stiglets

Snow Day!

2012-02-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

Hope all of you are enjoying your monday! We had a snow day around here and played! Then we came in, ate lunch, watched a movie, made some cards and now one is napping, all while keeping a fire going all day long! It has been soooo nice! :D Here are the cards I made for hubby and my kiddos using Noel's charm school kit! Hurry there are some left!!!! I have been dissecting this kit like nobody's business!!!!!

365 things to be thankful for

2012-01-10T07:57:00.000-08:00

I just realized I hadn't blogged about this yet! Anyway-I saw this journal and decided I wanted one! I also knew that I really didn't need to spend the extra money since I had already bought a kit from noel which happens to be cabin fever hurry there are 4 left!!!! That kit is just beautiful and I cut it to bits the day it arrived.....GASP! I know! I had a difficult time and I was almost postive at one point my friend was going to have to call the ambulance from a heart attack! I have never done! I always "~~hoard~~" save those papers for a special occasion! I decided this was a new year, new kit, new me! I am D.E.T.E.R.M.I.N.E.D. to use those kits up! Otherwise whats really the point? right? Anyway-when I saw that journal it was a great idea for me! (hers is probably a lot smaller and more economical than mine.) It is HUGE....but it works for me! Today is the 10th day of January and so far I have written every day! The size of my journal is about a 3 1/2x 5 size....perfect for jotting things down quickly. I am using it to write something I am thankful for every single day for the year. I don't know about you but I sometimes take for granted the simple things in life and the beauty around me and this way I am more aware! I want to make sure I thank my God for giving me another day, another breath, another chance! And I usually have space left to jot down some personal notes from the day....which has come in handy for my Project Life album also!

I hope you enjoy and you can start your own journal today! Just jot down ONE thing every single day you are thankful for! :D

I am thankful today for YOU!

Project Life: Taking the Plunge

2012-01-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

Are you on board? Are you doing a project life? I have FINALLY decided to take the plunge and just do it! Now that we are 8 days into the year and I haven't taken one single picture! Oh well, guess this first week I will just go back and journal/document and promise to do better! I have lots of inspiration helping me with this and lots of people I am following to stay inspired and encouraged. I am following Virginia Tillery, Michelle Whitlow, and Elle's Studio just to name a few! There are several of us over on the message board at Noel Mignon doing this.....I'm excited to document the every day and have something to do with all those too cute pictures that do not have a home! And to look back in a year, 5 years and 10 years and more and see how we spent life in 2012!!!! So how about it? Why don't you join in and leave comments where you are sharing yours! Follow me and I will follow you! We can hold each other accountable!

Here is my cover page I threw together and it literally only took me about 10 mins! Of coures it helped I already had in mind what pics I wanted to use, already had some journal spots at the right size and the rest was easy peasey! :D I actually LOVE it!

Sketch Challenge

2012-01-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday to everyone! And a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my best friend in the whole world....Sara Wright! :D

Anyway over on the noel message board and blog there is a new design team in place....I was super sad to see the old members go but I am also excited to see the new ones join! I am a HUGE fan of Jana Eubank and I believe she is going to be providing sketches every week for us to play along with. I jumped on board immediately last night and got to creating! Her first sketch is here and this is my take on it:

I used the Something Wicked Kit from the store and there are still a few left AND they are on sale!!!! Go get you one! These pictures are of one of my other bestie's son and mine....at Corey's 2nd birthday! I LOVE the orange and blues together! Some come on over and play along with us! :D

New Year's Eve

2012-01-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

Well I had so much fun on New Year's Eve with one of my besties! She made lots of yummy food, we played the wii with kiddos, played uno attack, listen to some 80s music and got the inspiration for 80s hair! It was so fun! Pictures to follow!

I changed up my blog colors and pictures....how do you like? I don't have much scrappiness going on right now b/c the kiddos are still out of school but they go back on Wednesday so that gives me 3 full days this week and I plan to get my scrap on!

We also had to say goodbye to our pastor and his family on Sunday.....it was tough but I know they are doing God's will and they are excited to see what is in store for them in their new service! I am sad for myself though.....

Hope you are having a great start to a new year!

Top Layouts in 2011

2012-01-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolution: Learn to operate my computer better! I cannot seem to get 10 layouts uploaded so here is my top 6!!!! Argh! Anyway-I hope you all enjoy these few layouts.....they are my top for different reasons....and it was hard to narrow it down and there really are others but I cannot seem to manage to get them on here! Oh well! Happy New Year to you all!

Missin My Granny

2011-12-29T07:53:00.000-08:00

Yes I know you all are probably tired of hearing about me missing my granny, but seriously.....this is TOUGH. I know this is just a season of my life that I must go through and grow in Christ, but I don't think my heart has ever hurt so bad. I was so mad at myself on Christmas b/c I had soooooo much to be thankful for and enjoy but I my insides hurt so bad I almost couldn't stand it and found myself feeling sorry for me. I just need prayer, from all of you and from myself. Prayer to get me through this season. Prayer to learn, grow and lean.

My favorite picture from the holidays! I WILL be scrapping this just as soon as my Cabin Fever Kitarrives! Hurry! Get yours before she is all out!!!!! :D

Just a Note

2011-12-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to check in with you all during this busy time of the year! I hope all your holidays are happy and full of love and family! Enjoy this time. It is precious and you never know when it might end or someone you love may go HOME. Home for the holidays has a whole new meaning for me this year.

Merry Christmas and lots of love to you all! :D

Thought I'd share a project I made for a friend! She loved it by the way!

Wednesday 12-14-11-Grief Stricken

2011-12-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

It is the eve of my beloved granny's birthday. This time of year has been much harder than I have EVER anticipated. My heart is heavy and empty all at the same time. I know it is tough when you lose a loved one but this? This is almost just unbearable. I sit here in front of the computer, writing on my blog to let out feelings, as tears are streaming down my face trying to find peace in the fact that my granny is not in any pain. But my pain and selfishness is all I can think about right now. I thought I was so close to my grandpa, and I was, I am....my whole life revolved around him. I mean I ate, breathed and slept my grandpa.....and when he past I honestly thought I would die right along with him and could not figure out how my life would go on. It has, and it will this time. But somehow, this emptiness has pierced me to my innermost being and even with God on my side and My God to lean on I cannot find the strength to patch the hole. It's times like this we all need to be extremely grateful for our loved ones, as obnoxious as some can be, because when they are no longer on this earth......they are no longer here. I keep waiting to get a text from her that says, "hi darlin just wanted to see what you were up today." Or that phone call when she says, "I just wanted to hear your voice and a text message wouldn't do it today." This time last year she was with me in my home to celebrate the holidays with me and my kiddos and family and now she is having Christmas with Jesus. I am happy for her and sad for me. I was so excited and she was too about coming to my house in January to spend some time with me and the kiddos and celebrate Jacksons 2nd birthday.

I have lost the spirit of the season this year. I have lost my motivation to do anything almost. I have presents galore, christmas is next week and hardly any of them are wrapped. I know things will get better, time will heal the pain....blah blah blah.....just let me pity party.......

I am thankful I got 30 years with my granny. I am thankful for all the wonderful things she taught me. I am thankful she lived a full life. I am thankful she is saved and singing praises face to face with my Jesus. I am thankful she is not in any more pain, oh how that must have been agony and I gave her such a hard time about that.

Thank you for letting me vent, grieve....whatever you want to call it. This was much easier than writing by hand. I pray you all have a safe night and a very merry christmas with your family.

December Daily

2011-12-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

Ok I officially am not very good at this blogging thing! Ugh! No matter how hard I try. However, I do have this new obsession with journaling so maybe this will help me. I have discovered the importance of recording thoughts, feelings and memories in general. With the passing of my grandma a few weeks ago and the wounds so fresh still it is deep on my mind. I had a chance to read over the few pages of a journal she began and I read through my grandpa's journal and it was very inspiring. I am encouraged to start now b/c I don't want to wait until late in life to begin. I want my kiddos to be able to read about our life while they were growing up. The happy times, the frustration and all that goes with it.

No onto the december daily album. Last year was the very first year I did and I swore I would not do another one b/c for me it felt like such a chore to write, record, take pics and post every single day. However, again after losing my grandma I decided to go ahead. You see last year she spent a little over two months with us and the very first day in my journal was the day we left her house with her to come home......memories.....and it just reminded me how very important it is to record these special times because you never know when those important and special people will be called home. So, when we returned from my grandma's funeral, after being in new mexico for 2 weeks I needed some creative time to just let go and I created my album. I hope you all enjoy it....I only have the one picture and I probably will not post daily pics on here b/c I'm just not very good with that! :D

Happy week to ya!

It's been a while!

2011-10-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

It's crazy how time flies and gets away from you right?

Well in the time since I have last written we have spent summer time with family, the 4th of july, started kindergarten, gone to football games, parades, started dance, soccer, etc....honestly the list goes on and on!

Just wanted to pop in and let you know I have not forgotten my lonely ol blog and I'm hoping to get back to writing on here regularly. I have some creative art projects in my head that I want to begin working on very soon! As soon as I do I will share here! :D

Have yourself a great evening! Here is a picture of my cutie pies! :D

Life Lessons

2011-06-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

God has been speaking to my heart a lot lately. It's crazy how you can be involved in situations around you and God uses their circumstance to teach a lesson. I find myself standing in amazement and in AWE of my God a LOT here lately. I find comfort in knowing he is always right there waiting for me.

My friends child is still recovering from the swimming pool accident that happened almost 2 weeks ago. I have watched her hurt, cry, be angry, frustrated....almost every human emotion possible and all I can do is pray for her. Which can speak volumes don't get me wrong but the human side of me wants to DO something to fix it. It breaks my heart when another friend/mama is hurting because her child is hurting and there's nothing even she can do. I cannot say I know what she's going through or that I even understand, but rest assured that I definitely am learning how blessed I am that my children are currently happy and healthy.

