{ taking a break }

I haven't been very good at being on top of blog posts lately. 

 There are tons of reasons I guess, but mostly I just can't think of anything to share. 

 I haven't been very motivated to create since my space was shut down the end of January.  I have shows coming up so it isn't that I don't need to - I just haven't felt the creative juices flow.  

It is more of a pushing to "make" it happen.  

And when it feels like that - well then it isn't my best work. 

I have had a few personal things pop up too.  

Neighborhood drama, learning that some who I thought were friends really weren't and well the diabetes is just making me so tired lately.  

I will admit winter is my worst month for my attitude.  I get depressed during winter.  The short days- the lack of sunshine- the almost always wet or cold weather.  

Just not my thing.  

But this time we have an added stress: Afghanistan. 

See that man in the above picture?  That is the job my husband will be doing.

 My husband, my children's father gets to go back to Afghanistan - AGAIN.  

Yes, he leaves mid March and with all the news that has been happening over there- the many being killed and the constant violence it just seems a bit much this time.  

I have been having my hubby do tons of projects before he goes to get ready for my shows, or get the house in a shape I can manage while he is gone.  

 I think now we just need to shut down project world and just be family world.  

This is not our first deployment mind you- we have had tons - and even though it seems to get easier to handle the day to day it doesn't get easier for the kids.  I think with each one it gets more difficult.  They aren't little kids who no nothing about world events.  They hear the news, they talk about it at school so the fear and anxiety raises its level each time he leaves.  I think this one is going to be a hard one. 

The kids are more aware of what is happening.  They are also aware of him missing big events now.  He will miss my sons 9th birthday.  He will miss my eldest son's big 21'st birthday- he so looked forward to finally being able to drink a beer with his dad. He will miss my daughter's dance recital that she has been working on all year long.  He will miss my middle son's first prom.  He will miss the annual family vacation to the beach. He will miss a lot.  It is a big thing for them and they will be disappointed. 

It is so hard for me.  As I have to keep a strong outlook.  Carry it all.  I somehow have to have all the answers and all the know how.  And it is hard to enjoy all those moments while at the same time being sad he can't.

 I am a military brat.  

I have lived this life my entire life.  

And I always said my least favorite question was being asked- "Where are you from?". 

As we military gypsies don't really have a set place to call home - it was wherever the military told us it was for that assignment. 

But I have to say that my least favorite question  - or rather statement now is- 

" I just don't know how you do it all alone.  You are so strong.".

WRONG.  

I will answer that for most military wives. We have no choice.  We have to do it.  

We seem strong on the outside but that is because we internalize it so much for our children.  

We are not strong - we save it for night time and cry in the pillow.   

We are not strong- we just fool you really well.  

 We all wish we could depend on someone to be there every time we need them but unfortunately we can't.

But I will say we do the BEST we can.  And damn, we do that pretty well.  

So, while we get ready for my hubby to leave- I will read blogs as they are a stress reliever for me, I'll even comment on a few that really uplift me at that time. 

 But I will hold off on posting till April. 

 I am going to take some time off - to let some stress go.  

To decompress before it all gets very hard again.  

Basically, I am going to try to store up some of this time I can breathe and save it for when a really bad day hits and I need it. 

Not looking forward to this day- 

The day we drive him to the base to say goodbye for another 6 months.  

So, till April - I'll be checking in but taking a break to re-juice myself. 

tammy

{ chalk board beauties }

This past Liz visit, I took her to Cline's to see the motherland of junk.  

She was smitten I might add as I knew she would be.  I mean how could you not be. 

Well we came across a pile of old mirror frames and we both knew they would be amazing chalkboards. Be wary  lots of photos. 

So here they all are finished.

So now I'll show them to you individually.

Number 1 before

 and after- beautiful.  Love how the white paint really shows the details. 

Number 2 before

and after- lovely. 

Number 3 before oops started to paint before taking a picture. 

 and after.

Number 4  sorry didn't get a before- how did that happen? 

Number 5 before

 and after- love it.

Number 6 before

 and after.

So which one is your favorite? 

I'm partial to number 2. 

tammy 

linking to the following parties:

Furniture Feature Friday with Miss Mustard Seed

Tickled Pink Friday at No. 504 Main

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 
inspiration-friday at The Picket Fence 
Made you Look at Made in  a Day

Friday Link Up at Redoux
Repurpose Remodel Reveal party at the Rooster and the Hen

chalkboard paint all over the place.

While the kids were sick I was able to work on some small items- you know the ones that you can do quickly because they whine they need you to be in the room they are in so they can feel better.  

How does me being in the same room while they are ignoring me and watching Disney channel help them feel better?  

Just wondering. 

Anyway, I worked on some tags to use for gift tags, place markers, anything. 

Please don't judge on all the other mess you see there.  Kids sick remember. :)

And some garden markers. 

Those awesome hooks are for my chalkboard from mirrors.  They will be added to the bottom to create more function. 

Have you created anything new for spring using chalkboard paint?

tammy