I made cards!! I made up my mind that I was going in my craft room and make cards yesterday no matter what. They are very simple because I wanted to make several and all of my supplies aren't put away yet. The other supplies are put away in new homes and I'm having trouble remembering where exactly I put them. I need to label drawers because my brain is confused. I did find my sequins so that's what's on the cards! They are pretty much alike and I didn't use my new dies. I'll be surprised next year when I get out the Easter supplies.

I'm excited today because I'm meeting my friend Vickie of http://stuffbyvickie.blogspot.com/ for lunch today. We had such a good time last time we met so I'm looking forward to seeing her again. We just talked and laughed like two people who have been friends forever.

I finally got my tax papers together Saturday. It never takes more than an hour and I don't know why I put it off so long. I know it will take longer at the accountant's house this year but I'm ready for it. She always asks questions I don't know the answer to. I know she gets frustrated with me. We only do it once a year and I don't remember from year to year what she wants to know. Note to self: take notebook with you this year and actually take notes.

Better get on with the day. Dancing with the Stars starts tonight. I love watching them get better and better each week. I don't like shows with violence and a lot of them are. I like the Amazing Race because they have to do things that the residents do and it is so interesting to see the countries and the people. Be kind to one another and dance the day away.

I have done nothing but carry on about all this "stuff" I have and no place to put it. I need a shrink because I went to the Heirloom show yesterday and BOUGHT more "stuff". I need to look in a mirror and say "My name is Brenda and I need help".  There must be a program for people like me. I did NOT buy stamps or paper. I am trying the new Distress Crayons. In the past I would have gotten all three sets but I did not do that, only got one. I got a stencil, the new Ken Oliver  Liquid Metals, a next level embossing folder and two Memory Box little bitty bunny dies. Didn't spend much and only got supplies. So I think I did okay even though I did bad.  In my defense, none of that will take up much room! Now if I only have the time to make some cards. I am really over messing with the stuff in the garage. My son is coming today if there is no tornado to help me hang some things. I am hoping he will take some of the stuff home with him.  Okay, that is my confession for today. I'm sorry but for some reason extremely happy with my new "stuff". Be kind to one another.

These last two days have been miserable. I've reached an impasse and have a real (to me) dilemma. I have everything I want back in the house. It is not organized but it's in. The dilemma is that the garage is still full and most of the other things are still on the sunporch. The bathtub is empty because that's where I put a lot of my craft stuff. I don't want to bring all that stuff back in but I can't just throw it away. There are pictures I don't want to put back up and every kind of thing you can imagine. I will be donating a lot of belongings and I'm thrilled for it to go. My neighbor came by yesterday and I had lots of craft stuff on the dining room table. Her DIL works with Brownies and I gave her tons of stuff for crafts for them. I want to give it to good homes so I will be going through more things for her. I have come to the conclusion that I have a real problem hoarding paper. I'm not talking patterned paper (although that too), I'm talking note pads and reams of plain white paper. Now that all my stamps are in one place I find I have way too many. It doesn't look like too many when they are in different places but oh my, I have a lot. They have to have new homes as well. If there is any Stampin Up stamp set you wished you had purchased a long time ago, let me know. I probably have it and will send it to you. So in conclusion, the last two days I walk into the garage and look around and come back in the house. I hope to have my craft room whipped back into shape in the next few days. Then I have to do the bedroom and baths.

Today I'm sharing the last of the cards I've received from my blogging friends. I have been so blessed to receive wonderful cards from all of you. Never underestimate the feelings of the recipient when you send a handmade card. It makes you feel so special that someone would sit down and make a card for you. You know they are thinking of you and care about you. I think making cards is so gratifying and the most wonderful thing to do for a person. Love you all and be kind to one another.

The carpet is installed and I love it. Everything is so new and clean except for everything that is in the garage, tub and sun porch! The thought of bringing all that stuff back in and sorting through it is just overwhelming. I did so well in the beginning at sorting and donating. Then the time started getting away and I just took stuff out. Today I am taking a break and visiting my blogs to say hi. I'm tired and the rest of it can wait.

