All Cracked Up

 I wanted to share another Easter card with you.  On this one I feel like I cheated, I didn't use any stamps at all!  Is that "legal" in the card making world?   I just thought, my little guy trying to crack outta his egg idea was so cute I had to make a card with him.  I also have had this great sentiment embeli that says: HAPPY EASTER for so long that it was also my goal to use it this Easter.   

 I got my color inspiration from The Pink Elephant Challenge 98 - Look at how these colors are so perfect for a great Easter card. 

The Crafty Pad Challenge 116, Pear Tree Designs Challenge 45,  and Robyns Fetish Challenge 51 all asked us to create Easter cards.

I hope everyone enjoys this Easter Card.
Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXO

Spring is in the air~!

 Well I'm back everyone but I don't know how well I will be at keeping up with this.  I began a new job at the nations leading  hardware store about two months ago (think orange).. you can tell from my last post when I started.. lol~!  I don't have a set schedule but that's ok I LOVE it and everyone I work with.  What a great opportunity that feel in my lap and I have found my home for the rest of my working years.   I work very hard and some times very late that I just don't have the energy to do anything else.  Oh expect farm.  If you do it you know what I'm talking about.. heheh.  Yes I am one of those fanatics that is addicted to my "farm".  I blame my bestie so it's your fault Shanny.. You created this monster.

Next week will be very busy and I might not be around.. My daughter is coming home.  The one that lives in Seattle.  She is a 5th grade teacher and it's their spring break.  This will be the only time allowed for her until Christmas.  She is going to Guatemala during her summer break to learn Spanish.  Some program she found our there and I just hope it all goes well and she is safe there.  If anyone knows anyone that has done this please reassure me it is all good. 

One last thing for today it's my babies first PROM tonight.  My baby is 17 and a Jr.  This whole process has been crazy!!!!  We had to order "THE" dress (the only one that she would buy or look at)  from Minnesota, have it 2 day shipped and hoped that it would fit.  Thank gosh it did but it is a little bitty tight.  I say, as we all do, it's a right of passage for us women..

SUCK IT IN BABY!

Yesterday was the shoes from about 2 til around almost 8 pm.  AUUUGHHHH.  So after this post off to do her hair.  Pictures tonight and I'll show off tomorrow.

So now on to the first card I've made in ages.  It felt good.  I'm starting my Easter cards and I SWEAR I am mailing these out.  Everyone gives me such kidding about how I make the cards but never mail them out.. That's not true.. well it was for St. Patties.. I did make two cards and nothing ever after that.

Here is #1 for this holiday:

 Challenges:
 Wee Memories, Challenge 52 - All Things Adorable
2 Sisters Challenge, Challenge 35 - Bingo  (ribbon, pearls, flowers)
 Craft Your Days Away, Challenge 18 - Easter
Fussy and Fancy, Challenge 15 - A card for a child
Off The Wall Craftiness, Challenge 51 - Photo inspiration  
 Paper Romance, Challenge 46 - Paper Flowers
 Pollycraft, Challenge 88 - Easter
 Stampin For The Weekend, Challenge 7 - Easter
 The Crafty Pad, Challenge 116 - Spring Colors or Flowers
Sweet Sunday Sketch, Challenge 112 - Sketch




 







So I guess everyone is caught up in the life and times of Big Mamma.  
Big Mamma Luvs Ya All~!


XOXO

Kicked out of the hamster cage!

 Yep I'm home.  My stay was short and sweet.  Apparently my body/liver reacts very quickly to heal my body.  (please note:  these are the remarks and explanation given to me by their doctors) 
Prior to calling for this study I was going to the gym at least 3 times a week and just before going in for my first physical I was lifting a lot of weights.  So much that my legs hurt and my arms hurt so much it was very uncomfortable to stretch them out.   I thought I was doing good.  Loosing weight and getting back into shape after the holiday eat fest.  I was never told or asked about exercise levels.   I guess there is a enzyme that your liver gives out when you work out to repair muscle damage.   A normal person has a level of 200 and mine was 14,000.  They called me back to redo the blood draw, thinking it was a mistake, but also asked me about working out.  I then told them how I was working out and they let me know to stop completely and they would do a redraw.  I guess everything was fine after I stopped and so I was admitted to the study.

As I had said in my previous post the last day I was there we did many, many vitals.  I guess that was another problem; my blood pressure readings were all over the map.  My blood pressure was pretty low at one point with a reading of 86/64.  Most of the time the top number ran 109 -96 and the bottom numbers were between
 70&76 .

 So their full explanation was that "the client" which is the drug company that is trying to get FDA approval for this certain drug did not feel I would be a very accurate body.  They felt my body responded to quick and often to what's going on with it and that I was manipulating my readings.  The bottom line is that they could not take a chance of not knowing if it was my body that was creating a certain reading or was it the drug that I was taking creating the reading.

Good news is they still pay me for the time I was there so that is good.. I have to wait until the study is done so won't see anything til around the first of March.   They said I can still try to get into other studies but not this one again.  Maybe I will, maybe I won't but it was quite the experience.
Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXO

Day TWO in the Hamster wheel

Making it though another day.  It’s mid morning right now about 20 till noon.  So far the only thing I have done are my “VITALS”   I lay down for the ECG, blood pressure and heart rate.   Then stand up and again for blood pressure and pulse.   My first blood pressure was 94/71 with a heart rate of 82.  

