Creative Chaos

Chemo brain.......and how I'm making it work for me.........

I was so tired after my chemo treatment yesterday I couldn't even bring myself to write my usual rambling post.  We didn't get back until 4:00 pm. Then there was homework for Carlos, spending some time with Andres and the dinner debacle, which will be addressed later in this post (it's pretty funny), all I could do was peruse through some blogs and try to figure out what I did to all my reader subscribers.  Apparently, no one is getting my blog updates........Also, if all the pictures in today's post look vaguely familiar, it's because they are. I've already posted all the new stuff that I have been working on and I had to just pull out some repeats....

But first, I need to share this card my friend Jeff sent me (Jeff of the Judge Judy fame...and my friend Gail's husband).  He does these hysterical cards in his off time.  He's so funny. I'll have to have him do a guest blog post for me some time.  Anyway, this card was made just for me......

   

Click on the picture of the text and it will enlarge it....

 

I almost peed my pants.  So funny......So perfect.  I love you guys!!!

Ok....So raise your hand if you aren't receiving my blog updates on your reader.  That's what I thought.  Heather was the first to let me know and then a bunch of others had mentioned it.  Well it didn't take long to put "2 + 2 + fooling around on the computer when I should have been doing something more productive with my time" together to realize the questions came just shortly after I put the new "subscribe in a reader" on my blog.  I did it through Feedburner so that folks could do it to any reader that they used.  Well, in my effort to make thing more convenient for new subscribers, I think I effectively wiped out all my current subscribers.  I'm just tech savvy enough to fool around with a new feature.  But completely clueless as to how to fix it when I screw it up.  If anyone has any ideas how to get me out of this mess, please let me know.......

Two weekends ago we went to the beach on a super warm Saturday afternoon. here I am sporting a cute little blond half wig that my friend Marcia gave to me.  You wear it under a cap so that it gives the illusion of hair.  I didn't want to wear my new wig and get it all sandy and salty not to mention horrify a certain 8 year old so this was the perfect solution.  Plus, it gave me a chance to see if blonds really do have more fun......

   

Playing in the sand is a piece of heaven on earth for some little people......

 

Working on "the biggest hole you will ever see, mommy!"  If only he worked that hard to remember to put his shoes and socks away.......

 

The lure of the water is amazing.......

 

Soaking wet........ I put my feet in to get a bucket of water.  I would estimate the air temperature around 80 degrees and the temperature of the water somewhere between 40 - 50 below zero. 

 

He said "it wasn't too bad.  Once you got numb, you didn't feel the cold anymore."  Ahhh that's the secret....... just turn yourself into a living ice cube.  After this picture he ran back in for more.

But just to show you he wasn't the only one on the crazy train to hypothermia.....I present to you of small sampling of the hundreds of others in that polar bear plunge of an ocean.....

 

Oh, and check this guy out.   He was TOTALLY digging my blond hair.  Although he never actually turned around to look at me, I know for a fact the back of his head was begging me for my phone number.   But I had to tell him "hey, get in line buddy.  I'm married and I will never leave my loving and devoted husband."  I think he had a tear in his eye. Although I will never be 100% sure about that as I never really got a good look at his eyes.  But I'm sure he did.....

 

So of course I sent all these pictures back to my entire family who live in Michigan.  With a friendly little note of "Look what we did this weekend!  How's the weather out there?"   I haven't heard back from any of them since.  Huh?! Whaa?!? What did I say?!?!?.  Oh well, I'm not worried. They'll eventually have to come around if they are planning on coming out to visit this summer.....I hope.....

So here is my funny little chemo brain story.  First though, I love the way there really is such a thing called "Chemo Brain."  Sometimes they call it "Chemo Fog"......Frankly I call it "Status Quo."   I mean, let's be honest here.  It's not like I had a memory of a steel trap before this all started.  But it's nice to have a place to put the blame when I forget things.  They say it can last up to ten years.  Hey, I will take all the time and excuses I can get.  Cosme told me I HAD to write this on my blog and to make sure I spelled his name correctly (uggg...I'm the only one who knows how to spell it correctly).

