How Bazzaar...

The bazzaar is in less than a month...

I went and bought little clear bags for tags...
and little rectangle pricing stickers...
and fine white glittery stuff for the mitten cuffs...
punched out all the snowflakes and placed them on tags... am beginning to assemble snowmen for tags...
am adhering the fronts of the journals to the journals themselves...
sizzixing holly and berries and also xmas bulbs for more tags...
tying little ribbon scarves on the snowmen... burning my spiced wassail candle...
making hot chocolate for me and Flannery...
and just crafting away!!! Yippee!

A Pooh Story

Oh man. The trials of being with child.

The worst part right now is the constipation. Strangely enough, I drink over 100oz. of water a day. I also eat quite a bit of fiber, but maybe not enough. I decided to take matters into my own hands after a personal struggle, and I'll keep it personal, earlier this evening.

I went and bought two tall tubes of the new individually wrapped sunsweet prunes. I went to visit some friends (Kim, Doug and Laurie) and I preceeded to eat all but 3 of the prunes in the tube. I didn't count how many I actually ate, but know that two went to Laurie and one went to Doug, who was impressed that I purchased the individually wrapped colon-de-blockers.

About an hour and a half later I felt, as Winnie the Pooh would say, "a rumbly in my tumbly," and left for home, just 3 minutes away from Kim's.

I was able to go once. Then it just let loose. It got crazy. Crazy cool, let's just say and I feel like actually poundage has been flushed (ha ha) out of my body. I feel like I can breathe again.

I must say, telling a story like this is so age 33 of me. When I was pregnant 7 years ago, it wouldn't have even been a thought to actually blog something so intimate and well, disgusting. But I'm getting older...not quite old enough for prune stories, but alas, prunes are my new best friend.

I might just have to restrict my intake a bit in the future.

Firsts and Lasts

I painted my nails a pretty black today. They are growing so fast with the pregnancy and prenatal vitamins that black looks really good. Being October, Halloween approaching and all, Flannery thinks they're really cool. I'm doing hers next week.





We found out the sex...a boy! And have a name sorta picked out. Dane Cannon. Nothing set in stone, but we like the name Dane, and wanted to incorporate our yearly tradition, the Collins trip to Cannon Beach Conference Center into the name somehow. First, we thought of the name Archie, one of the founders...but we couldn't seem to fall in love with that one. But we both liked Cannon. Not enough for a first name, but it had to be in there.





My old friend Tim Fadel, who has been fighting cancer for a few years now, has been given a year to live and I am blessed to be a part of it. Well, Chris and I are taking his family to our beach house for a weekend. I'm also going to watch and photograph he and his wife, Beth, jump from a plane in a couple weeks in Mollala, OR @ Skydive Oregon. His brother Todd is also going to jump, as is our good friend, Abe. So weird to be a part of firsts and lasts in someones life. He's always wanted to do certain things and now there is no better time to just go for it all. It's really amazing.

Here's a recent picture of my friend, Tim. He's usually really smiley and jokey. Picture that.

Well...I'm feeling tired and overwhelmed tonight, but thought I'd get a blog in, since it's been a while.

xoxo - e

Pregnancy

On June 17th, Father's Day, I took the pregnancy test and it was positive. I gave it to Chris for his gift. He was in disbelief, since we'd only discussed the pregnancy thing like twice in the last 3 months. Whoops...since we couldn't decide either way, I stopped the pill and God said "yep!" 2 months later I was pregnant.
Last month, Flannery and I spent the day at Motherhood Maternity in Woodburn, OR and I walked out with over $300 worth of clothes for ME! I was so blessed by my husband. I feel pregnant and attractive now, not pregnant and bloated!

Flannery, testing out the pillow in the dressing room.
Look at all my loot!

BBQ for Kimmy

We had a Brockway Family BBQ in honor of the ruturn of my cousin Kimmy! We hadn't seen her in two years and missed her silliness a bunch. Here are some of my favorite family shots: Flannery and Daddy

Kimmy & Beth

Beth and Jeffy

Purpose & Peace

I am feeling more sure than ever about the direction my life is taking.

I'm starting a part time job alongside my sister at Steakburger, so I have my own cash to invest in my death and dying venture. (I know that sounds weird, but what else do I call it?)

I am working on my journals again and found some heavy cardboard covered 8 x 8 journals for just $1 each. They are gorgeous once I've mod podged them with odds and ends. I am having so much fun with mixed media art right now.

I sought out the die cut diva herself, Trish Hafer, to assist me in choosing some dies that can go along with my ideas...which are a cluttered mess in my head. I am jotting every idea down and loving every minute of creating. I've become a ribbon junkie and buy a few spools anytime I'm near some. I also just made a board book for myself to chart my weight loss and eating habit changes. It's so cute! It doesn't close, so it sits like a fan on my night stand and I jot thoughts in it and note my successes. It was fun to make a board book for myself!

I've halfway completed my "Amy" book, which is a personal reflection of her as my friend, as a crazed sick woman and in heaven. It's been a sweet release.

Life is good. I am happy. I am feeling at peace with my decisions. I know the Lord has brought me here and I won't turn away. (The peace is too damn good!)

Peace to you...