PERFECT!!!!

Now on to more important things, dinner last night.  I had no idea what it was but it was spicy.  Ok I do know what was in it just that I am sure it doesn't have a name.  It consisted of rice,   The broccoli was ok.  A little hard for my liking. That square thing on my plate was some kind of bread that I had already eaten the top of.  That was the only good thing, oh and the Dixie cup of diet soda I was allowed to have.

I had said I would touch on the people that are here with me.  I have already clued you in that most don't speak English.. and that's totally fine since I understand Spanish so if they are talking about me I'll know.  Yesterday as I walked in to the common area this really tall older woman came running up to me.  She had a blanket wrapped around her and extended her hand and said, "Hi, what's your name?  Mine is blah blah"  I was somewhat taken aback, she came outta now where so I missed her name and plus I just didn't pay attention.  I thought she was just being overly friendly but also thought well maybe because there was a lack of people she could speak with she was happy to see me.  NOPE - come to find out she is just crazy!   

I thought this would be easy for me to be in here since I am a person who really doesn't need to be around other.  I'm an only child so I play very well by myself.  LOL.  I have no problem speaking or talking to strangers,  I used to be a trainer and facilitated classes, so no problem,  right?

WRONG!!!!

Have you ever been somewhere sitting close to someone... like at the library or in my case at a long table with many computers, and the person next to you keeps talking out loud to no one about what she is reading or looking at on the computer.  I know you know the type, they want you to ask about it so bad that they get a little louder and I can see from the corner of my eye that she keeps looking at me to respond.  I won't do it!  Plus I really don't care.

On a lighter note did everyone watch American Idol last night.. I was apprehensive about the new judges but I think it is going to be a good year.  

 Stay tuned for dinner!  You know I can't wait to see what it is.

Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXO

Day one as a Guinea Pig

  Hi everyone.. I want to let you all know that I am taking a break from my challenges and cards.  I hope a 27 day break.  The reason is I have entered a medical study and have to stay in their facility with limited items to bring.  I know!  Can you believe they would not let me bring my whole crafting room.. BEEP.. BEEP.. back the truck up here I come.  LOL.

So for the next month (or 26 days) I thought it would be a great idea to diary my stay here. 


I arrived this morning for check in at 8:30.  I was one of the first that showed up with my bag in tow. Now packing was a little different.  They provide you scrubs - pants and a jacket, a pair of socks, towels, and all toiletries .. you can only bring your undies, some tee's for under the scrub shirt and a pair of shoes.  I also could bring my blow dryer and straighter.. (thanks shanny)  but no shampoo or conditioner..  I brought makeup but could not bring liquid just the powder and of course my lap top and cell phone.  The other thing I did was stamp a bunch of images and brought my copics so I could color and have my images ready to go when I get out. 

First thing automatically you get a wrist band and you be come a number.  My number is ALT1-55, and everywhere I go and everything they do it's all about the scan.  There are 6 in my group and lets just say I don't understand them and they don't understand me.  I feel like the new kid at school, but everyone has been very nice.

 So first we had to give our vitals.  Blood Pressure.. mine was 123/75.. I think that is good.  Then on to weight.. I'll leave that one up to your imagination.. LOL!  Then the famous Pee in the Cup trick and if your close to me you will know that I am not good at this trick at all.  Get the hazard suit out.  I never knew there was a science to this but I guess there are rules and regulations you have to adhere to or they know.  Let's just say I never knew there is what is called a "Mid Stream" sample.  That is a no no.   Next had to do the EKG which they call a ECG.. what the hell do I know I'm no Doc but all is good with the ticker.  WHEW!  I guess 1 person in my group did not pass so then there were 5.  Next they herd us into a different area of the building.  This building/facility is huge.. have to stay with the group or your lost and thank god for the wrist band!  We visit with the RN so that my veins can be inspected.  Yep, there they are, the freeway of my body is good to go.  The reason for the vein inspection is cuz they will be doing a lot of blood draws and I believe, 3 times while I'm here, I will have a catheter put in my arm to administer the drug .. hence the Guinea Pig statement. 

The next test they conduct is a balance test.  This one is crazy. They harness you up like you are going to jump out of a plane.  Then you step inside this half box, they hook you up ( not the kind of hook up I would prefer but that's another story)   It has the floor of course and two side walls and the front.  What it does essentially is move .. ever so slightly .. and you have to keep your balance and stand up straight.  First the front wall starts to tilt forward or back and it's like a head game.  You don't notice it is moving until you start to follow it by leaning forward and then you catch yourself and stand up straight.  It is just crazy.. the test goes as far as the platform you are standing on slides back and forth a little quicker each time.  The best I can say is it's like when you were young and going to the carnival and the fun house.  Well I came out of that all good and by now it's noonish.  Time for lunch. 

Well if that's what they call it!  I think it was their attempt at some kind of cross between chili/fajita stuff?  It was beef with some onions and bell pepper involved.  I don't eat beef so I just left that.  Also on the plate was some beans and rice.  Now don't you think they should think this lunch thing through better.. beans in a confined area ..hmmm  I'm just saying.

After lunch I guess they figure enough for one day.  Just a small orientation to go over the rules and when lights go out.. that will be at 11 pm.  So here I am.. It's 3:23 of day one and so far so good.  There's quite the array of "guests" here but that will be for tomorrow. 

Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXO