Queen of the Crop

This particular post has nothing at all to do with scrapbooking, card making, or crafting in general.  It does have to do with a journey that I started when we moved to TX.  When we came to TX, I made a conscious decision to live a healthier lifestyle. I figured that since we were moving to a new state, to a new home, to start a new life, why not start new with my health as well.  A whole new chapter to our lives all the way around.  I also have 2 beautiful little girls to think about, & when they say to you, "Mommy, why don't you exercise?"  or "Why don't you eat healthy?"  It is time to do something about it, & lead by example.  I also need to be around for them for a long time!!! About the 2nd week of January, I decided to join Weight Watchers. I followed it to a tee for several months.  It is a wonderful plan, & it does work!  I walked several times a week on the paths in the neighborhood, & around the beautiful lake. Th...

As you may or may not know, From Here 2 Scrapternity (a Christian, non-store, scrappbooking forum) is having an online crop going on right now.  Pam was a little late getting it up & running due to work commitments, so she has extended the dead line until August 26th, 11:59pm PST!  If you haven't checked it out yet, please head on over there now & join in on the fun.  There are great challenges, & a few games, & lots of prizes!  I posted a recipe challenge: 2 pictures a banner 3 different patterned papers at least 3 brads a ticket a title The layout that I created is of the girls in 2007!  They are ages 2 & 5 months!  (Boy am I far behind!).  We were at my aunt & uncle's pool, as we always were in PA in the summers.  I used the supplies from a Memory Works kit.   Head on over to the FH2S boards & check out all the fun!  I am offering a prize for my challenge, so be sure to post in the appropriate ...

Red Carpet Studio is giving away a Cuttlebug Machine, sponsored by Erica's Craft Room ! For those of you who may have never heard of a Cuttlebug, it's a fantastic embossing/die-cutting machine created by ProvoCraft that regularly retails for $69.99 . Here's a brief description of the machine straight from the Cricut website : "Using unique rolling technology, the Cricut Cuttlebug™ machine can cut shapes, emboss shapes, or cut and then emboss shapes to add texture and dimension to your latest creative endeavors. Combine Cricut Cuttlebug™ dies and embossing folders to easily create inspired, professional-quality designs for scrapbooking, school projects, home décor, and more." Wondering how you can win? Here's how! Contestants can enter to win up to five times by doing the following: 1.) Become a follower of Red Carpet Studio 2.) Became a fan of thier Facebook page 3.) Leave a comment on their post on their blog 4.) Share ...

Heads up!! This weekend, over at From Here 2 Scrapternity , there is an online crop.  It will run from Friday, August 17th, until Monday, August 20th 11:59pm PST.  The theme is "Hot Summer Nights."  These crops are always loads of fun, & there are prizes to boot.  If you have some time, stop on over & join in on the fun!  We would love to have you!!! Hope to see you there!

Oh my gosh!  Oh my gosh!  Oh my gosh!!! It was announced today at Sketchabilites that I am a member of the design team!  I am beyond thrilled! These DTs are exactly what I needed to light a fire under me to get my mojo back. Here is the layout that I created to submit for the DT: It is of Emma (again) at 9 months old, just crawling around & being Emma.  Look at that bald head!  Now she is 7 & has a million freckles & "monster feet".   I guess another reason why I am scrapping from "the beginning" is so that I can remember what they were like when they were so small.  I love scrapbooking! So, yes, another DT!  I am just so excited!  So, with that being said, my blog should definately be active in the weeks to come! See you soon! xoxo

Can you believe that I am back again?  ;o)  Today I would like to share with you a few more challenges that I completed at From Here 2 Scrapternity .  They post great challenges each month, & there is an awesome group of ladies, so if you get the chance, please stop by & introduce yourself, & join in on the fun!  This is a card that I made for the August card challenge.  Audra helped me make it, so it was basically made by a 5 year old!  This layout was made for the August stash challenge.  You needed to use a kit that was more that 6 months old.  I used an old Scraptacular kit that I bought right before moving to TX, & it wasn't even touched. The picture is of Emma right before we were going to a Reading Royals hockey game.  I just love this picture.  She is about 10 months old here.  Thank you for looking.  Have a blessed day!

