DSV is closing at the end of the month.  I am sad to see it go, but happy too.  I am really looking forward to having a little TIME back in my life.  It’s very time consuming to run TWO sites where EVERYTHING is quality checked.  It really leaves NO TIME for anything else!  I will miss the team, but luckily for me: KimB, Gaye, Caryn, and Kalo Designs all also sell with me @ DSO!  So we’ll all still be together.

Anyway.  Since we are closing I am having a sale on all my goods at DSV.  I didn’t want my products to be on sale at one site and not the other so my entire store at both DSO and DSV are on sale for 50% off!  At DSV so are KimBs, Gayes, and Stacy’s!  That’s a lot of product on sale for 50% off!

a little scrapping

I sat down to do some challenges and every time I would try to save my stupid computer would lock up.  THAT is what I get for trying to scrapbook on a computer that ISNT my graphics computer.   I finally DID get one redone today.  Of course, it doesn’t look as good as it did when I did it last night.  But this is what I got.  It is for the FONT CHALLNEGE at DSO.

Contemplating Life Lessons
supplies: PSP, Photo, and the font.

I’m finding lately that I’m really liking the minimalist layouts.  Most of them don’t really even use scrapbook products, more just brushwork and alterations.  To me they make a bold statement and aren’t over cluttered and you don’t get distracted by all the “stuff”.  Of course they are missing journaling too, and I don’t really like THAT.  I found a happy medium for myself though.  This one I actually did as a 2 page 8.5×11 and the second page, which isn’t posted online, is ALL journaling.

Midnight Munchies

want some?

DSO Stuff

So not only is my stuff on sale, but the rest of the team have been putting out some great NEW products!  Lots of new baby stuff too!  Check out some of these new releases and grab them up while they are ON SALE!

Such a busy week in the Cates household!  At least I can mark off boy child’s  school registration.  We got that taken care of today, and took a tour of his new school  Wow, that school is big.  Next we have to do girl child’s orientation, celebrate boy child’s birthday, and make a trip to Evansville to come up with new school clothes and shoes.  Plus it is the end/beginning of the month, and there is tons of busy web work that need done.  Web site backups, payroll, monthly reports, bah!  

Penny Pinching!

With weeks like this, when its so busy and money is so tight, proper planning is the key for us to get through.  So before we went grocery shopping (normally a $250+ ordeal) I planned out our food for the week and made the grocery list out with the MUSTS to make it happen.

Our menu for the week

• Sunday:  Roast w/potatos and carrots, Mac n Cheese, Rolls
• Monday: BarBQue
• Tuesday: Fend for Yourself night
• Wednesday: Soup w/cornbread
• Thursday: Oven Fried Chicken, mac n cheese, salad
• Friday: Sloppy Joes (or meatloaf) mashed potatoes, green beans
• Saturday: Pork Chops, steamed summer veggies

What I had to have from the store:

• milk
• butter
• rump roast
• potatoes (lrg bag)
• carrots (x 2 bags)
• onions (x3)
• scallions
• broccoli (2 heads)
• lettuce
• cucumbers (x2)
• tomato
• canned veggies (x2 homestyle cut)
• can of tomato juice
• 2 lbs ground beef

Items I will need, but already have on hand

• vinegar
• eggs
• seasonings (salt, pepper, chives, garlic salt)
• mac n cheese
• rolls
• brown sugar
• cornmeal
• flour
• sugar
• bread crumbs
• parmesan
• chicken breasts
• pork loin chops
• buns
• ketchup

For breakfast this week, its no big deal  We all get up at different times, so it will be cereal or toast through out the week.  I will make pancakes Sunday.  Lunches this week will be sandwiches, left overs, or ramen noodles.  Of course I needed “extra” items like dog food, trashbags, toilet paper etc.  But, with my planning we only spent $118 at the store this week.  Not to bad for a family of 4 (with 2 dogs).  Of course, this will make next week be a bigger week because we will be running low on stuff I like to keep on hand (like meat in the deep freezer).

a new month and a new PICK UR BITS kit @ DSO

this month the team at DSO have releases the Picnic Promenade.  It is so pretty!  A pickurbits kit is basically like a megakit like we used to do in the old days.  Remember those?  It was one huge kit where you had to pay $15 to get the whole thing, even if you didn’t want it all  Well now, instead of sticking it all together, each designers bits are seperate so you can pick out the bits you want.  You aren’t stuck paying a huge amount up front to get ANY of it.  This way you can buy only the parts you want.  If you did want it ALL, you wouldn’t have to buy it all in one whop, you could buy a few pieces at a time to get the full kit.  Anyway, this months is so light and sweet.

Papers

Elements

Minis

MORE

Be sure to grab up this fantastic kit!   See all the Bits in the store: HERE

Oh before I forget…
Kim has this new kit in the store.

Off Shore

and if you remember, I used it to make this card.

