What a FUN visit!!

I have missed those kids and grandbabies so much, and this trip was definitely the ticket!! I brought home tons of snuggles and lots of love that refilled my lonely heart, and photos galore! Here is a sampling that will eventually get scrapped. :-)

From t-ball to tea parties:



Quiet time to quite cute:


and even a trip to the zoo!

My heart is happy, and can't wait till that next visit from them for the month of July!! Until then, I have photos to scrap and memories to cherish!

Godspeed

Leaving on a jet plane!!

Tomorrow morning I will be headed to Albuquerque to visit with the kids and grandbabies!! I am SO EXCITED and can't wait to see them and fill my arms with their little bodies and my heart with all that lovin'!! I have missed them so much and I need this more than anything any doctor could have prescribed!!

I plan on taking lots of pictures, reading lots of little girl storybooks to Ruby, playing lots and lots of games, assembling puzzles, cooking along side Makayla, making lego castles, and just snuggling with them every chance I get!! And maybe, just maybe, Daddy & Mommy can sneak out for a "date night" while I'm there!

But before any of that can happen, I need to pack!! OUTTA HERE!!!

Godspeed

Sharing!

I got back on the scrapping bandwagon this week and created a few layouts I'd like to share. This first one is from the Bo Bunny Ad Lib line. I just loved this recipe card by Jenny Moore over at The ScrapRoom . I pretty much "lifted" it right down to the last detail and just replaced her photos with mine! LOVE how it turned out!


I will also be using this for the challenge over at The ScrapRoom Blog, using the word "party". Maybe you'd like to join in as well!

My second layout is from the Girl's Paperie Jubilee line. This one gave me a bit of trouble with all the different patterns and colors mixed in, so I settled for going the simplier route and created this:


Haven't done color blocking in awhile, but it came out just right for this photo of Butch & I taken in March 2011.

Probably won't get to anymore scrapping before I leave on tuesday morning. But when I return, I'll have oodles of photos of those grandbabies to scrap my nights away!! Can't wait!!

Godspeed

Creating!

Feeling pretty good today so decided to finish up this layout I started last night. I got hung up on the title, but since the first word that came to mind was "sweet", that's what I decided to use.

Just before the kids left for Albuquerque in March, I had Ruby here with me and she discovered these daffodils in the backyard. It was so sweet how she held them and played with them for quite awhile. Love the expressions on her face! This one is definitely going in a frame and hung with the others that I just can't hide away in a scrapbook!


That is the first thing checked off my list for the day and onto my second, a nice long walk! Have a wonderful day!

Godspeed

Better....

This past week was one of trial and error. What I thought would help me thru these difficult times, only made my situation uncomfortable, to say the least. After some talking with family members and the medical professionals, it was deemed that I was misdiagnosed and what I was given was only making it more difficult. So, we have started back at square one, and today was MUCH better!

It was explained to me that I'm sad and sadness is a very healthy thing to experience on occasion! Sad because the house my husband and I had built for us will no longer be ours in a few short months. Sad because my days I'm not working were filled with the sounds of little people who have since moved and not here. Sad because where I once felt very needed, I no longer feel that way. Its a grieving process of sorts, and its normal! And in all honesty, I am so relieved to hear that.

So, I have promised myself that from this day forward, I will take one day at a time, make a list of tasks that need to be completed each day and do them, and not be so anxious about the immediate future. I have no control over what will happen and when, and I need to stop dwelling on it. I need to once more become that person who looks at the glass as half full instead of half empty, because THAT is truly who I am!

Godspeed

FINALLY!!

In the course of the past few weeks - almost three to be more like it! - I have been feeling pretty darn miserable. With so much going on here that we have no control over its been weighing so heavily on me that I had to get some help. Let me tell you, if the world feels like its coming in around you, please don't hesitate to ask for help. I've been told it may take a few weeks, even up to a month, for this stuff to take hold, but knew it wasn't anything I could manage on my own anymore. Now, if I could just sleep thru the night for longer than three or four hours, I'll feel it was a gift from God!! I know in my heart of hearts, that if I could just get some sleep, it would make a world of difference.

I know I also need to find things to occupy my overbearing supply of time alone, so I forced myself to do something that I enjoy. What could that be, you ask? SCRAPBOOK!! Yes, I said force myself. I was extremely anxious doing this layout, but so like the way it came out!


