Still Here

yup, still here, just not making cards these days. i miss being creative, but have to prioritize:) in the last couple of months, i spent some time in hospital due to a blood clot from the c-section and then my mom was here for 5 weeks, which just flew by. the weather was awesome, we did a lot of walking, sightseeing, coffees and pastries at outdoor cafe's and visiting relatives. school has started for the semester too. here are some pics of the little muffin; she's a very happy, easy baby:

She's Here!

our beautiful baby girl arrived, almost 2 weeks early. we are at home now and enjoying her very much.

M Happy Birthday

i have a bit more time this week, finally, to do some creative stuff. i had all my pink and glittery supplies on my desk for a few days, wondering how to put it together, then i saw this week's sketch at card patterns, and it all came together from there, so thanks card patterns!! i continued the swirly pattern in the paper by adding bling and ribbon with swirls on it. the paper has some glitter on it too. the butterflies are actually flowers which i folded in half and cut the 5th petal off of. the heart is one of those stickers meant for a cell phone.

this card is going to one of my best friend's daughters, with whom i have been friends with since we were 11 years old, even with both of us moving around a lot, and both spending a few years overseas. i was very fortunate to stay with her and her family for 4 months when i went back to vancouver (before moving to the netherlands) and i am so lucky that i learned so much parenting stuff from her and her two girls. the youngest was born just a month before i got there, and i was basically "the nanny." i am very grateful i was able to stay with them, now more than ever. and i sure miss them!

I Just Wanted a Backrub...

... now i'm due in august :)))) all is well, and so far i am very impressed with the medical system here. it has been quite a learning experience as it's quite different than the canadian system (not that i ever had a baby there, i mean in general...) for instance, i have lots of people looking after me - gynecologist, his assistant (but more than that because her title is "pregnancy caregiver" or similar) who sends me for lab tests and has been awesome for help and advice, a védőnő, who is similar to a midwife, but will not be present at the birth, just before and after and will do home visits, an obstetrician (because the gynecologist doesn't deliver) and i will have a private nurse during the delivery as well.

my only complaint is that it isn't very organized, that most places don't have a receptionist who you can tell that you have arrived, and then sit and wait. some places have an assistant, some places you get a number, sometimes you knock directly on the doctor's door, some you line up and wait (leftover from the communist era). luckily i know enough hungarian to either ask, or i can understand the others also trying to figure out the system at each particular place.

my obstetrician says i've gained too much weight (i gained over 20 lbs so far) so i have slowed down a bit on the eating, and go for walks a lot and actually feel much better. i was trying to make sure that i was getting enough protein (i'm vegetarian) so was eating a lot of cheese, yogurt, nuts etc but it isn't easy to find anything low fat here.

check out these fun t's from etsy, where i got my idea for this post title :)

Congrats Card and SRM Goodies

woohoo, 3 cards in 4 days! i've wanted to make one of these spiral flowers for a long time. i cut a spiral from a 3.5 x 3.5 piece of cardstock, but when i rolled it up, i thought the centre looked too empty so i rolled up another strip and added it to the centre. so next time i think i would use a 6 x 6 piece or something like that. the leaves are from a plastic flower stem. the paper is rayher (can you see the carrot? :))) i used two strips of lace. the inspiration is from the current caardvarks challenge, who also sent me my very generous assortment of srm stickers!! can't wait to start using these! and check out the lovely card from jenyfur which was included; isn't that just the cutest?! thanks so much caardvarks!!

New Look and Gift Idea to Share

i finally changed my blog header and pics! the name is my handwriting which i scanned. i wanted the look to be simple and clean and i'm happy with how it turned out, it's a nice (and bright!) change.

just after the holidays, a huge box arrived from my mom. she wrapped everything individually so it was just like christmas all over again! she sent a perfect of mix of things i wanted, needed and just for fun such as maple syrup, candles, chocolates, kraft sundried tomato salad dressing, pot scrubbers, note pads, ornaments, and lots of card-making supplies like ribbon, brads, etc.

these were also included:i used to make these dishcloths (crochet) and just bought some yarn to make some here. i thought it was a cute way to package them. and the second is a beautiful way to wrap some bath goodies, don't you think? so pretty. have a nice weekend!