“Fun in the Sun” card by Bunny Cates
using Fold Em Template 1 by Bunny Cates (me) &
Off Shore – the kit by KimB

other supplies:
Utee, VersaMark, Spicca, Distress Inks, Dimensionals, GlueDots, Snail

Well, I asked Kim and she was ok with me handing out a printable of this card for you!  Guess what she said!  It’s a pdf file, You just print it cut it out and assemble.  Easy as pie!  Well kind of easy, those branches took for ever to cut out!  LOL

so here the link to download.
Please please do not share my files!
All of my freebies are only available for a limited time and then they go in the store
so sharing my files actually hurts my business.

I also have a new release this week over at DSO.

Cozy Carnations

5 handmade carnation bits, inked, photographed, and extracted by Bunny Cates.  Carnations are approximately 2.5-3 inches in width.  Extractions are 300 dpi and ok for commercial use.

Includes:
5 png files
    -4 Carnation
    -1 Bundle

ok, I need to go get the barbque going.  have a great day!!!!!!!!

As I sat out on my porch swing this morning sipping my coffee and listening to this sleepy little neighborhood slowly wake, I began to think about the word I had chosen for my Word of the Day today.  I’ve been working on building my grownup vocabulary ever since I got stomped by my lil’ Bug in a game of scrabble.  She’s only 9 and I am … older.  I should’ve won.   I had felt empowered this morning, and in browsing synonyms for the word unstoppable I ran across ineluctable.  Ineluctable, according to Webster’s Online, means incapable of being avoided.  That’s certainly something I’ve been looking for.  My path.  Ya know? 

So my morning thought for my facebook friends: “May your hopes and dreams become the ineluctable truths of your future. {hugs}”

I have felt for the last year or so, that somehow, though it felt right under my feet when I started down it- this is the wrong road for me now.  Not to be cheesy, but to quote one of the masters Tolkien.. “Remember what Bilbo used to say: It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”  Only in my case, I feel like my feet stepped into a small rut in the road, and I have been unable to step up and deviate from that course.  Even when I felt like I should be turning here…

I decided today, as I looked around at the people I enjoy talking to the most “online” and off, that I am nothing if not a little envious.  Though they all have different beliefs, goals, and LIVES, they do all share one common thread.  They figured out the correct path for them, and they stepped up and took it.  Even if they couldn’t always see the huge X marking the spot at the end of their journey.  They still all stepped out of the rut and caught their turn.

My friend Tiffany, who is not only an amazing mom (which she was really worried about nearly 16 years ago) is an accomplished accountant AND she teaches college courses at a big University.  Man, to go from where we came from to where she is now.  My eyes truly tear up with happiness and pride for her.  And a little envy.   Ok, more than a little. 

My Dad.  Man, my poor Dad.  My Dad fought polio when he was little, and won.  Only to end up being a single “mom” before men raising their kids was “common”.  I can’t imagine a young man,  in the late 60’s early 70’s, stuck with not one but TWO girls (under the age of 5) to raise.  He tried hard to find an acceptable mom for us.  Unfortunately, none of them were.  Once we were grown though, he decided FINALLY, that he had had enough.  He stepped out of his rut, and is now happier then I ever remember him being.  Ever.  At least, he seems to be.  Over 40 and finally just said $%^& it, and moved off and started over.   Now, he is all smiles and jokes, and doing quite well for himself.  For the first time in his entire life.

My Aunt, who, bless her heart… has no idea how much people look up to her.  She has had a pretty shitty life. If you’ll excuse me for being blunt.  Some folks just are born with an amazing ability to pick the absolutely worst people to try to share their lives with.  She was brave enough to step out of her rut too, put her feet on firm ground, and she didn’t just walk down her correct path – she FLEW!  She is a very successful woman in her career path, and living the life she wants.  You ever heard the old saying “beats to their own drum”?  That’s my Aunt, and God bless her…I love her for it. 

and that brings us to my friend Dave.  Kind of giggling to myself here, because if he knew he made my “people I’m proud to know” list, he would surely turn purple with embarrassment.  Dave, as it turns out, found his rut had come to an abrupt end through circumstances completely out of his control  Just like a lot of folks have with the state of the economy.  But Dave, instead of sitting around and whining “why me” said “All righty then!”  He stepped up and went back to school!  I know it was a scary choice for him.  I know because we talked about it while he was looking at the road in front of him and trying to decide which fork in the road to take.  He chose, in my opinion, the harder road with the better “x” at the end. 

Every time I talk to Dave and Tiffany, and we get on the subject of school… It makes me think that just maybe… the turn I missed last year would have taken me THERE.  TO be honest though, just the thought of going back to school makes me want to throw up a little.  It wasn’t exactly a joy ride the first time around and the thought of going back.  *shivers*

All though, somewhere deep deep inside, I swear every now and again I hear a faint little echo of a voice screaming to me as if from underwater.  Screaming “Its time to nut up!”  Yea, its a southern term.  And how a little cowboy is somewhere deep in the caverns of my mind I have no idea.  But I hear it, none the less.  So, that’s where I am today.  Knowing, that it IS time to nut up.  Grow a pair and step out of  my rut and hightail it in a new direction…But to where?

hmm… 

and this has been my conversation with myself, pretty much for the bulk of the day.  Maybe tomorrow I will have a better idea of an answer.

Maybe.