The Paustenbaughs

52 Fridays: Self Portrait

This week we have 12 photographers from The Bloom Forum taking part in the 52 Fridays project.

This is normally a difficult one for everyone, especially photographers since they are the ones since they are the ones behind the camera most of the time!  I don't love my self portraits, but I have come to embrace it more.  Mostly because I know my family and children want me in those photos too.  Plus I like to do a little tongue in cheek sometimes with them.  Like today!

We are knee deep in organizing, packing, rearranging, and just basically in a moving 8000 miles away frenzy.

I'm tired.

Very, very tired.

Now, head on over to see Genevieve Flynn's beautiful self portrait!

May PageMaps

I have worked with PageMaps in the past and just love them so I was stoked when the Write.Click.Scrapbook team was asked to take part in this month's PageMaps sketches! The new sketches are all up now so head on over to take a look at the team's layouts!

This is the sketch I worked with:

I stuck pretty closely with the sketch and it came together pretty quickly!

I wasn't so sure about using the larger iPhone photo, but it ended up working.  I really wanted to document this change in my life recently because it was HUGE!  I've had horrible eyesight since I was 11 years old and was dependent on glasses and contacts to see anything beyond a foot in front of my face. 

I finally broke down in February and had Lasik surgery and it is the absolute best thing I could have done!  And like everyone I have talked to who also had it done, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner!  Love it and love waking up and not blindly feeling around for my glasses!

Thanks for stopping by!

Feeling Overwhelmingly Blessed

For meeting and getting to know them:

I always know when I move that I will make friends, but I do worry about meeting just more than passing friendships.  I value my friendships, probably even moreso because I have to get up and leave them every 2-3 years.  I value those that truly get to know me and yet still love and appreciate me! I value those that continue our friendship after I am hundreds or thousands of miles away.

I value my work life and the friendships I have made this time at my job:

What started as a lunch bunch grew into full friendships with so much laughter that my cheeks and stomach hurt after everytime I hang out with them.  Our school is going through a lot of changes for next year and I won't be the only one leaving lunch bunch, but all of us will.  This was our farewell and "see you later" weekend before we all head off.  I so appreciate it and the time we had together.

Friends aren't hard to find, it's the true long lasting friendships that are hard to find and keep.

That's what I will miss as soon as that plane is wheels up in 3 weeks.

I feel so fortunate to have met such amazing women who have made an impact in my life. 

I know, tears will be free flowing for a few weeks!

Thirty Nine

My thirties have been very good to me and today I'm embarking in my last year in this decade.  

I don't get worked up about age and have no problem with the big 4-0.  Quite actually, I think I'll embrace it.  I have come into my own in my 30's, although let's not kid ourselves, because there is still much to be done!

 

As seen on the Ormolu blog

This last year of my 30's is going to be an excellent one and I can't wait! I'll visit more countries in this last year than in my entire existence combined and I'm itching to start traveling.  I'm also taking this time for me and my family.  No working and focusing on the things I'm loving right now.

 

So today I'm off to do a little birthday shopping and this evening the girls and I will head over for some yummy cupcakes.  I have a slight cupcake addiction and today I'm feeding it!

Have a great day-I'm off to have a great one myself!

Fashion Show Time

I'm going to switch gears today and go from sappy to sassy!  2 weeks after we get to Japan we will be attending my husband's change of command ceremony.  I'm determined to find a dress here because I will be sleep deprived and have no idea where to shop once we get there.  I'm just hoping to make it through the ceremony without getting drowsy! 

So I'm turning to you and my friends here to help me choose one (yay you!).

Some things to consider when looking at these:

**I'm a sweaty, sweaty gal.  Seriously, I have no idea why. When I think about trying not to sweat, I sweat even more.  I'm sweating right now just writing about it!

**It will be about 80-90 degrees with 1000% humidity.  Ok, maybe not 1000%, but it's horribly, horribly humid there.  (This obviously links to the Sweaty McSweaterson factor).

**Terry is taking command of a Battalion, meaning he is "the boss", meaning all eyes are on us that day, meaning I'm just sweating thinking about all those eyes on me.

 

Ok, on with the fashion show! The ridiculous poses are on purpose to get through this - I would make a horrible model..  Oh, and I have absolutely no idea what is up with those awesomely large calves-weird.

