Oh So distracted!

I love my hubby being home taking time to relax and vacation, but it seriously throws me out of the loop! My routine has not been normal. The thing that's bad, too, is that I get used to him being home and not having to take the kids with me everywhere. Just about that time, he has to go back. Then I have to get used to a new routine which was the old routine...does that make sense?LOL Well, he goes back to work tonight and I'm already gonna miss him. I have to say this has been the best two weeks spent together as a family yet. Of course the kids still bickered A LOT, but overall it was so relaxing and just fun enjoying time together as a family.

Well enough with that...here's a little scrappy stuff. The Big Kahuna contest over at Creative Scrap Shack has come to an end. I'm gonna miss it because those types of contests fuel creativity!! It was lots of fun and all the ladies created some EYE POPPPIN', JAW DROPPIN' layouts!! Go check out the gallery if you don't believe me!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

I just love this holiday because of all the fireworks! On a deeper level, I love it because of the great (and sometimes not so great..won't go there) land we live in. It really is a wonderful country and I am full of American Pride! Hang that flag high today and be proud of this great free land of ours and for the men and women who fight to keep it that way.

Why do I scrap?

In the beginning I would have to say I solely scrapped to record memories for my children. I grew up with hardly any pictures and it really bums me out not to have anything to look back on to jog memories.

Now I scrap for both the treasure of recording special moments and memories for my whole family and because I just LOVE the creative outlet. No one but another obsessed scrapper would understand the chills and excitment I get from the creative process. It is so fun and just a bit obsessive...lol Some times I have to say the hunt for products has become more of the fascination, but I now am trying to curb that habit and start using all the wonderful products I've collected.

Another busy time

The kids ended school and we have been run, run, running! Last weekend Marisa went to Girl Scout camp with her troop. She was excited, but scared and ended crying right before she left. That's my little sensitive girl! I got what I thought was a good picture of all the gang together, too.














I've been busy and then not so busy scrapping. My scrappy GF's and I are in the Big Kahuna contest at Creative Scrap Shack. It's been so fun and totally inspiring. Here are the past four weeks' worth of layouts I've created.







































And now I've got to get to work on week 5 -- almost done! I have to get the stitching and journaling done.

Then I've got to get cracking on my Back Porch Memories monthly DT kits which arrived yesterday. Oh, they are HEAVENLY!! You can catch a July peek on the home page by clicking the SNEAK PEEK link. I think you'll love them! I know I do! Off to use this precious time alone to scrap. The kiddies are finishing up their last day at vacation bible school. It's been such a fun week for them, oh and for me too!...LOL

Today

a great woman left this world and I am so very sad. She was the sweetest thing, my husband's grandmother, Antonina(Toni), or as we all knew her Babcia. I just admired her for her old-world style and beliefs. She worked hard and led a good Christian life. She came here from Poland after being sent for by her beloved John right after WWII. They actually met during the war. I can't remember what it is she did, but she was in the service as was he. John, or Jaja as we knew him, died February 11, 2006 and her life wasn't the same without him this past year and a half. She missed him dearly and would often say it was her time. She wanted to go. Well, today God granted her wish and our beloved Babcia is now with the love of her life Jaja resting peacefully in Heaven. We will miss you, Babcia!!

I did it!!

I am so incredibly happy today because I took the big leap and purchased/ordered a Quickutz Silhouette from my local scrapbook store Paper Tales. Cass, the owner, can't even begin to imagine how happy of a gal she has made me!!!

So to fund this little purchase, I decided beforehand that I would sell off some of my QK alphabets on Ebay. If anybody looks at this blog and would like to take a peek at the auctions, here's the link -- Quickutz alphabet auction.

I can't wait for that baby to get here! There's so many possibilities. I'm off to the creating table. I must finish a layout for the Big Kahuna contest at Creative Scrap Shack -- Fun, fun, fun!!

Mini Coaster Album

I had finished this little album up using Fancy Pants Key Lime collection -- just love that paper soooo much! I think I need more...lol Anywho, I made it for my niece as a little gift to give her after her recital. She loved it so much! It made me feel great knowing it's something she treasures.