It may look rather simple, but maybe that's where I need to start. Simple things in life can be just as enjoyable and if its all that I can handle right now, then so be it! I just hope and pray that I can keep going back to my scrapbooking as a way to comfort me in those times when life gets the best of me.

Godspeed

Easter Blessings!

God gave His only Son to be our Savior, and today Christ has risen!

Today is also a day of New Beginnings! The day I start to focus much more on my faith to become a better person & follower of Christ!

Godspeed

life....

..... deals you a hand and its up to you how you play those cards. You just need faith in knowing that the cards you play are the correct ones at the correct times.

Godspeed

Some days.....

.... are just harder than others to get thru. You would think by now it would be getting a bit easier to go about my daily routines without bursting into tears, but no. Its the littlest things that send me off the edge and although sometimes I manage to pull myself together, other times I don't. Life is so complicated right now, my life is in a state of limbo, and I feel so lost.

Godspeed

April 5

It's been three long weeks now since the kids rolled out of town for Albuquerque, NM and I think I'm finally getting use to the idea of them being that far from us. I've had quite a few weepy moments, but now the frequency of such moments is getting to be less and less with each passing day. I just never realized how much those babies wrapped themselves around my heart and hugged me ever so tightly! I sure do miss their chatter, but love being able to pick up the phone and hear it on the other end! MUSIC to my ears!! Love those baby girls with all my heart!!

Godspeed

It's finished!

I found this simply cute tutorial at What's Scrapping and immediately knew it had to be the one I used for this mini album for my grandbabies! It may have taken me a few days, but its ready to be mailed. :-) I sure do miss those two!!


And if there is someone in your life who would enjoy a few photos of you, this could definitely be the ticket!

Godspeed

It's a Challenge!!

At The ScrapRoom, the MOD Squad has issued us this challenge:

* use a nature element or image on a layout, card, or project

I chose to scrap these darling photos of Ruby playing on their little keyboard. She is such a happy, happy girl who can fill a room with so much fun and laughter just being her silly self. :-)


And my nature element was the singing bird using the My Mind's Eye Tickled Pink double shot kit.

Thanks for the challenge Gab & Rebecca!

Godspeed

Back in the groove!

I found it difficult to do any scrapping with the kids still here and wanted all my attention to be focused on them, therefore my scrapping took a back burner. I thought I'd be able to dive right back into it, but it was just too hard looking thru the photos and not bursting into tears. Now enough time has passed and I was able to get my groove back and create, leaving that box of kleenex where it belonged!

So, I present to you:




I have promised myself that I need to keep this up because it brings so much joy to my life to relive these great memories with everyone in those photos!

I will confess though, I still have not touched a single toy! They are all exactly where the girls dropped them and in time they will get picked up and put in their proper places, too. But for now.......

Godspeed

Notepad & Mini Album

On the The ScrapRoom Blog the design team members Melanie & Aphra have put up tutorials for making these darling little gift ideas, or maybe you want to make some for yourself!


I used Echo Parks For The Record just like they did, a splash of ribbon from my stash, and that darling Jenni Bowlin butterfly.

Take a look at your own stash, gather up your scraps, and enjoy!

Godspeed

St. Patrick's Day Treat

When I discovered this recipe yesterday on Facebook, I just knew I had to give it a go! So very simple to make, and so very full of calories - 110 calories per ball!! Oh, I know! The temptation is for more, but they are so rich that more than two is a guaranteed stomach ache, so you've been warned!

Cool Mint Oreo Cookie Balls
* 6 oz. softened cream cheese
* 1 pkg. (15.25 oz.) Double Stuff Oreo Cool Mint Creme Cookies
* 2 pkgs. Baker's White Chocolate
* 6 drops food coloring
* green colored sugar sprinkles


Using a 1 gallon sized Ziploc storage bag, crush cookies with a rolling pin. (A food processor would work as well.)


When finished, your oreos should look like this:


Cut in cream cheese with a pastry cutter until cream cheese is well blended. Roll into 1" balls, place on waxed paper, and freeze for at least 10 minutes.

Melt white chocolate and mix in food coloring:


Dip each ball in chocolate mixture, placing on a clean wax paper, and dash on sprinkles. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Leftovers should be stored in a tightly covered container in your refrigerator.


What a wonderful treat for St. Patrick's Day or any other occasion where you need something quick and easy! ENJOY!

