Mom priorities = fewer crafts + 0 blog posts

So... Life gets crazy when you have kids. People tell you, but you don't understand fully what they mean until it happens. Mr. Maverick is only a couple months away from being 2 and his little brother (internet nickname not yet determined) is nearly 2 months old. Somehow it's easier the second time; the newest child seems to adjust to Mr. Maverick's schedule a lot easier than Mama and Daddy did when they had to adjust to the changes that Mr. Maverick brought. Sleep deprivation is still harsh, though.

Anyway, I'm amazed that I still get comments after such a long gap in posts. I'm still doing crafts, although fewer and mostly for-the-kids type, but I thought I could try to post them. However, the future of this blog is chanding and is going to be whatever I'm interested in posting, since it is MY blog. If you, the reader have any questions or requests, feel free to ask.

A little update...

Here's baby's 20-week scan. I've got two months before my baby boy is due. He's due October 8th. We haven't picked a name yet, but we've got a short list. My Lilypie ticker says he weighs about 4 pounds, so he's getting bigger faster.

I'll be moving from a flat to a house this month. I'll definitely still have a designated crafting area, but I imagine my card-making won't be as frequent as it was in 2009. Hopefully, after I move I'll be able to make some baby-theme cards; they'll definitely come in handy.

AWOL - for a reason

Ok. I said I was going to get back to blogging after Christmas, but I didn't. Sorry. I haven't stopped making cards, but I've had a lot on my mind in January and February: I'm PREGNANT! It's my first and I can hardly think of anything else right now. I'm due ~11th October.

Cards and crafty projects should return soon. Hopefully once a week.

My cards and my style

ABC challenge is looking for new additions to their design team. Check it out. So I've picked three cards of mine to highlight. It is such a challenge to choose favorites from my cards. When I finish a card, it usually becomes my favorite until I make the next card; I've picked three cards that have been favorites of mine for a while.

I chose the card on the left, because I love how it came together. This orange card is the first of my self-imposed challenge of "One Color Cards." So far I've made 5 out of 7 Penny Black "one color cards" this summer - It's going to make a rainbow when it's finished.

The middle card is one of my top-three, because it's exactly as I pictured it when I first got the idea. Perfect for my little niece. And it was so much fun to color a variety of animals for the same card.

The card on the right is nearly a year old, but it sits out on my desk because I love it so much. My favorite color is orange - seeing it anywhere makes me happy. Orange and blue - that's just classic!

Looking at all my cards, I would say my style is definitely colorful, mostly cute, and pretty tidy (I think a lot before gluing anything down).

AFK

AFK means "away from keyboard" if you've never heard that before. I've been playing the new Tomb Raider game! My husband surprised me with it the day it came out. He had reserved a copy for me!

So I've been having fun playing that instead of making cards. I'm nearly done with my first time through the game, so I'll get back to my craft desk soon.

P.S. On the level with the tigers I used a tranquilizer gun. :)

What happened the year you were born?

In 1986 (the year you were born)

Ronald Reagan is president of the US The US officially observes Martin Luther King Day as a national holiday for the first time The space shuttle Challenger explodes moments after lift off, killing 6 astronauts and a teacher A major nuclear disaster occurs at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union Japanese video game maker Nintendo introduces its games to America US warplanes bomb Libyan headquarters in retaliation for terrorist attacks The Soviet Union launches the Mir space station IBM unveils the PC Convertible, the first laptop computer Charlotte Church, The Olsen twins, and Lindsay Lohan are born New York Mets win the World Series Chicago Bears win Superbowl XX Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup Top Gun is the top grossing film "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne & Friends spends the most time at the top of the US charts ALF, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Pee-wee's Playhouse premiere

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

I'm an Orange!

You Are an Orange

You have a zest for life, especially for anything colorful, wild, or dramatic. You have a unique take on the world, and you're not afraid to be a little funky. You are a bit reserved toward people who don't know you well. (Very true.) You have a thick skin, which can protect you from anything that goes wrong in your life. (Definitely not true; I'm too sensitive.) Once someone does get to know you, they totally get and appreciate you. Your friends see you as a bright person with a refreshing take on life. (I hope so.)

What Type of Fruit Are You?

So exciting...

Craft Stamper magazine has a new blog and they mentioned me! Check it out: here. I am so THRILLED!

I used their strawberry stamp on this card:

I live in England...

"So what are you doing over here?"
When I first moved to England, I got asked this question a lot. Mostly from strangers. I think it's funny how people can ask me such a personal question just because I have an American accent. I don't mind, I'm a naturally curious person myself.

I tell them in the simplest way that I married an Englishman. I'm not very good at reading people, but I think a small portion that ask are surprised that I'm married at all; I think that to them it would make more sense if I were studying at the University. That's because I'm young (22) and to most people I actually look younger than I am.

"Do you like England?"
This is a funny question. Do you know how you would answer if you were asked if you liked where you lived? I always answer that I think England is normal. I mean life for me is work, eat, sleep, etc. Everyday life in England is only slightly different than in America. At least it is for me.

The biggest differences for me: snack food and sweets, and I don't drive over here. I really miss crackers, but I don't really miss driving.

"How did you meet your husband?"
Whenever I answer this one, I grin like crazy.

My husband was studying International Business at University and got the opportunity to study for a semester in Moorhead, Minnesota just across the river/state border where I was living/studying in Fargo, North Dakota (my hometown). The two cities are squished right together with only the river seperating them.

NaBloPoMo

November is NaBloPoMo (which means National Blog Posting Month). I'm not going to be able to post everyday (my life is a little too slow for that), but I will make a huge effort to make lots more posts this month. And hopefully, I'll get into the habit.

I'm going to start today, by going over the basics:

I'm 22 year-old American, married to a great English guy.

My favorite color is orange (blue is 2nd). I have a weird dislike for pink; it's just not for me. I'm trying to overcome it little by little, but something all pink puts me off.

My favorite foods: pepperoni pizza, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and mashed potatoes. (But not all together; that would be weird.)

I love animals. I have two budgies (Jack-jack and Mater). I love them to bits.
Here's an old scrapbook layout showing them:

I'll do a post later all about my birds soon.

I love crafting. Scrapbooking, card-making, and cross-stitch are the main ones right now, but I love trying lots of different crafts. I dabble in drawing, watercolor painting, beading, and quilting, and probably some more I'm forgetting at the moment.

I also love baking. Cookies, brownies, pies, tarts, and other desserts are my favorite things to make. I like trying new recipes all the time. Desserts are the most fun, but I try different meals, too, sometimes. Making the same things over and over again frustrates me.

That's all for now. I should write more about each of these topics soon. (and with photos, don't you think?)

If you have any interesting questions I could answer, I would be grateful.