Ready, Set, Create!!!

The August/September issue of Ready, Set, Create is available now! If you're not a subscriber and you want to purchase this issue, you can do so by clicking ->here<-


Here are some of my projects featured in this issue:

go check out Mistletoe!

http://blog.makingmemories.com/


this is one of my favorite new releases - isn't it scrumptious????

I didn't think this day would ever come.

but it did. after a lot of hard work...and a few set backs....it's here.


I have lost 20 pounds!!!!


wow, that is so cool to say! and I have to say I am SO proud of myself, too.

I slowed myself down when my mom was here by not working out (okay, I did twice in 2 weeks, lol) but I still was very careful at what I ate and made sure to keep measuring and weighing.

then this last week has been pretty stressful around here. Stress for me means comfort food. Avoiding comfort food this time has added MORE stress and now my forehead looks like a connect the dot from all the darn zits that have moved in. but hey, I think I'd rather have those for a few days then an extra 10 pounds from eating 3 mini loaves of zucchini bread (I've made over a dozen with the zucchini from our garden for Darren and the kids).

so I've proven I can handle tough situations - and for that I'm proud too.


thank you for following me in my journey - and thank you all who have been so supportive and encouraging - I love you all!

now for the last 30 pounds......

thankful 4U

this card appeared on the UYS blog yesterday - I made it for my mom right after she flew back home.

{Making Memories Paper, Clip and Tiny Alphas; Label Tulip Coffee stain stamp; Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms Sentiment (Let's Get Stuffed Collection); Kaiser Pearls; Papier Valise Pins; brown satin ribbon}

Scrappy Jo crop projects

last night was another fun crop over at Scrappy Jo's. I created these 2 projects for a couple of the challenges!

using a manila file folder! can you believe it? I think this is such a fun idea and can see so many different ways to make this work for anyone and any theme!



ETA: file folder tutorial can be found BY CLICKING HERE!!!

this is a layout I did - don't you just want to be there? I do!

okay, so it's hard to see the picture in the layout - how's this? Broken Bow, OK - the view from where we camp taken early in the morning....

we're ready to go back :)

Photos from the last 2 weeks.

in random order - here are photos....

*Braden acquired a new weedy-weedeater. He loves the noisy thing.



*Gramma bought the kids a pool.....they love it!


*We went on the titanic. 3 of us survived.


*Gramma enjoyed all the hugs and kisses my kids could give - and they give a LOT!



*Kiddos learned how to "xbox". I'm so thrilled. lol





*my mom and I got our noses pierced. no, it didn't hurt. Yes, I like it. (hard to see - the diamond is small - will work on a better photo)




*We got an Ollie. Mom was going to give Hailee one of her dog's puppies but Tizzy won't get pregnant - so she bought Hailee a pug instead! yay! I love this ankle biter!


*swim lessons! the kids did great, even if Hailee wouldn't float (which means she didn't "pass" her class) Braden is going to be a great swimmer - he learned a lot during the 2 weeks!







we also did a lot of shopping and just hanging out - it was fun and we all were sad when mom left. But I'm sure Joe is happy to have her back!

so sad....

took my mom to the airport today :( the kids and I are bummed - but all good things must come to an end they say.

I'm going to go do some housework and other things around here that I've neglected - I'll be back with photos showing what we've done the last 2 weeks!

I interrupt my break to bring you good news...

This is Oliver. Ollie.

He is 6 weeks old. Cutest pug baby EVER! My mom bought him for Hailee but he's definitely the family pup. Braden adores him and tries to make him dance. Hailee cuddles and smothers him and we hope he lives til the end of the week. The poor thing follows me and I just know I'll step on him. Darren is already trying to rough house with him! lol




Then there's Sammy. Poor Sammy's world turned upside down yesterday! lol Actually, he thinks Ollie is a new kind of squeaky toy - LOL. Sammy is getting used to the pup but we're not getting used to all the drool - not sure why, but when Sammy is around other dogs he turns on the drool faucet and it's just gross. ew. hopefully that'll ease up.....soon.




More pictures to come - off to swim lessons.

time-out

I'm going on break :)


my mom is here until the 21st so I will most likely not be posting much.


be back later with a photo-overload!! (I hear the excitement in your sighs......lol)

clips.

today's challenge at UYS is to use clips of some sort. I used different colored paper clips on this card.

I made it for my brother, Neil, who received an AWESOME report card - COLLEGE report card! can you say just a tad under 4.0????

congrats again, baby brother!

{Sassafras & Scenic Route paper, Stampin' up punch, All Night Media stamps, paper clips}

Happy 4th of July fellow Americans!!

