The Eclectique Butterfly

So many things and so little time!

I feel like I just can't ever catch up!  Maybe once summer is over I will actually have a chance at feeling like my life will return to normal :)

So for the breaking news in my life let's start with Sweet Pea Scraps.  Over a month ago Kristin and I sat down and had a heart to heart about the business and where it was going.  Truth be told, my heart just wasn't in it anymore.  The economy has really dropped our subscription base this past year and so we decided together that it was time to close up shop.  In ways I am very sad about this and in other ways I am excited about where I am going next!!  (that I will save for a later post, anticipation is a killer, I know!)

Kris will be starting his senior year in less than a week.  Is that really possible?  I am not ready for him to start school this year and we haven't done the usual school clothes shopping or supply shopping yet.  I think if we would have done that it would seem more real.  Kris says he has it handled though, I guess I will find out on Sunday when I get back home.

Yep that's right, I have been on VACATION!!  Roy and I left last Thursday night and drove all night to get home to Mom and Dad's.  Mom and I spent the next two days canning 19 quarts of pickles, 34 pints of salsa and 28 quarts of peaches!!!  Unfortunately Roy and Dad were not as profitable and Mom and I were.  They fished for two days at Hoodsport and didn't even get a bite. 

On Sunday night we had a backyard BBQ and had family and friends over.  It was so nice to get to see everyone and I am grateful for the ones that were able to make it over to see us.  I got to see my cousin Kim for the first time in over 5 years, and my cousin Roy R. showed up and it had easily been over 15 years since I had seen him.  Dawna came up from Oregon and of course Shane and Julie made it down the hill to see us.  I wish that I would have had more time to visit and catch up though!

On Monday after a few false starts we finally made it to the coast and we were fishing by about 2:00, only to be skunked there as well.  Roy and I enjoyed a great walk on the beach that night and hit the sack early since we would be fishing all day on Tuesday.  It just wasn't in the cards for us to catch fish though and by Wednesday morning we were walking the docks at Westport in search of fresh salmon.  So we are coming home with fish - the real expensive kind!! 

We enjoyed the rest of our day in Westport and then headed back to Mom and Dad's since we were hooking up with Shane and Julie that night to go to the SW Washington Fair.  I haven't been to the fair in at least 7 or 8 years!!  I LOVE fair food, but I only allowed myself a fresh dipped corndog, mmmm....

Thursday we headed south to Portland and had lunch with Dawna at one of my favorite chinese joints.  You just can't get chinese food like that in Bozeman!!  No matter how long it has been since Dawna and I have seen each other, we always pick back up as if there has been no lapse.  We are such extensions of each other, it's like we are finally whole wehn we are together.  I hated to leave her, but she promises to visit us soon...  I am so going to hold you to that girlfriend!!!

We then headed to Amboy to see Greg and Wendy and the boys and we are ending up staying another night here before heading on to Clarkston tomorrow and then on Sunday we will head for home, finally!  I am going to need a vacation from my vacation by the time I get home!

And unfortunately no one will see any pictures of this trip as my lovely camera has finally bit the dust.  I have thrown in the towel and now I will need to start saving for a new one.

Hopefully next week I can update you on the rest of my goings on.  See you soon!

Time is flying...

Okay, will someone tell me where the heck July went??  I seriouosly need to get some of those days back!!  It seems like just last week that the kids got out of school for the summer and now it's almost time for them to go back...  I just don't understand, didn't summer used to last forever????

Roy and I are headed to WA in less than two weeks for a nice visit with the family.  Roy plans on doing some fishing with my dad at a salmon derby on the sound while Mom and I can peaches from dawn to dusk.  We are having a BBQ with family and friends and then heading to the coast for a day and then onto Vancouver to see Greg and Wendy before heading up the gorge to spend a night with Roy's parents.  If you would have asked Roy a month ago if he was excited about the trip, he would have told you to go jump in the lake.  Now if you asked him, you could see his eyes light up as he talks about it.  Sadly I think the reason he has changed his mind is that it will just be the two of us!!  Kris is now gainfully employed (thank goodness!!!) and he will have to stay home to work as we head out on vacation. 

I finally purchased the Enzo Milano curling iron...  This baby is supposed to rock for making beuatiful curls.  Even though I have curly hair, I have a few dead spots that I would like an extra curl or two in.  It's going to take some practice though, I burned myself two times tonight with it! 

Alrighty, I need to hit the sack for the night.  See ya'all later!

Being a mom is fun sometimes...

