How Did I Get Here?

New Banner, A Little Page, VMAs & Karma

So do you see my new banner?? It's courtesy of the most awesome Miss Chris...
Chris... how is it to be so cool? love it. Thank you, my dear!!

Got me a new layout here... did a little work for the fantabulous Mandarin Pixie... so much fun stuff in the works over there :) Make sure you keep an eye on my girl, Jen :)

Aquarium
Adventure

Just a quick page of one of my faves from vacation... I know I have tons of older pics to scrap, but I try to just scrap what moves me :)

That's Connor, Caitlin and David there... David and Con in unplanned identical outfits ;) one day, those two will hate us for that. :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Mandarin Pixie
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Ribbon: Ki Memories
Buttons: Foof-a-La
Staples: Staples Office Supplies
Pen: Zig Millenium
Embossing Ink: Clearsnap
Distress Embossing Powder: Ranger

VMAs

So I'm sitting here, half watching the Video Music Awards, half looking for Big Brother updates (found them!), and chatting off and on with quite a few of my buds and my sister :) I'm tivoing. Thank goodness. Already watched Justin Timberlake's opening number- TWICE. I'm sure I'll have to watch again :)

Karma

I've been thinking about karma lately... not in a "My Name is Earl" way... but in a "you get what you give" way.  I know, bad things happen to very good people. Some things are not easy to explain.

But I also believe that people who put out ugliness, will get ugliness in return. I've seen a few instances of this lately... and while I try not to revel in bad things happening to bad people... I'm kind of quietly satisfied too. Does that make me a bad person as well? hmmmmmm

Picture Pages, Picture Pages

Ok... I've been whining enough... so today... I got my scrap on.
Observe:

The Real Thing

I took this pic this morning, and scrapped it today :) Rarely do I get to do that.

Used my new My Mind's Eye paper, and my Heidi Swapp chipboard letters... love love love.

Journaling is from a Gwen Stefani song: The Real Thing.

I've seen your face a thousand times. Have all your stories memorized. I've kissed your lips a million ways. But I still love to have you around. I've held you too many times to count. I think I know you inside out. And we’re together most days. But I still love to have you around. You’re the one I want and it's not just a phase. You’re the one I trust, our love is THE REAL THING.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye, Making Memories
Chipboard Letters: Heidi Swapp
Rub Ons: My Mind's Eye
Jewels: My Mind's Eye
Pen: Zig Millenium

Devour

hee hee... I do love these pictures of Connor. He is just like me. When he gets a new train, he HAS to read everything that comes with it. The same thing goes for movies... he's got to read the little slips of paper that come with them. I'm the same way, whenever I get a new gadget, I have to READ EVERYTHING that comes with it. DORKS. Yes, I know.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Chipboard: Fancy Pants, Deluxe Designs
Chipboard Letters: Scenic Route
Patterned Paper: Cherry Arte
Letter Stickers: Making Memories

The Usual Suspects

Ok, this picture is CLASSIC. All of the cousins, lined up on the couch... trying to get them all to look at the camera... 6 adults making silly noises just to get them to LOOK AT THE CAMERA.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: American Crafts
Cardstock: Bazzill
Epoxy Stickers: Ki Memories
Stamps: Fontwerks
Acrylic Letters: Ki Memories
Jewels: Karen Foster

So there you have it... that's what I did today. :)

Kiss Grandpa Bye-Bye

So this is for my dear friend, Angie... Who likes to bug me when she feels like I haven't scrapped enough. SO THERE YOU GO, SISTER!! hee hee.

I actually made this page for Mandarin Pixie (see sidebar). I got the new American Crafts papers last week, and HAD to bust them out :)

Kiss Grandpa Bye-Bye

I took these pics back in March... they're of a couple of the grandkids giving my Dad a kiss goodbye at his birthday celebration. It's so hard for him to lean down and smooch them, but he tries so hard.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: American Crafts and My Mind's Eye
Ghost Letters: Heidi Swapp
Stamps: Mandarin Pixie
Letter Stickers: Basic Grey

Test Test Test

I got the first of my "let's try for baby #2" testing today. Hormone level check. Which translates into a TON of blood being taken. BLEH. On top of that... I had to skip breakfast for it. Double BLEH.