My latest creations

Here's some of the stuff I've been working on for Back Porch Memories this past month. The paper in the kits was just scrummy!!

WOO HOO!!!

Yep, that's me screaming from the top of my lungs!!! I got the most awesome email yesterday, which by the way I almost deleted, saying that a layout I had submitted to Memory Makers magazine was accepted and will be published in their October 2007 issue. Oh my gosh!! That made my week! It's even helped to make me forget about the swollen glands and headache I have. Who cares that I might have a sinus/throat infection....I'm getting published!!!! LOL

We had sooooo...

much FUN!! I took the kids to Zehender's Water Park about an hour and a half away from here. I didn't think we were going to be able to go, so I had cancelled. I felt so badly when I saw my children's faces that I told them that we would drive up and back all in the same day. When Saturday came, I was just feeling too tired from a lack of sleep two nights in a row that I knew we were going to end up spending the night anyway. Well, I'm glad we did! I got a way better deal on the hotel than my original booking. I haven't had that much fun in I don't know how long. I just wish my honey could've been there with us. He had to stay home to work -- to pay for this one-day vacation....lol Here's some photos of our good time ------->

It's OFFICIAL!!!

I'm going back to Oklahoma to visit my "okie homegirls"...lol I just finished booking my flight to Tulsa for the annual CKC convention Aug. 23-25. I'm staying one extra day to hang out with the lovely Cheri and hopefully some others. We had such a good time the last time we were all together just laughing and laughing and yes more laughing! I am looking so forward to this trip!

My DNA

I found this cool thing on Tammy Kay's blog

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Family Fun!

We spent the weekend celebrating family events. On Saturday, it was my niece's dance recital. Her costumes were just adorable! I love going to these things. After the recital, we went to a local Mexican restaurant to celebrate Cinco de Mayo -- gotta love this "holiday". The margaritas were delicious...oh, and the enchiladas were, too *grin* My sister entered a raffle to help the local police department and the prize was a real sombrero. I just knew she would win!! Silly girl!


I gave my niece a little book that I made out of restaurant coasters for her recital present instead of flowers. It was a little book of her communion photos. She absolutely LOVED it! She melted my heart when she took the book and hugged it. Later on in the day, she told me it was her most favorite present ever! Sweet little girl! I'll show pics later, but for now I have to wait because it was part of my DT stuff.


Then on Sunday, we gathered at my brother's house to celebrate my favorite nephew's 1st birthday. I can't believe little Tyler is already ONE! Boy, I know I'm biased, but that child is just the cutest, sweetest, best behaved little boy. I'm glad I get a baby fix when I go to see him. Not that I want anymore, but I do love babies! Oh, and I'd love to share a photo, but guess what???? Yep, forgot my camera *bummed* I did take photos with my brother's camera -- about 200 of them....lol I love taking pictures! Hopefully, he will share some with me so I can post them and eventually scrap some.

Zoo

that's where we went the other day as a family. This is honestly the first time in ten years of being with Dave that he has gone to the zoo with me...lol I have taken the kids along with my sister and niece, but he has never come. He has attended the zoo at Halloween when they have the Boo Zoo, but that's it. So when he suggested going, I took him up on it. I actually bought a yearly pass so we can go many times throughout the summer. We only live about 15 minutes away and Collin just loves the animals! We had the best time and it was a beautiful day.

Actually...

I forgot to add something. My niece had her first communion last weekend. I can't believe it's been a week already!! She was just the cutest thing -- she looked like a mini bride. Here's some pictures of the event.

Oh boy!

It's been a while...lol Well, I won't bore any of you two readers with what's been going on in life because seriously there hasn't been much.

