Random Tidbits

I haven't blogged nearly as much as I did last year, but here lately, I've blogged even less!  I've had lots on my plate and lots on my mind.  I want to blog more, I've loved blogging.  But I feel a slight disconnect lately.  One of the reasons I love blogging is the connection I have with other bloggers!  And lately {possibly my own fault with my lack of blogging} I feel like that connection is gone.  And believe me, that's not why I blog, I blog to document our lives.  But let's be honest here....we all love that people visit our blogs, that they may relate, that they get us.  I love to leave comments when I read something I like, agree with, understand, or got some help from.  Wow...can I use the word "lately" a few more times?  LOL!  Basically, I need to get my bootie in gear, be a better blogger and keep up with my favorite blogs more, and hopefully I'll get to hear from more of my sweet bloggy friends more too!

This year has been sooo much more busy {I know, that's not good grammar}!  With Caroline being involved with cheer, it takes sooooo much darn time!  On top of that, I'm really trying to get my business to grow.  Most of you know that I have an artist itch!  I've been doing it for years and I really want to be able to make something of it.  

 Along with that, I've always been a picture nut, usually with my camera always in my purse!  So last ybear I upgraded to a nicer camera and invested in some lenses, to see what I could do.  After a year of practice, reading, research, and just good old fashioned tinkering, I've done several photo shoots, and I LOVE it!  It's nice not always taking pictures of just my own cutie pie!  So I have that venture on my plate too...and trying to decide if they should both be housed under the same name, or if I want to go with 2 different businesses.  I've decided to house them together under Carolina Sunshine Designs.  So that meant there will be some big changes to the CSD Blog in the near future!  I also started a Facebook page!  Stop by and say hello!  I'll be hosting giveaways there too!

 And of course, you can always throw in family time!  Not only am I learning that having an 8 year old daughter is not easy at all, but raising her to be a good person, and make good choices is even harder!  Wow, I really need an instruction manual these days!  Sassy, knows it all, and hates the clothes I pick for her!!! Hahaha...it will get better eventually...right?  On top of that, hubby works crazy hours, and goes to bed super early, so getting time with him is scarce these days.  We're learning to make our schedules work though!

I've also had lots of projects going on at home, trying to update things on a budget!  Hopefully I'll get some tutorials up here soon!

We can then add the holidays into the mix!  WooHoo!!  I love this time of year!  We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year and everything turned out great!  The only thing missing was 5 of our family members.  Caroline usually spends Thanksgiving with her dad, his family really loves Thanksgiving so it's their big holiday to get together.  And then my step-sisters crew had other plans today.  But we had great food and great company!  

If any of you are brave enough to go out for the Black Friday shopping....I wish you luck!  I've never braved the stores on Black Friday...have you?

So that's my random tidbits for the day, hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Caroline = 8

Well baby girl, where do I begin?  You are my love, you are my light, you are my everything.  I always knew I wanted to be a mommy, I can't ever remember not wanting to be a mommy!  You made my dreams come true.  You saved me in my darkest time.

I will never forget the moments leading up to finding out you were already growing in my tummy!  I never though in a million years that the test would be positive, and when I saw that it was my whole world changed in an instant.  It was April 9th, 2002.  Barely 5 months after your grandma went to heaven.  There were times I didn't think I could do it without her to help show me the way through motherhood, but I think I'm doing just fine!

You have been a joy {most of the time} since you were born!  You were the best baby, sleeping through the night from day one!  God blessed me in so many ways when you were born.  You slept, you were happy, you ate anything I gave you and some things I didn't...dogfood!  There were no terrible two's...but there was when you were 4!

You amaze me everyday!  You're growing up so fast and sometimes I'm not sure quite what to do with you.  I love that you have a kind heart, and I hope you always stay that way.  You care about so many things that it truly amazes me!  Your such a good friend and hate it when you see people being mean to your friends.  I can't believe how smart you are, especially in math!  It makes me so proud!!!

Now, I can say that this last year or so, you have worn me out girl!  Your little attitude.....WHEW!  Sassy pants for sure!  I guess this is what happens when little girls start to grow up, can you stop now?  I'm not sure I can handle the teen years!  I want you to remember everything from your childhood, and that's why I drive you crazy with the camera, and here's the proof!

I love you more than words could ever say Boog!  Have a wonderful 8th birthday!

Love Always, Mommy

70th...

