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!

Merry Christmas to Me!

Meet my new best friend. She doesn't say much but she is oh so pretty. I purchased the body today and ordered the lens online. So in a few days I hope to be up and running with this bad boy. I can't wait.

My secret footage would have been terrible....

I had a rough day yesterday. I woke up late and needed to rush to get Colin to his Christmas party at school. I didn't have time to shower and threw on a sweatshirt and jeans that are too big for me. I figured I was just taking him to school and I would be right home right? However, I had this nagging feeling about Colin's Christmas gifts that I had ordered at JCPenny's. So I thought I would just run in quickly, pick up his gifts and then go home. Or so I thought. Turns out that guaranteed Christmas delivery does not actually mean by Christmas. There were two items in stock but in another warehouse, therefore holding up the entire order and at the earliest they may arrive on Tuesday. The extra kicker is that since the order is "in progress," they couldn't cancel it. So they will deliver it to the store for me to return it back to the warehouse that held the whole thing up in the first place. So when I think my day couldn't get any better, I run into old friends that I haven't seen in years. Figures. We all had a good laugh and I promised them that I haven't "let myself go!" I guess it couldn't have been worse, it could have been my ex boyfriend, lol.
Rest assured, Christmas has been saved thanks for last minute shopping, NOT thanks to Penny's. Needless to say JCPenny's is now added to the list of places I will never shop even if I was completly broke and that was the only credit card that I owned, lol!
I'm off to put a bike together and finish some gifts. Merry Christmas to everyone from our family to yours!

Mini Book to Share

I wanted to share a mini book that I completed over the summer. This was so easy and fun to complete. I found this placemat at Wal Mart for $1. I cut the placemat with my rotary cutter to make "pages". Each page was open on at least two sides when I cut them. The best part was since they were open, I was able to hide the backs of my eyelets, brads and stitching in between each page. Once complete, I sewed the open edges together and bound the book using my crop a dile. The hearts are die cut out of vinyl and then blanket stitched.

Only a few more days....

and Christmas will be here. I am slowly checking items off of my to do list. Did I mention that I will be glad when this week is over? Anyway, I did want to update my gallery and post some recent layouts. These were all completed using items from my Scarlet Lime Kit.

I love that I got to be lazy and instead of changing the thread in my sewing machine, I just inked it. It always amazes me how much of a difference little things like that make.

I love the pocket on this layout. I wrote journaling to my son on the outside and journaling to my hubby on the inside.

I love the fabric that was included with this kit. I die cut it and then added the beads and pins. I love the handmade touch it adds to this LO.
I will add these to my gallery shortly with product lists. Have a good night!

I love this show!

I mean, it really is genius. The one liners, their imaginations, the complexities of Perry's secret identity, I could go on and on. There are not a lot of shows that actually make me laugh out loud, but this one does. So if you haven't checked this show out, I would encourage you to DVR it. It is as close as you can get to quality grown up humor on a kids channel without being gross or offensive like some other shows I have watched. It really is a show that we can enjoy as a family.