 

So anyway, yesterday when we were heading home from chemo, I was starving....STAR-VING!  So, I said to Cosme the only thing I want right now is my favorite mac & cheese and warm spinach salad from Urban Solace.  He said no problem.  As soon as we get home, I can place the order and he will pick it up for me before he heads to Costco.  Luckily the restaurant is only 2 minutes from the house so I was completely anticipating that within the next 15 minutes I would be munching on my salad and five cheese macaroni with bacon. Sigh......

So as soon as we get home I order my food....they tell me it will be ready in 10 minutes.....I tell her thank you so much and I love you. she abruptly hangs up....I run out to the garage to tell Cosme it's ready!!!! He says "great. I'll go bring it back for you and then I will head over to Costco."    Yay! Life is good!  Life includes five cheese macaroni with thick bacon and caramelized onions!  Life will include full stomach in the next 10 minutes!  Yay! I love life!

So I head on into the house to get Carlos started on homework and call my friend Annette to update her on my chemo and all other little tidbits of life. Now this is where each person's story differs wildly.  It's kind of like when they bring the suspects into the interrogation room on Law & Order and you really don't know whom to believe. 

 

5:00 pm: While I was talking on the phone with Annette at the kitchen table. He comes in and does this hand gesture thingy that I don't quite understand. I say "what?" He says he's leaving.  I say "ok...finally"   I continue blabbing on with Annette about very, very important things that involve reality tv and getting together for girl's night out until Carlos needs my help with his homework.   So I hang up and go into the living room to help him study for his spelling test. 

After a while, and feeling kind of light headed and very hungry, I glance at the clock and notice it's 5:36.  What the!?! .....where in the world is he?!? .....omg ....did he get into a car accident on the 1/2 mile route of side streets with my macaroni & cheese!  Or, wait...did he pick it up and THEN go to Costco? No. No way. He would have never done that knowing the state of starvation that I was in.   I call him on his cell phone. Voice mail. Hmmmm avoiding me is he.  In my weaken state, I continue to help Carlos with his homework and ponder the idea of eating a bowl of Count Chocula in the meantime.  At this point, it's 6:00pm so I start to wander over to the kitchen.  Just as I turn the corner, I hear the car alarm and see him walking up to the door.  I run to open it and find him standing there with three packages of tortellini, tortillas and a DVD of Open Season 2......but no five cheese macaroni.  AII could sputter out in a soft whiny voice was "did you forget my food?"  To which he gave me a look.  I'm not quite sure how to explain this look but it was a cross between confusion and more confusion.  He slowly said to me as if he couldn't possibly believe what I was just saying to him "Honey, I already dropped off your food.  Remember when you were talking to Annette on the phone? And then....." 

That was all I heard because I ran back into the kitchen to see the lonely white bag with two take-out containers sitting there on the counter just waiting for me.  Cosme comes up to me with the tortellini and tortillas still in his hands and gives me a hug and says "I thought you saw it.  I thought you knew it was there"  He felt so bad...... It was like I was Dorothy with her red shoes from the Wizard of Oz and I had the power to eat at anytime, but just didn't realize it.  

I told Cosme we need to work on our communication skills when it comes to food.  He said "yes dear." and then left me to devour my no longer warm spinach salad (but still fabulous) and my needing to be warmed mac & cheese.  I recovered in a timely fashion and all was right in the world again!

Can I brag just a bit.......

about my talented friends.......

Let's just take a look at this gal here...........Dana from Vickery Vous....

She was asked to be a part of the UK Scrapbook Magazine Design Team.  She was just featured in a 3 page spread that introduced her to all the readers.  I'm so excited for her!!!  She's a wonderful scrapbook artist who remains true to her style.  We met through Paper Tales after Michelle told me about her.  I then blogged stalked her and introduced myself.  Lucky for me, she not only didn't ban me from making further comments but she wanted to be my friend.  Phew!

Yay Dana!!  I am soooo happy for you!   Hey...can I get your autograph?  

I also want to introduce you to a new "blog kid" on the block.  My friend and artist extraordinaire Amy of Finders Keepers has finally started a blog.   I met her through Paper Tales at one of her collage classes.  Do you remember this....

