Thrifty Thursday…lite edition

I mentioned yesterday that I’m overwhelmed a bit with life right now, and will be taking a blogging break for a few days.  Even so, I hated to miss posting a Thrifty Thursday list, so here’s a “lite” version.  Hopefully a few designers will take the time to link up using Mr Linky below.

Recurring weekly specials:

• Don’t miss Funky Playground’s ”$1 Day” today (Thursday) - lots of fun goodies for a buck.
• Get 20% off all new products at The DigiChick TODAY (Thursday).
• Be sure to click over to Designer Digitals “Thrifty Thursday” section

And some special offers by designers JUST for DigiScrapChat readers:

• Web Designz by Kristi has a few items for sale in her shop.  AND she is also offering a 25% off coupon for you. The coupon is good through July; use the code: char25

And, here’s MR. LINKY: Designers and CT Members - if you know of sales or specials for this week, feel free to link us up using Mr. Linky below (or put a link in the comments!)

A few days off…

I’ve been keeping a lot of plates spinning lately, and I can tell I’m about ready to drop a few, so with that in mind, I’m going to take a few days off from blogging.  If I can muster it, I’ll have the regular Thrifty Thursday post tomorrow, but other than that, I’ll be absentee for a bit.  (Unless of course I think of something I just NEED to tell you).

Thanks for your patience and understanding.  If you are a regular reader and are interested in guest posting for DigiScrapChat, please feel free to send me an email so we can chat about it.  I have a feeling the spinning plates syndrome isn’t going away anytime soon.

Gratituesday… a “good” chemo

My sister is in the middle of her chemo treatments for breast cancer.   The first two treatments went “ok”, but she had pain both times, because the nurses have had a hard time accessing her power-port.  After the last treatment, she told me that she was going to insist on a lidocaine shot first, because that numbs the entire area, and hopefully she could get chemo with no pain.

My sister has a hard time standing up for herself in medical situations, but she did it.  She asked for the shot.  She got the shot.  And the chemo treatment was actually pain-free yesterday.  PLUS, her white cell count was UP, and she may not need the immune booster shot today.  That was really good news to her ears yesterday.  And these days?  We’ll take all the GOOD news we can get!

What are YOU thankful for today?  Click on over to Laura’s blog and link us up if you write a Gratituesday post!

P.S. If you are the praying kind, please pray specifically for Sarah’s next oncology appointment (tomorrow morning).  She’ll be getting the results of her PET scan back, and we’ll know more (hopefully) about how well this chemo is working.  Thanks!

Blog Hop Comment Winners… and a Monday Challenge

I had so much fun this weekend - visiting new blogs, meeting new people, adding MORE bookmarks (eek!) to my already long list of blogs that are a “MUST read”. Thanks a TON to Pensieve for hosting the Blog Hop 08, and for encouraging a whole host of us who were bummed to be home and not at BlogHer this year!

And now for the THREE winners from my Friday night post/giveaway:

Joy at When Does Daddy Come Home

Dianne at Bunny Trails

Natalie at I AM (not)

Congrats Ladies, you have email - let me know if you didn’t receive it! And thanks to ALL of you who visited… I hope you’ll consider coming back again and again!

Now, on to the Monday challenge…

For the regulars here, you may have noticed that my blogging has been a bit more sporadic than it was during the school year. Of course a lot of that is due to our summer schedule, with my oldest son being home during the day (which means there are THREE little ones that need me all day long, not just two).

Aside from that, I’ve found it a LOT more difficult to blog since June 11th, when we found out that my sister has breast cancer. Quite honestly, I’ve found it a LOT more difficult to do most everything. I’m going through the motions a lot, and maintaining (sometimes barely), but my mind is not 100% THERE in anything I’m doing. A part of me is in CA, wondering and worrying, hoping and praying, thinking and doing more praying…

It should come as no surprise that my creativity is at an all time low. I’ve been trying to push and FIND the creativity, but I finally realized that I need to give myself more time and patience. I have a LOT of projects I want (and need) to be working on, but for a time, it’s just going to take longer to start and finish them.

So, on that note, I’m not issuing a true challenge today. It’s just too much for me, so I’m giving myself a break, and YOU too - in case you might be struggling with a creative block, a busy schedule, a tough day.

RATHER, I’d just like to hear from you - if you have done a layout recently that you are proud of, please share. If you are struggling creatively, tell us about it. If you have a blog post you want us to read, link up in the comments! Basically, just talk to me today, share what’s happening in your part of the world, and IF, IF, IF you are up to it, work on a layout today and preserve just one more memory!

It’s a Blog Hop!

Are you up for a Blog Hoppin’ party! It’s Friday night, and the kids have been crazy, and a party sounds GREAT to me! I’m going to be joining in the BlogHop 08, hosted at Pensieve’s site.

And because a party is always better with GIFTS, I’m giving away $5 Starbucks gift cards to THREE lucky visitors. Just leave me a comment to let me know you stopped by, and I’ll pick three winners (at random) tomorrow (whenever I wake up).

Now, have fun blog hoppin’, and be safe, ya’ll!

Edited to Add:  I’m going to wait to pick winners until Sunday NIGHT, since I’m still making the rounds of all the blogs, and I expect others are too!