2018....Self Care = Renewal

I decided that 2018 would be the year I get ME back.  I would do all of the things I need to do to make sure that I am taken care of:

• pamper myself
• work on spiritual growth
• emotional well-being
• get a yearly physical including mammogram
• maybe even start working out again
• get back to scrapbooking 
• read more

All of the self care I had avoided over the last few years....afterall, everyone and everything else took priority. 

What has come out of this big decision?  

I had my first mammogram where they found a hard mass in my right breast.
After a biopsy, we found out that it was a fibro-adenoma.  They tagged it during the biopsy, they plan to keep an eye on it and do another mammogram before year's end.  

I got a new prescription for eyeglasses which are now called progressives, not bi-focals.

January 7th, I stepped into a local church after not attending for years.  I felt at home immediately.  Now, it is a church that I had watched online a few times over the years, I had heard good things about it from people here and decided it was time to renew my faith.  I joined the church back in February and have jumped into serving with both feet.  I find that I feel better when I serve.  I have found joy in serving.  I joined a women's small group from church. It has been such a year for growth for me.  Sophie and I were baptized on July 1st this year.  It means so very much that she believes in God and that she accepts Jesus as her personal saviour.  Margie would be so proud.  

Friends have told me that I have my "GLOW" back and it looks good on me.  

I have not had the heart to get back to scrapbooking yet, but it is coming. I was able to go into my spare room and organize the bins a bit.  Looking at photos still hurts a little.  So, I haven't spent much time looking at photos unless they are recent photos that I took on my cell phone.  

Dating.....now dating is a totally other animal.  I don't even know where to begin with that.  But that is definitely a story for another time.  

Maybe one day....



Until then, 
BE BLESSED

~C~

Fear is a Liar...

Fear Is a Liar

Zach Williams

When he told you you're not good enough
When he told you you're not right
When he told you you're not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you're not worthy
When he told you you're not loved
When he told you you're not beautiful
That you'll never be enough

Fear, he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear he is a liar

When he told you were troubled
You'll forever be alone
When he told you you should run away
You'll never find a home
When he told you you were dirty
And you should be ashamed
When he told you you could be the one
That grace could never change

Fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear he is a liar

Let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feel

Let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feel

Let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feel

Oh, let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feel

Oh, fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear he is a liar

'Cause fear he is a liar

Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Zach Williams / Jonathan Lindley Smith

Fear Is a Liar lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Essential Music Publishing

Life Changes

A few years ago, you would have thought that I was crazy.....

I would plan these scrapbooking retreats for a bunch of ladies and then attend them.  While there at the retreats around women who loved me, I would feel these feelings of dread and fear. These episodes would make my body shake, my bowels to empty and sleep to evade me.  I would be a basket-case for 4 days while I was at these retreats and not have any way to chill out or calm myself.  The fight or flight in me would have me wanting to leave the retreat I had planned to go home.  I had no clue where they came from or why I was feeling that way.

Even my regular day to day life, was full of all sorts of anxiety and feelings of abandonment. I was living with my husband, our two children and 5 animals, but felt alone. 
Little did I know, I was seeing and feeling my future....
Fear playing a huge role in that future.

But also, a great deal of inner-strength found within...strength I didn't realize I had.

It has been well over a year since my last scrapbooking retreat.  It feels like a lifetime ago.  I haven't touched a scrapbooking supply in almost two years because life has changed so much.

I will share more in the days to come.....

Until then,

~CM~

Image is from an etsy shop......

Meet WANDA!!!!

My new 2010 Honda CRV!

YES, I name my vehicles!!!!  

I also named my Cricut Expression too!  But that is a different Blog post!  HA!!!

I went through CarMax in Stockbridge, GA and the experience was wonderful.

Gary Moeller was my salesperson and he was able to bring in, from other stores, the two vehicles that I wanted to test-drive and choose from.  

I test-drove: 

2011 Nissan Rogue

2012 Honda CRV

2010 Toyota Rav4

2010 Honda CRV.

 

I went with the 2010 Honda CRV and she is AWESOME!

