A Scrap to Remember

Happy National Scrapbook Day!!

2009-05-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

I am off to enjoy a day of festivities at my local scrabook store with my mom. Lots of crativity going to happen today, my friends. I hope you enjoy your day!!

So much to say...

2009-05-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

ok, seriously, this here little bloggy blog has taken a BEATING in the neglect department. I have no real excuse other than I wanted to jazz the blogspot up a bit, make it new and fresh, but got entirely too frustrated in the task and gave up all together. That doesn't mean the blog never came to my mind....it just caused anxiety. :) So, with that, I will try to do better. totally taking responsibility here. however, if anyone knows of a great way to spruce this place up (mostly meaning banner part) that will not lead to me wanting to throw the computer out the window or cause severe abdominal cramping....give me a hollar!!

But just because I neglect the blog doesn not mean I neglect my creating....no, my friends, I have been creating with fury!! there is just something magical about creating for me....the whole process of making something beautiful out of a few simple items just leaves me breathless.

sewing. I {love} sewing. totally makes me happy. weird how this happened. never took a class, just asked mom for a few pointers and tips, along with some hand holding, but never looked back. handbags, aprons, skirts, outfits for Lexie....digging it all.
fabric is just as cool to me as paper at this point in my life....sometimes I get crazy and combine the two for a scrapbook page. speaking of my numero uno love, scrapbooking, I was asked to be Guest designer for Paper Posies in February.

They have a spectacular kit every month jam packed with the latest and greatest items. That was some serious fun!! I was also published on Scrap 'N Art Ezine for the jan/feb issue!! on top of the world, people!!

loads and loads of other stuff but I just wanted to stop in and "HELLO!" to my peeps...leave me some love so I know you were here :)until next time, gadget!!

16 years and counting....

2008-10-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

that I have been waiting to see these hunky beef cakes in person!! and now at just 5 days before my 31st birthday I am seeing them in concert. My lil brother surprised me with tickets for an early birthday present!! Is that dude the best or what?? I tried twice to see them back in the day but they cancelled both times! I kind of gave up on the big dream to see the New Kids. And then all of a sudden, out of the blue, the "kids" come out with a new CD and go out on tour! So, in just a few short hours, I will be on my way with lil bro' heading to phoenix to see my heart-throbs from my early teen years(and some brother/sister bonding time!! {{{squealing with delight}}} The dream is coming true ladies!

This will definitely be a scrapbook moment!! catch ya on the flip side!

Fireproof

2008-10-12T19:59:00.001-07:00

My husband & I went on a date this Friday night. We had dinner and went to a movie. Sounds easy enough, right? This is something that, unfortunately, doesn't happen very frequently for us. But I knew it was well overdue and I hired a sitter to come and made the plans. We had dinner together at El Charro restaurant, a little piece of Tucson history. Can I just say how nice it was to have a meal together, while being able to hold a conversation & not have to stop to take a child to the bathroom or tell another child to sit down and stop sticking their hands in my glass? heaven I tell you. So after having my relaxing dinner that wasn't rushed because I was going to flip out by being in a restaurant longer than 30 minutes with my three children, we went to a movie. Chris & I couldn't even recall the last movie we saw together in a theater.

We saw the movie Fireproof. We had heard from a few friends that this was a great movie for married couples. I had no idea what I was in for. This movie is AMAZING, WONDERFUL, BIBLICAL, and IMPACTING. Chris & I walked out fully aware of our own selfishness & hurtfullness that we can cause our spouse. I knew FULLY that I wasn't giving to my husband as Christ gave for me. wow. humbling. We had a wonderful discussion that is still continuing...this movie sparked a newness in us that I have been longing for. we both have. This movie helped to ignite the fire within our marriage that tends to smolder over time. We know that our marriage is a covenant between us & God and we have seen how God can restore a marriage when HE is in the center.