Godspeed

New chapter in our lives.....

The kids are well on their way to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's been almost 24 hours since we said "see ya later!" and although I'll miss them like hell, its a good step for them and my son's career.

The grandbabies' toys are just where they left them, strewn around the house. But that's okay for now, I'll pick them up all in good time.

I do miss that chatter, those toys playing and bouncing on the kitchen floor as Ruby pulled them behind her. The crashing of all the tupperware as she pulled it out of the cupboard to scatter them across the house, while wearing the colander on her head! Silly Ruby! I'll miss her little subtle snuggles and sitting with her, blanket covering our lap, as we read books and such. Her blowing kisses in my direction, and her constant "happy day!" as she wandered about her day.

I will miss my little crafting buddy, Makayla, for so many different reasons. She is also my gardening sidekick, the baking helper who loves to measure out the stuff and mix it all up by hand, and my walks to the park to visit the new ducklings just won't be the same.

Today I'll attempt to get into a new routine of independence, one where I must take care of myself, do for myself, and try not to rely on others for help. Afterall, that extra house key for those times I lock myself out is no longer just a few minutes away. Its all going to be quite the adjustment, but somehow I will prevail, I usually do. :-)

Godspeed

"Gramma, can we craft today?"

Boy, am I ever gonna miss that phrase. My little crafty buddy is about to leave for her new home and we needed to "craft" just one more time.

We got to work in short order after first cutting our basket and rabbit using the Cricut. I just love the way she grabs that ATG tape gun and goes to work!


Here she is with her finished project, and so very proud that she did it all herself. :-)


And since I've been creating premade layouts for specific subjects for her, I included this one for Easter photos:


By the way, if anyone knows how to make time stand still for just a bit, could you fill me in. I could surely use all the minutes I can muster to have just a little bit more time with those grandbabies.

Godspeed

March reveal @ The ScrapRoom!!

WOWSERS!! Tammy has outdone herself on this box of goodies for us! I can honestly say that each and every piece of this kit WILL be used! So without further ado, here it is!!


ECHO PARK PAPER FOR THE RECORD:
1 sheet Table Cloth (2-sided)
1 sheet Advertisement (2-sided)
1 sheet Apron Strings (2-sided)
2 sheets AC Black Cardstock
(1) 12"x12' sheet For The Record Elements Stickers

LITTLE YELLOW BICYCLE TWIG:
1 sheet Leaf A Note / Topsy Turvy (2-sided)
1 sheet Woods / Pleased Plaid (2-sided)
1 sheet Wood You Be Mine (Sky) / Diamond Dust (2-sided)
2 sheets AC Powder Cardstock
(1) Butterfly Dimensional Sticker (varies)
(1) Flower Button Pop Dot (varies)
(4) Twig Chipboard Shapes (varies)

BELLA BLVD. FAMILY DYNAMIX & SOPHISTICATES:
1 sheet Tall Tags (2-sided)
1 sheet Pickle Juice Pickles & Lace (2-sided)
1 sheet the Littlest Things (2-sided)
2 sheets AC Coffee Cardstock
(1) Petaloo Jeweled Candy Flower (Red OR Orange)
(2) Maya Road Leaf Pins

BASICGREY HOPSCOTCH:
1 sheet Jump Rope (2-sided)
1 sheet Playground (2-sided)
1 sheet Four Square (2-sided)
2 sheets AC Geyser Cardstock
1/2 pkg. Hopscotch Pops Stickers (varies)
(2) Hopscotch Pieces (varies)

Join the "Flavors of the Month Club" and receive this kit automatically each month for only $21.95/month! Or if you'd like a one-time purchase, cost is $25, subject to availability! And don't forget to check out the Add-Ons Club for more pattern papers and cardstock to match, plus embellishments galore!



And if that's not enough to get your scrappy juices flowing, here is this month's Doubleshot Club!


MY MIND'S EYE TICKLED PINK:
1 sheet Radiant (2-sided)
1 sheet Cheerful (2-sided)
1 sheet Engaging (2-sided)
2 sheets Bazzill Intense Pink Cardstock
1 pkg. 12"x 12" Tickled Pink Chipboard

BASICGREY MARJOLAINE:
1 sheet Fudge Truffle (2-sided)
1 sheet Maple Walnut Bar (2-sided)
1 sheet Espresso Souffle (2-sided)
2 sheets Bazzill Raisin Cardstock
1 sheet AC Smoke Cardstock
(2) Marjolaine Canvas Tags (varies)
(3) Marjolaine Tabs (varies)

Join the "Doubleshot Club" and receive this double-bonus kit automatically each month, packed full of scrapbooking possibilities, for only $15.00/month! Also available for a one-time purchase of $17, subject to availability!