Wow!  I really feel like my mojo has returned.  The other day we had no plans, so I holed up in my scrap room, & started doing some challenges.  I am on the DT at From Here 2 Scrapternity , so I thought I would give the challenges a go there.  I haven't done them in quite some time, & I thought it was about time!  So, for the sketch challenge I came up with this layout: This layout is of Emma when she was 7 months old.  She would be in her walker & just hang with me in the kitchen while I was making dinner. And this next layout was created for the color challenge:   It is of Emma at 10 months with her Paw-paw (my dad).  She had, & still does, have him wrapped around her little finger.   The supplies that I used for both layouts were from a kit from Memory Works .   Can you tell that I am trying to scrap in order these days, instead of just willy nilly?  I am sooo far behind that I though...

This has been my week!! Have you heard of the new blog called Red Carpet Studio ?  It is a new challenge blog based on all kinds of movies & being in the spotlight & walking the red carpet.  They had a call for both layouts & cards, & it was announced today that I made it onto the card design team!  Holy smokes!  That is so exciting!  One, because I made the design team, two, because it is the first card design team that I am on. The challenges will alternate each week with a card creating challenge one week and a layout creating challenge the next. One challenge a month will be an anything goes challenge featuring both the card and layout design teams. Be sure to check out the blog, & I will post here (of course) of the creations & reveals that I come up with.   Congratulations to all of the fellow design team members that were announced today!!   Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Guess what, guess what, guess what?!!!! I have been chosen to be a part of the Nuts About Sketches Design Team!!!  I know I have been on the team several times before, but who wouldn't want to be?  Shawn's sketches are amazing, & it is just so much fun!!!  I love it!  I can't wait to see her new sketches & work with them, & then share with you what I create. Oh, I am just so excited!!! Here is the layout that I submitted to be on the team:   These pictures are of Emma & Audra at the Houston Rodeo this year.  Aren't they just beautiful?  The supplies are from a Memory Works kit.   Thanks for stopping.  I hope to see you again soon!

Hi there! How about this?!  3 posts in a week!  I am on a roll!  My husband was away this past weekend, so when the girls went to bed, I did some scrapping!  Boy did I love it!!  It was like I was "home".  I really miss scrapping, & hope to do it more often now. I found another lil challenge at Crafting Family .  Of course it was a sketch challenge, & here is what I came up with using their sketch:    Yet another picture of Emma as a wee little one.  & my dh looking quite handsome in this picture!  I again used a kit from Memory Works .   Keep on stopping back.  Who knows what I will pop out next!   Have a good one.

I told you that my creative juices were flowing again.  It surely helps when there are great sketches & inspiration out there!!  I found a great sketch at Creative Scrappers for July, & while I was just there, I found one for August as well!  Yippee!!! Here is what I created using their July sketch: This is Emma, again, at 10 months old.  This was one of the first pictures where she didn't look a preemie any more, & looked like a plump, healthy baby. I used a Memory Works monthly kit again. Thanks for looking.  Please come back again soon.

Since moving, I really haven't had much mojo to scrapbook.  I have been making many cards from card kits, but that is about as far as my creative has gone.  We went to PA for my sisters wedding, which was gorgeous btw! & since coming home, I really have the itch to scrap again.  I was really upset to find out that Scrapbook Calls & Contests is no longer, but have found some other sites that have taken its place.  In poking around them, I have found some fun contests, which lit a spark under me to get moving.  Not scrapping for almost a year has really put me WAY far behind ! The first contest that I threw my hat into the ring was at My Creative Sketches .  What a fun blog!  You know my love of sketches, & this one was really fun to work with!  Here is my creation using the July sketch challenge: The picture is of my lil Emma (who is now 7!), when she wasn't quite 1 yet.  See!  I told you that I was really far be...

Hi there!!  I know, I know, I know!  It has been a very long time since my last post!  Let me just say that TX is keeping us quite busy!  Along with work, cheerleading, swim lessons, & just regular day to day things, we are definately on the go all the time.  TX is great!  We really love it here!  We are outside all the time.  I have met some great friends, & found a few scrapbooking groups & have been to several crops.  I also take lessons at Achivers as often as I can.  There is so many things to learn in the crafting world!  I love it!  I also have been on a weight loss journey.  I was going to blog about it, but I just ran out of time.  Since being in TX, we joined a gym, & I have hit the walking trails in the neighborhood.  I love yoga now (who would’ve thought?!), & take zumba classes, & Tony & I have been playing racquetball on a weekly basis.  So, as of today, since movi...

