TammyFloreno.blogspot.com

Come and visit me on my new blog: TammyFloreno.blogspot.com!

Tammy :-)

Eat Your Way To Recovery!

I spent most of my teens and adult life in a fog of depression.  I had created a good life for myself - I had good times, good friends, a great husband, beautiful children!  Yet, I was only existing, not really living.  

Last fall I was taking a yoga class and the instructor, who loves to read and shares snippets of her reading with the class, mentioned a book called Potatoes Not Prozac.  Later that same week my therapist was telling me about a book she was reading...the very same.  It was meant to be.  I left her office, picked up the book and devoured it in a matter of days.  It turns out the haze and melancholy I was experiencing was strongly related to the foods I was eating.  I learned that I am "sugar-sensitive" and there is a simple way to treat it.

If you suffer from depression or just know you could feel better than you do now; if you know you eat the wrong foods or for the wrong reasons; if you feel foggy and lack mental clarity...read this book.  It will change your life.  It did mine!  The author, Kathleen DesMaisons, is an incredible woman with an amazing story of her own.  "Dr. DesMaisons has shown hundreds of thousands of sugar-sensitive people like you that if you change your food, you can change your life. Her program goes beyond symptom relief or behavioral training. It brings about profound, life-changing recovery."

Let me know what you think about the book, if you relate to what Dr. DesMaisons shares on her web page or what I have shared here today.  I have found a life of joy and happiness that I never dreamed possible, let me know if I can help you do the same!

Blessings,

Tammy :-)

To BE LOVED is to BELIEVE

So, I have been making some amazing strides in my life recently and have been thinking back to when everything started to turn around for me.  Back to when the depression began to clear and the haze began to lift.  It was almost a year ago when my whole life began to change...in an instant!  A moment of soul-bearing prayer, being still and listening to God...and then it happened...I FELT LOVE!

I always knew God loved me, he loves everyone, right?  But I never felt it in my heart.  I never felt the warmth and the glow that radiates from within until that day, that miraculous moment that changed everything.

I was downstairs in our living room when my husband turned on his favorite show - Dr. Oz.  Typically I'm not a T.V. watcher, but this gripped my attention and wouldn't let go. Dr. Oz's guest was Dr. Issam Nehmeh.  Dr. Nehmeh is a clasically trained medical doctor, an Anesthesiologist.  But he practices healing in a much different manner, through acupuncture and prayer.  (You can watch parts of the Dr. Oz segment, Is This Man a Faith Healer? on the Dr. Oz website.)

I stood, unmoving, in front of the television as I watched the rest of the segment.  Dr. Nehmeh was very humble and gentle in his mannerisms.  He answered Dr. Oz's questions openly and with ease.  Dr. Nehmeh said anyone could be healed even if they were not a Christian (he is Catholic), not even religious at all.  He said it was all about LOVE.  I can't recall quite how he described it but it was something about God's love through him to the ailing person who...believed...accepted the love.

I was deeply intrigued, but too stunned to commit the details to memory.  Then, so quickly the segment was over and Dr. Oz was moving on.  I wanted more!  I wanted to be healed!  I shouted inside myself "Dr. Nehmeh, I want to be healed of my suffering, my life-long battle with depression and anxiety!"  I turned off the T.V., spun on my heels and knelt at the bench at the foot of my bed.

The whole time as I watched this program, listened to this amazing discussion I was thinking "this could be exactly what I need, what I have been waiting for, praying for."  I've always known  God had the power and the desire to heal me.  I knew He would in His time.  I was certain He was teaching me, molding me, grooming me for something bigger than where I currently was in life.  I just needed to have more faith, listen harder, or just be patient.  But, why couldn't this be what He was waiting for?  Why couldn't today be the day?  Why couldn't now be the time that God reached down from heaven and laid His own hand on me and declared me healed?

I began to pray hard.  I thanked God, I told Him I wanted to be free from my suffering.  All my life I have felt rejected, unloved.  I asked for this to be the day and then told God I would wait, be still and listen.  Send me a miracle, Lord!  Give me a sign!

And He did!

