A Scrappy Weekend!

What a weekend!!  Yes, I scrapbooked!!  Just in my own scrap space, but it has just been awhile since I have had the time.  It was soooooo nice...getting caught up on DVR-ed shows, a cappuccino and a smile from the hubby, quiet time...it was heavenly!  Here is a look at what I created...

@ Moody Gardens

This layout was created using a mixture of vintage Studio Calico...that's what you call it when it is sooooo old, but still lovely!

Times Like This

This is one of my most favorite pics!  My little fella...soggy diaper and all...is lounging in lap while we watch the waves roll in.  Precious!  This layout was created using Basic Grey.

Once Upon a Time

This layout was created for the Jillibean Soup monthly sketch challenge.  The sketch was actually covered with circles, but I decided to use squares instead. 

Together

This baby was created for the Studio Calico Weekly Sketch Challenge.  Love all of the pictures in this sketch...I may have to revisit this one a few times!

See, I told you I still scrapbook!!  Thanks for visiting and see ya soon!!

Project Life for the Busy Mom!

Hiya! I know, 2 posts in a week!!  It's a New Year's Resolution...what can I say.  As you probably know Project Life is EVERYWHERE!  There are so many new colors, layouts, and ways to embellish that the possibilities are just endless.  And the layouts designers are creating are just amazing!  Well as much as I LOVE the idea, it is just simply not for me.  I created a modified Project 12 album using the Project Life pocket pages  in 2012 and (I am proud to say) finished every month of it!  And as much as I love the ending result, it was a burden.  So for 2013 I was on a mission to find a new way to document my days, but without the hassle!  I immediately went to my I-PHONE and found the Photo365 App.  Basically it keeps your photos on this handy dandy calendar and keeps them organized!!  Here is a look at my January calendar so far...

What about it? Isn't that just the cutest?  One of the great features that I like about this sort of app is that you can actually save more than one photo per day.  The first photo you upload shows up on the calendar and the others are in a folder under that particular day. 

So, are you doing anything new this year to document or organize your photos?  I would love to know!

Goodbye 2012! Hello 2013!

Happy New Year!!

Hello!!  Yes, it has been awhile...pretty close to being a year in fact.  Where to begin?  Two thousand and twelve proved to be a year of many changes for me and my family.  This hiatus from blogging, scrapbooking, and design teams allowed me the time to reflect on what is important to ME!  And let me tell you...I LEARNED LOTS!  Here are a few of things that I have learned along the way...

Seems easy, right? With regard to scrapbooking, I kinda did not love it...at all...I loathed it.  It had become a job, instead of a hobby and I already have a job! I was stretched so thin with my family, my job, and the many design teams I had obligated myself to.  There is no doubt in my mind that I LOVE to scrapbook, but I learned that I do not LOVE to have to scrapbook.  That revelation has not only been a great thing for the soul, but my creativity!  What a nice gift, right?

 

"...how it is supposed to be."  This is a biggie for me.  Being raised by 2 perfectionists, has certainly proved to be burdensome for me at times.  And as dumb as it may seem, I do strive to be perfect everyday!  The problem comes when I forget about what is important to me.  Simply...I can't do everything...I MUST learn to say NO!  That brings me to...

And that I did!  Scrapbooking, blogging, and some friends...like I said, some things became an obligation.  

 

This is truly how I felt! At the time, many things were dropped like a hot potato!  What I came to realize is that I really needed to restructure things...prioritize, if you will.

As a result of "letting things go," I had more time on my hands to fully devote my time to my family.  They are the most important to me.  And I was tired of being tired when dealing with them.  I started going to bed at a regular bedtime, I began to read again...things were changing and I loved it!  In turn, because I was more at ease and rested, my family got my total attention.   

Thankful...what a word.  I was thankful and continue to be every waking day.  There are things that happen in our lives that shake us.  This year I encountered some things that really made me understand what it means to be thankful...for my husband, my kids, and my health.

Not only did I change my soul, but I have changed the physical me!  I am 15 pounds lighter and that is just a start.  My rigorous workout routine has already begun!!  My goal...to be in a bikini for the cruise my hubby and I will go on this year!