So, my friends, do something very special for your marriage and see this movie very soon. I pray that you receive the blessings above and beyond what we have.

an escape

2008-10-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, i spent my time with a group of women who all love to scrapbook. We were at a scrapbooking retreat hosted by my LSS. If I could imagine just a little what heaven would be, this would be a little piece of it. Imagine scrapping the day away, no worries-besides not running out of adhesive. Stayed up late, slept in, and just surrounded myself with beautiful paper, buttons, and lots of pretty ribbon. I met some really great ladies, spent quality time with my mom, and surrounded myself with lots of beautiful paper, buttons, and ribbon.....did I already mention this? If you get a chance to escape and become one with your paper & glue, DO IT!!! It's a girly good time!!

anyway, so what did I accomplish? I got lots of pages done & a mini-album that I have been wanting to do for a long while now is now complete! These being a few:

More to follow, too lazy to edit all the pics! Besides what would you have to look forward to?

Yowza!!!

2008-09-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

July 29th!!!?????!!! seriously, I haven't been here since then??? What in the world?? Wow, this job thing has really taken a chunk out of my life!!

Since July 29 I have:

-started working part-time at the preschool that my boys attend (2 days a week) as a teacher's assistant in a three year old classroom.

-traveled to San Carlos (Mexico) & Washington D.C.

-sent all three of my children to school

-celebrated the 8th year of marriage to my amazing & wonderful husband, Chris

-taken an awesome scrapbook class at my LSS from the amazing Layle Koncar

-had my name published in the October CK mag as one of the 10 standout readers whose pages caught the eyes of the folks at CK!! HELLO?!!! (So very psyched about this!)

-sewed the cutest darn bag you ever did see

This is the Birdie Sling pattern from Amy Butler. Love it...want to make one in every fabric possible!! This bag holds everything!! It was so much crisper and prettier when it was first completed. Since then I dropped half a cup of coffee all over the outside & had to wash it three times to get it clean!

-finally started my book from our anniversary trip to San Francisco last year! (just before this years trip!)

And now I am getting ready to go on another retreat next weekend sponsored by my LSS. Good times!! So there you have it, readers! Rest assured, I am indeed alive and well, just very busy. I must make a point to be bloggy more. Until next time scrappers!

Confessions & Figure 8's

2008-07-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

I have a few confessions to make:

#1- i am ecstatic that school starts in 2 weeks (am I a bad mom?)

#2-even more ecstatic that I get to start working next week at the preschool because there will be ADULTS there to talk with and free childcare for my kids while I prepare for the upcoming school year!

#3-I feel kind of burnt out on scrapbooking right now

#4-I LOVE fabric (see #3)

#5-Really loving reading at this moment (see #3)

Kids are driving me crazy...alone time in the bathroom is unheard of around here, as is the silence to make a phone call. ok, it is quiet until I decide to pick up a phone. uggghhhh!! Needless to say, I am really looking forward to school starting. Even if it means that i am going to start working part-time at the preschool. I am trading in my 3 kids for 15 others. not quite sure about my thinking there. I would really appreciate prayers for all of us in the new school year. :)

So why do I feel burnt out with scrapping? hmmm, a few ideas here. It could be the overwhelming amount of scrap supplies that I have (most unopened) and feel totally perplexed as to how I will use all of it before I die. The amount of paper here in my haven leaves me responsible for a small chunk of forest that is currently missing. Another idea for my sad feelings is that everywhere I look, I see the same designers and their work. Now, don't get me wrong, i think they are talented. I just think it is really hard for a newbie like me to get noticed when all the same people are getting picked for special projects, design teams, magazine calls. Why, yes, I do submit a LOT!! no luck yet, but I will keep trying. Nonetheless, I need to remember WHY I scrapbook....to remember my life with my family and to leave a footprint for our future generations. The affirmation of my talent as a scrapper would be wonderful....but it isn't what my life is about.

