Showing posts with label scrapbooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scrapbooking. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Getting into the Spirit

We plan to get the tree up and decorate this weekend which I am very excited about because last year we were so busy we barely got the tree up with a decent amount of time left to enjoy it. I always struggle with how to best display our Christmas cards, they usually end up in a little Christmas basket that we have, or stuck to the wall with blue painter's tape (which I love for hanging B's projects on the wall of her play room, easy to put up and take down). This year though, I got a little crafty. I saw this at one of the scrapbooking blogs I read and thought...cute, maybe I should make my own! So I did...the photos aren't the greatest but you get the picture right? I love being crafty and just don't make time to do it more often. I dressed up the clothes pins with Making Memories FaLaLa Paper and inked the edges. Thank goodness for glue dots! My tape runner just wasn't gonna do the trick. P.S. I used some of last year's Christmas cards which should be in my 12 Days album that I haven't started yet...oops.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Finally

So I finally figured out how to load simultaneous album slideshows that won't disappear when you upload a new album. Yea for Picasa! Like it so far. I have even tried doing a little photo editing and managed to do this to a shot of Brenna that I love.
There may be a secret photographer hiding in me somewhere?!

Just hanging out today, had lunch with Freddy and are going over to bbq at his place and play at the park. Tomorrow will probably be sightseeing and playing with our trip to Sea World Scheduled on Friday.

Oh and I finally got to go here earlier in the trip...I've been waiting for six months to visit this shop and was NOT disappointed...it is a cute litte papercrafts shop that I found online when we setup our trip out here. I found some great summer paper (Cosmo Cricket - Snorkel) and of course some new Thickers and some fun sparkly brads, for the album that I am making from the first trip that we made out here two years ago. I even managed to complete one layout...I'll be saving that for later when the camera isn't in with a napping B!

More photos as we go!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Ten on Tuesday - Sick Day

1. So I am sitting at the kitchen table catching up on blogs while B sleeps...posting (I know! Can you believe it?) and putting a new spin on the look of my blog...so fun to have found a fun background site (thanks Sara!)

2. still since 8pm last night. This is rare, very rare that at almost 12 hours later there is no sign of her waking up any time soon.

3. Because she had a horrendous cough that kept her up most of the night Sunday night and ended with me getting a phone call at school yesterday to come pick her up.

4. Trip to the Dr. - no pneumonia, but certainly a yucky virus.

5. Almost no coughing last night which is huge, she also had a 20 minute nap (if you can even call it that) yesterday, so to say that she is tired is probably a severe understatement.

6. Thankfully I am able to stay home with her today while she is on the mend.

7. Saturday she received her first medal at gymnastics. Ta-da! She absolutely loves gymnastics and seems to have very little fear of anything her coach (Coach the Chrissy - as B calls her) would like her to try. It is hard for me to not hold on to her for every hanging on bars, walking on balance beams, etc, but she just doesn't need me to. Silly girl.


8. My friend's little girl has been chosen as a finalist for a Scrapbooks Etc. magazine cover, so please, go vote!!! You can vote once a day...she is the one in the jean jacket, photo titled First Day and FYI she is currently in the lead!!!

9. Summer vacation is getting closer. We are on the countdown at school and with so many activities going on for the rest of the year I think I might have about 10 days of teaching time out of 18 days that are left. Between field trips, 6th grade orientation, 5th grade graduation, field day, and that is not a complete list, I'm trying to find ways to keep my students motivated. They have been great and this has been a really amazing year! It just confirms that I am doing what I am meant to in my chosen profession. I can't wait to see what next year brings!

10. Speaking of summer vacation, we are so excited to visit Uncle Freddy when school is out. I can't wait to just relax and have fun without having to worry about lesson plans and testing and getting us where we need to be when we need to be there. A few more weeks and I get to be at home with B for the summer, going to the library, zoo, play dates, pool, and any other fun things we can think of. I'd like to scrap again sometime in the next 6 months...