She is struggling with his anger/violent stage, which has got to be wearing on a mama's spirit to say the least. I spent a few hours with them this afternoon, and although he did not have a full blown episode I got a small dose of what she's been dealing with. She is one patient mama, God bless her is all I have to say. She speaks sweet and calmly to him, when she is really crying out inside. She is consistent when it would be easier to give in to his demands. She has a smile on her face when I know she would love to sit in a corner and cry. Or at least I know I would. I know she has her moments in tears but honestly, GOD bless her because she has been keeping most of it together for the sake of her kiddos.

I made a little something to hopefully just brighten her a day a little and give her some encouragement from God's word. The idea started with a perpetual calendar kinda thing....it turned out into a little booklet....but there are 24 bible verses on each page.....and each page is full of thoughtfulness and prayer...

So next time you have a friend who needs a smile, a pick me up or just some encouraging words from THE WORD try making one of these:

These are just a few pictures!

Count your blessings, love your babies and have a blessed night!

Time with the Father

2011-06-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

I am at a loss for words......every day I look forward to reading Ann Voscamps blog and just to be quiet and still at the moment. The music is beautiful and brings me to the verge of tears. every. single. day. There are times when I read the same thing more than once a day, just to hear the beautiful music and be in the quiet, in the stillness of the day and just be.

Yesterday was a wonderful day to worship the Lord. Oh my gosh. Words cannot express the gratitude i felt in my heart just to be in the Saviors presence twice. and all day. We have a wonderful church and I really learned soooo much yesterday! Our church teaches and preaches line by line in the bible and I am being fed soooo much. I find myself yearning to spend more time in the word every day. Every day I fail at that though and I am working on making more time for my Father.

When the day is long, hot, wearisome, busy, chaotic, loud, messy, short......whatever, i can find rest in my heavenly father and know that he is WAITING on me to spend time with him! How awesome is that? There are people in our lives that we long to spend time with and with the busy-ness of life there isn't always time but you and I can rest assured that our heavenly counselor, friend and father is waiting on YOU and ME.....for us to spend time with him....HE is always there, always makes time for us and longs for us to find HIM and just be, in his presence.

What a mighty God we serve!

Have a blessed Monday!

Grateful

2011-06-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

So many things have been going on in our lives the past week. For those who don't know, we had some friends' whose son fell from an 8ft. ladder slide into the pool, onto concrete. This happened last saturday afternoon and he has been at childrens hospital ever since. There are 2 daughters too, which we are taking care of while mom stays with boy and dad goes to work. I am more than willing to care for them and i have enjoyed having them here. They are such good kids whose world has been turned upside down and thrown into a situation where they are having to adapt to also. It's been challenging for them I'm sure.

I find myself with my heart full of hurt for my friend. She is hurting and has so much to deal with and there is nothing i can do except pray....which is something tremendous I know, but as a human being there is more I wish I could do. He is ok for the most part. He is alive. He cannot walk, cannot put arms above his head, cannot hold a toothbrush and doesn't even know what one is. Some of his memory is gone. His right eye is lazy and will probably have to wear glasses.....but these are all things that can be dealt with.

we were at dinner last night and i found myself thinking of my friend, and looking at my own children and found myself overwhelmed with gratefulness. My children are healthy and can do most things. And then I found myself feeling guilty because I was grateful.

All of this to say, I made myself a gratitude journal. I decided I needed a place to write down bible verses that are meaningful to me as a parent, as wife, as a woman. I needed a place to remind myself of all the gracious things God has given me when I am overwhelmed with motherhood, when I feel like my children are rotten, when I've had a bad day.....I need to have a place to remind me of all the wonderful things I have to be thankful for! I found this idea here from the FAB Virginia Tillery! I just love her!
And here is my work in progress:

I used brown paper lunch bags to make this mini! :D And a mixture of delightfully domestic and mary ellen kits from noel mignon!

Birthday Invitation

2011-06-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

So here it is.....post number 2 for the day! It's the birthday invitation I made for savannah's barbie rockstar......

Lost in the hustle and bustle

2011-06-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

I have been so bummed not posting lately! :( We have just been crazy busy with graduations, babies, end of preschool, finishing up soccer, tball and getting things prepared and filled out for all the necessities for kindergarten. The kickoff to summer was memorial day weekend and we spent it with some great friends after church! It was great! Now we are in full swing of Barbie Rockstar planning party.....that has taken up most of my time the past few days as I am trying to make Savannah's 5th birthday extra special! I have the invitations done and I hope to post pictures later....we are having real life barbie come by to see the kiddos. She is going to do a photo opp with the kids, play games and spend some talking to them about how beauty on the inside is what's important....since so many kids play with and look to barbie! We are having stars hang from the ceiling of our screened in porch, the kids will make some frames to put their autographed picture of themselves with barbie in and then Savannah asked if her friends and her could decorate their own cupcakes.....hope everyone enjoys it.

I have given up on housework today. My in-laws are coming to keep the kids because I am going with a friend tomorrow to walk in a 5k to benefit youth kids. I'm super excited and starting to think ahead to try another one later....but to jog it. I may start training for that! I cannot remember the last time I was so excited about working out and working for something! Back to the housework, every time i pick stuff up and clean the kids drag back out.....so i've given up....i'm taking my friends attitude....."if you are coming to visit with me, great....if you are coming to see the house, make an appointment." I do try really hard most days and today is no exception but I'm in a weird place right now and I can't figure it out.

This too shall pass........

I will leave you with a few pictures from some fun times! :D Hope you all have a fun filled summer beginning weekend!

Baked French Toast Casserole by Paula Deen

2011-05-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

Prep Time: 20 mins
Inactive Prep Time: 8 hrs.
Cook Time: 40 min

Ingredients:
1 loaf French bread (I just bought a loaf of texas toast)
8 large eggs
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe at the end.
Maple syrup

Directions:
Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13 flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half and half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden.

Praline Topping:
2 sticks butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
combine all ingredients in a medium blown and bled well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole....

Storms Again

2011-05-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

Aye...will they ever go away? From this spring alone I have added basement to my wish list if we ever build a home. Holy Moly.....Lord have mercy on us I pray! My heart aches for those affected in Joplin, MO and in Oklahoma.....my goodness. I don't know that I have ever seen anything like this year, not that I can remember anyway.

We are bracing for storms tonight but I think they are only supposed to be thunderstorms and tomorrow is supposed to be bad too.

Well since we will be up for a while I may go on and scrapbook some.....we'll see if I can concentrate. I have no new pictures for you today....it's been a crazy few weeks with storms, end of school year stuff, I made savannahs teacher a thank you gift set of cards and I didn't take pictures of them. :(

I pray you all are staying safe tonight.

Cricut now has a Blog!

2011-05-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

I am sooo super excited! I LOVE my cricut and I am always looking for new and better ways to use it....guess what! They are launching a brand NEW blog today!!!! Go over and check em out!

http://cricutblog.org/

Happy Mother's Day! :D

2011-05-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

I hope you all have a Happy Day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

O Exhausting Day!

2011-05-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

My goodness....it's national scrapbooking day and i am exhausted and it's not from scrappin! :( I have been in and out running errands, taxi-ing to soccer, playin with kiddos and puppy and managing to squeeze in 1 layout! I got more done last night....but don't count me out yet! I am planning to scrap a little more tonight after the littles are in their respective places!

I made a layout for the current challenge over at noel for the i love challenge. This really was a challenge for me because I took my cue from Michelle I believe who scrapped with no pictures...and the funny thing is I used the mamma razzi line from bo bunny which is ALL ABOUT PICTURES!! How oxymoron is that? Anyway, I've had these papers in my stash for a while and decided to use them for this because I loved the color pallette. I had fun pushing myself outside the box and i found stickers with words on them that represented things i love in my life right now. i didn't put scrapbooking because that goes without sayin right?!?!?!?! Anyway, here's my layout! Hope you all enjoy and have a GREAT NSD!

National Scrapbooking Day!

2011-05-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day! I am soooo excited! If you know me at all you know that I am a BIG crafter/scrapbooker! I look forward to this day almost every single year! It's the one day a year I get to have, ahem, "reason" to lock myself in a room or go to a crop and scrap ALL. DAY. LONG. WOOHOO! Well this year is no exception except that I don't have a local crop, I have soccer games to attend, mother's day preparations and 2 small children to take care.....hmmmm...in between all of that I have planned to put ALL housework on hold until monday and I plan to take over the dining room table starting today! As soon as we get finished with kindergarten registration....(insert tears here!) I am certain savannah will be joining me for some crafting!

There are LOTS of great deals this weekend on websites....a few of my faves are:

elle's studio...oh my I discovered much goodness there this morning and she is offering FREE SHIPPING and lots of inspiration throughout the weekend!

Noel of course you all know she is my most FAVORITE kit maker and supplier of scrapping needs of ALL TIME! She has been doing a deal of the day every day so make sure you check her site EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!

two peas is having an all weekend crop going on this weekend....and some garden girls chats....stop by over there because they are having LOTS of prizes.

crate paper has become one of my FAV paper companies...holy moly...who knew they have sooo much goodness going on! They have their new color challenge up on the blog today so stop by there too!

I'm sure there are lots and lots of other fun things going on today and this weekend but I would be here all day posting links!!!!!! So go check them out and start scrappin!!!! :D

Alabama Tornado Relief

2011-05-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

My heart has been heavy over the past week after the tornadoes did so much devastion in alabama! We suffered some demolishing in our state too but nothing like it was to our neighbors. I have cried a lot and I don't have much connection to alabama....just with a few sweet friends I have met online through our wonderful hobby of scrapbooking. And I am so GRATEFUL God has placed them in my life. (V you have no idea how much inspiration you give to me.)

Anyway my sweet sweet friend Virginia is having a sale over on her blog. She has made some mixed media canvases that are TO. DIE. FOR! I would love to have them all. And the most amazing Noel from noelmignon.com donated some awesome stuff for her to raise money. Please, if you can help in ANY way stop by her blog and pick up something special or just give a donation. I have put in a special order myself! :) I fully trust in Virginia to make sure the right people get what is needed and some who may be overlooked otherwise.

