Advent Calendars!

It's December, so it's time for Advent calendars! We opened ours on Tuesday night - the kids love getting a bite of chocolate each night after dinner! Of course the dog had to get into the photo too. She is not "floating" in mid-air there, I cropped out Dad's arm, holding her in place, lol.

I picked up these Advent calendars at Target, but I am *really wishing* I had known about these VERY COOL LEGO advent calendars! How cool are those??? I am making a note in my calendar for next September/October to pick these up for the kids - SO FUN!



Page Credits: Little Joys kit by Zoe Pearn of Sweetshoppe Designs; Font is CK Ali's Hand;

Holidazzle 2009!

Happy Wednesday to you!

I am off and running this morning, work-work-work! But I did want to share this page I worked on last night. Last year, we missed the Holidazzle Parade because we just ended up getting too busy, so this year, I was determined to go early in the season! We were actually there on the first night! (Mental Note: The first night plus warm weather equals a BIG CROWD!)

I took a TON of photos that didn't turn out, but I managed to get a few that weren't a blur! I forgot to get a family shot - BAD PHOTOGRAPHER! Bullseye (the Target mascot, and YES she is a real dog!) was the Grand Marshall - so cute! Of course everyone cheered for the Joe Mauer snowman, too!


Page Credits: Jolly Holiday kit by Weeds & Wildflowers; Font is CK Ali's Hand;

December Desktop

How did it get to be December already??? Is it just me, or did 2009 totally FLY BY? Christmas will be here before we know it - you know how fast December always is!

Here is my December desktop, compliments of Shabby Princess. (You can get yours HERE) I am so happy with the pictures we got from our mini holiday portrait session, I decided to just plug those in. Still waiting for my prints, tap tap tap...hopefully they will be here today!


Thanks for stopping by - have a happy Tuesday!

Holiday Photo Shoot

Well the long weekend is over, and it was back to the grind today! I can't believe it will be DECEMBER tomorrow! Aaaack! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet??? I am plugging away at it, lol...

I am still working on my Christmas scrapbook project - here is just a quick little page to document our holiday portrait session that we did a few weeks ago. I am patiently waiting for my prints to arrive! Tap tap tap...lol!

Page Credits: Checkin' it Twice kit by Dani Mogstad at Sweetshoppe; template by Janet Phillips; Font is CK Ali's Hand

I hope you had a FAB Monday - thanks for stopping by!

Step into Christmas!

The bird has been cooked and we are in our "turkey hangover" - LOL! But it's now time to step into Christmas mode - it will be here before we know it!

Rather than making a December Daily album (since I have yet to complete mine from last year, hehe) I am going to do a digital version. Since I have learned that I cannot commit to anything on a daily basis, I will put in the highlights and take the pressure off from frantically trying to come up with something for every day.

I am also not waiting until December! LOL! I'm doing it MY WAY (sing it with me...)

Speaking of SONGS, here is my Christmas 2009 playlist. The last several years, I've done a playlist for myself and the kids. I am addicted to Christmas music!


Page Credits: Happiest Season on Earth kit by Brittish Designs at Scrap Matters; Red/White alpha from Jolly Holiday kit by Weeds & Wildflowers, Font is CK Ali's Hand

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are enjoying a relaxing day filled wtih family and good times!


Page Credits: Softly Falling kit from Dani Mostad at Sweetshoppe

Digi Dare #156 - Daughtry at the Cabooze

This is my *very first* Digi Dare! I've been following along for awhile, mainly for inspiration, but since it's the 3 year anniversary, and they are offering a fab freebie - I just had to play along! It was HARD! LOL! I am not used to scrapping with "rules"!

This page is from this past August when we we saw Daughtry perform at The Cabooze in Minneapolis. We were packed in there like sardines, and it was wall to wall people! It was HOT, and I remember I had on these cute little sandals and Rod said, "Ummm...you need SHOES!" I am SO GLAD I changed! My little toes would have been crushed in the mob!



Page Credits: For Melissa Collab kit from Scrapbook Graphics, Crinklebet Alpha by Zoe Pearn, CK Regal font

My baby girl is growin' up!

At some point (when I wasn't paying attention) my baby girl went and grew up on me and now I have this MIDDLE SCHOOLER to contend with! I am preparing for the worst, but so far, I've only noticed positive changes (knock on wood!) taking place.