Gary was very patient with me and my requests too!  I know it is his job, but he didn't roll his eyes when I asked to test drive the Honda CRV again before I made my decision.  Even though I had driven it once before, he opened the car door for me and away we went!  

I wasn't pressured at any point to make my decision, I wasn't hassled by emails or phone calls.  He just waited for me to figure out what I wanted in a new-to-me vehicle and make the decision.  

I was able to give them the majority of the information before I decided on the vehicle.  

We were in and out for the signing in under a half hour!  Now THAT is what I call service!

I would highly recommend CarMax to anyone who needs a vehicle.  

Wanda and I have already been on a little road trip down to Perry for a little scrapbooking trip and the ride was smooth and kinda fun!  I am a happy camper!  

No buyers remorse from this chick!!!!

Until Next Time,

SCRAP ON!

~Cyn~

Holy Cow! I did it!

I did something I have never done before....

I sent in my application to be a member of the Project Life Creative Team 2014!!!

Yep, my hands are shaking a little and I am a little bit shocked that I hit the "Send" button on my email!  

Here is what I wrote (minus the contact info of course):

"Hi there Kari!!!

I'm Cyndi M (aka Cyn)

I live in Hampton, GA but I am originally from Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Links to all things "Cyn":
Http://cynmscrappiness.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/CynMCanuck
https://mobile.twitter.com/GACynM
http://www.pinterest.com/CynMCanuck/


About Me:
Married to Ben for 14 years (together 17)
2 children - Nathan -9- and  Sophie -4-
Stay at home mom
Work part time at a private preschool as a paraprofessional in the Kindergarten classroom

First PL album done in 2012 with a photo-a-day with extras thrown in when we did special trips
Second PL is being put together this year but not "photo-a-day" style but more of a monthly view.

My son is in the 4th grade and he used the cards from PL to do his INUIT scrapbook for one of his assignments.

I plan 2 scrappy retreats a year and have "enabled" plenty to use Project Life for their scrappy projects.

Project Life Photos are attached below.  I attached a few journaling samples - handwritten and typed.

I call my PL stuff "plain jane" because I don't do anything too fancy.  

I also attached a couple of my favourite layouts for "Design G" which is one of my favourite plastics that Becky came out with.

Thanks for this fabulous opportunity!!!!  I have to admit, I have never applied for anything like this before and it will be an awesome challenge for me!  I hope to hear from you soon!

~Cyn~"

I attached the following pictures to my email.

Before I had time to re-think or doubt myself, I clicked SEND.  Now, I have been on a creative team for Sketchapalooza in the past, but it was just for one class (which is a month long) and it was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed it.   But for someone as well-known as Becky Higgins and a product like Project Life, nope.  NEVER!  

So, cross your fingers and pray for a good outcome and I will know by November 20th if I have been chosen.  Wish me luck!!!!

Until Next Time,

SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

~38~

Yep! That's ME!
I am now 38.  

I am in the 35-44 age group on all surveys and questionnaires.
2 years until I am 40...eek!
Yesterday was interesting for me.
I spent the day like any other summer day: with my kidlets. 

We are potty training Sophie on her new potty that she picked out last week at Walmart, which is a "new" thing for us.  We told her that when she was done this last pack of Pampers Cruisers that we were not buying any more.  We don't go anywhere when we potty train because we need to stay close to home until she grasps the concept of peeing on the potty when she "feels" like she has to go.  So, we stayed here.  

People were wishing me happy birthday on Facebook and it was nice to see all the well-wishers.  Laura and Dawn bought me Starbucks gift cards on Facebook and when I saw Christy G on Sunday, she had sewn me an adorable blue owl for my Origami Owl display and gave me a giftcard to Starbucks!   

I went to the mailbox and found 3 birthday cards in there!  One from Mum and Dad, one from my Mom-in-law and Father-in-Law and one from my friend Sarah up in Woodstock.  
Mom and Dad M (my in-laws) sent me some cash, so I went on Amazon and bought my RAIN Project Life Kit.  Purples, Greens, Blues = my kind of kit. So, that was cool. 

Friday, Marta and I are heading to see Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Marietta.  It will be fun.  We both like the theatre!  