Thank you in advance for your love and donations! :D

Birthday Goodness

2011-05-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday...ugh...the big 3-0! I did enjoy the celebrations though. i think i will post pics tomorrow of that....however it was a week long celebration, sort of! I had a box arrive weds that was a beautiful afghan that my granny made me! i have waited my whole life for that thing and i cherish it with each stitch made with love! then on thursday i received this beauty:

from my mom!

today i ordered the tape that goes in it and i am dying to use it!!!!!!

my in laws came for the weekend and brought me 5 crosses for my cross wall....something i'm currently working on. then my mother in law took me shopping, without children, for scrapbooking stuff....and then got starbucks!!!! what a treat! i picked out all but 2 things from tim holtz....i did not know that was my style but i am super duper excited to use those new goodies!

then yesterday on the actual day, my mil and my daughter made me a cake, they shampood my carpets, we lounged, i got jewelry, my hubby did some of my honey-dos and then we went to dinner and starbucks....it was a great day! :D

i hope you all have had a happy monday! i'm off to feed the littles, bathe them, put them to bed and get in some much needed scrappy time for myself. :D

Stamping Challenge

2011-04-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Soooooo, I have to tell you when I first saw the current noel mignon challenge I was UBER excited! I Love stamping and I'm still learning....so i don't use them much. anywho....last night i got out my supplies and got busy.

i got a limited edition kit from noel I think it was called Elementry, Mr. Watson.....and got busy. She always puts a stamp in the kit and I had already been eyeballing the pink paislee stamps that came in the kit. The picture i took from my littles valentine party at school.

I stamped around the edges of the picture with ballet blue ink from stampin up....and i put the stamps on an angle on purpose...love. And then I stamp the tag that "training" is on with kraft ink from su and cut out around it.

I cut these pencils out of some OA included in the kit, used a brad from stash and tied with some ribbon from sei also in the kit.

then i added embellies....all from the limited edition kit except the yellow tag which is from delightfully domestic. I inked the edges of the letters i and n with some brown ink just because i wanted them to stand out. Oh and the little yellow ruler....i cut that off the OA embellish packaging!!!! :D

hope you enjoy! come over and join the challenge!!! I think noel is also giving away some new washi tape by hambly!!!!! :D

Have a hoppy easter weekend!

Finished off Kits! :D

2011-04-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I was DETERMINED to get some scrapbooking time in! The day before I spent the whole day cleaning out and re-organizing my closet for my scrap space. I haven't gotten to sit down and really scrap in a long time. So, I did...sometimes with one of the littles in my lap, sometimes with another little playing across the table and other times in complete silence! I managed to finish off 2 noel kits....I finished Very Virginia from january and Delightfully Domestic from March. I have not purchased the April kit but I have decided that I really do want it!!!!! :D And now that my current kits drawer is empty...it needs to be refilled! hahaha:D Ok, so this blog is picture heavy....enjoy. Oh the mini album I got from here!

Scrap "Lift"

2011-04-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

I cannot seem to figure out how to get someone elses picture here.....grrrr.....anyway. The latest noel challenge is to scraplift a board member and I chose Cassie....aka....gluemeetspaper. I just adore all of her layouts! She gives me such inspiration! The one I chose she used the dear diary kit and i had been wanting to lift it for a while....finally....i had an excuse! :D hahaha! yay! I got it on here....there it is up above!

Here is my take on it:

thanks for stoppin by! Have a great Thursday!

Pencil Lines Sketch 232

2011-04-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

So I have been following Pencil Lines here recently to help get some of my creative mojo back! Haha! Anyway they do a weekly sketch that anyone can participate in and this week I have decided to participate. The prize? Well it is the Fantastic Jump and Jive kit over at noel....so OF COURSE I am participating....and let me tell ya, I LOVED this sketch. I used a new kit or a limited edition kit I ordered last week from noel and some flowers from my stash. I LOVE the colors and the brightness of this layout! :D

here is the sketch:

And here is my version:

And I used this Jenni Bowlin stamp...which is my new fav item!

Come join the fun! :D

HOLY MOLY

2011-04-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

The holy moly is for a few things: first it's been a month since I have blogged....so sorry about that...I have been crazy busy around here and things are not quieting down. The second thing is you have GOT to go check out the latest kit and some of the limited edition kits left over at noel! :D I do not have the newest kit yet but I am hoping when there is money in our budget again there are a few left...I did however get one of her limited edition ones last week and I CANNOT WAIT to tear into it. The other thing is have you seen my friend Virginia's blog? She has MY name on her blog...right there! Big as day! OMGosh! I have no idea how I found her...cannot remember for the life of me and I WISH like heck that I knew her in person! She has got to be the sweetest and one of the most talented people I have "met." The new challenge at noel's is to lift someone from the message board and SHE lifted ME! What an HONOR!!!! Thanks V! I think she is just absolutely amazing....any time I have any scrappy questions or party planning questions she is so nice to answer and point me in a direction she would go. She always encourages all of us over on the board and she is someone I look up to as a scrapper! I really do admire her as a mother and scrapper...she is so real, so humble, she loves Christ and shares that, so artistic...she wows me every time I read her blog or see something new! :D So this is my "ode" to Virginia! Thank you so much for "lifting" me.....I really am honored...and honestly almost fell out of my chair when i saw this! :D (muah and hugs)

Delightfully Domestic Kit

2011-03-09T12:59:00.000-08:00

So I CANNOT seem to put this kit down! I am LOVING it! :D I made another layout today about my friend who has recently moved but she's been my bestie for about 10 years! :D LOVE her! These are not normally colors I would use but I love how it turned out. Meet my crazy friend Sara!

I also busted out the cricut! Love the letters...it's a new cartridge and I used my cricut to make those stars. I have been looking for a star punch and can't find what I was looking for and I had a cartridge this whole time that would make them just how I want them!

Card Making

2011-03-09T05:48:00.000-08:00

Ok so a card maker I am not....but I am trying. That's why the latest challenge at noelmignon was a good jump start for me! The challenge is to make 2 cards from scraps and to use 1 tool. My one tool was a stapler....because I made these late last night and did not want to drag my cricut out....but i LOVE LOVE LOVE the stapler...it goes hand in hand with masking tape and bakers twine. I even busted out the stamps and ink for one of them. I know my cards look like beginners....but hey....i am a beginner! I have always admired people who can make those beautiful cards and I aspire to be like them....it takes practice and i have just been using all my practice on layouts.

happy wednesday everyone! the sunshine is back today and i am a happy girl!

Oh and i used the dear diary kit for these! :D

Scrapbook Day

2011-03-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

So I tried to post this earlier and my computer decided to act retarded. It has been a gloomy and rainy day all day so what better thing to do than to scrap!!!! I got out the Delightfully Domestic kit and dug in! Here are some layouts I did! :D

Delightful Day Here

2011-03-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

So my day started out as a bummer day! Then the new kit from noelmignon.com arrived today! Delightfully Domestic!!!! OMGOSH! I could seriously get lost in this kit for hours!!!! HOURS I tell you! So here are a few pictures!

I see in my near future: feed kids, baths, play, beds, bachelor and catching up on survivor all while diggin into Delightfully Domestic! :D

Thursday

2011-03-03T04:48:00.000-08:00

I know...not a creative title at all but I couldn't really think of anything! It's been a great week full of family time! My hubby told me this week I could have a whole day to do whatever I want.....WHATEVER I want....all by myself. I told him I wanted to spend my time with him but with 2 kids that's not really possible yet as they are littles. The thought of going shopping somewhere was a totally awesome idea until I saw the price of gas! Sheesh! And I am one of those people that enjoy someone else to tag along if you are shopping. Doesn't matter for what, just enjoy the company. He said I could have this day because I never get to.......so yesterday afternoon I decided I would set up our bedroom into a scraproom haven....lock myself in and scrap all day, nap, surf the web, whatever I want. I may regret this....as I do not know what my house will look like when I come out and I may have more work moving things back to where they belong. But for now, I'm going to get the oldest ready for school and enjoy the day! :D

Happy creating today to all of you! Do something fun! Do something for you!

What kind of person are you?

2011-02-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

So, life circumstances lately have me thinking about what kind of person I am. I am portraying Christ and Jesus' love for others? Can people SEE Jesus through me and my actions? I'm sad to report after looking deep into myself I don't believe so. I am not the person I set out in this life to be. Very disappointed in myself now that I think about it. I'm not a horrible person I don't think, not mean and hateful not that kind of thing. But I don't believe others always see Jesus in me by my actions or my words. I do not share the gospel.

I recently been "re-connecting" with klove and I am reminded of what my job is as a Christian and a believer in Jesus. Man I am so far in left field I think I need a bus ticket to back! Talk about opening up for all to see the stains on ourselves. I do not spend my time wisely...that's for certain.

So I challenge you, if anyone is reading this, to look into yourself and see what kind of person are you? What do people see in you by your actions and words? I am going to try to do better and I will fail, and Jesus will forgive me when I ask. He will forgive you too if you ask! :D

In Christ.

Tired

2011-02-16T02:49:00.001-08:00

I am tired. Tired of not being able to sleep. Tired of my kids not sleeping well. Tired of my littlest waking up at 4am crying. Tired of being tired. Tired of headaches. Just tired. Anyone else feel this way?

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! Happy Valentines Day! My day is full of vaccuming, scrubbing, washing, drying, sweeping, moving things, putting things away, dusting.....folding...hanging...doesn't it sound romantic? Don't you wish you were here? We had fun at my littles preK valentine party....she was so cute and super excited to hand out those valentine tags....(in the previous post). Well kids, I'm off to get back to my chores. Hope you all have a very happy Feb. 14th! :D

Valentine Cards

2011-02-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

I had big plans for today....organizing, cleaning.....you know the normal mom thing....instead I spent all day making these for my little ones preK class! I've never done anything like this....and I'm pretty please with how they turned out! :D

Day 2 of the sunshine!

2011-02-11T10:32:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to the sun shining for the second day in a row! Yay! The kids went out and played in the snow yesterday so I got lots of pictures of course! Here are a few ...! Hope you all have a great weekend! :D

Is it really thursday?

