a quick post

not much today - but I need to post this as a pat on my own back.

I have *OFFICIALLY* lost another 9 pounds which puts me at 30 total - it's been a long, tough year but I never gave up. 10 more to go - 20 if I really focus!!!!



I have some new photos of the kids to share - as soon as I get them off the camera...


have a great weekend friends!!!

check this out!

Lollipop Crafts

A new blog for scrappy challenges! and guess what? they're having a design team call! tell your friends - also, become a follower and tell them I sent ya!

(and how CUTE is that name??? love it!)

hello sunshine

hello sunshine, originally uploaded by Created by Corey.

Here is a quick little card I made today. I think it's pretty darn adorable!!! I am loving my new Papertrey Ink stamps and dies. They all can be used so many ways!

This is Fillable Frames 5 with sentiment. I cut the paper, then stamped the frame outline followed by the sentiment. The bee is a digital image from Holly Jones and that cute little thing is attached with a pop dot! The papers are Cosmo Cricket Delovely and the vibrance of their colors just make me SMILE!!!

I'm thinking of doing more similar to this but maybe with a white frame. Would make a great gift set don't you think?

I {love} Unity!

If you aren't familiar with Unity now is the time! They are an awesome company - so generous and always thinking of their fans and customers. oh, and their STAMPS? wow!!!!!!!!!!

check this out... Unity on Facebook - read that blog post then fan them and refer!

much better now!

The day after the 4th I came down with a cold. How someone gets a cold in July is beyond me, but I did it. To make things worse I had to sleep elevated so I could breathe and ended up getting a terrible strain in my neck that lasted 4 days! I still have just a bit of a kink along with a cough, but other than that I'm so much better now. thank, God!

on a happier note - I have broke the plateau! I finally lost an extra pound so not only did I lose the 5 pounds I gained at Christmas, I lost an extra! I wish I could say I did it while still eating breads and grains and carbs. but I can't. Carbs are bad - I know that now. and by not eating them I have lost more weight. So I'll keep going with it and see what happens. BUT - when family comes to visit and they want to go to Zio's for dinner - I'm totally going for it! I figure if I can do good and get the weight off a treat every now and then won't KILL me! might make me gain a few pounds, but now I know how to get them off! Now to lose those last 20 that I've been working towards!

I also, just today, finished the last of my design team projects for the Aug/Sep issue of Ready, Set, Create!!!! I need to get photos taken and send them off to Jen - but I'm done and that is a great feeling!!!!

Hope ya'll had a great weekend - I hope to be back with some new photos later in the week!

the 4th of july in photos

well getting these pictures in order takes too long for my patience today, so you'll just have to go with it. :)

This is Colette and Hailee - C is actually almost 2 years younger than Hailee but she's taller and they both act the same age - 20. LOL these 2 don't see each other very often but when they do it's like long lost sisters! they have so much fun together!

ugh. then there's these 2. The future Mr & Mrs Braden. Bonded by their love of Starbucks LOL. This is "Little" Haile and my son ADORES her! She's a few months older so he continues with his love for older girls :)

Not sure about this one - I think the camera light got him - it's still cute!

Hailee took this one - not bad. We hung out by the garage, in the shade, while Darren had the turkey fryer going. Wind was really bad so we couldn't leave it unattended.


and the finished turkey - no doubt it's done if it breaks in half getting it out of the basket!

another of Hailee's work - a bit grainy but still a decent picture.

as you can see Braden is not as good with the camera - we're just saying he was focusing on Hailee's shirt and necklaces because they were so festive!!!

after a fall.....

me & my kiddos - I love how cute they are - makes me feel good LOL too bad they get most of their looks from their daddy :)

relighting the fire - that darn wind.

okay - so my mom calls and we're talking about the day. She YELLS at me to make sure my kids stay AWAY from fireworks and to make sure that I, their mother, keep an eye on them and not let them get hurt or burned. So I took this. punk in hand lighting the fuse. how's that for keeping an eye on them???? sheesh mom!!!!

this was the first picture I took - before the dirt. the grime. the sweat. food stains. all that. I think the dirty, real pictures are actually better!!!


The Morning After. aaaah! Can you tell we blew up a lot of stuff??? Some of it is IN that trash can, too, I think (it's the neighbors can so I'm really not sure). There is one heck of a mess out there and I'm so glad it's not MY job to clean it up LOL


so there you have it - an Oklahoma celebration! There was TONS of food, lots of people, and of course the fireworks. We had a great time and I'm still full! My kids enjoyed their day and were exhausted because Braden slept until 9:30 and Hailee til 10:30!!! Darren is now at work and I'm doing laundry and housework.

hope ya'll had fun and were safe!

Happy 4th of July!!!

today we're celebrating our FREEDOM! I just hope this country can keep it's freedom - some days I wonder where this world is heading as it seems some of our freedoms are being threatened. But I have faith in this wonderful country and know we won't give up what we've worked so hard for!

okay - now for the fun stuff....

are you a stamper? do you have knowledge of this fabulous little company called Papertrey Ink??? Well I recently was able to get some of their stamps and I have to say - I. am. in. LOVE!!!! wow - the quality, the style, the images. all perfect! I really love so many of their products and can't wait to get my hands on more. Why am I bringing this up? well because I need my cards in my etsy shop to start selling so I can buy this sweet little set: Night, Night, Moon

I don't even have babies anymore but the things I could do with this set just make me smile! I love the moon/star border. I love that little duckie. Isn't this the CUTEST!?!

oh - and how about this? Friendship Jar & Fillers!! I am so into my old jars right now that these sets are just SCREAMING to come home with me! and what's better is that there are coordinating dies to cut out the labels, toppers, and the jar! how cool is THAT? wow.




and no, I'm not a spokesperson for Papertrey Ink, I'm just a new devoted fan! and these are the things I'm loving right now! So if you haven't checked them out you should. No regrets!

pictures from today will come later - have a great and safe holiday everyone!!!!

photo sharing.

wow, I have a few photos to share - so much has been going on it seems! My brother and his wife had a baby (congrats again you two!), Hailee finished soccer camp, the kids have just been busy. Now we're getting ready for tomorrow's annual bbq/potluck/explosive show!!!


let's get started. I'll only share the good ones :)



Hailee working hard at soccer camp :) Actually, she did really well especially since the week she went we had "excessive heat warnings" all week. luckily her day started at 8:30 and only lasted 3 hours.
the kids at the sprinkler park. at first they thought the water was cold, but they got used to it pretty quick!

I went to my first "estate" sale. I thought it would be weird rummaging through someone's house while they were home, but they had a company handling it so no family was there. It was like shopping! I found this jar and was in love!!! Now if only they would've had more....

after picking Hailee up at soccer camp one day we ran some errands and ended up at LaFortune Park. They had fun playing on ALL the toys there! Pouty lips came out as soon as we told them it was time to go (mom & dad were HOT!).




Me & Bub taking care of more errands after dropping Hailee off at camp.


This is Peter. How can I adore a little boy I've never had the chance to meet? I just want to hold and cuddle and rock this precious little guy. Being an aunt from so far away really stinks.




The fathers' day card I made for Darren. The kids helped with this one. Braden picked the helicopter and they both chose colors. Hailee said this sentiment would work even though "helicopters don't ever make it to the moon". LOL



I have lots more cards and layouts that I've created but can't share until Aug 1st!!! I've been really busy creating - some things MIGHT just show up in my etsy shop soon if you're really curious about what I've doing!

that's all for now - hope ya'll are enjoying your summer vacation. We have only 5 1/2 weeks left of ours and then both kids will be in school! ack!