Also, in my attempt to really stay clear of many of my favorite internet, scrapbooking haunts, (for the purpose of being kind to my wallet) I have found out that I still really love fabric and the possibilities that lay ahead with the help of my trusty sewing machine. Now, before you start thinking about the high cost of fabric, just know that I have an insane amount of fabric that I have acquired in the past 6 mos or so. So I am still saving money. Even if I have to buy just a little something extra for a special project.

So what do you do when you are trying to save money? I say pick up a good book. I have been reading like crazy. The library has never seen so much of me. This is also good on the checkbook....don't buy it if you can borrow it for free. aahhhh, just makes me happy. I have also been really trying hard to have my quiet time with Jesus every day. I pulled out a devotional that was given to me awhile back but I never read. It is the perfect length & always gets me thinking about how awesome God is, especially to me. I think that the very same god that created the stars in the sky and amazing sunsets & magestic mountains created me & loves ME so much that He sent His Son to die for ME!!! Humbling.

On this note, as I type this, my son is going round and round and round and round my scrapbook room. I ask him, 'what are you doing?". His response: "working on my figure 8's". Of course you are sweet boy....keep working.

Girl Power!

2008-07-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

there was a challenge over at Paper Posies last month to create a girly layout about yourself. So I have been thinking this one over for awhile (obviously) & came up with these TWO layouts about Lexie & myself and our girly goodness. I created these layouts from the June PP kit & {LOVE LOVE} the way they turned out. I also pulled a few extras from my stash (cosmo cricket blackboard & some stickles, and of course, BUTTONS!)

it was so fun to just embrace the pink and thank God for the opportunity to be a girly girl (minus the monthly friend, wink). Here is to GIRL POWER....ladies, go and create a fun layout all about being a girl!

Lipstick, layouts, and lellow sunglasses!

2008-07-14T13:18:00.001-07:00

Wow!! Been way too long since my last post....bad, Ericka, bad!! But that is what happens when you have to get a family of 5 ready for a week long trip, take the trip, and recover from the trip.

Just a quick reminder...go and VOTE for my gal pal Christiana so she can have her chance at fame in the cosmetic world!! She needs to be in the Top 3 for a shot at the Grand prize!! please vote!!!

I have been scrapping and here are a couple of my new fave layouts!!

A layout about me after I lost some weight....I won't tell you how much has come back. But I will say that I am on a mission to send it on its merry little way again!

Bryson & Chris when Bryson was only 2! He seems so little! oh, how I love my boys!

And finally, I joined the shades of summer traveling game with Lizzy Kartchner and there was a little box with these nifty "lellow" (as Cooper says) shades waiting for me when I got home! So I took my pic with them on and will send the glasses and the pic to the next person on the list. Lizzy will have a mini album of a bunch of totally awesome women from all over the country when we are done!! Lexie had to get in on the action too!! My goofy girl!
So there you have it, people. This is what I have been doing & what you are missing out on! ;) see you sooner than later, I promise!!

Who loves makeup??

2008-06-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

I certainly do....especially after becoming one of those snooty "makeup girls" at a department store. I loved that job! There is so much to say about the power of being able to help someone feel beautiful & look stunning!! I didn't love all the un-fun "sales quotas" & such or the sharkiness by the makeup divas from the "other" lines. But how I LOVE makeup. Totally one of the best things about being a girl!!

I have a friend from the makeup days who is competing for her chance to become "the smashbox beauty guru". She has amazing ideas for makeup products and she has her campaign here. But she needs votes to win this thing. So please vote for the talented Miss Christiana!! These pics you see are her creations!! I'm tellin' you, the girl is tops & has ambition.

Here is the Grand Prize: One winner, chosen by the Smashbox and Sephora panel from the top three entries that receive the highest vote score during Round 2 voting will be named the Smashbox Beauty Guru and receive $5,000 of Smashbox Cosmetics, an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Los Angeles on August 3, 2008 for a 1 week apprenticeship at Smashbox Cosmetics to design the official Smashbox Fashion Week Makeup Palette and an all-expenses-paid 3-day trip for two to Los Angeles to attend Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in March 2009 for the debut of their Smashbox palette. In addition, the Smashbox Fashion Week Makeup Palette designed by the winner will be produced by Smashbox, sold exclusively at Sephora and featured in the Sephora catalog.