I think she was pretty impressed with my bird collage making skills thereby overlooking the fact that I talked the whole way through the class with Michelle.  Once again, I was not only not banned from further classes, but got to be her friend.  I'm like a cat with nine lives.....Please go check out Amy's blog Sweet Life and tell her Karin sent you!  And while you're there check out all her beautiful artwork.  She amazing! 

Speaking of PaperTales....I stopped by today to pick up a few things and chit chat with Julie for a while.  I picked up some cute paper........

    

And dropped off these.......

   

 

 

but not this......

Although the idea is cute, I totally messed up the top with my uneven cutting and crooked handles.  I was going to do it over but it was my last piece of paper. Oh well......

 

The top two will be the ones I'm doing for my class at Paper Tales on February 14th.   I'm really looking forward to it.  And since it's Valentine's Day I may have to make a few of these for the class......

 

The boys and I made them the other night when I was craving cupcakes big time.  Look at what the plate says......

 

I'm almost positive that's German for "Calorie Free."  Homemade buttercream frosting, of course.  Yummy!   

Ok....time for me to get off the computer.  I've got chemo tomorrow. So you know what that means......a long incoherent rambling post babbling on about trashy reality shows, the current state of the ecomomy and why I can't seem to keep my craft table clean.  It's bound to be action packed.......Talk to you soon!   Karin

I'm seriously considering changing my healthcare provider........

to Oceanside Wellness Center.  It will require a more than 2 hour commute from San Diego to LA; but, from what I saw last night on tv, well worth the extra mileage.  

 

For starters, (and with all due respect to my wonderful oncologist) the doctors there are really hot.   I mean...come on.....I've yet to see at least one cute doc like that roaming the halls of Kaiser. Yet, there are four of them falling all over themselves in one office there......  

 

Speaking of offices......I really wouldn't need to commute because I could just move into the nicely appointed, softly lit waiting room on one of their big comfy couches. And, I'm willing to bet, the magazines are current and don't include Golf Digest.  When I'm hungry, I'll just eat out of the top of the line kitchen they call a break room.  I'm sure I won't get to lonely as there always seems to be all sorts of tomfoolery going on after hours..... 

 

Oh yeah......They make housecalls.  All of them.  No matter the time or the day.  That would be very convenient for me......

 

I'll have to give it more thought....but I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for it if Dr Pete Walsh  or Dr Taye Diggs....I mean Dr Sam Bennett are taking new patients......

Happy Pink Saturday!  Karin

My Cup Runneth Over.........

 

 

With all the Love I have received in Blogland.......

I am so humbled and overcome with gratitude that I am left speechless. 

When I first was diagnosed, for a moment, I hesitated sharing the news as I didn't want to be the Debbie Downer of the blog world. "we used to go to Karin's blog for a laugh or two and maybe a cute gift tag.....but now all we do is cry.  I'm heading over to Under the Red Roof. She's way more fun! Plus, she's got cool vintage wallpaper....."  

But the reality is, to all those who know me, know that I'm a "bit" of an open book and there was just no way I could ignore this life altering portion of my world.   I always have had a hard time defining my blog as it has been a mixture of art, family and snark.  I'm not really a "craft" blog. But I'm not a "mommy" blogger either...... It's just a mixed bag of my life served up on a computer screen.  And, because of that, I knew there was no way that I would be able to continue writing about my family while posting pictures of the latest crown I made without acknowledging the huge part of my life that had been forever changed. 

What I didn't expect, however, was the huge outpouring of love, faith and strength that showed up on my doorstep and in my email box. It always seemed to arrive when I just needed it.  I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that thank you seems so woefully inadequate.  However, I would feel remiss if I didn't send out a personal thank you to  each and every one of you.  It's going to take me a bit of time but please know that I am penning  (or typing as the case may be) them as we speak.......

I wanted to write this because it's taking me a bit longer than I expected to get to everyone.   So until you get that personal, heart filled letter of thanks, please know that I love each and every gift and word written to me.  All your words and good wishes have help keep me lifted above the waters of sadness and fear.  