It all happened so quickly, so beautifully.  I was repeating my confession of feeling lost and discarded, trying my hardest to be still and listen, when the most amazing and yet stunningly simple thing happened.  God filled the dark, grey, gloom within my heart with light!  It was a warm, radiant light.  As I knelt there with my hands clasped, my eyes closed I could see the light.  It was bright yellow and white and orange.  It began at the core of me, near my heart and radiated up and through my shoulders.  It evaporated the grey, cloudy gloom in an instant.  The weight I had carried for as long as I can remember was gone.  And, what was left in its place was...LOVE!

"I am LOVED!!  I am loved by the one and only true God, the all powerful creator of the universe.  I am not depressed, I no longer suffer from anxiety, I AM LOVED!"

This became my mantra.  Every time I felt the haze, the anxiety, the sadness creep in I would repeat over and over to myself: "I am not depressed, I am not anxious, [pause] I am loved!"  And, every time I got to the "pause", said the words "I am loved", I felt it!  I actually felt love for the first time.  And it was real.  Not some earth shattering, bolt of lightening, form-shifting change.  I didn't jump up and run through the streets crying Hallelujah!  Yet I knew and I felt that I was truly healed.

The next day I met with my therapist as I did every other week.  It was a glorious time sharing my experience with her, a Godly, praying woman healed by faith as well.  But it would be days before I shared this with my husband.  Still another year would pass before I would progress to a point of living every day free of depression and anxiety; free of medications, free of the haze and the gloom.

And, you are the first to hear my story other than the two of them.  I hope it inspires you to live a better life, to seek the path God has for you and believe strongly that he will set you on that path of LOVE and joy!  I hope you will leave a comment and maybe share your story.  If I can pray for you let me know that as well.

You are loved and you deserve all of the goodness God has in store for you!

Many blessings,

Tammy :-)

Pals' Paper Arts November Hop - Christmas Treats

Welcome to the November PALS HOP! This month, we're featuring Winter Holiday themed projects for your inspiration! If you've hopped over from Sue Bendinsky, http://stampinwithfriends.typepad.com/blog/, I'm stop number 10 on the PALS HOP and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for papercrafted creations from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the PALS HOP LINE-UP below and you'll be back on track!

       1. Joanna Munster -- http://www.inspiredbystampin.com/
       2. Barbara Chatzkel -- http://www.takeoutpaperarts.com/
       3. Barb Furlong -- http://www.theloveofstamping.com/
       4. Mike Funke -- http://stampin-style.typepad.com/
       5. Mary Fish -- http://stampinpretty.com/
       6. Martha Stewart -- http://www.seasonsofstamping.com/
       7. Carla Bazhenow -- http://www.carlas-scraps.com/
       8. Dawn Gross -- http://dawnsthisnthat.blogspot.com/
       9. Sue Bendinsky -- http://stampinwithfriends.typepad.com/blog/
       10. Tammy Floreno -- {You Are Here}
       11. Stephanie Uzee -- http://stampinwithsuzee.blogspot.com/
       12. Melanie Collins -- http://www.oopsadaisy.typepad.com/
       13. Kylie Nicolosi -- http://www.kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com/
       14. Gina Shaw -- http://www.cardsbyginashaw.com/ 

My daughter is a Junior Girl Scout this year. Their first troop activity was selling nuts and candy. I decided to help her troop and my Christmas shopping by buying several boxes of goodies to give as teacher and hostess gifts this Christmas. Of course, no gift from me would be complete without a handmade package and matching card. :-)

I didn't have a die or punch large enough for the base and lid so I broke out my Cricut. I cut the circular base and bottom lid layer in Whisper White CS, then cut the top lid snowflake layer in Cherry Cobbler CS. After layering the snowflake onto the lid I filled in the white areas with Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

These chocolate covered almonds are such a lovely treat. I decided to make cylindrical boxes with lift off lids to present them to the lucky recipients. The Stampin' Up Candy Cane Specialty Designer Series Paper is just the right touch for creating this sweet little box. The double sided papers make it easy to create packaging that is printed on the inside as well as the outside.

The front of this 5" x 5" card was created in the same way as the box lid, only without the glitter. I layered the Cherry Cobler Snowflake on to Whisper White CS and then onto a 4 3/4" square of Candy Cane DSP.

I added the bow and the Christmas Greeting from the Tags til Christmas stamp set. The inside of the card is decorated with a 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" square of Whisper White CS and the negative pieces left from cutting out the snowflake design.