2011-02-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

This week has been such a blur for me with everything going on! I'm finally back in the internet world after being absent for about a week b/c of our move....and it was just across town. We are still snowed in, this is only day 2 but for someone who grew up in the desert, it is foreign to me! I couldn't leave my house even if I wanted to! And, for the record, I don't really want to. I am seriously enjoying all this lazy, sleep in, stay in your pajamas all day, week! :D It's been great! I took some pictures of the snow yesterday....I'm hoping today I can get savannah out to play in it....when I asked her if she wanted to go out yesterday she said, "I don't think so, I'll be so cold I'll shiver." Hahaha...precisely why I watched it fromt he inside! When I woke up it was snowing, when it got dark it was still snowing!!!! This morning I got up and there is this bright yellowish orange thing hanging in the sky that hurts my eyes....trying to figure out what that is! :D

Snow ice cream! It was Yummy! :D

Today I told Savannah we would work on a puzzle, I will do that and then occupy them with something fun while I try to scrapbook some....I want to scrapbook and I don't want to do it at night when they have gone to bed...it's too late for me....

Happy Thursday everyone!

Alas: The Snow

2011-02-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

So....the weathermen were correct! I woke up this morning to snow! However, I must say it is the most beautiful snow I have seen in a very long time! It is HUGE, FLUFFY flakes and just the most gorgeous. I took one picture this morning when I woke up.....will post some later b/c it was not very good. Not sure what I will do today. Lots of unpacking to do, I WANT to craft/scrap though. Told Savannah I would work a puzzle with her....right this moment though I am drinking my second cup of coffee, which is weird for me b/c I rarely drink more than one but it tastes so darn good right now! I am browsing blogs and reading inspiration! LOVE!

SNOW

2011-02-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

SNOW: it's becoming a nasty four letter word around here! Don't get me wrong, I like the snow, because I grew up in the desert where it NEVER snows and this year we have been bombarded....or it seems like! It has snowed 3 times already and we are bracing for a nasty storm here tomorrow morning. Geez! Oh well, we got all moved to our new house, I cleaned up the kitchen table, have all my scrapping stuff in one place and I plan to scrap while the kids play. We will have a lazy pajama, movie, snuggle, scrap and nap day! :D Maybe it won't be so bad after all!

Here's hopin! Lots of coffee that's for sure!

Hope you are having a sunshiny kinda day wherever you are!

Here is a pic that I just love from when my momma was here to visit!

Friday

2011-01-28T07:30:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday....Thank goodness! It's been a long week around my house! However I think we did find a bigger house which we are in much need of! We should find out today about that! :D Also I just wanted to share some projects that just make me happy! Oh and you need to check out the new releases by sassafras!!!! I am UBER excited about sweetly smitten and starters! OMGoodness! :D Wish I had a LSS to buy from! :(

Anyway here are a few layouts that just make me happy:

Happy Friday and Have a GREAT weekend! :D

10 Things about me

2011-01-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

I was catching up on my blogs tonight and found this one and so I am doing mine also! :D I LOVE reading Christy's posts from scarlet lime. She is so fun and funky!!!! :D

Ok 10 things you might not know about me:

1. I was born in Germany. Yep that's right....but I am still a us citizen. My dad was in teh airforce for about 7 years and when I was born that is where we were. It is cool to say I was born somewhere else. i would LOVE to be able to go back there someday and see what's it like although so much has changed there since my little self was there. Also the hospital I was born in has now closed. In fact in order to get a copy of my birth certificate it takes an act of congress....LITERALLY...I know...I had to get one a few years ago.

2. I have some guilty pleasures. I LOVE the sex and the city series and both movies. Would love to have them all at my fingertips! I love to watch the bachelor...as much as everyone else hates it and sees no point. I can live a cinderalla story (usually) just by watching it and it makes me happy! We religiously watch Big Brother....every season. I think we have missed one. I have no find survivor and I am HOOKED!

3. I love the quiet! I thought after growing up an only child I would starve for the noise....I love the noise of my family but early in the mornings...in the quiet, in the still, before others awake, I love to have a cup of coffee and sit in the quiet either just sit, read my bible or surf the net.

4. I am an internet junkie! I love to spend the day on the internet...too much! I LOVE facebook, my blog and others, message boards, my email and just surfin anything and everything. Never thought I would be so into the net, but I am.

5. I want 5 kids....the hubs...not so much! When we first got married he wanted a whole baseball team...now...he wants only 3. Not sure where we will go from here but at least one more I think. Which is kinda crazy when I think about it because...I. am. exhausted. I am worn out. I need a vacation! hahaha!

6. Wow...this is hard to come up with 10 things and you have probably already moved on to someone elses blog. Hmmm..ok I stalk my own blog....I get excited when someone leaves a comment or I get a new follower! It is so fun for me and I just enjoy when someone comments! :D Especially when it is someone I have been "following" and I admire them.....(ahem) virginia and noel! :D They are famous in my little world! :D

7. I LONG to find MY style in scrapbooking and crafts and to be a part of a design team. I would LOVE to be a part of something bigger and to inspire others. I may not have a lot of techniques but I have a few and I would love to share my love for art and creativity with others. I stay home with my littles and I also think being a part of a team that helps inspire others would help inspire me as a mom and give me the interaction with others that I desire!

8. I am a HUGE razorback fan....that one may be no secret. However, I have been to a razorback basketball game and I desire to make it to a football game. I also would LOVE to go to a Cowboys game....must win the lottery for that one though, first have to play the lottery!

9. I currently have one application in for a design team and I am working on my submission for another....Keep your fingers crossed.

10. I recently was able to go to a Jason Aldean concert...wow...that was awesome. If you are on my facebook page you probably already know that. He is so pretty....all he had to do was just stand there. I enjoyed it soooo much....going with my cousin and just hanging out. It was much needed and I wouldn't trade that time for anything in the world! :D

There...phew...can't believe I made it to 10! Please leave me a comment and a link to what you post! Would love to learn more about you! Also when you post some fun facts about you make sure you go back to here so others may see! Hope you have a great night and a wonderful Wednesday! :D

Moments

2011-01-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

In the stillness. In the quiet. Know that I am GOD.

Wow, have you ever been sitting in the quiet and those words just come to you? I have lately been feeling an overwhelming sense of God and his presence and the need for me to be in His presence more. Every one keeps telling me I need to rest, don't stress and relax. Yes I do need to rest in the arms of my Father. I need to hand my stress and anxiety over to him and when I hand it over, really hand it over and let it go. Yes I need to relax, relax in the arms of my heavenly father and know that He is God!

My heart is so full of need. Need to spend more time in my bible. Need to dive into those holy and precisous words of grace more abundant and free. Need to study His word and KNOW it, deep down in my soul....KNOW those words that HE speaks. Need to just be quiet and still in HIS presence where only the heavenly father can rejuvenate me. Need to spend time in His love, in His arms.

Have you ever had these moments? I honestly and truly LOVE when I have these moments and they usually come to me when I am in desiring the things of the world. The Father brings me back to reality and says, "No no no....that's not good for you." And then I stumble on things like this website...she is in my follow category, she updates and writes several times a day and I usually just skim over if I even look at the blog. Today, today was different. I took the time to read it and really soad in what she said. It was about children and creativity and just being and how it all ties in to our heavenly Father. I wrote down a quote from her in my proof of life book and it says,

"The Bible tells us that we are God's masterpieces (poiema in Greek); not only creatures, but His creations, His poems (Eph 2:10). We are living epistles (2 Cor 3:3)" and also she quoted this "And so, our lives are meant to be listened to, because it is God who is speaking into and out of and through the symphony of the years and the masterpiece of a lifetime." Michael Card.

Wow...I really reflected on all this as I read her blog today. Made me take a step back and look at my own children and my own life and how I want to improve on things.

What do you think? What do you hear in the stillness and the quiet?

Color Combo Challenge at Noel

2011-01-20T21:26:00.000-08:00

There is a new challenge over on the noel challenge blog! :D This challenge has me written ALL over it! I loved the colors and had so much fun playing with my layout! :D

Pages inside my book

2011-01-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

So as in a previous post I told you all that I participated in the Proof of Life class with virginia, I wanted to share pictures of my pages. Warning....picture heavy! :D I am really enjoying this little book and I find myself grabbing it to write notes in that I wouldn't ordinarily do. Like when I find a design team call and what they are requiring, my grocery list or just thoughts I'm having at the moment.

I cut out a piece of the choc chip package b/c savannah and I love to make cookies....wanted this in my book!

ms. V taught us how to make this envelope....I used the butterfly overlay that came in the very virginia kit and cut it down to size b/c I wouldn't use it other wise, cut the reddish paper too and attached a chipboard sticker!

Here i just added the package from the jenni bowlin flowers we got! gives an extra tag and I dropped shimmerz paint all over it so it looks messy.

This was the packaging the ribbons came on....I just liked it and added a brad and viola I have a tag to add things to later!

Here I took Ms. V's tip and I just randomly placed masking tape all over the page and it's kinda transluscent and I didn't do anything to it b/c I liked it and added a sticker and a brad.

This I just stapled a small piece of ribbon and attached a flower from some of the embellies.

I didn't like just the white paper.....so I took the antique silver shimmerz or maya road mist, dipped a paint brush in it and went on with it.

i wanted buttons!

Proof of Life

2011-01-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

LIFE:
what do you do with yours?

how are you living?

what do you do daily?

do you live in the moment or moments past?

do you savor all the little things that happen or stress when there is a mess?

do you enjoy the littles while they are exactly that? little?

these are all things I have been contemplating lately.....and I am taking virginia's Proof of Life class over on the noel message board. It has already taken a sentimental value in my heart and pulls at my heart strings! :D

Friday

2011-01-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday! I am very excited! An old friend called me yesterday and asked if I would be able to meet her for an all day until midnight crop at the scrapbook store near her! Let me tell you, I found a way! I am super uber excited and it is some much needed time to just hang with a girlfriend, scrapbook and be away! I really feel my children will benefit from a small, non stressful seperation! We spend lots of time together which I LOVE and would not change but as a mom and a woman sometimes you just need a break and some time away! :D I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and do something for yourself, do not feel guilty.....JUST DO IT and ENJOY! :D

I'll leave you with a sweet photo of the kiddos!

Random Thoughts

2011-01-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

Random thoughts today:

I love the color red!