Thank you from the bottom of my grateful snarkfilled heart!

Oh.....Please remember.....if you are a regular reader, please let me know because this is what I'm giving away in my Regular Reader/Lurker Giveaway...........

 

and this......

 

I'm totally going "rogue" here in doing the separate drawings.  I hope I don't get in big trouble from Lisa.......Also, you can leave you message here, instead of going back to the other post. 

Thanks again everyone!!!! I'll talk to you soon!

Come on Everyone..........Let's go wig shopping........

 

Click here to get to the One World One Heart giveaway Post!!!!

Wig shopping turned out to be much more fun than I had anticipated.  After mortality and I had worked out all our personal relationship issues, I was free to let loose and have a good time.  

I just need to make a side note that the wig shop is also conveniently located right next to a Hooters.   Coincident?  We'll never be sure.  However, I thought with all the free time on my hands, I might just apply for a job there.   But then I reconsidered upon realizing the time I would have to devote to a subsequent lawsuit after they rejected me because I only have one "hooter".  I just don't have that kind of time in my schedule right now what with reality tv show watching and blog giveaway juggling. 

So with my Hooter's career on the shelf, I realized other dreams could come true when I saw this sign upon first entering

Yay!  A Miley Cyrus wig!!!! I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.  Here's my chance to look 20 years younger and pretend that I have talent.  Then my dreams came crashing down all around me, similar to a mid-90's Billy Ray Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart career,  when a salesgirl patiently explained they were all out of my size.  Dreamcushers. 

Wandering aimlessly, through my tears,  I saw the sign for the Real Housewives of San Diego Casting Call. 

Yes!  There is a God!   I ran over there demanding the application.  After reviewing all the pertinent information, they told me I would not be eligible based on the fact that I had an uncanny resemblance to Kim of Atlanta and Laurie of OC and they did not want to duplicate their efforts. Also, I was unable to consume enough large amounts of alcohol to ensure revealing of castmate's dirty laundry, insecurities and behavior that are generally reserved for high school girls and maintain a delusion of class through wealth.  However, the biggest reason for my rejection was I refused to leave my husband for a rich 70 year old while simultaneously dropping 50 IQ points.   

Sigh. When will the unrelenting rejections ever end......

 

So at that point I decided to travel back in time to a place where the people would be more accepting........the late 1700's........ Plus, I figured I could jump on all the Marie Antoinette hoopla that's been the buzz of all the crafty blogs.........

 

 

However, I didn't feel blond was my look........And, like my friend Joe said, it was more for "special occasions."  I really don't get dressed up enough to carry off the look.

 

So in the end, with all my dreams of fame and fortune crushed, this is the look I ended up with........

 

 

Like regular old me........I suppose it will do........

 

 

One World.....One Heart Giveaway!!

 

 ~~ Welcome ~~

I'm so excited to participate this year in the One World One Heart event that is hosted by the wonderful Lisa *aka* Oceandreamer!

I didn't participate last year for reasons that escape me now.  But this year I'm back and ready to join in on all the fun. 

I'm going to pick two names and offer.......

A Vintage Wallpaper "Mosaic" Notebook

and

Two Gift Tags

So please put your name in the hat by leaving a comment! 

  Also, if you are a regular reader or lurker, let me know! 

I have a little surprise for you all!!!!!

 

Oh my gosh......I SWEAR I didn't pay her to write that!

 

Although, had she demanded a few dollars thrown her way in order to post it, I would have gladly done so..... To all that know Jennifer, know how lucky I am to have her as a friend in my life. She has been an incredible friend throughout the years and a lifesaver throughout this ordeal.   Thank you so much Jenny!    

The other title to this post could have been "While You Were Sleeping."   From Friday on, I have mostly either been sleeping in a bed, sleeping on a couch, laying on a couch watching tv, laying on a couch eating, or laying on a couch watching tv while eating.  That's it.  I have been watching so much tv that I am seriously considering doing a whole new blog just to make fun of all the shows I've been watching.  I had no idea the drivel that existed once you wandered past the surface of popular tv dredge.  There's a whole new world in the "300" channel area that I never even knew existed.....Bridezilla anyone?  

