January Craft Spending

Moving is a way to keep your craft spending low (but not your other spending...)! In January I only spent $3.66 for photo printing at Costco for my Project Life Album. I have been busy unpacking, so I have not checked out some of the stores near me yet: Michael's and Memories Live On. I made a brief stop at JoAnn's but just to browse. In February, I plan to keep my spending low but find some time to scrapbook and make cards.

Yes Dear

We must day "Yes Dear" more often than we realized because Alex picked it up and says it often. Today at the grocery he said "Yes Dear" to the cashier when she asked him a question. When we got home I asked him about having quiet time and he said "No Dear" even though he was tired. He fell asleep on his bedroom floor while playing.

Over the weekend John and I had sodas in the car. Alex asked for juice in the car, but we usually only let him have water in the car. I told him that he had to be 10 [years old] to have juice in the car. He said, "No 5." Is this the beginning of negotiation skills?

Two Weeks in CA

Week 2 in California was an eventful week with it's share of ups and downs. Monday was a crazy day, but we saw a rainbow in the morning. My mom needed to head back to Texas. We had to call a cab to take her to the airport since we were waiting for both the movers and my car to arrive. The movers had to unload onto a smaller truck in order to get into our apartment complex, so the unloading process took up most of the day. In the midst of all of that my car arrived safe and sound.

Our apartment went from almost empty, to filled with boxes, and then to mostly unpacked this week. We still have some unpacking and organizing to do, but things are mostly functional around here. We weeded out a lot of stuff in Texas, but there is more weeding out to do here. We have a large donation box ready to go. You do not realize how much stuff you have until you move!

This week I discovered that Alex is at an "in between age." I thought that joining the YMCA would be a good thing for Alex and I to do, but this one does not have as much for an almost-three-year-old who is not potty trained yet. The local Mother's Day Out and Preschool programs that I found at an affordable price are full of course. Alex is not at a good age to go with me on all of the boring errands that are part of settling into a new place. I am looking into some other childcare options to help while I look for a job.

Story time at the library and playgrounds continue to be a hit with Alex. He also built me three houses one morning.

We ended the week with a picnic lunch and a brief hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This was Alex (and Paddy's) first trip into the mountains (or "mounts" as Alex calls them).

Project Life

I have started a 2012 Project Life album. I feel like I am jumping on the Project Life bandwagon, but this approach to scrapbooking is awesome! Project Life is developed by Becky Higgins, and and I am following a weekly approach like Ali Edwards. Last year I bought some of the nifty Project Life page protectors, and I received the Turquoise Core Kit for Christmas. The Clementine kit is really cute and popular, but I wanted more masculine colors.

I started my album before the move and now it is in a box en route to California. I am looking forward to working on it when our stuff arrives soon. I like that Project Life lets me mix photos, stories and ephemera. There are also Project Life books on Shutterfly, so I may also try some photo books. I am really enjoying this approach to scrapbooking. I can also mix in some traditional and digital layouts into the album if I want.

First Week in CA

I have lived in California for a week and our move is still in progress. Our stuff and my car will arrive early next week. I have a lot of unpacking in my future! John only had a week to find us a new place, and he did a great job.

We figured out how to live in a semi empty apartment for a little while. Ikea and air mattresses have really helped!

We are looking forward to having our stuff again, especially the beds and kitchen table. I am sure that Alex will be happy to have the rest of his toys.

It will take us a while to settle in, but I am learning my way around the immediate area. I am working on establishing my new "5 mile radius", although my next job will probably be more than 5 miles from home. I've had two job interviews so far, but it will take a while to hear back on them.

My mom flew out with the dogs on Thursday, which was a huge help. In the moving process, I realized that there was no way that I could fly with a toddler and two dogs. The dogs did well overall on the plane ride, and we were happy with how United treated my mom and the dogs. Frida rode as a carry on, but Paddy had to go with checked bagage. They are both making themselves at home.

December Craft Spending

I spent $16.86 on craft items in December. I ordered titanium refill blades for my Fiskars paper trimmer, but I have not had a chance to try them out yet.

I had a gift certificate from 2 Peas in a Bucket burning a hole in my pocket. I spent $8.87 over the amount to get brand new Hero Arts Stamps. I am looking forward to trying them out. Kristina Werner used the zig zag stamp for a Make a Card Monday video. I also bought a versatile set of sentiment stamps.

Since we are moving, I am going to have to rework my craft space. I think that this is supposed to be a linen closet, but I am eyeing it for craft supplies.

Checking Things Out

I had the opportunity to make a trip to out to California before the move to check out the area and have a job interview.

I had the chance to get outside during my lay over in San Diego, and it was a beautiful day.

As we flew north up the California coast, I could see the sunset, mountains and water.

We had a delicious brunch at La Mere Michelle in Saratoga before heading into the Santa Cruz Mountains.

I took my first trip across the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoyed great views of San Francisco.

We had lunch in Sausalito at Fish and enjoyed walking around the area before heading into San Francisco.

I had a job interview at San Jose State University and enjoyed seeing the campus. (It will be a few weeks until I hear back about the position.)

It was a good weekend in the middle of all the craziness of moving!

Grateful

After seven and a half years, today was my last day as a staff member at the University of Texas at San Antonio. I do not think that this has totally sunk in yet, but I did have a good day today.

Last night I started thinking about my last day at work. I am sad to be leaving, but I am mostly grateful. I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I've had at the university. This is the foundation of my professional career in higher education. I am grateful for the wonderful colleagues and supervisors that I've had in two offices at the university.

I had to go to Human Resources today for an exit interview this morning. Then I had some time to chat with a former student leader who is now a staff member in HR. He was one of the first people that I met at the university. It was good to see him on my last day.

I enjoyed lunch today with my office. It was emotional saying good-bye at 5:00 P.M. It really hit me when I was saying good-bye to four staff members who were all with the office when I started in 2006.

It is weird to know that I am not going to work tomorrow, but now I need to prepare for an upcoming job interview in California.

"Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss