Getting ready for Christmas!

I'm so glad its Christmas time. It makes me smile. It warms my heart. It reminds me what's important in life; family and friends. I hope you feel as blessed as I do this holiday.

Getting in the Christmas spirit I've created a few new decorations this year.

Loving the inspiration from fellow scrapbookers. Check out my interperation of ScrapTiffany's gingerbread man banner. This was so fun to make and it took less that 30 minutes. I used the Making Memories Fa La La slice cartridge for the gingerbread men. Love how it turned out.

Here's my Thanksgiving decoration redone for Christmas. This was inspired by Julie Comstock at Cosmo Cricket.

And lastly... I purchased these letters at Lasting Memories. It was so much fun decorating them with the Making Memories Mistletoe line.

So exciting!

I can't believe I forgot to update everyone. I've been selected for my first ever design team... well its just a guest designer spot in February but still I'm so excited! I'll be guest designing for ScrapTiffany. Check out her blog for weekly challenges, they are always inspiring.

http://www.scraptiffany.com/blog_tiffany/

They turned out better than I expected

I was inspired by the video blog on Cosmo Cricket's blog. They have a video demonstrating a simple but beautiful Thanksgiving Center Piece. I loved making it and am actually going to try and sell them, so I can make more. Check out http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/art/1477485699.html

Fun new projects

I spent all day Friday at the CK scrapbook convention in Bellevue. It was so inspiring. It got me back to my desk to start creating again. Here's what I created this weekend

Welcome - Fall edition

I made this a couple weeks ago. Its a chart to help me remember what specialist the kids will be seeing at school each day so I can make sure they're prepared, now I won't have trouble remembering the library book or when to wear tennis shoes. When its completely finished it will also help me know which days that week the kids will buy or bring lunch.

The title says "Dream more than others think is practical"

Halloween is coming

I have really gotten into halloween this year. I should explain that me "really getting into halloween" may be different than other people since I have never really enjoyed this holiday. So what I mean is that I've made a couple cards, put together a banner I bought and made this cute bowl for the tootsie pops I'm handing out this year. Take a look.

Acomplishing something makes me smile

I have been telling myself for a couple weeks now that I need to spend more time on the rental in Lake Stevens... its been vacant for over a month. Today was the day, I took charge and put up all new signs, posted it on craigslist and even put a new border in Alexis' old room. And it felt good! And guess what! When I got home this evening from Bible Study (another thing that made me smile today) I had a message from someone that wants to look at the house. BIG SMILE!!!

So I'm reading the book by Philip Yancey "What's so amazing about Grace?" for a women's bible study group. I am really enjoying it. Tonight was the night we meet to talk about the book and I love how I am not the only one that struggles with Grace, giving and receiving it. It brings a relieved smile to my face.

There's a lady in the group that is such a beam of light, ray of sunshine or whatnot. She doesn't attend the church the bible study is held at but is a friend of another participant. I feel so blessed that she's there. She talks with such passion and conviction of giving Grace to those around us but not compromising who we are. The stories she tells of experiences she's had bring me to tears usually tears of joy. It makes me smile that God brings special people into our lives at just the right moment.

Oh lastly I smiled after a long almost 2 hour workout today where for the first time I ran 13 minutes on the treadmill during a 20 minute exercise, that was followed by 10 minutes on the bike and 10 minutes on the elliptical. I feel great!

Its working...

*All the working out and conscious eating, brought a smile to my face staring at the scale and seeing it was 2 lbs less than last week. I met my goal.

*Having the energy to clean the house made me smile today.

*Having dinner with my parents and Steve's mom & Step-dad made me smile today. or it might have been the delicious Short Ribs that Steven made of the grill. What a treat!

*I also treated myself to a toasted baguette with fresh mozzarella for lunch, that made me smile today.

Orcas Island Adventure

I am so thankful for friends like Pete & Jen Newman. They are just good people. The kind of good people that inspire you to be a better person. I think its because they're genuine not over the top, give me credit for the good I do type of people. They made me smile today.

Actually Pete used to be my boss or really my boss' boss. I was surprised when he invited Steve and I to go flying with him. He's a very busy person and so is his wife so all their time together is very valuable. I was beyond ecstatic about the opportunity to fly to the San Juans in his little plane. I was honestly very honored that he would offer.

The trip was out of a storybook for me. Driving up to the small airport, getting in the plane, flying over our beautiful Washington coast, landing on Orcas Island, having lunch on a deck overlooking the water, browsing the local boutiques and then getting on the plane to go back home. What a wonderful day!

Thank you Pete & Jen for reaching out. Thank you for being such good people. You made me smile today.

Today was all smiles

*A hike down Meadowdale Beach with the family. Especially the walk back up and Alexis marching up each hill - she called mountains.

*Spontaneously stopping at a church's community block party and watching Alexis eyes light up when she saw they had facepainting. It was a completely free event. I love seeing church doing good things for the community.

*Running into Shayne's friend at the event and getting to know his parents a little better. They are adopting a 14 year old boy from West Africa. Amazing heart this family has. His mom plans to start selling handmade jewelery for extra money for the adoption; when she has it set up I'll be sure to blog about it.

*Putting together an amazing salad for dinner and making all my nutritional goals for a Saturday.

*Getting my order from Twopeas that has my niece's birthday present along with fun stuff to play with at my getaway next weekend. She's going to love it!

Starting to feel like myself again

Focusing on the "smile" moments seems to be getting easier. Friday was full of smiles.

*Finishing a tough 30 minute cardio workout with my brother. It feels good to be getting in shape. Smile.