The kids are doing well and no one's been sick. I probably just jinxed myself. Dave is sick, but he can take care of himself...lol

I was on a scrapping role for a while, but I don't know what happened. Boy, did it feel good though. This week I've been working on a little card box for my sister's birthday which is Monday. I can't show it until a bit later, but promise I will be back to do so. Nothing else much accept for the fact I need to be scrapping for my DT -- Back Porch Memories
The paper and stamps this month -- OMGOSH!!! If you love Bo Bunny, A2Z and Fancy Pants, you'll be in heaven I tell ya!!!

Today I bought new photo printer and I hope I won't be sorry. I read good reviews and bad reviews, but I figured for the $55 I paid for it after the mail-in rebate, I couldn't beat the fact that I would be able to print photos at home larger than 4x6 or smaller for that fact. The next thing on my list to get is Adobe Photoshop. I must have this and want to learn all I can to enhance and add to my photos. I'm not going to even think about the digi world as of yet because that just seems too big a step...lol

I'm off to play with paper and promise to be back before the end of July (just kidding :)

Posting some layouts to my blog

The first here is one I just completed over the weekend. It's of my beautiful daughter Marisa when she was about 8 months old. I wish there had been a date on the original photo. Her grandma took it of her while babysitting. I just loved it and knew they would be good in black and white. I am becoming a true believer in the fact that you don't have to scrap paper that you just bought. Hoarding is good! I had no idea what to do with this SEI paper when I purchased it a year ago, and finally the other night the inspiration hit me!


Here's my layouts for Back Porch Memories February kit which features lots of WRMK and Piggy Tales and Mustard Moon.






Then I got lucky and got my name drawn for the GD spot at Creative Hearts Studio
Here's the layouts I created with their kit. I had lots of fun with the 3Bugs Smitten.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers and 2 cards. I got hubby a great smelling cologne, box of Hershey cherry cordial kisses and made a card. When I say "made a card" I mean folded a piece of copy paper in fourths and wrote Happy Valentine's Day...how sad!!! I'm a scrapper and I didn't even take the time to make him or the kids cards. Well, there's always next year.

Blog Challenge from BPM

Hmmmm....it's going to be hard to narrow it down to only 5 foods I love...lol
5 Foods I Love
1. Chicken Enchiladas
2. Chicken & Broccoli Fettucini Alfredo
3. Hot fresh bread
4. Soup
5. Spinach pie

Gosh, I'm really really hungry now!

5 Foods I Hate
1. Olives
2. Turnip greens
3. Lamb
4. Salmon
5. Crab

I've been a busy bee!

Scrapping that is! Five layouts within less than a week's time. I have been having so much fun with the Creative Heart Studio's February kit -- can't show those yet, but I will soon.

Here's a few I did. I remember buying this Scenic Route paper last year -- I never wanted to cut into it, but alas with the CHA around the corner it was time...lol I just loved this picture of my niece -- she's just the sweetest!



And I did this one for my dear friend Cheri's challenge at J4K. She heads up the word association challenge. Obviously the word for this challenge was "Christmas". I also used a sketch by the amazingly talented Erica

What a great day!!

I got to sleep in because of my great hubby, so that just starts the day off especially right...lol Then I got an email from Traci at Creative Hearts Studio to remind me to go check on their blog. I had signed up for February's guest designer spot drawing and I GOT IT!!! How lucky am I that my name got drawn...did I say how excited I was :^) It will be so fun to play with February's kit which will be featuring 3 Bugs Smitten and lots of cool embellies. Go check it out!

Cards

I just love making cards. I wish I had more people to send them to. I would make them all the time. Maybe I should sell them...lol

I used up my BPM scraps of the MM Kraft and MME Magnolia. I hope these cards made it to their destination by yesterday.

Back Porch Memories DT layouts & stuff

I posted my layouts today at BPM, so I figured I'd put them here, too. Working with these kits, both the Medley & the Solo, for the month was awesome!!! There were so many cool papers and embellies. Gosh, honestly, if I wasn't on the design team this would definitely be a kit club I would subscribe to ;^)
This is Travis 11 years ago!!!