So help a sistah out and VOTE!!

Me Likey Cosmo Cricket

2008-06-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

A little bit of new Cosmo Cricket & a little bit of older Cosmo Cricket, no matter the date, it's timeless!! I really love how the newer lines are totally "boyish"!! Perfect for pictures of little dudes in their Buzz Lightyear PJs. And the BLACKBOARD?? LOOOOOVVVEEE it!! I am currently working on a blackboard book and hope to get it finished ASAP!! will keep you posted...so until then, scrappers, scrap ON!

Friendship Day

2008-06-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

Bryson has been coming up with all kinds of great scrap material for me lately. This kid just knows how to make me laugh. Besides his infinite LOVE for all things ORANGE, he was very concerned last week that a bear with muddy feet was going to come into his bed and get his "Lightning McQueen" sheets all "muddy". Where that came from, not sure. There is isn't a big bear threat here in the desert....with or without muddy "feet".

Yesterday, Bryson proclaimed that it was "Friendship Day". When I asked him what "Friendship Day" was he said we had to treat everyone just like a friend and be kind! Sounds like a great motto to have everyday. As the "Friendship Day" progressed, Bryson said "I have a great idea! Let's make popcorn and watch Tom and Jerry and snuggle on the couch!" That did, indeed, sound like a great idea to spend some time with him while Lexie was at sports camp and Cooper napped. Of course, I started dozing off. Bryson exclaimed, "You can't sleep!! It's "No Sleeping Day!! So I mentioned that I thought it was "Friendship Day"...he quickly acknowledged that it was, in fact, " friendship day". However, it was also " sharing day" and definitely a "no Sleeping day". There went my nap!

So here's to "Friendship Day, Sharing Day, No Sleeping Day, Loving Orange Day, Rockstar Hair Day, and Funny kids" Day!

Our Normal

2008-06-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

Bryson is not the kid who wants to be taking part in my "paparazzi" schemes everyday. Not even for the sake of his own scrapbook. most of the pictures I can catch of him these days are pretty random and there is often a frown or a goofy smile while his eyes are rolled to the back of his head. I came across some pictures that I took while trying to do a photo shoot for Valentine's Day cards. I couldn't get all three in one frame, Lexie is a willing participant, and Bryson is being his uncooperative self. This is the layout I made in honor of my son and his despise for my Nikon D40. Still cute as can be!

Here is a tribute to Lexie and her love for the camera & an example of her (usually) compliant spirit! I played with the new Prima crystal flourishes....LOVE THEM!!! Must have more, in every color!! Because bling is just like clothes...if it works & fits great, then buy it in EVERY color available!

better late than never

2008-06-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

do you all remember that video class that Erin Lincoln had over at CK? Yeah, you know, the one that took place around NSD?? Yes, THAT one!! Well, after a month, some tweaking of my own, and a scrapbook retreat this past weekend....it is now COMPLETE!!! I love this little book & everybody else that has seen has loved it so far. It is the perfect way to do a clever little book about the past, present, & future. I did a "him, her, & us" theme. This last picure are the "loved" pages. Repectively, they are "he loved, she loved, we love". thanks Erin for a great little project.

Admitting is the first step...

2008-06-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

ok, I'll say it. I have a problem. Big problem. this is the problem.

I have bags of scrapbook stuff that I have purchased and then totally forget about them. However, it is totally like a treasure hunt once I rediscover all my cool loot. this is exactly what happened while preparing for my scrapbook retreat this past weekend. But then because I had all this really awesome stuff to create with, I couldn't NOT take it all with me! i mean, what if I needed that ONE chipboard flower and left it home!!! so I took WAY TOO MUCH!! Didn't even come close to touching everything I brought. Which is why I had all this to carry in to the hotel and to my scrapping space.