The next step is a quite unpleasant test called a sonohystogram... which involves not-so-fun cramping afterward... which means I'll probably take a personal day from work that day. TRIPLE BLEH.

But in the end, if I have another little bundle, well then it's worth the cramps :)

"We dun hab anudder baby?!?!?"

Friday night, Jon and I took good-boy Connor to the hobby store to pick out a Thomas train (bad-boy Connor doesn't get trains). Afterward, we ate at El Vaquero... yum yum yum. And God bless Jon, he tries so hard to get the pronounciation of the dishes right... cracks me up to hear the waiter correct him, and then he tries it again. hee hee.

On the way home, we drove by the ford dealership. They have the new mustangs out. One in particular has caught Jon's eye. A BRIGHT ORANGE one. I have to admit... it's quite sporty. I could definitely picture myself driving that. Heck, I've been driving around a bright yellow xTerra for 5+ years... I think I can handle orange. So, of course, Jon had to stop and drool.. But I digress.

On the way home Jon and I were talking about how the mustang is decidedly NOT 2 kiddo friendly. I think I said something like: "Yeah, it's sweet, but if we have another baby..." Then Connor pipes up in the back seat: "We dun hab anudder baby?!?!?!" Jon and I we like deer in headlights... so I turned around and asked if he wanted a little brother or sister. I got an emphatic "Uh-huh!!" He then put in his request for a little sister... and proceeded to tell us we should name her Tyler or Jack. hmmmm... not so sure about those names.

Detroit Rock City!

I spent the weekend in Detroit with my Mom and my sister, Tina. It was cool. It was so nice to get away for a spell... where we could be grown ups... and not have to chase kids. And dress up. And drink wine. And have dinner in a snazzy restauraunt. And gamble. Fun fun fun.  I'm so glad my Mom suggested it. Thanks, Mom!!

New New New!!

Everything tonight is NEW NEW NEW!!
New layouts... my new dress and shoes... wheeeeeeee!!!
Let's get started, shall we?

New Ensemble

Here it is... the NEW Dress:

The Detail on the New Dress:

The Cha Cha Shoes:

So, what do you think? I know. Exact opposite of my last dress... but I am a complex woman. With layers. Many many layers... and looks.  :) Next I've got to decide what to do with the hair.

Layouts

Did a little scrappin' this weekend... Jon had to work special duty last night, so I got my scrap on.

Lollipop Loving Kid

I've had this page in my sketchbook for QUITE SOME TIME... I finally learned how to crop my photos into an "S" shape in photoshop from a fellow pea (Thank you, Deanna!!)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Chipboard Letters: Heidi Swapp
Pen: Zig
Jewels: Mark Richards
Stamping Ink: Colorbox

Lashes
Tried to be a little less "linear" with this one... I kind of like how it turned out :)

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: 7 Gypsies, Making Memories, SEI
Buttons and Rubons: Foof-a-la
Card: 7 Gypsies
Stamp Ink: Ranger Distress Inks
Chipboard: Jenni Bowlin
Stamps: Autumn Leaves and Technique Tuesday
Ribbon: Basic Grey

Cookie Monster

I took these pics months ago... back in March. Connor saw the layout today and he just screamed "TUHTEES!! Mom! I want tuhtees!!!"
Translation: COOKIES!! Mom! I want cookies!!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Ki Memories
Chipboard Letters: Heidi Swapp
White Pen: Sharpie
Epoxy Stickers: Ki Memories
Chipboard Arrow: Ki Memories
Date Stamp: Unknown

So that's pretty much what I did this weekend! Shopped and scrapped. Good times. Got a little house cleaning in there too. So really, I felt like I accomplished a lot!