I wouldn't wait too long to order, these will go FAST!! Its gonna be a great month to get out that photo box and scrap your heart out!!

Godspeed

Sale pending!!

Today its official! We have accepted an offer, the paperwork is into the buyer's realtor, and now we wait, and wait, and hopefully don't have to wait too long! It's so nice to be able to relax a bit now, continue packing in baby steps, and not have to drag the dog out of here on an hour's notice!

I hope and pray that this is "the" buyer who waits it out and loves this house as much as we have. Yes, I do absolutely love every minute I have spent here, the memories that we've all made together as a family, but it is time for the two of us to move on and that we shall do as soon as its all said and done.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying life as usual. :-)

Godspeed

It's been awhile!

It sure felt good to get a few hours to myself last night and scrap. Therapy at its best and no charge, well, that's if you don't look at the cost of the supplies and tools I used! Life has been so hectic with us having a for sale sign in the yard and on top of that, Greg and Michelle getting their stuff in order for their big move next month and pitching in to help with the grandbabies. Trust me, NOT complaining!! Lovin' every minute of it!

I decided to scrap Butch's 53rd Birthday Party and the photos of him with the girls. I just love each and every one of these photos and how he can have so much fun with them and it definitely shows! By the way, the girls got him a pillow pet so he could have something to snuggle with when he was away from home. CUTENESS!!


I used a Double Shot kit, Fancy Pants It's Your Day, from The ScrapRoom and a sketch by Allison Davis' Sketches For Scrapbooking, Vol. 6. Such fun papers to work with and I love that sketch!

Godspeed

lessons learned.....

When occupying a house that is being sold is a royal pain. Yes, we have sold a home before, but no, we weren't living in it at the same time. Boy, oh boy, there is alot of stuff that I never expected would happen.

My first pet peeves - realtors who cancel a showing at the last minute - already discussed that one last posting, but still irked about it.

Second pet peeves - tracking mud thru your house! HELLO!! Doesn't common sense tell the average person to remove those muddy shoes before walking on freshly cleaned carpets? EGADS!!

And for now, the third is people who smoke like the dickens and leave your home smelling like an ashtray when they leave. Its not that they actually smoked IN my home, but just the smell when I came back even made the dog wonder who was lurking in the house! Yep, she walked around growling and giving that cautionary bark of hers for quite a while afterwards. She knows!!

And I think the thing that really gets to me is knowing some stranger just walked to my private space! Kinda feel violated in a sense. WOW!! Do I have alot of adjusting to do throughout this whole process!!

Godspeed

What a letdown.....

I should have known that this house selling wouldn't go as planned. Thirty minutes before the people were to show up, the realtor calls to reschedule for next tuesday at 4:30pm. WHY?!?!?

It wouldn't have been so disappointing, but I left work an hour early - lost pay - and literally killed my arthritic tailbone yesterday trying to get things out of the house and into the garage. I've been stressing out - have an ENORMOUS headache - over having the perfect house for them to see and for what, NOTHING!!

There, now I feel better that its written down. I've taken some aspirin and now I think I may need to lay down for a few minutes so it can start to work. Afterwards, its gonna be "me time" and I'll find something fun to occupy myself in my nice clean house. I guess its not a complete loss! :-)

Godspeed

EXCITED!!

Received a call this afternoon that a realtor is bringing some potential home buyers to show the house tomorrow!! I am extremely anxious at the moment about the whole thing and just trying to make sure every speck of dust is gone, every dog hair is vacumed up, cleaning the toilets, bathtub, and mirrors, and wondering if I should clean out my fridge! Do you think they look in the fridge? I mean, some look in medicine cabinets, thru your bathroom drawers, but do you think they are that nosey?? Well, if they are, they are in for a BIG SHOCK - mine's a mess!!

Can you tell I've never done this before?!?! I mean, we've sold a house before, but have never been living in it while the whole process was happening. That said, back to cleaning!

Wish me luck and fingers crossed that they are serious buyers with a serious offer.....

