Second Cake Spring Time Whimsy - WIlton Class

Today in my Wilton class we learned to make the Wilton Rose, flowers, and shells. We also learned to make a 3 diminsional clown. I thought we were make a clown cake so I brought bright colors. Well I ended up with a flower cake. I love the bright colors. It makes the cake look like a Easter/Spring cake.  When I first frosted the cake I thought it looked like something to go on the Mad Hatters Tea Party table. Well it did end up looking like that. We have one more class and then I hope to be taking the Fondant/Gumpaste Class so I can make Glenna her cake for the Baby Shower.

Possible cake I want to make for Glenna Shower.

Sale Sale Sale!!! 21 % off for 21 years of Wedded Bliss

Sale Sale Sale!!!! Check out my sale at the below websites.

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/FibroFighter
http://www.etsy.com/shop/backroomcreations

Sale To Celebrate Being Married 21 Years To The Most Wonderful Man in The World...sorry girls.

This week is my 21st Anniversary of being married to my wonderful husband Charlie. To celebrate this milestone I will be having a sale.
Purchase anything from any of my shops-See side bar under Shopping- and get 21% off everything.
This is good until 5:00pm on Thursday March 25th . Please note "anniversary" in note to seller and I will send an updated invoice.

Oh what a Weekend.

Well I have had a busy 4 days. On Thursday I was hired as a Substitute Instructional Assistant in the school district applied back in February. Once I am done with my Fibromyalgia Rehabilitation Program I will get my name on the list and a possible temporary/ assignment. That would be a good start for me. So I have filled out my paperwork, did my background check and now i just have to get TB Test. I will be up early tomorrow to get that done. Friday was busy..rehab and an appointment with the personal director of Sulfar Springs to go over paperwork I needed to fill out.
Saturday I picked up my new contacts,  went to yoga and then took a road trip to Tehachapi to pick up my husbands grandmother dog.  My Daughter in Law and son are adopting him. He is an older weiner dog around 13 years old. The kind with the markings of a rotweiller, black with tan. He is very cute and sweet.
Sunday was wash. I worked on Fibromyalgia Charms and did a little laundry. Took pictures of charms and finally got some good ones. Today, Monday was tax preperation day and I am a happy girl. Between federal refund, amount we owe for state and the fee the tax man charges, we will only be out around $50.00. Thank goodness because with our wonderful State of California raise taxes for my family by $1000.00 and I thought I was going to have to pay that amount. Ran a few errand with Glenna and then went to class. I will be out of class until the 12th of April thanks the professor taking a day off and spring break. I have a lot I need to accomplish between now and then.  We are on the subject of Autism and that happens to be what the position I interviewed for: Instuctional Assistant- Special Education - One on One for an autistic child. I'm very excited.  Here are some dog pictures and the charms.

Ceasar- The new member of my family

Cake Decorating Class At Michaels by Wilton

Today was my first time rdecorating a cake like a professional....just kidding I don't think I would have the patience so I will never be that good. The first picture is the cake I took to the class.  In case you don't know but you have to take cakes to the 2-4 classes of the first session and I'm sure all the rest of the sessions as well.

The class was good especially since I got private lessons for the first 45 minutes well as a matter of fact I was the only who decorated a cake. Of the people who were there last week only 2 showed up and they were late and came unprepared. The instructions in the book were very clear but I guess they did not bother to read the "Bring To Class" Section. Well I was there and that is the only person I care about. I have a goal and need to be able to decorate Glenna's Baby Shower Cake in May.

Ok here is my cake:

Pretty cute for a little kids cake. It should have a name and age on it but I opted to leave it off since Abi doew not have an age yet. And yes the frosting is really that bright. I used a lot of color and wanted it even brighter. Can you say Fuschia?

"How Do You Like Me Now?"