I hope you like my project! Please leave me a comment so I know you stopped by. Let me know what you plan to do for those little teacher/hostess type gifts this Christmas.

When you're done here, hop along for more inspiring ideas from Stephanie Uzee, http://stampinwithsuzee.blogspot.com/, stop number 11 on the Winter Holidays PALS HOP! Thanks for "hopping" by!


Cheers,
Tammy :-)

Just in Time

Hello Flo Followers,

 

Yesterday we celebrated my wonderful MILs birthday.  Her actual bday is today - Happy Birthday Mom!  She is an amazing lady and I appreciate her so much.  She always remembers everyone's birthdays with a card (and a little cash). :-)  So, I thought: "What better way to honor her than with a stack of handmade cards for her to give out!?"



Set of 8 cards, 2 each of 4 coordinating colors.  The "F" from the Vintage Vogue Friends stamp is perfect since our last name is Floreno! :-)


As usual, I was still working on her gift into the wee hours of the morning yesterday (late Sat. night) when an email came in from Madeline Morcelo of The Stampin' Studio with an "EXTRA, EXTRA PROJECT". 



Inspiration for my gift purse came from Madeline Morcelo's INKspirations4U! Christmas 2010 Extra Project



Her timing could not have been better as I was looking through my files for just the right package for the stack of cards I was putting together as my MILs gift.  This extra project she shared with her INKspirations 4U Christmas 2010 subscribers was just the thing!

 

So, I got right to work.  And pulled together the perfect compliment to my stack of cards:

 

Gift Purse with MILs birthday card



It all began with a sheet of stickers I had purchased at a craft show many months ago and had not gotten around to using.  Once I started these cards I just knew they were meant for my MIL!

 

Here are the cards individually:

 

 

All Supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted:

• Stamps: Vintage Vogue, A Greeting for All Reasons (retired), Refuge & Strength (retired)
• Ink: Perfect Plum, Bravo Burgundy, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry
• CS: Sahara Sand, Pretty in Pink, Brovo Burgundy, Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake
• Ribbon: Pretty in Pink 1/8" Taffeta, Rich Razzleberry 1/8" Taffeta, Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta
• Extras: Stickers (from stash), Paper Daisies and Jewels (from Pretties Kit), Jewels Basic Rhinestones, Designer Brads Filigree, Stampin' Dimensionals, Ranger Stickles (silver), Gold Square Brads (from stash)

Cheers,

Tammy :-)

Give it a try - Part 2 :-)

Well friends, here I go again.  My biggest challenge in posting to my blog has been the pictures.  I really want to show you what I'm creating, not just go on about my life (although I'm sure I'll do that too!).  So today, FINALLY!!, I set myself up with my old camera in a permanent place so I can take pics and get them on my computer in a SNAP (get it, hee hee). 

Here is my first ever paper crafting project to be posted on my blog - wow!!
I created this little gift card holder from a template created by Holly Krautkremer for INKspriations 4 U!.  Holly's adorable cocoa packet holder was transformed into a note card and gift card holder.

Here is the front of the package:

Here is the inside:

I narrowed the "pocket" on the front of the holder (one lying flat) to 1/4" deep so that it would better hold a gift card without sliding around.  The back pocket (upright) I left as designed at 3/4" deep for a note card to my precious Nanny for her birthday coming up on Sunday. 

I hope you like it and do post a comment if you happened by.  As I mentioned this is my first time blogging and my first posted project so let the encouragement begin! :-)

May your day 'flo' well,

Tammy :-)

Supplies:
Stamp Set: SU! Flight of the Butterfly, Sprinkles (retired), Darcie's JCS0124 (Sentiment), JCS0126 (Interior Butterfly)
Paper: SU! Whisper White, So Saffron, Pawsitively Prints 2 DSP, Random Stash
Ink: SU! So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi
Tools: SU! Round Tab Punch, Large Tag Punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, CB Paisley embossing folder, Marvy 1 1/2" circle punch
Extras: SU! Stampin' Dimensionals, Designer Brights Buttons, Daffodil Delight  3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Certainly Celery 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Ribbon from stash

Give it a try

Well folks, I have enjoyed reading others' blogs and all the inspiration I get from their wonderful projects! so, I decided to give it a try myself. I am going to snap a few pictures of some of my latest creations and post them here for all to see. Wish me luck!

Cheers,

Tammy :-)