Speaking of hubby...I had more time for him!  We are so much more closer now that I am not so worn out.  It's almost like we are dating again.

So there you have it!  2012 has been quite a year, and I am super excited for 2013!!  I'm loving my job, I am healthy, I have happy kids, and a devoted and loving husband...what more could a girl ask for?  My motto this year...

Yep, that's it!  What makes ME happy!!  These days I am still scrapbooking, exercising, reading, organizing and re-decorating my home, cooking, brushing up on my photography skills, going on many dates with my handsome hubby, playing with my kiddos, spending time with my friends, and teaching.  In the past, this blog was a place for me to share my crafty pursuits, but now it will become a place for me to share ALL of the things I am doing that make me happy!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week, and see you soon!

Giving It a Try...Project Life!

It seems like every time I want to begin a blog post these days, I feel the need to apologize for being so absent. And yes, this is one of those times. My last blog post was on the 1st of February, and boy it was hard to stop NOW to get this one in! LOL! We are super busy here and blogging is wwwwaaaaaaayyyyyyy at the bottom of the list...know what I mean?

I am here today though to share a new adventure of mine...Project Life! Yes, it is everywhere and when I first heard of Project Life, I was like "no way!" Take a picture everyday...complete a layout every week...buy MORE scrapbook supplies to make an additional album...really? No thanks. But as I researched more and more, I realized that I could make it anything I wanted! I decided, quite quickly, that a pic a day or a layout a week was not going to happen. Hello? A full-time job, a busy hubby, 4 kiddos, homework, house work, ballgames...get the picture...NEVER! But I did know that the once a month bit, was certainly doable! These are the things I LOVE and that work for me...

1. It is a no fuss way to scrapbook! The sizes are already derived for you and all you do is crop your pics, crop your scraps for where you don't have pics, add journaling, and embellish...EASY!

2. The photo sleeve protectors. There are TONS of layouts! I am using We R Memory Keepers Protectors and there are so many different arrangements. Tammy a The ScrapRoom is a Project Life lover too, and she has most of the WRMK Photo Sleeve Protectors in the ScrapRoom Store!! No kidding!! You can check them out HERE.

3. Quick turn around for documenting your memories. I am behind in my regular scrapbooking and I find myself forgetting the details sometimes. But with Project Life, I can certainly remember the details on a month-by-month basis.

4. Stash buster!! Gotta LOVE this aspect! It makes me so happy to be able to kill a TSR kits or dig a bit in my stash after I have scrapbooked my regular layouts!

Here is a look at my title page using TSR's February's FOTM kit and a Style D WRMK Protector...



And here is my January layout using TSR's February's FOTM kit, a Style D WRMK Protector, and a Multi-Pack Protector...






Well, that's it for today! I'm off to get a kid from practice, make a meatless concoction for dinner since it is Ash Wednesday, church at 6:00, and then home for homework, baths, and a bit of snuggling!!

See ya soon!

February Reveal at TSR

Well, today is February 1st! And that means a brand new totally yummy kit from the The ScrapRoom! Here is a look at my projects using February's kit...

Family Trail Ride

Boogie Shoes

Winter Tea

Needing a Bit of Lovin

Smile

Easter Visit

To take a look at the wonderful Design Team Gallery, go HERE. And if you think you may need to have one of these fabulous kits, go HERE.

Happy Wednesday!!

NEW Cricut Craftroom Exclusive!

Provocraft introduced a ton of new Cricut Craftroom Exclusives today!! I got to design with the Stars Cartridge. Here is my card...

Super Star

Make sure to go by the the Official Cricut Blog to take a peek at the other projects! Have a great weekend!!

The TSR Rewards Kit

The ScrapRoom just has the neatest incentive...the TSR Rewards Kit!! Basically, if you become a member of The ScrapRoom and buy our Flavor's of the Month Kit all year, you get a FREE kit at the beginning of the New Year!! Holy Cow, right? Here is this year's kit...

Yum! I love that there is a definite boy-ish line and girly-girl line! And do you see the pack of American Crafts Thickers...LOVE THEM!! Here is a look at what I have created so far...