Godspeed

It's BOOKED!!

Our vacation that is!! See what its all about right here!!
Don't forget to scroll down a bit and check out the video!!

EXCITED!!!! Can't wait to feel some warm sunshine!!

Now back to my regularly scheduled programing. :-)

Godspeed

February Reveal @ The ScrapRoom!!

WOW!! This month's ScrapRoom kit has a little of something for every scrapper! I love the mixture of fun, fancy, and sweetness of this selection:


PINK PAISLEE SWEETNESS (upper left):
1 sheet Pretty Lace (2-sided)
1 sheet Sweetest Day (2-sided)
1 sheet Love Blooms (2-sided)
2 sheets Bazzill Cardstock
(1) Sweetness Canvas Border (varies)
(1) Jenni Bowlin Yellow Vellum Butterfly (varies)
(1) Sweetness Badge (varies)

MY MIND'S EYE TRUE BLUE (upper right):
1 sheet Snazzy (2-sided)
1 sheet Keen (2-sided)
1 sheet Dapper (2-sided)
2 sheets Bazzill Blue Spruce Cardstock
(6) Pink Paislee Queen Bee Gem Brads
approx. 1 yard Lt. Green Baker's Twine

MY MIND'S EYE LOST & FOUND (bottom left):
1 sheet Union Square "Home Sweet Home" Love (2-sided)
1 sheet Union Square "Home Sweet Home" Collage (2-sided)
2 sheets Bazzill Black Prismatic Cardstock
1/2 pkg. MME Lost & Found Decorative Brads (varies)
(3) Jenni Bowlin Valentine Chpboard Buttons (varies)

ECHO PARK PAPER LITTLE BOY (bottom right):
1 sheet Cool Stripe (2-sided)
1 sheet Rad Plaid (2-sided)
1 sheet Rock Star (2-sided)
2 sheets Bazzill Red Devil
(1) KI Memories Poppy Clip Art Button Clip (varies)
(2) White Shipping Tags
1 roll Pebbles Red Ribbon (varies)

Join the "Flavors of the Month Club" and receive this kit automatically each month with a specially selected flavored coffee sampler for only $21.95/month! Remember, skips are allowed, but membership guarantees you a kit!!

Online Crop @ The ScrapRoom

Last weekend we had another fun filled weekend of inspiration, games, and great chit chat over at The ScrapRoom. I love the online crops because it gives you a chance to just pop in when you can, whether its first thing in the morning or at midnight, the ideas are there and you can complete them at will.

I was able to get only one accomplished since I work weekends, but I love how this turned out! It was offered by Melanie Call of the TSR Design Team and it was a Die Cut Challenge. I traced and cut mine out by hand using the Crate Paper Snow Days line we received in our December TSR kits.


Here's one of the challenges I offered, a Layout BINGO Challenge. Using the grid below, they needed to make a BINGO going down, across, or diagonal:


I did third row down for my sample layout:


My final offering was a Cupcake Toppers Make & Take. Quick and easy, can be made for any occasion, with or without stamps, pattern paper or have the kids color their own and punch out. I would like to thank my Darling Assistant, Makayla, for helping me with this little project. :-)


Hope you can get some inspiration from the few items I've shown here today and if you do, link me up in the comments section, I'd LOVE to see what you've done! Happy Scrapping!!

Godspeed

Haaaaappy Day! Haaaaaaappy Day!!

That's exactly how Ruby says it and it just brightens those dreary moments in your life! She is such a sweetheart, loves to snuggle, and sit on your lap and just chatter up a storm, then squeal like she just said the funniest thing! Love her to pieces!!

I had the absolute pleasure of taking Ruby this morning so her Mommy & Daddy could start getting phone calls made, inquire about the company who'll be selling their house, appointments set up for the movers, and just overall stuff to get them started in their process. It all seems so unreal that its happening so quickly after waiting what seemed like forever for them to get this promotion.

All I can say is thank goodness for computers with web cams, Skype, and unlimited phone calls with Verizon Wireless. Technology can be a curse in some instances, but for our situation, it'll be a blessing.

Haaaaappy Day! Haaaaaaappy Day!! :-)

Godspeed

Highs & lows

What a day today has been! We made an appointment for a realtor to come by and see about putting our house up for sale. The way the market is today, we were SHOCKED at how low we'd have to price it just to have people want to take a gander at it, let alone want to purchase it! Needless to say, I'm still in extreme sticker shock.....

