So many choices! What to do, what to do!?

In the past I've had to resort to creating my own Christmas card design on Photoshop and had it printed through my photo lab because I couldn't find cards cute enough.  I don't have enough time this year to devote to my holiday card design so I found myself searching elsewhere for cards to suit my taste. Well Shutterfly sure has outdone itself this year.  Check out all the cute cards they have for 2010!  I like the simple modern designs that they have as well as the cute & colorful ones!  I found a couple of cards that may actually work for this photo that I took:

Check out the designs I found and let me know which one you like the best for the C family 2010 holiday card!

1.  I like this one because it's simple and cute!  Love all the colors and that it doesn't scream XMas.

2.  I'm totally into typography.  This one spoke to me.

3.  Very different with the grey color... again, loving the typography here and the simple design.

4.  Did somebody say PLAID!?  It's no argyle but equally as cute!

5.  I love the idea of an update card but I'm not sure I'll have enough to fill the card!

What would you choose?  If you haven't checked out Shutterfly's card selection this year, click here.  I am SURE you'll find something to suit your style.  Just fair warning though... you might not be able to control yourself!  Especially if you find yourself searching outside of the holiday card section and into the calendar section like I did tonight.  Good thing I take a lot of photos!

If you're a blogger and like Shutterfly, check out this awesome promotion they have going on right now!  Click here to check it out!

Highly Productive Saturday

This is the first Saturday that I've been home!  I got to sleep in thanks to my awesome hubby, got some lunch (yeah.. that much sleeping in!) and headed to IKEA to get said awesome hubby the desk and chair he has been wanting.  I put together the desk, drawer set and chair all by myself :)  I purged and re-organized the office area in the basement and C got rid of the old furniture.  I also finished editing my last shoot which was long overdue.  Although I didn't get to the actual cleaning of the house, I got a lot accomplished.  Tomorrow will be my cleaning day but I'm going to take it easy!

Change of plans

So I originally planned to go out with C on Saturday-- even lined up a babysitter for the day but I decided to postpone our celebration until next weekend.  I've been so stressed over my grad project and have had no time to clean, do laundry or go grocery shopping.  Last weekend we were in Jersey so nothing got done then either.  I just want to stay home, clean the house and wait until next weekend when I won't have the grad class project hanging over my head (last class is Wed).

Best part of this is that the in-laws will be in town next weekend so FREE babysitting and we can be gone aaaaaaaaall day.  I already have our day planned for next Sat.  I'm thinking we'll visit the Walters art gallery or the BMA and then hit up Fogo de Chao at the Harbor.  A nice, quiet adult outing.  As far as a gift goes, I'm making a timeline of our life with photos of the many events we've had such as graduation, first jobs, moving in together, getting married, buying our first home, having a baby... and a few random moments that are important to both of us.

Alone

Today I was talking to my Mom and asked her when Dad was going to let me borrow her (he actually told me she could come see me) and she said that she couldn't... that she can't leave Dad alone.  She then passed the phone to Dad who proposed to me that instead of having her come to me, we could all go on a cruise... the whole fam.

I lost it then... first off... I can't afford to take my family on a cruise.  To go on a cruise I'd have to pay for plane tickets to FL, dog sitter, airport parking plus the cruise.  Seeing as I'm paying just about 2,000 next semester for grad school, it's NOT happening.  My second thought to that is... how can you be well enough to travel on a cruise but not to come see your daughter?  I started crying.... my Dad passed the phone off to my Mom.  He can never take me crying.

I told my Mom that I am alone.  I have a huge family and I feel completely ALONE.  Nobody has seen my house--- nobody seeks me out.  If I want to see anyone I always have to be the one that makes the effort.  Nobody makes the effort to see me.  I told her I am hurt and can't keep doing this.  She told me she loves me and that she understands and asked me to calm down and that we'd talk later.

My Dad called later to ask for "forgiveness" from me.  He explained what I already knew... that it's hard for him to travel... that Mom has to be around because of his health problems.  I know.  I know all of this yet I still am hurt and I still feel alone.  I guess I'm the youngest so I get the joys of having "older" parents.  I never imagined that my parents would be so far away from me.  I am the only one that calls every day to check on them and the only one who really cares... and I'm the one that is on the outside.

I'm glad they know how I feel but it doesn't change anything.  I understand why they can't come visit me but it doesn't make it right.

I'm so thankful that I have C and T and that they mostly fill the void but there is nothing that can patch up the piece of my heart that belongs to my parents.

Count Your Blessings Tuesday: Wednesday Edition

The days keep getting away from me!

Today I am grateful for:

• a finished first draft of my grad project just in time
• laughter... we have a lot of it at our house 
• xmas shopping that is mostly DONE
• my snowflake decorated classroom... makes me happy
• almost 10 years with my best friend :)
• finally feeling like the drama at work is gone
• DECEMBER!  It's here!  I love December.