U, Dirt, and a Crate Equals FUN!

Muscle Man

What a fun kit, huh? I will be back soon to show off what I created with KI Memories Hot Date! Tootles!

So, I Started Exercising...

Yep, yep...I am on the New Year's Resolution bandwagon to exercise! I have been needing to for awhile, but have used the old adage, "I will wait until after the holidays." Well, I defied that adage this year and started on December 3oth...2 days before New Year's Day! Uh-huh. I can feel it, this year is going to be different. LOL!

I have never been one of those people who have significantly struggled with my weight, but I certainly yo-yo. And that is what I want to stop. I really want to find a balance, and be confident enough to know that I can stay there. So earlier this year, I started watching what I eat, and it worked! I dropped 15 pounds by counting my calories on the Iphone Lose It! App. It is super easy...really!

But to my demise, I plateaued and have not been able to lose a pound since! So here comes this !@#$%^&*() Jillian...I just LOATHE LOVE her!

Let me just say, because it needs to be said, she is kicking my BUTT! I am only on stinkin' Level 1, and last night, Day 5, was the first night I made it through the level without having to stop! WTH! I am, however, able to tell a difference in my waistline. That pudgy, marshmallow stuff I had hanging over my pants is starting to dwindle! Whoot! Whoot! But the pounds have yet to start dwindling...I am being patient though.

Well, just thought I would share. And I figure, the more people I tell, the less likely I am to ditch this effort to be healthy and exercise in 2012! Thanks for listening and I would love to hear what you are doing to stay healthy?

Happy Wednesday!

Happy New Year and January ScrapRoom Share!

Well, Christmas is over and there are no traces of it now in my home! Whoot! Whoot! I LOVE Christmas, believe me I do, but I am also super excited to see it go. It was a great one though. Full of family time, laughs, kisses and snuggles, and TONS of goodies! It was truly great! We also had a super fabulous New Years. We spent the day at my in-laws home...LOVE that! And we rang in the New Year surrounded by family. We went down the dirt road from our in-laws home and met up with TONS of cousins, aunts, and uncles...the kids had a BLAST!

Hope you had a great holiday...Happy New Year!!

I do have a few projects to share using the January ScrapRoom kit! It is a good one...like always! Take a look...

This is What Life Looks Like

NYC Wine Country

Happy 4 Snow

Beautiful Snow Angel


Walking the Line

What a Catch


Simple Stories Card Set

Have a great Monday!

A New Tradition and a few Scrappy Shares!

Good morning! It's Tuesday! And counting today, I have 4 days of work left until I get off for 2 solid weeks!!! Whoot! Whoot! I need it! Anyhoo, I wanted to share a NEW tradition I have started at my house. This year we are celebrating the 12 days of Christmas! Every morning from now to Christmas, my kiddos will wake up to a little prize on the kitchen table. Here is day 1...

And here's the list of the goodies and sentiments for the 12 days of Christmas if you would like to give it a try!

1. $1.00--Here's a $1 for snack to keep your belly full like Santas!
2. Toothbrush--To keep your smile shiny and bright!
3. Candy--To sweetin' you up for Christmas!
4. Lip gloss or Chapstick--To keep your lips moist when we are out and about!
5. Socks--To keep your tootsies warm on cold days!
6. Christmas Coloring Book--Christmas is always colorful!
7. Christmas Ornament--To remember Christmas 2011!
8. McDonald's Gift Certificate--For the family to have a dinner date...Christmas is about spending time together!
9. Hot Chocolate--For those cold December nights!
10. Picture Frame--To remember our Christmas memories!
11. Heart shape candy--To remember that we love you and you will always be in our heart!
12. Peppermint Candy Cane--Turn it upside down and now you should see a "J." This should remind you of the true meaning of Christmas and how much Jesus loves you!

Well, there you are! They are in no particular order...ENJOY!

Like always, there is a sketch contest going on at the My Mind's Eye blog at the moment. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the sketch! Take a look...

December MME Sketch

Treats 4 Santa

Also, here is a look at Right at Home Scrapbooking's December Sketch...

Grandpa Always Keeps Us Happy

Hope your having a great day! See ya soon!