The title has nothing to do with the subjuct of this entry. I have that song in my head from the million times they have played that commercial in the past week.
I did not have great sales at the Almond Blossom Festival but I passed out a ton of cards and saw a few old friend, and visited with a good friend Amber. When I got home from the fair I was informed tht we will be getting another dog.  My husbands grandmother passed away in February and she has a cute litlle but old Weiner dog namd Ceasar.  Well hubby and my daughter in law both are trying to claim him for their own. This should be fun.  We will be picking him up this weeknd after Yoga.
Monday was a day of studying since I was busy all weekend and did not have a chance to study for my Educating The Learning Disabled Class.  I studied my but off and when the test was pesented to me I drewa blank. Did not even recall when the first question was in referrence to. We I went on the the rest of the test and ended up remembering the answer to the 1st question.  I did not think I did well on the test but  pulled it off with a 94 out of 100 plus 5 bonus points=99 points out of 100...I was worried for nothing. I am very proud of myself. I also received a call to go for a job interview for the district that I tested for back in January to be an Instruction assistant. The ball is now rolling for me. At best I will be offered a permanent postion and at the least I will be on the sub call list for 2 schools. Woo Hoo I on my way to my new career. In response to that and the fact that I was not going back anyways...I resigned from my job I am on medical leave from.  That is a big weight off my shoulders.
My Fibromyalgia Program is in it's 4th week and I really am enjoying it.  I just need to implement all the things I learned and establish my routine to stay on track.
Tomorrow I will have my first Cake Decorating Class where I will be decorating a cake.  I'm kind of excited. I will post pictures of the final product tomorrow.

Almond Blossom Festival, Crafts and a My Friend Amber

Well the best part of the Almond Blossom Festival was the time I got to visit with friend.  It was so windy and cold today that if you were not in the sun you were shivering. Hats, glove, and scarves were mandatory and thank goodness I took mine and wore my wool pea coat. On top of the wind, people just were not buying today. I was in the booth with one person who was selling clothes and the other person, my friend Amber is selling cute hair clip flowers she calls Ambows. They are so cute, I should have taken a picture. Here are photos she has on Facebook. She also has one item she has listed on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35451431.

I have quit a few of her hair clips and I love them. I wear them in my hair and I also clip them on my beanies to spice up the plain black ones. She does a great job and is really creative. I think she sold about 5-10 hair clips. I wish I could say that I had alot of sales but I only sold 1 thing and that was to the other girl Kim that was in the booth with us. I think the problem was with my display. No one knew they were charms to go on necklaces. I also had marketed them as Fibromyalgia Charms instead of Scrabble Tile Charms. I have redone my display and hope for better luck tomorrow. I will be praying tonight to the Spirits of the Antelope Valley Wind for them to just take a break.

It amazing how things can change in just 24 hour.

Well I am feeling much better since I saw my therapists at the Fibromyalgia Center. I was being obsessive but I just need to pace myself and keep a schedule. How simple is that?! Well give it my best effort. I made head way on the resin for the Charms and all is well. I will be doing a craft booth with a friend tomorrow so I hope the weather is as nice as it was today.
Good Night.