Ramping Up

Took a few photos of captain catastrophe tonight... He was sitting in his chair waiting for dinner and he was just singing and carrying on like a crazy person... so I grabbed my camera and started snapping. Obvioulsy, I'll have to photoshop these a bit before I print... but I just love the expressions. So Connor. Do you see that finger pointing one? Oh yeah. I get that a lot, mostly when he's "pretending" to be me. FUN TIMES.

Tough Stuff

So I scrapped a smidge tonight. I don't really like this page, but I can't put my finger on it... maybe I'll come back to it later... maybe not. :)

Supplies:
Rubons & Mask: Heidi Swapp
Label: Lil' Davis
Photoshop Brushes: 2peas Split Pea Kit and Brushed Alpha Set
Paint: Making Memories
Stamp: Jenni Bowlin Kit
White Paint Pen: Sharpie

The Dress

"The Dress" should be here tomorrow or Friday... then it's shoe shopping with my Mom and sisters Saturday at my shopping mecca, Easton :) WOO HOOOOO!!

So far, the WW is going well... I'm down 13 pounds... eating well and just feeling totally pumped by seeing the changes in my body and the scale going down. Today I wore a pair of cropped pants that I bought about a month ago, and they were soooo loose on me... borderline falling off... gosh, it felt good. :) Don't worry, I'm being safe about the weight loss... the next step will be to add a little work out routine. I need to be smarter about my weight... diabetes runs in my family, and that really scares me.

Reality TV

Oh my.
I tried my best to resist the summer tv... but damn it, if I haven't been sucked in again.

Big Brother 7.

World Series of Pop Culture.

Project Runway.

So You Think You Can Dance?

I love all of these shows!! ACK. Somebody stop me :)

And seriously? World Series of Pop Culture on VH1? I was SCREAMING at the TV last night. I was born to be on this show. I'm so glad my coworkers MADE me watch. Tammy, Tracy and I decided this morning at work that we need to be a team. And we would leave any category about celebrity babies to Tammy... because she has a VERY GOOD grasp on that subject ;) Now we just need a team name.... hmmmmmmm

Dooo Doooo Doooooooo

I figured out on my way home last night that Connor seems to be attracted to songs that have some sort of "doo doo doo" element in them.

He'll ask for me to play them again as soon as they end... sometimes 3 and 4 times. Among his faves:
Gene Kelly - "Singin' in the Rain"
Tina Turner - "Proud Mary"
High School Musical - "What I've Been Looking For"

Cracks. Me. Up.

I've been keeping the ipod on shuffle... with my almost 3k songs on it... that makes for a very interesting listening experience. But I look at it this way... I'm introducing Connor to ALL KINDS of music :

Speaking of the ipod... Jon and I ordered some covers for ours.... I ordered this one, which just makes me think of really cool grafitti... and this one, that totally reminds me of some kick ass patterned paper. Jon got two boyish ones :) Great Wave and Tokyo. Pretty cool, huh?

Ramping Up

We're ramping up to the big vacation... seems like every weekend we've got something planned... and then it will be time to go! Still a little freaked about the plane trip with the "scream team" that is Connor, David and Caitlin... but I think we can get through it in one piece :)

Nuh-Uh & Godspeed

Are you seeing what I'm seeing? I know it's small potatoes in the grand scrapping world, but it's got me tickled. Today, I made Creating Keepsakes Page of the Day! Now how cool is that? For my non-scrapping friends and family, every day the web hostess at creating keepsakes online, Erin Lincoln, goes through hundreds of pages in their online gallery and picks a page of the day... today it was me :)  She actually said my handwriting should be a font... I've heard that a few times now... and I may actually do something about it ;)

Godspeed

I did this page of my little man tonight... typed out the lyrics to the Dixie Chick's song "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)"... this song will make me tear up EVERY SINGLE TIME I hear it. Oh boy.

So I took a pic of Connor, on his very first night in his big boy bed and put them together :)

The scan is a bit dark here... thanks to my friends, the buttons :)

Supplies:
Font: Pharmacy
Photoshop 'Labels': Vintage Labels from 2peas
Buttons: Foof-a-la
Ribbon/Ric Rac: Basic Grey and Ki Memories
Patterned Paper: Chatterbox

I had a very ambitious plan to thread each button with ribbon.. but I actually wanted to go to bed tonight ;)

And before I leave you...
How about some song lyrics to make you tear up? Or is that just me?