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Things I did Today

*Played with a funny, funny, little girl.
*Started my 2009 Projects List ~ a ridiculous list of things I would like to accomplish this year, mostly comprised of reorganization in each room of the house, some professional stuff to complete for my license renewal, and some mini-projects in the house. I have already checked-off one thing...backing up photos, thanks to being snowed in yesterday. While this is on-going, all of the old stuff is done.
*Went to calling hours for a friend of our family.
*Spent time with my parents (thanks again for coming to stay with B today).
*Looked through some "new" scrapbook treasures~ Thanks Missy! I already have plans for some of the papers!
*Booked airline reservations for our vacation this summer (thought, discussed, clicked and paid within an matter of 45 minutes).
*Played with B some more.
*Started stressing about seat assignments on an airplane when I can't do anything about it for 60 more days! I'm a little obsessive and sometimes a little nuts, in case you haven't already figured that out.
*Put B to bed.
*Called airline to get seats changed with some success...now I have to wait the 60 days before I can be sure the changes took.
*Updating blog, getting ready to spend some time with the husband, zoning in front of the tv before I fall asleep early on the couch as usual.

Here's my sweet girl...sleeping with Baby Annie - she slept this way most of the night. It was very cute.

Over all a good day...the snow seems to have subsided but I've heard we could get more later in the week...that and some very cold weather. As if temps in the 20's and teens aren't cold!

Here's to a great week!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

On the 10th Day (Before) Christmas...

A call to the doctor for me.


Better this week than next....

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Paper Pin-Ups 2009 Coming Soon


Keep your eyes peeled! The 2009 "Paper Pin-Ups for a Cause" calendar will be ready for purchase very soon. As many of you know, I have joined with 11 other crafty women to create a 2009 calendar. It will be available for purchase soon and all proceeds will be donated to one of the causes in our calendar. Stay tuned for the release date!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

The End of a Great Weekend

So I'm sitting here on the couch after a wonderful, long, holiday weekend wishing I still had a few more days off so I could spend more time with the husband and the little girl (even though 2 1/2 year olds have a tendency toward having multiple personalities). We had a great time together these last few days. Thanksgiving was the usual whirlwind as we traveled from family to family. Saturday brought a day of hard work for my husband in the basement (I love the sound of nails being shot into basement walls with a nail gun and .22 loads - how Brenna could nap through that and how my husband and dad can hear at this point is still beyond me).

Today was another great and relaxing day. Laundry and some dishes were my only chores. Brenna and I made a Santa Claus fill-the-beard countdown calendar and a red and green paper chain to count down the days until Christmas. Can you tell that I am a Christmas maniac? I love it...all the excitement and the family time and the snow and the songs...I love it all.

Munchkin napped, daddy watched football, and I got to scrap! Finally! I haven't scrapped any layouts since I started teaching my 5th graders, usually I'm too busy doing school work. I did four pages (2 - 2 page spreads) for Brenna's NICU album. I have to figure out how I can post them...I haven't figured out whether I can somehow scan 12x12 pages or if I am just going to take pictures and hope they come out well.
Luckily, Christmas break will be here soon and my scrappy friends and I are planning a crop - I can't wait to have several hours to devote to good times with friends and my scrappy self.

Oooo...we made snowflakes today too (well Sean & I did with Brenna coloring and hanging out with us at the kitchen table), and B had her first mug of hot cocoa. I don't think I have to tell you how much she loved it, it is chocolate after all.



Overall a great holiday weekend.

Here are a couple of pics of the little girl - it's her first official nightgown...


and an exact replica of a face I use to make when I was her age. Thanks Dad!

Oh yes...lest I forget...we have moved into the "WHY?" stage of life.

B: What doing grandma?

G: Sewing, Brenna (grandma is working on another quilt - currently piecing a few squares)

B: Why?

G: Because I like to make quilts.

B: Why?

This continued for a little longer until grandma turned it around on B, asking her why - this utterly confused the little girl.