Just when I thought I was turning a corner I flipped a U-Turn

Ok so today I realized I am spinning out of control...well mean in my head. I have so many things going on: 1)The Fibromyalgia Program that I go to 2 times a week and have exercises and logs I need to keep but I am not doing the practices that should, 2) I'm taking 1 college class and I have attended class but have not studied at all. I have a test on Monday night. 3) Taking a cake making class that started today which I believe is making me realize I have to much on my plate. 4) I started on this project of making Scrabble Tile Charms. Don't get me wrong I love it and it should be relaxing but since I am trying to sell them I have become obsessed. 5) all the above added together have cost money...money that I should not be spending because I am not working. I feel like I am going crazy. Here is how the past week has gone.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥Tuesday-Worked on scrabble tiles all day and that is all I did other then take pictures of charms, listed charms, order more stuff to make more charms. Sold my first charm and felt so good about it.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥Wednesday- Drove to Beverly hills for program and thought about how I'm going to make so much money with these charms. I remember my friend Amber is doing the Almond Blossom Festival on Saturday and I know she would love it if I came and sold the Charms at her booth, so I call her. Whooo Hooo I'm so excited. While in group another girl noticed my charm I was wearing and loved it. Boy I'm really going to make alot of money on these thing~feeling so obsessed I don't even mention to the therapist that I took her advice and reminded myself that my crafting skills have value, hence I have value, her and I had this discussion on Friday and that is why I pulled out the scrabble stiles to work on in the first place. On my way home from Beverly Hills I am still thinking, thinking, thinking. Stop at Michael's Craft Store to get more scrapbook paper so I have more regular charms since I have more Fibromyalgia Charms then the regular ones. Get home and start right on taking more charms, first step done now I can start looking on the internet for I place I can sell other then Etsy or E-bay. Open Artfire account...no research, nothing. It did not cost me anything because the sight is totally free but why? Stayed on the computer while watching TV with the family...soo rude and self absorbed. My son even told me after Charlie went to bed that his dad hates it when I'm on the computer when he is home. I guess I would too. So I ate popcorn at midnight and went to bed a half hour later.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥Thursday~Talked to Charlie this morning and let him know I was sorry for the computer thing and that I would try to put the charm stuff away. He is worried that it is interfering with the Fibro program and college. Laid in bed for awhile and then got up and made me a cup of coffee to take with me to my cake decorating class. Before I left I was going to put on my Fibro Charm Necklace and saw that the front of the charm I wore yesterday looks weird. Did I spray perfume on it? The glaze is water base. What did I do? What am I going to do because I can't sell something that looks like this after one wearing. Great, Well I'll just get the real resin to make the remainder of the charms. Spending more bad, bad. bad. So the class went great but I need to buy a sh$t load of supplies for the class next week plus make a cake to take with me.
Got a message from Amber, we have been playing telephone tag. Oh course she would love for me to come and share her booth. Came home and working on charms again, I say working because that is what it feel like now. The problems I have been having to get them to look perfect are pissing me off. Trying resin since that's what other crafters I have seen use. Smelly and had to do it outside. Lots of bubbles, but we will see how the turn out.
I then did some insurance stuff, wrote out my car payment and package some thing that sold to be mailed. Went to post office and while in line realized I had not eaten anything today..bad, bad, bad. My Fibro group yesterday was about nutrition, failed! What I am doing. I need to pull the preverbal head out of my bootie and do what I should be doing and stop obsessing about the wrong thing. Well I am turning off the computer now since Charlie is going to be home soon and this is my first new leaf. I did not put the charm stuff away so I better do that pronto.

Fibromyalgia Awareness Charms

I have completed and listed a bunch of Scrabble Tile Charms in my Etsy store. Most of them are for Fibromyalgia awareness but I do have others. Please take a look and if you purchase a charm before 5:00pm Pacific time on Thursday March 11, I will refund you 25% of you payment as a Thank you in helping me to get my shop up and running again.
Debbee's BackroomCreations at Etsy-Home for All Things Handmade

Starting College at 42, my first sale and my crafty daughter in law.

So today was my one real school day of the week.  I went to my Educating The Disabled Class. I am taking this class to get an AA/Certificate for an Instructional Aide. If I can handle school this time around I will move on to get my teaching degree. I want to work in Special Education so this is a great first class.... yes I did say first class. I will be at this for awhile. I really do like college. I hope my other classes are as pleasant. My professor is great, the other students are nice and the topic is very interesting.  We have our first exam next Monday so I will need to really study this week. I'm not worried,  I just want to get an A. So far we have only had 1 assignment to be turned in. I said it was an easy class.
Well today I listed some of the Scrabble Tile Charms I made over the weekend in my Etsy shop.   http://www.etsy.com/shop/backroomcreations.  I then posted a link to my shop on Facebook. Since I  belong to a couple of Fibromyalgia Groups I desided to offered discount to them. It work!!! I got my first sale of a Fibro Awareness Charm. Yes!  I am so happy. So upon returning home from class I could not wait to get started on more Charms. I finally resolved the bleeding of the ink on the Fibromyalgia pdf's.  I knew my cosmotology license would come in handy...I used clear nail polish to seal the images. I will have  ready to be photographed and listed in the morning. I even thought to add rhinestones to a few for some extra bling. Well I hope to have success with these charms because it will raise awareness of this disease and I can make some money, because I need to make some money.
Tonight I will post my daughter in law's craft projects for everyone to see..enjoy.