It was a big change to switch to the Middle School - there are combination locks on the lockers, new teachers and classes, and a whole new schedule, but she has adapted beautifully and is looking forward to a fun year!

I had to scrap this first day photo, since we were out of sight of the bus stop (where people might see - the HORROR!) I got a little cooperation in front of the camera, hehe...


Page Credits: Template by Janet Phillips, Studyhall kit by Krystal Hartley, font is CK Stenography.

Wimpy Kid!

Well as usual, the month is flying right by! I've been finding time here and there for some scrapping, so here is a page to share...

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of Wyatt as he was reading - I surprised him with the new Wimpy Kid book and he immediately dropped everything to just sit and read. He tuned everyone and everything out, hehe...(I did manage to get his attention for a photo though!)


Page Credits: Template by Janet Phillips, It's Elementary kit by Dani Mogstad, Deconstructed alpha by Robin Carlton, font is CK Stenography

Flippin' the page...

...to OCTOBER!

OMWORD - how did we get to October already??? We're having cool, rainy and wet weather here in MN. I put the fireplace on last night, and have dug some sweaters out of the storage bins. Ahhhh...I love the change of seasons! (Although I prefer a gradual change, and not this 30 degree temp swing like we did this year!)

I have my October desktop all ready to go - photo of my little spooks from last Halloween, I love this photo! You can get your own copy of this desktop HERE, at the Girl Talk blog.

Enjoy!



Thanks for stopping by, have a FAB FRIDAY!!!

Girlfriends...

WHOA!

Guess I need to dust off the ol' blogger, eh?

Life has been busy - but I'm getting back into the swing of things I think. (I HOPE!) The month of September has flashed by in a blur of back to school chaos, work, and life! I did manage to sneak away over the 19th to a very special girls' weekend. We get together twice a year, usually later in the fall, and again in spring, but this time around, we bumped it up to accomodate our dear friend Candy (pictured front and center below) who has been bravely battling liver cancer. Without going into too much detail, her outlook at this point is very grim, and we are all gathering around her as much as we can these days.

Since our group photos usually are with drinks in hand (and often there is food or appetizers in front of us too, lol), we were looking for something a little more "formal" or "frameable" as I like to say...So I took my gear with me, and we did a little mini photo shoot.


I had to whip up a girlfriends story board - the girls all gave me the "are you crazy?" stares when I said I wanted a photo of our hands. LOL. I insisted, and of course now they think I am BRILLIANT hehe...


We all wanted individual photos with Candy too, and I loved how they turned out! I just had to whip up another storyboard...


This last weekend, I scrapped like a MANIAC, and did even more today, so I'll be back soon to share those pages!

Thanks for stopping by!

Refreshed and Renewed!

...And now, just trying to catch up!

Last weekend I was blessed to spend a wonderful 4 days with friends (Shistahs!) from around the country at a Retreat in Wisconsin. Ahhhh...it was BLISS! I am lucky to call each of these ladies a dear friend. This was our 4th annual retreat, and number 5 is already on the books for 2010! I would not miss it for the world! There are organized classes, as well as time to work on individual projects, and even some impromptu things going on. The "planning committee" always does a FABULOUS job, and there is a ton of fun and laughs all weekend! It is all topped off by wonderful home cookin' by our own personal Chef HB! YUMMA!


These photos just make me smile! I had to scrap them!

Hope you are having a FABULOUS WEEK! I will be back soon with more to share! Thanks for stopping by!

The road to a friend's house...

HEY THERE HEY THERE!

Just sharing a quick card today, and then I am forced to actually "do my job" - BLAH! It is August, and my allergies and sinus have turned against me. My eyes are red and watery and I am sneezing like crazy and avoiding the outdoors. Something about turning the calendar page from July to August always brings this on, lol. Thank goodness for Sudafed 12 Hour! (Although I don't care for that icky "out of it" feeling, it's MUCHO better than the watery eyes and sneezing!)


Card Credits: CS from Stampin' Up!; Stamps from Stamping Bella, PaperTrey Ink (polka dots) and a*Muse (sentiment); Copic Markers

Thanks for stopping by!

CRIKEY! It's AUGUST!

HOLY MOLY! This summer is FLYING BY! Aaaack!

I just looked at our August calendar, and it is JAM PACKED! I have no idea where we will fit the whole "getting organized for back to school" stuff into the mix...

Just popping in to say HAPPY SATURDAY! We are off and running this morning, and the Saturday chores are on the agenda. BLAH! I'll have to think of something fun to do as a reward if we plow through all of the chores!