I can only hope that these little memories will be saved here in cyberspace forever as I know that while I stop to commit them to my memory, it can only hold so much. Brenna, my little sweet potato, I hope you know that daddy and I cherish every moment with you!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Tuesday 10 Spot

Success! This post beats the monthly quota! Yippee...

1. It was a beautiful day today...warm and sunny...and it's Ohio so I will take them any time I can get them and celebrate.

2. Brenna likes to say "I got it," "Oh Noooo!," "Have it?," among other things. Although at this point "NO" is at the very top of her list of things to say.

3. She has become quite the puzzle wizard these days. She has several of the Melissa and Doug chunky wooden puzzles. If we sit with her on the floor she will go through all 7 of them and put every piece where it goes. The only one she truly needs help with is the alphabet puzzle...but there are 26 pieces to that one...the rest she can do with ease. I've taken to turning the puzzles upside down just to make it a little more challenging...no trouble there either. I love that she can do that and she's not even two! So smart, my little girl!

4. While the terrible two's phase has definitely reared its ugly head, she can be such a little sweetie. With her "hi" first thing in the morning to her "daddy, where are you?" when Sean is away at work or out of town. We do love it tremendously.

5. She loves hats. I have to say that this may just be one of my favorite pics lately. Sean's comment was quite funny but will most likely stay as an inside joke...at least for now. There was also this funny moment...I'm not sure that socks are good as an appetizer, especially ones that have been worn all day. Hmmm...
6. Scrapbooking has been on hiatus minus some magazine and book browsing. I'm waiting to get together with Marie (if our schedules ever manage to work out!) to get started. I have finished my sketches and gone through and picked all the pics(at least I think I have the chosen few of 400). Now it is a matter of getting the right supplies and materials and putting it all together. Hopefully that will be the fun part.

7. Still on the quest for fabulous pics of my little munchkin. Here are a few recent shots...I may be partial but I sure think she is beautiful.



8. 16 Days and counting until school is out...Those are school days by the way, no weekends or holidays included. I'm so looking forward to Brenna time, play dates, going to the zoo, visiting family, and just plain hanging out.

9. Uncle Freddy is coming to visit for the weekend...I can't wait to get a new shot of them! These are two of my favorites and while they are older pics, it is fun to reminisce.

10. Tomorrow my little girl will be 22 months old...where did the time go? Love you, bug!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Tuesday Ten Spot...the Monthly Edition

What can I say...life has this tendency to take over and computer time is lost!

1. I finally uploaded pics that have been in the camera for a MONTH!

2. I have been sketching layouts for Brenna's Special Care Scrapbook. I have definitely come down to a more reasonable number of pages. I think I am on the right track. Marie has graciously offered to give me a scrapbooking tutorial which I am definitely going to take her up on! I can't wait to see where I can go with this. I really feel like this scrapbook is going to be much more meaningful than 400 pictures stuck in an album. I already am thinking up layouts for my second scrapbook and haven't even started the first one....look out....here I go with a new crafty hobby! (I'm so glad summer vacation starts in a mere 6 weeks!) Ooo, I already made some purchases (yea for Target Gift Cards!): A self-healing cutting mat and a retractable craft knife with extra blades. I know this is only the beginning, but I do have some other supplies that were already part of my crafty side. And I got my first copy of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine. I was pleasantly surprised to see pictures of layouts created by people I know, with pictures of people and kids that I know. How fun! Good for you Marie! I do believe I will be subscribing to this one. Simple, yet meaningful layouts that are perfect for important memories. It definitely helped to spark some creative thoughts in my brain.

3. Brenna is doing very well. We managed 6 weeks in a row at day care with NO sick days. Darn flu bug got her last week so we missed a couple of days but she is getting back to herself. She randomly sings parts of "The Alphabet Song" in her own little jumbled way but r..s.. and tuv...come out fairly understandable. I am so partial but SO proud! She is growing up too fast though!

4. I am still working on the photography...sometimes I even get some really good ones. Thanks to those of you offering advice. Who knew I would have to take 10,000 pictures to get 2 good ones? It's been fun so far.