Anyhow, for right now I'm going to have to put that on the back burner because I have a bunch of other things to do.  One of which was wig shopping.  Oh, yes.....she's sporting a wig!  The whole going bald thing was much harder than I anticipated.  I mean I knew it was going to be hard, but I didn't anticipate the level of emotions in which it would take.   For the kids, it was a mixed reaction.   Carlos basically ran behind the couch and demanded that I put my cap back on immediately.  I was "too weird" for him.  During the rest of the evening and the days ahead, he would come up to me during a conversation and tug my cap down on my forehead and ears never missing a beat of what he was saying.  He just needed to make sure those bald spots were covered properly.  Andres on the other hand, laughed until he couldn't laugh anymore.  He said my head was getting "smalder and smalder."  Occasionally, he will ask me to take my cap off just so he could laugh.  I love when he does that.  My husband, of course, says "you're still beautiful."  I married him not only for his body, but his keen ability to assess a given situation and say the right thing.  Smart guy. 

 

And me?  I think I look like Fat Albert's friend Dumb Donald in my beautiful crocheted caps.  As my best friend Annette so sagely put......"Eh, it's not your best look."  (I love that woman.)  Everytime I looked in the mirror, I startled myself.  "Who are you?! And just what have you done with my former head?!?" My head itched.  It felt like velcro. And, I realized, that my head is disproportionately smaller than my body.    I tried to wear a blond wig that a friend had given me under a crocheted cap.   I looked like Jeff Spicholi from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.   Not the look I was going for.  At that point, I knew wig shopping was in my future as soon as I could crawl off the couch.  However, while I was on the couch, I finally figured out what was bothering me so much about the loss of my hair.  While I realized that appearance factored into the equation, it wasn't just about looks.   I couldn't put my finger on it, but it was something more. Something bigger than hair. 

Then I finally figured it out........ I looked sick.  I looked like someone with cancer.  My bald head stared back at me in the mirror smugly and said "you have cancer."  It was at that moment I realized it wasn't my hair that I was mourning but the veil of anonymity it provided that I lost.  I would no longer be at Target as Karin - the slapped together, bad hair day, should have taken a shower, mom buying toilet paper and dish detergent.  I would be Karin - the cancer patient.   I was no longer Karin - yeah, I have cancer; but you couldn't tell from looking at me. And, frankly I feel just fine, thank you very much. I'm doing great!   I was now Karin - Stage III breast cancer.   I struggled with all the complexities of what that really meant.  I knew I wasn't the cancer.....that I am a person fighting cancer.  Yet, every time I walked past a mirror, or felt the bristle of my hair against my cap, I was reminded once again that I have "it". 

 

I allowed myself to grieve, once again, as I had earlier in this whole process, the loss of normal and my confrontation with mortality.  I had sent mortality packing quite a few months ago.  She and I had a huge fight. There were tears, angry accusations and an unpaid cell phone bill.... but, I finally told her to just leave.  Plus, she didn't watch Real Housewives of Orange County and I was like, get outta here......But, sure enough she snuck in through the cat door, plopped herself in my bathroom mirror and laughed at me for thinking I had control of my life...even if I finally figured out where to store the black & white polka dot paper.   So, this time, we set aside our differences civilly and courteously and decided to work together on this on.  We went wig shopping.   And that was all I needed to embrace my inner and outer baldness.   With a cute little brimmed hat on top of my small head, I went shopping for a wig, browsing at Borders and lunching with my mom and Annette.   Although mortality came along for the ride, we made her sit at a different table.  I know she's always there.  I just don't want to her to get any ideas....... 

Coming up next....Wig shopping fun....

Guest Blogger

This is Karin's friend Jennifer writing for Karin.  Awhile back, Karin mentioned to me in passing whether I would write a blog entry for her. Karin thought she would be laid up for a few days between surgery and chemotherapy and did not want to disappoint her online friends by not having any new content. 