Can I Get a Wahoo!!

i'm so happy and excited that my wall hanging won the 'plum crazy' challenge at moxie fab world. so awesome, being in the company of such talent!! i'm still in a state of shock and disbelief, actually. this is what the lovely Cath had to say:

"This wall hanging has so many trendy elements that work so well together that I'm just not sure I can contain myself! The stapled ruffles, the notebook background paper, the corrugated cardboard, and the scrunched up layered flowers with the buttons in the center just scream moxie fab! Pair all that with the balance in the design (the corner elements off-set to "frame" the focal point and the sentiment) and the poetic sentiment (Normal day let me be aware of the treasure you are) and I am in moxie fab heaven!"

isn't that just so nice!? totally made my day, if not my week!! thanks so much Cath, and everyone for your sweet comments!

i have a simple card to show you today. it was a gorgeous day today, the sun was shining all day. i managed to clean my craft area (i can't say room, cuz it's just a table, but it works :)) so i have a bit more desk space to work on now!i'm off to make dessert now, thanks for stopping by!

Made ICS DT!

woohoo! i am so happy that i was chosen to be a part of the Inspirational Card Sketches design team! thanks Dawn and everyone at ICS for this great opportunity!

There are lots of lovely sketches and goodies coming up, so be sure to check it out! and you can take a peek at other dt members' blogs from the list on the right.

Super 6!!

wow!! i just found out i made the super 6 for sketch 28 at cardpatterns for my heart card!! thanks cardpatterns!! you totally made my day!!

Heart Shaped Potholders

my mom sent me a care package the other day, and along with some magazines and photos, these heart-shaped potholders were included. they have little pockets to put your fingers in!! so cute, dontcha think?

Honest Scrap Award

my lovely blogging friend Oliva gave me the following award and i am very honoured to receive it ... thanks Oliva!i must list 10 honest things about myself:

♥ i am a vegetarian, and have been for over 10 years. my main reason for not eating meat (though i have ethical reasons too) was that i never liked the idea that i was eating an animal, and could not understand how people could decide that eating one type of animal was okay, but not okay to eat another.

♥ i consider myself extremely fortunate for being able to travel a lot. my European travels are something that i never would have dreamed possible a year before i did it.

♥ i was a cheerleader in high school.

♥ i'm a dog (not a cat) person.

♥ i received the top marketing student of the year award in university.

♥ i love smelly candles.

♥ i've never known what i want to be when i grow up.

♥ i love talking and socializing with people, and i can relate to people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures, but i'm a very private person when it comes to sharing details about myself.

♥ i had one of those not-so-nice childhoods, but i'm grateful for the person it has made me today.

♥ i'm a recovering perfectionist. :)


i'm passing this award onto the following blogging friends:
Jo
Amy
Lauren

Life Lessons

i googled "life lessons" the other day, and this is what it came up with*. i thought it was insightful and interesting, and much of it applies to me.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. The same goes for true love.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many years you have lived.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that the people you care about most in life are sometimes taken from you too soon.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings, and standing up for what you believe.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

*i found different versions of it on various sites, so i can't credit the source.

Makes My Heart Smile

my sweet blogging friend Oliva presented me with this award, which truly does "make my heart smile!"i'm sending it out to all the bloggers out there who i visit and leave comments for, who inspire me and/or touch me in some way. thank you, you are all wonderful!

Friends Award

my lovely blogging friend, Oliva, presented me with this "Friends Award!" how sweet is that!? i'm very happy and honoured, thanks Oliva!! (be sure to check out her blog full of beautiful things, if you haven't already!)this blogging stuff is pretty great, isn't it? living in a new country can get lonely sometimes, and this blog helps me feel a bit more"connected." i very much enjoy and appreciate all the nice comments left here.

i'm passing this on to a couple of my lovely "blogging friends": Lauren, Christine, Amy and Oliva (it's okay to send it back to the person i got it from ... right? :) )