The first one is the figures she made for my son on this 21st birthday last month.












The 2nd one is here work in progress of her parents sitting on a chair.  Her mom asked her to make this for her so I guess this is her first commissioned piece. (Please note that she is not done, this is not yet an accurate dipiction of her mothers hair)

Mission Accomplished

You know that linen closet that you can never find anything in? The one where people just open the door and throw stuff in and quickly close the door so nothing flys out?  Well that was my linen closet.  I was organized about a year ago but since then it has just gone down hill. Well today I went to war with it and I won!! Yes. I even have a large bag to go to the Salvation Army. I love it when I actualy can look at what I have done and pat my self on the back.

Sunday, Sunday...Oscars Weekend and I am without Hubby. I guess I will just craft.

Since it is Oscars weekend, I have been without my hubby all weekend. Work, Work, Work He had an early morning on Saturday and worked until late. Needless to say I got a lot of crafting done over this weekend. Much to my dismay our Yoga class was cancelled yesterday so I spent the day in my PJ. It sure is nice to be able to relax and do a little crafting. I completed some Scrabble Tile Charms for Fibromyalgia Awareness but I'm not sure if I like the way they turned out.  I think it is the paper.  I bought a PDF from Etsy and have to print the designs myself.  I have tried plain white paper, photo paper and banner paper/ heat treated to set the ink and they all are smudging. I'm sure they look fine to everyone else but the perfectionist in me is just not satisfied. I also made some out of scrapbook paper and fabric as well. Those came out great.  I have posted some on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/backroomcreations.

Charlie got to go to work a little later this morning so the family had breakfast together. My favorite part of  the weekend. Today I worked on taking photos for my listings for Etsy...ugh not my favorite part of selling online. I finally ended up using Glenna's camaera and had much better luck.

Over the weekend I also caught up with my step sister Sheryl on the phone. It is amazing that we can talk to each other on the phone for 2 hours and still have stuff to talk about when we force ourselves to hang up. I was so glad to hear from her. I also finally got ahold of my Mom and Dad., I was having a problem getting ahold of them. It turns out that they have a different phone numbers and I forgot to change them in my phone. I don't even remember them tell or giving me the new numbers...Damn Fibro Fog. The parents are doing well and I just found out that they may be able to come out  to Cali when my Grandbaby is born. I look forward to seeing them. I also instant messaged with Cassie for about an hour on Friday night.  I can't wait to see her when she comes home from college in mid May.  I had an instant message convo with my childhhod friend Brenda as well. It was so nice to catch up with her. I ♥ Facebook.

I have had back pain all weekend but being able to pace myself has helped. I really enjoyed my appointments at the Fibromyalgia Rehabiliation Progam this past week. I left there feeling great and with a lot of hope in my heart in regards to the relief of my symptoms.

Half Finished Product

I had a busy weekend without even leaving the house...just what I needed after my full week last week.

New Project-Fibro Awareness

Last night and today I have been working on Scrabble Tile Pendants for Fibromyalgia awareness. I am having a problem with the the finished product. I am trying to work it out with using different paper for the print. This is what I have for now and will hopfully be listing to my Etsy store tomorrow.

There is nothing like Family...I love them so much.

