GOALS, CHANGES AND UPCOMING PROJECTS!

HELLO,

Long Post Sorry
So I am offically a very bad blogger and I apologize for my absence. I took a leave to deal with some major medical problems. It's been a hard couple of months not really knowing what is going on with my body and doing countless test to rule out the worst.

Without making this to long this is what has happened. Since about June of last year I haven't been feeling well at all... I have been dealing with extreme fatigue, lower back pains, issues with my stomach (gas, nausea and well other issues) and bloating. I went to my doctor finally in August when I felt a strange lump on my stomach in the upper left side and my symptoms got worse. The doctor checked me then sent me for a CT scan stat thinking it my be something to do with my pancreas. Well when the results came in my pancreas was fine but a rather suspicious mass was found on my left ovary. This was the beginning of many test an ultrasound and a CA125 blood test. The ultrasound confirmed I had a small complex cystic mass and my CA125 was ok. Anyways since then I have been seeing an oncologist getting monthly ultrasounds and CA125. The last ultrasound found another small mass on my pelvis nothing the doc is concerned with at the moment. This month will be another ultrasound and test to determine how fast the mass is growing and deciding what is our next step. I am confident this is nothing more than a stubborn cyst and NOT CANCER but we can never be to careful. The only problems is my symptoms have not changed and well that is a concern for the doctors. I will keep you guys updated if you guys want to know.

Ok back to what changes and goals I have for this blog. In the past couple of months I have done much soul searching and realized that my life is moving to fast. Last year seems like a blur between working and working I haven't had a chance to really sit and enjoy life. There are so many things I have missed out on and so many important things have taken a back seat. This year I have decided to slow down and enjoy life a little more. Last year I spent so much time at the office, I barely got to see my boys and they let me know every chance they got that I worked to much. On the weekends I also worked on my blog, projects or planning parties so I never had a chance to breath.

Since the new year started I have made some little subtle changes and there will be many more to come.

Changes & Goals:
My goals for this year are:

Spend more time with my family and take more pictures.
Get out more often and breath fresh air ( I have already started this we had a picnic in the park last weekend and it was great)
Sunday dinners - A tradition my mom had when I was growing up was Sunday dinner at our home, I did it for long time and then life became hectic so I stopped. I have since been doing Sunday dinners for the past 3 weeks.
Open my Etsy store for cards, party decor, favors etc.
Craft more often
Bake more (I have been baking alot I would like to do more of that, so I will be taking some cake classes at michaels so if you live in Miami and would like to join me please comment below).
Meet new people in the bloggy world and do crop nights.
I want to take this blog to the next level and so I want to blog more often.
Do tutorials, maybe a vlog, get together with other bloggers and create fun challenges, blog hops etc.

Changes to come: I have decided that this blog is not going to be specfic to just crafts or parties but more of all my adventures.

There are so many things I love to do and I want to share with people. So I will be posting about lots of different things.

Here are some upcoming post and projects!
Sunday Dinners ( I love to cook and try out new receipes so Sundays will be all about food)

What I loved this week (This post will be a combo of all the things I loved for the week and photos I have taken with my Iphone)

Outings: This post will document the days spent with my boys and hanging out.

Organizing and decluttering my life - I have become addicted to organizing thanks in part to the wonderful Jen @ www.iheartorganizing.blogspot.com she is a rockstar organizer and has great tips.

Home decor - I live in a rental and so I can't really renovate the apartment which is a little old so I have decided that since, I won't be moving anytime soon I would make this place my home. I will take you along on my adventures in painting and crafty projects while I turn my house into a home.

And lastly crafting projects I got some new carts for christmas and I intend to put them to good use. So I will be crafting and doing some more blog hops.

I hope you all will join me!

Thanks

Melissa

Happy New Year!!! I'll Be back

Hello,

I justed wanted to pop in and wish you all a very Happy New Year!!!

I have been on a bit of a hiatus from the blogging world. I have been dealing with lots of the stuff the past couple of months I have been going through some and health and personal issues. I am glad 2011 is over and hope this year will be better than last year which was a very rough year for me.

I am currently in the process of figuring out what I will be doing this coming year with my blog.
There are so many plans going on in my head and tons of goals I want to achieve this year.

I am sorry for my abrupt hiatus without warning but sometimes we plan and god laughs.

This week I will be working on my plans and goals for 2012. I will be back very soon with all new plans, updates and maybe a shift in direction for this blog. I hope you all had an amazing Holiday and will be here when I get back.

Thanks :)

Melissa

Everything Fall (day 26) Trick or Treat Bag (guest designer)

Hello,

Again sprry for my sporadic post but life has been crazy :( Today I wanted to share with you another great project from my friend and guest designer Giselle from cross my heart paper crafts. She created this super cute treat bag with an embossed sentiment and lots of details. Here is her project recipe for this project is below.