Thankfully, I had preplanned some pages in advance so I could get my creating on! It was an awesome weekend of scrapbooking, laughing, watching movies, talking, scrapping, laughing,eating, and some more scrapping and laughing. One of my completed pages even won a contest!! everybody at the retreat got to vote for their favorite layouts & i won one of the times!!

These are the moments that make my paper addiction all the worthwhile! and heck, it is WAAAYYY cheaper than a drug addiction, right? ;)

I will post all my cool pages and projects tomorrow. just wanted to say hi to the two of you who read my blog! hehehe!

Today

2008-05-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

I just read this on the One little Word blog

This is the beginning of a new day.
You have been given this day to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...
let it be something good.
<----Amby Nic Montage

It reminds of me of the newness everyday in Christ. What will I do with it? How will I make memorable? Will I be a good steward of the time God has given me?

Today I will.....

-play with my kids

-do laundry

-write a love letter to my husband

-reconnect with a friend

-create something

-get in God's Word

-be bold in some new way

please tell me what you are doing today!

Happy Scrappy Mother's Day!!

2008-05-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

Here is one of 6 scrappy flower bouquets that I made for all the moms & grandmas as a little Mother's Day surprise. this was a great project to use up lots of scraps!! and pretty inexpensive too!! I already had the paper and the skewers. I purchased 6 containers for $1 each and two bags of green confetti to use as grass for $2.99 each. For $12, I got made some very unique and pretty little bouquets that will last WAY longer than "real" flowers! :)

So here is to all of us amazing moms!! May you each have a very happy Scrappy day!!

Ramping Up

2008-04-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

My LSS is having a contest to pick a new member to be on the design team. I have been wanting to do this for a very long time & i am very excited to try out for this. The REALLY exciting part is that the customers are going to vote for who they want to be on the team between May 1-4!!

To submit for this, we had to turn in 3 LOs & one altered project. i thought I had everything figured out about what I was going to turn in. then I started second guessing myself and decided to do this LO that I have been wanting to do for awhile now. I worked on it till 2 AM and LOVED the way it turned out, that I decided it should be one of the three LO.

The hidden journaling is about raising my daughter to be a strong woman of God & independent, and confident in her abilities. this is a tough thing to do in today's society & it often worries me that I am not doing a good enough job. But I know that with God close by, he will protect us all.

thanks for looking & if you are in Tucson between May1-May4.....please vote for me at MMU!! :)

Birthdays & Weddings

2008-04-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Holy smokes...it has been crazy busy over here the past few weeks. With what you may ask??

I can tell you there wasn't a whole crafting being done. There was a birthday party for Lexie & Bryson, which included their 40 closest friends being invited! But seeing these faces smile made the chaos of preparing for 40 kids & also their families all the worthwhile.

then followed my brother's wedding, with my angel girl being the flower girl.

Even though my brother was dashingly handsome and his bride was beautiful, I have to say that my sweet Lexie and my nephew, Austin, stole the show. She took her responsibility as flower girl very serious and didn't hesitate to "sshhh" her cousin as he started making faces at her during the ceremony. It was quite a hoot! How I love my girl.

Now I am yearning for some crafting to be done....so until next time, Gadget!

creative me...happy daughter

2008-04-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

I have steadily creating lots of different fun things during this past week. First, I have been really, REALLY wanting to make a t-shirt dress for Lexie. So my friend Mandy and her good friend, Jen, took some time away from scrapbooking on Saturday night to show me how to make these wonderfully cute dresses. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

I made some cards for a swap hosted by Regina. The theme was "spring" and I was so excited to do something with Butterflies & birds.

i also made myself a new skirt & I have plans for some other fun stuff. I have a hankering to get some scrapping done, too. It's been TOO long!! but hey, we can't be everywhere at once, can we? my kids still need to eat, people!!

HTML is for the BIRDS!!!