The people I love the most and what they mean to me:

Zachary-My Sweet Boy-Last night I sat here on my Big Chair with my  baby boy, watching Terminator and enjoying a beer together. I cannot tell you how nice it is to have my child already grown during this time of my life.  I know he suffered the effects of Fibromyalgia in his teen years when I was at my worst.  He has been a big help during this past flare that started in September. He has always been a comnpassionate person but he has shown me through the past 5 years that he is truly a caring and empathetic person. Thank you Son for taking care of me when I was suppose to be caring for you.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Charlie-Hubby and Love of My Life-My darling husband is the best man ever.  He is working his tushy off so he can keep me in the style of which I am accustom. Don't get me wrong I'm not spoiled because of myself but because of him. He is the one who gives me much more then I would ever expect for myself. These past months have really confirmed how much he loves me.  He has really taken an interest in my health and what I am doing to be able to make my life better despite Fibromyalgia. Despite our current financial situation he is supporting my choice not to go back to my job. I love him so much and will forever to grateful to the powers that be for bringing him into my life 22 years ago.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Barbara-Twin A-My True Other Half-My sweet sister is an insiration to me.  She really has it all together. A job she really loves, wonderful children, a caring and supportive husband and she is working to become a teacher. She is creative and hard working. I do not know what I would do without her. She is my best friend and has really been supportive when I am at my worst and during this time while I am on my journey to wellness. I would like to tell her "Thank You" for teaching my how to quilt, how to make purses, how to have faith my own ideas, for her help regarding my next step in career choice and  for always being there for me. I know we always seem to follow each others footsteps but that just goes to show how much we a truely alike.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Glenna- My Daughter That I Share With Another Mother-Yes! I finally have a daughter.  I have truly been blessed with a wonderful, amazing, strong, sweet daughter-in-law. I could not have chosen anyone better for my son. She has been so helpful during these past 6 months. I don't know how I would have been able to maintain my sanity without her. She is my Kitchen Cleaning Fairy, my cheerleader and my friend. She my not know how "Special' she is but the rest of us in the house know. Living with her in-laws may not be what she had in mind but I feel blessed to be able to see her everyday during her pregnancy. I secretly want them to live with us forever so I can continue to watch the baby grown up.

Why when you have a busy day you feel like you have accomplished nothing?

Today was very hectic. as soon as I left the house, I dropped Frannie off for his beauty appointment.  His once monthly appointment cost the same as it does for me to get a haircut but he has it done twice as often. What a spoiled baby. I love him and he is so handsome when he is all cut and clean.
Today was to be my first day at Cake Decorating Classes. Well I got there and found out that the class calendar was wrong and they do not start until next week. That's OK because it allowed me to have the energy to go to the college. Yeah I know, what is exhausting about going into a school?. First of all the parking sucks...I had to park so far away that it took 5 minutes to walk to the Student Service Building. At least I could count that as my walking for the day. All I wanted to know was what I qualified for in Student Loans...that's it. But I misplaced my student ID. No Student ID no talking to Finacial Aid...period. Heck I only waited in line for 30 minutes. I guess I should have checked my wallet to see if I had it. Very disappointing, Well I was sure that I had maybe left it in a jacket pocket from my last visit. Came home , checked pockets , nothing. Ok now I really need to check my wallet. Keep in mind it is a handmade wallet/purse. Well the ID fell down behind the card holders and I had itwith me the whole time. Back to school, but this time I got front row parking. yeah,,,but the line I had waited 30minutes was twice as long.  I waited another 40 minute and let me tell you by this time my back and hips are KILLING me. I finally did get the information I needed and I am set for the Summer session...now if I can get classes.
So back at home I took my little friend Soma and relaxed for a while. Rewrote my Messenger Bag Pattern, made a Pencil Pouch, then off the Joann's for flannel that I needed because I made a cuttting error, Trader Joes for dinner shopping, pick up Frannie, drop him off and run to Vons for Cream of Chicken Soup because TJ doesn't sell anything like that. Made dinner...Chicken Divan, did a load of laundry/washed fabric and then I was done (oh yeah ...watched Real Housewives of OC) Now it is past 11:30 and I think I will try to go to sleep. Wish me luck as I have to get up at 6am to be in Beverly Hills by 9am UGH!!

