on my mind.....

*I love Braden's new phrases "I have NO idea" and "OH. MY. GAW." - I laugh every time he says them!

*fresh cilantro makes me happy.

*my husband is the greatest. I still get goose-bumps when he comes home from work.

*my workouts are actually fun and I'm glad I'm enjoying them - helps me do it every day.

*sucks to think I may lose my nose ring. I like it.

*Hailee is an artist and I'm in awe of her creations and creativity.

*alarm clocks suck.

*yay for days off!

*I like running errands. It makes me happy.

*coffee. coffee. boy do I love coffee.

*Christmas will be small this year. hate cutting back but this will give us more time to focus on traditions and the true meaning of the holiday with the kids.

*Alan Jackson

*cocky people bother me.

*coffee.

*quiet evenings watching a movie with my man are the best way to end an evening.

...journey...

how fitting that one of the challenges over at Scrappy Jo's this month was to use the word "JOURNEY" in the title of a layout. As soon as I saw that I knew exactly what I wanted to do. After lots of thought here's what I came up with....

The "before" picture is on Hailee's first day of Kindergarten (yes, 2 years ago, but it's the only one that showed a lot of me!). The other is the picture I took of myself at the 15 pound mark. I haven't taken any lately...guess I should but I don't feel any different so I'm waiting for 30 :) The title is "the start of my weight loss journey". I made sure to use the word start since this is just the beginning for me!

I only glued the sides and bottom of the pattern paper down to the cardstock, leaving the top open for a pocket. Inside the pockets are the 2 blog posts I made about my journey and what I was doing to continue on. I really think it will be great to look back on this as I'm older to see exactly what I did to lose my weight. I also plan on doing another layout when I reach another big goal - either 30lbs or 50...we'll see!

Jackpot!

I received an email from my step-mom last week asking me if I was interested in her "vintage" lace and rick rack and buttons from her sewing stash. WHAT!?! Are you KIDDING??? OF COURSE! some of it was in her mom's stash so maybe it's "antique" ??? LOL

while I was waiting for the yummy goods I decided to make a card and use some of the lace I already had - have to make room for the new stuff, right? so here is the card. I used pink lace under the white (doesn't show much) then a scrap of MME Penny Lane paper all tied together with some sheer white ribbon - I love this sheer ribbon - I find it at Walmart and I have it in about 5 colors! then I had to use this cute mixing bowl stamp and color it in with pencils....I decided to make it a welcome home card - and I have no one to send it to! lol SO - I think I'll add it to the cards I'm sending my step-mom, Signe, as a thank you!


The box came the other day! that's why this post is titled jackpot! wow did I ever make out! she sent a TON of lace, rick rack, ribbon, buttons, and a whole bunch of Christmas crafty stuff that just makes me happy!!!!! Is it too early to start on Christmas crafts? nah, it's NEVER too early! ☺

just for fun!

I made a layout and a card - because I wanted to! no challenges. no deadlines.

the layout I did because the pictures had to get put on paper! Look how cute he is all sleepy at dinner....we were hoping for his face in the plate but it never happened. This layout had no thinking involved...I just found somewhat matching colors and went with it. lol. can you tell? I wish I would've sanded the photos for dimension but oh well.

{basic grey papers, bookplates from dollar store, black letters are American Crafts, tiny letters are making memories, star is heidi swapp, flowers from Kimmie}

the card is for a dear friends birthday - so I guess that has a deadline - but it was still fun to do! I used some of the yummy Webster's Pages paper!! Love that company more and more!

{white cardstock embossed and inked, star and label cut from a sheet of Webster's pages paper, ribbon is offray, misc. buttons}

I am mom to a 2nd grader!!!

I don't know how that happened! How I became old enough and she became old enough I just don't know LOL

She's excited to begin the new year and is so happy that there are at least 3 friends in her class! Luckily, not the boy she's friends with :) so that means less trouble! hee hee



I love this picture! I asked her what her teacher's name was and she couldn't remember. I reminded her it was the same as her uncle and now she won't forget "Mrs. Neill".


this is the picture we get every year before heading off to school!

at her desk and eager to start her day!