On the flip side we are flying high that Greg got his promotion and will be on his way up! Only one tiny little problem, they have to go to New Mexico for at least two years. Now if we could only talk them into leaving those two darling grandbabies of ours here with us, all would be golden!

This will be the first time we are all separated and although its not the end of the world, its sure gonna change it quite a bit! No more popping in to say hi, no more spur of the moment dinners, no more keeping the girls while they do date night, no more dropping them off to run to the grocery store.....this list could go on forever! Why does life have to be so freakin' hard?!?

My day has been one of extremes, and I think its time to call it a night.

Godspeed

Baby steps

That's how we're doing it, in little baby steps!

Today it was the bedroom closet's turn. I removed so many items of clothing that we haven't worn in at least a year and so many of them haven't seen daylight in almost two years! I stopped counting at 60 and just started stuffing the piles into bags and labeled them his and hers and decided a buck apiece was fair enough, although I could probably get four times that, I just want to see it go so I don't have to haul it off.

I've sealed up our extra blankets, sheets, and other bedding in those Space Bags. Man those things are so freakin' cool! Can't get over how much I can stuff into one of those things and presto, flat as flat can get! Yes, I was doing the "happy dance" when I finished that up. :-)

And do you ever keep things that you later go "WHY?" Um, yeah, boxes for things I don't even own anymore! Some people hoard scrapbooking supplies, I hoard boxes.....

Tomorrow, its onto our dressers. But for now, I shall reward myself by doing a layout. :-)

Godspeed

SIMPLIFY

We have so much clutter around us in our daily lives that we push aside, step over, or just completely ignore and this year that's about to change for us. We have decided to SIMPLIFY our lives and rid ourselves of "the stuff" that we just had to have, garage sale it, and put that money in the bank.

Yesterday was a good start since my mother-in-law bought us some dishes for Christmas and while washing and changing the old with the new, we also cleared the cabinets of misc. cups and what-not that we have "collected" over the years. Granted, this is just a tiny little start to a much larger picture, but it is a start and done in those tiny steps, might actually get done!

Decided to box things up with notes on each one for an estimated asking price and contents to make the final prep for the actual garage much easier. I tell ya, SIMPLIFY!! And when will this take place? We anticipate the first one in early spring and depending on well it does and how much more we find after that, probably the end of summer for the second, and the final one just before we move.

Yes, I said move! We can no longer hold onto the dream of trying to keep this place and hoping the economy improves. We're done, we give in, and we have decided to downsize. We're not looking at it as a bad thing, just a step in a different direction that keeps Butch home and we can finally live life as a "real married couple" and not a part time one.

Over the road trucking is very hard on a marriage and a three day visit once a month is getting old. Its time for us to enjoy each other's company and start living our lives together instead of long distance.

Okay, break over! Time to move on to the next area to SIMPLIFY!

Godspeed

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Okay, so its actually 12:27am on the second, but since I haven't been to bed yet, its still the first day of the new year to me! This year I will make a list of 100 things I'd like to accomplish in 2011. I'll be back later with said list, until then......

Godspeed

Happy Birthday to ME!!

December 30, 1956 I came into this world ....

I celebrated this day with my wonderful little family who I love so very much! We may not have much, but the love we have for each other is by far worth so much more than money can buy. And because of that, I know in my heart that I am truly the luckiest person alive!

One year has come to a close, but a new chapter has just begun. Here's to #54 being a year of much better health and more of the same happiness! Cheers!

Godspeed

From Our House to Yours.....

Godspeed

200th post!

When I started this blog, I never thought I'd make it past three or four posts, but now I find myself doing my 200th post! Actually in all reality I should have been waaaay past this point by now, but stuff happens, life keeps on rolling, and if I'm not careful I'll miss alot of stuff by hanging out on this computer. So although I do like my visitors here at my blog, I do have to give my attention to other minor details of my life. (I think I just rambled there....)

So, in the past eleven days, things have kinda fallen apart and a few splinters have started to show up. First, my health insurance has been cancelled. YEP! Someone didn't do their job properly, so now I have no insurance and I'm not even receiving a paycheck! Okay, if I were to do my job in this manner, I'd be gone in a heartbeat. Nuff said...... It was suppose to be taken care of today, but nope! I am constantly being told it will all work itself out, but come on folks, its just a matter of putting your fingertips on the keyboard, reversing the mess they created, and presto, all is good. And my paycheck, HELLOOOOOO!! Again, nuff said......