I made this card for the Guest Creative Team challenge at Scrappy Jo's and thought it would be nice to post it here and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!!!!

{GCD Studios Rockets Red Glare, CTMH I am Brave stamps, My Little Shoebox stickers, Heidi Swapp acrylic heart, Tim's Tiny Attacher, Sakura Stardust pen}

My journey - updated

If you remember I wrote about my weight loss journey HERE.

Today I’m going to give you an update on how I’m doing.

First – this is a picture of me in January, about 2 months before I started my “journey” (diet is a bad word so I try not to use it anymore).This is at Hailee’s birthday party – lovely, huh?



This is me today – yes, it’s a terrible picture but what can I do when I’m taking it myself with a crappy point & shoot? LOL Most of my weight has come from the stomach and waist area and my face. I’m hoping the thighs and butt and hips start saying good bye to the fat they’re hanging on to ever so tightly.



I have lost a total of 15 pounds. GO ME! :) This is the most I’ve ever lost at my own efforts – meaning no “miracle” pills. I did take Alli but when that bottle ran out I decided not to buy more...it didn't do what I thought it would so it was a waste of money.

March 23 – I started my new plan and it included Alli along with 3 workouts a week – if I was lucky.

May 11 – lost 8 pounds. Had given up sugar in coffee for splenda, switched to fat-free creamer, gave up butter, gave up diet coke (only have it if we go out), watched what I ate but not how much.

June 8 – made a BIGGER change. I was frustrated that I couldn’t get passed the 8 pound weight loss. I was so mad that I hit a “plateau” so early – didn’t see how I would ever lose all this weight. After a LOT of crying, stressing, talking to all my supporters (mom, Kimmie, Darren) I decided a big change had to be made. I considered a liquid diet but knew I wouldn’t be happy there :) So I flipped through the books that came with the Alli pills. That is when I decided to put myself on a 1200 calorie per day limit. And I knew I had to be strict with it.

I have invested in a digital food scale and weigh all my foods that are portioned by ounces and grams. I measure everything that is portioned by cups or less. I write down EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth - including coffee. I don’t drink sweet tea from QuikTrip because the sugar has calories – so I gave that up and will allow myself a diet coke instead because then I don’t have to write it down. I only drink a latte (from home) if I’ve been good enough on my meals and snacks to allow one. If I want a Starbucks then I know I'll have to give up something at dinner to make up for it. After looking back over the last 3 weeks I'm actually doing great and averaging 1100 calories each day.

I now do my workout videos 5 days each week – I am on Darren’s schedule (Tuesday – Saturday) so that when he’s home I don’t have to worry about getting my work out in and can just have fun with the family.

I don’t buy things – even for the family – if I know it’s going to be too hard to pass up for me. Darren really would love for me to bake him some cookies but is smart enough not to ask right now :)

So this change is for good – I realize I will never go back to the way it was but I also realize, after time, that I won’t want to and it’ll be easier to maintain.

I’m proud of the changes I’m making because they’re good for my family as well. Hailee gets so excited when I tell her I’ve lost another pound and that is worth all the work! AND she asks if something is healthy before eating it! Lol no, she won’t give up the candy or dessert after dinner, but she is more cautious and that is a start.

So there you have it – my journey updated. Some people think it’s a lot of work, and it is, but for me it’s just part of my everyday routine.

a wee little friend.

so my husband is in the shower. and I hear "oh honey, can you come look at this?".

here is what he shows me.



he came out from behind the shampoo and before we could get him out he was trying to go back - he liked it there.

I will now go sanitize.

Marks Paper Co. Blog Challenge June 17-27

"Using no less than 75% of Marks Paper Company’s products, use the word gift"

The Marks Blog


I decided to take this challenge! I used my new papers from my "Queen of the Crop" prize from Scrappy Jo's and made this card.




the close up - trying to show that the sentiment is attached with pop dots, lol. tad blurry huh?


{Marks Paper Company Papers (Old Fashioned Courtship Collection); Paper Reflections Kraft Cardstock; Caramelo's Vintage Binding (etsy shop); Maya Road pins; Studio G Alpha Stamps; Spellbinders Scallop Square Dies}

Use Your Stash

June 15th - the challenge was to use paint. I used brown paint for the horse and greeting. The stamps are from the Happy Trails set by Kim Hughes - you can find them at www.cornishheritagefarms.com



June 22 - the challenge this week (you have until Saturday) is to use 3 different patterned papers by 3 different manufacturers. I used Basic Grey (stripe), Sassafras (hearts), and the other is American Crafts.

the boring life-and-times

well my mom says that Jan's birthday card is pretty but she's tired of looking at it. so I'm being forced into a blog post when I'm not sure what to say!