1.  This one is from Ann Taylor Factory Store:

2.  From White House Black Market

3.  J. Crew Factory Store (not sure how I would feel about the shoes with this)

 

4. J. Crew (from a dear friend willing to give me this great dress):

Ok, time to vote!!  I can't decide and no way I can keep them all-mama spent a little too much on a shopping spree on Saturday!

Thanks everyone!

I Am Healed...

I sat in Mr. Brown's 5th grade class in the back because I was little miss Goody Two Shoes of course.  As the year progressed I started squinting more and more and finally had to confess to my mom that I couldn't see the board very well. 

That began my glasses history.

Let me just tell you that in 1984 glasses were big and entirely unattractive.  But since my horrible eye sight had begun, I had to wear them.

In 8th grade I could have kissed the eye doctor that told my mom that contacts would actually help slow the decline of my eyesight since they cover my eyes at all angles.  Although money was always tight, she gave in and my 4 eyes days were done, but my horrible eye sight was not.

I've had contacts ripped, lost, wedged into my eyelid, you name it it has happened. 

I still maintained glasses in the mornings and evenings and on those days that a contact just wasn't happening. 

Ever since I had heard of the LASIK technology I was dying to get it done, but I'm also a giant chicken when it comes to the thought of cutting my eye.  I have no problem jamming my finger in it, but for some reason a laser correcting it gave me chills. 

On Friday I finally took the plunge and am legitimately no longer a 4 eyes!!  Terry and I have been in awe all weekend that a less than 2 minute procedure took me from about a 20/60 eye sight to 20/20 with very little recovery.  It's amazing.

Of course a certain someone says I may be scared now that I can *really* see him!

I still reach for my glasses in the morning, but I'm sure with time that will pass.  Things are now presented in a whole new light!

The Only Time Chocolate Let Me Down

I never thought it would happen.  Chocolate has never, ever let me down before and the normal function is that it comes in to save the day.

That's why this is just so heartbreaking.

I signed up for a race back in July that truly spoke to me and I believed was created FOR me.

Hot Chocolate 15K

I mean, I always say that I only run for chocolate and it really is true.  I'm not a huge self motivator in the running arena, and chocolate (and perhaps wine) get me through!

So, I was ready.  Bib in hand, new t-shirt ready to wear, sweet jacket in our goodie bag and friends to come along.

How cute is that bib?

Well, we got up early and headed up to the National Harbor.  It all started falling apart at 7:15 when we hit the bridge right before our exit and just plain stopped in traffic.  We still had plenty of time (we thought).  7:15 became 7:45 and our race was to start in 15 minutes.  Thank goodness for our iPhones so that we could check their page for updates.  Sadly, there were few updates, but did find it started 15 minutes late.

Seems that wasn't enough time.  We finally made it over the bridge to the ramp and had to jump the guardrail and go over the embankment to the grossest porta potty I've ever used in my life.

We made it to the start line with 1 minute to spare, no stretching and an hour behind schedule.  Needless to say that my 6 am oatmeal was no longer with me.

The course was no better.  Very narrow, scrunched in together with thousands of other runners and running alongside traffic, including diesel work trucks.  You know, there's nothing better than breathing in exhaust fumes at 9 in the morning.

We kept going FOR THE CHOCOLATE.  That's why we all signed up and why we all didn't bail the bridge back at 7:15.

We cross the finish line and look into a huge open graveling space.  Where's the tent?  Certainly a food/drink tent is close by after running over 9 miles, right?

We look up and in the far off distance we see something that looks like a tent.  Yep, the chocolate tent was about 3/4 mile away, up a hill, away from the finish line.  And our vehicle was another 1.5 miles in the opposite direction.

With a deadline at home for a piano recital, we had to make a choice.  Driving home with our sanity won out over chocolate. I never, ever thought I would say that in a million years.  I signed up for a chocolate race and came away with a bad attitude and no chocolate.

Chocolate let me down.

If not for these amazing ladies, I may have gone postal on Saturday:

They keep me going on a weekly basis, but especially this day.  That was the shining piece of what otherwise was a crappy race event.  I got to hang out with my ladies and chat it up.

In the wise words of one race participant:  "Eff Fondue".

Ormolu Gift Tags

Last week I was up on the Ormolu Blog and we are focusing (mostly) on the holiday theme using Merrymakers items from the shop.  I decided to go with some cute gift tags for this Christmas because as has been well documented here:  I'm a horrible holiday scrapper!

I had just gotten a goodie box with some great holiday Echo Park papers and embellishments that had the same color scheme as the Ormolu Merrymakers so it was perfect!

