Take Time to Give Thanks!

Each year around this time all we hear is about "Black Friday" this and "I want that for Christmas." Well, I went to check my yahoo mail and found an article about 'Black Friday' promotions for Wal-Mart. I don't know why they are calling it 'Black Friday' when most are having it on Thursday evening.

This move, (the Thursday evening bit) really bothers me. I feel Thanksgiving is a time to be with family. I feel that we should 'Give Thanks' and take time to be 'thankful' for all the things we do have instead of worrying about the things we may want. What has happened to the thought of family and spending good quality time with one another? I think that is a major part of what is wrong with society.

Most are so busy with their electronic devices that no one pays attention to what is really going on around them and within their home. I was reading some of the comments that people are have made on the Wal-Mart article and I applaud most of them! They say to "buy American." "Stay home with your family" and "have a family breakfast." Some also stated, because of opening so early in the evening, some do not even get to be with their families on Thanksgiving because they have work for the 'Black Friday' preparation. How sad that we have put 'things' as our priority in life, rather than 'family.'

I just know that as I get older, I realize what is important to me, in my life, and it is not"things!" I wish more people would take the time to be with family this season and be appreciative for what we/they do have. Be thankful that you do have your loved ones to spend this time with.

I am going to get back to my studying. I have to create a portfolio in art, write a critique essay for English, work on my spreadsheets, and also my Integrated documents. I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed...but I am taking it one day at a time and putting one foot in front of the other. That is all I can do. I hope you have a wonderful day! Cheers, ~Tonya

FYI- the picture listed was found here and I thought it was a really neat picture. A little to do with art and it said the 'sentiment' that I wanted to say. I clicked on it and what did I find? A blog that says "Try Handmade" at the top! How appropriate!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to ME!!

I was LUCKY enough to be chosen for an ART CAMP from Terri Brush! I still cannot believe that I WON! I am in sheer bliss and will have something to look forward to during the long cold winter months. If that was not enough, I was also given the flight to Oregon from another very generous person. Talk about the stars perfectly aligning for this to happen...Things like this do not happen to me (normally)! I was on Cloud 9 all day and still am!


This is a picture from the gals that were just at Art Camp in October. From visiting Terri's blog, I can tell they all had a wonderful time! Everything looks AMAZING! From the art classes, to the food, the desserts (my favorite), the ocean view, making new friends, and so many wonderful memories made are all priceless! I can't wait until April to make my own memories and friends that will last a lifetime!

I cannot express my feelings into words appropriately for such generous gifts from two women whom I've never met. Thank you for the bottom of my heart ~ you will never know how much this means to me.

After a long day at school, then being at my daughter's fall party at school as a room parent, and then out trick or treating with my daughter's....it is finally nice to be home! HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all of you! I just know this is one Halloween that I will remember for the rest of my life!

To everything there is a season...

As time goes by I am reminded that to everything there is a season and a purpose. Time must be appreciated. Time is so very precious to me but stands still for no one. I am in my second year of college and half way through my third semester. I will graduate in May! I can't help but think of all the time I spend with my nose in the books and completing homework, yet, there is a purpose and I must obtain my goal. I must keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I miss creating and having free time. Free time to just "BE." Be able to spend time with my children without having to worry about what assignment or essay is due. Be able to just rest, if only for a while, without having (what feels like) the weight of the world on my shoulders. I know there are others that are going through the same thing or worse, but I can't help but wonder ~ When will life get easier?

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I Am...

I found this inspirational quote on Facebook. I think it fits me to a "T" and I feel most women can relate. If not, then they may be fooling themselves? I know that I have not been posting much on creating, but I am truly finding myself, somewhere out there.

I am becoming educated. I am more patient. I am more in-tune to my own thoughts and own feelings. I am hopeful. I am building for my future. I am content.My eyes and mind are wide open. At the same time, I am scared. I am lost. I am confused. I feel detached. I feel alone.

