Yesterday Kicked My Butt...

It was rough. I had an extremely busy day at work following a night of little to no sleep. I tried to sleep, I just couldn't fall asleep and when I finally did, Colin woke up with the itchies and a belly ache. *sigh*
It was nice to get some sleep last night and get a few things accomplished today. I have a brunch that I am coordinating for staff at work for wining a decorating contest and needed to pick up a few things for that. That just happened to be by the mall and I asked if my Mom wanted to come along. It was nice to do a little shopping and have things bought for me. So thanks Mom for my shirt today and I'm sure Colin will love his new outfit too.
So now I'm finishing laundry, organizing and hopefully ironing. Good times! Anyway here's a LO that I finished the other day, it took me 5 mins! I just went through my scraps and picked paper that I loved, stamped a journaling spot, title and those cute buttons from Sassafras that are already stitched with adhesive on the back.

This next one, took a little longer because of the stitching but still not a ton of time either. That's one of my scrappy goals for this year...I wanna get faster and I want to use the things that I love. Who cares if I used the same Thickers on the last 10 LO's? As long as I like it, I'm gonna use it.

New Layout to Share

It's only taken me days to get this posted. I completed this awhile ago but I got so frustrated using the crop tool in Photoshop that I gave up. I had a little bit of time today and voila! Enjoy!

Cupcake Interrupted

Well this morning got off to a stellar start. There was a child in Colin's class that was celebrating a birthday today so I needed to bring in a cupcake for Colin. I defrosted them last night and was planning on making the frosting then too. I just couldn't get up after I finally got Colin asleep. So I woke up this morning, made frosting and lovingly decorated mini cupcakes with pretty frosting and sprinkles. We were doing pretty well, I remembered everything that I needed for school. PJ Day-Check, Rice Milk-Check, Jelly Beans-Check, Cupcakes-Check. We get to daycare and as I am getting Colin out of the van I drop the cupcakes.
Upside down.
I started to cry. I told him that I was so sorry that I smashed his cupcakes and that they were still yummy. We finished running into the building, because it was FREEZING, and Colin said, "I'm mad at Jesus right now." I said, "Jesus didn't make me drop the cupcakes, why are you mad?" Colin said, "because he made it too cold today and I am mad at him. I'll eat the cupcakes."

To top it all off, he missed the party anyway. They were having another party this afternoon for another child so he ate his smashed cupcakes then.

To 365 or not 365?

I can't decide. I love the concept but have a tough time committing to remember to eat everyday let alone take a photo. I'm concerned that when I miss a day, which I will, that I will be disappointed in myself and give up. Although, I do have enough supplies to embellish an entire album about 2009 and it would be a great way to use up my stash. Hmmmmm...I'm still on the fence. In the mean time, I will share a few photos that I would use, IF, I would decide to hop on board.

My inspiration notebook. This is two sheets of thick chipboard that I covered with Basic Grey paper, sandwiched cardstock in between and then took it to Office Depot and had it bound. Yes, that is Colin chewing on the back of the book. I thought it was so cute that he was holding this and I was trying so hard to take his photo that I didn't notice...until he gave it to me and it was wet. Boys are so gross sometimes.


Here's a photo of the inside. I left room to grow and when I am in the mood to purge my scrapbook mags, I tear them apart and glue the LO's that I want to keep onto the cardstock pages.

That's it for tonight, well this morning. For those of you who are already off an running with Project 365, any words of wisdom?

So I was going to blog...

several times this week. I just couldn't come up with anything that was super cleaver to share. However, I did do some scrappy organizing! Matt and I took a trip to our nearest Ikea to purchase shelving for my scraproom. Ever since I started sewing, things have gotten a bit out of control. I need to have everything in it's place. I just didn't really know where that place was so that 1. remembered what I have and 2. can see it to use it. I am a nut about using and keeping EVERYTHING, so my space really needs to make sense for me to be productive. Here are the new additions to our home.

The wicker drawers have fabric in them. The shelves hold my idea books and binders. The baskets have paint, sewing patterns, albums, stickers, rub ons, stamps and chipboard. Here's the top since I can't get the whole thing in the photo due to only having a 50mm lens on my new camera.

That top basket has all of my fabric that is less than a yard. And because I cleaned up, you can actually see my counter top.

And this is my button doggy. This is actually a dog dish with two bowls. One for big buttons and one for little ones. He hangs out with me while I scrap to add the perfect finishing touch to my pages.

On a non scrappy note, have you ever heard of The Melting Pot? Well it's a fondue restaurant in MD, (it is a chain). I thought, I love cheese and chocolate, this will be fun. Little did I know, the four course meal actually included raw meat for us to boil!!! Ummm, I don't think we will be eating dinner there again anytime soon. Now appetizers and dessert....that's a different story.

As far as LO's are concerned, I did complete a few projects and submitted them for pub. Wish me luck! I continue to take a deep breath and submit. I have faith that it will happen for me, (I think), it's that whole patience thing that I am not very good at! As always, thanks for stopping by and I'll blog ya soon!

I can't even find the words....

to explain how excited I am! I wish I had major news to share but I don't. I am just that excited to play with my new camera!!!! My lens and remote came today and this one had a full day with his grandparents and is knocked out on the couch.

So I have been walking around the house trying to find things to take a picture of. I have never been able to take decent photos inside of my house and LOVE that I am able to do it without all of the aggrivation.


And I am working on a few layouts this weekend. My goal is to submit something to every magazine that has a call due on Monday. I'm hoping to get a good bit accomplished and can't wait to actually take decent photos of my LO's without have to set up a photo shoot outside, stand on a chair above my layout, hold my breath and take several photos to find one that is sharp enough. I can actually take a decent photo in a pinch inside now, lol. Thanks for letting me share my excitment and I will be posting LO's tomorrow, I really need to use up my stash! Blog ya later!

So I am thinking of this guy today....

It was 12 years ago at this time that my father was sick and passing away. There is just always something about this time of year that makes me think of the details leading up to his passing. So as I contemplate new beginnings, and things that I want to work on in 2009, I am reminded of where I have been and what I have experienced. Somehow I always find the strength to get through another year even though it all still seems so fresh.
One of the things that I want to work on this year is slowing down. I want to appreciate all of the people that are a part of my life and all of the little details that make each day hectic, crazy and special at the same time. You just never know what is going to happen the next day so it makes sense to try to make each day count.
I of course want to be more organized, get in better shape, eat better, sleep more, save money, be nicer, less sarcastic, on time, have more fun, take care of myself and relax. However, I think all of those things will come if I give myself permission to slow down every once in awhile.
So here's to 2009, may all of your hopes and dreams come true this year for you and your family!