And as I type this to you tonight, Butch is sleeping in a motel somewhere in Tennessee getting repair work done on the Big Rig. GREAT! Been told the estimate is another four figure job and should be out tomorrow afternoon. I'm trying to be positive here but the last time we were told low four figure amount, it ended up being very close to a low five figure amount!! And since I'm not receiving a paycheck at the moment, I think you can see my dismay.

I have always believed that God tests us and only gives us what we can handle, well, I'm begining to think this time around, I may fail the test miserably!! I'm trying my best to be a Good Soldier, but .......

Now I'm going to settle into bed for the night. I hope and pray that tomorrow I will get the answers that I need from my employer and the mechanics have completed the task Butch presented them tonight with the total monies being what was estimated.

Good Night All and I really wish that my 200th post could have been a tad bit more upbeat. Sorry......

Godspeed

My reward!

After getting all my kits organized, my Holiday Memories album assembled with all the papers, I rewarded myself with some creating. Sometimes its the simple things we love the most and I love how this came out!


Now I have to get serious about some Christmas cards!

Godspeed

Holiday Memories

This year I decided to record the daily doings of our Holiday Season. Most people start with Dec. 1st, but I felt that Thanksgiving is just as important because we have been Blessed with so much in our daily lives this past year, and overcome some obstacles that tried to get in our way. Notice I said "tried"!!

Since this was my first attempt at this, I wanted to keep it simple. Too overwhelming and it gets left undone and that is not what I wanted to happen. I gathered up my Christmas papers from previous kits that I had lying around and ordered some of these page protectors from WRMK that did the trick. And in wanting to keep it as inexpensive as possible I am using whatever embellies, chipboard, stickers, etc. that I already have.


I started with Nov. 24th since that is when our family was able to come together and share our Thanksgiving meal. I decided that since embellies create bulk in those page protectors, to put them on the outside. Besides, it gives me more of a chance to be creative in my placement.




As for the journaling, I will type up some onto the paper, hand write directly on the paper, use word strips, or use journaling spots. Whatever I think of first is probably what I'll use. :-)

My album cover is still in the decision making process. Couldn't locate what I wanted to use, so I'm devising a plan to create one out of cardboard. I told ya, FRUGAL!! Now off to continue on this quest. :-)

Godspeed

Well......

.... today the doctor extended by medical leave from work till after the first of the year. She said since I work retail and I need to avoid stress, that until we know exactly what we're dealing with, I need to take care of me and find something that will help me relax. Well, well, well! As most of us know, that means creating and that's exactly what I plan on doing. After all, it's doctor's orders!! :-)

I'm presently working on sifting thru and sorting my kits I've received for the past 3 1/2 yrs. I'm holding nothing back and getting all those plastic bags outta here, or most all of them anyways. If I have used the kit, it got torn apart. If I didn't, which is VERY few, then they stayed intact with papers and cardstock, but the embellies were all sorted and put with the others.

I proceeded to sort the embellies in the following manner and stored them in those large ziploc bags:

1. packaged flowers
2. all packaged chipboard and loose pieces (there was TONS of this!)
3. rubons

These are now hung on an over the door coat hanger thingie individually with each bag having its own skirt hanger cause they were so HEAVY!!


In their color coordinated jars went all the buttons, ribbons, and loose flowers. All metal pieces went in the appropriate containers, and then I reorganized my rolling cart and now I can find things and they'll actually get used!



And yes, four of the drawers are just like this! LOVE IKEA!!!


to top it all off, I found the very first shipment I ever received and still had a complete kit in it. I loved those papers then and I still love them and find it hard to cut them apart. Obsessed you say?!? Probably!

And since I had a clean scrap table to work on, I decided to make a card while watching Private Practice. Oh the joys of creating with your hands!

Godspeed

December kits @ The ScrapRoom!

WOW!! I am very excited to be able to get my hands on these kits! What an awesome combinations of papers for just about every feeling that Christmas brings to our lives. Its traditional, its festive, its humorous, and its vintage all mixed together.