2008-03-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

i having trying to spruce up my blog and make it really cool looking and a little more customized. somebody should have told me that I was going to need an IT degree to figure this junk out!! Seriously, I am lucky I can check my email, but trying to completely reconfigure a blog is quite tricky. But thankfully, there are some great tutorials out there. I used this one to help with the spacing of my blog & found it pretty helpful. so if you are really bored and feel like throwing your computer through a window, try to reconfigure a blog.

On a better note, here is a picture of a mini-album I just finished for a challenge at faith sisters. we had to make a mini-album using at least 80% Making Memories product. This was an easy one to do because I LOVE Making Memories!!!

The challenge is going on now, go check it out and you could win a great paint kit from Making Memories!! There are some very cute albums over there....run over now & join our challenge!

It's a beautiful AZ day today and now I will run and play with my boy!!

2008-03-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

What have I been doing??!!??

2008-03-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

I also ask myself this question. I often think to myself, frequently, "I need to blog today". but alas, as you can see, nada for over a month! But here's the exciting part....I have a culmination of cool things to show exactly what I HAVE been doing. Thank goodness for pictures, so that I have proof of actually doing something besides going crazy!! :)

making handbags! this was kind of a first attempt bag....I didn't think this bag would ever come into existence, it took me over 3 weeks to finish because I needed my mom to hold my hand with every step! Now I have become totally obsessed with sewing and I bought all kinds of gorgeous fabric to make more handbags for myself, along with dresses for my daughter, skirts for myself, and whatever else I can create!! Now, I am no Mandy Newman, but I think I with practice, I can become a pretty OK seamstress. maybe?

Buying new shoes!!!Aren't these the cutest things you have ever seen?? They are Crocs and they are pink and make me feel so cute and happy!!

creating wall art!! i took an awesome class at my LSS & we made these gorgeous canvas wall art hangings. The really cool thing was that we were esseentially all given the very same tools, but not one canvas was similiar in any way!! That is exactly what I love about scrapbooking and crafting in general!! This is a bad pic but you get the jist.

Scrapbooking, of course!!! This has been in spurts because of my new love of sewing. But it is still my first love in crafting! totally love the way it turned out!

So there you go....I haven't been on the couch eating bon-bons and watching Oprah. Who has time for that when there is crafting to be done!!

{WARNING!!!}

2008-02-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

House cleaning is confirmed to be DANGEROUS to your health!! Here I am just dusting away....minding my own business. This is NOT a very taxing chore normally, right? All of a sudden, a sharp and SEVERE pain radiates through my back barely allwoing me to move. It took quite a while to recover enough to move. Today the pain is still here, not nearly as bad, but bad enough that if I turn a certain way to my left, I am really wishing for a morphine drip.

So there you have it ladies! No more dusting...make the kids do it! :()

Tag, I'm it!

2008-02-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by Stacy, so here goes!

Here are the rules:
1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).
3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details).

D-devoted to my God & family
E-exercise hater :) (but I do it anyway!)
N-nifty
I-intelligent
S-superscrapper :)
E-energetic at night

tagging Noel, Joscie, Mandy, Liz,....drawing a blank here but anyone feel free to pretend I tagged you and answer this tag!! LOL

let me share with you!

2008-01-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

ok, this is not the best scan job...but I made this LO with some of my "kit of the month" from http://www.paperposies.com/. I also used the Bazzill stitching templates ...I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out, besides my horrible scan job.

AND>>>>my HUGE news!! I have gotten asked to be on the challenge creative team for http://faith-sisters.blogspot.com/!!!!! I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!! This place is full of wonderful Christian women who love the Lord and love scrapbooking. Does it get any better than that??!!!

so come on over and say "hi" to me sometime!!

Anything cuter??

2008-01-25T13:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, seriously, have you seen ANYTHING cuter than this little boy?!?! He is so stinkin' cute...I can't stand it!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pics of him and had to scrap them as soon as they came back from Costco. I totally am digging the way the LO turned out! What do you think of my way too cute little dude?? He is like the happiest guy and is always giggling and wants to be on the go. the title was inspired by Stride Rite shoes. I think it may even be their "motto" and I thought it was perfect to describe Cooper, especially with these pictures.