Mum and Dad told me to buy myself something that I wouldn't normally go out and buy for myself.  So, we went to Best Buy and got a 39 inch LED TV for me to use in my bedroom.  Since the kidlets like to use the tv to play on the wii or watch Sophie the First or Cartoons/DVD's, I have been using a 19 inch television in my bedroom to watch shows on when they are using the "big tv".  So, now, I can escape to my bedroom and watch tv!

Ben texted me to see if I wanted to go out for dinner and we ended up going to Cheddars.  

When we got home, we did "the usual" get ready for bed, brush teeth and climb in.  
I didn't expect that I would end up spending the rest of the night on my own.  
Ben laid down with Sophie to get her to stay in her bed and promptly fell asleep!!!
So, I spent the rest of the night watching the tv until I got too tired and went to bed.

"Business as usual" in the Michalski household.  So, that concludes the 38th Birthday.  

Gotta love it!  Onward and Upward!!!!

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Vacation...

Yep....that is us right now....ON VACATION...... 

I haven't updated in a while, but it has been a very busy couple of weeks!  

We are on vacation right now and I am sure that when I get home, I will need MORE of a vacation to get my rest from my vacation!

I have started the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy and can't seem to put it down.  

My mum had it on her Kindle and I am reading it. I started Monday night and didn't go to sleep until 6:30am on Tuesday because I had to keep reading.  I haven't read a series that I couldn't put down in a long, long time!  

In other news, we went to a scrapbooking store here and I was able to pick up some really great papers for the hockey pictures I took in North Carolina.  I also picked up some "scrapbooking chick" papers for my Skyline album and layouts about scrapbooking retreats.  I can't wait to get home to play with the papers and photos I have waiting for me.  

So, the kids, Ben and I are going to enjoy our vacation and I will catch y'all on once I get home and settled from this vacation.  Should be a good rest of the week....lots of places to see.
Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Sweet....

Today a knock came at the door while the kidlets were napping.
The dogs went ballistic and barked until the kidlets were wide awake!
Anyway......

I answered the door to find a kid holding a bunch of flowers.

I thought for sure he had the wrong address, when I noticed my name on the card.  

My husband sent me flowers for my 37th Birthday (which is on Sunday).  

How SWEET!  

When I called Ben at work to thank him for the lovely arrangement, 

he told me that they weren't supposed to deliver them until Saturday.  

Oh well....they are here now!  :)

Thanks honey!

I love them and I love YOU!

Until Next Time,

SCRAP ON!

~Cyn~

Happy Mail!!! A Gratitude Entry.....

I went to the mailbox earlier this week and found an envelope addressed to me!

It wasn't a BILL..

It wasn't Junk Mail.

It was AWESOME!!!!

It was a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) from a follower of my blog.

S reads my blog and I have a link to her blog right here.  She commented last week on my Project Life post that she doesn't use her ARROWS and other STICKERS that came in her Clementine Project Life Kit.  She asked me if I would like them.
I said I would love them because I use mine with every week....
VOILA!  

Here they are!!!

How awesome is this?!?!?!  It made me GRIN!!!
It isn't very often that I am the recipient of a RAK.
I appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness S!
It was so nice to get a HAPPY letter in the mail instead of the usual bills and junk!
Thank you S!  You made my day!!
Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~ 

Simple Woman's Day Book - Week 17

FOR TODAY - Thursday April 26, 2012

Outside my window...it is sunny and gorgeous out.