 

Armed with her password,  I latched onto the opportunity like a mediocre songstress  latches on to her chance to be on camera in front of the judges at an American Idol audition. So I take full responsibility for the following content.

  

 ART SAVES LIVES

When I was in my twenties I worked at an art-to-wear gallery.  We sold many brooches by the New Mexican artist, Maria Consuelo Moya.  The brooches were ornately crafted reliquary pins emblazoned with the phrase, “ART SAVES LIVES”.  Customers would constantly ask me the meaning of the phrase, “ART SAVES LIVES”.

“Did I know the artist’s intention?”

My solution to the redundancy of being asked the same question over and over again was to come up with some pat answer that I thought was suitably philosophical. I truly hadn’t put any thought as to the artist’s intention because I was still a glib twenty-something. I thought I knew everything but in reality I had yet to understand anything. I am now my forties and the last twenty years have been jam-packed with experience.What I was once too naïve to comprehend now carries surprising poignancy. One of the first things that came to my mind when Karin gently told me of her negative mammogram was,” ART SAVES LIVES”.   The phrase now has an all too real meaning.

 

There are many, many, many reasons why Karin will thrive and survive but her ART must live on and flourish along with her. They say art may be viewed as an extension of its creator.  It is no surprise that one of the predominant mediums in Karin’s art is glitter. Karin is glitter incarnate. Everywhere she goes she sprinkles goodwill and fun.  Her funny and kind comments linger like a piece of stray glitter on your cheek.  The shine cast by the tiny specks of reflective glass in Karin’s crowns reminds me of the twinkle Karin gets in her eyes when she is about to say something witty, or as she would put it “snarky”.  Whereas I see the world and think of dunce caps; Karin sees the world and envisions crowns. I think she makes crowns because she has the innate ability to see splendor, and regality in everyone she encounters.

“Karin is my friend.”  People want to say that after meeting her.  Once you’ve basked in the glow of Karin’s winning smile and experienced her easy to laugh nature you feel drawn to her like the proverbial moth to light. We all want her mojo.

Karin’s work is thoughtful and playful in nature, just like her.  With Karin I can confess my desire to break a few tenants that any life-coach, etiquette expert, or Oprah and the Dalai Lama would agree to as being a deterrent to achieving my full potential as a fully-actualized and civilized human. For example, I have been known to insert tidbits of Hollywood gossip into our conversations like a former two-pack a day smoker might sneak in a few drags of someone else’s cigarette.  I know it’s in poor form for me to do it but I just have to do it and I know Karin won’t nag me about doing it.

I can bandy about references to Bravo reality shows and Karin does not give me a look of disdain when I say that  I deleted my son’s episodes of “Power Rangers Jungle Fury” on the DVR to make room for the entire season of “Celebrity Rehab 2”.  I have prefaced many a conversation with Karin by saying “I know this is really mean of me to say but I just have to get it out…..”  When I end my rant and ask, “Am I a horrible person for thinking that?”  Karin just shakes her head and laughs.  The best part, she never brings anything you said up again.  Rest assured your wacky comments are safe with her. (I think she might toss them out into Cosme’s storage room behind her house along with the assorted collection of stray screws and bicycle parts.)

 

Karin is tall and impossibly thin.  When she stands in front of you, folds her arms, and leans over to you in a conspiratorial tone you know that you are about to hear something delightfully interesting. 

Karin  makes me laugh.   Life is pazza. Crazy, like the Italians say. But hanging with Karin is la dolce vita because she is one of the few people who can crack me up. This is high praise for me because I love to laugh yet it is difficult for anyone to elicit more than a snort, chortle, or gaffaw from me.  Karin says things that make me throw my head back in hysteria and clap like a contestant on “The Price Is Right”.  God forbid, you are drinking a beverage when she is relating a story because you are lucky if you don’t laugh so hard your mocha latte goes the wrong way and shoots out of your nose.  Be prepared to always carry spare napkins around when engaged in conversation with Karin.

Karin and I met and began our friendship in September 2005 while we were both standing, waiting for our first born sons to be dismissed from kindergarten. Our boys began kindergarten in the same class and became fast friends.  Their mutual names – Carlos and Carlo,  initially drew them together.