Here is a fresh new August Desktop, free from Shabby Princess (click here to get yours) using her brand new kit Giggle Box - love the fresh fun color scheme!


Thanks for dropping by - have a great weekend!

FREEBIE ALERT!

Here is a STEAL of a DEAL to start your Friday off right!

The "Hawt Mamas" are celebrating Traci's birthday this week - I fell right off my chair when I saw these templates!

Grab them here...



(Be sure to check out the main page of the blog, as there is another freebie today!)

Check out Traci's store at Sweet Shoppe Designs - she has a TON of cute stuff!

Just Saying Hello...

PHEW! This week is getting away from me!

The kids have been busy with VBS, and that makes for a much shorter work-day for Mom, plus add in some dental visits and just the regular chaos, and I haven't had a moment to spare all week! ZERO creative time, but I hope to get back on track this weekend!

Just a quick share today, and then back to the "salt mines" for me, haha!


Card Credits: Stamps - "Pete" from WhipperSnapper, sentiment from aMuse; DP by Basic Grey; CS & linen thread by Stampin Up! Copic Markers

Thanks for stopping in! I hope your week is fabulous so far!

Monday Monday...

Well it is BACK to the rat race after a relaxing weekend!

I had a chance to meet a friend for some stampin' on Saturday - way fun! I'll be sure to share my finished cards this week! I also snagged the new QuicKutz Epic Six machine - LOVE! I have an old old old Sizzix machine, which has served me very well, but it was time to upgrade to something that could accomodate all of the newer big dies that are out on the market these days!

Card Credits: Flower Frenzy & Polka Dot Basics stamp sets (PaperTrey Ink); CS & inks are from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by - have a great Monday!

Happy FRIDAY!

WHOHOO! It's FRIDAY!

Just a quick page share today and I am off and running! I am taking the afternoon off to visit a friend, so I have to FOCUS, lol.

This is Mad celebrating her 11th birthday this past March. Just a QP (Quick Page) from the Flower Patch QP Album that I picked up from Melissa Bennett's store at Sweet Shoppe Designs. I like these QPs for quick and easy scrappin' - just drag your photos on, resize, and tuck them behind the photo openings. Slap on your journaling text and you are done! EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY as my friend Bethie would say!


That's all I have for today! Thanks for stopping in, have a FAB FRIDAY!

Remember Me & Dad

We are almost to Friday, people! Man the weeks are just flying by this summer! Yesterday, I picked up a few SCHOOL SUPPLIES on my way home from my lunch date. Usually, I wait until the last minute and everything is picked over! I still have to go back for more, but I got the basics - markers, colored pencils, crayons, folders and notebooks. Don't you just LOVE school supplies? I stocked up on extra markers and etc NOW while everything is so cheap! We always need that stuff, so it's nice to just have it on hand.

It's almost August, and that means almost time for sweet corn! This time of year always reminds me of Dad, because sweet corn was a BIG favorite of his. (Well who doesn't like sweet corn???) I had this snapshot (Mom and I scanned a quite a few photos of Dad, shortly after he died) of us sitting together, eating corn on the cob. Look how teeny I was! I remember being *so excited* that my Daddy was home to play with me, lol. Even though I had already eaten, Mom said I insisted on being RIGHT THERE by Dad.

Happy memories...:)


Page Credits: Happy Go Lucky (free) kit by Shabby Princess, Notepaper from Smell My Feet kit by Shabby Princess, Alpha (recolored) from Bare Essentials kit by Traci Reed, Font is Georgia.

Did you notice my mom's swanky toaster cover? LOL! I need to phone her and tease her abouta that one, haha...

Thanks for stopping by - have a FABULOUS Thursday!

Life's a Beach!

It's Wednesday, and I feel BEACHY! :)

Okay, not really, lol. But I have a fun lunch date today, and totally feel like GOOFING OFF. Unfortunately, work is calling my name...*sigh*

So here is just a quick card - Yes, I am *still* using up this beachy striped paper from BoBunny! (Did I tell you that I bought another whole sheet of it???) I am back to this surfboard mouse (Whipper Snapper) - I needed to move away from the blues and greens, and make a girly PINK surfer mouse, lol.


I have a pile of cards on my stamp table, and need to get rolling with sending out some snail mail! Thanks for stopping by - the week is flying by, it will be FRIDAY before we know it! YAY!