Godspeed

Dragon tales and the water is wide
Pirate’s sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

The rocket racer’s all tuckered out
Superman’s in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon, we’ll find the mouse
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

God bless mommy and match box cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God hears amen, wherever you are
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Godspeed
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

Ahhhhhh

Do you hear that? That is the sound of relief. I am on day 1 of 5 days off...and it feels GLORIOUS. I've got a couple of pages and some pics to share ;)

Gabulous

Did this one of my sweet sweet friend, Gabby :) I haven't scrapped ONE PHOTO from CHA Vegas, until these. As I was browsing through them, I realized how many great pics I have of miss g... and decided to put them all together ;)

Supplies:
Stamps: Mandarin Pixie
Stamping Ink: Colorbox
Jewels: Mark Richards
Jewel Brads: Karen Foster
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Glitter: Magic Scraps
Flowers: Heidi Swapp
Pen: Zig

I'm really loving those little mark richards jewels.. I think I need to head back to archiver's for more! I glittered up the stamped letters a bit too....

I took a close up pic, so you could see the detail on here... darn scanner does flatten everything out... and I love it how the Autumn Leaves books show the little detail pics with the pages, gives them such a sense of depth ;)

Conversation With Kyra

Did this one of my little niece, Kyra... how I love that girl. So much personality in one little body. She's 4. She's SO VERY 4. I had to document this conversation with her...

Kyra: Last night, when I was sleepwalking...
Missy: You sleepwalk?
Kyra: Yeah! I was sleepy, and I was walking!

Can't argue with that logic... can you?

Anyhow... I took the pic back in December at Connor's birthday party... the conversation was just in April, I believe.. don't worry, I scribbled that info on the bottom of the purple strip after I had scanned it in.

You can check out my jewel obsession up close here...lol.

Love my jewels.
Love my diamond glaze glue.
Love my prima flowers.
LOVE scrapping :P

Supplies:
Stamps: Mandarin Pixie
Stamping Ink: Colorbox
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: American Crafts
Epoxy Stickers: Ki Memories
Chipboard Letters: Heidi Swapp
Jewels: Mark Richards
Pen: Zig
Flowers: Prima
Jewel Brads: SEI

The Zoo

On this, my first official day of my "mini-vacation", Connor and I went to the zoo with my sitter and her two boys... it was, A ZOO. I think with this being the beginning of the holiday weekend, EVERYONE had the same idea. UGH.

But I did manage to get a few good photos... see for yourself:

My sister comes with her kiddos tomorrow... oh! and I get my hair cut and colored too :)
Can I get a woo and a hoo?

Mail Mail Mail

And my No Doubt: Live in the Tragic Kingdom DVD came in the mail today!! SCHWEET!
Connor is currently jumping around and singing to it... WAAAAY past his bedtime... but it's friday :) And as I'm sitting here... watching Gwen WAAAAAAY Pre-Kingston... and I'm thinking I need to invest in some MAC Russian Red.

Yesterday, my new Fontwerks Avant Garde upper, lower and complete alphabet sets came in the mail... looks like I'll be snipping up stamps this weekend! Can't WAIT to use them... mmm... stamps.... love love love.

Not So Scary

Just a quick one tonight, mama's sleepy. :)

Not So Scary (aka Pop Dots are Our Friends)

This page didn't turn out ANYWHERE near where I envisioned it... but that's ok... they all can't be supah-stahs, now can they? :P

And the scan is crap because of the pop dotted stuff... so it got all shadowy on me. Grr argh.

I had to document Con's first Trick-Or-Treat. But oh boy, working with the super duper green costume was NOT an easy task.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Foam Stamps: Making Memories
Acrylic Stamps: Autumn Leaves
Ink: Colorbox
Paint: Making Memories
Brads: Karen Foster

Connor started calling me "mama" last weekend... it's totally melting my heart. He was calling me "Mom" for quite a while... totally dropped the whole "mommy" thing and decided to be a big boy. Little stinker. I sure hope "mama" sticks around for a while... I can get used to it.