My child, as all mothers will say about their children, changed my life in ways that he will never know. I will always be grateful, to Carlo in particular, because without him I would have never met Karin and Carlos.  I met my first school mom friend and Carlo made his first buddy at school.

 

It’s amazing how much news moms learn to cram into short snippets of time.  Carlos was still in kindergarten when Karin began pondering ways to jump-start her creativity.  It seems that one minute we were standing on the playground with our little five-year olds and the next we are standing with eight-year olds that no longer needed us to walk them to class.  In between that span of time Karin went from just thinking about art to creating it in her studio.

When I come to think of it, most of my conversations with Karin have taken place while we have been standing –standing during afternoon pick-up, standing on each others porches while we pick up the boys from each others home, standing at a playground, and so on.  I am not going to take “Operation Karin” sitting down.  Now is not the time to start sitting with regards to Karin.

I will continue to stand with my friend, along with the rest of us who love and admire her.  And there are many of us.

So keep those cards,letters,  packs, and parcels of whimsy coming to Karin.

Don’t forget that, “ ART SAVES LIVES”.

Jennifer

P.S. Now don’t tell Karin….

I am going to be a buttinsky by sending out a special culinary request for any of Karin’s fans in other parts of the country. There are no Polish bakeries in San Diego.  So if anyone out there is of Polish persuasion, please feel free to send Karin something just like babcia would make.

Think Pink!

Just brightening the place up here......

 

1. Altered Christmas Book, 2. Vintage Sweet Peas, 3. Pink Vintage Button Bouquet, 4. rose cupcakes

I'm getting reading to go back to bed after essentially sleeping all day.  However, I have a pretty good excuse.  Wednesday and Thursday were big days here in the Chaos household.  The CEO celebrated the big 4!  Not four years as CEO, but Four Years Old!  How did that possibly happen on my watch?!? He's still my baby.  But, as he said to me just before he fell to sleep..."I fowr year old now mommy."  Yep. He certainly is.

Wednesday after chemo and and using my "D" high to the best of my abilities by writing rambling blog posts, talking to my sister and a bunch of friends on the phone, eating and returning as many emails as I could, I was oh so politely reminded by a little boy at 7:00 pm "we need make funfetti cupcakes mommy"....How in the world could I have forgotten the much hyped "Thomas the Train with Funfetti confetti sprinkles" cupcakes?!?"

So off to the kitchen we went to make them.....He helped every stage of the way from the cake mix......

 

to employing an assistant with a professional Krispy Kreme hat....

 

taking the request "time to put the eggs in" literally.....

 

After bath and pajamas, it's time to get this "Funfetti" party rolling....

 

"Funfetti" is serious business.....

 

Ahhhh....the finishing touch!

 

You turn around for two seconds to rinse some things out in the sink and this is what you find........

Someone getting the party started a day early.....

 

Huh?! Wha?! 

And that professional Krispy Kreme hat wearing assistant?  Well, he informed me that he was putting his cupcake away for safekeeping on the counter so he could have it the next day.  Did he think I wouldn't notice the finger smears around the edges?  They think they're so sneaky......

 

Have a great day!  I'll be back soon in between naps!  Karin

Just Remember............It's the decadron talking...........

I refuse to take any responsibility for the following post. If anything seems confusing or weird.....well.....I have no idea how it happened......

 

Today was the second round of chemo.  And, the second round of decadron.  Hence the rambling post you are about to read.  You can expect a post like this every three weeks....on a Wednesday.....after everyone's gone to bed......and, I'm still up.

Just a some totally random things........

Everytime I read this sign I crack up and think of Jiffy Lube Express.

 

This is exactly how I threw the lights of the tree in the storage box.  I really thought I had placed them on the tree in a manner consistent with easy removal.  But as you can see, apparently not.  Life is too short to untangle lights.  That is until next year when I am bitching to myself at how much time I'm wasting staightening them out......