I remember when Darnell of http://www.djkardkreations.com/  posted her picture of her paper trimmers on Valentines Day and I took a picture of mine to join up with her. She mentioned how many we all have! I have six and don't feel that any of them really give an accurate cut but maybe some day I will find one I like. Mary of http://carolinacardsbymaryh.blogspot.com/ gave me a tip on one to buy but it isn't on my immediate list.  This picture was taken on my old carpet. I hope to post a picture soon of the new. Be kind to one another and I'll try to get by and say hi.

My last chance to post for a few days. I will become Brenda - unplugged!  The carpet guys should be here any time. The upheavable is getting to me. I can't find things or just can't get to them. I know it will be worth it. I ordered the furniture and it will be six weeks before it comes. I can have the cabinet delivered any time because it is in the warehouse and I think I will so I can start putting things away. I'm tired and this is a day I can pretty much rest as they work. Tonight my sons are coming to move everything out of the sunroom so they can do that room tomorrow. That will be a job, you saw the pictures!

Today I want to share the last of the Valentines. They are just stunning. So much prettier in person as the pictures don't do them justice. Be kind to one another. I miss coming by and that will be my priority as soon as I'm done here.

Painting is finished and it looks wonderful. They did an amazing job in such a short time. Tuesday night they left without hooking back up the cable and I had no computer or phone service and I couldn't get in to hook it up. Yesterday I found they didn't plug the washer back in and I couldn't pull it out and plug it in to do laundry! They aren't good with details like that, but the house looks nice. I have been busy cleaning up after them with drywall dust and little chunks of mud. I had just done all the walls and baseboards before they came and now I'm redoing them along with polishing the furniture from the dust. I can't imagine what the carpet people will do! Everything I own is on the sunporch, in the sunroom, bathtub and garage. I'm showing you below. It started out so nice and tidy. As it got closer to the time they were coming things just got piled in. Took a long time to find my camera.

I miss sitting at the computer and really making cards most. The housecleaning is not the fun I imagined. I mopped the kitchen and both bathrooms on my knees just to make sure they were clean. I have one more closet to empty this morning and several little things to haul out and I am ready for carpet people. Some things I had to bring back in just to live here so it will have to go as well. At least the kitchen and bathrooms are back in business. I kind of like having no stuff in the rooms. It is bare but sure is easy to dust!The first three pictures are the sunroom. You can see the three windows but the room is smaller than the bedroom. The next two are the sunporch. I have the two outside chairs in front of the furniture so I don't have to carry them around to the garage. The last two are the garage. Keep in mind I carried all this stuff out. Now you know where I have been. I can't even think about bringing all this stuff back in. It just won't happen.  I'm afraid to move the car for fear I'll run over something when I come back. Valentines next time. Be kind to one another.

Time for lunch and I'm pooped already. I will share what I have learned from this experience. I live in a 1500 + square feet home. I have 5300 + square feet of stuff, excluding furniture. I am now in crunch mode and just stuffing things I find into boxes and drawers as I go. I will never find those things again. It is going to take a long time to sort through this mess. Next thing I learned is I am a terrible housekeeper. Everything is covered in dust and cobwebs. No wonder I have coughed through this entire thing. Number three is no one should keep everything just because someone gave it to you. I have every gift, card and chochtke that anyone I know has given me.  That may be spelled wrong but the dictionary is packed somewhere and I can't look it up. Last thing I learned is to plan ahead. I gave away both loveseats and now have no place to sit in the evening to watch tv. Oops. It will take 6-8 weeks if I order furniture. My son said "Mom, make a flow chart and see how things will go". I did not take his advice but in my defense when I decided to do this, I called the painter and he said he would start tomorrow. So there was no planning involved.  Bummer.

I am going to show you some beautiful Valentines I received over the next few days and I know you will love them. Be kind to one another.