I find inspiration here and here...they are two of my favorite blogs that I check daily.

I don't like it when my child fights me all morning to get ready for school.

I love to scrap, and don't get as much time as I would like to do so.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE when I look at my blog and find people I admire and aspire to be more like in my hobby have left comments on MY blog! (MY blog! I almost fell out of my chair last night when I discovered two famous people in my world of my hobby left comments on a blog post I made in December! HOLY MOLY! Thanks V and Noel!)

Off to help the little brush her teeth....Have a blessed THURSDAY!

Layout Challenge by BoBunny

2011-01-12T20:17:00.000-08:00

So Bo Bunny does what they call a layout challenge friday.....I have been watching it for a while now and I have decided I am going to start entering their challenges and contests....I LOVE Bo Bunny with a passion! I have a hard time getting their products here in my area so when they come out with something new I have to hurry and email the one girl I know who will load me up and ship it to me! If I can catch her before she runs out of their stuff! Here is the sketch and here is my take on it....

I used the papers from Midnight Frost, a few snow flakes, a snowman that came in a kit and thickers by american crafts and I used a ranger dauber to go around the edges....it was just too much white for me. I must say that I really enjoyed using a sketch! I am not typically a 2 picture per layout kinda girl but I LOVE this!

She Gets "Misty" Challenge

2011-01-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

There is a new challenge...well it's almost old cause I think the deadline is friday, but a challenge over on the noel mignon website. The challenge was to use mists! Let me just say....I LOVE mists! More than I ever thought I would and I am currently searching for new and unique ways to use it! One of the girls that is active on the message board, can't remember which blog it was on to give the credit to so I apologize, used some masking tape.....I LOVED her idea. I took some white cardstock and masking tape and create a "picture frame" look. Then I took some antique silver that came in a noel mignon kit and sprayed inside the "framed" area and around the outside edges of the paper. Then I took some midnight blue glimmer mist and sprayed the white part of cardstock that was left.....result: LOVE!

I love this picture of grandpa and savannah because they were both willing to look at me and SMILE! :D

Snow Days

2011-01-11T06:37:00.000-08:00

So it's been another month since my last post. My life has been extremely busy and I have not had time to hardly even sit still. We made it through Christmas and yes I did get finished with my December Daily 2010 album and I LOVE it. My thoughts on it was it was kind of a hassle. I know the idea was to enjoy the process and I was MORE aware of things going on during the day with my family but to remember to record it every single day.....kinda like the blog, I'm terrible at blogging and I have always been terrible at keeping a diary, which is why I don't keep one. I have tried. Several times....just not my thing. Oh well, moving on! Christmas was AWESOME! One of the best we've ever had. Lots of food and family and I LOVED it.....however after the DD I am so sick of Christmas papers and embellies it will probably be July before I scrap any of them...which reminds me I haven't even scrapped last years Christmas pics! I am WAAAAYYYYYY behind on my scrapping but as part of my be creative everyday goal maybe I can get caught up some. Anyway the point of this post is we got snow the other day!!!! Holy Moly! Schools are still closed....but because of the ice! My kids had fun and I wanted to share some pics!

Wipe Out!

Savannah threw snow on him!

The Best Gift Challenge

2010-12-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday everyone! 14 days until Christmas are you ready? We are here at the stout house! So excited! Anyway, there is a new challenge over at the noel blog....check it out! She is giving away not 1 but 2 of these beauties!!!! Yowza! I'm so excited!!!!! :D I drew inspiration from two people for my layout the first is Leah on the design team....she scrapped an item she got a while ago but had never scrapped....that's what I decided to do. The other inspiration is from my all time FAVORITE scrapper Virginia.... she used the Dear Diary Kit (hurry only 1 left). I have not had any time to scrap with it yet so I used mostly stuff from there....my paper is bo bunny flutter butter willow....LOVE that green! And then I just used brown cardstock to back mat my picture.

I took a pink glitter pen and doodled on my letters...love them! Brown thickers from Dear Diary.

I LOVE the dimension on these flowers! To die for! :D Also from Dear Diary!

December Daily: Day 4

2010-12-06T07:20:00.000-08:00

Today we spent the day planning and preparing....planning some christmas activities we want to do this season and that I especially want to do with my kiddos and my gma! The preparing was preparing to rearrange my living room and try to open up the space. Other than that we just kinda hung out until dark. My gma and I took the kids to the Christmas Light Parade and it was so much fun! We froze our buns off but I LOVED it and so did the kiddos and my gma. Jackson was in awe at the firetrucks....good thing there wasn't a fire in the surrounding 3 counties....EVERY single firetruck was in the parade! Anyway-I am going to try and get caught up on my blog posts today and post day 5 also.....but for now...here is day 4!

For not doing too much I sure had a lot of pages for day 4! :D That's ok...I am loving this documentation!

December Daily: Day 3

2010-12-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

Day 3 ended up being a busy day. I only documented savannah wearing her christmas t shirt for the first time and after an afternoon of shopping and such we discovered fried peanut butter sandwiches! Yummy! :D

December Daily: Day 2

2010-12-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

I think the most work of this album is taking pictures every day of what I did to my actual album. The documenting and decorating of the album itself is easy peasy....Oh well...it's 25 days right? We can do anything for 25 days! Without further adu....here is day 2 in my december daily:

We mainly just lounged and hung out today! We were recovering from our long trip! Phew...glad that's over with!

December Daily: Day 1

2010-12-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

Happy December Days! WOW! Where has the year gone? Holy cow I can't believe it's almost Christmas. Anyway, as I have posted before I am participating in the December Daily with Ali Edwards and on the Noelmignon.com website in the message board! (sorry I didn't link those....i'm exhausted from my trip and just plain lazy at this point.) Which also explains my not so creativity on day 1, however I did not want to fall behind in posting.....I may post day 2 and 3 tomorrow night. Here is day 1:

I am so happy this is my first year to participate in this! I had no idea this concept even existed and we picked up my gma this week in new mexico to come spend christmas with us....what a way to kick off the month and a GREAT way to document memories while she is here!

Total Slacker/ December Daily Update

2010-11-21T05:08:00.000-08:00

Good morning! Ok so I have been a TOTAL slacker these days on the blog front. I have been so super busy with so many things it's not even funny. We have been trying to get our house ready for when my grandma comes and I am trying to PURGE and get rid of crap that we don't need, use or want because we have a fairly small house and LOTS of stuff....ugh. Anyway, this morning I am sitting in the dark, in the quiet just enjoying the internet! Ahhhh.....and my coffee has just finished. Be right back.......ahhhh, love it! I love my family and all the excitement and busyness they bring....and I also enjoy the quiet moments to myself!

We have been busy here decorating for christmas, yes I know it's early but it seems like Christmas comes and goes way to fast and it is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year! So, since I decorate with fall decorations in September and enjoy them until after Halloween I have decided the past few years to go ahead and decorate for Christmas in mid November...it works for us (or for me which means it works for everyone else too).

I have also managed to get my hubby to take a family picture earlier in the month...went to a professional had them....first time in 4 years!!!!! So I bought LOTS of pictures well not really but I bought the big nice expensive ones....so we added some new pictures to the walls yesterday and I got most of my christmas cards addressed and filled and ready to go out. They will be on their merry way on Friday! :D I am a happy girl!

Among all the chaos I have managed to get ALL my shopping DONE and most of it wrapped and those cards almost finished! I don't think I have been this organized or ahead of the game in YEARS!

Ok-so now....I have also worked on the december daily with ali edwards. And I have been participating in the form at noel's about logging our daily albums and sharing them. I could not justify spending any more money when I had tons of stuff on hand. So I just made my own template, the main sheet in Ali's album for pictures, journalling or whatever. Then I added patterned paper between every day to do whatever I want to it because I did not have the transparnecies that Ali had either. I have also found I don't wanna decorate mine before hand. I think it will take a little more time each day but I like to add that special touch and embellies that match whatever we did or maybe didn't do that day. So I have my base pages done and all my supplies gathered into one container, a new ink cartridge in my photo printer so I can print daily and I am ready to go! I am super excited! This is the first year I am doing this, it's my favorite time of year and my grandma will be here the whole month (and more) but for this project I just think it's special because I will be documenting all the memories we make and I will have them! :D

Here are a few pictures:

Thankful Thursdays

2010-10-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Well over at the elles studio blog she does a thankful thursday. Such a simple concept...why didn't we all think of that? It really makes you take time to appreciate the things and people around you....or it did me. I love this idea! I am thankful for such freedom! I love the usa, I love being an american, I love having the freedom to do so many things and I am truly grateful for it! There are so many people in so many places that just do not have the freedoms we do and I am really thankful I do. :D

Have a great Thursday evening!

Muffins and Piles

2010-10-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

So I was hanging out with my kiddos yesterday...which by the way I thoroughly enjoyed, I do everyday but there was just something different about yestserday. Minus the part about Jackson teething he was so whiny all day! Anyway, I typically make my gma's banana nut bread a coupld of times in the fall, yesterday was no exception. However, I decided to make these instead:

Muffins! YUM-O

Even Jackson enjoyed them!

Then I was sitting there....I glanced over and saw this picture packets. This is what they look like spread out:

And this is what they look like when I stack them all up! I would say that I am B-E-H-I-N-D on scrapbooking! I actually thought I was pretty on top of everything.....not so much! The sad thing is I have more pictures supposed to arrive at my house on Tuesday next week.....I have got to find time to do some scrapping!

Now this is a picture of all the pages I have done, that have to be placed into an album.....oh wait....I'm outta albums too! Can you guess what's on my christmas list! (besides grown up alone girl time)....ALBUMS! And Ms. Noel....I specifically told my hubby and my mom they can purchase gift certificates from your website!

Anyway-that's what we had yesterday, muffins and piles of pictures and pages! Oh by the way...that was just pictures and pages within reach! And to think I keep adding stuff to my plate...no wonder I'm exhausted all the time! Happy Thursday everyone!