Isn't it amazing how we can feel whole and feel broken all at once. Emotions are very complicated if you try to put them into perspective. I know that I am becoming more of a person that I have always wanted to be. I am!

~~~SALE - SALE - SALE~~~

Who doesn't LOVE a SALE? I am having a 40% off SALE in my Etsy shoppe! Go take a peek and see if there is an epattern you must have. If there is a epattern you would like and don't see it listed, just leave a comment or convo me and I will be happy to create a listing for you. The coupon code is SPOOKY40 just enter that in at the time of check out and it will take 40% off your purchase! Just click on the image and it will take you to my shoppe...

I do have one dollie listed and yes, she is 40% off. I have not had any time for creating and I miss it terribly. I have had my nose to the books and learning quite a bit. We are smack dab in the middle of an INDIAN SUMMER and I am loving it! Enjoy each day to the fullest! ~Tonya

~Scary Mary Halloween Doll~

***FINALLY*** a NEW Halloween Dollie! I should just say a NEW dollie in general. I think I have only made one other dollie this year and that was a dollie with bunny ears. This is my first Halloween dollie. Halloween is just around the corner. I have listed her in my Etsy Shoppe, but if she does not sell by Tuesday, I may move her to Ebay, we shall see...


Her name is Scary Mary, but she really does have a sweet side to her. She has tons of detail. I really enjoyed creating her. I have missed creating. I was so busy with my summer college courses and children, that I didn't have any time until now for creating. I do hope that you will stop by my Etsy Shoppe to take a peek at her. Have a wonderful weekend. ~Tonya

Oh, how they grow!!!

Since I have not posted to my blog for so long, some of you may think that I have fallen off the face of the earth. Jordan, my oldest, has turned 16! He turned 16 on August 2. I made his favorite for his birthday cake, homemade strawberry shortcake, from scratch and real whipped cream. YUM!!


Look at the height on him! He is about 6'2" now and I feel like a midget compared to him. I am only about 5'7". Wow, I feel short compared to him. Jordan was staying with my sister for almost a whole month. He was working for Pioneer in the fields. I missed him! I couldn't stay away thou, I did go and visit.


Then there was Courtney's birthday! She turned 14 on August 4. My middle child, she is growing up to be quite the young lady.


And last but not least, my Ninny (Sydney) my youngest. She will be 10 next month. This picture was taken on my birthday (August 9) and I am now officially 38 years young. I sure don't feel 38. When people get older, they say "Another year older and another year wiser." This year, I can honestly say that is true!!


The day after my birthday, I took my kids and my nephew, to Valleyfair amusement park. We had a BLAST! This is Jordan, Sydney, and Cody on Thunder Canyon. Courtney and I didn't want to get wet just yet. I loved all the rides, I always do! Yup, you can't keep me off the rides, especially the roller coasters. The faster and taller, all the more fun! I will ride on rides that some of my kids won't. LOL See, still a kid at heart ♥


And then on August 12, my son got his license! I can honestly say I am a bit worried about him being on the road, but I am mom, and that is my job! He is a good driver. This is Jordan in his new set of wheels. He got a new paint job on his truck, along with rhino on the bottom. Looks pretty sharp; if I do say so myself!

Funny boy, he said he was going to wait to get it painted until after he got home from working in the fields...good thing mom is always a quick thinker and on her toes! He said, "Mom, I am so glad I got it painted before I got my license, there is no way I could wait to have it painted while I have my license."

I finished my Biology class early, so that I could enjoy what little there is left of summer, with my children. We also went and visited my mom (grandma to my kids) today. It was beautiful day and we had a very nice visit. What more could I ask for? Time just goes by too quickly.

FYI - Those same two dollies are still on my studio table. I must get to working on them. Maybe sometime this week....I have a little down time where I may be able to play! Knock on wood! I hope you have all had an enjoyable summer. Cheers to you! ~Tonya

Time flies!

When you are having fun? I wouldn't say that I have been having fun, but I sure am learning quite a bit! I have not posted on my blog for well over a month and all I can say is "I have been working my butt off!"

We had a major sale at our home. We got rid of a lot of stuff. I have gone through and organized most everything in my home. I have thrown away a ton of JUNK that no one would want and we certainly do not need and boy....does it feel good! Besides all of that, I have been taking my second summer college course and I must admit, these summer courses are pretty intense, demanding, and so much more work than what I ever thought! I also helped my son with some of his body work on his truck (many hours), it is being painted as we speak.

Jordan is staying at my sister's house while working for Pioneer (I miss him) and I will pick him up on the 1st for him to stay home for one night, put his truck back together and spend his birthday with him on the 2nd. He is going to take his driving test (fingers crossed that he passes) and then back to Mankato to work for the following day. I can't believe he is turning 16 already!

Back to the Biology thing, the summer courses move along very quickly, so there is no room for error, no room for procrastination, and you just must force yourself to do your work accordingly! Summer for me has been my nose to the books and essay questions, some discussions, and lots of tests! I have found new hope within myself, I have become focused, and have almost dropped 20 pounds! Can we say focused! I have to be...

