giving my all.....one day at a time

Photos I Love from 2009

Well here it is, the last day of 2009.  One of the things I've found and enjoyed toward the end of this year is over at Stacy Julian's new web site.  Every Tuesday she posts Sprinkles , challenges intended to spark curiousity or creativity or compassion.  Today's sprinkle was to set a timer for 12 minutes, and in that time select 12 photos you love from 2009.  I loved this.  It was fun to take a quick look back through the year in pictures and remember all of the milestones and good times that made up a really great year.  So here are 12 photos I love from this year~

  

 

 

 

  

 

 
I'm sorry to see 2009 end.  It was such a big year for us.  It was a year of graduations and growing up, driver's licenses, big birthdays, good friends, fun trips, moving out and moving in.  It was a year that definitely showed me in a big way that I can not stop time, or keep my kids from growing up.  It was a year of change, but I think we did ok.  Bring on 2010!

Spinning

My head has been spinning lately with thoughts and ideas for things I want to do and make and places I want to go and things I want to see.  In fact my mind has been spinning to the point that the rest of me has been paralyzed with confusion about where to start.  Admittedly things have been crazier than usual.  That said, yesterday I was finally able to sit down and finish up three projects I had started but been unable to complete.  The first is a set of three wood blocks that my sweet and handy husband was kind enough to cut me.  I just painted them red, added some Sweetwater paper, cut some letters with my Cricut, and added a little ribbon.  Very simple, but I think they will be super cute sitting on my coffee table this Christmas.

The second was a set of HOME letters from Adornit.  The paper and brads are Flutterby from Doodlebug Designs. 

and finally a wreath inspired by the one on the cover of the Holiday issue of Craft Trends.  I intend to hang it on the door of my office at work because it makes me smile, and I need to smile more at work.

I'm super proud of the fact that other than the $3.99 wreath I had everything to make each of these projects at home already.  It really felt great to use some of my favorite stuff to make cute new things. 

On the home front I'm very happy to report that my fabulous, adorable, sweet daughter Amanda has moved back home.  Long story short I'm afraid it is going to be some time yet before she finds a guy who comes close enough to her maturity level and work ethic to live together.  While I want nothing more than for her to be happy, I am not at all disappointed to have her back home.  It sure does seem like she has a lot more stuff now than just a few months ago when she left though.

5 Things I Love but will Never Do

Lain Ehman had a wonderful blog post yesterday about the five things she loved but would never do.  It really got me thinking about the way I beat myself up sometimes over the things I like, or wish for, but don't do.  It's not that I can't, I just won't.  I realized last month during LayOut a Day that everything we choose to do or take on or sign up for translates into something else we don't have the time , or energy, or money to do.  It's a trade off, a balancing act.   I'll probably never stop dreaming of these five things, but so far they haven't been worth the cost.

A Spotless House

 
I love it when my house is spotless and organized.  It's really surprising that I can even remember that, though, since it certainly doesn't happen often.  It usually involves an upcoming visit from my in-laws.  I think a lot about how nice it would be if the house were immaculate, as I look over the crumbs on the counter and the carpet that needs vacuumed.  But then I think about the football game that's on, or the scrap project I'd like to be working on, and I realize the house is just fine the way it is.

To Be a Runner

I see these people running along, and they look so healthy and athletic.  I hear runners talk about how great it is for stress relief and how once they get into the habit of running they truly want to run and feel bad if they don't.  I want to be one of those people.  I want to want to run every day and feel healthy and athletic...but I don't.  No matter how much I wish for it I just don't have the athletic ability or the body type to be a good runner.  So I'll just continue to be envious of those who do. 

Cook Gourmet Meals

 
I actually love to cook, when I have the time and ingredients to make something I can be proud to serve.  Unfortunately that isn't very often.  Most of the time it's late and I'm tired from work and we just throw something together, or go out to eat.  Funny though that I'm the only one who minds.  Everyone else eats the old standbys like spaghetti and tacos and rarely complain.  In fact, if I served something wackado like in this photo my kids would probably refuse to eat it.  I still love the idea of making beautiful and delicious culinary masterpieces for my family though. 

Be as Thin as a Model

 
I think alot about how fabulous it would be to be really thin.  I don't mean thinner, I mean really thin.  I even hired a personal trainer and went to the gym off and on.  Problem is, what do I give up to do it.  I love good food, it makes me happy.  I love spending time with my family and friends more than going to the gym.  And no matter how long or how often I go I never love it.  I'm just not an athletic person.  So I guess I'll just have to be happy with thinner.

And last but not least I have one in common with Lain (and about half the other women my age).