Home Executive File System

2010-10-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

So I was inspired by this by ms. virginia tillery! She keeps a file system with daily routines to help her keep track of day to day tasks.....SOOOOO what I needed! THANK YOU MS. V! It has taken me forever to find a container....her's was from the dollar bin at Target....which I looked for and couldn't find so instead I got this one at the dollar bin at target:

Tied some ribbon around it and used an embellishment from the sweet sue kit:

Then I used patterned paper....sorry I don't remember where the bird paper on this first one is by but I LOVE it and want more! I used lots of October Afternoon papers, added some embellies to the top of each day to help thumb through the day.

I'm hoping this helps me remember things better. I have not completely finished this but pretty much. I keep wanting to add things and then remind myself the purpose is for pretty papers (accomplished) and simplicity (done).

Same Color Challenge

2010-10-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

So here I am again.....after time passes by! I'm not very good at this blogging/daily upkeep thing! I'm really trying, just not as successful as I would like. So today I would like to share with all of you a layout I did for the latest challenge at noel. The new challenge that runs through November 5th I think...don't hold me to that one is about using the same color throughout your layout. I thought this would be easy peasy especially since I had ordered the back to basics limited edition kit....which has sat in my hallway for about 2 weeks completely UNTOUCHED.....GASP....I know right! Not fun! I just could not manage to get any time in to use this kit

sorry the picture color and quality is not very good....not sure what was going on there.....and it is JAM PACKED! As are all of noel's kits!

So now I can't figure out this weird alignment....ok so back on task here....so it was not easy because I LOVE this kit and it's not just black and white it's black & white, cream, a little red, and browns. Well I wanted to keep it all black and white so I did....I also tried to do Virginia's challenge about getting all my favorite things out and just putting them on the page.....I couldn't use all my favorite things...they didn't match! Boo! Hahahaa! Ok so without further adu:

Again...so sorry about the weird coloring! Maybe I should change the light bulbs in my dining room! Leave a comment and tell me what you think! :D

This woman! The Bravest I know

2010-10-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

So frustrating! I had a long blog on here and then it didn't post....GRRRRR! Anyway-over on the Lisa Leonard blog she is doing a giveaway of the Brave necklace. If you have not checked out her stuff you need to! She is AMAZING! LOVE her jewelry....in fact some of her stuff is on my christmas wish list! So today the bravest person I know is This Woman:

Look at her! Standing, smiling and full of life! Just days before this photo op she was near death, no kidding. The doc had told her the day before this pic it was a good thing she had been brought in to the hospital. She was completely dehydrated which stems from a previous surgery she had gone through earlier in the week. This is my granny....Wennette Jone....she is the bravest person I know because in her lifetime she has lost her mother, her husband, fought and won through breast cancer, cervical cancer, 2 heartattacks, 3 stints, mini strokes on a daily basis and I'm sure much much more...I know back in 95 she was on dialysis for another near death experience. The woman's resilience is AMAZING and she is a FIGHTER! I don't know that I would be a fighter if I were her!

TV Title Challenge: Happy Days

2010-10-06T22:38:00.000-07:00

The latest challenge at the noel challenge blog which you can find by going through noel's main webpage. We were to choose a tv title and this was fun! I came up with a list of titles I am dying to scrap with and I got a notebook to jot them all down with. I did this layout while taking care of my gma. Got a call over the weekend she went to the er and I loaded up and came out here....I threw my bag, my schoolwork and a few scrappin items...which I quickly found out that all my embellies are at home! So I had to work with just a few supplies...it's a simple layout but I LOVE it...because they are truly what makes my days happy! :D

Evaluations

2010-10-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

So I've been blog searching, reading, admiring and I've also found some great inspiration on noels message board and it's had me doing some re-evaluations of myself. The first thought that got triggered was when I was reading meg's blog about her current birthday. She set goals for herself last year on her birthday to work on throughout the year. As I was reading her list I realized I've never made a list or even really set a goal on paper! Sheesh! Then I was on the message board and saw where ms. virginia made a goal poster on a canvas....wow....maybe that's where I've been going wrong.....no goals! How sad is that? So, needless to say I am currently working on what my list will be.....I have 7 months until my next birthday and it is a BIGGIE and I am NOT excited about. So I supposed one of my goals will be to embrace the change. Anyway-wanted to update you all on the current thoughts of my head and check back to see what's on the list/goal poster! :D

I just LOVE this picture! :D It makes me smile!

Boo Wall Hanging

2010-09-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

CAUTION: Long post! Can't say I didn't warn you! :D

So yesterday just started out as a bummed day! I got the letter that my financial aid appeal had been denied....BOO....said I was not a degree seeking student...really? did you read my degree part of my transcript? Anyway, their decision is final and there is no more appealing or fighting it. Grrrr.....then I was just upset about a lot of other things. I got on the message board over at noels website and vented and got LOTS and lots of hugs and encourgament from the girls there! Thank you! It was much needed. When I picked Savannah up from school her teacher was even jumping up and down, she has learned to write her name all by herself and wrote it on all of her papers yesterday! (we had a homework assignment over the weekend to do so and we did). Not sure if she is the only one that did or what but her teacher and her were beaming when I picked her up. (insert smile here) So, I told her after lunch and naps we would get ice cream.

In the mean time we all took naps and then I literally stalked the mail man! Like, had my windows open, door open and was standing in front of the window everytime I heard a car.....what was I waiting for you ask? The new SLEEPY HOLLOW KIT from noel of course! (sorry they are all sold out! I think they sold out the first day). Anyway, I have been DROOLING over this kit every time she did sneaks on facebook or the message board, then again when the full reveal came out and again when the famous ms. virginia tillery did her video reveal...oh my gosh!!!!!!! Now, I am not typically one to be so excited about halloween but there is just a buzz in the air about it and I decided to embrace it and jump on the band wagon! (maybe because I have little people now.) Anywho! I opened my kit yesterday.....O-M-GOSH! I LOVE every single item in the kit!!!!!! WOW! Noel-FANTASTIC job! I usually hoard stuff I love to save for a rainy day but I have been trying not to do that and just use it....that's what I got it for right? Anyway-I only have 2 kiddos so there's only so many layouts you can do with ghosts and goblins and witches.....of course the papers are all double sided so they can be used for other things.....ok...back on track...sorry....so I made a wall hanging because I just cannot force myself to wait for halloween pictures....thus the purpose of this post. So without further ado.....

I used papers from making memories toil and trouble and other parts of papers....can't remember the manufacturer...sorry...embellishments from pink paislee, making memories, we r memory keepers, and probably others....i used some ink that noel had put in there from s.e.i....love that thing! I also spritzed the bingo card(from jenni bowlin) with some mud pie shimmerz....LOVED that! I really got brave with this and thought outside my box! I think I have a new addiction....halloween decor! :D

All about Me!

2010-09-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

There is a new challenge at the noel mignon challenge blog. She challenged everyone to scrap their style. What is my style? I have no idea really! I know that I like pretty papers....and getting some pretty papers usually just makes me smile! I love BLING! I usually scrap with ribbon, rubons, brads, buttons and some letters. I have recently tried to do things that are not me at all for submissions and challenges and they just turn out bad! So when I saw this challenge today it reminded me that I do have to be ME and reminded me of the reason I started scrapping to begin with. To document our lives as a family so we can look back at our journey and see where we started, where we've been and sometimes where we are going. I hope you all enjoy the layout! The sassafras paper, hambly rubons and the big flower and the may tag are all from the sweet sue kit, the flowers, bling, letters are from my stash. I also tried a new technique on this one and that was matting my letters first! I got the idea from virginia and brit....sorry brit I don't know your link. I have a new favorite thing to do! :D

NoelMignon Challenge

2010-09-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

I decided to participate in the noelmignon.com layout challenge! It was to use the current fall trends for a layout and I went with teal! I LOVE teal and I absolutely LOVE the way this layout turned out and I put it together in 20 minutes....with two screaming kiddos! I challlenged myself to do it quickly and not overthink it since we were trying to get out the door to walmart! Hope you all enjoy it too!

All my papers and hambly rub ons were from the sweet sue kit oh and the birdie...ok everything was from sweet sue except my sparkly thickers! :D I scrap lifted the hambly rubon idea from virginia tillery! Love it!

Where are the rides??????

2010-09-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note before I begin scrapping. So we took a ride to the fairgrounds to check it out, we pulled up to the gate and garrett asked, "uh where are the rides." The lady replied with, "what do you mean? there are no rides, just the bouncy thing and livestock." At $5 a person! What the heck?!?!?!? Even the small towns that I know of have rides at their fairs!!!!! Guess we won't be going then! BOOOOOOOOOOO!

Homework

2010-09-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share why I have been MIA lately! Phew! This semester is kicking my booty! The only book missing in the picture is my literature book which is almost as big as this whole stack! Hahaha! Anyway-I have declared today a no homework day, after I finished things up this morning. I have been hanging out with the family, I am about to work on my layout for the noelmignon layout tag....SO FUN! I have also watched a movie with the hubs today....book of eli....it is a pretty good movie. Also the fair is in town and we are taking the little ones today! Also I took a picture that had me rolling in the floor this morning, it was great! It is below the books!

I actually enjoy the accounting! Good thing since that's my degree I'm seeking!

I was trying to get a picture of jacksons 3rd tooth and he was laying in garrett's lap! hahaha!

GREAT GIVEAWAY!

2010-09-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

So I found a fantastic inspiration of a person today through the noelmignon.com community board! It's Jules the bling princess and you can find her here. She is giving away 3 AMAZING packages full of goodies! You have got to check it out! I tried to post a picture but I can't figure out how to do that yet! Anyway-make sure you go by and enter to win her goodies! She is leaving it up until the end of september!

omGOSH!!!!