BASIC GREY JOVIAL (top left):
1 sheet Button Nose (2-sided)
1 sheet Coal (2-sided)
1 sheet Pomegranate (2-sided)
2 sheets American Crafts Brown Sugar Cardstock
1 sheet Jovial Chip Stickers (varies)
(3) Jovial Pieces (varies)

CRATE PAPER SNOW DAY (top right):
1 sheet Festive (2-sided)
1 sheet Candy (2-sided)
1 sheet Melt (2-sided)
2 sheets Sea Glass Bazzill Cardstock
5-6 pieces Snow Day LAYERED Chipboard (varies)

JILLIBEAN SOUP CHRISTMAS SOUP (bottom left):
1 sheet Turkish Bay Leaf (Kraft background)
1 sheet White Sugar (Kraft background)
1 sheet Sweet Christmas (Kraft background)
2 sheets American Crafts White Cardstock
(3) Melissa Frances Chenille Candy Canes
(1) Melissa Frances Paper Bag & Tag (varies)
approx. 1 yard Red Striped Bakers Twine

GIRLS PAPERIE TINSEL & TWIG (bottom right):
1 sheet Tinsel & Twig (2-sided)
1 sheet Festive Brocade (2-sided)
1 sheet Holly Berry Floral (2-sided)
2 sheets American Crafts Black Cardstock
(1) 6"x 12" Tinsel & Twig Alphabet Sticker Sheet (varies)
(1) 6"x 12" Tinsel & Twig Elements Sticker Sheet (varies)
1/3 sheet Tinsel & Twig Tiny Words Sticker Sheet (varies)

Interested in one for yourself? They're available at The ScrapRoom now! Subscription cost is $21.95 per month or if you want to just try out a kit for a month its $25.00. Shipping either way is a flat rate of $7.50. Don't delay, these are going fast!

Godspeed

The Tree Elves!

Love, love, love this time of year! The wonderful smells of cookies baking, sampling the sweet goodness of handmade candies, the outdoor lights with all those decorations, and the TREE!! We decided years ago to get an artificial tree since we love having it up for over a month - I know, most people think we're nuts! And then there are others who claim that its not a Christmas tree without the smell of freshly cut pine engulfing your home. Well, we fixed that problem too. We found these candles at Bath & Body Works that smell so delicious! The scent is called Fresh Balsam and they will burn forever. YUMMY!!

Yesterday we were just wanting a relaxing day of getting the tree up, lights on, and watching the girls decorate the tree. Well, the tree went up without a hitch, but.............. why is it every year there's at least one strand of lights that won't work - did the year before! - or is only half lite!? Lucky us, we had not one, not two, but THREE strands go bonkers on us! GRRRRR! After four hours, we finally had the lights on the tree and well into decorating. In the end, we had a great time watching Makayla put on one ornament, while Ruby was taking off two! Definitely more fun than we've ever had! :-)


Now today, I will assemble my pages for my Holiday Memories album. I decided to make mine start at Thanksgiving because that is just as important a Holiday for us because we truly do have so much to be thankful for. And before I forget what I wanted to journal for the past couple days, I better get to it.

Godspeed

SNOW!!

It's rare for snow to show up this early around these parts, hasn't happened in seven years! So yesterday, SURPRISE!! And since this is Ruby's first snowfall to "play in" I couldn't help but snap a pic. Poor kiddo can't even move in all those clothes!! :-)


Today, the forcast is for more snow - up to 3" - and VERY COLD temps - high teens/low twenties!! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!! I'll be sure to come back with those photos if the forcast comes true!

Godspeed

Lilly Bee - layout #1

I've decided to move onto the Lilly Bee Catching Fall for this next layout. I've been a bit preoccupied, and my own creativity was absent, so I decided to use a sketch from Allison Davis' Sketches For Scrapbooking Vol. 4 to create yet another layout from our annual visit to the pumpkin patch.

What is it about the pumpkin patch that makes it such a special treat for the whole family? We absolutely love it and spend the entire day doing a wide array of fun activities. Here is my son and his little family on the hunt for that perfect pumpkin!


Onto the next one!

Godspeed

One more!

It's been a long time since I received a kit that I had to absolutely destroy before moving onto another! This Bo Bunny Olivia was just too stinkin' adorable to just tuck in with the rest of my stash. Here is my fourth and final layout using those papers. Ruby & Makayla in their Halloween costumes before heading out for trick or treating.


And the remnants of such a fun kit:


Now I HAVE to find another kit to dive in to! Until next time....

Godspeed