Especially when you get to blackmail your kids!!!  Okay well maybe I should back up a little and tell you exactly why I am blackmailing my child...  hehehe, I am so evil!!

Last Friday morning at about 5:00 I got up to use the restroom.  As I am finishing up I thought I heard a truck outside the condo....  Hmmm, that kind of sounds like Kris' truck.   Sure enough I made it to the window in time to see him making his way across the condo complex and headed for the back door.  Pretty suspicious since we all hit the sack the night before at the same time.  Looks like somebody snuck out!

He hit the landing near the bottom of the stairs just as I said "good morning"  I so wish it would have been lighter so I could see the look on his face!!!!  I could tell it was absolutely one of those "oh shit" moments from his perspective.  I told him I didn't want to talk about it then since I still wanted to sleep for another hour and we could talk about it after I got home from work.  Let him stew about it for a while!!

When I got home I proposed that he had a choice.  We could either tell Dad and let Dad decide on the consequences which could be no hunting this fall or something else much more serious for this breach of trust OR I could make a to-do list for him with such things on it as cleaning out the fridge, scrubbing some toilets and so on as punishment and we could keep this little incident a secret just between me and him.

Guess what he chose??  You got it - the nasty to do list!!!  So far I he has cleaned out the fridge, cleaned the kitchen and all three bathrooms, put away his never ending laundry and now I am running out of ideas!!  I need help!!!  Give me your nastiest, dirtiest job ideas, PLEASE!!!

Hosting a candle party...

Next Tuesday night at my work :)  I have been trying to get this together forever with my girlfriend Jessica and FINALLY it is happening!!!

She is an independent consultant for Mia Bella and they have the most wonderful smelling candles :)  I LOVE candles....  My faves are Key Lime Pie, Sweet Orange and Chili Pepper and Cactus and White Peach.  Recently they added some beauty products to their lineup.  I started using their mineral makeup and I am totally happy with it.  I have even had comments that my skin looks brighter, I'll take those compliments!

So if you are in the Bozeman area and you didn't get my e-vite please zip me an e-mail if you would like to come and I will make sure you get the particulars.

This week has been catch up time.  I spent some time with the hubs this afternoon.  Yesterday I had lunch with Jenn K and today I yacked on the phone with Kate for a while.  Who have you connected with this week?

And Jenn C - now that you are back in town how does Friday sound for lunch????  Applebees???

Later!

Kicking back...

For once we are not cramming a hundred things into the weekend and I got a chance to sleep in (oh so heavenly!) and just kick back a little.  It helps that the weather has been a little unpredictible and so typical of a Bozeman summer with hot days and scattered thundershowers.  We got caught in a thundershower last weekend hiking gback to camp from Rat Lake.  We were totally soaked to the bone, the dogs were freaked out and our boots were caked with clay, oiy!

My rhuematoid arthritis has been flaring quite a bit since last weekend's camp out.  Unfortunately I have discovered that I am unable to drink margaritas anymore...  quite the bummer huh?  I also now have to religiously stay away from all sugars, flour, rice and processed food.  I know it seems drastic, however I have discovered how good I feel when I don't partake in these kinds of foods.  I have done a bit on research on the topic of diet and how it relates to my disease and it was amazing to me to find out just how inflammatory some foods are.  Who would have thunk that spaghetti sauce would make my RA flare up?  Same goes for corn on the cob, rice, pastas, all kinds of bread any my personal fave that I have to give up - POPCORN!!!  I think margaritas are second on my bummer list after popcorn...Good news is that I get to eat lots of fish, fruits and veggies - which I love so I guess that's the trade off for feeling good.

I still haven't scrappbooked and I have all kinds of vintage goodies on my desk dying to be played with, but I just don't have the get up and go to work on anything.  Today I am reading and resting in hopes that I can survive the work week :)  I have been re-reading the tortorously long "The Fiery Cross" by Diana Gabaldon.  It's the 5th in the series and since I want to buy the 6th book next I thought I had better re-read it.  It's not her best one, but it has important details that I want to remember therefore I am dragging myself through it and then as a reward I will buy the 6th book "A breath of snow and ashes".

Alrighty, I need to get dinner going - see you all again soon :)

Pampering time!!

I met up with my girlfriend Jess last night and we had facials done by the lovely Miss Elizabeth :)  It felt so good to be pampered for a while.  Elizabeth sells Mary Kay and some of the products we used were amazing!!  I ordered the foot scrub and lotion for now, but I want soooo much more!!