2010-09-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

OMGOSH!!!!! I logged on this evening in between trying to study some accounting and do a few posts on my english and history class and what did I find????? Duh-da-DUH a NEW follower and oh my goodness! (hand on cheeks, mouth open here) Who is it? It is none other than NOEL from NOELMIGNON.COM! She is like FAMOUS in my scrapbooking world! I was so excited I couldn't even concentrate any longer on my accounting, folding my book, pushed to the side and had to post this! If you don't know who Noel Mignon is WOW! Where have you been? I found her through my online buddy the ubber talented virginia tillery! She puts together the most AMAZING kits! I have only purchased two but I have plans to purchase many more in the future...we'll see how the hubs feels about that! Anyway-she alwasy super packs the kits and its like Christmas when you receive and ms. virginia does the cutest little videos every month showing us all what is in them! She has an amazing online community.....noel does....there is a message board where the design team talks to everyone and so does noel. It's just been really great for me to find her and I just want to say THANK YOU NOEL!!!! The pressure is on now to keep up crafting and posting! hehehe! ;)
So stop by her website at noelmignon.com and shop through her goodies, join the online community and buy the FABULOUS kits!

2nd layout with sweet sue

2010-08-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love sweet sue! I honestly wasn't too sure about all the brown, green and teals but it has turned out that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this kit....let me say that again, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this kit! There is so much goodness in it I have a hard time deciding what to actually use! Ha! I sat down this afternoon after Savannah rode her bike, jackson played in his walker and laid him down and scrapped another photo. Wow! I had goodies everywhere! I am really excited about this layout! I was determined to ONLY use items in the kit and that is my goal....to use all items in the kit before the next one comes out and before I use anything in my stash! I seriously have a hoarding of scrapbooking supplies issue! Anyway...hope you enjoy and if I can ever figure out how to get my pages on the noel website I will I promise! Let me know what you all think!

I inked the edges of the border with a choc chip ink and I used the green stickles that came in the kit to go over the swirls on the metal sentiment!

I outlined the words family of with a brown sharpie to make them stand out!

LOVE that bookmark and these prima flowers!

Now in all seriousness, I have accounting statements, gilgamesh, reformation since 1660 and some computer applications calling my name! Back to work for me!

SWEET SUE KIT

2010-08-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

OMGOSH! I got my kit from noel mignon on Monday and I have waited to play with it because of my over abundant college course work. I took some time out last night and played for just a few minutes. My layout is very simple and clean I think....it was late but I HAD to do something with it! Hopefully I will get more time in the next day or so! Enjoy!

P.S. if any you family members need a christmas idea....gc to noelmignon.com or a kit every month for a year would be FABULOUS!!!!!

Finally! Some scrappin!

2010-07-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

WOW! Cannot believe it has been almost 2 months since my last blog post! Crazy...well my life has been crazy! We have been moving and trying to get settled and I've had jewelry shows and rally. Not much time at home to get really settled in. With that said, I worked all day today on our house so I rewarded myself tonight by scrapbooking some. Two things have come to my attention: 1). I do not really enjoy scrapping late at night. 2). It is a challenge for me to scrap boys! I have been scrapping for about 4 years now and it's been ALL girl.....what a change! I'm still not completely happy with jackson's layout but it's cute! :D

Catching up and moving

2010-06-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

Wow didn't realize it's been almost a month since I posted a blog! Until my mom sent me a text this morning reminding me! Hahaha....sorry folks. It's been crazy busy around here. The kiddos and I packed up and spent last week with my grandparents. We had so much fun...life is just simplier and quieter there....don't know why that is. They just are hard working people and there's no time for junk....like tv, internet, shopping unless you actually NEED something. It was great. I did take my computer and answered a few emails but mostly I just enjoyed spending time with them as my grandpa is 80 and my grandma is 76 I think. I should do that more often and they enjoyed the kiddos for sure.

Last night we finished up savannah's tball. She had her last game, no umpire and everyone batted every time. The rules seemed to change every single game, glad we won't be part of that club next year. She did really good though. Afterwards we attended her team party where pizza was given to the kiddos, a cupcake and trophies! Then we went back to the field for closing ceremonies where each childs name was announced and they were handed medals. She was so excited over her awards! Lots of scrapping moments captured for sure!

We are also in the process of trying to move! Ugh! I HATE moving! I tried doing some packing yesterday and that is more on my list today for sure. The hubs is off today and tomorrow and he is up there and said he is going to try to finish up the painting today and hopefully they'll get the floors in...they had to rip out the carpet and replace with hardwood floors. Anyway....enjoying some alone time....listening to cmt, one kid napping and the other is outside with grandpa! :)

Busy Times

2010-05-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Hey all! I don't have any pictures to share today. It's been a crazy couple of days for sure! I have an album order I have got to get busy on! I have my own scrapping projects I want to work on, two small kiddos to take care of who seem to think they need to be fed on a regular basis! And my normal wifely duties. I intend to find some crafting time for sure today though! i hear lil man crying now...so I just wanted to share really quickly I have become a blog follower of samantha over at scrapmast paradise. She is wonderful with her creating abilities! I LOVE her projects...she is a stampin up demonstrator...I'll add that link later! Anyway she is having a design team call at scrapmaster paradise so check it out! :) I am way EXCITED to get to know her better and the others who are joining the forum! Have a great day and I gotta get my lil man before he thinks I ran away...which by the way is tempting! (hahah..just kidding.)

Mother's Day Bliss

2010-05-12T04:57:00.000-07:00

Wow what a whirlwind few days! It has been crazy busy around here! I can finally post my mothers day projects since all the moms have their gifts! :)

Now for my mother's day gift!

Week in the Life 2010: Final Project

2010-05-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

After finally getting my pictures yesterday I got to finish up my pages, pictures and embellishments today. I did not do the same layout/book as the FABULOUS ali edwards but I took the idea and made it my own this time around. Mainly b/c I have not had a lot of time to scrap lately so this was a great catapult to get me on board! It got me thinking creatively and got me to use one of my monthly kits that I hadn't even opened yet! Ha! All I have to do now is put it in an album which I am fresh out of so that's next on my list hopefully tomorrow! Here are the pictures and I hope you all enjoy a glimpse into my life!

This is my first page which is not a particular day...just my family and about the project itself.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday was the BEST!

Friday

Saturday was all about lounging!

Sunday! :)

A day to blog

2010-05-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I don't have any pictures to add today b/c I have made some submissions for things that I'm not sure I can post yet and some projects I've made for mothers day! So I obviously cannot post those. I have been working on my week in the life project still and I FINALLY got my pictures today so I intend to work on the project either tonight or in the morning. We'll see after I'm done on the web! I also am trying to get my scrapbooking business up and running...how that works is I am making scrapbooks for people who either do not like the hobby or don't have time but like the idea of a scrapbook. I have 6 orders pending...one of which I have the pictures for. Let me tell you this is a process. I picked the pictures up and started sorting through them and picking out the ones I think I might use. This has been a great idea for me....I get to do my favorite hobby of all time for extra money and it gives me a reason to get my stuff out everyday! :) So if you are interested or know of someone who is.....please refer me. I'm mainly just servicing the people at my church and my friends around the country....b/c I know of a few others who do this service to make money too! It's been great b/c I've just been sending people I know here to my blog to look at my work! Awesome! I hope you all have a great night and hopefully I'll have some new pics to post tomorrow!

Nice Day

2010-05-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me how one day mother nature can be so destructive and the next it is absolutely gorgeous outside! I plan to let Savannah spend the day mostly outside today. I on the other hand am an indoor-sy kinda girl. Which is ok b/c I have some scrapbooking projects I want to work on for design team calls and such! Yay! So exciting. I'm going to keep working on my week in the life project, speaking of that I checked on my pics today and they are supposed to be here tomorrow. That's great news!

Today I also started something new...working out! Before 8am I have managed to blog hop and get some amazing inspiration for today, workout, feed the baby and change him and now he's back down for a nap, check and answer emails and have a peach smoothie for breakfast! My new goal for this next year between birthdays is not only to get some experience on a design team and challenge myself creatively but to lose 90lbs! What a quest! I'll let you know in a year how I did and progress along the way!

Enough blogging for now....I wanna work on something for Gallery Idol over at paper crafts magazine. But to leave you for the day here is some more of my work!

These pics were taking mothers day 2009! Love the layout

This picture was taken on Garretts birthday...Sept 2008...znc i outlined the swirls with stickles...a lot of work but I am happy with the way it turned out.

This was Savannahs school picture fall of 2008!

These pics were of Savannah on halloween of 2008...she was fifi the poodle and she was so adorable! :)

Crazy Few days/Design Team Call! :)

2010-05-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

WOW! It's been a crazy few days around here. We have been dodging tornadoes since Friday afternoon. Thank goodness the bad weather is over with for the weekend....now just prayin for the folks in TN! Anyway I thought I would just post some of the work I've done! I am trying out for the design team at noelmignon...YAY I'm soooooooooooo EXCITED! I hope that my designing is up to par for her! I was just thinking last week I wonder when she will be having a DT call and what do you know! Yesterday....on my birthday....I discovered she is holding one through May 15th! OMGosh....I can hardly contain my excitement! I have never been on a design team before but would LOVE to get the experience!

I also FINALLY started working on the pages for my week in the life project while I am waiting on my pictures, however I got interrupted last night because of tornadoes. I have become a "kit hoarder" and decided to use a kit I had purchased and not used yet to do this album! Especially since I have a new kit in the mail! Ha!

Anyway here are some fun layouts I've done! Enjoy! Leave a comment and tell me what you think....and send your friends here to follow my blog to see if I make it to the design team!:)

This is a layout of my baby shower! Love you Amy and Kandy!

This was taken the day we brought baby jackson home and I LOVE this layout!

Jackson was just over a week old here and I had fun putting this LO together and putting the buttons on the polka dots! :)

This LO was just fun...all the bright vibrant colors! This was our first sunday back to church and our first official family photo!

Design Team Challenge! :)

2010-04-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

So I found out about a design team challenge i am SO excited about! I could not WAIT to create something for the opportunity! First of all I LOVE LOVE LOVE my cricut and I am finding new ways all the time to use it! :) Over at cricutters anonymousv they are having a design team opportunity and I want to share my project! I made a "lil" purse as savannah calls it with watermelons....I started out making it for the picnic challenge they are having and then when I logged on they are having a bag challenge so my project counts for both!

Enjoy!

Used my cricut for the bag, tag and watermelon! :)

turned out cute i think!