I find I have a much easier time with tags than cards-go figure!  Cards make me start sweating just thinking about them, but these came together rather easily.  I'm thinking I should just make tags and plop them on a card and call it done!

I got a late start, but decided to start a December Journal.  Kind of like a December Daily, but without the pressure of doing something every day.  I'm just going to journal and document some of the things we are doing this holiday season and making a mini out of it.  Here's a sneak of the front of my album, using more Ormolu goodies!

Have a great Monday!

It's the Atmosphere

I entered my first race about 8 years ago with a dear friend not long after I started running.  I was nervous and luckily it was a small 5K race.  There was a big group of us and after I finished I was hooked.  Many, many races later, I still love them and all that comes with them.

I have been asked on many occasions "Why on Earth do you PAY to run?"!

I know, it doesn't make sense!

I fork over money for a t-shirt, bagel, water, pain, blisters and sore muscles.

Crazy.

But it's the atmosphere.  The pumped up vibe, the music, the excited crowd just makes you get excited to get the race going.  Getting the safety pins ready, stretching, figuring out who you could maybe beat and who is going to totally kick your rumpus out there on the road!  And of course there's always the discussion of what we'll be having for lunch later after burning all these calories!

There are always fun signs and people excited to see their friends and family finishing the race.  I wish I would have gotten a photo of this guy when his family was passing him.  Both of his parents were running the half marathon (I'm thinking both over 60) and he was so pumped to see them passing-gave me goose bumps!  He was screaming and running after beside them on the sidewalk as they passed.  Here's hoping Maya and Ella still get themselves out there when we're old and gray and (hopefully) still running.

We had to wait a bit longer since Terry was running the full marathon, but they waited with patience and kept their eye out for him.  The girls are such great troopers coming out to all these races.  Just hoping it rubs off on them and they get the running fever as well.

Even the puppies come to cheer!  Oh how cute is this little guy.

It is amazing to see all the comraderie surrounding a race, especially in a marathon.  Runners out there supporting runners and getting them across the finish line.  Yes, it is a competition, but you also give support along the way when your out there with them against the elements.

I also love to see how people come out to run the race.  This race had far fewer costumes than most races, but we did spot a fun hat, and of course there are always the bright shoes.

And since it was the girls out there cheering, we had to find and cheer for the first female marathon finisher at a cool 2 hours, 45 (ish) minutes.  Girl power!

And then, we finally spotted him!  We go from just standing around cheering for strangers to screaming and yelling for our own runner.

He didn't finish as well as he personally wanted to, but my feeling is that running 26.2 miles in 3 h:35 m is pretty awesome!  Couldn't do that in my wildest dreams and we were beyond proud!

  The girls were screaming and jumping up and down as he passed us and that's hands down my favorite part-cheering for family and friends.  My favorite part as a runner is just that too-spotting my family and seeing them cheer me on.  It revs me up and keeps me going for sure.

And because we are just sick enough, we start looking for the next race not long after we finish icing down the pain from the current race.  We love having something to train for and something to keep us out there running. And yes, we are crazy town and look forward to the next race atmosphere experience.  We love it.

Sew Happy Together

She's getting older.  Changing every single day, but changing in absolutely beautiful ways.  Sure, there's the occasional eye roll as she enters tweendom, but overall she's turning into this amazing girl.  I also know our time is fleeting.  Yes, I know she's only 9, but soon she will choose to spend time with friends rather than her old mom.

This past spring we took a sewing class together and at first it was all about the sewing machine and making the purse since we had both been wanting to learn how for some time.  It ended up being some great bonding time together, from the ride up to the class, the conversation time in the class and some time walking around Historic Occoquan together.

I loved it and I know she loved it too.  I look forward to more of these special times together with both of my girls.  I've said it tons of times and will say it again:  I'm loving their ages and this stage in life.  We are having so much fun together!

I finally got around to scrapping our class together when I was asked to guest design for 3 Scrappy Boys kit club this month.  The November kit is full of really great items!  Lots of Jillibean Soup papers and stickers that were perfect for these photos!

I had a happy accident on the tag title.  I wanted to do a zigzag stitch  near the title, but the thread came out of the needle before I started and I didn't notice until the end.  I ended up just hand stitching it in the holes and I ended up liking it better!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

The girls are enjoying a 4 day weekend with teacher workdays and hoping to do something fun!