Materials:
Cricut Happy Hauntings (cat @ 2 1/2 in)
Cricut Wrap it Up (bat -box- @ fit to page)
Recollections Black & Orange Cardstock
Pattern paper from Target
Fiskars scallop border punch
Stamp: Inkadinkado ($1 from Joanns)
Black Embossing Powder and Crystal Fine Glitter by Martha Stewart
Black Satin Ribbon
White Gel Pen
Foam dots

OMG isn't this adorable I love all the details and the cat is so stinking cute!!!
If you haven't had a chance please check out Giselle blog and show her some bloggy love!!!

Hope you enjoy!!
Have a great day

Everything Fall (day 25) Treats in a Jar

Hello,

We are nearing the end of the the series and getting closer to halloween. Now is the time to think about different ways to wrap up treats/favors for any upcoming halloween parties. There are so many ways to give aways treats and impress your guest. Mason jars have been popping up everywhere lately (weddings, showers, parites etc) these jars are such a cute way to package treats. Mason jars are very versatile and can be used during any holidays, and can be used to package your favorites cookie, brownie recipes and even cupcakes. I am going to be trying these for my x-mas gifts this year but in the meantime check out some very cool mason jar treats for halloween.

Photo: Glory from Glorious Treats

Brain Cupcakes: Photo: Living Locurto

Photo: Craft Bliss

Source unknown

I love all these ideas and they work great for any holiday.

Everything Fall (day 24) Halloween Cookies

Hello,

Halloween is about treats and today I want to share cookies. I really like cookies especially sugar and peanut butter cookies they are my fave. Now I bake but I totally suck in the decorating department and honestly I really bake cakes and cupcakes not cookies. I can't never get a cookie that is moist and decorating a cookie with all those cute designs forget it I quit. I guess its practice and paitence both of which I lack so my cookies will never be decorated or award winning. But I know some cookies that deserve to be awared for great decorations and too cute to eat.

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

Source Unknown

Source: The baking Sheet

Now aren't these cookies award worthy?

Melissa

Everything Fall (day 23) Sunday Blues

Hello,

Sorry for my lack of post lately I have just been busy working. Sunday wasn't such a good day so i really have nothing inspiring to share. I worked all day then went to home to finish organzing more on that later. Sunday was also my Mommy's birthday she is no longer here to celebrate with us so I was just sad and couldn't muster anything fun to write about and the rest of the week has been pretty much BLAH.

In loving memory

Melissa

Everything Fall (day 22) Saturday organzing!

Hello,

Happy Saturday! Today I will be spending the day organzing. It's that time of the year where you need to get ready for the cooler months and get out with the old and in with the new. It's winter cleaning which is a lot like spring cleaning. So today I spent the day the organizng my craft and party closet. You see I love to craft but I am also a part time party planner and since I have moved into my new place both have taking a backseat. So since the holidays are approaching and I will be needed to do lots of baking and crafts I need to organize. I also needed to get all my party stuff ready for my cousins upcoming baby shower which is only 2 weeks away and I haven't done much WOW!!! so here is a quick pic of my before and I will be showing my after a little later!

So stay tuned as I reveal a little later my after Craft Closet

Happy Day

Everything Fall (day 21) Treat Bags for Halloween

Hello,

Every year I host a halloween party and I set up a candy table and do all kinds of fun stuff. But when its time to hand out candy around my house its usually a bowl and grab waht you can. I always loved when my kids where little and they came home with cute little treat bags that some mommy made for the class. Well my kids are already at the age where they don't want cutesy treat bags to take to school. My youngest is already in 5th grade so it makes me sad not to have little ones to spoil with treat bags. But no fear this year my building is hosting a Halloween party for the kids in the building and so I am going to get my treat bag fix. I am going to be creating cute treat bags to hand out to all the kids at the party.

With that said I am working on some treat bags now but I wanted to share with you guys some other amazing treat bags.

Courtesy of Twin Inpiration

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart

Photo Credit: Home Based Mom

Twin Inspiration

Happy Treats

Everything Fall (day 20) Caramel Apples

Hello,

Today we are talking Caramel Apples these treats mainly found in Carnivals/Fairs, have become a fall food treat. Last year I made caramel apples for my co-workers and I must say they love them to pieces. They are so easy to do and can be covered in pretty much any kind of chocolate and topping you like. They are also great for Halloween Parties as they look amazing on any table.

This year i want to make more for caramel apples for my friends but I want to try and make mini apples.

Here is a look as some awesome lookin caramel apples.
Warning: You might be tempted to eat through your screen.

Country Living

Photo Credit: Glass Slipper Cakery

Bon Appettie

Courtesy of Delish

Martha Stewart Weddings

You know what they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away!!

Enjoy

Everything Fall (day 19) Marshmallow Treats

Hello,

Halloween is all about the treats. I love all the ghoulish looking treats that tast oh so yummy. Today we are talking marshamllows which I happen to LOVE. There are so many way to dress up a marshamlallow for pretty much any occasion. I do alot of marshamallow pops covered in chocolate for all my parties and everyone loves these treats. The best part of this treat is it can be transformed into some cute and scary halloween treats.

Take a look:

Courtesy: Women's Day

Marshamallow Bones- Martha Stewart

Via Punchbowl Photo Credit: Suzie the Foodie

Hope you enjoy

Melissa