*Seeing Shayne interact with the Librarian and finding a few new books to read. 14 to be exact. Then seeing him pough though 4 of those books before bedtime. Smile.

*Visiting Central Market and looking around their yummy salad bar and prepared food area. Smile.

*Eating Ahi Poke (from Central Market) for dinner. Such a treat, well if you like sushi it is. Smile.




I finish a layout from a challenge posted on Dixie Pieces for September. Its too late to enter but I finished it anyway. It was a a challenge about the "10 thing I love about me".

List is:
I like to have fun
I’m generous to those in need
I’m not afraid to travel by myself
I make beautiful babies
I plan, plan, plan so I can enjoy the event
My toes, especially after a pedicure
I cry easily
I’m not afraid of germs
I get all worked up when I’m passionate about something
I’m loyal to my friends

It was really hard to create a layout just about me but I'm glad I did.

Still living 1 day behind

Well yesterday, it was hard to find something to smile about. Some days are just harder than other. It didn't really come until the end of the day.

I smiled and even belly laughed while watching TV with my husband. The kids were in bed and it was just the two of us. We watched the Office which was funny but the belly laugh came when we watched the Community. The premise is confusing but the dialog is hilarious. It was so nice to spend time with Steve.

ok ok I did sneak a smile earlier in the day when I had 17 - 3 year olds running around me. (I volunteer at MOPs twice a month.) It made me smile when we all sat down and sang a couple songs together and I read the story of Joseph. If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!

Did I miss Wednesday?

I keep thinking I'm going to catch up with myself eventually, maybe after this cold is finally gone I'll have the energy to get everything done that I need to get done in a day. But enough of that lets focus on something that made me smile on Wednesday.

Spending time with my best friends, that makes me smile. Robyn, Megan and I got to spend the evening together. We had dinner at Macaroni Grill (where the Penne Rustica made me smile) then caught a late movie. We saw Love Happens and which was really kinda sad but still at the end it made me smile. I feel so blessed to be able to spend time with then. Thank you Steven!

A moment that made me smile

On Kim Holmes blog she challenged everyone to dwell on the good moments in life and not the overwelming worries that seem to be all around right now. The challenge was to blog every day about a moment that made you smile that day.

Today I ran a few errands, returning items we didn't use at Alexis' birthday party and whatnot. While out and about I stopped at a store that I have always wanted to check out, its called Plato's Closet. They buy and sell used name brand clothes. So I took a few shirts into the dressing room. I tried on a cute but simple red top, looked in the mirror and smiled. So cute. I love it when I find something that makes me confortable in my own body. Best part it was only 7 dollars.

Ok, Ok... I know what you're thinking. How entirely materialistic of you. But I have to start somewhere.

Princess Party!

I had so much fun planning Alexis' princess party but the best part is that Alexis loved it, she said the house looked like her dream house.

We decorated cupcakes.

Each girl got a pixie stick flower wand.

We decorated tiaras with glitter and gems.

The princess thone (Thanks Rachel & Jillian for letting us borrow it)

All the dress up jewelry and make up a 6 year old girl could hope for.

Happy Birthday Alexis!

Today is my daughter's 6th birthday. I feel so lucky to have her in my life. She is the most wonderful little girl a mother could hope for. I see me in her, I see her father in her but I see she is herself and she is going to be an amazing women. Her favorite thing to do is to "Give love away because it makes her feel good" We can all learn something from that. I love her so much.

Saturday Scrapbooking

I have actually had time to scrapbook this week. Here are the pages I completed.

I just love these pictures of Shayne. This was from our trip to PA in the fall of 2006.

Product: I drew the tree and cut it out. The patterned paper and letter stickers are Basic Grey. The journaling circle is Jillibean Soup. Misc buttons.

Aren't these girls just adorable! This is Alexis and her BFFs. Its so cute that all their names start with the letter A.

Product: The cardstock, patterned paper, flower pin and stamp are all from the Sept kit at Dixiepieces.com. It was an amazing kit this month. The letter "A" is from Michael's dollar bin.

Alexis loves to play picnic tea party. After I got laid off earlier this year we've had more time to play together. On this particular occasion Neo joined in the the fun.

Product: These are all scraps that I had in my stash of stuff. The patterned paper is October Afternoon. The flowers are made from felt. Thats all I know.

Its Tuesday?

I keep having to remind myself that its Tuesday. And crazier than its already Tuesday that its already Sept 15th. Alexis' birthday is Sept 24th and I'm busy planning her princess party. I still need some costume jewelery for the girls to play dress up with, let me know if you have any I can borrow or if you have any pretty wigs, I need those too. I designed the invitation from a digital kit I bought on Scrapgirls.com. Let me know what you think about the invite, I'm pretty happy with it.

The start of school

Alexis started kindergarten yesterday. Lets just say it was tough letting her go. I didn't want to admit that she is growing up. Not my baby girl.

She did fabulous at school, she loves her teacher (says she seems really nice), she's already made a "BFF" (yes she called it that) and she rode the bus home without problems (though she almost forgot her backpack on the bus). I'm so happy that she's adjusted so quickly. It could be because she has an awesome BIG brother to look up to!

As preparation for her being at school all day (did I mention she's in all day kindergarden?) I made her a mini album that she can keep in her backpack that has pictures of our family.

Lets not forget Shayne started 3rd grade this year. He's getting so big. He's excited to be learning cursive again (he learned it in kindergarden but has forgotten most of it) and ofcourse that he gets to see his friends again.