UYS & Scrappy Jo's

Here are my latest creations.... The card set was made for the "colored pencil" challenge at UYS yesterday and the layout was for a challenge at Jo's to use blue, green, and yellow - and yes, that is a WHITE background - don't worry - it may never happen again! I really prefer my Kraft backgrounds for layouts!!! lol

{cardstock: wausau from Office Depot; patterned paper: Lily Bee; Ribbons from stash; stamp sets: Hero Arts; pins: walmart & papier valise; colored pencils: ek success; embossing folders: cuttlebug}

{cardstock: wausau from Office Depot; patterned paper: Crate Paper; vinyl letters and scroll: American Crafts; small white alphas: making memories: lace from stash; flower: Prima; brad: making memories}

{{Mom - this is the layout that was on my desk when you talked to Braden on the phone - he was telling you that mommy had a thing of Ollie - remember?}}

he caved!

Sammy let his guard down for a few minutes and allowed Ollie in his bed. I say a few minutes and I mean it - we're talking 3 or 4 minutes max....but it's a start!





in other Ollie news - we're still battling potty training, mostly at night - according to the vet he eats too much grass which has a laxative effect on him after midnight. joy for me who gets up to take him when he whines....every 90 minutes! It's been almost 2 weeks of this so I'll be calling for some type of medication because I tell you - I need sleep! :) But honestly - I don't think that's it so I want it to stop - even if for a day or two!

Ollie and Hailee are best friends - he adores her and she pampers him which is just fine. He really wants to be with her at night, but she doesn't wake up for ANYTHING so that's a no-go until the potty training is over.....not looking good as of now.

Darren loves the little mutt but has now threatened to give him away! It won't happen - but the little guy better get a hold of himself or he could end up sleeping in the garage!


other news - I was featured on the Scrappy Jo's BLOG today - the "member spotlight" - sort of fun - I'm not big on being the center of attention but I loved the honor - especially since I'm still sort of new there! but the girls there are SO nice and friendly and I'm just happy that Kimmie led me there!

Hailee starts school in one week! 2nd grade!!! ugh! Monday we go in and meet the teacher, find the class, and get every thing in order. Love that they're doing it 2 days prior to school starting because if there's anything the teacher needs that we don't have we have time to get! They've been doing it the night before and that means what they want is late or I have to make a special trip on my way home and that stinks. lol

We're going to be doing a rebuild on Darren's truck - it's cheaper than a new one - though that's what we'd rather have but aren't ready quite yet to take that on - so a new engine, paint job, and other little things will be getting taken care of and will probably be good as new! We see so many older trucks around here that I don't see why we can't have one, too! Part of living in the country right???

other than that not much - Braden and I will be doing "homeschool" when Hailee goes - he's ready so I plan on working with him every day on something - abc's to start! Should be fun and of course I'm looking forward to our alone time again ♥

and if you'd like to see pictures of my new baby niece, click the Mo-Jow link on the left there! she's ADORABLE!!!!!!

new challenge info

first off - there are new challenges showing up at Scrappy Jo's already! One is the color challenge...this month's color combo is orange and blue - yay! I went straight to work on that and made this layout:

{Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper & Buttons: Basic Grey; Alphas: American Crafts Thickers; stapler; sharpie pen}

their theme this month is TRAVEL. All of their challenges and crops for August will be somehow related to travel. The Guest Creative Team spot challenge is to use a travel sign or symbol on a layout, card, or altered item - I plan on using my October Afternoon Road Map papers for that one!

the first crop is scheduled for August 8th - so if you haven't joined yet go do it - and tell them CoreyW sent you :)


next stop.....another challenge will be posted at Use Your Stash tomorrow - Kimmie and I decided to shake up the challenges a bit this month and see what everyone thinks - we think they're fun but one of our DT girls (I won't mention any names...okay Jan? lol) has mentioned that they're a little harder than before...hehehe let's hope she's up for the challenge!

FREEZE!

It is August 1, 2009 and I am now on a FREEZE. Than means spending no more money on scrapbook supplies (cardstock and adhesive are excluded). I have more supplies than I know what to do with so it's time to start using them. It's not like I've been spending money lately anyway, but now I'm making it official. And with the purchase of a few sheets of cardstock I have enough holiday papers to make my own Christmas cards plus a bunch to sell - so all is good!

Along with this freeze I'm hoping to make cards and tags to sell in my ETSY shop. I enjoy the creating process but can't always find a use for the things I make, so I'm hoping someone else can. I have purchased enough things off Etsy in the past that it's time for me to make money instead of spending it! lol That's always how it goes, though, isn't it? Spending more than you make? hehe

so there you have it. I have put it in "writing" my pledge to "make more, spend less". Check back with me in a few months and see how it's going. All the new CHA releases will be hard to pass up :) but I'm sure I can do it - it's a scrappy diet!

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}