Have Another Baby

 
Yes, I really do want another baby.  Actually I want another 5 year old, but I guess you have to start somewhere.  I miss school programs and little guy sports and hugs from chubby little arms.  Problem is I wasn't a great pregnant person in my 20's, I most certainly would be a nightmare now.  I don't have the patience I use to, or the energy.  I'm sure my husband it right, it's a better idea in my head than it would be in reality.  Problem is the idea is in my heart and not my head. 

So what are your five?

Paisley and Polkadots

Over the course of my scrapbooking life I've bought a lot of page kits.  Usually I buy them because it seems like an economical way to get a lot of pages done quickly, and mostly I've gotten them from QVC.  Another thing they have in common is that they DO NOT end up on the blog or anywhere else where lots of people might see.  These kits usually are not works of art.  Yesterday came the exception to all of those rules.  I think this two page layout ROCKS!

The kit is from Paisley and Polkadots and it is fantastic.  It was perfect for these photos of my son riding his dirtbike.  The detail is wonderful and the colors and accents are really well coordinated.  The pieces that were precut were done so with exact precision, everything matched up perfectly.  I am so happy with this kit that I'll order more from them for sure.  You should really check them out. 

On another happy note I learned how to scan and stitch my 12x12 layouts.  I wish I had know how easy it was.  I would still like to buy a 12x12 scanner, so if anyone has a recommendation of one they use that didn't cost a kings ransom I would sure love to hear about it. 

Blame it on LOAD!

There's a quote from Mark Twain that goes "I'm glad I did it, partly because it was worth it, but mostly because I shall never have to do it again."  That's certainly how I feel about my LayOut A Day challenge at this point.  I'm definitely getting some pages done, but I'm not doing much else, including blogging.

I've been scrapbooking for 15 years, but I think I've learned more in the last 18 days than I did in that entire time. 

~I've learned that I thought I had a lot of adhesive, and I did, but most of it was garbage.  There's a lot of bad adhesive out there, and not enough good stuff.

~I've learned that letting go and just making pages is fun.  They usually turn out just fine, sometimes even better, and watching my albums fill up feels GREAT!

~I've learned that I have a lot of great stuff in my stash and that every page deserves my best stuff.  I cared enough to take the photo, I should care enough to use my good stuff to make a great page.  I've loved using things instead of saving things.

~I've also learned, though, that doing a page every day means something else gets neglected.  Spending so much time in my scrapbook room has meant less time with my family and less time spent on the house and both are feeling and looking neglected already.  For one month it's ok, but any longer and things would get seriously out of balance.

So I'm pretty sure I'll be able to keep at it and finish out the month, but as Mark so eloquently put it, I shall never have to do it again.  I'll go back to a more relaxed scrapbooking pace, but taking with me the things I've learned that hopefully will let me scrapbook a little more regularly than I was before.

Here are a couple of LOAD pages I've made.  Still wishing I could figure out how to photograph these pages better.

 

How do they do it?

I often wonder how some people do it.  How they seem to do everything.  Work, cook, clean, laundry, all of the things that make up life, and blog.  I love blogging, I really want to blog, but I find my posts few and far between.  Where do I find more time?

Anyway, I've been busy, but for a change I've been busy having fun.  I played hooky from work last Friday and took a three day weekend to go to scrap camp.  I went with my fab friends Kelle and Tracy and we had a great time.  This time I finally figured out how to take enough of my stuff. 

That's right, I took an RV.  And I packed that thing to the gills.  I didn't even pretend to pack light.

We made some super fun signs to pimp the ride, and really had fun with it.  My daughter asked us "why are you making signs" and without missing a beat my husband said "pep club".  I think that was a great answer.  The three of us are exactly the type that use to go the extra mile in school to have fun and make sure everyone else did too, and I guess we still are.

Anyway, back to camp.  Sisters always puts on a great camp.  The food is wonderful and the theme and decorations are always fun.  Look at these adorable aprons that they made as nametags~

 
For a nice change I got quite a bit done at camp.  I finished a layout each day for my LayOut A Day Challenge.  I'm only going to share Day Two though. 

I'm pretty happy with this quick page.  It would have been hard to screw it up with pictures of such gorgeous girls though.  The angel is my daughter Amanda and the blond is her friend Sam.  I also made my Halloween cards.  

 

I used the Bazille In Stitches templates for the first time to do the stitching and it was so easy.  I'll definitely be using them more.
 
I'm super happy with the project I'll show tomorrow.  I have to take some better photos.  It's my son's chipboard album of him riding dirtbike, and I really like the way it turned out.  But that's for tomorrow.

Have a great day everyone!