This is my hubby, Dave, who makes theee best mashed potatoes, so I've gone and dubbed him the MASTER...lol

Here is a journal I made to help me get geared up to start getting fit. I've done a lot better this week, but I thought with a journal to track my food intake and exercise I'd be more accountable. Kind of like a Weight Watcher's journal without the going to WW...lol

Yesterday

we celebrated Travis' 13th birthday being that he won't be here with us on his actual birthday which is tomorrow. Boy, where has the time gone. I met this little boy when he was just turning three and now he's going to be a teenager! I don't think he's the type of kid who will ever give any of us a hard time, but then again those hormones are going to start raging....lol

I made him a cake and let me tell you that was the best darn cake I've ever made if I say so myself. I used a box cake but kicked it up a notch and then made my own chocolate frosting....mmmmmm it was so delicioso! I had to send most of it away because I could do some damage to myself with that thing...lol






Travis is a boy that loves to shop -- getting all trendy now and has to wear the latest and greatest. He really wanted a brown vest that was all sold out at Gap, so I overheard him and ran out to get one at the last minute, of course, at Old Navy. He was so geeked! I was even more geeked because Old Navy had an awesome sale going on :^)

Finished up

two more layouts. One is actually Erica's last challenge at J4K. I had to do it to honor her. She's an incredible scrapper who is so inspiring. I'll miss seeing her challenges, but she promises to gie us some on her blog every now and again...right Erica ;^)


This bowling one is actually a layout that I planned on scrapping in August at my J4K retreat and never got around to it until now. Better late than never, huh...lol

Now I must get to scrapping my Back Porch Memories DT kit!!!

Happy New Year!!

You know I seriously can't believe it's been 7 years since the whole Y2K scare! Our parents weren't kidding when they said the older you get the faster time flies.

We celebrated here with my brother, Bobby; his wife, Rose and my niece Makayla. It was fun! We had so many appetizer/snacky foods and they all were delicious. I could go for some more boneless Buffalo wings that's if my tummy wasn't so upset. I had too many cocktails. I think this is the first time I drank on New Year's in I don't know how long. I just can't handle it like I used to and I dread feeling like this the next day. All I can manage to eat right about now is chicken noodle soup...mmmm I'll feel better soon hopefully.

We played a game that I love called Catch Phrase. We got womped the first game and I don't remember what happened on the next game. The guys got crabby because they said we were being too technical. Um, yeah, well you have to say the phrase exact or you don't get the point!!! Does Pat Sajack say to his contestants, sure that's close enough...lol

When I get my head to stop aching I'll upload some of the fun pictures from last night. Right now I think I'll just go crawl back into bed!

Another one...

done!! Once again I dug deep into my pile of stash and came up with a mix of papers from both AAM and SEI. I'm liking how these papers went pretty well together. I've got to keep doing this and maybe in about 6 months or so, if I don't buy another sheet of paper(yeah, right!!) I can dwindle this pile down to a reasonable size and feel less guilty. That's what I'm trying hard to do for the new year -- buy less and use more!! You're going to do the same, right Cheri????? LOL

This is a layout of my two nieces who showed up to Collin's birthday partying wearing the exact same outfit and it wasn't planned. Had they been a little older this might have been a fashion disaster as they are both very aware of their clothing style...their mother's are training them right! ha ha ha :^)

Finally scrapped!

It feels like it's been forever even though I think it's only been about 10 days. I feel like when I go that long I don't know where to start when I begin a layout. Well, this time I used that big old book of mine for inspiration and came up with this layout. It's one of my husband that I had pulled the picture and papers for a long time ago and they were just sitting on my scrap counter. I'm so happy to have finally used that KI paper that I bought ions ago. Who says you never go back to that old paper...lol

The title is the nickname that they gave Dave at work. It's actually from a song by Notorious B.I.G for all you rap fans...lol The lyrics go -- I love it when they call me big papa... I can hear the song now. It's a good one. Maybe I can squeeze in another one tomorrow to help me get back into the scrappy mode before my Back Porch Memories January design team kit arrives. It's going to be a good one!!