I am thinking...that I really need more pictures of Nathan.
I am thankful...for Tim Hortons Coffee this morning. I slept terribly last night!
In the kitchen...I can hear the dogs munching on their food.
I am wearing...my penguin pajamas that light up.
I am creating...some layouts for a friend.  Should look fabulous when I am done with them.  
I am going...to volunteer this morning in Nathan's classroom.  I think he really likes that I can do that for him. Ah, the benefits of being a stay at home mommy!
I am wondering...what Ben and my parents are up to in Canada this morning. I am jealous that he is up there getting all the Tim Horton's coffee he can stand while I am down here with the kidlets doing chores and taking care of things.  Oh well.  At least he has some time away.  
I am reading...smut....romantic and almost erotic fiction!  Some of these freebies I got on Amazon for the Kindle.  I love that Kindle!  It is the best thing since sliced bread!
I am hoping...Ben has a nice time in Canada before his training in Michigan starts on Monday.  He needs some time with his family.
I am looking forward to...this weekend when Elizabeth comes for a scrappy retreat here at the house. I think Jessica is coming too.  Should be a nice getaway for her and we will get some scrapping done!
I am learning...I need to eat more often at home.  I find that through the day, I forget to eat and that leads to a grumpy mama.  So, I need to start forcing myself to eat, even if I am not hungry!
Around the house...it is all quiet.  Sophie is still in bed and Nathan is getting himself some cheerios for breakfast. The dogs are finished eating their breakfast and I can hear the fan in the bathroom going (noise barrier for Sophie).
I am pondering...going back through the years to get the photos put into a family album for each year.  Should take me a while, but using the We R Memory Keepers page protectors will make it easy.  Project Life has really opened my eyes to this "easy" way of scrapping!
A favorite quote for today...found this on pinterest.  That site is a huge time-suck, but it is pretty fabulous for quotes and all kinds of crafty ideas and do-it-yourself stuff too.  Love it!

One of my favorite things...my Kindle
A few plans for the rest of the week...watch Grey's Anatomy tonight, scrappy time with my girlfriends, maybe some outside time with the kidlets and some serious laundry to get done!
A peek into my day...

Working on the page next to this one today.  Maybe I will even get the photos from this week uploaded to CVS to be printed.  Who knows right?  Today is going to be a good, good day!

********************

Want to join us? Go here


Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!


~Cyn~

Diary of 5 - Week 12

Thursday March 22, 2012

I am seeing...the school picture for Nathan on my desk that actually looks decent for once (yay Nathan!!!), the photos that I am laying out for a gift album I am doing and my stuff still not totally unpacked from Skyline lying around my scraploft. 

I am hearing...the hum of the dishwasher, babbling of Sophie as she reads her books to herself (in her own little language) and a little music coming from the iPod player.
  

I am smelling...the vanilla perfume I put on this morning mixed with the shampoo I used in the shower.  Interesting smells when combined!

I tasted...Tim Horton's coffee this morning and I even made Cinnamon rolls!
 

I am feeling....a little worn out.  Skyline was this past weekend and I haven't fully recovered from the sleepless nights at the retreat. 




Tonight will be an early night for me since Ben is still in Michigan on his training course. We FACETIME every night so that Sophie can see her daddy....she misses him so much! He gets home tomorrow.  

If you want to participate in Diary of 5, go here:
http://diaryof5.blogspot.com/

Until next time,
SCRAP ON!

~Cyn~

It's Retreat Time!

Packing has begun down here for my Skyline Retreat.  I have all my paper packed and ready to go in the car.  I have my clothes packed and bedding, secret sister gift and even a little gift for each of the ladies attending.  Should be a great time!  I even have a pic of Sophie trying to stow away in my CM rolling tote so she can come too!

Back to work loading the car while Sophie sleeps....

Until next time...SCRAP ON!

~Cyn~

 

Wordless Wednesday...March 7th Edition....

"Scrap Loft" Reorganization....

My good friend Beth gifted me a bunch of JetMax cubes for my scrap loft. I spent all day Monday getting everything organized and put the way I wanted it.  I hope it will be functional and I will be able to work in this space. Here is what I came up with for my Scrap Loft:

  

I think it looks so good and I am really hoping that I can work in this space without having to move everything again.  Thanks to Beth for the awesome cubes! Now, to just find the time and also my "mojo" so I can get creating!

~Cyn M~  

Day 51

I was organizing my photos today and ran across some of Yoda. Yes, he is STILL missing and I am missing him lots. The pictures made me tear up a little. What if he did go off somewhere to die? My friend Sandra told me that cats do that when they are sick. I just don't know how I couldn't have known he was not feeling well? I am just waiting for him to return. :(

Well, I mentioned yesterday that I had found some inspiration for the ATC Swap for Skyline. Well, here is what I did for the swap. I used my stash and came up with something in my 2 favourite colours: Purple and Green......There are only 6 of us doing the swap, but here is what I came up with and the journaling on the back of the card is written below:

For as long as I can remember, my dream was to open my own Spa &Retreat property. I would host retreats of all kinds…The property would have single rooms for privacy, walking and riding trails, horseback riding, fitness classes, large multi-purpose rooms and fabulous food. I guess planning Skyline is the closest I have ever come to making this dream come true…

~Cyn~

Day 36 of 365

The New 'DO after having 10 inches cut off. I am not really pleased with it, but I did tell her to just make sure that no more length was taken (after the 10 inches of course). I thought Ben would be upset. But, I think that since I did it in honour of Margie (his mom), he can't really complain.