LOAD Day 1

I can'tbelieve it's already October 1st.  This year is zooming by.  With October 1st comes day one of LayOut a Day.  I'm so excited to be getting started.  At the end of the month I'll have more completed pages than I usually get done in six months.  It will totally be worth all of the hard work and planning.  So without further ado here is my LOAD Day 1 Layout ~ Halloween 2007

I'm pretty darn happy with this page.  All patterned paper is SU Ghostly Greetings Designer Series paper.  Acrylic journal tag is from Maya Road, cardstock stickers are Teresa Collins for Junkitz, and the letter stickers are from Making Memories.  I also used the SU scallop punch, and the Creative Memories circle punches.  You can't really see it in the photo, but I added some rhinestones to a few of the circles in the webs, and those are from K and Company.  The layout was inspired by a layout of Celeste Smith's in Scrapbook Trends.

I'm thrilled to see that Tracy is joining me for LOAD.  Wish more of you were taking the plunge but I understand it's a big commitment.  Those of you who can't commit to a full month can still try for a week or two and join in to win some fun prizes.  Leave me a comment and let me know if you're going to play along.  Have a great October 1st.  Stay warm! 

LOAD (LayOut A Day)

I know it sounds crazy, but I've decided to give this challenge a go.  Lain Ehmann is an adorable scrapbooker and author, and she's hosting a Lay Out a Day challenge.  You sign up, and then commit to creating a layout each day during the month of October.  To keep everyone honest participants upload photos of their pages to a Flickr group each day.  All of the details are on Lain's Blog, and there is the chance to win PRIZES!  I do love prizes!  As an added bonus I've decided to throw some blog candy at this challenge.  Anyone who signs up for the challenge, uploads their photos to the Flickr group, and then posts a link in the comments on my daily LOAD post will have the chance to win prizes from me.  I'll be drawing for a weekly prize each Sunday among those who have posted each day (Monday - Sunday) that week, as well as random prizes for anything from great use of Lain's daily inspirational email to great technique, good use of old product, or product used in an unusual way.  Some of my prizes will include a fun chipboard album, page kits, a project kit, and some fun embellishments.  Photos to follow in the next few days.  So for all of you who keep saying you want to get more pages done, here's your chance.  You'll have daily inspiration and the chance to win some fun prizes.  Come join me.

Cricut Contest!

I love a great contest.  Check this one out~

This is contest entry for those crazy folks at TodaysMama and Cricut. Be sure to check out Cricut's cool new cartridges and the chance at $30,000 in travel for you and your friends at the Great Gypsy Escape site! http://bit.ly/FWcud

Great Escape Meme
1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be? Definately Italy

2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car?  A rotation of several songs by Shinedown

3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do? I'd go to Dillard's first and buy myself a new pair of shoes and handbag.  Then to The Sanctuary for a manicure, pedicure and massage.  Follow that with dinner at Jakes and a movie of my chosing, and end the night with a delicious coffee and desert at City Brew and I'd be a happy lady.

4. What is your guilty pleasure? Expensive coffee

5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home? Germany while in the Air Force

6. Last book that you couldn't put down? Managing Multiple Projects, Priorities and Deadlines (seriously)

7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch? Ever After

8. What is your favorite local escape? City Brew

9. How do you escape on a budget? Dinner and a movie with my sweetie.

10. Best food you've ever had while on vacation.  The hotdogs at Qualcomm Stadium during the Charger games.

I'm tagging my friends Tracy, Kelle and Kee to enter too, since they would let me borrow anything they won!

Feeling Like Fall

It's definitely feeling like Fall here tonight.  We had to go to Lowe's for some things for the new scrap room, and it was downright chilly.  I have mixed feelings about Fall.  I was reading Wendy's Blog and she mentioned her attempts to stay positive and grateful as the seasons change.  She asked a few questions that I decided to answer myself as I try to do the same.

How do you prepare for a change of seasons?   I change out my Summer clothes for my sweaters, which I love doing.  It's like a shopping trip that doesn't cost me any money when I pull out clothes I haven't worn several months.  I also say goodbye to my high maintenance container plants outside.  I love those things so much in the Spring, but by Fall I'm tired of trying to keep them watered and alive.

What do you do to exercise gratitude?  As things slow down a little compared to the Summer I slow down and really see and appreciate the things I am thankful for.

Do you decorate your home with new decor?  I don't decorate for Fall, but I love to decorate for Halloween and Christmas.  I start as early as I can get away with.

Is it a hard transition for you?  A little bit.  I have a love hate relationship with Fall and Winter.  I love the slower pace when it gets dark earlier and I can use the weather as an excuse to stay home.  I miss the flowers and the green grass though, and I HATE driving on the ice.

What activities do you look forward to in the fall?  I love football, so I look forward to the season starting.  I love the holidays, I'm one of the few who doesn't complain when Christmas decorations show up in September.  I look forward to lighting the fireplace, eating dinner at home more, and taking our family picture for our Christmas cards.

So how about you.  Tell me your thoughts on Fall.