What's In a Name

2010-04-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

What's in a name? There is a new challenge at noel mignon to scrap the meaning of your name....this was fun and interesting b/c I do not take pics of myself or pics where I would be in them! So I used a picture that my friend kori at Irok Images took when I was pregnant with our baby boy! You can find Irok Images on facebook! Check her out! Anyway I used papers, stickers and embellies from the playdate kits, which by the way is sold out! I added some alpha stickers and thickers, which I LOVE, from my stash! I actually enjoyed putting this together and Savannah even pulled out her scrapbooking stuff and scrapped alongside me. She said, "oohhh mommy so pretty and you have shiny things." That would be the bling from my stash!

I put 2 stickers together here from the playdate kit...sassafras stickers

the pretty things savannah was referring to! :)

Week In the Life: Pulling it together

2010-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

WOW! Last week flew by and so far this week is doing the same! I am so excited to start working on my project that I am following Ali Edwards on....you can see her week in review here! So exciting! Like I have said, never done this project before I'm anxious to see how to just get started! I think once I get going it'll be great! I ordered my pics today and expect them in a few days. It was fairly inexpensive for me to order them b/c I ordered 3 collages so I can cut the pictures apart in all different sizes and then a few 5x7's and some regular 4x6. I ordered my prints from walgreens....I just love the glossy print and for me they always do such a GREAT job for a very low price. I think I paid 9cents a piece for my 4x6 to have them delivered! YAY! I LOVE a great bargain! So, no pictures for today because my kiddos are hollering FOOD! Hope you all have a great day! Oh-I did manage to get some creativity time in this morning but can't post them because they are gifts! :) I'll post later! :)

Day in the Life: day 7-Sunday

2010-04-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the final day for the day in the life project with ali and this was fun and challenging. I followed ali edwards as she posted pics from her days and Liz Kartchner too and I didn't take near as many pictures as they did for this project. However I am inspired and was thinking yesterday I would like to do this project about every 3 or 4 months simply to stay connected with what is going on around me and because my kiddos are little and they are growing SO fast. Jackson is 3 months old now and his life has just been a blur....so if I do this project a couple of times a year maybe I can look back and remember vividly! It will also give me inspiration and an excuse to scrap! hahaha....like I need an excuse...I just need time! Yesterday was nice we just went to church in the morning, came home to eat lunch, and basically vegged out all afternoon, went back for my financial peace class at church and then home again. Both kiddos were in bed by 8 and it was GREAT!! This weekend was odd for us b/c we don't typically have 2 full days of lounging and nothing to do.....but I LOVED it!

Savannah was way excited for pics and church...Jackson was less than thrilled!

driving and savannah thinks she needs to pose for EVERYTHING!

scriptures! God's Holy Word!

Grandma and Savannah preparing dinner....she was driving grandma crazy and it was HILARIOUS!

Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey....it's been the best thing for our family!

Our church sign! Love our church family!

Day In the Life: DAy 6 and it's Saturday

2010-04-25T04:43:00.000-07:00

This was the weather all day

WOW! This week has flown by especially since I have been working on this project! Thanks Ali for the inspiration. Yesterday we didn't do much b/c of all the storms....so we stayed inside to hide and clean. It was a great opportunity for me to get some organizing done, laundry and just to hang out with my kiddos...which I did.

Jackson: "what you lookin at mom?" (hahaha)

the kiddos next to the pile of laundry i folded and put away! This is what we looked like almost all day!

what is he so excited about? what is he looking at?

Oohhhh....that's what he's looking at! (hehee) It was spinning!

Grandma and the kiddos before bathtime!

Day in the Life: day 5 Busy/upsetting day

2010-04-24T03:09:00.000-07:00

Phew...i am so glad that Friday is over with. Didn't take too many pics yesterday. I was doing my normal thing yesterday....showering, getting ready, getting the kiddos dressed to run to town and run some errands and hang out with a friend....until about noon I got a phone call from my mom that my grandma was in the hospital and that it wasn't looking good. I have an AWESOME network of friends who just started praying with and for me and God truly is AMAZING and I am blessed....last I heard she was stable and going to be ok. The kiddos and I are gonna stay home for now and try to go out later in the summer. The only reason we weren't on the road when she called was b/c we had bad weather like tornadic activity moving in late yesterday through the night and this morning...was trying to wait for that. God has a reason for everything b/c I waited for the weather I had time to calm down, pray and maybe not have to go.

On a happier note I took some cute pics yesterday. Coffee pot...my ABSOLUTE favorite thing when I first get up with mr. jackson! I finally took some bathtime pics of jackson...poor kid he's 3 months old and this is the first bath pics I've taken! Haha. I also took some of him in his pjs....and a pics of mine and savannahs new flip flops we got at hunters refuge! Love flip flops!

coffee!

new flipflops

so not happy to be in carseat!

packing, thought we were headed to nm

new chicken enchilad recipe I tried

1st bath time pic at 3 months

Happy Baby ready for bed!

Day in the Life: Day 4

2010-04-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was great! We lounged in the morning time, then we went to eat at Larry's Pizza and meet our cousin. I also received my bday from my momma! Great new makeup colors! We quickly rushed home and Savannah and I headed to Disney on Ice....it was a suprise for her and that it was. Garrett came down to meet us and we all had a blast.

On a different note...frustrating....I can't seem to get my pics on here under my post or where I can write comments...any suggestions?

Included are some fav pics from day 4

Week in the Life: Days 3

2010-04-23T04:05:00.000-07:00

So I am a day behind....not sure what happened yesterday. Oh well. On day 3 which was wednesday....crazy there....We didn't do much.....Savannah worked with grandpa outside and then came in for a few minutes and fell fast asleep. Jackson actually took a great afternoon nap. This project kinda lost its momentum for me on wednesday but here are a few fav pictures from the day:

Mama Fan!

2010-04-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

So I've quickly discovered that when nobody else will be your fan your mama will. Go mom! As you can see....she's my ONLY follower!

Learning to Ride

2010-04-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

I created this layout to showcase our little girl learning to ride her bike this past winter. I've been holding on to these pictures for whatever reason and when I got the new playdate kit here at noel mignon I couldn't wait to start playing! I used october afternoon papers, crocheted flowers, jenni bowlin bingo card and some american crafts bling! Too cute! Love this kit which by the way is all sold out! :)

Day 2: Week in the life 2010

2010-04-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today was day 2 in the week in the life 2010...I did pretty good with pictures today. Well I'm impressed with myself. I'm super excited about this challenge and anxious to see how it all turns out! Today we mainly stayed around the house and I had a jewelry party tonight and I took some pics getting ready and packing my stuff....its amazing what a little makeup and jewelry will do for a person! hahaha! I also managed to get some creative time crammed in today! And I read Ms. Ali Edwards post at aliedwards.com from her monday and she used her timer on her camera...so it inspired me to get my how to book out for my camera and learn to use my timer...maybe tomorrow I will remember to play with that. Here are some pictures from my day! Hope you enjoy!

NoelMignon Challenge

2010-04-20T05:26:00.001-07:00

So today is awesome! Yesterday I received my first ever kit from NoelMignon called playdate! It is awesome! I must say they cram pack those kits with tons of yummy goodies! I was so excited to have some time to myself this morning to scrap! They are having a challenge to use 8 manufacturers....it was a challenge for sure and I was happy to have that new kit to use for this challenge. I hope they enjoy my layout as much as I do. You can find them at noelmignonchallenge.blogspot.com....I have to say I am very happy with them so far! Thank you Noel! Without further delay here is my layout: "Hangin with Nana" consists of: Jilibean Kraft Cardstock and pattern paper, October Afternoon patterned paper, MME pattern paper, American Crafts gem brad, Lilybee die cut frame, KI Memories border sticker, Sassafras cardstock sticker, Pink Paislee artisan tape.

New Adventure

2010-04-19T19:16:00.001-07:00

Ok so still working on this whole blog thing! The above pics are for a project I am following the infamous ali edwards at aliedwards.com and the project is a week in the life of 2010.....the challenge is to take pics of every day life every day this week, journal and upload pics to my computer every evening. I did pretty good today trying to take pics of everything....I only uploaded a few to this post. I'm super excited though to be trying this project...I've never done this or anything like it! :) Happy Scrappin!

Shimmerz giveaway! :)

2010-01-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

I LOVE some shimmerz products! They are completely awesome! If you haven't tried them in your crafting world you have got to do so. And they are doing giveaways just for posting their blinkie!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r-lF6Dz6w5g/S0zOfkvJn0I/AAAAAAAAANs/Sai_43N4EvQ/s1600-h/perlzblinkie_sm.jpg

New Year 2010!

2010-01-01T05:55:00.000-08:00

I have not blogged in about 6 months...so terrible at this....but our life has been in chaos since then actually. I will try to get a new picture up here later either today or in the next couple of days.

I don't make new year's resolutions but I have set a small goal. I don't know about you all but I find myself taking for granted the simple and small things and life and I get complacent. So I have decided to keep a notebook and every single day for this year to write in there something I am thankful for. Simply just to make me more aware of all the blessings I have in my life. I am human and I get all wrapped up in my own selfishness and desires and when things go wrong I tend to dwell on those and I'd like to not do that so much! I probably won't get on here every single day but when I do I'll give the list of what I've missed posting from the previous post....especially since we'll be having a new baby at the end of this month and I'll have two small children....internet use will be limited I'm sure! :)

Today is day one: 010110-I am thankful for my family: husband, daughter and soon to be born son! :)

Pregnancy Journal

2009-06-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

So I finally got most of my journal finished for baby #2! I'm so excited and I thought I would post a few pics! Enjoy!

Happy Day!

2009-06-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Just wanted to drop by and leave a few lines since it's been a while since my last post. Exciting news over on this end....first of all we are expecting baby stout #2!!!! Couldn't be more excited! YAY! We are due Feb 5th 2010! So great!

The other exciting news is I won something! I got an email from Kelly Smith over at http://www.PaperCraftsConnection.com you should check them out they are awesome! Anyway they did a drawing the other day for a tinkering ink stamp set, tinkeringink.com....they are GREAT! So excited, can't wait to get those in the mail!

I am working on a pregnancy journal that I hope to have finished soon and when I do I will post pictures here! Have a wonderful and blessed day!