The girls came over to crop today and it was SO nice to have them here and get some of my scrapbooks put together. It was a good day.A successful day was had by all and even our kids got along!!! Amazing!
~Cyn~

Day 27....My Boy.....

I took this pic a couple of minutes ago.....we had a GREAT night tonight. Nathan didn't have a great day at school today, he talks too much apparently (kinda like his mama *wink wink*). But when Nathan got home, he did his homework and then we turned on the tunes. We "watch" the music choice channels on tv and flip between all the channels to get upbeat tunes to wear off some energy. As I made quesadillas and fajitas for dinner, Nathan and I were dancing all over the kitchen and livingroom. Sophie tries to dance, but bounces. It is too cute. Nathan has his own version of the "running man" that makes me giggle every time he does it! We danced until dinner was finished cooking and kept the music on through dinner. He has ALWAYS been a happy-go-lucky kid and I am so proud of him. He is very much my "mini-me"......dimples and all.....
I love you Nathan!!!
Love,
Mama

25 Layouts and 365 for Sunday....

Can you believe it? I completed 25 layouts and all I had to do when I got home was print out the journaling that I wrote for one of the layouts and stick it down! Go me!

Now...here is the pic of the day for Sunday January 9th 2011...The 4 gals I sat with at FLSSIX:

Kim, ME, Marcy and Brenda K. I have roomed with Kim at a lot of the Florida retreats that I have been to. She is fun and she always looks great! She is bold with her hair colour and I admire her for it. I am not so great with taking chances and I wish I could do what she does with her hair! Seriously, she is awesome! Marcy and Brenda K were roomies and I have met Brenda K before, but hadn't really sat and talked with her. What an awesome chick! So, the 4 of us had a great time together this weekend. Thanks for the belly laughs gals! Can't wait to do it again!

Until next time.....Keep on Scrappin'!
~Cyn~

Day 4 - Project 365

Can you believe it? I am still doing it! I guess it helps that I have set my calendar on the iPhone to remind me two times each day AND I downloaded the 365 app for iPhone and it reminds me too. If I don't have a list (or a reminder), I forget.

I had Ben take a pic of me sitting in bed with my laptop and my book. It is a "nightly ritual" that I have and if I don't do it, I don't sleep very well. I go through my emails and reply to any that need replying to, check facebook for any updates. Sometimes I check email in bed, sometimes in my scrap loft. Tonight, I brought the laptop to bed because I was feeling lazy. After getting online and doing all that, I put the laptop away and read some of the book that I am currently reading. Right now it is a book called Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have this quirk...read the book before you watch the movie. I received the movie for Christmas and I refuse to watch it (even if it has my favourite actress in it - Julia Roberts) until I have read the book.....

Here is the pic:

Keep On Scrappin'!

~Cyn~

Day 2 - Project 365

It's Sunday and I am happy to say that Ben let me play in the scrap loft! Sometime, I will take some photos of the scrap loft, but for right now, you can see a pic of me actually scrapbooking! Well, I was working on my new gypsy to create titles for the portrait album pages that I had to complete for my mum. I take her pictures that I send up of the kidlets and put them into layouts. I started that tradition last year. Both her and my mother in law have them now.

I don't have many photos of me scrapbooking, so I was pretty happy that Ben was willing to take the photo for me. Gotta love a man that is good with the camera too! Love ya hon!

So, here I am working on some titles for her portrait album using the Gypsy she and dad bought me for Christmas this year! Woot! Woot!

Not too bad Ben! I just wish I had done something with my hair! LOL
Until tomorrow....Just Keep Scrappin'!

~Cyn~