 

Remember when I did my posts about "Michelle's" Arts and Craft Stores about disinterested employees who could not care less if you were to drop dead in front of them. Actually, I take that back. They probably would prefer if the dropping was done during their break.   Well, guess what people.  I now have rock solid proof that they hate each and every last one of us.   Seriously. If you are female and breath, they hate you.  If you are female, breathe and have the audacity to ask them where knitting needles are, they loathe you.  I just knew I was right.  Here is  Where they hate you  and where they really hate you....especially if you're a rich housewife.   So it appears as if we have a Isreali/Palastine type of war going on here.  Except insead of the Gaza Strip it's taking place at Michael's......

After chemo I finally let Andres paint his house, formerly known as my house, that I got from Paper Tales.  He let a elephant move in there and it resulted in some sort of squatter's rights issue......I had to purchase a new one for myself.  If I remember correctly, Judge Judy had a case almost EXACTLY like this one......

Speaking of JJ I talked to my sister today for over an hour.  I actually gave her legal advice based soley on everything I learned from watching Judge Judy...... "Seriously Kris.....if you are planning on suing that guy you have to make sure that you blah, blah, blah. And, I know for a fact you need to file for blah, blah, blah."    It was sound advice.  It's her fault if she loses.

I watched Bret Michaels Rock of Love bus.  You can't hate me more than I hate myself for wasting 1 hour of my life that I will never get back.  It's dvr'd for next week.

Why is it that the Real Housewives of Orange County women look as though they ran a trowel through their hair after waking up from a three day bender. You think these woman lived in the Sahara desert with all those dry split ends.  I'm very confused as to why, after making it perfectly clear that they individually have more money than the average bear,  that their hair looks like it was cut and styled from a trainee at Supercuts.  I guess money can't buy happiness and good healthy hair.

Speaking of hair........My hair finally started to fall out.  It's so thick that it has taken the last three days to come to the point where it is now......awful. 

Here's a picture I took when it first started coming out...... 

 

Not to bad......Here's one from Tuesday when Amy and I went up to Paper Tales.....

  Amy, Me, The Count, Michelle and Julie!

Much thinner......plus, I was leaving a trail of hair behind me where ever I went.    Off the subject for a second......notice who I have safely wrappped in my loving arms?  Michelle picked him up for me at the commissary. Since the boys and I have already eaten the three that Jessie sent me, he was a sight for sore eyes. 

Here we are showing off the bracelets that Amy had given to us as a Valentine's Day gift.  I gave Michelle the blue one above Amy's as a thank you for New Year's Day.......

So anyway, it's time.  It's time for the big shave.  I was in complete denial about the whole thing. I had really hoped that I was going to be that rare chemo patient that didn't lose all her hair.  I kind of counted on the thickness and hoped that the chemo would be fooled into thinking it was all done shedded my lockes about half way through. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Sigh..... But I came up with a solution while I lounging in my chemo bay watching Days of our Lives (I can not believe Bo & Hope are still on that show).  It was an idea that got me so excited that as soon as I went home, I called Rachael my hairdresser and scheduled "the hair cut to end all haircuts."  She not only was happy to do so, but is coming over to my house at 9:30 tomorrow morning to do it.......She's the best.  What's my idea you ask?  Two words......professional photos.   I emailed Joleen when I got back and asked here if she would take photos of me and my big bald head on the beach.  She said yes!! So I decided instead of ignoring the fact that I'm bald, I'm going to embrace it. I'm going to capture this moment in my life and celebrate it.   And, I know Joleen will capture exactly the vibe that I'm seeking.  So excited! 

Right this minute, I'm wearing a crotcheted cap the Heather's friend Rebecca Lueck made for me.   I don't have a picture of it on because someone kept stealing it from me........

 

 

But trust me...it's warm and snuggly. It kind of has that gangster feel to it.  Because as we all know, when I'm not Creative Chaos, I'm roaming the mean streets as Gangster Chaos.  Plus, it's keeping what remains of my hair intact and off the floor....... Thanks so much Rebecca!!! 

Saying good bye to old drinking buddies.....The karaoke bar won't be the same without you......

 

Awwww....what the heck!  One more song for the road!

Talk to you soon!  Karin