I'm off to bed... Happy friday all!!

He's Got You

Did a little page tonight... took me about an hour... which is MAGNIFICENT time for me ;) Check it out:

He's Got You

The scan is a bit wonky, thanks to the buttons... but you get the idea ;)

I took this pic last summer in South Carolina. I still have a list of photos from this vacation left to scrap... but I'll take the Cathy Zielske approach to scrapping.. and hope I'll never be caught up... to always have a stack of photos to scrap and relive the memories ;)

Journaling:

If you stumble...
If you fall...
If you think you might not make it...
Just remember...
He's your Dad...
& He's Got You.

Supplies:
Fonts: Times New Roman, P22 Cezanne
Buttons: Foofala
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Bookplate: Basic Grey
Flower: Prima
Photoshop Brush: Rhonna Farrer/2peas
Ink: Stampin' Up!
Foam Stamp: Making Memories

New Music

One of my favorite things to do is POUR over iTunes on Tuesday nights. Check for new music. See what the free download of the week is. Last night, I downloaded Nelly Furtado's New CD, "Loose" and the Soundtrack to the Movie, Cars for Connor. I am LOVING the new Nelly... besides the obvious hit, "Promiscuous Girl", I am really digging "Glow" and "Maneater".... Even the Cars soundtrack has some good ones... A Sheryl Crow song titled "Real Gone" and Rascal Flatt's remake of "Life is a Highway".

But I have one beef with iTunes. WHY IN THE WORLD IS PARIS HILTON'S NEW SONG NUMBER 5?!?!?!?! WHY WHY WHY!?!?!? I thought is was bad last night when it was at 13... but tonight? 5? I don't get it. I just don't.

I'm thinking I might have to make my music posts weekly... just to keep on top of all I'm downloading. I'm a freak. I know.

The Return of the Smarty Pants

As you know by now, Connor keeps Jon and I in stitches. Tonight, I was telling him to pick out a train to head to bed with and he was dilly dallying... so I said:

Connor, I am going to count to 3... and if you don't have a train picked out, you are going to bed without one. 1.......

Con: 2 and 3!

Jon: OOOOOOH!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA!! Oh mommy! I think you just got SLAMMED!! Oh I shouldn't laugh at that, but... he's funny!

So then Connor starts laughing like a hyena, jumping around the family room screaming 2 and 3!! 2 and 3!! 2 and 3!!

I am outnumbered here people. By boys.

Anything Else?

hmmmm anything else I wanted to blog about?

I bet there is. I bet I can't remember it. hmmmm....

oh well... tomorrow I'll think of it.

Night!

***ETA***
I just remembered!!
I got this in the mail today:

The Me Book
ooooh I can't wait to just ABSORB this one ;)
Why does Autumn Leaves have to be so cool? LOVE it.

Bring It On

Father's day... that is.
It's almost 3:30am... and I'm still up. WHY? Because this was my only shot to get everything finished for fathers day... wheee!!

Tonight, I made a card and a mini album for Jon, and wrapped his presents... and since I will be around him until Sunday, and therefore able to monitor his internet access (wink, wink) I think it's safe to post what I made for him:

I used a Kolo accordian album for this little project... and Basic Grey Color Me Silly patterned papers. Here's the cover:

I used one of those Basic Grey magnetic snaps to hold it together... WOW. They are powerful little suckers.

And here's the inside... a little poem is written across the pages:

I love this last photo. It's Connor jumping on Jon while he was trying to catch a cat nap on the floor. He's a stinker.

To go along with the album... Connor and I made a card tonight:

I had him paint his hand... and give me a big ole handprint. He thought that was pretty cool. Here are some shots of our evening painting:

ok... it's bedtime- FO SHO. I have a feeling a little guy's gonna be visiting my bedside VERY SOON. Goodnight and have a happy Friday!!