Today would be your 70th birthday.  Today I cried big fat tears.  Today I miss you just as much, if not more than I did 9 years ago.  9 years ago today we gathered with your friends and laid you to rest. 

I thought I would get through today okay, but I just couldn't.  As the day went on, I knew I couldn't just ignore it anymore.  I figured the only thing to do was to write it all down.  How much I miss you, how much I want to just talk to you.  How when I was in the hospital a few weeks ago I cried on Tab's shoulder for you to be there because I just wanted my mommy.  I look at Caroline and I just think of all the love you would have for her.  She is a handful, and I'm sure you look down and just laugh at times.  I know I laugh.

Sometimes I just can't grasp that you've been gone for so many years, and then at times it seems like it was yesterday.  I miss being in the kitchen and sitting in the counter while you cooked.  Or sitting in the couch with my head in your lap while you played with my hair.  I miss watching you take care of Olivia and loving her so much.  I know you would have done all those things for Caroline too.  When I'm up at her school or doing homework with her I think about you, and how much you loved teaching children.  I still can't hear 'Jesus Loves the Little Children' without thinking of you and crying.  I can't hear 'Amazing Grace'. 

Each year when Janet comes to have dad do her taxes it takes everything I have not to cry for both of you and the friendship you shared.  You touched so many lives in your 60 years, I can't imagine the lives you would have touched if you were still here.

I know better than anyone else what a spitfire you could be, we shared many a heated argument during your 23 years with me.  I look back to the few months we had before you were gone, and you did so much to protect me, and yes, we argued about that too!  I remember laying on the bed with you for the last time and crying and telling you how I was feeling.  And you understood how I felt, but you still tried to protect me.

I miss the late night talks when I would get home.  You sitting on the couch and me in the wingback chair across from you.  I miss those nights.  I miss cooking Thanksgiving dinner with you, and having the Macy's Day Parade on all morning while we cooked.  I miss decorating for Christmas and blaring Christmas music while we got everything all done. 

I know I'll Never forget any of it, but even though I have those memories, I still wish I had you here.

Blog Designs

Wow!  What a week...or 2 weeks really!  Caroline was sick all last week, I had to stay home with her for 4 days!  Poor thing had fever in the 103's-104's all week, it was awful!  Don't you just hate it when your kiddos are sick?  But really, that's not the point today.

I've dabbled with blog designing for the last year or so...mostly for fun, and to feed my creative instincts!  I've never charged anyone to design a blog, and I was thinking that maybe I would try my hand at actually having a business doing it.  Not full time, but since I do it anyway, why not make it part of my business?  Trust me, I'm not an expert, but I do know a little about what I'm doing!

So..here's my plan:  For the first 20 people who want a new blog design, I'll work with you to get you what you want for the sweet low price of $40!!!  This will include:

*header

*sidebar headings {unlimited}

*2-3 columns {with a wider posting space}

*custom signature

*blog button
*installation

I'm not sure that this will take off, but I love to design blogs!  And the good part is that I'm really not trying to make a killing doing this, but more that I love doing it, and it does take time, but I don't want to charge an arm and a leg for it!

If you are interested, please leave me a comment with your contact info, ie: email address!  Or you can contact me at:  carolinasunshinedesigns {at} yahoo {dot} com.

And so you know what your getting into, here are a few blogs/headers that I have designed:

  

Sidebar

 

Etsy Header

Buttons

Cheer Baby, Cheer!

I think I've mentioned before that Caroline is on a competitive cheer team...maybe not?  I'll be honest, everything is a big blur this week, LOL, but that's a whole 'nother post!  Boog really wanted to tryout for cheerleading at the gym she takes tumbling at, so she did, and she made the team!  Which to be honest, totally shocked me!  I promise I'm not being mean, it's just that I do not have a cheerleading bone in my body, including tumbling skills, but I danced from the time I was 2 until I was 18.  I always imagined that would be the same road for her.  Nope!  My little girl has got some tumbling skills!  Ha!  Never would have thought it, but she's pretty darn good for just starting out.

They had their 1st competition last weekend in Garland, and although they didn't win, they did get 3rd!  I was very proud of her team!  They were so cute out there!

***Sorry...most of the pics from the competition floor turned out blurry!***

hehehe....the "cheer dad's" got shirts too, but we put sparkles on Caroline's dad's shirt!!! hehehe