It just goes to show you that inspiration can come from ANYWHERE....just look! i am loving this Scenic Route paper and the "scrap strips". I added the strip that says {everyday} on the bottom of pg 2. So there you have it, the cutest little boy in the entire universe!

by the way, for those who have been asking, I have decided that this is NOT the year to enter HOF. I just realized that I have bigger fish to fry with my little ones. I can't hammer out 10 amazing LOs under the stress of time. However, I am still persuing the design team avenue. I am focusing on creating lots of fresh & exciting LOs in hopes of being chosen to represent a company's design team. That is really my dream right now! So please pray for me and this endeavor. I know God has given me this desire to create and preserve memories for a reason. I pray that I follow His path & do what He wants me to do to glorify Him with my talents that He has given me!

Have a great weekend!

busy, busy

2008-01-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

that about describes my week this week. Not a whole lot of creating going on-but there is some! C'mon people, you know me!!My projects have been coming along, slowly but steadily. Not sure how much I want to post just yet because I am STILL trying to decide whether to enter CK's http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/ Hall of Fame or not. The deadline is the 11th of February!! i should probably decide for sure pretty soon :s

I have really just tried to be wife, mom, & friend this week. No other distractions or committments. It has been really nice to not be focused on things that "must get done" but really don't matter a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. I have enjoyed snuggling next to Chris on the couch and watching a little TV at night once the kids have gone to bed. We don't do that very often. Need to do that more.

Here's a funny to leave you wiht:

Cooper is crying and we can't figure out what he wants. Chris grabs a box that has packages of cookies and crackers from Costco. Cooper looks at it & his eyes completely light up & he says, "WOW"!!! It was too funny. How I wish I could often have that enthusiasm with everything in life!! :)

Chocolate cake & scrapbooking=

2008-01-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

EUPHORIA!!!!! Let me tell you!!! Seriously, what could possibly be better than that combination, besides meeting Jesus Himself!! I gave into my insatiable craving for chocolate cake on Tuesday night & whipped up a lovely Pillsbury chocolate cake. Yesterday, the thing was looking me in the face so I had a few pieces & surfed some scrapping websites while thinking of all the wonderful projects I will create. Bliss, pure unadulterated BLISS!

Now I just need to run a couple of extra days this week to get that off my belly!!

So now to actually create all of those wonderful pages & projects I have been thinking about!!

Happy New Years!

2007-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

Isn't it always the case that we look back at resolution from the new years past & think "if I would have stuck that out, that would have been great!"

Not me my friends.....I don't really set up high and lofty goals for myself. No, I am not an underachiever. I just like to see where life leads, if you will.

However, I think I will change that a bit this year. I am making a few goals (not record setting in way, mind you!) to keep myself accountable my desires. So here a few that I am setting down in black & white for all the world to see:

1. get to weight loss goal of 15 lbs by feb 1. (already lost 12.6, put on a couple over the past 2 weeks, yuck!)

2. submit my pages and projects to more contests & hopefully get one page published.

3. be more deligent in my time with God (seeing as how this is #3, you can see my priorities are messed up!)

4. journal more to remember the little things of everyday (a la Ali Edwards!)

there you have it folks, my 2008 goals & aspirations! Please share some of yours w/ me!

I pray that you all have a wonderful New Years w/ blessings abound!

It's a green light...

2007-12-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

This has been a crazy week of shuttling my husband around because my car was in the shop for a recall, he sold his truck, new truck in the shop for minor repairs and over-all checking out. So I pick him up from work tonight and let him take over driving because people are insane out there right now!! He's driving along and waiting to make a left turn at a green light and then we hear Bryson yell from the back seat, "It's a green light, why you not going?". We all got a chuckle out of that. So Chris proceeds to try and explain the law of the road to our 3 year old. When he is done, he asks Bryson "Do you understand now?" His response, "yeah, it's a green light but you not going!"

