projects I am working on. First, I am starting to put my Project Life Midnight Edition together. I am unable to keep up with it on a weekly basis so I though I would organize it by months instead. I should force myself to document my life during the weekend as well because it would force me to do something during the week that was not related to work.

Second, I am working on a printer tray in memory of my beloved pug JuJu. It is taking me such a long time to get it together. I hope to complete it some time this week.

Lastly, most of my time has gone to keeping an eye on my new baby. She is teething and just about chewing anything she can put in her mouth, including my fingers and toes.

Looking forward to sharing the completed projects Here's to another weekend!

Happy scrappin'

Ivy

Happy 2014

Wow!  It has been over a year since my last post.  I must say that 2013 was filled with both intense sadness and great happiness.  Last March I had a recurrence of kidney stones and I was out of work for a week, in November I became the mama of a beautiful pug, and in December I lost my beloved Uncle Jay to colon cancer...it has been a whirlwind to say the least.


In 2009 I lost my beloved pug JuJu.  Over the past four years I have gone back and forth on whether to find a new pug companion.  I had my heart set on a pug this past summer, but just could not find one.  Alas, in November I found my little GiGi.  At first it seemed as though I was cheating on JuJu and had difficulty bonding with the little one.  Over the Christmas break, spending every minute of the day together, we fell in love with each other.  It's funny...I do not love her any more or less than JuJu...I just love her differently.

And here she is....

I do hope to share much more of the layouts I created in future layouts and home that you will all stick in there with me. 


Happy Scrapin',


Ivy

Courage to....

I am participating in the Ali Edwards One Little Word class. It requires me to be incredibly introspective, a bit outside of my comfort zone. This year, I am hoping to push myself to take risks...to sum up the courage to embark on a new adventure. I have to make a change and it will begin with my choice of careers. My goal is to have the courage to follow my passion.

Happy crafting,


Ivy