I have found many things out about myself and who I want to be and who I don't want to be. There comes a time in each person's life when they finally put all the pieces together and know exactly where I want them to be.

Now for the creating aspect of me...I miss creating immensely! I have two Halloween dollies on my studio table waiting to be stained and put together! I will get there. I am trying to work a head in class so that I can spend time with Jordan on the 2nd and Courtney on the 4th for their birthdays. Then, the class is over on the 13th, but I am hoping I will be done before that. We shall see. Time has just not been on my slide this summer and time tends to slip away from me much to often. I hope all is well for all of you! Cheers, ~Tonya

FUN - FUN!!

Sociology, the scientific study of human social behavior. This is what I have been studying lately. A summer course. Imagine knocking out a whole book, I believe 22 chapters, in just 5 short weeks. Not to mention that I am getting ready for a MASSIVE sale for the last weekend in June!

In Sociology, we need to read/study 4 chapters every week, answer questions on them, and have a 3 hour test every single week for 5 weeks. I have the first week under my belt already. I only have 4 more weeks to go. I then have a 2 day break and on to another course, Biology. Can we say FUN - FUN?

I have been dabbling with my poor little dollies that are laying on my studio table wanting some much needed attention. Of course they are Halloween dollies. I could not help myself, I could no longer resist the temptation. Everyone knows that I adore Halloween and it is my most favorite time of the year to create for. If you think about it, there is not that much time until Halloween.

Just thought I would stop in and say Hello. I have been a very bad blogger, but with everything that has been going on in my world, it cannot be helped. Have a beautiful day! Cheers, Tonya

What is up with blogger lately?

What has been up with blogger lately? I have wanted to blog, not that I have anything interesting going on ;) I have tried to get into my dashboard to visit the blogs I follow, but that has been a hurdle to jump as well.

On my desktop, my blog things are not at the top of the page, so I tried my laptop and yes, it worked, which now makes me lead to believe that I may have a virus. JOY! I have scanned and scanned my desktop, still no change with the blogger issue. I don't know...

I give up! It is simply not worth the time I have spent on it. On another note, it is MAY and we have our furnace on! What is wrong with the picture. We have had rain, wind, and cooler temps. It feels like fall all over again. This crazy Minnesota weather. My heart goes out to all of the families that have been affected by the tornadoes and the devastation the tornadoes have left behind. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them.

Loving it!

Recently we purchased some new furniture (still waiting for our other sofa) but I thought I would show you my progress so far. I love the contemporary and somewhat whimsical look to my now "new living room." I would have never chose a color scheme or furniture design like this a couple of years ago. I guess I can say that I have changed quite a bit.

I love the crisp look to my living room. It is uncluttered and it is very inviting, not to mention very cheery! Every time I see the new vinyl wall art, it makes me smile. I have wanted to do something with vinyl wall art for years, but frankly, I was a bit scared. I can now say, that I am glad I finally took the plunge!

In the first photo, you can see that the wall is a pretty yellow. Again, I never thought I would have yellow in my home. As I get older, my decorating is changing, not to mention many, many other things. Just to name a few, my thoughts, my views, and my style per-say. I am very pleased with the wall art and my living room and thought I would share.

On another note, I am done with spring semester! Yay! I always get so stressed the last week of the semester. I can say that I received a 4.0 for 16 credits/6 classes for spring semester and I couldn't be happier. I will be listed on the president's list this time. I made the dean's list for the fall semester, which was my first semester back in 18 years. I can say that I am happy, but it was a lot of hard work! I am at the half-way mark. I just hope everything goes as planned and I graduate next year at this time.

Have a fabulous weekend. As for me, I have the whole weekend to do whatever it is I want to do. I have not had time like that in a very long time. Cheers, ~Tonya

There is light...

at the end of the tunnel for me! This semester has been long and I am so relieved that it is almost over. I think I may still have the winter "hum-drums", from have such a long winter and a slow start to spring. Finally, I see light at the end of the tunnel!

I have only a couple of finals left and then I will be finished with this semester on Wednesday! I can hardly contain the excitement. I also started a part-time job as a general assistant. What was I thinking? It is at a place where they do a lot of printing and for the most part, make reproductions of manuals. They also print many other things and put transfers on t-shirts as well. There is a lot of different things to learn there and I figured I could use the experience, as I have not worked outside my home for anyone else in about 10 years.

I have not created, nor blogged, there has not been anything fun to share. My thoughts were, same thing, different day, so why blog about it, right? I have signed up for a couple of summer classes (I may just be torturing myself?) and I have heard that summer classes can be brutal. We shall see. I want to knock some of my generals out of the way. I would be able to knock 6 credits out in just 25 days for each class. I am sure it can be done, but I will have to stay focused and stay on top of my studies!

Just thought I would say hello! Looks to be a fabulous day and well it is finally starting to feel a little like spring! Enjoy your Friday and your weekend. Cheers, ~Tonya