Working

There are happenings afoot in my work life, and I can't decide if they are positive or negative. They just are at this point. I am resigning a position I have held for 3 years in a company I have worked for, for nearly 6 years. I am leaving before they get a chance to drag me though the mud and hold me accountable for the sins of the group. But that being said, I have known it is time to go for a long time. When you are in a role that is solely designed to be prepped for the next position up - the manager - and you have decided that you don't want to be the manager, it is time to leave. I spent 2 years keeping the branch together in absence of the manager and I hated doing it. I was so stressed and worked to death that I put myself in the ER late one December night a few years ago because of kidney stones. I have developed pain in my feet that can't be cured by pills or surgery. I just can't convince myself that I want to do that forever. It is very scary - leaving a job without a new one. But I can't just wait for the axe to fall and then have to tell every employer that I was terminated. So, I am giving ample notice and leaving. My manager is a cool guy and understands the situation and respects that. My family is supportive, because they have seen the crap I have put up with for so long. But it is scary. I had finally come to a place (financially) that I was pretty happy with - paying down debt, able to take my girl to the movies every now and then, and even planning a vacation for next year. And all of that goes out the window if someone doesn't think my resume is the best one of the pile. Happy Holidays.

Shelby's Mesh Project

My daughter asked the other day if she could do her own mesh project. So, she took a look at Pinterest and decided to do one of the "rolled" mesh wreaths. The color scheme was originally neon green, neon pink and black. But it got changed to just pink and black when Shelby discovered how long it took to cut the mesh into pieces.
Materials used:

• 1 12" wire wreath frame
• 2 rolls each of 21" deco mesh
• pipe cleaners
• 3" wire ribbon and a silk flower

We cut the mesh into about 8 inch lengths.

We then used bright pink pipe cleaners to hold the rolls in the middle and then tie them to the wire frame.

This was 2 full rolls of mesh. It became really unruly.

Shelby added zebra print ribbon loops and a zebra print flower.

 

Had I been a controlling mother (or if this had been my project), I would have added some more ribbon to the finished product, but she was happy.

 

She also decided to make "shoes" out of pipe cleaners.

 

Mesh Wreath - Green and Silver

This one will be a Christmas present for my dear hubby's pseudo-grandparents.

The supplies (all 50% off at Hobby Lobby, or already in my stash):

• 1 roll each: dark green, moss green 21" deco mesh
• 1 roll 10" silver deco mesh
• green wreath frame (I bought one with the wire things already attached - about the same price as a plain one because of the sale)
• small silver ornaments
• 3" wide ribbon (you can buy a lifetime supply at Costco for $10)
• silver deco mesh tubing

I went darkest to lightest - using the darkest green on the outer ring only.

Lighter green went next - alternating between outer and inner rings.

Finish with once around with the 10" silver mesh, alternating between the inner and outer rings. I went around once more with the ribbon (always try to keep the pretty side toward the front). I then made loops with the tubing and attached it to the wire frame with pipe cleaners. I think symmetry is for anal retentive people. The beauty is in the unpredictability.

I finished by attaching some small ornaments to pipe cleaners and wrapping them around the wire frame. If I were to do this project again, I would have opted for the larger size ornaments. But I think it is one of my favorite projects so far.

Married

I have spent the last week enjoying married life. Yes, a short, two-week engagement and we were married on the 29th. One of the happiest days of my life. And it was exactly how we wanted it - just the closest of family and friends (just 11 of us total), vows, food and love.

He is truly the man I have waited so many years for. He makes me smile and laugh and think and feel. He is interested in the same life that I am and is willing to work hard for everything - from his paycheck, to his relationships. Love him.

Engaged!

My sweet man tricked me into taking a hike, and surprised me with a ring...we are engaged! Can't wait to marry him. We are going to go to the courthouse, then take a few days at the beach, then throw an open house reception sometime after the first of the year. So happy!

Health Scare

My sweet man made a trip to my parents' house to help them get the yard in order for my sister's wedding this weekend. And he winds up in the ER. X-ray and doc both say that his elbow has a very strained ligament, but no need for major intervention - just some ice, anti-inflamitories and stretching. He will definitely be okay in a few weeks. Good thing his insurance kicked in on the first of this month!

It is such a scary thing to contemplate one of us getting severely hurt. We simply do not have the funds to pay for things like surgery costs. When I had my MRI for kidney stones 2 years ago, it took me 18 months to pay it off, and I was only able to finish paying it off because it was my turn to claim my daughter as a dependent on my taxes and I got a large return. Otherwise, I would still be paying, I have no doubt.

I guess that is a fib - I do have some $$ saved up for a vacation I am planning. And I would gladly spend the dough on our health needs if we needed to. But, damn, I need a vacation! And a vacation with my family that is focused on nothing but fun - not a travel to someone's wedding, or tie some other task into the vacation, but a real, relaxation vacation :)

Blue and Yellow

More Mesh! This one is Iridescent white, royal blue and yellow; accented with a white and blue scroll ribbon and lemons. I am making these without thought to what to do with them when I am done - so this one has found its way to my living room wall, even though it doesn't match the décor at all :)