Fibromyalgia Program Session 3 continued

Good morning and I wish you a good day.  Yesterday was a great day in my Fibro Rehab program. We had 2 new people come in and one person left.  I have to say I really like the group of women I in my group. With each visit I feel less alone in this. Other then  the pain and cognetive problems, the hardest thing to deal with when suffering from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue is the that no one know how you feel. That leads to deeper depression, more pain and less activity. My experience is that when people don't understand they tend to avoid you. I know commuication works both ways but when you have been so isolated because of your pain, you do not have much to say other then how bad you feel physically and mentally.Well paricipating in this group has made me feel that I am not the only person in the world going throught this.  FMS/CFS is a very lonely disease.

My sessions wth my Neuropsycologist, just listening to her talk it is like she is in my head, has brought me to tears everytime I have a session with her. I feel silly and don't quite know why I am crying all the time. A person with fibromyalgi tends to be in denial and that may be the reason. Talking about my feeling and saying out loud "I am sick and will never be healed" is such a sad thing. Yeah I am learning to manage my symptoms but they will never go away. I will always be waiting for that one thing that triggers a "Flare". I am working on coming to terms with this disease and for the frst time in 5 years I am hopeful for a more pain free life.  I am learning to modify my life to keep the pain away for good. Well off to do my stretches and walk so I can start my day as my 7:ooam alarm willbe going off soon.
Wish me luck in my first day of Cake Decorating Class. 

Fibromyalgia Program Session 3

Today was a very tiring. It was my 3rd session in the Fibromyalgia Program. Two hours driving there and 2 hours to get back home. It usually takes 1 1/2 hour each way. I am so exhausted. I learned some more information and will be implementing right away. I will update on my progress tomorrow. Good night  unless I get a second wind.

I don't know

..what to name this blog entry.
Today was a productive day...nails done, signed up for a cake decorating class DDL,(darling daughter in law) wants a fondante covered cake for the baby shower. I had lunch at Olive Garden with DDL and mailed off the quilt squares for the Signature Quilt I am making.  On top of that, I cut all the squares for the large rag quilt I am making for the baby. I picked out all flannels with animals so she can learn as she uses it as a play blanket.  The only hard part is I want the back blocks to form the shape of a heart. I'm pretty sure how I will accomplish it, but wish me luck any ways.
The only thing about all the progress today is my body is saying "What do you want from me?" Heat and bed is what I will be giving this body once The Biggest Loser is over.
Tomorrow is my second week of the Fibromyalgia Rehab Program. I am looking forward to the class but not the drive. 

I have attached a sneak peek at the flannel I am using. The 3 top piles are the top and the two bottom will make up the heart back.

Off to a GREAT Start-

Ok today will be a productive day. I have already done my daily stretches and walked my walk. Around the block in 10 minutes. Just what my Physical therapist prescribed. Now I get to get pampered by getting my nails done. When I get back home I need to pick up the Backroom/Craftroom so I can start on the next baby project. Here is a peek into my little piece of heaven...my craftroom.

Oh It Has Been Quite A Monday

Oh what a bad day this has been.Woke up this morning feeling like doodie, as in doggie doodie. I also had a fat eye. I thought I out grew getting pimples in odd places. Over the past few days I have been getting one by the corner of my eye. It has caused my eyelid to swell up like someone punched me. Today I just laid on the loveseat with the heating pad on my upper back and a warm washcloth on my eye for most of the day until I had to go to school.  School was good but I realize how old I am.  We watched a movie with the lights out,  so much for taking notes.  I could not even see my paper. I guess I will have to invest in reading light for future movie to be watched in class.
Upon returning home I made dinner,Taco...yum,  Charlie cleaned up, I made my Baby Shower address list and now it is time to think about going to bed. I wish everyong a great evening and productive tomorrow.