I have been infected with the facebook bug (as Jennica calls it!)  Oh my did I spend a lot of time there this morning!!  Connected with a cousin of mine I haven't talked to in years and made plans to see him next month when I go home for a visit.  

I have much more to share, but guess what? I work for a living and have to get going, bummer huh?  Be back soon!!

Back from camping...

And exhausted!!!  We fished, we hiked, we ate (a lot), talked, laughed and had an incredible time this past weekend.  I really didn't want it to end yet, but alas I had to return to work today, sigh...

I was super bummed that I am having camera issues.  The dang thing has just not been right since I dropped it last February, but now a different problem has popped up.  It is draining batteries like there is no tomorrow.  There were all of these amazing photos I wanted to take this weekend, but I didn't get a one of them.  I think I need a fairy godmother so I can get a new camera, any volunteers???  :)

This is going to be a short post tonight, I really need to get to bed.  See you soon :)

Sigh...

The weather is getting warmer and the late night thunder storms have started here in Montana.  The sunsets are amazing and the lightning shows have been incredible.  My tomatoes and bell peppers are blooming and the first round of lettuce is nearly ready for harvest.  The farmers market is up and running for the summer and Music on Main starts this Thursday with the Clintons.  Plus I feel as if the truck is perpetually packed for camping these days.  Ahh, I LOVE summer!!! 

Speaking of camping, that's what we are planning this weekend.  A lazy weekend spent on Squaw Creek up the canyon enjoying the outdoors, doing some hiking and fishing.  I am going to take the sketch book, my camera and a good book, plus I plan on getting a decent tan while I am watching the guys cast their fishing poles.  I might throw a cast or two if the fish are biting in case I need to catch my own dinner!  I can't count on the guys, they just catch and release.  I love to bake my fish on the fire with a little lemon and butter, there is nothing fresher.  It just tastes so darn good that my mouth is watering just thinking about it :)

Brad and Sara will be celebrating their second wedding anniversary next week.  I can't believe how time flies.  It seems like yesterday that we were planning the wedding and all of the festivities.  Now if they would just give me a grandchild I would be a happy camper! 

That's all for tonight folks.  I need to finish getting the July kits prepped for mailing :)

Still here...

Making a few changes around here - hope you like them!!  New name, new direction and a new look.  Hopefully this is just the start of the changes to come in the months ahead :)

I know there are those of you out there that check on me faithfully and I am truly sorry that I have been such a bad blogger!  I wish I could say that I was out of the country doing something fantastic or working so hard aand making bank that I was just too darn busy to post.  Truth is, I needed a break.  Plain and simple...

Lots to update you on though :)  Here it is in a nutshell...   We bought the kiddo a truck over a month ago, darn kid still doesn't have a summer job yet.  Dear hubby got laid off last month and as he puts it he is riding the unenjoyment train for now.  My new job at the chiropractor's office is going quite well, plus it's nice to be making a decent wage!  My previous employer has called on me several times to bail them out with questions.  I totally don't mind it, I actually think it's rather funny!!  I do hope they now realize what they had in me as an employee.

I turned 42 last month, wow am I starting to feel old.  The rheumatoid arthritis has really been kicking my butt too.  I have done a lot of research lately and I am trying an anti-inflammatory diet in hopes that I can get it under control.  It is always better in the summer, however if this summer is any indication of the direction I am heading, winter is going to be miseralble... 

I have not scrapped in over three months!  I am just not excited about scrapping anymore.  I have a couple different directions I want to head with my creativity, I just need to make it happen.  Vintage is what I am more interested in these days.  Check out this gorgeous eye candy that is waiting for me on my desk!

So there is the short of it - hope to see you again soon :)

Drained...

In more ways than one these days!  Last Thursday the billing girls took me to eat at Santa Fe Red's and gave me a gift card to one of my fave place's, World Market :)  AND they were having a bedding sale over the weekend - 25% off - so I ordered this quilt that I have been looking at for a while now :)

  

So pretty and feminine, now if I can just keep the dog off from it!

Gabby is gaining weight and looking better every day.  She has now been home for three weeks and it still a little skinny, but has most of her usual spunk back.  She actually wanted to venture outside last night!  Silly girl - you ain't leaving the house even with your new purple kitty bling that has your name and phone number on it!!

We went to Island Park over the weekend with Brad and Sara.  Other than a nice roaring fire, playing a few games, and the incredible steak dinner on Saturday night, I don't remember much.  I was catching up on sleep!!  It felt soooo good to get some quality rest, BEFORE STARTING MY NEW JOB!!!

Which I will save for another post - nite all :)