Hello everybody! How are you? It has been a very long time since I checked in, & I think that I am settled in & ready to start blogging again. Just a quick updated: We are here in Katy, TX & everyone is adjusting nicely. We were really worried about Emma, since she is so shy, but by the end of her first day of school, she had made friends & was invited to playdates! Boy was that a shock! She is doing outstanding in school, her reading is incredible & we really really really love the school district here! The communication is weekly (sometimes several times a week), & the activities are amazing. A brand new elementary school is slated to open this fall, less than a mile from our house, so both girls will be attending that. Audra, our social butterfly, hasn't changed, just her friends have. Her preschool is awesome, & of course she loves it. She wants to be where her friends are at all times, & is happy go lucky as always. Boy is she ready for Kinderga...

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Hi friends! I hope that you had a fabulous Thanksgiving...eatting until full, & enjoying family & friends. I know that we have had our fill of turkey! We spent Thanksgiving with my husband family & extended family, then today, we spent it with my family. Very nice. I am so thankful to have spent Thanksgiving with my family(ies) this year, as next year we will probably be a unit of 4.... Just Tony, Emma, Audra, & I. Which brings me to our Texas update. It seems that things are moving rather quickly now. We have exactly one month left here in PA. The movers are coming December 21-22-23rd, to pack up the house & take our belongings to TX. We will stay with my parents through the Christmas holiday, then on December 27th, we will be boarding a plane & taking off to our new home. My parents will be joining us soon after we arrive (they will be makeing the 2.5 day trek by car to meet up with us there!). The past month has been a whirlwind. It seems that every moment we...

Hola, chicas! How are you this fine day? In honor of Dessert Month we were asked to create a layout around our favorite treat, for Chicas Getting Craft y. Well, I am pushing my limits here, as the photos in this layout were taken at an ice cream shop in Avalon, NJ. Ice cream being my all time favorite sweet treat! Now, I know you don't see ice cream anywhere in the photos, but please take my word for it...it is definately an ice cream shop. These men are my father, my husband, & my sisters fiance. The keyboard player is a comedian/singer & is really good friends with my father. They grew up together. Well, whenever my dad goes to see him play a gig, he pulls my dad up on stage to sing a song. This time, Tommy (the keyboard player) told my dad to pick any 2 guys from the audience to come up with him. Of course he pulled Tony & Noah up with him. Noah (my future brother-in-law) was refusing to go up, but eventually he did & they sang the Three Stooges song....

Hi friends! Today I bring to you a layout with orange, black & purple for Chicas Getting Crafty . This layout was part of Scraptacular's page design class, but I tweaked it & made it my own. This picture is of my daughter Emma (the short one) at her birthday party with her 2 best friends in the world. They have known each other since they were 4 months old & have been the best of friends since. Jack is a neighbor & we joke that they are going to be married some day. But when these 3 get together, they have the greatest time & play so nicely together! Thanks for looking today.

Good day, everyone! I have to be honest with you. I am very stamp-challenged! And this month, when I was told we need to work with a "digi-stamp" at Chicas Getting Crafty ....whoa! That is way out of my comfort zone. But, I thought to myself, "This can't be so hard, right?." So, I printed out my stamp, & sat down with my girls, who were coloring, & created this card for my "lil monsters" this Halloween. My biggest issue is that I don't have the mediums to fill in the stamp. I used colored pencils & chalk pencils to come up with this card: I hope you enjoyed my creation. Thanks for looking & have a fabulous day! P.S. Update on the move: We are stuck in the fact that the bank doesn't want us to carry duel mortgages, even though there will be a guaranteed buy out from the relo company. The relocation company has stepped in with the bank to try to get that waived, & we have reapplied for a new mortgage through a diffe...

Hi everyone. Everything on the house is status quo. We are waiting to hear when exactly our move date will be. We may be outta here as early as October 22nd, but we aren't sure yet. We are running into a snafu w/ the bank as far as closing on our house before closing on the new house, so we are awaiting answers from the relocation company. In the relocation policy it does state that we can carry duel mortgages for up to 90 days & the relo company would pay the lesser of the two, but the mortgage company didn't seem to get that memo. We are anxiously awaiting & I will certainly keep you posted. You will continue to see crafty posts popping up on my blog, but they were created back in July/August. I can assure you that all of my craft supplies are in bins, in storage, in my basement. Very very sad. My craft table is folded & put away. Even all of the girls craft supplies are tucked away. They are now limited to coloring books & crayons. They are chomping at the bi...