PRICELESS. Gotta love their little minds and the one-trackedness they have. :)

So Thankful

2007-12-18T20:58:00.000-08:00

This time of year always makes me so thankful for all that I have. I see so many in need and hurting & I realize how much I take for granted. I am so thankful to have been blessed with the amazing man that God gave me as my husband. This man does everything he possibly can to be able to provide for our family. But not only is he an incredibly hard worker, but he loves his family so much. I love to see how into our kids he is. I see him light up everyday when he walks through the door and he is bombarded by three totally pshyched out kiddos. He loves to hear them shriek "Daddy!!!". It just warms my heart. He is the father I never had, always wanted, and so thankful that my own children got.

i am thankful for my three crazy kiddos. yes, there are many days when I am certain I can not do this mothering gig a moment more. but with God's grace, I can start new everyday & see my children the way my Father does. They are truly amazing people. They make me want to be a better person. They bring me to my knees & bless me greatly. i am thankful that they are healthy and that God trusted me with them.

i am thankful for the country I live in. I am very thankful that I am free to worship God & be able to have the rights that I do, especially as a woman. I am so very thankful for the military that serves and protects this mighty nation. I am thankful for the leadership of this country who seek the guidance of the Lord.

i am so thanful for my family, friends, and all that God has seen fit to give me. But most of all, i am thankful for the little baby boy that was born to save me 2000 years ago. Merry Christmas everybody.

what have I been doing?

2007-12-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

Is this not the MOST WONDERFUL piece of Christmas holiday decor you have ever seen??

ok, the two of you who read my blog are wondering where are those swell Christmas projects Ericka was raving about?? or maybe not. but I am going to show you some today anyway. My scrapbook room looks like it has been ransacked by other crafters who have a vendetta against me. There is absolutely NO method of organization in place at the moment. It is really starting to bother me. I can't find anything in here but instead of cleaning and try to sort through this madness....I will post pictures of my beautiful projects instead!! hehehe!

My Noel sign (tribute to Noel Joy! ;) )makes me so very very happy!! I used the chipboard letters from Creative Imaginations Bare Elements. The paper is from MM and BG. I inked the edges (because there is very little that is safe from inking with me around!) and added some gorgeous BG white swirl rub-ons. Add a little paint, some jingle bells and pretty ribbon and you have this wonderful piece of lushesness to decorate your home!! Maybe I am a little over the top with excitement but it just makes me GUSH!!!! LOVE IT!!

I have also been a card making fool (Mandy can attest to that, the card-making that is, not the fool part). Besides the 40 Christmas cards I hand made, I am making 5 sets of 12 cards as gifts for teachers and Grandmas. Here are just two sets-already gave one set away & working on two more sets.

throw in some frames to alter

and I am tired but ready to keep going!!! I still have ornaments to make, art boards, and some more frames before everything is done. But I love creating & I can't wait to get back to scrapping actual pages again!! So, there you have it! This is what I have been doing!! :)

In the beginning

2007-12-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

this blog is an attempt to capture my daily life as a daughter of God, wife, mom, and scrapbooker. it is just another tool to help me remember the daily musings of our family & the creative process to capture them for generations to come. I want to be able to share my thoughts, my passions, my lunacies, and my happiness.

God has given me a tremendous desire to create. Never knew it was there until 5 1/2 years ago. It has been growing and I don't know where it will lead me but if it is only for my family and friends, then that is great! I enjoy sharing this love of scrapbooking and the journey it has taken me & to see others embark on the same, yet very different journey.

so hang on my friends...let me try to inspire you today.

Take a bunch of random pictures of your daily life. It doesn't have to be posed or even include people, but do try to get yourself in one of them. Whatever it is you do today, capture it on your camera!
find a project you really like and try to make it yourself and make it your own!
Sit down and reflect on your blessings and joys. Make a scrapbook page about it!

that's about it for today. I am working on a TON of Christmas projects and will be posting them within the next few days. So I hope you visit again & let me know if you were inspired to do any of the things above!