I'll see what I can do.

*I'm getting over a very bad sunburn from the pool - forehead and shoulders are now peeling. joy.

*I'm doing great with my weight loss now that I figured out how to get passed the 8 lb freeze I had. I'll share more on that soon.

*I'd love a candy bar but the above statement would be out the window if I had one.

*Mexican food and french fries, too. :)

*my mom will be here in 13 days! the kids will drive me nuts until then!

*Oklahoma is in an excessive heat warning - it's 102 right now as I type this.

*swim lessons start on the 6th. I don't see Hailee passing this year either. she's too afraid.

*Braden...oh my Braden. that child scares me. he has KILLED one of his front teeth (at the young age of 3) and I pretty much think there's more to come from the natural born clutz

*Darren isn't happy with the weather either. especially when he has a lot of customers asking for extra stuff this year that they normally don't ask for.

*suppose those said customers don't like the excessive heat warning we're in.

*why is it a warning? it's here. nothing more to be warned about.

*our hot tub is {mostly} fixed and I'm so happy! we keep it at about 93 in the summer and just soak in nice comfy water while everything outside dies from the heat.

*I've been SUPER busy with stuff for the Aug/Sept issue of Ready, Set, Create and the Use Your Stash blog! can't share though. hehehehe

okay - 2 pictures is all I have - not many photo ops when we're staying indoors.

Hailee and her sunkissed cheeks - spf 50 couldn't keep the red off of her.



and Braden's dead tooth. see the lovely shade of grayish/brown (it's actually darker now)

Jan! oh Jan!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy Birthday DEAR JAAA-AAAN!

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!! ♪ ♪ ♫

big WAHOO! for Kimmie!

everybody give a big shout out to Kimmie! She had her first card picked up for publication!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be appearing in the November issue of Scrapbook Trends so make sure you buy your copy when it hits the shelves!!!



Congrats Kim - I'm so proud of you!

#19

Well "pebblesjns" never got in touch with me so a new winner is being posted. I had Hailee pick a number and that is our winner.

so post #19 - congratulations! you are my new winner!

Kelly said...

i hoard bling! I love my stickles and self adhesive rhinestones!

6/01/2009 12:26 PM

PLEASE email me (link on right) by Friday with an address so I can mark you down as my winner!!!!

busy busy me!

I've been a "mad scrappin woman"! LOL

first - this card I made a few weeks ago but couldn't share it. It was made as an example for the fabric challenge on the UYS BLOG that was posted yesterday. The bird was cut out of fabric using my Big Shot and a Nestabilities die.

The rest of these layouts were made for challenges over at SCRAPPY JO'S.

this was for a layout about MY favorite outdoor past-time.

this was for a layout about what roughing it camping is like -

here's the layout based off of the week #1 sketch

and finally a "recipe" challenge - 3 pictures, 1 photo corner, 2 patterned papers, 1 cardstock & 1 "outdoor" embellishment (the frog).

there's one more layout that I did but I'm not sharing because it's ugly. LOL

here are some more pictures from a few days ago...





I think that's it. I darn hot here and I hate it. I'm ready for FALL!!!!

and the winner is.....

PEBBLESJNS!!!!!


Congrats - please send your mailing address to useyourstash@gmail.com with the subject "Corey's Blog Winner" and I will get this ready for mailing at the end of the month!


thank you all for your posts - looks like we all have issues hoarding our stash! and THAT is why you need to participate in our challenges from now on! :)

look for the first challenge on Monday the 8th over at UYS!!!!

even more fun!

there is another fun post over at UYS! go check it out!

come back here tomorrow to see my randomly chosen winner of a mini album and some shiny chipboard letters!!!

Welcome Welcome!

If you're here then you are at the end of the Use Your Stash blog hop! (if that's not how you got here then you need to go to www.useyourstash.blogspot.com and read the info!)

Make sure you leave a comment on this post telling me what supply you are hoarding in your stash and I will randomly pick a winner for a fun little prize from ME! maybe if ya'll beg I'll share a picture of what you can win!

so - if you have commented on everyone's blogs go back to UYS and leave a comment there telling us that you've completed the hop - that will get you into the drawing for the Core'dinations prize pack!

and don't forget to wish UYS a happy 1st anniversary - thank you all for a great year and let's hope the 2nd one is just as fun and exciting!


**prize will be mailed at the end of the month**