5. Did I mention there are 25 school days left until summer break? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE TO TEACH, but with OAT testing the last two weeks in combination with some pretty good weather (this week Not included), I am feeling ready for a nice break.

6. The present daddy brought for the little girl during his last road trip to Indy...the BEST purchase by far, have paid for themselves already for outside play! Wash them in the sink with some hot soapy water...good as new...no worries about playing in the dirt and mud like canvas shoes. Plus, ask her to go get her shoes (from her bucket of shoes), she picks these every time! "Doorah's" she says.

7. I love piggy tails on little girl's head!


8. She keeps reminding us "I'm Brenna" over and over and over and over again...we know, sweet potato...we know.

9. She loves to play outside and have fun...


10. She has become an escape artist...in a very interesting way. (She was complaining and complaining last night before she went to sleep...went to check and this is what we found...that can't possibly be comfortable.

That was our month...how was yours?

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Bad, bad, very bad blogger!

I have not fallen off the face of the Earth but I have been a very bad blogger...while this is far from my longest stretch, I had been doing pretty well keeping up-to-date, and then, well, life has been rather busy. Not as busy as my friend Marie, who, by-the-way, just had a baby and is doing better keeping up with her blog than I am. That is just sad on my part! But congrats to the Taylor family and welcome little Charlie. We are very excited to meet you!


All-in-all things are good.


School is winding down. Monday will be the beginning of the last 9 weeks of trying to get as much done as we can before testing and before the end of the year.


Brenna has been healthy (knock on tons of wood) and hasn't missed any day care days since tube surgery!! This is week 5 I am happy to say. We had a follow-up, no fluid, no infection....great news even though one tube was blocked. We are hoping that a second round of drops has taken care of the problem. Back to see the Dr. in about 2 weeks to make sure it is clear.


Sean hasn't had any major travel days for the last three weeks which has been nice. This week begins a new round but it was nice that he could be home for a few weeks in a row. It is nice too that he isn't usually gone for more than a night or two. Managable, especially with the weather being a little nicer.


I got to sleep for an extra half hour this morning because my wonderful husband took our daughter to day care. 30 extra minutes of sleep are sooooo valuable! Thank you!!!


I have started walking daily and doing my best to eat more healthfully. It is time. I can't set any kind of good example for Brenna while continuing on the path that I was on. I am not healthy and I have chosen to do everything I can to make a major change as far as my health is concerned. So far I am doing pretty well. It's challenging to make myself go for a walk everyday but I have been making myself go, even when I really have no desire. While today's walk wasn't long at all since it was a little chilly and Brenna was cold...apparently it isn't fun to be bundled up in the stroller when you want to be free. Mittens aren't fun when you want to be free either. So cold hands won today. At least we were able to get some fresh air.


I love springtime in Ohio...oh wait...it was 32 this morning...stupid groundhog.


I have been thinking about the bazillions (sometimes I think this may be more than a fair estimate) of pictures we have taken of Brenna and what to do with them all. I was great when she first came home....I printed all 400 (and I'm not kidding) that were taken before she came home from the hospital. And then I printed a few more. And diligently placed them in acid-free photo albums that had room for a little blurb about each picture (I even actually wrote something). And now I am looking thru folder after folder of photos that I have uploaded and don't really know where to start. I think scrapbooking would be great but there are SO MANY pictures~just of Brenna. First I think to myself "I'll do one of her days in the NICU", then I change my mind and think "maybe her first year" in an album. The task seems so big and there are so many little and big milestones that I don't want to leave anything out. Every moment filled with worry and hope and joy...how do you capture all of that in one or two scrapbooks? I want to do something that is more meaningful than just print, stick, write. I want something that she will treasure and that we can look back at and remember.


My dilemmas are this: 1 ~ where do I start, and 2 ~ what are the essential tools that I need to get started. The scrapbooking aisles in the stores are a little overwhelming when you don't even know where to start. If you are into scrapbooking....where do you start? what are your "must-have" tools? what advice can you give a beginner?


Here are a few photos to update any need for a "little girl" fix!